Quickie 28/7

Quickie 28/7

Stress makes me do the strangest things... like impulsively going to Toni&Guys, pay $83, and lose 3 inches of hair length resulting a long-hair-obsessed boyfriend to cry what?!

I love work. If only work loved me. The job of a conference producer is not easy, but at least it pays okay.

That is, if I have gotten my pay yet! I'm still flat broke (yet spending $83 on a haircut... go figure). I was supposed to get my pay on the 27th, but there were documentation problems and I will be paid the sum next month.

*Gallant came back and he bought me a book without words. Just pages with pictures... and I'm going to have to write him a story. He also got me a pen, with a dangling pearl attached from Tasaki Shinju.

I'm just looking forward to the weekend. Thank goodness I only work five days a week. *Gallant and I have been trying to find time together, but weekdays are just too tiring right now.

We've been daydreaming our weekend, and so far we've decided -

Friday evening we'll meet after dinner and watch football together.

Come Saturday he'll sleep till lunch (cause he's a pig) and I'll be at yoga class oogling my yoga instructor. We'll meet for lunch at town, and then off to the Arts Museum and then a movie after. Then it's my place again for a couple of dvds and pigging out on potato chips.

On Sunday, we'll go marketing. I'll cook him a feast for lunch. Of course he will clean up after. The rest of the afternoon we'll just be idle. We're prolly going to read and sip tea (or in his case beer) and eat tong sui I made in the morning.

Then the painful but fulfilling five day work week starts again. And then it will be another great weekend to look forward to.

the answer

the answer

*sheer and I asked a question (she provides more details here). I've given some thought so here's my answer:

First, let me say that I know what kind of qualities I look for in a guy. It is quite a unique (ie weird, eccentric, fairy-tale, non-existent-in-this-era) set of qualities. Also, as I have discovered recently, I fancy men who are opposites, yet complementary with my interests and behavior.

And therefore, assuming that all men in the room are single and suits my physical desires (*ahem), and also assuming that I am the embodiment of their vision of a perfect girl (*ahem, ahem) and will therefore be clamoring and trying their best to impress me with great answers, I would ask:

I am rather superstitious. Actually, I would go as far as to run past a black cat's path as I actually believe that by switching laws of superstition, I can bring myself good luck. Tell me, are you superstitious?

His answer: (I'm crazy about you but...) I am not superstitious.

The desired reply would be one that finds my quirk endearing and that he would be very inquisitive to pick my brain about the superstition.

However, he would confess to be not superstitious, and proceed to tell me in many ways how, eg, walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror does not affect him. Nonetheless, he is respectful and loves how I think. =) This part is crucial, as I can not imagine a stable relationship with two times the quirkiness.

In any case, he would be eager to help me Feng Shui my apartment and help me balance auras, etc.

Needless to say, *Gallant is exactly like that. We've had opposite opinions on many things, namely superstition, idealism/realism, wars, Peter Singer, aromatheraphy and the Japanese visiting war shrines. The yin and yang, basically.

.::.

Oh yes... and*Gallant's coming back tonight!

stealing office supplies

want. to. steal. office. supplies.

must. resist.

I'm still at the office. I made silly mistakes at work today and can't put it off until tomorrow. People are starting to do illegal stuff... like the girl behind me, calling her long distance boyfriend. Not a good idea, really, when you're coo-ing empty nothings in a relatively quiet office and everyone can hear you.

I am tempted to steal office supplies. Stress drives this crazy madness! But I wonder how I am going to put into my purse this one metre tall, half metre wide roll of bubble wrap we use for fed-ex.

Popping bubble wrap bubbles are soooo calming. I take longer breaks by the photocopy machine, and when no one is looking - proceed to poke and pop that bubble wrap.

a project

a project

*Sheer and I have a question for you:

If you have only one question to ask a room full of eligible men/women, and after commit yourself to matrimony to the person based on your single answer, what is your question and the other's desired reply?

Think about it. I know I am. Share, if you don't mind.

*saved

Damn, I was *Saved Today

If you knew me long enough (and stayed even longer bearing the eccentricities), you would recall that I have certain pre-conditions for falling in love.

First, I still hold true the ideal that love does happen at first sight (and boy did *Gallant make my heart beat faster when I first saw him), but falling in love is a process that takes some doing (ie date, share secrets, hold hands). In other words, I can fall in love at first sight, and continue to fall even more in love. =) And in my case one of these *doings include being *saved.

I promise that there has never been an instant where I did not fall for my knight-in-shining... erm... - Nike/Adidas (got to be realistic that men I meet do not wear suits on a daily basis yet, let alone an armour).

In *Gallant's instance, we were on one of our first dates late in the middle of the night crossing a wide road in the middle of town. We were chatting and very engrossed in our conversation. He told me he plays the saxophone and it was the worst place to have my knees go weak in the middle of the road. A car suddenly appeared on an otherwise isolated road and *Gallant quickly ushered me to the other side safely.

Granted, it was not likely that the car would hit us anyway but give us a rude honking, but the rush of blood that flushes the face with the first sight seen being your identified saviour is indeed my ultimate feminine weakness. The heart would not stop pounding, and the (always) cute faced knight would be fussing over my well being. Now THAT is what I call being *saved. =)

The last boyfriend before *Gallant was even more *drama. We were on our first date and I went to his school canteen day. I was standing in the middle of the parking area when the ice truck was trying to move from behind me. The last bf then, with one hand and a single maneuver whisked me into his arms (note flush of blood to face, male machismo and fast beating heart).

There were two other guys I remember having saved me and had my heart set on its highest level of *crushing. One held me in place when the car took a wild swerve (that sleepless night, I remember sending a text to *Lingy: Did you know what *mister* did to me?!) and the other was when I was once again in a *charm & flirt induced conversation and almost stepped into a drain. Of course, the gentleman saved me from being literally in the ditch.

Today's situation was a little different: it was yoga class and my knight was the yoga instructor. After 2-3 times a week yoga classes, I think he knows I have relatively weaker arms (than the rest of the class) and I have relatively bad balance (than the rest of the class... I think you understand my bitterness by now).

He wanted us to try this (with straight hands). He knew my weaknesses so he came to lift me into the position by my waist. The posture is feels wonderful as it opens and relaxes the back muscles beautifully. But just when I started to enjoy the stretch, the instructor took his hands off and left to attend other students and my weak arms started to wobble.

I couldn't exactly drop and fall and I felt almost frozen. Most definitely, I was stuck! Automatically, I softly cried out I'm scared and a pair of strong hands came to hold me back into position. The worst part wasn't over yet as I was now panicking and he had to talk me out of the position (que: display of male machismo). I was *saved.

Yea... and the soothing voice also said: No need to be scared. Que: charming smile.

Hehe... no, I'm not falling for my instructor. I guess I'm having a big time school girl crush on him. To turn things to a really positive side, I will definitely be motivated to go for more yoga classes now. =)

I'm already in love. And madly, head-over-heels at that. My *Gallant will be back to Singapore in a few short days and I'm already thinking of ways to get out of work early to spend more time with him.

.::.

First day of work starts tomorrow! Wish me luck. =)

Material attachments

Material Attachment

I had to come to a sudden stop and now my heart still pounds wildly. Rock bottom of my bank account was so near as in a mere 24 hours, I have accumulated:

two pretty work skirts
one chocolate brown jacket
a cotton-club white lace blouse
(that goes beautifully with the chocolate brown jacket)
one navy blue chiffon blouse
one pair of Neckermann slippers
one bottle of Australia's Natural Source Hi-Shine Hair Mask
and four bottles of Body Shop burning oils - almond, green tea, bergamont, and lavender

And I've just recently upgraded my gym account to access all Planet Fitness gyms in Singapore and couldn't resist six cute pastel coloured underwear from Hush Puppies. And on my wanna-buy shopping list, I still have a white and brown jacket from Kaco, shades from Evita Peroni, and nail strengthener from Sally Hansen. Also, I still need work shoes.

It all hit me how this has absolutely fallen into the category of shopping-too-much when I was on my way to Takashimaya's cashier today with a black leather handbag that was 50% off its SGD$290 price tag (and bl**dy h*ll I am still craving for the bag right now).

Goodness gracious how unhealthy this has become. Truth be told I've not been buying much for the last year and suddenly it was the unleashing of shopping deprived ME into the stores. And worst off all, *Gallant and *Father Damsel actually nudged me to help myself to some pretty things before work (note to self: remember their quantifier - few).

Shopping was almost narcotic for me as I put on, modeled, and posed for the personal audience that was me in my makeshift stage of a fitting room. I just wanted more and more pretty things that my greedy eyes see.

Not good. Not good at all for the soul. Shame on me and the fact that I have not even started earning my own dollars yet. I seriously need to remind myself all the financial strings I have that come unfortunately with the first paycheck:

Basic Paycheck MINUS
Rent
Utilities
Travel
Food
Toiletries

AND
Study Loan (I wish to pay this off really fast)
Obligatory Pocket Money for Parents and Sister Damsel
Central Providence Fund
Untouchable Savings of at least $500

I swear I don't have anything left.

I know this is all silly (and awfully materialistic of me) to be making calculations before getting that first paycheque or even starting the first day of work yet (June 19) but these are financial realities to face (yes... time to budget).

Some thoughts came unsettlingly to my head today and wouldn't leave me for a moment's rest since their visit.

The first was actually a lovely one where I saw a billboard at a great location along Pasir Panjang road for some low rise apartments. With abundant and flexible housing loans available today, I was all goosebumps to think that I could actually own one of these. You see, post graduation thinking have some parents (as I have discovered in a conversation this lunchtime) pressuring their children for not only work but for a path towards matrimony. For myself, my want of a future lies more in the realm of real estate.

That's definitely a far away plan but something I find myself yearning for after living in campus hostels, parent's home and now a rented space.

Second, I find myself very surprised at this new batch of graduates-going-into-the-working-scene who are hardly thankful of their situations. In brief, I have no idea why fresh graduates whine about their first jobs not paying very high salaries. Most I've met are not paying rent (and by living dependently, most food is paid for too), have no student loans (or have their parents to pay for it), and do not give obligatory sums of monies to parents (believe me, mum's not going to be satisfied with just $100).

In most cases, almost the entire sum of pay is for leisure's use and that's nice cause allowances hardly ever reach even a third of that amount. And so a conversation with *Lala Femme couldn't help but to make me shake my head at her unhappiness with her situation.

If I only had *Lala Femme's luck:

Got offered a $1,800 job but she's not going to take it.
If she did, she might need her parents to give her extra pocket money.
And her parents are already going to pay for her student loan.
She lives with her brother (therefore no rent)
And her brother puts food on the table
(of course, *Lala Femme says that the nice thing to do is to give her brother $100 each month)
Her brother has a car too that she drives around
She is not going to give her parents anything yet with her "measly paycheque"

I am of course very jealous of the financial (planning) fortunes of others and hope they can see how lucky they really are.

However, being green eyed does not mean that I do not recognize that luck strikes each person in different ways. My parents put me through this far and it is my happiest obligation to give them a reasonable token and I would not have it any other way than to pay my own university bills.

I guess it is very important for me to reason and pace myself (in case of dangerous shopping sprees) in the paycheque coming months. I would like to declare myself free of material attachments... Maybe after I get that black leather handbag into my possession and out of my way.

.::.

Goodness me this was a long *ranty post. I call it my therapy of sorts as i) I blogged out how I felt, ii) See how silly and selfish I actually am, and iii) try to be *noble / *saintly / *politically correct.

Also, let me take the chance to say a big thank you to *Sheer who was so kind to spend some time with me shopping yesterday and to give me my belated birthday present of a stunning trinklet to adorn my otherwise plain neck.

good things

good things and good times

I made risotto last night for dinner and dear *Jules keeps popping into my head throughout the process. Now-a-days, I tend to associate Italian cooking to the friend I know who does it best. =) So, when making Italian risotto with Japanese short grain rice (hey, it's a huge bag of rice that seems ages to finish and the Arborio rice looks the same like Japanese short grain...) *Jules' voice kept saying: how could you...

Yes... I am guilty of culinary murder! And I received due punishment as my risotto tasted rather Chinese/Japanese than Italian. The Japanese grain factor and that I used shitake mushrooms in the dish. I might as well have done a fried rice version rather than slave for more than an hour just cooking. Risotto preparations calls for home made chicken broth and tedious pouring in of 1/3 cups of broth every time after the grains absorb the broth.

Looking on the brighter side of things, I could say that it was then a personalized dish by yours truly (and my *Chinese boyfriend who is anti-Japanese and anti-Italian food could be thankful).

The bay-leaf chicken broth and white wine did seep marvelously into the starchy pearl rice grains (carbohydrates make the best comfort food), and the taste of fresh portobello and pink plump fresh prawns both infused in garlic are my favourite tastebud temptations. Gently steaming hot covered with a sprinkle of cheese... gosh, I look forward having it again for lunch with a big bowl of garden salad.

.::.

I am pleased to share with you that the *damsel has a new status. I am currently:

EMPLOYED

The lucky company is called IQPC and I will be a Conference Producer! (click on the link to see the details of the position)

But its me who is the lucky one. I believe it fits into many things I am looking for in a starting job - use of brains, desk and field work, travel, training, creativity, responsibility, great working environment... oh, and a fairly generous pay. =)

Believe me, I'm trying my best to stay calm as I am very excited about starting (this June 19). The conferences are all large scale and regional/international. Just to give you an idea, see one of their conferences, Network Centric Warfare with speaker none other than General Tommy Franks!

So when they made an offer for the job, I was so stunned! I knew it was something I really wanted to do and believe I could the task but I was up against so many applicants and most are from mid career. In my state of pinch-me-I'm-dreaming, I could only answer: "uh-huh" que *nod head* and goofy smile.

Granted, there will be many working hours this near future and a taste of real life dog-eat-dog corporate living. Nonetheless, I don't think I'll hardly ever get bored doing this job and I'll definitely learn so much from this.

I'm going to take a good one week break now before work begins. I hope that I am able to meet the demands and challenges of the job and that the company fulfills all the wonderful expectations I have of them.

flatter this ego, please

flatter this ego, please

Both the two elevators going up my block happened to stop at level one to ferry a *damsel and a family with two little girls. The *damsel hopped into one and the father went into the other... but the two little girls of four and six cried out: we want to ride the lift with the pretty che-che (sister).

I smiled throughout their ride to the 11th floor. The girls were constantly staring, laughing and rib-poking at one another. With their attention, I could have sworn I was wearing Barbie's pink life sized princess dress.

On the job hunt, I had a very tough interview with a certain *B&M advertising company. The interviewer was snide, sarcastic and had the attention span of a five-year old. He kept insisting that I should be in HR or PR (so much that I thought he was going to offer me a job with his company in HR or PR) rather than sales advertising.

Anyway, he made me an email job offer but I had to refuse. I have my eye on a bigger fish... or rather, a BAT.

is it *that time already?

I practically *sprinted back to Singapore on Saturday morning with all the work pressure *Mother Damsel was giving me. *Lingy best describes the new age mom - that they are both modern and traditional.

The modern side has my mother wanting me to be earning big money, a high position and with a huge "MNC" company with bright prospects. And modern moms don't gender bias sons and daughters... now this girl has to fulfill a son's traditional role of earning "money with a big company" so mother dearest has best bragging rights. "After all my daughter went to one of the best universities" (que roll eyes).

Of course, I could never dream of escaping the traditional *doom too. I just didn't think it will happen this soon:

When do you think you'll be getting married? asked *Mother Damsel

Huh? Not so soon. (Pushing blame on *Gallant) He still has his honours, masters and PhD to go.

You'll be an old maid by then!

PLEASE! We've been only dating for a little over a year.

If you count the fact that you knew each other for seven months... that's almost two years in total! Your mother and father are not getting any younger, you know.

.::.

In a separate *conference / operation-guilt-her-into-marriage, *Grandmother Damsel says: I've had nothing to do lately except dream of having grandchildren.

And *Mother Damsel came up with a backup plan: If you work and meet someone else (ie someone who will marry you NOW) will *Gallant be willing to let you go? Are you willing to date someone else?

*Father Damsel's retort: She just started working and he's still studying. I'm not going to pay for their wedding.