Sisters by Danielle Steel

It was a book which moved me, almost like ‘Marley & me’.

The first 4 chapters each described the lifestyle of the 4 sisters, before moving on to describe their yearly ritual of going home to NY on 4th of July every year to be with each other and their parents. Until one 4th of July, their mother died in a car accident, while the second youngest sister Annie was blinded in her eyes during the same mishap. Their lives changed, the eldest sisters made sacrifices, and it ended up all of them finding their partners and living a life which some of them never thought would happen, after their heartbreaking episode of losing their mother suddenly.

It was heartwarming to read how the 2 elder sisters sacrificed their life (and nearly love too) and career to take care of the 2 other sisters.

Very engaging, and I kept wanting to read on because I wanted to know how each and every one of them will end up with.

Of dreams, books, mekajiki and swine flu

Am so tired today.

I remembered I was having this dream but I can’t remember the content. Just that the last bit which is something like counting down to something, and when it’s time’s up, my alarm rang.

So I duno what was the outcome of whatever I was dreaming about, except that I was super tired.

Then Caramel jumped onto my bed.

Went to Lucky Plaza yesterday and bought some books at a good price. 3 for $12.

• Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani.
• Capers in the Sauce by Laura Lockington.
• Virtue by Serena Mackesy.

I’m reading Lucia Lucia now, and the first chapter seems good. The real story starts from Chapter 2 actually, about this lady Lucia.

When I got into the bookstore, the whole atmosphere was a total change from outside. From somewhere very noisy and full of people talking, to a quiet corner of the store. Nice. It was so peaceful and a nice corner to hide from all the hustling outside. And I never realised there was a bookstore there till we walked past it and decided to take a look coz they have got books on sale.

G went to Taka to get his dad’s shoes, but in vain. We split up to different locations to save time, which I walked to Paragon coz G’s dad wanted to have hamachi fish head. I ended up buying fish coz all that was left was the sea bream’s head. And the mekajiki was screaming out to me to get one.

The next thing I did was to ask my sis if she was going back home. Coz only me and her take sashimi. My jie jie and parents all CMI one. Luckily she decided to come home. Haha.

It was heavenly. Super yumz.

A colleague just came back from the US to office today, and he was coughing.

He said that the meat there was very cheap, and he actually ate a lot of pork.

Thanks man. If I got swine flu, then you’ll know who’s the culprit.

Btw, a gentle reminder. Do not kiss anyone with a flu. Serious. One of our broker sent an email about this, as well as Philippines telling people to do the same thing.

Of stubborn guy, taste revival and value find

My patience is running low with the French colleague.

He is superbly stubborn, and refused to ‘take orders’ when asked. He just had to argue his way thru. What’s wrong with him? Or is it just their culture?

I really can’t be bothered with him. I just kacau him only when the ceo asked me to check things with him. And both times, he had to defend himself and not follow / grudgingly follow.

Thank god I’m not the babysitter. I might just end up smacking him too.

Oh, I forgot to mention something real amazing that happened last Friday.

I was suddenly craving for this yellow noodle soup before lunch. And this taste was only around during my primary school days where the noodle soup was 30 cents per bowl, and how it was ‘formulated’ was the chilli which gave it THAT taste and I seldom get that same thing nowadays. Just duno where to find it.

And then for lunch, we initially planned to go to NP but the canteen was closed. So we decided to go to Beauty World instead and I was thinking what to eat coz my fav prawn noodle stall is no longer there (the uncle retired, I think). Then saw this new Yong Tau Hoo stall with a queue. Cheap too – 5 pcs + noodles = $2.50. Where to find such cheap Yong Tau Hoo nowadays?

And of coz, I asked for the yellow noodle soup. I usually ask for beehoon soup but because of the sudden craving, I took yellow noodles. And guess what?

The chilli and the soup noodles – similar taste to that one more than a decade ago!

And then, now I’m craving for the same thing again….yumz.

I went to Sans Bookshop (those buy/sell bookstore) yesterday and picked up a chick flick from the 3-for-$5 shelves. And surprisingly, it was quite good. I read the first 2 chapters last nite and I was totally engaged.

The 3-for-$5 books are usually those long time ago, not famous titles, or maybe dry stories which only a minor group of people may enjoy. And from there, I only managed to find one (or maybe two) romance novels.

But because to me, I have this impression in me about read books which should be cheaper than those in the stores, but I didn’t really find the books there cheap. Those read once, might just have the value drop to $15 but it’s not really different from newly bought ones. In the end, I left only with one book though I could have picked up more. If I get one, I would not return it at all so I need to justify for the price.

The only thing that is motivating me this week is it’s a 4-day work week, and the thing to look forward to is the Malacca trip.

Rockabye baby…

Sighz. It’s Monday again. However, it was good on the roads this morning because I think the kids are off from school today.

I found a new type of sleeping pill. Wokay, not a pill per se, but something that induces me to sleep.

I’ve been reading The Economist recently. I’m unfortunately not so into current affairs, but I’m quite curious in what they are talking about there. I got a copy of it when they sent it to the CEO free, and being a super busy man, he returned it back to me. So I thought, why not do some reading?

I like. But trust me, it’s not meant to be a mockery when I said that it lulls me to sleep.

I’ve been reading it before bed for the past few nites, that’s why the thing about getting me to sleep. Well, reading gets me sleepy, only in this case faster than reading a novel, because it’s mostly serious in there.

I think I’m a fan now.

Truly moving book

I managed to finish the book Marley & Me during the trip. Just right on the return flight home.

Damn. This book made me tear. Thank goodness it was noisy in the plane and I think no one heard me sniffling.

It was funny to read on how Marley the dog behaved in the family, which I couldn’t help laughing. And when I was nearing the part which I read about how Marley is failing in health, it reminded me of SC’s dog whom is also failing in her health due to old age.

Anyway, as I read on how Marley had almost died and revived and finally had to be put down to sleep, I teared. It was so sad, and it was like I could almost see how he gradually got weaker and weaker and then was put an end to his suffering.

On a happier note, Caramel turned 1 on 2nd May. He looked positively happy when he saw us, and he kept jumping on me when he saw me. So cute. Thank god he’s just a chihuahua, else I’d have been crushed.

Reading habits

I think I must start to read properly again.

Just finished The Street Lawyer by John Grisham a few days ago, utilising about 3 days. Long time since I’ve completed reading a book and within such a short period.

Because of lack of time (and not really bringing books around), I’ve been starting to read books and leaving it unread halfway because I kinda lacked interest or forgot about it. And when I pick them up again, I forgot what I had read or what had happened during the first few pages. Then the next decision will be, shall I read it again or start on another book?

Most of the time I’ll ‘abandon’ the book.

Or when I lose interest in the book I decide to start a new book because they looked more interesting than the unfinished one.

Then the number of unfinished books become higher.

Liddat how to finish reading la?

I have a lot of books which I’ve bought from Kinokuniya and yet to start on them.

Maybe this can be resolution number one.

Now to start on book number 2. Another John Grisham book, The Rainmaker.

I’ve got mail, baby

Got this in my mail:

Yeah…finally…

 Courtesy of Dasmond. I got it when he posted an entry in his blog and I left a comment there.

Thankew very much Dasmond. I got it today!

If you want to have the book, you can also get it thru his blog – this way.

Cell & Prada

I was expecting to wait for some time on Saturday at the polyclinic, so I brought along a book. Decided to bring Cell by Stephen King (see my sidebar for the sypnosis), a book which I had bought in Jan but did not have a chance to start on it.

I like the book immediately I started on it coz the story was straightforward. Immediately on the first chapter, you read about how The Pulse starting its work on the people around the world. Things start to get exciting on what The Pulse can do to the people, getting them on the rampage, on a killing spree either to themselves or to whoever they see on the streets.

Thankfully, Stephen King himself do not have a cell phone (as what was written in the book).

Still in the middle of the story…

xoxoxo

I finally got to watch The Devil wears Prada. I missed it in the movies, so got it on DVD.

It was absolutely captivating.

I liked the glitzy and glamourous life, full of activity, high profile people, for the people working in Runway. Good place for learning, coz no one will teach you what to do, you have to be a seng mok person to know what you should do and not. Most importantly, you get to wear all the latest fashion pieces in the streets.

But behind the hard-headed career woman lies the conflicts and sacrifices Merryl Streep had to go thru. It was cool on how she can talk without full stops in between. Heh~

Nice show.

I watched it for the second time, and still thought it was good. Don’t mind a third time.

Not-so-cheap convocation & eating delights

Was just settling my convocation matters these few days. Supposed to submit my application by 15 Oct but I delayed the thing till this morning. Meant to do it after my diving trip but wasn’t too bothered to actually get down to it. So I just apologised for the late reply, citing “I was outstation” as the reason. Hey, I’m partially right too mah, isn’t it?

I realised that the whole event don’t come cheap. My parents are coming with me, my sisters were either not free or not really interested to go. As we weren’t really keen to drive up to KL, I had to arrange to buy 3 coach tickets up north.

Planning to ask my colleague who’s going up to KL this weekend to get the return bus tix. Can you imagine, around $18/pax cheaper if I get the tickets in Malaysia than to buy them in Singapore? I can easily get another bus tix to KL with the savings for 3 tix!

真的是这样吗？

你相信有永远的爱吗？
我相信。
为什么？
相信的话，比较幸福。

不要挥霍爱情，爱是会耗尽的。

来自张小娴 《如果月亮有眼睛》 – Channel A 系列 [I]。

What’s online? (an entry that should be up long ago)

This post was supposed to be up on 30th June, but becoz the Uni ‘backed out’ to put the results online, and while i was the earlier ones to catch a glimpse of it, i posted it up, then took down again.

now IT’S CONFIRMED!!!! it’s up again online, and NO MORE BACKING OUT, SCU.

lalalalala~ I’M A GRADUATE NOW….YAY!

here’s what was supposed to be up a few days ago….

Study today, but celebration starts tmrw

received couple of sms-es today from my frens and colleagues…happy happy~

did some serious studying at ngee ann poly's library. so intense, that i snoozed twice in the library. brain tired.

i found a really nice spot, secluded and tucked away in a corner, and other than an attendant who slept there during lunchtime (i fell asleep too coz after i took my lunch. hehe~) and a guy who i duno y didn't choose other places (the library was pretty empty since it's common test week, though there were still people making a ruckus at some other areas/floors of the library), i was quite isolated.

felt quite good to be back to the place, though the library had changed a lot. but the feeling of being immersed among the shelves of books while the quietness enveloped me gave the motivation to study.

do you know that almost every corner of the library, there is a cupboard which perched on top of it is a GIGANTIC webster unabridged dictionary which students can use (see above bottom right hand corner pix)? a couple lying around at every floor, which i thought was good.

though i can't celebrate my birthday today, but i had a nice birthday lunch at a new haunt: the NPAA restaurant, courtesy of my sis:

i had the fish main, and it is different from what i usually taste outside coz the fish was coated with egg batter. each bite comes with an eggy taste, which masked the 淡水鱼 smell. The agadeshi tofu was hot and nice, total of 4 pieces that cost only $2!!! chicken chop tasted normal. best of all, since it was holiday time, the place was pretty empty. i decided that i will bring my colleagues to this place within the next 2 weeks before school reopens. this place apparently is quite busy during term time.

studied till past 7pm, till the aircon became too cold for me. by that time 5th floor was very empty, with only 3-4 people in the area. thought i had better continue at home, coz i was feeling very hungry and brain activity had slowed down considerably due to the cold air and lack of food.

time to study again soon…

tmrw morning paper ar….and then meeting up with my frens after the paper…celebrate my birthday lor!

Horoscope, strategy and gadgets

my leg has been paining since yesterday. not extremely bad, but bad enough for me to hobble around. and every step i take is enough to induce a slight pain at my left foot. at least it is better today…

my horoscope this morning says:

People may see you as the personification of drama – especially this morning, dear Gemini. This is a good time to express your emotions and get things out of your system. Be sure to release whatever pent-up emotion you have inside. By the time the afternoon comes, it might be a good idea to settle down and lay low. Turn your energy inward, come to your center, and make a plan for what you need to get done.

so does that mean i must try to find something mad today, so that i can drama a bit and shout out all the buay song things that i've been getting recently? 

but i'll rather not. do you know that by getting angry will cause your immune system level to be down by 20%? this was told to me by my auntie, which i believe coz whenever i get angry, i will start to get the sniffles later.

so, i'll rather stay cool. prevents headaches from occurring too.

******

an interesting question was posed by my lecturer last nite:

Which will have better results:

1. a bad strategy which is effected well, or,
2. a good strategy which is not effected well.

which one will u choose?

the responses from the class was actually evenly distributed. me? i chose the bad strategy. reason being that i believe that the implementation part is relatively more important than the strategy. if a bad strategy is implemented well, at least there is still a chance that the strategy might churn out good results. but if the good strategy is not implemented well, then it might jolly well be useless.

let's say in the event of a good strategy where an organisation tries to implement a good ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system so that paperwork can be reduced significantly and real-time information can be available. however, if the staff are not trained properly to use the system and revert back to doing paperwork instead of using or updating the system, the whole project will fail and the system will fail as a result.

on the other hand, if the company decides to stay status quo and not upgrade, i.e., to remain on doing more paperwork, though efficiency is not improved, work is still able to be completed, only that more time will be used.

so? the final verdict?

i was right…the bad strategy implemented well relatively yields better results than the good one.

******

this reminds me of….

but in fact, the Joba Horseriding Exercise Machine is the one which came before the iGallop, as they had claimed.

well, the iGallop looks more comfy though…

it’s all in the head and mind

 

sometimes i wonder if i'm allergic to coffee, or rather the caffeine. have been having a headache since late afternoon, after the lunch at RSYC, where i had double expresso. i know that i can't get to sleep if i drink something with caffeine too late in the nite, unless i'm already too shagged when i drink the thing. otherwise, the caffeine can make me stay awake for a least a few more hours, coz i'll become too hyper. another thing is, i've been going to the ladies every other hour after lunch, which is something unusual for me.

other suspected symptons of allergy to caffeine is that i will feel like puking. sometimes i feel like vomitting after a coffee from starbucks or coffeebean, though i never do feel this way after a kopi drink from kopitiam. is it because i cannot take too much caffeine?

but come to think of it, i never felt like that when i used to drink double expresso in the morning when i worked in the hotel the last time. hmm~

anyway, whatever it is, i only know that my head feels sucky now. i can still feel the throbbing pain going on in the heavy head.

******

i got my assignment marks for my strategic management today. IT'S A DISTINCTION!! Woohoo~ but it's still subject to moderation by the university, so still have to see if I could maintain the marks there.

this was what was written by my lecturer:

"Well researched, insightful and comprehensive. would have helped to simplify some of the thinking and draw out a little more discussion. the work done was thorough and flows well. good work."

but heard that the exam format is still the same, with 18 short answer questions which in actual fact aren't short answers at all, and an essay question. all to be completed in a span of 2 hours. almost all my other classmates who had gone thru this module had complained that there isn't enough time to finish the questions.

i always hated exams where i had to write like mad till i could feel my hand going numb or cramp soon but always can't stop even for a minute coz time doesn't allow for that. i always wished i was ambidextrous, so i can interchange my hands when i go for such exams. unfortunately, though i coulld hold a spoon, a racquet or play bowling with my right hand, i can never manage to write properly with the same. damn it, what a waste.

******

remember my crazy idea to want to take up a powerboat license? i actually went to check up a few places where they could offer such courses. found that RSYC, SP and Raffles Marina do offer boating courses. But i'll need to wait for a while more and see if the enthusiasm fizzles off, before i decide if i want to take up the course. anyway, the only thing to take up this is for fun, and just to pick up an extra skill. moreover, i've heard from my frens that it's very difficult to pass the test.

but if i do decide to take it in the end, i guess i'll settle for RSYC…hmm…actually SP sounds fine too….