#1209: 24/7 a day is not enough.

I'm occupied on ALL days this week and I start school on Monday.
How sad is that?
I don't even get a break. :(
But with all due respect, I've had so much fun over this summer (the bestest best summer I've spent ever!) I guess it's time to sit down and get some serious work done.

Monday: complete enrollment --> Kranji to make employee's pass for STC --> parkway --> Changi Airport to send Daryl off to Canada.

Tuesday: YOG shift from 0700-1945. Insanely working hours I tell you.

Wednesday: YOG shift from 1330-1900. Not so bad, I'll have ample rest for the next day.

Thursday: YOG closing ceremony.

Friday: Orientation. I wouldn't call myself a freshie since I'm into my second year of the three years bachelor's course.

Saturday: Referencing workshop cos apparently, Murdoch uses a different referencing system from the standard Harvard referencing system.

Sunday: Supposedly F1 Grand Prix product briefing but I gotta skip that due to STC shift.

Monday: BACK-TO-SCHOOL!!!

PS: I'm kept busy so I won't have time to deal with childish and nonsensical stuff.
That aside, I'm reconciling my friendship with a dear friend though. We used to be close and texted till late into the night but drifted apart for awhile. Now we're back on the track again! ^^
The long texts with in-depth thinking sorta brought back memories and I'm glad I'm perceived as a friend who cares and worthy of the trust given upon. :)

Sent from Omnia®2 on the go

#1208: Goodbye Ixus baby, Hello Lumix baby!

I got myself a Panasonic Lumix LX 3 thanks to my fairy godmother. xD
As such, I decided to pass my Ixus baby down to Ling; she won't consider it as a hand-me-down, she's in fact, more than thrilled to own a camera at long last.
So there's now a Lumix baby and an Ixus baby, plus Hui's Sony cam in the house.
Woah, now we're lacking a Nikon and Olympus. Haha.

I remember Xiaxue owns a Lumix LX-3 as well and I searched her blog for the post.
Here's what I found.

It's amazing how she managed such bling bling results eventually!

Gorgeous or what!

http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/2009/04/random-boring-updates.html

- http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/2009/04/day-before-my-quarter-life-crisis.html

And when I look at my black and plain Lumix baby, I can't help but have the desire to glam it up too!
Pity I'm not gifted in this area.
It takes certain skills to help my camera undergo transformation.






PS: I will TRY though. Heehee.

#1207: Fish, fish!

I came home one day to receive shock.
Tingting brought FISHES back home where she caught them during an excursion to the animal farm/fishing pond.
And she simply refuses to throw them away or at least let them free into the longkang or something. She's not the least bit intimidated when I threatened to pour the dish-washing agent Mama Lemon into her pathetic little tank.
SIGH~

Sent from Omnia®2 on the go

#1206: Burnt out but worth it!

This was my original schedule for YOG at Marina Reservoir for the competitive events which include Rowing, Canoe&Kayak.

Monday, 16th Aug, 0830-1315.
Tuesday, 17th Aug, 0830-1300.
Wednesday, 18th Aug, 0800-1400.
Tuesday, 24th Aug, 0700-1945.
Wednesday, 25th Aug, 1330-1900.

My boss very conveniently enticed me to work for one more venue seeing my over-enthusiasm for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games and my schedule for the following two days would be like this...

Tuesday, 17th Aug, 0830-1300 at Marina Reservoir then I'm gonna meet shishi for a short lunch then report to work at ICC (Suntec) from 1500-2315.
Simply put, I will be working from 0830-2315 tomorrow.
*mouth left hanging open*

And as for Wednesday, 18th Aug, I will be at Marina Reservoir from 0800-1400 and then go to ICC again from 1500-2145 and then RUSH to the airport to send Mindy off for her flight due NYC (or was it Newark?).

He asked me to work on Friday too but I'm hesitating.
I reckon I would need a much-desired break after Wednesday as I would need to settle my enrolment on Thursday, and thereafter watch football for one of the games I bought for YOG.

Even when I'm typing these, I'm out of breath. HAHA.
I don't mind the hard work really.
I get paid and I get to interact with volunteers, wonderful people they are, from all over the world!
Helps in my PR skills yeah! ;)
I was speaking to one from Mexico today; she flew in on her own costs and YOG offered her accommodation at YOV.
She's here to provide interpretation services.
COOL OR WHAT!

I was happily tweeting away today as it was my first day of work for YOG and guess what?


I was pleasantly surprised to receive this email!


HAHAHA the official twitter account of YOG-Singapore 2010 decided to follow ME. LOL.
I've never been so honoured before.
I'm loving YOG.

PS: If you have been following the events on teevee closely (like me), you would have realised that the athletes really treat their competitors with immense respect and friendliness. Say on the podium, the champion will always, never fail (at least for those times I witnessed) to shake the hands of the first and second runner-up before stepping on it and receive his/her medal. Same goes for the swimming- when the champion is emerged and the camera zooms in on her, the opponents will swim over to his/her lane and congratulate the victorian, either by just a simple gesture such as tapping the shoulder or just a high-five. And mind you, they are supposed to be competitors, from different countries. Not the usual loggerheads we expect but they really epitomizes the spirit of YOG in bringing glory to the values of friendship, excellence and respect (Tingting recites these three values everyday in the house till I can totally memorise them). This is definitely not something I see in the mainstream Olympics. =/ Wow, we youths really write the future huh.

PPS: Okay I really need to go to bed. Long day ahead tomorrow. Zzz.

#1205: Eating Right.

Okay, so many, and I do mean MANY people have been commenting on my apparent weight loss (but I still don't see where) and that had finally got me sitting down and think.
The weighing scale merely registered a 1KG weight loss.
Yes, the scale is working perfectly fine, no joke about that.

When I met Mindy and Talia, and Mindy's Ah Ghim (she's damn cute!!!) yesterday, Mindy's Ah Ghim stared at me in horror and exclaimed about my gaunt frame (okay there's some exaggeration in here) and ditto Mindy and Talia.
They speculated that I'm losing weight on purpose.
I had to contend against that accusation!
I'm not deliberating losing weight, I swear.
In all honesty, I am only guilty of not eating well, rather than NOT eating at all.
I am definitely eating, just about a meal a day.
There, I've said it.

I don't know why it is only one meal a day.
My meal times are so irregular.
Breakfast can be just a bun, then came some snacks and then a proper meal at dinnertime.
It's kinda scary to think that I'm leading such an unhealthy lifestyle.
It really daunts me and that's why I've decided to put the eating part of my life in order.
I'm never one to induce self-torture onto myself right? :)
I gotta take in more dairy products, eat more greens and proteins and WHITE MEAT (as recommended by Mindy's Ah Ghim).
Just MORE FOOD, in general.

I know it sounds unbelievable but I used to have a voracious appetite back in JC!
Ask my JC mates and they will tell you what a big-eater I was.
Whatever happened to me now...?!

I hardly feel hungry and when I do, I can't seem to binge anymore.
Either that or I have no appetite at all.
My stomach feels full all the time.
Argh, what a troublesome digestive system I have.

Which is why I'm trying to adhere to this healthy food pyramid and get myself back on the healthy track again!


Well, I'm not one to care about calories and the amount of fats I have to burn so snacking is NOT guilty for me.

1. 1 plain croissant, 255 kcal 
2. 1 red bean pau, 205 kcal
3. 2 ang ku kueh (green bean filling), 222 kcal 
4. 1 slice of walnut cake, 206 kcal 
5. 1 bowl of ice kacang (250ml), 261 kcal 
6. 1 sausage bun, 227 kcal 
7. 8 pieces of dried mango, 240 kcal 
8. 45g of puffed corn snack, 234 kcal 
9. 1 plain waffle, 204kcal
10. 1 bowl sweet potato soup (250ml), 297 kcal
11. 3 pieces of chwee kueh, 279 kcal 
12. 1 bowl of bean curd (200ml) with syrup, 237 kcal 
13. 5 love letters, 280 kcal 
14. 1 chocolate-coated doughnut, 250 kcal 
15. 4 seeds of Malaysian durian, 262 kcal (Thai durian has a higher fat content) 
16. 1 slice of apple strudel (97g), 214 kcal

- http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Eat%2BRight/Story/A1Story20100708-225973.html

On the contrary belief that I do not eat many types of food, all of these above-shown snacks are to my liking!
Ice kacang (my love!), sausage bun, waffles, sweet potato soup, chwee kueh, bean curd (!!!), durians and apple strudels!
AHHHH, I believe these delicacies will whet my appetite no less~

#1204: All about menstrual cramps.

I laid in bed all day writhing in pain.
Time of the month. Urgh.

I have to admit I do not know my body at all.
Or the mechanics behind how it works.
So I decided to unravel the mystery behind menstrual cramps.
Why are they so painful and what causes them will be revealed right here yo!

Without infringing any copyright laws, I'm going to reference from this website.

- http://www.medicinenet.com/menstrual_cramps/article.htm

1) What are menstrual cramps?

- Menstrual cramps are pains in the abdominal (belly) and pelvic areas that are experienced by a woman as a result of her menstrual period. Menstrual cramps are not the same as the discomfort felt during premenstrual syndrome (PMS), although the symptoms of both disorders can sometimes be experienced as a continual process. Many women suffer from both PMS and menstrual cramps. I'm a sufferer of both but are relatively mild cases for me.

Menstrual cramps can range from mild to quite severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of short duration - sometimes felt just as a sense of light heaviness in the belly. Yeah I always look as if I'm three months pregnant. My stomach will be so bloated! Severe menstrual cramps can be so painful that they interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days.

2) What causes menstrual cramps?

- Each month, the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) builds up in preparation for a possible pregnancy. After ovulation, if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm, no pregnancy will result and the current lining of the uterus is no longer needed. The woman's estrogen and progesterone hormone levels decline, and the lining of the uterus becomes swollen and is eventually shed as the menstrual flow and is replaced by a new lining in the next monthly cycle.

When the old uterine lining begins to break down, molecular compounds called prostaglandins are released. These compounds cause the muscles of the uterus to contract. When the uterine muscles contract, they constrict the blood supply (vasoconstriction) to the endometrium. This contraction blocks the delivery of oxygen to the tissue of the endometrium which, in turn, breaks down and dies. After the death of this tissue, the uterine contractions literally squeeze the old endometrial tissue through the cervix and out of the body (what the heck?!) by way of the vagina. Other substances known as leukotrienes, which are chemicals that play a role in the inflammatory response, are also elevated at this time and may be related to the development of menstrual cramps.

3) Why are some cramps so painful?

- Menstrual cramps are caused by the uterine contractions that occur in response to prostaglandins and other chemicals. The cramping sensation is intensified when clots or pieces of bloody tissue from the lining of the uterus pass through the cervix, especially if a woman's cervical canal is narrow.

The difference between menstrual cramps that are more painful and those that are less painful may be related to a woman's prostaglandin levels. Women with menstrual cramps have elevated levels of prostaglandins in the endometrium (uterine lining) when compared with women who do not experience cramps. Menstrual cramps are very similar to those a pregnant woman experiences when she is given prostaglandin as a medication to induce labor.

4) What other factors influence menstrual cramps?

- An unusually narrow cervical canal tends to increase menstrual cramps. Another anatomical factor thought to contribute to menstrual cramps is a backwards tilting of the uterus (a retroverted uterus).

Lack of exercise is now recognized to contribute to painful menstrual cramps.

It has long been thought that psychological factors also play a role. For example, it is widely accepted that emotional stress can increase the discomfort of menstrual cramps.

5) What is the treatment for common menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea)?

- Current recommendations include not only adequate rest and sleep, but also regular exercise (especially walking). Thank goodness I adore walking. Some women find that abdominal massage, yoga, or orgasmic sexual activity help. A heating pad applied to the abdominal area (this really works!) may relieve the pain and congestion.

6) What are the symptoms of menstrual cramps?

- Menstrual cramps are pains that begin in the lower abdomen and pelvis. The discomfort can extend to the lower back or legs. The cramps can be a quite painful or simply a dull ache. They can be periodic or continual. Yeah, mostly lower abdomen for me. Sometimes in between the thighs too. Sigh. The time of the month is always a torturous period for me, and many other girls out there.

Menstrual Cramps At A Glance

• Menstrual cramps are periodic abdominal and pelvic pains experienced by women.
  
• More than half of all menstruating women have cramps.
  
• The cramps are severe in at least one in seven of these women.
  
• Medically, menstrual cramps are called dysmenorrhea.
  
• Primary dysmenorrhea is common menstrual cramps without an identifiable cause.
  
• Secondary dysmenorrhea results from an underlying abnormality that usually involves the woman's reproductive system.
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat cramps.
  
• Physical exercise can help alleviate menstrual cramps.
• Menstrual cramps tend to improve with age.

Great. I'm starting to understand my body better now. xD

#1203: Counting down to ONE MORE DAY!

Happy belated birthday, Singapore! 
I am proud (though I would be way happier if I can enjoy dual citizenship) to be your citizen this year.
2010 definitely means something to me.


This segment touches me most.
To hear Kit Chan sing live wonderfully on a patriotic piece like Home is a delight in itself.

I love Singapore. I really do.
Although I may have a bunch of friends who are anti-Singapore, I believe deep down their hearts, they should be feeling grateful to have been born and bred here because they would not be what they are now without what I now call home.

I was not so hyped up about NDP because I'm very much busily involved in YOG.
Counting down to ONE MORE DAY....!!!



I have been following News 5 Tonight and have learnt of some interesting stories of YOG.

- http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1074686/1/.html

21 year old Alexander Slyzhov hails from Russia. He is currently an undergraduate and when he heard about Singapore's call for volunteers for YOG, he simply wrote an email and applied for it.
Flew here on his parents' tab and we will provide accommodation for him in the YOV.
COOL OR WHAT!

And this little boy....

- http://www.edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/news/news/430200/The_little_boy_who_could.html;jsessionid=5B8DE1829C0BB1C9B5CFF65C0B6779DA.20

If I were any younger when I read the news, I would have, like my brother, laughed at this boy for being silly.
Not that I'm saying I'm intellectually more mature than my brother now but given my present age of mental development, this boy loves his country like I do.
Only more.

PS: Tickets for YOG events are almost sold out. I received lots of grumbles because people were not able to get tickets. *LUCKY I SNATCHED MINE FAST!* I did not expect such enthusiasm from Singaporeans but apparently, ticket were being taken up like hotcakes nearing the opening ceremony. Guess Singaporeans are true to their last-minute nature.

Inaugural Youth Olympics Games held right here in Singapore.
Damn significant and worthy to be a part of it.

#1202: Pleasant colleagues are few and far between.

Six months of internship and one month extension of work were, though physically and mentally exhausting, my colleagues were my saving grace.
Of course there gotta be some bitchiness in the office but our unity is there.
It was a vibrant and casual, though not losing the formality in serious business, environment to work in and I dig that.
I don't know if I would be fortunate enough to find such good colleagues to work with again.
At least I know the current part time job I'm working in is nowhere near comparable. =/

My ex-boss recommended the job to me.
I am grateful for that.
I remember when I went for the interview for my internship, it was a panel of four interviewers.
Him, who was the manager, together with the big boss, assistant manager and the HR personnel.
I was scared stiff, never had I been interviewed by four stern faces before.
He asked me what my weaknesses are and I told him rude people put me off and I find it challenging to work with them.
In all honesty.
That left a lasting impression on him.

Two days back during my on-the-job training, my ex-boss (and current boss, haha!) pulled me to one side and warned me about this senior staff who is darn straightforward and shoots her mouth off without fear of offending people.
Which means she is plain rude, to put it in another way.
In the end, I did try to steer clear of her zone but got tekan-ed anyway.
This devil actually spewed profanities (the F word) at her fellow colleague when she encountered shortages in cash upon the end of her shift.
If I ever have the chance to speak to the big boss, I would...haha, you people know what I will do. ;)

I believe everyone deserves to be appreciated for the hard work they put in, to be recognised for their efforts, and be rewarded with praise so I abhor people who treat fellow co-workers like trash.
I hear karma calling out to those devils.

I miss my old workplace and the people!!!












My FIRST time on a bike in Singapore.


























PS: We take photos of things we never want to forget.

#1201: 946

946.

I am very very upset.
I can't tweet my unhappiness, I can't blog publicly, I can only keep my distress to myself.
In the hope that all these melancholic feelings will go away like passing dark clouds.

PS: I'm gonna retreat into my own world once more. Stupid are those who do not learn their lesson from the first mistake and commit the same folly the second time. I must really adhere to the age old teachings of our ancestors and my favourite quote of Marilyn Monroe's.

#1200: Ties that bind.

My 1200th post and it is already August.
Time waits for no man, yo!

Anyway, my emotions went on a roller coaster ride today.
I had a talk with my aunt over the funding of my education.
After that in the cab, my parents were in a discussion and they suddenly mentioned Ling.
Mum said Ling offered to work for Aunt on Sundays in an effort to help finance my tuition loan.
That was not all.
My aunt pays $5 for the entire day.
Five freaking dollars for say, five hours.
I don't know how Ling is gonna help with that but what she thought was, she could at least make some contribution you see.
Like, accumulate all the five dollar notes and make it into one thousand or something.
Then Mum said Ling is really kind and has a good heart and the guy who is gonna have her as a wife is one damn lucky chap.
I couldn't help but tear at her selflessness.
I hid my face, of course.
I just couldn't help it.
It was too emotional.

That is why sometimes I doubt my decision to want to pursue higher education.
I did tell Adrian before that I was casting doubts over wanting to get a degree but he managed to convince me in the end.
In today's world, a degree, that piece of paper which certifies that you hold a Bachelor's, is mandatory.
Sheesh, plus the fact that all my friends are so damn freaking smart I feel like a juvenile before them. LOL.
And, one can never acquire enough knowledge, can they?

Back to my family.
I was walking home with Mum yesternight.
She said that I have grown thinner.
I told her HQ said the same thing too but I don't see the significant difference.
She then said that she was heartbroken that I did not eat enough, not taking enough vitamins and blah.
Today, she specially cooked herbal chicken soup, thinking the tonics would make me grow stronger.

Ah, I love my family so much that I would do anything to make their lives easier once I am stable.

#1199: Pumping through the veins.

I am so shagged I can literally fall on the bed and snore right away but I feel the urge to blog this post and here I am sacrificing my sleep in an attempt to pen all my thoughts down.
I was that lethargic I did not even bother to turn on my vaio and used the desktop instead.
Look.


Not used to the 22inches screen and the not-so-ergonomic keyboard.
My vaio still rocks my socks despite criticisms by followers of a certain fruit brand. HAHAHA.
Huiqi is so gonna rebut this claim. =/

I could be at Timbre @ Old School now but I fought against the temptation and came back home.
Huiqi is at a birthday party and she drank.
Good, this girl is growing up and I'm staying true to my resolve.
I kept saying I quit drinking but in truth, I'm just trying to abstain from it.
Drinking is bad.
I haven't been drinking for three months!
HA. Never thought that would come out from my mouth eh?

I'm not going to lie.
I do miss the feeling of the alcohol pumping through my veins.


But I most definitely do not miss the drunken times.
You people know that I keep an organiser cum diary to record the things I do in my everyday life.
I was browsing through the 2009 and the current one and I counted the number of times I drank and was drunk.

1. (24th Oct 09) Australian Wine Event at Suntec (plus wine tasting at booths) and then Katong and back to D's house with B, D &SJ.
2. (13th Nov 09) Alps Cafe with B&SJ.
3. (27th Nov 09) D's house with B. Absolut Mango with Sunkist Orange Juice. Was fireman-carried by D and then cabbed to SJ's house while I was unconscious throughout. Puked at the gate of SJ's house.
4. (24th Dec 09) Xmas eve countdown at D's house with B.
5. (28th Dec 09) Benjamin's chalet with B. 
6. (16th Feb 10) Mahjong at D's house during CNY.
7. (19th Feb 10) Botak Jones with BD.
8. (26th Mar 10) My 21st birthday party.
9. (16th Apr 10) D's house with B.

Out of the 9 times I drank (and mind you, all of them were with B), I was drunk 7 times which means I went dead and slept and I was only slightly sober twice.
Not a very honourable record.
In fact, it is rubbish.

I drink whenever B's around because... he's an alcoholic.
Peer pressure so he always influences me. 
HAHA, kidding la.
In his defence, I could say that I have always been in good hands in my intoxicated state.
He does take very good care of me instead of leaving me on the streets to rot.
Maybe that's whyI feel safe with him around y'know.
Still, I cannot figure out why we end up drinking almost every time we meet.
However, I know why I always succumb to being drunk.
All thanks to my huge ass, sky-high ego.
I simply refuse to lose to him and see that cocky grin of his and thereafter I will land myself in boiling hot soup.

I've learnt from my many lessons.
I'm ashamed of myself for imposing on friends.
I have inevitably earned myself a very, very bad reputation. :(
And what's most important is, I never want to find myself waking up to someplace I am not familiar with, sleeping on someone else's bed and feel terribly guilty and shameful of myself.
Why should I put myself to such torture?
It's pointless to want to hurt myself this way.

So long, alcohol.

PS: I just checked my Twitter account. Am very touched at my friends' faith in me.




There's hope for me. :)