^%#@&! I have to work tomorrow, if only to show Boss that I can do it. The idea of working on Sat just sucks big time. It was 1 of 2 days when I can have a proper, wonderful, relaxed sleep. And now it's gone. All this for a pittance.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:44 PM

I'm stressed, and depressed. Therefore, I went shopping during lunch.

In anticipation of a variable bonus, I rewarded myself with a grey Mango pin-striped suit (looks better and smarter on me than in the photo) and a pair of strappy baby pink Charles & Keith heels.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:36 PM

I just got home and finished my dinner. Have things I wanted to blog about but my brain is too dead to formulate the thoughts into words. So, another time.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:52 PM

We had a departmental lunch today, together with Department C's colleagues, among whom are Josh and Ken from Hong Kong. Dew (from Dpt C) is on a mission to matchmake the 2 of them and apparently, they think Josh and I would be perfect together.

He's totally eligible: tall, decent-looking, well-educated, well-spoken, well-travelled and holds a high-ranking position at a young age. Which I take to mean that he must earn a fair bit too. The thing is, he's a bit sissy-fied (meaning feminine for the uninitiated) in his mannerisms. That kinda puts me off.

Anyway, as I was discussing with Workaholic some days ago, it seems like a chore getting to know someone new nowadays and it's been a long time since I've even met anyone I'm remotely interested in.

Sighhhh, I'll just let nature take its course. It was super embarrassing when Su and even Boss was trying to promote Josh to me after lunch! It's not as if the guy's interested in me!

Plus, I still miss Someone, even if he's a big jerk.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:37 PM

I slept at nearly 7:00am and just dragged myself out of bed now only because of a dental appointment at 11:30am. Coming back for more ZZZZzzzzzz after that.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:08 AM

It was raining this morning when I woke up, so any plans to go shopping or for hair treatment flew out of the window.

Feeling lethargic, I took an afternoon nap and was a bit disoriented to find it dark when I woke up at 7:30pm. It took me a min to realise that it's not morning and I don't have to rush for work.

Anyway, I felt bored and wanted a few drinks. Headed down to Winebar and Velvet with Workaholic and Sleepaholic. We had 17 Lychee/ Watermelon Martinis between the 3 of us! Yummy! Alcoholics, the bunch of us. I'm such a lousy drinker! Downed the first 2 too fast and felt a bit sick after that. Thankfully, I recovered enough to enter Velvet with them. Would have been such a spoilspot if I had ended up puking then.

There was a big buaya-loser-poser in Velvet who circled the club and chatted up practically every single gal inside. He first approached Sleepaholic while we were getting drinks and after we brushed him off, we saw him getting the digits of several gals (separately, of course). Later, he brought a friend along and introduced us. Another loser. Talked with a fake slang. First, he pretended to be a Japanese tourist (obviously not) and then said he's joking when I mentioned that Workaholic can speak some Japanese. After that, he repeatedly ask where we were from even after I answered. Like duhhhhhh. Singaporeans obviously.

When we excused ourselves to get another drink, they said they'll wait there for us and Workaholic said, "It's ok, no need." Hahaha, what a brush off.

Usual ending to a night out. I just got home from supper at Newton Circus where we indulged in our stingray, black carrot cake and satay. Yupz, at 4:00am. We are gluttons on top of alcoholics.

Mini-celebrity sightings: Benedict Goh (Better looking than when he was in showbiz) and Mark Zee (Cute! Alone, without Rachel Lee.)

# posted by Shopaholic : 4:28 AM

I like this skirt, but it's too expensive. And I'm not sure whether the gathers would look funny.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:31 PM

I was so tired tonight that I took a cab home after work. There were cabs streaming past me at Raffles Place but none halted for 15min. All were either on call or didn't want to pick up passengers. Probably wanted to wait for calls.

The taxi driver who finally stopped for me promptly engaged in a monologue, grumbling about last night's passenger who ran off without paying. This went on for almost 20min until he finally shut up. I can understand the need for taxi drivers to break their boredom by conversing with their passengers. However, I was dead tired and the only reason I took a cab was to get a rest and get home to my dinner sooner.

I never know how to politely tell them that I'm not in the mood to chat.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:04 PM

Cause: Work stress and late nights
Effect: Major pimples breakout

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:02 PM

New header! I was experimenting with Photoshop and was bored with my old one.

# posted by Shopaholic : 2:01 PM

The latest of the shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, Shopaholic & Sister, has been out for some months and the local library just stocked it. I reserved a copy (no. 43 in line) and is looking forward to laying my hands on the book!

I stopped buying books because I've simply ran out of room to store them after devoting my top wardrobe space and an entire bookshelf to them.

# posted by Shopaholic : 12:43 AM

A friend told me today that it's common for married men nowadays to cheat.

That brings me to the question: If it's so common for married men and women (per newspaper reports) to cheat, why then do we aspire to find "The One" and get married? It doesn't naturally equate happily-ever-after as we've been brainwashed since young. In fact, if one gets saddled with children and subsequently find that your Other Half is cheating on you, you might have to stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the children.

How long can love last? Can it survive the trials of money, family, different living habits and temptations outside?

For me, I know that if I love a man, I do so wholeheartedly, meaning I stay faithful and I work at solving relationship problems. But this wholeheartedness is not reciprocated by Someone, no matter how much he claims to love me.

I always envisioned myself married at 25 and having children by 30. Not happening. In fact, I was grousing to Su that I might end up being a 'bachelorette' my whole life. But is that really so bad? True, I do not have the companionship of a Other Half. Neither do I have someone to hug and kiss me etc etc. However, nor do I have the quarrels, mistrust and misery. Life's smooth, with no ups nor downs.

My jumbled thoughts. I'm coming to terms with the possibility of a second breakup between us.

# posted by Shopaholic : 12:05 AM

Dammit! Boss recruited a guy who seems to be slightly older than me. I'm feeling really threatened.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:59 PM

Payday today. I bought a pair of pink glittery shoes as a treat to myself.

Note: New blogger template again.....slow to load.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:30 PM

You use earphones (as opposed to portable radios) so that the music is for your own enjoyment and nobody else's. So why is that that I can hear the guy's songs blasting from his earphones (sitting beside me on the train)? Even the lyrics are loud and clear.

Either his earphones are spoilt or he's deaf.

Bah! I'm grouchy.

It's the hardest I've worked since I started working and there's no end in sight. Don't like! I like my TV and I like my sleep.

The increment and bonus promised better be good.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:22 PM

Phewww, just got home from work where we had the video conference with NY after work. I nearly fell asleep during the middle.

Thank god Su's hubby was kind enough to drop me home even though they had to go out of their way to do so.

# posted by Shopaholic : 11:11 PM

And I'm talking so much about my work recently because nothing is happening on the relationship front. I don't know what's happening with Someone and I'm not meeting anyone new.

No money to engage in retail therapy either.

Something happy, as a result of my healthy food intake recently, I lost a kg. Not much, but a start. Yeah!

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:23 PM

We had a departmental meeting this evening discussing Project SX's issues and brainstorming about what we are going to bring up during the video conference to be held on the coming Monday night. The meeting lasted 3 hours but I found it rejuvenating because for once, Boss actually listened to my opinions and we discussed and generated new ideas. Normally, any discussions she has are conducted with Second Boss. She also praised me for coming up with some very valid points, and that felt good.

To show her appreciation for our work (and I suspect as a sweetener for all the late nights we are supposed to put it), Boss claims that we are going to receive an incentive. Not very clear on whether it's going to be an increment or variable bonus, but I'm hoping it's the former. If sufficient, I would shelf the lookout for a new job as undeniably, this job and environment is quite cushy.

Oh, and she was interviewing candidates for a new headcount who would start out on par with me. A new headcount would definitely affect the dynamics of our department as Su would have to draw a distance in order to demonstrate her seniority. Yeah, that's how it works here. *shrugs* We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping the new person is female as a man might overtake me more easily.

That's so much on the job front.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:04 PM

From My Superstar:

What Common Breed of Dog Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Bull dog?!?!?! Description sounds fine, but not very easy on the eye eh?

# posted by Shopaholic : 9:24 PM

I am exhausted from work. I need a full week of nothing but ZZzzzz. On a good note, I made a few bucks from the Euro 2004 finals, thanks to Sleepaholic who placed the bets for me. Would have been more had I not hedged my bet by placing part of it on 'draw'.

# posted by Shopaholic : 10:39 PM

Yesterday, my company held our Family Day at the Singapore Night Safari. I attended with Workaholic, Sleepaholic and Nic-aholic.

The Night Safari was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong, on 26 May 1994. Operated and managed by the Singapore Zoological Gardens, the Night Safari is the first wildlife park in the world specially designed for viewing at night. It features some 1,000 animals representing 100 species, 43 of which are endangered.

I think it must have been one of their busiest night ever. We had to queue about 15 minutes for the tram.

The ride was really pleasant as it's cool and breezy. At certain stretches of the ride, smell of poo filled the air, especially when we were passing the elephants which, according to the guide, generates 200kg of dump each day.

We alighted at the Leopard Trail and explored the trails on foot. Most memorable was the bat sanctuary where we caught sight of bats hanging from the branches. One even flew across in front of me while I was crossing the wooden bridge. EEEeeeow! Scared the hell out of me. I quickly ran out with Workaholic and Sleepaholic. Only Nic-aholic lingered as she was fascinated by the bats.

After sighting leopards, lions, otters etc along the rest of the trail, we hopped onto the next tram for the second part of the ride. The guide, Veejay, on this tram had the 4 of us rolling with laughter with his super corny remarks and the way he speaks. 'Eaccch. Heeeerd. has. oneee. maaaaale. surroooounded. by. 20 femaaaaales. But. be carrrreful. of. tryiiiing. this. at. hooome. becauuuuse. it. can. have direeeee. consequences.' Nobody else seemed to find it amusing or abnormal, only us.

After the tram ride, we chilled out at Bongo Burgers and took some photos while waiting for the show to start at 10pm.

Creatures of the Night show. They planted a man in the audience who pretended to go around looking for his lost pet, a 10 feet carnivore named Maggie. Towards the end of the show, they managed to find Maggie in a hidden compartment amongst the audience's seats. Maggie is a 10 feet python weighing 50 kg!

When the show ended, Nic-aholic managed to get a photo with Maggie. She was so excited and fascinated by it.

Finally, prata supper at Bt Timah. We reached home at about 12:30am.

# posted by Shopaholic : 8:42 PM

I was reading up on some Photoshop online tutorials and this is my very first attempt at vectoring. Not very satisfied with it, but it will have to do for now.

# posted by Shopaholic : 1:15 PM

With Phase IV of Project SX underway, Boss basically ordered us to stay late in order to meet the deadline.

Unfortunately, my brain works on a timer that stops functioning at 6pm. Also, if I don't get sufficient rest at night, I'm like a zombie the next day. Thus, I normally don't play the 'OutLast' (as Su and I named it) game with Second Boss. He's there physically, but work? Nah. He's usually either chatting on the phone, surfing football sites or nodding off. You can bet that within 10min of Boss leaving, he's hot on her heels.

However, to improve my Boss' impression of me (in hopes of a better increment), I stayed late tonight. Yes, I worked, not 'stone'. I do have a sense of urgency regarding work at times yah?

Oooh, the triumph I felt at being the last one to leave tonight! Before Second Boss left (5min after Boss), he gave the excuse that his wife is waiting. He also told me to get more rest this week and save the late nights for next week! How hypocritical is that? He will be backstabbing me in a minute if I leave early.

# posted by Shopaholic : 9:48 PM