Bookwork Deluxe : Eat, Pray, Love

The first time I heard of this book, I thought the story reflects me. After all, the three words can easily describe me - eat, pray and love. So when I first saw that this would be turned into a movie and starring none other than Julia Roberts, I told myself it would be a movie worth watching!

And I am not wrong. The movie captures the essence of the book. Not many book-to-movie films actually capture the essence of the book, but this one did so successfully. Hence reviewing the book is just like reviewing the movie.

The author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote about the down period in her life - after a divorce, loss of her money and not enough jobs were forthcoming. So she decided to take a year off to "discover" herself so to speak.

She spent a few months in Italy, eating, enjoying life, learning Italian and drooling over cute Italian guys, while making some friends in the process. She spent another few months in India, trying to "find" herself, mediating. She met the guy Richard from Texas who taught her about life and mediation, and about life's problems. She then spend the remaining months in Bali, learning from her guru and meeting a dream South American hunk in the process.

Even though my experiences are not that similar to hers (for one, I have never been married), but I can understand her struggles. Many a times, people (men or women) have reached a crossroads. They go by life just within the motions, not really caring whether they are truly happy or not.

Only the really brave ones are able to break out of the monotony and wants a change for himself and herself. That will be when he / she starts discovering him / herself. Like Elizabeth, some may go travelling for some journey of self-discovery. If I can afford to take a year off, I do not mind doing what she did too!

In any case, this book is a pretty good read. I have not really come across any of Elizabeth Gilbert's books, but this seems to be her best book by far. The movie is not that far off too. Now I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this book which she recently published this year!

Once A School Geek ....

The movie “You Again” kind of reminds me of my own school days. How many of us emerge out of school without any hurdles? Some of us were the geeks – the ones that were constantly being taunted, and some of us were the tormentors – the popular ones where everyone looked up to.

The main character in the movie reminds me of myself. I, too, wore thick glasses with straggly hair. I, too, was plain with no fashion sense. Not only that, I was short and dark with a deep voice. Actually, I am still short, dark, with a deep voice, plain and with no fashion sense.

In any case, the main character of the movie became confident, started wearing contacts and became one of the top Public Relations executives in her firm. Just like her, I also became confident (although I took a much longer time), started wearing contacts and having a better dress sense.

Then she was called back home to attend her brother’s wedding, only to find out that her sister-in-law-to-be is the very school belle who tormented her back in high school, and yet the latter seemed to have no recollection of the whole incident. She started being her insecure self again, trying to show her up and warning her brother of the true colours of his bride-to-be.

I can so relate to that! The series of nicknames I had back in school, the way I looked in school, the way my mum controlled me where the rest of my classmates basically could do whatever they pleased, made me a not-so-popular girl. Hence, after secondary school, I decided to revamp myself. I started wearing contacts to rid myself of my glasses. I started putting on makeup. I started growing my hair again. I started having a better dress sense (or at least tried to have a better dress sense).

What was worse was that I wanted to forget about those "unglory" days so much that I cut myself off from my school mates, so much so that I missed all the reunions as I thought I would be so awkward in front of them. I even went so far as to hate my younger pictures as they reminded me of the "geek" I was. Some of those old schoolmates have found me on Facebook, whereas there are others I added on my own accord but we never spoke to each other.

Now after all these years, the childhood “trauma” seems to have been overcome a little. Whenever I come across a familiar name in Facebook and tried to add the person, I always wondered if the person would add me. And added me she did. But still, I was worried she would remember me as the quiet, mousey, whiny girl who could not go out after school and could only go home and be a “good little girl”, when I so much wanted to be the life of the party. And up to now, I still refuse to look at my younger photos.

Still, everyone grows up. It seems as if whatever grudges I thought people bore me, no one remembered that. We just managed to get re-connected with no hint of anger, bitterness and pettiness. Hence, if the rest have forgotten about the past, why should I bother? How many of us have not done naughty things in the past? Why should we then bother to dig it up when we are living a pretty satisfactory life right now?

The only thing one can do is to keep looking forward towards the future. Whatever is past, is past. What matters is the present and the future.

Official Resignation

So it is official. When my boss came in this morning, I spoke to him regarding my decision to move. He said from a boss' point of view, he would like me to stay on, but he says too that he knows he cannot ask me to stay because the offer I have been given is so much better than what the current place can give. Hence, he accepted my resignation.

I signed and submitted the letter and passed to him. He would then have to speak to the Chief Finance Officer and the Human Resources to see when would be my official last day and if I can offset my remaining unutilised leave.

Having said this, since the letter is dated today, I have one more month left with this company, before I move on to greener pastures. Hope my remaining days go by smoothly!

Winning Voucher From McDonald's

McDonald's is having a Monopoly promotion, where for every value meal you get, you are entitled to a stamp. The trick is to collect all the stamps (for every different colour and road names) and then submit to McDonalds to claim your prizes.

Of course, there are also other prizes by the sponsors, like a car voucher, McDonald's meal vouchers, watch vouchers and so on. My colleagues and I were at McDonald's for lunch earlier. They collected a total of ten stamps and I collected two. Unfortunately, we could not get the stamps of all the colours as there were quite a few repeated ones.

However, I managed to get a stamp for a one-for-one ride up the Flyer! Which means I can bring someone else up the Flyer for just the price of one! And the voucher expires in March next year, so I have a few months to utilise it. That is great!

Perhaps I will bring my dear there during his birthday next year, since he has never been up the Flyer before. Hope it will be a great experience for him!

The Weight Loss "Contract"

After my many failed attempts at trying to slim down, but no results were forthcoming, my mum decided to take a desperate stab at an attempt to force me to really lose weight once and for all. She asked me to draft out a "contract", stating that for every one kilogram I lose per month, she would give me S$100.00. She would give me six months, and after that I must lose a minimum of six kilograms (one kilogram per month), and she would pay me accordingly.

If I lose more than six kilograms (like ten kilograms) after the six months, she would give me a double bonus. However, if I did not manage to shed any kilos after six months, I would have to give her S$100.00. And if I gain weight instead, every one kilogram I gain, I would have to give her S$100.00 per month, subject to S$600.00 for six months.

Now, with this kind of deal, it would be madness not to accept! So I drafted out the contract as follows :

WHEREAS
Party A (me) has agreed to enter into this Agreement with Party B (my mum), and both Parties have agreed as to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

IT IS AGREED as follows :

1. Definitions
The following definitions apply unless the context requires otherwise :

“Agreement” means this Agreement, together with the schedules, annexures, and attachments, if any, as they may later be amended or supplemented by the Parties in writing;

“Commencement Date” is the date specified in Clause 3 below;

“Ending Date” is the date specified in Clause 4 below;

“Parties” means Party A and Party B collectively, and “Party” means either of them singularly;

“Period” means the whole period specified in Clause 5 below;

“Weight Loss” means the amount of weight loss effectively from the Commencement Date for the entire Period, including and up to the Ending Date.

2. Agreement For Weight Loss
2.1 Party A hereby agrees to lose one (1) kilogram a month, subject to a minimum of six (6) kilograms for the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date.

2.2 Party B will give Party A the amount of Singapore Dollars One Hundred Only (S$100.00) for a minimum of every one (1) kilogram lost per month, subject to a minimum of Singapore Dollars Six Hundred Only (S$600.00) for a minimum of six (6) kilograms lost for the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date.

2.3 If Party A manages to lose more than six (6) kilograms for the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date, Party B will give Party A a double bonus at Party B’s discretion, subject to a minimum weight loss of ten (10) kilograms or any part thereof for the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date.

2.4 If Party A did not manage to lose any weight or gain weight during the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date, Party A will have to give Party B the amount of Singapore Dollars One Hundred Only (S$100.00) for a minimum of every one (1) kilogram gained, up to a maximum of Singapore Dollars Six Hundred Only (S$600.00) for the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date, or Singapore Dollars One Hundred Only (S$100.00) if the weight remains constant after the whole Period, up to and including the Ending Date.

3. Commencement Date
3.1 The Commencement Date shall be 1st November 2010.

3.2 The Parties hereby enter into this Agreement commencing on the Commencement Date on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

4. Ending Date
The Ending Date shall be 30th April 2011.

5. Period
The whole Period shall be a time of six (6) months from and including the Commencement Date specified in Clause 3 above, up to and including the Ending Date specified in Clause 4 above.

6. Validity
This Agreement shall be valid as at the date stated above and will automatically lapse on 1st May 2011.

EXECUTED AS AN AGREEMENT

And then both of us will sign to make this official.

So now I am posting this contract up in order to remind me that I have to stick to this contract and get my money's worth! I get to slim down and earn cash at the same time, so why not?

Me In Six Words

Last night I did a fun exercise on describing myself in just six words. What we need to do is to write down six words and then tell a little story about it. Being tired, sleepy and essentially brain dead since it was at the end of the day, I could hardly think of any.

So I stated down six words that came into my mind, "Eat, Pray, Love, Fun, Wealth and Richness". These are where my passions lie, and what I aspire to be. But now upon thinking back, I realise I would not be able to weave a story out of it.

Hence I think most appropriately, my six words would be "Fun And Laughter, Peace And Joy". Why? Because with Fun And Laughter, one gets to enjoy life, enjoy the world and living life to the fullest by working, travelling, having fun and raising a family. With Peace And Joy, one can hope for happiness, prosperity, love and no more fighting in the world. With Fun And Laughter, Peace And Joy, one can live life to the fullest by reaching out to those in underdeveloped and war-torn countries and help them to the best of one's ability, so we can all do our parts to help the poor, needy and underpriviledged.

Hence these six words encompass everything - my passions, my dreams, my ideals and my yearn to help others, as well as the mission which I have to fulfill as a believer. And with these six words, I will have to remember my purpose and mission in life!

Humour Of The Day

I received this from a colleague, which I find really funny but true!

Woman has Man in it;
Mrs. has Mr. in it;
Female has Male in it;
She has He in it;
Madam has Adam in it;
Okay, Okay, it all makes sense now...

I never looked at it this way before:
Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?

MENtal illness

MENstrual cramps
MENtal breakdown
MENopause
GUYnecologist
AND

When we have REAL trouble, it's a.. HISterectomy.

Bookwork Deluxe : Single Picky Girl

I recently finished this book by a local writer called "Single Picky Girl". She started out working at Singapore Press Holdings, then decided to fly, then quitted flying to go into journalism, then went into Corporate Communications.

Her book is a collection of articles from some of our local newspapers, talking about men, being single, life, love, lust, in general. In a way, she reminds me of my favourite journalist Sumiko Tan, who also used to rave and rant about being single until she finally got hitched recently, and now raving and ranting about married life and getting used to having another person in her house.

When I was reading this book, I came to the realisation that her articles are ordinary. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying she is not a good writer; she is. But her writing is just ordinary. She is not yet in the calibre of Sumiko Tan, nor Colin Goh, nor Adrian Tan even. In fact, I think my writing is just as good, so if she can publish a book, why can I not? I do not think my life experiences are anyway less than hers!

I am not being a green-eyed monster here, but all I am trying to say is that, she gives me hope to want to publish a collection of stories too. If she can use her columns to make into a book, then I daresay my blog has much more material I can use, especially those in my early days when I was still a whiny emotional person where my heart overruled all.

Still, her book makes enjoyable reading. Ordinary, but lifelike. I am sure many can relate to her, in their pursuit of love and life in general.

Sexual Discrimination At The Workplace?

Since last year, my company had been axing their staff. There was a first round of headcount reduction in October last year, a second round in December last year, a third round in February this year, a fourth round in September this year, and apparently, I heard there will be another round in November / December this year.

So far, I have been "saved". Apparently only those that are redundant (due to advanced technology) and those that are considered "overpaid" were retrenched. Since there is no one who can do my job (except my boss) and I am definitely not being "overpaid" for what I am doing, I consider myself lucky (or unlucky?) that I have not been given the pink slip.

However, our Human Resource Director has not been so lucky. All along, she had to do the dirty work of signing the retrenchment letters of those staff that had been axed. Needless to say, many people bear a grudge against her for breaking their rice bowls.

But it is not her fault. It was the management's decision to retrench those people. The Human Resource department does not have any say at all, they only had to do what was told. But the Human Resource Director, being the only female in an ExCo of men, is now asked to go.

Word got out that the men are not happy about a woman in authority. Wonder if that is true? If so, can this constitute sexual discrimination in the workplace? And now that she is gone, coincidentally one of the men will be taking over her department, making an all-male ExCo.

I do not know the entire situation, so I cannot fully comment or judge. But if this is indeed true, then it is sad to see that after a decade being in the twenty-first century and women being empowered for fifty years or so, this kind of thing still happens. Is there anything wrong with a woman being in authority?

This does not just happen at workplaces. Even in families, parents always tell their sons not to go for a woman who is too capable, saying that a woman should care for the family. I have already emphasised that a powerful and capable woman does not mean she is a bad wife and mother. Look at my mum. She is definitely a good wife and mother, yet a powerful, intelligent, capable and efficient worker too.

Because of her personality, it is hard for people to get along with her, no doubt, since she is considered a pushing, perfectionist "slave-driver" with very high expectations on everyone, but that does not make her less of a wife and mother. She contributed much more to this family than my dad ever had. She takes care of my paternal grandmother much better than my dad. She takes care and spends time with us more than my dad ever had. And she is a much more efficient worker than my dad ever is.

Yet even for someone like my mum, she has had her own fair share of struggles too. She had told me how in her early days, when she was promoted, there were men who were not happy about it as they felt it their due to be promoted over a woman. Hence she had to work doubly, triply, hard to prove her worth. And she was not even paid as much as a man in her same position.

Even now, women are paid just eighty-five percent of a man's pay in the same rank and position. Hence, if a man is earning lower than a woman, it means she is higher ranking than him, and he is not as educated as her. Which is why women, in general, will of course look for a man who is her equal and not someone below her.

But although a woman is able to accept a man below her (for instance, she has a Masters and he only has a mere degree), men, in general, are still not able to accept a woman who is higher than her, and earning more, being more capable at the workplace. Men still think they are the providers and hence women have to do their bidding and listen to them and not be better.

It is very hard to find a man who is not threatened by a woman's intelligence, education, rank, capability and success. Even if we manage to find such a man, parents will play a part, and from my experiences with local men, they tend to sway to their mother's words. Their mother can just make one comment about the girl they are seeing, and the girl will be dropped like a rock, even though the comment need not be necessarily negative.

Sometimes I really feel sad about things like these. In this time and age where women are expected to work and contribute to the household, yet men still expect women to give in and do their bidding, it is the men who have not moved with the times, not the women. If men are not able to face up that women are indeed getting more educated, intelligent and capable, then the government is indeed justified to feel concern about the growing number of singles and declining number of marriages.

Perhaps instead of giving baby bonus or encouraging singles to find partners and settle down, they can first change the mentality that it is alright to be with a high-powered woman, and that it will only benefit the man to find a woman better than him as she will be able to contribute more. Just like what our Minister Mentor's late wife had done, which is why he can become such a powerful figure, and not a mere ordinary person.

As the saying goes, "A successful man always has a woman behind". It is true! A successful man not only has a woman behind, but a very capable woman at that! Because if the woman is not capable, he will never be able to achieve success.

So it is up to the men whether they choose to be successful, or choose to continue living a mundane heartlander's life, with no progression and no improvement. Then I pity their children, who will suffer because their parents did not make the right choice in their way of life.

Academic Woes ....

I am having a hard time in my studies. This semester seems so rushed and I hardly have time to complete an assignment when the next one is due. Somehow I did not find it that much of a rush last semester, even though I took on more subjects. I enjoyed my previous semester very much, and did pretty well in all my assignments.

Perhaps because a lot of the coursework for last semester were on online quizzes, hence the number of assignments actually submitted were only three. There was one online examination and four written examinations, but even then, I was not too hung up because I have done well enough in my coursework to warrant a pass.

But this time round, I do not seem to be progressing. I have already submitted eight written assignments, plus one major written assignment that takes up half the weightage of the whole module. I have another major written assignment due next week.

Yet I have not been doing well. My tutors have been making comments like, "You write very well, I see great potential in you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your assignment." In this case, why could I not progress beyond a B- the most? Last semester I could still score a solid A in my written assignment, yet this time round, everything seem to have dropped drastically.

If I cannot even achieve high grades for my assignments, what hope can I ask for during examinations? Then if I do not do well for my examination, what hope can I ask for a CGPA of a decent score?

My examinations are starting in less than a month. Once I clear my last major assignment, I will concentrate full scale on studying for the examination. Even though this time round I only have two written papers because the rest are on full coursework, still I fear I may not do as what I desired. And if I do not do well, not only will my overall grades be pulled down, whether I progress further or not will be affected, and how many modules I can take next semester will be affected too.

What else can I do? I really hope I can do well in my examination to pull up the grades a bit, but basing on track record, I never seem to do well for examinations! I can only hope and pray that I can still score enough to take on maximum load next semester!

Nowhere Job

I really feel my job going nowhere. For the past couple of months, there have been hardly any emails or transactions going on. In fact, my personal emails are even more than my work-related emails!

People say if it is really that everyone is so busy and I am the only one who is free, then I should start worrying. But the fact of the matter is that I know a lot of people are just as free. I have been reading comics, doing assignments, surfing net throughout office hours. I know of people surfing You Tube and listening to music throughout too.

I wonder if it is just me, or is everyone really so free? Initially people thought I was pretty free because I always seem to leave on the dot. But that time there was still work, and I came in early, and worked right to knocking off time, without taking time to socialise or gossip. Hence, I could finish up and leave on the dot.

But now, there is really nothing much to do! It is not as if the company is not functioning, but things have slowed down a lot. I see our Chief Finance Officer and Chief Executive Officer being as busy as before, maybe busier since there have been some changes the past quarter, but when it comes to small fries like me, somehow things are stagnant.

Just as well I am leaving! Hopefully I will not be so bored in my new place!

Birthday Trip To The Zoo

During my birthday, my dear came to my place and surprised me with a bouquet of red roses, together with a chocolate cake from Awfully Chocolate. Then he brought me to the zoo to spend the day. It was a very good deal, because the birthday person gets to go in for free, and because we would be going to the zoo and the Night Safari at the same time, we got a discounted package.

So we spent a good day looking at the animals, taking the tram ride and boat ride around the marshes of the nearby reservoir, and just enjoying each other's company. It was a pretty fun day in all!

The Tamarind

An otter

A Malayan Tapir

Wild boars

The white tiger

Marshes of the reservoir

A Mandrill

A chimpanzee

A crocodile

The garden pavilion

The male komodo dragon

Giant turtles

The baby komodo dragon

Orang utans

The peacock

The eland - a type of deer

The white rhinoceros

A kind of crane

The ostrich

The cheetah

The zebra

The giraffe

The giraffe skull

Lionesses

The king of the jungle

The queen of the jungle

The puma or mountain cat

The jaguar

Close-up of the zebra

An elephant ride

This elephant actually winked at us!

An elephant skull

This footprint belongs to the oldest matriach of the elephants

Entrance of Night Safari

A Halloween Pumpkin

Restaurant where we had dinner

My free birthday ice cream

Fire performers

Stage of the "Creatures of the Night" Show

A wayang kulit - shadow puppet performance