Lady in Waiting

I am starting to get nervous and restless about the pregnancy. I have already started my maternity leave 2 weeks ago and I fear I may have done so rather prematurely. The clock is ticking and after so many false alarms the baby shows no sign of entering the world just yet.

However, the thought of going back to work is not an option. I am absolutely EXHAUSTED. The commute would have been just too much and I reckon the sight and thought of the same old pathetic issues would probably put me straight into labour.

I am past 38 weeks now - which means a new record as the 2 boys were both born at 38 weeks. Hrmmmph....

The Last of the Great Pretender

Laukong arrived today - it's amazing how that has improved our well-being at the in-laws. Yesterday the broken pipe in our bathroom got replaced with a new one after being out of order for a month. We came home to find that our bedroom was spick and span clean. Normally when we go out, the room is left as is - i.e. a complete mess full of scattered toys and what-not courtesy of the 2 boys. The bathroom was clinically clean - not a smear of shit in sight.

...I rest my case.

What's Cooking?

Congratulations, David Cook! Woo-hoo!

Spooks & Spalr

24 Season 7 won't be airing until a while yet (January 2009) - not sure why it's taking so long as it feels like it is a long time since Season 6 was aired.

But anyway, while waiting for Jack Bauer, there's a great alternative courtesy of BBC Entertainment on Astro - SPOOKS. I've been following Spooks since my time in Nigeria. It makes a good contrast with 24 to see how the Brits deal with terrorism compared to the Americans. Also, it doesn't hurt the fact (says she) that the hero - if you can him that - is a bit of an eye candy. *SIGH*

To Laukong

For the first time in years, I've been listening to the radio for the past few days on my commute to work and back. I heard this song today on my way home (after a L'oreal moment of a day, I'll have you know!). It is my favourite Mariah Carey song given a breath of fresh air by one of the top 3 contestants from American Idol. Just when I thought no one could top the original version - this one takes the cake.

Dear Laukong, I am dedicating this song to you because you will always be my baby...and whether you like it or not, I'm a part of you indefinitely.

Much love,
Your always fabulous other half xxx

Ode to Mothers

To all mothers out there - Happy (belated) Mother's Day.

Had a productive day at work today - but that's not to say that I like my job. It just goes to show that when I put my mind on things and focus, I do a pretty darn good job (albeit reluctantly).

...But one thing's for certain, I love my job as a mum!! And no, no salary required.

Ode to Laukong

Dear Laukong,

I got the shock of my life when I got your office autoreply that you were on leave. Good job you called on Friday night and came clean. It's funny how in my last blog I was having shopping withdrawal symptom, only to find that you are currently in NYC. It's not often that I get to envy you, so savour this rare moment as I wish I was there in NYC too. Anyway, have lots of fun and enjoy your time out. I hope you come back feeling refreshed.

Say hi to my friends Christian L and Diane vF.

Much love,
Your Fabulous Other Half
xxx

I dream of...holiday - shopping holiday, to you!

I haven't bothered updating this blog lately because every time I try to, my Internet connection crashes. It's funny, but I don't seem to have this problem with every other website that I surf.

Anyway, I haven't been feeling too well lately. I am just so physically tired these days. Everything seems to take 10-fold the effort. I cannot wait to go on long leave...am having shopping withdrawal symptoms too (not that I haven't been buying stuff lately - but that's a whole other blog entry). That definitely does not help - I'm craving for handbags!! Must...resist....temptation....and....urge....(even Soon Lee kantong seem rather attractive at this rate - not!!!).

F8

Call it the effects of deprivation from not having internet connection (boo to you, TelBru!!) for the past week. I have decided to leave my fate in the hands of the "magic 8 ball". Yes, ladies & gents - yesterday I bought myself the infamous 8 ball.

Life, mine in particular, has been rather dull and depressing lately, so I decided why not add a bit of humour and stupidity into my daily life. You should try it too - for B$15 a pop, it's a fabulous cheap thrill!

Dear TelBru

Dear TelBru,

If you were a person, I'd call you a daft twat.

Much hate,
Not Really Your Customer

Last night, Matthew, I was a disgruntled TelBru customer

..for there was no internet connection. Shesh!!

Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be the Dope Queen

I had a meeting first thing in the morning. My thoughts have not changed since yesterday. The meeting merely confirmed that a twat will always be a twat, and that work's still a bitch that barks at you and bites. But we're not going to talk about work today (I'll have you know it took me years of practice to shut off work once I am home).

I have been actively playing Dope Wars in Facebook. Really, I log on to Facebook daily (when I have internet connection) if only just to play Dope Wars. Yes, I am more than capable of leading such a sad life! But hey, it's my way of escape and winding down. Actually, I have been rather good at Dope Wars - so much so that I have been crowned the Dope Queen by Nips & Justy (as evident on my birthday cake made by the lovely Lulu). I am officially a Cartel General with an estimated net worth of more than 200 billion, and currently working hard towards making my first trillion - if only real life was this easy.

Smack the money maker, people.

Much snort,
DQ xxx
(no, I don't sell ice-cream, bi-otch!)

Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Judge Dredd

After a week's leave, I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread. The answer was simple - I hate work. The journey to work did not help either. The usual traffic jam in Sg Liang gave me ample time to mull over what a drag of a day I was going to have.

...Actually, it's not work that I hate so much - I have never (I don't think) been known as the lazy sort nor shy away from hard work - it's actually the job. It has become such a dreary routine with the constant whinging of never-satisfied people. If I can at all be honest about it, I think the novelty and challenge wore off as soon as I got on seat. Let's just be frank here, I was never the "people's people" type anyway. It's amazing how I've managed to end up in this career. I can blame it on a few things:

1) The scholarship that I got meant that I have no choice but to work for the hand that sponsored.
2) Being the first-born meant that I have the (delete as appropriate) responsibility/ burden/ yoke to support my parents and my siblings - so needed to earn from day one upon graduation.
3) Blind ambition.

...then the curse of loans begets me and the balls and chains have been locked. So what started off as striving for a fancy car and all the bells and whistles that come along with being a young professional (says she), my goal is now to be financially independent. Admittedly my priority has changed - I guess, I've changed. Having kids has truly changed my perspective on life. I no longer seek trigger happy moments but rather longer-term contentment - now that's happiness at a completely different level.

So what's the point in waking up everyday for the next, say, 25 years of my life dragging my feet out of bed and dragging myself to work? To top it all off, leaving home for work while the kids are still in bed, only to come home after a long day with the kids already asleep. Is it really worth it to sacrifice my family just so I could ensure that my kids will lead a better life? But what is the definition of a better life anyway, I ask you? To be able to effort all the finer things in life that our parents could not provide us? But where does work/life balance fit into all this? Leave it to the maid to play the role of mum while I'm at work earning a living? I don't think that's the way I want to live my life anymore.

Of course, I still would like to make a living (hey, I've got my pride), but at the same time I want to be more in control of my life and family too. So here's my wishlist:

1) Earn a living doing something that I want to get out of bed for.
2) Do something that allows me the flexibility to spend time with the kids.

But I guess, there is a light at the end of every tunnel. I have read and seen so many inspiring stories about working mums who can achieve both. I guess it's a matter of me finding the guts to take the plunge...of course notwithstanding achieving that financial independence first.

Name that Idiot - Bitch oso you!!

It has been such an awful week - work-wise that is. My hit list has trebled from this week alone. If energy was powered by morons, the oil and gas industry would collapse from bankruptcy in a second.

Oh well, my consolation is that it gets my creative name-making skills up a notch or two. So here's introducing:

1) Pinhead
Description: An alleged highflying finance expat. He has earned this name not because he reminds me of that terrifying character from The Hellraiser (he wish!!!), but because he looks just like a pinhead. Toothpick skinny with a small head - yes, you catch my drift.

Crime committed: An absolute twat of a wanker with the inclination to end his e-mail that he is pro-Bruneianisation. But he forgets that people actually reads the WHOLE e-mail content which illustrates that he actually has no regards for the cause.

2) J.M. (Janji Manismu) - this one's for you Theory
Description: An esteemed leadership team member of the HR community.

Special ability: Disappearing act and diminishing accountability.

3) Dayang Budimah
Description: A colleague from the another department who is the female version of our beloved SEAGAMES mascot "Awang Budiman" (big head, small body - except this lady doesn't have the heart nor brains to match her colossal head).

Crime committed:
1) Giving me the silent treatment and pretending that I am invisible - unless she can see through walls (I've only just noticed this recently after repeatedly being given the cold shoulder).
2) Sore loser because she didn't get the lead role - someone needs to tell her that Awang Budiman doesn't get medals and can never win because he is just a big, fat, fucking mascot and you are not even one!!
3) Fashion faux pax (contributed by Theory) - being seen in public wearing the short-skirt-tudung combo. Accordingly to eye witness account, it was a truly sobering experience.

On another note, coaching is proving to be a skill I have yet to master. My patience is running thin with this youngling I'm supposed to coach. It's okay if you can't fix stupid (credit to Justy for this quote), but I can't stand inconsistent delivery. I don't know if it's laziness or "I'm so great that ideas are pouring out from the part of my body where the sun don't shine" attitude. Whatever the case may be, I guess this is a learning opportunity for me (hear me out, I'm having a Confucious moment here).

Tacky is the New Cool...and We Love It!!

Went to 2 dear friends' (Justy and Nips) farewell party straight after work. It was a 70's/80's themed party. So of course yours truly, being the self-proclaimed 80's queen that she is, dressed the part (must say it was courtesy of Hua Ho Tutong for stocking up some tacky - bordering to dodgy - 80's-esque selection of clothing).

We had some photo shoot sessions that would put Maria Arshad and Noreen Noor to shame. If only Mama Juwie was around to witness the event and feature us in the "poster meletup" of URTV or Variapop (Variasari on a bad day).

The grand finale of the party was of course the much anticipated KTV moment. Theory managed to stock up some "Melayu Gemilang" karaoke VCD's (Shima, Sudirman, Francissca Peters, DJ Dave - you get the picture). We took turns taking centre stage in true Bintang Mutika-style (yes, shift from camera 1 to 2 while singing and distancing the mic when hitting the high notes - amateurs, please take note). Syed Rahmat (bless his camp soul) would have been proud.

Unfortunately, I came home to a couple of in-laws waiting for for me and (almost) dampening a lovely night of cheesy fun.

Bad Apple

My Macbook has failed me on Thursday. Turned out that my hard disk crashed. I had to get a new hard disk installed, and sadly unable to recover whatever lost files I had in my previous one.

Bad Apple! Bad Apple!

p/s Do I see a Macbook Air in the near future? Hint: My birthday's coming up.

Happy New Year, 2008

Happy New Year. Happy New Me.

Bend & Tada!

Bend & Bump!

Ok...so I've decided to catch on my instincts and bought myself a test kit yesterday. Not surprisingly I tested positive. Another bun in the oven, that is.

No comments. Can't say it wasn't planned. That's all.

Bend & Snap!

Right. I've had one of those "snap" moments today. Don't ask me how I know, but I reckon I'm......

....watch this space.