Dream Dream Dream

OK, so I’ve stayed away from blogging from a while due to the fact that I was so busy. I blame daylight savings. My advice: if there is anything wrong with your clocks and alarms and mobile phones, it has to be daylight savings.

OK, so here’s my daylight savings disaster of the year. As you all know, Perth has been having a trial of daylight savings for 3 years. So for the previous 3 years, we have been turning our clocks forwards by one hour in the summer and turning it back one hour in autumn. We had a dinner party on Saturday night and had some guests over. After everything, at about midnight I set my alarm at 8.30am to get up in time for church at 9.45am. That would leave me plenty of time to get ready and church is only 5 minutes away.

Or so I thought.

After that, I was about to go to sleep when I thought I’d better change all my clocks back an hour so I don’t need to do it in the morning. And I knew my mobile phone clock was not set on auto update so I had to do it manually. I thought by doing it manually, I don’t get confused and I avoid disaster. By this time, it was already past midnight, so in other words it was Sunday already. I moved my clock back an hour to 11.04pm, Saturday.

I woke up at 7am the new time, which was 8am the old time and I thought to myself, “Oh, its too early. Good, now I’ve got another hour and a half to sleep”. And I proceeded to go back to sleep.

When I woke up to the commotion outside my door, I was wondering why my aunty and cousin were being so noisy so early. I looked at my mobile and it read 9.47am.

I jumped out and raced to the bathroom and I think that is probably the shortest amount of time I’ve taken to get ready in the morning. I brushed my teeth, put my contacts in, threw on a dress and ran out the door.

And I got to church at 10am, which is when service starts. Admitedly I missed prayer but was on time for church. I’m never again going to make the same mistake of changing my clock after midnight. Daylight savings is not good.

VOTE NO FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!

Oh, before I forget I must tell you about my dream. I had a really really weird, albeit nice dream last night. I can’t remember the first part of the dream, but someone was pregnant with their 2nd kid and they were married but not legally married so some random priest had to marry them legally before the 2nd kid arrived. And somehow this is in Jordan and I’m the sister of one of the people to be married, I can’t remember who. I have no idea why I have such weird dreams man.

But anyway, then they were having this lavish wedding ceremony and I was supposed to be involved in it but then this good looking guy (think Justin Timberlake cross with Zac Efron) came and we struck up a conversation and I decided to skip the wedding. I also don’t know why but I went with this guy and we went walking around and started talking and then he started to hold my hand. I think I know where this part came from. Someone was talking about Joe’s “testing water” lecture during lunch yesterday and it probably stuck in my head.

Back to the story, we started talking and then he bought me ice cream. And then I asked him why he’s in Jordan, is it by choice? He said no in a gruff way, and he turned away. So we walked back to the wedding and he lifted by the waist over some table. No idea why but everyone was wearing sarees and dancing.

And then my alarm rang. I woke up feeling refreshed, yet so surprised that I just had such a vivid and weird dream. What a dream. If only some nice guy would buy me an ice cream. LOL. I’m too easy to please.

Housewife In Training

I’ve indeed had a very interesting week.

On Monday night, I went over to Gen & Evan’s for dinner, which turned out to be a dinner with the with them, Glorz and Justin and Uncle Gilbert and Aunty Aubrey.

Then on Tuesday night, I was busy trying to organise life group (formerly know as cell group) for last week. It was Janet’s birthday on Friday and most of my group was going to attend so we moved the group to Thursday.

Wednesday night was going to Cottesloe beach to plan the life group and logistics of it.

Thursday night was life group at Cottesloe beach, reflecting on things and praying. It was quite a liberating experience I tell you.

Friday night was spent rearranging my room, I moved the bed and revamped my room.

Saturday was spent cooking, laundry, vacuuming, looking after the baby, attending the leaders’ forum at church and more cooking.

Today was spent going to church, having lunch with friends, fixing up the fly screens, cleaning, cooking, looking after the 2 kids (not mine) and more cleaning.

After winding down from the weekend, I just had a random thought. With all the cleaning and cooking and running round after the kids, I’m probably a housewife minus the husband.

Which led me to another scary thought.

I wouldn’t actually mind becoming a housewife should that be the case. The thought of baking, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and looking after the kids isn’t that bad. At least I know I can cook and clean the house. After 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary school, 5 years of high school, 1 year of college and 4 years of uni, 2.5 months of working and now I want to be a housewife.

Tell me I need a brain reshuffle.

On The Mend

I’ve been out of action from blogging for so long it somehow feels weird to be blogging again. I definitely miss blogging, cause its my sanity outlet. I’ve been caught up with working and doing house work and sorting out my room that I just haven’t had the time to blog at all in the past month or so.

Well as the title says, I’m on the mend, trying to get back into a routine and settle in once again. I’ve been working till 6pm or 7pm 3 times a week, so that would explain why I do not have time to do much. I’ve spent the other nights doing stuff for cell group, having dinner and catch up session with some friends and attending various church activities.

As you can tell, I probably need more than 24 hours in a day to do the things that I need to do. I feel like I need some down time to run the errands that I’ve fallen behind on.

Oh btw, if anyone wants to buy a car or knows anyone who is looking to buy a car, please let me know. I wanna sell my car!

Twilight The Movie

I finally caved in and watched Twilight today at Carousel. I hate to say this and I know its very cliché but the book is better. But before you come and rant to me about how I’m biased and stupid, I shall explain myself.

Firstly, my advice to everyone who has not read the book or watched the movie, please do yourself a favour and watch the movie before the book. Being an ardent fan of the Twilight series for nearly 2 years not, that is probably the best way to go. The plot of the movie felt rather short in comparison to the book. The days Bella spent with Edward did not take up a lot of time in the movie. I think that part was crucial to portray as it was what their relationship was based on. You can’t just cut scenes and add characters in the movie without changing the dynamics of the movie.

The book itself was very well thought out, the way Stephenie described the development of the characters and their relationships was brilliant. Fair enough, you can’t actually portray everything that Bella thinks, but for the most part of it I think it was very hard to read into her facial expression. I think also that adding the Whalen or Forbes (whoever that Butt Crack Santa guy was) is a bit weird. That part was never in the book, only some killings had been happening in Seattle. I was rather surprised when this person came out of the blue like that.

I think the movie is good in a sense that its sound effects and music were brilliant. Though there probably could be more sound effects happening in some scenes. I think I might be a bit nit gritty about the whole adding and chopping scenes as I have read Twilight and the partial draft of Midnight Sun. I balked when Tyler suddenly kissed Bella, I scratched my head wondering since when Bella carried a pot of cactus all the day from Arizona and I grimaced when I saw that in quite a few scenes that Bella was actually paler than Edward. When there was not a special meadow scene, I wa quite disappointed. Then again, I guess with budget and time constraints, there is only so much that one can do.

Though I must say, Robert Pattinson is quite a looker. I think that was what drew many people to the movie and books after that. Hey, pick the hot guys to star in the movie right?

At the end of the day, I didn’t pay for the movie since I had a gift card but I would say buy the DVD and sit in front of a really powerful sound system and watch it at home. And don’t read the book before you watch the movie! You will be disappointed.

Another piece of advice, once you have finished watching the movie, do go and buy all the books. The books are really worth the money spent on it. I guess I just might be a more wordy person than I am a movie-from-book kind of person.

On Murukus

I have a question for you.

Why would anyone put raisins in a packet of muruku?

For those who don’t know, muruku is savoury snack, with things like dried peas, bits of biscuit like things, and nuts. Its a bit hard to explain but try googling it.

I won a Christmas hamper with the Christmas raffle and in it was a packet of muruku. Well, it isn’t called muruku but its called a savoury snack nibbbles by a brand called Majans and the product is actually called Bhuja Original Mix.

I supposed one could ask a few question of this dubious snack. What is a Bhuja Original Mix? In caps as well. Was there a variation from Bhuja? And what is a Bhuja anyway? So many questions, so few answers.

So there you go. That is the question of the day: Who would put raisins in a packet of Bhuja Orginal Mix?

I’ll leave it to you to answer that.

Decluttering

Well, I think I flooded Facebook enough last night with all my photos and I think my blog is pretty full of photos as well. So this post won’t be photo based so rest assured your bandwidth is still intact

I’ve not been up to much lately, slowly getting into the swing of things as a full timer at work. I just got given a mobile phone and got some business cards made up. I’m getting the car relatively soon. And I’m getting paid for working. As I stand back and look at my life, I realise how blessed I am.

I cannot even begin to count my blessings. I landed a job even before I got out of uni, I get paid a good salary, I get perks that people would kill for, and I get a place to rent from a really good friend. Over the years, I thought maybe I didn’t have it so good, but you know what? I did. I was just too blind to see that God had already pre arranged everything for me. All I had to do was obey.

I am well aware of the current economic situation and how fortunate I am to be able to find work. I really treasure my job and the chance that I have been given to prove myself. I know people might see the odd hours I work as stressful (I finished at 6pm today. There are times where I finish at 7pm and will be starting work at 6.30am this Thursday), but you know *shrugs shoulders* come what may. I’ll take each day at a time.

Speaking of taking each day at a time, its this time of year where everyone starts breaking their New Year’s Resolutions. I for one, did not come up with New Years Resolutions. But I’ve been reading Karen Cheng’s blog and she has come up with monthly goals of things to do. I think that is much more realistic than trying to change just one big thing at the start of the year without being prepared for it at all. So I’ve taken in her footsteps (she’s one of my blogging inspirations, amongst a few) and written a short list for this month.

This month, January, I shall work on:

So that is what I’ll be doing for the rest of this month. I’ll be throwing out or charity bin-ing things, recycling items, and reusing items. I’ll also be attempting to bring lunch to work everyday for the rest of the month as part of a strategy to save. This sounds a bit like what I did at uni with goals and target objectives. Goals are basically an overall idea of what you want to do and target objectives are how you are going to get there. Think Occupational Therapy has been ingrained in me that I just use my skills without knowing it!

Well, off to put goal number 2 into action. Declutter my arts and craft box. Here’s to me doing things on time tonight!

Packing

Only 2 more sleeps till the family arrive. Thus, what the title says, I am doing. Packing to go sleepover at Aunty Siew Lian’s place and half packing to go down south. Then again, there is always Thursday night to pack to go down south since I’ll be back here for a while. So much things to do, so little time!

Random pictures of the day:

Stuff for sleepover tomorrow night just so I don’t have to drive all the way down tomorrow night and I’ll have some quiet time to myself.

Yes, my car has done 20 200km. Though I probably have only done 5000km on it since I really started to drive.

If you can guess what this thing is, I applaud you. Answer will be out in the next post

Finished! For Good

It all comes down to this. 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary school, 5 years of high school, 1 year of college, and 4 years of uni. I’ve handed in my portfolio to be marked, gotten it back and passed. Checked my online results and its been changed to a pass and I’m now not enrolled in any units. Therefore, I’ve passed everything without a hitch.

I went to the OT Australia WA Sundowner event and it was an ok networking thing. Not many OTs there, but there were a few of the big shots so it wasn’t too bad

Now I’ll be catching up on paperwork for work and a whole heap of paperwork for the migration application. Here’s to everything working out! God has been really good so far, everything falling into place in perfect timing and with opportunities coming up everywhere I could not be more blessed.

2 days and a bit till the drive to the airport!

December

I looked at the calendar today and realised its already the 14th, nearly halfway done with December and only just over 2 weeks to the New Year. 17 days till 2009 swings by. And not too many days after that will be my birthday.

The reason why I brought the issue up is cause my aunties were talking about their own/friends’ kids and their boyfriend/girlfriends. Then we were talking about how I’m older and have a job now. Then Aunty Siew Lian said, “You’re 22 right?”

I replied, “Yea, but turning 23 next month”. I think I really walked into this one.

Her reply, “Iyo….lao liao loh!“. (Translation: Old already!)

I was puzzled why she said that, but then I realised. It was in reference to the fact that I’m still single.

I think now that I’m done with uni, its time to concentrate on finding the other half. And I don’t doubt it for one second that she’d try and set me up with someone.

*gulp*

I’m beginning to be afraid. LOL.

Moving right along, I think I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to sell my car and take up the company car. I’m going to miss the days I have with my Blue Lightning and the adventures I’ve gotten in with it. I’m going to miss the bright blue colour and how I get so excited seeing other blue Protons around or even a Gen 2 around Perth. But it is for the best, I’ve just hit 20 000km on my odometer and it’s only going to go up and not down. I guess if I can drive a Gen 2, I can drive a Camry or an Aurion. Its only 50cm longer and a bit more wider. And definitely more power than my 1.6L Gen 2. Depending which car I get, its either a 2.4L or 3.5L. I can’t complain at all

So my car will be on the market soon, and it’ll be time to say goodbye to it. I’ll miss it but I’ll get me plenty of photos first

Bottoms Up!

Last night was the work party at our director’s place and last night was also the night where I drank the most alcohol I had in my life. Usually, as a principle I do not drink alcohol just cause I’m not such a big fan of the taste and as well as the side effects. Yesterday night was a classic example of why you should not drink.

I got there at 6.30pm and had a Long Island Tea which consisted of vodka, gin, bacardi, trip sec, tequila, a splash of coke and a slice of lemon. The waitress was coming around with the teas and I took it cause it was the mildest looking one there, and I figured it had coke so it wasn’t that bad. When a colleague of mine asked what was in it, I was already drinking mine and nearly gagged at the amount of alcohol I was ingesting right at the very moment. So, I figured I’d pace my drinks and try and keep the alcohol to a minimum.

Not happening.

I was hungry and thirsty at the same time, so that did not help. I hadn’t eaten dinner, and I was already drinking on an empty stomach. By the time I finished the Long Island Tea (it was in a high ball glass), I felt slightly woozy and light headed. I made a frantic dash to the guy carrying the finger food around to try and fill my stomach before trying to drink anymore. I ended up eating a green curry chicken on a stick, 2 chicken wraps and some random pastry thing.

Before long, some other colleagues noticed that I didn’t have a drink in my hand and therefore suggested we get some drinks. And me being me, noticed these bright pink drinks in people’s hands and decided to try a Cosmopolitan. I thought it’d be sweet since it was pink.

Wrong.

When I was drinking it, the alcohol content was quite obvious. There was vodka, cranberry juice and lime concentrate in the thing, served in a cocktail glass. The colour of the drink was akin to a few shades darker than the typical Barbie doll pink. Needless to say, I drank it up pretty quick. We were doing the KK rounds so I thought I’d finish it to be able to carry my present and to own up to my KK

KK took 45 minutes and the raffle was drawn as well. By some fluke, my number got picked for the 3rd prize hamper. So I got a $50 Coles Myer voucher as well as a little basket of food stuff. I was so stoked! I bought the 3 tickets for $5 and picked my 3 numbers: 18, 28, 30. I don’t know which number got picked but it was mine. In the end, my managing director gave all of us a Christmas card and some Coles Myer vouchers as well. I was gobsmacked by her generosity and kindness. This was some great person who has accomplished so much in life and yet remembers her staff. Needless to say, I’m glad I joined. Not just cause I’ve got such a good big boss, but the people I work with are just wonderful and its something I enjoy. I can’t wait to get started!

OK, back to the drinking log. After the Cosmo, I had a bit of time to sober up since KK and the hamper thing took up a bit of time. I was really glad for that time to stop wobbling around in my heels, I was so afraid that I was going to trip over myself while I collected my presents. Thankfully, I still had enough finesse and sense of balance to be able to walk. Generally, I trip over myself so not tripping while wearing heels is great.

After the KK thing was finished, I thought I needed to have a non-alcoholic drink to quench my thirst and also show people that I’m drinking something. I got a glass of lemonade, which helped a bit. For a while.

After that, since my former supervisor asked if I wanted a drink cause she wanted to get a drink and I thought I’d try a Mojito. I’ve heard they’re pretty potent. I figured since I’ve slowed my alcohol intake a bit I might as well try it. It had lime, sugar, carbonated water and mint. This wasn’t that strong as I had imagined. Or rather my alco goggles have probably dimmed my taste buds by now so I wouldn’t have tasted the alcohol That went down slowly this time, cause I was hungry and my heels were starting to hurt at this point. I had taken an odd liking to the karaoke machine by this point and was itching to sing. I put that itch off for a while, so that wasn’t too bad We ended up singing really random songs, don’t ask.

Next, I figured I’d hit the cocktail bar and get a Sex on the Beach. This, I must say, is probably my fave cocktail of the night. It had vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice. I like sweet alcohol so this was perfect. Though by this time we had discovered the foosball table and I had discovered I had a talent for foosball when slightly tipsy We had ste down our drinks and by the time we had finished with foosball (or rather when my arm started aching from the spins), we realised our drinks had been cleared cause the cocktail bar was shutting down.

So I grabbed a bottle of water to really water down my alcohol content. I probably blew more than the legal limit, so it was great that I didn’t have to drive home. I got home and Jasmine said I reeked of alcohol She thought I was drunk at that point, but on the contrary. I was sober, well not entirely sober. I wouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car or blow into a breathalyser but my sense of balance was just slightly off. I wasn’t as bad as the really drunk guy who was walking all over Riverside Drive and singing to the sky.

I slept at 11.30pm (yes, I came home early) and woke up at 8.30am just cause I had my 8 hours of sleep. But being lazy, I did a toilet run and crawled back into bed cause I figured if it was my day off today, I might as well sleep as much as I can. And here I am now, 10 hours later and back from Christmas shopping. I’ve finally done my shopping and I’m glad I’m finished with it. I came back with the Twilight soundtrack and I’m stoked. Bella’s lullaby was so nice to listen to, really does put me to sleep. It’s so melodic with its piano and violin notes, its mesmerising. Make me wanna listen to it over and over again. I guess it gives me inspiration to do stuff.

I don’t need inspiration to clean my room now, what I need is time.

No time like the present.