My mother discovered a new way to get to Chinatown from the eastern part of our island during one of the gossip sessions with the aunties at work. Last Saturday, she and I enthusiatically tried it out this new service- CT18. Easterners, you all should try it out. Very fast sia, a mere 30 mins from Bedok to Chinatown only! There is a CT8 and CT28 too,all going to Chinatown but I'm not sure where they start from.

Anyway, other than it being fast, what amazes me was, there was a lucky draw during our ride! Rather, it was more like a scratch and win. The bus driver distributed us some application forms and all we had to do was to put down our names and contact numbers. And after that each of us were given ang pows, with prizes inside! Both mummy and I won "1 complimentary ride on Chinatown riders." and we used it on our way back. Tan Teoh!

I believe there is a grand draw too, of which I remember some prizes to be plasma tvs, some pots/ claypots and food vouchers etc. I hope I win the plasma tv!

So people, you can seriously considering this alternative to the MRT the next time you visit Chinatown. Oh, but take note that the lucky draw and ang pow promotion ends in mid Feb. Shucks. Just realised we are already in mid Feb. Never mind. No more bargain or lucky draw chances but at least this new route is saves time.

I practically dragged myself to work today. Probably nua-ed much during this festive break. Who came up "Xiu1 Xi1 Shi1 Wei4 Le4 Zou3 Gen4 Chang2 Yuan3 De4 Luu4"? Bullshit loh! I feel like Xiu1 Xi1-ing forever now. Arghhh.

Worked on a report till late last night and was super tired by the time I got to bed. Probably too stressed and grouchy over the fact that I gotta work today, I couldn't sleep.

Tossed and turned for close to 2 hours. Finally, after 2 rounds of Monopoly on my handphone, I fell deep into slumber.

Less than 7 hours later, I was at my desk, struggling to finish up the last bit of my report....

And then,

A mere "I think we will not publish the report for this week" easily brought my efforts down the drain.

Tamade. I am pissed.

Me and my Wonderland colleagues were talking about getting Bua Gua for CNY the other day when one of them shared this story with me...

Rumoured had it that long ago, before this famous-for-long-queue Ba Kua shop became the hottest place during CNY, no one knew and heard about it. Competition was stiff and the Ba Kua stall was going through difficult times...

Then, the owner came up with a brillant idea. He played on the fact that Singaporeans are by nature kaypoh and followers, so he employed people from all walks of life to start queuing for his ba kuas... True enough, many were attracted by the long queue outside his shop and went to queue too, wanting to find out exactly how special their Ba Kuas are. Legend has it that the owner only has to create this kinda sensation continuously for 2 years, and from then onwards, he longer has to pay people to queue.

So, the morale of the story is...

The stiffer the competition, the higher the perceived value.

I am hiring people to pretend to woo me. Wage dependent on novelty of woo-ing methods/ideas, sincerity and acting skills. All props used during course of act will be fully claimable. (That is provided act is successful in attracting the right people.) ABNNs and those below 1.7m in height need not apply.

Clause: Above Ba-gua story should not be taken at face value as the truth.

Chinese New Year 2006

Finally, the year of the Doggy is here to replace the reigning Rooster. No more "fan4 tai4 sui4" for me! Well, it's time for me to come out of hibernation and make a name for myself. Keke.

Before I make plans, let me refer to the almanac...

".....romance luck is scarce..."

I thew the almanac away the very next day.

Why should I allow a lifeless object determine my fate and destiny? What's more, I don't even know the author!

Somehow this CNY doesn't feel like the usual CNY at all. I failed to get my Lim Chee Gxxx Bua Gua, Mummy failed to order the "pillow-shaped" pineapple tarts, we didn't have steamboat for reunion and my favourite home-made Ghor Hiang by Granny did not make it in time!!! Argh...

Nevertheless, I still managed to get sore throat and almost over-ate and suffered indigestion(again) in my attempt to close the "emptiness" caused by the missing items above.

Chu1 Yi1 was the usual visiting at both Grannies house. Nothing spectacular.

Met up with ex-shitty hole colleagues at Soo's place during Chu1 Er4. Boy, all are looking good! Those who left really found greener pasture, those who are still there seemed contented with whatever shitty hole has to offer. Good. Contentment brings peace and joy.

Toon finally brought Grace officially to our gatherings. Either he has had enough of my constant nagging or he brought her as a "shield" to my harrassment. Ha. Fatt Choy brought her new boyfriend too. I'm happy she got out of the clutches of the old one and found "spring".

We had quite a couple of rounds of blackjack and I won $39! Shucks. Almanac quite "zhun"-- "Du3 Chang3 De2 Yi4, Qing2 Chang3 Shi1 Yi4..."

I looked back and saw how stressed and suicidal I was 2 weeks ago, where I had so many things to clear on my plate. I should be looking back 2 weeks from now and feel relieved that I have time for my family, frens, Rara etc. But...

Nnnnnnnnoooooooooo.....

How come I feel that my rice bowl's in jeopardy?

Somehow there is this strong feeling that when my projects are done, my boss will just wave goodbye with a mere "Thank you for your participation."

I swear these are not my wild thoughts. I admit I'm very sensitive most times, but this time, it's different. It's so obvious. New products were loaded to my colleagues. Nothing for me. We (me and him) had a discussion about this sometime in Sep, and he simply brushed it off with "Well, plans for you will be aligned to plans for the team as a whole..." And the only thing I gather at that time, it meant no specific/ special plan for me at all.

Now, not to mention he had no SPECIFIC/ SPECIAL plan for me, there isn't even ANY! Oh no. Not good at all. My future's bleak.

It's a wake-up call to flip those papers and update my online resumes again. I better start losing some weight for that "professional" passport size photo.

A great piece of news to share with you all.

Woohoohoohoo... nah, not getting married lah.

I am relieved of daily reports! Yay! Actually, wouldn't consider this news. Some of you know already. Ha.

Anyways, just an update for those who haven't been meeting up with me and is deprived because I blog like once in a blue moon.

Great way to start the new year sia. Two cheers for my boss! One cheer minus-ed off because of the stress and frustration she put me through on and off.

MUAHAHAHAHA.. I am getting my life back! No more dormant Zozo... Everybody, put me back to your "active friend" list!!! Wow. Like chong2 chu1 jiang1 hu2 like dat.

My mummy's happy, my Rara's happy, my single frens are happy and I AM HAPPY. Alright, I think I made my point.

My ex- shitty hole colleagues would kill me when they read this entry. BECAUSE... I am supposed to be having dinner with them right now. Sorray ah. No choice. I am wasting my youth waiting for someone to send me her report. Sigh. It's gonna be a matter of time when I cannot say "wasting my youth" because, I will no longer be youthful very soon. Shucks. The mere mention of this gives me the shrudders. Damn. Quarter life crisis.

I wonder what would happen if I efficiently make use of this time to look for greener pasture... Oops. Better not put my rice bowl on the fence. Too much at stake here.

ARGHHHHH...

Someone wake my colleague up from her idea and get her to send me the report!

I know I haven't had time to blog these days. Wanted to share a couple of experiences with pics but I just cannot download the pics from the new phone I'm using! Damn. This is so frustrating.

Oh, by the way, yups, I've got a new phone. With a great camera! Got flash somemore leh! It's free, courtesy of an ex-colleague and it's not launched in Singapore yet! Wow. It's nice to feel that I am ahead of trend. Haha.

But, I simply cannot figure out how to get my stuff outta the phone! USB failed, I don't know how to use infra red or bluetooth, and I am too cheapskate to send it by sms/ mms.

Argh! I need to grab hold of an engineer here. I hope J didn't see my previous entry on the sparkling juice... J! I need your help!

Before I get the pics, just bear with me lah. Hor?

This is something I gotta share. Christmas Pressies Awards 2005...

1. Best Hit of the Year (means the pressie I so wanted and got it)

*drum rolls*

PHILIPS HAIR STRAIGHTENER
Courtesy of: Best Fren

Thank you thank you!!! Muacks! I am so HAPPY!!! No more frizzy hair Zo. It's gonna be Beauty Queen Zo all the way! Woohoo~

2. Sweeter than Candy Floss Award (self-explanatory)

*drum rolls*

...

...

...

Okie, no winner this year. Never liked candy floss anyway.

3. Most Predictable Pressie

There isn't gonna be any drum roll coz everyone would have guessed it anyway...

BODYSHOP GIFT SET
Courtesy of: *XXX (*name has been changed to protect myself)

Body shop must be making BIG bucks man. I get at least one bath set every year. And I am getting kinda pissed with the "Ohhhhh... I soooo love it. It is so nice and thoughtful" line and look I have to act each time I get it. The next time I get it, you can be sure I'll yawn and fall asleep on the spot.

4. Most Loved and Hated

*Drum rolls*

1 BOTTLE OF SPARKLING GRAPE JUICE (wrapped like RED WINE)
Courtesy of: J and F

It was love at first sight. I was so excited to share it with a group of friends whom I arranged to meet on that day. Luckily, I didn't! Because it was all but a scam. Wrapped like red wine, it turned out to be a f***ing bottle of sparkling juice! Damn. Who gives sparkling juices as Christmas pressies??? Damn. And I was so sure it was RED WINE. Tamade. Luckily I did not say loud loud and announce to the entire restaurant sia. (Which I usually would.) And I carried it all the way from YCK to Bugis somemore! SPARKLING JUICE!!! I hate sparkling juices!

Hey, in case you are thinking that I belong to the group of materialistic people who despises sparkling juices and worships red wine because of the monetary value, I AM NOT! I just hate the feeling of being brought to the arms of Takeshi Kaneshiro and at the very next moment, he tells me he's gay. (This is just an example.. there's no way my Takeshi's gay.)

That's all folks. Thank you for tuning in. Well, for those norminees who did not make it this year, Jia You and continue to work hard! Thank you!

Bye 2005, Hi 2006.

I just realised that as the years goes by (and as I get older lah!), Christmas, New Years, Birthdays blah blah blah just gets boring and boring-er. It has become such a routine that it's losing it's real significance. Dinners, presents and resolutions... Every year I make the same wishes, every year they don't come true and at the end of it all, I simply self-consoled by "Maybe it'll come true the next year!" and then make the same wish. Chey!

Looking back, my wish list definitely remained the same for at least the past 10 years. Wow. NOW time really flies. Shit.

I've probably been a really bad and mean person for the past 10 years. Hahaha. That would explain how the wishes never came true. Alright, for 2006, I'm gonna contribute to the population of the "nice and good", "cheerful and positive" beings. I am SO excited. Bleh.

This is good, so I thought I'll share...

A touching story - must read til the end

Long Long time ago, in the Tiger Kingdom lived a pair of siblings. Both were blessed with some gifts. Brother had a pair of eyes who could see a distance far far away. Sister had a pair of ears who could listen to anything.

They grew up together and experienced happiness and sadness together. They like to run to the hills to play. Brother would look at far away countries and tell the sister the majestic view that he sees. Sister would listen to the beautiful sounds and describe for the brother.

As time goes by, brother and sister started to fall in love with each other. They knew that it was wrong, but they could not control themselves. They continued to love each other. Alas, their parents found out about it. Father was very mad, mother was very sad. The neighbours would point fingers at them and gossip about them. Brother and sister were adamant about their love for each other.

To prove that they were truly in love with each other, Brother destroyed his eyes and Sister destroyed her ears. They felt that since they could not get the blessings, they did not want the gifts...

Long long after, a musician heard this beautiful love story and was touched by it. He decided to compose a song for the lovers. I came across this song and it touched my heart too. However, I did not buy his CD, so I cannot share with you the lovely song. I remembered the lyrics though, and will share with you how touching this song is... enjoy¦

(Chinese hanyu pinyin)

Liang zhi lao hu, Liang zhi lao hu, Pao de kuai, pao de kaui, Yi zhi mei you yan jing, yi zhi mei you er duo, Zhen qi guai, zhen qi guai....

Hahahaha. Funny sia.

"Was it a joke?" I asked myself... Once again, I felt that You played me out.
At the beginning, You gave me hope and I carried it with caution. Despite my fragile heart, I held on closely and sunk deeper and deeper... and just when I thought everything was within Your control and mine, You sent the rain down on me.

As the entire Zo nation weeped, I begin to wonder,

"Am I less precious in Your eyes?"
"Did You allow this to happen?"

Both questions seemed to carry positive answers without a doubt. Deep inside I know I shouldn't and cannot doubt you, but being realistically made of flesh and blood, I am but a vulnerable mortal. Perhaps I was never made to "yuan", but the way things were allowed to happen, bottling up definitely seemed a shorter road to death.

I guess it was just a wake-up call from the beautiful dream You weaved. Number One illusionist in the world... God, You got me(again).

I'm back to the old template because somehow the previous template (which I really liked) didn't work at all! Page loaded but nothing comes out. Argh, tamade. Decided to stay with this template. No more itchy backside.

I'm amazed at how I spend my money sometimes. It was supposed to be just grocery shopping and grabbing a takeaway dinner on Sunday, but it turned out a "mini" splurging session. $100 gone in a flash!

Here's what's "harvested":
Skirt- $19
Tank top- $19
Cosmetics (Assorted)- $20
Groceries- $15
Necklace- $8
Rabbit toy and food- $20

Sigh... I need a more economical avenue to vent my frustrations at work.

TADA!!!

Do not be alarmed...

Do not waver and wonder...

Do not think you are imagining things...

YES!!!

A brand new template! Wow!

Finally, my grouchy Saturday was rather well spent. It looks so much better than the previous one. Would have prefered if it could be pink too though, but I really like the sun set... Simply loved sunsets. I might have loved sun rises too, if I managed to wake up early in time to catch them, that is.

Anyways, yeah yeah, I know, I know, my tagboard and hit counter's missing (again). Well, give me more time, should be able to get it done this weekend, should I get stuck alone at home again. Choi!

I tied up my hair, switched on the heater, cleared the way between my living room and bathroom and was all set for a nice, hot and refreshing shower for Ra-ra. As I carried her in her cage to the bathroom...

"BOOM! Bbbbbooooooooooooooommmmmmm...."

Thunder roared.

Argh! Too cold for shower for Ra-ra.

Damn. I finally understood what it meant by "It never rains but pours."

It's a dumb, boring and sucky Saturday

I think this entry's self-explanatory.

Depressed again. Sigh. I hate to know that as I grow older and older, as more and more people around me got caught by Cupid's eyes (and arrows), I just felt lonelier. Damn, where do all these people get so much of life???

Argh. I am so going to turn into a grouchy old spinster again!!!

C'mon, it's a bright and sunny Saturday! Being YOUNG, ENERGETIC, SINGLE AND ENTERTAINING, I do not deserve this at all... NOT AT ALL!!! What's more, being overweight and having a big ass, I should be popular, especially with girls, RIGHT??? Since when did those moody, sensitive and indecisive women turn over a new leaf and decided to let prettier faces take away their attention? Ha. I getting crappy again. Perhaps being dumped at home with NO food accelerated the crappiness process.

I am so grouchy!

I'm dumped at home like a nobody's child, broke and hungry. (Thanks, Mum), with surrounded by friends with loads of life and time but just none reserved for me. But, wat to do? I'm FAT, UGLY and long passed the "highly-sought-after" stage (well, that stage never applied to me as a matter of fact). ARHHHHHHHHHH...... I so hate staying at home on a Saturday!

It didn't help matters that the results of having my fortune told last Saturday revealed a late late late marriage. I am so depressed. By the way, I won't be divulging details of fortune telling at all, IT'S PERSONAL. Those who were fortunate enough to be there during my fortune telling session, I don't mind a token sum of royalties if any one of my fans or extreme ba gua(s) frens buy information from you. Make sure they pay first though.

I've had enough!

Ra-ra... wanna a nice, warm shower?

I once comforted someone that whatever down times we experienced, there has to be a bottom bottom where we could ever fall and after that, things just had to somehow, someway, get better.

I tried hypnotising myself with this just 2 hours ago, and SOMEHOW, my devil overpowered my this positive outlook with, " Haven't you heard of a BOTTOMLESS PIT?"

I just cannot convince myself that things are going to get better. I CANNOT, I CANNOT, CANNOT! (It's strange that when I typed the word "CANNOT" for the 3rd time, I saw "CARROT". Ha. Damn, I can't believe I'm crapping this in the midst of such melancholic times.)

I'm conceding defeat.

Things aren't gonna get better. They just get worse by the day.

I need my favourite strawberry shortcake from Baker's Inn to keep my pulse going. I'll marry the first eligible man who buys me this.

BEYOND THE STORY LIVE 2005

Totally ROCK-Y!!!

Great songs, great ambience, great fans. (A bit hot though, could have been perfect with better ventilation and airconditioning.)

Half the time I couldn't sing along, 90% of the time I didn't understand what they were saying, all because, my Cantonese sucked. Nevertheless, I totally enjoyed myself. It's been a long time since I've been to concerts, let alone "rock-y" ones like this. Great release from shitty reporting life.

One of the most enjoyable moments was the playback of their musical journey since 1983. It brought back many memories. I vividly remembered the scene on TV when the lead singer died from an accident for a show in Japan, where fans went totally hysterical and cried like it was their father who died. *shakes head*

Oh oh oh! Halfway through the concert, I made an interesting discovery!



I thought Paul and Chen Xiao Chun looked like each other! Ha. (Don't ask me who the person on the extreme left is, I have no idea.)

Anyway, my favourite of all- Wing. I have the thing for talented men. Musically inclined men, as a matter of fact. (Well, that dinosaur was a missed arrow from Cupid. Kekeke.)They totally blow me off. Perhaps in them, I saw what I didn't have and could never be. Shucks! Did I just cause a downfall in the music industry and musical schools because all men wanted out? Muahahaha.

Alamak! Cannot Procrastinate Anymore!

Wah piang, imagine I had wanted to blog this entry out like, 3 days ago? Alamak. I have to get it out, before everything's gone again...

Had a fruitful (or rather, hectic) Saturday.

Went for a makeover with Bobbi BrXXXn (wah seh, nowadays, better be careful of what I write, sicali kena sued ah.) at Raffles City in the afternoon. Wow. The last time I had a makeover was like, em, 5 years ago? Turned out to be totally disasterous (I mean, the one 5 years ago). I was everything but glam, pretty and sophisticated. I practically looked like I was reporting for work at Watermelon KTV lounge that night. *Loser*

Shucks,. I digressed.

Back to Bobbi Brown makeover. Appointment was made for 1pm. A crowd had sort of gathered around that time, even though only appointments were accepted.

Was directed to a counter to have my make up done, but after a hell of a lifetime of 10 mins, someone finally noticed the dumbo fumbo me was unattended to. Was told to wait for another 5 mins more coz the artist at the counter next door was rounding up with another customer already. K. Fine. 5 mins. Being the nice gal I am, no problem at all.

5 mins turned to 10 and then 15!!! Boiling sia. How to stay nice having waited for a bloody 30mins for a make-up artist??? Cuse me, I booked an appointment for 1pm okie! WAKE UP THEIR IDEA! What's the point of making us make appointments when they can't keep to it???

Anyway, finally they decided to get me outta the hamster cage (seriously, I felt like one, being stared at sitting in the middle of Raffles City waiting for NOTHING.) to do my hair first. Hair was nothing but nice because throughout the entire session, I was sweating like a pig! I curse whoever designed Raffles City, for whoever that person is, he/she has to be totally brainless! Make the roof all GLASS. Wah piang, I almost got heatstroke. Thanks to this brainless asshole.

Finally, hair done. Move on to make-up.

Showed to counter and was told that my artist would come in 5 mins. 5mins, PUI ah!

I waited like a fool for whatever seemed like eternity.

Anyway, finally got my makeup done and had my photo shoot.

Here's what I walked out of the makeover with:

1. An award-winning picture for "MRS WATERMELON FACE OF THE YEAR",
2. "Imagines-one-to-be-hamster-once-put-on-high-chair" Syndrome,
3. 500 zillion healthly cells killed by ultra string UV rays and
4. $150 poorer.

Tsk.