Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

--John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Xyn has just posted her traumatic encounter with a mouse. Or to be more specific, its head. If you're not eating and wouldn't mind a jolt to your sensitivities, drop by for a sickening sight. Topped with a classic poem, this is altogether, one of her more macabre posts.

Don't say I didn't warn you...

I'm recovering from a bad cold/allergy day I had yesterday. No thanks to a very LONG Friday spent with a group of colleagues at Sentosa, on a department retreat. Remember the one I went to about 2 months ago in Malaysia? Well, this was a mini version, for the rest of the team.

My day started at 615am, and didn't end till about 1030pm!! It was tiring, hot, cold, fulfilling, sleepy, exciting, interesting...all wrapped up into one 14-hour day. And totally worth every effort and cent spent on it!

I think because I was so drained by the day's end, and hopping in and out of cold function rooms and sunny verandahs, I caught a bad cold that literally left me drained and dehydrated by Saturday night. No fun that, let me tell you.

Major Gripe: And what irks me the most, are the ones who persistently suggest certain foods or vitamins like vitamin C, hot Milo or oranges as cure-alls. These things NEVER work, believe me! If they had, don't you think I'd have known about it YEARS ago!? And besides, unless you've had an allergy cold like mine, you really don't know what you're talking about. If I catch it early enough, a dose of Cirrus helps keep it under control, more or less. But if it gets full blown, nothing helps short of really strong doctor-prescribed cold medication with some serous antihistamines which only ends up putting me to sleep! I think because I've always had this problem, it's now second nature to me. Friends and family don't realise how much I'm affected when it hits. They just see me sneezy and red-eyed, blowing my nose the whole day, laughing when I sneeze 8 times in a row, NEVER realising how exhausted it leaves me. I can't think straight or concentrate, and the only activity I really want to do is active bed warming. I'm not asking for sympathy or pity but for pete's sake...vitamin C WON'T help and its NOT a fun thing to blow one's nose every 30 secs and make a joke out of it!!

Now it's a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I'm torn. Just read in the papers that there is another book warehouse sale nearby, yesterday and today only. I was at one about 3 weeks back and recently purchased more books at Borders last weekend. I think I'll give this one a miss...for book health reasons. LOL!

Or to be more specific...a pet cat!

Murphy has been the terror of the neighbourhood's cats for these past 7 years. If any cat dared to walk in front of our gate, Murphy would create such a din till the feline got the idea and left. Oh...and woe betide any cat that dared take a shortcut through our garden. I've seen Murphy chase a poor cat from the back to the front garden with the intent of ripping it to pieces should he catch the darn thing. Thankfully, the cats have been faster.

One day, coming home late from work, I spotted my neighbour's old white cat sprawled close to the gate, and Murphy was happily ignoring it to welcome me home. When I told my dad about it the next day, he told me he'd seen the cat in our garden, nibbling at the leftovers in the Murphy's bowl, and the dog just stood there and watched it. Surprised, I didn't believe him until...

One evening with the french doors wide open to catch a breeze, dad whispered that the cat was back. And true enough. That old cat was again at Murphy's bowl in the verandah, eating his leftovers, and Murphy who was about 4 feet away, just ignored him. Cat-hater Murphy was letting this scruffy white feline near his precious dinner! I tried to get closer but the minute I approached the doors, my silly dog started barking and growling, driving the poor cat away.

Murphy's jealous? Apparently so. He will go into a barking frenzy if he sees me approach the cat or try to pet it. But if there's no one in sight (or so he thinks), with tail wagging furiously, he'll sniff and whine at the scruffy cat who lately has chosen this spot near our gate to sunbathe and catnap. I don't dare get too close or Murphy will go bananas again and drive the poor cat off.

Wish I could take a picture of them...it's actually quite cute. The only reason I can think of for my dog's sudden turn of affection is that this particular cat is old and sick. According to my neighbour Scarecrow (nicknamed by my mother, long story there), it's been to the vet many times but there's nothing much to be done now.

So I guess while you can't teach an old dog new tricks, old dogs are more forgiving and tolerant with age. Wish that were true of humans too.

You know about the shopping I did Friday? Well, on Saturday afternoon, I discovered that one of the tops still had that dratted security tag attached to it!! The kind that you need a special thingy to remove the pin from the cloth or risk damaging it. I was able to leave the store without setting off the alarm, so the salesgirl must have scanned it but forgot to remove it.

Oh for goodness sake, I thought. What was wrong with the blooming woman? My dad's answer was quite colorful: "eyes in her arse". Ahem!

Now I don't have a car, and getting from my place to the mall isn't that far (about a 15min by cab and about 30 min by bus), except that it was pouring rain! No choice. I called a cab and spent $7.30 to get to the mall.

I was nervous. I knew that damm tag would trigger off the security alarm at the store's entrance. My thoughts were running amok as I took the escalator up to the 3rd floor. What if security pounces on and arrests me, completely disbelieving my story despite the receipt I wave in their faces? Would they handcuff me as they led me through the crowded store? Ack...

I waited till I saw a family about to leave the store, pushing their shopping-bag laden stroller. I timed their exit, and quickly darted through.

BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP! BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP! BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEP!

Oh for a hole to open at my feet! Face flushed, I practically ran to the customer service counter. Security was nowhere in sight although I did see heads turn in my direction. The floor manager was thankfully a nice motherly sort and was most apologetic. I was all about to launch into a major grumble but her sincerity, concern and understanding got through. Apparently the salesgirl in question was a trainee and a temp, part of the store's preparations for the crazy month and a half-long Great Singapore Sale. It was not easy training them or getting recruits in the first place, she confided. I totally sympathised.

She didn't even bother checking the receipt I clutched in my hand. She untagged the tag, refolded my top and rebagged it then apologised all over again. I left a happy puppy.

Thank you Metro & Noorsiah @ Century Square Mall.

Since Sunday is Vesak Day (a day holy to Buddhists), and Monday is a holiday, I took Friday off to have a lovely long 4-day weekend. I was so looking forward to this for a long while. Not to go away but just to relax at home with my books, or shop or blog or whatever... just away from the crazy world of work and all its stresses.

It started on Thursday night when I met up with Xin for Books & Coffee @ Borders & Starbucks. Left Borders much later with 2 books, 3 magazines and a VCD. Books are: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and Novelties & Sourvenirs: Collected Short Fiction by John Crowley. Magazines: Pages, Personal Writing and Creativity - last 2 from Writer's Digest. And the VCD Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon.

I know I just bought several books at the book fair recently but I was having a case of severe BWS aka Borders Withdrawal Syndrome. Symptoms include calling said bookstore to check on availability of some books as found on Amazon, compiling a list of must buy books from Amazon and newspapers (which I forgot to bring with me on Thursday!) and planning a day or event that revovles around said bookstore. Thursday was a booster shot. Two hours is TOO short a time to spend especially near closing time. My BWS has somewhat subsided but I fear the symptoms will return again, and a larger dosage required.

Friday was spent at the movies. I practically had the whole theatre to myself for the 1.15pm screening of Kingdom of Heaven. It was good, not because of Orlando Bloom but because of the rest of the cast. Then it was some shopping where I finally got to buy some much needed tops for work. I know I should have waited for the Great Singapore Sale which starts next week but since I was there, and they were already discounted, why not right? I will wait till then to get some pants and jeans.

Today, tomorrow and Monday? Well, I've got some freelance work to finish up; one copywriting job and one print-ready artwork. And to at least make a dent in the pile of new books that's slowly accumulating like petrie dish grown bacteria. Oh...heard a rumour that another book fair is planned for the end of May. Oh oh...!

I'm killing time before I join friends for the movie (see below) and just got wondering...

What if Lucifer (the fallen angel), woke up one day and realised that he missed being in heaven, being near God. And he sought God and apologised. Profusely for all the wrong he's ever done and caused. And begged to be allowed back into paradise. And that he'd do anything, no matter how long it took, to repent.

Lucifer was (according to Christian myth) one of God's favourite angels, till he got jealous and proud and was thrown out of heaven. Now God who is a forgiving God...would he accept? And take Lucifer back? What would his punishment be, if at all? And would he ever re-enter Heaven?

And if Lucifer did return to Heaven...what would happen to the balance of Good and Evil? And Hell? Or would that be the end of the world?

Hmmm...this has the basis for a good short if not, a novel.

There are several events I'm really looking forward to this year:
1. Star Wars Episode III which I'm watching tomorrow.
2. The 6th Harry Potter book will be released in Singapore on 16 July at 0701am. You bet I plan on being in line for it!
3. Chronicles of Narnia the movie out on 22 Dec this year.
4. The 4th Harry Potter Movie - The Goblet of Fire out in Dec too.
5. My 1 year anniversary at BG and hopefully something more.
6. A holiday - still to be determined.
7. My gym finally opening a branch VERY near my office in August - 5 min walk away, so no more excuses.
8. A possible new Mac.

There may be a couple more but for the life of me, I can't think what they might be.

A powerful blog and a community art project. Post Secret invites you to drop an anonymous postcard with your secret to an address. Some of the secrets are thought provoking, others funny while a few are downright scary.

One made me pause... "Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I'm dead."

Some people have said that they found the site very cathartic: where anonymity provides a safe haven for revealing your darkest truths. Interested?

Jewellery making. Writing. Book binding. Sketching. Photography. Digital illustration. Reading. Shopping. Surfing the net. Cooking. Watching movies. Blogging...

This is a list of some of the things I'm interested in doing, and do try to get to often. Quite a hodge-podge huh? I tend to move from one to another as the mood takes me, sometimes pursuing one interest so passionately that the others get shelved for a long while until I realise I miss it, and dig it up again.

So I was wondering... Does this make me fickle?

I got home on Friday morning at 430am, falling asleep at around 5am. Off and up to work at 1230pm to literally wrap the boards up, before begging off the rest of the day to get home at 330pm. The creative team were up till about 11am to get everything up and out. Then disappeared home when it was done. I felt hungover for the whole day, trying NOT to sleep as I knew I'd having problems sleeping at my usual time.

I'm praying that we win the client with our great ideas. Will know more in the next couple of weeks.

The next two days are going to be rough. The creative team is in the midst of a major pitch with a deadline of noon Friday. Thankfully, I'm not the one facing the pressure to come up with brilliant concepts at 2 in the morning *sigh of relief!*. But the pressure I face comes from creating a good budgetary package that will wow! the client equally.

My only gripe is that I wish I was briefed on the creatives a LOT earlier, not at 5pm Wednesday evening, with expectations of delivering a full breakdown of costs by end Thursday! Well, there's nothing much to do about it now, except to just do it.

Shelly put up a cool book meme for this weekend.

1. How? How do you find books to read? Reviews? Recommendations? Favorite Authors? Other?
Most times it's through recommendations in the book section of newspaper. Or in an article I might read there. Other times, a book jumps out when I'm wondering through a book store. I will buy books by a favourite author especially when they're writing in a series eg. Jasper Fforde or Stephen King (esp his short stories)

2. Where? Where do you get your books? Independent bookstores? Chain stores? Online? Library?
In Singapore, I buy them from Border's and Kinokuniya. If I really can't find what I'm looking for here, I resort to my sis who's living in the US to dig them up for me. Or I'll go to Amazon.com. I'm not a library person...I can't bear to return books I've fallen in love with.

3. When? Or more accurately, how often? How many books on average do you get or buy each month?
I'm better at controlling myself where books are concerned. I used to buy 2-5 books a week esp when I used to work near a bookstore! Now it's down to 2-5 a month. I VERY seldom enter a bookstore and leave without buying at least 1 book. LOL!

I have been camera-less for the past few weeks because of hard-to-find rechargers for rechargeable lithium batteries (RCR-V3). Woohoo! I'm back in business.

After days of sweltering in my room, no thanks to the ultra-hot muggy weather and despite a overhead fan spinning at full blast, I discovered by chance, that if I move my desk to this funny angle in the middle of my room (it usually sits perpendicular to and against the bookcase), I can now enjoy the full breeze from the fan overhead. And the TV can be rotated to face me when I'm at my desk.

As you can see, I'm surrounded by books. The shelf near the door (on the left) are crammed with my design books and magazines. The low bookcases against the wall, is 3 rows of books deep. The shelves above have a weight limit, so I can't stack too many things on them. Behind my chair (to the right and out of sight), are 2 more bookcases crammed with books.

Help! I need more space!

I was brainstorming some ideas for my company's upcoming retreat theme. One idea put out and immediately accepted was Superheroes.

And I got thinking of this for a 'nearly the weekend' meme...

If you could create your own Superhero, what or who would you be? What's your super power? Is it an innate ability or tied to an object? And do you have a weakness like kryptonite or dangerous nemesis as the Joker?

I'll post my superhero alterego over the weekend.

So come on! Join the PlanetWide Justice League!

On Friday, I heard some wonderful news from a now ex-colleague. She was getting married. What put a purely Singapore twist to the announcement of her impending nuptials was what she said - "My boyfriend and I are getting a flat!"

Now in Singapore, 'getting a flat' signals that a couple is intending to get married. They have to be in order to buy one of the government sponsored flats that are mushrooming all over the island. They are also eligible to some substantial grants to help them with their first-time purchase.

So instead of the guy proposing with a romantic "will you marry me?", the more common question is a pragmatic "shall we get a flat?". The actual proposal will take place several days or months later after choosing the flat and putting through the application. But it's a done deal. I mean, that flat application becomes an intention of marriage. I don't think there's anywhere else in the world where the purchase of real estate signifies matrimony!

I woke up Saturday morning with only one thing on my mind...Book Fair! So after a quick coffee and a glance through the papers, I was off. Yes...at around 12pm on a Saturday morning. Friends know that that is usually the time I start to wake up! *grin*

It was huge with more tables and more books then the last book fair. I did a quick run through to see how the sections were laid before browsing systematically up and down each long row. At the end of one round, I had about 10 books in my basket (conveniently supplied at the entrance). I weeded out several after a more thorough review. Then I did another round, concentrating on the Biography and Fiction areas. At the end of 3.5 hours, I left with...4 books (and one is a recipe book!). So many books but many many books by the likes of Grisham, Cussler and King. There wasn't anything that grabbed my book interest of the moment. So I left with No Time To Die by Liv Tilberis, The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox, Table Talk Oscar Wilde by Thomas Wright and 100 Easy Pasta Dishes.

Total amount spent: S$27 (about US$16). *bigger grin*

I'm already halfway through No Time To Die and have to say it's an interesting, well-written autobiography by the editor of US Harper's Bazaar, former editor of British Vogue. It chronicles her rise to the power seat of Vogue UK before her triumphant crossover to Harper's in the US and her battle with ovarian cancer. Interesting reading too is of her friendship with Vogue's Anna Wintour who was once her boss in Vogue UK.

I realise that lately I've been reading books by strong women in powerful jobs. The other one was A Big Life In Advertising by Mary Wells Lawrence, founder of Wells Rich Green in NYC. She made Alka-Seltzer famous with the "Plop Plop Fizz Fizz" commercials back in the 60's. I think those 4 words are still in use today! Another good read by a survivor of breast cancer with lots of anecdotal insights into the fast-paced world of advertising, the clients and some famous characters along the way.