An email sent to my dearest sista in the faraway land of Switzerland. I thought I share it here...

"Hi Sista!

I am at bugis waiting for appt to arrive. Alot of pple! I wonder wht they are doing if they are not working. I have been reading this book lately by this author who is a social philopher. He is into politics and social issues. What he wrote back in 1995 is very relevant today and also of the future. He is quite a futurist. And the social issues that he brought up about organisations and businesses is true too! ok my appt is here...ttyl...

Hello! I am back. I just met an appt for half an hour. I wanted to talk insurance but the gal is in a worse state than me in terms of her career. She is my friend from uni, fresh grad from my hall who is really unhappy about her work, her boss, her life. I think the best way to killmy chances at all as her insurnace agent was to talk abt insruance. HAHA. So i didnt, but instead spoke of her work and all. Half an hour only, didnt get full detail of her work but had a pretty good idea what she was going thru. I was like that some months ago.

I realised there are so many pple like her out there right now. After reading the book which I mentioned to u earlier, and experiencing it myself, and seeing others around me feeling the same way as I did.

It is a vicious cycle where which all starts with the idea of a better life for ourselves. We think we need a certain level of lifestyle, therefore we believe education is a necessity. We also graduate with the thinking that we need to work in order to get what we think we need (more money and better lifestyle). All of this seems like a picture perfect, until we finally get our hands dirty thru expriencing what it means to earn our own money.

On top of that, many start their working career with the mindset that they need exprience and thast being employees is the best starting point. As such, most of us start by applying for jobs with established companies, only to realise that we lose ourselves, our life and our time to the missions and vision of the money making organisation we work for. All these, start with our ideal of better lives for ourselves. That is the reason why big brands can profit and survive for so long. Coz they are the illusion created to make pple feel/think their lives are enhanced by their brands/products.

We lose control of so many things in the process that the end result is like what my friend is experiencing, frustrations, an aimless life, a unfulfilled life.

I just listened to her and felt so sad and lost for her. I wish I could say something that could spark off a thought in her that she would suddenly realise what she needed to do to feel better. But I was lost for words. I was also trying to recommend a book that she could read so that her situation would improve, but I couldnt think of any. HAI... I hope the half hour spent with me was good enough for her to vent her grieve. Do u have any book which u know of that could help this friend of mine?

Sometimes I feel so envious of u that u are able to go to such a beautiful land and do what God has led u to. Sometimes I dont know what I am doing in this business, coz I am so not good enough to close cases. But I am also reminded of the 2 trying years u went thru before this opportunity of watch-making was presented to u. I guess I just have to continue to seek the Lord."

I thought I share it coz it is what I have been wanting to conclude in my search for answers for the past few months. This thing called Life is one big mess to think about. But the good news is if only we open our eyes and ears, everyday can be and is a lesson. =)

5 Month Old Babies Don't Know How to Crawl (and frustrate themselves in the process)

I am infuriated! I just lugged a 5kg 3-in-1 printer home, all excited to rip the box apart to start printing proposals at the comfort of my own room, instead of popping to office at odd hours of the night to do printing. AND then, I came home only to realise that the printer doesnt come with the USB cable to connect the printer to the computer. ?!?! I mean it's like buying a laptop without power adpater, isnt it!?

I guess I wouldnt be so fed up IF the salesperson from the ONLY electronic mart in Plaza Sing, situated somwhere on the 4th level, pre-empted me earlier that I would have to buy a USB cable. Afterall, it costs only about $6. BUT the salesperson didnt! To top it off, he was super SLOW, i.e. inefficient, utterly forgetful coz I had to call him back to remind him to give me the promotional free Creative speakers. And his reason for forgetting went something like, "sollie ah, now very busy." I mean, he was only attending to my sister and I! We had only 1 order each! How busy and complicated can that get?! Brudder, reason is excuse and excuse is no good reason.

There are SO many sales people out there which are so poorly equiped with relevant knowledge and people management skills. Unless this fella puts in a little more effort in his work to manage his customer's expectations, this salesman and the company that he represents will not be getting mucg respect from me. Effort people, all I am asking for is some effort!

Spoilers!

I cannot stop thinking about this word since it was mentioned in sunday's service. For the past few weeks, I have been procrastinating and focusing on hedonistic desires which are so meaningless.

I got to a point where I was so fed up with myself I just told the Lord to show me, just show me what the heck I needed to do. My prayers were answered that very Sunday. I think I am really starting to like going for sunday service. It is a good source of strength and reminder for someone like me who is highly prone to straying away...

This morning a galfriend text me saying that the Lord gave her a message and that she strongly felt that she needed to share it with me as well. It was about obedience vs sacrifice. Basically, both the above messages I got are about seeking Him every moment and second of my life. There is so much peace and joy that I am experiencing right now it feels too darn good to be true.

To think that I was on the verge of giving up this job when I managed to close only 1 case last month. I feel so silly and myopic now for even entertaining that thought. Praise be to God, I have already closed 5 cases this month, and there are up to 4 cases pending for this month. I am sho happy and thankful!

After coming outta this most recent trough, I reckon that seeking God is like buying a whole life plan, and seeking worldly pleasures is like buying a Term plan. HAHA. Occupational hazard. The former is a long term plan which is a sure win situation, while the latter is a short term solution which is the easy way out coz it doesnt cost much to get. LOL. I cant believe I just thought of that.

I think I will smile myself to sleep tonight. =)

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

God has a sense of humour k! He just told me I am the one who is slow.
Cool... LOL! *hiak hiak*

I am going for a holiday, again, in December!!! God has been good. I mean, I am not as rich as before but I am still able to go for holidays like that. I am sho happy.

I think 2007 has been the weirdest (cant think of any other adjective to use now) year for me so far. Job change, new friends, better relationships, going to church, 4 overseas holidays in a year (!?), finally getting my driving license etc. What a year it has been! 1.5 months and we are done with 2007!

Oh well, right now I am in the holiday mood already. I can't wait to get on that airplane and zoom outta Singaaaporrrr.

Ok! Let's get back to work for now. So help me God!

I have many random thoughts in my head now simply coz I cannot get to sleep. The afternoon nap and 2 cups of rich coffee will surely keep me awake till Lord knows when.

My random thoughts:

famous people, being famous, being with famous people

pretty children/babies

missing out on taiwan trip in dec (ARGH, so mad!)

my horizon vs others'

music, which instrument to pick up, and when?!

what the hell to wear tmr?

facebook, no updates, and no new people to add, boring.

Timbre/beer tmr evening!

My bukit timah appt tmr evening, atas tai tai, how sia?

what to do till I start feeling sleepy tonight.....HELP

Here are some signs and notices written in English that werediscovered throughout the world. You have to give the writers an'E' for Effort.

Have a good laugh!

In a Tokyo Hotel:
Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such thing is please not to read notis.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time weregret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator:
Do not enter the lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabinshould enter more persons, each one should press a number ofwishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically bynational order.

In a Paris hotel elevator:
Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between thehours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.

In a Yugoslavian hotel:
The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of thechambermaid.

In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodoxmonastery:
You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian andSoviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday.

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers:
Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in theboots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:
Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel:
Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesydumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose;beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop:
Ladies may have a fit upstairs.In a Bangkok dry cleaner's:Drop your trousers here for best results.

Outside a Paris dress shop:
Dresses for street walking.

In a Rhodes tailor shop:
Order your summers suit. Because is big rush we will executecustomers in strict rotation.

A sign posted in Germany's Black forest:
It is strictly forbidden on our black forest camping site thatpeople of different sex, for instance, men and women, livetogether in one tent unless they are married with each other for that purpose.

In a Zurich hotel:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of theopposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist:
Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.

In a Rome laundry:
Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency:
Take one of our horse-driven city tours - we guarantee nomiscarriages.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?

In a Swiss mountain inn:
Special today -- no ice cream.

In a Bangkok temple:
It is forbidden to enter a woman even a foreigner if dressedas a man.

In a Tokyo bar:
Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office:
We take your bags and send them in all directions.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room:
If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome toit.

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.

In a Budapest zoo:
Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitablefood, give it to the guard on duty.

In the office of a Roman doctor:
Specialist in women and other diseases.

In an Acapulco hotel:
The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

In a Tokyo shop:
Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll find they arebest in the long run.

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel airconditioner:
Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in yourroom, please control yourself.

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo:
When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn.Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor.

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
- English well talking.
- Here speeching American.

I like the rate of my personal growth now. It is even better to know that my friends are growing as well. We grow tgt! ... lol.

It is indeed a blessing that the one that is least active in searching for bf would end up being attached for the longest time. And that the least commital among us would wanna settle for a guy so soon. I think my girlfriends and I just rock la. Only the 4 of us would know how cool we are. WAHAHA.

I love me galfriends!