Through the rain

Today, as with the last few weeks, is filled with mixed emotions. First, LaRosa left the agency. A few weeks later, Kit left. Then now, it's Moo's turn to leave. It was good working with them all this time, through the ups and downs, the laughter and disappointments. But i guess it was time for them to move on and i wish them only the very best. :\

It hasn't been easy for the rest of us left behind. With the increasing workload and unnecessary/ridiculous stress from clients, it's sometimes easy to let it get the better of us. I can't recall how many times i've wanted to say 'I give up. I don't want to take this anymore.' And perhaps, on more occassions that i'd like to admit, i have becomed impatient with people around me. I've allowed frustration to creep into the tone of my voice and it's never easy to show that it's the situation i'm angry with, not the person.

I'm glad that through these dark moments (btw, it's pouring cats & dogs outside. Kinda fits the mood)... there are friends to lighten the situation, no matter how near or far they may be. :)

Siryn & Csu, thanks for putting up with me (almost daily). I know i'm not the easiest person to get along with. :P
Foodie, am glad that we're still close.. despite the miles that separate us. Hope things turn out good for you too. *hugs*
Glen, you've definitely kept me entertained with your pix/posts. Now i'm not sure if i should throw you a fish or a banana for brightening up my day. ;P When are you collecting your volcano cake?
Terry, thanks for your email. It's really sweet of you to ask. ;)
Loki, i STILL don't mind going as your luggage for Milan. ;) Boleh?!?

I want to give you all a BIG hug for being who you are (though i'd probably just suffocate you by doing so :P). So instead, here's a big fat slobbery cyber kiss *MUAX*

Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou.... *MUAX again, in case you managed to escape the 1st one*

PS: Siryn, i'm not sleeping with a cloud OR clown above my bed.. :P

Hot and bothered

Had a mini getaway with Csu & Siryn over the weekend. Wasn't anything fancy but I DEFINITELY needed the time out. We didn't tell anyone else where we would be heading but just that we would be out of town.

We took an hour and a half drive up to Berjaya Hills (formerly know as Bukit Tinggi). We paid about RM400 for a 2D/1N stay in a 1-bedroom suite at Colmar Tropicale, a french-inspired theme resort. Includes buffet dinner & breakfast as well as entrance to the Japanese Garden & Rabbit Farm nearby.

We were kind of disappointed that the temperature wasn't a cool as we hoped it'll be. Then when we went to check-in, got a mini heart attack when the Front Desk couldn't find our reservation. *aarrgh* But lucky it was sorted out quickly since since we had the confirmation & payment slip.

With spirits lifted, we almost skipped along the cobblestone path to our suite. ;) I couldn't stop laughing when a clown (really... a real one with facepaint & all) in the main street greeted Csu & Siryn with "Welcome to Colmar, Auntie". You can see the sudden drop of Csu's jaw when she heard that. She asked if she really looked that haggard from working. Hahahaha....

As we were opening our suite door, the next suite door opened. The guy stood there and said "Welcome". For that split moment, we all thought he was one of the house keeping staff so we said thanks and smiled. Then he continued to stare at us and started asking where we're from, etc. We freaked and literally ran into our suite. Couldn't shut the door fast enough. Ugh.. what a start to our much-awaited getaway.

Lucky thing that our suite was really roomy & nice. At least we can stay in and hide. Hehehehe... After exploring the rooms, gawking at the size of the HUGE bathroom (seriously, i kid u not. IT's the size of my bedroom at home), flopping on the 4-poster bed, taking silly photos of each other & the place... we went out to scout the area. Went up to the Viewing Tower, walked along the Main Street, down to the mini moat, then across the bridge towards the outside of the resort. Continued snapping photos of everything and each other till my camera battery went flat. GAHHHHHHHH.... and forgot to bring the charger. *smacks self for being so stupid* Fortunately, Csu & Siryn had their cameras so the rest of the trip, we still had photos. :P

After dinner, was DVD marathon on Siryn's laptop. Was in very relaxed and contented mode till someone rapped very loudly at our front door. You can imagine the sheer terror on our faces when we saw that it was already 2am in the morning and recognised that the voice outside was from the 'freaky' guy next door. He kept hammering and hammering on our door, calling us to open it. We kept so so silent till he finally went away. I, for one, am totally freaked by this. Without meaning to be racist but i think i've had too many unpleasant experiences with people of that particular race.

Next morning, we were still so 'traumatised' that we tip-toed past the suite and ran for the elevator. After checking-out, we drove to the Japanese Garden. After parking, walked about 300m up the steep hill to reach the Garden. Almost died climbing up. :P Spent almost 2 hours in the garden, just chilling and taking photos. Was contemplating if we wanted to walk in the botanical garden as well since it was already getting late and the sun was very very hot. Suddenly we saw this group of men going entering the botanical garden and realized it was 'him!!'. So that aborted our visit and we left the place. Came back to 'civilisation' after that and am totally knocked out from the trip.

Think it was fun to getaway for a while. Would've been better if it wasn't so hot and there wasn't anyone to bother us. Still, all in all... i guess we did manage to have some laughs and plenty of photos. ;)

P/S: The rest of my photos can be viewed in my 'Captured Moments' in the 'Colmar Tropicale' album. Will add more when i get the files from Siryn & Csu as well. Enjoy!!

Lights. Camera. Action.

Been working till late for past week or so. Don't even realize how late it gets till i step out of office and see the shops have already switched off their lights and rolled down their shutters. (they close about 10pm here) 8\

Sorted most of my photos into albums (as form of relaxation). Still have a lot more to organize but at least this is a start. My albums can be viewed by clicking on "Captured Moments" which i've put in the side bar on the right. :D

Totally missing out on social life & gym work-outs. GREAT! Not only will i be fat but will fester & rot too. :P Leaving office now. Am too tired to even comprehend the simplest info. Good night!

*falls asleep at desk*

In manner of speaking

I've been meaning to blog over the past week but kept getting interrupted. Work is busy.. which equates to a good problem coz it means we're still in business. ;) With tight deadlines and multiple projects at hand, it's only normal that i have to put in extra hours, have more meetings and perhaps meet the client over the weekend to tend to details, etc. All part of the job isn't it?

What irked me though, was not that i had to give up some of my leisure time, but the fact that i had people calling and querying why i'm so busy. I appreciate that i have friends & family calling me throughout the week just to see how i am. Most of them understand when i say i'm in a meeting/busy and can't chat. They usually say ok, take care or ask me to return their call when i'm free. :)

But it was a couple of them that kept calling and calling (despite the numerous times i've said that i'm unavailable) that really pushed me over the edge. I already told them beforehand that i'll be tied with work and will call them when i'm available. Yet they continue with their "what are you so busy about?", "how can you be so busy?", "who works such hours?".... (mind you, i've been going home at 9ish instead of 7 so that's not too bad. Bad is when i have to work past midnight) :P

Maybe to some, it was concern but to me, it was WHINING. It wasn't just the persistent calls but the tone and manner to which they posed their questions. I was really on the verge of retorting "Are you questioning my credibility? Are you saying i'm a liar?" when they began to even question my answers.

I think it's unfair to question.. no, correction...challenge why i can spend an hour at the gym but not see them for dinner or if i choose to spend time alone/with family instead of them. Call me selfish but i think i have every right to prioritise the things i want to do with my time (or lack of it). So what if they have a lot of time of their hands/hate their jobs. Heck.. that's not MY problem. I can't be responsible for your decisions/life/etc. And stop making it sound as if it's my fault that you don't know where to go or what to do on your weekends.

I'm not sorry if i enjoy my job (despite the stress sometimes) and have a million other things to do. So live with it!! :P

This is why i still love my job... blue skies & (many) chances to experience this fantastic view.