Sleep is a symptom of caffeine deprivation

Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal™:
For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks:
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.
Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever.
~Author Unknown~

Friendly faces, familiar places

Took a couple days off work this week in lieu of Chinese New Year. Combined with the public holidays, i have 9 days to do absolutely nothing except eat, hibernate and grow 'prosperous'. Hahahaha...

Had the opportunity to meet up with some of my high school friends, one of whom i've not seen for about 15 years. Used to be very good friends with Shaan but since leaving school, with us moving states/countries, we just 'lost' each other till recently. :D So happy to have found each other again and had soooooo much to catch up on.

We also managed to meet up with some of the guys from our primary school. Gosh.. that was an even longer absence. 20 years!! Was a bit scary at first.. the thought of seeing them again after so long. Not that they've grown an extra nose or anything. But we weren't really close to them or for some, even 'in the same league'. So when we agreed to meet for coffee... Shaan & i kinda had a 'freaked ugly duckling syndrome moment'. :P

But it turned out well.... we laughed about the way we used to be, we talked about our present lives and before you knew it, hours had passed. Ice melted, coffee drunk and zero casualties. Not bad...not bad after all. ;D

A step at a time

Can't believe we're already 18 days into the new year. There were too many times when i started a post, only to abandon it because it became too depressing. 2007 hadn't been too good for me.. and i guess for a number of other people as well.

Things just came one after another. Just when you thought it couldn't get worse... it did. Disappointments, let-downs, broken promises, misunderstandings, betrayals.... it made me wonder if there was any integrity left in people.

Yet again, i say this... i am soooooooo fortunate to have good friends beside me. Csu has been very supportive of me. Even though she may not always understand what i'm going through, yet she tried. And i saw the true measure of friendship when i called Siryn & FQ in the middle of the night (after a heart-breaking incident) and burst into tears. I just lost it then but they were my pillars of strength. To assure me things are gonna be ok. Even Tsing (whom i've lost touch with for decades), when he heard about it, called and showed me concern which i never expected. These friends kept me company.... on the phone, online and via webcam throughout the night as i sobbed my heart out. :)

And i am so thankful that Siryn took the time to go Singapore with me over the New Year weekend. I didn't have to say it, but she knew i didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. Her presence made a whole lot of difference as we met up with friends and went shopping. And boy, did we SHOP!! One would think that our country is deprived of footwear from the number of shoes we bought from Charles & Keith. :P

FQ, Siryn & Csu have, through their friendship, assured me that i am never alone. And Tsing, in his blunt truthful way, has reminded me that i have not 'failed'. These friends have taught me to look at myself again and see the strength that lies within. The person who's spirit that isn't easily broken and who's not afraid to get up after a fall.

So.. with this new year.. here's looking to better things ahead. And since i'm going to step up and step out (once again), it doesn't hurt to do it with style... and with new shoes too!! ;D

Full of sweet cheer

These candy cane reindeers are all i can afford this Christmas.

Things haven't been going too well lately and it's even harder now to get into the mood of the season. But i am (again) reminded that even in my darkest of days... someone usually comes along to cheer me up.

So for this year... i know it isn't much... but i bought a whole bunch of candy canes and 'spruced' them up a bit.

To all my friends, i wish you a very Blessed Christmas!! My apologies for not being able to give to everyone, but to those who will be receiving one, hope it brings a smile to your day!!

Happy holidays everyone!! Love you all.... *hugs*

Before Christmas is stolen

ACK!!! It's December already?! Didn't even realize it till i (finally) took some time a week ago to meet Siryn for dinner. Was frantically looking for a parking spot and wondering why there seemed to be more people than usual milling around. As i walked into the mall, EVERYTHING just hit me that moment. Christmas decorations, HUGE displays, candy canes, busy shoppers, lost children, fake snow (yes.. we're a sad lot), gift packs piled to the ceiling, etc.. etc.. etc...

I stood there stunned for what felt like eternity (alright!! it was probably only 5 seconds) before it dawned on me. IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!! (ok.. like durr...) I have been so caught up trying to finish up work projects that it seems as if the world has gone ahead without me. Nevermind that i have been having christmas dance practices with the Youth these few weeks... somehow it didn't sink into my head that CHRISTMAS is coming. (yes.. you can say another Durr :P)

Crikes!! This means i have to quickly buck up on the Xmas shopping. Haven't done anything yet.. Aaaargghhhhhhhhh....... i blame the 'blurness' on the drugs. Yes... i do. Clumsy me had a fall during dance practice a couple weeks back. Nothing major except a slightly bruised hip & rib bone. Still... was in discomfort for a few days.

BUT before i could recover from that, i got bitten by an insect in the office. Don't know what that bugger (pardon the pun.. it's the drugs i tell u!!) was but after a few days it swelled to size of golf ball. Plus it was infected & bleeding thereafter. Ewwwwwww...... so last Saturday, the doctor had to cut it out. UGH!!! Double ewww!! And for the next week or so, i have to go back to the clinic every day to change the dressing. SIGH!!

There goes my plans for shopping. :P With all these recent incidents, am now 'forced'
- to eat regularly (so that i can take the medication)
- to rest and stop running about so much (can't move much less i wanna aggravate the wound :P)
- to cut back on my 'social' commitments (SIGH)

Maybe it's God's way of reminding me to slow down. I've not really taken any proper holidays this entire year and spent the last few weekends working as well. Guess it's time for me to get my life back in focus... lest i forget the reason for this season and for living. ;)

So.....as i lie here on the couch... trying not to go bonkers staring at the cracks on the ceiling or is it from the drugs?? (Going bonkers from the drugs i mean. Surely cracks not caused by drugs?!?! ) Alright Siryn.. shush!! i know what you're thinking but Noooo... am not bouncing about from the painkillers. :P

To all my dear ones, May your days be merry & bright....*hugs*