Second time around

'Bye Anna, I'll see you all on Sunday night!'. Anna's reply, 'You might see me in the hospital.' This morning, I got a call from my brother telling me I'm an aunty a second time around. Baby Hanna's born today!! :)

6 November 2009, just 3 days away from mum's birthday. Mumsy, seems like she's an early gift to you? I wonder how she looks like. I can't wait to see her after work!
Lalalalalalal

Snippets of travelling and Mo

'Having a frozen hot choc at Serendipity and thinking of u!' reads the message from G. In 5 weeks time, I will be doing the same. G is now in New York with her hubby.. it's a beautiful thing to be a part of someone's travels.

I remember a few years back when Ant went on his Europe trip. I was back in Malaysia and he texted me while he was all around Europe. There were some random bits which I remembered, like when he was tasting Belgian chocolates, travelling to Venice.. Just makes me imagine myself being there..:)

Sarah's back from Korea now. She brought back heaps of facial masks for me and she got me a really cute necklace with an Eiffel Tower and a pearl! :) I used one of the masks this week.. It was made out of royal jelly extracts and ginseng.... Was a great feeling after that. So refreshing! Hopefully my complexion becomes flawless! :P

Ohhh and my little boss is coming back this Monday. I'm gonna hear this, 'Jo....... *pause for a few seconds* can you urmmm...**pause for a few seconds**' :) He's a good guy but rather annoying when it comes to talking coz' he speaks sooooooooooooo slow! God's always testing my patience level. Just when I thought I'm one of the most patient person in my office.. I lose the plot when my little boss speaks! :P

And guess what? Almost all of the guys in my office are doing Movember. Just for those who doesn't know what it is all about. It's a charity organization which raises awareness and funds for men who are faced with depression and prostate cancer. Men grow moustaches or what Aussies call a 'mo' and everyone donates. So the guys in my office will be looking pretty ugly for the whole month of November... imagine Mister Potato, dirty Sanchez...All for a good cause!

Jerm said the boys in my urbs would need to start a year in advance to grow a slightest mo..:) Thanks to our Chinese genes! Well, Sibin's an except and James too..:) Hehe.. Please don't imagine!

'Things people do in the church congregation that annoys you

It's Monday, the day before Melbourne Cup day. Don't we just love Melbournians... a holiday just for the horses! :) This year, I'll take a miss again. As Yogi and I said before, it's too much energy and effort to get dress up for a day to be in at the fields. No seat and just simply walking here and there and having sleazebags trying to hit on anyone wearing a skirt! :P

So what's planned for tomorrow? My urbs have planned what I called - Project ULO6 Blessing Cookies. Monique, our patisserie expert and chef will be teaching us how to make fortune cookies and we'll be stuffing bible verses and words of encouragement in them. I call them Blessing Cookies! We'll be giving them out one of these days to anyone walking around the Hawthorn area...:) It's time to do something different!

Traffic to work today is sooooooooooooo good. It took me only 35 mins to get to the office. I should have slept in but my body clock automatically woke me up. Aiks!

I was driving home from church yesterday and I thought about an interesting topic to write about.
'Things people do in the church congregation that annoys you'

1) Couples that can't seem to keep their hands off each other. It's especially annoying when they are sitting right in front of you. I had a some experiences when I am trying very hard to listen to the preacher and the guy and girl keeps whispering, caressing each other's hair/face, and being all over each other. I often think, 'For goodness sake, you're in church and it's only going to be 2 hours long. So stop touching each other! No respect for God issit?!' I only think ok, I don't actually act on it.

2) People who sings really loudly and out of tune. This happened to me yesterday at church. A guy who was sitting behind me was singing so loudly and so out of sync that it tortured me.. I was trying hard to focus and he kept singing in the middle of prayer times. If his voice was good, I would not have notice it....:P But seriously, I couldn't even hear myself singing.

3) Smelly people... People who wears very damp clothings. It often happens when the laundry is not being dried properly. The problem is, once you're sitting next to a person who smells, you have no choice but to sit there. Coz' it's difficult to move somewhere else.

I can't think of anymore for the time being. I'm sorry God for not paying attention but I just find it so hard to concentrate when these happens! :P... Feel free to comment if anyone thinks of anything interesting...hehe

**You can tell I'm so unmotivated today.... is it 5.30 yet?

Boys and Girls

I like a bit of spontaneity and last minute arrangements. Mind you it annoys me most of the time coz' I can't stand unorganized people. But sometimes, it's nice to have some unpredictability in life!

This weekend, I was suppose to be running errands and nothing else. But the girls and I suddenly ended up with a fully packed weekend. It started at 8am and we only planned dinner the day before. We went to Riva to celebrate YL's very early birthday dinner and ended spotting some 'celebrities' in the radio industry. I saw Hamish (the other half of Hamish and Andy show) - my colleague, Steph's eye candy and Fifi Box...:) And the night ended with dessert at QS's favourite restaurant - Mama Vittoria's.

There's something I realised about this year. I have turned into some sorta of a nomad. I have lost count of how many times I've slept over in my girlfriends' homes. I'm a PR in Yogi's home. As I said previously, I even have a key to her place! There's a little drawer which has all my clothes in there. There's toothbrush and a towel which are for Jolyn's use whenever I'm over..:) I even leave my perfume which Yogi is free to use as much as she likes.

Last night I slept over at Ai Mee's after the dinner as I was too tired to drive home. Ai Mee gave me a little travel toothbrush to keep in my car in case of any more sleepovers. I've even learnt to keep a few pairs of shoes in my car in case of the sleepovers. Yes, I'm a typical girl when it comes to this. I need my shoes to match with my clothes! :) And for as long as I remember, I've never worn so many of my friends' clothes within a year! Thankfully for friends who are almost the same size except for Yogi.. Goodness, I feel like an obese person! :P

This morning, I had a call from a very close friend from Msia. We often speak to each other but to get a call in the morning was quite strange from him... I thought to myself, 'Must be girl-problems!' I was spot on...:) Hahaha.. yesyes, boys don't understand girls and vice versa.

I'm sure you've heard this a million times : 'When I ask her whether she's alright? She said yes. So I left it as it is. But then it turns out that she's not alright. Why are girls so difficult!! Why don't they just tell you the truth about how they feel. Guys are not mind-readers!!'

And then the girl will say, 'I expect him to be more sensitive towards my feelings. It's so OBVIOUS that I'm upset but he still ask the obvious/stupid question - Are you alright? Do you expect me to say I'm not? So I'll say I'm alright and test and see what he will do'.

We all know and hear of these all too well. I for one am a girl myself. Just a little reminder ! :P Although I sometimes get the comment that I think like a boy!...Perhaps the bashing and pinching had something to do with it? :P Ah well, I blame it on the cousins I grew up with... they were mostly boys from my mum's side. And I grew up being close to my brother and my nephew - Wernie. So I do understand where they are coming from.. not always of course! Remember, I'm still a girl!

Well, girls are indeed complicated beings. We have monthly emotional temperaments.. don't mess around with a girl during that time of the month. And one of my boss used to say, 'Don't mess around with a pregnant woman as well. Her hormones are everywhere!' It's definitely true that some crankiness is manifested at that time but sometimes we blame it too much on these that it becomes excuses for our emotional state of mind. I like what Kenny Sia once said, PMS = Poor Man Suffering..:)

A friend once told me that he records his girlfriend's monthly timings in his phone calender as a form of alert. It comes up as the warning times just so he will try not to offend her too much! :P
I thought it was very funny but quite a smart idea as well.

Boys on the other hand can be quite dense and insenstive. They fail to see things beyond the surface. Well, that's why they are called 'visual beings!' But when trouble hits, the typical guys' reaction is to avoid. They dislike confrontations. And many times, the male pride and ego takes over and they refuse to bend. There's some exceptions though. I've come across guys who somehow over-analyse everything and anything under the sun. They look into things that are not even existent.

But the things that makes boys and girls different are also the things that make boys and girls attracted to one another. So be it the good or the bad, God created us differently for a purpose. If we could read each other's mind, we will also lose the excitement of discovering the hidden facets of an individual.

Relationships are challenging! Be it romantic ones or friendships. The bottom line is as Ps Matt often says...' because we are dealing with human beings which is the hardest commodity on this planet!' :)

I've learnt heaps along the way of being a listener, a mentor and an observer of relationships. So I hope that I will bring great things to my next relationship.. As a girl, I will try as much as possible to speak the truth and not expect him to read my mind.... :) Let's see how I go in the future!

*** 5 more weeks to NY. I just realised something today.. I don't know how much I will miss Dana while I'm away!

7 weeks and still counting down..

It's 7 weeks away. The AUD dollars is strengthening against USD. I thank God for my colleagues. Sometimes God uses the people you least expect to bless you. Last Friday, the AUD hit 92cents. Everyone was telling me to consider changing really soon and to stop being greedy. My manager even came up to me on Friday afternoon with an article from The Australian about the predictions of how high AUD will go. He told me to hold off for a while but not too long coz' it's always uncertain. Everyone kept telling me, 'Jo, stop being greedy. The rate is really good so you should convert your dollars now'.... **Nagging voice** ..:P

Observing the dollars is like watching the share market. I come in every morning to work and go straight to XE and the ANZ travel card website just to see how much I can get out of the money I have..:)

This morning, I came to work and saw a cut out article about New York on my desk. Travelling on a budget and making the most out of the trip there. Andre and Tara cut it out for me... how thoughtful! Ant has also been constantly sending me links and notes about New York. I think I'll be quite well-informed by the time Dec 9 comes! :) wohoooo..

Ohhh... and I emailed Sarah Choi. She's all the way in Korea! I miss her so much. You feel the difference when someone close to you is not here..Bleh! Can't wait for her to get back and tell me about all the great things she did in Korea!

I had a good catch up with a few people over the weekend. I also slept over Yogi's place on Friday night. It was a great time just hanging out with Cyndy and Yogi. Just like the good old days when we first came out of uni, struggling so hard to find our feet in the big bad working world! :) I can't ever say enough thank-yous everytime I think of both of you. The extend and support you've given me have been endless! :) And all the stuff ups we did together! Guess what? We locked ourselves out of the house. Well, more like Yogi and Cyndy forgot the keys coz' I drove instead of them. Looks like it's not gonna happen again coz' I have one of the keys now!! :) Hehe.. Yogi, I'M HOME!!

Then I caught up with Jono and Yan on Saturday. It's been a while since I have actually done a one on one catch up with them... It was refreshing! :) Yan cracks me up big time with her stories of clumsiness.. ! Yan, if you're reading this.. don't kill me okie!? I still love the story about you pouring water...! :P Muahaha.. And Jono, it felt like a million years since we actually caught up. But it was good to pick up where we left off....I almost forgot how dramatic your family life was but I always believe that God has something great planned out for you!

Ahhhh.. Oct has been a quiet month for me. No complains though. It's been a while since I have my weekend's pretty much free to do whatever I feel like.. So for now, I'm counting down and just a calender check on what I have planned in the coming weeks :

Weekly plans:

24 Oct - nothing planned.. probably get a haircut from Anna's mum. Yayy! They are here now!! I haven't had a trim since April. Alvin once told me, I'm a hairdresser's worst customer. No loyalty and no business from me! :P

31 Oct - car service appointment (MONEY MONEY MONEY) and dental appointment.

7 Nov - nothing planned yet

14 Nov - Endota Spa and massage with Yogimama. Yayyy!! I'm using my Red Balloon voucher.

21 Nov - possibly a pastoral retreat. If it happens

28 Nov - DAD AND MUM'S ARRIVING!! WOhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

5 Dec - Peggen and Hau Wei's wedding

9 Dec - I'm leaving on the jetplane ... to New York!

........I did it again

Do you wish that you could somehow managed to contain all the emotions and only let them out in your time alone? I always imagine, if only I could hold everything together until I get home or get into my car. Away from the sight of any human being, a place for just me and God.

Many times, crying seems like a weakness rather then a demonstration of emotions and a person with a heart. Perhaps, God is trying to remind me that I am still very much human. I still need Him and He has provided the support around me..

This morning, I made a call to my neighbour trying to sort out some things. One thing led to another and we had an outburst. He placed me in a position as though I am all at fault when in the first place, I was being taken for granted.**They stole electricity from my house again! I learnt how to be assertive and firm. I told him, I am calling to get back what was meant to be mine. When I hung up the call, my colleagues asked me whether everything was alright.

One of my colleagues Sean who sits opposite my cubicle and has been very much like a fatherly-figure asked me how I was. **Please don't get the wrong picture. He is in his mid-50s! I explained the whole situation to him and before I know it, tears started trickling down. He told me to get some water in the kitchen. I walked away from my desk and hurried into the kitchen. He came along... and spoke to me. He told me that it's a learning curve. Learning to be stronger each time challenges like this happens. He told me that he was made redundant from another tv station 3 months ago but it didn't break his spirit to still do what he is best at doing! He said, 'Jolyn, you're a great person and people like you will go far..' He left me with a simple phrase..- somewhat relating to people like Joan and my neighbour, 'dragons' - 'The dragons will eventually slay themselves'. In the end, I know that everything will somehow work out... If God can bring someone like this to encourage me, what more will He do!?

Sean could have chosen to be bitter and angry but he chose otherwise. He is one of the nicest and most patient person ever. One life's challenge never stop him from treating anyone with kind words and encouragement.

I don't know why I reacted that way. Maybe because I have left it boiling inside of me with so much frustration... I felt so weak for bursting out in tears at work. Believe me, it's not the first time. Urmm, I think I have cried about 4 times at work. Twice is because of Joan, the other time was when Andre told me he was leaving and now this! **Sigh***..Bohoooo.. I feel like a weakling! Ah well, I believe everything happens for a reason..

For now, I will trust that God will look after everything..

I love you QS, G and Snapper

**QS = Queen Sheba aka Cyndy, G = Georgie, Snapper = Yogi..

I love you girls. I love the fact that I can be taken care of once in a while. QS prepared almost all my lunch for this week. She made marinated pork ribs, curry kapitan and some homemade Italian arancini balls. Snapper also gave me some curry last week.. Thank God for friends that also seem so much like family.

Sometimes, it's nice to take a break and to not keep picking the pieces up and making sure everything is right and perfect. Last weekend, it was a great catch up time with QS and G. I was also driven around!! :) No wonder the girls call me princess.. I love being driven around in someone else's car. Yes, I find it hard to let someone else drive my car. I can't stand the stress... :P Well except for some close friends.. if you have driven my car, you have gain my trust! Hahaha..

Anyway my less carbs diet is going on pretty well. I have been good at avoiding chocolates, except for last Saturday night's panna cotta and tiramisu.. :) So far, I've been really good. Resistance level is high and I even walked 2.4km today. I went to get my H1N1 vaccine at a clinic 'nearby' my office. It took me about 25 mins to get there on foot. When I reached there and got the jab, the nurse told me it's the first time she saw someone bled when the needle went through. I was thinking to myself - 'You shouldn't be telling me this'. She told me to stay around for 10mins in case I passed out.. Anyway, I could only bear for 5mins and had to rush back to the office. My colleagues asked me why I looked so flustered. Well, imagine getting a vaccine and doing so much walking within 1 hour.. I can now tick off one more things off my checklist! :) I'm gonna convert my AUD to USD this week. Rates looking very good..! Shopping and entertainment money is on the way!

Boon Hau, I'm trying to take your advise.. I'll stop planning too much of my holidays.. :)

Ooo, my little boss is currently on paternity leave - 4 weeks. It's not fun, I'm doing everything for the next 4 weeks..Ah well, not that I have never survived..:) I tell myself, Jolyn it's 8 more weeks and you will be on holidays!! Wohooooooo

Dad and mum, please come quickly too. I spent my whole Saturday morning and afternoon cleaning and brushing the whole house. And that is only in the inside. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Showmanship

The ability to present something (especially theatrical shows) in an attractive manner..

My initial perception of concerts was being squashed among rowdy crowds and having to stand among extremely passionate fans who will scream their lungs out adoringly to their idols! To be honest, I do not have a particular band or singer/artist whom I am obsessed enough to go all 'gaga'.. Maybe if Daniel Henney or Daniel Wu is right in front of me.. then I can't promise you that I'll be the normal Jolyn.

Since I started working with my company, I had the privilege of attending some concerts. Believe me, it doesn't come very often nowadays. And it's even worst since the GFC ( global financial crisis). Companies are becoming very stingy and freebies like these comes with some hardwork! :) I had to work to win my recent one!

I must say that this year in itself, I have attended two of the best concerts ever. Not that I'm a concert expert. But comparative to all the ones I've gone to.

Both have extremely great showmanship. Pink in particularly is one of the most down to earth, cool, fun and outstanding performer. Even if you're not a fan of hers, you will come out being one after the concert. She is the only person who made me even think of getting a tattoo. I'm serious, tattoo and me are like heaven and hell. I never thought it was anything attractive.. but Pink made it look so cool! :)

I can't explain how good her show was... the pictures will give you a glimpse.
**Note, the not-so-good images are not because of poor photo-taking skills. It's from a super old school camera called Canon 4.0 Ixus. I badly need a new one but Yogi told me I could borrow hers for New York.. so for now I'll just make do..:)


Pink's Funhouse Tour 2009


Check out the stage props. Imagine if planetUNI ever had something like this?
The theme is a Circus feel..


That's Pink being carried by her dancers..


The Queen of Showmanship..


I must say she is sooooooo fit that it makes me feel ashamed of having flabs! :P




This shows her down-to-earth nature.. She gave us some acoustic renditions..




Another fancy bit.. It was super scary..
The tightrope performance.


She was singing upside down..
I was afraid for her.. Super daredevil!


Another fancy-mancy.. Check out the red cloth chandelier...


Tada!! There were three dancers in there..And now they are tying Pink onto the extra cloth


She was hanging off that pink cloth..and in the middle of it, they depth her into a pool of water and she came out sprinkling it to the crowd!


And finished off with some pink confetti!!



I highly highly recommend her concert. Cyndy and I said, we will actually pay to go to the next one when she's back!


Black Eye Peas - The E.N.D tour 2009

Their songs can either pump you up to start dancing or annoy the crap out of you. My all time favourite is Where is the Love? It's also my wake up song every morning. But other than that, I was never really a devoted BEP fan. I didn't even know BEP existed before Fergie.
**Useless info : Did you know that the lead singer of PussyCat Dolls, Nicole was originally offered Fergie's role in BEP? She decline due to other contract agreements. I must say I prefer Fergie! I like her coz' she's feisty.


The theme was Futuristic...and to be honest, I felt as though I was in a huge club!! :)
The quartet came up individually from a capsule and belted out, 'Let's Get it Started'..restyled from Let's Get Retarded..


Check out the backdrop. Most of their stage props/deco was made out of special lights and effects. No so much of the actual props... How cool is that!!


Taboo, the Asian-looking guy in BEP. He's actually really cool in person. I went to google him and realised he's actually Latino.. He looks scary here...I blame the pictures.


And how can we miss Fergie.. she was really really hot in person too. Not the gorgeous type but really attractive.

The dancers were all dressed up in really weird costumes. For most part of the night and performances, their face were covered..


The lighting formed human images.. flashing on the stage...


Fergie singing G.L.A.M.O.U.R.O.U.S


will.i.am on the turntable. This guy can play almost every instrument.
Believe me, even more than Scott Lim..


Yes, you can! They used images of Obama.. and had four election stands.. I think the props were pretty cool!

Just look at how amazing the stage was..


Imagine planetUNI in 2 years time? :) Quite possible!
While standing in the BEP concert, I imagine, if only the people at church were as passionate as these fans.... God will be beyond pleased!