Reflections on Hen Party

I woke up to a nice Saturday afternoon today. I was up late last night throwing a hen party for one of my girls at work. It was fun hanging out with them for dinner and drink coupled with surprising the bride-to-be with the gift and the game we played, Truth or Dare.

These events are exactly the time where you get to know them better as we forget about work and just chat about our personal lives. You’d feel closer to them and of course that’s when the bonds begin. I’ve always felt comfortable around my females colleagues at work, mostly they are very nice people and that they’d open up to you about their genuine feelings and I’d return exactly the same. Some said that colleagues can never be turned to friends but I beg to differ. I could call most of my female colleagues as my close friends.

Through the Truth or Dare game, I set myself thinking about what we have been through as a couple – i.e., my boyfriend and I. It’s been 8 years now. When it was my turn to choose from the truth or a dare, I choose the truth since I know I’ve nothing I want to hide from the girls I feel closest to at that moment. They asked me if there’s any moment in my life where my boyfriend has done the most heartbreaking thing to me. And, you know what, this is not to brag about how lucky I was to have a man who loves me, nothing came to my mind to answer that question. As every other couple, we did have our ups and downs and the crazy time where I think I could just move on in my life without him. But these thoughts vanish as I reflect on how much we love each other. There’s always been more goods than bads if I were to balance it out. And none of us had done anything that is unforgivable to each other. I’m not so much of a perfect girlfriend either and I do not expect him to be the perfect one for me too. It’s all just boiled down to how much you care about each other and how do you see yourself spending the rest of your life with him for better or for worse.

I don’t know why these deep thoughts have been running through my mind these days. I’m obviously feeling older as time passes.

By the way, I am so happy for Y who’s getting married next Sunday. May your marriage be filled with blissful memories and have a wonderful lifelong journey ahead with your hubby. Congratulations!

Movie Review: The Ugly Truth

The last few movies I've watched for Gerard Butler were adventurous, rough and action packed like Gamer, 300 and Nim's Island. Didn't know he does romance movies too. But, Katherine Heigl, I know is a great natural. Watched a few great movies like 27 Dresses, Knocked Up and not forgetting the Grey's Anotomy TV series too.

This movie has been up in the cinema for awhile but I didn't have time and gotten the right company to go watch it until last friday. Two of my girls and I went for the evening show after work and we all had fun watching it followed by a Chinese dinner.

I knew this movie was a good one from a few other who have watched it. And I witnessed it for myself and I've given it a 3 and a half stars for the good laughs throughout the show and it sure did earned it. It looks a little like a 'He's not that into you' movie when Mike (Gerard Butler) teaches and shares the tips on the relationships in terms of a guy's point of view.

Anyone younger than 18 shouldn't be watching this movie because there are a lot of adult jokes involved and only people with the adult mindset would possibly understand most of the jokes. This was way better than 'Funny People'.

Real Life Blownup Doll

As much as I want my carefree, stress-less and innocent childhood back, I don't exactly hate being an adult with full of responsibilities for family, friends and especially for career. I mean who doesn't want a life that is away from all the worries and best scenario - if you don't have to work for money. Sometimes, some things just can't be helped. Therefore, I work at an office and hence I'm sharing this story happened at work with you.

And of course, I don't have any particular intention to insult anyone. But, this is just too funny not to be mentioned. I am seriously hoping, those colleagues involved in this story won't see my blog with this post.

I'm surrounded with many funny, nice, weird, caring or loud people at work. And I take all the weirdness as a pinch of salt and I don't take anything to heart. I treat all of them as nice as I could so that my working at this environment would be pleasant.

First of all, before sharing the story below. Just a little background info on the colleagues that I'm going to talk about.

W - He is a guy who is very witty, funny and always crack jokes with us.
A - She is a girl with a thin body, no matter how much she eats, she will never grow fat, a problem I wouldn't mind having. She's nice and helpful, everyone in the office loves her.

Okay, W and A are the main cast in this story. Both W and A are married and one with kid, therefore, the conversation below is nothing serious or flirtatious intention to each other. Just take it as a pinch of salt, like me, okay? And here goes the story and the conversations between W and A via email.

W has been visiting this psychiatrist who is helping with his issue regarding the short span of attention. But that psychiatrist he was seeing was recently charged and imprisoned. Real story it is, being featured in the newspaper here too. Therefore, the following email was sent to him.

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From: XXX [mailto:xxxx@jcu.edu.sg]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:14 AM
To: xxx
Cc: xxx
Subject: Appointment at the Psychology Clinic

Dear W

Our records show that you are currently a client of our Psychology Clinic and that you have been seeing trainee clinical psychologist Chong Weien.

Unfortunately we have recently discovered that Mr. Chong was convicted, and subsequently imprisoned, in 2002 of outraging the modesty of a teenager. As a result, Mr. Chong has been suspended from our postgraduate professional course in clinical psychology while a review of his suitability to continue in the course is undertaken.

Your case will be re-assigned to another trainee clinical psychologist who will contact you to make your next appointment.

My apologizes for any inconvenience.

Yours sincerely
xxxx
*******************************************************************************
Professor xxxx
Department of Psychology
James Cook University
600 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574421

Tel: +xxx
Fax: +xxx
Hp: +xxxx
Web: www.jcu.edu.sg

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W: I am such a loser that my psychiatrist has been convicted of outraging someone’s modesty.

A: HAHAHA….. Nevermind, just make sure your next psychiatrist is not a serial butt molester.

Me: W, you should go for the real one instead of an inexperienced trainee.

Other Colleague: Yah I think u must test first... bring a playboy to ur next psychiatrist visit.....

A: Or maybe bring a blown up doll with you…

W: A, Are you free then?

A: You say already.. I got nothing to molest! Even the blownup doll may be a better prospect than me with the right curves.

W: You wear more layers can? And keep your mouth open. Cannot tell the doll from you apart la.

Me: OMG… this is ultimate!! Hahahaha…

W: On normal days, she’s quite deflated.

A: IDIOT, IDIOT, IDIOT W!

W: You’re so sexy my latex friend!

A: I will make sure the acupuncture you go to, will make your chest grow with flying colours!

W: Then you must also join me sister. You need to make your chest grow in flying colors too!

A: I am going to kill W today! And nobody can stop me from doing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W: When you try to kill me, I will pull out the plug from you and you will deflate like nobody’s business. And you will fly around like a balloon on the 14th floor.

A: ……………. Ok, you win!

W: Having said all that, A we love you!!!! You’re the best blow up doll ever!!

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Hahaha! you don't hear this everyday at work. But this sure could make my day at work brighter with the laughter around us.

Power Of Hug

Have you ever had too much from a lousy day that all you wanted was a nice warm comforting hug from someone you’re close to and you know that person cares about you? Okay, let’s look at this in the perspective of a genuine caring hug regardless of age, gender, colour and the status. Not necessarily someone whom you’re dating with or your spouse, it could well be a family member a friend or a relative.

Hugs can be very subjective and have different levels of causality and affectionate intimacy. Ranging from a casual greeting handshake hug to a friendship embrace to a passionate one you give to your lover. See? It’s not as cheesy as it sounds.

I’m not a very good hugger. I feel awkward hugging someone especially when they are not that close to me. Partly because hugs are not openly practiced in Asian culture. I could count using my fingers for the number of time I hugged my mom without finishing all 10 of them. I received hugs from my female friends on my birthday and I gave hugs to female colleagues on their birthdays or on their farewell, etc. We just don’t hug on normal occation.

Last Friday was one memorable day for me. With 5 over years with the job, I considered myself a veteran and I seldom get into a problem regarding work. Most of the days are stressfree but busy ones for me. But on Friday, something went wrong and I felt terrible for my stupid mistake. And I don’t take mistakes very lightly, when that happens I will have a hard time getting my mind off it. It was Friday and I foresaw that I’m going to have bad weekends too and I did. I don’t know if you have experience that, it’s the feeling of a pitch in your stomach, you sleep with it and wake up with it in the morning continuing the thoughts you cut off before your sleep. It’s not quite a panic, but stress.

My boyfriend (C as his initial) and I went for a movie on Friday night and obviously for what happened on that day, I couldn’t enjoy that movie to the fullest. As I was bragging to him about what happened on the day while having our quick bite at the fast food chain, he listened attentively gave me some pointers and his view. I must have really looked terrible cuz thereafter, he gave me a hug. A hug that was so consoling and I could immediately feel comfort in me. I really did appreciate that, not just a hug but the care and concern behind the hug that I could sense, especially in time of need for one.

Movie Review: Surrogates

This one of a kind movie drew my attention when I first saw the trailer not long ago. It involves robots that are remotely controlled by the humans, i.e., making robots to get the things done when you are comfortably lying on your comfy chair. It sounds like a real good life. The feature to which the robots of your choice could be in a form of anything, male/female in their thin curvy lines or muscular toned bodies. The movie came up with these catchy images that could instantly draw anyone's attention as well.



It's a sci-fi movie based on the technology of making 'surrogate' for each individual in the city, for the purpose of making them work in your place, whether you are a clerk who works at a company or a soldier who is about to go on a war. As usual, it's the future inspired movie where you get to watch those highly sophisticated technologies, their pros and cons, the followers and the haters, etc. The surrogates in this movies are the human-like robots that are the refined version of the actual individual (human) who is controlling his surrogate to live in the society on behalf of himself as every other human beings. The guy sitting at home taking the control of his 'surrogate' robot obviously could be 50 years old, fat guy with very few hair and weighing 250kg while his 'surrogate' looks like his 25 year old self in masculine toned body with flawless angelic face. So, you get the picture. Everyone looks perfect in this movie. Starring by Bruce Willis as Tom Greer. Here, you get to see his actual self (human) and his surrogate - his 30 years old self with the cool side-parting blonde hair and toner body. Aha. The same goes for almost all other casts.

So, while you're watching this, you will notice that ALL the surrogates (be it lady or man), they are all very good looking with the extra smooth skin and super glowing complexion. How I wish I could have one myself. Who doesn't want to look better when you're given a chance to?

Enough about the people and the surrogates, the movie has a little twist and was able to keep me interested throughout. The scenes of making them and fixing them took the cake. So, I believe it deserves a better rating then 2.5 stars according to the newspaper. In my opinion, it's worth a 4 stars. Bruce Willis has done a good job, so, he should earn it.

Movie Review: Fame

Watched it a couple of days ago with my Bestie K. Ok, I've gotten a little lazier these days, and older a little, cuz I just couldn't bring myself to start updating the blog after a long day at work. So, just ended up in curling up in the bed after a good cool shower. During the movie, I was already thinking of writing about it once I get back home, but obviously it didn't happen.

It started with a bunch of high school kids enrolling into the New York Academy of Performing Arts (they use the term: PAs) where they get to study singing, acting, dancing, playing musical instruments and many more. From the not-so-good students to the teacher's favourite students in each classes, the good, the bad and the unfortunate ones, the movie depicts the in the school and off the school lives of the students. The one message the movie is trying to send across is that, while being famous is good, there's nothing wrong with wanting the 'fame' in life, there are many life lessons to which the students were not possibly aware of and that this PAs school would give them specialized lessons on music and arts to groom them into the future's shinning stars.

This movie was listed out of my want-to-watch list because I thought it's just another musical movie where the casts sing and dance from the minute the movie gets started till the end. But I realised that I was horribly wrong after 15mins into the movie. The kids are good at everything, no matter if it's about singing, dancing or piano. They do this with so much energy that people who are watching could actually feel them. The girls in the show dance so beautifully and very briskly.

My highlight for me from this show is the dancing. The dancing scene made me have those moment of goosebumps and the chill down your spine with the breathtaking performance. This girl (Kherington Payne) is a real dancer, and I had no idea that she was one of the participants in 'So You Think You Can Dance' TV show.

Asher Book sings very well too. One of those who possesses a soulful voice that warms people's heart and he sings slow songs like this. Bestie K shared this on FB. Have a listen and enjoy!