serendipity...

31 July 2007
Received a new job offer

1 August 2007
Signed the papers for my new job

2 August 2007
Resigned from current job

4 to 14 August 2007
ON HOLIDAY (10 days!)

15 to 29 August 2007
Last days at current job (11 working days of not doing too much!)

26 August 2007
My first ever 21km race

30 and 31 August 2007
On leave – 2 days leave balance to clear (girly lunches and retail therapies were the order of these 2 days)

It was a sweet, sweet month! The order of things that happened this month fell into places so perfectly! How fabulous was that? I love you August 2007!!! Come September, it will be another new beginning in my work life. I am not too excited about it - I know myself - nothing good will come out of anything when I get too excited. It is important to remain calm with the challenges coming my way and lower my expectations.

Three months before we hit December (my favourite month!) and I am hoping for a smooth sailing from now till the end of the year.

i ran further...

This morning, I participated in my first half marathon (21km) race - The Singapore Bay Run/Army Half Marathon. Based on my watch, I completed the race in 2 hours and 45 minutes - 15 minutes more than my targeted time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Well, it didn't matter because my objective in taking part in races this year is to finish them. Timing is not so important at this point - well, I say that now because I did not finish in the time I wanted to. Nevertheless, I am quite happy that I have taken part and completed it.

It was not that hot this morning but I was struggling a bit after the sunrise. I could not psyched myself to open my stride and run faster. I finished all the drinks on my fuel belt by the 18km. I usually get motivated with music during my runs but the battery on my iPod went flat at the 16km mark. Hence, the last 5 km was a drag without music! Plus, I am not sure why but my feet was hurting almost throughout the run. That was the other part of the struggle. When will my race not be a struggle??

The one thing that I hate when running in these races is running with like thousands other participants, sweaty participants. I hate it when I get I get knocked by a stranger's sweaty arms. Euuughh... I cringe each time that happens and that happened a few times today. I prefer running my own race i.e. running on my own on regular days but sometimes you have to run races in order to have some kind of a goal.

I am eagerly waiting for the official time from the champion chip. I don't think it will be much less than the time I have mentioned but still, sometimes that few minutes can make a whole lot of difference.

compact discs...

The hunt for more heart pumping songs continued yesterday. It has been a while since I went out to buy music CDs - not a lot of newly released albums that have caught my listening ear. However, after a recent obsession with U2 in the last couple of weeks, I decided to go out to buy one of their compilation albums:

U2 - The Best of 1990-2000
There are some tracks in there that I have not heard before and it is worthwhile to add to my U2 collection. Funny, I just recalled that back in the early 90's, my dad bought me U2's Achtung Baby. How cool was that?

I browsed further in the CD shop and decided to get:

Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane
I have always to get this album after having heard to their famous first single, This Love but I kept holding back. I don't know why but now I bought it.

Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long
I also grabbed their new album, which I am listening to right now. Up to track 3 now and I already love this album.

I thought the purchase of CD ended there but received a call from LET before hopping on a train to go home last evening. Drinks!!! After a round of beer, a good chicken kebab with mint sauce and great conversation, we dropped by another CD shop before heading home. LET wanted to buy a CD but yours truly ended up buying 2 more CDs at a bargain:

Take That - Beautiful World
I have been meaning to get this and now finally get around to it. I have a soft spot for Take That. Remember that I only discovered them towards the time when they were about to break up. How bad is that?? With all the heavily guitar strumming on the other albums, I think Take That tracks would ease the ear at the end.

Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
After hearing and watching their track called 'Thanks For The Memories', which have kept me company during my runs, I had to get their album – a big risk because I don't normally buy an album unless I like 3 or more songs and have read a couple of reviews. Had a quick listen before Maroon 5 and I think I may have a few more tracks to add to my running playlist.

I am at Track 7 of Maroon 5's It Won’t Be Soon Before Long and there is no let-up. I will be musically entertained this weekend, like any other weekend but with new songs this time. These CDs are good buys. Very excited to listen to each and every one of the songs - dancing around in my room and doing the air guitar every now and then when the a lead guitar solos sufaces in any of the songs in these albums.

rock on - part II

It is not often that you actually come across a good live band performing at the clubs, pubs, bars and cafés (ok, maybe not cafes but I just like to end the list of joints with the word, cafe. So French!). During my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur and Phuket, there were a really bad band, a fairly decent and a great one.

The bad one was one that we saw in Kuala Lumpur. I think they are wannabes. We were quite happy with the music which the deejay was spinning - a combination of retro and latest music (of which Kevin was more into the retro ones). Then the band came on and I think that was the reason that made us left the bar. They totally destroyed Usher and Alicia Keys' My Boo. I think they tried too hard to be cool but unfortunately, their diction was quite bad and I could barely hear the words they were singing. I hope they didn't quit their day jobs.

The fairly decent one is this band who was performing at an Irish Pub in Patong, Phuket - probably one of the few decent joints to have drinks at. As I've said, the band is fairly decent - so their performances were soon forgotten after each song ended. I could only recall this French guy, who is not a member of the band, who went up to sing the French version of Frank Sinatra's My Way i.e. Comme d'Habitude. He did a fine job and I just have to say that he was cute too (What is the deal with me and cute French men?) Probably why I remembered this moment.

The most outstanding one is the resident band at Hard Rock Cafe in Kuala Lumpur. They are from the Philippines and they were fabulous! That Monday night when we saw them perform was their very first set of their 6-month long gig at Hard Rock. They started slow but towards the middle, I began to dig them. There were a couple of performances that stuck in my mind up till now. One was the lead female singer did Ashlee Simpson's Pieces of Me. I don't like Ashlee Simpson - I think she sings from her nose - but the version done by this Filipino singer was better than the original version. The other standout performance was when they sang U2's Pride (In the name of love). This is a classic U2 and the band did it very well. Bravo, you guys! I can vividly remember their performances in my head. It is such a shame that I don't remember the band's name but no matter. I think I might just travel up north again between now and the end of the year to see them perform again.

Because of this band, I am now constantly listening to Pieces of Me and all of U2's music from all the way back to 1980s. What is it about the strumming of the lead guitar that make you want to do the air-guitar? U2's music, they are timeless classics. Pride is from 1984 still sounds very current now. U2's lyrics are profound too. Their songs seem to be written about a political and social situation or a tribute to someone:

Pride was written about Martin Luther King Jr.
New Year's Day was inspired by Polish Solidarity Movement.
Sunday Bloody Sunday is about the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1972 and 1920.
Where The Streets Have No Name was inspired by the social situation in Belfast in the 1980's.
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own was written by Bono as a tribute to his father who died in 2001.
Crumbs From Your Table is about relief efforts in Africa.

U2 has been around for over 20 years now and they still have a strong following. They are not sleazy like Rolling Stones, which I don't quite like. They are also actively involve in addressing issues concerning poverty, disease, and social injustice, be it with with other musicians, artists, celebrities, and politicians. When you buy their album, you know that part of that purchase, no matter how small, goes to a good cause.

I have found some untapped U2 tracks from my collection which are perfect for my runs - The Edge' lead guitar solo in those tracks just make me run faster and also I just want to turn the volume on my speakers at home to full blast!! I am looking forward for U2 to release their next album and hope there will be more tracks with great lead guitar solos by the Edge.

the heat is on...

Being under the hot sun by beach, playing with the waves or sit on a deck chair, sipping cocktails is great. But not when you have to be on your feet to run the miles. Which was what I did this morning - I went for a charity run - Hope Run, organized by Youth for Causes at East Coast Park.

It was a 6km but under the heat of the sun, it seems like the 'longest' run ever. And I thought the Passion run in July was a huge battle with the heat but this August heat took a bit of a toll on me. Still, I run the distance - I was being anal, trying to make up for the runs I have missed while I was away a couple of weeks ago. Also, I have a couple of races coming up that I need to train for and this was a good opportunity - treat it like training. My plan to run faster had to be cancelled - fear that I might collapse from heat. Weak! What made the run seemed even longer was that there was no marking to indicate that you have reached the 3km mark and make a turn to the finish point. I heard quite a few remarks from some of the participants about how the event was badly organised but I didn't care that much. My objective was treating this run as training - so I just ran.

Like battling the heat on your feet wasn't enough, yours truly rented a bike and cycle about 15km, after a quick break from the run. I am barking mad, I tell you!! But the cycle was less daunting.

After a Subway sandwich for lunch and I treated myself with two big cookies - oatmeal raisin and double chocolate chip - I made my way home. It began pouring when I got home and the two-hour 'nap' this afternoon was definitely a much-needed one to put me on the road to recovery for bloody work tomorrow.

I had quite a full weekend, just how I like it these days.

wednesday bloody workday...

Don't be alarmed with the title of this entry. Just that I was listening to U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday on the way home from work this evening. The song is about the bloody massacre in Northern Ireland in 1972, I think. However, this title is about my return to work on a Wednesday after my weeklong holiday and the word 'bloody' is not referring to the real blood but more of intensifying my expression of annoyance that it is a workday. Not that I hate my job but the thought of going to work after being away is such a drag.

Anyway, today is the day where my normal routine resumed. Woke up at 5am this morning for my regular runs. The last time I ran was last Tuesday, while on holiday. This morning's run was rather difficult. I cannot believe that after a week's break, it could be this daunting. Nevertheless, I pushed myself to run the miles.

Surprisingly, work was rather peaceful - it helps when your manager sits on a different floor and prefers to communicate with you over e-mail than the phone and internal messenger. Suits me just fine. I was just a bit annoyed with one e-mail - I hate it when people tell me step by step how I should do my work and this e-mail did just that. But I let it go. No point dwelling over one silly e-mail. I rather focus my energy on something more worthwhile like where am I going to go for my next holiday.

Being brown like a toast was totally worth it what with the compliments I received about how great my tanned skin is. Honestly, I have never had a great tan. In the past, any exposure under the sun would led to sun burn and I would suffer the humiliation of dry and peeling skin for at least a week followed by a week of patchy skin before the skin goes back to normal. Well, I guess now I may have learned how to manage the situation under the sun in getting that nice, if not fabulous, tan. Hard work, I tell you but the admiration that I get, priceless!

Two more days and it is the weekend. If only every work week is short like this.

a sun-kissed week...

Kevin made his return to Singapore soil after having left this small island 10 years ago. Less than 24 hours after his arrival, he was whisked off up north to the city of Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days followed by a good few days in sunny Phuket.

Kuala Lumpur
> Water rides at Sunway Lagoon - checked
> Climb up the Petronas Tower - unchecked
> Climb up the KL Tower - unchecked

Yeah, so we didn't do much but hey, we were only there for 2 days. There is no way that we are going to crawl out of bed early just to get the 800 limited tickets to go up Petronas Tower which are normally distributed at 8.30am. KL Tower was also cancelled - hazy conditions. Doubtful that we will get to see a good view.

Still, I think we had some productive time at Sunway and using the facilities at the hotel the morning before we got on our Phuket-bound flight. Also, I truly enjoyed the music played by this Filipino band at Hard Rock Cafe, while sipping my Sex on the beach cocktail. The band was by far the best band we've seen on this trip.

Phuket
> Island hopping - checked
> Much time under the sun and by the beach - checked
> Visit National Park in Surat Thani where we had a ride on an elephant I named Elly and went on a canoe ride - checked
> Hang out at Patong on a couple of evenings for people watching - checked
> Simon Cabaret Show where we saw the lady boys expressing themselves without the use of their actual voice chords - checked
> Going to A Go-Go Bar - unchecked

Our arrival in Phuket was greeted with wacky weather. Well, the southwest monsoon was hitting the region. However, the weather improved within a couple of days and the time spent under the sun was superb! The beach is just across the road from the hotel at Karon Beach. The idea of spending time in the sun at Patong Beach was scrapped off - that place is so in your face and chaotic. Why go there when the beach at our hotel was so serene - it was like being on your own private beach. But we did check the nightlife at Patong Beach a couple of nights - it had to be done and checked off my list of things to see.

The lady boys at the Simon Cabaret Show made me feel so insecure about my womanhood but after having heard them speak, I am insecure no more. I like Kevin's definition of the lady boys - "They are distinguished by titties that don't move and their voice box. Other than that, they are indistinguishable."

We cancelled the walk into the A Go-Go bar. I am not sure how to describe what can be seen at the Go-Go bar but let's just say it would be too gory for me. Aaaahhh, the 'culture' that I have missed.

Off course, on top of the above activities at the two destinations, there were a lot of consumption of good food, sipping of cocktails and some good local and the occasional imported beers as well as some good live music. We also managed to squeeze in some time for some fitness activities.. well, I think Kevin did more of the healthy activities than I did. On the last day in Phuket, we had a little pampering at the spa, followed by a very late breakfast. Spent the last few hours on the beach before setting off to the airport.

All in all, another fabulous holiday for yours truly. I am all toasted like a brown bread but hey, you don't go for a beach holiday and stay away from the sun. I was a little depressed a couple of days after returning but I am fine now. However, I have a feeling that it may set in again when I go back to work tomorrow. I get this way ALL the time after a holiday but don't we all?

I am happy to see Kevin back to these parts. Took him a while to come back to Singapore now, did he? Thank you for the lovely time, Kevin! Hope to see you again in these parts before long.

As usual, photos are in the process of being edited. It should be up real soon, I hope.