F.O.R.T.U.N.A.T.E

I'm watching the charity show as I'm writing this.

Teardrops fell when I heard the song, Tong Hua. This song somewhat relates to the situation in China really well.

As I'm watching this show, they highlighted a few damn sad stories.

Damn Sad Story 1: A man was stuck below the rubbles for 3 days. And told the resucers who found him to save him, and said he needs to live on. He had a pregnant wife waiting for him. After 6 hours of rescue works, they manage to get him out. But, on the way to hospital, he just stopped breatheing. While he was still stuck, they helped him make a call to his wife. And suddenly all hopes were lost. Imagine the kind of sadness the rescuers felt? His wife? Heard and lost.

Damn Sad Story 2: A mother was found dead in a kneeling position. After the rescuers got her out, they cleaned her up. In that attempt, they found that she was carrying her 4-months old baby, unhurt. And also found on her was a mobile phone, with a msg typed out before she died in Chinese. "My beloved baby, if you are alive, just know that mom loves you."

So cruel.

What the celebrities said is true, we're really lucky to be living in a country free from natural disasters. The only method of destroying a family, is via accidents or man-made.

I bet many still take it for granted. Curse and swear about the government, lifestyle here etc. I think its time to slow down the swearing and think about how fortunate you are compared to the living and the dead in SiChuan. And you're likely to curse lesser. That makes you a better person, you know?

Today's Sunday, my family day. Dad's finally done with his work too. Its been about 1 month since we had our family day. I had a recurring thought, I'm fortunate. They're still with me, safe and very much alive and happy.
That's all I need.

From this sorrowful incident, I've learnt to cherish my family, my possessions, and friends more than before. I have finally understood the meaning of FORTUNATE. Nothing should be taken for granted. Nothing is absolute. Being happy is more than 1 can ask for.

To workaholics, guilty parties who have neglected their families, loved ones, its time to gather time, and substantial amount of time for them. You never know when you'd lose them. Gather as much happy memories as possible. Life is too unpredictable, too fragile.

Life still have to go on. Just hope this will pass very soon and it all becomes a history.
--
This week is my last full week with the current company. Seriously, I'm very nervous about the new company. I'm getting cold feet. I've never done anything related to that new job before. Its just like what I told the hiring manager, "I have nothing but a degree."

But I'm lucky to be employed, being able to pursue my dreams, my goals in life as long as I'm living, have the support of my family, my loved ones. Its by far the most motivating factor in life, regardless what kind of situation you're in. Once you lose it, you lose the direction in life. Life's nothing without love & family.

So much for now...

Old hag & my facial session

first of all, I declare, I have NO DISCRIMINATION against aunties. But only this 1.

I was having my facial, and she too was on a trial, just need to pay a mere $20+ dollars for the service, while mine, I signed a package, meaning paid alot more per session.

Unfortunately, we started our sessions at the same time.

We talked through her entire facial session with the beautician. Talked about her son getting married, her daughter graduated from some countries, and her 'Diet Adventure". - Seriously, no one cares how fat you are, no one cares whether your son gets married or your daughter graduated. And no one even cared about how many kids you have. So just shut up and do your facial.

And her mobile phone is not put on slient mode, she answered answered and spoken like god-damned loudly in a small room! Worse still, her relative or friend later came in and this hag actually stand beside the bed of her someone & GOSSIP!

Man, that was the last straw. I had to vent it. I see no reason why I have keep quiet and make my facial session a bad 1. She destroyed mine, I do the same. I sat up on my bed and said loudly, "its damn noisy." And I think her friend heard it. And asked her to stop talking and go off since she's already done. But she carried on rattling. If you wish to talk so fucking much, can you please go to the kopitiam, buy 1 cup of 80 cents kopi and rattle all you want?

A beauty/spa salon is NOT THE PLACE TO RATTLE! Some privacy should be put in placed. Just like what they do in cinemas. This is the first time my facial session is so fucking horrible and ruined.

Many may think I'm petty to quarrel with an aunty. But, let's take for example, movies in a cinema. The standard is, everyone have their phones switched off, don't talk (whisper) and enjoy the show.

But someone sitting BESIDE you, starts talking loudly, phone kept ringing (not once but twice) and talked on her phone damn fucking loudly. What would you do?! Keep quite and tolerate and waste your movie ticket? Remember, you bought your ticket, she bought hers too. But there is some SOP that you have to maintain right! Besides, its common sense. Why do people go to movies? For entertainment, for the show, for relaxing and taking your mind off work n all other rubbish outside for that mere 2-3 hours.

Same goes for facial. Why do people go to facial? To get their skin problems solved, to maintain their skin, and of course to relax! So would you like to have someone be it aunty or youngster speaking loudly? Some may tolerate, but I don't.

But 1 thing I'm quite sure of is, they will not get her business. To my beauty salon, I'm sorry for creating havoc. But I saved your ass from a talkative client. To my beautician, thanks for making my session alot better by giving me extra massages. She's really good ok. I going to write her a letter of compliment.

I'm probably selfish by venting my anger, but the beauticians have to clear up the mess. I just want my right justified.

I told wei about this, think he didn't quite agree. But, I don't care.

prayers answered

I GOT A JOB!

And I'm damn happy can!

Its really a luck thingy. I was in the mood to send CVs online & just tried which ever marketing related jobs I could see on the jobs portal. And, ~wala~, I was called up for an interview and had to rush down for it during lunch yesterday as office is really short handed.

It was a long 1, and very unprepared. I was so nervous my heart felt like it was in my mouth. I wonder why. Previous interviews weren't like this.

The interviewer, who happened to also be the MD of the coy, was considering who to hire (he was also considering another candidate).

Surprisingly, I got it. *yeah*

So I requested for an email to have that 'security' that I'm offered before I tender to the boss. Since my manager wasn't around, I had to give it to him. But before hand called her to inform her.

So, yeah, here I am, DELIGHTED.

But of course, my manager and another fellow colleague won't be happy with my leaving. Its damn stressful now. And they need someone who really knows what to do to handle the work. I only have 1 and a half week for handover. But, no matter how, everything has to come to a certain end-point. Nothing loops on forever.

I'm leaving the current company on the 4th of June, and starting work immediately the next day. Think I don't need any break in between. I already had enough break.

Is this the beginning of a change towards the better?

I hope. *x-fingers*

Nothing is Absolute

The past couple of days had been upsetting. And I'm dying to get it out of my chest. Readers beware. Its a long entry today.

China Earthquake
Heart breaking.

Seeing TV and newspaper reports on e deaths n number of quakes. The constant hindrance from the wrecked roads n strong quakes has caused more death n difficulty in rescue efforts. God is destroying his own creations. There's been too many quakes, please let it stop soon. To date, there's been more than 3000 quakes (big & small). Newborns became orphans. Parents become childless over night. The unimaginable pain in their heart's. Nothing else can heal it. Nothing.

For people who are reading this entry, spare a few minutes n offer your prayers to e dead, the victims, the rescuers, the survivors n e now-paralyzed etc. God just created a whole lot of crippled, homeless, orphans. How are the crippled going to live their lives in future? *Sigh*

I, too saw a newspaper report on a newborn, trapped under the debris, survived by drinking his/her deceased mum's breast milk for I think 3 days.

Another police woman offered her own comfort to a newborn by offering him/her her milk. That newborn too lost his parents in the quake.

Many survivors in order to keep their lives have to lose at least a limp. 1 woman had to saw off her leg in order to be carried out of the debris. A huge rock was resting on her leg, and rescuers have no other way to lift her out other than to get her to saw off her own limp. And she bravely did it herself.

Out of this incident, you get to see, Love is in the air. Celebrities, countries, citizens of all colors and races offered their contributions, in cash, some even action.

To all Singaporeans who are living here, and constantly complaining about how sucky our country is, this is a time to stop complaining. Nothing is perfect. But at least we are living here safely, and in peace. We're free from natural disasters, at least for now.

Marriage, Relationships, Women & Men
One of my dad's friend A has a china mistress in her 30s, still holding a student pass in Singapore. He now wants to divorce his wife of more than 30 yrs. Went through thick n thin with him, bore him 3 kids. And now he wants to divorce her because of this student pass holder woman in her 30s. No brainer. He even wants to follow this China woman to her home town, saying that she promised to support him there. - Ya, right.

Moron.

He wants to sell off his business, leave his money with his wife. Anyway the business ownership & bank account is under his wife's name. She's got no loss anyway. But imagine the hurt in her heart. All these money cannot be used as compensation. No amount of money can compensate for heart-breaks. He highlighted that he couldn't stand his wife's temper anymore. After 30 over years of marriage, he cannot stand her. - Ya, right.

When men wants to leave you, they give you all sorts of stupid excuses.

And lately I heard a friend wants to marry a Thai woman also in her 30s. He knew her in a Thai pub less than 2 months ago. My friend is in his mid 20s who just started working. This woman pushed him for marriage. And mentioned she will not work after they get married. Just want stay home and be tai-tai.

Now tell me, How? How to believe in marriage, men n even women? I seriously have lost sense of all these suddenly. Can u really believe in it? I suddenly feel, a relationship is so weak even when you're married for decades.

I suddenly feel so scared.

Nothing is absolute. It doesn't mean your husband will not cheat on u after 30 yrs of marriage. It doesn't mean your boyfriend of many years will not leave you for another 3rd grade woman. How strong-willed can a man be?

I've also heard it from a male friend who frequents these pubs. He had friends who literally ditch their girlfriends of many years to visit these pubs. *Sigh*

Ok. To all men out there. No decent girlfriend will accept u frequenting these places ok! No! So make your choice n don waste our youth! Don't be so fucking selfish.

Question
What is the equation for a blissful relationship, marriage? Everyone's equation is different. I'm impressed by those who manage to keep their marriage going after many years.

How much trust should you give?

But at least for now, I have no confidence in it, not even in the future of my own relationship.

Nothing is absolute.

disasters...

Recent reports on Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar and Earthquake at Sichuan Province (China) had been quite heart wrenching.

But here, you see 2 different scenarios, 1 welcoming all the help they could gather, and the other, blocking out "cries to help".

End of the day, its the citizens who suffer. Being the government of a country, you're like the parents of the country. And your peasants/citizens are your children.

Does it really feel good to see everyone suffering in your country? Gosh, looking at the news reports, its quite disturbing to see someone rejecting help. The dead is already rotting, the dying are joining in the rotting club. Yet, they're not concerned about it.

Rescuers have to fucking WAIT for visa to be issued before they can enter the Myanmar to save their people. C'mon, your people need help. Can't they just speed up the process? Is your process, your regulations more important than your people? Why not let the humanitarians save your people and care about your regulations later? Besides, these people entering your country are doing it out of humanitarian act, it is volunteered! They do it willingly. It's already been 10 days and only a minority have gotten the aid. But UN suspected death toll to be more than 100,000 people (Myanmar government reported about 60K people only).

Not many people will want to go there and suffer with your suffering peasants. They are also exposed to god-knows-what diseases there is now with all the rotting bodies, infiltrating into the water, their land, their fields.
Donations have been called for and humanitarian organizations have already gathered quite a substantial amount of money to aid these dying people. For God's sake, just accept the help.

See! See how people risks their lives to help?
Article taken off Channel News Asia - 11 May 08

BANGKOK - A boat carrying Red Cross aid supplies to survivors of Myanmar's cyclone sank on Sunday in the disaster zone after hitting a submerged tree trunk, but no one was injured, the organisation said.

"The crew steered to an island but the boat sank rapidly. All crew members, including four Myanmar Red Cross relief workers on board... managed to get to safety," it said in a statement.

Another Report: 12 May 08

BANGKOK, May 12 (Reuters) - A furious rescue worker accused Myanmar's military junta on Monday of crimes against humanity for refusing to fast-track visas for aid officials desperate to enter the country to help the 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis.

They say they will call, but it's always wait, wait, wait," Pierre Fouillant of the Comite de Secours Internationaux, a French disaster rescue agency, told Reuters after being turned awawy from the former Burma's embassy in the Thai capital.

"I've never seen delays like this, never," said Fouillant, a veteran of 10 humanitarian disasters. "It's a crime against humanity. It should be against the law. It's like they are taking a gun and shooting their own people."

ike dozens of others, Fouillant applied on Thursday for a business visa, his only option since the military-ruled and isolated southeast Asian nation has no such thing as an "emergency aid" visa.

The embassy was closed on Friday for a Thai government holiday, and was locked shut on Saturday and Sunday. It opened as normal on Monday morning.

At least 100,000 people are thought to have died in the May 2 cyclone and storm surge in the Irrawaddy delta, a death toll that could rise dramatically if survivors do not get access to food, clean water and medicine in the next few days, experts say.

Reuters witnesses on the edges of the disaster zone say towns and villages are being swamped by huge numbers of cyclone refugees and cannot cope.

There is virtually no government assistance and food is running out. Some residents say they are afraid the desperate evacuees will be forced to turn to looting.

FRUSTRATION

Against this backdrop, small groups of rescue workers are having to wait outside the iron-spiked, grey walls of the embassy compound in Bangkok while their leaders and local visa agents try to see if their applications have got anywhere.

"It is very frustrating," said Australian firefighter Craig Allan, who dropped everything at home to get to Bangkok and apply for a visa on Thursday.

His agency, part of Baptist World Aid, is called "Rescue 24" as it is meant to be able to put a team on the ground within 24 hours of any disaster anywhere in the world. In this case, it might be 24 days, he joked bleakly.

The U.N. says it has been promised three World Food Programme visas to be issued on Monday evening, and a handful of aid workers are getting visas at Myanmar embassies elsewhere around the world.

Some ordinary people are applying for tourist visas simply because they want to check on friends living in a country that still has an ability to cast a spell over visitors despite -- some might say because of -- its military government.

"I went there once as a tourist and fell in love with the place," said one American student who had flown in from Los Angeles. He said he had many Burmese friends from a year teaching English and learning Burmese in the former capital, Yangon.

"I just want to check my friends are OK and see what I can do," the student said. He did not want to give his name in case it jeopardised his application. "They said come back in four days. I'll just keep my fingers crossed," he said.

Before the cyclone struck, it took just 24 hours to process a tourist visa.

Patrick Michaudel, a French employee of medical services company SOS International, with clinics in Yangon, was almost in tears as he left the embassy at the end of a fruitless week-long wait for a visa. When he got to the front of the queue, Michaudel was elated to see his passport open on the desk with a visa inside.

He could only watch in horror as a female official then carefully peeled the visa sticker out of his passport and crudely covered up the partial stamp on the passport page with liquid paper. "No reason, no reason. She just peeled it out," he said, with a shrug of the shoulders. "I've had enough of this. I'm going home."

What are they thinking?

Hello !!! Luck you there??!

I'd been kinda lazy to blog lately. Partly also pre-occupied with my iPhone.

I'd been busy searching for job lately. Had been doing that for like months...I hope to stop soon. I hate searching for job, WAIT, and going for interviews and WAIT again! No luck......when is it coming?

Work has been so far, been bearable, probably because I decided its enough. I'm joining the jobless crew soon again. *grinz*

I manage to catch Speed Racer last weekend. Quite a brainless show thou, very graphical, but watchable. But two very prominent message in the show: believe in yourself & your believe and family matters.

I was sitting beside 2 China girls. No offence to the China community, not picking on anyone except them. They chatting among themselves, talking on the phone and taking their food loudly. And they fidget around like nobody's business. Soooo darn annoying. At 1 point of time their talking became so loud, i told the brainless bimbo beside me, "Can you please stop talking?" It stopped, but their munching continued loudly.

So god-damned inconsiderate. Bloody hell.

Its a rule of life to adapt to your surroundings. When you move to another country, you need to adapt to their culture. If you're so used to your life back Home, please go back there. Rather than to create such a bad image for your homeland. But, they are just 2 of the black sheeps. I've met some who're nice and polite.

Today, I'm heading for an interview. Hope it goes well. I'm praying so often, but nothing comes true as yet. *sigh*

Everyday is a hopeful day....cheers!