name my ibook

I really should give my iBook a name.
I mean, I'm facing it most of my waking hours.
And it serves me oh-so-well for everything...work, music, dvds, surfing, msn-ing etc.
If it were human, it'd be my best fren by now, if not my husband.
So, the least I can do is accord it the benefit of a name right.
Any ideas?

Anyway, at work today, I was feeling the strain of facing technology for most of 8 hours, and so I decided to go for a walk.
Didn't go far....after strolling around with Sharmaine, I then found myself alone in Carrefour looking for inconsequential snacks (i.e. snacks that will not result in weight gain).
Then I realised I haven't really gone grocery shopping since I came back in Dec, and I actually miss it! Haha....

Walking down the aisles, I kinda went into "Friday-is-Marketing-Day-in-Melbourne" mode and started thinking:
"Hm...should I buy some tsuyu to make cha soba?"
"How come no plum sauce?! I wanna cook yummy chicken wings..."
"Yay! Tung-I instant noodles....getting sick of CQYD...."
"Really should stock up on some canned food, to tide over the end of the month."

And then guess what, I realised I missed cooking too!
Haha....
I can hear all the guffaws of Housemates Past ringing in my head at the mention of this:
"Yah right!! Cooking or burning?!"

Sigh, I can't blame them.
Louis actually has incriminating evidence of me setting food and the kitchen etc. on fire.
Come to think of it, the one time I attempted "tang yuen" in peanut soup, I left the pot on the lighted stove the whole night, and I woke up at 6am to a smoky house and a charred pot.
Yes, I can be a hazardous housemate when it comes to cooking. :P
But it doesn't mean I cannot enjoy cooking! Haha...
i just have to be more careful and not multi-task too much.

So, anyway, I determined that I should find some time to cook some dishes here and there.
Maybe for Sunday dinners with my family. :)
Tell me if you have interesting recipes to share!

Okei, I think I am starting to ramble...cos I am tired...so I'd better head off to bed.

a tribute to ppl i spend most of my recent days with

I made a mistake at work this week.
Not exactly a small one that can be overlooked.
For sure, I was upset.
But after a few hours, I thought to myself, I can learn from this (yah, I know it's cliched).
And then I thought about how I felt, and realised, "Hey, being right in the middle of a mistake is not that scary."
In fact, it can be downright cool, if you have the right people around you.

And I did.
I've my department to thank for this.
They didn't gloss over my mistake, but quickly worked out the problem and worked towards how to rectify it, and of course, not repeating it.

My boss mentioned recently that this project I'm working on is a really great starting point for me.
And I so agree.
Nothing integrates you better into an organisation than something you can really sink your teeth into.
But my colleagues also literally hugged me into the department.
By including me in old jokes, remembering to stop and explain things to me, being open with me etc.
It's really the little things that matter.

I enjoy being in a company where people are working towards a common vision.
Where there is no room for politics (and I mean no room whatsoever).
A company where you know that people are upfront with you, so you never have to waste time wondering.

I enjoy working with fun colleagues who can share rounds of belly-aching laughter with me.
And, if and when the pressure piles up, they make an effort to be there and be nice.
I enjoy working for a boss who is firm enough to stand up for his staff, and to nudge them towards growth.
And, i donno how he does it, but although he's not always around, he's always on top of things.

So, I am having a great time at work, really. :)
Here's to Mark, Glyn, Shar, Amy, Nic, Sherin, Vinson, Carmen - Thanks! :)

p.s. I was reminded of this song recently. Lurf the lyrics too, so here it is.
We're only given these years. Let's make the most of it! :)

Our Lives
The Calling

Is there love, tonight
When everyone's dreaming
Of a better life
In this world
Divided by fear
We've got to believe that
There's a reason we're here
Yeah, there's a reason we're here...

Oh, yeah...

Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we're given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let's make the best out of our lives...

See the truth, all around
Our faith can be broken
Our hands can be bound
But open our hearts
And fill up the emptiness
With nothing to stop us
Is it not worth the risk?
Yeah, is it not worth the risk?...

No, yeah...

Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we're given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let's make the best out of our lives...

And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn't matter
Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let's make the best out of our lives...

We can't go on
Thinking it's wrong to speak our minds
I've got to let out what's inside...

Oh, yeah, let's make the best out of our lives...

a father's fear

How sweet is this quote?!

“I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because…then you lose her.”
- Steve Martin (George Banks) Father of the Bride