darn darn darn darn darn

As usual my luck is going on and on, alternating with good and bad. Today my trusty 3315 got wet and is currently not working. My sheer stupidity. It made me depressed because it signifies my family's contact to me. Of course that's exaggerating since they can sms me online. But that's only during office hours and I don't want thenm to spend ten bucks for a message by texting my singtel line.

I'm going to the nokia service center this saturday. Hope it won't cost too much. If it does I would have to think about it. Tish is lending me her old Samsung for the meantime. I offered to buy it from her. But she didn't really say if she's willing to sell it. But it was sweet of her to offer for me to borrow it first.

It isn't such a good way to start the week but as my streak has been going, good luck should come next. (hopefully!) And yes, the week shouldn't go anywhere else but up.

My Unique Characteristic

Tickle Test time again! Bored and nothing to do at work ont his Friday afternoon.

Here are the results for my latest Tickle test:

Risha, your most unique quality is that you're unusually Inspirational

You inspire others around you with your creative energy and thirst for new experiences. You are exceptionally curious and aren't afraid of learning new things — which is probably because you tend to focus on the potential positive outcome of any experience rather than dwelling on the potential negatives. You are a true explorer in the word. You want to understand and experience it all, and you're especially open to new feelings and ideas. Compared to others who are open, you are unusually curious, with a broad range of interests. Only 2.3% of all test takers have this unique combination of personality strengths.

Runaway Jilter

I'm ashamed to call myself this, but that's how I've been.

To spell it out for you, when I'm not interested in someone, I run. And hide.

Over the years I've learned to be more frank about my feelings. And one of my entries eons ago has talked about me giving mixed signals. So apparently my frankness comes out all wrong. So I go back to my sure-shot technique of hiding. You know -- unanswered phone calls (with my family as an accomplice, bless them), not replying to text messages, avoiding the subject, cutting conversations short. I give him the cold shoulder.

Yes, I could be a sissy. But I've tried. I guess someone can say, "Well you haven't tried enough." Maybe I haven't. I guess I need more time to learn and master it.

The Art of Jilting. Anyone has tips?


* * *

You may be wondering why I wrote about this. I just came to wonder out of boredom about the boys (take note, not men) that have been a victim of my runaway act. Right now I could think of at least four. I'm wondering about some of them.

And in relation to this, VJ Utt is coming up with a drama series in a local channel entitled "Chase". Ten years ago he was a geek pining after this semi-popular girl. Ten years he becomes a stud and the girl regrets giving him the cold shoulder years ago.

Hope that doesn't happen to me.

Keeping my Sanity

It's another one of my boring work days (as you may judge by how many entries I've written for today). It's a little more than three hours till the end of office hours and I don't have anything to do (so far, that is) for the rest of the day. I've been getting headaches and getting dizzy for staring too much at the computer.

But i'm not crazy yet. There are things that have been keeping me sane for the past few weeks (out of stress or boredom):

1. Food (my ever faithful remedy -- be it chocolate, junk food, fruits, pop tarts, etc)
2. Cooking -- I enjoy cooking during the weekends. I cook for the whole week already. Just this weekend I cooked two types of veggies (brocolli and cauliflower), fish with orange sauce, and I baked apple crumble.
3. Movies -- even before I went home for the Chinese New Year break I borrowed a few movies from Tish.. the Terminal, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, etc. I loved Confessions. I also borrowed a couple of asian movies which were really funny -- Water Boys (Japanese -- a must see!) and Crazy First Love (Korean). Aside from these I still have some movies I copied into my laptop from my sister's collection
4. Mars -- not the chocolate bar but the series of Vic Zhou and Barbie Xu. It isn't so great, but Vic is adorable in this series. After this series I have "Lovers in Paris"
5. Shopping -- not that I really buy anything but going to Orchard Road makes me relax; and there's my daily walk to Suntec or Bugis Junction during my lunch break
6. American Idol and Desperate Housewives -- the only two shows that I regularly watch lately; so it is only in the three days these shows are shown that my housemates see me outside my room =P (but at least by next week there'll be Amazing Race again. Woohoo!)
7. Hoyle's Card Games -- you better download this, it's addicting. My current favorites are Poker, Gin Rummy and Go Fish (as influenced by my sister and brother)
8. Reading -- I've borrowed again books from the National Library. I'm currently reading this book by Karen Robards. So far, so good. She has a Nora Roberts style in her writing; before this I read this chick lit book about TV broadcasting. Forgot the writer and title, hehe
9. Emails from friends and relatives -- the best!
10. My sideline gigs (see previous entries)
11. Calls home (which I just limit to once a week) but hopefully if I sign up for internet I can talk for hours and more often

As you may see almost all these activities I do on my own. Seriously. I go to Orchard on my own (as I think it's best going shopping alone; no one holding you back). Yes, I've discovered I'm quite a hermit. Which is really weird. I do get along with the people around me, and I enjoy meeting new people, but most of the time I just prefer being on my own.

But hey, it's in being on my own that I keep myself sane.

Miss Independent

Being independent has its pro's and con's.

The pro's, I guess, are obvious. You make your own decisions. In my experience being independent in a relatively user-friendly city means going out whenever I want to (but not out OUT like gimiks and stuff, as I have and will always be a homebody though I go out once in a while), it is actually easier to diet since there is no one to influence me to eat after 6 o' clock (although there are rare times that I do end up eating, especially when I'm out shopping), and it is easier to save money. Of course there's also no obligation to report to anyoen everything you do. Youc an get away from doing stupid stuff. You can do crazy stuff, stuff outside your norm.

As for the con's, the biggest I guess is that you do your chores on your own. For Christmas my friend gave me a set of gorgeous Victoria's Secret underwear but I vowed not to use them while I'm still here and since I'm still doing my own laundry. Seriously. In eight months (yeah, can you believe it? I've been here already a little bit over eight months!) I've ruined two pieces of underwear. I'm pretty sure the cause points to the way I wash or dry them. Plus there's a few pieces of clothing (some newly-bought, boohoo) that have been stained due to the mix of colors I put together in one washing. Okay, okay, I'm learning.

I don't want to be on my own for the rest of my life (as the last thing I wanna be is a spinster) and I swear I will really include hiring a helper in my future household budget. Cuz so far, the clothes I've ruined could be equivalent to one month's worth of helper salary. Okay, I'm exaggerating. But of course there's the regret and the sadness of seeing ruined clothing. I haven't been buying much clothes since I got here. Quality over quantity now, they may say. (As I used to be a quantity over quality gal during my college days) so now I feel more towards my clothes. I don't know if I could still become a Martha Stewart in the coming months, but hope it improves. Heaven help me.

My Debut as an International Extra

From my previous entry, it turns out I was selected from the audition. And it turns out it isn't a Korean movie but a Korean series entitled "A Wonderful Life" which stars Kim Jae Won of "Mr. Arrogant" (a fun watch) and Eugene from "Loving You". The first portion of the series is shot in Singapore and for one day (yesterday) I was one of the extras. I honestly don't know why I had to audition to be one of the extras. All the other extras didn't audition and although they're receiving less than I am, my role wasn't different from theirs. I was just in one shot more than them. I don't even have a speaking role.

And the Korean culture is different altogether. They seem to be having fun while filming. They're a bit distant though. I guess since not much of them know how to speak English. They had to have a translator to communicate with us. But the aura of the actors are quite unique. You really won't get star struck with them. They have doll-like faces and looks that make them stand out but you won't really ogle over them.

But I had fun. I can't make a habit of it though since I had to miss work for it. But I'm looking forward to the next assignment! Hope it would be as fun!

First Valentines Abroad

I don't know why I'm even bothering to write about this. I guess Valentines in the same time zone is still the same for me. I spend it alone, of course.

It was the first work day after my week home for the short holiday, so I didn't really anticipate V-Day. It was just another working day. Except I saw Mei get Tisha a small bouquet of flowers. I dunno why. Nothing else special happened in the office. Not like in school that people get stuff from secret admirers. That Arkaira makes harana (I miss those days...) That Sir O gives his Talk With Your Angel sessions (I miss Sir O!) No frats giving away roses.

I saw a bunch of couples with the girls holding these small bouquets. As I told an acquanitance, same time next year I'll be selling those flowers.

Okay, fine, I'll cut through the chase. This entry isn't about hearts or flowers or V-Day related stuff. Last February 14 I did something for the first time. I auditioned for a small role in a Korean movie.

Surprised?

I'm also quite surprised I did it actually.

It was a spur of the moment thing. My agent called me that afternoon. She told me about the audition that very evening. I didn't want to spend the evening of V-Day at work or doing mindless stuff in the apartment. I already had the copy of the episode of Desperate Housewives anyways so I could miss it. I was also curious how it would go. I also wanted to meet someone Korean and boast it to my sister and mom (yes, they are Korean fanatics, and one of the things I got from them last Christmas is a copy of Lovers in Paris which I now have in my laptop)

So I said yes, I could make it. I didn't have anything to lose anyway.

So I went to the Serviced Apartments lobby of Great World City where I met fellow members of the agency. We were grouped into boys and girls and we met the Korean director. My agent called him Mr. Shim. He's young, I'm guessing early thirties. He had the Bae Yong Jun (guy in Winter Sonata) hair. He had us go by pairs (There were five of us so one had to act twice). He just gave a situation that one would play a customer and the other a saleslady (But he calls a saleslady a shopper so I got confused for a second). Out of five of us girls three have experience in acting for television. (I was the only one in her 20's the rest were 30's or 40's) But I tell you... we all don't know how to act. Since I wasn't really pressured I was just myself, coming up with lines the second they came to me. Came out senseless I think. I was never good with ad lib.

So that was it. Only around ten minutes with the director. That goes to my book of firsts. My agent called me the next day to say the director liked me from that batch since according to him I look Korean. But since my agent didn't call me again I guess he found someone else from the second batch that auditioned the next evening. Oh well. I didn't really want to act. I just wanted to know who's the lead in the movie. I'd die if it was Won Bin (which is impossible since he's in National Service) or one of the cute guys in The Classic.

I only told my family about this audition. They were also curious about the cast of the movie and what it was about but like me they were concerned that it would conflict with my work. (I would only have agreed to it if the daily pay was more than what I make per day, haha) I guess I also just wanted to find out if I would make it. Guess not. But it's flattering that the director noticed me. The only thing that made me self-conscious during the audition was that I wore a short skirt to work that day and I forgot to shave my legs. Hahahahahah.

Oh well. I should stick to commercials. At least they're just one-day deals. My agent contacted me for something supposedly today but it was during office hours and the pay wasn't enough. I'm curious what it's about though. But better not to find out. Cuz I'll just die if it has anything to do with VJ Utt. (Aaaaahhhh!)

Which reminds me, I went to the MTV office Tuesday to claim my Natasha Bedingfield single. It's a really funky office. Of course I only got to the receptionist area but the feel of the office was very cool. Wish I could visit it again another time. Hopefully if Denise comes back for another season of filming maybe I can ask her if I can visit the studio, hehe.

Anyways, it's the weekend! And as of now I have nothing else to do here at work (with two hours left!) so I can go around six. Hopefully something cool comes up during the weekend.

Lunar Year Luck

It is my year (Year of the Rooster) and I don't really know what that implies. I've read some horoscope or what nots concerning my luck for this year and they aren't good. But I am not one who really believes in such stuff. If I ever I do read them, it's just for fun.

It is quite funny what things have been coming up since Chinese New Year. Extremes, actually. First was the bad luck yesterday when my flight was delayed by two hours and a half. It sucked cuz I could have spent that time having lunch with my family. But oh well, I couldn't do anything about that anymore.

Then this morning when I checked my mail I received a notice from MTV Asia informing me I've won a Natasha Bedingfield Single. Cool, eh? I believe it's easier to win in MTV Asia when you're in Singapore since the population is much smaller than in the Philippines. And I'm assuming they have a quota for each country.

Then just a few minutes ago I received a mail (which turns out to be a fraud) informing me that I supposedly won in a UK National Lottery. Supposedly just by selecting random email addresses. Yeah right. But it's funny that my address would be selected among millions.

Something also came up a couple of hours ago. But I won't disclose it yet until I know what comes out of it. Mysterious, huh? Hahahaha.

Just wish me luck!

nothing to to at the airport...

It's 8:15am. My flight is still at 9:40. It was actually a good thing there was a long queue at teh check-in so I was able to waste some minutes. Good thing I didn't go overweight with my luggage. But I guess my hand-carry is too heavy. More than 10 kg I think, hahahaha. (Limit is 7kg) But hope I get away with it. My hand carry was that heavy too Christmas so they have no reason to charge me this time.

Anyways, the stores here at the Changi Airport aren't on sale so I can't do much window-shopping. Bargain ahs always been my middle name.

So here I am maximizing the free internet. I think this is just for fifteen minutes. I didn't use it up last December so I'm not sure. Anyways, the Tickel Newsletter just arrived so what better way to waste a few minutes than to take their tests right?

Here's the first one.

Risha, you're Calm, Cool, and Collected

Do your friends like to lean on your shoulder? Ask you for advice in life and love? Put you on speed-dial for emergencies? We bet they do. You're as balanced as they come. When it comes to making decisions, you're not afraid to take the time to weigh your options carefully in order to make the right choice. And it takes more than a few obstacles to rattle your cool head.The good news is that you've also got lots of heart, and you make sure that people know that you always have their backs. There's almost nothing more important to you than the people in your life, so being a support to them is the coolest thing around. Just like you.

This is the second. It took some time to answer since it contained some of those brain-teasers.

The Multiple Intelligence Test

Risha, you're smartest when it comes to visual/spatial intelligence

Others may take their environments for granted but not you. Because of your visual/spatial intelligence you really see the world around you. This strength often helps you better appreciate the beauty and detail in everyday things. From shapes in nature to the structure of a fine automobile, a countless variety of things hold your interest. Having this particular kind of heightened awareness can allow you to form accurate mental images of existing places and objects. In extreme cases, one might call this strength a photographic memory. Being visually/spatially intelligent also means that you likely have a vivid imagination that can be put to use in a variety of creative or professional endeavors.

No wonder I'm an architect. Hahahhaa.

hum dee dum dee dum...

It' one hour and 11 minutes till our Chinese New Year makan ("makan" is malay for feast of meal) I so have nothing to do right now. I hardly did anything productive today. Good thing I took time off this morning or I would have wasted another hour. Mun kit asked me to look for pictures to support the proposed design for Lucky Plaza but I realized how limited our company library is. And the internet is not much help. I guess it's just that the pictures I were looking for are really hard to find.

I took time off this morning because I was going to check a room for rent. (FYI, we're allowed time off from work... this isn't counted in your leave, as long as you aren't away from work for more than three hours. good deal huh? but of course you have to time it that you aren't rushing for anything or you have a valid excuse. fortunately i have nothing to rush) I didn't like the room or the unit that much. It isn't in a private condo. And although the landlady is nice, it's hard living with a local. Oh well, I guess it is best for me to stay with Ingrid.

I spent today and yesterday after work buying last minute stuff. Actually more of exotic fruits found here. Perfect timing that CNY is approaching that's why a lot of fruits are out (the 12 types of round fruits, right?) Surely my family will enjoy them. I bet I'll be up really early tomorrow morning. Even this morning I got up at 6 even if I set my alarm at 7! What more tomorrow morning huh?

Oh well, I'm counting the hours!

This Week's Update

Work has been quite hectic (although I still get to leave the office before seven, hehe) since I've been juggling two projects. I'm still being harassed for the brochure plans of the Mt. Sophia Road Condo project, and the Lucky Plaza project. Well so far Mun Kit has been doing all the design work for the Lucky Plaza project. Oh well. I guess he knew I couldn't commit full time to the project since I had the Mt. Sophia project too.

But that's work. I don't want to talk about work.

So the highlights for this week.

1. Three days till I go home again! Woohoo! I know you may be tired of hearing me get excited about coming home again, but nothing beats the anticipation of coming home. I truly believe I wouldn't be as excited if I were going to Bangkok or somewhere else. Which reminds me. Thank God I decided not to go with Tish and Ingrid since they ended up booking a Bangkok-Myanmar tour for 900 sing dollars! And to think I want to go shopping in Bangkok! Imagine how much I would spending. But as my sister told me they've been here longer so they have been able to save more. Oh well.

2. I was an extra in this M1 commercial ad. Hahahaha. (FYI, M1 is one of the leading mobile service provider along with Singtel and Starhub) As I was telling a friend. Kinacareer ko na ang pagiging extra ko dito since no one could recognize me. (Important Note: Please don't tell anyone you know related to Singapore and that includes Chow, for those who know him.) The concept of the ad was weird and hilarious at the same time. I guess with the Lunar Year coming and the Year of the Rooster (my year! woohoo!) we were doing a chicken dance. There were around 80 of us. So imagine all of us flapping our wings and making chicken sounds. And were were all dressed decently in executive clothes or casual clothes. It was tiring but fun. I met new cool people who are actually M1 employees who were pulled to join the shoot but I was unable to exchange contact number with them. One was actually cute but shorter than me (or at most my height) so I guess it also isn't that promising. I can't wait till it comes out. Hope I won't get seen. Haha. But I doubt I'll be seen anyway since I kept on looking away when the camera was too close.

3. Marnie (my flatmate and Ingrid's boyfirend) is transferring so we're looking for a new tenant. So there's a chance I might have to share my bathroom. (Waaaahhhh!) But Ingrid has agreed to lower my rent if that happens. Oh well, we'll see what happens. And I was already very comfortable with the arrangement among me, Ingrid and Marnie. There are perks when you live with a couple. It's just like living with one person. Hahahaha. Cuz they have the same stock of food int he fridge, more or less the same laundry, and they share a bathroom. I'll also miss Marnie since he's more diligent when it comes to cleaning. Sigh...

Anyways it Feb already! 11 months to go till the end of the eyar again, hahaha. But I'm really hoping time would fly really really fast while I'm here. Although I could enjoy living here at times, it still is really tough. So that shows I don't want to be spinster. I need family with me. But I'll just the make the most out of it while I'm still here.