Chocoholics

I love chocolates. Since young, chocolates have always been part of my life. From those cheapo na na round chocolates with nuts inside them, I've graduated to Godiva's chocolate truffles. Ultimate decadence and indulgence, yeah?

A large part of chocolate's allure, of course, lies in the taste - a deliciously rich concoction that satisfies the most intense craving. But several chemical reactions are also at work. For one thing, chocolate stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasureable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles.

Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin, that acts as an anti-depressant. In addition, although chocolate may not be the most healthy snack around, it does contain a number of nutrients. High in potassium and magnesium, chocolate also provides us with several vitamins - including B1, B2, D, and E.

Sounds good? You bet!

View from my room

I was sitting on the ledge by the office window doing my readings. As the words and ideas started to get so fuzzy in my brain, i decided to give myself a break. It must be the effect of the free lunch we had after a staff sharing workshop. Blood all rushing to my stomach. Giving myself a 10 minutes break, i looked out of the window.

Greenery! No bad. I see students strolling leisurely on the lawn. Workers trying to clean the dirt and grime from our white building.

Self reflection

Have you ever felt like the whole world 对不起你? Have you ever wonder why is it that you felt this way? Is it really him, her or them? How about yourself? Have you ever wonder if it is you yourself who is 钻牛角尖? Let me share with you something from buddhism...

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It is a most ironic "illusion" that there are many difficult people in our lives out there, especially while the most difficult person is the most immediate but continually missed one. Now, who is this person so close yet so far? It is none other than you! No, not me, him or her, but you. (Of course, when I read "you" to myself, it refers to me!) Due to the deep-seated tendency to self-rationalise, the person least likely to admit one's mistakes could be oneself. We might think we have got most, if not all things right. But that's self-deception - especially when we are obviously unhappy. If we are so right in the way we see and handle everything, how could it be that we are not happy? Surely, if truth is totally on our side, there would naturally be happiness.

The ones who really make our lives difficult are us - because we choose to react negatively to those around us. Obviously, to react negatively to those neutral or positive to us is downright foolish. So is it not alright to react negatively to those difficult to us? It might be "natural" in terms of force of habit, but it doesn't make it wise or right. When we react negatively, we are hurting ourselves, when our intention is to hurt others. We will definitely succeed doing the first, while there is no guarantee for the latter. Ironic isn't it? Since the one being difficult is suffering, we should focus on being compassionate, not difficult! The truth is, psychologically, no one can hurt us, other than ourselves choosing to let ourselves be hurt. Just as we perceive it wrong for others to hurt us, it is first and foremost wrong to ourselves to hurt ourselves.

Our suffering can be related to our karma in many ways. First, it can be an effect of our past unwholesomeness. Second, it can be an instant effect of the present unwholesomeness of our reaction. Third, it can be a combination of the duo. In other words, at times, we aggravate and perpetuate our own suffering when we react unwholesomely to suffering. It's a vicious downward-spinning spiral. When we mindfully train to sever or reduce the second form of suffering, much suffering is reduced. In fact, when we master the art of not reacting negatively to suffering by realising the unsubstantial transience of suffering, whatever remaining suffering becomes powerless in making you unhappy. When you are less of a difficult person to yourself and others, your world "magically" has less difficult people – because your "difficulty" is the centre of it all. -Shen Shi'an

READ

Gosh, I am surrounded by well read pple. I better start reading. One article per day..quick quick..no time liao...this is so stressful.

Several wonders of the workplace

Here's a pic of my room. Sorry it is a bit dark though.

Several wonders of my new workplace:

1. Need stationaries? No need to draw from HR or admin. Pop down to the bookstore, take your pick and swipe your staff card.

2. Like to collect goodie bags? Well, my workplace gives you a goodie bag to welcome new staff to the organisation.

3. Hello hello..who call? There is not a phone in sight. Connect your microphone to your tablet PC and you can call via mediaring.

4. IM/MSN - Colleagues seldom call each other on the phone. U just have to log on your IM and you can then IM your colleagues.

5. Need to send any documents? No need to fax...just scan your documents and email them. So high tech...we are really paperless.

6. Hate to set up projector for presentation? There is no need for wires in this wireless workplace of mine. Just on the wireless connection and viola, presentation is shown immediately via the wireless projector. How cool!

Closet tai tai at her very best

I had abt 11 days of rest before I start work at my new workplace. Besides taking care of Isaac whilst my mum went on her trip, I was pampering myself with beauty treats like nobody's business. I went shopping with Desmond, when for full body massage, pedicure, manicure, cut my hair and finally facial. I tried diamond peeling and laser on my face. Not bad leh, face became clearer after the session.
I killed three birds with one stone, had hair treatment and at the same time did my pedi and mani.

Our celebration on Star Cruise

Star Virgo, Star Virgo , here we come

My clsoe buddies. From left to right: My tail, Underground and P zai

Irritating ah nays who stuck so close to us during boarding and check out this droopy eyes ah nay...you will see another side of him later
No window in the cabin, so they created this mock scenery...enjoy ;_(
Where is the fourth bed?

Tail: Is this a sofa bed?
Underground: Dunno leh, shall we dismantle it?

Aiyah, the 4th bed is beneath the 3rd bed...we are so goondu

That's the four of us having our dinner at Bella Vista. Food is reallygood there. Thanks Felicia for recommending!

The horses come marching in !!

Side view of the main lobby

That is what we do everyday apart from eating and sleeping


View of the pool

Look at the amount of food we've got for supper

Demonstration of how to eat a banana gracefully

First you cut a portion of the banana with your fork

Then pop into your mouth!


p zai: Wow ..still dun climb faster, my arms are so tired


My first love -the library


My tail



Pzai and underground

On the cruiser, going to redang



The "bullock cart" which ferried us to the beach


Remember the droopy eyes ah Nay? Check out his white underwear. Damn er xin loh

Hot hot beach!!


Nice beach right...unfortunately we weren't in a diving or snorkelling mood


Island made famous by the movie


Round three - 翻身战



The three faces demonstrated how we felt for each day. Underground - 1st day: fresh and eager to explore the cruise. P-zai - 2nd day: pig out. Jac - 3rd day: shacked out!



End of our 2N2D trip....awaiting disembarkation at Lido Theatre.

I am back

Haven't been blogging at all for the past 2 weeks. No choice, very busy...busy looking after Isaac boy, getting ready for work at new workplace and going for cruise...Stay tuned for my blog entry on:

1. My cruise;
2. A pampering treat from head to toe;and
3. My new workplace