Euphoria!


Alhamdullillah.

2008 is already shaping up to be a really good year for my family.

When the O level results were released, my brother was astounded.

Not only was HE astounded, but us as well!!!

He scored Distinctions for 6 out of his 7 subjects!

*but scored a B for Malay*

Clearly my family doesn't really do well in malay haha.

He was also the TOP malay student in his schoooool!

He scored well over his (and my) predictions.

He scored a freakin' NINE points laaaaaahh!!!!!!!

My brother called me up at work yesterday and said:


"Kakak, I've got my results oredi." *no emotion whatsoever in his voice*

I replied, "So how much did you get?"

"I got 81" he said.

"81??? How come the points like so much like that?" *very blur at this point oredi*

"You square root 81 lah..."

"Badrooooon!!!! You scored 9? You scored 9 points??!!!"

"Yeah" *with a hint of exhilaration in his voice*

"Okay i call u back later arh, i gotta make other important phone calls hehe."


At this point i was pretty much excited and deliriously happy.

It was like i was on a sugar rush!

My sister called me up at work and she was screaming down the phone.

She said that we ought to get my mother to treat us all to Carousel.

Like real only this girl.

Like she's the one that got the good results.

She justified her claim by saying that she provided my bro with emotional support and she should get some credit too.

*Rolls eyes backwards like Norfasarie in Kerana Fateha*

Right now. I'm still euphoric.

*grins*


Fin.

Prayer (Un)Answered?


Perhaps i'm rambling like an incoherent babbling idiot.

But really...yesterday's news just hit me like a brick.

In the face.

To my heart.

I think im beginning to sound like some ingrate.

But at least i'll be able to get to do some fun things in 2008.

June 2008, destination...


New York!!! *humming, New York, New York*


So right now i'll be working hard to raise cash for my trip.

All other trips will now be put on hold.

Apologies to all parties involved.

Hhehehe...im going to the States! Wohoooo!

My 2nd trip to the States in almost 20 years!!

That's a loooonng wait!

*Tapi yang penting dapat gi shoppiiiinnnnnnggg! Naseb baik dah kerja...huhuhu*


Fin.

Surprise(d)!


After doing some serious damage to my bank account last month, I thought i'd be living like a pauper THIS month.

Well...NOT ANYMORE!

I got a nice surprise in my email this evening.

A nice remittance note.

Harhar.

I barely even remembered that i was going to get a 2nd round of payment.

But, oh well.

It was a really nice surprise.

And its not even my birthday :D

Speaking of which...

It is *eeeeekkk!* less than 3 months away.

Can i NOT turn 24?

What can i tell you?

When i was 16, i wanted to be 18.

Then when i turned 18 i wanted to turn 21.

See...some wishes come true :p

Seriously.

Turning 24 is a big deal.

I'm looking back and im trying to figure whether i've accomplished some of my main goals in life.

I remember having lofty aspirations when i was much younger.

Archaeologist, Paleontologist, Egyptologist...

And my closest friends can still attest to you that i have a MAJOR love affair with Egypt.

*so wasn't it nice when i had a crush on the Prince of Egypt aka Boy-who-almost-ran-into-the-dustbin*

*Sigh* some things just come full circle. Hahaha.

Ok, i sidetracked a little.

So when i hit 15-16 i began setting some life goals for myself.

Like...


1) getting into JC to sit for my A's *check!*

2) go to University to obtain my Bachelor's degree. *check!*

3) Get my first REAL job by 23. *check!*


Now that all that stuff is out of the way, im thinking i need some new ones.

Notice how short my resolutions were?

Well, this is one of the real reasons why.

I hadn't thought of anything.

Honest.

I'm one of those freaks that need to plan ahead.

To be prepared for any type of disaster.

Well sometimes.

So when things don't go as planned, i go into major meltdown mode and PANIC!

I think my anxiety level have risen tremendously since i was an undergrad.


So back to the issue at hand.

What goals and plans do i have for the future?

I planned a few but looks like those aren't happening next year.

What is it?

I'd rather not say and humiliate myself.

So i've shelved THAT plan and thought of new ones.

Like, becoming a teacher by 26 (im giving myself a wide berth here).

Obtain my Masters by 28 (or sooner!)*insyaAllah*

Those are one of the biggest goals so far.

*I totally believe in the power of visualisation 'cos it REALLY works!*

But the one that bugs me the most is that i've consistently failed in one department.

And i hate failure like i hate losing.

So on some level im disappointed.

But it gives me a chance to let me improve on myself.

Oh well, im only human after all.


Fin.

Gone Biometric.


Today was a half day for me.

Well not really half-day.

I only started work at ard 12noon cos i had to go and pick up my new passport!

I know, crazy right?

Getting all riled up about a passport.

Well, this passport has biometric features.

And finally i have ONE picture (for identification purposes eg. passports/ic) that's decent.

And im actually SMILING!

The procedure was fast and painless.

I actually applied for the passport online on mon (14/1) and i've gotten the passport today!

And i came down early to get to ICA and waited around 10mins for my number to be called.

Yeayness!!!!

Oh and i want to thank a certain miss nurul khasanah for getting up earlier than usual just to go down to ICA with me before heading to the office!

I truly appreciate the time that we spent together!

I love my new passport and i'll be getting to test it out next week insyaAllah.

Destination? KL!

Hahaha...i think i'm stuck to that place forever.

Anyway it isnt all fun and games.

My aunt is actually getting married next week. So yes, another wedding!

Wow, this is the 2nd wedding invite for this mth alone!

Plus next mth's engagement of Encik Izhar & Cikgu Huda.

Annnndddd Hasanah's and Ehsan's wedding this June! :D

Plus Waa's wedding in June as well.

Tahun ni PACKED with weddings!

I loike!

And the girls and i are also getting really hyped for Zak's wedding next year!

Weddings galore :D

And may i add that today seems to be the slowest day at work.

I even dozed off during lunchtime.

But come next week, i can say bye-bye to all this free time.

Another stressful publication week! Aaaccccck!


Fin.

Some Scary Shit.


Last weekend was quite busy.

A wedding to attend and a friend to visit at the hospital (who was discharged on the same day).

No more falling and hitting yourself on the head anymore k Umi?

Neway, the wedding was fab.

Seeing 2 high school sweethearts get married is so romantic.

*i am such a sappy romantic*

Wishing Khairul and Nora many wonderful years ahead. Amin.

When i got back to the office on monday, i was perfectly fine, till my eye started to gimme problems.

My left eye to be precise.

My left eye was beginning to redden and lots of those green mucus-ey things started to appear. And lots of it mind u.

The last time the same thing happened, my contact lenses had expired.

Without me realising of course.

So after work, i had to rush to yishun, get a new pair of lenses.

After rushing there, i had to rush to woodlands for tuition. Grabbed a bite and power walked all the way to my tuition venue.

I'm still recovering frm yesterday's fatigue and thankfully the eye has recovered.

I was super BUSHED that the moment i laid my head on the pillow i fell into and unconcious deep sleep.

Only waking up at around 3am to cover myself with the blankie. The temp. fell quite drastically last night, which made sleeping even better!

I honestly didn't want to wake up.

Body said no but mind was screaming to wake up!

So what is the blog title all about?

This morning, the cleaning lady was complaining and griping about the state of the toilet this mrng.

She found SHIT, yes SHIT smeared all over the walls of the cubicle!!!!

The poor auntie was saying that she's going to quit after CNY.

Nooooooooo! In the short space of time, i really can tell that her standard of hygiene is REALLY high.

The toilets are always sparkling and smelling waaayyyy nice!

I really have a high respect for pple who can clean toilets very well.

Now im convinced that there's a filthy madman smearing shit all over the walls.

Errkk! Scary!


Fin.

Busy Bee/ 1429H


This is my first publication week.

So far everything is going smoothly alhamdullillah.

But the mayhem has yet to begin cos my sales manager isn't in yet.

Harhar...he is quite the slave driver. *in a gd way of course*

Yesterday was my sotong day.

Yeah...cos i had to deal with a couple of sotong pple also the whole day...

So the virus kinda caught on.

Anyway, what happened was, my boss gave me a lift home (saving me abt $1.09 on my ez-link heheheheeee)

He just happens to live really close by. So hence the lift home.

So then the moment i got home, i rummaged in my bag and realised i'd left my office keys back at the office.

And this was at 6.30pm yesterday. (the EARLIEST i've ever been home since i started).

What was supposed to be an early day back from the office turned out to be the latest.

I had to call in a favour from my aunt so she could drive me all the way back to Upper Thompson.


I sooooo owe her big time.


Reached the office again at 7pm, an hour after i had left the office.

The other boss and a few guys from the editorial team were still in (they like working late) thankfully.

Even the boss joked: Hey you're early for tomorrow huh?

I was mortified and so paisey i tell u.

I had even put my keys onto a lanyard just so that it would be visible.

Some help that was.

So eventually i made it home at 7.30pm.

I'm just glad that my office isn't so far away from home.


While many people have put their resolutions to bed, i've been trying to come up with some fool-proof resolutions that i won't break.


1) be kinder to myself - emotionally & physically

2) to be a better Muslim. amin

3) get myself a really good camera...harharhar


Well those first 2 are the ones that i really am going to work on.

It being the new Gregorian/Islamic Year.

The camera bit is just something to treat myself (and becoz i have had enough of sharing the digicam that has been HOGGED by my sister).

So enough is enough.

Time for me to get that Sony :D


Fin.

Scrabbled.


I so suck at scrabble.

Nevermind that i have plenty of words in my vocabulary.

My tile pickings have always shown otherwise.

And the countless times i've lost.

boo hoo.

boggle is more my thing.

Spent the evening at huda's place last night.

Playing scrabble with her and her dad.

And we were both beat by over 40 points by her dad.

terrible right? the travesty of it all.


Did i also mention that i have "homework"!

yeah. homework courtesy of my sales manager.

oh well.

I've done enough procrastinating already.


I'm only at the letter "B"...


Fin.

Of Dogs, Fish & Oil.


Trying my best to befriend the dogs to get to the Fish.

And i think my stint at Tuas *yonks and yonks ago* helped me prepare for this.

Thank God for that.

And no, my blog title has NOTHING to do with me wanting to cook dogs.

How was the first day at work?

It was good.

So was the 2nd and 3rd day.

Lots of stuff to keep me busy, albeit i did most of them at snail's pace.

This time round i must pace myself because feedback from previous employers say that i do stuff too fast!

I got to know that my jobscope isnt JUST admin.

Its being the finance department and gttg advertisers to hand in their submissions on time while coordinating with my sales manager as well.

The sales manager is more garang than the bosses!

I'm thankful that my past experience will help.

The downside is that i have no other female colleagues *which can be a gd thing too!*

No cattiness and no bitching alhamdullilah.

I am relatively left alone to do my own stuff unless of course im called upon to help with some other stuff.

Working in a small office dominated by men, not a problem.

Because men often need to be taken care of haha.

Well that's how i see it.

Right now, msn helps me from gttg bored at work.

Was chatting to Izhar and Kha the past 3 days.

Nothing like old-fashioned good company even though we're parted by the distance.

The 3-day work week was a good way to kick off my working life.Hehe.

I'm a sucker for weekends!

So next week it'll be a 5-day work week...

Anyway, i just have to say i LOVE LOVE LOVE travelling to work cos there's a direct bus and i definitely save on transport costs which is a big plus.

All in all...


I'M LOVING IT!


Fin.

An achy, achy 2008.


I ushered 2008 with a difference.

I helped in setting a singapore record.

The record for the LONGEST floorball match ever played.

24hours.

But i didnt play for 24 hours though.

It was more like a game with the MOST number of substitutions ever.

Haha!

And my slot was scheduled at the strangest hours.

2.30am, 5.45am and 10.45am.

Of course i was sleepy in between those times but i just couldn't fall asleep.

And needless to say, by the time everything wrapped up, my thighs were ACHING!


*tu lah, ghairah sgt kan! hah, rasakaaan!*


aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnddddddddd theeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnn

when i boarded the 969 bus, i fell into a coma-like sleep.

I didn't even hear anything or feel like the bus was moving.

The moment i woke up, i was already at khatib.

Amazing.

But the most embarassing part was that i woke up with a puddle on my tudung.

Put 2 and 2 together n u figure out the rest lah.

I was so mortified!!!!

Hunger and fatigue had set in by 2pm.

Having not eaten anything since the previous night.

Ate at LJ's alone and then made my home.

And after a nice long shower, i fell promptly asleep till 7pm!

Teruk right?

So today also marked my first day at work.

But that's another story for another day :D


Fin.

2007 Roundup.


2007 has been both the best and the worst year for me.

2007 saw me crying to bits.

As well as rejoicing and laughing after my 3.5 years of slogging it out in university.

Its been a contradictory year for me.

I wish some things wouldn't have panned out the way it did.

But this is the way the Almighty planned for me.

I may have made the plans but I need to be consistently reminded that they might not happen even with the utmost care and preparation.

I can tell you that this year has definitely tested me to my limits.

How i managed to come out of my final semester at IIUM unscathed was a miracle in itself.

I thought after all the drama that ensued i would have flunked Arabic quite badly.

But Alhamdullillah that was not the case.

Arabic could have actually served as my *penawar* while i struggled with my tumultuous personal life.

2007 also showed me its true colours.

Who are the friends that i should keep close by especially.

Those who care and those who don't.

Clearly, those that disappeared off the radar don't care.

Simple as that.

4 more months till i turn 24.

OMG.

So soon?!

No use dreading it cos its going to hit me full force.

*sigh*

I'm also miffed and acutely aware (& incensed!) that i know now truly that its no longer about what I want.

Its more of what THEY want, and what SHE wants.

I still feel annoyed and hurt and a lot of resentment over the whole course of this year.

Especially towards one person in my life.

I just can't wait for this year to be over with so i can start the New Year with my brand new job and insyaAllah, more to look forward to in 2008.

Amin.


Fin.

By Accident.

I went out again yesterday.

With Azimah this time.

I've been out like 4 consecutive days with 4 different groups of people.

Wow.
And i'm truly knocked out knackered.

When i was out with Kak An, i "accidentally" purchased a new bag.

It's a dark teal bag inspired by Fendi's new collection, the one with the big buckle on the front.

Kak An knocked down the price for me by almost a whole $10 bux so how could i not purchase it? Right?

Then i went out with Azimah yesterday to get her mom's b'day pressie @my aunt's shop, Bedazzled...got discount some more.

After that was settled, WE went to Marks & Spencer cos i'd been eyeing this pair of black jeans there for a while.

That was a purchase that was planned.

Then Azimah insisted on going back to Wisma Atria to Cotton Body to get the cute little pair of pyjamas that she spied with her little eye.

And i got dragged into another buying frenzy.

Really, this post-XMAS sale shopping is getting out of hand.

I bought 2 tops at Cotton On & a pair of pyjamas ($15 only!!! U.P. $29)!!!

Aaaaccckkkkk!

I must go into rehab.

Or therapy at least.

Not retail therapy of course.

Wish there were a 12 step program for shopaholics here in singapore.

So, in the last 2 days that i shopped, I bought $70 worth of merchandise already.

Not counting the stuff that i bought in KL okay.

Speaking of which.

The short KL trip that we had was a blast.

We throughly enjoyed the hotel.

We got upgrades to our rooms, from a deluxe to a Club room at Hotel I*stana.

The toilet was huge!

Imagine our excitement.

We got into the room and this bathroom was AS big as the room itself.

We had bathrobes and lots and lots of fluffy towels.

2 vanity sinks.

I almost didn't want to leave the room but the stomach was churning and growling.

So where else did i bring my girls?

To Chili's of course!!

6 months of not eating Chili's hokay?

They were ecstatic upon seeing their plates of food.

*sampai tak habes makan!*

Thankfully, my plate was manageable and not too big of a portion.

So i ended up being the only person to polish off the food.

The monterey chicken was gooood! The veggies were not overdone, just right and the mashed potatoes...ummmm what can i say?

Yummyyy!!!

We stayed for a whole 5 hours in KLCC, shopping at Watsons (where i spent a whopping RM88 alone on toiletries), Diesel and PDI and G2000.

Azimah outdid herself.

In KLCC alone, bag dier dah beranak jadi dua haha.

After that we went to Petaling Street.

*tourist habes kitorang*

Umi got herself a pair of sexy shades and myself a Gucci bag.

The following day, we went to Masjid India.

Shopping mayhem ensued AGAIN!

We bought kain songket. Not the full kind.

For everyone of us.

Kind of like our 10 year anniversary as friends gifts.

So everyone has a designated colour.

Can't wait for them to come over tomorrow to my place where we'll be distributing them over a steamboat lunch and lazy saturday afternoon watching dvd's and playing boardgames...bliss!

Umi outdid Azimah this time by buying kain for her family members and a bag for herself.

I hope we'll make this a yearly affair. *smiles*

The more the merrier!

Fin.

Happy Colours.

Cast and crew? Check!

VIPH *very impt. Honour!*? Check!

Happy, happy colours? Check!

From East Coast to City Hall, Parliament Lane to the Supreme Court.

It suddenly felt like a Learning Journey. hehe.

To the adorables and the one that couldnt make it:

I LUB YOU ALL SO MUCH!

My sunshines that chase my stormy weather.

May Allah protect our friendship and bring us many more years together.

-HS Crew 2004-2006-

Fin.

Alarming.

I am still fuming.

Fuming with the injustice that was served to all the residents here at yishun st 22.

I am fuming at the idiot whose ****ing car alarm went off in the middle of the night and only went off at about 9am just now.

I felt like going down to deface the asshole's car and disarm the very ANNOYING car alarm.

*kepala hotak dier arh! frus tau tak dpt tido nyenyak!*

And the best part was that the car alarm didn't just go on and on.

It paused for like 10 seconds and started blaring.

Over & over & over again.

I may be sleeping but i am VERY sensitive towards sounds and lights when im asleep.

To that *basta* whose inconsiderate-ness spoiled my day:

"I am so gg to call the police the next time it happens."

*mengacau keamanan dan ketenteraman hidup aku je!*

Fin.

Shocked!


Hady stole the show!

I'm still reeling from the shock!

I honestly cant imagine how He's feeling.

Well whatever it is...


Hady! You made Singapore proud!


*thank gawd my 3 votes weren't wasted*

But actually half the time i thought that Mike had the competition in the bag.

The judges must be eating their words now heheheh.

But like they say, winner takes all honey!

Congrats again Hady Mirza! Our first Asian Idol!


Fin.

Partied Out.


Yesterday was a good day.

A good day for a birthday party that is.

And i must say, it was the best birthday bash i've been to in a while.

It felt really posh and VIP-like.

Check out the RockStar Studios the next time you want a jamming session or in this case a birthday party with a twist.

This is no ordinary jamming studio.

Its HUGE.

Its got a stage and the room was all decked out in this cool maroon hue completed with maroon drapes behind the drum set.

Complemented by the black sofas and marble-topped tables (with a bar counter too!) and parquet flooring.

-the bar with its own separate seating-

It was the perfect setting to celebrate my good friend Kak Su's birthday.

-guest & Bday gerl!-

Being manager to a couple of rock bands in the local rock scene (if my memory serves right), it was only fitting to have a few bands perform for this special night.

KnightWings, Opurzit Youth & 4gifted were one of the few bands that played yesterday night.

So, entertainment wise, everything was covered.

The food combination was also spectacular.

Simple finger food (mini popiah rolls, choc eclairs stuffed with the creamiest filling and cream puffs) teamed with beehoon goreng and pizza, it couldn't have been more perfect.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

-tons of birthday booty!-


And who knew there was a Rocker in me all along?

I even dressed the part hahah.

Black tudung paired with grey babydoll-ish top with black longsleeved shirt and my jeans.

I even wore my lash falsies *becos tgh feeling mentel* and lots of kohl eyeliner.

The venue, food and entertainment was a perfect combination.

I couldn't ask anything more for a spectacular party.


But wait! There's more!.


Kak Su's friend was having their solemnization ceremony on the same day and decided to drop in on the festivities which led it to being a 2-in-1 combo for all the guests.

They even came in all their wedding finery.

*it also makes for something special in their wedding video lemme tell you!*

The sporting groom even got on stage to sing for his new bride

(Lagu dari kumpulan Lefthanded beb!), complete with the baju kurung and songket.

So the night became even merrier!

-b'day gerl with her 2 nieces and Brother-

-the FROZEN ice-cream cake-

Yes, I unfortunately didn't get to eat the cake. Boo hooo...

-baby tido pun hisap jari RAWK you!-

Pics will be up soon.

And thanks again Kak Su for the most amazing Saturday night i've had in AGES!

*beaming with happiness*


Fin.

Frustration.


Gawd.

Who doesn't have a friendster acct these days.

This is soooo frustrating!


*Just needed to vent*


Fin.

Dizzy.


Clearly everyone is confused and getting a bit wound up about my state of affairs.

Heheh.

Let me the clear the air.

#3 is NOT the 3rd crush of this month.

There are only currently 2.

And no Suli, this ISN'T the one that you know about. Hehehehe

I know it seems a bit much right?

But what's a single girl to do but fill her idle mind with fantasies of the opposite sex.

No?

*cocks head in a coquettish manner*

But the earlier crush i had seems to be fading.

So i might just be left with ONE.

One BIG crush on #3.

Let me relish the thought of #3 by myself for a while.

As it is, i have no intention of giving out details on my blog.

Because, like i've said before, Singapore is too small.

Our own social circles might cross between each other.

And i don't want to embarass myself greatly because WE might just cross paths soon enough.

Right now, im still deciding on whether to go on the 31st. Cos its gonna last all day and all night!!!

Decisions, decisions.

Anyway, i hope i've put a lot of your minds to rest.

You don't have to do a strenuous workout on ur brain to figure it out k?

Now get back to your homework/work people!

*giggle*


Fin.

p/s: Did i mention that i spent the whole of last weekend at the Asia Pacific Floorball Championships? Arrrghhhh! So much eye candy!This is what is probably prompting me to pick that stick up again.Hehehe.Which reminds me, i need a new blade and grip!My grip is crumbling and ratty!

Floored.


My absence can be justified by the sore back that i am having.

I don't know what possessed me to join their training session.

I mean the median age of all the players was 17!!!!

I must have hit my head with my stick.

But i am paying for it now.

I have a sore back. Very sore.

I am still considering playing again.

Gosh its been a long time.

Hey but who know's, maybe if i get myself involved again i might bump into #3 again!

Yahoooo!

Ahahkz. I'm gg boy-crazy for real.

I'm just waiting for the 31st.

Hopefully HE will be there.

I must be driving everyone CRAZY haha.

Nvm, some things are better kept to myself.

*smile*


Fin.

Oh Boy.


I've been very religious about updating all of a sudden.

I dunno why.

Blogging for me comes in spurts. hehe.

Anyway, i just had to come online because i have a confession to make.

I am going boy crazy.

I know if Suli's reading this she'll be like grinning from ear to ear.

So will Kho.

My bestie Huda will think im off my rocker.

Nora will laugh. Ahakz.

Hahaha...


neway bende ni semua ikut musim. teeheehee.


Yes people.

I now have a new object of affection.

He's not so tall, he's good-looking (in my eyes of course), athletic *swoons*.

I told you i'm going boy-crazy.

Don't say i didn't warn you.

And i've developed a liking for the no.3.

Of course i can't tell you who and where i met him because S'pore is too small :D


So let me just keep you all in suspense.

But the downside is; i won't be able to see him after tomorrow.

Bugger!

Oh well, that's what infatuations are for.

They're only there for the short term hehehe.

Just pray that i'll bump into him again someday will you? ;)


Fin.

This girl.


This girl is smiling/crying all the way to the bank.

Cos i went shopping AGAIN yesterday with my mom and aunts.

U guys must be furrowing ur brows and asking why the hell i'd go out shopping with them right?

Gg out with them always has its perks.

Like the fact that they will foot ur lunch/dinner bill hahaha.

But there is also another perk.

Gg out shopping with them also entitles you to another 10% off on top of the 30% discount offered at Island Shop.

So what did i do yesterday?

I topped up my wardrobe AGAIN by getting a nice long white tunic and the softest brown cotton pants at Island shop (and doing further damage to my bank account no doubt).

I'll be collecting my new booty on saturday *thanks to the $300-a-day limit that my aunt put on her citibank card heheh*

Plus, i'll be getting just ONE more purchase frm M&S.

The nicest pair of faded grey stonewashed denims (gg for $39 using my aunt's Robinson's card).

I'm dead set about NOT spending more than like $50 for any article of clothing.

Because i'm frugal like that (NOT).

Heheh.

Anyway, the next time you call me on my mobile, I'll be saying:


"Hello, B*ig F*ish Publishing, Maryam speaking."


I got the job! *smiles all around*

Alhamdullillah!

Will update soon about the interview, heh.

And my very nice boss!


Fin.