Phone Etiquette

You know, I do think that people need to be taught what is phone etiquette. Some people think that talking loudly (I'm guilty cos I've got a loud voice) means that the other party can hear clearly (not of this though), whereas some think that just because the other party has a mobile phone, the person is contactable 24/7.

I've called companies whereby the person who answered the phone as if it was his personal line, making me ask if I did get the company directly. This also happened in my company. There has also been cold calls made to our company whereby the caller was so ultra soft that I had to maximize the volume over on my side while asking her to speak up.

I'm sure you have you pet peeves of what people do to piss you off, at least on the phone side, be it the land line, or mobile phone.

There shall be a post dedicated to the etiquette that people should follow, once I've complied a list of what are the do and don'ts that work... At least for me!

Crazy Shopping

Know what they say about the difference between men and women when it comes to shopping? See comic below:


I lived up to the theory the just the other day... Lol! Headed down to Vivo with just 3 items in mind to purchase, but I purchased the following items instead, which set me back a total of approx 1 whooping thousand! Lol...



Crazy huh? But I absolutely love my purchases, especially the natural pearl necklance! =)

Sick Sick Cow...

What happens when you eat 1.5 packets of nuggets, 2/3 of Vienetta ice cream, topped with 3 glasses of wine over a period of 3 consecutive days?

You fall sick! That's what happens… and most unfortunately, that's what happened to me too…

I'm now a sick sick cow, welcoming the year of the Ox… Lol!

Love Matters

I've got to admit that I've been watching movies on a fairly regular basis recently. Not that I'm becoming a full time movie-goer (given the fact that I still rent DVDs), some movies are just worth it to catch in the cinema, such as Australia, and Ong Bak 2, Ip Man etc…

Singapore's Jack Neo's new movie for 2009 Chinese New Year looks good. Titled Love Matters, it looks like a local movie that I might finally be willing to plonk my money to head over to the cinema to watch, but of course at a reduced price of $6.50. (I sound like I'm so unwilling to support homegrown movies, but then again, they normally get shown on Channel 8 fairly fast!) Lol…

Anyway, here's the trailer for the movie. The last part about Henry Thia making a sentence with colors is so hilarious!

Prawning

I must have been living under a rock all this time... It was only when I went prawning that I knew that prawns have pincers (see insert photo)



2 people, 1 rod, 2 hours, 1 prawn... Even the uncle fishing in the next pond had to give us 3 of his prawns as he felt sorry for us! Lolz!

But, I must hao lian (be boastful) and say that the prawn that I (immediately after my friend handed the rod over) caught was the biggest, and the most fighting spirit, as it was still flipping when my friend got it home! =)

Interference

Interference has a number of definitions.

1. To interpose in a way that hinders or impedes : come into collision or be in opposition
2. To strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in walking or running —used especially of horses
3. To enter into or take a part in the concerns of others
4. To act reciprocally so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another —used of waves
   

What would you do if you realize that someone has been interfering in your life? For example,

• Logging into your email account to see whatever mails that you receive,
  
• Logging into your msn in order to chat with your friends to find out what you've been out to
  
• Contacting your friends list on the popular networking sites (like Friendster, Facebook etc) to limit your social activities
  

Should anyone does any of the above to me, that's it. I would not care if I know the person for a long time, a short time or even if he/she is my best friend's sibling or best friend.

Cos simply put, the person has an integrity problem.

My life is my own. I may accommodate to requests, but that doesn't mean that the requests will rule my life. If I don't interfere with yours, why should you interfere with mine?

Action Talk?

Talk is cheap. I'm sure you've heard this saying before.

I will remember what has been said before, be it in anger, jest or in a normal conversation. But whenever actions contradict whatever that has been said, it sure makes one go hmmm.

For example, if you say that spending money on certain things is not worth it when the money can be spent on other items and yet you purchase that particular item more than once, does it mean that you've changed your opinion? Or does it simply mean that your words are so worthless that they can be changed every now and then?

So does your action support what you claim?

It's Over!

It's Over!

Ushering the new year, for the year of 2009 means spring cleaning, aka Out with the Bad, in with the Good. Cos usually people will keep the good! Lolz...

Happy 2009!

Toxic

No, I'm not referring to the song by Britney Spears... This phrase struck me while I was reflecting back on 2008.

Knew of friends who are in Toxic relationships, jobs, etc etc etc. Therefore, I did a little research and got this, and I quote (or rather, copied and pasted):

Dr. Lillian Glass, author of "Toxic People", describes a toxic person as “anyone who manages to drag you down, make you feel angry, worn out, deflated, belittled or confused.” It may be difficult for people to admit they are in a toxic/abusive relationship, because they are intelligent, self-sufficient individuals in other aspects of their lives. Most people in toxic relationships, however, have the sense that something is just not right.

25 Ways to Tell if Your Relationship is Toxic:

1. Your partner puts you down verbally, in private or in front of others.

2. Your partner tells you he/she loves you but behavior shows otherwise.

3. Your partner doesn’t want you to see or talk to friends or family.

4. Your partner is jealous of the time you spend with your kids.

5. Your partner shows up often at your work unexpectedly or opens your mail.

6. Your partner calls you often to see what you are doing.

7. You cry often or feel depressed over your relationship.

8. Your partner says you would have the perfect relationship if only you would change.

9. Your partner wants you to be dependent on him.

10. Your partner does things for you and then uses them to make you feel obligated.

11. Your thoughts, opinions, accomplishments, or words are devalued.

12. You don’t know who you are anymore without him/her, or how you would survive.

13. Your friends/family don’t like your partner or don’t think he is good for you.

14. You have changed things about yourself to suit your partner, even when it is not your taste.

15. You always go where your partner wants to, like movies, restaurants, etc.

16. Your partner has made you feel afraid or unsafe, and you have been afraid to speak the truth at times for fear of upsetting him/her (walking on eggshells).

17. You don’t feel you have control of your life anymore.

18. Your self-esteem is lower since you’ve been with your partner.

19. You think it’s up to you to make the relationship work.

20. You keep secrets about your relationship from others who love you because they wouldn’t understand.

21. Your partner makes you feel unattractive or stupid.

22. Your partner accuses you of cheating and is overly jealous.

23. Your partner can be really sweet to you one minute, and really mean the next.

24. Your partner seems really sweet/loving to you when he/she thinks you are about to leave the relationship, or after he/she has been mean to you.

25. You can’t remember the last time you felt happy for more than a few days straight.

Heart Like A Wheel

Here's Heart Like A Wheel, sung by The Corrs.



Some say the heart is just like a wheel
When you bend it you can't mend it
And my love for you is like a sinking ship
My heart is on that ship out in mid-ocean

They say that death is a tragedy
It comes once and then it's over
But my one only wish is for that deep dark abyss
For what's the use of living with no true lover

And it's only love and it's only love
That can break a human being
and turn him inside out
That can break a human being
and turn him inside out

When harm is done no love can be won
I know it happens frequently
What I can't understand please
God hold my hand
Is why it should have happened to me

And it's only love and it's only love
That can break a human being
and turn him inside out
That can break a human being
and turn him inside out

Some say the heart is just like a wheel
When you bend it you can't mend it
And my love for you is like a sinking ship
My heart is on that ship out on mid-ocean
And it's only love and it's only love
And it's only love it is only love
And it's only love it is only love
And it's only love it is only love

PS: Remember There's A Fine Fine Line? it's been uploaded too! =)

Online Quizes

Took quite a number of online quizes today.

Here are some of the results:

Are You Immature?
You Are Somewhat Mature

• You definitely act like an adult sometimes, but a big part of you is still a kid at heart.
• While your immature side is definitely fun, you're going to have to grow up sooner or later.

Are You a Morning Person or Night Person?
You Are an Afternoon Person

• You can find energy any time of the day ... or night!
• You prefer to be out and about when most other people are.
• Very early mornings or very late nights aren't really your thing.
• You're practically solar powered, and the afternoon is when do best.

The Personality Test at 35,000 Feet
Your Personality at 35,000 Feet Is Thoughtful and Contemplative

• Deep down, you prefer spending time alone to spending time with others. You enjoy thinking more than talking.
• You are good with your place in the world. You are confident and comfortable with who you are.
• Your gift is dreaming and imagining. You can take yourself to another world anytime you feel like it.
• You are inspired by what is possible. Real life is often too ordinary for you.
• It's very easy for you to feel happy. You can find peace with any situation.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?
Your Heart Craves Love

• You are attracted to good manners and elegance.
• In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you.
• You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.
• You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.
• Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.
• Your risk of cheating is low. Even if you're tempted, you'd try hard not to do it.
• You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.
• In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

So, what does the quizes show about you?

To Keep the Bubbly Bubbly...

I didn't know that to keep a champagne bubbly, all you have to do is to put a tea spoon into the bottle!

Maybe I should try it the next time I open a bottle of champagne!

But the question would then be: To insert the spoon upon opening of the bottle of champagne? Or when I've decided to keep it?

Leave Me Alone

I am not a typical girl, who will blabber out everything just because of the fact that she is feeling unhappy.

You know that I am one who has to put a strong front, while the reason behind it you do not know. I will tell you when I feel like telling you. The more you want to pry it out of me, the more I will not say.

The more you tell me to do something, the more I will not do. I may take into account everything that has been said and done to date, and analyze them. Like what you have said before, Females are Emotional.

So when you piss me off, leave me alone. I will look for you when I feel like it. Do not call me to explain, rationalize etc etc etc.

Thanks.

There's A Fine Fine Line

I caught Avenue Q when it showed in town, same as my boss and lady boss (not together of course). =P

Lady Boss bought the soundtrack, which meant that I get to have a copy of the songs on it too.

Their songs are hilarious, but the following song is able to express my feelings at this moment very well. I will try to post the music track up when I find the time to do so...

There's A Fine Fine Line



Kate Monster:
There's a fine, fine line between a lover and a friend;
There's a fine, fine line between reality and pretend;
And you never know 'til you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb.

There's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of time.

There's a fine, fine line between a fairy tale and a lie;
And there's a fine, fine line between "You're wonderful" and "Goodbye."
I guess if someone doesn't love you back it isn't such a crime,
But there's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of your time.

And I don't have the time to waste on you anymore.
I don't think that you even know what you're looking for.
For my own sanity, I've got to close the door
And walk away...
Oh...

There's a fine, fine line between together and not
And there's a fine, fine line between what you wanted and what you got.
You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime...

There's a fine, fine line between love
And a waste of time.

Hari Raya Haji

This weekend has been a very good weekend. Filled with its highs and lows.

Highs:

• Wet Weekend
• Extended Weekend (with my MC finally taken on Friday, a 4 day weekend!)
• Free Dinner on Monday
  
• Caught quite a number of movies that I had rented and not had the time to catch

Lows:

• Being Sick - Throat Inflammation aint that fun!
• Missing out on quite a number of items, thanks to whatever that happened on Saturday.
• Yet another emotional blast that zapped my energy
  

The bets thing that happened this weekend? This wet, cool and windy weather that lasted the whole of today! =)

Next week? Time to find the time to tidy my wardrobe! And of course, pray for more cool weather!

Quotations

Quotations have always taken a special place in my heart, but these quotes make me laugh!

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, "What the hell happened?"

22. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos.

Happy 21st Birthday, Darling!

Xiang's 21st birthday! Actually it was yesterday, but hey, it's the thought that counts, right?

Met at Vivo's Bakerzin, whereby we saw this booklet with all their available cakes… We ended up looking at the booklet and salivating over it instead of looking at the menu and deciding on what we SHOULD be having. Doesn't the booklet look good?



We whacked a total bill of over $100, which made 4 ladies very satisfied with ourselves and of course the food. Fun and laughter, cam whoring session started after our stomachs have been satisfied. Actually, it started when we met, but the camera only made its appearance after we have devoured the food. When does it end? NEVER! =)







Love you darling, Welcome to the legal adulthood!



XOXO,
Connie

Required versus Optional

You know, I really don’t understand why is it that people do not know what is the difference between Required and Optional.

Take for example, when there is a meeting that A, B & C is supposed to attend. Of course, that would mean that all 3 of them are to be under the Required tab when one is sending a calendar event via Microsoft Outlook.

And when there is a meeting whereby A & B are required to attend, and optional for C, that would mean that A & B would have to be under the Required tab while C would have to be under the Optional tab, right (as it is not compulsory for him to attend the meeting)?

Point to note, there is not an option of FYI (For Your Information) tab under the recipient field. Only 3 are available - Required, Optional & Resources. See below:



So, with all the above information, what do you think should be under the Required tab when one is on leave?

I find it very funny that the staff in my company would happily put their bosses or the email that tracks staff movements under the Required tab, while placing the teammates that they are working with under the Optional tab.

So does it mean that when that particular staff is on leave, the boss is required to be on leave too?

This brings me back to an entry that I've blogged about before. Does it mean that the person does not obey instructions? Or do they simply DON’T UNDERSTAND them?

I Wonder

I really don’t understand the following:

• Why some people will simply tend to ignore instructions,
• Leave a mess around or rendering a machine unusable unless a professional comes to take a look at it without informing the person in charge,
• Use the last or last few items and not bothering to inform the person in charge of the low level in supplies,
• Not checking the physical aspects of the machine that they are using and kick a big fuss over something that can be easily settled with the change of a switch (and of course, insisting that that particular switch was on when questioned),
• Trying to hide behind a higher authority,
• Having double standards,
• Not checking with a manual/guidebook/person in charge when doing that particular item,
• Calling for help with a problem previously encountered and making it sound like it’s the end of the world (without applying what was advised the first time round).
• Trying to appear that one knows what is to be done but like I said, TRYING (when the person is not the one in charge of the item, although obviously trying to be helpful)
• And so on and so forth, but these are the matters that are bugging me at the moment.

Of course, I'm not going to say that don't do things that are specified above, obviously I'm guilty of that, as and when. But sometimes there is just that when these items happen very frequently, it just irks the hell out of me, especially when it was not the first time that it happened, with reminders being sent out and all.

If help is called for every time a slight problem occurs and the help desk personnel have to be physically there all the time, then there will be a need for a cloning and combining machine! Cos like they say, It never rain but pours!

Take a Bow

Yes, I love fun, going out and plain old having fun.

Do not like sharing inner thoughts and feelings easily. Want to know me better? It's not something that is done in hours, days or even weeks of meeting anybody, or AnyBody or ANYBODY.

I am not a machine whereby you press a button and I'll spill everything out. Press a button? System will overload, and might not respond to Alt + Ctrl + Delete.

Overstress it? It'll breakdown and there would be a need to reformat it.

Take it, or leave it.



I love the song Take a Bow, performed by Rihanna.

It's not the lyrics that apply to me, of course. But the way whereby it was sung, having those sounds that she was able to carry out, like those exasperated Please, self directed resigned laughter and sighs.

She sounds like being resigned to fate that that has to happen, after seeing through it all.

Sometimes I feel the same way, but then again, showing those emotions in front of others would only prompt questions that does not help as decisions may already have been made.