I've moved to wordpress. This place has been great, full of my nonsense, experiences, dreams and rants, but change is good.
Lian, the only theme I like in wordpress happens to be the same one as yours. Of course I used a different picture, but is there a way to change the colours and background? I'm way to lazy to figure it out myself. How about music?
Speaking of which, I used to spend hours on blogger figuring out colours, alignments, fonts etc, but maybe it's part of growing up and you just want some place to record your life, but you don't want to spend too much of your precious time figuring too many things out.
All the pre-reggers' blogs that I've read so far talked about the intensification of this 9-month period. I don't wanna talk about it, but what else is there to talk about?
I guess for the hospitals, it's a lot of presentations and vivas and just living the hospital life out as the days go. Sometimes, I feel that us at retail are having a way easier time cos the shop floor always seems to have some element of fun, but other days I think it's hard to compare cos we're doing pretty much different things and the other projects that we retail people are handling are a tad different from the hospitals. That said, there's no need for comparisons. We're all just buried neck-high in work, deadlines, backlog.
Speaking of which, I feel quite swarmed at the moment, thinking of the projects, deadlines, presentations, viva, MCQ test, all in the month of January. I think a lot, but take slow action. TSK! Of course I'd love to have a nicer start to a new year, but these days, I just take it as it comes. My heart skips a bit each time I look at my schedule for January, but once January is over, it's hello to more donations to the Japan fund, eating, new clothes and maybe, just maybe a bit of a breather. After that, it's crazy madness studying, doing the *&^&%$%$%&*&%#!!!! board exam which if you think about it, totally ridicules our 4-year education and pre-reg anyway. And then we could say we're more or less done. Unless of course the board doesn't say so. Nehneh it shall be good.
The past week saw me and Winnie buried in the head office doing some simple statistical analysis for some company project. For the first time, I've done so much OT, such that the office is only left with just the both of us and yesterday saw us leaving at 9pm. It was madness. I'm now down with very tired eyes, aching shoulders and neck from all the paper work - 12 hours of paper work. Tomorrow is one more day of that and hopefully the bosses will be satisfied and that's the end. Cos I've got a mountain of prescriptions and SOAP cases to think about, instead of burying myself in stacks and stacks of papers.
Anyway, I got my first Christmas presents for the year. A Parker pen with my name engraved from Parry's aunt. It feels kinda atas to me *whistles* and I'm wondering if it's too exorbitant to use it to sign prescriptions when I'm finally licensed. Especially when we can get mountains of free pens from sales reps anyway. But way cool stuff! Another is a Boots toiletries set that smells yummy and spa-ish from Parry's cousin. Nice. I love presents. I mean who doesn't? Parry asked if I wanted anything for Christmas and because we need to save as much as possible for Japan, guess what my answer was. I said "Eh we save up la the Christmas and Valentine's presents to each other is going to Japan." Dots. Unity prereg Christmas party on Christmas day itself since all of us are off. Looking forward to the idea of no work, food, watching people being retarded and ridiculous, surprise presents and just noise. But AM shift on Boxing Day. Meh!
By the way, AM shift sees me getting out of bed at 6am! Cos I need to get to Marine Parade and open the shop at 8am. I've only done it once on Tuesday cos the rest of the days I was in head office. Staff cannot always be relied on to be on time, so I ended up opening the shop and putting the cash in the cash register myself!! I may be the only left out of all the pre-reggers who hasn't yet done this, but it was sort of exhilarating when I realised it isn't that hard after all! I mean I didn't expect to be entrusted the key and do this myself man. Oh and the other day, I did closing with a part-timer. Crazy madness cos the machine refused to print out the dayend reading after 5 tries. Thank God for Parry waiting downstairs who sort of saved the day cos he came to help, especially when the part-timer wanted me to just do it myself cos her husband was waiting for her *rolls eyes at slack people* If you're wondering, all these closing and opening stuff were mainly done by the staff at the other 2 shops I've been to and I only chip in my fingers to press some buttons or count the money, which explains the noob excitement.
Ok need to be up in 7 hours' time. Note to self to stop blogging about work although that's pretty much what my life is about now.
Of the many fit girls scattered all over the City Hall area after the StanChart marathon. Haha I guess it's my fault cos if I had chosen to run, at least I could pretend I was one of them fit girls. I was most envious of them toned gams and outdoorsy glows when we were at Expo collecting the runner's pack. Dots I wonder how Amanda, Agnes and Lian pulled through the race with little training... ...But I guess their little training is better than NO training. The last I ran properly was during the SHAPE run wayyyyyyy back in April. Then last Monday night, for kicks, I decided to head out for a jog with the trusty sidekick. He asked, "Why is your jaw hanging and your head swishing from side to side?" My very terribly breathless reply: "Cos I have no strength left to control the muscles that are normally controlled effortlessly." It was a 2km run. It felt like forever. That night I slept so well and the next day at work, I wanted to just hide in the store room and sit the rest of the day. It was quite an ache - everything right down to my waist!
Owells, time to get fit. I'm wondering when will that ever happen again. I guess pre-reg wasn't all that busy, it's just that when you get home from work just to find more work to do, you just shove running aside with all those excuses of there's no time, I'm too tired, tomorrow. And heaven knows when tomorrow will really happen. I guess I'll just start from scratch all over again once we get all these viva, mcq tests, board exam and what nots out of the way. See, more excuses. Ah wells.
This week saw some craziness. Had a 2-day presentation and communication workshop at the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies. Was a pretty useful course by a really wonky and fun American trainer. Not to mention it was a good excuse to not have to be at work haha. And more excuses to hang out with the Unity guys - this time it was dinner at Shokudo. Probably won't go back there, food's blah and not really Jap enough. Just totally looking forward to authentic stuff! Anyway, when it comes to presentations, I'm always shaky and I get tachycardia just from the idea of having to present. Needless to say, by the time I actually stand up to present, my heart's halfway up my throat, even if it's in front of familiar faces. The trainer taught us some good stress-relieving tips, but at the end of the day, it's really about experiencing presentations more and getting used to it. Maybe I shouldn't have siam-ed all the presentations we had to do in school as part of group work. Ah wells..
Friday saw my KFC cravings being satisfied in the form of Popeye's and then it was off to Ikea with the original plan of checking out if they have Christmas meal packages and getting the Swedish Christmas drink (called Glogg if I remember) in anticipation of the Christmas party. Turned out we spotted real Christmas trees on sale and since we were too late last year and were left with crazy tall trees, we decided to grab a chance this time. So we got a real 2-metre tall tree!!! And there I was excited as a child cos I've never had a real one before and the only time I had a tree was when my aunt decided she wanted a new one and handed down her old one which has only since been displayed once and left in the store room to collect dust. Have since dug out stuffed snowmen and Santa and balls and stuff. All we're left now is a pretty topper which we have yet to find.
And there was Pharmacist Lunch at Fish and Co. Glass House. One of the company's marketing and PR tactics, but I guess it wasn't all that in-your-face? Not too sure since I wasn't one of the ones on the receiving end. Owells, more food, more laughs and more singalongs. What more can we ask for?
Anyway, 2nd rotation is over. Had a nice last day at Great World City. Marks and Spencer's yummies from the boss and the gals and a sweet card. These gals were a great great happy bunch to work with, I would have loved to stay on and get to know them better. But alas, it's on to Marine Parade. God give me the Chinese to speak to aunties and uncles!! Great World has seen me speaking mostly English to these expats most of the time. BUT you know what, Marine Parade shall be good!! (even if it means having to travel far again.)
Last rotation, last leg. More work, more rush, more studying. But just that much more to freedom and holidays!! *dreams dreams dreams + excited but silent scream!!*
Awaiting the time for my girlfriendly duty of picking the man from work. I feel great when I get a chance to do stuff like that. I guess it's cos I rarely do it cos for one, I'm the spoilt one, for two, I still get nervous driving to unfamiliar places. Throw in being alone and it being night. I'd go into this stupid frenzy of looking for directions an hour before I'm supposed to leave the house. Then I reread those directions and try to get them in my head. How about the scribbling of directions onto post-it pads and holding on to it when I get in the car since they rarely stick on the wheel long enough. Yeah so embarrassingly obsessive, but there's always this sense of accomplishment when the job's done. Quite an ego-booster eh.
I miss this place. A lot has been happening. At least enough for me to think it's a lot.
Unity DnD. Pharmacist nite, which was quite a good success. Post-Pharmacist nite KBox-ing into the night. Certified Retail Professional course. Was a mehmehhehheh course but at least the company was good. Manhattan's and Brewerkz with the usual Unity people. Ahhh beeeerrrrrr. Coming project for the office. Some progress with pre-reg project which all of us are sort of procrastinating at as usual. Haji holiday - Failed attempt at trying out supposedly good burgers, but ending up parking at the cool Club St. Lift Carpark. You put your car in a lift, get out and it's automatically transported to any available lot. Discovery of a Muay Thai place at Far East Square. Being a prisoner of hope checking out 5.5million-dollar properties. *Totally floored. Am still floored.* Awaiting the arrival of my new pair of faux leather flat riding boots. Please let them be good non-blistering, fitting darlings suitable for Japan.
And most importantly, we're booked for Japan! That was done a week ago, but the excitement bubbles and rebubbles every time I think about it, especially when I think of the exciting clothes I'm thinking of wearing there. Yeah I know it sounds so lame, but it's me and I love sweaters, long sleeves, wool, turtle necks and boots and it's gonna be cold in Feb/Mar, so there's lots of chances for those! Haha... ... The planning is more or less done cos I insisted and am obsessive and anal about it (as usual) and now we're left with the hotel booking and lots and lots of saving (and hopefully no starving!). Please please please let pre-reg finish smoothly and well so I can go off happily.
I CAN'T WAIT!!! Nikko, Fuji, Tokyo and Disney whee!
And being the anal person that I am, I'm leaving now, 40 minutes before Parry is done with work, just so I don't get lost and panicky. Tata to my rare appearance on the blogosphere!
I just clicked November 2008 on my blog. We went nite cycling with our wings and horns and neon bands on Halloween night. I ran and swam so frequently. I blogged regularly. I hated dispensing lab. But man I wanna be a student again. It's really a different kind of life altogether. ):
OK my bro's getting married in 2 weeks. I'm the photographer. Tell me about having to meet expectations. The family doesn't believe that I'm ill-equipped (VERY ill-equipped in fact!) and not skilled enough (how about not skilled at all?!), but when it comes to being really budget, what to do? That said I haven't touched my camera in ages and all those photography email subscriptions have just been clicked and dumped into the photog folder after nothing more than a quick browse. Let's hope he finds a photog friend to do it for free soon, so the pressure is off me. On a separate note, I need an outfit and since I have to take photos, I'd probably have to bend over and squat etc so I was thinking of pants. Being the very non-fashionista person that I am and having not touched the newspapers for the past 4 months, I have come to realise I am so outdated.
So anybody any suggestions? Pants-y outfits? Jumpsuits? Too casual? Super nice tops that wouldn't fall off? How about comfy long-enough dresses that are free from zao-gng episodes? Shoes and accessories to go too? Oh let's make them stuff I can wear out or to work too..
You're not the only one who can raise voice and bang table OK!
If you're in such desperate need of my medicine and my service in my country, you jolly well play by our rules. I don't give a hoot about how much money you have and whether you wear the latest fashion or drip with baubles or even if you can buy my whole shop over. Neither do I need you to take my medicine and bang it on the table and demand a reply from my already very patient pharmacist on why my country has so many laws. It's precisely because we're regulated that we're civilised and developed and first world, yet much less snooty than the rich minority in your humongous country. Don't want the hassle? Then go get your medicines elsewhere.
I don't need your business for just one box of antihypertensives. Get your arrogant airs, snooty faces, fat-laden asses out my shop and off my puny, but powerful red dot! Maybe you should go learn some manners. Oh and remember to ask your government along too.
I rarely do this to myself cos I don't believe in regrets. But I've been spending my longlonglong weekend (I didn't have to work for 3 days!!! What a rare treat!) watching Young and Dangerous 古惑仔之人在江湖 DVDs with my man. I never knew what they were about until I met him. They're movies about Hong Kong triads and gangsterism, but I think it's not all trash and violence as some may think, that's what led to this post I guess.
What I wanted to say is that if I could reallyreally live life all over again, I'd choose to live life more on the edge, live such that I test boundaries and break some. Live such that I get into trouble and somehow work around it. I think with all that, I might be a person who's more real, more decisive, bolder and my life could have a tad more excitement and I'd appreciate the finer things better.
I know I'm gonna draw some flak here because there are better ways to be real and decisive and there's no need to go through trash to learn lessons. But I guess I feel my life has been way too cushy and sheltered and I've always done the norm, been the norm for all 23 years of my existence, sometimes I feel like I'm just another person cast in a certain mould. It's not to say that I'd like to be born into a secret society family and wield knives or anything like in those movies (although they did glorify that lifestyle a whole lot!). What I could have possibly lived with was some danger, some rebellion, some rule-breaking and less of being goody 2-shoes. Cos after being goody for too long, the urge to break out and do something crazy will somehow surface.
Yeah just a thought. Maybe it's the influence of the movies. Maybe it's just me being impressionable. But no regrets! Life goes on and will still be good.
And Lian has said she'll teach me some canto. And I've still got the emo canto song whose meaning I have absoulutely no understanding of stuck in my head. And yes I think Mr. Ekin Cheng of 1996, 7, 8 was cool. And most of all I understand why my man thinks he's cool. Cos of the traits he had in the movies. Manly, yet honourable and loyal. All things a man must have, minus the hooliganism of course.
Or maybe I'm just a closet gangster girl haha. Or perhaps it's true that 男人不坏, 女人不愛.
This page is somewhat like a ghost town. That's not to say the past weeks went by without anything significant happening. In fact, the past weeks were nothing short of crazy.
There was the NATAS fair, which I only had one reason to go for - to sweep all the brochures about Japan I could find into the sort of handy reusable bag everyone received at the door. It was really a bag loaded and heavy with all things Japan at the end of the night. That weekend saw us sorting everything out in Parry's room despite have a viva and an mcq test to study for. It was mayhem, but it was exciting just having something to look forward to at the end of pre-reg. Just the 2 of us kinda thing and a real holi-holiday after starting work sans grad trip.
Now that we're armed with that stack of brochures and a Lonely Planet, it's down to planning and most importantly, saving whatever we can before we get to say konichiwa and eating one of my favourite cuisines everyday for 2 weeks!
Shortly after all that happiness and excitement, came some kinda of bomb that really made my week. It actually made my past 2 weeks. Shall not bother elaborating anymore, but it was something that I've never been so angry about before, something that made me empty my tear ducts and stay away from home every night for 2 weeks, only stepping in when I was sure everyone was asleep. I'd never wanted so badly to move out and stay by myself before and most of those 2 weeks saw me in an unfriendly, antisocial and ultra-sensitive mood. It didn't help that there were viva and mcq test to study for at the end of each working day. So it was eyebags, bad acne breakout and Melody the grouch for those days. But all that said, things are getting better I guess and I think most important of all, I've given up trying to be nice and battling within myself, in hope that as I give up doing all of that, I'd get some kind of guidance to do what I need to do and be what I need to be.
Work has been going as I'd like it to go, but somehow there's still a ton of stuff to do. My untouched prescriptions from rotation 1, group project that we have yet to start on while there's still this whole bunch of other stuff to do like newsletter writing and event planning and in the coming weeks, the routine of weekly discussions will resume again. Yups I shouldn't be here typing this, but I sort of miss this place and where are all my photos???!!!!! As expected laziness gets the better of me, so I wouldn't bother uploading.
So now I'm stationed at Great World City, although it's not entirely byebye Tampines One since I've got to go back someday and submit my backlog of work. I miss the neatness and organisation of things in Tampines One and some days I just want to revamp Great World to a different working style, but who's the boss here?! Definitely not me. And sometimes it does feel sian knowing that you've just started to get familiar with some place and it's people, but you're getting scooted off to a whole new place and you've gotta start all over and familiarise yourself again. I guess this forced uprooting is good for people who tend to get too comfortable with routine i.e. people like me.
Because of my familiarity with Tampines One, some days I think I wouldn't mind working in the east after finishing pre-reg, cos the east side people and boss seem like a fun and warm bunch. Well, all that said after attending the east cluster bbq and having quite a nice time just doing friendly, non work-related stuff over the weekend. I guess the east side is really not an issue, but only if I get an outlet that is next to a train station. But of course I shall give the central cluster a chance too, now that I'm in Great World.
Ok no work done for the morning, a stack of prescriptions still staring back at me and now I've got to get ready for work.
If I've made the right decisions. Yet I always come back after one circle of thinking and say 'Yes! It's ok, there's nothing wrong.' to myself. Watching my contemporaries go through all that crazy stuff, especially in the hospitals, makes me wonder what am I doing with my 10 times slacker life. Then I wonder if it's my personality, the way I was made, or maybe the way I've made myself to be. I'm not a competitor, I'm not ambitious, I never was and probably never will be a go-getter, I'm laidback, I seek simple pleasures and I don't pursue challenges. Sometimes I think I'm cut out to be beach bum or a lost wanderer. If only they pay you for that.
Is my life too comfortable? Maybe. Then I think about the training that my friends are getting and wonder if that will make them better workers, better pharmacists, stronger people cos you know after all, they all say what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. But I stop and say to myself, will all that stuff make them better people too? I'm not saying I'm becoming a better person by the day, neither am I putting down anybody's training or environment, but yeah it's just another thought. Maybe it's just that sometimes I feel that all that rigor they're going through makes them more deserving of respect and recognition. But then again, who defines who's deserving? Aren't all these standards made up by us, humans? Like what Morrie Schwartz from Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom said,'The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. You have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it.'
Well, maybe I don't really have to be bashed up with multiple blows to be a better pharmacist. Or maybe the bashing will come from busier places, other bosses? Who knows? But whatever it is, I won't exchange my current life for someone else's cos whatever I go through now will make me whatever I'll come to be and the fun part about being goal-less is not knowing what exactly you'll get at the end of the day, yet still being full of hope.
