bloodbath

in the past week i received not one but 2 smses asking for blood donations for specific persons. before this there was a company wide drive for one of our retired colleagues who needed blood also. the colleague i couldn't do anything about it lah, not the same blood group. the 2 smses i got requested for my blood type. i'm thinking, what the hell, i miss one blood donation in june and the bank's in deficit?? it wasn't my fault anyway, i was only like 3 days early and my iron was at an acceptable level if i had come when i was supposed to but was apparently too low for an early donation. what the hell?? so if i were to come back 3 days later with the same iron level, i would've been able to donate. screw that lah! how much can my iron level change in 3 days sia?? doesn't make sense. sheesh. should be more flexible with their policies if they want more people to donate.

so anyway, i went to check the bloodstocks.


as u can see, low and warning levels. currently only 1% of the population donates blood. sad isn't it? i'm planning on donating sometime this week so if anyone wants to join me, feel free. must be healthy, haven't been taking medication, etc etc. get more info here. then again ah i don't really feel good about giving blood this time cos i've been getting lots of mozzie bites lately. hmm. no i do not have dengue. all the same, gonna wait a few days before i go.

there's also been some news lately about organ donation. i think i opted into the scheme a few years ago but i can't remember. needed the signature of a close male relative ie. dad, so i'm not sure whether i mailed it in or not. hmm. there was an article about organ donation in reader's digest a few months ago too. it's a big deal eh. i don't think it's against islam to donate organs. that's what i understood from stuff i read ages ago, which is why i opted in. i guess it's all up to interpretation. whatever it is, u don't need yr organs when u're dead what. might as well give to someone who needs them to live.

my bond with my company was over as of 25 july 2007. since then, i've been having this urge to just throw down a resignation letter even though i have no excuse for doing so. i'm in a good dept now. i have good colleagues. i have pretty challenging project based work to do, which is what i want. so then, why do i still feel so lousy? seems that my work isn't meaningful enough for me. i'm doing strategic planning with about 6 other colleagues. so pretty much whatever we do will affect the direction of the company ah. sounds important eh? doesn't make it any less boring than batshit to me. i still fall asleep at work, i still can't concentrate and i still feel frustrated. do i wanna look back, 20 years from now, and realise that whatever work i've done did not benefit those who are less fortunate? that i've been working for money (not that they're paying me much ah) and not for the greater good? that whatever i did has no impact whatsoever on anyone? at the same time i'm not gonna be stupid and take a huge paycut just to serve. must be balanced lah, i need to live also! can't help people if i can't even help myself now can i... it's like that rule on the plane about adults using the oxygen mask first and then attending to children. fittest first. i can see how my current job and company can help people financially ah, but i'm not interested in that. haiz. i supposed i could make the best of my current situation but it's been 2 years leh. dunno if i can tahan being in this industry forever.

to be corny, shall quote a few lines from my old school song. kavi, yaya and i were wracking our brains trying to remember the whole song at starbucks a few wks ago. haha. yaya finally called a friend and we got the last agonising line.
we cannot all be heroes and thrill a hemisphere
with some great daring venture some deed that mocks at fear
but we can fill a lifetime with kindly acts and true
there's always noble service for noble souls to do

so whoever is able to, go donate blood ok. please.

in other news, went to the birdpark on sat for the s.i.e.u. race/family day. it was fun mans! pics at the usual add. er pics from the girls day out aaaages ago also uploaded. sorry for the delay ladies! wahaha.

july babies

ok so sorry that i didn't have individual birthday shoutouts... haven't been updating much mah. so here is a consolidated list of july babies in chronological order:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
TO
YAYA (0307)
HUDA (2207)
ROHANA (2407)
ASANUL (2707)
EZREIN (2807)

i hope i didn't miss anyone out... if i did, sorry lah. haha. hope you people had a great birthday!

20 07 2007

fantastic date today ain't it? my cuz took my projected wedding date of 07 07 07. his cuz took my projected wedding date of 20 07 2007. *sighs*

tomoro it'll be my turn to be like 'a worm in a bird's nest during breakfast'. that's interesting. i've never been eaten before... shaz, i made that up especially for you. so please make it worth my while by coming up with a witty comeback ok? key word, witty.

in other news, harry potter book sept et finale drops tomoro morn y'all. gonna b picking kavi and mooches up at the ungodly hour of 0630 ish so that we can go collect our books from our most convenient singpost. mooch is just in it for the prata later on. haha.

was craving timtams the other day so i went on a hunt. didn't find them. was so disappointed i could've cried. *sighs* i want my timtams dammit!! no. i don't want them, i need them!! mmm... timtam bombs... mmm. someone tell me where i can get timtams pleeaaaaassseee?

then i discovered that about 40 bucks worth of redemption dollars on my card went mia. apparently they expire 12 mths after they are issued. am i supposed to know that?? and even if i am, why didn't they send me a letter letting me know that they were going to expire soon?? i can't even find out how much i have left unless i buy something! why isn't there a monthly statement?? assholes! i am going to do what everyone does in a situation like this... i'm gonna write them an email. i better get them dollars back man. or something.

good news is, my investments r making money! woohoo! bad news is i got billed for a fund switch which i did not make. this means that they deducted units from one of my funds to pay for it. one of my better performing funds. not happy!! naturally, i'm gonna write them an email.

workwise, things have been pretty interesting, albeit a bit slow. learning lots of things, doing lots of research, even got to play escort today to foreign visitors. my shoes absolutely killed my feet tho. got blisters within the first 5 min. bah. stupid shoes. never gonna get any from that particular store again. pfft. had to smoke my way thru some of the questions the visitors asked me. haha. when in doubt, be vague. they were french so i got to practice on them. haha. poor things. probably butchered their language.

ok gonna go do my sun chores on this fri night. cos i won't feel like doing anything after tomoro. hmm wonder if i can sneakily read potter in office... oh shit,forgot. need to do research this wkend. aaaarrrggggghhhhhh. *sighs*

070707: zubair & shirin tie the knot

CONGRATULATIONS
BUYIN AND ZUBAIR
ON YOUR MARRIAGE!!

even tho u took my projected wedding date, i'm still wishing u all the best. wahaha. finally the deed is done and u're embarking on the next chapter of yr lives... hope you will have lots of fun along this journey and make babies soon! oh, and bring me back a turkish teacup set when u go on yr honeymoon hor... wahaha.
only putting up one pic for this post, so u know where to go for the rest. business as usual.

anyways, day started pretty early on sat, came home late (or early) from simpang and then had to wake my official saree tying person up. haha. thanks kavi!! u're the best! was feeling the effects of the awesome cheese fries from the night before so put off wearing the saree for as long as possible. fortunately my stomach behaved itself and i wasn't inconvenienced. haha. left at around 10.30am with kavi and my sis for the nikah happening at the cc.

the tuk kadi who married them was the same guy who did my bro, and my parents too. he's a veteran in the field i tell ya. so funny also! it didn't take too long, and was entertaining. after that we had lunch, and sat around waiting for guests to arrive. so pretty much tangkap jambu lah. haha. cannot do much work mah, wearing saree. wonder how those people go around dancing and running in saree. takes skills man. had to limit water intake cos can't really pee. haha. sighs. i know, why do i do this to myself... cos i look freaking good in it dammit!

so i was holding the bride's bouquet for her, waiting for them to arrive at 2ish. they looked gorgeous, obviously. there wasn't any kompang, had bangra dance instead and it was awesome! hahaha. so damn cool lah. took some vids of it, even caught the bride and groom joining in. so fun. it wasn't too loud or too long like kompangs usually are so that was good. so entertaining!

we left at about 4 to go home and change for the dinner. managed to squeeze in a quick shower too. redid makeup, accessories, etc etc then headed back to the venue. a bit kecoh lah cos the bridesmaids were late, and guests were arriving ready but guestbook wasn't there, there were boxes of berkat everywhere, etc etc. managed to get everything sorted out and then found out 2 of the groomsmen hadn't arrived yet. doh. went searching for them, then briefed them on what to do. basically stand there and look handsome, and take the lead from the bridesmaids cos they know what to do. haha. the flower girls and boys were damn cute lor! girls dressed like fairies complete with wings and wands... can die.

soon it was showtime, so the bridesmaids donned their masks and took their places. got volunteers to blow bubbles along the red carpet as the bride and groom walked in. then the walk started. bestman and myself led the group, followed by the 6 couples, then the fairies and their pageboys, then bride and groom. i must say it looked pretty good. haha. if u're wondering why there were sooo many of us, it's cos there r supposed to be 7 couples, to represent 070707. geddit geddit?

bride's sisters read the wedding speech on stage and they ended up in tears halfway, which of cos made the bride and groom cry as well. so touching... this just shows that no matter how good a speech u write, the way u deliver it matters even more. then there was the dinner and cake cutting and mingling with the guests... all in all a pretty tiring but fulfilling day.

ok lah right now i should actually get off my arse and stop sitting in front of the comp. talk about a lazy sunday mans. will try to get some chores done. haha.

the sheep entered the lion's den, and came out alive. well done.

newsflash

we interrupt your special travel series to bring u... well, shorter bits of news that are easier to write than trying to capture the essence of your travels in 1000 words or less. so without further ado...

transformers is bloody freaking awesome. really. go watch it!
really sucks to be back at work. urgh. block leave and travelling should be compulsory once every 3 mths at least.
will be starting at my new dept tomoro. wish me luck. happened to meet my future colleague at a course i was attending on thurs and fri. he's pretty alright.
caught dollhouse with yasmine a couple of wks back and guess who was in the audience? se.ni.or. mi.nis.ter.!! we were like, wah, he has a life! haha.
signed up for both the shape and great eastern women only runs. 10km. interested parties, please join in! lemme know!
went for a job interview. they are very keen. i'm not. kinda crappy and not exactly what i'm looking for. that is attractive how? dude is setting up a 2nd interview soon. hmm.
cousin is getting married next wkend and i still haven't finished editting the wedding speech for her sisters. die lah die.
saree and dinner gown outfits are ready. saree blouse a bit short leh! top for the gown needs to get taken in and still need to hunt for earrings.
seem to be coming down with something. headaches and throat getting sore. dang it. hate being sick.
got my credit card bill already. thank god i have euros to change back to sgd. haha.
damn you, gst hike. damn you.