The Dog

The Dog is wonderfully hard worker, a perfectionist and someone who loves the small details. He is also a bit anti-social, pessimistic and stubborn. They are one of the most honest and loyal signs of the Chinese zodiac and will always go to bat for a worthy cause. The Dog is a fantastic listener and his advice is usually very intuitive.

Forecast for 2010 The Year of the Tiger will be an excellent one for all Dogs with a significant improvement in fortune all year long. They must leave the past behind, for the Ox year was a challenging one, and look forward with optimism and determination. There will still be challenges this year for the Dog, as for all the signs, and it is important that he talk over any potential problems and worries rather than bottling them up. Socially, this is the Dog’s year to shine and many new strong friendships and alliances will be formed. The Year of the Tiger will see increased finances for the Dog with many receiving bonuses or even gifts throughout the year. However, it is important that he takes his time regarding financial matters, checking details and ensuring that he has read all the fine print. May to August will be very significant for single Dogs and all invitations should be carefully considered! September through November will have crucial career opportunities – don’t miss them! Recreational activities and hobbies will also feature strongly, with some able to turn their hobby into their career with great success.

Interesting Dog Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Diamond
Special Flower: Marigold
Best Hours of the day 7-9 pm
Season: Autumn
Horoscope Colors: Silver and Red

Come to think of it, I do not always pen down my appreciation for all the birthday wishes I receive every year in my blog and the reason, I don't know. I suppose most of them do not know the existence of this blog or maybe, they are just held close to my heart without the need of having to name it one by one. Maybe I am just worried that I left someone out. =) Let's try and here it goes.

Kelvin Kuan, thank you for the first early birthday present - L'Oreal Paris Men's Expert skincare product when I was in Tekong on 5 Aug.

To all people at my workplace for the lovely entries in my birthday card! Thanks! Especially Benjamin, Allan, Alex Tham, Junqiang who came to shook my hand in person on the actual day.

Thanks to Yaozhong, Jianfeng, Xinyi MeiMei, Jiaqiang, See Meng, Weiquan, Bertrand, Khai Pin, Darren Ang, for the advanced facebook messages...

Thanks to Peh Weijie, Terence Lew, Amanda Lee, Theresa Lee, Yvonne Tan, Xinying, Youhui, Tze Khiaw, Pei Jie, Joanne Wong, Eunice, Grace, Kanghao, Martin, Jolene, Spenser, Hon Khuan, Changyuan, Gary Ang, Margaret, Karen Kwa, Shangyi, Ahyi, Weiquan, Clarence, Andy Kong, Darryl Heng, Jingyi, Yijie, Jeff, Mingchang, Jonathan Leong, Winston Lee, Huimei, Yee Wah, Liling, Huiliang, Slyvia Lim, Adele, Amy Ong, Nok Kei, Vivianne, Diana, Joshua Oeij for your facebook birthday wishes!

Thanks to Michelle Liew, Jaynesh, Karen Poh for the belated facebook birthday wishes as well!

Edmond, thank you for early birthday sms all the way from Melbourne as well as the facebook msg! Cheers! =)

Max, thank you for the first birthday sms (0000), and the following people, Junyu (0003), John (0007), Khairul (0012), Cedric (0016), Huijun (0040), Lionel (0106), Qingting (0704), Colin (0709), Dexiang (0747), Xuan Xuan (0835), Melissa Ong (0918), Alvin (0938), Adeline (0946), Kelvin Wong (1126), Songxin (1212), Kamal (1248), Sandia (1621), Danny (1623; from Malaysia), Xiulin (1658), Qijun (1659; from UK), Peck Meng Auntie (1739), Sharon (2019), Reverend Seelaratana (2221), Rongzhou (2315), Yijun (2325)

Thanks to Jasmine, Timothy and Miow Chyn Auntie for the belated sms birthday wishes as well!

Kelvin Cheah, a phonecall from Malaysia makes hell lotsa difference. Thanks!! =)

Onlyfren (0004), thank you for the birthday present, lunch and the lala session!

Papa, Ma Mi, KorKor (1327) Duanying, thank you for the dinner treat... I love the food...

Norman, Wee Khoon (0750), Euan (0003), Siew Meng, thank you for the Dokumon. Especially to Euan for the MacDonalds breakfast treat + exclusive Mickey Mouse figurine from Japan as well as Wee Khoon for the handmade birthday card.

Weicai (1115), Karen Chiang, Theresa Aw, for the early-bird facebook birthday wishes and the treat to my 3rd love - singing at Party World KTV!

This year is a very special one. In many different ways.

I wanted to blog straightaway after Yan Zi's concert but it was a little too late into the night.  On the very next day morning, my laptop crashed on me once again.  It was really pissing me off.  Yes, most people didn't know that my laptop died on me 5 days before my theory examinations. In the end, I have to say that I was pretty impressed with HP's support services and I had my motherboard and LCD screen replaced with the laptop back with me 3 days before my theory examinations. Yes, almost like a new laptop. =)  Unfortunately, the laptop did it again.  And I just received a call, saying that they will be replacing the motherboard again. This really got me prritated as I started shouting into the phone, insisting that they gave me a sub-standard motherboard previously. Anyway, it is not that I can't survive with a laptop seriously. Whatever. =)

Of course the aphthous ulcer in my mouth was not making my life any better. The fact that my section head will not be in office for the next 3 weeks did not help much either.  Anyway, just to pen down my thoughts on the concert that I have attended.

I love Yan Zi a lot. Without doubt, to say that it was a fantastic concert, I am just being biased. There were flaws but the whole emotional roller coaster within that night was just amazing. She was good. Her slow songs were powerful and captivating.

Yan Zi's songs accompanied me through these years. They grew on me slowly but deeply. I remember that I first knew Yan Zi back in JC days with  J. They really lifted me up when I was down back then. There were many times when her songs made me stronger as I went through many rough patches in my JC days. Her songs were my theme songs for many of my exams, even in uni days.  I still remember how I sang "Wo Yao De Xin Fu" when I was in Pulau Tekong then.  Some of the songs were so apt that I feel deeply for them.

As such, last Saturday, I was really, really deeply moved by her songs. She had 2 previous concerts in 2002 and 2006. Even though I was dying to attend them, I never had a chance then. In 2002, I was giving tuitions on my own to earn a living. To attend a concert would have pretty much been too much of a luxury for me. In 2006, I was preparing for my final medical exams. The stakes were high and the rational me chose to study.  Hence, to be able to attend this concert, it was really meaningful for me.

I love it and if you were a fan of her, just like me, you would have enjoyed yourself tremendously without doubt.

It’s been such a long while since I am totally moved by a 王力宏 song…

想跟我吵架我没那麽无聊

不懂得道歉我没那麽聪明

好想要回到我们的原点


你又在哭泣我给不了安慰

我又在摇头有那麽点後悔

爱情的发展已难以回头却无法往前走


但身不由己出现在胸口两颗心能塞几个问号

爱让我们流多少眼泪


你的眼神充满美丽带走我的心跳

你的温柔如此靠近带走我的心跳

逆转时光到一开始能不能给一秒

等着哪一天你也想起

那悬在记忆中的美好

With much amazement, after I posted my last entry, Straits Times Life Awards published their nominated list of theatre productions in the year of 2008 in different categories in the Life Section the next day. Glad to say that my best local production is in the running for the best local theatre production for the year but sad to say, it is the only production I watched last year. Of course, it indirectly means that I am one level up in my theatre critics skills!! =)

It's been a week of emotional rollercoaster. Definitely not one of the best week.
A little relieved that I managed to play badminton with the gang finally. A little upset when I attended the funeral, yet again, of another fellow colleague in my workplace. I was shocked that I teared at the last moment but I suppose I can never accept an old folk to send her daughter off on her very last journey. A little angry for being made to take the whole blame of an unfortunate event at work when I ultimately did what was right in many people's opinion through their replies in emails. A little emotional when I heard some songs at JJ's concert. A little depressed by the slow progression in my study. A little perturbed by the necessity to celebrate a birthday on the actual day at the expense of others' suffering. A little regretful with the way I handled a helping hand with the selling of tickets. A little thankful to have met a long time friend - to know that she is getting along fine, married and staying into Tampines soon.  A little happy to have finally ran another 4.3 km around Bedok Reservoir after a good 6 months. A little moody with what was said about placing wrong priorities.

Just as my blog says, "Life is full of pain, but does it get any better?"
Well, such is life......

(1) When one door of happiness closes, another window of opportunity is opened for us somewhere else. All we need is to realize this and look for it.

(2) We win some, and we lose some. But don’t look upon every setback as a loss. Sometimes, you stand to gain more than you lose.

(3) Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours.

(4) It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

(5) Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

(6) Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

(7) May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

(8) Always put yourself in other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

(9) The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

(10) Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

(11) Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

(12) It is okay to cry; it just shows we are human and we have emotions. But we must also know when the grieving should end and when life has to go on.

(13) When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

(14) Last but not least… It is better to have loved and lost it than never ever experienced it at all…

Agree?