The Original Juice

I thought the word fraternize is so sinful. It sounds sooo.... vulgar. dont u think?

Well i've never been to any of our fraternity except for that day at Sentosa, even then i stayed for only 1hr (out of 4hr) and also only bcos i had bought something (shepherd's pie) for them to try. Oh and another occasion was a friendly bowling tournament!!!Yup you guessed it, i only go for the free games!

When i first came in, i wasn't invited to their fraternity. Reason being it was held at the pub. The IC, Shannon (its a he), approached me to explain about our agency having fraternity every last friday of the month. "I would have asked you to come along but it's actually gonna be at a pub, so i dont think u wanna go right?" right. I suppose, since then i had a bad impression of "fraternity" where in Kamal's definition is to let down our hair and fraternize and be jolly. ERK

Wait a minute. M i scared of being in a crowd? I dont like to go to weddings.. i dont like to go to fraternities.. I think i need a psychologist to pinpoint the moment in my life where i began to hate such big occasions. to think that i used to be so active in SAFF and sch and stuff... im so diff today aye? Maybe there must have been something that happen during those times.... *ponder*

i'm going to hafta pause here for awhile and continue later about the real even as aforementioned. heheh time to work!

What is it with me and weddings?! I never managed to go to any of my friends' weddings at all!! Jangan cakap sedara nye wedding, lagi lahh tak pergi!

I never did go to Shaidah's nor Kak Noor's weddings.

I was so excited to go to TWO of my colleagues weddings which fell on the same day, 1st May 05, but backed out at the last minute. I took the opportunity of having to babysit Shirah as a lame excuse for me not to be able to go to their weddings. when i would have thrown tantrums before if i were to babysit her. and Jessie has passed me some money to pass to the brides! She even smsed me, "since you are the unreliable one, you have to inform them that Kamal and i aren't able to make it bcos of prior engagement and the presents will be given to them on wed when they come to work" Oh Gosh! M i unreliable in that sense?

The only weddings that i remember going were:
1. my aunty's wedding (my mum's sister from her mother's side) i was like less than 10 yrs old?
2. a relative-cum-neighbour's wedding. (we lived in the same block and they held the wedding at the void deck so unescapable) i was in sec 1.
3. kak Zakiah's (zihah's sister). Itu pon pasal that's our family's lunch. this just less than 2 yrs ago? (i really liked her wedding's setting! So peaceful, not too many pple. best!!!)
4. HIdayah - my colleague's wedding. a yr ago. I'd known her for about 6 months only then, but i even slept over at her place! Itu pon pasal macam sedih lah klw dia kahwin then not so many friends with her around. I wouldnt want that ah.
5. Kak Norzamaria's wedding. Itu pon pasal pergi dgn 'azma abih lepas tu nak jumpa Aisha Manap! LIke on the way lah gitu...

M i scared of weddings? weddingophobic. That's an interesting word. But I don't remember anything bad happen to any of those weddings that would have made me soooo afraid to go. Or do i feel incapable or less fortunate bcos i myself am not married yet?

But the thing is I had really wanted to go to the last two invitations. THe first one lagi kat woodlands jer! Then.. Suddenly i got overwhelmed by this malas feeling and the weather did not help much, it being a very hot sunny day and all. Nak kata pasal takde teman nak gi, my other colleagues were also going...

Julissa Julissa.. tak tau lah apa nak jadi dgn kau..

*I resolve to go to my friends' weddings from now on. Esp Nani's!*

Hmmm semlm balik mummy masak asam pedas. she used to cook asam pedas a lot when i was still in sch that i got sick of it and still am not enthusiastic about it. But last night's asam pedas was something else man! It taste not too sour and the sweetness is just nice to my taste. i put extra kuah on my rice until it seems like the tail of the ikan merah is swimming in my plate. and something that never missed in my asam pedas dish is kicap!!!

I was helping myself to second round of rice and was about to pour myself some kicap when my mum shouted, "Eh!!!!!! JANGAN AMIK KICAP DARI SITU LAH!!!!" in my heart i thought eh takkan nak amik kicap pon tak boleh? kan memang utk semorang. kwl takleh amik asal letak kat dapur which is accessible to everyone>? sikit2 pon nak marah. aku tak bersalah!!!

Mum : pergi amik yg kat dlm fridge. tak nampak ke ni kicap nye?

EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! the first bottle i took from got some white stuffs inside!! and its less than 1 month old! and i was totally oblivious to it before!!1 I cant imagine all those stuffs running into my throat and made puking noises aloud.

Mum: (jokingly) Eleh... action nak termuntah konon... tadi makan kurang main sedap lagi!

I suddenly got overwhelmed with guilt for thinking all those stuffs that split second earlier!

hehehhe

Oh my gosh!!!

I cant believe its been like almost 3 months since i last wrote! Oh Lord! So many things have happened since then... ok not THAT many things happened. Its not like im alreayd married or what... But some major things happened at work.

on 28th Feb was Sharifah's last of work (strategic timing also considering its just after Chinese New Year and the hole Hong Bao escapade heheh no offense there).

Kat had been interviewing several candidates for that position but only got somebody on Sharifah's last day itself. even then, that lady (she's a tudung wearing 30yr old) came and talk to my boss Jessie and then suddenly she's gone! Well.. Jessie and Kat told us that they've sort of scared her into coming to work with us! hmm Perhaps... but another issue on hand was also about this 6 months contract ah. That lady didnt feel comfortable with the contract. She thought along the lines of "what if i cant adapt to this company. what if this company's so bad i wanna leave but cant?"

Since then i was standing in for the secretarial duties with some intention to actually submit my application to be the secretary of the agency. but then again, there are a lot of factors that i should consider:
1. Kamal has high expectation
2. He dumps work on us without specific or relatively specific instructions
3. There are still some improvements ive yet to achieve whilst in the employment of Jessie and Yong Phio

So while i got the experience of being a secretary, i was still a lowly paid personal admin asst.

two to three weeks after that Linda came and work with us. Her character is as similar as sharifah's. Soft spoken, not the daring sexy type and all. At least Kat had the intelligence to recruit a malay girl to become our secretary. this is so that communication would be very easy either way since all the other agency secretaries are malay.

Linda is married with a 2yr old son just started to work again since giving birth. She's eager to learn. However, i can understand that it would be a shock to her to take up that position bcos there's a whole lot of insurance products, terms and procedures that she would hafta pick up and FAST! on top of that, Kamal is always giving her pressure and all.

She told me that sometimes when she wakes up in the morning she feels like a bit scared to go to work. I told her i felt like that too the first 2 months of my working here. I cant wait to get familiar with all these things. And wa la~! I've celebrated by 1yr work anniversary on 25th Feb 05!

And then last week, her son has been vomitting and berak2ing. her 2 yr old son! can u imagine!? Well.. she didnt come to work for 3 days. and another day to to settle her HDB. but then, today she's not here too. Well I wish her all the best.

I gotta go now. my lunch time's finished. my boss is next to me!

Must remember to write about our fraternity last fri!

Bye for now.

Wow! This morning is the liat to wake up. My mum complained while shaking and tickling me to wake up. It is quite surprising considering what a light sleeper i usually am. But it is also not such a big wonder cos ...... IT'S THE FIRST MORNING I HAFTA GO TO WORK AFTER A WEEK'S HOLIDAY!!!

Well.. you see the big boss of this Strategic Partners is a superstitious CHinese and he BANNED people from coming in to the office from 9th Feb 05 to 15th Feb at 11am. It was said that if they work on those days, prosperity won't come. Is that great or is that great!! Although, legally, he's not my employer. He is just a director of this group of agency. He's not the one paying my salary; rather Jessie, Yong Phio and Kamal are. But in any case, we are glad he is superstitious!!

Sharifah told me before the company shuts down that usually the first day the office opens after CNY, we are supposed to give the bosses two oranges. and we'll be getting Hong Bao in exchange and that there'll be Lion Dance and all. So on Monday, i bought 10 oranges. although i only have 3 direct bosses... i think i should give to the other managers too if i wanna collect Hong Bao from them i thought....

But Tuesday morning was not exactly a perfect morning for me. I woke up at 9.50am when i was supposed to come in office at 11am. Journey by MRt would take 45min already, how soon must i get ready now? But i cont lying on the bed, saying to myself, i'm gonna get ready at 10.10, go out at 10.30 and take the cab to office (20min drive) and i'll be just on time. But i ended up leaving home at 10.34am and went to Civic Centre to draw money and buy bfast. I stood along Wlands Ave 5 the Civic Centre Bus Stop there. even at 10.45am there's a lot of other people in front of me flagging their arms to death! i waited for 10mins before i called a cab. It would have cost me only $14 if i didn't call. There's a $3 additional charge. (the best is yet to come though and Azma take note that i spend avr of $20 per ride on a cab - staying in Wlands and all - though your project is over. hekrhekrhkerh)

By the time i had reached office, i discovered that everybody was there! and i mean EVERYBODY until i didnt even have a seat on my table! And then i discovered that my milo spilled in my paper bag and got it all over my Orange plastic bag! It's lilke bursting with the heavy weight and all. Urghhh!! Luckily the oranges are INSIDE the bag and didn't get any choc taste on it. I didn't get to eat my bfast yet cos one thing too many people paisei and another thing my bosses rush to give me instructions and there were a few things i needed to clear that morning.

But by 11.35 the Lion Dance people are high already! It was scary to see the bulkness of the lion's head and its butt to be tilting and butting around in such a crampy place. It went into my boss' room first. FOr awhile i thought i was gonna jump on the table! But it didn't. Instead, the person in front like bend his body on the table and put the lion's face right on top of the laid oranges, he peeled the skin and throw it back out the mouth! he peeled all 3 oranges (it was an ordeal waiting for it) and throw it all back out! what a waste or good orange. And then, my friend told me that he's got a 4D no. from that! (????)

After the Lion Dance was over, it was the wishing time! But Sharifah only brought two oranges with her so i thought she was only giving her boss. so i brough two with me also lah i thought i can always come back to my place to take some more after that. But then her boss gave her two oranges in HIS hands to her after she did... and when i gave mine to him, i got the two that was sharifah's. Ler.... It's supposed to be an EXCHANGE!!! And i brought ALL 10 of them heavy oranges!!!! Paisei!! Luckily i didn't show to anybody yet! kerherhkerhkhkerhker

But it was a paisei thing to be queueing up like tt. Bcos in a way we were expecting Hong Baos right.. and then It'd seem like begging!! Furthermore, most of the other managers don't remember me! Damn Awkward. Oh Gosh except that Big Boss though i'm sure he didn't remember my name but he did say to me, "ok Next time, don't be so shy.. Every time i see you, you lower your head." I stupidly exclaimed, "Is it?!" and giggled myself away. Oh Gosh!! It's sooooo embarassing!!!

Then the next manager, i got the last packet. and my friend Yani who was behind me didn't get! So sad. and i feel a bit bad to have gotten the last one. Cos this particular manager is the best amongst them. That's Sunny Sim for you.

Then we went to the next millionaire. He was very efficient in greeting his people and clearing his queue. Probably cos he didn't know us ley.. but of course he knows Sharifah. This time i got the 3rd last packet. It is embarassing, But good news is i got 6 packets worth $50! *beam* at least can cover my taxi fare! krekerhhkrekherkher

Then at one point, Salmah one of my advisers, observed one thing and jokingly expressed "E Eh jorang ni.. kita hari raya minta maaf pun takdelah gini lama..." and then i added, "Oh a ah.. kitorang selalu minta maaf nangis2.. jorang wish ketawa2, senyum2" Bagus jugak lah kan.

i can describe to you the atmosphere in one word: MERRY. It was a happy time where we all laugh and make a fool of ourselves without getting drunk first. And actually only now i realise while im typing this that for the first time, i do feel part of them.

Aiyoyooooo Scary liao!

It was a day that i will never forget. I never in my life saw them and never ever want to see them again.....

That day I was crossing along Anson Road back to office. I was walking against the one way traffic. I came to this junction. I looked left for the oncoming cars - clear. I didnt look right because that road is also one way. So i half ran half walked to cross over.

AND THEN!

I saw two ladies in white................


and blue approaching me...

with boots and hats... Oh No! Don't tell me you're catching me...


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...........

It's the traffic police!!! One of them approached me and said, "Miss. This is a traffic light. You cannot walk when the red light is on. Doesn't mean that the road is clear you can cross the road. Can i have your IC please."

GOsh! This is so totally unexpected! It was as though they were hiding behind the bushes cos it was a total blindspot!!!! Luckily, they only warned me. They didn't fine me the potential $20 fine. heheheh

And i thought it was just a scam to scare people when i read about it on the papers.

Sighhh

CAN YOU GUYS BELIEVE IT?!?!?! THEY PULLED MY LEG!!!! They only teased me about Taufik chauferring my boss' newly won car! How could they! And i was sooooo gullible to have fallen for it! Gosh! And to think that i have told this one secretary i'm not so close to about it. So EMbarassing! I mean imagine if she asked to verify the story with the other advisers who went, of course they'd say no such thing and that secretary would think that either i'm a big fat liar or just a plain BOASTER (ntah harper!)

But we were so excited when they finally got back to the office.. But nobody seemed to own any Hp w video recording capabilities. Those who have camera phone either didn't wanna go up front to take pictures or their memory full!!!!! this is crazy! Luckily one out of the whole 50 close-knitted group of advisers have managed to take one lousy picture. I'll try to put it up here when i get hold of it.

Salmah came in first and we quickly asked her to tell us the story and the first question i asked was : Taufik really chauferred Jessie's new car to her? Salmah said: No lahhh they were pulling your leg!!! My initial reaction was: What?!?!?! They lied to me?!?! Second reaction: oh ok at least she didn't actually really get to be driven by Taufik else i'd be dead jealous! So i won't begrudge her the Chevrolet.

THe next thing i know i was being imposed this question: Which i would rather have: a date with Taufik or the car?

At first my quick answer to them was: I don't know. (heheh but tt's really bcos i didn't hear what they were asking cos they were so excited. we all were!) But after the air cooled down, they asked me again and i said.... "Hmmm I'll take the car cos car got long-term benefit whereas the date w taufik is only a day" She seemed dissatified with my answer! Boleh gitu! heheheh Dia kata tapi date with taufik will last in the memory forever... Hmmm in my mind i was saying: Alahai.. aku nih pelupa... all my previous holiday semua i dont quite remember let alone this date. Tapi klw dpt date dgn dia at least boleh jadi kawan forever kan best... ahhh kereta lah more important!

Anyways back to reality. Jessie is selling her car bcos her Nissan Sunny is better than the chevrolet. I might just psycho her to sell to me at half price or what. hehehehe

This morning work started very slowly... No bosses around. that's because all of the advisers had to attend this convention called Flying Start 2005 where there are lucky draws and to celebrate last year's achievement.

So we, the secretaries, took the opportunity to undo our Christmas decoration (finally!)... soon i heard 1 sms come in. Then sharifah had to go answer a call, it was for me, another msg came in then the other office line rang and sharifah rushed to the phone. All those sms and calls were for me from the advisers who were at the convention to tell me one same thing: TAUFIK IS PERFORMING ON STAGE LIVE!!!

I can't believe this! How lucky they are!!! First, i answered call from Jessie (my boss) then i told her to go video record it for me. Then Hazel called my hp to let me hear some more. Then Yong Phio (my other boss) called me to let me hear the rest of I Dream. although before that he had already sung Me and MRs Jones! Kat and Mel smsed me about it too. They all said they wanted to go greet him later! Unfair! unfair!!! If only they had told us, i could have gone there too!

To add salt on my already sore heart. Jessie won a Chevrolet but not just that! THE CAR WAS CHAUFFERRED TO HER BY TAUFIK!!!!! HOw crazy is that?!?!?!?!? Gosh!! They're not back in the office yet so i dont know how many pictures taken or what they talked about and all.

We (mainly me and Sharifah) have no mood already to work. Sharifah who was outside on errands when she found out was smiling like a crazy person all the way back to the office!

WE ARE ON CLOUD 9!

But i did say to Sharifah, Taufik must be tired of singing I Dream so many times! heheheh Hey Girls. have you got his CD already? Who bought the pre-sale can go collect it tmrw already! So clear your ear and put on the sound system!

Hmmmmmmmm Been wanting to blog this for ages! But asyik tak terblog ajer...

I went to watch Biar Betul one of the weekday nights a few days ago with Kak ly and kak long... It's not diff to expect tt Kak Ly slept through most of it and kak long too a bit here and there! After we went out, they said that it was the slowest movie they've ever watched. so long it took them to reach the plot lah whatever... But, on the contrary, i cried at the ending! It had really moved me when i put myself in Shani's position crying over her brothers. I don't wish to write spoilers for those who havent seen the movie but i wish there's somebody who share my approval to that movie. Because to me its not slow at all! Much better than the typical malay drama on TV ya know. The jokes are not that lame either as most typical malay movies are. I really salute.

And when is this Unfortunate Events going to be screened nih?! PEnat guey menunggunya tau! Started to read the book already. One fateful day, ayah was on leave and couldnt send me to work so i took the train... and that particular day i got a flyer from a girl and i saw it said "San Bookstore. Buy Sell or Rent Books" Interesting. and it's just next door at Amara S.C so i decided to check it out with my cousin that same day during lunch time. and i immediately saw The Unfortunate Events (or rather i asked her where is it cos i couldnt see them in the library at all!) Unfortunately, (now misfortune has started befalling me already the future reader of Unfortunate Events?) the Book 1 was on loan so i rented Book 2 and 3 instead bearing in mind that Nani said it was not so diff to understand if we start half way.

And my it WAS interesting! So interesting that i finished reading it in 2 days! ok ok that's not so fast for such an easy-read book but i'm a hardworking employee ya know so not tt much time (though i had to fight the very strong urge to read during working hours) and i had been the morning shift driver also those few days and in the ride home i slept! hehehe Later on i borrow Books 5 and 9 from the library. But Book 9 was a bit too far for me that when i read Book 6 i know already who Esme is, though i still canNOT imagine what Count Olaf was up to! And after awhile it get kinda stale doesnt it? I mean 8 series of the same outline of the story... U kinda know what to expect. But the books still put you on the edge! After that i borrowed from the library Lemony Snicket : The Anauthorised Autobiography. I read through halfway it's kinda boring for me for the simple reason that it is so the long-winded and complicated that i dont understand and just tossed it aside. and i can tell ya it's a BIG BIG SPOILEr!!!! Especially about the V.F.D thingy!! But i thought i saw the book being published in the middle of the series. I just dont understand Why!!!

heheh u must be confused about my feelings for the book. oklah My conclusive Review about the book Series of Unfortunate Events is: It's a good read but Read in sequence and DON'T Read the Autobiography unless you've finished all the series. And watch the movie!!!!!!

So long now. Have a nice day everybody!

Happy New Year!!

Actually i always make a point to try not to begin wishing pple happy new year bcos its so silly to do so. Like its just another year what's there to be celebrating about? I don wanna sound so squarish but then i don wanna sound 'wild' either from the Islamic perspective... Basically new year is no big deal. Big deal is DEATH and LIFE.

But then today the whole day had been nothing so much. Just lazed around in the house... watching the BBC, CNN and ChannelNewsAsia on their Asian Tsunami coverage until Mummy came home just a bit before maghrib and said, "amacam? nak gi Amiran's?"

YES I WANT!!!!! i've been wanting to go to Amiran's for so so long! It's been so long since i've last been there! And Shirah's gone back to her father's home for the weekend and kak long was home. Contacted kak Ly and she was with Nur at BUGIS so everybody can go already....

But then kak ly msg me saying that they were SUPER tired after an afternoon of shopping that if they couldn't handle it any longer they'd just go home first. Truthfully, i was a bit sad at that bcos it would then mean that there's only mummy ayah me and kak long and she's going off early to go watch Arsenal match. i just replied to her that today is a rare occasion where 1. I want to treat them. 2. kak long's around 3. Shirah's not around and besides, it would be something like a very belated bday dinner (mine)! She didn't reply.

And then while kak long was ironing her clothes she asked me if it would be a good idea to ask her BF Farhad along! and i said YES!! That'd be nice! The whole family would get to know him! Then i had the task of telling it to mummy. Mummy just said ok and said that just now she picked up a call from Farhad also lah. Meaning to say that she doesnt mind at all. But Kak long of course were a bit hmmm nervous about the whole idea. and I took this opportunity to tell the girls to not miss the chance to see this Farhad guy! and of course they said they wouldnt for the life of them!

So i called Amiran's to make a reservation and the guy asked me under whose name would it be? and i said Julissa and spelled it out for him and surprisingly he said, "You can't be Julissa from Zac Meat?"

Me: Oh yes I am! Or at least i was. I dont work there anymore. Who;s that?

Guy: Shah. I heard from Kak Zaleha that you're not working there anymore. Asal berhenti? Kesian Zac Meat. Cik Hamid pon dah nak berhenti. U pernah jumpa kak Zaleha ke tak?

Me: ah tu lah... tak pernah nampak lagi!

Shah: Ah takpe nanti dlm kul 8 8.10 gitu i suruh dia keluar.

WOW! Am i surprised or am i surprised? They still remember me! and i don even know who's this Shah person! I just know Kak Zaleha and we havent even met yet! Amazing how we can be very close to our customers! :D I feel very honoured.

We arrived SUPER late. I had told them we would arrive a bit later like 8.30 ( in order not to let them give up our seats) but we really got there at 8.49pm! I felt so guilty lah actually but it was cushioned by the fact that there were not so many people. As in like we didn't make them lose money by not being able to give people seats to eat or anything. And actually this is my first time being at the new location! (which is just a street away!) and it's nice and big and cool! Best! Only of course the parking is diff.

We had a great time we all. With no restrictions on what to eat and we ordered everything we wanted. we even ordered TWO baskets of Calamari! My isn't that just luxurious! Tapi baru puas hati klw gitu! and promptly Kak Zaleha also came out from the kitchen... And i intro her to my family... and she said me and mummy looked exactly alike!!! and i asked if they were still taking from ZM... more items or just still Beef Bacon only? but they said biasa jer... and then to end the conversation i said, ok nanti masakkan kita sedap2 ok?!

I wanted to eat lasagne actually cos it's been such a long time since i had one! but then the thought of lasagne only for dinner is a bit disheartening. So i just ordered MaryLand Chicken (one of my reg menu there) and apentah Nur pon nak order tu. But i didn't wanna change mine this time. usually i mmg tak suka klw on one table got two of the same dish. Thought that it would be more colourful with diff diff plates of food. Anyway tonight i fought the urge to change cos i do love MaryLand Chicken and i akan terkilan klw tak makan tu! But sadly, it turned out not as nice as before lah. It was a bit dry tonight... But I still Love and Support Amiran's!!!

And then this Farhad guy came. I thought he only wanted to hang around before fetching kak long to see the game. But i was surprised to see he ordered a fish & Chips and My! did they give a BIG servign or what! kerherhkhkererhk He's Tall Dark and *Toot* i think he's got sharp teeth that make the smile outstanding and didn't have problem talking to our parents. He's a computer man who works at IBM just next door at Park View square (Yes! It's the building that has goot all those creepy statues!) Overall ok lah. I dont even mind paying for his meal cos.... I feel so happy tonight that we finally got to sit down for dinner together... It's been a very very very long time since.

And i feel so so happy.. its as though i've jsut got my sister back... I can lepak in her room again and we talk as per normal and all that. Oh Gosh... I'm sohappy i wanna cry now...

good night people.

PS: My resolution is to be thinner than 2004. May God be with us.