Cheat Work Thursday

Photo by Alexandr Popadin on Unsplash By June 2024, I’d been having problems with quality sleep for years. By that time, I’d long forgotten what having an eight-hour, good, uninterrupted sleep felt like. Then I was prescribed with a two-week of Tramadol for a pain that month. Those green and yellow capsules became my best friends. I took three capsules a day on the first couple of days, until I felt nauseous on the second day. It was bad. I almost threw up in a supermarket (I ended up throwing up at home). I learned that two capsules a day were just right for me. But several good things happened. One – The Tramadol helped me with the pain so much. Two – Although there was still a little pain, I suddenly felt active and motivated to do things that sick people would usually put off doing until they get better: house chores, cooking and more. I’d usually need an hour for it to kick in. Then by hour number three, the house would be clean, the laundry all done, and the ceiling ...

Yeah... about those '90s romance books with a topless man on the cover that I sooo was not into — scratch that. Different writing style, maybe. But topless cover all the same? Check. I'm reading them! The covers here on the page are the safe-for-work versions. Him — The short verdict is, ever since I got these two books, I can no longer let anyone use my phone or iPad without my supervision. "Oohh... you have books about hockey!" Nooo... Do. Not. Open. That. Him is about Wes and Jamie who've been best friends at a hockey camp since they were 13. One shootout bet when they were 18 had left Wes feeling guilty and ghosting Jamie for the next four years. Wes has a secret: he's been in love with Jamie since they were 13. Not only is he not telling Jamie this because he's still figuring the world out, Jamie is also straight. Now in their senior year, with professional hockey waiting the following year, they are both playing for their respective coll...

I'm catching up 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️. MOVIE: Love, Simon I still love the movie. And Nick Robinson and Keiynan Lonsdale are perfect for the roles. Buut ... you know always the problem with people who " have read the book ", we've already imprinted every scene from the book on our brains, so we kind of do not want the movie to change or skip them much. Plus, there are not many scenes between Simon and Blue in the movie. The movie should be longer anyway (it’s only 110 minutes). So where is the magic electric pull? Where is the full-blown chemistry between the two? But it's still cute and entertaining, and it won't make you stop grinning and cheering for it. It's also nice to meet with a couple of new characters (eg Ethan) or the movie version of the book characters (Taylor, Ms Albright) and laugh at tons of new funny lines. I get that this movie is important beyond than just "to entertain". I only wish it had landed stronger. BO...

I don't have time to listen to music anymore. I started listening to podcasts about four years ago: a Survivor podcast. I think all non- casual fans know which one. I had no one to discuss Survivor with. So, to finally learn that there was a group of people out there who would unapologetically geek out about the same favourite show as me was kind of great. I listen to too many podcasts now: while doing work, house chores and yoga (nothing more relaxing than listening to podcast hosts ranting); while running; when I go out alone; when I don't want to talk to humans or make eye contact; during commute; before sleep. It's almost like I need to find a real friend or something. So over the years, I did get sucked into Serial, season 1. (Come on, who finished season 2?) And yes, I listened to S-Town this year, which was after I finished reading A Little Life. So things were not grim at all for a while here. Question: Would McLemore approve of this story being broadca...

Photo by Jenn Kosar on Unsplash (OMG I want that fish.) QUESTION: If you could have dinner with anyone, who would you choose? Right now, Damien Rice, please. Most of the time, I CANNOT listen to The Blower's Daughter. But every now and then, when I get home in the evening and it's cold and raining outside, it's a song that I put on repeat on both occasions: 1) when I need to further torture myself whenever I don't feel too good or 2) when I feel ok and love the quiet evening. Just like most songs that I listen to, I don't understand the meaning of this one. Or if I'm being honest here, most songs that I listen to do not require a lot of work to understand, actually. Back to this imaginary dinner. So right after I ask him questions like, "If you knew already that you look good with a certain haircut and amount of beard, why is there a picture of you on the internet looking like a homeless person? Yes, like this one you took with Salma Ha...

Jeremy Renner picked up the phone in the last scene of Ghost Protocol. Does this mean he'll be back for the next Mission: Impossible? I'm 12 months late, but please tell me he will. Ghost Protocol is only the second MI movie that I've seen. Just saw it this week. Fast paced, hilarious, brilliant cast, and directed by Brad Bird*, who's not really an action movie director, I read. (*His previous works include Ratatouille and The Incredibles.) - Currently listening to Locked Out of Heaven and Young Girls . Almost texted Haidan to listen to Locked Out of Heaven, stopped myself and checked the lyrics... mmmIDon'tThinkSo. - And missing my mother's chicken curry. Add some potatoes in the curry, and eat it with warm rice and some ulam. OMG. Image: a screen grab from one of my favourite scenes in the movie, Paramount Pictures

I woke up this morning with the biggest gratitude that it was still weekend. I spent the whole of Friday night to early Sunday morning with a total of six hours of sleep in between, speed-reading and trying to finish a material. No one forced me to squeeze in that much reading, but I had to do it and finish it quickly. Even if it meant sleep reading for a few seconds here and there. A few times, I looked at a sentence three times, still not understanding what was going on with it, and I had to mentally whip my brain to just get up and get it done. I finished the last ones this morning. My body aches, but it was satisfying. Right now, I'm closing all the windows and drawing half of the curtains, staying away from noise and harsh lights, and allowing only kind music playing in the background. (Ok, I don't know if 'kind' is the best word to describe Cough Syrup by Young the Giant. In fact, it's actually kind of dark and sad. But at least no one screams or abuse...

For weeks, I've been trying to find out who sings this song. So it's Both of Us by Taylor Swift. Ok, it's featuring Taylor Swift... I can't sleep right now, which is not good because I need to wake up early tomorrow morning to beat the open house traffic madness. There's something about a quiet (quiet er -- I live next to a highway) 3 o'clock on a weekend morning that makes me not want to go to sleep. I feel like I'm missing out on something if I do (like... tired skin?). It feels like I need to use the time to do some work, or invent a magic product, or re-think the century's great idea, or something. Magic products, how do I create you?

Here are two of my favourite Phillip Phillips' performances, which mostly are from the later part of the season. I've missed watching Idols. It got me back at this version of Usher's U Got It Bad. U Got It Bad , Usher Volcano , Damien Rice I also think Mindi Abair , that awesome lady with saxophone, and Phillip Phillips are each other's secret weapons, by the way. Check her out especially in U Got It Bad, with killer shoes, and Movin' Out at the finale. (He also sang Fat Bottomed Girls in the top 6 week. Man, how awkward would it sound if the lyrics were translated into Malay. Seriously Queen, which one of you came up with it?)

I'm currently listening to Yuna's beautiful, beautiful US debut album. My favourite is Tourist, but I can't find any songs that I don't like on it. I often imagine a perfect, calm day when I hear the songs, where I'd play them first thing in the morning, waking up fresh from a good night's sleep, thinking about a good day ahead: doing things that I like and hopefully making other people happy about them too. Then I'd hit the warm shower and boil some water for coffee or go out to buy breakfast. I'd even have time to scan the internet for an hour. And when traffic starts to ease, I'd freshen up, put on work clothes and makeup, and get ready to leave for work meetings, where everyone I meet is nice and kind and inspiring, and helps make me smarter every day. I'd be home in the evening, switching on my lavender home freshener first, then stretching my feet on the coffee table, planning what movie to watch that night and checking the internet a...

Good things, this week: The five pieces of kiwi fruit I bought on Monday. The resume I made for my sister. Happy clients sending happy e-mails. The box of chocolate I sent to a client. The weekend at my hometown and playing with Baby Noble for hours. What a smart and beautiful baby she is. If not because she's now 7kg plus, I wouldn't put her down. The fact that I've lost a couple of kilos in the past few months... I have to pin my skirts now! The playlist I made for the road trip. I finally drew something and completed that four-minute-long movie of our last family weekend. I finally found someone I can talk about The Road with: my eldest sister. The Cadbury's Gold from my sister and Caramello from my brother. Good workdays on Thursday and Friday. Internet radios. The passion interest I have again towards a lifelong dream. (Being spontaneous is fun and exhilarating but) I'm growing to love pausing and thinking about some of my next actions. ...

I don't follow SYTYCD, but I saw this last weekend while flipping channels, waiting for my mother to get ready, and immediately fell in love with the song and the performance -- I don't know which one is more. I read this morning that the singer's career was practically launched by the show. The judges commented that the male dancer Billy didn't seem to connect with his partner, but I thought I saw his vulnerability and their connection. Then I saw this , The Garden by Mirah, and I like it too! ........... Ok, I'll love more of this if I watch more. Have a good week, everyone.

I was born tone-deaf and with two left feet. But sometimes when I'm alone in my car or in my room, I do alright. I'm currently listening to Grenade . I have to blog my thoughts on Justin Bi*b*r and pop culture: Spending hours on the internet on a Saturday night Squeezing some time out of my busy adult schedule, checking pop culture on the internet, I notice adults in general can't stand Justin Bi*b*r and would love the chance to crucify knock some sense into any kids screaming for him. Come on, whether you are 30 or 50, you were 15 once. At some point in your life, you must have been into pop culture too. And admit it, there are things that you are embarrassed about obsessing or find funny now: hairstyle, way of networking, choice of music, clothes and more! Let the today's 15-year-olds have their time, shall we? The bowl-cut hair? Please, we soo... have seen the '80s. I don't want to name names, but God was probably mad at the whole entertainment ind...

Since I'm going to do a lot of long driving this month, I'm going to get a lot of vocal exercise as well. Though you know songs nowadays: not all lines are meant for singing, so some are pretty short. 1) Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. Find the Glee's version here . 2) B.O.B / Hayley Williams' Airplanes . 3) Adam Lambert's If I Had You . Each time I start listening to my new favourite songs, I immediately think of my friend Lyle , who only owns Josh Groban's and Andrea Bocelli's CDs.

Sometimes I wonder how other people, probably my age, in other parts of the world live . I was camping in front of the TV last Saturday, doing some work, accompanied by songs from MTV and YouTube, from which I found a lot of great old live performance videos and songs, including this version of Cat Stevens' Wild World. It's hard to believe that the song was recorded in 1970. It doesn't really sound like an old song in this live acoustic. The lyrics sometimes make me stop and ask, wait, what does he mean by that, but the song kind of tugs at your heartstrings a little too. (Never thought that I'd like any version of Wild World before.) Now it makes me wonder, how my life would be like if I were a 20 or 30-something in 1971? (I even made what I imagined was a '70s Polyvore.) (While I was supposed to do some work .) Speaking of the '70s, although I haven't watched Lost season 6 yet, I think the ending scene is very sad. Image: "'70s...

Yesterday afternoon, on my way meeting a client, I decided that I should learn a rap song. Ok, maybe not really a rap song but the rap verses in a song. We all love singing in the car, right? The one place we feel most talented, with good music and views to accompany our singing? And you know how most singers collaborate with rappers in their songs nowadays? It kind of halts your sing-along session because you can't catch a word this guy is saying. So how about this ? I love Ludacris -- rapping for Justin Bieber Mary J Blige and starring in one of my favourite movies, Crash? Check and check. I'm going to make it my life goal to memorize the song this week.

I've been looking for Sidney Sheldon's The Other Side of Me for ages. While I was hoping the book would be about Sheldon's life and writing career, most of it is about his Hollywood career -- thus the title, of course -- which I'd never heard of before. But it's still a good read. Sleeping Arrangements is one of Sophie Kinsella's earlier novels when she was writing under her real name: Madeleine Wickham. It's a story about two people with a shared history who accidentally meet again on a holiday after many years. It does feel like this book and the Shopaholic series were not written by the same author. I guess practice makes great writing. Sophie Kinsella definitely writes more adorable characters -- and characters and stories that we can easily relate to or root for. I had a good weekend. I hope you did too. (Currently listening to If We Ever Meet Again and Telephone .)

This is part of my attempt to read books by authors that I'm not familiar with, and the horror from this book stayed in my head a while after I finished reading it. The Road is a story of a father and his son's journey to the south to escape the year's winter, years after civilization has been destroyed. (Plot summary here .) I admit I was kinda lost at the beginning of the book, though, staring at eight-word sentences, half of which I wouldn't know the meaning unless I looked in the dictionary. But after a while it stopped bothering me. It's chilly, depressing and a must-read. Happy Holidays, everyone. - I'm currently listening to Empire State of Mind (I could use a city which big lights inspire me right now), Bad Romance, Russian Roulette, Heaven Can Wait and many Adam Lamberts.

I've been reading a lot of books lately. (By 'a lot' I usually mean anything more than one, and by 'books' I usually don't mean educational.) Here's the verdict, because I love to share my findings and save you from picking books that you may not like. The Host, Stephenie Meyer I had a good time reading Twilight, but I now love The Host more. Same-same, you say? Absolutely. So, this is supposed to be a sci-fi with aliens and all. (And how I loathe sci-fi . I used to say the same about vampires and love stories. Boo.) But just like Twilight, in a very Stephenie Meyer way, this is a love story. The book is also said to be intended for adults, unlike Twilight. But I don't see the difference. I think it's still meant for the Twilight age group, which is fine by me. The characters are likeable, and I like the question the book is asking: would you love the same person if they came in a different body? Eh, you don't even have to find an answer...

I spent hours over the long weekend reading about Gaza and trying to figure out why my blog label didn't work while playing Bryan Adams' Summer of '69 hundreds of times. So apparently, some HTML codes were missing from my template, but it's all ok now. I think. I've also been busy digging through the very hilarious startingoverat24's and clevergirlgoesblog's archives. I'll put up my reading list soon. Some time ago, during one of my looong-lunches-to-coffee-to-dinner-LIFE-IS-GOOD-HERE-IN-THE-COFFEE-SHOP-LET'S-NOT-GO-HOME-EVER with a friend, we talked about two people* with something in common expecting two countries to get along while they themselves can't even be in the same room for five minutes. *Might or might not be real people we know / in-laws to each other / one of them is that friend's husband / one of them is that friend's father / one of them is not from here. Referring to other little issues in our own lives, perhaps ...