hallo everybuddy sorry for falling off the face of the planet... we've been extremely under-staffed recently so i've been working more efficiently (i.e. much less msn-ing, surfing and blogging at work) and working extra hours. i predict that this trend will last quite a while... until maybe next march when my whole team is completely on-board. in the meantime... the joy of the Lord is my strength! =)
here is a quick and dirty update of the happy-s and not-too-happy-s, in the order as it pops up into my mind:
happy: for my birthday my colleagues gave me a kitten, i've named him nemo. he is the most adorable roly poly ball of fur that hasn't learnt how to walk yet... in the sense that he 'bounces' or 'sprints' from place to place instead of walking normally like a cat ought to. i suppose his legs are too short. here are some pix:
happy: because of nemo, i found a perfect maid, cuz i need someone to take care of him when i am on biz trips and at work. hence she comes to my apartment every weekday to clean-up, do my laundry, help me run errands... the joy of cheap labor... i am *so spoiled*...
not-so-happy: after owning nemo for exactly 14 days, i had to give him away because i am highly allergic to him. in fact within 15 minutes of being around him i start sneezing uncontrollably, get teary-eyed and my throat swells up. the fact that i was able to bear that for 2 weeks is already quite impressive. but it was really unfair to him (cuz i can't pet him & play with him) and unfair to me (cuz..well...i can't breathe) so i gave him away yesterday =(
happy: when i see this, cuz it is funny. (totally stolen from threadless) hope this makes you happy too =)

happy: when you are living in the fullness of life that God intended for you, you exprience an inexpressible and inexplicable joy. i always thought it would take living-in-a-mansion-in-italy-throwing-the-coolest-dinner-parties-and-often-jet-setting-to-paris-for-shopping-sprees to make me happy. but right now, living a life of obedience (largely) to God and what He has called me to, has been so...wholly satisfying. i don't know how to explain it. i remember one saturday a few weeks ago, where i woke up early, had some quiet time, then had lunch with my colleagues, went to a fellowship gathering in the gz botanical park, had dinner at some random street stall, went to a home church service, then walked around the streets of gz with a close friend of mine talking about God... it was a day that simple. but it was one of the most satisfying and enjoyable days i've ever had in my life. and it struck me that if God knows so much better than me what it takes for me to experience the 100% fullness of life as it was intended to be, how can i possibly still find it so difficult to trust Him?
not-so-happy: 2 of my colleagues who are in my girls' care group are leaving to better and brighter futures with God somewhere else...sob... pray that God will bring more believers / convert more seekers and help our group grow! =)
happy: i know gz so much better now! i have one of those handy dandy octopus-card-doot-thingies that can be used in the mtr, bus, convenience store and taxis (woot!!). i've gone hiking 4 times on various trails, ridden this random cart-down-a-metal-slide-contraption (fun but not nearly fast enough), gone to ikea like 6 times (and hence have lots of rubbishy knick-knacks now), cooked soup at home, and started to eat breakfast every morning (self-prepared!). most importantly i know all these great restaurants with super cheap and delicious food. if anyone comes and visits me here, i will throw in a free, 100% satisfaction guaranteed meal. oh and i actually have friends outside of work. mind-boggling... haha.
not-so-happy: i gained maybe about... 10 pounds. at least it keeps me warm in the winter. ;)
happy: i have a secret project in the works. but i can't tell until it happens. tee hee hee... stay posted for updates!