From: My ex-.........

From: My ex-.........
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 5:08 PM
Subject: FW: Two heart warming stories

Today is Thanksgiving and I thought it is so appropriate to share these two heart warming stories. Life is short so cherish those around u.......

There was once this guy who is very much in love with his girl. This romantic guy folded 1,000 pieces of paper cranes as a gift to his girl. Although, at that time he was just a small fry in his company, his future doesn't seem too bright, they were very happy together. Until one day, his girl told him she was going to Paris and will never come back. She also told him that she cannot visualise any future for the both of them, so they went their own ways there and then... Heart broken, the guy agreed. But when he regained his confidence, he worked hard day and night, slogging his body and mind just to make something out of himself. Finally with all the hard work and the help of friends, this guy had set up his own company ... You never fail until you stop trying.
One rainy day, while this guy was driving, he saw an elderly couple sharing an umbrella in the rain walking to some destination. Even with the umbrella, they were still drenched. It didn't take him long to realize they were his girl's parents. With a heart in getting back at them, he drove slowly beside the couple, wanting them to spot him in his luxury sedan. He wanted them to know that he wasn't the same anymore, he had his own company, car, condo, etc. He made it! What he saw next confused him, the couple was walking towards a cemetery, and so he got out of his car and followed...and he saw his girl, a photograph of her smiling sweetly as ever at him from her tombstone and he saw his paper cranes right beside her... Her parents saw him. He asked them why had this happened. They explained, she did not leave for France at all. She was ill with cancer. She had believed that he will make it someday, but she did not want to be his obstacle... therefore she had chosen to leave him. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. She had wanted her parents to put his paper cranes beside her, because, if the day comes when fate brings him to her again... he can take some of those back with him...
Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may escape but what's in your heart will remain forever. The guy just wept...The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside her knowing you can't have her, see her or be with her ever again......... hope you understand.
Find time to realize that there is one person who mean so much to you, for you might wake up one morning losing that person who you thought meant nothing to you.

Subject: KINDNESS Pays !One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as She read these words..... "Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed)Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES. You can send this page on and spread a positive message or ignore it and pretend it never touched you.

Spamming is not my style... so i BLOGGED IT!

Facts about Sleep

According to the German Sleep Society, sleep-wake disorders, which need to be treated urgently, are present in more than 10% of our population, among them 800,000 patients with obstructive sleep apnea and 25,000 patients with narcolepsy. A 2002 National Sleep Foundation poll found that 74% of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more, 30% get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight, and more than 37% are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities. Sleep experts recommend an average of 7-9 hours of sleep per night, and over 80% of Americans believe that not getting enough sleep leads to:

• Poor performance at work
• Risk for injury and poor health
• Difficulty getting along with others

Symptoms of Fatigue
There are many different symptoms of fatigue, including:

• A feeling of indifference to one’s performance
• Increased reaction time
• Decreased ability to concentrate on multiple tasks
• Fixation
• Short-term memory loss
• Impaired judgment
• Impaired decision-making ability
• Distractibility
• Reduced visual perception
• Loss of initiative
• Personality changes and depression

If you operate heavy equipment or drive a vehicle during your shift, you must pay careful attention to signs of sleepiness or fatigue. To ignore signals such as yawning, frequent blinking, and sense of tiredness may put yourself and others at risk.

Fatigue Inducers
Many different activities or situations can cause fatigue including:

• High intensity workloads (critical decision-making overload or work stress)
• High physical or cognitive workload
• Lack of sleep Stress Anxiety
• Poor health Hypoxia (low oxygen)
• Dehydration
• Sleep disorders
• Jet-lag
• Changes in work shifts
• Drug & alcohol effects
• Sleep deficit

Your Biological Clock
Your body has its own clock, known as a biological clock, that tells you when you’re hungry, sleepy, and regulates your body temperature. Most people’s clocks run on a daily rhythm of approximately 24 hours, called a “circadian rhythm.”

What “time” it is varies from person to person:

1. “Morning people” feel most alert early in the day
2. “Night people” like to stay up late

• Night time is very risky for workers, since sleep can become an irresistible urge that is strongest between midnight and six a.m.
• The clock is also programmed to make you feel sleepy in the middle of the afternoon, which can also be a dangerous time.
• Many sleep-related accidents happen between one and five p.m., during the “afternoon lull.”
• Think about your own biological clock:

1. What times of day do you feel most alert?
2. When do you feel drowsy?
3. Do you keep a schedule that lets you follow your clock?

Once you know your own personal cycle, allow for times when you’re likely to be sleepy!

Do you know?
Q1. When I’m drowsy, coffee will wake me up.
TRUE
Incorrect!When you’re tired, your brain can play tricks on you. You may do the wrong thing, or may think you have performed a task that you have not really completed. Everyone becomes less competent when he/she is sleepy.Correct!Correct!Incorrect!Caffeine takes 30 minutes to enter your bloodstream and the effects last only two to three hours, depending on your tolerance level. Once the stimulant effects have worn off, you may have a “rebound effect” and be even more fatigued. CAFFEINE IS NOT A LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE FOR SLEEP.

Q2. I can tell when I’m about to fall asleep.
TRUE
Incorrect!Since fatigue impairs all mental functions (including perception), people consistently underestimate their levels of fatigue.

Q3. Being sleepy causes you to make mistakes.
TRUE
Incorrect!When you’re tired, your brain can play tricks on you. You may do the wrong thing, or may think you have performed a task that you have not really completed. Everyone becomes less competent when he/she is sleepy.

Tips for Successful Sleep
Remember the following to ensure successful sleep:

• Avoid caffeine and nicotine close to bedtime
• Avoid alcohol, as it can lead to disruptive sleep
• Exercise regularly, but complete your workout at least 3 hours before bedtime
• Keep a regular sleep schedule (even on days off and weekends)
• Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, cool, and comfortable
• Drink plenty of water

Promoting Alertness

• Staying alert is critical to the safety of yourself and others around you. Remember to:
• Take short breaks
• Exercise during breaks
• Install bright lights in work areas
• Try to work with a “buddy.”
• Talking with co-workers can help keep you alert
• Eat three normal meals a day.
• Eat healthy snacks, avoiding foods that upset your stomach
• Don’t leave the most tedious or boring tasks to the end of the day when you are apt to feel the drowsiest

Feeling sleepy is especially dangerous when you are on the road

Being sleepy on the road will:

• Slow your reaction time
• Decrease your awareness
• Impair your judgment (just like drugs or alcohol)

Did you know those most at risk of falling asleep while driving are people who:

• Travel long distances without taking breaks
• Travel at times when they are normally asleep
• Drink alcohol or take medication that increases sleepiness
• Drive alone
• Are frequent travelers and shift workers

DRIVING DROWSY CAN BE JUST AS DEADLY AS DRIVING DRUNK!

Driving Safety - Danger Signals

If you have even ONE of these symptoms, you could be sleepier than you think and should pull off the road and take a nap!

• You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused
• You can’t keep your head up
• You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts
• You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly
• You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating
• You miss signs or drive past your exit
• You feel irritable and restless
• You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips

FACTS:

• Sleep is not something you can decide to do or not to do
• In a study of drivers who fell asleep and crashed, half said they felt only ‘somewhat sleepy’ or ‘not sleepy at all’
• When you are driving, dozing for even a few seconds can be fatal

Remember, when you are not getting the sleep you need, you are at risk…and so are those around you. Inadequate sleep increases our risk for falling asleep at the wheel, accidents on the job, and problems at home.

For more information, you can visit the following websites:
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/
www.cdc.gov/niosh/shift.html
http://www.aaafoundation.org/
For a list of National Sleep Societies, such as the European Sleep Research Society, visit:
www.esrs.org/

Employer's vs. Employee's Lingo:

Employer's Lingo:
"COMPETITIVE SALARY" We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.

"JOIN OUR FAST-PACED TEAM" We have no time to train you.

"CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE" We don't pay enough to expect that you'll dress up; well, a couple of the real daring guys wear earrings.

"MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED" You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.

"SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED" Some time each night and some time each weekend.

"DUTIES WILL VARY" Anyone in the office can boss you around.

"MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL" We have no quality control.

"CAREER-MINDED" Female Applicants must be childless (and remain that way).

"APPLY IN PERSON" If you're old, fat or ugly you'll be told the position has been filled.

"NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE" We've filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal formality.

"SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE" You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

"PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST" You're walking into a company in perpetual chaos.

"REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS" You'll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.

"GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS" Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it.

Employee's Lingo:

"I'M EXTREMELY ADEPT AT ALL MANNER OF OFFICE ORGANIZATION:" I've used Microsoft Office.

"I'M HONEST, HARD-WORKING AND DEPENDABLE" I pilfer office supplies.

"MY PERTINENT WORK EXPERIENCE INCLUDES" I hope you don't ask me about all the McJobs I've had.

"I TAKE PRIDE IN MY WORK" I blame others for my mistakes.

"I'M PERSONABLE" I give lots of unsolicited personal advice to co-workers.

"I'M EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL" I carry a Day-Timer.

"I AM ADAPTABLE" I've changed jobs a lot.

"I AM ON THE GO" I'm never at my desk.

"I'M HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO SUCCEED" The minute I find a better job, I'm outta there.

FAX COMPLAIN TO STARHUB

--------------------------------------------------
facsimile transmittal sheet
--------------------------------------------------
TO: STARHUB: Finance
FAX: +65 6721-5051
FROM: ArchPinky
Date: 11/16/2005
RE: Updating of credit card details

Dear Sir/Madam,
I have been a STARHUB customer since the year 2000. I have been loyally using your service since. Recently, I cancelled my old credit card and tried umpteen times to update STARHUB of my new credit card details. In the last 4 months period, I have encountered inadequacy of service which I had not previously considered possible. Somehow, after so many tries, STARHUB has not been able to change it’s billing to charge my bill to my new credit card. I have even faxed in my credit card details before. So here goes… again…

STARHUB MOBILE NUMBER : 9xxx-xxxx
REGISTERED NAME : ArchPinky of NRIC S9999999J
NEW CREDIT CARD: 4444-5555-6666-7777 EXP 12/2060


Do try make sure STARHUB have my correct credit card details for GIRO deductions. I hate to have to go to the AXS station to pay my STARHUB bill when I have already tried to update you my credit card details for the umpteenth time.


Please let me know you can help,
ArchPinky

My updates

Hey guys! I'm back to write a post. :P
And wow..juz within a mth, seems like u guys have been travelling to China.
Thanks for letting my fingers do the scrolling -- That certainly took a while to the end, viewing those pics. Haa!
Anyways, how's life been for all of u? And what have you guys been up to?
Hmm.. Juz an update about myself. Getting used to work now -- slow pace, relaxed mode. Right now, viewing flats and preparing for my wedding next year. Well, so far i've been spending my weekends viewing flats. For those who have been through this phrase, tell me about it, really. Arrgh.. its not that easy to look for one that you really like.
I need a break soon! Cos' I've been working non stop since the last job, you know. :)
hee.. thats all for now, guys. Lets catch up soon yah. Take care and have a great festive season. Christmas's coming! Ho Ho Ho.. *Smile*

Yiheyuan [颐和园]on foot

Someone commented that looking at the posted pics, my trip to China is so rush rush. So here is a few more leisurely pics...

颐和园 Summer Palace to her highness Empress Dowager

All smiles! Lovely to know smoking is not allowed. Peter Roberts does looks like STING from POLICE

Longevity Rock because the rock resembles 寿星公

Alien Rock

The real face of ALIEN is Dan's face!

Emilie, Trophy, Kevin, YW


Badly exposed picture


Kevin with Trophy




Writing on the floor


Monkey see monkey do...


Playboy and his bodyguards

Hee hee hee.... no way I'm going to climb this bloody building

2 commies poses for pics

Commie going down to the water for a better shot of the Kunming lake

The transitions of smiles from left to right... starting to smile, some teeth showing, growing happy and outright having a blast... we are so phony! This place is dead boring!


My little Thumbalina （Li Lu）dancing on my palm

Hide and seek


Some banner!

Waiting for our marble boat ride

Waited so long that we mutated

getting tired of waiting....

The whole team was there! Most of them were there for the umpteen time!

From left to right: Curly, YW, Dan, Lee Jin, Playboy (Baiyu), Emilie, Li Lu(small head behind Emilie), Jin's wife, Jin's little emperor, who's that last person... can't remember... darn!

Pictorial representation of Yiheyuan on the plate

Dan pretenting to each a quail... think he did not each one... maybe he did... I forgot

3 waiting ladies... waiting...

I climbed to the top of the bloody hill!!!! Well, what I thought was the top, I was greeted with more slopes later.

This is probably the highest point.

The rebuilt lama temple after the British burnt it down in 1860

My artistic attempts... tell me it's not too bad

The bloody steps... now imagine I have to clim down those steps!


Steps does not bother STING and his fans!


Some remake of Jiangnan water streets [江南水乡] for the emperor's amusements.

Overcast day in China

It's an overcast day in China, got a few streets shots around the office during lunch and sharing with you folks...






You can have roasted whole lamp here, mongolian grassland style
Inside a massage palour...
24x7 conveinence store

Wujiang Road Fried Pork Buns [小杨生煎包]写真

We finally had a chance to walk to Wujiang lu （吴江路) to queue up for the famous Yang's pan fried pork buns [小杨生煎包]

Showing off our buns

Stuffing our face

Conquered the pork buns in the backdrop of the back alley. Alas, beautiful Guangzhou mei mei comes at a price
Close-up shot of the buns... drool...

Packing the buns in my luggage to take home to Singapore... ontop of the travel wallet and 10 pack 银翘解毒片