there is drama abrewing...
pure drama.

let me get through tomorrow and i'll promise a bitchfest soon.
enough said.

outs...

Cherlosphy's Guide To Words

Imagination [n]

Pronunciation: i`maju'neyshun

Defined as the wonderful freedom to slap your face, snort when you speak, scream when you come within 1km of me and punch you blue and black when you irritate me by acting smart.

All without retribution or legal action.

Synonyms : Imagery, vision, imaginativeness, Pure bliss, Cher-happiness

Antonyms : REALITY

16

It’s been 16 days since I last had a drag on a cigarette.

Goodbye my fragrant Texas Five, ol buddy.

Without a doubt, the road has been hard. There were many instances where I almost caved in to the pressure. It seems like whenever I want to quit, the whole world just happens to become smokers and somehow, my face becomes a magnet for smoke.

The first few days were pure hell.

The withdrawal period made my lungs burn with crave. I could not inhale deep enough to sustain my breathing. Sometimes, it got to the point where I’d end up hyperventilating. If I didn’t roll on the floor afterwards, I’d stuff myself with food in an effort to distract myself.

Many a polar chicken pies tragically perished this way.

Whenever I caught a whiff of smoke from anywhere, I’d suck it deep into my lungs; Desperately trying to retain the distinctively familiar aroma for as long as I could. Almost, just almost, tasting it as I imagined it swirled around my tongue.

Just like old times.

Temptation (like irritating specimens) was rampent. And it seems God’s making sure I put in a lot more effort.

I spotted a cheap-slut-of-a-cig-butt like a siren, in the ashtray, beckoning me to relight it. And packs of cigs popped out from hell-knows-where. Friends automatically whipped out their ciggies for a little communal sharing. I suddenly found packs of cigs all ove the house.

I became the PSA of Ciggies (read : port of call). I swear they were all over the place.

I had to claw myself away.

And it’s funny to go through the cravings and withdrawals, acknowledging my body and mind’s dependence on a rolled up stick of dried leaves. I didn’t get the sniffles. Instead, I got the ATTITUDE and a flurry of headaches.

Pure wall banging headaches.

Bundled with the sudden increase of complex cases to the ward. Hello, whoever said my ‘kusu island’ was uber slack should look at the pages of changes I had to plough through, a jungle of dressings and a 5 second interval call bell fest we’ve been experiencing since the start of the year.

By the time the patients come over to us, we know full well that the patients have outlived the main building's tolerance.

Step down care my foot!

And as if that wasn’t enough, I got my menses. Coupled with free bloating and the general upheaval of hormones. With such terrors, I pretty much hope this will be the last time I need to put myself through this shit.

It’s getting better with the passing days though. Either that or I'm getting accustomed to the chronic pain. Haha. Slaps forehead.

I’m still a passive smoker when my brother gets back. He stacks the cartons of ciggies like Lego blocks to taunt me. “We’ve got stock.” He’d say.

I swear the erection of my middle finger is a knee-jerk reflex. Absolutely nothing to do with my pure, conscious mind. *bats eyelids while still waving finger in question*

I try my best to stay out of the way. These few days has led me to satiate the hand-to-mouth fixation with food. Sometimes, I end up polishing off packs and packs of biscuits, cuttlefish, potato chips etc. I’m starting to recognize the signs and I’m adapting by substituting the junk food with water instead.

I can tell you frankly. It has been tough. I seriously hope this time, I can last. I'm getting too old to go through this drama again.

If pictures say a thousand words, then please allow these to take you down a journey...

I hate this day.

They said we needed the space. They said we need a new building.
We had to evolve. We had to keep up with the times.

First, they took away our green uniforms. Now, they're taking away another thing so dear to me. My fave haunt - Housemen Canteen. They have taken everything they can. I don't understand how we can erase a part of our lives so easily.

This date marks the official demise of Housemen Canteen.

You will be loved...

They tried to cover up my pain with colorful drawings. Thinking perhaps a pretty shell could hide the horifics that would follow. All they managed to do was cause more heartache.

This same quaint building, with it's distinct arched roof and tinted windows; Crammed with a mashup of people from all walks of life.

It didn't matter if you were the CEO or the average Joe. You still had to queue for your food, use the same types of chairs, eat off the same plates. Every man was equal here. That was the beauty of being in Housemen.

I have walked through these same doors numerous times. Drawn like a moth to a flame, by the likes of good food and cheap prices. This place has been feeding me from the start of my nursing career - an essential nutrient for my nursing life.

I've even bumped into many old friends here, exchanging gossips, drooled over crushes and eye candy.

Forgive Kristabel in the picture. She just wants the attention. Wahahaa...



The sights of my fave drinks stall; with my greatest fling, iced milo in the distance. Oh, how much i adore that beautiful molten liquid love!!


And how can I leave out the mixed rice stall.

Some believe that if you eat someone's food long enough, you'll end up looking like them. Like when you get adopted, you end up looking like your adpoted parents. So i'm betting i resemble the owners of this stall cause I eat their food every so often.

Although Kristabel insists i'm flirting with the uncle. She's just jealous he LOVES me.

Check out the stuff they sell - Pure home-styled finger licking goodness. I'm salivating already.

I'm not the only one feeling the loss of a part of the hospital's history.

Many people have left their mark, doodling their feelings on the walls, sharing their relationship with this little nondescipt little building.

Messages left for a friend. A last goodbye.

I couldn't resist leaving my mark either.

The CEO of The International Keep Cheryl Happy Foundation wishes all a Happy Chinese New Year.

It's been a good year for me. Cheers.

Of Up(dates) & Downs

Wednesday was a busy day, that in the end, stretched longer then an average working day. Little wonder why I’m down with a temp at the moment. And on my sacred AL week to boot!

Kristabel, I'm sorry i couldn't make it today.

Leaving the house looking like a hobo is so unglam. And you know what a glamor mama I am. Hohoho... What rubbish! It just isn't safe for me to roam the street intoxicated by a piriton, anarax and zyrtec cocktail.

Nonetheless, I have get-this… 23 days of PAID LEAVE this year. And that’s not inclusive of the public holidays and off days.

Yeah, I’m totally bragging. Heeheeheee….

For starters, I met up with Asyik to catch some movies. He looked the same, except for more hair (on the head, hold the reigns on your imagination).

Initially, we had planned for it to be a larger party (besides the both of us) and at a different locale (read : M’sia), cause we thought a change of environment would inject some freshness in our monotonous city life.

We wound up in Orchard. Of all places. *slaps forehead*

We began the morning by watching Le Grand Chef at PS. I so love the movie!! Do I need to emphasize how good looking the male protoganist is?! It's such a heartwarming tale, peppered with lovely side plots, beautiful backgrounds and people that weave together so wonderfully.

And yes sir..! I’m in the midst of a Korean phase. I NEED to visit Korea. I need to see if all the people have skins like the actors. And perhaps scratch their eyeballs out of their smooth, glowing skin, consumed with wild jealous rage.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. No lah, I’m just kidding.

After which, we ran down to Cineleisure to catch The House. I am such a Horror Flick fanatic. I felt the storyline was a little dated and confusing. Even the graphics were poorly made. However, the lead actress looks uncannily like an NYP classmate. You have to see to believe. On the whole, I wouldn't recommend the show.

Also, we were accompanied by irritating specimens that laughed when nothing was funny and oooo-ed and ahhh-ed throughout the movie. I was so ready to pull their hair from the roots. And let's just say the hair would not be public. I swear I had to meditate through the movie so just I could leave without being handcuffed by armored policemen, yanking me away with my hands still tangled up in the turfs.

Imagination overdrive: Yanks Yanks Yanks. Stop.

We also had lunch at some steakhouse over at Cineleisure. I didn’t feel like eating beef after watching Le Grand Chef – you’ll understand what I mean if you’d seen the movie. The food was ok, nothing spectacular though. Set lunch with a main course, soup and drink was only $7.90.

Next, we met up with Kristabel and headed to Chinatown to meet up with Chin Fang and Leni. It was good to meet all of them after so long. There was so much overdue catching up to do.

Leni remains her normal waif self. Chin Fang looked happy, updating us regarding her new job at the Subcourt and of all the eye candy available there. We thronged the streets of Chinatown, munching on fresh Bak Kuah from Bee Cheng Hiang.

Absorbing the festive sights, sounds and smells.

Finally winding down only at Food Street for dinner. We had so much, the entire table was overflowing with plates of food. From cereal prawns to sambal stingray, Da Dong’s Har Gow, sambal kang kong and sotong combo, and washing it all down with the famous mango and pomelo iced dessert. Little else tops good food with great company!

I must include pictures of my binge fests next time!

Oh yeah, after dinner we also went to explore Pearl Centre. Asyik even brought us to Dirty Old Men central (read : Yangtze Cinema). It was such an eye opener. I was expecting to bump into Mokie there.. You know how frequently she visits Yangtze!! No lah... *pats kind and beautiful Mokie*. Continue to feed me ok?!

The men there looked more sex crazed then roaches in heat. Disgusting.

***************************************

Today, we’re also saying goodbye to Ross’s best friend who passed away peacefully the day before. I’ve not seen Ross this sad for a long time.

You may have seen it on the news a couple of days before. The world knew him as a Malaysian composer. Ross knew him as his best friend. It IS a friendship that spanned more than 20 years. Loloq is survived by his wife and children.

Rest in peace my friend.

True friendship transcends borders, changing the course of our lives in unimaginable ways. I've met mine. I hope you meet yours too.