Midweek Mischief

I grabbed a few drinks after work last night — two tall bottles of Tiger Beer — and was irritated to find that the house keys were not working no matter how hard I tried to turn them in all possible directions.  Add to that the surprise that I got when I realized it was a different apartment I was trying to enter, luckily nobody was awake to notice else I would’ve been thrown out out of the apartment building for trespassing.  You know Singaporeans, they’re constantly anxious.

I skipped work today.  Bouts of headache from the many consecutive late nights in the office and I’m still a little bit pissed of losing my precious Sunday.  You never get over such tragic loss, unless you compensate.  I’m a highly responsible guy at work, but it fucking freaks freaks freaks me out when it eats into my “me” time.  It’s bad enough that I go home at 11 fucking PM almost everyday, and it’s just cruel hafto go to work on weekends.

Earlier this afternoon I went out for some grocery shopping: liquid detergent, toilet paper, OJ, fruits, peanuts, eggs, milk.  Had roasted chicken rice and soup for lunch, took a cab back to the apartment and started doing my laundry.

Finally finished reading Kostova’s debut novel, thinking of what to read next.  Maybe “Strain” by Guillermo del Torro, and I’m tempted to visit Kinokuniya tonight.  And a brief sidetrip to the Muji store in Ion.  I’m spending too much again!

Sitting and growing a big stomach, that’s what I’m doing here in the office at this very moment, on a Sunday afternoon, polishing the work and finishing the deck to be uploaded to London this afternoon.

I’m hoping there’s still a little bit of time left for me today to watch a movie or do whatever weekend-ish thing there is to do.

Did some swimming in the apartment today and bought one of those cute Japanese floor chairs from Muji, a separate soft back cushion and a new Magic mouse from Orchard Central’s Apple store.  I’m spending so much again!!!  But I guess this is my way of compensating for the lost precious weekend fun, which is not good for my overall finances at all.

Must. save.  money.

I have this perpetual urge to acquire things, a selfish desire to have a lot of things for myself.  Which is healthy if it’s of the right amounts but most of the time it reaches uncontrollable levels that I end up getting stuff that I don’t really need, or unplanned trips — and the same sickness applies to my attitude with, well, dates in the past.  Couldn’t quite figure out what triggers it, maybe a deep-seated feeling of deprivation.  Maybe.  Nevertheless, I acknowledge the fact that it aint healthy and and.

And it’s quite obviously related to how I always crave for novelty.  And the perpetual and fleeting excitement it brings.  To cute an example concerning my attitude towards moisturizers and other products:  Afflicted with the inability to finish a single bottle, as everytime I spot a visually appealing packaging, it will never escape my conquest for acquisition. For sure.  A perpetual need to look for something that will pique one’s interest, to prevent stagnation – the irresistible romance with novelty.   Hobbies, for example. A few months back I found myself shopping for canvases and paintbrushes and oil and paint and colored pencils, planning to do some serious painting. After a week, I gave up—it was getting to messy so I joined a video-making competition, for which I got a minor award but soon after that I was traveling with camera, enjoying photography and photo-editing. I planned on purchasing, installing and learning Photoshop but I’m not motivated to do it at present. There are about five blogs floating in the net, all registered to my name – all unfinished, unconcluded, left hanging.
Back in college I took up business administration and accountancy, dropped the accountancy bit and proceeded with business management alone. I got into law school but quit as soon as I got a call from TBWA Manila.

I shall not go mentioning a lot of other things. And needless to say, relationships that never enjoyed my sustained attention.

A severe case of ADHD, if you want a categorical term for it.

I may not be certain about my choices, but I am about one thing: there will always be choices. Countless. That’s why I do not believe people when they say they got no choice.

Its bullshit.

Ranting, Thursday Edition.

It’s almost 1am, and i’m still in the office.  Still working on the same god-damned Global presentation.  Anyway, Hwee – the jolly Singaporean ECD brought food for all of us, and everyone was happy for a while, feeling the team spirit in the good company of greasy chicken satay, grilled chicken wings with calamansi, chinese noodles, some Singaporean seafood omelet.  And ice-cold Coke.

Food in Singapore is dirt-cheap.  Even cheaper than Bangkok’s and Hong Kong’s.  And it’s damn good too, owing its wide variety to a fascinating multicultural mix of Indian, Chinese, Malay influence.  And now Pinoys are making their mark here, with the recent Pinoy population boom–which may be one of the reasons why it’s so hard to get Permanent Residency status in here.

It’s interesting to note the wide diversity of races involved in the work we churn out:  our Global guy is Indian, our boss in Asia is British, the CSD is Malaysian, my boss is Pinoy, the ACs are Singaporean and Indonesian and the Planner is Indian.   We work with all the other offices in Asia of course — India, Vietnam, Pakistan — for Clients who are French, Australian, Vietnamese, Thai — and there are a lot of Pinoys.

So back to food.  Yeah, that’s why it’s so easy to get fat in Singapore, with a wide selection of food to munch on, the affordable prices and the ubiquitous convenience that everyone drinks in vast quantities like water from tap–you can practically avoid walking!

I haven’t been sleeping well, not been spending enough time in the new house.  My socks are still all over the floor, i haven’t had the chance to get that nice bean bag from Muji and a carpet from Ikea.  And that neat little thing – this classy glass magazine holder from Muji, which I don’t really need but it looks good, so.

It looks like I will  be able to go home in a bit, the Art DIrector has gone home already so there’s nothing much that can be done anymore.

On to more revisions tomorrow.

Fucking shit, on a Friday night!

And I’m supposed to go to work on Saturday.

Ranting, Wednesday Edition.

I want to go home now.  Tired and hungry, feeling frustrated.  The creative work has undergone a million revisions and it is still being revised now, in time for a late concall with London tonight.  Tomorrow I’m sscheduled to edit a video for the India presentation and I’m jazzing up the global deck, in time for a Friday upload.  Plus an online prezo with the French Client.

I terribly miss gym, and i’m feeling a bit dizzy.  Think i’m falling sick actually, but I guess this is one of those much-dreaded hellweeks when you.  just.  can’t.  fall.  sick.

I think all this work is making me age fast, I’m getting fatter and uglier each day.  Makes me want to splurge in the skin clinic this weekend.  Which I probably will.  There’s more to life you know — my beloved aphorism nowadays — so yes, I won’t let my job uglify me.

In any case, I’m still figuring out a way how I can escape all this — to be in a better place with respect for work-life balance without sacrificing good pay.  Which is a common sentiment shared my all employees, obviously.

I remember feeling so excited when I was to leave Manila to live in Bangkok for this regional post, a fresh start offered on a silver platter.  Now the silver platter remains — I aint really craving for gold — but I think it’s just too heavy now and I wouldn’t settle for anything else like aluminum or plastic.

And sometimes it’s frustrating when your copywriter can’t even get the copy right.  And you even have to correct the grammar — he’s a regional copywriter for christ’s sake — but he’s my friend so I try to exert extra help but he gets really sensitive about his grammar, which is terrible.  Mine’s not perfect either but that’s his job right?  To be grammar king and whatever.

And there is no eye candy in the office.

I have not slept well last night, the first night in the new apartment.  Not used to the excessive space.  Yeah, I’d consider myself agoraphobic– i very much prefer tight enclosed enclaves over overwhelming space.

Ended up sleeping at 2AM and waking up at 8AM – thereby missing gym and swimming.  Also wasted a lot of time waiting for the bus, and locating the bus station prior to that.

Weird, earlier this evening on my way home I was walking along the narrow, dark alleyways leading to the apartment when flashes of a KL clubbing night started flooding my mind.  And parts of it looked like Bangkok even.  Seems like the Singapore obsession for structure and routine has not deeply saturated the place.

Sunday night and I’m feeling a bit tired, pooped out from all the walking in Chinatown — doing the last-minute turnover ceremonies with our former landlord.  It feels different, being alone in a new room, in a new house, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  I think something’s wrong with room air conditioning though.

There is a very high chance that I will get lost tomorrow morning, trying to figure out ho to get to the office.  Good thing Singapore has the most efficient cab-ordering system in this part of the world.

Discipline is something that I have become so poor with lately, and I am so very much disgusted of my overly indulgent self.  I will try very hard to wake up tomorrow for a brief session of weight-lifting and a swim.

Pilgrimage to Singapore’s red light district

Tiring day.  Exhausted from all the moving and the walking and weekend pigging out.

My bed is arriving tomorrow, spent a lot of money paying the movers, the cleaners, advanced deposits and stuff.  So we are gonna be staying in this condo in Geylang, Singapore’s prostitution capital.  A bit far from the business hub of the city–about seven train stations away from the central station,  30 minutes of total travel time going to the office.  It’s got his huge pool and the condominium compound looks quite decent, feels more like a resort actually.  Plus the security system is quite impressive. Was surprised to meet this Indian security guard who can speak fluent Taglalog–a stout, almost black skinned man in his early 40s with a stern demeanor inongruously paired with a goofy smile; turns out he’s got a FIlipina wife.

Oh, and it’s filled with Filipinos.  Now I got this funny feeling that I got to be extra wary when there are a lot of Pinoys around me — which defeats common logic, since you’d expect people to be a lot more comfortable and feeling at-home  when surrounded by people of the same race and origin — but I guess that’s the weird thing about Filipinos.  I know so much has already been said about that bayanihan and Pinoy brotherhood crap but it freaks me out. 

Which reminds me that the Singaorean government is also wary of the fact that ethnic groups in Singapore are forming “ethnic communities,” forming almost-exclusive communities according to race and/or nationality — which, according to a recently published newspaper article, is against the country’s drive for ethnic diversity.  So yes, I think the government will be doing something very very soon about this. 

It’s a quiet and prety laid back area, this Geylang place.  Reminds me of KL actually.  People are always busy — as usual (Singaporeans will be Singaoreans) — but it’s not as crowded as Chinatown and there’s just a lot of open space.

I’m sleepy.

Hong Kong tram party, 2010

Today, morning was spent packing but the challenge that proved to be most onerous was disassembling the Ikea bed.  Luckily I was able to get someone online to move it for only 50 S$.

Took a leave for today, so I got plenty of time.  Went to the gym for weights and swimming, and now back at home to get some rest.  Maybe a few drinks tonight, and more packing.

i want my iPad.

Looking forward to fixing the new place.  it’s got a fantastic pool, and i’m starting to love swimming.

it was a gift, that moment, just a few hours ago:  alone by the outdoor gym pool, blessed with perfect weather for swimming and a fantastic view of the city.

what’s up in Facebook?  people posting about J.D. Salinger’s death.  More raves about the iPad.  the radiant joy brought about by the weekend.  Help for Haiti.  The Philippine presidential elections and a few articles about Hillary Clinton and Steve Jobs.

Oh, and Lady Gaga videos.

The iPad is causing substantial hype, everyone can see.  it’s amazing how Apple can make you badly want something, causing you to salivate and act on an previously unarticulated need.  Simply put, it makes you realize you actually need something — and there you go:  the moment you get wind of the latest product launch or innovation, you tell yourself “aha, i needed that…i’ve been waiting for something like that.”  funny thing is, you never really knew.  until Apple hits you with it, in your face.

and yes, i am getting it.  at an amazing price — 700 SGD — much cheaper than the cameras that i have been buying.

Look outside.

It’s fucking cold in here, this conference room.  It’s like an aquarium actually, a slightly elevated room enclosed by transparent glass panels, where everyone from the lobby can see all the Powerpoint presentations flashed on the white screen and all the bored participants of a concall.

I’m waiting for a our Indian to dial-in.  Now I’m just randomly reminded of something I did while I was in a meeting about two days ago.  Back  in the Client’s office, something was being discussed in a typical nonconclusive manner when I just happened to look outside, settling my gaze into a row of buildings which to me served as a brief reminder that there is so much out there, a lot of other possibilities–that there is more to the tiny confines of that drab meeting room, more to life than all the deadlines and meetings.  Hah, isn’t it a bit too obvious — that I’m finding a way to be free from all this corporate shit.

When things get so complicated and unbearable, I will do just that:  look outside.  And remind myself how big the world is.  How much more possibilities are waiting.