Tuesday, March 14, 2006

When Life is Funny When It Shouldn't Be!

Ok, it is not funny when I see women twice my age ‘jogging’, ‘running’ ‘climbing the hill’ furiously and (it would seem) effortlessly on a stationery bike in a Spinning Class, when I am struggling to continue to keep my legs pumping!

It would look like the only floor space that’s not been rained on by sweat is the radius around my bike! Gosh, 1 hour of spinning is enough to make you lose 3 dinners I’m sure. And moi has to endure it because moi hates the treadmill with a passion. I try and I try, but I can’t sustain the interest in the staid old treadmill when I could be dancing away in Line Dancing, stretching away in Pilates, huffing away in BodyPump or even just plain old working out on the machines……..

I know, I’m running like an old record already with my misadventures in the gym, time to write about something new huh?! Well, before I leave the gym topic, I’ve got two more things to say:

1. Seen a few GOOD LOOKING guys in the gym; but of course way too shy to even really look them in the face!

2. Joke: Conversation trying to introduce a colleague named Jim to my gym,
“So, is Jim with a gym?”
“No, Jim is not with a gym.”
“Oh, is Jim with a Hank then?”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alrighty then, let’s see what else has happened – petrol price has gone up by a dastardly 30 sen, making me have to sacrifice at least 2 pairs of beautiful shoes a month (I’m sure!).

Discovering and lamenting that grocery shopping for one is painful and self-sacrificing. I can’t buy anything that’s too big or comes in too much quantity – waste not, want not! Once, I couldn’t buy bananas because they came in a full comb and I knew for sure I wouldn’t be able to finish the whole thing before the maggoty enemies came along!

Also, I’m buying loaves of bread that I can’t really finish and I’ve not bought eggs in a carton because I’m trying to buy individual ones from the nearby kedai runcit. It’s so sad!

Anyway, can’t really believe but it’s been 7 months since the fateful day when I became single again – it sounds like such a long time but oddly, it doesn’t feel as long. However, thinking back on some episodes that have occurred since then, it makes me wonder how the heck I lasted so long doing what I did.

Adios for now – stay tuned for the next exciting adventure of (Ta! Ta!!! Ta!!!!!!!) Gym Girl!!!

Btw, planning a really exciting event in my life – rather frightening but definitely exciting! Can’t wait!

Friday, February 24, 2006

Working Way Too Hard

Saturday 18 February was a NEW DAY in the life of Errolyn Tan. It was the beginning of the end of the FAT Errolyn on the road to being a slimmer, more toned, more sexy Errolyn!!!

(I think that is the first time I have mentioned my name so many times in one paragraph! – Errolyn ‘Narcissist’ Tan)

I have just joined True Fitness on 11 Feb and was feeling quite guilty for not having endured any exercise classes or experimented with any machines.

So, Saturday, I woke up EARLY and went to Pilates and Line Dancing! Pilates was a bit harder but I cha-chaed my way and swung my bum through Line Dancing with great aplomb! Had a bit of a muscle ache that day and Sunday…..went to another class on Monday. BODYSTEP is described as ‘The ultimate step workout and the wor’ds fastest way to tone butts and thighs. Simple yet effective choreography gives you a high energy athletic cardio blast; simple enough for men and women of all ages and fitness levels”.

What a crock of bullsh*t! 45 minutes into the class I felt like I was going to spin out of control and puke onto my neighbour who was happily bunny bouncing on her step – keeping time and rhythm and finesse!

I thought, “Ok, I think I’m going to need to go to the doctor and get an MC!!!!” However, I warmed down and came to work – feeling a little bit better. That stayed consistent until approximately 9am the next morning when I awoke to reach for my phone (sms came!). Arms burned, chest burned, calves burned, ribs burned – actually scrunched up my nose to sniff out the fire!

So, of course, the day at work was shot – doc gave me muscle relaxants, painkillers and the DAY OFF! Let me tell you something – it’s mighty embarrassing when you have to call your boss and tell them you overdid it at the gym you just joined and even more humiliating when your whole department finds out about it and asks you, concernedly (but tongue in cheek) how you are the next day when you return to work!

But it isn’t all in vain. I am ecstatic that for once, I am feeling so gung-ho about exercise and am still going strong (for now) about classes and exercising.

Saw my personal trainer today for the first time – Daniel, Korean, 5’10”, 180lbs, eyes: good, mouth: good, hair: good, fingers (my personal favourite!): gooood!

Mmmmmmm…..if you need me, I’ll be at the gym!

Friday, February 17, 2006

Errolyn's Song of the Year 2005

The Grammys have come and gone. And they did award Kelly Clarkson's BreakAway for Best Pop Vocal Album but for my very own Song Of The Year......'Because Of You' gets my vote all the way.

From the first time I heard that song, it has captured me - its lyrics so full of meaning and heartache made me relate so much - its chorus is the one that gets to me the most.

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you I am afraid


Of course Kelly is singing about a different experience and I am reliving a different experience....but the fact is that many songs recently have caught my attention - all for one reason. (A little divert - there's another song too by a black female singer who is chastising her lover about a 'friend' who calls him at 3am - but that doesn't quite get my insides twisted up for the same reason) However, Kelly's song coupled with the video just stuck with me and to me is almost parallel with another favourite song of mine recently - 'Written In The Stars' by Elton John, from the musical Aida.

Kelly's song makes me relate to some parts of it but Elton John's music and Tim Rice's lyrics just break my heart. I thought that's me, that's who they are writing about. In both songs, you hear the yearning, the loss, the dream and the pain and the worst thing is you cannot do anything about it.

I can't go into what these songs make me feel (that's just way too personal and difficult to describe) but needless to say they make me cry.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Another thing that makes Errolyn HAPPY!!!!!

I love this phone - I don't know much about it - haven't researched it but I just love the look of it!!!!!!!!!

Introducing the Nokia 7370!!!!!!!!!!!

Gong Hei Fatt Choy!

Hello All,

If you will note, I am writing this 1 day after Chap Goh Mei! Shows you my sense of timing huh? Or maybe shows you my availability for dates with the computer....heheheheeee....finally get a chance today to come home early from work and check email!

Anyways, I get a feeling that Chinese New Year is getting so quiet these days - not much Lion Dance, not much food, not much Angpow......aiya, shouldn't be saying so many 'not much's. But heck, it's true isn't it. The euphoria and excitement that used to accompany this much-anticipated period of celebration of the new year has waned beyond belief. It is even worse considering that my new year celebrations were never very 'lau juak' (read: happening, crazy, noisy) to begin with. The fact that they have gotten more and more quiet is really sad!

But then, maybe as you get older, what's important is the quality of people you do actually get to meet up with and hang out with instead of the running around 35 different houses collecting ang pows - anyway, at my age, it's a bit embarrassing to still be getting ang pows!

Instead I spent Chinese New Year meeting up with my friends who came back from around the world - one friend wasn't around (we seem to always be missing one) but we had fun nonetheless (we missed you though Szups!) We laughed about old times and of course there is the usual lament re men and work. What else is new huh?

I guess we had quite different ideas when we were younger about how our lives and situations would be by the time we hit the big 3-0!!!! Instead 1 friend flew off to New York City, New York and the other 3 sat around a hand-packed pint of Baskin Robbins and finished it in 1 hour! Hehehehehehe, the simple pleasures of life - IS CHOCOLATE BETTER THAN SEX?????

I came back to work so early as well and now it's past Chap Goh Meh and tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I had decided 2 weeks ago, not to accept any invitations to Valentine's Outings since there isn't anybody I really like well enough to go out on a special date with (- so full of weight and meaning and possible misunderstandings). There is one invitation I would accept though - couldn't resist if I tried, if wild horses tried to drag me away.......but that will never come .

I know I still owe a list about what makes Errolyn happy - a short note:

1. Roller coasters
2. Really scary movies
3. Beautiful scenery
4. Cute animals (dogs, roly poly animals)
5. A good joke
6. Good wit
7. Pampering
8. Love
9. A passionate kiss
10. A gentle loving kiss (on the forehead)
11. A ruffle of the hair
12. Massages
13. Great, true friends
14. Coffee
15. Diamonds
16. A fantastic pair of shoes

See, it ain't difficult to make myself happy! :)))))))

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

It isn't the year 2005 anymore......

It’s the new year and there are so many things that are already awaiting my magic touch! 2006 is the Year of the Dog – not so good for my sign (my friends and I are definitely in need of some good time damn it!) but I guess whenever we try really hard to make the best of things, somehow or other things work out better right?

Since the PPSReview is still on hiatus, I thought I’d take a fan’s advice and do my own Recap of 2005! I know it’s late in the coming with it already being February huh, but then better late than never and I did start this post way back on Jan 3!!!! Anyways, just thought it would be a waste to just dump this.

The past year has been very very crazy, my most trying year to date. I had good things happen and bad things happen which sound quite mundane right – heck that happens every year – but the good things were fantastic and the bad things were hellish so I reckon, they deserve a mention!

When your life has pretty much been smooth sailing and you’ve never really had tough times or life problems to deal with (think poverty, starvation, death, critical illness….), then I guess one can get to being 29 without being equipped with the skills to weather crazy events. Thank god for family and friends is all I can say!

This year started off with a bang – I was promoted to a managerial position, one I had to apply for and write a paper for and get interviewed for….my bad point is that I keep obsessing about my areas of development instead of seeing the good things about myself and my efforts, but this time around, somewhere in the first quarter of the year, I thought that hey! I actually did this on my own; I worked hard, proved myself and people out there actually thought I was good enough to be promoted! So, that was one good thing……then of course, I discovered I wasn’t very happy, sometimes it feels like I can do more productive things with my life than worry about people being on MC or playing truant……and that was quite a big problem which dogged me throughout the year. No joke man!

I had mood swings worse than a menopausal woman and probably irritated the heck out of my best colleague and close friends with my whining and groaning and crying!

Professionally I wasn’t happy, but personally I was …. then I wasn’t. And that was a double/triple/quadruple whammy. But I guess in the end, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Errolyn’s Resolution this New Year is : To be happy and to do anything in my power to ensure that state perpetuates.

Update as of 8 Feb to Errolyn’s Resolution – 80% kept but sometimes there is an attack of the hormones where Errolyn breaks down. Seems to be a contagious thing within Errolyn’s Circle of Friends. Hahahahahahaha, good to know somebody understands and can relate.


To be Continued: What Makes Errolyn Happy

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Changes!!!

Dear All,

I've managed to get everything together. From now on, Errolyn's Ten Cents for Your Thoughts on www.errolyn.com will instead be published on http://errolyn.blogspot.com.

Thanks for your patronage and please spread the word around.

Death Doesn't Become Him....

Something awful happened at the office yesterday. A colleague paid for going to work with his life.

I didn't know him very well but after his death, everybody has a snippet of information or story about him. He was on the way to work and got hit by a lorry which then ran over his head. Busloads of fellow colleagues came by the cursed stretch of road but nobody had any idea that it was someone they worked with everyday. They said his head was covered with newspapers but his body was there for all to see and the unlucky driver of the lorry was actually trying to hide his body and motorbike so he could escape! The driver of the lorry is now in hospital.....or so they say.

Everybody's days are numbered. It is only us foolish humans who do not realise this and continue to argue, insult, cheat, lie and hate with reckless abandon. I have pretty much made it a habit now to tell the people important to me that they are......sometimes though, not enough with my family.....weird how we can tell boyfriends and girlfriends that "I Love You" 15 times a day but we can't do the same for family. Only when tragedy befalls, do people go home and 'cerita' about it and lament "Aiyo, life is short....We should savour and cherish each other...." but then promptly forget it later that night when hubby forgets to take the trash out.....

I have done this many times myself, but I feel that as I have gotten older and experienced more of life, I do see things differently. I tell people all the time that LIFE IS SHORT - don't make yourself suffer too much now for tomorrow - there may not be a tomorrow and you would have wasted so much time that could have been spent happy with the people who are important to you!

Nobody listens to me though.

I can't be the only one who feels this way or realises how short life is right? In which case, we should see/feel/hear a scurry of people coming to us to ask for our friendship and forgiveness and love and time - just to spend a lazy afternoon appreciating each other. And vice versa.

It's not a difficult thing to do, you just have to want to do it enough to change your mindset and lifestyle! Do it now because you know, there may not that next hour, or tomorrow.....

Take care, don't speed and love yourself and those important to you.

My thoughts and love to Mum, Dad, Janice, Lisa, Thing May, Melinda, Szu Ping, Liz, D.
Hi!!!!!!!!!

It's the beginning of newer, better and bigger things! This is a test run of a blog I set up for myself, sorry if I've got the jargon wrong but....what the heck, life isn't about getting everything right eh? Sometimes mistakes in life lead you down the most wondrous of roads!

So, anyway, I've still got the previous archives from my Ten Cents for Your Thoughts which used to be on www.errolyn.com (which as some of you know is going to be defunct at the end of Jan 06)....but maybe someday I'll have the time to transfer archives over to this new blog so everyone can have a read.......need to learn how to do that first.

Anyhoo, I hope you guys continue to enjoy this new blog - I like to think of it as my personal avenue to rant and rave, I will not apologise for my thoughts or opinions because they are mine and I can do whatever I want with them. What good is having an outlet but having to censor and police it eh? I won't go thoroughly overboard though because in the first place I do not support prejudice, racism, sexism, and whatever other -isms there are out there but sometimes I kinda lapse into my alter-ego who does sometimes practise these biases......But IT'S NOT ME!!!! :)

Seriously though, as I was saying, I find myself getting more honest and unafraid to voice my thoughts as I get older, so you may at times find some personal and potentially insulting/controversial remarks which I will publish because.....!

Thanks for reading and for those of you who will comment me in positive and not so positive ways, I will try to learn and see the good in all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May this year be better than the last - which shouldn't be difficult and is NOT a lot to ask!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Well, all good things must come to an end - www.errolyn.com is no more.

I shall not be renewing my domain name, it hurts me to let it go but sometimes things need to be done ya. And anyway, I will be publishing my blog still via http://errolyn.blogspot.com.

At least, that's what I am trying to do. But I think I have a couple of things more to learn about it, so til then.......

www.errolyn.com will be no more as of 24 Jan 06 so please spread the word around.

Thanks and it's been great writing this website for the past 2 years. I do sincerely hope that you will still read about me and my misadventures at 10 Cents for Your Thoughts - Chap 2. (http://errolyn.blogspot.com.)

Adios Muchacos and Mucho Amour!
(am I just screwing up every language on Earth?!!)