Guide to effective socialising

I think I need a book on this - "How to socialise effectively" such that you will leave a positive lasting impression on people. Haha. Due to go to HK next Sun for a training trip with my sales managers and my boss. No exact details of the trip as yet, only flight date, time and accomodation. As usual, information isn't forthcoming.

Anyway, I am suddenly gripped by fear. Fear of what would happen in HK, fear of meeting my overseas colleagues if they are also there for the software training. Fear because I DO NOT know anyone very well there! Fear because most of the managers go on business trips often and they know each other quite well. No one would talk to a small fry like me. I feel like an extra going on this trip but then again, not many people get opportunities to go overseas for business trips unless you are in sales or you are a high flyer? Whatever.

I am just super duper fearful. To make things worse, my colleague (whom I fell out with for no rhyme or reason) is going along! I cannot stand her superficialness and the hot and cold treatment she gives me. Please, please, do not let me share a room with her. What am I going to do during breakfast, lunch and dinner or even post dinner drinks if the training is at the hotel with other offices? Gosh. I may have to talk to her and I dread the ice wall she puts up and then pretend to be so friendly to another person. Dumb.

Also facing your boss for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 4 days is not a situation I look forward to in this company. My boss will talk to other bosses, or my managers will talk to other managers. Hmm... Who will I talk to? Should I just eat my food quietly and excuse myself to my hotel room for a rest? Hmmm... Of course, it was different in my previous company as the boss would make effort to get to know the staff and interact with them, making you feel valued. That was good. I mean I feel kind of valued by my current boss but she's not as gung-ho and open.

If those colleagues are going for post dinner drinks at Lan Kwai Fong, I hope I do not have to go along. One, I cannot hold my liquor. Two, I dont really like those places, don't ask me why, I just don't like. Three, I don't know how to interact with them! I think I shall just focus on shopping at Nathan Road and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Better pray hard everything goes smoothly and everyone is friendly and I will make effort to interact cautiously.

My eye got infected...argh

It's barely 10 over days into January and I got an eye infection! Argh. Woke up on Thursday morning with a swollen right eyelid (like a huge pimple) and decided I should see a doctor and not go to work. Got myself 2 days MC. Haha. Anyway my right eye was itching, tearing and had "dirt" coming out at times. I looked like I had just been punched in the right eye by someone.

Sigh. I was quite upset with the eye infection but guess I had it coming. Have been quite lazy with my contact lenses cleaning recently and was incessantly rubbing my eyes. Rubbing my eyes when I am tired has become a habit for me, especially when I work at my computer. I will try hard to stop myself from rubbing my eyes next time. Now I have to go without contact lenses for 2 weeks as a precaution by the doctor. Sigh, sigh, sighz. The discomfort and inconvenience of an eye infection is too much to pay!

Online shopping on Strawberrynet.com

I have switched to the "Dermalogica" brand of products recently and was recommended some products by the facial salon which would help me in my skincare regime. However, I did not buy from the retailers as it was marked up so high, like at least $20 more! This brand is quite expensive already and I do not want to pay extra for it if I can get it for less elsewhere. Actually Dermalogica's pricing is comparable to H2O+ products and both just as good.

Thank goodness I got to know of strawberrynet.com which offers free shipping worldwide for online purchases of many skincare, cosmetics and perfume products. I was quite apprehensive buying online for the first time but decided to give it a try. Anyway, I am pleased to say that I am surprised by the service efficacy - I ordered the products on Sunday and got it delivered by registered mail by Thursday that week! I was expecting it to take 2-3 weeks actually. What a pleasant surprise! Another good thing was that the products came nicely wrapped up (I felt like I was opening a present) amidst styrofoam padding in a box tied with purple ribbon. I was expecting a normal ugly parcel.

All in all, I am very pleased that it took only 4 days for my goods to arrive and I saved about $50!

2006 to 2007

Christmas came and went. New Year came and went. Nothing eventful, just watched the fireworks up close and personal on NYE but was kind of tired. The physical tiredness irked me as it was the festive season and I was supposed to be bubbling with fun and anticipation and enjoying myself, planning where to go, what to eat. Sad to say, for the whole of December, I was so so so so busy at work, I did not have time to think about anything. No mood even. Very strange as December should be a lull period. Sigh.

Into year 2007, I still have this feeling that I have not rested enough. Argh. I am trying not to lag behind my work as one of my resolutions 2007 is to be ahead of things and be careful, detailed at work. I tend to get careless and had some reprimands from overseas colleagues in 2006. Not pleasant. Can't be helped. Good learning points but I want to improve and I want to do well!

Resolution 2 is to be more sociable. I know I have become moodier and more introverted. Need to be more enthusiastic about life, events and things. Haha.

Resolution 3 is to learn how to invest smartly and make more money without working too hard for it. Invest, invest, invest. Time, situation and place must be right. No choice. Got to support my parents, pay for the house, utilities, my physician bills, transport, clothes, savings, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes this burden seems so heavy.

Resolution 4 - lose weight, exercise and be healthy. Back pain, go away. Gastric, under control but please do not happen again. God, please bless me with good health! I must tell myself to push myself more during exercising as I seemed to have settled into a comfortable workout. My muscles must feel worked out after each session - that's my goal!

Resolution 5 - Trying to re-discover my passion for music in guitar and piano. Gave up piano since I was 12 and quite a waste I felt. When can I start to pick it up again? Will I have the discipline to see it through?

Resolution 6 - to read more and more. I must and will arm myself with a book on the train everyday instead of waiting for the miserable elusive TODAY paper or make sense of WoBao. I must, I must, I must. By the way, I read this research study in SHAPE magazine that reading stimulates your mind and makes your brain work - guess it can prevent dementia or senile-ness!

Resolution 7??? Resolution 8??? Resolution 9??