Three dance classes over two days an achy girl make.

Why on earth would a dance instructor's idea of a warm-up include 90 sit-ups?!

Men are like shoes.

I feel very Carrie Bradshaw-esque writing this, and knowing Sex and the City, she probably wrote something similar to this once upon a time.

But, I haven't seen that episode yet, and thus can positively state that I am not in any way attempting to plagiarise the show.

Anyway, men are like shoes.

Some are incredibly beautiful and make you feel like you look a million bucks, but after some time, you'll realise you're in a heck of a lot of pain and the heels are killing your back.

Others, on the other hand, are very comfortable, but don't go at all with the rest of your life. After all, you're a high-flying, classy sophisticate, and sneakers simply do not go with Diane von Furstenberg dresses.

And I guess I would write more had I the intellectual capacity and more importantly, the determination and discipline to work this analogy out all the way to the end, but I really just want to get to my punchline.

At the end of the day, no matter how beautiful the shoe looks, or how comfortable it feels, you just feel so much better, having taken them off and tossed them to one side.

Can you tell it's been one of those men-hating days?

It's good to know that although I'll be missing out on a DJ I keep meaning to catch while I'm up in Hong Kong attending a friend's wedding next weekend, it'll be more than made up with the following weekend, with DJ Yoda coming in for Flava's 5th anniversary at Zouk.

DJ Yoda, one of Q Magazine's Top 10 DJs to see before you die a couple of years back, is a hip hop turntabulist. Although house music tends to rock my world a lot more, I still like going to see good DJs, regardless of the genre they spin. Not to mention the fact that of all the Star Wars characters, Jedi Master Yoda has always been my favourite. Heh. Completely irrelevant, I know, but I'm a girl who needs very little excuse to party. And after returning from ultra-expensive Hong Kong where it costs HK$300 (S$60) just to see Bob Sinclar, I'll be more than happy to return to my abode where I don't have to buy to get in, and more importantly, the drinks aren't that expensive either.

A little tip I learnt from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; apparently, when right-handed people lie, their eyes, when viewed from the front, look to the left, which is what usually occurs during the process of creating. On the other hand, the act of remembering would usually result in the person looking to the right.

References:
How to detect lies
Eye Direction and Lying

Dating Strengths	Dating Weaknesses
1. Sense of Humor - 71.4% 2. Financial Situation - 69.2% 3. Spirituality - 69.2% 4. Open-Mindedness - 63.6% 5. Flirtiness - 62.5%	1. Vanity - 58.3% 2. Temper - 50% 3. Lack of Essentials - 50%

Dating Strengths Explained
Sense of Humor - Guys are attracted to people with a good sense of humor. Be sure to put yours on display! Financial Situation - You've got your financial situation under control, which is a very desirable quality. Be careful to avoid guys who are only interested in your money. Spirituality - Your spiritual side brings you peace and balance, and keeps you grounded. This is attractive, as you can help reinforce this quality in other people. Open-Mindedness - You are open to trying new things and entertaining new ideas, and this widens your pool of available guys. Flirtiness - Flirting is a good way to break the ice, and you are a pro at it. Being flirtatious will open up many dating opportunities.
Dating Weaknesses Explained
Vanity - Learn to put a lower priority on looks. Appearance is, of course, important, but vanity is undesireable. The only people you will attract are the superficial. Temper - You need to work on controlling your temper. Don't let your anger get the best of you. A calm and rational persona is important when dating. Lack of Essentials - Dating is difficult for you because you lack certain key things, which may include private space, a car, money, or a nice wardrobe. Work toward obtaining these essentials!
Take This Dating Quiz

I didn't use to be such a make-up fiend until I started working. Prior to that, I, like many other girls, only wore make-up when going clubbing, fully aware that in the darkness of the club, and with the inevitable sweating that accompanied dancing for more than 15 minutes, all of our make-up magic would go to waste.

However, with the late hours, and the need to attempt not to look as if I'm terminally exhausted (it may speak for my dedication, but doesn't work too much in favour of my promotion prospects), I spend about ten to fifteen minutes every morning putting on make-up to make myself look more human.

And like most other make-up using females, I'm constantly on the lookout for something better... especially if it's a concealer. I swear that nothing I've used manages to disguise the dark circles and I would pay a lot for an eye cream that actually does what it says and a concealer that well, conceals, in the meantime.

So it was with great pleasure that I noticed that Smashbox is coming up with O-Glow, an intuitive blush. It doesn't look too expensive at US$26 and the reviews seem pretty positive so far. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the Sephora counter at the DFS store in Singapore stocks that.

On another note, Apothecary + Co. at the basement in Raffles City is a pretty nifty new shop which stocks skincare and beauty products from cult brands such as Pixi. The only bad thing is, if it's cult, you know it ain't gonna be cheap... which makes what I purchased from there such a neat find. As far as I know, Apothecary + Co. is the only store in Singapore which sells Carmex lip balm. I'm allergic to most lip balms, with the exception of Vaseline's Lip Therapy, which isn't available in Singapore, so Carmex, which works wonders on dry lips incredibly quickly, is a Godsend... and even more so, seeing as it's only S$3 for a 1/4 oz. jar! The only drawback is that it has a slightly medicated smell, but I've grown used to it and I really like the tingling effect it has on my lips shortly after application. Incidentally, Carmex and Vaseline's Lip Therapy are ranked nos. 3 and 4 respecitvely on Ciao's Top 10 Lip Care Products.

Kiong Hee Huat Chai!

Wan shi ru yi! Every year have fish! One step one step higher!

Daniel Wu, in my opinion, is one of the hottest men alive... particularly in Love Undercover (trailer). I've not had the opportunity to see him in other films since, but he doesn't seem to look half as hot in the posters of his recently released movies, which is such a pity. Now, some incredibly considerate Youtuber has posted a video of his shower scene from Peony Pavilion back in 2001, and all I can say, after viewing that, is, "hmmmmm mmmm!"

I was at Timbre again on Saturday. That makes it my second time in two weeks. I am really liking the place even though it's a little on the hot side, and every time I'm there, I'm so exhausted, I fall asleep after having a few drinks. EIC was the band featured for this particular Shuffle Saturday, and as mentioned, I really enjoy their music because they play the kind of rock I'm never tired of listening to, which in this case, included some Red Hot Chili Peppers and most especially, U2 - Stay (Faraway! So Close), the song which will be my main reason and excuse for seeing U2 once again.

In addition to the great music and al fresco ambience, Timbre's pizzas are fantastic. My friend, not having eaten dinner in spite of it already being 10 pm, ordered a shrimp and mussel pizza, something I felt was too odd to taste good. Imagine my surprise when twenty minutes after the food had arrived, I had finished half of his pizza in spite of having eaten mee goreng for dinner two hours earlier.

After that, I adjourned to Zouk for Aldrin's ONE. I got there around 1 am, and was alone until close to 2.30 am when I finally spotted some friends, most notably via the piercing whistle of a certain Zouk member. Aldrin was spinning some pretty good tunes although I have to confess that while listening, and not dancing, I fell asleep a couple more times. Work-induced sleep deprivation, you understand. This being Aldrin's last ONE as a full-time resident of Zouk, he wasn't going to be allowed to leave all that early, and in the end, he played until 6 to 6.30 am whereupon he finally walked sheepishly out of the DJ booth, and out to where we, the die-hard Zoukers and lone Zoukette, were waiting for him. After all the calls for "one more!" I told him that he might not ever want to call his residency ONE ever again.

Aldrin, in addition to being one of the electronic music pioneers in Singapore, is also most definitely one of the nicest guys on the scene. He's responsible for my getting a membership, though as some have pointed out, for a period of time, I was at Zouk every weekend, until the DJ's set ended, so I most likely would have obtained it sooner or later, but hey, he helped me get it that much faster, so for that, I'm eternally grateful. That notwithstanding, on nights when he's not spinning, Aldrin can sometimes be found on the dance floor with the rest of us and that's not something I've seen many other DJs do.

So, all the best, Aldrin! Zouk won't be the same without you.

Heroes looks to be shaping up to be a pretty good series. I'm hoping it doesn't go the same way as Desperate Housewives and Lost, two dramas I watched the first season of, but eventually lost interest in as the plots gradually grew too convoluted for my tastes. With 11 or so characters, all of whom are currently in different cities, that may prove to be quite a challenge, but so far, the buzz on the show seems to be all positive.

One of the biggest draws for me is definitely Hiro, who is quite possibly the most adorable geek to ever appear on TV. Hiro (Masi Oka, a graduate from Brown University, in an almost entirely Japanese-speaking role) is a wage slave in Japan who has the power "to bend the space-time continuum, like Star Trek." Some people might get all angsty or arrogant about such a gift, but Hiro's so enthusiastically joyful about his abilities that one cannot help but love him... especially with his exurburence and his tendency to yell, "Yatta!" (Japanese for "I did it!" after every successful exhibition of his powers). He really is a Super Hiro. Hee! (For the record, I didn't make that pun, the show did). In any case, he's so popular, he even has a blog.

So if you haven't yet had the chance to catch it, go watch it now. It's broadcast on Star World on Wednesdays at 9 pm and repeats on Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm and 8 pm... and if you're a Grey's Anatomy fan, then just catch the 8 pm show, because GA comes on right after that. Coach Potato Sundays, here I come.

For some strange reason, I had a dream where a giant walking Kool Aid jug was running through the alleys of a district in London being chased by lots of screaming fans. And my digital camera jammed before I could take any pictures or video footage of the event.

I have been working very hard this week, I'll admit, but to be dreaming about something which had nothing to do with the culture I grew up in is exceedingly strange.

I've been so busy that I've been swept off my feet the last few days. But today, man, today was a day of rather epic revelations. There's some restructuring going on at the senior levels of my team, which is both good and bad.

Good, because the amount of seniors we had in my team was, admittedly, one reason why I wanted to move out of Singapore. I wanted something which offered me a higher probability of career advancement. It's hard to move up when there's no room for you at the top.

Bad, because, well, the sheer amount of work that will need to be taken care of in the interim... some of it will definitely fall on my shoulders, and after months, or even years of stepping up my game, there's only so much more that can be stepped up.

As a learned, wise - and ultimately, trusted - colleague puts it, there'll be plenty of opportunities now within Singapore. It's just a matter of figuring out whether I want to take them. Because, if I said I wanted something, I'd have a good chance of getting it.

In fact, one of the seniors who'll be moving on? She asked me to consider if I'd like to move on to what's she doing in the near future, and dangled the prospect of travel as an incentive. While it's tempting, the thing is that I'll still be based here, and travel will be around South-East Asia. And I admit, I love to travel, although I think it's more the prospect of working on the non-domestic market which appeals to me more for any one position. But SEA? When I've set my sights on London and New York for so long?

I don't know whether London or New York is achievable; I would certainly like to think it is, given my calibre. At the same time, I'm wondering whether I should sit down, and seriously consider just settling. After all, the SEA market is definitely more interesting than just the Singapore market.

I just don't know.

I'm not one to settle, but I am getting older, and it's taking longer to recover from the long hours that I've been putting in.

I really wish I could speak to someone just so I can clear my thoughts. I really don't know.

It's Valentine's Day next week. I wonder if it says something about me that I've spent the last eight Valentine's Days single and unattached, and will most definitely be making the upcoming one my ninth consecutive such V-Day.

Sure, I've had a couple of boyfriends and dated a few others since the last V-Day I was actually attached but nothing's lasted longer than that particular relationship.

And it's not as if I want to be married, but it'll be nice to know that there's someone there for me, not in a 'friend' kind of way, but in the 'significant other' sense.

Just over an hour ago, I told my mum that I'd just returned home from work, and that it's the sacrifice I'm making for doing my best to make the possibility of a transfer overseas become a reality. Then I added that she'd also have to put up with an old and unmarried daughter by the time I succeeded.

My mum replied, "It's okay, better than being married and divorced."

Yes, there's a word or two missing from that statement which would make it make more sense, but you get what she means. And maybe now, you know a little more about why I'm the way I am!

When I first watched Down with Love a few years ago, I found myself unexpectedly liking it a lot in spite of the somewhat convoluted plot twist 2/3s of the way through the movie. At the time, I couldn't figure out if it was because the movie was really good, or if it was because I liked Ewan MacGregor as well as the jazzy soundtrack.

Having watched the final half-hour of the movie on Channel 5 earlier, I decided that while the plot twist still irritates me (in fact, it irritates me more than it did the first time round), I still liked the movie. Renee Zellweger does a decent enough job as Barbara Novak, the feminist author who advocates going into the dating game just like men do, and munching chocolate as a substitute for love, while Ewan MacGregor turns in an incredibly good performance as Catcher Block, playboy extraordinaire, who disguises himself as mild-mannered and incredibly gentlemanly Zip Martin, recently returned astronaut, and later on as a reformed playboy.

Catcher's last incarnation is the one I find the hottest. Ewan MacGregor manages to imbue Catcher with the sincerity and honesty of a man who really has endeavoured to change for the better, while at the same time retaining a roguish glint in his eyes which makes him even more desirable and sexy than when he's being a real playboy.

This is best illustrated in the interview scene with Barbara towards the end of show. Catcher applies for the position of Barbara's secretary as Barbara has refused all of his other efforts to contact her.
Barbara: Have a candy bar for your trouble, and thanks again for thinking of us.
Catcher: But I'm always thinking of you, Miss Novak. I can't stop thinking of you, and I'd like you to reconsider considering me.
B.: Even at a pay cut of 96.6%?
C.: It's only money. Besides, I've been on top so long I thought it might be nice to try a new position.
B.: And you think you could be comfortable in a position under a woman?
C.: I look forward to it. Starting at the bottom, working my way up slowly to the top. (C. unwraps a bar of chocolate and slowly starts to eat it. B. smashes a bar of chocolate against her desk and immediately pops a piece into her mouth and chomps furiously.)
It plays a lot better than when it's written down so go check that scene out here.

On an aside, when Barbara tells Catcher that she has finally become a 'Down with Love girl level 3' and that "I don't want love, and I don't want you," I found myself sighing inwardly and thinking, "Man, I really wish I could get to that stage." Of course, given my earlier post, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out why I'm feeling that way.

Unexpected bonus find on YouTube: Down with Love bloopers!

I have been told once by this guy that I was too much of a career woman for us to ever work out as a long term relationship. To this day, I'm still not exactly sure what he was getting at. Was he saying I wouldn't have enough time for him? Or that work would stress me out far too much for us to be able to get along? Or that I'm earning more than him (given that I've worked longer), and his ego wouldn't be able to take that?

One thing's for sure. Those questions aren't ever going to get answered. And it makes even less sense when you factor in how we met - through a mutual friend working in the same industry as us both - and that we hadn't even dated long enough for him to pass such judgements.

And then, when I went to get my hair cut last month, I read an article in Her World or Female (the one which regularly goes out looking for the 50 most gorgeous people in Singapore) by this guy who wrote about an ex-girlfriend. She was beautiful, intelligent, had a great personality and working in a high-powered position in a high-powered industry. He couldn't take living up to all of that, and ended up dumping her and going for someone less ambitious, and less of a power -career-woman.

Disturbed by that, I mentioned all of this to my guy best friend the other day, and his first response was, "What did the guy expect? Did he want you to keep house for him?" followed by, "If he's not going to even give you a chance, then he's simply not worth it. It's his loss, not yours."

I will be the first to admit that I do have workaholic tendencies. I throw myself into work, seeking career advancement and remunerative rewards (something I'm happy my new company has given me), because - and I've said this many times, work doesn't let you down like people do. The past relationships I've had have most definitely left me with baggage, and it may be a little difficult for someone to get past that.

Still, if there's someone in my life who I like enough and who I think is worth it, I'll definitely do my best to make time for that person in spite of all the work goals I set myself each and every year. I shouldn't have to change the kind of person that I am: one who can afford to lead the kind of lifestyle she wants without being dependent on anyone else. I'm not leading an ultra-extravagant lifestyle, and I certainly don't go out every week or so purchasing branded goods, but I do the occasional shopping spree and I make no apologies for that.

Quite honestly though, there are times when I wonder whether I'll ever get married. Between my commitment issues and societal expectations and geographical constraints, that time looks a long way off... if it's even on the horizon.