Not many people are aware of this, but when it comes to work, I am dead serious. And yes, I can be a real bitch about it. Like right now.

If you've know me from social gatherings, parties or even loco nights, this can never seem further from the truth. Like any other woman, I enjoy my downtimes - a lot. After all, we all work like a dog during the day, why shouldn't we cut loose when we have a breather? Well, then again, we are all more relaxed during social situations rather than at work. Only a few freaky people I know exist the other way around...hmmm.

Anyways, what I really, really can't stand is people being illogical, idiotic and stupid. For the record, I've been chasing my current job for the longest time and to finally be able to get it is a really big achievement for me. Yes, there are some teething problems, I am more drained from working now than before and the sheer pace of the job is madness at times but I AM getting a hang of it and if anything, I am determined to ride it out - yes, complaints, whining, eye-bags and all.

What I don't have patience for is people who constantly expect me to wait around during lunch, cut out of my office hours for tea or just have dinner and go back to work. I DON'T function that way. It is inefficient and counter-productive to idle your time when you can accomplish so much during those eight hours if you put your mind to it. What I am determined to do instead is finish up all the burning issues of the day and LEAVE.

Yes, actually physically take myself out of the office to go home, or have dinner with friends, or even go one of my walking jaunts just so I can chill and do my own stuff. That people, is MY ideal concept of working. Work like a dog and stay late if you have to and then go home. No one is going to award you for being a desk drone. And whining about it without doing something about the situation is failure to communicate on your part.

So if you are thinking of asking me silly questions like - can you come down for tea? or have dinner and go back to work? Forget it. If you want to have lunch, come on time - my bosses are lenient but that does not mean that I can take off and skive. I have client deadlines to meet. And surprise! But these deadlines have to be attended to during the working hours and not in the middle of the night.

If I have to work late, I have to work late. Don't badger me with stupid questions unless you are prepared to have your head bitten off. Don't be a fucker. Because I can be a worse one. In saying all this, I will extend the same courtesy to you, that is, I will sympathise if you have to work late, your boss is an asshole and all the usual shit.

As for the MSN issue, yes, I am always online during working hours because my entire office is on that network - we use it for work, and of course sometimes chatting with friends and reporters. Just because you see me there doesn't mean that I'm on holiday or necessarily free for a chat during work hours.

Before I stomp off in a huff, here's some wise words from one of my all-time favourite bands, The Eagles:
href="http://www.soundlyrics.com/e/eagles/getoverit.html">
"I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin' "Don't blame me"
They point their crooked little fingers ar everybody else
Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat
Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it"

These last two weeks were an intense time and it's a testament of a good OMO that I've lasted this long.

It's another crazy time with birthdays backed up one against another, yet another friend coming into town and new friends who've inspired a frseh new wave of craziness. For 2006, it was the year of the 3-0. We've already had a spate of buds hitting the Big 3 and then, we had the 30on30 party where two of our close friends threw themselves a crazy-ass bash that had them foot-stompingly drunk long, long before the rest of us showed up. And the stuff we saw - I knew people tended to manifest hidden tendencies when they get shit-faced, geeezuuussss. One had Flashdance aspirations, another decorated the kitchen sink, one got particularly hot and bothered and the birthday boy kept thanking everyone for coming - like a father of the bride! You guys are priceless! The blackmail photos that I have...

To get a party really started, you need the OMO, so naturally I had to make sure that they came as close to a religious experience as possible with the John. Mixers all around! And drinks to anyone whose hands are empty...We celebrated friendship in the freedom, beauty, truth and love way and in the spirit of bohemia, we also celebrated with a fiesty green drink (see picture) that blew the socks off the birthday twins...Mwahahahaha...now THIS is what I call doing shots. Guaranteed to put hair on your chest for the boys and make every guy cuter for the girls ;o)

Oh and for the people who've got birthdays coming up - namely a rabbit that shall remain un-named for now, get ready my friend - workout, go to pubs, stop drinking beer, start doing shots - cos you're NEXT.

Sometimes after a tough period, all you want to do is just hang out and breathe.

Work seems to be petering out somewhat and things are getting smoother. My mum's finally home from NZ and we are re-establishing that I'm a better cook than a housekeeper. Things seem to be brighter these days.

Tonight was one of those nights :o) Initially I was planning to go for loco night but got shanghai-ed into dinner and watching the fireworks from East Coast...far, far away from the maddening crowd and the insane-ness of work.

What could be better than having the wind in your hair, sipping on a good resling and nipping on chocolates...Ahh...bliss. Ya, so the view wasn't so fantastic as we were a little too far away but the enjoyment comes in the form of the company and the feeling that things may not be as bad as you think.

It's an overall fantastic, chill-out night. It reminded me of a line in the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol: "If I lay here If I just lay here, Would you lay with me and just forget the world?" Which in all honesty, I'd love to do more of - while I do enjoy clubbing, dancing and hanging out with a crowd. I've moved on. It's an occasional enjoyment and not something that I long to do or want to do very often. Salsa is something I love and I get to do all the time - now all I have to do is get better and also show up for more loco nights... :P

I guess I'm mellowing out and it's a pretty good feeling. I can't imagine how anyone can go clubbing, drinking, etc - fill in the blanks with the vice of your choice - all the time and not eventually get bored by it all. Sure, I love my drinks and all but to squeeze with the crowd and pretend to look cool while some asshole tries to chat you up or cop a feel? Hanging out with people all night for no good reason? No thanks. I'm going home to read a book and rest up for yet another jam packed day at work.

I'll take having tea at my favourite mama stall and an engaging conversation with a close friend or friends any day. No more wasting time for this chickie. She's got people to see and places to go :o)