With barely 2 days left to the end of the year, it’s strange how I dont really feel the buzz of welcoming 2009 in the atmosphere. Well, okay, I take my statement back. You see on TV the free-to-air channels trying their hardest to entice you to the “Biggest Countdown Party on the Marina Bay Floating Stage”, but, that’s really about it.

Age truly, is catching up on me. Tsk. I am an old fuddy duddy.

Im most certainly,however, looking forward to pay day and the bonus next month. Now THAT’S always a good thing at the end of the month. HAHA!

As the clock and calendar countdown to welcome the dawn of a new beginning, I suppose you’ll see on most blogs the perfunctory New Year Resolution post. Perfunctory because you know most of the time, by the third month, most would have forgotten at least 50% of what they wrote. Which is the primary reason I gave up writing resolutions years ago and stuck to one single motto/resolution in life, year after year:

Keeping an open mind.

It’s sad to see that as the number of candles increase on our birthday cakes each year, people lose their sense of wonder and faculty of fascination. And I’ve been blessed this 2008 to have evaded that sort of regression (or natural progression some may say). It’s odd how I wrote about an almost identical issue the very same time last year.

That aside, it’s the end of the year. And the the time to reflect about lessons learned and work towards a better new year. The time for resolutions and all things new. Haha. This year held many note-worthy events, some of which were very sweet, equally painful and heart-breaking but all in all, strengthening.

As I look through my older posts, I’d have to admit that I was more a fervent blogger previously as compared to now. There are some aspects of my life I’d rather keep private and well, others Im just too lazy to keep record of. More importantly, time has in some sense worn away the faculty of fascination we all used to have as we were kids. No longer does a birthday cake with brightly lit candles trigger wonder and joy in adults. Instead, it reminds us of the years gone by, and the few short ones left.

Strange how I could use that very same paragraphs one year later, word for word, without editing.

Like 2007, 2008 held lotsa great, but markedly different memories for me.

January 2008 was the start of a new school semester; the final semester of my University life. Eventually leading to me donning my graduation gown and standing up on stage holding the hard-earned scroll in front of proud parents.

February/March was AWESOME as Mum and I went up to KL for the Nuffnang’s 1st Birthday Bash – Pajama Party style as creators of Chipster Girl. I bagged myself a cool iPod Touch there and came back with lots more blogger friends who were fervent map-caps.

It was also a time where I had to grapple with the decision to put my dancing shoes back in their boxes.

April/May saw me dipping my baby toes into the realm of all that is bitchy beautiful- Miss Singapore Universe.

It was a very interesting and thought-provoking experience, for it opened my eyes to the lengths people would go to for the coveted crown. In comparison, Miss Singapore International genuinely seemed like a group of girls came together for the sake of a good cause. But that’s just the local scene. The experience got me thinking about the definition of beauty. It’s been said that even girls in the international rounds were not exactly natural beauties.

Well, I suppose as they say, there’s no such thing as an ugly woman, just a LAZY one.

Come June I was Nuffnang’s Featured Blogger of the month! YAY!

I also had the pleasure of appearing in Sweets.sg on their premier episode and was Samsung Ambassador for ComAsia where I found wonderful friends in the form of Belle and Z.

I also got to take my virgin Flyer ride!

After Commencement, I marked the end of my carefree student days by joining the ranks of the working force in July.

Me at my work desk. Sometimes we work on the floor too. Haha.

Again, odd how you can interject at this point with a paragraph again from last year about how it’s like to be a kid.

Kids have it the best. Really. Everything is new. Everything is wondrous. And they live with no previous memory of what it’s like to be hurt, feel betrayed and feel pain. The world is THEIR oyster and they explore without fear. Because there’s so much to see, so much to experience. No chains, no binds.

If there’s anything I’ve learnt from working with my kids these past few months, is that everything is a matter of perspective.

August brought international acts to our sunny little island when SingFest came around. Jason Mraz, Stacie Orrico, One Republic, Panic at the Disco and the Pussycat Doll thrilled the 5000 strong audience at Fort Canning Park of which Marie and I were a part of! I even got the meet the PCD in person! Wo0o0o0o0o0t!

September/October/November passed by in a blur. There were advertorials to write, events to attend, photos to take at the Canon Photomarathon and I gave me a little holiday getaway in Bangkok.

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAaVB2uKbsk]

Despite the numerous pairs of curious Thai eyes outside MaBoonKrong staring at us, Raine still manages to do it best even though she was the one who protested against it! Haha.

And now that it’s December what with the vPost Nuffnang Christmas Party and gift exchanges just passed, it’s time to usher in a blessed new year!