Credit Cards: Boon Or Bane?

Ka-ching! I just made an online purchase a few minutes back for a DVD that a friend highlighted to me a day or two ago. Of course, it will cost me a bomb when the exchange rates hit, but the liberation of pressing that "confirm order" button is something to behold. I remember when I was younger, trying to buy something off the internet and having to beg ask my Mom for permission, which was usually turned down, it never felt quite right.

Now, I have a credit card to call my own. Frankly speaking, I hardly ever use it. I do not feel the need to owe first, pay later. I am really not into debt, to be honest. I just use the credit card to pay off my life insurance monthly premium, my lousy cable company bill, my internet bill and... ah, yes, petrol. I don't feel the need to be carrying lump sums of money to just pay for a full tank of gas or line up at the bill payment counter on a working day to pay off my bills.

But, of course, I need to be careful about spending too much on online transactions/purchases. It gets really easy with credit cards these days... Gotta think twice or three times before hitting that "confirm order" button.

Argh, the temptation!

I Wish...

I wish those days could come back once more
Why did those days ever have to go
'Cos I love them so...

Chimes Stevie Wonder, in his song, "I Wish"... After working 12-hour work days for the past 3 days, and looking at the national calendar, today is the last day of regular school - which means, the holidays start tomorrow! How I wish I was back in schooling days, looking forward to the year-end break which lasts about a month and a half.

I remember the late nights, the sleep ins, the watch-TV-all-day, the afternoon naps... It can get boring and monotonous within the first week of holiday, but it was still fun. I wish I could turn back time because I would love a month-long break right now. A break with nothing to worry about, loads of sleep and TV watching...

I wish....

Super Stressed!

I haven't had much time to update this blog, not that I have MUCH to write about, but I feel like ranting today. I have worked two 12-hour days in a row and I am expected to do more 12-hour days in the days to come. Why? Because my company is in a huge transition mode and the people most hit by that transition are the ones working in my department. We have to do all the leg work, hand work, head work... basically, ALL work.

I'm tired of DOS like windows, green alphabets and digits, Excel files, 10pm dinners... Yes, because of this overload of work, I have had to have my dinners around 10pm. I had to miss my High School Musical 3 appointment and I think I have more to miss out on because of work.

I personally feel I am not obligated to work past my working hours. I am only obligated to finish my work and finish well, I am a believer in that, but the workload will take days to finish because regular working hours just doesn't cut it.

Sigh... I look forward to better days, but now, I am stuck in the bleak. Bleh!

Stressed Out...

Let's see, where do I start? Well, the only proper update I can give is that I am totally stressed out. Absolutely and completely stressed out. In these hard times, people are stressed out because they are worried for their jobs and their income - that is perfectly normal. For me, I can say, for now, that my job is safe. However, due to a major shake-up, my company is bearing the brunt of all the workload.

People say, it's good that you have work to do, that means you still have a job. Right now, I have work to do, all right, but TOO much! Imagine doing 10 - 15 people's workload with only 5 employees in that department to handle it. That ought to drive ANYONE crazy!

I have never felt so stressed out before and for the first time this week, I have really struggled to drag myself out of bed to go to work, not knowing what news might hit us next and how it will impact what we are doing right now.

Frankly speaking, I am scared AND stressed. Not a good combination at all.

Sigh...

I Didn't Know That!

I learned something new today while listening to a new Christmas album. As I was researching for the lyrics of "O Holy Night" (because this singer's version was a bit different from the usual versions), I found out that this song was originally French!

Oui! It's called "Minuit Chrétiens / Cantique de Noël", a traditional French Christmas Carol. Wikipedia has a short article on it and the lyrics (with translation) is as follows.

Minuits, chrétiens / Cantique de Noël:

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,

Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous

Pour effacer la tache originelle

Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.

Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance

En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.

Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.

Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,

Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente

Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,

Comme autrefois une étoile brillante

Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.

Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:

Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,

A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.

Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.

Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:

La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.

Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,

L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.

Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance,

C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît, qu'Il souffre et meurt.

Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,

Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,

Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!

English Translation of Minuits, chrétiens / Cantique de Noël: (N.b. the English version of 'O Holy Night' is not a direct translation of the French.)

Midnight, Christians it's the solemn hour

When God as Man descended unto us

To erase the original stain (sin)

And end the wrath of His Father.

The entire world trembles with expectation

In this night that gives to us a Savior.

Fall on your knees, await your deliverance.

Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer,

Noel, Noel, here is the Redeemer!

The redeemer has broken every shackle

The earth is free, and heaven is open.

He sees a brother where there was once only a slave

Those who had been chained together by iron, love now unites.

Who will tell Him of our gratitude

It is for every one of us that He was born, suffered and died.

Stand on your feet, sing of your deliverance.

Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer,

Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer!

Yes, I suspect the translation of the second verse is missing and I can't seem to find it anywhere, but it's beautiful in French anyways. Anyone care to translate?