tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65824824525316939162024-03-13T09:22:41.839+08:00The Geek GoddessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-65629417539055050852016-12-12T02:36:00.000+08:002016-12-12T02:40:10.928+08:00The Tinder Ghost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For the past one month I had been communicating with a local lad I met on Tinder. We moved from messaging on the app, to WhatsApp texts, voice clips and phone calls. He was funny, smart, driven, loved dogs, and seemed to have a decent heart. I gradually found myself looking forward to hearing from him every day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About three weeks into the friendship I told him that I was terrible at dating. For reasons unknown to me, my first dates would go on fabulously, the guys would promise to meet again or stay in touch...and then they never did. He asked me why this happened. I said I honestly didn't know. He then said I seemed to have a low self-esteem, to which I countered by saying that I respectfully disagree with him, and that while I do have high self-esteem, I also recognise my weaknesses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After this revelation I noticed that the messages became shorter, while the voice clips and phone calls originating from him came to a stop. Still I thought it was because he was busy, and when I asked him about it he said the same. So even when a knot started to tighten in my belly I tried to push negative assumptions away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All this while we had been discussing about meeting up in person. Finally the time and opportunity came up. I was flying in for a quick break from work and we thought that we should hang out. So he came over for an afternoon chat the first day I was in town, which was a Friday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yes, he was as funny in person as he was on my phone, but he seemed distant. He blamed it on his shyness. Nevertheless we made plans to have dinner on Sunday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He had told me before that he would be attending a friend's wedding as one of the groomsmen on Saturday. So when he didn't text or call me that day or mentioned what time he would be picking me up for dinner on Sunday, I chalked it up to him being busy at the wedding and tried not to think too much of it .</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yet the knot in my belly grew tighter.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On Sunday, my calls and texts enquiring if dinner was still on and if yes, what time would it be, went unanswered. He even rejected my last call (it rang once and then abruptly ended) while the earlier one would just ring until it reached voicemail. Later during the day, I noticed that I no longer could see his profile photo on WhatsApp. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I realised that he had blocked me on the messaging app, the very day we were supposed to go out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was at a friend's house when it became clear that dinner with the local lad was never going to happen. He had ghosted me. Despite my best efforts to make light of the situation I ended up crying when I told my friend everything. My friend then got up, brought out two glasses, and decided to pour us some wine because he didn't know what else to say other than "Screw him. Let's have a drink".</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I then decided to delete Tinder and OKCupid from my phone, but not before I flag the local lad for bad offline behaviour. It was probably a petty move on my part, but hell hath no fury like a lass jilted. Afterwards I went shopping for little gifts for myself and some friends. Shopping is both my cardio and therapy, but it can only be dispensed in small doses since I don't have The Sims' money tree. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dinner with two lovely friends followed, where I proceeded to tell them of my Tinder ghost. Then they shared their Tinder experience, but theirs reached a sweet note: one has been dating her Tinder date for the last three months while the other, a guy friend, is still getting to know an amazing woman.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I must confess that although I wish my friends all the happiness in the world, it was challenging to smile at their Tinder luck right after my Tinder ghost had stood me up. Every time my eyes threatened to mist up in the restaurant, I quickly summoned happy thoughts and tried to focus on the moment: that at least during a difficult day I was surrounded by beloved friends who mean everything to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I wish I had known why the guy changed his mind and decided to distance himself from me after he met me. I wished I could kick him in the balls for being such a spineless coward. I also wished I had never met him, but what good does regretting do? All I can do is allow myself to feel like shit for one day, then get over it and move on with my life. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So yes, this blog post is a pity party I am throwing for myself, and for every single girl out there who had been stood up by their dates without even the grace of a decent excuse, which is the least that we all deserve. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He has already wasted a month of my life. He does not deserve more of my time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
No more. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am done.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s1600/Detective.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s320/Detective.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Armchair detective.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s1600/Elvis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s320/Elvis.JPG" width="182" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Bathroom singer.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoHyhJeBrHRcWH_rFNIbMX5K5mf9H5O6JE1ycC1Tkpb7pbbFafwnr8MfQBQ_rMttg4gbI3eWkAP-hzI2J1FZgKH6Gvj2P6-e_nPHLWLujfnbioIa5q6S_5bNVla0MFYxpxRdORuhCPvPt/s1600/Chef.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoHyhJeBrHRcWH_rFNIbMX5K5mf9H5O6JE1ycC1Tkpb7pbbFafwnr8MfQBQ_rMttg4gbI3eWkAP-hzI2J1FZgKH6Gvj2P6-e_nPHLWLujfnbioIa5q6S_5bNVla0MFYxpxRdORuhCPvPt/s320/Chef.JPG" width="309" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Chef on the weekends.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Delusional daydreamer.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" width="316" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">English and Malay writer for hire.</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-38798729858374220892016-10-30T01:37:00.005+08:002016-10-30T01:39:39.701+08:00Revisiting 40 Before 40<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been almost a year since I last posted here. The absence wasn't intentional; my personal DELLilah finally exhaled its last breath and I had to save up to get another one.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Only this time it's not a DELLilah but a HP, specifically HP Pavilion X360 Convertible.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sounds fancy, I know. It's nowhere near that though.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But let me save my review of my new Athenator (lol yeah that's the name of the new device) for another day. Oh and I also recently got a Dell Latitude 3470 for work but I hate the keyboard, amongst other things. But that's also a story for another day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, I enjoyed reading my <a href="http://goddessofathens.blogspot.my/2015/11/40-before-40.html" target="_blank">40 Before 40 post</a>, not because it was well-written, but because I was surprised to find that in almost a year since I penned that post, I actually managed to achieve some of the things I wanted:</div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Work (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Get promoted. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Get seconded to a foreign country, hopefully in Europe. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get sponsored by the organisation to do my PhD. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get on a helicopter. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Cycle to work (not in Malaysia, of course..I don't want to end up as roadkill sheesh). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Skills (8)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Learn how to swim (and not drown in the process!). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Master Photoshop (I only know Gimpshop hahaha). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Learn how to edit videos. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">YES! I learned this in July this year during a course in Singapore.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get my PhD. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Master a foreign language. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Get a diving licence. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Study/attend a course overseas. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">YES! Did this in July 2016 in Singapore.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Learn basic car maintenance and repairs...like how to change the engine oil. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Finance (4)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Pay off credit card debt (and stop using the card for shopping!) - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Sell my house. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Pay off car loan. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Pay off study loan. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Travel (15)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Visit Singapore Zoo. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Did this in July 2016; a lovely coursemate works at the zoo and kindly gave me a staff discount voucher :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Travel to a foreign country alone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Singapore, July 2016 :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Visit Bali. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Write travel pieces. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Visit Iceland. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Visit Italy. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Visit Sweden. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Visit the Netherlands. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
9. Visit Sri Lanka again. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
10. Visit the UK. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
11. Experience winter. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
12. Experience autumn. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
13. Visit Labuan...just for the heck of it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Did it with the fam in September 2016 :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
14. Travel to space (hahaha so ambitious but hey, why not?). - <i>nope hahahaha</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
15. Visit Hawaii. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Nest (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Rent a little apartment. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Moved to an apartment on my birthday this year ;)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Have a pet. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Rescued a stray male cat my sister christened "Ayau" and recently got him neutered during SPCA KK's cat neutering campaign.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a house plant and try not to murder it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Took a cutting from a plant at work lol. It actually only survives on water. No idea what it's called though. Must try to find out from my colleagues.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Have a garden/collection of potted herbs. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Have at least one IKEA furniture (currently there are no IKEA stores in East Malaysia wtf and I sold off most of my IKEA stuff when I moved to this wretched place KK). - <i>nope, sadly</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Miscellaneous goals (3)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Volunteer at SPCA. - <i>nope, but I have become a donor a few times</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Run 10 mins/km. - <i>nope hahahahaha</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a gym membership and actually use it. - <i>nopitty nope nope hahahaha</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I've achieved <a href="http://goddessofathens.blogspot.my/2015/11/40-before-40.html" target="_blank">8 out of the 40 goals</a> I listed in less than a year. So looking forward to what the next year holds. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bring it on, 2017! <i>*curls biceps*</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-8626525605605549422016-10-30T01:37:00.003+08:002016-10-30T01:37:52.684+08:00Revisiting 40 Before 40<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's been almost a year since I last posted here. The absence wasn't intentional; my personal DELLilah finally exhaled its last breath and I had to save up to get another one.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Only this time it's not a DELLilah but a HP, specifically HP Pavilion X360 Convertible.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sounds fancy, I know. It's nowhere near that though.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
But let me save my review of my new Athenator (lol yeah that's the name of the new device) for another day. Oh and I also recently got a Dell Latitude 3470 for work but I hate the keyboard, amongst other things. But that's also a story for another day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyway, I enjoyed reading my <a href="http://goddessofathens.blogspot.my/2015/11/40-before-40.html" target="_blank">40 Before 40 post</a>, not because it was well-written, but because I was surprised to find that in almost a year since I penned that post, I actually managed to achieve some of the things I wanted:</div>
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Work (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Get promoted. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Get seconded to a foreign country, hopefully in Europe. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get sponsored by the organisation to do my PhD. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get on a helicopter. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Cycle to work (not in Malaysia, of course..I don't want to end up as roadkill sheesh). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Skills (8)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Learn how to swim (and not drown in the process!). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Master Photoshop (I only know Gimpshop hahaha). - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Learn how to edit videos. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">YES! I learned this in July this year during a course in Singapore.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get my PhD. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Master a foreign language. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Get a diving licence. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Study/attend a course overseas. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">-</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">YES! Did this in July 2016 in Singapore.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Learn basic car maintenance and repairs...like how to change the engine oil. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Finance (4)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Pay off credit card debt (and stop using the card for shopping!) - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Sell my house. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Pay off car loan. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Pay off study loan. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Travel (15)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Visit Singapore Zoo. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Did this in July 2016; a lovely coursemate works at the zoo and kindly gave me a staff discount voucher :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Travel to a foreign country alone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Singapore, July 2016 :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Visit Bali. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Write travel pieces. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Visit Iceland. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Visit Italy. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Visit Sweden. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Visit the Netherlands. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
9. Visit Sri Lanka again. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
10. Visit the UK. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
11. Experience winter. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
12. Experience autumn. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
13. Visit Labuan...just for the heck of it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Did it with the fam in September 2016 :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
14. Travel to space (hahaha so ambitious but hey, why not?). - <i>nope hahahaha</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
15. Visit Hawaii. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Nest (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Rent a little apartment. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Moved to an apartment on my birthday this year ;)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Have a pet. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Rescued a stray male cat my sister christened "Ayau" and recently got him neutered during SPCA KK's cat neutering campaign.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a house plant and try not to murder it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">- YES! Took a cutting from a plant at work lol. It actually only survives on water. No idea what it's called though. Must try to find out from my colleagues.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Have a garden/collection of potted herbs. - <i>nope</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Have at least one IKEA furniture (currently there are no IKEA stores in East Malaysia wtf and I sold off most of my IKEA stuff when I moved to this wretched place KK). - <i>nope, sadly</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Miscellaneous goals (3)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Volunteer at SPCA. - <i>nope, but I have become a donor a few times</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Run 10 mins/km. - <i>nope hahahahaha</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a gym membership and actually use it. - <i>nopitty nope nope hahahaha</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I've achieved <a href="http://goddessofathens.blogspot.my/2015/11/40-before-40.html" target="_blank">8 out of the 40 goals</a> I listed in less than a year. So looking forward to what the next year holds. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bring it on, 2017! <i>*curls biceps*</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-87093749219215062862015-11-22T01:54:00.003+08:002015-11-22T02:12:06.207+08:0040 Before 40<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow..it's almost December, eh? Time really flies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last night I went on a second and last date with an out-of-towner (who was also the second person I went on a date with in all of 2015 - because single, straight and interesting men are like invisible ninjas in KK). Anyway, one of the things we spoke about was bucket lists. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You know, a list of things to do before we kick the bucket.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I told him that I did a 30 Before 30 list the year I turned 29, and managed to achieve 18 goals out of 30. To be honest, none of them were really that ambitious, because I know that a goal has to be realistic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Earlier this year, <a href="http://goddessofathens.blogspot.my/2015/01/what-hell-of-year.html" target="_blank">I also wrote about some goals</a>...none of which I have accomplished yet hahaha.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, here is my attempt at 40 Before 40 bucket list, which I aim to review every birthday month and also at year's end. I might tweak things along the way, so my current state of mind as I write this is "oh what the hell just write that shit down and figure it out later" hahahaha!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Work (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Get promoted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Get seconded to a foreign country, hopefully in Europe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get sponsored by the organisation to do my PhD.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get on a helicopter.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Cycle to work (not in Malaysia, of course..I don't want to end up as roadkill sheesh).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Skills (8)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Learn how to swim (and not drown in the process!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Master Photoshop (I only know Gimpshop hahaha).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Learn how to edit videos.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Get my PhD.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Master a foreign language.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Get a diving licence.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Study/attend a course overseas.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Learn basic car maintenance and repairs...like how to change the engine oil.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Finance (4)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Pay off credit card debt (and stop using the card for shopping!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Sell my house.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Pay off car loan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Pay off study loan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Travel (15)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Visit Singapore Zoo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Travel to a foreign country alone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Visit Bali.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Write travel pieces.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Visit Iceland.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
6. Visit Italy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. Visit Sweden.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. Visit the Netherlands.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
9. Visit Sri Lanka again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
10. Visit the UK.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
11. Experience winter.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
12. Experience autumn.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
13. Visit Labuan...just for the heck of it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
14. Travel to space (hahaha so ambitious but hey, why not?).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
15. Visit Hawaii.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Nest (5)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Rent a little apartment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Have a pet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a house plant and try not to murder it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Have a garden/collection of potted herbs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. Have at least one IKEA furniture (currently there are no IKEA stores in East Malaysia wtf and I sold off most of my IKEA stuff when I moved to <strike>this wretched place</strike> KK).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Miscellaneous goals (3)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Volunteer at SPCA.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Run 10 mins/km.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Get a gym membership and actually use it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well that's it folks...40 stuff to do within the next eight years. Oh and yes I didn't bother putting marriage or children in the menu because I've been dating since I was 20 and 12 years later I am still single so trying to find a life partner is a useless and frustrating endeavour, really. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Besides, I already have a niece and a nephew (my nephew actually is a spitting image of me), so those are (sort of) my kids too hahaha.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As for my date, he was an awesome guy, so I know he won't have any problems getting a date any time he wants to. Wish there are more men like him in KK, because KK is currently where <strike>single dateless women become crazy cat ladies</strike> you embrace being a single and independent woman ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-42022061886627396782015-08-01T01:38:00.001+08:002015-08-01T01:43:14.996+08:00Across Dreamlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let me make a confession: I cannot write a poem to save my life. <b>Nope. </b>I may be brilliant at many things (some of which can be quite useless), but penning poetry is not one of them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">However, I do have friends blessed with the power of poetry. One of them, <a href="https://twitter.com/larhas" target="_blank">Lara</a>, just self-published a collection of poems titled "Across Dreamlands". I've gotten my copy since a few days ago but have decided to save it for my weekend reading.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I also sent a copy of "Across Dreamlands" (Lara, if you ever read this, can I just say that your book's title is sooooooooooooooo cool? Hehe) to another poet friend of mine, <a href="https://twitter.com/rebelrhyming" target="_blank">Ksatriya</a>. I've been horrible at remembering his birthday for the past few years now (it's in October...or November?) so I thought this year I'd get a headstart and send it to him before MY birthday hahaha. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, if you're interested in getting a copy of "Across Dreamlands, you can get in touch with the poet herself on <a href="https://twitter.com/larhas" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Another poet I'd like to mention here is Sara Bareilles. I know, I know..you probably know her as a singer-songwriter, but plenty of her songs are pure poetry.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Case in point: <b><i>Cassiopeia</i></b>. Lyrics below:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Come in close now it's time to tell the story</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long ago, and so many years before we</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ever were, ever dreamed we even could be</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There was her and her very first heartbeat</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All alone in a corner of the night sky</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Spiral bones of a supernova starlight</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fell in love with another burning bright</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She dreamed of a way to ignite she said</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tonight</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Come on, come on collide</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Break me to pieces I</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I think you're just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Why, come on, come on collide</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let's see what a fire feels like</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I bet it's just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Such a shame nowhere near even a near miss</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Light years away from the hope of being sun-kissed</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anchored home in her interstellar sea but</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Poor lonely Cassiopeia</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So she sighs and she burns with desperation</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Learns to cry over love of constellations</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then a spark from a star shooting too close</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They both smiled "What a day to explode"</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She said</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tonight</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Come on, come on collide</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Break me to pieces I</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I think you're just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Why, come on, come on collide</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let's see what a fire feels like</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I bet it's just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just like heaven</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long ago in a sky built before us</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A supernova grew up to be stardust </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been on a space-ish kind of mood since Pluto sent us some selfies, so I've been watching <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)" target="_blank">Interstellar</a></i> and <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_(film)" target="_blank">Gravity</a></i> all over again. I've always wanted to go to space, and even wrote "astronaut" on my residential school application form as my ambition. However, Dad erased it and asked me to write something more realistic. If I remember correctly, he said "Malaysia will never send an astronaut, let alone a female one". Twenty years later, his words still ring true (and no, Dr S. is <b>NOT</b> an astronaut).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Maybe one day I'll get to travel across dreamlands, take a selfie with Pluto, and send it to my Dad. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now wouldn't that be something?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-51685109783096035942015-06-13T23:35:00.001+08:002015-06-13T23:35:55.993+08:00Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What could have been my life:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. Married at 20 before I even graduated to my university boyfriend and pregnant in the next month (because teenagers are horny). Ending up as a single mother in less than a year because he cheated on me with someone on campus.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Married at 24 to an abusive guy who absolutely refused to hold a job for longer than his breath and ending up being a cash cow for his clan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Married at 28 to my best friend who was also a self-confessed polyamorist and living with racist in-laws who think I'm not worthy of their precious son because I'm from a different race. Oh, and probably will be divorced in a year as well when I catch him in bed with other women.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't like to relive the past but Marquis de Melancholia arrived unannounced and definitely uninvited recently, perhaps triggered by the fact that I am feeling a tad exhausted, physically and mentally lately. Waiter, a pitcher of margarita, pronto!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The sadist Marquis came to life when I recently squeezed a trip home in between work trips so I could spend some time with the fam. The first question that Grandma dearest asked me when I walked into the house was, "Did you bring anyone with you?".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-_____________-"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If all I ever wanted to achieve in life was marriage, I would have done it more than ten years ago (ok now you know exactly how old I am hahaha dammit).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But it wouldn't be right for me, not just because the men I dated in that period had questionable qualities, but also because I had some growing up to do. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even when I'm considerably grown up now (both mentally and physically..if I was a country singer you can call me Girth Brooks for my stubborn love handles), I still couldn't get married to a human being AND a job at the same time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However, I would consider marriage for purely legal reasons. Like getting a green card to Amurrica.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ok just kidding.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" width="310" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>There's more to life than taking a man's last name as yours.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-80103533362410071002015-05-21T00:31:00.000+08:002015-05-21T00:31:43.159+08:00Catch 32<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some time ago I decided that I probably would never have kids. Even before I made this decision I knew earlier on that if I ever wanted to have any offspring, it would be within a traditional family model: with two parents involved, because I don't think I can pull off single parenthood well. Since I am doing really well in the dating department (I honestly can't remember the last time I had a date and am actually relieved not to go through bad dates or be stood up on the first date any more), I probably will remain single and fabulous till I die. So I thought I'd cross off kids from the bucket list and move on with my life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Till I gained a nephew, thanks to my brother. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now every time I visit my family, I try to spend every free moment babysitting the infant and then spamming every poor soul who's a close friend or colleague with </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">photos of me holding him and grinning like an idiot</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. One of my colleagues even said he looks like me </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">*beams proudly like an annoying auntie hahaha*</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'll be honest here: my nephew makes me long for motherhood. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Maybe I've inhaled too much baby powder.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But I am in no position to raise a child at this moment, even if I do decide to adopt or go down the turkey baster route (eeeek). I am fully cognizant of the fact that I am neither financially nor mentally prepared to raise a child alone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This dilemma over motherhood reminds me of a scene from Sex and the City's S06E15, aptly titled Catch 38, when Carrie (who was 38) said:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"....if I really wanted to have a baby, wouldn't I have tried to have one by now? I wanted to be a writer; I made myself a writer. I want a ridiculously extravagant pair of shoes; I find a way to buy them."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I don't exactly have a list of notable accomplishments like getting a PhD, discovering the cure to AIDS and saving orphans from a burning orphanage, but what I have achieved so far is pretty okay if I may say so myself. I wanted to be an educator, and I did that for a few years. I wanted to work for a global brand, and I did that with three brands. I wanted to be a copywriter in advertising, and I did that after getting rejected by so many ad agencies. Outside of work, I wanted to have a house with my name on the title, and I did that when I was 25.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My point is, if I really wanted something badly, I'd go all the way to get it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So if I had really wanted a baby, wouldn't I already have one by now?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's a Catch 32.</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-44062146737448359612015-04-28T00:21:00.002+08:002015-04-28T00:21:30.632+08:00They're In Love, Where Am I?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UbBJeVWnqCg" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s1600/Elvis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s320/Elvis.JPG" height="320" width="182" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's just one of those nights when you suddenly feel completely and stupidly sappy...and then you'll feel completely silly afterwards hahaha.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, I *think* I can carry off this tune in the shower without breaking the mirror.....or my neighbour's faith in mankind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-18132728229033581752015-04-09T00:49:00.000+08:002015-04-09T00:49:04.551+08:00No Soulmate? Not a Problem!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oMkAUgjdqx7iDOMCiDhyuPGQOgm6JbynfgVZPgnXr3BHH-Y9a76dWwyVSoxrfaAIDfSxGlBlq1KbHIlljtH1kyW-XUqB4EaJaseSgZu2RKdUvsQhzDh1bhdhPdBb1L-KuSSKAlqLcTGB/s1600/11096532_822146581174217_8782005566501881968_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oMkAUgjdqx7iDOMCiDhyuPGQOgm6JbynfgVZPgnXr3BHH-Y9a76dWwyVSoxrfaAIDfSxGlBlq1KbHIlljtH1kyW-XUqB4EaJaseSgZu2RKdUvsQhzDh1bhdhPdBb1L-KuSSKAlqLcTGB/s1600/11096532_822146581174217_8782005566501881968_o.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElephantLoveRelationships/photos/a.325561824166031.83336.221095577945990/822146581174217/?type=1" target="_blank">Source</a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-42493773923746781592015-03-16T00:59:00.000+08:002015-03-16T00:59:00.972+08:00Positively A Scientist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s1600/Detective.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: center; float: center; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s320/Detective.JPG" height="200" width="158" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't believe in blind faith. If I'm supposed to believe in something, or that something exists, then it better comes packaged with irrefutable evidence and facts. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know that absence of proof does not mean proof of absence, in which case it is actually an opportunity for us to do more research to find the truth. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why am I bringing this up? Well, last night a new friend asked me about religion:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Are you a Christian?"</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"No."</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"What about your dad? Is he a Christian?"</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Nope. He's actually not a fan of churches."</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"What about your mum? Is she a Christian?"</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Oh yes she is. And she's REALLY religious."</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Then that makes you a Christian too."</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wait what? o_O</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last time I checked, Christianity was not included in my inheritance (actually, I have no inheritance. My parents aren't exactly the Vanderbilts of Borneo, but you get what I mean, no?).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not an atheist. After years of soul-searching and tonnes of Catholic guilt, I've decided that I'm just an agnostic. What that means is that I can't tell you that God exists or not, because hey, I don't know. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it seems ridiculous how some people like to out-religion each other. I won't mention examples here, but you can find them anywhere..except maybe not much in Sarawak and Sabah (because we're peace-loving hippie islanders bahahaha).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rather than argue about who is more religious amongst us, it would be better to be the best person you can be, to be as kind as possible to everyone who crosses your path, and to value all the good things in your life, while learning from the terrible ones.......and not because you think that there are heavenly rewards waiting for you, but because these are the decent things to do. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/positive-thinking_b_3512202.html" target="_blank">Being positive has also been scientifically proven to help you build skills, boost your health, and also improve your work performance.</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why don't we all do that instead, eh?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-30614576805633302072015-03-08T18:11:00.003+08:002015-03-08T18:16:46.179+08:00Tripping to Tiny Tenom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not a fan of that <i>wretched</i> novel series, let alone the movie......but I am CRAZY about this song, which is featured in the soundtrack. It's one of those songs that you can listen to over and over and over again.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, I abso-fucking-lutely love Ellie Goulding. Such a talented lass. And she runs too! :)</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AJtDXIazrMo" width="480"></iframe>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Aaaaaaaaaaanyway, yesterday (Saturday) I went on a long solo drive, covering 300 km on the following route:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Penampang-Tambunan-Keningau-Tenom-Keningau-Kimanis-Papar-Putatan-Penampang</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i><br />It all began with a phone call at noon to my friend </span><a href="http://pali7x.com/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Pali</a><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Dude, I'm itching for a scenic drive.Where can I go to that's not too far and I can return by 4pm?"</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He suggested Tenom, a tiny town famous for its coffee, which is about two hours' away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The easiest route would be to go through Putatan, followed by Papar and Kimanis. Turn left at the Kimanis roundabout near the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal and from then on it's just straight all the way to Tenom".</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, being an <strike>idiot with zero sense of direction</strike> adventurer, I took the longer route instead. Since I was already in Donggongon town in Penampang, I decided to just go to Tenom from there. Because...........reasons. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So that's how the ridiculously hilly roads of Tambunan got added into the itinerary and why I only got home at 8pm.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Manic March has been really taxing on me (and it's only been a week!) so it was either I drown myself in junk food while glueing myself to the telly or I drive to see new places instead. Pali was supposed to join me but bailed at the very last second because he had a <strike>booty call at noon</strike> surprise visitor as he was getting ready to leave the house. <i>Hmph</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Driving long-distance amidst greenery dotted with villages (or in the case of Sabah, a Catholic church every five metres lol) is one of the nicest ways to relax. Maybe it's the Iban wanderlust in me that's responsible for this habit. Or maybe it's the bi-annual long drives to our longhouse for as long as I can remember, so much so that it's been ingrained in me. I guess you can take the girl out of Sarawak, but you can't take Sarawak and her instincts to travel out of her. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I had wanted to be home before it got too dark so I only stopped at Tambunan, Tenom and Dimie Pedalaman Resort, Kimanis for quick pit stops to refuel etc. Didn't manage to stop at any of these local attractions:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tambunan: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Rafflesia Forest Reserve</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Keningau: The Oath Stone</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tenom: Murut Cultural Centre</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the highlights of this trip was experiencing my first gravity hill on the Keningau-Kimanis highway. I thought I was going downhill (which means that my car would roll faster on its own) but I experienced a decrease in speed instead because I was actually going UPHILL. It's a confusing optical illusion caused by the layouts of that stretch of road's surroundings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJyEBKILpwq9OX01X2h0C28F2cpZWYc6m7HtECYG9XzvNLp02Axz73Q9KDMgVoonTI7YBkW1U1Wgf2MUpPBtBIzlKFWBqwkxqdy6cVDeNoOOYtGp-Iy-ShK9oyZ7swJfO6kMMw3H5hwXd/s1600/P_20150307_181809_PN_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJyEBKILpwq9OX01X2h0C28F2cpZWYc6m7HtECYG9XzvNLp02Axz73Q9KDMgVoonTI7YBkW1U1Wgf2MUpPBtBIzlKFWBqwkxqdy6cVDeNoOOYtGp-Iy-ShK9oyZ7swJfO6kMMw3H5hwXd/s1600/P_20150307_181809_PN_edited.jpg" height="113" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>The view in front of Dimie Pedalaman Resort, KM 16, Keningau-Kimanis Highway (supposedly the steepest highway in Malaysia).</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sorry that I didn't take many photos. It was an ad hoc trip so I didn't bring my digital camera with me (the built-in one in my Asus Zenfone 4 is a joke, save for the panorama function). On my way to Tenom, I did make a stop somewhere along on the quiet Tambunan road to take a photo of the undulating emerald peaks, but before I could snap a panoramic shot, I received a stupid phone call in which the caller just refused.to.hang.the.fuck.up. Then while on the phone, two men on a motorcycle arrived. Call it paranoia or self-preservation, but when I saw them stop a few metres away from me, I unceremoniously disconnected the call, ran as fast as I could towards my car (imagine a fat duck waddling on the side of the road if you will), and then locked myself in before driving off. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If there's one thing that I've learnt from travelling solo all these years, it's that you can never be too careful. Which explains why there's a baseball bat in my car. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But that's a story for another day.</span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s1600/Elvis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a6geQLo-TdrcAoFe_dEKwGQ_OxpxmQoWo7ZPZObkY-ddyPg4MPZbHgfuq4vjCf-_Uu8coLDzUykkZqNRhsHest_qm_gkfjkvC_YVijNI4eiU00suy0QW85L2aYMd5jFK_Xkub5GUytCN/s320/Elvis.JPG" height="200" width="113" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: AppleSDGothicNeo-Regular, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif, 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', NotoColorEmoji, EmojiSymbols, Symbola, Noto, 'Android Emoji', AndroidEmoji, 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Zapf Dingbats', AppleColorEmoji, 'Apple Color Emoji'; line-height: 20px;">♪ </span><i>Love me like you do..love love love me like you do...</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: AppleSDGothicNeo-Regular, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif, 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', NotoColorEmoji, EmojiSymbols, Symbola, Noto, 'Android Emoji', AndroidEmoji, 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Zapf Dingbats', AppleColorEmoji, 'Apple Color Emoji'; line-height: 20px;">♫</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-2014517155164803712015-02-15T01:39:00.003+08:002015-02-15T14:36:40.263+08:00Fucking Fabulous<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />- A (fierce!) piece inspired by Valentine's Day -</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Dear soulmate,</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have waited for you all my life. Maybe you don't exist, just like Santa (sorry, kids). Maybe you're bad at Google Maps and can't seem to find me. Maybe I should be sent to a loony bin for hallucinating writers.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I have been actively searching for you for the past 12 years, and my well-meaning friends have been actively telling me that this is the wrong thing to do. That I should just let "it" happen. In my case, "it" and "nothing" seem interchangeable. And with friends like these, who needs a.......I kid, I kid. I do love my friends (in case any of them are reading this).</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Anyway, like everything else that I ever desired, I did my best to find you. I dated countless men, some who were downright terrible because at that time I didn't know any better about dating or even about myself. I've tried meeting men organically, bravely put up profiles on dating sites showing the thinner side of my face like Mariah Carey does (you're lovely, Mimi, but the jig is up). I even tried speed dating! By now I have enough dating experience under my faux leather belt that I could probably write a book about it and make plenty of simoleons ala JK Rowling.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><i>More than a decade has passed since the first time I gave my heart to a man. I know myself better now. Unlike before, I know I am loveworthy, and that I will not tolerate bullshit from anyone. </i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><i>It has been 12 long years and you still haven't appeared in my life. And yet my life is pretty awesome now. I sincerely think that I am actually the luckiest girl alive. I have all that matters; a roof over my head, enough meals a day, a job that kicks ass, family and friends...Maslow would say that I have done a good job fulfilling all of my needs.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Speaking about needs, here's the thing: I don't need you. But I do want a great man to share a life with. My stupid sappy heart keeps believing that you exist, and that you are looking for me too, not because you need me, but because you want me in your life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes you appear in my dreams, and though in them I could never see your face, but I feel loved by you. I could feel the warmth radiating from you as if it was real and not just a dream. My optimistic brain tells me that you are smart, kind, strong, and patient. Every molecule in my body believes that you exist.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>So why aren't you here yet?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I've asked myself that question many times and I could never answer it. Some people in my life ask me that question too. After 12 years, I am running out of jokes to gently brush them off instead of pushing them off a cliff so that the sharks below can have a happy meal.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Maybe some things are meant to be mysteries. Maybe you don't exist and I am destined to be alone. Maybe for a millisecond I am just feeling a wee bit shitty about being single on that one awful day when the entire world seems hell bent on showing off that they have bloody soulmates.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Well screw them. U</i><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">nderstand this: while it would be good for you to finally turn up, if you don't, I will be fine. In fact, I will be more than just fine. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be fucking FABULOUS.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-38124507239127268162015-02-07T23:47:00.001+08:002015-02-07T23:47:22.873+08:00Single and (Dating) the City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Do you remember that scene from Interstellar, when Anne Hathaway had landed at a planet that was livable, but she's all alone?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I feel like that sometimes. Except that this livable planet I'm in is actually inhabited by other <i>Homo sapiens</i>. Overpopulated even.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been in this city for five months now. It also means that I've gone five months without dating. It's beginning to feel like a long-running comedy gag, with me occasionally joking to friends that if I make it to a year, I'd check into a nearby convent. Might as well be there since the possibility of finding dates there are nun. <i>#pun #ohsoclever #lame</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A friend once told me that dating is a numbers game. The higher your frequency of dating, the higher your chances of meeting someone who's right for you. The thing is, I can't even get a first date in this city!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll be honest; I am somewhat picky, but only sensibly so. I look forward to meeting intelligent, funny, and kind guys who can speak my first language fluently. When I told a local friend here about this, she told me, "You can't find any local guy here who can tick all those boxes". No wonder those who match highly with me on a dating website are all foreigners from Farawayville, whom I may also never meet. Yay!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In moments of weakness (especially on weekends when the entire city goes on dates except for me), I sometimes question my judgement in moving to the city of no available decent men. The other day, I jokingly told my colleague that the women in our office (where 90% of the staff are single females) are like Sumatran rhinos: seemingly no chance in hell to meet available men organically. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Moving here hasn't been easy; though I have the best job in the world, outside of work I haven't found much to keep my plate full and interesting. I guess I'm missing the comforts of my old world. Or perhaps I haven't given this city a fair chance to show me what it has in store for me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Maybe I should just date the city, like Carrie Bradshaw.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-68042892200747826992015-01-11T13:20:00.003+08:002015-01-11T13:20:56.354+08:00What a Hell of a Year! :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello, 2015.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was relieved to finally get 2014 over and done with. It has been a year of many shocks and surprises, with plenty of growth filtering in through the cracks after the pressure is gone.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The not-so-good:</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">For the first time in my life I did not have stable employment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Obi, an abandoned dog that my friend Cyn adopted from our old office, died in February.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"> Snoopy, the dog I adopted from a friend in 2008 died in early April. Cried for weeks. He was like a child to me. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">My grandmother had a terrible stroke in late April.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">I injured my knee while lifting my grandmother in the hospital (guess I wasn't as strong as I thought I was hahaha).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Had to limp for almost a month. Also swore off stairs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Had the worst job interview in human history with a Japanese company director (my friends had no sympathy; they found it comedy gold instead hahaha).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Had a tenant from hell who only paid outstanding rent and utilities after my lawyer sent a letter.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Had to shut down our company when my friend and partner decided to pursue another opportunity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Had to leave my beloved apartment and PJ to move for a new job.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Was so homesick the first month I was in KK.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Missing Unifi, my friends and old haunts in PJ (hello, dearest darling IKEA! Oh how I've missed you!).</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"> The good:</span></b></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Quit a draining job. I was losing sleep, weight and even hair!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Because I was "unemployed", I could come home to see my family for the first time in almost a year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Became a freelance writer, a long-life dream finally realised.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Started a company with my best friend; it was good while it lasted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Learned how to sew using the sewing machine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Became a part-time tailor after learning how to sew.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Tailored my own four-panel floor-length heavy brocade curtains. Woot!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sewed a green toga from scratch for a company dinner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Got hired for the job of a lifetime: doing communications for a global non-profit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Moved across the South China Sea for the new job with <strike>almost</strike> nothing in my pockets and without a home too. #crazy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Stayed at a backpackers' hostel for the first time while looking at houses in KK.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Started working out again after getting clearance from my doc for the stupid knee.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Trained self to like oatmeal for breakfast (it tastes better cooked than kept overnight in fridge).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Trained self to eat HUGE salads for lunch almost every day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hosted a junk-food-free Christmas for the family.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was also single for most of the year but I can't say that it's a good or a bad thing hahaha. I did feel lonely sometimes but it's better to be single than be in a relationship that doesn't make you happy, no?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">So what's next for 2015?</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Fix my finances</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My finances got derailed because I was unemployed for four months last year. I aim to pay off my credit card debt this year and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152251697667731.1073741827.819202730&type=1&l=7f0d2a6da0" target="_blank">sell off my house in Kuching</a>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Run!</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to clock at least 10 mins/km this year. Still contemplating running in the 10km run at Borneo International Marathon because I have a work trip that ends a day before the run. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Before Christmas derailed me (excuses!) I was actually training three times a week. Now I want to do six, because I don't think I am pushing my body enough. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Me, myself, and the Island of the Gods</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An overdue solo trip! Looking forward to a week of culinary delights, sescapes, drinks at sundown, and also arts and crafts.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Get ready to go to school</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd like to get my Master's degree (finally eh?) sometime in 2017 via a scholarship. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just four goals this year, which perhaps is a tad unambitious compared to the year I turned 30, when I had 30 goals (and actually achieved 18, I think).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I hope 2015 will be kinder to all of us :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">The Geek Goddess</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-43100880467149767852014-09-24T23:18:00.000+08:002014-09-24T23:18:17.724+08:00I Choose Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I first started this blog, I was unsure about the tone of voice that I should write with. Should I be politically correct because this blog can be viewed by the public? Or should I write from the heart because this is, after all, MY blog?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a valid point that's ripe for an argument because how I behave online after office hours might reflect on who I am professionally. I know that there are companies that screen their candidates online. I do the same to most of my dates (which probably explains why I'm single, but that's a topic for another post).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you have been reading this blog since the very beginning, you probably would notice how my earlier posts sounded a bit stilted and forced festive (to quote Stanford Blatch in the Sex and the City movie). I guess I was a bit heavy-handed with the Instgram treatment, mentally applying filters as I write because I wanted to please everyone who might be reading my blog.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a losing battle, trying to please your (imaginary) audience. Or anyone for the matter. So I decided to stop trying to be a people pleaser online. I decided to choose me :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course there are topics that are off-limits, such as work. I also don't discuss yucky TMI stuff, as I think the Daily Mail and other salacious tabloids can do a better job at whetting your appetite if you're into that sort of thing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've gradually been writing with a more open voice, and tonight I'd like to share some personal and embarrassing details. You might know them as dreams, goals, or affirmations. Whatever rocks your boat, baby.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, here goes:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As much as I love having a career (and I've been blessed to do so many things in such a short period), I do want to settle down one day. A husband, a home, maybe one or two kids, a white picket fence, and a job that allows me to work from home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the thing though. I've seen friends go through divorce, and that honestly scares the shit out of me. As for kids, I get agitated when I'm trapped in a confined space (like a late-night movie or a red eye flight) with a screaming, spoiled child. My friend Sue recently had a full moon party for her two-month old baby and I was terrified when she asked me to hold him, even when it was only for a few seconds so she could snap a photo of us together. Her son was very calm but I was so scared that I might accidentally drop him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am also not dating anyone at the moment. There was someone special for the last two months, but like many others before him, it turned out that he just wanted to be friends.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friends. That..that word is the bane of every single girl's existence, especially if it comes out of a man they're crazy about. Short of strapping the poor man to a chair and holding a gun to his head to force a fake declaration of affection, there really wasn't anything that I could do to change his mind. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I honestly couldn't breathe when he dropped the bomb. But as difficult as it is (I'm not made of cold marble, I do have feelings), I think the best thing to do is to quit him cold turkey until I can calmly communicate with him without silently fighting the urge to weep. This could take a thousand years so don't hold your breath.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Okay enough about the faux break-up. Let's move on.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When it comes to having a permanent home, you're looking at someone who moved six times in the past five years. I also spent nine years, from age 13 to 22, away from my family. First it was the five-year boarding school, then college for a year, followed by three years of uni. Home became a postal address I only use whenever I'm required to have snail mail sent to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These days whenever someone says the word home to me, my mind conjures an image of my rented apartment in PJ that I really loved. After renting a room for years, I finally decided to live alone and be the lady of my manor in the sky. The apartment was poorly maintained (my block usually had only one elevator working) and located in a ghetto with drug dealers and prostitutes walking freely, but it was the only apartment that I could afford in PJ. I hated the neighbourhood but I somehow managed to mentally block whatever's outside as soon as I step into my unit. My balcony overlooked the hill and on some days I didn't even have to turn on the fan because it was really breezy living on the 21st floor. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I no longer have a home when I left for Sabah. It was one of the things that hit me the hardest: feeling displaced and away from everything that was familiar. I'm feeling better now, but I do miss home from time to time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here in Sabah I work literally just metres away from the coastline, which is one of my lifelong dreams (but in my head it was the Penang coastline instead of Sabah's, to be honest). I am renting a master room in a quiet neighbourhood just 5 kilometres away from my office. There are friends here who steal me for lunch, dinner and beach walks. I also discovered lovely eateries here that cater to a wide spectrum of cravings, from the world's best pumpkin soup in Sailor's Cafe to affordable range of Western dishes at Upperstar.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So what now?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm slowly going back into running, starting with brisk walks. I recently went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a way over-due knee check-up. The doctor ruled out running for now, and recommended swimming and brisk walking. He actually laughed when Cher and I said we wanted to try Muay Thai, which was the main reason why I needed that check-up, as Muay Thai is pretty hard on your knees.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last weekend I joined a 5 kilometre Fit Malaysia run. The run was poorly organised (think huge crowd and two bicycle lanes as our running track) but I managed to clock 12 minutes as my average lap time despite walking most of the time. My best lap time ever since I took up running was 10 minutes, which is not that fast because most fit runners can probably finish 5 kilometres in half an hour. But I'm happy with going back to 10 for now. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've also recently discovered yoga, from where else but YouTube. It's a great stress reliever because the poses stretch my tired limbs and also helps me to focus on my breathing. Let's hope I can keep it up as the poses might get more difficult as I progress.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's 11 pm right now, which feels similar to 1 am in PJ. The sun is up around 6 am and full-force daylight greets you with a vengeance before 6.30 am. By 7 pm I would be dreaming of my bed because I have to wake up at daylight in order to catch the 7 am bus to work.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Will I ever settle down, get married, have kids and nest in a home with a white picket fence? Honestly, I don't know. The dating pool shrinks as years go by while strands of white hair keep announcing their presence to all and sundry. Marriage seems to be an epidemic amongst my peers but somehow it manages to skip me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All I know is this: whatever happens, I choose to be happy :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I choose me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Good night!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>The Geek Goddess</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-87493137875274616662014-09-08T00:25:00.000+08:002014-09-24T22:18:49.758+08:00Snippets of Sabah So Far<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
It's my twelfth day here in Sabah. I flew to Kota Kinabalu on my birthday last month (because the cheapest Air Asia ticket was on that day hahaha), so I had about a week to hunt for a place to stay before I started work on 2nd September.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I promised to write about Sabah so tada! But no pictures because le Internet is le horrible.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Anyway here goes:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Pre-departure</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Some of my friends thought I was nuts to pack up and leave without getting long-term accommodation. There were also others who thought I was brave to uproot myself and start fresh in an unfamiliar territory. The general consensus: they all thought I was crazy. With friends like these.... T_T</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've always been the "Why not?" kind of person when it comes to amazing opportunities, which has usually worked out pretty well in the past, and so I found myself saying yes to being based in Kota Kinabalu for a dream career in a non-profit organisation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
As for accommodation, I also had been searching for apartments even before I bought my flight ticket, but the search was frustrating due to a few factors:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1. I didn't know Sabah's real estate scene at all.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My budget and expectations were unrealistic as I expected Kota Kinabalu and the surrounding suburbs to mirror the real estate rates of Kuching. Turns out even dodgy-looking unfurnished studio/one-room apartments in a flood-prone area (flash floods are a huge problem here) require almost RM3000 upfront. If you include the cost of purchasing the bare minimum furnishings, that could push the costs even much higher. I wanted to really know a place before I was ready to part with an arm and a leg. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
2. I didn't know Sabah at all, including transportation and traffic conditions. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
According to my friends, places that are located within the 5km radius from my office can have varying travel time due to road works etc. Factor in flash floods after heavy rain and you'll take forever to get moving.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
3. I still needed to be there in person.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My lovely Sabahan friends offered to help me view the apartments but ultimately it would be up to me to decide how I feel about the unit, the location and other factors. So I might as well be there myself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I didn't have a family or a permanent place to stay in PJ/KL, so I had to pack up everything and move out within three weeks after getting the job offer. I sold my furniture to friends and neighbours, packed up most of my belongings in my car for storage at a friend's house, while the rest I mailed ahead of me, and took with me on the flight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There were many farewell and birthday get togethers with friends when they found out that I was leaving. Some of them I had to turn down because I was really running out of time to do everything. I hope to make it up to them the next time I come to PJ/KL.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The night before I left, I managed to squeeze in a farewell dinner with some ex-colleagues and a last minute furniture sale to a neighbour, so it was a given that the day of my departure was utter madness. :</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
3am - finished packing</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
4.30am - finished loading stuff into the car and drove a heavily-laden car SLOWLY</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
5am - reached a friend's house and showered there</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
6.45am - reached another friend's to drop the car and went to the airport in hers</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
10.20am - up up and away</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I didn't sleep at all the night before, so I dozed off a few times in my friend's car. Sleeping in the flight proved to be futile because there was an <i>enfant terrible</i> sitting in the row in front of me, who was spoiled rotten by her stupid parents and grandparents. She kept screaming for attention (I want my toy! I want a hug! I want to sit here! I want to sit there! I want this! I want that!) and in my head I was throwing that mollycoddled child off the plane over and over again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
If we insist on giving people tests before they drive on the road, why can't we insist on tests before people reproduce and inflict their spoiled offspring onto the unsuspecting public? Not everyone is fit for parenthood and misbehaving kids in public are usually a sign of lazy/bad parenting. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Temporary accommodation</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
A few days before my flight, I booked a single room at a backpackers' hostel called PODs. It's my first time staying at a backpacker's hostel and a lot of my friends marvelled at this fact hahaha. They're located in Api-Api Centre, and the staff were super friendly. I got to know the lovely owner named Maria, who made a hilarious effort to introduce me to some of her staff as "someone who works in WTF". The rest of us in the lounge almost died laughing hahaha.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My spacious room at PODs cost RM38/night and came with a mattress and the bedding, an IKEA wardrobe (I'm a recovering IKEA addict haha I have an IKEA radar in my head), free WiFi and simple self-service breakfast in the lounge. There are four communal showers (two showers with water heater) and my room comes with centralised air-conditioning AND also a ceiling fan.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There are plenty of cabs waiting outside of PODs and the Wawasan bus terminal which supplies buses to the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu is just a 5-min walk away. Across the road is also a hugely popular mall called Centrepoint.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I usually have trouble sleeping in a new place but I was so tired that I slept soundly on my first night at PODs. In my opinion, if you're travelling alone or as a couple and you just need a clean, convenient, and safe place to stay, PODs is the best hostel to stay in Kota Kinabalu. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Long-term accommodation</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Based on my experience, it's best to call the advertiser the same day the rental ad goes up because good places get snapped up really fast. I mainly went online to search for apartments such as on Mudah.my, iProperty and Propwall.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
My initial plan was to get an unfurnished studio/one-room apartment where it's easy to get a bus. My budget was RM600-RM700/month, with my max figure capped at RM800/month (this was my rent for a 3-bedroom unfurnished apartment in the dodgy end of Damansara Perdana). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
To my horror, I discovered that unfurnished studio/one-room apartments here can go really high, as minimum as RM900/month! So I had to get my head out of the clouds, come down to earth and rent a furnished master room instead. I found it in a house located in Kepayan Ridge, where the bus terminal, cab stand, and so many shops are within walking distance. There's even a mall within 15 minutes of walking from the house. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Driving around</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I also rented a car for the first three days of my stay. It was immensely helpful in my real estate search because I ended up checking out places like Likas, Penampang, Kepayan, Putatan and Sepanggar. The rates differ according to car model, including whether it's an automatic or manual transmission. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
For the first two days I rented an automatic Perodua Kenari for RM80/day. I wanted either a Perodua Viva or a Kenari because their back seats can fully recline and would be helpful in transporting stuff.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On my third day I couldn't extend the Kenari rental because it was already booked by the next customer, so the guy rented out an old manual Perodua Kancil to me at only RM50/day. I ended up parking it most of the day because it was such torture driving it:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
1. The air-conditioning was temperamental. So sometimes I had to roll down the windows because it wasn't working.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
2. The windows were sometimes jammed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
3. The speedometer didn't work haha if I ever got pulled over for speeding that would be my excuse! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
4. After parking, I sometimes had to turn on the ignition a few times before the car roared back to life.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
5. The steering wheel wasn't a power steering one. Nice workout for your arms (not!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I had never driven in Kota Kinabalu or its surrounding areas before, so I relied a lot on Waze, Google Maps, and a paper map. I also called friends when I wasn't sure of a place. For the most part it was easy driving here because most drivers drive at a leisurely pace, are quite patient and polite too. It rained every afternoon that I was driving but I didn't see any road accidents nor heard anyone honking when traffic wasn't moving. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Getting around by cab</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The airport cab from Terminal 2 (which is the low-cost carrier terminal) to Centrepoint costs RM30. As for getting cabs to go around the Kota Kinabalu city or its suburbs...PLEASE DON'T GET INTO ONE.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I discovered one day that cabs here are daylight robbers-on-wheels. I was late for work and had missed the 7am bus (I say 7am but it actually leaves whenever the bus is full wtf), so I took a cab from Kepayan Ridge to Centrepoint. It was about 5km and we were stationary for maybe 3 minutes in the entire journey. The cab driver quoted me RM13 without the meter but I insisted on turning the meter on so that I have something to compare to. The final fare? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
RM15!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Getting around by bus</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Buses are plenty here and you can find those going to the suburbs on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu in front of Marina Court (the Wawasan Terminal nearby is currently renovated). Long-distance buses are located at other terminals.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
From Kepayan Ridge I take the 14, 14A and 14B orange-white bus to Marina Court (which is 5 mins' walk from my office) and the fare is RM1.30 (about ten times cheaper than a cab fare). Based on my observation (read: long wait at the Kepayan Ridge bus terminal), one bus leaves approximately every hour.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The buses here will only depart once it is full or almost full, and most of them are old and have no air-conditioning. You pay the fare to the driver when you get off. The good thing about buses here is that the drivers are generally careful and do not drive fast like the mad bus drivers in KL do (those in KL probably have nine lives, who knows). Also, unlike in KL and PJ where no one gets off the bus even if they're blocking your exit, people here will get off to give you way before boarding the bus again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Healthcare</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Private generic clinics can cost an arm and a leg here, even if you only have a normal fever. The cheapest quote I got from a colleague was minimum RM60 per visit. As for dentists, a visit will set you back at least RM150.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There's a multi-department centre called Urban Transformation Centre in Sembulan where Malaysians pay as little as RM2 to see a medical assistant (supposedly there are no GPs at the clinic) or even a dentist at its 1Malaysia clinic. You can also renew your driver's license at the post office, renew your passport at the immigration department, or even pay your Streamyx bills at the TMPoint branch here. Parking is free and it's easy to get buses here too. Very convenient.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Mobile coverage</b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm not sure about other telcos but DiGi's coverage in Kota Kinabalu and its surrounding areas is HORRENDOUS. I was lost on my way back from 1Borneo and almost drove to Menggatal because Waze couldn't get a signal BECAUSE DiGi HAD NO SIGNAL DURING THE RAIN.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
DiGi consistently fails to provide service the moment the skies pour down here. Every time it rains, without fail, I will not have a signal on my phone. Even on a sunny day, I sometimes can't load a webpage on my laptop that is tethered to my phone. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The moment my contract with DiGi ends in July 2015, I will be switching to another telco unless DiGi's coverage improves.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Internet connection</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
If you're used to high-speed Unifi and you suddenly have to move to Sabah, please try to wean yourself off this luxury. Mourn if you must, because if you're like me (I need to be plugged in every day), you'll be so bloody frustrated when you get here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There are areas covered by Unifi in Sabah but they're very few and far in between. My housing area is not covered by Unifi yet so I had to switch to Streamyx (which is slightly better than good old dial-up connection of yesteryears wtf) or risk being fined RM500 because I still have a contract with Unifi till next year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've surrendered my Unifi paraphernalia to TMPoint and while I wait for the good folks at Streamyx to come over, I have to rely on my wretched DiGi connection to surf the net.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>Language</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Try to speak Malay anywhere you go in Sabah, as Sabahan Malay is widely spoken here. It is almost similar to the official Malay language, but has a different twang and plenty of unique words in it. There are many Sabahans I've met on the streets who can speak English decently, so I suspect switching back to speaking mainly in Sabahan Malay is either a force of habit or they're not confident enough to speak fully in English.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I used to speak Sabahan Malay fluently when I was in uni because I had a lot of Sabahan friends, but I've gone rusty from not practising it over the years. For the first few days here, I spoke mainly in English and that got me really a lot of stares hahaha. I felt like a coconut whenever that happened (read: dark-skinned on the outside but <i>ang moh</i> on the inside ahaha)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm doing better now though. Speaking a language is like riding a bicycle; you'll get back into the groove once you practise it again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b>The end</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
So that's it for now. I'm super tired from walking around the past two days in an effort to get back to running. Did a lot of stairs today and my recovering knee, which I injured in May this year (while lifting my grandma haha), surprisingly took it well. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Likas Bay and Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru are two lovely places for jogs because you get to see the sea as you huff and puff in the cold salty breeze. I'm looking forward to my first 5K run after three years on the side lines, which will happen in two weeks' time in Likas Bay.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Good night!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Geek Goddess</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-8634977029328844952014-08-10T23:24:00.000+08:002014-08-10T23:24:24.159+08:00It's Amazing - Jem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8XDxhDbtDak" width="420"></iframe>
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Do it now</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You know who you are</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You feel it in your heart</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you're burning and wishing</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">At first, wait, won't get it on a plate</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You're gonna work for it harder and harder</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I know 'cause I've been there before</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Knocking on the doors with rejection (rejection)</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you'll see 'cause if it's meant to be</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nothing can compare to deserving your dream</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">[Chorus:]</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's amazing, it's amazing all that you can do</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's amazing, it makes my heart sing</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now it's up to you</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Patience, now, frustration's in the air</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And people who don't care</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Well it's gonna get you down</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you'll fall (fall)</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yes you will hit a wall</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But get back on your feet</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you'll be stronger and smarter</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I know 'cause I've been there before</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Knockin' down the doors, won't take "No" for an answer</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And you'll see 'cause if it's meant to be</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nothing can compare to deserving your dream</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Heard this song for the first time in the Sex and The City movie (I LOVE the series!). Was watching it again today for God knows how many times already and am struck by how fitting this song is when it comes to my life right now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You see, after building my life for the past five years in Red Henna City, I am going to move (in less than a month!) to the Land Below the Wind. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Will write more about it once I have the time to breathe!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s1600/Daydreamer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM4oy96Q5KkUyo9ddfQ0PIuI75mceBZnV_8Yq2rT7zYToogWMd6R9EgfUwGYvEgOMGsPVhxmuVBb-uZ_GEKzVu8dIpY4XE3HrfqHH-_4d786AoICaGU7uIxZ64EnYzZ0_tP-A2EmTukKD/s320/Daydreamer.JPG" height="320" width="310" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Geek Goddess</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-24991640872834308152014-08-08T00:03:00.000+08:002014-08-08T00:13:55.257+08:00A Guide to Going Freelance Full-Time or Running Your Own Business From Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When we said goodbye to 2013 and rang in 2014 (by we, I mean most of you, because I didn't even stay up that night zzzzzzzzzzz), I never thought my life would change so much this year.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the major changes was switching from being a full-time salaried copywriter to a full-time freelance writer and (struggling!) businesswoman.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I mention to new acquaintances what I do for a living, most of them would say I'm so lucky to work from home as my own boss. But honestly, being a full-time entrepreneur, like other careers, has its own ups and downs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So for those of you who are interested to go solo career-wise, since I have done three months' worth of legwork, I hereby present for your benefit the pros and cons of being a full-time freelancer or a business owner working from home:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://beingmrsmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/5379-101413-gs5379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://beingmrsmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/5379-101413-gs5379.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Photo credit: Google</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">PROS OF GOING FREELANCE FULL-TIME OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS FROM HOME</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">1. You have more control of your time.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- It's SO NICE to be able to run errands during normal office hours instead of having to apply for one day's leave from work like before.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">2. No traffic congestion during your commute to and from work.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- It's just an easy stroll from your bedroom to your workspace.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">3. No work dress code.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You can even work in your PJs!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">4. No office politics or gossip.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Because the only staff in the office is you. <i>Yay!</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">5. You think like a business owner instead of salaried staff.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Because you're now running an <strike>empire</strike> enterprise. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">6. Hobbies and interests previously neglected are now getting some love.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Being my own boss allows me a degree of freedom to attend any social events I like, even if it's done during office hours.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- I also get to try new recipes more frequently now since I work from home.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">7. Savings!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- My commuting expenses are almost zero (I do have to meet clients from time to time) because I no longer drive to work daily, so I save on fuel, toll charges, and parking fees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">8. More sense of ownership and pride over your work.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Since you're involved from A to Z (e.g. pitching your proposal, giving a quotation, and then producing the work), you will feel more invested in what you do.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CONS </b><b>OF GOING FREELANCE FULL-TIME OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS FROM HOME</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">1. Loneliness.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Unless you have housemates, you will feel pretty isolated from the human population.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">2. Your brain will work non-stop!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Because you work at home, your brain will think you're in work mode every <strike>goddamn</strike> waking hour.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">3. Public holidays mean NOTHING.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Since you pretty much can choose which day to rest from work, every day is a potential holiday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">4. Your home might not be the best work environment.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Headphones and a kick-ass playlist come in handy if you have neighbours who renovate their apartments at ALL HOURS, or have demon children who scream ALL DAY.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">5. No tangible work perks.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You have to pony up your own contributions for EPF.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- If you're sick, try not to feel too much pain when you pay for your medical bills out of your own pocket.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">6. No monthly salary.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- The uncertainty of my next pay cheque hit me the hardest because I do have financial commitments. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- It gets even worse if your client has selective amnesia and decides to conveniently forget that they owe you money. T_T</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">7. Any rejection feels more personal than it should be, because you're more invested in your work.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- I had a client who wanted my company to provide corporate re-branding, corporate communications and digital marketing. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- After a series of meetings, we worked hard to prepare a comprehensive proposal based on their needs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- They were impressed by our pitch, and called for a quotation.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- In the end the client refused our proposal because they were only willing to pay 10% of the market rate. <b>Unbelievable. </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">8. More pressure</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You feel more pressure to succeed because you're running your own company. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- If you don't have the tools to deal with this (e.g. a strong mind, good friends to cry to), it will break you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I never regretted going into freelance mode full-time and starting a company. It's been a baptism of fire, really, and I am so happy that I can cross them off my bucket list. <i>*shakes fist triumphantly*</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">However, in retrospect, there are things that I should have done before plunging into running my own enterprise, so let me save you some headache and list them below:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbrmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Dollarphotoclub_50437501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bbrmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Dollarphotoclub_50437501.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Photo credit: Google</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT TO DO <span style="color: red;">BEFORE</span> GOING FREELANCE FULL-TIME OR RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS FROM HOME</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">1. Minimise financial commitments.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Pay off any debts you have, if possible. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Put off any major purchases or expenses.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">2. Have enough savings to last for the first six months. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- You're lucky to see a cent of profits during this time, but your bills must still be paid on time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">3. Network as much as possible - put feelers out there to get possible business leads.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Some of the leads I got were from friends' word of mouth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- People are more likely to hire you if they know you or know your referees, who can vouch for your skills and experience.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">4. Get peer review for every client before agreeing to work for them.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Avoid clients with a history of non-payment or difficulty to work with, especially the ones who change their minds every five seconds.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- Almost every freelancer I know has at least one bad client they swear they will never ever work for again. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">5. Undergo a short business course or attend a few seminars. </span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- It's hard to transition from thinking like a salaried staff to thinking like a business owner, so a short course or seminars might help in kicking things off.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">6. Get a dedicated business mentor, preferably someone in the same industry</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am very lucky to have friends who are freelancers and business owners, but none of them work in the same industry, so they might not know the common pitfalls. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have any tips to add to my lists, feel free to submit them in the <b>Comments</b> section below! :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Geek Goddess</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-68230773600833730382014-07-16T15:19:00.000+08:002014-07-16T15:19:57.667+08:00Tempahan Mengubahsuai Atau "Altering" Baju Raya<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Dua minggu lagi nak sambut raya :)</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Kalau beli baju raya online atau di kedai, kadang-kadang terlalu labuh. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Jika perlu ubah atau "alter" kaki kain, kaki seluar, atau lengan baju, bolehlah hantar kat saya:</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">RM10 untuk sehelai baju atau seluar. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">RM18 untuk sepasang baju (contoh: baju kurung - baju dan kain).</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b>Syarat-syarat:</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Pastikan bahagian yang ingin dipotong tiada manik/batu/labuci. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Tarikh terakhir terima tempahan "alter" baju raya ialah Rabu, 23 Julai 2014.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Untuk ubahsuai baju biasa, boleh hantar tempahan bila-bila masa, asalkan sebulan dari tarikh mengambil.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Untuk pertanyaan, sila hubungi customtailorpj[AT]gmail.com</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwYINpqIbxqb7EndcSDelmNS6pZHJJFp3a7LfC7F4OoOmAtW0Jsz7fvVff5LcxVC7hs1ze3fKpDUUbjh8TmHJvVmnWS2B6SqXcQibqMcreJpVWfFP__-SkJZX9rTlQ7PR5waawiA3jQmu/s1600/lady+sewing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwYINpqIbxqb7EndcSDelmNS6pZHJJFp3a7LfC7F4OoOmAtW0Jsz7fvVff5LcxVC7hs1ze3fKpDUUbjh8TmHJvVmnWS2B6SqXcQibqMcreJpVWfFP__-SkJZX9rTlQ7PR5waawiA3jQmu/s1600/lady+sewing.png" height="181" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-23947199619056074832014-06-27T15:37:00.000+08:002014-06-27T15:37:09.912+08:00Home Is Where The Durians Are<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Below are excerpts of an article I wrote recently for <a href="http://life.malaysia.my/en/?p=home" target="_blank">My Malaysia</a>. Happy reading! :)</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">The Geek Goddess</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="100" width="99" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Home Is Where The Durians Are</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I was a young conservation educator at wildlife
NGO in Malaysia when I first met Mike. A British national then in his sixties, he
sported mostly silver strands on his head and an equally silver beard. This was
eight years ago and yes, it’s now my turn to sport salt-and-pepper streaks in
my tresses. No signs of a beard though (thank God!).<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Fondly known as Uncle Mike, this sprightly
gentleman has been a valuable asset to Malaysia’s wildlife conservation as a researcher,
trainer and mentor. A multitude of wildlife researchers from different
organisations have benefitted from his wildlife study design and data analysis
“boot camps”. These special workshops share insights on estimating wildlife
occupancy, density, and demographic parameters such as survival.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">As for the social side of conservation,
Mike was also instrumental in helping me design a social survey for
stakeholders living in and around Batang Ai National Park and Lanjak-Entimau
Wildlife Sanctuary. These are two protected areas in Sarawak where viable orang
utan populations have been found. The social survey was a culmination of years
of conservation education activities in these areas, and they served to foster
awareness and sense of ownership amongst the communities. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">My team and I were very lucky to have Mike on
board as our mentor and main architect of the survey. He assisted us during months of designing and
testing survey questions to avoid bias, besides doing simulations and modelling
to explore different sample sizes and sampling strategies. Based on results of
this study, the first species-specific radio programme in Sarawak was developed
and broadcasted to promote the importance of protected areas and the ecosystem
services that they provide.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://life.malaysia.my/en/featured/lifestyle/home-is-wherethe-durians-are" target="_blank">Read more on My Malaysia</a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-75358255979175048402014-06-20T03:29:00.000+08:002014-06-20T03:33:51.540+08:00The Lost Boys: A Dating Epidemic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Achtung: This post contains strong vocabulary and should be read with a huge glass of scotch.</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess it's normal to have expectations when it comes to dating. I do expect my dates to have manners, and also the ability to spell properly. <i>Haha.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I also expect someone who claims that they're interested in me to keep maintaining contact. You know, to show that they're still interested to get to know me more. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">See, I never knew how to play dating games that women supposedly play to keep men interested. If I like you, I will try to contact you, and I will try to know you more. That's my only dating M.O.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been in the dating scene for the past 11 bloody long years, and it seems to me that there were a lot of guys who claimed to like me, conversed with me regularly, went out with me a few times, then texted or called me semi-daily...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">ONLY FOR THEM TO GO *POOF* ONE DAY AND NEVER EVER RETURN!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or...they are alive but they gave me so many excuses on why they're not regularly contacting me like before:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">- My cat died.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">- My car died.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>- I am busy these days. </i>*I guess we women have all the time in the world, eh?*</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">- I am overwhelmed by work/family/my stupid team's performance in the World Cup.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Is there a dating black hole for men that we women are not aware of? That maybe there is a secret button on their phone that they accidentally press and their phone screen would swallow them whole and incapacitate them from contacting us further? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am very curious to find out why men seemed to drop off the face of the earth after making a lot of effort to imprint their existence in our female brains. I know I am not the only woman to whom this weird disappearing act happens regularly. One of my super nice guy friends said that his female friends also complained about the same thing.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are the lost boys an epidemic for which there is no known cure?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess what I'm trying to say is: if you're not interested in someone, please don't waste their time by contacting them. Ever. Grow some balls and spare us the heartache, thankyouverymuch. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of this mysterious epidemic, I am getting really sick of dating. Sometimes I feel like checking into a convent, swearing men off forever and develop the habit of looking great in a *cough* habit. <i>Teehee.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My *ahem* pragmatic brain always seems to think, "Look, you did your best, but let's face it, this dating shit is not working out for you". My ever-optimistic heart however, begs a different interpretation: "Hey, not all men are bad. There's someone out there for you. You just haven't found him yet". </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been searching for him for 11 years, for fuckitty fuck's sake. Where the hell is he? Is his sense of direction so poor to the point of being ridiculous? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I went through 11 years of disastrous dating attempts and four relationships that went south, yet my stupid heart still wants someone who complements me to grow old with and to raise a family with. Despite my strong objections against having unruly children in public spaces (hello screaming toddlers in a cinema showing a late-night horror movie), I do want to have (well-mannered) children one day. And I know I don't want to be a single parent. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But as I get older, I have less tolerance for this bullshit called dating. Whenever men give me excuses like "Oh I'm so busy picking up my dog's poo, so I'll text you in another century", all I can hear is this: <i>You're not worth my time, bitch.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Time is a limited resource, gentlemen. If you like me, make it worth my time. And if you don't like me, it's ok to be upfront about it and save both of us a lot of grief instead of playing stupid hide-and-seek. I'm a grown woman. I can handle rejection. *flips hair and roars* </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What I cannot handle are stupid boys who waste my time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to running my one-woman empire.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Geek Goddess</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s1600/Detective.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfopYXp2WHaMMskrCLGfcppXAzF1CuwFb5WMS8U6AgjUtcqcqkWr_f5D32jHu12dKVy8oXYv-jj0VrMyCMM1LqiTItB5GtJz1dfzqgUr_LQRORCCkI2YqPr79bKMgFBkXSOChKg9t2sO5/s320/Detective.JPG" height="200" width="158" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-11623879569934946292014-06-02T09:00:00.000+08:002014-06-08T01:38:32.363+08:00What to Do When Your System Software Goes Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever gone to a counter at a bank, or a government office, only to find out that their "system" is down and you had to come back another day?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure a lot of us have faced this situation before. What irks me the most is this lazy response: "Our system is down, so we can't do this for you now."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or this even lazier one: "Our system has been down for days, so we can't do this for you now/this week/this year/this decade."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Gee, thanks.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Most banks and government offices only open their counters during business hours, so to do something there would require you to sacrifice your lunch break or a vacation day so you could be there....only to find that the system is down and the staff are happily chatting about the latest celebrity gossip.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I also have civil servant friends who keep complaining that their Human Resource Management Information System is always down during their peak filing period. And guess what? It happens <b>EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What is my point here exactly?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. THE PROBLEM WON'T GO AWAY UNLESS YOU FIX IT</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pick up the phone and call your vendor. Get them to commit to resolve the issue within a fixed amount of time, say 24 hours. Then call them at frequent intervals to check on their progress. It is your right to demand that your system runs as smoothly as it's supposed to.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As for your end users, inform them of the downtime, apologise for the inconvenience, then commit to a resolution date and time, if possible.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. IF YOU ARE A COMPANY OWNER, ADD A CLAUSE IN THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT THAT STIPULATES IF UNPLANNED DOWNTIME IS MORE THAN X%, YOU'RE GETTING A DISCOUNT</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's normal to have planned downtime for maintenance or upgrading. Banks regularly do this a few hours in a day for their websites, usually after midnight when web traffic is slow. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We vendors usually deploy changes to the system from midnight to six in the morning or maybe earlier if we can finish faster. The key thing about planned downtime is to inform your customer in advance so that they can inform their end users in return. Then do whatever you need to do during low traffic period to minimise the effect on end users.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As for unplanned downtime.....hey, shit happens. However, if you are expecting a peak period of usage (for online banking it might be during payday), have your team on standby to monitor how things go. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I used to work for a vendor that handles the SMS blast system for a telecommunications company. One of the types of content blasted is news from sources such as The Star and New Straits Times. The system is equipped to blast at regular intervals. However, during special events like the World Cup or the general election, news updates will come up fast into the system from the content providers. If we don't clear them fast enough by blasting more regularly to subscribers, they'll clog up the system, stop it from blasting, and prevent subscribers from getting their updates on time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever the system gets clogged, our team would have to fix it, even if it happened at 12am when we're in deep sleep and dreaming about kittens. When shit happens, we fix it. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Like I said earlier, as a customer, you have the right to demand that your system is always up and running except during scheduled downtime. So put in that discount clause to make sure your vendor knows you mean business if shit happens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. IF YOUR SYSTEM GOES DOWN WAY TOO OFTEN, YOU MIGHT NEED TO UPGRADE IT...</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There is no perfect system or software in this world. When a bug exists, you can either submit a maintenance ticket (which is what people usually do if their off-the-shelf system support is outsourced overseas, such as India) or call your vendor straight away. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Off-the-shelf software usually releases updates that are automatically sent to you when you have Internet connection on your device. Customised software, however, might require a house call by the vendor.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Like any other business, a vendor is supposed to make their customers happy. So they should be prepared for peak periods, run maintenance checks regularly, and assess if your system is due for an upgrade.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If the system repeatedly goes down because of the vendor's incompetence, the customer might tell them to kindly take a hike, and worse, sign up with their competitors.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. ....... OR GET A NEW SOFTWARE VENDOR </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At <a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">RedBean Software</a>, we provide customised software because we believe each business has its own specific needs. <a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">RedBean</a>'s customised software can accommodate growth and cater to key business objectives, as our software is designed with your long-term business goals in mind. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As software specialists with over nine years of industry experience, we make it our business to ensure our customers' businesses run smoothly using our high-quality products and solutions. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To assess your software needs and craft the right software for your business, please contact us at <a href="mailto:sales@redbeandev.com" target="_blank">sales@redbeandev.com</a> and we will get back to you within 24 hours.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Geek Goddess</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-65150040487669587772014-05-30T09:30:00.000+08:002014-05-30T14:56:21.936+08:00Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Sa..dua...tiga..empat...lima...enam...tuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuujuh! </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Selamat ngintu ari Gawai ngagai bala kita ti bisi maca blog tu. Gayu guru gerai nyamai, lantang senang nguan menua. Anang guai ngabang enda pala agi sebening, enggai ke bebadi ba jalai alun. Ooooohaaaa!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Sia juga mo bilang Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan sama kamurang urang-urang Sabah. Pelan-pelan kalo moginum ah. Aramaiti! </span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;">*pardon my rusty Bahasa Sabah hehe*</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Folks in Sabah will celebrate <i>Kaamatan</i>, the yearly Harvest Festival, on 31 May, followed by a celebration of similar purpose across the state lines in Sarawak called <i>Gawai Dayak</i> on 1 June (although we start partying the night before hehe).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I typically take one week off from work to fly home and celebrate <i>Gawai</i> with my family. This is because I would first have to fly to Kuching, spend one to two days there, and then travel to my mother's rural hometown.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">However I have been missing <i>Gawai</i> for two years in a row now due to work. Last year, it was because the boss wouldn't let me take leave (she's a Singaporean so she didn't particularly have the mental capacity to process the significance of <i>Gawai</i>). As for this year, I recently went home in the second week of May, and flew back to Red Henna City after two weeks. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So much has happened since early April. Let me do a recap:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. I decided to leave my job</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I honestly loved the work I do, creating marketing content for multiple mediums. Most of my colleagues were fun to work with as well.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">However, after much consideration, I had to accept the fact that the company culture was not a great fit for me. It was heavily Sino-centric, with Mandarin and Cantonese being the official languages in company events and meetings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a writer, I rely on words to process meanings and it was very frustrating to attend something conducted in a language you barely know, let alone understand. Very often I had to steal a colleague to be my translator, denying them the chance to fully be immersed in the event, and having to do this never failed to make me feel like an invalid.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There were also other reasons why I left that I would rather not mention here.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. My grandmother had a stroke, so I flew home</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Nenek</i> is in the hospital", texted my sister on 27 April.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I swear my heart stopped beating at that exact moment. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Later on, I found out that she had suffered a mini stroke at home, while seated during tea. Luckily she was not alone during the attack.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I called my parents afterwards, both of them tried to sound normal on the phone, retreating into their protective mode, so as not to worry me. They had done this many times before, such as when <i>Nenek</i> had a nasty fall last year, or when they got into a car accident. I know they mean well, but no matter where I am, I am still family and deserve the right to know, <i>goddammit</i>!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They realised that their cover was blown when I asked upfront about <i>Nenek</i>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nenek</i> was immobile and had a feeding tube inserted, hence she needed round-the-clock care. Dad became the designated driver and stayed at home to do the chores. Everyone else (save for one horrid, selfish person who shall not be named and shamed here) looked after <i>Nenek</i> in shifts. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I flew home a week after she was admitted into the hospital as I had an interview two days prior. Because I was not working, I would take the week night shifts as the rest had work or school during the day and needed their sleep. In return, they would sacrifice their off days and weekends to be at <i>Nenek</i>'s side so I can get some shut-eye. Some of us even pulled 24-hour shifts because we didn't have enough manpower.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The day I flew home, I actually had a high fever (worst trip ever hahaha) and self-medicated while at KLIA2 </span><span style="font-size: large;">(Panadol, multivitamins, Tiger Balm, Clarinase, and a mountain of tissues) </span><span style="font-size: large;">so I could be well when I touched down. </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Un-fucking-fortunately</i><span style="font-size: large;">, the fever ended up overstaying its welcome (never welcomed to begin with anyway) and I had it for one whole damn week due to lack of sleep.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nenek's </i>appetite had improved after the feeding tube was removed, and she slowly regained about 75% use of her right arm. My sister and I resorted to many things (including smuggling in my sister's tiny B&W TV hahaha) to keep her entertained and awake during the day, so that she could return to her normal sleeping cycle. Since admitted to the hospital, she had been sleeping all day due to boredom and then stayed awake all night. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After her morning bath and breakfast, we would carry her to her chair for physiotherapy. Then we'd let her listen to the Iban Radio broadcast on our phones, watch aeroplanes and birds go by, let her watch Hawaii Five-0 (she loves cop dramas), and even let her browse through our phones to see photos of our dogs and family members. We also insisted that she have her meals on her own while seated there. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Nenek</i> was finally discharged after three weeks of staying at <i>Le Château de Hôpital</i>. At the time of writing, she is still unable to walk on her own, and had to hold on to something when she stands up. My parents decided to take her home to the longhouse for <i>Gawai</i> despite her immobility, hoping that the festivities and catching up with our relatives would cheer her up and motivate her to start walking.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout her ordeal, <i>Nenek</i> never stopped praying for recovery. A devout Christian, I would catch her mumbling a prayer a few times a day. To be honest, I don't think I'd be able to show faith as strong as hers if I was in her shoes. I'd probably start drinking gin and tonic every day hahaha.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Behold, the spanking new KLIA2</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I flew to Kuching 5 days after the new airport was open for business. Skybus only started operating from 9 May onwards to and from KLIA2, so I took a cab to KL Sentral, and then boarded the KLIA Express. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The new airport is actually a huge shopping mall with an airport attached, almost like an afterthought. Plenty of the shops were still under renovation. One of the things I love about it is AIR-CONDITIONING, something that LCCT severely lacked. In fact, an American friend who was visiting years ago was shocked to see that our low-cost terminal looked like a huge barn!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">KLIA2 had stationed many helpful staff to help with enquiries, but I really don't appreciate trekking for miles just to reach the boarding hall. They </span><span style="font-size: large;">also need to put up more signages, especially for places that are hidden away from the main flow of foot traffic. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The bus counter was located in a corner with no huge signs, and while there maybe 10 counters in place, only a few were open and the staff really took their time to process bookings. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Security was tighter than when I last flew. We were asked to take out all of electronic devices and place them in a tray (previously we could leave them in bags for the scan). We were also asked to take off our belts and watches.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Aboard Malindo Air</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I boarded Malinda Air for the first time during my trip home. Was pleasantly surprised to discover huge legroom, a TV screen, and light refreshments served onboard despite being a low-cost airline. We had a rough landing though.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Little did I know that things would be worse during my trip back to KL via the same airline. In KIA, the airline shared the boarding hall with another airline flying earlier than us and bound for Indonesia, so we weren't allowed to sit there until they had boarded their plane. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When it was time to board and our plane was not even in sight yet, I asked the ground staff if we were going to be delayed, but she confidently said that we would leave in time.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What a liar.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our flight ended up delayed by more than an hour, without any announcements, or even apologies from the captain or any of the crew. I had planned to take the 6.30pm Skybus to 1Utama so that I would be home before 10pm. Since I arrived way later than that, I took the 8.30 Aerobus to KL Sentral, then hopped into a cab to go home. I got home close to midnight.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. In the midst of all the chaos, I co-founded a software company</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As someone whose career has spanned more than eight years now, I am blessed to be able to cross off a few things on my bucket list:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">a) Be an educator - done!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">b) Work for a non-profit - done!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">c) Work for a global brand - done twice!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">d) Work in advertising - done twice!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">e) Be a writer - done!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">f) Start my own company - RECENTLY DONE! :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend (and sometimes arch nemesis lol) Mickey and I have known each other for more than five years. We've always wanted to collaborate professionally as we knew our different personalities, knowledge and set of skills were actually complementary. I have worked with many software engineers before, and he is, by far, <b>THE BEST</b> amongst all of them. We both love tech, and while I can't code from scratch (he can), I am *ahem* great with people and I also have marketing experience. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We finally started operations for <a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">RedBean Software</a> in early May, although t</span><span style="font-size: large;">he groundwork was actually laid a few months before. We kicked off the process by having many frank discussions about the direction of the company, what our roles would be, and the kind of products and services to offer, amongst other things. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the end, we decided to offer software consultancy and a range of customised products such as mobile apps, desktop software and web/cloud solutions for businesses. Our first breakthrough came when a potential client issued an RFP, before our company even had a logo! Unfortunately the project didn't go through as they decided to do it internally.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Since returning from Kuching, both of us have been busy fine-tuning the <a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">RedBean Software</a> brand before launching our presence online: <a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">the company website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbeansoftware" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/redbeansoftware" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/redbean-software" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> and <a href="http://google.com/+Redbeandevelopment" target="_blank">Google+</a>. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.redbeandev.com/" target="_blank">RedBean Software</a> is our dream come true, and I couldn't ask for a better business partner. :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan</i> and <i>Selamat Ngintu Gawai Dayak</i>, everyone!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Geek Goddess</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-63300181364467114622014-05-28T01:43:00.001+08:002014-05-28T01:43:35.364+08:00A Little Note<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So many things have happened since my last post. Some great, some not-so-great, and some downright awful.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But overall, I feel happy and so very blessed. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Promise I'll write more soon. Ta!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br />XOXO,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Geek Goddess</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s1600/Writer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMqw-CETeDaW_KgZaLD0hI8uLZieCsOwa0zKZ3Sargqi3RASMR5FdumC3Z0mqF_E_yELcmCyBkQW8uX51EZGw8C2mm2x9nVz91reE0N9ylaeEwaTvXoYy-iEbVdyoXpunteIOIMmLYMbX/s320/Writer.JPG" height="200" width="197" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582482452531693916.post-80033885779880073972014-04-04T00:58:00.000+08:002014-04-04T00:58:47.281+08:00I Still Need You<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I took you in when you were barely a month old. It was October 2008. It was a new chapter for both of us: I had just moved in to a new house, and you found a new family: me.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">You used to cry at night looking for your mum, waking up the entire neighbourhood. You ended up sleeping in a box next to my bed.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I used to bundle you up in a towel near me for warmth and we would watch TV together after dinner. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Housebreaking you required me dragging us both out of bed at 6 in the morning for your breakfast and then for you to relieve yourself. Once you slipped into the neighbour's lawn while I was trying to stay awake, waiting for you to poop. Your escape attempt successfully kept me up. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">You also had a thing for rolled up clothes, so I got you a little ball to play with. You hated it though. Never even touched it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 2009, I had to leave you with Mummy and Daddy to go to work. It broke my heart. I thought of you every day, almost always with guilt. I felt as if I had abandoned you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But you flourished despite my absence. From a cute puppy, you grew up to be a very huge and playful dog. Everyone at home loved you. How could they not? You were friendly and kind and loving to everyone you met.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I flew home, I knew you'd be waiting at the gate. I knew you'd pounce the minute the car door was open, and that getting from the car into the house required the obligatory waltz with you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I called home, I'd always ask about the three of you, things like how is Bulan doing, where is Bonnie, and what on earth is Snoopy loudly barking at?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd give anything to hear you bark again.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, while at work, my heart broke again when Mummy told me you had left us. The vet couldn't save you last night, she said. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Did you know Mummy couldn't focus on work after that phone call? My entire life I had never seen her cry but she did today, while showing everyone photos of you in her phone.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried hard not to cry at work, because I knew no one at work would understand. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was mad....no, I was furious at God for not listening to our prayers for you to heal. I know it was selfish, but I prayed for Him to please not take you away so soon, because we still need you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I still need you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8qG9XZCp3U7hTbCedZyLMbeDHmGJ-0zCUJR0MO9BkjDrEJ1XOaK98lr7mYT3xdFS4cc8rUboFayOTqySSwhyphenhyphenHuBQauXcXA2Xz5wMG-WoIXDo2YbxV8rbwxLcxx2rlU0QfLXNxjIpC_K1/s1600/RIP+Snoopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8qG9XZCp3U7hTbCedZyLMbeDHmGJ-0zCUJR0MO9BkjDrEJ1XOaK98lr7mYT3xdFS4cc8rUboFayOTqySSwhyphenhyphenHuBQauXcXA2Xz5wMG-WoIXDo2YbxV8rbwxLcxx2rlU0QfLXNxjIpC_K1/s1600/RIP+Snoopy.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Snoopy at a few months' old</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0