February so far

I've been jobless for more than a week now since I resigned from my job on the last day of January. I'm not really jobless since I have a new position to report to come beginning of March, but I have three weeks off before I embark on a new career journey. Three glorious weeks!! So far it's been filled with days well spent with family and friends over Chinese New Year celebrations. The timing couldn't be any more perfect. I'm also cramming in opportunities to go out looking for stuff that I need for our house. Who knew even a minor thing like curtains could turn out to be something totally major? Now I realise that the devil is in the details and I'd better get things sorted out while I still have time.

We usually go back to Mr Bun's hometown for up to a week during CNY but he doesn't have that privilege this year. So we only spent three days, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days of CNY back at the kampung. Kinda glad for the fact that we didn't have to get caught in the pre and post CNY mad traffic. I spent the first two days cooking, which got me thinking if I want to do this again next year (I guess I can overlook the fact that it's super tiring since it's a once-in-a-year affair). 

I'm not a big baby-hugger type of person but here I am caught in one of those rare heartwarming moments. This is the 3rd niece from Mr Bun's family and here she looks like a super adorable baby zombie trying to chew me alive.

Been spending some time lepaking at home while Mr Bun is at work over CNY. But we did manage to have a nice meal on Valentine's Day. No flowers, gifts and shiz because we never got into the silliness of those stuff. Just spending some quality time with each other will do :D We had dinner at this quaint restaurant called Taste Gallery at Bandar Mahkota Cheras and their molten lava cake is the best letmetellyou!!

My second elder brother had his registration of marriage two days after Valentine's Day. It was at the NRD in Putrajaya, the same place where I had mine. Back then they weren't open on Saturdays but now they are. We spotted a few hot-air balloons from the public carpark and walked over for some photo-op after the registration do but they were calling it a day. It was a MAKNA private event and how I wish I could've snuck in a little earlier. They had free helicopter rides!! ARGHGHGHGH :(

This really happened. You can't disagree that there is a resemblance.

Snuck in a few lou sang makans with different groups of friends and here I am with my girlies from PESS. That's Baby Cherish, who is the 2nd baby of the group. Wonder who will is next in line to be a babymomma?

Que sera sera

When I was just a little girl, I never asked my mother what will I be. I never paid attention to whether I'll be pretty, if I'll be rich and she never said anything to me. 

But as I hit puberty, I started wondering why my mother still wouldn't invest in proper teenage skincare products for me while I envy other girls who at that time seemed to have smoother faces than I did. Despite not being the rose that every bee would buzz around at school, I was going about fine and enjoyed my carefree days as a teenager. I successfully transitioned from a child to an emotional teenager.

Then came the proper growing up phase as I marched into my 20s. The responsibilities of becoming an adult seemed all too real just a few years ago and thankfully I turned out to be a responsible adult. Sometimes maybe a tad too responsible (translation: boring!!). It sure wasn't easy moving on to becoming an adult. Right now it seems like the world is on my shoulders where I stand. Kind of makes me wish for the end of the world this Friday to be true, just so I can escape from the rut that I'm in. 

I'm at lost thinking if I should wait and see if things take a better turn, or take matters into my own hands and go on a new path. It's not like I didn't give it time. It's been a year and whenever things seem to be getting better, it all turns out to be the same and I'm getting tired. But a part of me wants to stay and watch it grow. 

Is this what adults deal with or am I going down the path of a mid-life crisis too soon?

Complaining is stupid

“Complaining is stupid. Either act or forget.”
- Stefan Sagmeister

I love this quote from The Sagmeister. It's what I'm trying to do at the moment - ACT on it. But unfortunately I seem to be stuck for now. I hope things get a good turn around soon or else I might resort to stupidity.

Working Weekend in Penang

I had a slightly longer-than-usual weekend in Penang last week due to a road show that we had in Gurney Plaza. We left for Penang last Thursday before the break of dawn and got back to KL earlier this week on Monday afternoon. I was alright stepping into the office on Tuesday but the bugs had to prove that they owned me. And owned me they did. I'm only well enough to be back at my desk today after a two-day sick leave. I still feel sick if another bastard/bitch turns on the air-conditioner (I've just switched one of them off right after I got back from lunch). Why do Malaysians love to freeze themselves in the office? Is this another one of life's mysteries that we'll never be able to solve?

I've always had a soft spot for Penang, since 2007. My love story with Bun kinda started from there but I'll leave that for another time. Maybe during my wedding? Since this was a work trip and we had to stay in a shopping mall the whole time, we barely had a chance to go around to sample Penang's famed local delicacies. Thank goodness we had a one-hour window while we had to wait for our hotel room to be ready and off we went to the streets of Georgetown, in search of some yummy grub.

The view while we passed the Penang Bridge. I think this was sometime before 10.00am.

We had char kuey teow with big, fresh, juicy prawns. But they don't come cheap at RM8 per plate.

It's already hard enough to find a stalls that sells orh chien here in KL, and they make me regret ordering every single time. Why can't they be even half as good as those in Penang??!

Here's the signboard if you're ever curious enough to find the stall. I may be mistaken but this should be Jalan Anson.

I bunked in a room with my colleague. This is our city view. Check out the rainstorm on the far end of the left. Pretty cool stuff.

What I would like is a sea view like this but who cares since we're not on a holiday. This was taken from the lift lobby on our level.

Check out this mansion that is sandwiched between two hotels. I'm not sure if it's a private residence but the pool is surely one to envy!

We tried walking from the hotel to Gurney Plaza on the second day. The distance wasn't too bad, just a little over 1km. But the hot sun in the morning and our sore feet at the end of the day resulted in us driving for the rest of the days.

You'll find lone fishermen like this uncle in the photograph, or a group of uncles hanging out on the sidewalk of Gurney Drive in the daytime. Tourists are mostly visible after the weather is less punishing.

I managed to meet up with a few friends over dinner and post-dinner as well. Tze Chin and his wife is the lovely couple behind www.tasteiest.com and they took me to Mizi Bistro for dinner. I have no photographs from the place, so feel free to read up on their reviews of the place. I will ask to be taken back there the next time I'm in town to try out the steak selection. Their food portions are humongous!! The set meal is only RM25 and you can take a pick out of a selection of mains, comes with a soup and free flow of ice cream. The soups were thick (yummy!) and I would've had more yam ice cream if I hadn't been hearing my Chinese physician's voice nagging in my head. They recommended me to go to a quaint little cafe in Gurney Plaza, it's called Winter Warmers. I was told to try their rose cheese cake, waffles and flower tea.

This was my colleague's tuna waffle.

My chicken waffle. The waffles here are soft and moist, absolutely putting the waffles I've been having at the hotel's buffet breakfast to shame. I would've loved to try the green tea ice cream waffle but I suspect my Chinese physician was spying on me because I started hearing her voice again *shivers*

We shared a pot of tea. I couldn't remember what it was but it was nice. Check out the heart-shaped thingymajingy below the pot. So cute!!!

Check out the matchy matchy chinaware and tablecloth. They even have a display cabinet at the side with the rosiest chinaware collection - for sale, if you're wondering.

It's not everyday you stumble upon a rose cheese cake on a menu. This is certainly a piece of cheese cake that I wouldn't mind having more than a slice.

We had originally planned for a dimsum stop in Ipoh before heading back, but we figured that we'd run really late if we tried to venture into unknown territory. So we settled for Restoran Zim Sum instead. Again, you may head over to Tasteiest for their review.

We shared all of these, including a fish head meehon that didn't come to our table before the photo was taken. I had to take it fast before my colleague finishes half of everything. See, one of the fishballs behind the fried yam ball was already gone? Too bad I only got Tze Chin's message about their char siew pao being a 'must-try' after I left. It's okay, there's always next time!

I'll leave you with an amusing shot of this one booth that was opposite ours. I'm not quite sure of what services they provide, but I do hope they serve those lambs on a plate if I sign up.

Make a choice

“We often feel paralyzed by choice and make no choice. But the thing is, no choice is a choice. If you’re not doing something about it, you’re doing something about it.”

- Chris Guillebeau

I found this quote online and couldn't help but think of how apt it is to describe my thoughts right at this moment. I need to take a moment, calm down, analyze my situation and think clearly before making a decision on my next game plan. I feel like I should do something and live with the consequences, rather than waiting for something to happen and left to regret the outcome. Wish me luck. Lots of it.

Sit down and breathe

I feel like I've been on a complaining streak lately so I must sit myself down and think of the things that I need to be thankful for. 

I got a new job for the new year

I read this article by The BrandBuilder and it inspired me a lot. It's not like I got fired from my last job, but it made me feel good about taking a chance while I still can. It's been less than a month at my new job and I'm still feeling my way through but I have a feeling that it'll all be alright if I worked hard at it.

My in-laws like my cooking

Can I pour in a whole load of self-praise and say that they LOVED my cooking? Well, I don't know for sure but they did wipe everything clean when I went home with Mr Bun for Chinese New Year and spent three days cooking. It wasn't the grand Chinese dinner I had envisioned in my head but I sure did cook a whole lotta food to stuff everyone to the brim. I also found out that I need to learn more fatty pork dishes because ain't no Chinese dinner is complete without some good fatty oink.

I settled my problems like a real adult

You know how people always moan and bitch about their neighbours when some misunderstanding happens, and the situation usually ends up with them not speaking and silently cursing each other for whatever reason? I have this neighbour who lives on the same street, and they left their dog tied outside at the porch the other night. I don't have to tell you how bad that night was for me, with the dog barking throughout the goddamn night. To top it off, I drove for three friggin' hours on the same evening from Johor back to Cheras, with a long crawl at before every Seremban exit! (Wassup with you Seremban folks?!) I tried to knock on their door the next morning but there was no answer. I had to leave to work feeling supermegapissedoff and lethargic but I found solace in the awesome traffic while everyone else is still away from the city. Once I got to the office, I made a call to MPKJ, filed a report against this neighbour and hoped that they came to kick their sorry asses. But after I got home from work, I sat down and did some thinking. I came to realise that I was overreacting. So I hauled my ass over to talk to my neighbours and told them what their actions did to me. They apologised for it and explained why they left the dog tied outside and they were away when I came over to knock on their door. I felt sorry too and said that I will cancel the MPKJ report and hoped this will not happen again. I'm pretty positive that we ended the conversation without any bad feelings. That's what I tell myself anyway. But I'm super proud of myself for acting calmly and solve my problem. Thumbs up for me!!

I'll stay for free when I visit the USA

If I ever get around that, I can shamelessly visit and stay for free at Deb and Ed's place. That is, if Deb doesn't get super famous after launching 'The Real Housewives of Oregon' and forgets this friend. In all seriousness, I'll miss you Debs and have a great new life in the Gold Mountain with your gimshunhock. Click here if you have no idea what I'm gibbering about.

People like me

That's my shy optimist side speaking. People still talk to me and stuff, so they like me, don't they?

Signing off 2011

My heart skipped a beat and fell on the lush green grass as I made my way onto the school field to run my final few laps here. In just about more than an hour I will be saying goodbye to the amazing institution which will forever mark my first foray into the education industry. It's been a great two and a half years working here but I shall be moving on within the same industry to join a new institution due to open in Nilai in 2013.

I haven't had the chance to share this piece of news but 2012 will truly be a new year for me. Well, at least in terms of my career. It all started with a few advances from the lost tribes of the rainforest which ultimately led to my decision to make a switch. I'll most probably be handling new challenges and gaining new experience as I will be part of a pre-opening team. It definitely sounds exciting and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've yet to let all the excitement and nervous tension take over me but I guess that will come naturally as my first day of working at a new place comes closer. It's baffling to realise that you don't grow out of that awkwardness - it's the exact same feeling as a young child switching to a new school and trying to make new friends even though you're not born as or trained with the skills to be a social butterfly. Maybe I need to get over it now that I'm an adult and all? Pffttt

2012 is just sneaking up around the corner, waiting for the right moment to pounce on us and leave us in bewilderment as 2011 seems to have gone too quickly. I haven't been able to sum up my feelings in a track that could express how I feel right now. But I will share a song that has strangely been playing on repeat in my mind the whole morning.

Forgive me if I seem terrible with goodbyes. Because I can be. I blame it all on nostalgic feelings during the year end and how sappy that can make one feel. It's been a great run through 2011 and I'm awaiting to see what 2012 will bring me.

Bitter heart

My chest is heavy with pangs of disappointment and regret. Disappointment that arise after realising how I am perceived in the eyes of others. Regret as I allowed myself for everything to run its course. Mask changing is not my forte and will probably never be. But now is a crucial time for me to really learn how to filter my thoughts. How did it turn out that the best quality that I thought of myself has now become the venom that could cause my own death? My mind begs for an answer but my soul is too fragile to handle the truth. I get too emotional when I'm criticized for being me. I'm still shaken from the awakening and trying to pick up my strength to move forward. I've been trying for years to move forward and become a better me but have always faltered. Could this be my last chance if I fail again?

I cannot let myself down anymore.

Go up or get out

I think I'm on the brink of a realisation here - My shelf life could possibly be up to about two years before I start asking myself the question, "Where do I go from here?" It's time for the dreaded chat... about moving forward or outward. I'm being hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed.

Stripes and Dots

Folks at work had a barbeque session during lunch today and it was a good opportunity for some relaxation and fun. Perfect time for me to squeeze in some camwhoring shots!

It's a no brainer that good food is always involved, especially here in Malaysia. My only complaint is we didn't have enough satay to go around :)

Now I'm sitting in front of my iMac trying hard to not fall asleep. It rained heavily midway through the barbeque and now the weather is perfect for an afternoon nap. Can't wait to get home to my bed.

Like bees buzzing in my head

... cannot wait for my holiday in Taiwan.
... want the cents and dollars stuff about the house to be over and done with.
... need a body massage.
... need a drink with Debs.
... am happy for Peggy and How Chen.
... cannot wait to be living in sin, with parental approval.
... will collapse if I don't go to bed right now.

Good night!

Nine

Unfortunately my list of the 9 biggest things that I did in 2009 does not feature Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren and Fergie as the star-studded cast... but you'll have to bear with it. Here's hoping that memory does not fail me...

1) Planned a beach wedding that was not mine - One of my personal biggest achievements yet. There were some incidents in between the project that could've got me all jaded but thank goodness all the perseverance paid off in the end. Learnt how to ignore and not let incompetent bitches steal my thunder. Sometimes you gotta pity them since all they are good at is bringing other people down so they can make themselves look kinda useful. Also learnt a lesson for my future wedding: NEVER have it at the beach!

2) Quit my first job since graduation - It wasn't easy to walk away from a lovable team but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. It's great to have gained some excellent friends along the way. Now that's something you don't find everyday!

3) Joined the education industry - Not as a teacher, mind you. Still working in Marketing Communications but playing with a totally different game plan. It's been seven months now and I'm just finally getting a hang of things around here. I'm thankful it's a very new place and despite working alone, there is vast and undeniable space for growth. It helps that people here are really nice and genuine too. Sure there are gossips going around at times, but never the "backstabbing to get ahead" kind. Corporate vultures, take note. You might still have time to repent and kickstart a new lease on life. Just sayin'.

4) Became a bridesmaid for the first time - Swan Wui popped my bridesmaid cherry by asking me to be in her ji mui entourage for her wedding. I was apparently, made head honcho since I did a lot of bossing around. Can't blame me, I was born bossy and fussy. I decided all the girls should wear yellow during the tea ceremony, shopped for props that we made the heng dai entourage wear, made some of the props and somewhat organised the bachelorette night. Of course, there were lots of good friends who helped and I didn't do everything alone. I'm not Katherine Heigl from 29 Dresses. Could never be. The after-party proved how great the day went and everyone was beyond happy for the couple. Waiting for babies to come. I wonder if Swan Wui is capable of popping my baby shower cherry next...

5) Started developing lesbian fantasies - Only reserved for Lady Gaga though. LMAO. Seriously though, the Jason Mraz and Lady Gaga gigs were my first two live concert experiences and they were both unforgettable in their own ways. I was literally right in front of Mraz's mic and it was so surreal to catch him up close. How I would love to add the word "personal" into that sentence... I would've traded my mom for a closer view of Gaga, but who I am to beat the Singaporeans to the front row? But her gig was simply electric, despite having to wait over an hour and being squished to death by sweaty, jumping Singaporean teenage brats.

6) Started freelance writing - I've done similar things before but they were very scarce in my younger years and I never got to see them being produced. This year, the ball started rolling with a job that is now officially fucked up and I have disowned a "friend" due to her irresponsible and nonchalant behaviour in the entire incident. It could've costed my relationship with another friend but we are both victims and he's far too noble to put the blame on me. I'm no longer partaking in any activities or gatherings that she may attend, e.g. Christmas gathering this 26th December. Friends ask me why I'm not joining them and I just refuse to repeat the story again because I would seem so immature. What can I do? Force them to choose between me and her? That is so High School Musical. Anyhoo, thankfully something good did come out of a bad situation and I'm now shamelessly whoring my writing services to peeps who need copywriting for websites, press releases, newsletters, bla bla bla. Do email ashley.lsc@gmail.com for details.

7) Learnt how to drive - Tell me seven months ago that I would be driving and I'd tell you that you're outta your damn mind. I am now a certified terror on Malaysian roads, thanks to my lovely and patient boyfriend who stayed beside me while I was struggling to get used to getting behind the wheel, and allows me to drive his car everyday now. Tell you the truth, I wouldn't be arsed to learn how to drive if it wasn't for the desperation for transportation to my new workplace.

8) Wore a saree for the first time - Darshini popped my saree cherry for her big fat Indian wedding. I borrowed a beautiful purple saree from my colleague and Bebe's aunt helped us (Bebe, Deb and moi) frantically tie our sarees on the morning of Dar's wedding ceremony. Obviously, we were the frantic ones because we were absolutely clueless about tying sarees! But in the end she made us look GORGEOUS. Dar's wedding was a sight to behold. There she was, this Malaysian Indian bride with her lone white groom from England, surrounded by her family and relatives. Not forgetting (in Dar's own words) the Mao Ze Dong reformation army marching in behind the bride at the start of the ceremony and scattered all around for the rest of the day.

9) Sold my family's house - Technically it was my mom who sold our house, not me. But I was just trying to make a point. It's been hard for me lately. At times I'd be lying in bed, staring into space and find it weird to think that in a few months, another kid would be replacing my place in the same room. I've been told to get over it but it's kinda hard. I've been living here for about 10 years now. We haven't even found a new place yet. But I'll definitely be blogging from a new place sometime in 2010. Maybe I'll get over it by then. Before that, I'll make sure to blog about the massive amount of stuff that we need to move from point A to B. It's gonna be scary...

Now I wonder what's in store for 2010?

Quote of the day

A friendship founded on business is a good deal better than a business founded on friendship.
-John D. Rockefeller-

_________________________________________________________________________________


There could never be more truth to Mr. Rockefeller's words of wisdom. I had the opportunity to experience the harsh reality of his words today.

Just a few months back, a friend who worked in the events industry got my help to write and design an entire magazine which they specifically wanted to produce for a business awards event. Only a handful of complete materials were passed on to myself and my designer friend (muffin), even after they had postponed the event from the initial date. The event is scheduled to be on next week, but they are still taking their own sweet time to gather and compile submissions from clients till this week. They had wanted me to submit the final pagination and output files by yesterday. So that got to me. I snapped. I had a face off with her bosses (well, through phone calls, emails and text messages anyway) and in the end, the job got canned.

You see, the real problem didn't end there. I got a cheque for the cancellation fee but they pulled off some majorly fucked up shit behind my back. If you hadn't already guessed, my cheque got bounced. I already predicted this even before receiving the cheque. These particular business folks didn't fail to live up to my expectations. They failed to plan a proper working timeline and are now sprinting their way to meet an impossible deadline, but in the end I am the victim.

I bet they must be damn pissed because I initially refused to pass them the unfinished winner profiles. I clearly told them I am only passing them the approved files. But of course they had their own impressions of what I was going to submit. Finally I did send over the files, but this shit is still happening. Methinks their receiving antennas need some major fine tuning. Someone please scoop up their brains and soak 'em in acid before shoving 'em all back into their cracked skeletons?!! A 5-year-old know would know the payment is just for reimbursement of the work that we have already started. These brainless assholes are thinking that the money coming out of their pockets can buy whatever they think they can.

My friend is caught in the middle but I totally believe my anger is justified. I find myself yelling at her for several occasions but I really needed her to listen. They didn't get my point from the beginning, when I tried to manage their expectations of how deadlines for a publication work. It's just plain obvious that they never cared about how things work except for the way they want it to be, which is typically last-minute and without high quality. Although she might be dead trapped between her donkeyballs management and me at most times, there were tons of ways to work in a more organised manner. Clients who are difficult to manage still needs to be managed cleverly. They just allowed everyone to move in a typical Bolehland working pace. It's too late now to say that this day could've been avoided because it already happened. I really need to buy muffin a very nice dinner. Make that dinners. I'm sorry to drag a good friend into this mess. He is such a talented designer but I wasted his time, energy and effort. Thank goodness he has such an open heart. I could never be more thankful. I am blessed too because Bun has so much patience to listen to me curse up a storm about these fucktards.

I so trust that Karma's going to show them what a bitch she is. Holla at me, Karma! *high five*

p/s: Awards are so full of bullshit because honestly devils businessmen just buy them to showcase in a cabinet. What else is new in Bolehland?

Ashley in Chains

Finding myself working in an international school is an entirely bizarre situation itself, but it gets weirder as I find myself constantly having thoughts of leaving the country. The teachers are to blame for this. The single ones constantly travel around the globe and have not many actual physical possessions that hold them down. The ones who are married, and usually have kids, earn my respect. I always wonder where would they dig up such ease and spontaneity to pack up the whole family and relocate halfway across the world. I look at them with jealousy. Envious for my own lack of carefree spirit.

How can I escape from my rut?

What would I do?

Some people always randomly discuss about what superhero powers they'd like to own. I never really gave that a serious thought until tonight. If I had a chance to choose, I'd want to have the power to eliminate stupidity from other stupid human beings' minds. We all could live with a little bit more of decisiveness and start to pay more attention to the details in our lives. But alas! Some folks just don't get it, do they?

mindblock

I am positively sure I am not the only person who loves a perfectly good lazy day. I am one who appreciates my weekends because it is the only time when I can literally laze around and do nothing, apart from dozing off repeatedly and occasionally prop my ass in front of the telly or the computer. I am doing the latter because I was trying to kick myself into starting some work but I guess there's not much of creative juice running in my sloth-like body. I'd very much prefer to gorge myself silly with whatever trash that is airing on the telly right now. But I turned it off because I can never write while it's on. Bad new is, it's not like I'm making much progress right now either. The practical side of me is begging to start transcripting those damn recordings and go on to writing some crap already but I guess it's not screaming loud enough. I'm still trapped here having nonsensical thoughts of how cool it would've been if I were in Japan with my ma and ah kor at this moment. I could've been. But what's the point of going if I had to spend thriftily in Tokio? I couldn't bear to imagine what an emotional torture that was going to turn out so I opted not to go. I wished the weather wasn't so miserable right now so that I could at least feel better about remaining in KL. Oh, I could swear I heard my mom yell at me while I was dreaming earlier today. She prolly nagged too much before leaving to the airport last night to leave that lingering effect on me. I miss me mom :( I hope she doesn't come home with souvenirs I could actually buy from the SS2 wet market like how she did the last time when she came back from Ozzy. That aunty got tricked into believing she brought home one-of-a-kind denim type leggings that only models in Australia get to wear. It was hillarious for me to see the exact same leggings at SS2 the very next day.

Should I go get some grub and then start writing? It's not easy trying to think of the food options that could leave me inspired to write. I could do with some real Japanese food. But I remember that I'm not in Japan. FML. The weather's too hot to even move around. I can't even sit still and not sweat. This is all those air-conditioner pimping folks' fault. We wouldn't have global warming this badly if less people had air-conditioners on. Now you losers are making me a hypocrite because there's no way I cannot install air-conditioners when I buy my own house someday. I think I need to run now and go sit under a cold shower for 10 minutes and hopefully it'll put me in a better state of mind.

An eye opener

I've been reminded again today by my body as to why I should NEVER fuck with my lunch schedule. If I did, my gastric juices would punish me, with a capital P. It's probably illegal for me to admit this but due to my greater interest in shopping, I skipped lunch and was late for a meeting. But that doesn't sentence me to life behind bars, right? *blush* Anyways the "Warehouse Sales" was nothing too fantastic. Although there were some really gorgeous shoes from Nine West but the ones I really liked were out of sizes. So I *only* got a pair. Yes, *only* one pair.















Got something else too but that's another story to tell on a different day.

The branding workshop I went later in the day was such an eye-opener. I see more clearly now how a group of people (obviously the bigger players within the local education industry) come up with education plans that has goals which goes beyond just the profit-making side of a business. They hear the cries of parents who have no faith left in the national education system after the government constantly screws them over, and stands up to offer a solution. Some may argue that these people are taking advantage of the situation. But who are they to judge when there is a real NEED for Malaysians to be so self-sufficient and look for better alternatives when it comes to children's education? I know I have no faith left in the bullshit system that I had to go through for 13 long years. Ask me why the next time you see me and I'll gladly tell you which awakening moment that made me realise that I possibly might have to send my future kids to an international school. And don't get me started on how self-sufficient we are on other aspects. Hint: Water distillers, gated communities and all that jazz.

I also found out about some interesting history behind Loytape. Tell me which Malaysian who hasn't used tapes from this brand before and I'll stick 'em all over your face. It has a connection to the paragraph above.













I've never been to any meetings which was so unconventional. Can anyone say that they've been in a meeting where the CEO just gobbles up a whole bucket of fish head curry right in front of his employees who were brainstorming? Or that you could make a flourescent pink dolphin with green eyes with playdough while in meeting?















There were plenty of toys for the young and young-at-heart to play with so that we weren't bored or falling asleep in the meeting. That is so cool! We have another session next week and I can't wait to see how much more we can progress. The only thing I dread is the traffic jam along MRR2 to get home. Bleah!

Lazy friday

The only major task I've achived today was sending over my list of job responsibilities to my boss. I've spent a major part of the day reading and skimming through blogs. The bosses won't be very happy about this when they find out. But it's all part of keeping up-to-date and that's uber important for a Marketing Communications person, no? I should put that into my list so that I can get away with it if I ever get caught in future. Talk about irony.

I have a list of "Top 3 things in my mind right now".

1) I want need an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini. Saw Miranda Kerr in a really cute piece on Victoria Secret (got sale sommore!) but shipping to this part of the world is a bitch so I'll just try my luck looking around kay el. Bet I'll be forced to settle with a normal yellow two-piece, considering the unimpressive fashion sense most of us here in this city have. Yuck!

2) I want need a super cun gold metal belt. This one that Leng is rocking is pretty much what I'm looking for. Too bad it's from her personal closet :(



















3) I hate to admit this but need a good eye cream to erase fine lines (and actually works!). Yes, I've come to that stage. Bleurgh... Part of growing up sucks because we grow old. Should I get that tube from Kiehl's? Or does anyone have any other good recommendations?

It's really quiet here at the office/school. The kids are off for summer hols. Mahem, summer all year long in Malaysia not enough ah? Must take summer break also? How much more cruel can the management be when they create a system where admin staff have to still come back to work as usual when the rest of the school is flying off to various parts of the world. Damn them. They aren't helping much by bragging about the vacations on Facebook.

I miss my boyfriends. Yes, barely 2 months here and I've already indulged myself into relationships with eligible expats. Well, self-proclaimed relationships anyway. But I could never resist. They're cute, single and blonde. One's called Frederick and the other is James. Here's a photo of me with Frederick. I hope his mommy and daddy won't discover my blog and storms into the office to chop off my head. I'm not trying to sell this adorable little piece of chubbiness!!



















I have another picture of my with James but it's in my phone and computer at home so I can't post it. This predicament shall not arise again once I've gotten my iMac next month. There'll be Bluetooth on that white piece of erm, machine. Yay!! And camera as well so I might post more camwhoring pics in the future and blog about what I wore on a particular day =) I sound so fashionable out of a sudden. Haha!

We're gonna have a potluck party next week at the office for no particular reason. Prolly to make ourselves feel better since we're mistreated and having to work while the rest are vacay-ing away. But we're celebrating someone's birthday in advance too. Couldn't do it on the actual day on Tuesday since there are people going on a vegetarian fast on Tuesdays. Still pretty awesome to have parties, nonetheless. Especially when you don't actually need a reason to have one.

The clock on the bottom right of my screen says it's time to go home. And that's exactly what I'll do. Especially after sending a long text message to Debs for the names of Victoria Secret stuff I want to buy. They're having a sale!!! If lady luck smiles at both of us, then I'll be able to strike Item 1 off my aforementioned list. And then some. Cya!

My new beginning

This will be the road leading to my brighter future, starting from 1 June 2009 onwards. Wish me luck!