As light as a feather!

Finally, the EBE project is over!

Finally, I am on leave for the rest of the year!

Am soooooo happy to get all that weight off my shoulders... I feel as light as a feather!! So light, I feel like I can fly!! Er, actually I am flying off tonight... Come Christmas morning, I'll be landing to this!


Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy happy New Year!!!

Dai Tau Har (big-headed prawn)

Did a few booboos due to carelessness over last weekends event at work.
:(

Then, yesterday after having such a good time in Bodyjam yesterday... (I totally LOVE the new release!!!) I realized my locker key was missing. Searched and searched and asked every single person in d gym. No sign of key. Had to pay 100 bucks to get it opened back!!!
:(

Today I realized my car loan deadline was last week!! And I've never forgotten to pay it before in my entire life!
:(

What's with the "dai tau har"ness washing over me? How can I be so careless & forgetful? Stress? Too much to think about? Bit off more than I can chew????
:(

Chi-mui! Sorority sisters Malaysian style

A girl should never be without a good chi-mui. At every point in her life, she must have a good chi-mui she can share her ups and downs with, bitch about things, share steamy secret, go on retail therapy together and etc. I've had a very good chi-mui for almost every phase in my life!!

Just like the spark and chemistry you feel when you find the man of your dreams, you can instantly click with this chi-mui like it's predestined!

Primary School: Yvonne Lea
Who migrated to the UK and lost touch after many years of letter-writing... couldn't find any photos :(

Secondary School and Undergraduate days: Reese Loh a.k.a. Sui Poh

From high-school gals, graduating university together, there for each other through a couple of boyfriends and heartbreaks, blossoming into young working women together... our friendship has really lasted through everything! Even survived through distance! We are close friend now although she has migrated to the U.S. thanx to technology! She's having an exchange program in Japan now and I will be visiting her there next month! I can't wait!

Out of nowhere: Joyce Chong a.k.a. Budak Gile

We met in a church camp and the chemistry was just so strong, we became BFFs since then. We've had lunches, dinners, shopping sprees, bitch-fit throwing sessions, sleep-overs, strange double dates, jobs together, drunken sessions together, vacations together, and God knows what else! We've known each other for ages and have seen each other through a lot in life.

1st job, BBraun: Melanie Nyam

From ular-sessions, bitching about bosses and sharing heart-to-heart talks about boyfriends and crushes. We're still close friends till now but since we're no longer colleagues and we do not get to meet that often anymore. In fact we're competitors at work now. ;) We still have the occasional lunches together to catch up.

2nd job, Baxter: Shahrul Niza Esa????

Er... close but not quite in the chi-mui category eh?? Unless, he decides to switch "sides" and starts to wear dresses & make-up but fat chance as he's happily married wt 3 kids! Hehehe...
Oh well, my current company's culture is that everyone has their own life to live. We rarely spend any genuine personal time together. They're all nice but not close enough to reach BFF level.

Post-graduate degree, MBA: Hazel Hor

How long have I known her? About a month or so... but somehow I trust her enough to share everything from personal relationships, emotions, work, studies, and etc with her. It's like we're in some kind of Strathclyde-MacRitchie intake sorority. Go sorority sisters!!

Isn't it funny how friendships form? It's such a beautiful thing... how can a girl live without her chi-mui's eh? :)
Here's the tribute entry to all my chi-mui's!! I love you! Muaks!

Déjà vu

Having started my MBA for more than a month now, it really brings me back to my good ol' studying days. All these things just seem too familiar;

There's the studious ones who trail the lecturer around, come to class well-equipped with a tonne's weight of textbooks and notes... and of course, who can forget, colourful highlighters


The crazy ones who doodles and instant message in class without paying much attention to the lecturer.

The kiasu highly-driven ones who aims for a distinction in every subject.

Those who come to class with hidden motives of looking for their other half.

Those who stick to their own clique and "chop" place for their mates. (Hey, these people are late 20's - late 30's still doing this kind of thing???)

My personal favourite... (ah, d social butterfly in me) meaningless, unproductive "discussions" that ends up at our all time favourite lepak-place, the mamak stall!!


All tooooo familiar... gives me the déjà vu feeling. And just when we thought we have grown up and matured into something more, we realize that you can take us out of school but d schoolkids are still in all of us.

Fun hor?

So much to do, so little time

Been super busy, either with work or with studying... doing both simultaneously is no easy task. It's been so stressful!! Wanted to blog about a few interesting encounters in my MBA journey but no time!! :(

But a close friend told me, the first semester always feels the most torturous, after that, you'll get used to it then things'll be a breeze.

I hope she's right....

Mmm beh beh, mmm beh beh

While doing some research for the Scenario Planning assignment, just realized how fascinating Africa is!!

Imagine a country name like São Tomé and Príncipe... doesn't it sound cool???

Now, I wanna go to Africa!!!

Assignments!!!

Yeah... can't remember how stressful it felt being a student, until NOW!!

Die liao! What have I gotten myself into?

Thank God for a family

Last nite was our first homegroup meeting after a long 6-week break. I didn't really feel much like going after feeling unappreciated at work. But I was on duty to share the Word, so obediently I went. What a blessing that I went!!

I was sharing on "Don't just live saved, live blessed!" But I wasn't at all feeling blessed at the moment. The words came out of my mouth mechanically as it wasn't from my heart.

Then we got into small groups to share and I shared about my stagnating situation at work which was really depressing me out. Andy and Flo also shared their similar experiences in their work. And how when God closes one door, he opens another door... in fact, a bigger and better one! He puts us through all the downsides of our lives for reason beyond our understanding. We are like ants walking on a piece of paper, we can't see what is on the paper but He sees the big picture. Someday, He will lift us up to see what is on the paper and we will undertand it all.

They prayed for me... somehow, I was more than comforted to know that I should never give up. With God on our side, who can be against us?

Flora and me!

Andy is d big guy with a big heart!

Thanks for being my friends guys!! Now, I feel so blessed... having you guys in my family of God! I love you guys!!!

Perfection, only from a distance

Perfection? Does it exist? Yes, only God is perfect... for everything else on this planet Earth, don't be so perasan ok?

I just found out that one of the new managers hired is younger and less experienced than me. Why is it that companies and people in general always view more highly of those new to them? Why is it that they would rather hire new people than promote those who are performing well in the organization?

Haven't I proven my worth to them? Haven't I been performing well all this while? Haven't I offered to take up additional responsibilities and did them well? Haven't I been working well with the whole team? Haven't I taken the initiative to continuously improve myself personally and professionally? Haven't I keep to the highest standards of ethics and integrity? Haven't I delivered everything I promised and even more?
Then why am I still not perfect enough for them? How perfect do I have to be to be somebody in this organization?

If anyone EVER perfect? Yes! When you see from a distance,
...the supermodel looks more perfect than you can ever achieve in the mirror
...the painting looks even more realistic than a photograph
...the mystery woman seems so much more understanding than your wife
...the family looks so happy and perfect, unlike your own
...the employee looks like the perfect fit to your requirements

Yes, from a distance everything can look perfect. When you come closer, that's when you start to notice the flaws.

So if you are in search for perfection, you will not find it. If you do find it, leave it alone or you'll ruin it with your own imperfections.

As Simple Plan says "I'm sorry, I can't be perfect!"

And yes, I am pissed!!!!

Meow!!

During this Raya home visiting, saw dis really cute kitty...

itchy scratchy...

mew... do my big doe eyes look familiar?

Meow!!

Don't you just love 'em?

Break free from the jar!

My first class for my MBA was last weekend… a pretty intensive workshop that lasted up to about 11pm at night due to group work and discussions. But I truly enjoyed every moment of it! Am lovin' it!!! :-)

It was very exciting meeting a whole bunch of new people from all kinds of industry from all kinds of levels. It is always exciting meet new people, make new impressions on people. Making an good first impression is always a confidence boost! Suddenly I realized that being kept in cold storage by both the companies I have worked for so far, my confidence level took a deep deep plunge as I watch all my peers elsewhere, climbing up!!

I had accepted the strength and weaknesses my bosses have planted in my head without realizing that I could actually have hidden talents even in those areas of my “weaknesses”.

Found out that my learning style was do first then learn, am not a theorist or an observer. I am the doer. So, if my bosses have never let me take up a certain responsibility, how can I learn? And how can they say that something is my weakness when I’ve not done it before?

I’ve been in the same position for almost 3 years now. If I stay on doing the same thing; I will stop learning, stop moving forward, and stop growing. Bad for my self-development, bad for my career, bad for my confidence, bad for my emotional health!

So, if there is no change or growth opportunity in this company, there are plenty out there. If those around me for too long can no longer see my strengths, there are others out there who can. I need to widen my horizons and be on the lookout!!


Remember my grasshopper in a jar? Well, this grasshopper has been jumping under the lid for too long… it’s time to break free from the jar!!!

Back to school

My classes start this week. Was very excited about it but am kinda worried I will have to sacrifice all my passions for 2 whole years... at least!!!

No more Less time for all my mou liu hobbies??


Bodyjamaholism



Facebook junkie



Blogging


Singing

Or even time for the less mou liu stuff???


Quality time with my baybeh


Church Ministry


Chilling with best bud

Still, I am looking forward to a fun journey towards fulfilling this want... and the destination, satisfying!!! :)

Anticipation

I have always loved looking forward to something. As bf said, I am very goal-oriented person. I love having a goal so that I have something to look forward to achieving. I love the anticipation part to a celebration, a vacation, a new purchase... etc. The thing or the event itself may not all that significant but the anticipation is always good. It's like practising for a performance... more than half the fun is in the preparation.

Anticipation builds your hopes up and warms up your emotions for the actual event itself. It prolongs the pleasure of the event by giving you the joy of event way before the event itself. Good deal right?

So, I am gonna maximize my enjoyment... I am gonna start building myself up for my Japan trip way before it even happens. But flights have been booked!!

I've even picked out a Japanese name for myself... one closest to my name, Kaori Tanako! :)

Can't wait to see this!

Assasination

While driving to work the other day, I noticed something "targetting" my car!!


Laser aim?


Not just one but a few!!!

Mampus la aku... who in the world would wanna assasinate insignificant lil' ol' me??

Just trying to be perasan that my life is as exciting as a 007 movie...

It's just light reflected from my crystal cluster necklace!

It's handmade by my cousin in Hong Kong, cantik tak?

Kepak kerbau

A close friend of mine from high school just came back from the U.S. for a visit home before she goes off to Japan. Although she has flown off, she left me a souvenir from the states...


Hot sauce!!

And with it a recipe for kepak kerbau aka buffalo wings... my favourite food on the face of this earth!

Just got myself some raw wings from Jusco, tenyeh-tenyehkan sos dan mentega...


Bake it...


And voila!!

Sedap...mmmmmm. Don't you just love all American food? Even their regular food tastes like junkfood!! Yummy!

Diggin' on Marié Digby

When I first heard the acoustic version of Rihanna's Umbrella, I totally loved it at first note! ... even more than the original version.

Turns out it's this unknown singer-songwriter Marié Digby, who posted her version of it on Youtube and got noticed after that. I did a bit of digging on the net and found her myspace page and her blog. A few more acoustic version of other hits... all absolutely lovely! She's so talented.

Loved her own song "Stupid for you" as well.

Can't wait for her album to be out!! ...that is coincidentally scheduled to be released TODAY according to her fansite!!

Nite out @Putrajaya

Actually didn't wanna blog about d fireworks @Putrajaya coz it is redundant, bf dah blog... tapi mana tau he had 2 make reference 2 my blog about our camwhoring...

So... nah!


Da shades couple!


Ain't I yau yeng?


Grrrr!!


Watchulookinat?


Awww...

Mixed emotions...

My HR Manager came back to me with another loan proposal this morning... and I am able to afford to start my MBA next month!!! Her call really made my day this morning, I was ecstatic!! All I need now is to submit my application form and if the university accepts me, Strathclyde here I come!

I felt so happy all day that not only can I have my cake and eat it too... I can eat it NOW! I don't even know why am I so happy about suffering for the next two years. A couple of friends who has done it said that it was not an easy task to study and work at the same time. Yeah, I have to admit I am pretty scared now.... it's a big commitment to make. Financial, time and effort-wise too.


What if I have no time to study?
What if I can't pass the exams?
What if I have no time to do the courseworks?
What if I burn out from lack of quality "me" time?
What if I can't finish the program?
What have I gotten myself into?

Lantak lah all these questions! I'm supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-ly happy and excited right now! I must be crazy. Perhaps the feeling is like getting married? Happy and scary at the same time... like brides getting cold feet??

I can't wait to start!

***Er...actually my application haven't even been accepted yet... hehehe***

Have my cake and eat it too!!

After confiding in my boss, have decided to postpone my MBA plans to the next intake in April 2008. Right now, I need to concentrate and focus all my energy into hitting my all my targets this year. Hit, hit and over-hit!!!!

Why can’t I afford the MBA this year?

When I started working, I’ve set the goal to go to at least 1 foreign place I have not been before every year. I have kept to or exceeded this goal every year without fail.

This year, I had already planned to go to Japan in November.
If I forgo Japan, I can go ahead with the MBA this year.
If I forgo my MBA, then I can go on all my exotic holidays.
But I don’t want either one to be in the way of achieving the other.

In other words, I want to have my cake and eat it too!!

Considering I do have some control over how much I can potentially earn, I think that I can work towards achieving both!! Consider it a desperation motivation to achieve all my targets!!

Beside, what good is it to have a cake if you can’t eat it eh??

Back to school?

Been thinking of taking up an MBA for a long time now. Done a lot of research on all the MBA's offered locally and finally found one that caught my interest:



It is RM50,000!!! Plus, I wanted to take the option of the 3-week long electives module in UK... that's roughly around another RM15,000 for accomodation/flight/meals. Have always envied those people with rich parents who had the opportunity to study overseas with highly-regarded university names attached to their certs. After working for so long, I thought I can finally do this for myself.

How am I gonna come up with that kind of money?

Withdraw my EPF and top up the rest from my savings? And put off buying a house or starting a family anytime soon?
Cannot, Strathclyde did not apply for the local Lembaga Akreditasi Negara thingy... so EPF withdrawal not possible.
:(

My company offers an interest free loan to fund studies!! No need to touch my EPF, can save it for buying a home. Good news eh? I was so happy!! I even started filling up my application form and writing the essays.

Suddenly, I found out that the maximum repayment period is only 3 years. I can't afford high monthly payments as I have other commitments... so I can only borrow RM18K max. There's still another RM32K + RM15K short. My excitement was shortlived.

Now, can I really afford to do it??? :( :( :( :( :(...

Ballroom Dancing

Went to watch the Ballroom Dancing Grand Prix yesterday.



Bf won the day-show tickets from MixFM!

The morning session was all standard ballroom. They performed waltz, foxtrot, quickstep and tango. All d participants look so elegant and graceful... but my photos don't do them any justice le. They were moving too fast for my digicam.





Then in the afternoon after bf left, they had the Latin part. Whoa!! The costumes alone can heat up d dance floor. The competition for the Latin dances wooed a lot more participants. So many couples dancing cha-cha, rhumba, samba as well as jive (I dunno why is jive part of Latin???) The moves were even faster.... so even worse photos. Sigh...





There was a category for the Grand Seniors (above 55). These aunties and uncles can really shake their tush! They keep their figures in such good shape that even some 20-somethings can't compete. There was one lady who can even do a split!! Just imagine, these people are my parents' age!

Personally loved the cha-cha and jive the most!! I wanna dance like them too!!!

Staying awake

Just got back from Kuantan... normally I'd fly but thought I'd try driving this time round. It wasn't too bad. Highway all the way. But the once problem I normally have driving long distance on a looooong straight boring highway is... I get incredibly sleepy. zzzzzzzzzzzz...

So this time, I took measures to make sure I stay awake and alert. And it worked! I wasn't sleepy at all throughout the whole journey. Just thought it'd be good to share my tips with all you long distance drivers out there... looking at the increasing rate of fatal accidents.

Tip #1:
Listen to JJ & Rudy on Hitz.fm if it is a morning drive. They'll crack you up. Laughing your head off is a great way to stay awake.

Tip #2:

Drink Essence of Chicken to keep you bright and alert!

Tip #3:

Have your very own in-car karaoke fest. Try to sing the back-up parts instead of the melody. The melody comes as a reflex action but singing the harmonization takes effort and keeps your brain working. Just imagine being the back-up singer for your favourite artist!

Tip #4:

Have a can of coffee drink ready in case you feel a yawn creeping up.

Tip #5:

Whenever a GX song comes on the radio try and visualize d moves. A virtual workout! Sometimes you get so engrossed it becomes not so virtual... as long as one hand is kept on the steering wheel. ;p

Drive safe!! :)