Archive for April, 2008

Travelling with Momma

April 27, 2008 - 12:59 am 4 Comments

So the trip with Mum to Bangkok was good. Some things never change. She still held my hand when crossing the crazy roads of BKK. Nagged me about the weight of my bags. I still had to rag her a little about buying stuff she wants (obviously I did not inherit the virtue of thrift and the love of retail therapy from my mum, hah!).

Some things don’t change. For a very good reason perhaps.

Dad came to pick us up. My protests to take a cab home myself fell on deaf ears. Their place is in the East while I am in the West. Essentially, he will have to drive past their place to mine and then back again. At night. Sigh.

And my parents refused to let me carry my bags myself. Both nagged me about the heavy backpack I have on. Both wanted me to just earn that cushy salary as an employee and don’t understand why I have to go through so much difficulties to do my own business. But still they are helping in their own little ways.

***

The last time when we travelled together, I was a child. Now she has white hairs and I am pushing 30. Now I am the one making the travel itineraries and bringing her to places to eat, chill out and make her “lao hua” glasses. Now I am the one ragging her about stuff, and worrying about her calcium pills and stuff.

Now I am the one thinking about how to take care of her in the later years. It feels strange.

But my mum (and dad) are fiercely independent. Any attempts to give them more money than the monthly pocket money will be given back to the grandkids in the form of “putting in their bank accounts” or “buying clothes”. They have their own house. They have their own car, investments and financial planning. Hell, I have to argue with my mum to pay for her facial and stuff in BKK.

I think my folks are uniquely weird. I have heard of parents who grumble about more money and such, but I have not heard of folks like mine.

How about your parents? Care to share?

Obstacles

April 27, 2008 - 12:37 am No Comments

Sometimes you hear people muttering about how and how they cannot fulfill their dreams. How they are faced with obstacles. How they don’t have enough money to do what they want (yes and money will fall from the sky for others). Whining about what doesn’t kill you won’t make you stronger, it will render you helpless, weak etc etc.

Looking for light in the vacuum of darkness. Looking for darkness in the expanse of light.

Self pity is a luxury that is easy to wallow in. I don’t believe in being a victim of “fate”. There is no fate. There is what you can make with life and how hard and how far you are willing to go to do it. You take whatever life deals out and you decide.

I saw this from Jaywalk. It’s painfully exquisite and poignant. Every graceful glide, leap and gait put a lump in my throat. I think it sums up what I believe in life: you can choose what you want to be, regardless of what you are given, born with and have.

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

Pandemonium

April 22, 2008 - 11:39 am 6 Comments

OK, so I made my life a whole lot more challenging and exciting now. Some updates:

  1. Flying out of town today and back on Friday.
  2. I accepted an offer with a private equities group and will be starting work on Monday. Couldn’t resist the offer made by the headhunter.. They freaking refused to take no for an answer and kept upping the offer. It was … freaky. More updates on that when I am back.
  3. New stocks to be listed on Monday 28 April. :)
  4. Photoshoots are DAMN tiring. I don’t envy a model’s life at all. Standing around and preening is tough work.
  5. So essentially, I will be juggling a job, a business, the kids, the household and studies.

Sounds exciting and challenging, doesn’t it? :)

Bellydancing Workshop at Five Dollars

April 18, 2008 - 11:11 pm 5 Comments

Last year my ex company had a D&D with the Arabian Night theme and I went to this shop in Arab Street to get my garbs. It was a gorgeous gold beads on white bra top and mermaid skirt ensemble. It seemed such a waste to showcase this ensemble only once, and moreover the shop owner kept urging me to take Bellydancing lessons, with the grand declaration that curvaceous women do sensuous credit to the belly dance. And being the grand bellydancing diva she is, she went on to brutally diss the not so curvaceous women who attempt the said dance.

“No front, no back, no curves, no form. A tranny looks better doing the belly dance.”

Touche!

Anyway, I attempted yoga a month ago but it did not go very well. My back felt worse so I think my slipped disc did not take too kindly to yoga. So  after checking with the bellydancing people that it’s alright for a poor afflicted body like mine, I went for a workshop today at Belly Dance. The trial workshop is only S$5.00!

And it was so good. The studio had a full length mirrored wall and you could see your every move and poise. It’s brutal but I say, the better to improve. And move we did. I, being a total narcissist, appreciated looking at my body gyrating like a graceful snake. This is a dance that celebrates femininity; hips, breasts and butt included! We shimmered, gyrated our hips and swayed like the best of them.

I had a problem with the head shaking though. After a lifetime of locking head upright, shoulders back and back straight poise, the requirement of a fluid head eludes me. LOL. I need work on this. Major work.

At the end of the workshop, we even managed to do a whole choreography of  belly dancing to the Lebanese music. (OK we tried) As I swayed my hips to the sensuous drum beats, I felt… sinuous. Lithe even.

I am so going to sign up for the Beginner’s full course.

Nomadic Lifestyle

April 18, 2008 - 12:07 am No Comments

Ruok linked this article on nomads and I found it very interesting. I do it all the time but I did not even know the term was so fashionable known as being nomadic. I have my books, videos and music in my iphone. My documents are stored online. My business is online; the records, reports and correspondences are online. I am technophobic but now I am officially “nomadic”. What an irony.

Big had been headhunted to join another company in a senior management role. He will also be free to adapt the nomadic workstyle as part of his work freedom. How quaint.

Sam, someone I grew up with

April 17, 2008 - 11:53 pm No Comments

I went to the Sam Hui concert on 29 Mar (one night only) performance and it was Nostalgic. Firstly I was probably the youngest fan. Secondly I grew up listening to his songs, some written by his brother, Ricky Hui, and some written by himself. I loved the easy melodies and humorous lyrics; usually the theme of his songs encourage people to be more light hearted, to be hardworking and adopt a good attitude. Very down to earth, just like he is, just like I am.

I had a very good time that night. The only mar was that some ah bengs tried to pick me up in their car as I was waiting by the side entrance for the cab I called. GRRR.

Ricky having a very hilarious monologue. I laughed till I had cramps.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5eRRFJ0hA5g

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Baking Therapy

April 16, 2008 - 9:26 pm 2 Comments

In response to my soul searching, cowboy my good friend responds,

“Awwww shaddup woman. You need to go like bake a cake for mandy and keep your yap shut.

More knitting and less talkin is what you need.”

Idiot.

But suddenly I felt like baking, something that has strangely been therapeutic for me. And so I baked.

Blackcurrant and White Chocolate Cheesecake, which RN said was “f**king pretty“. LOL!

Hazelnut and Raspberry Pie (with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove)

Shelly was very kind to say that they can sell, but honestly 1. I think they are ugly and no where near Nigella standard. 2. I will go crazy if I have to do this all day. It takes the pleasure and relaxation out of the very act of baking.

But it was good for this afternoon. And as I was folding in the flour, I felt myself slip into a state of relaxation. It was so comfortable watching the flour blend seamlessly into the texture, the specks blending into the greater state of matter. It was good.

What was even better was that my mind was racing thereafter with ideas and plans for the business. I was invigorated, alive. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I thought of the photo shoot for the magazine on Saturday, the promos I will be running for the business and the various new challenges I have charted up for myself.

It was good.

Existentialism

April 15, 2008 - 9:49 pm No Comments

Lately, I have been feeling restless and empty at turns. I twittered it as having an existential problem and desperately needing to do something meaningful. An attempt to garner various perspectives in the bar got me a few constructive and insightful responses and of course I also got the typical meaningless word waste.

DPL said, “actually in times like this, i take time off and be alone, somewhere close to Nature and observe the simpler things of life.
Be it the countryside, rural areas etc. I just reach out and talk to people…Or just try surviving alone in the wilderness.

And think. reorganize. and act.

You’ll be amazed to learn so much about others, and evidently – about yourself.

It’s true that when we learnt that we can achieve much higher, we forget the simpler things in life that keeps us going.”

“Always keep a pet rock.

No fuss, and you can throw at the next dumbass that comes along.”

visceral said, “life is what you make of it. some are born and made whores by their parents in rural thailand, some are caged and naked in some eastern European state, some (like Mavis) imagine themselves to be God. If you dont decide how meaningful your life is, others will decide for you through their banter.”

vandalin said, “My 2 cents worth?

You’re bored.

There are some of us who are born with a need to keep challenging ourselves. It’s a question of how we channel that motivation.

Here’s something to start with.

Personally, 10% of your time and money goes into paying whatever blessings you have forward. How you want to do that, you decide.

Business-wise, do you want to expand your business to something beyond what it is now? As cliched as it is, is there a “next level” you want to move your business to?

Physically, well you’re already taking up belly dancing. And I accepted a challenge to get 4 pecs in 1 month and 6 pecs in 2.

Mentally, learn ONE thing more about the business you’re in or in a field that you’re interested in. Business, that’s a biiiig field.

Well this oughta keep ya occupied for a bit. :P

Fitti said, ” You mentioned before that you worked for many years (14?) so maybe in a way, you feel that you always have to get more things done even when you are already up to your neck with the business and motherhood etc. Doing good for the society (if you are considering that) is excellent but you have to do good for yourself first. Take more time to be with yourself (I love spending hours in the library too!) and re-examine your goals. Most importantly, get more rest and make sure your back recovers completely before you attempt anything more”

Thiang said,”If I were you, I would go for a holiday as well. Somewhere far away to experience a different kind of life culture, see things, clear the mind and look at the world from another perspective. Be it China, Korea or Spain, just let loose and see how people live can be so enriching sometimes.”

THB said, “A beach holiday, a very good book and a nice bottle of red wine set things straight.”

RN said, “But I think her problem is more than taking a break. She’s leading a very fulfilling life, not the empty life of a mindless yuppie (DPL you know who I am talking about). She cares. I guess it could be a 1/4life crisis also. Hang in there. If all else fails, apply Mandy-distraction.”

Princess said, “Hmm.. sorry hot mama.. I really think that no matter what I say here wont really help you that much.

Just can tell you to be thankful for everything that you have because YOU are the one that made everything happened.

Not everyone can be as independent as you are. And we are all proud of you”

It was good to get perspectives from everybody.

I thought about it long and hard, wondering why on earth do I feel this ennui, this sense of restlessness when essentially I have what I wanted.

A business, a family, a life of leisure.

I think the problem here is this, and I think Vandalin and Fitti got the essence of it.

I am bored and I need more challenges. During the start up of the business, I had to do a million things, multi task all at the same time while juggling the family and household, but I love it. I loved every minute, despite the extreme adrenaline and exhaustion cycle.

Now, the business is taking care of itself, I have orders coming in every other day, but I am strangely dissatisfied. Truth be told, I miss the crazy mayhem with the ex boss. I miss being needed, being the magician who conjures the rabbit out of the hat. I miss the hectic pace if that is even possible.

I miss being the Superwoman. I need to be that woman juggling career, children, family and household.

How sad is that?

***

I got his Letter of Reference today. The usual words of praise (conscientious, hardworking, intelligent etc) aside, the sentence that really moved me was

“She will be an asset to whichever company she works in, and I would have no problem recommending her for a similar position”

This came from a CEO and a highly respected man in the Jewish and business community. It means a lot and it invoked a deeply bittersweet satisfaction.

On a happier note, the business and I will be featured in a Style Insider piece in my favourite magazine in June!!! You can be sure I will post the toot toot piece here. :)

My New Fashion and Style Site

April 15, 2008 - 12:53 am 1 Comment

OK my new fashion and style site is up at *Xtralicious.net, where I publish my writing efforts in fashion, style, shopping and design news. Come and say hello! :)

*a gift from Big* thank you my dear. :)

Update on Personal Goals

April 10, 2008 - 5:26 pm No Comments

It’s the beginning of the 2nd quarter of 2008. How are your goals coming along?

  1. The boutique has come along quite nicely. The initial hustle and bustle in foundation works had finally slowed to a more manageable pace and now we are cruising along nicely.
  2. I am bored. I am thinking of going back to work. How sad is that.
  3. Studies to start soon. That should whack up my days.
  4. The passion I have for helping children, I am going to direct it towards helping children with cancer.
  5. Taking up bellydancing lessons this month

Shall update as I go along. :)

My book review in Vanilla April issue

April 5, 2008 - 9:06 pm No Comments

bookreview1.jpg

Gawd, the description of me is so bimbotic… :P

Tagged by Sri

April 5, 2008 - 12:16 am No Comments

As tagged by Sri, I must list one fact about myself
for each letter of my middle name.
Each fact must begin with that letter.
After I’ve been tagged,
I need to post my answers
and tag one person for each letter
of my middle name.

OK since I don’t have a middle name, I am using May (the secondary character in my Chinese name) to do this meme.

M – My style

Clean, classy, elegant, feminine, but always with a touch of sexy.

A – Allergies

No medical allergies, but only to be inflicted with a number of allergies towards disabilities like Modesty deficiency and Negative brain cell count.

Y – Yearnings

Freedom in very sense of the word, be it intellectual, financial or lifestyle

I tag anyone who wants to do this. :)

EasySafe – Your unique key to security

April 4, 2008 - 6:19 pm No Comments

easySafeFAST easySafe is the only hardware cryptography product available in the market with unique features. It protects all sensitive information in your computer, external hard disk, USB flash drive, SD card and etc.

Although the design is compliant to FIPS 140-2 standard with PKI technology, FAST easySafe, as its name implies, is rather easy to deploy and use as compared to other sophiscated security products that require dedicated IT specialists for deployment and maintenance.

Visit us at the Newstead Anniversary Roadshow this weekend.

Fast And Safe Technology Pte Ltd (FAST)
Venue : Funan ITMall Atrium
Time : 11am to 8pm
Date : 3rd to 6th April 2008

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