The Last Day of 2014

The last day of 2014, first thing in the morning when I arrived at office, setting up my laptop to start the day and suddenly I felt watched.

Not turning my head, I shifted my eyes to the left towards the window and saw a blackbird staring back at me with one eye at an angle, through the small gap left between the drawn down blinds and my desk.

It was probably less than a few seconds and he promptly flew away from his perch when he saw me returning his stare.

I got eyeballed by a blackbird on the final day of the year. There's always a first to everything, I guess.

A Different Kind of Christmas

Christmas had come darting around the corner this year. Somehow there wasn't enough time (as always) for gift exchange shopping for the office as well as the annual family reunion. It's a pity when these tasks which were meant to be joyous becomes a chore and a headache. The spirit of Christmas is lost, albeit the celebration has become very much secular.

Gift exchange for office - amazing that I could keep to the budget

A Hair Cut Means More Than A Haircut?

Over the Merdeka weekend (many moons ago) I had a haircut. Cutting off quite a length, deviating from my usual trim. I'd planned to cut it short for some time but procrastination and lack of time had hindered my resolve to carry through.

So finally I did it. And strange feedback I had received. Not from a bad haircut but from the implication of a drastic change in hairstyle.

LK had commented before that he could tell from Facebook photos when a girl had broken up - a drastic change in image. A colleague had said a similar thing - cutting hair short as a sign of a new life.

In a way it was. A new start (at that point in time). A new hairstyle for a new rebranding and new opportunities. Forgetting the past and moving on. It is hard to actually forget, especially in the mind, but it is an outward effort to close the book. And right in so doing.

Well, actually... cutting my hair was to lessen the shock of finding so much hair dropping everyday! ;) Nevertheless, it can serve for both purposes.

Tom what?

For the past few weeks, I have been hearing some weird sounding term being used occasionally by my workmates. I had asked "what?" a few times but it was reiterated so matter-of-fact-ly that I did not dare seek further clarification on the term. Maybe something was wrong with my hearing or I was just bad at interpreting pronunciation of a common term.

I didn't give much thought on it (and didn't have much time to do so honestly) until today when I heard it again. And I finally found out what it was.

LPD

Funny how today I felt for the first time that I was contributing to the project by being able to explain to a legal colleague what LPD was. Just shows that I wasn't the only one clueless with all the abbreviations and neverending sentences. Legal language is really getting to me.

By the way, LPD is 'latest practicable date'.

Yoyo

First you surprise me by pushing me into the sea.
And when I'm just about to find equilibrium, you take it all away from me.
Then you give me a chance or more like an ultimatum to take up a challenge.
I said ok.
And now you want to cut my wings again.
Pushing me back to the situation I was so miserable in (although it was only for 3 months).
I really don't understand what is the purpose of dangling a carrot in front of me and then taking it all away in less than a month's span.
Either I've made an enemy somewhere.
Or it's time to move on.
Tired.

A Crime in Being Different?

Something happened today. Which taught me that maybe it isn't such a good idea to mix personal with professional.

I've never really thought of what the word "weird" could imply, until today when someone close was labelled such by a person who barely spent one week in contact with this someone. I'll be honest, I've used the term a thousand times on strangers and acquaintances, and I AM guilty of this frivolity.

But what makes a person seem "weird"? Is it because the person is different from you? Thinks differently? Looks different? Doesn't agree with your ethos? What? If it is any of the aforementioned, then you are "weird" for you are unable to adapt to diversity. No two individuals are identical in this world. Even the so-called identical twins have different fingerprints, DNA make up and appearance (result of environmental interactions).

So if cookie cutter human who needs to be in the "in crowd" all the time is what constitutes being a "normal" person, I'd rather be weird.

Officially in the Challenge

Today marks day 1. Got to beat this resistance to change. Only three months since losing my freedom (to a certain extent) and already I am uncertain of gaining back this freedom. See how the mind warps back to the comfort zone.

I have to buck up. Read up (a lot) to know what's going on in the ddwg meetings. And start learning to delegate and plan ahead. I really hope it won't be as bad as what some have been telling me. But if the task is too easy, then it won't be a worthy achievement.

So sm needs to press on, at least for the next few months.

Rubber Band Me

Work life has been all topsy turvy since May with two unwanted portfolio reshuffles and another one (or two) more underway. It has come to a point where my business units would call to ask who was in charge of such and such a company and I would scramble through my printed list just to discover that it was the wrong version I was looking at. I can't even remember which companies I am in charge of and honestly, it doesn't matter anymore.

Visit KL 3.0 - Royal Selangor Visitor Centre

The third installation of our annual self-enlightenment on our city Kuala Lumpur took place over the long weekend right before Hari Raya (yes, that was quite a while back). This year our numbers had increased from a two-men show to five! We had planned to visit 3 places, but in the end we managed to visit only one. Seems like the museums decided to close early for Raya, although their websites had stated otherwise. Silly me for not calling to re-confirm before going ahead with the plans.

Nonetheless, our itinerary numero uno was thoroughly satisfying for all of us - the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. I was surprised that a Malaysian company (set up by a Chinese pewtersmith, Yong Koon) would invest a considerable amount of capital on creating a mini museum with complimentary guided tour, short workshops (for a fee) and a chic cafe within their factory premises. Of course, given that the objective is probably to preserve the company's heritage and also to associate this strong heritage with its branding.

Entrance to the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre

Black Dogs

The annoying thing about having black dogs is:

1. they keep purposely tripping you at night by running in front of your legs when you're walking in the garden.
2. accidentally kicking them when using the staircase (because the dog MUST sit in a dark corner of the wooden steps all the time).
3. keep sitting on them when you decide to fall on the sofa for a nice rest.
4. you can't see their eyes - whether they're open or closed or staring at you. Only brown smudges of eyebrows can be seen from afar.
5. black fur looking like armpit hairs sticking all over your clothes and possessions. I have to self-explain myself every time before someone misinterprets.
6. you can't tell if they're angry until you see their teeth, and that's too late!
7. they know they're black and still they insist on rubbing themselves all over your brand new white dress as a sign of affection!

Good Friday

Today I'm thankful for:

1. our fourth training session - more visibility with the independent directors.
2. completing more and more assignments.
3. leaving office at 7.30 p.m. - the earliest for the past few weeks!
4. having Milo nuggets while driving home.
5. seeing light still in the sky.
6. Poppy and her enthusiastic welcome home jumps - such a big gurl!
7. Poppy having a proper house, safe from the rain.
8. Poppy's recovery after being shot by the dog catchers on Wednesday. She's surprisingly submissive to having to wear a collar.
9. the weekend! After murmuring in my head for the past three days, I have come to a resolve - I will try again and again. Knock and the door will be answered.
10. Zacky boy and his "hah hah hah hah hah".

Singapore Break and a Wedding

Friday the 18th of July, we packed our bags and flew to our neighbour down south. We got a little lost finding our way to the hotel but come on, who gets lost in Singapore? However, getting lost enabled us to discover that we were staying just a stone's throw away from the Singapore National Art Museum.

Reached Singapore!

Being Thankful: Days 146 - 150

It's so weird, I'm losing track of the days and every day I discover more and more outstanding (not mine) work that I need to settle for someone. It really gets tiring when the tasks date back to early 2013 and the business units are chasing me like it was my fault to begin with! So so difficult to walk the talk of being forgiving and professional.

But, I am still thankful for:

1. my other colleagues who despite their heavier workload (due to the disruption from portfolio change) still offered to help me out. Every day is an overwhelming experience of panic till past 8pm.
2. learning the little things that will make me self-reliant in future. The downside from my previous role was that I was too reliant on my assistant for certain matters.
3. the cheque coming right on time. No penalty for my 'almost slip up'.
4. the e-board training session done and over with. Constructive advise received. Next time (if there is one) I will need to steer the directors conversations back to our training objectives. 
5. being able to receive criticism and agreeing on it. Surprisingly. Maybe it's part of growing older?
6. letting go of things out of my control. Leaving work in the office to focus on my weekend!
7. meeting up with the girls for a healthy vegetarian meal... and then we adjourning for cake! Counter all the goodness in one night! 
8. getting a bottle of almond butter. Mmm...
9. our final weekend in Genovasi. Final presentation done. Buka puasa and farewell dinner. Laugh and laugh and laugh.
10. finally deciding not to go back to office on a public holiday. It was a productive day (in a stress relieving sense). Good early start and finally having the chance to exercise. Quality time with family and the dogs (Meowww! Poppyyyy!).
11. learning the difference between Registered Shares and Bearer Shares, thanks to filling up HSBC forms. Registered shares have share certificates with the shareholder's name on it whereas Bearer shares don't have the shareholder's name on the share certificate. So anyone who gets hold of a Bearer Share certificate may claim ownership over the shares of the Company. Therefore it is always good practice to execute a share sale agreement, even for transfer of Registered shares.

I think 150 is a good number to stop?

Being Thankful: Day 140

I'm thankful for:

1. the lunch treat at Zen. I guess it's a gesture of peace after the c*** I went through last week. Ah sm remember, remember... challenges = growth.
2. my colleague sending me her draft simulation board papers from the last round of training. At least I don't have to start from scratch for next Friday's training. Need to work out what to say, pronto!
3. getting the PAL and forms out. Hope this don't trigger a backlash.
4. meeting up with a potential partner. Seemed to have a lot of experience and gave us some constructive advice.
5. (can't think of any. brain shutting down)

Being Thankful: Day 139

I'm thankful for:

1. discovering that my phone only has one speaker. Didn't know this until yesterday. I actually texted the shop owner about claiming warranty! Thanks to Google, I now know that my mini heart attack was utterly unnecessary.

   

   See! A pair of grills - how would I know that the left was a speaker and the right one was for the mic?

2. someone saying that I 'sound' tall over the phone! This is the second time she has said it haha.
3. the DCFO mentioning something that jogged my memory - OMG, I haven't raised the company's authorised share capital! Yea... this is what I hate about changing portfolio (again) in the middle of a corporate exercise.
4. secretly being excited about having the chance to try leading our e-board training to some of the L1s. So glad I volunteered myself this round instead of having to draw lots to take charge of the VVIP training session! Foresight.
5. a productive discussion.

Being Thankful: Day 138

Ong ong numbers 1-3-8! Yea... anyway, I'm thankful for:

1. walking a lot today. Choosing to take the stairs and walking to the bank instead of driving there before or after work.
2. getting some filing work done. There's no better motivation for filing than a change in portfolio (again) and statutory audit (of course).
3. tackling the odious journey of filling up the HSBC account opening forms - wasn't too bad, just really tedious. Why must they have so many different sets of forms and T&Cs just to open one account and what's with the KYC forms when the Group has been a long time corporate customer!?! Foreign banks have too many red tapes.
4. not much jam going to PJ for our team meetup and having a few laughs about the sink hole and interesting pictures.
5. Texas Chicken - yums!

Being Thankful: Day 137

I'm thankful for:

1. The board meeting going smoothly although it was my first for this particular JV.
2. Having weird thoughts during the meeting like "why is that guy's skin so white & smooth? Hands also no hair! But over the phone sounded like old Uncle... summore the name so hebat! I think he's more feminine than I!" Mind conversations like this really helps in keeping me awake at long meetings.
3. Finally filing the agreements received from the lawyers a few weeks ago. To be honest, besides being crazy busy I didn't prioritize this task because I didn't know how to do it! (the SOP, I mean) But it's done now!
4. Jamming my finger at the agreements filing cabinet. The experience just heightens the senses. Never knew I could feel that much intensity in a fraction of a second. Receptors for pain, cold, hot, everything firing simultaneously. Neurotransmitters oversupply in my synapses. I start seeing that textbook image in my head. In short, makes me feel human.
5. Productive discussion. Finished mapping out the features. Timekeeping really works. Just a little more to iron out before we meet our potential partner.

Being Thankful: Day 136

I'm thankful for:

1. Feeling normal again. I like cheerful me better.
2. Visiting a colleague in hospital. Despite awkward questions by our boss, managed to ask her if she's doing better. Will pray for her & baby to be well & strong.
3. Last minute meetup with friends. Good laugh at glow in the dark braces, ditzy fengtou ladies sailing in the sea.
5. Body aches not too serious.  Feels like I went for a hike or something.

Being Thankful: Day 135

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up at 6.30am and snoozing till 7am! haha I actually heard my alarm this time!
2. not so intense of a day in Genovasi and lots of getting to know people.
3. commonalities.
4. feeling hungry at the same time and pigging out - so true... everything looks good when I'm hungry and I wanted to order it all. But I didn't! Thank goodness!
5. a little more headway in our discussions.
6. having some butt flesh!?! Can't remember when was the last time I fell on my derriere this hard. I think the initial shock of being overthrown by a small little puddle of water was worse than the pain felt on my lower pelvic bone and left palm. Thank God I don't feel a lingering pain. Should be alright inside I hope.
7. Michel Camilo - setting the mood for minutes writing.
8. my BSF leader for her support and prayers.

Being Thankful: Day 132, 133 & 134

Crazy past 3 days with lots of drama. Lesson learned, don't simply say things when you're upset. I'm thankful for:

1. saying the stupid thing to someone I trust (only). But it is my ultimate plan, I guess. God willing.
2. our PLC AGM & EGM going pretty well besides some unreasonable shouting shareholders. Always read the T&Cs! Funny how our scrutineers told us that these few serial shareholders visit AGMs and kick up a fuss everywhere. Interesting, why do these retirees have so much angst in them? 
3. my particular assignment, the board meeting, going well. All smiles. Ha-ha this and ha-ha that.
4. my bio apple USB drive - super panic, running frenzy, copying out a presentation for the AGM. Nobody told me I needed to load the MSWG Q&As for the AGM presentation. So yeah, a whole roomful of shareholders and our Board saw what was on my USB drive - my ex-company folders and Frozen!
5. the funny but costly incident of me thinking I loss my season parking card when it was actually under my laptop bag. Cost me RM7 but gave me and others a good laugh afterwards. The perils of growing old - misplacing things.
6. the dreaded other AGM & EGM going on without a fight. And seeing our senior management play-acting with the script we wrote. We were all prepped (statutorily) and ready for hostility. Not too sure if the no-show of the minority shareholders was a good thing or a bad thing. I foresee more fire after their letter of request to adjourn the shareholder meetings was denied. We'll wait and see.
7. having completed my really rushed board file compilation through my meltdown and being able to squeeze out some smiles out and act as normal as possible. Just.so.fed.up.
8. not really caring if everyone knows what happened. I'm human and I have my limits too. I think this way of releasing stress is much more peaceful than shouting profanities at random persons who come by. So be it.
9. the more I talk about it, the more I forget that feeling of anger. Disconnect. TQ friends.
10. family time and talking. Hard to get everyone on the same page.
11. the weekend. Genovasi time is always a time away from the stress. Time to do something totally unconnected and learn new things.

Being Thankful: Day 131

I'm thankful for:

1. being indoors in this kind of weather. Just a slab of glass separating me and the horrible haze.
2. Uncle chap fan - damn nice weh but super oily lah! And he remembers to speak English to me!
3. starting to get a hang of compiling board papers and quite fast too! I think.
4. leaving office a little earlier - 8.10pm!
5. the fur friends fighting for love.
6. stalking PLCs. Interesting - share price went from less than 50 sen to more than RM5 in a year due to a change in management. And the whole Board has migrated over too! Can't help the alarm bell in my head to file change of directorship for our trustee, but alas that entity is no longer under my care.

Visibility is bad - every time I look out my window I instinctively start coughing!

Fire the Dead Wood!

I say fire the dead wood!

Being Thankful: Day 130

I'm thankful for:

1. conversations - it is comforting when you know you are not alone in this problem. 
2. not feeling hungry. Brought and bought just enough food to last me the long day.
3. not feeling sleepy although I had nasi lemak for lunch. That shows the amount of 'braining' involved today.
4. realising and pointing out that we were short of 2 laptops for the whole board meeting - AGM registration counter setup. Although it's less than 3 days away, we can still put in a request for backup laptops. I think I'll bring my personal laptop along, just in case.
5. suddenly realising that one of my JV company's Annual Return deadline is next week! Hurry, hurry prepare for filing! I miss having my assistant to do all this for me. God must be protecting me from non-compliance. ;)

Being Thankful: Days 127, 128 & 129

I'm thankful for:

1. fruitful days - every minute is considered productive.
2. finally replying some messages - didn't realise it took me weeks to respond. Gosh, need to start keeping track of things.
3. Friday dinner date with mah gooood fren! Twice in a week to the place I said I would not go back to and Tous Les Jours. Ketchup catchup.
4. twice in a week late night macchiato overdose. Wonderful sleep therapy and hyper active the next day making two dinners a night a must.
5. learning more and more under pressure. Mistakes happen but it just teaches me to look out for such mistakes the next time around. Second year of reviewing audited accounts and I'm proud that I could proofread and revert for 4 companies within an hour on Friday after 6pm!
6. supportive people around me. God always puts a balance of angels and annoyers around me. Hope I can overcome this turning point. Or does He have another plan for me? Let's wait and see.
7. my BSF leader as she had been one of my confidante in the stormy times last month. Always having words of encouragement and surrendering my 'predicament' to the Lord.
8. excited for the upcoming wedding! What should I wear? Can I bring a curling tong onto the plane?
9. prototyping - didn't expect we could come up with so many ideas at one go. And to be able to build the prototypes with basically... waste!
10. seeing the reaction on people's faces to the prototypes.
11. rejection - don't feel so 'malufying' now anymore.
12. horrible English is damn funny yo. Our typos galore is just too entertaining. Who said swiftkey was wonderfully predictive!?! 
13. getting to know my team members better.
14. our carb-high time - talk rubbish, hear rubbish and couldn't find the masking tape in front of me!
15. so much activities that gives me no time for thinking about... dot dot dot. It's a good thing, eraser please.
16. falling asleep with my youversion at home and then finding more concentration in a noisy cafe in Taipan. What are the odds?
17. the midnight owl. Time to complete my BSF homework! Omg, my one month break is over and I'm cramming on the night before class...

Being Thankful: Day 126

I'm thankful for:

1. finishing the compiling of board papers on my own. Woohoo I can do it,  people thought I'm so used to having an assistant that I can't handle such task anymore. 
2. overcoming a negative response and ending the day on a positive note.
3. an interesting chat on buying shares.
4. being reminded to use the stairs rather than the elevator. 
5. getting that *@** form signed, even if it took me a solo walk to the hotel. Gee, goodbye high profile board meetings! 

Being Thankful: Day 124 & 125

Uh-oh... getting lax again.

I'm thankful for:

1. getting real planning done for our trip.
2. leave approved!
3. finally a response - all is well.
4. being able to eat spicy food again! 
5. sharing a weird moment with a colleague. I hope I didn't reveal too much, but it's come to a point where I don't really care anymore.

Being Thankful: Day 123

I'm thankful for:

1. having the obsession of making sense of numbers. Today is 123! Woohoo!
2. not losing control of myself today when someone wanted to taichi her outstanding work. I'm really reaching the boiling point with this person. I'm glad that I stood my ground and said NO. I have done my part in finishing my outstanding work before handover and she should too.
3. friends who encourage me to leave. Hahaha. At this point, I think I just needed someone to hear my complaints. This too shall pass (I hope).
4. yummy dinner and celebrating mummy. But after finding out who the ultimate beneficial owner was, I think I may not go back there.
5. cake. Croquant. Meringue. Hazelnuts.
6. coffee and chocolate and hazelnuts.

Being Thankful: Day 121 & 122

Been two days of grueling work. I'm thankful for:

1. Being excited and it turns out to be something very accessible to most people. 
2. Not freaking out when finding hair in my  food. Twice. Is this a good thing? Not over reacting is good. 
3. Field work is getting easier. Don't feel so intimidated now. What's the worst that could happen? Rejection. 
4. Realising that my mind totally loses it sometimes when people ramble. I don't mean to but it's an auto reflex. 
5. Identifying contradictions. Lol. 
6. Meeting random people whom suddenly you discover have something in common with you! 
7. Trying out new places. Yesterday Slurp. Today Les Deux Garcons. 
8. Trying piggies tolling in the mud. Japanese curry! 
9. Tasting the no. 2 best macaroons in KL. Salty caramel was good. Salt always saves the day! 
10. Doing a blind taste test. Interesting. 

Being Thankful: Day 120

Wow, unknowingly it's already 120 days of brain rewiring! Although the fervour for the entrepreneurship MOOC didn't last, at least this is one of the takeaways I have.

I'm thankful for:

1. praises. Sometimes it gets really hard when you have no feedback on your performance and start assuming your work is going to the dogs. It is human nature to always be quick to criticise and slow to praise. But occasionally you get to hear from peers that you have value indeed, and this is encouraging.
2. water. It was about the only thing that could stop me from my uncontrollable coughing fit. Felt really bad coughing in front of a pregnant lady and she just kept on teaching me how to draft a discharge of Charges resolution.
3. karma. Yeah, I shouldn't be 'believing' in such things but there is that unmistakable 'leap in the heart' when I see 'what goes around comes around' in action. All this politicking... something is bound to give way one day.
4. Poppy. Such an endearing mutt.
5. Zacky. Such a grumpy old boy.
6. Excitement for tomorrow!

Being Thankful: Day 119

I'm thankful for:

1. Feeling much better although my right eyelid was still swollen for most of the day (I looked extra crap cause of the lack of makeup).
2. Handling people who were chasing me.
3. Getting better on track.
4.  Not being the only one who feels things are getting under the skin.
5. Water and how it cools.

Being Thankful: Day 118

I'm thankful for:

1. talking to a doctor and discovering that allergy may occur with certain brands (manufacturers) of the same drug.
2. the day off and the hours of sleep I had and the body ache I woke up with was gone after all the extra rest.
3. the body ache medication (but it also gave me swollen eyes!).
4. achieving what I'd planned to do for the past few months. Start small.
5. having a good sweat out to detox myself of the allergy.

Being Thankful: Day 117

I'm thankful for:

1. My quality of work recognised. Although it was at the expense of a really nice person.
2. Surviving the day with some virus wreaking havoc in me.
3. Forced to end early when everyone went home.
4. Home cooked meal.
5. Breathing. When you lose the ease only then that we appreciate it.

Being Thankful: Day 116

I'm thankful for:

1. That satisfaction when a job is done.
2. Interesting discoveries about people in doing my research for work.
3. Having friends that I can share 5 cent stories any time of the day and they don't judge me for them.
4. Dinner tea at TWG. Ah, now I can say that I've been there... Hmm... Not really my territory yet.
5. Having "puppy" greet me with enthusiasm in the dark of the night. Some dogs are just so lovable.

Being Thankful: Day 115

I'm thankful for:

1. breakfast - rarely I have this privilege.
2. fun games.
3. more talk on the project and recruiting another member.
4. taste buds - we take for granted our ability to taste and savour our food. What if there wasn't such a thing as taste buds? All that chemical reaction gone to waste.
5. finishing my long outstanding minutes. Wow, only 5 pages! So used to pulling a minimum of 15 pages with my previous portfolio.

Being Thankful: Day 114

I'm thankful for:

1. A walk in the park.
2. More discussions on the project.
3. Fellowship time & English tea.
4. Funny discoveries. Hmmm...
5. A quick response from the eBay seller who shipped the wrong screen protector to me.

Being Thankful: Days 112 & 113

It's been a very tiring 2 days - in a good way. Busy out of my mind after two days out of office. Outstanding assignments, system training and familiarization... Evening sessions for our church conference...

I'm thankful for:

1. Having not to drive to work for two days.
2. A good mind rest from all the work before getting on board again.
3. Not giving up just because of the jam.
4. Getting out that urgent resolution in just over a day - our requests always come last minute.
5. Having questions to ask on the e-board system - much more prepared than the last time we had training.
6. Discovering I can actually apply for associateship. Experience & study duration checked! Now to fill the form, get endorsements & pay the money.
7. Worshipping in the house of God. Starved.
8. Thinking positive and not looking back into the past. Over and done with.
9. Homemade rice dumpling from my colleague.
10. Ideas. Always make me excited.

Being Thankful: Day 111

I'm thankful for:

1. Blessing that no one else wants to attend the SSM National Conference, so I get to go both days.
2. Having the chance to listen to interesting panelists, especially the lawyers. Wow.
3. Ending early and learning a lot.
4. Meeting people in the industry.
5. Warm bath.
6. Fellowship time.

Being Thankful: Day 109 & 110

I'm thankful for:

1. an opportunity to let someone know how much workload I am having.
2. meeting the deadline for the bank form submission. Now just some other documents to complete.
3. a little homemade rice dumpling from my colleague.
4. help from others.
5. attending my first SSM National Conference.
6. meeting people with industry experience.
7. good speakers - always motivate me to excel in public speaking. Lawyers are awesome public speakers (well, most of them).
8. reaching home with the sun still in the sky! Haven't had the chance for the past few weeks.

Being Thankful: Day 108

I'm thankful for:

1. Not getting murdered yet. I lost the name of my target though. And people seem to be trying to pass me stuff suspiciously. Haha.
2. Increasing experience in approaching and interviewing strangers. I'm good at approaching but not so great at explaining our prototype.
3. Yumcha coconut shake.
4. Looking young although I'm one of the older ones in the class.
5. Getting some testing done for the e-board.

Being Thankful: Day 107

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up early. I guess I am excited for my weekend classes.
2. reaching on time and at the same time with my friend. Comfort level of mixing around is still not there yet.
3. meeting and talking to an interesting person.
4. being pushed out of the boundary again. Hope my presentation skills can really improve.
5. ice cream and cake.

Being Thankful: Day 106

I'm thankful for:

1. an outlet of my frustration. Silence doesn't mean I'm OK with it.
2. a break and a movie. Leaving earlier from work is becoming a privilege.
3. someone to listen to my predicaments and actually understand what work struggles I'm going through.
4. the sting didn't hurt as bad after talking it over.
5. complimentary movie - X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Being Thankful: Day 104 & 105

I'm thankful these past two days for:

1. achieving much every day.
2. becoming a stronger person.
3. learning to handle situations.
4. always being polite, even in the face of confrontation.
5. not caring so much about how others feel anymore - I will stand up for what I know is right.
6. having the courage to state the truth in an email, so that whoever (especially in higher places) reads it will know who is not performing.
7. first board meeting experience - dealing with multi departments have been surprisingly ok.
8. learning new facts. Interesting.
9. my lovely phone covers have arrived! Will pen a review if I have time - since there seemed to be a lack of headcase reviews around when I was searching for them.
10. tomorrow being Friday? haha

Being Thankful: Day 103

I'm thankful for:

1. parking space in the 2nd row.
2. a smooth day.
3. a new challenge coming up.
4. being able to go home before 8pm
5. an earlier night.

Being Thankful: Day 102

I'm thankful for:

1. Realizing that I may have cleared many of my outstanding tasks unconsciously. Not to say I don't have any work anymore, but what I worried about is steadily getting done.
2. An "unfortunate" mistake which I will turn it to a positive angle - go spread the news that I actually rejected an offer. Then everyone will know that I wasn't disloyal.
3. Doing what I said I would do.
4. Getting the long outstanding invoices to the finance people. It really isn't rocket science to make a few calls and find out who the PIC is. And this has been pending since December 2013!
5. Helping mum prepare father's day cards for the kids.

Being Thankful: Day 101

I'm thankful for:

1. Having the ability to step back and let go to those who want to dominate.
2. The funny experience where first time in Genovasi history where the paper plane flew up into the plaster ceiling and got lost forever.
3. Completing week 1.
4. Completing my BSF homework in a night.
5. Watching Across the Universe. Finally.

Being Thankful: Day 100

Ah it's the 100th day!!! Eventful indeed.

I'm thankful for:

1. Surviving 100 days of brain rewiring.
2. First day of design thinking.
3. Meeting new people (and a familiar face from uni aisecer days).
4. Pushed out of comfort zone in the assignment by interviewing the man (or lady) on the street on their opinion of motorcyclists in Malaysia.
5. Attending celebration although we were half an hour late.
6. Ramen at Banraku in Avenue K.

Being Thankful: Day 99

I'm thankful for:

1. Getting the board files out.
2. Finalising a number of tasks.
3. Learning that not only I was having such thoughts.
4. Help given.
5. Tomorrow is the first day of class!

The Right Choice?

So last week I turned down an offer which in every sense, with some exceptions, was a better deal. The basis for my decision was:

1. distance
2. environment - many unrelated acquaintances had some sort of negative perception on the place
3. learning experience
4. workload

However, now that I'm ladden with so much work in the new portfolio at my current place, I am starting to wonder whether I have made the right choice.

Being Thankful: Day 98

I'm thankful for:

1. being able to reach office on time for the past few days.
2. not being sleepy at all during working hours for the past two weeks. Productivity is the name.
3. running up and down. I think now I'll be able to meet more people and test my PR skills.
4. my colleague who waited for me till late. Work never seems to get done with this new portfolio.
5. home-cooked meal.
6. receiving by post my first casing for my Nexus 5.

Being Thankful: Day 97

Oh gosh, plagued with the wifi adapter issue again. One day off course, here's the debt paid.

I'm thankful for:

1. slowly learning through trial and error.
2. a day without the bosses.
3. getting started on a couple of the outstanding tasks (not all yet though).
4. internet and the power of Googling - ah, sweet evidence of your attendance in the form of group photos with the required info in the backdrop!
5. finally finished checking my last outstanding task from my previous portfolio.

Being Thankful: Day 96

I'm thankful for:

1. getting some outstanding work done and out for circulation.
2. being able to reach office on time. Leaving earlier helps but the parking lot seems to be getting full fast.
3. having nasi lemak for lunch!
4. not being sleepy after that - wow! I think the brain has been overworking.
5. reaching over 90 days of brain rewiring!

Being Thankful: Day 95

I'm thankful for:

1. self acceptance.
2. assigned help.
3. not letting someone ruin my plans.
4. going out of my comfort zone & going places alone.
5. always being alert during God's message at BSF.

How to Export Your Phone Calendar to Google Calendar

I recently switched phones from my old HTC Sensation 4G to my new Google Nexus 5. Migrating my contacts and app information were easier than I had anticipated, thanks to syncing and the cloud.

However one of the challenges I had was the transfer of my calendar entries which I had accumulated since 2011 - many of which were birthday reminders and future appointments (the valuable entries). I tried to find out how I could sync the HTC calendar with Google calendar but I didn't find a solution (Not too sure if there is such a function). After much Googling, I tried out one of the suggestions in a forum thread and it worked! So here it goes:

Being Thankful: Day 94

I'm thankful for:

1. rest. I think the only time that I can pay back my sleep debt is on the weekends. Yes, it has come to this - such an old lady! haha
2. cool day. When it's sunny, we complain it's hot. When it's rainy, we complain it's gloomy. But I think I should make a conscious decision to be thankful for each day - at least it's not freezing cold like winter (I cannot tahan!)
3. bread and butter. Simple pleasures in life. It tasted even better (and more satisfying) than the myKuali Penang White Curry Mee I had for lunch.
4. managing to find a solution to export my calendar entries in my HTC Sensation to my Google calendar. More on that later.
5. troubleshooting my laptop's wifi problem where the wireless adapter disappears from time to time and no wireless connection is available. I sort of uninstalled the wireless adapter driver (yea, smart aleck) without first noting down its name and then panic! Thankfully I could still use the LAN cable to connect to the internet and find a solution. In the end I found a driver from the HP website and tried downloading and installing it. Thus far it works! I hope this new driver will resolve the dropped wifi issue that has been plaguing my laptop since I bought it over a year ago.

Being Thankful: Day 93

I'm thankful for:

1. a gloomy day - not so hot when I have to be driving up and down from SA to KD.
2. the rain - somehow driving in heavy rain during the day just gives that feeling of total aloneness. Good time to really think of the things that matter.
3. buying breakfast for the family.
4. being able to wash my car without soap and in the drizzle - finally after how many months?
5. home-cooked dinner. Always cherish home-cooked meals.

Being Thankful: Day 92

I'm thankful for:

1. the help given.
2. reaching a decision and saying no. I'm choosing experience over money.
3. being able to eat fairly normally. I hope my stomach has healed completely.
4. starting to get the hang of things.
5. friends.

Being Thankful: Day 91

Debt from yesterday.

I'm thankful for:

1. having the courage to reject the offer.
2. full day of work.
3. getting a counter offer that met my minimum salary expectation.
4. pretty blinky notification light which isn't an LED.
5. surviving the day.

Being Thankful: Day 90

I'm thankful for:

1. feeling better after feeling bad everyday. I'm learning to accept people's nuances and well, when I get things done faster then it reflects well on my work and the perception I am creating with my new customers.
2. not feeling sleepy anymore.
3. learning more everyday.
4. another friend to join our 10 week learning experience!
5. a lovely dinner.

Being Thankful: Day 89

I'm thankful for:

1. quality time.
2. good rest.
3. a walk in the park.
4. home-cooked meal.
5. witnessing the cycle of life - Mr Lizard Jr serves some purpose.

Being Thankful: Day 88

I'm thankful for:

1. meeting a new colleague and finding a link.
2. first day with my orange phone.
3. telling a colleague what I wanted to say and seeking her advice.
4. having someone to confide in on my decision. Industry and prospect.
5. having almost made my decision.

Being Thankful: Day 87

I'm thankful for:

1. my mum and the relationship we have. She is my best friend and the only person I can count on whenever, wherever, whatever.
2. having the resolve to say "no" nicely (indirectly). No, you may not take my work and pass it off as yours.
3. stepping back before answering.
4. finally getting my iWant and for a little lesser! Red Nexus 5!
5. syncing - made my life much easier. Now to audit the sync results and find a way to transfer my calendar entries!

Unboxing my red Nexus 5 D821!

Being Thankful: Day 86

I'm thankful for:

1. firm stool! (yea, I know... gross... but it's been a week of fearing the loo and eating bland food)
2. a last minute opportunity to watch Spiderman 2 with mum.
3. pretty sandals on sale - this always happens when you try to spend less!
4. home-cooked meal by AY.
5. not being pulled over by the cops at the roadblock although one of my headlights had blown. Really thank God!

My sandals from Vincci - 70% off! Always wanted the teal pair

Being Thankful: Day 85

I'm thankful for:

1. My mind starting to accept change.
2. Starting to break the ice.
3. Completing the first draft of my first new assignment.
4. Getting an offer so fast, although did not meet my expectations.
5. Chatting with the HCBs.

Being Thankful: Day 84

I'm thankful for:

1. talking it over with a sister. The more I repeat it out loud, the more reason I drum into myself.
2. the prayer.
3. sucking it up and starting to embrace change.
4. friends whom I can share with.
5. hearing a funny but true quote on BFM: Please engage brain before releasing mouth! Totally changed my mood for the day.

Being Thankful: Day 83

I'm thankful for:

1. a smooth day.
2. my car.
3. a good talk.
4. a hope.
5. fellowship, although a very short one.

Being Thankful: Day 82

Ah, missed one day. Tuesday had been a very very trying day. What with the nerves of "the day before" and coupled with the disappointment when the portfolio reshuffle was announced. I don't really know why I am so mad at the decision made or maybe because I was sort of told to finish up other people's outstanding work on top of my own work. I just got so riled up with the injustice of the day and the accumulation of some time.

Anyway, here's the debt paid.

I'm thankful for:

1. coming back to work after my sick day.
2. although I'm still sick, it isn't torturing like it was on Sunday.
3. having balance of home-cooked food for lunch.
4. opening my first CDS account! Time to learn to trade.
5. having the strength to not blow up at the wrong time.

Being Thankful: Day 81

I'm thankful for:

1. much improved health!
2. feeling pain - humanises me.
3. the 'just do it' attitude. Get things done although it may feel so out of character at first.
4. a good day of rest.
5. funny moment when I forgot my own blood type and when I checked, a silly joke popped into mind! *kiasu*

Being Thankful: Day 80

Yesterday was a horror. The heart wanted to do so many things but the body was not willing. It is hard to feel positive when you're feeling absolutely like shit (literally). Anyway this list is from yesterday.

I'm thankful for:

1. going to church and not throwing up there.
2. no more headache.
3. able to make it through the greater part of the day although the nausea was there.
4. finally getting the toxic out after some apple cider vinegar.
5. the doctor giving me a day off without me asking for it.

Being Thankful: Day 79

I'm thankful for:

1. Early morning start out.
2. Walk in the park.
3. Fellowship.
4. Some rest.
5. Food. I never stay hungry for long.

Being Thankful: Day 78

I'm thankful for:

1. realisation. It's time to listen to myself. Why did I even listen to those people whom I've just only known in the past few years. Their advice, although sound, were probably applicable to themselves but everyone is different. Our suitability, our drive, our goals are different.
2. eating healthier - organic, vegetarian.
3. starting the real process. Details are coming in.
4. going to the shop and finding out it is out of stock! Bought me more time to think about it.
5. the feel and smell of a dry clean towel!

Being Thankful: Day 77

I'm thankful for:

1. long overdue meetup.
2. sharing of experience.
3. email on May Day - next week it is.
4. finally getting to try the softshell crab burger - now I know what not to order.
5. getting a good kind of nervousness. I've got nothing to lose. I'll just try.
6. this coffee for breakfast!

Need Vs Want... Oh which colour should I get?

The past few days I have been deliberately tempting myself to get my current dream smartphone - to buy or not to buy? This is the question. And every hiccup my two current phones make becomes an added excuse to justify buying the phone! The best part is that I know all this mind trickery serves no good purpose.

Being Thankful: Day 76

I'm thankful for:

1. an exciting day. Less work doesn't mean it gets boring. Always keep emails and know what you replied people. Thank goodness I had more patience than to reciprocate daftness with deliberate daftness!
2. an unexpected call. Lesson learnt - always prepare for the unexpected. Never thought that they would call, let alone call this fast. I surrender this into Your hands.
3. the Thai lunch treat by Treasury and a sort of forced charity cupcake treat by one of our bosses.
4. meeting up with cell members, although we went through a sucky jam.
5. caramel stripe frap something in my tumbler! First time drinking a Starbucks drink since Japan and first time using my tumbler here! RM2 off!

Being Thankful: Day 75

I'm thankful for:

1. bringing lunch to work. Less oil. No MSG.
2. finally getting down to reviewing and amending the summary M&As - 5 companies completed today!
3. conversations.
4. being able to provide compliance advice.
5. the radio. BFM in particular.

Being Thankful: Day 74

I'm thankful for:

1. not giving up although we were really really late.
2. the teaching at BSF. Time and again I've never regretted beating down that little voice which tells me to turn around and go back and that missing a lesson isn't a biggie.
3. completing my routine. Say no to 'lazy'.
4. the call. Things are moving forward, a step at a time.
5. always having backup dinner waiting at home, although I'm supposed to have already eaten before class.
6. oh oh oh I know this is more than my quota... but I'm thankful for having the resolve to drink more water (than usual) today!

A Question of Worth

Last week I sort of found out why I wasn't given the role I had interviewed for when I first joined my current company. It had to do with my lack of work experience, whereby the role was given to the other new recruit who had triple the years of experience than I.

Being Thankful: Day 73

I'm thankful for:

1. sleep. Enough sleep.
2. having a new resolve. I'm going to nip this p*****m in the bud by a lifestyle change. Day 1.
3. seeing the successful crowdfunding projects. Inspiring.
4. almost finishing my BSF homework. I do hope when May comes, I'll have more discipline.
5. being all ready for Monday.

Being Thankful: Day 72

I'm thankful for:

1. long overdue meetup with friends.
2. some cookie smelling shampoo - I wasn't sure whether it was the hair stylist or the shampoo at first! haha
3. peace in the family.
4. being able to nap anywhere.
5. cupcake from my assistant.

Being Thankful: Day 71

I'm thankful for:

1. getting my church membership card finally - forgot to mention this two days ago!
2. fun times with colleagues! Although it may (or may not ) be superficial, but we do have many days of joking around and teasing the few jokers.
3. the emails. I thought I had pushed my luck too far but it isn't the end of the road yet. There is still hope.
4. signs. It's always fascinating how things will only start to happen when I start sensing that a crossroad moment could be in the making.
5. looking at the better side of things. When a door closes, another will open and only then would you be able to appreciate the wonders behind that door.

Being Thankful: Day 70

I'm thankful for:

1. the answer to the question I have had for over a year and 8 months, albeit it had a sting.
2. being able to laugh and joke while my heart was in a tumult.
3. the simplicity of having a warm furry friend greet me with enthusiasm and look into my eyes and I know that it all doesn't matter.
4. being able to ease her burden.
5. friends and their support.

Being Thankful: Day 69

I'm thankful for:

1. getting a new work laptop and no need to use the LAN cable anymore!
2. finished my minutes and sent it to one of the directors for comments.
3. another opportunity. Things seem to be overwhelming now. Am I prepared to be tested?
4. going for cell, although I was the only one who turned up.
5. the funny incident when puppy didn't want to leave and I had to push her from her lying down position. I really don't know what she wants - food? to be adopted? just some affection?

Being Thankful: Day 68

Let's go retrospective from top down. I'm thankful for:

1. finally clicking the send button. Here begins another round of roller coaster emotions. I await His direction. I'm good either way.
2. having fried squid for lunch and dinner, coincidentally. Fulfilled quota for some weeks.
3. peristalsis. Amazing how our muscles work in systematic contractions to push down whatever we swallow. Thank God for this, especially when you're gulping down a Vitamin B complex tablet!
4. finally asking a friend for a favour which has been on my mind for quite some time.
5. my ears - can't imagine what I'd be missing if I didn't know what it was to hear. Praise God for giving us senses!

Being Thankful: Day 67

I'm thankful for:

1. not having to drive today.
2. started writing my minutes and finished about half of it today.
3. nasi lemak - somehow it's like my constant.
4. my little zackaroo for being so docile tonight - curled up next to me now.
5. that silly satisfying feeling of flipping a scab just at the right timing that it doesn't bleed.
6. my close friend being happy and having great opportunities ahead.

Being Thankful: Day 66

I'm thankful for:

1. Easter Sunday and my salvation. With the ins and outs of everyday life, I tend to forget that He went through all the sufferings, pain, rejection, ridicule and even the sting of death for me. So that I can be set free. That I belong to Him. That I can have hope in the darkest of days. That I know He is with me even though I cannot see Him.
2. Resisting the temptation to get a dress! Yes, picture will do and I hope one day I'll be able to make it myself.
3. Finding out that I can drive a big car (well, actually any other car than my own car). Fear conquered.
4. Laughs watching a 1960s footage of Frank Zappa playing bicycle on a talk show. Check it out here. Amusing to see how serious he was, or maybe he was just a poker-faced youth.
5. Giving it a try. Reply sent!

Being Thankful: Day 65

I'm thankful for:

1. an early start to the day. Yes, I did not sleep in!
2. a jog in the park. A last minute arrangement.
3. my new Adidas running shoes (bargain buy from Ueno, Tokyo) - so comfy.
4. my little cooking expedition - onsen tamago with Japanese curry.
5. learning to operate a lighter. Fear conquered.

Bought this pair for under RM70 at the market in Ueno - impulse buy as the cobbler had just sewed up my old pair extinguishing my need for a new pair

Onsen Tamago!

Still having the Japan hangover, today I decided to eat healthier (i.e. home-cooked) and try making onsen egg (soft boiled egg) in Japanese curry. Before I go further, here's the product:

Japanese curry (House brand) with onsen tamago (egg) and lap cheong and brown rice

Being Thankful: Day 64

I'm thankful for:

1. less traffic - it's always a blessing to have smooth roads.
2. cat naps - although they may last for under 5 minutes, the feeling after is refreshing.
3. puppy! She's such a pretty girl.
4. accomplishing what I had planned to do.
5. friends.

Coincidence

I was reading an article on the Malaysian Insider when I saw a distantly familiar name on the tweet feed panel. Could it be that poor fellow whom I had exasperated last year during the draft accounts review? Hey, it was  not my fault! My first time ever reviewing draft financial statements and these two companies just had to issue NCCRPS during the year under review! I was clueless and the poor dude was frustrated with my not being able to give a proper answer.

So anyway, on I went to click the twitter profile... and it was the same person! It's uncanny how much we can learn about a person online and not ever having met in person before. Ok lah, I stalked. But lesson learned: activate privacy settings in social media or maybe we really want strangers to know who we are?

Being Thankful: Day 63

Today I woke up to a shocking news. Karpal Singh had passed away in a car crash on the North-South Highway. Goodbye to one of the more vocal voices in Malaysia, who boldly fought for Malaysians for decades on end. And for those who are walking contradictions, shame on you.

Aside of the drama that this sad news has created, I'll continue with my positivity list. I'm thankful for:

1. being here.
2. a sign that maybe I do have a market value.
3. a way out of an unexpected turn of events. When more heads are together, a solution is faster at hand.
4. Greek yoghurt and honey - you make me "feel" healthy.
5. garden plants. Oh aloe vera, I will be harvesting you and learning how best to use you!

Being Thankful: Day 62

I'm thankful for:

1. the internet - I googled how to remove a ballpoint pen stain from suede and it worked pretty well, I think. Not perfect but the stain is no longer staring me in the face. Below's the results - using pen eraser (this rare commodity so difficult to find these days).
2. almost finishing my Audit Committee evaluation report - just a little more and I should be done with the first draft. Assignments always come last minute!
3. bonding time.
4. nasi lemak. Medium chain fatty acids are good right! Yes, I keep telling myself that.
5. butterscotch coffee.

Be gone, ballpoint pen stain! My Gap bag after undergoing cosmetic surgery. The colour should go back to its original after some use (I hope)

Being Thankful: Day 61

I'm thankful for:

1. being able to drive. For 5 years I did not have the courage to drive although I had taken my driving licence (with no bribe). This just proves that anything is possible. The key is to conquer fear.
2. life. Today while browsing through one company's minutes book, I came across a number of shareholders' resolutions which were signed by the late Tun Haji Omar Yoke Lin Ong and the late Tan Sri Datin Paduka Hajah Saleha Mohd Ali. One particular resolution struck me - it wasn't the content that touched me, but rather that it had both their signatures scribbled in a very shaky handwriting. The date of the resolution showed that they were both in their 80s at that time. Reading their biographies, they both had a life well-lived with many accomplishments. How many of us can claim such accolades at the end of our journey?
3. acceptance into a design thinking programme! I am excited. I will conquer my fear.
4. moisturisers. Never really believed they could work on my dragon hide, but it did! Slowly and bit by bit.
5. Mr manja dog - he is learning to forgive me for playing with other dogs.

Being Thankful: Day 60

Although I had quite a bad start today, I'm thankful for:

1. bosses who understand and are willing to contribute to my minutes writing due to our technical problem. I'll try to speed up the drafting and listening processes.
2. getting out of that rut of a feeling. Perhaps making green tea helped.
3. learning a little more about insurance.
4. my colleague who drove us to KL.
5. fellowship with my new BSF group.

Being Thankful: Day 59

I'm thankful for:

1. a day of washing.
2. having the time to do my own stuff at my own timing.
3. carbonara.
4. having the luxury of choosing what I want to eat, wear, do - we easily forget what many people are deprived of and keep thinking that what we have is not enough.
5. a restful Sunday, which is also Palm Sunday.

Being Thankful: Day 58

I'm thankful for:

1. spending some quality time with my car - bathe the little white elephant after more than 2 months of neglect.
2. meeting friends and a wedding.
3. getting in before the downpour.
4. parking further away and avoiding the fallen trees.
5. Thai food! Flavourful.

Being Thankful: Day 57

I'm thankful for:

1. Patience - having that little voice (the Holy Spirit) tell me to calm down and wait before replying.
2. Surprise celebration for a colleague.
3. Water - amidst water rationing, our area still has water supply, must use water prudently.
4. Rain - to cool the hotness & hopefully fill the dams.
5. That feeling of satisfying a tired body by dropping off to sleep.

Being Thankful: Day 56

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up - because we always take this for granted when it is not an impossible thing that one day we could stop waking up.
2. patience and being able to laugh in the face of a confrontation (well, more times than not).
3. spending quality time with family.
4. that cheeky smile I see - all I can define is the white teeth and brown eyebrows!
5. the ability to change. I've tried many times but I'm thankful that I've never stopped having the desire to try again and again and again.

Being Thankful: Day 55

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up on time, despite sleeping late last night.
2. finishing my calbee cereal!
3. the funny thought - black puppy has got a boyfriend (who follows her around!).
4. home-cooked chicken curry.
5. a proper functioning laptop :) - boy, do I have some horror stories from the past!

Being Thankful: Day 54

Well, chronologically this isn't Day 54, but it's where I'm picking up thus the continuation of the running numbers.

I'm thankful for:

1. being able to be of help to a friend.
2. motivation in joining a MOOC on entrepreneurship. Excited to learn.
3. helping out in the kitchen.
4. the smiling black puppy, which is three times bigger than Zack.
5. my first time making my own cup of green tea - genmaicha!

Cheating and Starting Again

It's been almost a month since my disappearance! Oh how time flies! Here's an IOU note for my 12 days of happiness in Japan (I hope I'll have the time and mood to work on it this weekend).

Anyway what spurred me to pick up and continue on with my 100 days of thankfulness, was my joining a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) where one of the first things mentioned was to "rewire" my brain - changing to a positive mindset. The exercise was to list down 5 things I'm thankful for every day - which coincidentally was what I've tried to do for the past month or so (with the exception of the hiatus). It would be difficult in the beginning but would become more fluid as time goes by and this would be the sign that a rewiring was taking place.

So in order to have a clean start, I've decided to drop the backlog days I've missed after my return from Japan (that's about 14 days worth of thankful posts). To a new start of self improvement!

Being Thankful: Days 52, 53

Due to the shortage of time, I'm cheating by combining days of thankfulness.

I'm thankful for:

1. the days passing by so fast (it's good and not so good in different ways). Faster to happy times. Lesser time to settle all the outstanding stuffs.
2. last minute packing and transferring everything to another luggage. Female scatter brain. Yes, yes bring along a foldable bag just in case.
3. checklists.
4. the funny thing that I'm more motivated to do something when time is running out. Pressure creates passion?
5. being able to handover all my outstanding matters, I think it should be all. Oh well, they'll have to make do without me.
6. half a day more!

Being Thankful: Day 51

This post is postdated for Tuesday, 11 March 2014.

I'm thankful for:

1. the muscle fatigue is starting to fade away.
2. the camaraderie in our team is at its peak. Some are back from their self declared rest day, bringing in more holiday mood.
3. work seems to be looking manageable.
4. another 2 days to the event of the year (well, at least for me thus far).

Being Thankful: Day 50

This post is postdated for Monday, 10 March 2014.

I'm thankful for:

1. being able to wake up for work.
2. the banter where everyone (including boss) had fun. Boss said he'd like to have another teambuilding with the Captain next year. Initially, we were told that the teambuilding frequency would be once in two years.
3. my first real class session for book of Matthew - although it takes a lot out of me to drag myself there, I always end up not regretting attending the sessions. Ah devil, get behind me!
4. finally getting some plans and bookings finalised and paid for.
5. pleasant Skype chat and getting into the mood! Oh gosh, just a couple of days more!

Being Thankful: Day 49

This post is postdated for Sunday, 9 March 2014.

I'm thankful for:

1. going out with my friend for dinner the night before - I avoided food poisoning from the BBQ dinner. Poor colleagues had it bad.
2. playing paintball for the first time! Never thought I would be this ganas. All of us save one were new to paintball. Took us 4 games to finish our pellets. It was a tiring experience but really fun. The thrill of avoiding getting hit and trying to shoot others was really something new. Being hit was painful but nothing too bad that would scare me away from a second time. Btw, I got hit on my collarbone but it was buffered ever so slightly by the edge of the protective vest.
3. being the flag grabber for the 2 last games! Our team won all four games! It did help that I was the smallest size and I was coincidentally wearing green, which was pretty much like camouflage.
4. the funny part where the only person I could aim at was the other team's team leader. The others were well hidden behind the tin barrels from where I was hiding. So I kept trying to shoot his butt but only got so close as to graze his shoe. I don't think I actually hit anyone else.
5. going back home. So tired. So sleepy. So pain. And a blue black that looks like a love bite (as some people keep saying).

Being Thankful: Day 48

This post is postdated for Saturday, 8 March 2014.

I'm thankful for:

1. our XXX challenge - with two teammates backing out, we were left with 8 ladies to complete the task. We did complete it, although the last team to do so with quite a lot of hiccups, but we did it nevertheless. Many had to overcome their fear of water and test the limits of their physical strength and mental strength. And what seemed to be an innocent wooden box tunnel to crawl through ended up as a fear factor challenge. I came face to face with a huge snake in the box, unexpectedly, and funny thing was that I just started cursing but hurried on with the task and ran out of the box with a water bottle in hand. I thought I would've freaked out and turn back, but I didn't. Which makes me wonder now, what am I really scared of? (always had a horrible fear of snakes). I only have a theory in mind that my real fears have gone when I started to know Him - for He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world!
2. our classroom session - we had to construct the tallest stable straw tower, a polystyrene aeroplane that can fly and land the furthest, three funny hats and a hole from an A4 paper which could pass through 10 persons head to toe. We had split the tasks among ourselves and I was in the group who had to construct the aeroplane. In the end our aeroplane and hats won the best marks. Our straw tower flopped when tested by fanning with a polystyrene board and we gave up on the paper hole task (only 15 minutes given) although I had a vague idea of how it should be cut.
3. our team winning second place overall.
4. impromptu plans and good friends. It's good to know that some friends are still willing to meet up although we've parted paths a long time ago.
5. completion of our aborted plan from last year - night hotspring!
6. my faux crocs lasting through the two full days of activities with it's crocodile front opening! Goodbye, you have served me well - through two years of teambuilding and some more.

Finally the faux crocs became a true pair of crocodiles

Being Thankful: Day 47

This post is postdated for Friday, 7 March 2014.

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up early and being one of the first to arrive at office!
2. my stash of digestives - saved my rumbling tummy.
3. being able to fit everything into my bag! And I just found out that it is a ladies backpack - funny but true. Cool!
4. fun times beginning. The Captain really gave us a lot of laughs - it's really inspiring to see how some people can handle people of all levels so well and with just the right balance of humour, leniency and sternness. Everyone had fun - from the tea lady to our boss.
5. what we did today at teambuilding:

• coming up with our team name, totem pole, mascot (yours truly) and war cry - we went from vikings to jolly bunny (because the headgear started looking like bunny ears instead of horns) and had the cutest (in a funny way) war cry that the facilitators kept laughing at! 
• minefield - test our instructional skills by leading a blindfolded partner across a plastic tupperware minefield. The funniest things were said - apparently a colleague was yelling and pointing in frustration "kaki letak sini! sini!!" (place foot here! here!!) forgetting that her partner was blindfolded and couldn't see where was 'here' was! The way the Captain reenacted it really made me LOL. Seriously.
• constructing pole - our group failed at this, mainly because the leader did not ask or listen to our opinions on how to construct the PVC pipes into a tall tower held erect only by strings held by the members. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see which leadership styles worked well.
• hornet's nest - we had to repeat this three times as a combined team. Being one of the smaller lighter ones, I got carried probably around 5-7 times, put through raffia string holes. In the last round, we managed to work as a team and got everyone out of the hornet's nest in an average of under 1 minute per person. Not bad. Again, we were caught saying the strangest things - I don't want this lubang, this hole is too small for me, this is E's lubang, stop putting your finger into the lubang! We all laugh-die when the Captain reiterated our words later.
• the mole - for the night classroom session we had to complete drawing a maze and at the same time weed out the mole(s) - apparently there were 5-6 around. For some reason, I vaguely remember playing such a game somewhere and figured that the mole was probably a myth. Turns out I was right haha. Our team did not surrender anyone, but the other teams expelled quite a number of their teammates, and one of them was our boss! The excuses given later were hilarious - he/she smiled strangely, he suddenly became talkative, he looked weird, she stood in the corner and didn't do anything, etc. Some were focusing more on catching the mole than the actual task. In the end, our team had only 1 minor mistake in completing the maze, whereas the other two teams had more than 2 major mistakes and a large number of members banished to the jail with funny epitaphs.

It really was a fun day of activities.

Being Thankful: Day 46

I'm thankful for:

1. digging and finding stuff that I thought I'd thrown away (although it was not everything I was looking for).
2. packing, packing, packing!
3. honey butter biscuit. A ball of heart attack.
4. the excitement.

n.b: shamefacedly, my discipline is starting to lag on this daily posting thingy... Nevertheless, I'll try to make it to a hundred days! :)

Being Thankful: Day 45

I'm thankful for:

1. finishing my board survey report... and only 8 pages! Half the amount of pages from last year's.
2. first dose of 1,000 mg Vitamin C - finally after advise from a friend, boss and doctor.
3. planning is finally in progress. 
4. a fruitful Skype call.

Being Thankful: Day 44

I'm thankful for:

1. feeling on the ball again.
2. steady workflow again. Things are starting to pick up and I hope I'll be able to make enough preparations by these two weeks.
3. debts settled. Only IOUs left.
4. fellowship with a friend. Interesting how the more we talk, the more I see. It makes it all the easier to fall back into reality.

Being Thankful: Day 43

I'm thankful for:

1. arriving at office safely although I was practically sleep driving.
2. no acute asthma attack although it was one of the haziest days I've ever seen.
3. the doctor giving me an MC for the rest of the day - usually they don't give any unless there is signs of fever.
4. sleep, real uninterrupted sleep.

Being Thankful: Day 42

I'm thankful for:

1. coconuts - twice in a day after our craving for coconut shake was not satisfied due to the dude not opening his stall!
2. black sand and the incongruous smoke pumping factory in the horizon. 
3. driving around the island and getting lost.
4. chocolates! We had a round 2.
5. that bag was calling me, so I went to fetch it home.
6. sambal udang pizza at Artisans Pizza.
7. an effort made to keep in contact.
8. getting home safely although after the witching hour.

Being Thankful: Day 41

I'm thankful for:

1. being able to meet up with a friend on a last minute basis.
2. being able to introduce the two friends who reminded me of each other... and they managed to hit it off!
3. waking up feeling like shit but that gradually went away as the day progressed.
4. really yummy breakfast - I think it's called "Farmer's batch" from Red Tomato, Pantai Chenang, Langkawi - mushrooms, egg, potatoes, tomatoes, cheese and brown bread!
5. seeing that bag again - it's like fated or something.
6. seeing the fishies! and eating the fishies and crabs...
7. and laying on the beach at night with friends and a new found friend... and his Cinderella story and 'after drink water also feel fat'! funny.

Being Thankful: Day 40

I'm thankful for:

1. having people around me respond to my need without me having to ask.
2. yummy breakfast at KFC!
3. making it in time for our flight, despite the jam, the bush fire, the confusion.
4. our reservation honored although we had arrived way past their closing hour.

Being Thankful: Day 39

I'm thankful for:

1. getting things done!
2. the excitement which has started.
3. unsought for help.
4. it being Thursday!

Being Thankful: Day 38

I'm thankful for:

1. meeting an easygoing person in the seminar today - meal buddies and all.
2. having some answers to my questions on CLBGs... oh gosh, this confirms we assumed wrong.
3. observing good and bad public speakers. I know I'm supposed to be focusing on the content, but it is very apparent who were the better ones and the tai-chi master ones and the scatter brain ones. Somehow or another, lawyers always end up the better speakers. How I wish I could cultivate such public speaking skills.
4. achieving my to-do list today.
5. time of fellowship - will try to build relationships and overlook the past.

Being Thankful: Day 37

I'm thankful for:

1. a weird start to the day - I reached the carpark about half an hour early. Had a craving for nasi lemak spurred by the road side stall I always see on the way to the carpark. So I parked at the corner nearest to the shops, walked to the nearest Malay restaurant to find a substitute nasi lemak, but they didn't have those nasi lemak bungkus. So I walked around the shoplots area and still no sign of nasi lemak. Ended up walking back to the front to buy a small pack of nasi lemak and walked an entire circle back to my car to repark it nearer the exit. My morning exercise was well worth the calories intake.
2. finally getting down to buying the replacement phone for mum. A little tinge of envy as mine mysteriously kept crashing and shutting down... and still is. Probably time for a recharge. But what an experience it was buying from that phone shop - so many people on a mid-weeknight! I think this will be our go to shop if we do need a phone in the future - good price for original phones.

No guilt about the caloric intake. The sambal really blew my mind (spicy giler)

Random Thought

So yesterday as I was driving to work, the morning BFM radio was on and one of the topics discussed was about some meet-and-greet session that Tun Mahathir and YB Khairy Jamaluddin had with some Malaysian students in London (I can't recall the details). So they had a live teleconversation with one of the students who had attended this event. A second year law student. The conversation went something like this (paraphrased of course, I don't have an elephant memory...):-

BFM: What do you think about YB Khairy?
Law student: I think the young people can identify with him due to his young age, where the age gap is not so large.
(silence... waiting game)
me (in my head): *cricket chirping* crk crk... crk crk
BFM: (asked next question... laadeedah can't recall the other parts of the conversation)
.
.
.
BFM: Which part of YB Khairy's message did you feel that you could connect/identify with?
Law student: He spent time connecting with us and stayed back to take many selfies with us...
BFM: I'm sorry, did you just say selfies?
me (in my head): O-K-!

Yeah, so... it's interesting! Young people. (shakes head)

Being Thankful: Day 36

I'm thankful for:

1. not having fever at work. I think.
2. my antibodies. My Ig. They're fighting back and winning. I think.
3. that humbling experience where microscopic bacteria have caused a realisation that things will not be great all the time.
4. BSF starting again! I need to know You more and I'm sorry I have diluted my fire for You.
5. that awkward solitary laugh moment when I recalled the other day a lady cough-farted next to me at the Celcom Blue Cube! Controlling my facial muscle spasms was soooooooo difficult.
6. another few more days to our random plans!
7. being able to remind myself to be practical. Go with the head, not the heart.

Being Thankful: Day 35

I'm thankful for:

1. a break from wallowing in body discomforts.
2. the amount of sleep.
3. the catching up.

Being Thankful: Day 34

I'm thankful for:

1. waking up and getting used to forgetting the corrugated cardboard in my throat.
2. being contacted by my BSF leader!
3. shopping for a phone.
4. the rain.

Being Thankful: Day 33

I'm thankful for:

1. not getting angry although this feels so shitty. Tomorrow will be worse. Hope not.
2. it being the end of the week! I'm done with the drama. First time having so many people oppose my minutes - but I wrote what I heard over the recording! And this is why I am thankful I'm not the Company Secretary.
3. getting closer to our plans. 
4. which also means, getting closer to my deadline. I need to just try one more time (or a couple more times if I fail). No room for what ifs. Just jump (if I get a chance).

Being Thankful: Day 32

I'm thankful for:

1. surviving today... when attacks seemed to be coming at all directions simultaneously.
2. some talkie talkie time with family.
3. being able to answer questions.

Being Thankful: Day 31

I'm thankful for:

1. People who say yes to my last minute dinner requests! Ah what gems of friends I have.
2. Finally finishing the minutes - 39 pages like a weight lifted off my shoulders.
3. Always learning something new (although trivial or KPC-worthy) from board meetings.
4. Being able to multitask.
5. Having the chance to watch the "half naked man movie" and well... everyone dies! haha good laugh.

Being Thankful: Day 30

I'm thankful for:

1. Friends and food
2. Sedap mata memandang
3. Writing more than 10 pages
4. Realising fun times are approaching... fast!
5. Busy busy busy is better than an idle mind

Being Thankful: Day 29

I'm thankful for:

1. Getting into the writing mood - minutes time!
2. An unfortunate event but remedial actions has been going smoothly.
3. My iPod nano. Music motivates. Music heals. Music keeps me awake!

Being Thankful: Day 28

I'm thankful for:

1. last minute plans materialising.
2. Sunday parking.
3. having the control to not give in. Let's heal faster and not open up the wound again. :)

Being Thankful: Day 27

I'm thankful for:

1. Not acting rashly, though it would seem the apt thing to do at that time.
2. Reality check. I get it - for the thousandth time. Heart, please listen to your head! This is pure silliness! Be gone, tormentor! XP
3. People that I can trust and rely on. Cherish those who have endured tests and came out still being your friend.

Nexus Temptation

Looks like I've been hit by the tech cycle itch again and this time my craving is for the Google Nexus 5 android phone. There've been many wonderful phones in the market, like the Samsung S4, Note 3, Sony Xperia Z1, HTC One, Apple iPhone 5 etc... but they were either too popular (to the point that it has become generic), too angular, too plasticky, too expensive... and the list goes on.

Again I will admit that I may care more about the design than what's under the hood. However, it wouldn't hurt if the tech specs were great - that would  be another plus point!

The simple but beautiful Nexus 5 (white version). Image credit from Google search

Being Thankful: Day 26

I'm thankful for:

1. funny antics that totally crack me up! Some people just have that comedic element in every move they make. I wonder whether I too, have a peculiar quirk which is unmistakably me... maybe not!
2. much laughter on the last day of Lunar New Year.
3. instant messaging via mobile, which enabled me to catch up with a number of close friends tonight who are currently abroad.
4. ACS meeting cancelled thanks to the after effects of a certain quarantine exercise.
5. my leave approved!
6. reconciliation.
7. weird conversations on Valentine's Day.

No dragon dance this year, so the box dragon danced for us with his belly filled with chocolate gold coins!

Being Thankful: Day 25

I'm thankful for:

1. Waking up early and not feeling like I'm lacking sleep.
2. Eating a heavy lunch but able to concentrate on listening to the voice recordings thereafter.
3. Being able to drive the rickety car (which has more power than my little white elephant!).

Being Thankful: Day 24

I'm thankful for:

1. laughs
2. Whatsapp!
3. my car not breaking down on the way home although it was behaving really wrongly.

Being Thankful: Day 23

I'm thankful for:

1. being alive. No matter how advanced we get, we could be here today and gone tomorrow due to some microscopic influenza virus.
2. being able to laugh in the face of an obvious con job. No more nasi paprik from the new clubhouse operator!
3. having the chance to see my colleague in a different light - in a domestic setting. It really changes how one sees the other person.

Being Thankful: Day 22

I'm thankful for:

1. music... just changes everything!
2. face-to-face contact. Makes me wonder why?
3. the little gifts :)
4. sisters in Christ. Strangely they are always timely albeit unbeknownst to them.
5. a reminder to seek God.

Being Thankful: Day 21

I'm thankful for:

1. Siesta! That satisfaction when you are able to catch some winks after a heavy meal (or rather forced into slumber mode)
2. Trip planning underway. Another accommodation booked!
3. Chocolate pie manja-ing!
4. A 1.0 for my pset 0! I just found this out - totally forgot to check back after submitting.
5. The humour in finding out that the jello I bought, mixed and put on my face had sugar in it when I accidentally liked it! Exfoliation fail. So much for reading the labels!

Being Thankful: Day 20

I'm thankful for:

1. Finding the Lego Movie fun!
2. Fellowship with friends.
3. Exploring Klang Valley alone.
4. Patience on the road filled with tailing fiends!

Being Thankful: Day 19

I'm thankful for:

1. A smooth day at work.
2. Getting into the summarising mode - too bad 6pm came too fast!
3. Signs that pull me back to earth. Better this way - a way out.
4. Maximising time.

Being Thankful: Day 18

I'm thankful for:

1. The little break in routine I had today. It's funny how simple irregularities can refresh me!
2. The random impulsive hop-on-the-bandwagon thing we did today - we have an investment guru now, unbeknownst to him! haha
3. My understanding of Cantonese may have improved slightly! ;)
4. Being distracted from my temptation - aim higher and longer term, sm! Technology always gets better with time.
5. I bought a cheongsam! And after CNY! hahaha preparation for next year then!

Being Thankful: Day 17

I'm thankful for:

1. My freedom. Just watched 12 Years A Slave and it was sad (in a 'how can a human do this to another human' way). Slavery is evil and happens when people start thinking they are god.
2. Yummy char siew!

Being Thankful: Day 16

I'm thankful for:

1. A good laugh with colleagues.
2. Able to leave office on the dot.
3. Salted egg anything!
4. Good fellowship with friends.

Being Thankful: Day 15

I'm thankful for:

1. Super wonderful traffic in the morning that omg I reached office in 12 minutes and parked under the helipad (in the shade!) and took my time to walk to office yet I was still early but I'd forgotten to bring my pass card and so snuck past the guards without a name tag and reached my office level before 9am and managed to catch my colleague while she was passing by the glass door so I didn't need to phone her from outside to open the door for me and when I got to my room I still had some time to edit my yee sang photo (from yesterday) on Line camera and post it to Facebook, completing my annual yee sang adventure! Phew, that was a mouthful.
2. An easy going day.
3. Bursa is closed for Federal Day! Yay, I'm absolved from announcements.
4. Literally no emails, except for one CFO replying my courtesy reply that I can expect the rest of the feedback this week. Why he no celebrate CNY!?!
5. Good food - always blessed to be treated to sumptuous meals. Yee sang, Buddha jump over the wall, suckling pig etc.
6. My gold shoes! So pretty! Need to find more occasions to wear them.