In search of real bodies & real life

With a goal in my mind, and a workaholic attitude, I still can't get my butt to bed at this hour, and was instead inspired to work on my Vision board.

Vision board- a place where I display my goals, ideals, images, well, visions- of how I want things to be, life to be.

And tonight, I'm doing a short term board- just till Dec 08.

That will include 2 major area- my personal wealth accumulation (income, invest, income, invest), and after being VERY 'motivated' after seeing myself in my bikini, my health & fitness regime. (yet again, after a hiatus, and hiccups for, oh well, 3 years???)

Well, actually I've embarked on both of them, but felt it's necessary to keep it VISUAL and visible to remind me and keeps me going.

So, I went searching for 'inspiring' bodies from my pile of beauty mags.
Nope, too skinny, nope, too perfect, too hopeful for 3 months target. Gimme a real lady who looks good, not super model skinny.
Guess what, I can't find any f****** photos that resembles reality.

And that's the problem isn't it?

For reality doesn't inspire? For in a real world, you do have a lil tum, tits that do sag, eyes that do look tired- but not in the beauty world.

In the beauty world, you'll find celebrity moms that look as hot they they do 10 years ago, even though they just popped a baby 2 months ago. They look great being preggers, they make motherhood glamorous, and it seems like having a baby is the latest accessory to die for.

And in my idealistic little world, I'm a got-it-all-together businesswoman who always has time for her daughter, time for myself, cook wonderful meals for my husband, are fit, and the list goes on...
Truth of the matter is- No, I don't always have time for my daughter, as the to-do list is ever beckoning; no, sometimes I even forgot to chilled out on my own, and spend hours just reading; no, even cooking a loving meals can turn stressful when time is short...

It is time like this, that I need to take a step back, and toss whatever is on my juggling plate.
Age & experience has taught me, the more you multi-task, the more you piled on your plate, the less you get to accomplish.

It's ok for life to be a little bit imbalance at times, and realistic.

Ooh the excitement of investment!!

The world had went very colourful recently- no, I'm not talking about Malaysia's political scene (not keen, not keen, not keen), but the investment world!

I've been following closely on the US stocks- one for example AIG, and lately have been staying up late (late by my beauty sleep definition means past 11pm) reading real time news from US websites.

The heart pumping excitement starts when AIG stock plummets from USD12 plus to USD4.37 yesterday 15.9.08, and NOW USD2 16.9.08!
The peak price was USD70+.
Imagined- for RM7.00, you can't even get Public Bank stock.

Now, I can understand the thrill when people invest in stock market.

But this is where the true investors separate themselves from the greedy hordes.
For true investors do their homework & due diligence, and somehow managed to separate emotions from their decisions. Where else the rest of the gang- either blindly follows or face unnecessary panic attack, and sell when they should have hold on. They may be ignorant or plain lazy to put the effort in getting their facts right, and depends a little too much on gut feeling.

Bringing it up a notch, my appetite is whet for options trading though. And I foresee in the near future, this investment vehicle will see my constant visit.
These few days excitement will be sweet for option traders, beautiful.

Now, it's the time 'to be greedy when others are fearful'.
Quote from Warren Buffett- 'Be fearful when other's are greedy, be greedy when other's are fearful'.

My Merdeka Shoe

In the quest to hunt for a great pair of shoes comfy enough for my upcoming Hong Kong walkathon, without breaking my back, I trawled the malls for two days in search of The One.

Almost surrendering to my urgh Crocs perception, I nearly bought a pair if not for some divine intervention that prevents me from finding the size the fits, the colour & model I want.
In fact I went to TWO Crocs concept store.

Nope, they don't have what I thought I wanted, and I have to go all the way to another mall in Sunway. On a Sunday, public holiday, almost noon.
Heaven forbid no!

If there is one thing I have great restrain on, is to avoid ALL malls after 11am on weekends, contrary to 80% of people who's idea of spending their precious time is to be stuck in a snaking crawl to get in the mall.

I need an alternative.

Bless the internet, I remembered that there was a *gasp* Bata concept shop, and they sell *gasp* Power shoes. Which I clearly remembered was my 1st sport shoes back when I was earning crap, and it lasted me well for 3 years.

Another thing I remembered well is the price tag. Pleasingly easy on the pocket, very easy.
They should have good walking shoes (not those bulky sport shoes please!)

So off I went, and with recommendation of a very helpful Chinese saleslady (what a rarity these days), tried on a cool looking pair. Fits beautifully, comfy. It's the criteria that I'm looking for- has to be covered, good soles, soft, decent design, good quality.
It fulfills all of it- plus bonus point- it's only RM69.99! Oh my freaking god!
And when I thought things couldn't get better, the girl told me it's 50% off! ARGHHH!!!!

With much spare cash left, I 'upgraded' the shoes by adding what my poor ole knees & back need- Medigel insoles. (U know, the ones for those above age 60, I think!)
Plus 4 pairs of socks.
Total: RM88.95

Crocs: RM139
Power plus stuffs: RM88.95

With enough money for a mani & pedi (top up RM10).

Power to Power!!

So, on our 51st Merdeka, I declare my independence to be free from being a label freak, not letting decision making being clouded by brands- at least in this area.

My very own Merdeka shoe.

Even McD's value meal has more value

Here I am, supposed to be productive and work.
But I can't, I'm letting my emotions get the better of me.
Sitting here, upset over things that are outside my control (circle of influence as described in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Why, with advancement of technology and the blinding choice in communications, the distance between people are getting even wider?

Relationships meant nothing much, courtesy meant nothing much, feelings meant nothing much.
It's all about, I'm so busy and consumed by my own happenings that nothing, no one, can be more important than me.

Basic human courtesy of returning phone calls, or text messages, or emails are a rarity nowadays. When the message clearly stated, please revert/ awaiting your reply/ hear from you soon.

Yes, I agree, it's true we have more on our plates in this era, things are getting expensive, everyone is working a little bit more for a better life.

But have we forgot the essense of being a humanbeing?

People's life are now rush rush rush, outta my way, my priorities, that they don't mind stepping over others to get on with it.

It's true and valid, people are indeed becoming more selfish. And that, coming from a selfish only child, it's big.
It doesn't matter that they will offend or cause hurt to other people.


I thought human beings have built in feelings? No? Don't they feel upset/ hurt/ angry/ fed up/ pissed off/ puzzled when days after days no calls/text/emails are returned?...when it's VERY clearly indicated that a response is expected?!

Even myself, to my utter disgust, on rare occasions 'forgot' to response as such, sms from friends unreplied indefinitely.
'Forgot'- as I was, oh so busy, and conveniently just left it as such.
Though it certainly is not my habit of doing it, the fact that I've commited the offence remains.

It has become our way of life in this era.

What a sad sad way to live.

I missed the days when kids have no tuition/piano/judo/ballet/drawing and are free to roam the streets, like I did.

I missed the days when people get home by 5 or 6pm and sat down for dinner as a family, I'm glad I still get to do it, at 8pm!

I missed the days when neighbours are friends.

I missed the days where people are creative in spending their free time rather than jamming up the malls, knowing that they won't buy much anyway.

I missed the days where relationships are VALUED.

I lurve the movies

Watched two shows this week.

Dark Knight and Sex and The City.

Both evoking VERY different emotions after watching it. And that's what I love about movies. Good movies only, mind you.

And that is very difficult to come by.

But the Movie Gods must have been kind this Summer 2008, coz they landed two brilliant movies on my lap in a week.

Dark Knight, gosh. It's the movie of the year, no, for many many years. Brilliant. It's pure genius.

Went in with not much expectations, it's a DC comic ya know, like Batman Begins where all I can remember was Katie Holmes nipples sticking out on a flimsy satiny white top during a scene.

But this, this, the sheer logic of it all, however perverse it was, thrills me.

It makes you think about us, human kinds. What makes a right? What makes it wrong?

For in every evil, there's a logic behind.

Just takes a flip to the other side, that's all.

SATC, Sex and The City....my girly dream came true.

For what can be more marvellous than witty comments, unconditional friendships (are there any? I want to send in my application please!), and the most f****** set of wardrobe ever.

And why do they always dine in the loveliest place, still hang out, drink and have fun...and doing it looking every bit stunning at 40???

This, this, is the ultimate finale to SATC, a deserving finale. I never thought I shed a tear, but shed I did, a couple of times during the show.

When Carrie almost got married....when Charlotte screamed in anger at Mr Big, when Steve told Miranda he slept with another woman...

Awww, I'm letting all the good stuffs out of the Louie Vuitton bag if you haven't watch it.

And Mr. Big, oh Mr. Big, it is during this finale movie, that I've confirmed, yes, I do have a crush on him. That impish grin, that deep baritone voice, that smooth super successful look, and the most important of all, he loves nothing, nobody but kid- Carrie Bradshaw. Oh, did I mentioned he's not too bad in the finance department?

Every girl's dream eh.

Sexy, successful, fun, did I mentioned sexy? John James Peterson- finally we know his name.

Does that even exist, I wonder? From the unconditional love of friendship between FOUR of them, it's crazy to even find one friend like that let alone four.

To the kind of love that Big and Carrie have for each other.

The trouble and the good, of movies is you unknowingly benchmark yourself, your life, your thoughts to those in the movies.

.............I'm gonna try on my husband whether we can live up to the benchmark tonight. ;-)

When work doesn't feels like work

Went to the cinema twice in a week, gasp! Went has this happen? Can't remember.
And in the daytime during weekdays, double gasp! Monday & Wednesday.
One may think I've retired.

It's one of those hard to grasp weird timing moments, where I'm juggling my in between time on my business & personal life.

Yes, I don't have a typical clock in at 9am work, but do I work my butt off? You bet I did. Only now I'm thinking, does work have to feels like work; in order for it to qualify as work??
I like what I'm doing, constantly refining and upgrading, and learning, and applying, that I just can't help but think of doing it. Good or bad??

And they all came crashing down

I witness a massacre right in front of me today.

In the name of development, and god knows we need more of them, more houses when a lot were built and not being able to sell, more mega malls where some can't even pay off their credit cards let alone buy a Coach bag (oh wait, that's why some of them are in debts)...

What my family termed as a rare piece of greenery on a prime located residential area were destroyed in a matter of hours.

Our condo unit has the lucky privilege to be on the fourth floor whereby the view is of lush greens. And I remembered someone said (was it the seller?) that this view alone is worth RM30,000 from the condo price.

It's true, for where can you get to see greenery in front of your house if it is located in the city?

Seeing the way the hills are positioned, we thought that it won't be developed, boy oh boy, the monsters came and showed us how wrong we were!

Perfectly healthy trees, crunched, chewed, spit out like they didn't matter. In the background, I heard birds chirping away frantically, as if screaming in agony watching their home destroyed. My heart sanked as I saw the trees gave a big crack, then came crashing down, perfect green leaves and all. Bloodshed.

And as I stood there, the very condo that we call home, I reflected, was this very place the home to lush trees and animals too?

What price to pay, in the name of development?