The Working Gal...

It's been a while since I posted an entry.  The previous weekend was basically a whirlwind of disgusting housework to get the house presentable enough when Mum came back from her trip.  Then last weekend was another whirlwind of activities involving some treetop escapades (more about that later).  Guess all these whirlwinds are forming over my weekends because I am now officially back at working a 5 day week.  So, goodbye to all the lovely spare time I had for blogging, baking, playing erhu, swimming, reading and all those frivoulous little pleasures of life.  Boo hoo.  Of couse, my dastardly sisters are revelling in the fact that I have to work a full week now, pretty much a slave like them....Where's the sisterly love??

Well, I'm into my third week now and man, it has been a challenge getting my brains up to working speed again.  It doesn't help that I have to now travel to KLCC, smack in the center of town.  The thought of driving through the daily snarl was enough reason to tempt me to say "No" to my boss when he informed me of the assignment.  And it definitely does not help that the client starts work at 8am!  It has been a daily struggle to open bleary eyes and heave myself out of bed every morning to get to work on time.  And even then, I am only getting to work at 8.30am on average now.  Well, since I have not officially started my project, guess I still have some flexibility with the start time.  But I am trying to slowly train myself to be up earlier now so that it's not a shock to my system when I really have to start reporting to work by 8am.

Since I chickened out of driving and decided to do the LRT thing for now, it all boils down to precision timing.  Too late, and I'll need to be ready to really muscle my way into the cabin else I'll have to watch many many trains whiz by before I get a chance to even place my toe on the doorway.  Too early, and I basically end up like a zombie the rest of the day due to that 15 crucial minutes of sleep I had been deprived of.  Also, flat shoes are essential tools to survive the ride and the kilometers I have to walk from the KLCC stop to my actual workplace.  Tottering in high heels crushed in the LRT without anything to grab on to is definitely going to induce major injuries to the feet.  Flat, FLAT shoes, my friend.  Now, I have to carry a shoe bag with some heels to slip into once I reach the office (I really GOT to get a multi-tasking pair soon). 

An umbrella is an absolute MUST-HAVE item for rain-prone KL.  Unless you don't mind staying late in the office staring mind numbingly into the computer.  It's not like you can just watch TV while you wait for the rain to stop, can you?  Another essential item is wrinkle free, breathable clothes.  Believe me, traipsing around with a heavy laptop bag is no walk in the park in this humid, unforgivably hot weather.  I see all these pretty young things walking alongside me from the LRT station to almost the same final destination.  They don't even break a sweat while I always appear in the office looking like I just ran a marathon.  What kind of anti-perspirant do these ladies use????

Moving down the list....let's see.  Working downtown also means you have to bring lots of extra money.  It is darn expensive eating around KLCC, I tell you.  Unless I want to look like I ran another marathon and walk some distance to some "cheaper" eateries, I am consigned to the fact that I'll be spending a minimum of RM10 to RM12 everyday for lunch.  Last but certainly not least, it's important to develop some muscle and leg power.  Loading the laptop bag with all the essentials like umbrella, water bottle, shoe bags, etc. and heaving them around, can certainly rival Mr. Schwarzenegger's workout routine.  Since, there is little time to spend on proper exercise now what with being mentally exhausted by the time you get home, it is good to incorporate a little fitness routine into your day.  Taking the stairs instead of the escalator when running for that train, opting for the slightly longer walk to the station - preferably in the evenings when the sun is not squeezing all the moisture out of you of course.

Well, it's certainly going to to take some discipline and focus to get back in working gal mode.  As I have shared before, I should give myself another go at this job to see if I still enjoy it.  It is one of the challenges in my quest after all.  Now, if only I can find out the brand of anti-perspirant, it will make eveything so much easier....

IF...Part 2

Since my last post, I have been wallowing in self pity for over a week.  Dreading that I will be starting a full time project soon, I have been mucking about the house, doing nothing much.  Basically, yearning and wishing and dreaming that a billion gazillion bucks will fall out of the sky into my lap.  Well, after that depressing period....whaddya know... the client has not decided yet if they want me!  Ka Ka Ka!

Anyhow, did you see the news yesterday?  Three lucky bastards (pardon the language - it's only out of intense envy) won the 12 million ringgit jackpot by Magnum 4D!  I am now infused with renewed determination to keep my eyes and ears open for 4D numbers - any combination which catches my attention, from car plates, birth dates, anniversaries, race bib numbers, numbers from dream sequences.... well anything short of actually going to the cemetery and selling my soul for lucky digits.  And I am going to google everything I need to know about how to play to win! Soon, real soon....I will be swimming in a sea of cash!  Muaahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...!!!!!

IF...

,I found out a few days ago that I might have to work full time real soon.  Since starting work again in January after a blissful 10 month break, I have been coping pretty well since I only had to commit 3 work days a week.  Quite a sweet deal as I still had time to dabble in my other passions.  But, as fate would have it, I may get assigned to a project as soon as next week and my big sweep lottery ticket failed to hit the jackpot.  So, as I am sucking it up and gearing my mind to be positive about the next 6 months of slaving away at the computer, I am finding small comfort in one of my favourite song.  As Simon Cowell in American Idol always advised..."Do your own version of the song..." So here goes...sung to the tune of "If I Were a Rich Man" from the awesome musical, Fiddler on the Roof...

"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a BIG fortune?"

If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.

I'd buy a big bungalow with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the Bangsar part of town.
A fine slate roof with real teak floors below.
There would be one long escalator going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.

I'd fill my driveway with mercs, audis, porsches, beemers,
For the town to see and hear.
Honking just as noisily as I can.
With each loud "beep" "beep" and "port" "port"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy woman."

If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.

I’d see myself in the mirror, looking like a rich woman
With a genuine Lolek watch.
Dressed to the nines in brands to my heart’s delight.
I see me flying first class, travelling round the world.
Pockets filled with dollars, euros, pounds.
Taking in the sights all day and night.

The important people in my life can count on me
For one free dinner or two,
Heck, I’d even sponsor trips to a tropic paradise (Redang!)
I could give some away to worthy causes
Charities and conservations too
Solving problems that would cross politicians’ eyes!

If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
For spa and massages every day.
Or read in my library filled from wall to wall.
And I would bake and dance and sing karaoke,
Play erhu several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.

If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.

Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy woman!!!

Check out the great original from the movie at this link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc

Back on the Saddle Again...

Sigh, sigh and sigh again. This is it guys. My 10-month break is officially over. The questing activity needs funds and short of selling blood to the blood bank, that just means one thing. I had to go back to work. Same old line of work. Same old boss even. My work clothes have been hanging in my closet welcoming moths. Now I’ve hauled them out and dusted them down. Even my cheap PVC handbags were rotting already. Of course, all sorts of other insecurities have started playing in my mind. Do I still remember my stuff? Can I still confidently execute my role? Heck, can I even stay awake at work for the minimum 8 hours?? Fuuuuuuuuuuu-aaaaaahhhhhh..... (only Cantonese opera fans will get this one). How can I even begin to express this deep reluctance in my soul???

The greatest underlying fear though is that I will get sucked back into my old lifestyle without making any progress on my quest....work, work, work on week days, then rest on the weekends and get enough energy to work, work, work again the following week. I guess I should be happy with a stable source of income. But would I be truly happy? Would I find purpose in what I am doing? Since I’d be spending a huge period of my productive adult life engaged in this activity called work, it is only natural for me to want to do something I’d enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a world peace campaign to make it worth my while. Sadly though, I realized that I have no other skills whatsoever that could contribute towards my economic well-being. Let’s run through some career options which I had already scratched off the list....

1. Ballet dancer – First of all, I would have had to spend an extra 2 hours before each dance performance trying to put my tights on right. Second of all, that career went down the drain when I was around 7 or 8 when I stopped going for ballet classes. I figured that I probably don’t want to risk not being able to walk for the rest of my life if I try to do the splits now.
2. Tai chi master – I did the moves right but I still couldn’t light up the bulb with my internal energy.
3. Pianist – It was excruciating practising scales and I could only correctly describe what Andante and Allegro meant in theory. My voice wobbled during oral exams and my fingers refused to dance lightly over the keys....Enough said.
4. Squash player – Alas, flat feet and a wonky toe joint eliminates this option. Not to mention my questionable forehand, aversion to exertion and a slight deficiency of sportsmanship....

Of course, in my never ending quest to find the perfect career, there are a couple of new things I am dabbling in which could possibly turn out....

1. Chef – I could pull this off. All I’d have to do is to project the right image and personality and get my own cooking show. Pulling a Gordon Ramsay probably wouldn’t work in Malaysia – besides, I’d have to learn how to swear in three languages or more to cater for the multi-ethnic audience. Channelling Nigela Lawson is also out – not voluptuous enough and my boob size doesn’t quite make the cut. Even if it did, I’d be pixelated on TV. Perhaps the cool, hip Jaimie Oliver personality may work. But then I’d have to get some cool hip friends for me to invite over for dinner at the end of the show.....that could be a problem. Still mulling over this one....
2. Food critic – if I couldn’t resolve the Chef personality issue, this could be an alternative. I just need to brush up on my epicurean dictionary and thesaurus. Can’t just declare “Too salty” or “Too sweet” just like that. Will need to be able to construct sentences like “Sublime flavour of sea salt underlying the sweetness of musky truffle...” Or something to that effect. The negative aspect here obviously is the effect eating all that food is going to have on my already ample waistline.
3. Travel host/ guide – Love, love, love to travel. Definitely one of my identified passions. The challenge is how make money and not have to get stuck with a bunch of fussy tourists whom I have to wait on hand and foot...
4. Er-hu musician – I suspect I may be an unpolished diamond. With the right guidance and enough practice, I could be making an album soon. Now, I just got to learn how to make those “I am totally immersed in the music” kind of expression when I play, then it’s “Eat your heart out Vanessa Mae”!.
5. Millionaire – all it takes is the right big sweep ticket bought at the right place at the right time....

As I write this, I just finished my first week back at the grindstone. In a strange way, it felt like I had never been away. It’s still too early to tell whether this is a good thing or bad. In the far corner of my mind, there is a niggling voice that raises the question that perhaps this job could be the right one for me all along. But before coming to that conclusion, I guess I should give myself a chance to try other stuff as well. Keeping that in my mind, the quest continues and I’m going to make darn sure I will enjoy it all the way.