this week in photos

 Didn't take much photos the past week due to a horrific exam, commencement of work and other inconsequential matters which were not worthy of being captured. Things to do this coming week: fight cellulite (Please leave my ass, you are unattractive), go see a world renowned choir in the philharmonic hall, wear a leopard print pussy bow top, eat more fruits and attempt to figure out what doing the right thing means.

i have the blues...

I am such a wannabe. I wanna be Rumi Neely. If you haven't heard of her before, google her up please. She's only like the best fashion blogger ever and I want her life. But then again, I seem to want everyone else's life except my own. I discovered through FB that an ex flame has somehow magically gotten hitched. I sort of convinced myself that he would have spent all the time that we were apart pining for me. I was upset, envious (at his wife) and sulked for a while. Not because I particularly want to be with him, but in a strange, surreal kind of way, I felt that he chose her over me.
And rejection hurts, even at a metaphysical level. Sometimes I wonder if we ever trully get over our ex lovers. Or does a part of them remain in you forever? When you lose the person, do you lose a part of yourself as well? Before I fall asleep every night, I tend to play accidental scenes from childhood in my brain. I see friends I haven't spoken to in years. They appear in my head like a reel from an old movie. I am tempted to poke, message, call, e-mail but when the new day begins, I lose courage and tell myself to let sleeping dogs lie. I guess I no longer know what to say to them. Somewhere along the way, we have allowed ourselves to become complete strangers.

I mourn the memory of you, of us, of our past and shared history.

"Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence". 

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-

wealth maximisation

I've been thinking of starting my own business for a while now ever since the downsizing and restructuring that has taken effect at my work place. Relying solely on employment income these days is just insufficient. Yeah sure, it's enough to sustain your day-to-day living ("kais makan pagi, kais makan petang") but it does not provide you with opportunities to buy stuff and do the things that you really want. I'm constantly amazed by the rising costs of living (yes I know this has got to be the most repeated phrase ever). I don't know if it's just a country specific thing but Malaysia is ridiculously expensive from the perspective of a consumer. Our purchasing power, ringgit and earnings are sub par and low. My monthly income goes to rent, utility bills, parking fees (nothing is for free yo!) car installment, fuel, groceries, a small contribution to my parents, meals and other random, unforeseen and unpredictable expenditures. This does not leave me much money for savings or shopping excursions, let alone money to set aside for travels. How do people afford travelling? It's a legitimate question and one that I would love to have the answer to. Do banks offer short term loans solely for the purpose of travelling? Like a travel loan?

Being in the accounting and finance industry and more specifically, preparing tax returns for rich people, I am aware that some jobs in certain industries are highly well paying. Engineering in oil and gas companies for instance. Those folks in exploration and down stream activities earn six, seven figures per annum (salary, benefits, allowance, etc), inclusive of incentive compensation (restricted stocks, share options, employee purchase plans, etc). Banking is also another lucrative industry with their huge bonuses and other performance related rewards. The rest of us who are unfortunately not engineers, investment bankers, consultants or partners in accounting firms earn a less than marginal income. We are overworked, underpaid and we have zero quality of life. We go through an unlimited amount of stress, conflict and challenges every day. We are expected to deliver, meet and exceed goals, objectives that has been set. Some of us may be rewarded for our hardwork in lieu of a promotion, increment in salary or bonuses. Of course, the possibility that your hardwork may go unnoticed is warranted, if you have zero political skills or ass kissing abilities, you are likely to receive a big fat zero.

Which leads me back to my concern - seeing that my current employment is unprofitable, costly (stress, parking, unpaid overtime ("charity"), etc) and unequitable, I have decided to perhaps start my own business. Probably just a small one first and we'll see how it goes. I'll probably make stuff to sell. My idea - party favors. Of course there's a whole list of issues to consider before commencing (capital, resources, consumer needs, market price, etc) but if I do not start somewhere, I will probably get nowhere. And nowhere is not a destination I desire to be at.

So, stay tuned!!!

the week in photos...

the week that was

It was the boyfriend's birthday a few days back and I gave him nothing, not even a card. This goes to show what a fantastic girlfriend that I am! He should be soo proud to have me! Coincidentally, my younger brother's birthday also fell on that some day but amazingly enough, I actually found the time to buy, write and send him a card! I am such an awesome sister! But then again, I mooch off my younger sibling aplenty, always demanding requesting him to buy me stuff from overseas, so I should at least return the gesture.

Late last week, I had some administrative issues to be settled with my employers which kept me occupied while I was on leave. My cheapskate employers could not bear to part with their money to pay for my Singaporean taxes (which arose thanks to their decision to second me there during the peak filing season) and thus, I had to adhere cumbersome administrative procedures (obtain the duly signed tax certificate residence from the Malaysian tax authorities, a letter of confirmation from my employer confirming that the costs of my salary were entirely paid by the local entity, and the signed Form IR 21). Thanks to a leech sucking el cheapo professional hell hole, I had to sacrifice my precious study time to partake in a process that will reduce taxes for them but serves no benefit to me, where is the logic in this!!!!!

I spent all of yesterday and most of today stuck in a classroom with 140 other students engaged in a Strategic Management Accounting workshop. I wish I could say I am glad to no longer be a student and in college but come to think of it, the office is just an adult version of high school with the customary cliques and cliches (the popular ones, the nerds, the jocks, the fat guys with caps, the smoking trio, the skinny girls with denim mini skirts, etc). Except that in the working environment, the stakes are much, much higher and there is real and huge money involved. Sadly, the fat guys still exist but at least they no longer wear caps. Apologies for the bias and discrimination against body size (shape) but guys judge women on our bodies all the time so fair's fair.

Oh, I wanted to write about this before I forget - someone told me I had smelly hair. Not very kind words but I guess I really do have an oily (and smelly) scalp. For those with this problem, I recommend washing your scalp with vinegar and lemon. The lemon made my eyes tear and vinegar smells weird but at least my scalp isn't mouldy anymore. Remember to shampoo every day and dry it well afterwards!

sunny sunday

Today, I did a little bit of this (like 25 minutes in total?). I really should be doing more of this and less of whatever I am presently doing (browsing and blogging).

And I wore this to run some errands and chores (you know like banking - paying debts to be more specific!). This is my favourite weekend uniform - denim cutoffs (not store bought, it was really cut out from a pair of jeans by my mom), Country Road pin-striped shirt (I love long sleeved shirts that can be worn casually as opposed to being worn as formal wear. In fact, I no longer even wear shirts to the office, they don't flatter my body when worn with high waisted skirts as the proportions look weird. The shirt is too loose but the skirt is too tight) and some Havs slippers or ballet flats. Speaking of which, I'm looking for a pair of leopard print ballet flats. Rawr! Oh and I forgot, my newly acquired Bayswater satchel! *Hearts*

stuff dreams are made of

Look what the bird brought me! Lolz, seriously I have no idea why the bird is part of the packaging. A bird perched on a Mulberry tree perhaps? Lolz...apasal tiba tiba aje ada burung!?




I was debating between the Alexa, the classic Bayswater and this for the longest time. The Alexa was selling for about five grand (in ringgit. Why the hell is our currency so poor? This detracts us from doing a lot of things in life, mainly buying imported goods and travelling) and the classic Bayswater reminded me of something a middle aged woman would carry. The Bayswater satchel came in a few colours on the website (with different types of leather) but here in third world Malaysia, the store only stocked 3 colors, the black, oak and another seasonal color in lambskin. The oak had white stitching that in my opinion, looked like a fake - imitations that I've been seeing pratically everywhere so I finally settled on the black. It came out to me cheaper than I had initially estimated (although the term cheap here is relative).

The whole experience of shopping at the store was pretty good, the sales people were professional and knowledgeable about their products, the packaging was as great (if not better) as I had imagined it to me (I am a huge sucker for ribbons and nicely wrapped stuff. Sometimes, it's even more crucial than the content itself!!! Presentation is imperative). In addition to that, they threw in some freebies (a diary, a Mulberry tote shopping bag, a Haegan Daz voucher and a guide to their AW 2011 collection).

I have a strong suspicion I could easily get addicted to this whole high fashion thing. I am already envisioning my next purchase - something small from Prada maybe? Ugh, maybe I need to get a second job to sustain my love for luxury. Evidently, being in accounting and finance does not afford me with the ability to spend on things (frivolous possessions!) that I desire.

mulberry, come to me

On an entirely superficial note, tomorrow I will be taking a giant step forward in life. A few days away from my 27th birthday, I have decided to purchase a luxury object that costs more than my monthly salary. It's a status symbol and it's such a contrivance - carrying or wearing an object, trying to prove to the world that you are bigger than everybody else, richer, hotter, smarter, etc etc etc...

When will I learn that confidence comes from within and not from possessing expensive inanimate objects? What the hell do I know about confidence anyway, I have none.

Death is very likely the single best invention of life.

All those people condemning the global mourning of Steve Jobs ought to be shot for their lack of sensitivity. What is wrong with the outpouring of grief over a revolutionary inventor and respected businessman for his immense contributions to society? Of course, thousands of people die daily, many of which are senseless. Deaths are inevitable and we were born to die. What made his death different from other deaths was that he was an icon, an inspiration to millions of computer geeks and aspriring entrepreneurs. He was courageous. He dared to be different. People may not have a personal connection to him but the emotional connection that a user has with his or her I-Phone / I-Pad / I-Pod may well translate into a personal connection with the inventor himself.

We acknowledge his death and we celebrate his life. Why is this frowned upon by naysayers who critisize that we are over the top with our sentimentality and expressions of grief? Say I meet a friend who's relative has died, would I not say "Sorry to hear about your loss"? My hypothetical friend and his or her relative who died is unknown to me, so should I not extend my condolences? Is this hypocritical? Am I demeaning and belittling the deaths of other people? As if implying that their deaths are not as important?

All these negative people should get a life. They are probably just jealous of Steve Jobs and the fact that when they do die, their passing will never generate such an enormous amount of attention. Changing the world and the way we live is no easy feat. Recognition should be given when it's due. He makes us believe that with determination and imagination, the possibilities are infinite. And that creation of hope itself is trully more profound and life changing than any of his inventions.

artsy fartsy

I made this calendar for the boyfriend for Christmas last year. It was pretty time consuming but so worth it because it turned out to be a project I greatly enjoyed. I love making stuff for other people, even if some of these "gifts" are rather meaningless and serves no purpose other than looking pretty (or ugly, depends on the individual). The bunny birthday card (or is it a bear?) is Korean made (I love Korean stationery!) and it should be mailed over to Toronto soon, just in time for my younger brother's 21st birthday! I know, I know, it is so not masculine but what the heck, in cases like these, it's definitely the thought that counts! What do males like as gifts anyway? I'm sure they go for practicality and functionality rather than cutesy and delightful. 

note to self!

I am such a boring loser. All I do is browse through other people's blogs. As if in doing so, my life will somehow magically transform into theirs. Where do people find the income to fund their expensive lifestyles? Lanvin, Mulberry, Chanel, glamarous clothes, exotic travels, cocktails?

Whoever came up with the idiotic saying "Money doesn't buy happiness" ought to be effing shot. Everything comes with a price tag, in fact, everybody comes with a price tag. My friend proved her point when she bought some expensive jewelry for a girl who swears she's not a bisexual or a lesbian but at the sight of the cyan colored box and white ribbon, she immediately switched her sexual preferences. I am convinced if I went to work in a Mini Cooper, and carried Prada instead of some cheapskate handbag, I'd be fawned upon and worshipped even by upper management. Money is power and power is impossible to resist.

If I ever became rich by some kind of miracle or divine intervention, I will resign from my mind numbing job at some hell hole in a dirty, under developed, third world nation and I will go to places I could only admire from glossy snap shots or those pseudo artistic black and white photos other people took from their travels. Why can't I be them? Everything looks better in photographs. Memories are indeed be created by Nikkon.

Fuck this life, fuck this life. Sherry, you can do better than this. Mulberry, Louboutins, Paris, Maldives are not just the lives of others, it can be your reality too. Make it happen, do whatever it takes. Tomorrow is Monday, a brand new day. Everyday is an opportunity for you to formulate a more colorful and exciting life for yourself. Your current existence is a big fat fail and will continue to be if you just sit there and continue browsing, browsing, browsing. Remember to kiss more ass tomorrow at work, be all smiley (employers love cheerful, upbeat employees who radiate positivity), dress chicly with sky high heels and fake it, until you eventually make it.

P/S Oh don't forget you have a Strategic Management Accounting exam on the 26th of October which if you don't start studying, you can kiss your chances of a better employment, job position, higher salary (and subsequently more funding for your Mulberry Bayswater) goodbye.