Happy Birthday 2011

It is my birthday today, it is a Thanksgiving day.
I took a day off work, because I don't want to be surrounded by the nonsense in the office on my birthday.

This time last year, I bought myself two pieces of cakes and a coffee from a Starbucks in Manhattan. I was travelling in a train in New York, heading to my colleague's house. I was preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner for the next day with my colleague.

This birthday, I woke up late in the morning, quarrelled with my mom and went shopping with her, and spent the rest of my day writing and sending wedding invitation cards.

Over the past year I
... drove in the snow for the first time.
... scraped the snow and ice off my car the first time.
... visited automated car-wash the first time.
... had an amazing experience in the US.
... found out I have some relatives in the US.
... sold my car for the first time.
... left US and returned to Malaysia.
... said good-bye to the best boss I ever had -- Mr. Porche.
... joinned Mr. Porche on a very fruitful field inspection in Kuala Langat.
... received my Engineering Chartership title.
... gave a lecture as a guest the first time. Though the attendance rate wasn't good due to the date chosen was before a long holiday -- most students had left to their home town.
... had my first car accident.
... successfully grown my own passion fruit.
... took shower in LA and HK airport. Nothing to boast about, but I thought it was cool to shower while on the move.
... pierced my ears.
... went for facial for the first time.
... went to Vietnam and China for the first time.
... conducted the first product performance acceptance test on my own.
... met a crazy couple, but also met a lot of good people.
... got married.
... experienced the pre-wedding photo shooting session.
... resigned and stupidly retracted my resignation due to trusting the vague words from the HR, without negotiation.
... ended 2010 after dining with friends and wines.
... started 2011 in a fresh, chilly, beautiful morning, and spent the first day writing my 2011 goals.

It is hard to believe that I was still on the other side of the globe, walking in thick snow and ice, driving the 2nd-hand 2008 silvery Corolla in the beginning of the year. And now, I am in this warm and humid place, driving my little pearly 2008-fresh-from-factory Myvi, which ironically costs more than that Corolla.

There is about one month left for 2011, these are the goals I listed for this year. I still have about a month to make it up...

1. Complete my Engineering Chartership.
    Done, got that in July.
2. Work towards a promotion or pay increment.
    Done, I had a increment upon returning to the office at the beginning of the year.
3. Steer my career direction towards project management, in order to gain some exposure in project finance control.
    Failed, because our office do not have this position anymore. And my contributions in my cross-functional role has not been taken in well.
4. Hold my values close to my heart when facing office bullies.
    I think I am doing fair on this, except I missed a couple of chances of speaking out by staying quiet.
5. Learn to relax.
    I didn't do well in this, because I am not having quality rests due to various reasons.
6. Find a venue that is safe for me to exercise at least 2 times a week.
    I registered myself to the gym, visited it 3 times a week during the first 5 months, and only once a week over the past two months.
7. Find a wedding dress.
    Done. Will be wearing my mom's.
8. Giving myself a small reward once a month, for the hard work I have done.
    So far so good, it takes money to reward myself, and I haven't been watching my budget well, so I wasn't able to reward myself for quite some time. I guess taking a day off on my birthday is a kind of reward.

I think I should start planning for next year. It will be difficult to set a goal, as I will be living with my husband and mother in law...

Thinking back those good memories I had in US, the nonsense in the Malaysia office now and the uncertainties that awaits me at the life after marriage, I am not feeling positive on this birthday, at times like this, I recall Mr. Porche's words before he left --
You are good enough as who you are. You need to be confident in your own skin, know what you want and work your way there, you will do fine.

Eventful week

Friday 18th Nov. was supposed to be my last day of work. But things happened on the Tuesday, when the HR Director from China called and had a long chat with me.

She said changes are on the way for this office, and she asked me to give it 6 months. Though doubtful of what could be done, I guess I should give her words a fair chance, so I agreed to stay for another 6 months, i.e. work until the end of May 2012.

After agreeing to that, I felt like an idiot, because I have conducted a hand-over session with Decamouth, said good-bye to many colleagues across the global offices, etc.Some reps. actually heard my departure news from the MD, and verified it with me. I was so looking forward to be released, but I guess I got to retract all my good-bye's with everyone now.

On Wednesday, I received a crystal article from a Taiwan rep. for my wedding. It was sent under his personal name, but it was sent to our office. So it stirred up a bit of discussion on whether or not I should accept this gift, given that he is our rep. and I am supporting him technically.

The China HR director said I shouldn't keep it, our MD said we should. Eventually I kept it, and called the rep. to explain the situation has changed, that I will now stay with the company.

Meanwhile, as I already submitted my resignation for more than a month, I have made plans for the rest of the year. Having the HR spoken to me this late, somehow shows me the efficiency of this company. Anyway, some of my plans can be re-scheduled, some can't.

Going for Alan Tam's concert was one of the fixed arrangements, it was on 19 Nov. 2011. I planned to take it as a celebration for leaving the company. And since this is the first time I attended a concert, I also treated it as a farewell to my young days, because after the marriage ceremony in December, I am no longer a free person.

Alan Tam wasn't one of my favourite singer during my teenage days, in fact, I don't really have an idol. But his songs are so darn popular, you can't avoid them at all.

I still remember those days when I used to squat next to the huge radio, pay a lot of attention to the weekly chart title, wait patiently for the song I like... when it come out, I would press the record button and stay very still until the end of the song, so that I won't record some other noise. I would curse the person who continued to speak when the song had already started. I listened to radio on the bus, while studying late etc.

Alan's songs last night brought back a lot of memories, I thought I wouldn't have much emotions attached to a singer that I didn't pay too much attention, but I was wrong. It was the memories that attached to those songs, significant or not, it brought tears when I heard it again last night.

Most of the audiences in the concert last night are about my age, Alan's songs are collective memories for all of us around this age. I may be a little old for screaming and waving the neon light bar, singing along all night long, but heck, I paid RM300 for event like this, shouldn't I be relaxing myself and enjoying the atmosphere?

Despite the traffic and the rain, I enjoyed the concert well. Brought back the neon bar, I like its simplistic design,will put it in the car, it would be useful when having some issue with the car at night at the highway.

Pitera Power

My wedding is around the corner, yet I haven't started my beauty treatment, slimming treatment etc. I guess it is too late now.

Anyway, I went to have a facial session the other day, and got my entire face covered with pimple scars. My friend were anxious looking at those scars, and she brought me to Parkson to shop for some solutions. We dropped by SKII counter, and the lady did a simple tests on my face using some roller/scanner thing.

It turned out that I have got 3 out of 5 "D" in SKII's term. However all these 3D's aren't scoring well (slightly above the average readings.)

As I had been using SKII's miracle water ages ago (stopped for 1-2 years because I was too lazy), I picked that up again in order to sooth those deep pimple marks on my face.

One week after using the miracle water, most of those scars disappeared! I can't believe my eyes, it seems like the Pitera is really doing something. I do not have any "before" and "after" photos to share, because I didn't take any photos when I was covered with pimple scars.

Sometimes I guess women need to spend some money to keep ourselves looking good, in order to feel good. In my case, I only want to get the oil out of my face. Otherwise I should start researching into harvesting the oil from my face, and who knows, may be I can compete with Petronas? @_@