and Aloha to a brand new year...

“I don’t live in the past – it distracts from the now.”

~ Edna Mode of The Incredibles~

Never thought I'd be taking advice from a 3-feet snooty little dwarf of a world famous costume designer of the fiction world...but still...

SO, WELCOME 2010!!!

p/s : By default, you will be a better year than the one we currently habit....

And may it be a Happy and Prosperous Year for us all...*grin*...

Bidding Adieu to a brutal year of 2009...

I’m speaking only for myself here...of course, I am sure that there is at least 1 among the 6 billion people in this planet that may feel the same as I...

Professionally and personally, 2009 was one tough slog...of course, it was all part and parcel of growing up, I guess...been tested by fire, to see how long I could withstand...tested by the strong winds, to see if I could stand on my ground...melo-dramatic disasters that threatens to reveal my vulnerabilities and true-self...the soft-shelled crap that I am...

I’ve never been one to look back and re-hash all the shouldave dones, couldave dones, and wouldave dones...I mean, what’s the point in that?...Sure, there are regrets to live by...harsh decisions and consequences...but I'd take those anytime...rather than choosing to live on safe/hibernation mode...where all the grass is green, and the people grow wings, giving each other foot massages...I would thrive on adventure, and the dangers it has to offer...it keeps me on my toes...and it toughens me up...

For me, being an adult has changed my perspective in many things...one has so many commitments that he/she has to re-think his/her priorities...I for one, had to decide that some things can stay, others can wait...I can remember how annoying I was when I was a kid, insisting on things I knew I couldn't have...squeezing all the innocence out of me to manipulate my mum into giving in...I failed at most times, of course...Gawd, no wonder my mum had grey hair in her 20s!!...It was me!!!...

I've also learn to step with caution wherever I go...luckily for me, my conscience constantly reminds me that mama and papa isn't around to clean up my mess...so I'd better not mess up...one wrong step, and your shoe is covered with dung...sure, Dettol and soap always does the trick...but the stink always stays longer than it should...and good luck gettin' rid of that one!!...So far, no major disaster there...*touchwood*...

Bills and warning letters taught me how difficult it is for money to come by...I have made several investments in things worth while...(am paying in installment to my current official banker - my dad)...and it seems that I have not much savings after all...after I have deducted my monthly insurance, petrol, toll, gym fees, house rental, groceries, piano and wat-nots...I may have to re-work my savings scheme...I don't have any at the moment...will have to take note of that next year...

Have rekindled some old friendships...I used to feel guilty for not keeping in touch with friends...partially, I am always caught up with work...and as for my free time (which is quite rare), I chose to sleep in, and catch up with my ZZZZzzzzzz...but sure, that ain't an excuse...I've looked up some of my childhood friends...hopefully I'll do more of that next year...

If you asked my mum, she would tell you that I was never one with a business mind...my intentions still pure and true...in fact, I have given many of my music students extra hours outside of their lesson...without pay...UNTIL, I noticed that many parents never reciprocate...in fact, they start demanding for more!!...So, with a heavy heart...I had to put my foot down and turn some students away...I have lost students in that manner...but I guess on the long run, its only for the best...

Well, this is an overall review of my life spent over year 2009...I do hope things were better for you than it was for me...a tumultuous year, that's for sure...but with no regrets...I feel more prepared with what year 2010 has to offer...and hopefully I would have a much clearer head and make wise decisions...instead of many slips of this year...*grin*...

Have a great year ahead!!...

One to two months wait, madam...

So, the four working days have passed...and still no sign of cash return in sight...I checked my account yesterday...I even went to Public Bank (PB), where my ATM card was issued to enquire about it...

Told my sob story to Miss X...she was fortunately more sympathetic than the guard standing in the corner, but never mind...asked me to fill up the complaint form...sat down and explained the procedures for situations such as this...

By the way, my bank account was started back in my hometown in Ipoh, 270km from where I am now...

1. PB from Kuala Lumpur (KL), where I filed a complaint will fax my appeal to PB in Ipoh. (I was no idea that I had to transfer my bank account to Kuala Lumpur where I am staying now)
2. PB from Ipoh will check their systems and fax my appeal back to the PB Headquarters which is situated in KL.
3. PB Headquarters will then check THEIR systems, and fax my appeal back to PB Ipoh with a confirmation if my appeal was legal/not.
4. PB Ipoh will then fax letter of approval/not to PB KL, which PB KL in return will get in touch with me...

So, my appeal/complaint will be wired as such...

Lessajinomoto --> KL --> Ipoh --> KL --> Ipoh --> KL --> Lessajinomoto

And the whole process will be "one to two months wait, madam"...Oh, if only I can last that long...I pray I can last that long...my cash flow is drying up, and I have none to spare for the rainy season...

Talk about Luck!!...

An ode to 1st December 2009

Twas the week after Thanksgiving, I headed out for lunch.
My tummy was growling, mouth watering, so I set off for something to much.
Dried from cash, I stopped by an ATM machine,
It took so blardy long to register, I wanted to dose it with benzene,
There I typed my amount, A thousand Ringgit plus hundreds more,
Waited for another 5 minutes, my blood did boil, my legs were sore,
The ATM finally cracked into life *woohoo!!*, I hear yummy cash a-flippin' inside,
Lifted up a prayer of thanks only to find nothing comin' from its mouth open wide,
I waited a little longer, hoping that it was a mistake,
But an ink-less receipt shot out, stating that the money I did take...

A thousand Ringgit plus hundreds more,
May not seem much but keeps my month ashore,
Pay my rent, my petrol, my toll, my bills,
my food, my groceries, my gym, my ills.
I checked the other machines to confirm this nightmare
Praying that it was just another prank-ly scare
I dialed 1300-xxx-xxx with my heart in my mouth,
straining to listen for instructions, while my brain has gone south
Was told to wait for two hours before filing a report,
I gave her a little piece of my mind and many other sorts.

I went to the nearest CIMB bank to make my claim,
Vowing that if I don't get my money back, their good name I'll gladly defame
True that one may say that things like these do happen once in a while
But I having to suffer the consequences of their neglect just ain't my style
I filled in the form, details, trace number and all,
The counter lady flashed her Colgate Ad smile sayin, "It'll be FOUR workin' days before they call.
So that leaves me completely broke for one whole week,
with so many bills to settle my following days does look quite bleak,
Sat quietly at home, I did, not daring to move so much as an inch
I thought, If it was just a prank act, I'd let him/her go with just a pinch

Well, you'd thought that as long as one has credit cards, one will survive
I thought that too, till I reached the KFC drive,
"I'm sorry, mam but your credit card didn't get through", said the lad
Asking me to pay in cash, cash which I wish I have had
Having no choice but to call my personal hotline,
Rang my dad for help, I did...how many hundreds? I asked for nine (for the 'just in case's)

Returned back home, with no mood for food,
Marching towards my laptop, I wondered if this was only the prelude
My wonders were confirmed when my Firefox came crashing down
Some email replies unsaved, my face was slightly more than a frown
Several more tries and yet the same thing
Obvious isn't it, my luck is draining...

I clocked in my washing machine only to watch it go belly-up
Looks like I'll have to hand-wash, especially my skirt soiled with tomato ketchup
An order I made for a rubber stamp, simple as it may seem,
Upon my reaching the shop, a mistake I spotted and I released some steam
A positive point was that I was allowed for a carpet exchange, (the carpet I purchased didn't match my theme)
but seeing how my luck goes, I am not surprise if it catches fire first and goes up in flames...

And no, things didn't improve then...I refuse to dwell on them longer than I should...
It is times like these that makes me wonder...WHY ME???...
But then again...why NOT me???...