New Year has just started and I've already been tagged? Bummer...

First and foremost, I would like to wish all of you guys a Happy New Year. As quoted from a SMS received from a dear friend:-

"Sweet words are easy to say;
Sweet things are easy to buy;
But sweet people are difficult to find.

Life ends when you stop dreaming;
Hope ends when you stop believing;
Love ends when you stop crying;
Friendship ends when you stop sharing.

To love without intention;
To give without reason;
And to care without expectation.

Happy New Year and may the new year brings betterment to ourseld and greater success to our life."

(As usual, a classic case of cut and paste. But look at it this way, for those that didn't receive a new year greeting from moi, please take this as my version of wishing you a happy and prosperous new year...)

Now, back to business. Just my luck, it's the beginning of the year and I've been tagged by a dear friend through her blog. Thanks babe, now I have to crack my head thinking of 16 great stuff to write about (LOL... Great sangat ke?).

So, here it goes...

Directions: Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a blog/Facebook note with 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. Don’t forget to leave them a comment or tag them in your note to read this.

1. Zed is born to shop.
Yes, this is reflective by my entry dated 2 Dec 2008. And also by my ability to juggle between work and shopping trips. I'm proud to say that I'd take leave just to go for Isetan Members' Day Sale and I have queued for more than 2 hours prior to the start of a warehouse sale. It's amazing want I'd do to shop.

2. For someone who talks a lot, Zed is actually rather quiet.
Amazed? Me oso. But the truth is, I'm only talkative when I'm around people who are close to me. I tend to shy away when I'm around strangers, sometimes even making a silent exit where possible.

3. Zed is very, very, extremely crankie.
Yes, I cranked up when I'm tired, I cranked up when I'm hungry, I cranked up when I'm full (coz' now must get some sleep), I cranked up when I'm stress, I cranked up when people wake me up from my beauty sleep, I cranked up when I don't get what I want. In a nut shell, I just crank up at almost everything in life.

4. Zed doesn't believe in dieting.
I'm already skinny, what's the point in dieting.

5. Zed doesn't eat a lot of things.
Contrary to everybody's belief, I don't eat a lot of things, but the things that I like to eat, I eat in abundance. Don't believe me, ask my friends and those who've cooked for me. I don't eat cheese, I don't eat durian, I only eat chicken breast, I don't eat lamb, I don't eat internal organs of any animals, I don't eat mushrooms, I don't eat jackfruit, I don't eat cencaluk (still keeping score?) and there are many other things that I just don't eat.

6. Zed is short.
Really? You don't say...

7. Zed can cook, she's just lazy.
On very rare occasion do I slave myself away in the kitchen.

8. Zed enjoys ironing.
Yup, this is one house chores that I truly enjoy doing. I iron everything except for undergarments. I just love seeing the wrinkles go away as you iron.

9. Zed loves the beach.
For someone who hates the sun, I LOVE THE BEACH. For those who have gone on a beach holiday with me, they would know that I apply sun screen lotion every 5 minutes, literally. But I hate the sea, I just love the beach.

10. Zed can't draw.
Although my mum is an art teacher, I can't draw even to save myself. Kesian kan?

11. Zed likes to bite her nails.
I know, I know, it's a bad habit, but I can't help it...

12. Zed is square and a nerd.
Again, really? You don't say...

13. Zed loves to watch TV.
I mean, who doesn't? I'd rather watch reruns on TV as oppose to reading. Teruk kan?

14. Zed is a co-owner of a car wash but her car is always dirty.
Funny eh? I'm too lazy to clean my carlah... Besides, I have a lot of things in the car, so a bit difficult to clean.

15. Zed is kiasu.
Yes, I'm a sore loser. When I was a kid, I always come running to my mum and complaint about how others have better things that me, get to participate in school quizzes/concert when I'm not, get bullied by other kids in school etc. Although I've outgrown it and I don't complain as much now, I still can't help being envious of other people and always want to top the rank (buruk perangai kan?)

16. Last but not least, Zed sleeps a lot.
On top of watching TV, I love to sleep and I can fall asleep almost everywhere. This is always witnessed by the Gymfreaks and office mates.

Now, my turn to torture 16 friends...

1) Betty Maori (jangan marah ye, nanti kena jual)
2) Eddie
3) Zaza
4) Lola
5) Rose
6) Miss Ani Mayuni of Kinokuniya
7) Rafiq Khan
8) Rosie
9) Joe
10) Farid Gond
11) Zeaty Jane
12) Ana cute
13) Aliah
14) Bel
15) Nana
16) Any friends who wishes to share 16 random things, facts, habits or goals about yourself.

So guys, get cracking...

It's the end of the year already?

Once again, I've failed to update my blog on a daily basis. And as usual, I've been busy with work, husband and family.

Small sister has recently been awarded for suspected dengue. Pitty her, she's already so skinny to start with, she's even skinnier now. She was awarded last Tuesday, on the basis that her blood platelet count was 38. It went up to 70 yesterday and hopefully it goes up again today so that she can be discharge by tomorrow.

Work wise, alhamdullillah, not too busy but not too idle oso.

Business wise, planning to open our second car wash outlet sometime in Jan '09. Insyaallah.

As usual, at the end of the year, I will close my "personal account" ie doing stock check on what I have achieved during the year, what I have not achieved during the year, is there anything I want to change etc. So far, apart from the incident with Hootie, I'm quite content with what I have so far. I've changed in a lot of ways and I'm happy that everything turn out for the better. Allah the Almighty sure has strange ways in making things happen.

I've got a wardrobe full of new clothes to complement my new look. I have a whole new, better attitude towards life and I'm more relax now. For this, I would like to thank my family, in-laws and great friends (macam bagi credit kat academy award je... :)...).

Sometimes, one drastic event is all one need to wake up and smell the coffee. Yes, there are moments where I break down and cry but I'm proud to say that I came out of it a stronger person.

So for those who thinks that it's the end of the world for you, don't. Every cloud has a silver lining and moving your cheese is not something bad. Always look for the hidden blessings and you'll be find. If not, can always come and talk to me.

Just in case this is my last entry for the year, thanks again guys for helping me out in my time of needs and have a better and more prosperous year ahead.

When the going gets tough, the tough goes shopping...

Revenge IS the sweetest thing. Don't get me wrong, not about to kill Hootie or harm him in any way. It's just that I have not shop till I go broke for the last one year. I do buy small items in between but having almost a blank cheque to go shopping is absolute fabulous.

Alhamdullillah, I had a small fortune last month. So, as a result, I went shopping. It all started out 2 weekends ago, with the Melium Group Clearance Sale. It continued to last Friday with FJ Benjamin Warehouse Sale and the launch of the Malaysia Mega Sale. And of course, me being me, must now spent and spent to my heart contents.

I know, I know, times are tough. I should really be savings instead of spending (or as I put it to my mum "Simpan Mak, simpan kat kedai"). But I really feel that I deserve this shopping spree. I mean, I work hard for the money, I spent only my money, I did not steal nor have I asked Hootie for his money. So, to conclude, it's my money and I shall spent it as to how I deem fit.

Hence, after 2 pairs of shoes, 1 pair of Crocs, 1 document bag, 18 pieces of working shirts, 8 pairs of pants, 3 sets of lingerie, 1 phone, 5 sets of cufflinks and other odds and ends, I'm one happy cookie with a wardrobe full of new stuffs.

Can Woman Have It All?

Man... it has been donkey years since I've actually written anything. There's a lot has been going on in life right now, juggling between work, business, Hootie, family, friends and personal indulgence.

Brief update, Hootie is still bed ridden but his movement are a lot more now. He can even belly dance in bed (just use your imagination). His right side of the body is getting stronger by the day and his left side is gaining strength.

Last Tuesday morning, I was watching the re-run of the re-run of Oprah. The topic which was talked about was "Can Woman Have It All?" It was rather interesting as different woman interprets it differently. Some believe that we can have it all and of course the others believe we can't.

To have it all, we need to sacrifice a few things (so, how is this having it all?). Talking from personal experience, I don't think we can have it all. For instance, in order to climb the corporate ladder, we need to sacrifice something, let it be family, friends or personal indulgences. Come on guys, answer me honestly, how many times do have to choose between work and spending time with friends/family? I've been in this situation one time to many.

Over the years (well, actually after my 3 years stint in the audit world), I have adopted an attitude that work is last (notice how I rate my work as the last priority in life). First priority would be myself (yes, I am a evil *&^@#), second would be Hootie, next in line would be my family and extended family, then comes my pet sis/god children, close friends, friends and last but not least work (I still need to feed myself, don't I?).

How can one have everything in life if one need to keep making sacrifices? I want a lot of things, let it be material or not but I am nowhere near having everything I want. I want to be there for Hootie 24/7 but someone have to look for money to pay for the bills. Even though I'm no longer working full time, the time when I'm out earning moolahs, I just have to close one eye and leave Hootie behind.

Some say we need to strike a balance between everything we do in life. Again, doesn't that lead back to the "making sacrifices" route? Spending more money for an Aigner bag means there's less money to spend on something else. Putting aside some money for savings means there's less money to splurge. Decisions, decisions... When will this end?

For me, not having it all is not as bad as it looks. The main thing for me is that I'm happy, hence everything else in life is secondary.

"You must have emphaty..."

"You must have emphaty..." said one of the few annoying extended family members of Hootie... Yeah right! Try taking care of a*$%^`#"!s, s?y, c^!$%*~g, sick husband and see whether you can have emphaty...

As usual, you can't run from such annoying relatives, where they have no clue what you have to go through. Can't really blame them and their existence always amazes me.

Between saving InLaws "waterface" and shocking extended family members on what a jerk Hootie is, I think saving InLaws pride takes precedent. But sometimes I just wish that these people just shut up and leave us alone.

Among the many, many family members, UncleChik is the only person who really helps out. Can't imagine how it would be if he isn't around. The rest of the relatives just visits whenever they are free. So, to me, they have no rights whatsoever to leave comments. Suggestions that does not add value is also not welcome.

Another family member is also nursing a sick person. Only the other day she poured out her heart saying how she is annoyed at people who keeps critising the way she's nursing her sick husband and how they keep giving her useless pieces of advice. She's much older than the InLaws and she's only have a maid to help her out. Her children can only help out so much as they are also busy with their lives.

It is always easier to leave running commentaries than actually contributing positively towards a situation. I sometimes fall prey to such sin. But now that I am having to go through with it, I do realise that things are always more than skin deep. There's a reason why God charter our lives as such. Take JabbatheHut for instance. He is filthy rich but he has no one to take real care of him. He's single, his sister is too busy taking care her two very young children and his mother is always away and not getting any younger. He spends thousands on medication each month due to having lots of health problems. So, just imagine if he falls sick and is bed ridden. For this reason, that's why God gave him tons of money so that he can pay for 24-hour nurses in order to take care of him.

I guess, Mr. Pink is right... If you don't have anything nice to say, you should just keep quite. You never know whose feelings you might be hurting.