Is there anything in particular that peeves you to no end? I have. I have a long list of what I don’t like. Not because I am an old biddy with nothing to do but compile lists, but because I think human beings are the oddest creatures on earth.
Topping this list is the something which has no name. It’s a sickness called marriagitus. If you are single, it won’t attack you. You’re safe. But if you’re hitched, or planning to get hitched anytime soon, it will cleave onto you and never leave. Unless you’re of strong will and independent spirit. Marriagitus strikes most people. Women particularly though I have a male friend who shows symptoms of this sickness.
Musings
Playing Nice
I’ve been missing quite a bit from my blog so much so that friends aka readers of this blog ask me when I’ll be updating it. Hah, sorry my dears. I have been too bogged down by other work and I had just come back to Penang after one week of relaxation sans PC, sans Internet, sans email.
When All You've Got is Powerpoint!
Yes, Microsoft Powerpoint can be a monster. It can be a tool if it is used wisely but many a time, lots of people use Powerpoint, referred hereafter as PP, without respect at all. The biggest culprits are those in the factories. Penang has many factories in the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone. They’re multinational companies too and none of that dingy, smelly, horrific sweatshops we hear about. These factories are bright, breezy, superduper clean and full of people.
From One Island to Another
I had come home from Langkawi full of stories in my head but the recent haze and the flu I had when I came home erased most of what I wanted to say. Or maybe I had too much to say and didn’t know what to put down first.
I'm Here, I'm Here
Long silence huh? Doesn’t seem like me right?
Well, I was away for a week’s break in Langkawi. Yes, beautiful aquamarine sea, long road stretches without another car in sight (oooh, heavenly driving!) and the occassional water buffalo grazing…
Are You Ready for Heritage Heboh?
Nic and I toddled along for last Saturday’s sneak preview of Heritage Heboh at ABN-Amro. I didn’t know what to expect. After all, I had said yes to Vern because I was curious about this Heritage Heboh event. And Vern was very excited, from the way she wrote about it. (Actually dear Vern is part of this major event, which is one of the many cultural events and performances held in conjunction with the Malaysian Citrawarna celebrations).
With Love, From Japan
The story was simple. It was about family, love, and a young girl’s memory of growing up as a 14 year old in a typical Japanese suburb where she says “nothing ever happens”. Boredom probably causes some people to murder others and bury them in concrete, she surmises.
Sugina is fresh-faced and adorable (kawaii comes to mind) but she is also a typical teenager. Living with her mother and stepfather in a pretty and orderly Japanese middle-class community, she notes that her life is quite mundane.
Speaking From the Heart
Blogging is something that I have been doing for the past three years. It gives me much satisfaction to write. It keeps me sane particularly when business goes a bit nutty (nutty meaning when I have to deal with people who just keep demanding more and more although there’s only one of me!)
Today, I shared my insights about blogging in a 35-minute talk at KDU Penang in conjunction with their Literary Day. It was refreshing to talk about something close to my heart because I feel that blogging is a great way to write, an immensely fun method to practise writing, to make friends online, to participate in other people’s blogs and to receive instant feedback on one’s writing.
Networking for Penangites…Women Only
Jo and I had been toying with the idea for a few months now. In fact, I had the idea last year and she had the idea even before her daughter was born (her daughter is now 2 plus!). When she brought it up in a conversation, I’d agreed heartily knowing that it was truly godsend.
Yesterday, we managed to group together about 7 women all together in Jo’s shop for our first ever networking meet for women business owners in Penang. We felt it was the right time because we were both longing for something to happen in Penang. Instead of sitting around and hoping something would fall into our laps, we’d decided we would just do it, to borrow a phrase from Nike.
The Relationship of Blogging
I got around to thinking about blogging last week because a friend, J, had asked me to help her out with her upcoming college literary day. She was looking for a variety of speakers to talk to her college students and hopefully get them all fired up about oral and verbal aspects of the English language.