one tiny step

I really should be sleeping by now because I didn't get my full 6-hours last nite.

OK, so I emailed my boss and told him I want to take Wednesday off. Why? Because I finally decided that I should go to the Pejabat Agama and file for my divorce. Why? Because I don't believe that he is going to let me go just like that. Without a fight. Whatever it is, I have to file my grievances first.

Yeah, it's a tiny step. It's just a plan. What if Wednesday comes and I chicken out? What if I go to the Keramat Pejabat Agama and they do the "oh-you-have-to-go-to-the-one-in-kajang" act? Will I just get back in my car and drive off?

I am so adrenaline-pumped right now it's not even funny. Bring it on!

Will jazzmatazzed have the balls to fill in those forms?
Will she just wake up and decide to just go to the office?
Will she move from making that one tiny step to taking the big leap?
Catch it all here live on Wednesday!

show me da money

I shocked myself today. Yes peeps, I went to Kuwait Finance House for a job interview this morning. Now I can't really tell you why exactly... A bank? I've never imagined that I'd even consider working at a bank. Me and banks are like oil and water. But I figured I need the money so bad (I asked for quite a chunk from what I'm paid now) AND I think the most important thing is that, I WANT TO FACE MY FEARS.

I've always been terrified working for a financial institution. The only thing I know about finances is - SHOPPING! So here I am applying for a Corporate Comm managerial post at Malaysia's largest Islamic bank. Whenever I draft press releases and something financial comes up, it's straight to the finance people - I don't even bother trying to understand the NAVs, EPS, P&L what have you. Whenever I write drafts for the annual report, I had to read line by line - revenue, turnover, EBITDA and it will take me a while to digest them. When it comes to the bullshitting and the operations review, I'm faster than a speeding bullet.

But the interview was interesting, I got asked (among many other questions):

1. Why did you minor in Theology and Art History?

I answered: Because I went to a Catholic school and instead of succumbing to people's worse fears that you will become Catholicised, I found renewed love and interest for Islam.
I wanted to say: Because I am, deep down, a freaking hippie.

2. How do you tackle difficult people? How do you convince them to believe in something?

I answered: Engineers are definitely difficult people to work with, but what you have to do is be friends with them first. Then try to persuade them without actually blatantly persuading them. You've gotta speak highly of their opinions, make them believe that you take them seriously and then go in for the kill. (without actually going in for the kill) Apa aku cakap ni????
I wanted to say: I can put on a dress with a plunging neckline and bat my eyelashes like a damsel in distress.

3. Why do you want to leave your current job?

I answered: I have to be honest with you, it's all about the money.
I wanted to say: Because Rxxhixx is a f*cked up place to work in and in spite of all the good news you read in the papers, I haven't had a bonus in two freaking years. But then again, I didn't wanna badmouth the company.

I think I didn't do too well on the interview - I was overly talkative (lupa diri sekejap), I might be overselling myself and I kinda lost that firm first handshake because I was waiting for too darn long in that tiny interview room.

It's ok, I'd have to purchase headscarves if I get this job :)

to my bagophile friends...

Splurged on bags during my Jakarta trip, I kinda went through Third World hell to get these babies, reduced me to bargaining like an auntie. Look at 'em and weep... The Gucci 85th Anniversary Tote. And a bit of a closeup sikit...
This miu miu one is so casual and the soft leather really got me. And it has that laid-back look and roomy enough for just about anything. And it comes with a detachable sling too. Definitely a weekend/shopping bag.
It was love at first sight when I saw this one. This one is my ultimate favourite out of the lot. It's got a bit of a rock chic thing going on here, with the metal plates and studs at the bottom :This one's a real beauty...Just look at the tassels with the bamboo details. The Gucci logo is also engraved in script, which I thought looked pretty cool. By the way, it's called a Gucci 'race' bag.
These two Guess weekend handbags are dirt cheap it's blasphemous, really. Anyway, they're souvenirs for friends, I'm not THAT greedy.
Finally, after all that bag shopping, plus going crazy over Polo shirts and t-shirts and the boys' shirts I knew there won't be enough room in my luggage bag anymore. I just had to buy this Gucci pull-bag:
Phew! And this is when I DIDN'T have time to shop, I wonder what would happen if I go on a shopping only trip. It's just unthinkable!

shopaholic me

Yesterday, after we closed down our booth we headed to Mangga Dua, crossing our fingers that the shops will still be opened at 7 pm. One Singaporean dude from the exhibition actually convinced me that the shops open till 9.30pm (ya rite, only if you're Carrefour that is). We reached Mangga Dua at 7 pm, and there were only 3 or 4 shops that are still opened. Chehhhh!!!! Dissapointed, I made it a mission to go on the next day. Taxi Driver cakap, "Buk, di sini kalau mau belanja kedainya bukak jam delapan, ini namanya Pasar Pagi".

I held on to the Taxi Driver's words. This morning I woke up at 6 am, and left the hotel at 7 am by cab konon nak avoid the macet lah. Amazingly, the road was quite smooth and I arrived at Mangga Dua as early as 7.30 am. Hey, I went alone ok! (Thanks Mat Nor, for giving me a bit of time off from the exhibition).

When I got there, the shops were still closed, so I asked the guard what time they actually open. And guess what, NOT 8AM lah...they open at 9AM. (I got duped again, this time by Mr Taxi Driver). So I waited in front of the mall like one looney woman.

The waiting was all worth it. Well Mangga Dua is one heck of a hectic place, you just have to know where to look, really. (I'll take a photo of the bags that I bought so you guys can drool over it ok).

After Mangga Dua it was straight to the exhibition, I got there at about noon. Thank god for the guys, they did a really good job on the booth even without me. Since it's the last day, we were busy handing out all the brochures. By 3.30 we were quite done, and by 4.30 we were already at Plaza Grande, Block M.

Outside Plaza Grande, there is a labyrinth of small shops selling fake goods, clothes, accessories and the works. The place was quite dodgy and gross but hey, what is going to Jakarta without experiencing a dose of the Third World environment. Here I was with two guys that I was not even close with, Abza and Suffian. These guys were cool. Why? Because they can tolerate my shopping - and they're cool shoppers too, I mean guys usually can't tolerate women when they shop. The best thing is, I actually bought 2 Guess bags for like RM20 each, is that a sweet deal or what?

At Plaza Grande I bought 3 Polo shirts and by that time I could feel that my feet are just dying on me. Here I am at the hotel room, putting my feet up while typing this. I'm going to shower in a bit, just letting my poor feet rest for a while.

Tomorrow we're going back to KL and I must tell you, I had fun! Can't wait to come back again and hopefully next time with my girlfriends to Bandung! Any takers?

too much to eat

This always happens when I go outstation - I OVEREAT. First, cuz we're always moving in groups, so we'll never miss a meal. Then, if I don't eat it's considered something weird (maybe I have that muka kuat makan). Third, once I start eating...it never stops!

Today was the first day of the Indowater exhibition. It was a looonngg day. Was on my feet from 8am till 6pm. The crowd was quite good, although I always get mistaken for being Indonesian, and the looks on their faces when I tell them that I am in fact, Malaysian! I don't really know whether I should feel insulted or otherwise. It was a cool exhibition for the fact that at 6pm they had a special cocktail for the exhibitors - with live entertainment to boot!

Not enough with the cocktail food, my uncle took us out to Garuda for Nasi Padang (again!). We got back to the hotel at about 10-ish and hung out at the lounge to watch the super live band performance. And now I'm in bed and ready to face another tiring day tomorrow.

Observations:

1. My guy friends do not know how to appreciate hot Indon chicks. Are you guys homo or what?
2. There is a disproportionate disparity between hot chicks and hot guys here.
3. The one guy that I thought was hot was actually a MALAYSIAN.
4. I miss my boys at home.
5. I just realized how much it sucks to sleep alone in a hotel room. For 4 nites some more!

hello jakarta (i didn't bring my camera)

Jakarta was exactly like how I remembered it the last time we went there (when was it Za?). Because I'm the only girl in this group of 4 I had to duduk depan everytime we go on a cab. And it's dang scary!

We arrived Jakarta at around 10 am. Straight to The Sultan hotel, then to Jakarta Convention Centre to take a look at our booth at Indowater. When we got there the contractors were still in the midst of working, so we decided to go to Plaza Senayan for our lunch of what else but... Nasi Padang at Sari Ratu!

The lady at the hotel concierge recommended us the Jakarta Fair, since we've got nothing much on our agenda today.

Jakarta Fair was quite cool - big expo and we got to see a lot of stuff from crafts to fashion to the Indon obession with SuperMi. The cab ride back to the hotel was super awful tho, the driver didn't know the way back to The Sultan (or maybe he's just duping us for the extra mileage) and we were stuck in godawful Jakarta gridlock traffic for hours.

My butt fell asleep but the guys were quite funny and entertaining. So okaylah.

Now I'm in the hotel room after a hot shower. We might go for a nightcap later on, if I can prove that I'm still young enough to go out after a long hard day.

Cheers.

bye bye boys

Well, tomorrow I'll be off to Jakarta for work until Saturday. This will be the longest that I'll be away from the boys. Gonna miss 'em and I hope they'll be ok without me around.

Because of Datuk K, I've resorted to wearing my polo t-shirts in non-public places.

The weekend was so-so - went to Alif's birthday party on Sunday, Ali and Yunus had fun. Then as usual on Sunday evening, to prepare for a long week had drinks with Ayu at Alexis. That one was quite sensational! We were seating outside and suddenly we heard, "Tapi you dah tinggal dengan husband I for over a year!" Apparently the diners behind the pillar was actually a love triangle waiting to explode.

I pray to God that I will never have to go through that situation. Ever.