Wishing for a simpler life

Sometimes I wish that I could live a simpler life. Get married, have kids, have a mediocre job. Sometimes I wish I could do more. See the world, live a successful life without any monetary worries. Buy whatever I want, provide some comfort to my family. But how can I do that without having to work on my career? 

I think I should push and work hard now, when I am still young and full of hope for the future. I might lose that in the long run, and when that happens, I hope that I will have enough money, enough investments and hopefully a business or two. I would like to get the MBA and PhD that I've always wanted, open up a little restaurant. Maybe a little guesthouse of my own. I would like to go star viewing in Alaska, as well as to see the Aurora. I would like to roam New York City, to backpack to Europe. I have so many aspirations but I don't know if I am able to fulfill all of them without having to let some go.

I want to stop thinking so much, to stop worrying about the future. I've been thinking about Chun and I, about how the both of us will have trouble in deciding on a place to settle down. He's into construction and I'm into hospitality. His career involves being in rural places and as for me,  blooming towns and cities. It's a bit frustrating but I guess its fine by both of us, to mutually agree that we work hard for now towards our goals. I might be able to let go of the career ladder one day, and he might be able to follow me wherever I go. But right now, we are where we are. Somehow, it doesn't feel wrong. It feels the way it should be. It's better this way, to allow both of us to chase our dreams and to hopefully we will be able to go back to each other at the end of the day and find a home within.

I think that I will, perhaps one day...try to live a simpler life.

Ungrateful

Men can be so ungrateful. Especially once they've grown big and strong, they leave you to look for greener pastures. 

I'm one of those ungrateful men.

Heading to Sarawak, the land of the Hornbils!

I'll be going to Kuching in 3 days. Super duper excited. 

Can't kapster a lot here because I'm currently at work. I've got lots to share though! Will do so in another 3 days!

19 February 2013

I have finally done it. Tendered my resignation letter. 

Time to start running again.

I swear that I will put on my running shoes today. It's too much to bear.

My excess 10kg baggage, I will get rid of you by the end of this year!

Valentine's Day

I haven't been celebrating a proper Valentine's Day for 3 years. I have no flowers and no fancy dinners, not because I'm a single woman but mainly because my boyfriend lives miles away from me. I used to feel that its a necessity to celebrate Valentine's Day because its one of the only days you get smothered with gifts from your significant other. That was when I was a stupid kid. Now when I'm years older and wiser I don't see 14 February as something I should celebrate. I said should, doesn't mean I wouldn't. Just that it would be alright too if I don't.

In all honesty, I believe that love should be shown everyday. Gifts should be given spontaneously and without reason. It is lovely when you get flowers and chocolate but why does it have to be only on Valentine's Day, when everything is being hiked up? To those of you celebrating with your loved ones, enjoy yourselves. Bask in the romance, drink your glasses of wine, shower each other with lots of love but also remember to love each other dearly everyday. 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone, single or attached. May this special day serve as a reminder to love and cherish your friends and loved ones!

Chinese New Year 2013

Is over and done with on my part. It only took two days for us to finish our rounds of "bai nian" or "pai chia" in Hokkien and today (the 3rd day) was spent with me having leftover Domino's Pizza for breakfast, followed by a round of Tera (an online game), manga, chicken rice lunch and a nap. I'm going to start work tomorrow and the dreaded, wretched feeling is already creeping in on me.

This year's Chinese New Year was uneventful. I was working half the day during the eve of Chinese New Year, had a rather uneventful reunion lunch with my family. It all seemed to past by too fast. The steamboat we all ate too fast, my relatives were finished and went home too fast. We went visiting and went home quickly too, now that's too fast as well. It just doesn't seem very meaningful to me anymore. I also believe that my ang bao collection for this year has dwindled as well, I didn't bother to count the money inside because I have a fear that my predictions are true, that there's less this year! 

Oh well, on a superstitious note, my mum, my siblings and I followed Joey Yap's advice and were standing on the west sector of our house on Chinese New Year morning to "accept" the God of Wealth into our lives for 2013. I on a more kiasu note, also activated the sector for God of Nobility. I hope that it works and both these stars will bring me some sort of good fortune. I don't care which aspect of my life, as long as something change for the better. Mum has already seen some results in wealth, which I'm glad. If there's anyone I would be happy for it would be for my parents since I truly believe that they deserve any good fortune bestowed upon them. I, on the other hand would be less deserving.

Chinese New Year decorations at my office.

The awfully cute Chinese New Year decorations at Gurney Plaza, Penang.

As a Joey Yap fangirl, my sis and I attended his seminar for the second year.

The Khaw siblings.

The Kapster Crew with mum at our dearly departed grandma's place.

The kampung house where I grew up. Half of the time I was at my other grandma's place.

So let's sum it up. Chinese New Year 2013 is utterly disappointing because it was uneventful. The only part I loved was the part where I get to parade my new outfits. My aunt's open house is tomorrow and because she changed it from her usual 3rd day to the 4th day this year, I did not get to attend, boo hoo! 

Welcome to the realm of kapster-ness

In any case one does not know the meaning of kapster, kindly allow me to provide an easy interpretation. 

A kapster, refers to someone who loves to talk. I believe this word was coined by local Penangites, or perhaps by my aunt herself. You see, the word "kap" in the local Hokkien dialect means, to talk and the word "ster" probably taken from words such as youngster. The word closest to kapster would probably be kap-siao in Hokkien but kapster sounds a bit less crude.

Kapster also refers to someone with a "smart-mouth", usually someone who comes up with those smart-assed comments and replies. I often hear my aunt telling my cousin that he is a kapster whenever he came up with a witty or smart reply to her remarks and questions.

This blog will provide an outlet for me to unleash my inner kapster-ness. I haven't been active in blogging ever since I came back from studying in Kuala Lumpur a year ago. I missed those days and would love to relive them again.