Car Entertainment

My friend found out that my car stereo broke down when I was driving up to Penang. He said that it would be so boring without car entertainment. He's right but I didn't want to spend money on a new stereo since I have just overspent this month, again!

He said he has a spare stereo that is left idle after upgrading his own unit. He's giving it to me, and a new pair of speakers. Well, they are not marine speakers, unfortunately, but still, they are better than what I currently have!

I am so happy. I can't wait to collect my new toys this weekend.

Ferraris

I went to a street party last night in Ipoh, hosted by Baliz. Well, I have never been there before; well, clubbing isn't my kind of thing...but I went especially for the super cars and superbikes. I was earlier informed that there would be a collection of vehicles on display because it's a charity do.

Well, there were only three Ferraris there so I took photos of them. HHmm I have no idea what models the red Ferraris are but the black one is a Ferrari 430 Scuderia. These are lean mean machines, I tell you. I wonder how much they sell... it's not easy to see one on the road here in Ipoh. Then again, our roads are not friendly to super cars.

Still, I would like to go on a ride in one of these, though.... that is, if I'm not the one driving. I have problem driving my own car, as it is, because I am just not good. LOL

Gold Coin Purchase

I am considering collecting gold coins like my friend too. I may not be able to buy gold coins as many as him but I could still spare a little cash. One always has to start somewhere, right?

My friend has cautioned me, though, that if I were to buy gold krugerrands, to only buy those that are legal tender. There are many with no real value, like the Krugerrand bullion rounds so one has to know what one is buying.

He also recommended that I go with United States Gold Bureau, where professional staff would help me with expanding my gold coin portfolio. Hhmm I’ll have to check them out soon.

Easier Said Than Done

Earlier this month, I made a resolution to try to be happy. I read that happiness is a state of mine, truly it is. However, it's not as easy as the article has said. How could I be happy or try to think I'm happy when there are things around me that are upsetting, that makes me go down the dumps. I'm an emotional being and I get involved emotionally very quickly. Yes, that's bad for me, bad for my health.

A close friend once told me that it's so hard to make me laugh. That's not true, obviously. I may laugh at a situation but it's just momentarily happiness. I'm talking about being happy as a whole. Some people say that it's because I'm single... but even if I have a partner, every relationship comes with its own share of crap. Who can dispute that?

How To Handle Stress

Yesterday, I was very upset and I felt stressed out. Whenever I feel upset, I feel sick. I will physically be sick. I don't know how to handle stress, unfortunately, and I only know how to "sleep it away". Of course, that doesn't help. I feel very unproductive. I KNOW I am unproductive but I just don't want to do anything but lie in bed. I wonder if this is called depression.

People say time will heal. Even if it's true, the scar remains and that is a good reminder of the past. Somehow, even when everyone moves on, things will never be the same again. The hurt, though not as painful, will still be there. And every time I am reminded of the incident, my heart just sinks a little lower.

I wonder if everyone feels the same as I do when they encounter an upsetting problem in life. Or perhaps I feel so because I'm an introvert, and I don't get to share my feelings with others?

Collecting Gold Coins

A friend told me that he has started to buy gold coins. This friend is a very prudent guy but he always is on the look out for new investment opportunities. According to him, he has been checking out United States Gold Bureau for a while now but only recently decided to take the plunge.

While gold price has been increasing over the past two to three years, he still thinks it's a good idea to buy American Gold Eagle Coins. He believes that as a long term investor, this will be a profitable move especially if he passes down his gold coin collection to his children, or better still, to his grandchildren.

Display of Local Furniture

In addition to MAPEX, there is also Home Fair that is held at Hall B, Stadium Indera Mulia. Strangely, this is an even bigger exhibition than the property fair, even though the main event is MAPEX. Well, perhaps furniture is cheaper? But then when we have brand names that sound foreign and hard to pronounce, do you think the prices are friendly? I don't think so. These are export designs, after all.

Home Fair reminds me of Homex 2011. In fact, I could recognise many of the exhibitors. However, in this short span of half a year, they have come out with totally new designs and concepts. Furnishing a home these days is totally unlike the time of my parents where they would furnish once and hope the furniture will last a lifetime. LOL

MAPEX 2011

Yup, made my way to the Stadium to see what MAPEX is all about. Sure, I know it's a property fair and I've been to many property fairs over the past two years but this one is small. There were only about twenty property developers. I believe home buyers need more choices when it comes to buying a property, whether it's their first home or as an investment.

I didn't see any property that qualifies for "My First Home Scheme" but maybe I need to spend more time looking. I didn't have enough time because it was crowded. The VIPs went visiting all the booths so you can imagine the chaos. Maybe I will go again since this event will only end on Sunday night. There's still plenty of time.

Property & Home Furniture Fairs

There are two exhibitions at Stadium Indera Mulia beginning today and obviously, I am not going to pass up the chance to visit. I plan to own a house though right now I barely earn enough to cover daily expenses. I think earning is one thing. More importantly is financial management, which I am also not good at.

I read about a Missoula, MT wealth management group that puts their clients' interests first, helping them achieve financial independence thanks to professional insight and I am really eager to look for a similar financial management firm here who could help me achieve financial freedom as soon as possible.

Taking Action

If you have been reading my blog over the past couple of years, you would know that I feel as if I am in a rut since my dog died after a lengthy illness where I spent every day caring for him. Even though he has died for more than a year, I still feel that I am unable to pull myself out of the depressive mode.

When he was ill, I dreamt of all the places that I could visit, the many things that I could finally do, which I was not able to do or go away for long because of the poor health of my pets. Now that I am finally free, I am not able to move. It’s called inertia, I believe.

My friend told me this morning that I am not the only one who is in this situation. He said that everyone who is in the same boat as I am has one problem - the failure to take action. Obviously, it's easier said than done: taking action rather than sitting around and waiting for an opportunity to come up.

But I want to, from now on, consciously make an effort to act on things. To ACT upon, rather than seeing life drift past.

Grossly Overspent

My goodness! It's only the middle of the month I have already grossly overspent! Now, I don't buy any luxury goods. All my money is spent on essentials like bills, food and transport.

This month is a particularly bad month. I tend to say this every month because Jan/Feb is Chinese New Year, April is my mother's birthday, May is Mother's Day, June is Father's Day, August is my father's and brother's birthdays! Phew!

However, June has got to be the worst of all the months. I have a big ass car repair bill and I just renewed my car road tax and bought insurance for it. Well, these two aren't something that anyone of us could escape from if we want to own a car. Is it for convenience sake? It's a necessity nowadays, isn't it?

Back From Penang Already

Yes, I am back from Penang. It was only a day trip; we spent the whole day in Penang and yet, I felt as if there are so many more places that we have yet to visit. Next time, I plan to stay a couple of nights in Penang. Coming home at night on the highway is really dangerous as there were so many heavy vehicles.

And the cars went past us so fast. My father was already at maximum speed within limit, that is, and for those cars to zoom past us, I think they went over the speed limit. Perhaps they make use of a whistler radar to detect speed traps or something. Otherwise, how could they drive so fast and yet not get a speeding ticket?

There's no point beating the speed limit. I always believe in safety first.

Going To Penang Again

Yup, the family and I are going to Penang again tomorrow. When was the last time we went? I think it was about seven months ago. This will be a day trip. Actually, they have something to take care of in Penang and I was asked to tag along because my dad doesn't want me to be home alone. Oh well...

So today, I am going to clear all my work so that I will be able to at least enjoy a bit of my time on the road, even though I am no keen on the trip. My heart and mind aren't on it because I have a lot on my hands and I just want to put my head down and work.

I know that I am in the red again this month and I just don't feel happy about it. I know that I said that happiness is a state of mind. Well, having more money will definitely make me happier!

Investing In Beauty Courses

I met a girl recently and while chatting, she told me that she is feeling redundant at work, while her colleagues are moving up the ladder, so to speak. This girl, whom I made small talk with while she was attending to me, told me that she would like to improve herself,. In fact, she feels that the only way to move up is to get more training.

I told her about an Austin beauty school which I read about and how students are being trained in a real salon environment. Hence, graduates are highly sought after.

Since this girl already has some experience in this field and she is set to make this her career, it is worth investing more in beauty courses that would help improve herself and her marketability.

This blog post was based on information provided by Blogitive. For more information, please visit Blogitive.com or contact Regency Beauty Institute – 500 East Ben White Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704

Bumping Into An Old Friend

I bumped into an old friend a couple of days ago, totally unexpectedly. We have never seen each other almost 20 years but I still recognise her, even though she doesn't recognise me at all. It's funny, just when I thought that i didn't change because another girl could recognise me from afar and kept waving at me just a week ago.

I think that the ability to recognise someone after a great length of time depends on the sharpness of one's mind. I could be wrong, though. Anyway, we had a short chat and promised to keep in touch but I know that we won't. It simply has been too long and we have different lives, different interests now and simply no time or room for people who once made up a part of our lives.

Sikh Festival of Sports 2011

I attended the Sikh Festival of Sports opening ceremony a couple of days ago at Stadium Azlan Shah in Ipoh. However, I went a tad earlier than I should so I found it to be boring and didn't stay too long to wait for the arrival of HRH Sultan Azlan Shah. There was a fireworks display at the end of the ceremony too which I also gave a miss. My friend told me that it starts at 4pm when it should be 6pm. Bleh...

For those of you who are interested to see Punjabi play sports, you can leave me a comment if you don't know the games schedule. There are five different games played and these are played at various venues in Ipoh. It's quite a big do, actually, and the Sikhs are very proud that they are the only community to hold their own sports meet in Malaysia and Singapore. Commendable!

Topamax Claim

My friend was talking to me about an article on Topamax which says that it's linked to birth defects in babies with cleft lip or cleft palate. I actually knew about it a couple of months ago, and even blogged about it. Looks like she didn't read my blog. SIGH!

But it's not too late to know now. In fact, there is an on-going Topamax lawsuit handled by attorneys who are experts in personal injuries and products liability claims and they are helping victims of Topamax seek due compensation for their injuries.

I don't know any Topamax victim, actually, but if you have friends or family in this situation, do let them know to contact the attorneys (info below) who are handling this case.

O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Changing My Mindset

Since the beginning of this month, I have been trying to change my mindset about life. I have encountered many setbacks but at the same time, I know that the biggest stumbling block has been myself. The problem is in my own head and I am trying to overcome it. Of course, I need positive influences in life, I need people to cheer me on, to encourage and support me.

Yet, at the same time, the only person who can help myself is... well, myself. I have known all along that in life, nobody owes me a living and there is no one I can depend on except myself. And even if people do help, they would want something back in return. it's rarely unconditional. So it's true, at least in most cases that when you laugh, the world laughs with you. When you cry, you cry alone.

But I hope that I will change the way I look at things. I can get out of the rut. Yes, I can!

Benggali Sports Meet

A friend told me there will be a Benggali sports meet starting today in Ipoh. It's the 60th edition. I was like….. HUH, 60th already and I never even heard about it before?!? LOL

Anyway, I don't know if I want to go or not. It's so hot out there. If it's not hot, it will be raining cats and dogs and even elephants. SIGH. Moreover, who wants to see Benggali play sports?? I’m not keen but I would like to go and get some pictures… I heard that His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah will be there too so it’s a good opportunity to get some photos.

However, it’ll be boring if no one goes with me. I know the emcee but he’s working. Decisions… problems….

Learning About Topamax

I first got to know about Topamax and its tragic birth defects a couple of months ago. This is a drug that is used to control epileptic seizures and cure migraine headaches. However, unfortunately, it is also found to cause birth defects in babies of women who were on Topamax while they were pregnant. The birth defects are cleft lip and cleft palate, and some could be extremely severe.

Since then, I have also read about a Topamax lawsuit in the papers where those affected by the drug band together to file a product liability claim. While I personally do not know of anyone affected by Topamax, I feel it my duty to inform my friends and family so that they too could help spread the news.

For more information on Topamax and the Topamax lawsuit, contact: O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath – Personal Injury Lawyers – 808 West Avenue, Austin, TX. 78701 – 512-494-9949

Mars (2004 Taiwanese Drama)

I am in the midst of watching Mars, a 2004 Taiwanese drama. Yeah, I know it's old but I have kept this drama for a long time and somehow, couldn't find the enthusiasm to watch it until now. Even so, it is a slow progress despite having an A-list cast with Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu. I wonder why.

Vic and Barbie were an item during the filming of Mars but somehow I don't see the chemistry reflecting in their acting. Sure, Barbie's character is supposed to be an introvert because of past experiences but somehow, I couldn't feel their closeness. But then again, I'm only at episode 8 or so and there are still another 13 more episodes to go.

I wonder how this drama ends. Nope, I'm not going to scour the internet for spoilers. Not this time. Not yet...

Visit From New York Friend

My friend from New York has returned to visit his father, much to my delight. He will make a detour to Ipoh to have a cuppa with me too. Although his visits home are always short, he still tries to make it home at least once or twice a year. His father is not doing very well health-wise and he is trying his best to be a "good son".

Unfortunately, my friend's visit this time is even short as he has an appointment with a Brooklyn Accident Lawyer that he couldn't postpone. He said he has an important "case" and he needs to have it settled as quickly as possible. He was secretive and wouldn't let me know the details of the case, though. Well, in any case, I wish him all the best.

Itchy Feet Again

I'm suffering from itchy feet again and I feel like I just go somewhere or else I would suffocate. However, this is a pretty bad month to spend... vacations aren't cheap, as you know! Well, I've got my car to repair and then I have to renew my road tax and insurance this month. On top of all these, there's Father's Day in two weeks' time, which translates to even more expenses! Argh... I hate money flowing out but there are things that cannot be avoided and I am thankful that I still have a father to celebrate Father's Day with.

But seriously....I want to go somewhere, I want to fly....I've not flown before and I need someone to show me the way at least once. Also, I hate spending the night alone in a hotel in a strange city. I need someone to accompany me but WHO???

Walk In Bathtubs

For the past month, I accompanied a friend to look at a few new residential projects with ready show houses and was quite disappointed to see that none of these houses have walk in bathtubs for seniors. One would think that with the growing population of senior citizens, thanks to advances in science and medicine and improved medical care, walk in bathtub should be a compulsory fixture in any home, especially one that's newly built.

It must be the oversight of the developers, or maybe they just want to save on cost. But then again, walk-in bathtubs are no longer that expensive. In fact, many households with senior citizens do not hesitate to install one thanks to its affordability. In addition, there are many different designs with different price tags which would suit people with various budgets.

I have been reading up on walk-in bathtubs for a long time. I lived with my grandparents so I know how these bathtubs could be liberating for them and improve the quality of life. Back then, these bathtubs were extremely expensive and we couldn't afford it. Now that my parents are getting old, I am prepared to install a walk-in bathtub at home should they need one. As I said, it’s essential in any household with senior citizens.

Being Happy Is A State Of Mind

I've been reading self-help books lately, not because I have nothing better to do but these books came highly recommended by a friend. I read that being happy is a state of mind and we can "control" how we want to feel. I'm in the process of learning how to control my mind so that I feel happy all the time. Sounds like a lunatic, right? Lunatics are always happy, or so we think.

Well, it's not that I'm always unhappy. It's just that sometimes, things or people around me drag me down and I feel burdened, hence unhappy. What I can do is to try to look at things from another perspective, try not to be too emotional and affected by things that aren't in my control.

Right now, there's something that I am unhappy with but it's not something that I could change. In fact, I don't wish for it to change because it will put someone else in sadness. So let me suffer... and I will take the happiness that comes from being in such a situation.

Ah, I know, I'm talking rubbish but I can't spill the beans here on a public domain.

Buy Call

I have been contemplating if it's still a good time to buy gold when I came across this article on WSJ says Buy Gold, even at this time when the price of gold in the world market is still so high.

I discussed about this with a friend and he told me that the price shouldn't be my main concern. The main thing is to buy gold securely. I actually already know whom to go to. I have read a lot about United States Gold Bureau and how we can buy any precious metal that we like.

Of course, we can also get a consultation with one of their metal investment experts so as to make a wiser decision when it comes to investing in precious metals.

Vaseline Healthy White SPF24 Triple Lightening

I just went to Watsons and bought the largest bottle of Vaseline Healthy White SPF24 Triple Lightening lotion. I don't know if this works and I didn't even bother to find out if any of my friends have used this effectively before. I just saw it in an advertisement and went out and bought it. LOL

Anyway, since the beginning of the year, I have been outdoors so much, I am four shades darker. All my friends who knew me before have commented, and my aunt asked me what happened. Sigh...I hope that this Vaseline Healthy White SPF24 Triple Lightening will work since I still need to get out under the sun a few more times this coming week... and I am talking about this week only. Bleh….

Having A Blast With Upin, Ipin & Friends

If you are in Ipoh this weekend, perhaps it;s time to take the kids over to Stadium Indera Mulia where there is a carnival going on. have you heard of Upin and his twin brother, Ipin? Can you believe that I met them this morning? Hahaha... yeah, I am too old for cartoons but I can't help it. They are too cute.

As I said in an earlier post, I have spent many hours over the past few days watching Upin & Ipin animation series online. They are all on YouTube, by the way, some have English subtitles but then my Bahasa is still OK and I don't need the subtitles.

Make Money Without Working Hard

I have been chatting with my friend over the past two weeks and I found out that he's rich. I didn't even know but now that I do, I want to learn from him how to make so much money. I already know all along that I am someone who prefers to have my money work for me and not the other way around so that I have free time to enjoy myself

I see no point keeping all the money in the bank if I have to spend long hours working. How then would I be able to enjoy my rewards? My friend has revealed that he spent a lot of money to buy gold bullion and it has paid off handsomely for him. As you know, world gold price has continued to reach new highs and there is still room to go higher still because of continued world demand for gold.