6 Months In The Red

Yes, I am in the red again for September. My friend asked me how many months it has been already and I couldn't tell off-hand. I said, maybe six months. So I just checked my accounts and yes, it has been six months since December, 2011. This means that six months in the red in ten months.

I can still function as I have reserves but obviously, this is not the way it should be. I hate digging my piggie bank. I doesn't help that I am running all over town working but don't get paid for my work. Maybe it's time to look for something else to do. But I really want to do something that I am passionate about and not slog at a fast food restaurant for RM4 an hour.

My First Cocktail Party

Attended my first cocktail party the other day. Don't usually like cocktail parties since I do not drink but couldn't escape from this one. Had to show my face. I still didn't drink alcohol, though. Luckily, they later served juices too.

Next week, I have another cocktail party to attend. Can you believe it?? I guess as we are heading towards the end of the year, I can expect to receive even more Holiday Party Invitations.

Obviously, I wouldn't be able to attend ALL of them even if I wanted to, due to other commitments, but I expect there are a fair number of parties that I wouldn't be able to wiggle my way out of. hehe!

Running About

Wow, what a busy weekend I had. Been running about all over Ipoh town. Could have been busier because the Prime Minister of Malaysia visited Ipoh, attending the Hari Raya Open House of Gopeng UMNO division in Taman Song Choon. But then I lazy.... didn't go to meet him. I have already photographed him before, and he is always surrounded by too many people. Besides, have to drive about 30 minutes to Taman Song Choon from my house and that's quite a distance in Ipoh!

I also attended the Old Michaelians' Association Annual Reunion Dinner to celebrate the school's 99th anniversary. Expected to meet many of my old school friends but none turn up. Strange, eh? I could only recognise four people out of the thousands. And these are not people from my generation. I was like a fish out of water. Phew...

Mom Sick

The sick star must be shining at our household or something. Before I am cured from my gastritis, my mom fell ill. She was so unwell, she asked to be sent to the emergency ward. We did that... and after running some tests, found that she is also suffering from gastric! In the end, we spent six hours at the hospital.... but it was good news that it's "only" gastric and not something more serious like a heart attack, like the doctor first suspected.

At this point of writing, I am still not feeling great but then can still function; a vast improvement from last week where I spent three days in bed. Can you believe the time that was wasted? But you know, the world still spins no matter what!

Sick Four Days

I've been sick for four days already, down with gastric. I just couldn't keep food down and keep vomitting whatever I tried to eat. My head was spinning for three days and I couldn't sit up to do my work at the computer so I just rested in bed. Well, if you could call that "rest" as I was waking up every hour.

Anyway, am a lot better today, just hanging in there, actually, but it is time to get some work done. And I am going out later to buy Glucolin. Good solution to neutralise the acid level in my stomach. It worked for me previously, even though it keeps getting more and more expensive!

Insurance Matters

My sister asked me if I have already got my insurance settled. Ah, I know it has been a few years since I wanted to purchase life insurance. However, I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with term life or permanent life insurance.

Of course, term life is a lesser financial burden to me than permanent life insurance and for someone like me, because I am not employed, I am afraid of financial commitments that drag on for years. Hence, until now, I have not committed to any life insurance policy yet.

Anyway, I do understand that the earlier I commit to one, the better it is for me. I need to do more in-depth study, though.

Miss Universe 2011

The winner of Miss Universe 2011 currently held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be announced later today. As a Malaysian, I am placing my money on Miss Malaysia, Deborah Priya Henry. She is beautiful, intelligent and experienced. In short, she has all the qualities to win the title.

Of course, not everyone agrees. Others would be rooting for contestants from their own countries. Besides, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Who are you rooting for? Who do you think will win?

Beauty School In Antioch, TN

My sister told me that a third of her colleagues have received the dreaded pink slip. This is the second downsizing exercise in a year. My sister doesn't feel secure about her position in the company, too, even though her boss reassured her that she is a valued employee.

My sister would like to learn a skill that's relevant to her job. Working in a beauty shop which offers spa and hair dressing as well as selling branded beauty merchandise, I think the best course for her to study is cosmetology. There is an Anitoch beauty school that's very popular. It's convenient for her because it's in her hometown. She could take this up part time.

Who knows? Maybe one day she will be her own boss?

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Malaysia International Toys Fair

Pretty excited about the upcoming Malaysia International Toys Fair from 9th - 11th Sept, 2011 (11am - 9pm) at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre. That's this coming weekend. I like toys generally but not the anime or transformer kind of toys. I guess I don't even know which type of toys I do like. How about soft toys? Is anyone selling soft toys there are are soft toys considered too kiddie with low commercial value?

In any case, I can only go one day and not all three days. Admission fee is RM3 per day, by the way, a small price to pay if I could bring home plenty of cute photos! Not sure if any of my friends will be going as well. It would be fun to share the experience with someone.

Fast Loan Without Credit Check

If you think that the economy is sluggish in South East Asia, maybe you will be comforted to know that this is a worldwide malady. More than 65% of Americans are finding it difficult to come up with just US$1K cash in the face of an emergency and that's a surprise. Things aren't that rosy in Great Britain either.

Wherever we may be, sometimes we are in need of quick cash in an emergency or suddenly require immediate cash relief and that's we need a loan. We can, of course, try our family, friends and other relatives but most of us really prefer to take out a loan from a non-personal third party.

However, compared to previous years, no credit check loans are not as easy to find anymore. Let's face it. Most of us have a less than ideal credit score, which makes it difficult for us to take out a loan if a credit check is run.

Luckily, Fast UK Loans has made it easy for us to look for the right financing companies that do not require checking our credit rating. Sounds good? You bet. Do read up Fast UK Loans and also the Frequently Asked Questions on finances and other up-to-date information on loans and other financial issues.

*** This post has been sponsored.

4D/3N PJ

I am planning to go to Petaling Jaya for 4 days & 3 nights this week. Checking my schedule, if I don't do it this week, or latest by next week, I wouldn't have the time to do so anymore because my calendar is all filled until the first week of October. Moreover, at the end of this month, I have another mole removal appointment and that would cause me to make quite a few trips to the clinic for post surgery care.

This time, I am going with my father so it is not as easy to plan my trip compared to going alone. I would have to try to fit both our schedules. Obviously, expenses will double as well. Also, I hope to shoo my dad home to Ipoh earlier than myself so that I could have some "alone" time to do what I really want to do. Hopefully, it will work out as planned.

Calling Around The World

Most families have members spread across the world. I have a sister in the United States, my neighbor has two sons in Singapore, a friend lives in Dubai with a mother in Malaysia and a brother in Singapore. Well, this is very normal and we keep in touch by email, instant messaging and of course, phone calls.

Years ago, international phone calls are only made on special occasions like birthdays and Christmases but with the popularity of VoIP calls, we can now afford to call every week, even daily, if we sometimes feel 'rich'. Hehe!

Although VoIP calls are cheap and there are quite a number of companies offering such service, the important factor that we should look at when deciding on the company to go with, is not only the low rates but the quality of the VoIP calls. What is the use when we are paying low rates but couldn't hear the other end of the line, right?

EasyPhonia is a VoIP company that that specializes in long distance and international calls. As a long time VoIP user, I have to say they have one of the lowest call rates. If you go with EasyPhonia, you can opt for a landline number, call card of mobile VoIP.

Some VoIP companies require us to sign a contract but EasyPhonia comes with no contract, no hidden fees. In fact, new users receive 10% extra credit upon first re-charge. Referring new users to EasyPhonia will gain you $5 or 200 free minutes.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Overindulging In Food

My, what a holiday, and it's not over yet for some of us! This August, I have spent a lot of time eating, eating and eating and yeah, I know it's not healthy!

Let's see, I went for hotel buffets four times and two open houses and these are the times when I usually eat more than a should! Not because I'm hungry, not because I want my money's worth at buffets but there are just so many types of food to eat!

I hope I wouldn't indulge as much in September. I don't want to get fatter, heavier and out of shape, which I surely will be if this overindulgence in food becomes a habit!

3-Day Holiday

Many of my friends are enjoying a three-day holiday thanks to the double celebration of Hari Raya and Independence Day. A friend told me that although she is officially on holiday as well, she and some of her colleagues have to attend a course on ach check processing.

She doesn't like it that her holiday plans have to be scrapped but she feels important that she has been selected for the course. I guess most of us are like this. We don't want to be left out in career development and yet we don't like it when our schedule is disrupted!

As for me, I am working through the holidays and I am enjoying myself!