Taken from #10 – Ten Simple Truths Smart People Forget

You will never feel 100 percent ready when an opportunity arises.

The number one thing I persistently see holding smart people back is their own reluctance to accept an opportunity simply because they don’t think they’re ready. In other words, they believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in the opportunity. Sadly, this is the kind of thinking that stifles personal growth.

Just remember that significant moments of opportunity for personal growth and development will come and go throughout your lifetime. If you are looking to make positive changes in your life you will need to embrace these moments of opportunity even though you will never feel 100 percent ready for them.

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I’m thankful for each and every day I wake into (despite the slow start up on some mornings, even to the point of refusing to leave the bed).

I’m thankful for my family who has shaped me into the person I am today and at the same time, by God’s grace, what I am NOT (if that makes sense).

I’m thankful for friends and grateful that our paths have crossed at some point or another. Thankful that I have a few that I could still count on despite the distance between us, nostalgic (sometimes) for those that I have grown distant from.

I’m thankful for my parents’ sacrifice, without which the means I have to support myself today would not exist.

I’m thankful for every irritant; there lies a blessing (or at least, I try to believe that!) in disguise.

I’m thankful for the kindness of strangers – a word, a touch, a smile (sounds familiar, Agapeans?)

I’m thankful for the love of God, without which all the above would not be possible.

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2nd July 2011, Saturday

The girls are getting together for LiMay’s bridal shower/birthday party today – too bad I can’t be there.

3rd July 2011, Sunday
Sometimes I miss ALL my close friends at one time and get really emo when I think about the times when we hang out.
Sigh.
I need friends of my own age group/interests/hobbies/maturity/sense of humour/stage of life…it’s a little tricky finding them here.

4th July 2011, Monday
Today, I learnt a new game (well preserved board game by Judy from when Carmen was a little girl!) – very interesting play.

Hey, hey, witch way?

With beginner’s luck, I won.

No wonder she dislikes me when I take unflattering photos of her bum.

Pharmacist is back on the SOL list again. Guess they still need us in Australia!

5th July 2011, Tuesday

The blue section.
The second dress arrived yesterday and I got to try it on today. It needs to be taken in a little but definitely more comfortable than the first one. Yay! Finally got a workable dress for LiMay’s wedding. Cutting it close at 1.5 months…

6th July 2011, Wednesday

Only the cool people get excited about receiving their backordered amoxicillin suspension powders, okay???
It was out of stock for a while and being the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, it was a disaster! We were all very glad to have received this lot – else there would be a lot of dignified begging to get some from other stores.

7th July 2011, Thursday

Applied online 3.3.11 and got the approval on 7.7.11! Praise God!
I was hoping for it to get through but definitely did not expect it to be THAT quickly. Thank God for the “express lane”.

8th July 2011, Friday
Booked KUL-ADL to make my initial entry. MAS was surprisingly cheaper than Jetstar (base fare not including baggage!) – bargain!
I can even visit NN now! Yay!

10th July 2011, Sunday
I got my visa granted but the document checklist still says “required”. Heh! That’s why I gave up checking the online tracker for a while.

11th July 2011, Monday
Pet peeve: When customers say “hypo” to describe their hyper kids. It’s hyper, not hypo.

12th July 2011, Tuesday
Dreamt I went on a holiday with friends and they asked me to take a photo in front of a Korean embassy (why? I don’t know!). Suddenly dancers & crowd came in before I could snap a photo. Photo fail!

Look what we found? Kerry’s dog got loose and thankfully got to our house rather than being caught by dog pound!

Have to use fairy lights because my side/table lamp’s bulb died on me.

13th July 2011, Wednesday
I got a “just because” phone call from Chelle all the way from Penang. Aww
Initially when she texted me, I thought I was in trouble!

14th July 2011, Thursday

Where is my cheese? I paid $0.75 extra for cheese but non spotted here. Sadly, this is also not the first time, BurgerKing.

15th July 2011, Friday
I wondered if it was “one of you HAS to” or “one of you HAVE to” after watching an episode of HouseMD. It sort of sparked a little debate on FB but all good. It’s “one of you HAS to”…just in case if anyone needed to know, like how I needed to.

17th July 2011, Sunday
Evaporated milk as a substitute for fresh cream in my pasta?
NEVER AGAIN! No matter what it claims on the can of the evaporated milk.

18th July 2011, Monday
Little sparks of light under covers – static sparks! Amazing! Only see it when it’s completely dark and when I rustle my fleece blanket.
This is why science is so cool!

19th July 2011, Tueday

Does it look like I broke my foot?

20th July 2011, Wednesday

The dirty green/silver/blond is gone.
Yay!
DIY colour mousse – I’m sure you can spot the coloured area.

21st July 2011, Thursday
I have been looking at GradDipClinPharm courses and considering them again. Distance learning, bettering myself, sprucing up the CV. The thing is, I’m not that confident that I can get back into studying again. It scares me!

23rd July 2011, Saturday
I guess nobody likes to lose. The silence makes me think that I didn’t pass the mark and it bugs me to not know why I wasn’t chosen if so.
I’ve not heard back since 10th June.

24th July 2011, Sunday
Since Alex+Sam do not work in the same company as I do anymore, we have to consciously make time to catch up. They mentioned Speight’s Ale House a while ago and we finally got to try it out.

Getting cosy by the fire.

Mr and Mrs Chan – unfortunately Mrs Chan was fidgety.

Alex’s steak…I forgot what did Sam have?

Plain’s pasta – I now know that having pasta from a restaurant is possible in HB! I do miss the abundance of food/restaurants in Malaysia.

Piggy me couldn’t decide – so I got the Hunter’s ribs as well (starter size).

25th July 2011, Monday
CX smear: One is always vulnerable (emotionally and physically) when one has to drop their pants in front of their doctor.

My radical doctor said, “Who says you must have your period every month?”
Hmmm…biology classes?

Due to snow storm, all flights in & out of Christchurch are cancelled! Hopefully this won’t be happening next month! I need to be home at planned time!

Finally going to dig into my chocolate egg from Easter. Tempted to dunk it in warm milk to make hot chocolate!

26th July 2011, Tuesday
Don’t know what on earth is wrong but I just had to leave the house. Too much unexplainable drama from a 9 year old. So much screaming and baby tantrums from a kid whom you expect more maturity from. Ugh!

I went for a 20 minutes walk around the block and even before I stepped over the gate threshold, I could still hear screaming. They were STILL at home after fussing about going out for a walk! At times like these, I wish (again) I had a place of my own.

27th July 2011, Wednesday

I have onions, bacon, cabbage, carrots and pasta. Bring on fusion stir fry!

28th July 2011, Thursday

Can’t believe mom paid about USD1 for a golden kiwi. ONE. A golden kiwi.
And here we are in kiwi season.

29th July 2011, Friday
Anyone getting emails from atcencommunication? Where did they get my email? I’ve unsubscribed a few times but now there is no option to do so on those emails. It’s irritating and I do not remember EVER subscribing to those emails.

The near-dark sky.

Vasuki, FeR. Will miss her dearly!

30th July 2011, Saturday

Best home made BKT ever!! Secret ingredient is in getting this sachet of instant BKT – tastes like the real deal!

31st July 2011, Sunday

Had leftover cheesecake (NewWorld makes really good cheesecakes!) while updating blog. Loooong overdue update for my (nearly forgotten) blog.

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1st June 2011, Wednesday
Just remembered my odd dream – the diagnosis was left leg thinking/acting like it’s the right leg. Don’t ask me how that’s possible.
To “treat” that condition, I had powdered Olanzapine (schizophrenic medication) in a little box strapped around my left ankle – every time my leg acts up, I had to shake my leg to dispense the powder.
I think I’m working too hard.

2nd June 2011, Thursday
Watched Pride & Prejudice again – balls & social dancing seems fun! Love the courtship (minus the women’s total dependency on marriage for survival). Really love that era (in movies – I think I’d die living in that era but Julie says we would have servants *haha*) Gushing over Pride & Prejudice with Julie!

5th June 2011, Sunday

Mmm! Mother-made 麵粉糕 at the Choy’s place.

6th June 2011, Monday
Really frustrated. Why did I start telling the story about being a sales rep to Jantina right after talking about hair conditioner??? I can’t remember! This is terrible – I possibly have to increase my fish oil intake. I’ve actually done this while explaining/talking to a customer (thankfully at that time, I remembered my story in the end).
Imagine if I didn’t remember then…

7th June 2011, Tuesday

Wah! While walking home, saw this lurking on front door (door that we don’t use).

Surprise “care package” from NN.

8th June 2011, Wednesday

Pearls arrived today. Not too bad, right?
Got this off the internet for LiMay’s birthday. It’s our 30th this year and it would be her wedding gift as well (30th anniversary=pearl, if she chooses to wear it for her wedding, it goes very well with her dress!)

10th June 2011, Friday
Strong candidate. Lip service or really? Hmmm…
I’ve not done this in a while and it’s a little awkward trying to sell yourself in the best light possible.

11th June 2011, Saturday

So spoilt! Couldn’t make it for Ryan’s full moon party but Joanne and Kevin sent these back with David who went at lunchtime.

My first time getting 1st place playing Scramble online with other players!

14th June 2011, Tuesday

I found materials from more than 2 years ago – abandoned projects!

Pretty fabrics that were meant to be used to make reusable shopping bags.

Look! Proof. TWO years ago…

17th June 2011, Friday

Final presentation for Carmen’s birthday. That was the card I left out for her this morning.

18th June 2011, Saturday
It’s been a while since I’ve been to the movies – today I watched “Bridesmaids” with Jantina and Deidre. The part I loved most? The door gifts at the bridal shower!

It took me a few months to find my “i” stamp, I wonder how long it would be before I find my used Farmer’s gift card (I want it as a keepsake). Hmmm…

19th June 2011, Sunday
Went to an open home – I am quite keen on it. Nice, small and tidy. Literally around the block from work.
Possibly needing work: insulation, bathroom, paint.

22nd June 2011, Wednesday

My first “win” – it was a tweet asking anyone who is interested to PM with name, address and t-shirt size. Thanks to grabaseat!

27th June 2011, Monday
Last night with lower braces. It’s coming off tomorrow and after that, dental hygienist appointment to get a good clean!

28th June 2011, Tuesday
Hmmm I thought we get $0.80 off if we bring your own Starbucks tumbler. Now it’s only $0.40 & if I didn’t ask, she would’ve charged full price!

Anyway, the (lower) braces are off! Will be going back later to get the splint.

My incisors (bottoms one, especially) are sensitive to scaling so Jacqui gave me this to try. It’s (as its name states) suppose to provide rapid relief to any sensitivity – here’s hoping it works!
I had to run off at the end of my appointment (even though it’s not quite all cleaned) because I made an appointment to view the flat again – this time with Samantha, Michelle and Jantina. I wanted to get an honest opinion because I think I’ve got “flat goggles”.

It was on this day that I learned loyalty meant nothing in my current job. So many times/examples that the ones who are still here are not being appreciated.
*sigh*

Also on this day, Vodafone increased my monthly text allowance to 2500 (any NZ mobile). Too bad I’m not a teenager, I can’t even use up my allowance of 300 last time. Then again, maybe it’s just sad that I haven’t got any friends to text. Boo!

Tooth Mousse – made easier with my Essix retainers!

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1st May 2011, Sunday
My donation’s tax rebate (you get 1/3 of the total you’ve paid out, pretty good, huh?) was speedy, I think it’s been processed and approved within 2 weeks or so! Now if only I’d hear back from the justice department – it’s been more than 20 days now.

Also got sent some photos of these two cutie pies!

3rd May 2011, Tuesday
Orthodontist says braces can come off! Wowee! That was pretty quick. So much earlier than expected.

In the past 12 months, poor NZ has been hit in all ways! Now it’s a tornado?? Auckland?? Death??

4th May 2011, Wednesday
Many 3′s this year.
28th May is my 3rd year “anniversary” here in NZ, god-daughter turned 3 today and your truly is turning 30 in October! *gasp!*
Well, frankly I think my 20s were not too great…there are things that I wished never happened but those are also the things which brought me to where I am today – here’s looking forward to a better decade!

6th May 2011, Friday

I know I should but I don’t really want to because it hurt the last time.

On the up side, I received a surprise gift from Hazel! Yay!

8th May 2011, Sunday
I know I’m repeating my complaint but *sigh* the outcome still doesn’t fix my facial symmetry. Bleh. Yes, hung up about it. Big time.
I think it can only be fixed by jaw surgery. I’m vain…but not will-do-surgery vain.
Okay. I think I’ll just have to stick with good bite & a deviated lower jaw.

Found another flea! Ugh!!! It jumped away & I can’t find it! Paranoid about sleeping. I really dislike that cat.
Why me? Then again, I’ve had problems I’ve never had prior to coming to NZ – like conjunctivitis and now flea problems! Hmmmph!

9th May 2011, Monday
Time to get to work, saturate the room with flea spray and the clean up begins when I get back.

Bombed my room at 430pm. I now wait for 2 hours.
Carmen wasn’t exactly happy that I’ve decided to do it today – but she isn’t sleeping in my bedroom. She thinks sleeping in the room after bombing it is toxic and will “kill me”. I think I’ve got plenty of time to air it out and clean up after. I would be angry if I still find survivors after this round of clean up!!!

10th May 2011, Tuesday
Yes! It’s here!! Yay! Praise God! (crimical record)

I finally have all my documents for my 176 visa application.

16th May 2011, Monday

It’s a boy! Joanne and Kevin had a baby boy yesterday – I was fortunate to meet their new bub!

Peacefully sleeping while we clattered about in the hospital room.

Chloe; fascinated with the helium balloon

Tiny, tiny Ryan.

She got a little upset when Kevin went to get the car ready.

She loves her fruits!

18th May 2011, Wednesday
3°C! Brrr! Possibly debrace day tomorrow unless my orthodontist listens to my plea.

19th May 2011, Thursday
I am possibly the saddest orthodontic patient when I was told it comes off. Upper off today.

Midlines don’t meet…

Need to get to the dental hygienist to get rid of all the glue/adhesive remains.

Can’t believe my orthodontist played the “miscommunication” card. It’s okay…*sings* “You’re beautiful…”

One upside: brushing and flossing, never been easier (or rather, I forgot how easy they were without braces)

20th May 2011, Friday
My splint (retainer) & retainer case. The excitement’s in choosing the colour of case.
Too bad you only get one case.

Putting it on is like putting dentures on.

Smiling with the splint/retainer on.

If I smile REALLY widely, you can see the edges and know I have something on. Else it looks like I have nothing on. Apparently I need these instead of the Hawley retainers because I had teeth rotated, these Essix ones would be better to ensure that they don’t “turn back”.

21st May 2011, Saturday
This has never happened before – phone fully charged when I went to bed but when I woke up, only 18% left! 7 hours on standby (??)
My phone battery is doing something funny. Why is it draining off so quickly!?
[Okay, not having wifi and being in a group chat is not a good idea. That was the cause of the drain - had to work harder as 3G signal around this area is not exactly mint.]

22nd May 2011, Sunday

Had to use all my greens up!

23rd May 2011, Monday
740pm.
Showered, in jammies, in bed with book.
This is the season where I usually fall off the radar from family and friends.

25th May 2011, Wednesday
What’s with all these practitioners and their attitudes tonight???
[Later on, I found out that this particular patient does NOT qualify for the prescription subsidy. She did NOT have a 2 years' working visa. Where did the midwife get her info from??? Blergh!]

27th May 2011, Friday
Arrived in Auckland, another hour to go for next flight up to Whangarei. Made a fool out of self trying to use mPass for the first time
Bumpy ride during descend into Whangarei. Do NOT like turbulence.

THIS is how you do it…not putting your phone at the top of the machine where it says ePass.

28th May 2011, Saturday
I arrived fresh faced (off the boat *haha*) in NZ on this day, 3 years ago. I was also here in WRE last year on this day.

29th May 2011, Sunday

The mist this morning when we got woken up by, “Good morning, girls!!!” and the sound of locks turning at the front door.

Misty sunrise.

When I got back to HB, I went to Duke Street to pick up our order of Fish+Chips – belated “celebration” of my 3rd anniversary in NZ.

Happy with my crumbed fish!

Even Lucky decided to come indoors and sit with us. Ah! It does remind me of my first day here.

30th May 2011, Monday

I am so blessed! LiMay bought me 2 bags of persimmons…when I went to work today, Julie bought me another 2 bags!
I wouldn’t be able to finish all the persimmons – photo was taken after giving a bag to Kath and after eating a few mushy ones.

Is Whatsapp free now? It’s in the top 25 free apps when I did a search.
[It was from this day that I found out it pays to check the free apps from time to time as they would sometimes have offers on paid apps to be downloaded for free - usually for 1 day or something]

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Yup! Great start to my Holiday of 2011!
21st August 2011, Sunday. Not looking forward to the long transit in CHC though.

Breakfast is like a lunch set!

When the newly weds came back home about 11am or so, we were taken to the paddock by the side of their house to see some cows! We city folks don’t get much of that back in Malaysia – especially when it’s JUST beside your house!
From being brought up as a city girl, to loving it as a country woman – what a transformation for MissYap in the past 3 years.

The cows were not impressed with us pointing our “black boxes” at them, but aren’t they cute looking at you??

Grant’s car was PRETTY full by the time we got 5 people’s luggages (3 traveling internationally) – I wonder if he could see out of his rear view mirror! I hitched a ride up to Auckland airport to take my flight to CHC (then to KUL), Sze-Mien and Hoey were going to stay for a night in AKL and then going on to Rotorua, while the newly weds were flying out to Queenstown for their honeymoon.

I’ve NEVER been to this side of the domestic airport before. Honest!
It’s always been on the other side because the furthest I’ve flown from Auckland is Hawkes Bay. This is my first time flying right down to the South Island.

It was a big plane! And I had the row to myself! Thank you, God! (I have this toilet-phobia if I’m seated by the window and there are people beside me)
Again, pardon my excitement but for as long as I’ve been in NZ, I think this is my second time sitting on a bigger plan for a domestic flight. In Malaysia, this is pretty much the standard size – but here, it’s a bigger plane.

Rugby ball shaped chocolate biscuit.
The new safety instruction video (featuring the AllBlacks) is very entertaining, too!

Mount Taranaki? Mount Ruapehu?
I have no idea and I don’t know if I did miss the pilot’s announcement.

See?
There were no luggage wrap services in the domestic terminal in Auckland, so I had to check my bag in and pray that it would not explode. I really do need a new bag.
Thankfully they have a luggage wrap service at CHC.

Yeap, the place is pretty dead at night. I was wondering if there would be staff around when the time comes for us to board the flight. It was too early to check in, so I just hung about.

After checking in, found a nice quiet spot (before some other passengers found it and crowded the place! Bleh!). Our flight was delayed by an hour due to a medical emergency in KUL (passenger had to be sent to the hospital and his/her luggage had to be removed from the plane – took a while to retrieve it) and I asked the staff manning the coffee kiosk what time do they get to go home – “When you lot get on your flight” – sigh!
I know how it feels but it’s 10x worse because it’s not 8pm (for me at work), it’s 11pm! And our flight was supposed to leave at 1210am – now it’s further delayed to 110am! I hope they get penalty rates for their extra time.

I’m sooooo glad no one was sitting beside me. I got “conned” into thinking there was a gap between the two seats, that why I paid to choose that seat. I guess squeezing by ONE passenger is the lesser evil of squeezing by TWO passengers.

I have a very uncooperative body. My bodily functions get hyped up when I know it would be a hassle to get to a toilet.
If I have an aisle seat, I am fine.
If I have a window seat with no one beside me, I am fine.
If I have a window seat with passengers beside me – I need to go every other minute!
UGH! Hate it. I know it’s the stress and I work myself up to it but I can’t help it. Eeeek! So there. That’s my “toilet-phobia”. Not so much a fear of toilets but it’s a fear of not being able to get to one. Happens when I’m traveling long distance in a bus, too.

Uhm…in my daze I thought everyone had to fill this up. As in, EVERYONE. Don’t ask me why but I think the whole new experience (plus, it’s late yo!) of flying with a different airline also messes my mind up.
Turns out, hey! I’m a Malaysian citizen. I cruise right in, no forms needed.

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The weather has gone bonkers. It’s cold inside out and I’ve been using my little portable heater for the past 2 nights to keep warm in my room. I feel bad using it but the second I turn it off, the chill in the room engulfs me.

Poor MissLeong – I hope she is surviving the cold, especially when news say that there is snow in Auckland. This is also after she got held up at the airport. Her flight landed at 930am but she only got out near 11am – single, female traveling alone? Immigration no like.

I digress.

My anxiety is not because of the chill (well, maybe. How would you feel if you are faced with the prospects of frozen toes/legs?) or that one of my dear friends got held up at the immigration (been there, done that – got pulled aside when I came back from Australia last October because I was told my then-recently-renewed work visa has expired Made me feel like a crim even though it wasn’t my fault that they printed my sticker wrong)…but it’s because of a few things.
Okay, maybe two.
Okay, a few, now that I’ve started to list them in my head.

1. LiMay asked me to prepare a MOH’s speech. A speech?? In front of strangers?! Performance anxiety.
2. What if I forget to pack something? I think I’m more afraid of forgetting something for my gadgets/my gadgets themselves. Maybe it’s time to store the electronics away and not use them for the next 2 days so that they are ready in their bags/cases.
3. What if my flight gets cancelled due to weather conditions? It’s so unpredictable here these days. I need to fly out on time because I want to be there in time for my dad’s 60th birthday.
4. What if I forget my medication? Yes. There, I’ve admitted it. I’m on medication.
5. What if I get stopped at customs? Would having too many edible items (you can take me out of Malaysia but you can’t take the Malaysian out of me!) in my luggage put me into trouble?

Stress!!!

And they say holidays are relaxing and fun…

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Delayed video – because I didn’t know how to edit clips. N00b.

I recorded the first part (obviously) when I still had my braces on, on the day when I was told by my orthodontist that they are coming off…soon. The second half was done just earlier. I HAD to because the first video didn’t have a proper ending (yes, the ending now is “da bomb” )

So here it is – FeR talking about her “failed” orthodontic treatment.

I actually added annotations using YouTube but it’s not showing – except when I’m in “Edit Annotations” mode. Odd. This video is so plain without the annotations.
*sigh*
Okay. Apparently the annotations won’t show if you insert any of them right at the very start of a video or if the timing of the last annotations goes RIGHT to the end of your video. It messes it up. I shifted the first annotation to start showing 1sec later and voila! It works. Yay!

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According to “The Left-Hander’s Calendar” that was gifted to me (thanks, Hoey!), today is LeftHanders Day.

Lefthanders Day is every August 13. The first one, in 1976, fell on a Friday and was chosen to spoof the superstitions associated with lefties.

What superstitions are associated with lefties?
I know there are many different assumptions (creative, smart or really stupid, boring – I heard it was either one extreme or another…and since I don’t see any indications of the first two in my life…) but what are the superstitions? We are witches? We do not conform to the “norm”? We are of the devil?
I know that one of my aunts was “reprogrammed” to use her right hand to write while in school, I’m glad that didn’t happen to me.

However, I do think we are pretty good adaptors. Apparently there are tools that are not left-hander friendly…but we survive. I don’t think scissors or guitars or can openers or peelers are a problem, it really depends on how you first picked something up, I suppose. A friend taught me to crochet and she was right-handed. Today, I crochet right-handed. My mom works the iron with her right hand. I can only balance a bag strap on my right shoulder (okay, this is not my hand but my shoulder is attached to it ).

I remember we lefties were scarce when I was younger; I could only remember two (Shyuan and I) in my class when I first moved to Seremban but there could have been more.
*shrugs*

Now it’s not a big deal, you get lefties everywhere. I started work here and noticed rightaway (birds of a feather flock together?) that my manager was a leftie.
3:4 ratio makes our workplace “balanced”.

So if you’re a left-hander, Happy Lefthanders Day!

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