You know you must be grossly underpaid...

when the toilet cleaner pulls out a newer handphone than your's, blaring the retro-mixed introduction of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" at top volume.

Its Sunday!

And I think Poth knows just the best way to do Sundays right...


At first I thought he was just stretching or something.

But that oaf is actually sleeping under a neighbour's car on a hot Sunday afternoon, with a single paw partially covering an eye.

He sleeps with his eyes half opened as well. He is indeed the cutest cat around ever.

Now if only I can do Mondays just like this...

Shut up and put your money where your mouth is

That's what you get for waking up in Singapore.

As I wake up every morning, drag myself out of bed, pull out my shirt and pants to iron, I can't help but wonder if that's what I want to do for the next 40 years of my life (God forbid any longer than that!). I know that this is part of the process of life. Its about growing up. I had my fair share of fun for a third of my life already. Now its time to figure out a way to make the other two thirds just as happy and contented.

Money seems to be the key. You have heard a million quotes; no money no honey, money is king, money talks, blah blah blah... Sadly, these quotes are true! Well to a large extent. After holding on to a job for more than a month already, I have seen what one can truly do with money. The respect commanded, the things one can buy, the things you one do, influence, power, etc etc etc.

Well speak not what money does for the immortals, but lets talk about how cash is relevant to us mere mortals in today's society. At our age, (turbo charged novice rats entering the race) our immediate concerns of money would be, earning, saving, investing and then spending. First find a good job, earn some money - get that biggest pay check that we've ever attained in our life for the very first time and figure what to do with it. Then comes saving. Hopefully after a considerable period of time, one would acquire enough to start investing in some ways.

The first three steps are settled now comes the fourth. Spending. Unlike saving which follows earning and investing which subsequently follows saving, spending is concurrent, recurrent, current, ever current and its the only permanent occurence. Regardless of whether you earn, save or invest, everyone spends.

The simple truth to financial freedom is always maximising earnings and reducing expenses. Its not rocket science but somehow its always easier said than done. How many people we know are caught up in the rat race? Bounded by the endless cycle of mortgages, bills and expenses while worrying if the next pay check will settle it all (if it ever arrives at all). I really wish there is someway that I can escape this calamitous route as well but it seems that there are not really many options are there?

There are always so many things on my mind. Investment plans, marriage, holidays and backpacking, savings, housing, preparing for the retirement of my folks, etc. To make things worse I have not even found sustainable empolyment after the end of this year (there's a headcount freeze on my department that has not been lifted in more than a year already). I am also confounded by the many circles of the 'venn' diagrams of the perfect job. Balancing between where my interest lies, my strengths, charateristics and core competencies, the skills and experience I possess, the job scopes and requirements, the pay, etc.

So much to ponder about.

Well I was just commenting on Annika's (an Estonian friend of mine whom I met in UNCG) FB nick. It was really hilarious.

"Due to the current economical situation, until further notice, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off. Sorry for the inconvenience."

I burst out laughing when I saw this. She's always full of fun and craziness - Her much younger sister shares it too, as we experienced in Washington - but this one really is the icing on the very huge cake already.

Has the light at the end of the tunnel been really switched off? Has the silver lining forcast been retracted due to the worsening fog? I don't know. I shall just take it a step at a time and slowly see what the future holds for me.

YAaaaaaawn. I hate ironing clothes...

A lil dose of love...

Love is.....


...holding onto you during train rides so I wouldn't fall...


...watching the world go by together in the sunset...

Loves!

WoooooHoooooo...

Guess what? The photo function is back again! And I can finally upload photos. But as always timing is making a fool of out of me.... I don't have so much time to blog now.

I do have a ton of photos to upload though and many stories to tell as well but I guess they just have to wait. But here's one photo that I've been itching to get out!


Poth the king tiger taking a majestic yawn

I love this picture so much its even my FB profile picture as many of you would have noticed. I have also been proudly showing every and almost anyone this picture through my handphone because it was taken from my phone camera itself too. Neat eh?

Besides my boring caption under the picture here's some alternative captions that I have thought about or was suggested by some of you:

"I'm Pooped..."

"Yawwwwn..." (Duh)

"Ok why is my dinner taking so long..."

"Darn who removed those crocs (the other more comfortable footware he uses as a pillow)? I guess the Havais will do for now... Zzzzz..."

"Peeee-ewwwww!" Where have you been with those???

"Ooooof! How long was it since you washed your feet!" - suggested by elder bro

"That was boring Mimi!" (mocking the other cat)

Well about why you guys are seeing this half-effort-created post is because I will be starting work tomorrow! Will be working the standard office hours at city hall. So find me there for lunch if any of you are free!

Before any of you get the idea of asking for a treat I'm only working till the end of the year! So the treat will have to wait until further notice! Heh. But I really do hope that by doing my best in this job I get to open other windows for personal growth and as well as opportunities growth. I have been praying since I graduated for God to guide my career path and if this is not the route for me then definitely I will know some way or the other. But in the meanwhile I guess its time to tune my mentality to the start of the rat race officially.

Soon more responsibilities will follow and with an income comes greater commitments. I've always wondered how it is to be working for years and years without any respite. I really wonder. Now its time for me to begin the journey myself. I can only pray that God will continue to make it a meaningful one.

So its off to work for me soon! And I hope I won't be yawning so soon...

Updates

Well seems like blogger is still down with the picture functions. So its gonna be a wordy post!

I have not updated since before my reservist that ended a month ago. Well I've just been pretty much bumming around for the past month while searching for a job at a leisurely pace.

Let's start with reservist. It was really fun to meet all my fellow reservist mates again. And we hit on right from the start from the command phase to the phase when the rest of the men comes in. As one of the youngest NSmen in the company, I am really glad that I was able to interact and network with many others years my senior. The wide array of occupations and experience within the company is staggering. I was able to gain valuable insights to the different perspectives of the corporate world and as well as what we all know 'life'. To add to the joy of interaction one my man is getting married next year and will be inviting the closest of us to his wedding! Awesome! But ouch! I better find a job by then. Hahaha. This year's in-camp was definitely more challenging than the last but it was definitely more fun as well. And I really glad that the increased level of difficulty of the tasks helped to gel the whole company closer. I am really looking forward to any interactions with the rest of the company either before next year's ict or at next year's in camp.

The end of yet another year of reservist signals the start of the job hunting process for myself and I must say that I have not been having much luck with it. Maybe its because I have been very choosy with the positions that I have applied for. Maybe its due to a lousy cover letter. Maybe its the fledging economy. Maybe my CV was not impressive enough in face of competition. Maybe I didn't send enough job applications. Endless possibilities but I know that there will be only one end: I will get a job in the end. Essentially I recognise the one key link to it all: I have not been trying hard enough. Hahaha.

The recent graduation on the 28th of August was so much fun. It is really nice meeting all my schoolmates once again, some I'm sure for what might very well be the last time in my life I'm seeing them. And to top it all off I was really thrilled to discover that very day itself that I qualified for the degree with distinction! I am glad that I was able to make my mom (the kind sole sponsor for the Shaun's Graduate Funds Scholarship) extra proud by being the top 20 of my cohort and the first few receipients of my degree at the convocation ceremony. Indeed my success would not have been remotely possible if not for the support of those closest to my heart - My dear family and friends. We took photos all over the campus till the very evening before proceeding to town for dinner and just having a good time chilling out.

But hey no degree, with distinction or not, will get one a job that one really enjoys. And I am still praying that somewhere God has already reserved that special place for me. I really do not want to jump into a job that I will regret a few months later on. But its getting increasingly difficult to keep searching. Although its only been a month in the job hunt. Hahah. I have the concentration span of half a 15 cm ruler. Ah wells. I will continue to keep working on it while enjoying my holidays!

I really hope that the picture funtion of blogger returns soon. I got a ton of pictures to upload! Gaaaaaaaa....