Just got back from a great weekend doing everything except get connected to the internet. Honestly, no matter how passionate you are about blogging, it does help to take a break once in a while. For once, I do not have to get paranoid about not having free Wifi and not worry about checking my emails. I don’t have to go Starbucks this time just because I want to reap free Wifi access in the name of frugality.

Oh yes, I’m frugal. For the price they charge their coffee over here, I do expect to get compensated with internet access…

You know, blogging is only fun when it does not turn into a chore. It is just not fun having to do something for the sake of doing it. Like having to update your blog because you feel compelled to. This weekend I really enjoyed myself eating everything in sight and spending like no tomorrow.

I’ve not get the ‘morning after’ syndrome yet. Morning after? Yep, the realization that good times are over and I can’t get into my damn jeans no more! I’m now still wearing my yoga pants. Those pants can really stretch. Will only attempt to put on my jeans in another 2 days’ time.

Wish me luck. I need plenty… empty wallet and super tight jeans.

Love those colorful old buildings…

I posted about my relative being here and messing my routine. He just left and I got my life back for another 4 hours. I’ll be going down to visit my husband during the weekend this evening and will probably has no time to blog.

Honest, there will be plenty to do when 2 person who have not seen each other for a week get together in a sleazy hotel room all to themselves minus the usual barking pets and nosey parents. Yep, my husband is still staying long term in the sleazy hotel until his project is finished.

Have a great weekend!

This post is inspired by an email I received this morning from an ex-colleague. This ex-colleague somehow still feel compelled to update me on the happenings in my old office. The truth is, I’m not interested anymore. There is a good reason why I walked away from the working scene and everyday I count my blessing I don’t have to put up with much of the nonsense I had to face back then. I faced head-on in the past because I am paid to do so. Now that I’m not, I seriously cannot be bothered.

The truth is, difficult people are everywhere. It’s not just one office, it’s all office. There are bound to be difficult individuals and no global warming is going to make this species go into extinction. So, live with it or understand their mechanics. Understand what motivates them to be difficult.

1 . Ego (I am important so please kneel down and worship me kind)

OK, everyone has ego but some more than others. Much more. Some people like to feel they are the central of attention and the world revolves around them. These are the ‘know it all‘ and will not hesitate to correct you should you make the slightest mistake. Most of the time these people are not stupid. They just have this massive need to prove they are important. So important they can create problems for others. Most people like to avoid confrontation with this type of individual and in the end, this just motivates them because they interpret other people’s avoidance as being ‘better than others.’ In their puny mind, they think they are the star and each time their star status is reinforced when people put up with their difficult behaviour.

2. Control (I need to exert some kind of control in my sad life to justify my existence kind)

People like to feel in control. While most people are not control freak, they do relish the sense of control. The truth is, many people are predictable and act certain way if provoked. A person being difficult and creating problem is in a sense controlling those around them. The difficult person like to create situation where it gives them a sense of manipulation and control. Say if you are a person who cannot hold your temper, the difficult individual will act on this and provoke you to lose your temper. That is a kind of manipulation and it fuels their sense of control. Oh yes, these people do not care whether the reaction is negative… any reaction from others will do.

3. Inferiority Complex (I am not great so I have lots to prove kind)

This kind is the opposite of #1, the ego freak. While the ego freak thinks they are the star, this no.3 thinks they are not and has this annoying need to prove themselves all the time. These people have this compulsive need to show themselves and others they are worth something. Personally, this kind is not really lethal, but then they’re just downright annoying.

Off hand these are the 3 common varieties I can think of. The bad news is, these 3 are not limited to the office environment. They do strive and multiply as well in the blogosphere. Having said that, it’s a whole different ball game when your encounter with these people happen in the blogosphere. Unlike in the office where you have to learn to overcome them for your sanity and livehood, you don’t have to care about them in the blogosphere. There is a vast difference encountering these difficult people in real life and on the net. The good news is, I can say they are 90% less effective in the vacuum of the internet.

I am such a predictable being and my existence strives on routine. I know, I’m those pathetic being that finds routine reassuring. One note off my routine and I find I’m losing control. Yeah, I know I should get a life…

My relative had just given me 24 hours notice he’ll be arriving at my doorstep tonight and will stay with me for the next few days. Now, I don’t want to sound inhospitable, but then I’m just not happy I’m not given adequate notice to work things out. You see, my computer room is my study room, changing room which incidentally is also my guest room.

See, what I’m getting at?

When my relative is here, I won’t be able to access my computer room and I can’t surf. I don’t want to blog and surf with my relative sleeping behind me. Blek…I’ll have to compromise and use my notebook in funny places like my bed. I can tell you I’ll be sporadically dozing and surfing for the next few days.

This is not the worst part. You know what’s worse? All my precious underwear and clothes are stored in the guestroom. Going braless is not an option for me….

NUTS

Paypal is driving me nuts. I had successfully withdrew money to my Visa credit card account the last two time. My blogging buddy sent me an email asking me about the card verification thing so I logged into my account and found out last week Paypal now requires me to verify my credit card before I can withdraw. Honestly, I’m stumped. I had previously successfully withdraw money without this verification hassle and now I’m told I have to verify?

Well, I left it at that and 2 days ago when I thought of verifying my credit card, I was surprised it’s no longer required. I can just withdraw money into my credit card like I did previously. Not only that. I added a debit card and I’m not asked to verify at all. I’m allowed to withdraw money into my debit card without verification. Huh?

I’m not complaining though. I’m just stumped. Well, maybe some things are best left at that. I don’t want to lose sleep over this.

Talking about Paypal, that brings me back to reality. I’ve not been working at all for the past 2 weeks writing anything sponsored. I thought I’ll lay it off a little while and I did not even log into 3P to look for ops. Well honestly speaking, not that I’m littered with offers anyway since big G graciously awarded me a pagerank zero. I do prowl the 3P forum without fail though, because it’s one hell of an interesting place and plenty to learn.

I never thought I’ll say this, I do find myself missing those paid posts. Holy crap, I never thought I’ll see the day I actually say I like to write those posts. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Well, now that I’ve get that straight, I think I’ll buck up and start bidding some opportunities. Yeah, the extra income is not too bad either.

I just put up my Christmas tree last night and this morning when I went shopping with my mother, she was eyeing a tree with white frosted tip to emulate snow. My mother told me I should get those… because it’s supposed to snow on December.

Hello? Not this part of the world I told my mother. It’s just too fake to have snow-tipped Christmas trees in our part of the world. It is just not real. The last 3 nights were the hottest ever. I had to on my air-cond till the morning and I’m supposed to convince myself I got snow-tipped trees?

On the other hand, my poodle is a believer. He thinks my tree is very real. He’s eyeing my tree and dying to mark his territory on the funny tree that seems to appear out of nowhere 6 feet overnight. I really have to keep my eye on him…

I met up with an old classmate for lunch last week to indulge in a little ‘women gossip.’ We were supposed to go shopping after that but my friend told me her 11 year old daughter Eileen has to tag along because tuition class is cancelled. We picked Eileen up at her friend’s place and proceeded to the mall.

The last time I saw Eileen she was still wearing a frilly frock and knee length socks. She had obviously grown out of cutesy wear now and is wearing a spaghetti strap T and jeans. I do have a confession here. It is always awkward to try to chat up teenagers. They are like from another planet. Anyway, I tried to be nice…

“Eileen, that’s a nice pair of jeans you’re wearing, is that Barbie on it?” I tried to be nice…

Eileen looked hurt and defiantly said, “No, auntie, no way. It’s a Hannah Montana jeans! You do know who is Hannah Montana right?”

Ouch, that sounded more like an accusation than a question. Hello? I might not be from her generation, but auntie me do spend a big portion of her time surfing net and watching entertainment news on the TV. Of course I know who is Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus. It’ll be hard pressed not to. Her sold out concert at the Houston Rodeo had been reported by Entertainment News on TV umpteen times. Refusing to just lay down, I threw everything I knew about Hannah Montana at Eileen.

“I do think Miley Cyrus is pretty and talented,” I added.

“Prettier than Vanessa H?” Eileen looked at me expectantly.

“Yeah, much prettier.” That’s it. I got her vote.

Somehow I do feel victorious getting ‘recognized’ by that teenage Eileen I’m a ‘happening’ auntie. Things were fine until I felt compelled to add, ” Do you know you can now get Hanah Montana tickets at the Houston Rodeo easily online? Bet you love to attend Hannah Montana concert.”

Eileen looked at her mother and my friend glared at me. Oops.

“Yeah, thanks alot. Bet you’ve forgotten what it is like bringing up teenagers. I will be haunted by her for the tickets no thanks to you.”

I know my friend hates me.

Just had the most wonderful weekend doing nothing but eat. Yeah, I know there’ll be repercussions. Like?

The new jeans I bought over the net is a tad too tight. I always order the same size and this time it’s somehow tighter. Either the jeans QC is not stringent and consistent or I’m getting fat.

What am I talking about? I am NOT getting fat….. I am fat.

Let’s face it. The downside about fulltime blogging is how out of touch I am from real people. I socialize nowadays over the net. The up side about net socialization is, nobody can see you. The down side? The motivation to keep one in tip top shape is pretty non-evident. Back in my working days, we always had this healthy competition among fellow colleagues (lady colleagues) to look our best.

Now?

Without friendly competition, I’m just not motivated anymore. I have no qualms about walloping half the damn butter cake without the remotest sense of guilt. It’s starting to freak me out how I am not bothered. Dang, I’m more concerned about how my blog looks more than how I look.

Honestly, this has got to stop. Today I want a change. I swear I am going to cut down a few dress sizes. Thanks to the HBO movie “The Devil Wears Prada” I watched over the weekend.

Quote from the movie..

“…..size 2 is the new 0 and the size 2 is a new 4, ….. size 6 is size 14….”

OK I get it. I swear I’m going to lay off reading 100% technology/internet/SEO blogs. I’m going to devote 50% to fashion blogs from now on. Blek.

Firstly, I would like to thank Costa for introducing me to Stumbleupon. I had to be the biggest hypocrite when it comes to social network site. I ‘ve been telling people to join but I’ve yet took time to look at its mechanics. Well, until yesterday when I looked at my stats. Honest, I don’t even care about my blog stats. I’m never ambitious.

I noticed a sudden surge of traffic and it’s no accident. Costa had StumbleUpon me.

I just joined the last hour and I’m loving it. I StumbleUpon another site talking about RFIDs. This is not a technology site so, please excuse my ignorance. The fact is, I was just having a conversation with my husband few days ago regarding RFIDs. Forgive me when I tell you after years of marriage, our topic do get a little stale. It’s now either bloggings, surfings or technology. The first 2 is my turf but the last one is something I just obliged him. Honestly, I’ve no freaking idea what my hubby is talking most of the time.

In the US, RFID is widely used. Here in Malaysia, we’re still far far behind. In case anyone is more blur than me, RFID tags are those tags you find in products or clothes when you go shopping. When you try to pass through the detector, it will sound an alarm showing you had yet pay for your stuffs. My hubby had been fixated by the RFID technology for years. I do admit he’s a bit down because his little RFID pet project is not getting much reception from the people in this country. Well, not yet I assume.

Anyway we were talking about the alarming crime rate in this country of late. Children are abducted, raped and abused. It must be a frightening scenario for any parents. Even children who tagged along with their parents in public places are not exempted from the danger. It was then we talked about RFID technology and its prospect.

Well, husband and I did come to a conclusion it is viable using RFID for parents to keep track of their children. Of course RFID only works within certain range. It’s not a tracking device. There is a limited range. Say if I make a RFID bracelet for the child to wear, wouldn’t it be better if an alarm will sound when the child move out of range? At least parents in malls or playground will be alerted if their child move within a certain range from them.

Honest, I’ve been thinking is there a possibility of turning it into a business prospect?

Writing my previous post about wealth, I really thought to myself, “How much is enough?”

I’m saying it because it is always better to draw a line somewhere. A line that defines clearly anything over the line is just pure greed and despair. I know, everyone has different perception of wealth. There is no written guide book that effectively measure wealth in value for each individual. Everyone is left to their own device and wisdom to make that call.

Like I say, human wisdom and conscience is never a good indicator. Why? A person’s conscience is influenced by the external factor and social norm. If buying a pirated DVD is a socially accepted practice not viewed with the same level of contempt as stealing, anyone will not hesitate to buy pirated movies without any feeling of wrong doing. Society dictates alot about the conscience of an individual. The same goes for adultery and vice. If it’s socially acceptable, rest assured it will be consciencely acceptable.

It is time like these, I depend on my faith. The bible is the best standard I can adhere to. Yeah, it sounds so cliche.. but then that is the truth. Human standard are not infallible. It was never meant to be infallible because human are just not perfect. How can perfect perception arise from a not perfect being?

I know, the way I’m talking alot of people would say, “doesn’t that make Christianity a crutch?” Yeah, if it makes me a better person call it whatever.