TEAM BUILDING - PART 3

The team building program was really so taxing... I ended up being sick for a pro-longed period of time. Finally stopped coughing on Saturday, May 10 - after a whole month!

But asked if I regret going, my answer is of course not. It's really fun and a great experience 'cus we did things that we normally wouldn't do and the places that we went to were like so awesome! And me, if you know me personally, you'll know that I'm not made for this kind of stuffs. Never in a 100 years would I go for something like this! Hehehee... But surprisingly, I enjoyed it very much and I can't believe that I'm actually saying that. :P

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, I returned home from the team building on Apr 10. The very next day, my whole body was aching like crazy and I could hardly walk! I somehow twisted my right ankle and knee during the jungle-trekking... So had to call my boss and told her that I'm in too much pain that I can't go to work. :P

Throat started feeling very dry on Saturday, Apr 12. Feeling worried and not wanting the condition to worsen, I visited the doctor immediately to relieve the condition. But too late, it's not helping and by the very next day, I started having fever, losing my voice and developed coughing. Gone case!

Story cut short, I ended up not being able to speak for 1 whole week due to inflammed vocal cord. And mind you, it was painful - more than you could ever imagine. Painkiller didn't really help, so you know how bad it was.

Anyway, I totally lost my beautiful voice, and couldn't even manage a squeak! If you're wondering how'd I survived the 1 week, well, I communicated with everyone via texting on my mobile phone. Hahahaa...

To bring back my voice and heal the infection in my vocal cord, I had to undergo 2 separate courses of antibiotics. The 1st course didn't help. So the 2nd course, which was a stronger and better version, did something - thank goodness. Yeah, by the way, I was made to rest for that whole week. :P

Thereafter, I walked around sounding like a broken machine for 2 weeks. Coughing continued till 3 days ago, which lasted a month. :P

Oh yeah, one more thing not to be left out... As mentioned earlier, I jungle-trekked for 8 hours. So my poor toenails were put under constant pressure against the front of my shoes. Imagine that... By the end of the day, all of them were red and swollen. The pain was almost unbearable! The very next day, my left big toenail started showing blood clot. It hurts each time I walk, never fails. And I still have it even now. :P

But despite all that, no regrets! :D Crazy? Don't know.

BABY MALTESE

We visited a petshop to buy food for Margaret on Saturday evening. It was late and the shop was closing. So B grabbed the food and went to the counter to pay. And me, as usual, would stray to the pets area. Hehehee... And by the way, Margaret is our 4-year-old guinea pig.

Anyway, it's our first time to this shop and it's a great surprise to find that they have so many types of puppy breeds in store. And all of them are like few months old! How precious! Anyway, we couldn't stay long to look at the puppies 'cus like I said they were closing.

We went back the next day to have a good look at the puppies. One of them on offer is a 3-month-old Maltese puppy! I asked the sales attendance if I could hold her and he said sure. Placed her on my arms and I was inlove. :> She's really so tiny and delicate, with hair so silky that I can hardly feel it. And the face is so beautiful. We just bonded instantly! Even B fell inlove 'cus she's just so adorable and melts into our arms. So we were like, "Bring her home?"

Eventually, we decided on her. But there's a tiny problem, she's coughing a little. So the sales attendance told us that we can place a deposit first, while she's staying back to be treated. Once she's well again, we can bring her home. And we did.

But now that she's not at home with us, it gave us time to have second thoughts. :P Then the part on added responsibilities and also finding a spot for her and where to potty train, etc. started to frown upon us. Oops, too late? There's a lot of adjustments to be made and stuffs, whether we're ready for all that? But I've always wanted a Maltese though... As you can see from my profile, she's one of my favourite things.

Anyway, we'll have time to think it through until when the shop calls. Till then, there's still chance to turn back. 'Cus afterall, we've not paid the full amount yet. So... By the way, this baby Maltese costs a whopping RM1980. RM1000 more as compared to other breeds like Silky Terrier, Shih Tzu, Jack Russell and alike - which only cost RM980 each. So yeah, it's a pinch and I actually wondered whether it's really worth the investment. Or should I settle for a more economical breed?

All that said, Maltese is still my favourite. So not gonna settle for anything less. And we shall see, whether I'd actually keep her eventually. Stay tuned for my decision!

TEAM BUILDING - PART 1

I've just returned from a 3 days 2 nights team building program at D'Ark Resort, Janda Baik. Home sweet home!

Well, let me tell you how it all began. On Monday morning, my boss walked into my office room with the sweetest smile on her face, with hands clasped together and gleaming eyes. At that very moment, I immediately knew that something is not right. Then she said, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to attend the team building which commences tomorrow." I was like "What...???" Hoping that I might have heard her wrongly. And she said, "Yeah, I'll need you to go. Sorry for the short notice. You may have half the day off to prepare for your journey."

In shock and feeling distressed, I started visiting colleagues who have been there before me, trying to gather as much info as I can. You know, on what to bring, what to expect, etc. This is because I've heard that it's really tough, and it gets worse with each session.

Anyway, it is a weekly program, specially tailored by the company's training centre, meant for managers and above, and will be on-going till everyone has completed the program. In other words, there's no way to escape. And this is really no joke, man... The program was designed with a vision in mind - to push the participants way beyond their boundaries and see how they fare.

So by speaking to colleagues, I gathered a long list of things to buy and bring. And I ended up spending more than RM 200 just for the trip - solely on special clothings and gadgets. :P

The thing is that these items that I've bought is meant only for the jungle trekking, which takes place on the 2nd day of the program. In other words, I will not be needing them under normal circumstances. So it's kinda painful in that sense.

And I should not forget to mention that I spent a good 3 hours, just walking around looking for the items in my list. To make it worse, I was wearing a rather new pair of high-heels. A peep-toe to be exact, about 4 inches in height. So you can imagine, what kind of torture that I went through. It's hell!

ON THE WAY

B is on the plane, heading home at this very moment. And I'm boiling his favourite soup. He's been eating out in a foreign land for a long time now. So I'm sure he'll be happy to find it. :>

Anyway, he's touching down tomorrow at 2.40pm, and I'm gonna totally surprise him by appearing in the airport. The look on his face when he sees me at the arrival gate will be priceless! Know why? 'Cus I'm not good with roads and I am actually clueless on how to get there. Hehehee...

You know, I'm the typically girl who would just enjoy the scenery while riding in the car. So even though I've been to a place for like a thousand times, I wouldn't know how to get there - unless if circumstances force me to be independent, then I'd learn. :P And it's B's responsibility to show me how to get there, times and times again, till he's confident that I'd not lose my way. Hehehee... Anyway, he has not shown me on how to get to the airport yet, so there's no way that he's gonna suspect it. :>

My original plan was just to start the car engine, take a deep breath and just see where the road signages lead me to. But M being worried of my 'safety', decided to narrate the way to me. So at least I'll have some clues on what to expect. Hehehee... I have some pictures in my mind now. Hopefully I'll succeed in sniffing my way around tomorrow!

So KLIA, here I come! :P

COUNTING DOWN

3½ days to go and B will be home again! Yeap, he's touching down on Saturday, April 5, 2.40pm.

I can't wait! It's been a long 2½ weeks... Way too long...

"Lonely... I'm so lonely... I have nobody... I'm on my own... Ooh..."

Hehehee... Know the song? Sounds familiar huh? I know. ;P

HOME ALONE

Came back yesterday evening. It's my first day here on my own without B. Well to be exact, the first few hours. ;P

Anyway, after being away for one whole week, there's of course clean-ups to do. So right after dinner of instant noodles, I started working. Then around 10.20pm or so, I started feeling tired 'cus it's been a long day. So took my shower and hit the bed at around 10.50pm.

Thought I'm just gonna doze off since I was feeling so worn out. But who knows, the longer I lie there, the more awake I got. Ended up couldn't sleep!

I finally fell asleep at around 1.00am or later, I guess... Nonetheless, I kept on waking up throughout the night. Just couldn't sleep well without B by my side... Gosh, and I gotta work tomorrow... Why now? Didn't have this problem back home at parents'... But I guess it's because I was used to sleeping alone there anyway, so it's just back to good old days.

Anyway, I woke up looking like a panda this morning. So B, you owe me tons of rejuvenating eye treatments and eye creams for putting me through this. ;P

AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

B joined a new company today. To mark his first day, he is required to travel to Barcelona for 3 weeks. Sigh... He’s at the airport now actually. The flight is scheduled to depart at 11.25pm.

I should be happy for him, I know. But this is the very first time that we have to be apart after we’re married, so it’s hard... Really, really hard... By the way, we’ve been married for a year and 4 months now. Time flies, eh?

Anyway, I’m back home at parents’. B sent me off earlier at the airport this afternoon. He thinks that I’d be able to adjust to the change better here. So at least I won’t be home alone, feeling depressed and indulging in self-pity. Most importantly, my parents can help to take my mind off it by keeping me occupied, feeding me good food, etc... And I have to admit that it is working so far. Well at least for now. :P By the way, I’ll be here for one whole week. :>

All that said, being apart from B is not a totally bad thing afterall. It actually has its good points too! Know why? ‘Cus he bought me a new notebook! Hahahaa... Good exchange, right? I won't get to see him for 3 weeks, but I get to keep the notebook for as long as I want. But mind you, I'm not a person who is so easily influenced by material gratifications! Haven't you heard of "distance makes the heart fonder"?? ;P

Anyway, the last time he was away in Chennai, he got me my baby guinea pig, Margaret.

Now I wonder... What will I be getting next when he travels again? ;P Perhaps I should start a wish list! Hehehee...

By the way, miss u, B... And thank you for the notebook! ;P

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

“To be or not to be” is probably the best-known line from drama or literature. Certainly, if anyone is asked to quote a line of Shakespeare, this is probably the one that will first come to mind for most people. It is, of course, from Shakespeare's play ‘Hamlet’, 1603.

The actual meaning : “Is it better to live or to die?”

However, in layman terms, it simply implies a person’s dilemma when it comes to making difficult and major decisions.

So what can we do when we’re faced with this kind of situations? To take chances and risk losing something in the process? Or to play safe and risk regretting the decision in the end? Tough choice.

What I’ve learned is that there is no right or wrong to a decision. Only whether it is what you really wanted for yourself. We may consult as many family and friends as we would want in the process, but at the end of the day, the choice is still in our hands. No one can really tell us what to do ‘cus this is our lives and thus, our call.

And most of the times, we’ve already known the answer – but somehow, we lack the confidence or shall I say, guts, to take that one step. Ask that little voice inside you, and you’ll know that it’s true. Hehehee…

Anyway, gathering opinions at the initial stage is really about gathering opinions. No doubt about that. But as you go along, when hours turn into days and days turn into weeks… Chances are you have already made up your mind. But deep down inside, there’s a part of you that says “Hey, are you sure? What if this… What if that…” And you’d go through the whole process all over again.

However, at this second stage, it’s actually more like trying to gain some reassurance. When somebody comes up with a reason that points towards your supposedly ‘decision’, you’d be feeling so much better, like you’re almost confident with the decision. “Don’t wanna think so much anymore, I’ll just do it!” And suddenly, another person says something that points towards the opposite direction, and there you go again!

Then how...???

Let me tell you something. Stop thinking, just do it! Just take the risk and see how things turn out – with due considerations, of course. It’s not easy, I know. But with proper deliberation and taking all the factors into account, you’ll be able to see it.

Have you wondered what prompted you to even think about it in the very first place? It’s the desire for change! Doesn’t that ring a bell?

Anyway, trust me, it is a never-ending dilemma. Unless you do something about it, it has no ends! This is because every time you think about it or be presented with the same situations, you’ll be going through the exact “What if…” process all over again, hovering over a stale topic (pardon me).

Unless, unless if you are able to let go of it totally and be at peace with yourself. Or else, looking down the road in 10-20 years to come, it might be too late ‘cus time waits for no man. So it’s your choice. Yes or no, take action now! Most importantly, no regrets...