Knowing how senile I am, I am starting a Friday weekly summary to sum up the events of the week - things that make me happy and not so happy.

Happys

1. Relaxation of mind and body
I’ve been swimming about twice a week - leisurely laps to relax the mind and body.

See under the bridge? The narrow “tunnel” reminds me of the first scene from the game Tomb Raider where Lara Croft has to fight a shark underwater to get onshore. Over imaginative mind alert!

It helps that our pool seldom gets very packed like the public pools - even during the weekends. Looking at the girls having fun always put a little smile on my face.

2. Praise and Appreciation

I have been working at my new office for three months now. They have confirmed me earlier and sponsored my studies fully, for this I am very thankful. Today, the office manager had a quarterly review with me to discuss my progress and goals. It pleases me to no end that a) yes, everyone likes me and think I am an asset to the company; b) The general consensus is that I am independent and capable and gets things done not only well, but also fast. This is music on the ears to every PA, and heck, any other person in another field too. Skills and competence are not doubt important, but EQ and people management are essential too. I am pleased that I have managed to strike a healthy balance.

The one little gripe I had was that I always finished my work too fast and would end up surfing or plurking. I would be getting the chance to get to work on company policies too and to draft them from scratch. This is good for my portfolio and also a good learning ground for my business. Oh, golly.

3. The children are golden as usual. Ger is learning ballet! You can pick your jaw up from the ground now. Wait till I post the picture of her in tutu. THAT would be a scream.

And no, I didn’t even suggest for her to take it up - I have long given up on the notion of her being girly-like, and I even pooh poohed the idea when she brought up the suggestion. But she convinced me that yes, this time is for real, and the semester fee will not go down the drain - like the time it did when she refused to go after one lesson at the age of 5.

The term fees are no joke. But like I said before, if I spend on myself in the name of vanity, it is not fair that I stinge on the kids. I don’t care what others may say about me spoiling them but I will let them learn and experience new things that they show interest in - to the best of my ability.

4. Baking

After the first cheesecake where I tried the ready made crust, I was not pleased with the taste of the crust. I made a second one yesterday, using crushed oreos and butter as the base, and tweaked the cheese filling a little. It was good.

I met Cakie for lunch and I passed some to her. She is going to UK to further her studies and I won’t get to see her for some time when she leaves in September. I like her as she has no pretensions about her and is totally sensible, down to earth and not to mention, a very clever girl . I guess I secretly hope that the girls will grow up to be someone like her. Am so glad she liked it!

5. Independence

As always, I am happy and proud that I am independent. I can roar out loud that I am an independent woman who earn her own keeps, spend her own money and am empowered with the knowledge that I am stand on my own two feet without depending on a man.

I am also proud that everywhere I go, with every job that I take on, I perform well and my bosses like me (even until after I leave, they will still help me if I ask). I have a strong resume and reputation. I am proud that a executive search firm headhunted me for this position. I am proud I can do a job well.

6. Plurk - talking to friends after finishing work so quickly

7. Nadnut plugging me!! Go take part in her contest and win a bag sponsored by my shop

Not so Happys

1. Technicalshits

My boss is a very IT and tech saavy person. He can sprout stuff like VPN client and bluewave technology to me - stuff of which I understand as much as I speak Parseltongue. I also dislike tech and IT stuff immensely - for that I am grateful that I have Big, my Minister of all Scary Tech and IT things, to assist me. But it is no joke when your boss is mighty good at it and expects you to understand the Parseltongue he is speaking and assist him in further Parseltongue. This is a constant struggle and an area that my star doesn’t shine quite so bright. Sigh.

2. Shoulder pain

My right shoulder seems to be locking up more often and it is giving me chronic pain throughout the day. I am not sure if it is the typing posture. On the infrastructure end, my office chair is a $2,000 Herman Miller model and I cannot gripe much about that. I am quite sure it’s the pain that makes me a bitch at times. You all know I am peach and roses.

3. Toxic rubbish

It has come to my ears that she has started insulting my family now. There are people who have decided to take sides without listening to both sides of the story. That’s fine with me. You can’t win them all and my heart and conscience is clear. I object though if your purpose of reading my blog comes with malicious intents.

Sidenote: to the people who came and tell me about her antics - I appreciate it but honestly I want nothing to do with this person and even though she clearly does not understand that, I would prefer not to know about the toxic things she is so free to write about. The only worse thing than a vindictive person is a stupid and vindictive person. Clearly time that is supposed to be spent on being a stay home mum is squandered on shopping and writing garbage. I appreciate your care and concern but really, it angers me that there is scum that I have wasted time and genuine friendship on.

As for those people who come here with malicious intentions of carrying tales and fueling discord, it is on your karma. I have no words for you, except, watch it. What goes around comes around.