I can't believe that I am here again, pen it while I can eh?

I just asked this question in my Facebook page. 'Are you an idealist or a realist?' This question is now triggering me to blog about it.

I admit that I started off being an idealist. How can I be shameless about it? Cos if I wasn't an idealist, I would not be married to my husband who lived 6,000 miles away from me who was of totally different religion than me and who was a total bachelor who never had kids. Hmmm...maybe the husband was being such an idealist until he married me and the kids moved in hahahahaha...then the REALITY struck!

After having gone through a marriage status twice (of being divorced and remarried to another man, that is), gone through a migration (never thought I would have done this!), through a job change (of the same nature) and then another huge major job change that will happen 1 week from Monday...I realized that in order for us to achieve our ambitions, we should make it real.

It took me 17 years...yes 17 years, to be able to take this huge step of diving in to the insurance business knowing that I will do very well. The thought of working on 100% commissioned basis is not an ideal thought especially when I have kids to support, rent to cover and bills to glide us through month by month. But I know that there is nothing to lose but alot to gain.

My 'trial introduction' to selling insurance was based on the reponses of my acquaintances...the chances of them trusting me to sell them auto and home insurance. 90% says 'lets get on with it'...some says 'ok I want to switch to your company ASAP' and some says 'I want to be your first customer'. It was positively overwhelming....and my business plan grew...and grew. And then I get my 'punk' friends saying that 'Nah, I don't like your company, it sucks!' or 'I just switched from your company to another cos of a claim problem', thats a challenge and what makes me think that I can't change their minds?

The manager of the office that I will be moving to was happily surprised that I am jumping into this 'sales' arena. He likes me alot as we have worked together when my boss was in the Gulf fulfilling his military duties. I was told by the HR personnel that up to 30 resumes were received...alot came from existing sales rep achievers...but this manager picked me. Of course, I had to EARN this position. The 2 hour interviews and simulation sales interview were not easy. But I nailed it!

So...can I divert to be an idealist for just a few seconds? I would like to be a sales achiever (that is, achieve a sales Club) in 12 months, buy a home and maybe get that dream car of mine (not telling you what it is!).

Maybe I am right, in order to be a realist, you have to be an idealist!!!

Tip : sometimes when you feel that you have no confidence to achieve a task, just puff your chest up, think and know that you can do it and say 'You have to be AGGRESSIVE!!!'. Still have problems doing that? Message me, I'll help ya :)

Been a while since I last updated my blog. If only I had the computer time to update my blog. the thing is, each time I am in the midst of updating, I get interrupted by the little munchkin demanding attention. By the time I get back here, my blogging moods vanished. So lets try this one more time....uninterrupted.

Not too much happened since my last post. Boring life eh? One more week before I move to another office. I shall miss my co workers very much but at the same time excited on what I am going to undertake.

2 more weeks and Suraya will be one. I think she is about 25 lbs now, with 7 teeth. I could see a shadow of another tooth at the bottom, threatening to appear.

I think I have most another 5 lbs last week. But I am not sure if I have gained it back during Thanksgiving! 17 lbs of turkey for Thanksgiving, just for the husband, Kakak Mas and me to eat and we still have abt 3lbs of roasted turkey meat left in the fridge. The husband did a great job in slow cooking the turkey. Juicy and very very tasty!!!

Here are updated pics of my jewels in life...

Remember the South Beach Diet that I was on 2 years ago...before I got pregnant? I am on it again. Since Suraya is eating more solids now, I feel that it is time for me to start my dieting and still breastfeed.

I have lost almost 10 lbs since I started 10 days ago. Happy? well, I did not lose as much as when I first started 2 years back where I lost 13 lbs in 2 weeks. But thats okay. Baby fats are taking baby steps to melt. The last time, I could feel the 'babats' around my waistline melting, this time, I feel the hips melting. The waistline? Well, it got saggy-er (ya know, after the pregnancy and all). I know I can't bring the stepper upstairs from the garage as the crib has taken it place. This means that I will walk during lunch for 45 minutes after lunch.

Getting back on the diet was not as difficult as 2 years ago. No sugar/carb withdrawal symptoms...I just bounced off the walls when I cheated last night, eating baked beans! The keropok has only 7 gms of carb if I ate one huge one. I need to stop this!

I know I have a looooooooong way to go. I want to lose at least 20 more lbs, in 2 months? I don't know...maybe.

Oh you might be asking, how do I maintain the milk supply and pump 2x a day while at work? V8, the vegetable juice did it for me. YUMMY!!!!!!!

This has not happened to me in a long long time. I am never an impulsive buyer. Okay, I was a shopoholic but quit since I met the husband (thanks to him??).

I was on a rolld yesteday, had this $45 off coupon at my favorite women's clothes store, on every $90 I spend...cool right? Yea...the husband was very nervous before I left as I do have the potential of doing more damage.

Got my clothes, went to Macy's and was 'bowled over' by 2 things...a pair of BCBG flatties which are oh so gorgeous and a pair of Steve Madden oh so comfy sherpa boots. Should I get the flatties that I will wear for work, or the sherpa boots that will keep my feet oh so warm when I am out at nights and weekend in the winter? OR..both?

Went home, could not take my mind off of the dilemma. I dreamed of the flatties! Thats it I thought, I shall go to Macy's and buy them flatties and the husband could get me the sherpa boots.

Aaaaah, I am a proud owner of them BCBG flatties...40% off, cant beat that! Sherpa boots...$39, anyone could buy that for me hmmm???

So my birthday came and went...life goes on like any other birthdays.

I have 5 more weeks before migrating to another office. YES...I got the sales job, but not at my office, at another office in the same company that is just 8 minutes drive away. One big advantage of working with my boss, I know the managers in this office.

It was hard earned...this sales job. I was interviewed...or should I say intterogated for 2 hours? And then another simulated insurance sales over the phone followed by an hour of phone interview right after. In short, if you do not know insurance, do not even hope to be considered. My contender at that time was a Sales and Marketing Associate, a person who markets the company's products everyday and me? An underwriter who knows the features of the product inside out with strong (ahemm) qualities. I gave them 200% during the interview. I hate interviews, they depress me, especially when I want the job REALLY BAD. After a span of 3 weeks of such interviews and they needed half a week to decide, I was given the job! Happy...happy giler! I knew I earned it (although the fact is that, I know the managers real well too but I know I was not givent any slack in this selection).

My boss was at first happy for me, but not happy when they wanted me to start with the new office in 2 weeks. No way...the boss says. Firstly, he had to find another person to manage my office, I would need to train this person...boss needs to take back his tasks (he's super spoilt) and redelegate to the new managers and he thinks...I repeats, thinks that I should be ready to go. We both promise that we would remain good friends forever (we went though a lot of office crap together.

One thing for sure...if not cos of my boss...I would not be who I am now. He had created a monster ...eh no...a strong person out of me. Ambitious and directive and not take nonsense from anyone and best of all, to go for what I think I deserve. I never fail to tell everyone at work that my boss is such a good friend to me (though some say that I am his pet, oh well).

Back to the new office, 8 minutes drive away from home, on the way to work, I could drop kakak Mas at school and on my way home, pick the munchkin up from the sitters house. Perfect? I could go home for lunch too!

Happy birthday to me…
Happy birthday to me…

I knew that my co workers will get a cake for me, but did not expect them to get cupcakes! I love cupcakes, they're so pretty that I had to take a picture before I devour one.

35…that’s how old I am today. I feel old…but then age is just a number, which can be untrue as when I touched 30, my knees tend to squeak, BADLY!

When I was 34, I only had 2 kids and was an underwriter. Within a year, I had another beautiful child, got promoted and then another good paying job in 30 days! MasyaAllah, Alhamdulillah…rezeki Allah.




Hopefully when I reach 36, I would have been an achiever in my insurance sales career. Oh and I will move office too…the office will be about 8 minutes drive away from home!

Who says that we can't raya like back home?

It was wonderful and fantabulous. Our first visit was to Sharun's house. Delicious food and mostly, we were very glad to have met up with Sharun and family again. How fast her 4 kids have grown! Thank you so much for having us at your house Sharun and Ridhwan!

Next was at kak Jah's house. Kak Jah is known as the 'mother' to the younger generation in the Bay Area dan kawasan yang sewaktu dengannya. She caters malay food and invites us to her house many time a year. It was our family's loss for not having visited her as often as we actually should.

I met more malay Singapore friends. And I think I found a couple of friends who live in the Peninsula that migth become my partners in crime *winks*.

As for mak, she has made quick acquaintances with Kak Jah, who is begging for her to visit her again when she comes back to SF and Kak Ann, who is doing the same thing.

Alhamdulillah, it was a nice day for us yesterday...now we have 2 more days to be with mak.

Its been...

quiet and peaceful. We're reaching the final week of Ramadhan but it has been that way, since the 1st day of Ramadhan...thats what mak says.

No Geylang, no shopping to buy new carpet, clothes, shoes, bags except having to make kueh tart and some cookies and cook a big meal for raya and for our raya visitation on that first day.

Naturally, Eid is not a national holiday here. Luckily, it falls on a Saturday which means that we could visit our malay friends after Eid prayers in the morning.

I thought mak would be homesick thinking about home during this time...but she had proved me wrong. She says that she feels peaceful...that she does not have to think of having to go to the market during the raya rush, and think of stuff to do for Raya. But she surely is excited to meet up with Sharun's and Kak Jah's family on the 1st day of raya as she had bought 6 empty tubs to pack the cookies that she will be baking.

It surely has been nice experiencing Ramadhan with mak...someone who is as peaceful as this miracle month of Ramadhan.

I thought I could resist from listening to Raya songs. I played the songs for mak. She suddenly sprang up from the sofa and directed me to hang the curtains in our rooms. Such Raya songs can turn a docile mak to a directive one...regardless of wherever she could be. (I peeked into the living room...mak is eating Doritos with a remote control in her hand...shes 10% americanized!).

First tune of lagu Raya...I cried. I think of home. I think of my sister, bapak, my nieces and my precious son. During this time if I was there, we would be roaming Geylang, me being so fascinated by the people spending their precious money.

My son, I miss my son the most during this time. This time last year, I was very pregnant and was a total wreck when I heard Raya songs. I always wonder how he celebrated Raya without his family. We all think of him here.

To all Muslim friends out there...Eid Mubarak!!! Maaf Zahir Batin...

Introducing the husband's Asian 60's pop music Website on myspace.com. Let me tell you what is so different about this website. This is how a westerner (like the husband) values our Asian 60's music in his perspective...videos and MP3 songs included.

Yes, I am one of the guilty (but I don’t feel guilty) ones who take the music history for granted. I do not care for such music. In fact, I am so ignorant about it that the husband knows more about our past music industry than a born Malay Singaporean like me.

This website covers the Asian 60's music in a broader form…which means it does not just cover Singapore Malay music but also the Chinese and music from Indonesia and Japan.

The husband has over 3.5k of friends on his myspace account and it is growing. It is his love and passion for music on my side of the world (hes a talking music encyclopedia) and this website is built out of love. If you're into Pop Yeh Yeh or Japanese GS music…click on here .

In the meantime...here are the girls!!!

BLOG PART I

I owe an apology to alot of people. My online friends, my offline friends, my acquaintences and people who think of me alot in their everyday lives. But this apology will be of one common reason.

I am sorry for neglecting my friends, online, or offline. I know, I do email my friends out of the blue, apologizing for not keeping in touch, sorry for not calling to say hello as I usually do not have the chance to pick up the phone with the baby in my arms. Sorry for not being on the online messenger enough to even know how you guys are doing...especially to my beloved twin, Makcik Hope. But I think of you all the time and miss you alot.

For me, once I get home is like being in another part time overnight job...of being a 'booby mommy'. Suraya would want no other than me as soon as I walk through the door. She eats when we eat dinner, in her high chair, and then she would start whining asking for me to hold her till she falls asleep....sigh! I also try my very best to be with Kakak Mas just so that she knows I am not ignoring her. Thanks to Mak, who keeps Kakak Mas company when Ibu has to adhere to Suraya's demands to lay in bed in the bedroom. Yes, I am still wondering how I managed to get that Insurance license if my time is so limited for myself!

I know that I might have offended some friends for being very very distant since time began...but it is never my intention to ignore you guys and if I did, I am so sorry and would not dream of losing your friendship.

In the meantime, Ely's career might hit a pit stop for now...some 'detour' needed to be made. I might end up doing sales in another region of the company. Nothing negative but positive.

Here is Kakak Mas' latest picture. She does not like this picture but I had to tell her over and over again that she looks beautiful.

BLOG PART II

It has been 6 years...
7 years of knowing you.

How fast time flies
People say times flies by fast when you're having fun
Yes...I do have fun alot of fun having my life with you
We share the same pain, laughter, and secrets and are never afraid to share

Thank you for being my best friend
and I LOVE YOU!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY...September 23rd 2007

You'd never believe until you see it. Suraya loves broccoli and brussel sprouts. Maybe the soft greens massages her gums which is swollen with the 4 incoming teeth.

Suraya was caught with fever for a few days and refused to eat for 2 days. She is eating very very little now, still refusing to be spoonfed. She loves to feed herself...which was how this picture came about.

Kakak Mas is coming along perfectly in school. Shes getting some of her brother's teachers who unsurprisingly could recognize her by her last name and looks. She is learning to hang out with her school friends on Fridays after school, which I strongly encourage...and we treat the friends for dinner when we see them at the mall.

In the meantime, I have REDISCOVERED the beauty of 'mandi gayung'. I caught mak taking a bath with the scoop cos she was in the shower for only 5 minutes. So I asked,'Mak mandi gayung ker?' and she said yes. I have forgotten the beauty and relaxation of mandi gayung. Sedaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!!!

Its time to update. I have nothing but so much to talk about.

I have been doing alot of thinking lately. My stand to accept the new job still stands strong. I was asked to draft a sales plan...and I have been working on it for the past week. Plan, on who would be my target (please don't run away from me friends who live close to me hahaha) and what kind of marketing I could do to promote my company and business. My mind is always thinking, churning new ideas. Some of the ideas, I hold back from my sales co worker friends, cos they might steal my ideas!

I have learned a few ropes on how to speak to insureds and cross selling them, without being pushy. A natural tactic thats in me. So far, I managed to convince 2 customers to get a quote for another product. I am practicing my skills and then referring them to my close co worker...more business for her. She better not forget me when its my turn!

I have a few months to go before I go for the class. I am using all this time to make contacts with some embassies that our company have business with. So far, so good. Believe it or not, I am joining the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) for Kakak Mas' school. Uh huh, even the husband was like 'what?'. One way to network, while being a pro active parent.

Back home, its the long long Labor Day weekend. I took Friday off which means that I am having a 4 day weekend...with the family. Suraya has been ever so demanding. She is having 4...yes 4 teeth descending from her upper gums. 2 are trying to cut through, 2 more trying hard to do the same. She does not to be spoonfed but prefers finger foods like peaches, pears and keropok for meals.

Her 9 month check up is this Friday, lets wait and see what Dr Ananda will say about her this time.

Here's the munchkin, trying to play with daddy's camera!

Decision, decision, decision....sometimes it can be hard to make...but if given more thought it might not be that hard after all. And so I have decided.

I have decided to continue my career with my present company. I had done my research if I were to become an agent with 2 other different companies against becoming one for my own company. Weighing out the pros and cons, I picked my company for so many reasons.

One advantage is that, my product for my company, being an underwriter, I know the product inside and out. I know where to get leads and generate them...and I somehow have a teeny little client base..based on my servicing jobs to our customers, namely the embassies.

My boss was pleasantly surprised of my intention. Cos he has never seen me sell. I knew that would be the first thing he would say to me. But he says that I know my stuff very well to pass the chance. Look...who would want to pass earning at least $100k a year? If I can be an average performing agent, thats how much I will be earning. But he is willing to let me try. I will enter the position without having to go for interview (he already plucked my brains) and IF I decided to not be an agent again, I shall get my job back with the company.

**My co workers who are reading this, please do not break the news till the boss decides to OKAY?????**

So I will not start selling til January. Prior to that, I shall attend the sales class again, while looking for a person to fill up my current position. I am now keeping my eyes and ears open, watching the agents' every move...as tips.

I am doing all this for my family, my kids. I know that my kids deserve better. I know that I have made the right decision, insyaAllah, it will stay that way.

Its been a while again since the last one. Been busy...but now I am bored...why???

Cos I went for my state exam and I passed!!!!!!! I am a licensed insurance agent now!!!!

If only you know how nervous gila I was on the day of the exam (Monday). I had to breathee and breath and had to take a break to the bathroom before I could truly concentrate. Why was I nervous? Cos I don't like to fail and I promised myself to NOT fail. How did I do it? Hmmm... as you have read my previous postings, late weekend nights to study and last weekend, I had Suraya crawling all over me while I was practicing the quizes for the exam.

When I proceeded to the proctor's room to get my results, I was sooooooo ecstatic whem she said that I passed. I had to say,'Oh my GOD!!!! OK, don't talk to me, I need to sit down'...hahahahaha...come to think of it again, it was funny. Mak gave me a big kiss when I got home. Anak mak pandai kan....hehehe. Surely was nice to have mak at home.

So now...I have another decision to make. To make money with the present company or move on????? Will update you on my decision. This will be the time where I can triple my yearly income...for my family.

Anyway...here's Suraya & Mas looking at ya!!!

Its been a while since the last one. I am busy studying and trying to be a mommy at the same time. Its hard to study when you have a baby pelted on you all the time and then bring the big one shopping for her school clothes, shoes and stuff. And then you have mak trying to strike a long chat while you have your head squared in front of the computer screen trying to do some practice quiz. Not that I mind mak coming for chats, I surely don't as most times, we ended up in the kitchen eating her epok2. In short, I CANNOT study at home.

I will be back in a few days. I know, no point updating yeah? At least you know that I am still alive and am still blogging!

I cried
I dreamed of my son one night,
I cried
Never knew that I would do that after my tears have dried up for so long...
But I cried.

I miss him
I long for him
I wish he was here with the rest of his siblings...

I cried
I coud not stop
At the end of the day...I cried again
I don't know why

It hurts to cry
It hurts to miss my son
And I do still long for him

I cried and I cried

I have successfully completed the 52 hours mandatory online study for the 'project' that I am pursuing. I am busy studying right now, hoping to be ready for the State exam in about 2 weeks or so. My self test quizes had been great so far. Hope I will score such good points in the exam. Tengah semangat beb, jangan tak jadi (thats what I always ell myself hahaha).

Mak has been here for 1 week starting tomorrow. Its like I really have someone to listen to me...in Malay! Of course I have the husband to listen to my whinings, but having mak around has been so so so wonderful. I can let steam off my chest in malay. All mak says is always....nothing! Or she sometimes has something to say like 'Dah lah, budak tuh dah memang camtuh, kau nak marah2 pun sakit hati'. Most times shes right about things.

So far, mak has cooked curry with pulut kuning, black pepper chicken, mee hoon goreng pedas, ayam goreng and nasi lemak with sambal tumis telur...could I ask for more??? Sure...bring it on mak!

SF is finaly covered with sunshine today after days of cold fog. When the sun shines, our spirits lift up!

Here's pic of Suraya taken today at the park. Notice her jade bracelet mak bought for her. Sepasang dia sekarang with her ibu hehe.

So...Suraya has cut her first couple of teeth...yaay!!! Her drooling has somehow or rather been reduced, NOT saying that it has totally been 'wiped' out. How mysterious nature can do eh. Teeth not out, drool comes out, teeth out, drool lessens.

Besides the teeth growing, the body has become for solid molid, keras meras and montok montok. She is crawling now and can sit on her own. Funny when the first thing she did this morning as soon as she woke up was to sit up and watched Jo Jo Circus on Playhouse Disney. She can stand in her crib, sometimes with one hand. She is also learning to acknowledge the beauty of the telephone. She knows that there is a live person on the other end of the line cos when I put her on the phone, she hears the voice, looks into the earpiece and starts trying to 'eat' it. Thats her 'hello' greeting!

Mak is coming in less than 48 hours. She is too excited beyond words about coming here. She misses the girls so much.

This also means that the husband has found another job and will start working next week. He has found an 'ideal' managerial job, which means that his job starts either during midday or graveyard on some days, just so that he could still be Mr Mom when he starts working. Downside? No weekends off yet...which means...lesser time with me. Sigh...thats okay. Sacrifice a little for more gain later.




With this posting, I would also like to thank the dearest husband/daddy/paps for wonderfully taking care of the baby and Kakak Mas since mak left. He admitted that being Mr Mom is not an overnight-easy-to-adjust post. It took him and Suraya 3 whole weeks to get used to each other. Now? They're like pals and Kakak Mas is a perfect part time sitter when paps needs a break.

Eventhough we were on a one and a half income when the husband took on the Mr Mom role, it has been the most satisfying decision that we have ever made. Nothing beats the baby's own parents to care for their own child. Money can always be recovered but baby's growing up time, will be gone and shall never return again.

I am glad that the husband decided to care for Suraya. Look at him now, he now does not want to part with Suraya when the 'door' is wide open for him to start working again!

You're the best dear husband. I know that not all daddies can do what you did and are still doing.

In the meantime, I have almost reached the 52 hour online study mark for me to take my first examination. Next week will be crunch study time. I am giving myself 3 months to change career and I can't wait!

Remember 2 entries ago? I am working my way to a new career with 52 study time to clock and an examination? Well, Ely's proud to say that she's working the 52 hours. I have covered 12 hours so far...40 more hours to go, one more week of intense revision and I am be ready to go! My goal...to take the exam in at least 3 weeks (one more week to study, one more to revise and one more week just in case I failed the 1st round of exam) now so that I could go on and take the other examination required.

How did I do it? Hmmm, its not easylah. Just need some determination and 'holding your eyes open with toothpicks' on weekend nights. Having a baby who is 7 months, can be very testing for me. No, I can't study when she is awake and NO, I can't study when the husband is in the house and awake.

Earplugs are my best friends. They help shut the noises out to the level of enabling me to 'ignore' the happenings and the tv blasting behind me.

You know, each time I study, I can almost my brains folding. You know how people say that the more you learn, the more folds your brains will have? I think my brains have been frozen ESPECIALLY after birth when my memory retention is at its worst. Oh my, why did I decide to study at this period of time eh?

But I am enjoying it all. The determination, the 'thawing' of the brains, forcing memory retention, the 'burning midnight oil'...so far so good, hope I won't get burned out.

I know you might think that I am nuts when you read this entry. A posting in my regular portal triggered me to write this.

So…what is the difference in marrying someone who is not of your very own ethnicity? Ok ok, like being married to a white guy. How about marrying someone who is of totally different religion? I know that some asians will feel very proud of marrying white guys or foreigners and tells all that white guys are nice, romantic, understanding, etc etc and guys of their locale are controlling, backward, etc etc.

You know, to me, being married to a white, brown, black or whatever does not make a difference. I was married to a malay guy for 9 years. It was very unfortunate that the marriage did not last…it was my choice that it did not last.

I did not want my personality and life to be controlled by someone who was non better than me, someone who never treated me as his equal. Yes, the truth was, sure…I had the biggest phobia about marrying someone of my own kind UNLESS he is one of those 'far and in between' guy that could treat me like how I would like to be treated, why not right?

But you see, I dated a few guys shortly after the divorce. At that time, I had a phobia of marriage. No more men in my life except my son! I can find kinks and dings on the guys personality, always a fault. 'Too timid, too quiet, no backbone, hes scared of me'…those were some of my remarks about the guys whom I dated. Some even said that I am too bold, opiniated or even stubborn for asian men. They said that I need to find myself a foreigner who can think like me, someone who is more bullish than me. So…I became the 'reject' of my own people hahaha.

It was rather easy to 'change channel', from locals to foreigners, that’s the beauty of internet. You can find people from every corner of the world. Just type in the place, and voila!

Well anyway, back to my whole point of writing here. I think there is truly no difference in being married to a white guy. The difference is 'who' exactly I married. I married someone who loves me for what I look like, my personality, my stubborness, my ugliness (should there be any) and he accepts my badness as part of what I am. Now this, men of any ethinicty could have this kind of thinking yes? Its just that my husband happens to be white.

There are tonnes of abusive white guys here in america. Drunks, drug addicts, gamblers, wife beaters, murderers, sometimes even worse than what we think they are. I have also seen many many many obnoxious white men (itu dah macam dorang lah), loud and mannerless ones too.

In short, men are men, regardless of what color they are. I am just lucky (or sometimes I feel lucky) to be given a second chance to marry someone who loves me for me…and my kids too.

***Oh GAWD…I don’t know why I am writing this when my hsuband is not on my A list right now!!!