4.30pm on a Monday

I feel like something different. I feel like dropping everything and flying off!

But then I think, ‘Oy, I hate packing”.

Heh ;)

When shopping is less than therapuetic

Sunday morning flea market excursion, success rating: zero. Nadda, Zilch. And I had such high hopes too.

The quest for decent, good-looking shoes that don’t cost a bomb is a lonely and immensely frustrating one. In and out of shoe shop after shoe shop for months only to be continually disappointed at the blandness and flimsiness of the wares on display. When I actually come across something I actually like I can predict the outcome when the salesgirl goes off to look for my shoe size, it’s inevitable, they would have just sold the last pair with my size and no, they will not be getting any new stock.

I have always thought that there is an every ready market for shoes. Women of all shapes and sizes love their shoes. It’s universal because while some clothes lines cater to women of a certain shape, making it especially hard for plus sized women to find clothes that fit, shoes for the most part are not so discriminatory. I know I would (almost) kill to have my pick of shoes that are stylish yet classic enough to not ever go out of style. And there shouldn’t be a trade-off when it comes to quality either. Hm, it’s times like these that I idly muse about opening my own shoe shop. I’d just need to source for the correct merchandise, the market is already waiting impatiently.

When I come to think of it actually, the same goes for clothes too. I’ve always preferred classic pieces to whatever is the current rage. I think women should learn to stick to whatever looks good on them and clothes that will not age rather than blindly following the waves of fashion. Case in point, what would possess any woman, no matter how shapely, to think she looked good in three quarter leggings? There is a reason this trend died out, resurrecting it probably means the fashion industry has run out of ideas. One should never wear anything they would be mortally embarrassed about when faced with old pictures of themselves. Of course there are times when trends do take a turn for the better, and produce as a result a ‘new classic’ so to speak. Unfortunately trends like these are few and far between.

This is obviously the rant of a dissatisfied shopper. People complain that there are too many malls in KL, but while I think there probably are enough, the problem lies in the imbalance between quantity and quality, we’re high on former but low on the latter. I wish there were a solution or a satisfactory conclusion to this dilemma, but I suspect that I (and those of you in the same boat) am destined to wander the malls forever searching in vain for that elusive shopper’s haven where clothes and shoes look and fit like a dream. Yeah, but for now, that is just what it is, a dream.

And if you think this is too melodramatic for something as frivolous as apparel, then you do not belong to my target demographic (read: you’re a guy).

Excerpts

First thing in the morning…

Colleague: “Why do you look so elegant today?”

Me: “Heh. You shouldn’t be surprised, I look ‘elegant’ everyday!”

Colleague: “No-oo, you sometimes dress quite casually actually”

Me: “*pauses*…Well, those are the days when I get up on the wrong side of bed”

(Smart-ass) Colleague: “Then you must get up on the wrong side of bed all the time!”

Me: (>_<)!!!!

****

A little later in the afternoon, an unexpected brush with the past…

Ex-Customer of Ex-company: “I thought you looked familiar! When did you join Company XXX?”

Me: “Oh, almost a year ago”

Ex-Customer of Ex-company: “So how has it been so far?”

Me: “Good, good” (Boss standing within earshot, an affirmative answer was required.)

Ex-Customer of Ex-company: “Must be, I see you’re glowing!”

Me: (^_^)!!!

***

I went swimming after work with my ex-colleague yesterday. Based on my calculations, it’s been almost 2 years since I last wore my swimsuit, and that was when I went diving. I’m glad it still fits, though it seems to have to stretch more to accommodate me! ;)

Curiosity killed the cat?

I read an article in today’s newspaper that I found interesting. It was about the link between unusual curiosity and a sense of well-being. “Trait curious” people, as psychologists’ call them, have an infinite sense of wonder and tend to delve deeply into things that interest them. Incidentally these interests are wide and varied, and they often get lost in the focus of their attention. It is postulated that these people are ‘happier’ than their more disengaged peers because of the satisfaction they gain from learning new things.

It’s really all very logical. Curious people would probably never know the meaning of boredom since there are just too many things in the world (and beyond) to discover and master. How wonderful it must be to be capable of such continual fascination! I know of only one person who is exactly like this and I completely understand and perhaps am a little jealous, but in the best way possible :). What shines in his eyes are the twin lights of active interest and intelligence.

***

While for all intents and purposes I quite often appear to be detached and bored, I know that I love to try new things. My curiosity so far has been more of an actively ‘do and learn it’ rather than a ‘read and learn about it’. For instance if I wanted to find out about scuba-diving, I’d just go and do it instead of researching everything about it first. (Though this might be a really bad example because I actually did a fair bit of research after I committed to it and scared myself well and good before I even put on a wet suit!) And while I am definitely game for new things I tend to be more selective and the biggest problem is sustaining an interest in it. I have a short attention span and can lose interest as fast as I gain interest. This has caused quite a bit of difficulty for me since for as long as I can remember I have always been on a quest to find that one (or two, or three!) all consuming passion, believing that it will bring me happiness, fulfillment and lasting contentment. Not finding it leaves me slightly depressed, disillusioned and dare I say it, bored.

I have hope though and I find myself not too worried these days that I have yet to find my Nirvana. A wise person once advised me not to try to hard and expect too much. Not to put all my eggs in one basket, not to place all my bets on one horse as it is setting myself up for major disappointment when I don’t immediately take to it like a duck to water. To accept that I might not necessarily ever find that elusive thing, but in the meantime I shouldn’t waste my time moaning about it but instead try and experience everything and if it doesn’t work out just move on to the next and the next after that. And who knows, perhaps one day when I least expect it, I might inadvertently stumble upon it.

One can hope, yes, one can hope.

Solitude is required for creativity (well at least for me)

Bran knows how disturbing and distracting I find places with many noisy people and other clamoring sounds to be. He on the other hand can shut it all out (or should I say embraces and becomes one with it :) and carry on peacefully. It’s quite a talent. I usually just end up glaring at people which doesn’t get me anywhere since everyone’s too busy talking to notice! And even if they did, they’d probably insist it’s their God-given right to contribute to sound pollution.

***

I’m getting dreamier these days. I tend to wander off regardless of whether I’m alone or in the company of others. In fact I’m getting more and more anti-social as well, preferring the company of my own thoughts (or the blissful lack of them) while I’m sitting in the middle of full on chattering amongst the colleagues. I wonder idly that they might think I’m to quiet when in fact I just don’t feel compelled to make the effort to participate. However methinks that I really should make more of an effort if only to conform socially especially in the work environment. Being a social outcast can’t possibly enhance my career advancement. Hm. What a bother.

Laugh, smile, grin, talk, feign interest. I need to be better at faking.

"The plane! The plane!"

(Ugh. The internet connection is so damned slow!)

In other news, it’s the second day back at work after probably what must have been the longest break I’ve ever taken since I started working: 12 whole days, imagine that! It’s been tolerable so far and maybe it has something to do with the newness of the year. But the best part is that it’s a half week and the weekend is just happens to be a day away :)

***

I was waiting at a traffic light on the way home yesterday evening when I caught sight of a light aircraft lazily making its way across the sky. As I traced its flight pattern with my finger to the window screen, I sighed and smiled to myself in happiness. I am reminded that I have hope, I am more at peace than I have been in a long while and everything will turn out just fine in the end.

Time for another smiley! :)