Is it time for a KitKat break ?

I've been trying to take it easy the whole week, telling myself that I needn't and shouldn't be up till all hours scrambling to apply for all sorts of jobs that I might or might not enjoy.

I think the only jobs I haven't actually applied for yet, are those in advertising, but I sense it's just a matter of time.

I know I shouldn't, not just yet anyway, but I can't help it.

I don't like not knowing what I'm doing next, and the thought of taking a break - well to be honest, kind of freaks me out. Even though a 'break' is what I pine for endlessly when I'm at work.

I guess it's true what they say, the grass is always greener on the other side.

But anyway, I'm trying to exercise some self control and not get myself locked into another job that I might potentially hate, 3 months down the road. I think it's something to do with the thrill of the job hunt, getting that call back, going down for the interview and being told that you've been picked, over all others that have also gone through the same process.

Maybe it's just me, but once I submit an application for a job - even if it's one that I don't necessarily think is quite me - all of a sudden, it turns into the most desirable job in the world and I just want to be picked. Sounds like school all over again doesn't it, nobody wants to be the last kid left standing when all others have been picked to join teams.

Picking up a third language is something I've always wanted to do, and I know if I don't do it now, I probably never will.

Now all I need to do is convince and remind myself that not working for the next few months isn't all that bad if I don't manage to find something that I really want to do.

Yup yup yup.

Looney Lunar !

According to my mom, it's my chinese birthday so I made Cookie wish me Happy Birthday (again!).

The day started good.

I woke up at 845, because I could (normally I wake at 815 at the latest).

And then took my time getting ready, as opposed to rushing, because I could.

Cara came knocking on my door, so I let her in and we spent 5 minutes preening together in front of the mirror before she got taken away for her bath - I think she enjoys my room because I have all sorts of real-girl toys, as opposed to her Elmo's and Piglets.

I finally made it downstairs at 930.

I sat down for my birthday noodles (yellow noodles cooked in a sweet syrupy, ginger sauce topped with longans) with mommy and daddy.

Picked out four lucky numbers for my mom to buy for tomorrow's 4D - apparently the trick is, you have to stand as soon as you've picked out the fourth number, and the person doesn't tell you what the numbers are. So I did - stood and didn't ask about the numbers. I just took my ang bao and said goodbye!

On the way to work, I made Cookie wish me again.

And I finally made it in at 10 to 10 - still earlier than half the office.

I got to my desk, turned on my comp, and another piece of good news awaited in my inbox ! I'm thrilled, I am.

And in another hour, I'm meeting my parents for my birthday lunch at Itacho (at ION).

It's a good day, today.

Hakuna Matata

What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata

Ain't no passing craze

It means no worries, for the rest of your days

It's our problem-free, philosophy

Hakuna Matata

Ungracious much ?

I left work on the dot at 6 today, and headed to the bus stop.

Got on the bus and managed to get a seat - "great !", I thought. Now I can spend the journey home buried in the latest Sophie Kinsella book that Cookie got me, as opposed to staring curiously at the people around me, whilst trying to make it seem that I was really staring into mid-air.

But being rush hour, the bus filled up fast. There was a lady who looked to be in her 20s standing somewhat in front of me, her arm holding onto the pole to my right, allowing me a birds-eye view of her armpit (I'm kidding, she was wearing a sleeved top, so it wasn't direct eye-to-armpit contact).

Anyway, two stops later I found myself eye-to-chest with this old lady. So naturally, I put away my book and gave the seat up to her.

She thanked me and eased into the seat.

She got off before I did, and thanked me again as she was getting off and told me to take the seat.

I smiled at her but before I had a chance to do anything else, who swoops in to plonk herself on the seat but armpit woman - clearly aware that it was I who had vacated said seat.

I found that incredibly rude.

But because I was getting off a couple of stops later, I decided to let it go and instead got my phone out to occupy myself with typing Cookie a text on the rudeness of this woman.

You think ?

I spent the weekend pondering over my options.

1. Go back to Melbourne to do an MBA
2. Go to the US to do an MBA
3. Pursue writing as a career
4. Just take time off to do nothing (by nothing I mean yoga and property)
5. Go to Japan to learn Japanese
6. Find a job, not in advertising
7. Find a job in advertising and continue bitching about it all over again (after all, it's the only industry I've ever worked in, and might I add, one I absolutely killed myself to get into)

With the above in no particular order, I suppose next steps would be organising them in order of priority, and perhaps eliminating a few of them.

My sister never fails to take any opportunity to remind me of the 'bleak times' we live in, but I refuse to be swayed by her opinions. She suffers from the elder-sister syndrome, and feels a need to critique as a means of showing affection so I forgive her all that.

My mother, who might I add, has never worked a day in her life, too rejoices in dishing out unsolicited advice. And let me qualify the above by saying that she's never had an office job - not of course, that I'm insinuating that running a household is not considered work because in a court of law, it's held up as perfectly legit work.

Anyway, my point is this.

It is my life, and therefore should be, my choices.

I don't think that I receive advice ungraciously, but I can't help feeling a little riled up when I'm hit with it at any opportunity. So maybe it's true. Maybe my angst over the past months have boiled over and turned me into one of them know-it-alls who refuses to listen to the better judgement of anyone else.

Just call me Little Miss Know-It-All.

What's next ?

I did it.

With no plans to speak of next.

I'm feeling both scared and excited all at the same time - scared because I'm afraid that my career has gone to shit, but excited because it's the dawn of a new era (though I'm not quite sure yet what that new era is).

So what's next ?

Who will I be ?

How will my life turn out ?

Your guess is as good as mine.