My Second Painting !!!

25 Aug 2008 - Today, after dinner I had an urge ... to paint !! Didn't quite expect it to turn out this way... Ha ha ha ... not bad for a second attempt after so many years huh?

Looks kinda like me and my 'ayam kampung' hairstyle ... for those of you who have not seen me since Chinese New Year, hey... how do I look? Surprise, surprise ... right? Been such a tomboy with my short spikey hair, now suddenly turned so 'feminine' !!!

Well, since my divorce in 2006, I have learned how to love myself more ... ha ha ha ... so to speak. Enjoying singlehood once more !!!

See ... one good thing that came with being single again ... is that I have more time to myself, hence, am able to pick up long lost hobbies ... like painting !!! Say ... give me FIVE ! YES !!! Way to go, Odelia ^_^

Nikki Spots A New Hairstyle

22 August 2008 -

Today, I sent Nikki, my pet dog for a grooming session at Setapak Pet Shop for the very first time. When the grooming sifu asked how I want my Nikki to be groomed, I had no idea at all !!! So, I just mentioned ... ok ... just cut it as short as you can. See, I was curious about her "original" look. At the same time, I wanted to know her skin and hair condition, as well as to have a close look at her injuries sustained before she came into our lives.

Alas, it was confirmed that Nikki's hair and skin are in good condition, no dandruff, no fleas or ticks as well. Ha ha ... she was much cleaner than when she first joined our family. I had to dig, remove and clean all the unwanted 'rubbish' from her body ... at least, now I know I did a good job and most importantly, I am beginning to learn quite a few things about caring for a pet dog !!

I was a bit sceptical about why Nikki is still menstruating after more than 20 days ... my worries vanished when the pet shop assistant informed me that female dogs take at least 14 days to stop menstruating and that they only menstruate twice a year. Phew ! What a relief ... guess I can stand the inconvenience of having to clean after her once every six months then ... as far as her spotting is concerned ... ha ha ...

Well, well, well ... she looks neat and clean now (though her hair looks a bit too short for a girl :-), don't you agree ??? Ha ha ... might as well ... less sexy ... less chance for male dogs to take an interest in her, if at all !!!

My Coffee Table Finally Arrived !!!

23 August 2008 - Ha! Today, my new furniture arrived ... a square Japanese coffee table, a treasure chest and a wooden bench. They came in a trolley 'coz the vendor's shop is just one street away ^_^ With the coffee table, came 6 candle holders ... free !!! A friend of mine who was there with me when I was shopping for the items knew I was interested in a wind chime but did not end up buying it ... gave it to me as a surprise gift! Wow! Really made my day ya :-)



At night fall, together with the kids, we light the candles and hey! don't they look lovely, romantic even ....

Life's Little Luxuries

20th August 2008 - I was at the launching of the Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) together with a girlfriend. It was an impressive centre, the first of its kind in Malaysia ... Malaysia Boleh !!!!

After a complimentary buffet lunch at Rasa Sayang Restaurant (a sister company of KLIDC), we decided to try the complimentary massages at AsiaSpa (another sister company of KLIDC). I tried hot stone massage for the first time (yup, another 'never try before' experience. Under skillful hands, I succumbed to the warmth emitted from the hot stones ... rather soothing and after a hot shower, I felt my muscles much relaxed and fresh ... ^_^

Then, off we walked to KLCC for a movie ... The Mummy ... again, using my complimentary TGV tickets given by Bonuslink ... ^_^ Thoroughly enjoyed pampering ourselves for the day I would say, ha ha ... Also managed to buy a handbag to replace my existing torn one, a good bargain too ... only RM39.90 compared to the original RM169 price tag ...

These are life's little luxuries that I enjoy once in a while ... the other luxuries : morning walks (not having to get caught in the jam, rushing to work early in the morning before the sun rises and back only in the late evening after the sun has set !!! ) and breakfast with close one(s), a jog or a swim in the pool, not having to worry about where I am going to get the money for the next meal, take breaks from work as and when I wish, lead a peaceful life minus traumas, dramas, illnesses or just simply spend time with my young ones doing kids' stuff at home or at the park ...

New hairstyle

18th August, 2008 - Cheers ! ... at a friend's recent wedding reception, tried out this new hairstyle as recommended by Danny Lee of Lee Saloon, Arcade Explanad. Didn't quite used to this mature-looking Odelia in the beginning but hey, there's always a first time ..... ^_^

A day at hometown

17th August, 2008 - Yesterday, I sent the kids to Tg Sepat. Mom went with me and she was so happy.... cheerful as she got to meet up with her siblings. One thing with mom, though she wish for certain thing(s), she would not ask. So, as her daughter, I just have to observe and pop up an offer to take her when I am free. Glad that she's happy with yesterday's visit. Stayed there one night, the kids got to play with their cousins.

I chilled out, always at peace whenever I am there. Got to really relax without a care in the world. The kids even started lighting lanterns, weeks ahead of the Lantern festival! It was nice and cozy, reminds me of my childhood days.

This morning's breakfast was heavenly too ... been such a long time since I had such fresh 'theh he', a type of fish with lots of very soft edible bones ... yummy ^_^

Today, after I got back to KL, I called my designer to help me choose some furniture at the East's last day of sale, closing down apparently. Chosen a treasure chest, a living hall coffee table and a side table at a very good bargain. Happy about the purchase. Looking forward to receive the goods on next Saturday!!!!

My Success Journal - 15 Aug 2008

This week's been a great week ... jogged twice to the hill, walked my Nikki (or rather, ran to keep up with her ... lol), swam twice and for 2 days I slept for more than 12 hours!

Ah ... also, not to mention ... I am a money magnet ! Unexpected cheques/money kept coming into my bank account (legal ones, ok ... in case you start to wonder ...) ^_^ The Secret has proven its point again !

So, being fit in the mind, soul and physical being is really something which I am thankful for ... so much to be happy about my life now ... ha ha ha ... counting my blessings here !

My first painting in donkey years!

6th August, 2008 - This afternoon, I finally sat down to paint ... for the first time after donkey years ! Thanks to a special friend ... for inspiring me ... not to wait until much later in life :-)

My Dash commented : Mommy, how come I don't know you can paint so well one? Where did you learn how to paint so well?

Mommy said : Well, I learnt it from my art teacher in school. If you pay attention during art class, I am sure you can paint well too. You see, you have got mommy's gene in you!

Dash was beaming away. Then he said : how come I don't see any of your painting from last time one?

Mommy went : Ha ha .. you know what? I actually gave them all away to my friends, teachers and the headmistress and the church ... that's why you don't see them.

Dash : Ah ... I know... Mommy, why don't you paint some more. Then, can also sell them to make money !

Mommy : Oh, thank you. Now, you have given mommy an idea (thought of e-bay, actually :-) ha ha ... don't you dare laugh ! It's just a thought ... but then again, no harm trying ... let's see how ... ha ha ....) But Mommy will need to brush up on my painting skill. You see, mommy has not been painting for so so long !

Introducing a new family member

4th August, 2008 - I got the first pet dog for the kids, Nikki. She is so adorable, a cross breed : spitz and shnauzer, very children friendly and good-natured. Nikki was being bullied by my friend's sis-in-law's 2 other much bigger dogs, so much so that she is injured with bites on her head and legs, so she had to be given away. It must have been fate that I picked up the piece of info and I did not hesitate to say yes, let's take a look at Nikki and see if there is chemistry between Nikki and my children. Alas, all my kids were able to click with Nikki and so, well, now Nikki is very much at home with us here.

Yesterday, Nikki had her first hair-trimming. She was so patient ... 2 whole hours she stood there for Odelia, the first time dog-hair-dresser without much fuss. It was really quite a pleasant experience ... ha ha ha ... she looked quite neat after that. It was also my first time taking a bath for a dog and I think I did quite well ... lol ... despite myself getting drenched and all, full of anti-tick shampoo smell and not to mention the experience of removing those lice from her body! Guess what? Nikki was also spotting (according to the previous owner...) for the first time and I had to explain to the kids why she is bleeding ! Guess after she has stopped menstruating, I'll have to bring her to the vet. Rather messy, having to clean after her every now and then ! What an experience !

Anyway, it was good fun and I guess there is much more to learn now that I have added Nikki to our extended family ! Hmm... looks like I'll have good company when my kids are not around in time to come, huh !!! ^_^

Joey's Birthday

2nd August, 2008 - What a weekend I just had ... my Joey's birthday party went very well and everybody had fun, especially the 42 little darlings/teenagers (6 to 18 years old). Thank God they were able to feed and entertain themselves.

Lots of goodies went around and all my 5 kids did their assigned parts pretty well I would say : Dash was the official camera boy, Bob kept his rowdy cousins entertained, Joey was the sweet 'thank you gifts' caretaker, Jasmine kept her friends busy with helping out my maid in the food section, Jenny led the kids' games session. Of course mummy had to do the marketing and fetch the kids to and from the party. Phew ! All went well.

The best moment came when all the kids put on their sweetest smiles when wearing the home-made party hats, and sang the much awaited birthday song!

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

25th July, 2008 - The word for today is "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" ... ha ha ha ... I have seen these series in the bookshops and read through a few pages, gave it a thought and decided 'how true'!

On friday, while waiting for our movie entry point to open, my girlfriend and I decided to go to the ladies and as the nearest is the one in the cinema, we showed the staff our tickets and asked to allow us entry. Guess what? That guy refused to let us in 'coz it was their policy to not allow entry before a certain time. I tried my Odelia 'smiling charm' on him and he finally said okay, but only one person can enter ! I could see my friend fuming away ....

So, I asked where is the other available toilet and he pointed to the other far end direction. My girlfriend tried to argue with him that it is too far for her to walk all the way there, etc. (You see, my girlfriend was wearing a pair of 3 inch high heels and had been complaining of tired aching legs !) She was actually getting furious ! I just couldn't help bursting out loud, and as I was laughing away, I practically had to drag her along towards the other end. She said : Odelia, if not for you, I would have summoned for the manager and complain. What a way to treat us ! It's not like we are going to sneak into the cinema, for goodness sake, it's almost towards the end of whatever is showing in the cinema and we have our tickets ! Can't they be more customer-friendly? On and on she went ... swearing and all ... and all the while I just laugh and laugh and laugh ... and guess what? She ended up laughing with me !!

Well, that guy got his point, my girlfriend also got her point, and of course, I had my own view of the situation ... I just don't allow myself to "sweat the small stuff" ... instead I chose to laugh away and be happy and I think it triggered the laughing nerve in my girlfriend too ! Ha ha ...

By the time we got into the cinema, we were in high spirit again, together with my other 5 ex-colleagues, we enjoyed the "Dark Knight" though a little taxing as it was a rather long (2.5 hours) and mind-boggling movie.

Looking forward to our next movie, the Mummy ^_^

Everybody has a choice

23rd July, 2008 - This month, I started working on a new file, for a well-established millionaire lawyer who is known for his sudden 'outburst' and I was fore-warned by a few of his 'staff' and 'consultant' to be very careful, lest I get 'shouted at' .... well, I had the very first 'financial reporting' meeting with him this morning. Guess what? I went into his room with a big smile and we ended up laughing together 'kah.. kahkahkah..' type and he was all smiles too. I would like to think that he too has caught the Odelia charm ... hmm ... perhaps the few positive suggestions and useful information passed on to him earlier has rubbed on a good impression of me ^_^

When I got out of that room, the staff out there who must have heard my famous 'loud' laughter commented : Odelia, you are really 'happy go lucky' type, always smiling and laughing ... to which I said : Well, everybody has a choice, to be happy or to be not-happy. I happen to choose to be happy ! Then he said : but you are extremely happy, how can that be? I gave him a big big smile and I think he finally 'understood'.

Wow! What a great day today. Managed to attend to all my 3 clients within 6 hours, including travelling time. Hmm... wish all my days are as productive and smooth-going :-)

Bumped into my sister at the kids' school today and she gave me a big plastic full of mangosteens, one of my favourite fruits ! Considering the durians I had last night, these came in just at the right time. Yummy ! Ha ha .... that's me, the 'love my simple life' Odelia ^_^

Baby Koi

12th July, 2008 - Today I went to the fish shop, dragged by my neighbour friend. She was so so interested in those colourful guppies of different species that she spent nearly an hour just to pick 6 of those, to add on to her already many collection of guppies ! This woman ... made me wait and wait ... so I thought, heck, I might as well enjoy myself looking at all the different fishes in the shop.

Guess what? I ended up buying 15 baby koi for RM1! Isn't that cheap or what ... ha ha ... the shopkeeper was generous enough to let me have extra 2 ! Must be the Odelia charm ... yup ... sometimes being able to build affinity is a skill that can easily charm people, even strangers to warm up to you and hence, they are most friendly ! Just one of the many lessons I learnt at the Guerilla Business School .... ^_^

When I got home, Dash was so pleased with those baby koi that he wanted more after seeing them appearing so beautiful in the pond ... In fact, I thought they look really lovely, swimming away so gracefully in the pond. Wow ! a one ringgit worth of fishes giving my kids and myself a million ringgit worth of happiness ... how good is that :-) That's just the kind of simple thing in life that makes me happy !

So, in the evening, I went to the shop again together with Dash and Bob to buy another 3 ringgit worth of baby koi, that's about 60 little fishes ...... yup, the shopkeeper gave us extra (again!). When we reached home, Dash refused to let his little pets into the pond and mummy got creative ... took a 1.5litre empty plastic bottle, cut a rectangular hole, put in some pebbles and some green leaves with root still intact and in goes the little babies. Actually they look kind of frightened but after some time, they begin to swim and even feed on the fish food !

Hmm... been a wonderfully peaceful and quiet evening, a relaxing way of unwinding my tired mind... most importantly, I got to spend some quality time with the boys ^_^