Friday, March 30, 2007

Life....and the importance of enjoying it

I had a super busy day yesterday, worked hard, got a lot done, went home and had to take a nap it was such a crazy day. Today, I woke up and read an email from a colleague of mine. His daughter nearly drowned yesterday while on vacation in Thailand. Fast thinking of the pool crew turned off the pump that had her stuck to the bottom of the pool and two vacationing doctors performed CPR on her. Last update is she is in the hospital and has had surgery to repair a shattered arm and they are looking for internal damage due to the strength of the pool pump, but so far I guess she is alive and that is a BIG thing.

After I read his email I went and hugged my children and told them how very much I loved them. You never know, it can all be gone in just a minute.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

7 Things week of March 18

First off, T it was great talking to you today. I love you and I am well sorry I haven't talked to you in a while... you know.

In said conversation with T. the topic of 7 things challenge came up... I have not been very good at this recently, sort of fallen off many a wagon, but the 7 things are packed and ready to go out the door tomorrow morning.

1. John Le Carre Our Game book- read by both Jeff and I
2. Robert Crais The Last Dectective-read by both Jeff and I
3. Sue Grafton-G is for Gumshoe, I read, Jeff won't
4. Tom Clancey's Politika a book not written by Tom Clancy, only used his "name" read by both Jeff and I and we both wondered WHY?
5. John Le Carre-Absoulte Friends. Read by Jeff and I
6. Pair of size 14 black shorts bought in Taiwan 5 years ago after Declan was born. Don't fit-time to let go.
7.Black maternity Shorts-Not planning any more kids. Out the door.
8. Long Sleeve T-Shirt thing- Size small- Doesn't fit, never really did... don't wear it ever.
9. Khaki drawstring linen pants. About 9 years old, waistline is totally frayed, thin in the butt, not flattering... time to say good bye.

So, this feels good. While we were in HK we did not buy any clothing, although it was tempting. I sat in a legal seminar feeling totally under dressed. Part was because of the HK legal market and the ultra-conservative dress they wear, part because my clothes are all old and ill fitting. The advantage of working from home is that you don't have to dress up for anyone. The disadvantage is that you have nothing to wear when you are required to go out and be presentable.

Rather than buy new clothes right away (again, TRYING, but not all together successful) at staying on the Compact pledge. I am thinking about the next time I travel to Thailand having some tailored clothes made. The cost is inexpensive and the quality can be quite good, the next part is if this is a need or a want. Good thing I have some time to think about it.

Monday, March 12, 2007

A few new interesting blogs

I have been thinking about the Compact pledge. Overall I think I have done OK, but I have NOT been completely true to the pledge. I find it pretty easy to justify a purchase. I need new shoes (which I really did as the only pair of work shoes I had were litterally falling apart... Really!) but I justify magazine purchases saying it is for the business. Ok, I really do read them and really do process the information and use the trend spotting portion for the business. Yes, I put these into the records as a business purchase, but it seems a bit disingenious to say the least. I am off to Hong Kong this week to attend a legal seminar and stop by a trade show for products for Far Flung Craft. I am excited about the trip there is a lot I want to see and do in 2 short days, but I worry that I will fall victim to my compulsive shopping habit. I love night markets... I see things I want....but don't need. So, I am going with good intentions to keep my demons at bay, enjoy the night market but not purchase anything!

A side note, while we are there we will be going out to dinner with a good friend of ours. This is a first for me as we will be dining at one of Hong Kong's famous (yet hard to find and even harder to get into) private dining houses. These are private kitchens ususally in homes that have been opened up-(I imagine they are not all together up and up with the SAR government) for private meals. I promise to take pictures and send back a report!

Anyway, I was looking at a Singapore blog service today and found two very intersting blogs. The first a bunch of garbage from around my very own condo. Disturbing that there is this much litter in my own "back" yard but kind of interested to see who my blogging neihbor is!

The second blog is going to take a bit of reading, but I do want to delve deeper. A Zen-Simple Living blogger returning to Singapore. Can't wait to read more.

Here you go.

http://cashewheights.blogspot.com/

http://singaporecityzen.wordpress.com/tag/voluntary-simplicity/

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

5 star girl

we just got back from a quick weekend trip to Kuala Lumpur. I was there on business for the week, so Jeff and the kids took the bus up along with our friend Corbett and our nanny Nancy. The bus is a great deal, it is $97 Singapore dollars round trip and drops you off almost right at KLCC (the major shopping center/park/hotel complex in the heart of KL).

While in KL, we ate dinner with Corbett and his friend (a fellow TI'er out on business in KL) Stefan at a great Spanish/German Pork restaurant called El Cerdo. We had the roast piglet, pork steak, sausages, a nice bean/pork soup, and a few other dishes that I can't now remember. It was a feast of pork to be sure!

The kids played in the KLCC park, we visited the new Aquarium at KLCC Convention Center, which was pretty good. They had a few too many snakes for my taste, but it was a special exhibit I guess. We also spent lots of time lounging around the pool and the kids had room service breakfast 2 mornings in a row. They loved calling in the order, watching the service attendant set up the trays and eating the meal while sitting on the end of the bed. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, in my opinion the best hotel in Asia. The service is great, the staff super, the food and location unbeatable. The best part is the price, due to my corporate discount and the exchange rate, a 5 star hotel costs us $100 US a night. Amazing.

the only problem is that after a whole day of pool lounging, room service and pampering... Kiera announced that she didn't want to leave. She wanted to live in the hotel forever. AH, I have a real 5 star luxury babe on my hands :-)
 
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