Although I have to admit I spent a few hours cursing my immune system for failing me once again, Gabby happily reminded me of why it can be awesome to fall sick.

Well, for starters. You get to stay home. Spend the entire day at home, on the couch or your bed, just lying there hoping and wishing for a swift death.

You have a fever! Not the Saturday night kind that kills you the morning after (and if it’s really bad, the day after that as well), but you get to be all high and woozy due to crazy body temperatures.

Not just that, you get to drown yourself in gallons of water and……… legal drugs. I know paracetamol isn’t much of a trippy drug, but guess what is? Flu meds! Yes, I’m talking the cough mixture, anti-cold/flu/congested nose kind. Those just make you even more woozy, and throw you in a state of… well, mild drunkenness.

Mix dizziness + a fever + flu meds and television, and you’ve got a winner right there. Nothing beats stoning to Family Guy, the Simpsons or How I Met Your Mother all day in a slightly darkened living room with a bottle of water, 100 Plus, Panadols & your remote control as your best buds.

But most importantly, you get tons of pampering. That is, if you’re living at home with your mum…. very much unlike me. If you’re living at home with family, you get hot soup, tons of hugs, “How are you?”s and gazillions of TLC. If you’re like me, you’re sweating your pores out in an empty house while the boyf is in the office… which really isn’t too bad, I have to say.

So anyway, the next time you catch the common cold, or even get hit with the seasonal dose of the snotty flu, remember to park yourself on your couch, turn on the TV, and prepare to enjoy the next few hours, even if you’re near death. After alls, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade right?

Warning: Personal experience here, guys. When your temp hits all-time highs of 39.7 degrees and you start seeing stars, time to stop stoning and enjoying yourself. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life in that same hazy, stoning state, you’d better get up and and call reinforcements — apparently you’re pretty close to damaging that little organ up north that we like to call the brain.

“What do I do at work?”

Honestly, guys, that’s one question I get really, really, often from parents, relatives, friends, acquaintances, people I just meet, cats, dogs, unicorns.. the list could go on and on really.

Often, people just resort to assuming I do some “Internet-related” thing that is kinda like blogging, Facebook and Twitter. Or sometimes they think I sit on the computer and build sites like techies do. The variety of assumptions I get never fail to amaze and amuse me. But I digress.

So, what do I do at work?

I’m just kidding. Yes, that’s my office, and yes, that was what I was doing just an hour ago. But that’s not all I do at work (and definitely not the norm).

Let’s start with something generic like… where can you find my physical body for 40-45 hours a week (daily time frames range from 9-4 or 10-7)?

For those of you who don’t already know, I work at MindValley with a team age that averages at 24. It’s this crazy young, successful and fast-growing American company that’s based in K.L. and has a business model that is, yes, centered on e-commerce. We’re basically online publishers for personal development gurus / authors like The American Monk, The Silva Method, Brian Johnson of PhilosophersNotes, and Sean Stephenson.. among others. Our business tagline? Spreading enlightened ideas. Although I can’t say I agree with every single one of the ideas we’re spreading, I have to admit we’re on a pretty awesome path.

So what role do I play in this awesome organization of approximately… 40 people?

I’m kinda like the project manager there for one of the businesses called Niche Domination. I know, it’s a mouthful and you’re wondering, “What the **** is that?”. But it’s okay, that part’s the easiest to explain. At work, I’m responsible for a variety of things that include:

• Updating half of the MindValley blog network
• Managing a community of 370,000+ subscribers
• Using social media tools to get our ideas to the masses
• Coordinating online sales promotions & launches
• Experimenting with new ideas and niches
• Identifying the next big personal development partner to publish

Basically, a whole array of stuff. Gabby, one of our copywriters, dished this out for me for the team website:

Organized, creative, and results driven is an understatement. With a brain likened to a supercomputer on steroids, Xinch (as she’s fondly known) manages MindValley’s largest online community, dominates the niches of personal development with a bullwhip, and makes use of the various social media sites to bring in the moolah.

While her mind-manipulating fancies may have faded with the completion of her Psych degree, she’s found new ways to use her understanding of the human mind to sell like a rock star, giving the customers what they want while dazzling them at the same time like Celine Dion in Vegas.

And though she’ll deny it, some have claimed that she is psychic as she seems to know what you need before you ask for it. Because of this uncanny skill, working with her is a cinch (no pun intended).

In order to maintain some semblance of a personal life she blogs on Malaysian politics, travels, is into photography and design, and loves eating, which begs the question, “Why won’t you gain weight, you lucky *****?”

I think in order to be really simple, I rake in cash for the company by using social media tools like blogs, Facebook & Twitter to spread the ideas of the partners we work with. Yeah, I think that’s the easiest.

What’s even better? Aside from the fact that I work my ass off at work, I’m given the freedom to move about as I please, work from wherever I want to, travel frequently if I want (e.g. Bali in March, Laos in October, Penang for a week in December), dress as casually as I can, freelance, and start my own businesses or projects on the side… and given near-complete trust with my often-untested-and-random ideas.

How cool is that?

And I have a boss that dishes out booze, chocolates, cookies & crackers at 5pm on Friday just because: “..we are kicking some serious ass I have decided to get drinks and snacks so we can roll into the weekend in style. Be back from my booz run soon and will see you in the Hall of Awesomeness ”

Yup. I’m extremely blessed. And am gonna work my ass off to get to where I wanna be. That’s a promise, homies

2010 is gonna be spectacular!

Happy New Decade, y’all!

The first day of the year (and in this case, the decade) is equally as awesome. That being said, I love 2009.

2009 has got to be the most eventful and the speediest year of my short almost-22 years on Earth. In fact, it passed so quickly that I have to admit, it’s mildly scary.

Do you remember being 10, wondering why 24 hours seems to take so long to pass?

In a blink of an eye, the entire year has passed me by.

I’ve got to admit, though, it’s neck-to-neck with 2008 to be the best year of my short life thus far.

But, I loved 2009. Here’s why:

1. New Journeys

I’ve embarked on several different, yet very defining, paths this year.

First up, I graduated and… got a job. But I didn’t just get a job, I got one at the awesomest place in the country, working alongside the most brilliant minds ever at MindValley. If you’re wondering what we do, just go check the website out.

I more-or-less relocated myself to KL / PJ. I honestly don’t know which I prefer, if I’ll get the hell out of this country, or if I’ll ever move back home to Penang. But for the next few years, you’ll know where to find me. That being said, Penang will always be home.. so it’s more of a “see you again”, and less of a “goodbye”.

I moved out of Bayu Puteri, my college-haunt, and into my Dad’s apartment in Sunway…and then out again to Sterling Condo to live with HornyMel, Anna and Mai. It’s a new journey of refurnishing and adjusting to living with new people. Nonetheless, Sterling’s a swanky new place that doesn’t come with a swankily high price, which I will most probably be in for the next year or so.

2. Rekindling the Old, Embracing the New

I’m talking relationships here. Not necessarily romantic ones. But relationships in general.

2009 saw me making new friends. A whole lotta new, and very dear friends.

I had a blast with my family and loved ones all year, and I know 2010 will be no different.

3. Pushing Myself To For New Challenges

Worked my ass off for 2 entire semesters and for once, actually dreamed of an A. I got my As. Thesis was one of the best things that happened to me this year. That and winning that “Outstanding Speaker” award I never knew I’d be able to land. I have the gift of the gab, but not in front of a crowd. For once, I challenged myself to not care if we won, or if we lost. We won. Best presentation, outstanding speaker. Let’s just say I ended my life as an undergraduate with a super bang!

I ran 11km, without sufficient training in August (and was sick throughout), during the Adidas King of the Road event in Shah Alam. Completed it in 1 hr 40 mins and man did I feel like a rockstar. I admit that my legs were dying afterward, but it was all worth it. This, coming from the girl who 2 years ago could barely hike up Strawberry Hill in Youth Park and whose fitness level has so severely deteriorated that her only motivation to get up and get moving through a forest is if there’s a beach at the other end. So, together with Esther, Khailee, Zumy and Ronn (who’s not in this picture because he’s too cool to poserposer with us in a back alley), we totally made 11km!

And… I don’t know… getting a job?

It’s a short list, really. But it sums up everything in 2009. The theme was new, exciting and challenging.

Let’s see what 2010 holds for me

]]> http://xinch.com.my/awesome-things-2009-879/feed/ 0 http://xinch.com.my/6-driving-old-vehicles-875/ http://xinch.com.my/6-driving-old-vehicles-875/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:53:37 +0000 xinch http://xinch.com.my/?p=875 As many of you know, I drive an 18-year-old, 1st generation, Japanese-made Proton Saga that was handed down to me by my mum (who got an upgrade courtesy of the father to an SUV).

I’ve driven it around the Klang Valley, the North South highway and Penang for 4.5 years already, and it’s served me decently.

Okay, “decently” is stretching it.

In the past 4 years…

• Repeated visits to the mechanic has cost me thousands
• The brakes failed while I drove along the Sprint highway in 2007
• It has locked me out 4 times already, and locked me in once
• It refuses to function smoothly with RON95 and insists I spend RM15 more on petrol each time I gas up

And much, much, more.

I’ve complained endlessly about my car.

Until now.

Yesterday, my Proton got into a battle with Vishen’ (my boss’) Mercedes. Long story short, Vishen wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings and pretty much reversed into my Proton sitting innocently on his right. From my point of view, I knew things would end up pretty ugly when I watched my car bob up and down as Vishen tried to extricate his car from the mess.

So when I rushed over to survey the damage, I was ready for the dents, scratches and potential bumper-drops.

Surprisingly

There was no dent, my bumper was still intact, and car had polish-able scratches. Huge sigh of relief — that didn’t look too bad.

Then I looked at Vishen’s car. Multiple scratches (which would have to be repainted)… and a significant dent!

I can see the headline already…

Ancient Proton Saga Emerges Victorious From A Battle With Brand New Mercedes Kompressor

In red for some internet marketing emphasis.

I love my car (no that’s not my car, but I was too lazy to take a picture)

Awesome, no?

My current apartment is located on the 16th floor, and I unfortunately get the morning sun as it faces east and there is no adjacent building to block out the light. But there’s a bright (pun unintended) side to all that sun.

I’m greeted by the bluest of blue skies most mornings. Like on Saturday. I opened my eyes, squinted a little and all I could see was….. a sea of blue.

It was a pretty awesome “Good Morning” from from God.

I’m referring to nature.Yes. Trees, plants, the jungle and rolling plains of tea.

I spent the weekend in Cameron Highlands. It’s been 3.5 years since I’ve been there and it’s definitely been missed.

This time around, we decided to get out of Tanah Rata and cab to the ‘BOH’ Tea Plantation & Factory up in Mount Brinchang.

There’s something peaceful and calming about taking yourself out of urban life for a few moments in time and into lush green scenery for reflection, reading, relaxation, and conversation. As appreciative as I am of city-life, I do occasionally crave for beauty like this. The last time I allowed myself a breather to absorb the wonders of nature was a year and a half ago in Dublin. But only for a few moments as the bus honked us away from the serenity that is nature.

This time around, I got my fill.

4 hours of conversation, financial planning, reading Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” and breathing fresh, unpolluted air can do wonders for your soul. Will definitely be back.

No one knows you, no one knows each other and there’s this awkward silence as the elevator climbs to your floor? It’s even worse when it’s not one of those fancy elevators with elevator music playing so that you can pretend that you’re listening intently to the song or composing an accompanying masterpiece in your head. In fact, in silent elevators, you usually can’t wait for the “ding” and the doors to open so that you can rush out of that tense and awkward space…

When you live on the 16th floor like I do, it’s really not out of the ordinary to bump into fellow-condo-tenants during the long climbs / descents in that capsule.

But today, I broke out of that ordinary humdrum and made conversation with my neighbour 4 floors down.

I’d like to think that put a smile not only on my face, but on hers too

After 2 hours of conversation, bruschetta, salad and salmon fettucini pasta in tomato-cream sauce laced with seaweed….. *drool*

Time to pay the bill came.

We opened our wallets to pay the RM46.20 total when I discovered that I only had RM11.50 left in my wallet. Knowing that I can rely on the ever-money-laden Saw Ping May, I asked to loan the remaining RM14 when she said she’s short as well.After nearly 5 minutes spent digging around our purses (and bags) for coins and crumpled RM1 notes, we made EXACT CHANGE of RM46.20.

The relief that came with that last 10sen coin was….. pretty awesome

Here’s entry #1.

I love it when I dig around in my drawers or my pockets and discover that hidden RM10 / RM50 I never knew existed. I was dressing for work today and I dug in my pockets for no apparent reason — only to find 2 crumpled RM50 notes that survived the washing machine.

I should be more careful, but that easily made my day