Cliche is as cliche does

Today was one of those days when alot of things become clear. Not necessarily because they were not viewed through clear vision, but more so the fact that the cliche "You never see what is in front of you" really is cliche. So when cliche becomes cliche, you have to write. So that one day, more fools can understand that they are not alone.

I'm leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this evening. That's about 400 km away, for the SEAsian Geopolitically challenged. Kind of an R&R. Meeting a friend there, my namesake. I did a search for all "Dahlia"s on Friendster and there were 13. I contacted those in the same age range and region and made friends. I plan to visit all of them soon. Eliminate them all, since there can be only one.

Since i was leaving today, i took time off from work (T day). I couldnt sleep beyond the usual 0630 so i was already up and about check my internet mail, watching morning shows and DVDs that my dad had bought over the past month or so. Simplest pleasures in life; Reading the papers in the morning bed before anyone else does, sleeping after breakfast.. and McDonald's breakfast.

They have 24hr McDonald's delivery service. So i decided to order in. Problem is: What is their damn phone number? Which ties in with the notion that you never know what is in front of you till you need it. They had been advertising like crazy, on the TV, in the newspapers, radio jingles.. etc.. and i couldn't remember the number. It was easy enough getting it though, i just did it "Who wants to be a millionaire" style, i called a friend.

6777-3-777.

Remember it well. I fear one day i might forget and then i would have to ask you.

I watched a DVD over breakfast, i love vegetating over TV and eating while doing so, it's very indulgent. It was the latest Bill Murray show, "Broken FLowers".. a "follow up" type thingy from his "Lost in Translation".. it's the kind of movies that "hangs". There is no conclusion, and you think of a possible ending. In it, he receives a letter from a woman he used to have relations with 20 years ago saying that he has a son and that son is looking for him. Only problem is, she did not tell him who she was. So Bill Murray's neighbour made him embark on a solo road trip to track the women he slept with 20 years ago and find out who the woman is.

There is something especially poignant in the movie. It is when they meet again after 20 years. People you have loved once. It's that quiet connection when you meet again and lock eyes. Each side will be replaying their version of what happened. And you wonder if one side is as good as the other, and if not,how come. Do we selectively remember certain things? I believe so. Because people and their emotions and their reactions are so complex, you are almost never as lucky/unlucky to be experiencing the same emotions as the other person is at that moment of time in that situation. If you do, then that is rare, conditions of luck aside, but it is still a moment to be treasured.

There was this scene which i enjoyed. Bill Murray's character met up with an old flame, a realtor and they were having tea. Just tea, no cordial conversation. She lived in a neat and well made-up house and wore a sharp white shirt with khakis and a string of pearls. Bill Murray was sizing her up over the many silences that punctuated the scene when he finally said:

BM: Nice pearls. (woman touches the necklace around her neck self-consciously.) Did i give them to you?
Woman: No.
BM: (Shrugs) Well.. i should have.

I loved that scene. It's so telling, no?

Luck of the Irish

I guess we all need some. We should be getting some, huh? The luck of the Irish. With 2006 hitting us in full force sometime after the 1st quarter, because that's when the market will finally cool and all bullshit finance theories and phenomenons go out of fashion. The STI and DOW are seeing the best rallies since early 2000. (Why am i saying this?) But good market is good. Means that traders, brokers, bankers and other unmentionables are happy. When they are happy with money making, it means that they give me an easier time. It means i can push deadlines to "next week", "tomorrow" or "when London starts work", whichever comes first. (London is useless by the way.. i swear we Asians work too damn hard)

I will be posted overseas by April. Or mid-March. I still haven't made up my mind whether to stay local and travel around the region or be based overseas for a year or two. I'll take a poll... you, my faithful readers, yes all 4 of you will decide or at least have a "democratic vote" as to my fate and mental state for the next 2 years or so.

Reasons to Stay:
1. So i don't have to do housework when i live abroad in my own apartment. This is a really big thing for me.. honestly, i hate to do cleaning and worse, iron my clothes.. Cooking, i can deal with.. Ironing is a nightmare and trust me, i will have to do alot of ironing..

2. I still get to play floorball, netball...etc. I need my sports. Being posted overseas could doom me into doing indoor gym gym stuff.. and who plays floorball??

3. I don't want to be far from loved ones. Family, friends and boyfriends... etc.. You get my drift. I don't have the time to date or socialize overseas.. im there to work.. not into the whole emotional rollercoaster thing on company's money.

4. I will be bonded to the company for at least a year based on the relocaton package. Which means a career freeze. If i want to do my CFA, masters or jump ship.. it is not going to be possible. Timing is everything in finance. If i have my window of opportunity i want to be able to take it.

Reasons to GO:
1. International exposure is kick ass. The experience is worth going for.

2. It's a freaking overseas opportunity that people will kill for.

3. I'm young. If i don't do it now when im not tied to any commitments or obligations, then when?

4. Living on your own gives you more freedom.

5. Do the things that are difficult and hard. Breaking out of your comfort zone will only make you stronger you WUSS!

Stay tuned for the unveiling of the results.. coming soon in end-Jan..

I said i'd drag them along for the ride

I was on a porch of a 6 star hotel looking out to the harbour where the fireworks were supposed to start. And it was so Imperialist style, because most of the people on that balcony were sipping their wines and champagne while the rest of the "fireworks" watching crowd were spread on their picnic mats on the Hotel's lawn just around the corner of a busy traffic intersection. They had can drinks and ate what it might have seem like from way up where i was, sandwiches. But since fireworks are not selfish, when it finally exploded, it entertained us all.

Now with 2005 gone, one can expect 2006 to be just as good/better/no way as good.. depending on what you have planned for the year. I had gone manic in 2005 with writing everything i did in my lil' schedule book. My reason was that i did not want to lose track of time, the people and more importantly me. And i thought it would make for better measure and for more interesting conversation when i can meet up with friends and go "Do you know it has been more than 2 months since we have met? I know because it's recorded, just like this conversation." Or to a friend who has to temporarily suspend her relationship with her German boyfriend, who is meditating in Cambodia,"It's only 5 months. It will come and go just like that! *snaps fingers for effect*"

Maybe it's because i'm really starting to feel my age. I know people will often balk at this. "Your age? You are only 24.. " but while that number in absolution is small, compared to the teens and earlier 20s i really am feeling 24. I'm definitely slower. I'm definitely eating more for no apparent reason. I'm defintely so consumed with work that i have little motivation to do anything else. While that may seem like a whole string of excuses... all my working people out there, you know what i mean?

New Year's Resolution; WEALTH ACCUMULATION and FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS.
It is as boring and nonsense as it sounds. We'll see how it goes. 2005's was about acceptance. And i handled the "boring and nonsense" really well... almost too well. This year has no compromises.