Because I'm Happy (sing along)

Thursday, May 22, 2014 - Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Penang

Yesterday was our first full day in Penang. We had a good night's sleep after our big day of air travel. We woke up, explored our beautiful room a bit more, used 3 of the 4 shower heads in our massive shower (Alan actually did run around in the shower... just because he could), and then made our way down to the big buffet breakfast. We didn't have much time to really explore the whole buffet, because we were scheduled for a tour of Penang at 9:00, and that's how our day began....

The tour was great. Not rushed. Not too long. With a good guide. We went to a Burmese temple, a Thai temple, a place where they showed us how they make batik prints (very interesting), and then to the top of Penang Hill, the highest point on the island (just under 2000 feet), for lunch.

It is hot, sticky, and a little bit hazy here. The ocean temperature is a balmy 27 degrees (it actually feels warm in the morning air, perhaps it will feel cool in the heat of the day). The pools here are beautiful. There are two: one saltwater and child free, and one fresh water with children playing. You know I chose the saltwater pool if you know me well. :)

After a dip, I went back to my room and changed back into a dress so I could go to the high tea service. Yes, high tea. The tower of little food items was delivered to me as a setting for one. Scones, little cakes, and mini savoury sandwiches with lovely cheeses, salmon, and meats. I took my time and enjoyed the carbs in the afternoon. :)

Happy hour proved to be a challenge for the resort. I'm not sure how well briefed they were on the demand they'd have for the full 90 minutes. Put the words "free drinks" in front of a PartyLite group of any size and you're bound to get almost everyone there. There are 181 of us here this year, and I'm not sure if anyone missed happy hour. :) Food, wine, bubbles, and even cocktails are included in this daily offering from the hotel. I'm sure they'll be better prepared this afternoon. I'm not complaining... The happy hour did its job and got us started.

Apparently there is a rule in my life that if I'm anywhere with a Hard Rock Cafe, I must go to it. Ben, Ange, Alan, and I enter to the Hard Rock Hotel just a few blocks away from our hotel. We had dinner and stayed for a few sets of the 7 piece band. Three singers just kept churning out the hits and we had a great time. Lots of drinking, rehydrating, and drinking some more. We made our way to the souvenir shop, bought our obligatory rock t-shirt to prove we were there, and cabbed it back to the hotel.

And that, my friends, was day 1.

Today, I sit in my air conditioned room, post breakfast, sipping coffee and typing this note to you. In about an hour, Ben, Alan, and I will go paragliding. Ange is riding  horseback this arvo. And who knows what the rest of the day will entail. Certainly a few happy hours... A dinner with the entire group. And later... a little bit of geetar. :)

Stay tuned.... :)

It's been a long time...

This, my personal blog, has been neglected. Perhaps I've been too busy. Perhaps I've been too business. Perhaps I've been offline having fun instead of writing. Whatever the reason. I'm here....

I do frequently let people know that I have a personal blog. Interesting that even in saying that I haven't been drawn to write. The instigator for this post was seeing words to the effect:

Don't spend so much time making a living that you forget to make a life....

And THAT is something I believe in.

A friend of mine has recently been offered a job. A highly lucrative job. One that has been so tempting that it prompted her to her resign from her own business and consider several employment options.

That situation got me to thinking about the choices I've made over the past 9 years.... 9 years I've been unemployed. No boss. No employees. Just me, myself, and I. Running a business or two as I go, but nonetheless, unemployed.

I love it.

The lucrative jobs are out there and I know I could do them. I know I'd be great at them. I know I'd be able to use the knowledge I've gained over the past 9 years, add the knowledge I gained in my corporate life before that, and add in a few classes, some street knowledge, and barre chords, and I'd be a pretty hot property. :)

But I'd be an employee. And that, my friends is something I don't every want to be again.

Master of my domain is what I want to be. It's what I've come to expect. My day is my own to strategise, network, train, develop, serve, create, improve, or relax as I see fit. My vacation days are plentiful. My work days are full and exhausting. My schedule is flexible, yet full to the brim, because I like it that way.

A four day weekend, like the one I'm enjoying right now, is actually somewhat frustrating. I woke up several times this morning (day 4 of 4) and had to do lists forming, presentations being rehearsed in my head, new songs longing for more opportunities to play, and ideas for creating new business.... Here, on my day off, I'm organising my home office to be ready when tomorrow comes.

In actuality, I'm working as hard as I ever have, and, honestly, though I could be making more money... perhaps a lot more.... I couldn't imagine taking up any offer. Money isn't everything. And life is short.

It's a great life. Once I realised that making it a great life was more important than making a living. That I work to live, not live to work. That I can choose to focus on what is important to me. And choose that, I have.

Don't spend so much time making a living that you forget to make a life....

Yucky Drizzle from the iCloud

iPhone 3 was synched to Google.

Google was synching with Outlook.

Update either, both said, "Yay!"

Wendy was happy.

iPhone 4 offered me an iCloud.

I said yes.

Not so happy anymore.

Many duplicate appointments.

Some missing altogether.

Wendy is sad.

Help.