Commercial houses
By pinlean | October 29, 2008
Hubs and I took E to the Kizsports Gym & Playland in Bangsar Village II on Monday, during the Deepavali public holiday. It was early still (well, relatively), about 11 a.m. Traffic was smooth. We were due to meet Charlie, Shen & baby Gavin there for a few hours of riotous fun.
I love the state of our roads on public holidays. Generally clear. It feels nice to be able to whiz past and not worry about a bumper-to-bumper crawl.
I love the houses along the Jalan Bangsar stretch, from the Bangsar Shopping Centre all the way through to Jalan Telawi. A lot of them have been converted into commercial units, luxurious street-front bungalows housing clothes boutiques, to Samsonite luggage, to a ’sleep shop’ selling mattresses and bedding. Rental must cost a bomb, though. I always wonder if they make enough money to pay rental.
My parents’ home is also on a main road front, in PJ. A few bungalows along their row have already been snapped up and converted into commercial bungalows. One is a property development company. Another is a kindergarten. I keep telling them that they should put their home onto the market as a commercial lot and make some serious money.
But they’re so sentimental about moving homes. I grew up in that house. We’ve had it for over 30 years. My dad, especially, is a stickler for habit and constancy and his familiar surroundings. They’d cry if they had to move.
Topics: Memoirs, Thoughts, Family, Writing | No Comments »
A Problem
By pinlean | October 29, 2008
You have a problem, he says.
Because he is my husband and he says this, like he is perfect, I resent him. I get angry. I become defensive. I cook up reasons why I don’t have a problem. I tell him, this is my money. I’ve earned it through sheer hard work. I want to spoil myself because you don’t. Is that so wrong?
No, it’s not wrong to want to pamper yourself every now and then. But you go overboard. You can’t deny that. Isn’t that true?
I only spend when I know I can afford to.
You buy stupid things! Votive candle holders, for instance. Do we really need that?
They were 70% off, I shout at him. They were dirt cheap! And they’re not stupid.
I know you make good money, he says. I know you think I don’t support you enough. But I love you. And I’m just trying to tell you that maybe, just maybe, you have a problem. You can’t stop shopping.
I am angry. Tears are running down my face now. I am so angry with him. Is it wrong to want pretty things, to want to look good sometimes? I question.
Within reason!
You don’t understand me.
That’s right. That’s what you say everytime we argue.
I don’t want to talk about this now. I’ll only say this. My money. I do what I want with my money.
Fine. If that’s the way it’s going to be. Is that what marriage is to you?
He walks away.
I sigh. I grab my car keys and handbag. I want to go to a mall right now.
Topics: Rantings, Expenditure, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing, Family, Work | No Comments »
Writing Project: Chapter 18
By pinlean | October 24, 2008
The pain came suddenly. Intense. Beyond the wildest imagination of men. He knew from experience that it would last only a few hours, and then go away. What the pain left, though would be emblazoned in his memory forever. But the passing seconds felt like an eternity. He stifled a scream, curled his fist into his mouth and bit his knuckles hard. He could feel the Serpent writhing behind him. Everytime it moved, it struck a chord in his memory of the first time this had happened.
He was 12. Or maybe 13?
His parents had to hide him away for days after, giving feeble excuses about a contagious skin infection. His sister, his beloved twin sister, she bore the pain with him. He remembered, hearing her toss and turn in her bed that night, moaning aloud, crying, begging for the pain to stop. He remembered her patchy reddened skin, flaky, falling onto the floor. Her welt-covered face. Blood and pus. They were both hideous. For a week, they had to stay out of sight. They remained in the house, with a constant cloud of gloom hanging over their heads.
Forgive me, he thought, tears prickling his eyes. Forgive me, sister.
Topics: Collaboration, Writing project, 200-words only, Work In Progress, Writing | 1 Comment »
Retail Therapy
By pinlean | October 17, 2008
I’ve over-done the retail therapy thing. I tell myself, everytime I buy a new pair of shoes I don’t really need, or a handbag that costs more than my daughter’s bi-annual kindy fees, that I’m treating myself. That I deserve a gift. That I work hard for my money and therefore I should be able to spend it in any way I want to. That makes me happy.
Does it really?
I don’t know. My BFF pointed out to me- I shop when I’m upset. I shop when things get difficult. I shop when I have an argument with Hubs, which of late, had been pretty frequent. (Thankfully, though, things are getting nice and peachy again these days, so I haven’t been shopping as much. ? Really?) She thinks the material possessions, the pretty things, the look and feel of a brand-new item in its shiny paper bag, makes me happy. I think she’s right.
I’m finally able to admit that I have a problem. I’m a shopaholic! And I may be worse than Becky of the ‘Shopaholic’ series fame by Sophie Kinsella. Hubs is ecstatic that I’ve finally admitted it. He thinks I need to go for some kind of counselling or therapy to get me to stop shopping.
Is there even such a thing? There’s alcohol rehab, drug rehab, sex addition rehab (think: David Duchovny, hehe). But I’d never heard of shopaholic rehab. At least not in Malaysia.
Topics: Expenditure, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing | No Comments »
Whoever said that…
By pinlean | October 17, 2008
…money doesn’t make the world go round, or that it doesn’t bring happiness, or that it’s less important than love and health- is a big fat liar! Money SO makes things work, and I’d be happy beyond words if only I had more money.
As it is, I had to fork out over almost 2 grand for my auto insurance this afternoon, plus road tax. The worst part was that I had completely forgotten about renewing it, and so, it came as a nasty surprise when the agent contacted me and told me it had expired- and lo and behold, it had! Sigh. I’m also suffering financially- the after-effects of a 4-day holiday with Hubs and Bubs recently. Accommodation, food, toll charges, some shopping. Argh!!!
I love money. I wish I had more of it. I could be so much happier if I had a little more money- then Hubs and I wouldn’t have to fight all the time about it too. And- I can finally have that second baby I’d been dreaming about for such a long time… It sucks when you have to put on hold trying for a second child just because you think you’re too broke to feed another one….
Topics: Rantings, Thoughts, Writing | No Comments »
Home Improvement (2)
By pinlean | June 27, 2008
I returned home pretty late last night, and was in a mad rush to take a shower and pick up my daughter from my parents’ home. I was also hungry, because it was already 9.30 p.m. and my lunch dissolved at about 5 p.m. I bundled up the stairs, removing my clothes as I did, into my bedroom, grabbed my towel, flicked on the heater switch and plomped into the shower area and turned it on full blast. Nothing refreshes you like a nice hot shower at the end of a long day. I scrubbed, I soaped, I sang as suds of shampoo spilled over my face.
After I was finished, I took a critical look at the exposed piping running the length of the bathroom, to the water heater. The sound of a little drip drip annoyed me, and I hated the faulty ol’ bathroom faucets. The WC was a sorry-looking piece of fixture, a basic white one with a yellowed, cheap-looking plastic cistern. I critically surveyed the bathroom tiles, white with a pink and red lily pattern adorned, cheap-looking too. These came with the house when we bought it, and because we had spent our money buying the house, we took it “as is” and didn’t bother with any renovations or home improvement projects. Now, though, I was beginning to feel a sense of discontent creep in.
I imagined a clean, beautiful spacious bathroom with a transparent wash basin sitting on top of a faux marble closet, and shiny new taps. A ceramic water cistern, white, but with clean lines and contours. A tempered, frosted shower screen with a stainless steel side rack to place toiletries. Shiny, stainless steel towel railings. Hidden piping works. And I would definitely want to change those ugly tiles, plain pretty ones would do for me.
The bathroom is the first thing I check out when I’m in a house, friends’ ones or otherwise. Next to the bedroom (which is first and foremost, my sanctuary), the bathroom plays an equally important role.
I was determined that after the conversion of the study room into the maids’ room, and the improvement of our upstairs living area into a study/computer area, this would be my next project. Maybe I should start looking around for bathroom fixtures and fittings…
Topics: Home, Expenditure, Dreams, Memoirs, Writing, Thoughts, Work | No Comments »
Home improvement (1)
By pinlean | June 25, 2008
I was talking to my maid last night about my plans to re-model / improve my home. She seemed enthusiastic when I told her I was planning to convert the study room downstairs into a little bedroom for her, complete with a new single bed, mattress and bedding. And yes, a chest of drawers. She promised to start cleaning up the mess, pack our crap into boxes and haul it all upstairs for temporary storage while we worked on her room.
At the same time, though, we’d need to work on the small family area upstairs, to convert it into a study/computer area, meaning I’d need to get rid of the day bed sitting there and collecting dust particles, and move it into another room. I’d also need to install a new air conditioner in the family area, small as it is, it gets bleeding hot I tell you- and buy a new study table and perhaps a multi-purpose table for the printer, Internet modem and wireless router. And swivel chairs, of course. Study lamps. Argh…. This is costing more and more…Argh- a cupboard for storage of odds-and-ends.
I’m being practical, working on the more important things in our home, one step at a time. But no, Hubby only thinks of having an extended outdoor patio, complete with patio furniture and all, and perhaps a little water fountain. Like the English, he dreams of having scones with afternoon tea on the weekends, casually and leisurely smoking his cigarette while enjoying the afternoon breeze. Sorry, Hubs, I’d hate to dash your dreams- but a patio is NOT a priority at this point of time. If we had a patio, we wouldn’t have any place to park our cars. And I, for one, am not going to sit out there in the scorching hot sun to have hot afternoon tea, no thanks.
Must start the maid’s room refurnishment/study area project a.s.a.p. so that he won’t have the chance to think of that damned outdoor patio ….And when it’s done, I’ll find something else to work on, just so he can’t think of that damned outdoor patio again…
Topics: Home, Expenditure, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing, Family, Work | No Comments »
Toolbox
By pinlean | June 25, 2008
Last night, I wanted to fix a piece of costume jewellery of mine- it was a lovely beaded necklace, but the clasp had come off and I couldn’t wear it anymore. All it needed was a good pull with a pair of pliers, a nifty squeeze, a hook and voila, it’d be as good as new. So I trotted down to the study room where I knew Hubby kept his toolbox.
Suffice to say, it was a total mess in there. The tool box, I mean. Rusted nails, odd-sized screws, sad-looking screwdrivers, a hammer which had turned black from discolouration, some wires, a HDMI cable…yes, we don’t do much handiwork around my house. And for the life of me, I could not find that darned pair of pliers I knew was in there. So I searched high and low, thrust the toolbox upside down and shook it madly. I emptied it entirely, sifted through the contents carefully. I know my eyes didn’t deceive me, I remembered seeing the pliers in there not too long ago.
All to no avail. No pliers.
I sighed, sat in the living room with the clasp and the necklace pooled on my lap. Gritted my teeth and bit hard on the hook. A metallic taste filled my mouth, and I could distinctly hear a sickening crack sound. Great! Hooked bits of necklace in, fixed! But I had a slightly chipped tooth.
Oh well. At least it gives me character.
Topics: Home, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing, Work | No Comments »
Have you ever felt…
By pinlean | June 24, 2008
…..like there aren’t enough hours in a day? And when you get home after a long day’s work, you have so little time to spend with your loved ones.
…..uncomfortable when a man stares admiringly at you? Never mind that he’s dog-ugly.
…..intimidated by a person who towers over you like St. George’s dragon?
…..fat and bloated, but yet sexy?
…..like screaming in an elevator chock-full of people with garlic breath?
…..like flying?
…..like you wish you had taken up riding classes, but was hindered only by the fact that you had to wear tight equestrian clothing?
…..like getting 10 tattoos at one go?
Topics: Body image, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing, Work | No Comments »
Mortgages
By pinlean | June 24, 2008
I seriously need to free up some cash. I’m going for a long holiday in LA at the end of this year (hopefully), and at the rate I’m spending these days (not on shopping or clothes or bags- but just spending in general for my household and family), I’m going to be flat-out broke by the time December arrives and I’ll have no spending money (well, not much) for shopping in LA and Las Vegas.
The thing that irks me is the high interest rates on my mortgage. Now in the 4th year of my mortgage, I am servicing interest at the unhealthy rate of 8% per annum. And when I see other banks or financial institutions offer packages for mortgages at much lower rates or even a free mortgage loan, I want to bang my head against the door or something.
The thought of re-financing has occurred to me, as I think I should take advantage of the presently lower interest rates offered. Hmm….. I don’t know yet.
Topics: Home, Expenditure, Memoirs, Thoughts, Writing, Family, Work | No Comments »
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