And this year I thought to myself, if I’m going to have to get up early and run anyway why not go for the extra mile?

Since my once-a-week gym regime has always been 5km on the treadmill, 6km shouldn’t be that difficult right?

But I forgot to remind myself that those 5km treadmill regime was actually back in the UK days when I was much fitter. I’ve long given up running for sometime since I started working in KL.

How?

With my inconsistent weekly gym routine and occasional jog at the TTDI park, I was discreetly worrying sick that I might pass out half way.

But there’s no turning back.

Terry Fox Run wasn’t as crowded as last year. Even the MS group was much smaller compared to last year. My company didn’t organize a groupie for this event so I joined my ex-colleagues.   But there was only 3 of us who did the advanced route and the rest went for the standard 3km.

I was the only girl.

And of course, I was so busy running I didn’t have the chance to take many photos.  I have to say it was quite challenging to my standard.  Running on pavement roads feels really different compared to running on treadmill. Uphill isn’t the same as gradient.

It was way, way tougher. 

But I did it!

Some cam whoring moments of my friends to share here…

Even though 6km is probably a very subtle distance to many, it surely feels like an achievement to me!

My next goal is to climb Mt. KK by next year!

]]> http://www.jashomi.com/fitness/terry-fox-run-2008.php/feed http://www.jashomi.com/random/october-no-fest.php http://www.jashomi.com/random/october-no-fest.php#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:58:44 +0000 steph http://www.jashomi.com/random/october-no-fest.php No pun intended. 

October is coming to an end now and I only just realized that I haven’t updated my blog for almost a month.

So what’s happening in October?

My spare time and weekends have been filled with a tad too many gatherings and outings with old friends and ex-colleagues which I’m not really complaining though… …    

In fact, it was more than just a realization.

The girlfriend of a very good friend of mine has recently found out that there was a 5cm tumor inside her brain, after complaining weeks of consistent headaches. This took all of us totally off guard because just the weekend before the bad news came in, I was partying with them and everything looked absolutely normal.

And there I was, sitting outside the cold operation theatre on a breezy Saturday morning together with my friend while the surgery took place. I told him everything is going to be smooth & fine and the only thing we must do now is to remain our optimism and be positive.

But those teary eyes and the helplessness in him made my heart cringed. He said he would do anything to have her back, with a wry smile.

It hit me right there and then about how fragile life is. 

And how we, the most fortunate human being of all, tend to take things for granted.

Body check up? End of the year first la.

Let’s do charity? When I make more money first la.

Fancy somebody but to date them? Still plenty of time left, wait first la.

Sound all too familiar?

Reality is, we just won’t know what’s round the corner awaiting us.

The Good news.

The surgery went exceptionally well. A week later, she has been given the clearance result that the tumor is benign.

Sometimes the word "death" is just another vocabulary to many, and we won’t know how close the proximity is until something happened to people we love or around us.

Like in this case, it’s really a turning point for me.

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I’m going for the Terry Fox Run this Sunday to help raise charity fund for the Cancer Research. I participated last year and this year (Read More), I’m going for the 6 km run.

But with my current deteriorating stamina, I just hope I won’t pass out mid way and have my friends to pick me up with their cars.

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Oh yeah, Swiss Fondue dinner tonite at my ex-boss’s residence. ( Read More)

And with the few Halloween party invitations in hand, I’ll probably join Fanny and gang at Club21 tonight.

Happy Halloweeeen Day all!

]]> http://www.jashomi.com/random/october-no-fest.php/feed http://www.jashomi.com/accident/if-you-think-you-are-having-a-bad-day.php http://www.jashomi.com/accident/if-you-think-you-are-having-a-bad-day.php#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:37:45 +0000 steph http://www.jashomi.com/accident/if-you-think-you-are-having-a-bad-day.php  

Think again.

At least you didn’t wake up in the morning to find your house porch

looking like this….

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/16/nation/2288286&sec=nation

This year’s Mid Autumn Festival was a very special day to Bee Ling and Kai Sum as they finally made their relationship official on that auspicious mooncake day. And having been a part of their wedding experience was such an honor, as they celebrated their big day with their friends and family over a dinner reception in KL Tower.

I was their initial appointed "wedding planner" after KS proposed to BL last year but a lot of things have taken place since then. BL quit MS shortly after the proposal and many other distractions kinda got in the way, so in the end I only managed  to meet up with them a few times before their actual wedding and tried my level best to give them all the support I could offer & sharing based on what I know from managing past events.     

It was a beautiful day with some slight drizzles but stopped right on time. And that’s Petronas Twin Tower from window scene.

I helped to coordinate the event flow including briefing the two gorgeous emcees for the night. Everything was close to perfect except one flaw: the groom was so nervous that he forgot his laptop password! And I needed to use his laptop to play all the videos showcase! Thank God he managed to recall his memory after the best man calmed him down. ( I almost had a heart attack, tho )

Pictures below are taken by their appointed photographer, Andy Lim. Pretty, hor? Which kinda inspired me further to take up photography class someday. Someday, it will come.

Some candid moments from the wedding…

Finally, the groom and the bride. A kiss which sealed their love officially. Cliche, I know.

Here are some pictures taken with some friends.

We arrived early ( I had to since I was the coordinator right) hence could spare a little time camwhoring with the groom. Where’s the bride? Dolling up herself in the makeup room, of course!

With my sister and Karen. Karen was our "ex-boss" from Microsoft some years ago, different timing. She now runs her own CRM company.

Ngau and us.

The gorgeous bride and all the pretty ladies who comprise of ex and current MS folks.

Bee Ling and Kai Sum,

Wish you both a lifetime of happiness together!

This sorta remind me that I’m officially entering the "marriage age era" where I receive wedding invitations more than my payslip. Ok exaggerated a bit on that note… but it’s still a lot. And there are 3 more upcoming important ones next year where I’ll not only be the wedding planner, but as the maid of honor too!

I should really start considering to make a business out of these dovey lovebirds, shouldn’t I?

Other Wedding Post:

Fanny & Dae’s Garden Wedding:

http://www.jashomi.com/wedding/fanny-daes-wedding.php

Thanks to Cat, who led me discovered this super duper cool website called YearBookYourself where you can superimpose anyone’s mug shot and mould into a retro portrait. 

I quite like their online cross-selling concept where it’s targeted at retro fashionista to bring back retro trend for clothing, not mentioning the application itself is already so much fun. Just couldn’t stop laughing while busy superimposing my friends’ photos at YBY website this evening. 

I think my face is like a stamp of my mum’s when she was in her twenties. my God.

Happy birthday Yutz and Beng Loon! You guys still look amazingly good 20 years down the road!

EDITED:

VENUE HAS NOW CHANGED TO HOTEL MAYA, KL

https://developerleague.celcom.com.my

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The briefing events for LED Challenge will be taking place next week from Monday to Thursday ( 22nd to 25th September 2008), 12pm to 4.30pm at Celcom HQ. Microsoft and Cradle Funds will be there to speak as well.

Come for this event if you want to know more about the contest. To register, please email developerleague@celcom.com.my

Music on Friday night was R&B and we had about 30 people in our group, mainly Tech.Ed committee members from MS and Crystal Edge. It was a little far fetch from the party during Tech.Ed week itself which I have yet to blog about but we had fun nonetheless.

Here are some of the pictures taken that night.

But honestly speaking.

Farewells are never easy to bid especially when the job has already become a part of your life; and many of the people at work have overtime gelled together as one close knitted circle. This is much harder than leaving my first job. (read here)  And in my case, my leaving did come as a surprise to many people; they asked, why so sudden? why the hurry? what happen? No no no, don’t get the wrong idea, I didn’t do anything incriminating. 

Truth is, it was an opportunity that knocked on my door a few months ago and yes it was a tough decision to make, and I couldn’t say no because it was a calling from an inner voice that I should take it, for the better or for the worse. I followed my heart and did what I had to do.

I was half heartedly convinced that leaving MS is not exactly a bad thing. There were things which I’ve taken a backseat on in the past 2 years will hopefully come into priority, slowly but surely. And at the same time, I also have strong faith that this new role will take me to even greater heights. Greener or not a pasture, I guess it’s just a matter of putting things into perspective.

However, my decision was no secrets to various of my managers and mentors from above. And I couldn’t thank more for their blessings, generosity and supports throughout the challenging period but in lieu of the critical projects I was handling at hand, we had to keep it very low until the right time comes. 

I miss my friends and I really do miss them heaps . They have enriched my life in so many different dimensions and quite honestly, I have never really in the past worked in an environment surrounded with all the smartest and wackiest people. We take pride in that don’t we?

And there are people whom we have weathered many rainy storms together and these are the people who will always remain a footprint in our heart. Far or near.

Goodbye MS. Good bye my friends.

Let’s celebrate a brand new chapter of my life, Next!

Great food albeit oily, great companies and great games. But a really sweet incident which took place in the middle of the party made that night very memorable for all of us. 

It was my friend’s birthday that night and after blowing the candle, he went down on his knee and proposed to his gf!!!

We were cheering the whole time, ecstatic for our friend who finally popped the question but seriously, having to witness that tender moment is really heartwarming. Happy tears welled up discreetly, as usual. 

Congrats KC and Gen =)

To watch the proposal’s video clip, visit Jolene’s blog

We then started strumming away. We had the whole of top floor to ourselves.

These are faces that I miss at work. But well, life’s never perfect.

The night ended around 1am. Had a panic attack knowing my car was running extremely low in fuel, thankfully I managed to reach home safely.

Then the very next morning on Friday, I was already a full fledge Celcom employee.

There’s no honeymoon month over here. Whoever told me working in a GLC is more relaxing is just… let’s just say I’m doubtful of that statement at this juncture. It’s also about getting myself familiarize with the new environment, ramping up knowledge on their business core & technologies of the telco industry.

Work started piling up on my first day and was already making phone calls to partners and vendors.

" Hello I’m Stephannie, calling from Mmm.. M.. Celcom"

And when I went out for meetings with some partners.

"Hi very nice to meet you. I’m Stephannie from MMmm… Celcom…"

I had to make a conscious mind that I am now, indeed, representing Celcom.

It’s all about adjustment in a matter of time I guess.

Praying for my new boss’s speedy recovery. I hope I hadn’t stress him out too much to cause him being admitted to hospital.

p/s: To all my friends who have been asking me where I have headed to after MS, now you know where I am