Quiet Reflection

I have been blogging for more than half a month - how am I holding up? Quite well except when I look into the number of page views - it's only an average of 46 page views per day over the past 7 days. *Sigh* I guess I may have to abandon hopes of ever qualifying for getting paid for blogging. ;-P

I have much to write about but what would readers be interested in - not fictitious in origin (that's quite certain). I have the intention that this blog will be a place where my friends can find out the latest of my whereabouts and well-being in general; and when and if they have their own -to share as well - it'll be a form of communication albeit not direct in nature. I have recently done my MBTI profiling after a long interval - can't be certain whether it is still similar with the first in all 4 aspects, the only facet that I remember and still stand true to the recent one - I am definitely an introvert. Many times introversion is viewed with or comes with a negative connotation and it shouldn't. I love the way my colleague paraphrase it i.e. extroverts is flashy in ways of sharing all aspects of himself/herself & very quickly and in no time will be stark naked whilst the introverts will take time to reveal himself/herself to you (more mysterious too). You can click on this link to read more about the characteristics most frequently associated with the 16 MBTI types/profile. My closer friends will attest to this too :-) . I keep a smaller circle of friends with whom I am more transparent to and meaningful friendship is formed (they know I deeply care for them in my quiet and unobtrusive ways).

In this respect my hubby will be the one that I am most transparent to (but he still finds difficulties - being a man, not as attuned to ways in which ladies react in certain situations). We strive to have an open and honest communication at all times and I tend to be brutally honest with him at times too. To him - I am certainly not quiet and in almost any topics (except programming languages, latest electronic gadgets and music) - I am otherwise quite informed and am able to challenge him intellectually. I am comforted with the knowledge that I can keep up with hubby and follow his witty jokes and remarks - it is something that we both enjoy although sometimes when his teasing becomes too much - I may be upset & pout a little.

I feel that it is always beneficial to know more about one's own self - what are your psychological workings etc. . I have a great interest in all things related to this matter be it scientific & non-scientific (Chinese astrophysics) etc. Whenever, I learn of new tools for profiling from work - I will share them with hubby too and the reasoning given to him - if you know yourself better, you will know the pattern in which you react to certain external stimuli/situation thus can be in more control of situations when it occurs or keep one's self in check before re-acting in ways that may bear less than favourable consequences. Yup, I am also cross referencing with 7 Habits - you yourself will choose whether you want to be pro-active or re-active to environmental stimulus/situations. There will be things you can change and then there are things you cannot alter i.e. outside of your circle of influence. This is the reason I chose to name my blog Cheryl's Circle of Influence - it is within my control what I fancy to write. If you have not had the chance to come across 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I would hereby like to encourage you to pick it up from the nearest bookstore, library etc.

In due time I will post more graphics and learn scrapbooking to create a more lively blog - pictures do tell a thousand words (my nephew will regret the moment that I managed to snap a photo of him in his Batman suit, although he loves it now coz he was 5 yrs old at that point of time, he may not be as keen in future for the photo to be shown). At the time being, the most convenient camera is my trusted Sony Ericsson handphone ... will invest in one handy and high resolution camera soon.

Weddings - flowers, corsages, car decorations

Besides the big items to prepare for your wedding - car decoration, hand bouquet and corsages (groom & family members) are just as important. Standard packages bundled with wedding portraits usually come with ribbons only without flowers or cute cuddly bears. Since we agreed to use our own car and to do without the usual bridal car for rentals, hubby agreed to splurge just a little on car deco, hand bouquet and corsages (corsages may be small but they do wonders for photos - adding colours and a breath of freshness). We bought ours from Wishing Tree. Again, the most important tip - communication. Let the florist know what you have in mind - what type of flowers, the do's and don'ts in terms of colour combinations and budget ;-)

Above left (hand bouquet for wedding day); centre (cute teddy bears from Memory Lane) & above right (hand bouquet for pre-wedding potrait)

Above (bridal car decorated with flowers, teddy bears & lots of beautiful organzas)

KG (if you ever happen to read this post) - THANKS (谢谢) for taking the above pictures (except above right). I would say both you and my best chum Ann did a much better job than the hired photographer (Important note:- This is not the same photographer that I have been praising in earlier posts).

Gym - A matter of discipline

Just wondering, how many people out there faces similar 'challenges' when it comes to one's discipline of going to the gym regularly? Last year, signed up with a gym prior to my wedding ceremony, however, I am finding it difficult to be going diligently on a weekly basis. Doing the math - it'll be "monies worth" if I go at least 3 times or more in a week. Is that even possible? As it is, I am already feeling tired and lethargic after a day's work - yup, although I do feel somewhat refreshed after a work out but the very next day my muscles will cause me much discomfort (depending on how far I push myself @ the gym).

It would be ideal if there is a gym buddy that serves as a support i.e. drag me along especially when I am supplying myself with 'why nots'. I have yet to be at the gym in time when the 'Body Balance' class is on - the branch that I go to, the timing's just not right - be it too early or late at night. Before joining the gym, used to attend yoga class near my parents’ home - got dismissed from class because half the time I had to skip class due to work commitments.

Other attempts at exercising - doing household chores (the only one I can keep to) :-) there's also an exercise equipment at home courtesy of my dad (yeah, yeah - got the hint, both my mom and dad sings the same tune) ... just thinking aloud, would it help if I have a puppy to bring for walks every evening? I have to sell this idea to my hubby and my parents - then maybe, just maybe I can own a dog again. I am totally nuts bout dogs; you can see my face instantly beaming when I see puppies/ dogs.

A matter concerning school bags

Since last Sunday, I have been visiting various shopping complexes just to find a suitable and durable school bag for my dear nephew whose bag is in tatters after just one school term. The specifications would be trolley bags with sturdy handle and wheels, material that can withstand rough handling, cartoon characters suitable for boys et cetera. First of all, we had no idea 'how expensive' school bags can be (we'll be able to relate if it is for a Samsonite laptop bag etc.) and so we went to Parkson followed by Mines Shopping Fair on Sunday hoping we can chance upon a reasonably priced one. The choices available were Mickey Mouse, Barney, Doraemon, Winnie the Pooh, Swan brand bags (in which I have an aversion to - I may tell the story later) - price ranges from RM30 (Swan) to the most expensive of RM99. The best that we have seen that day would the Doraemon bag (sturdy handle and wheels, material looks hardy plus I called to check with my nephew - he likes the blue cat). Since we wanted to check out whether we can find bags with Thomas the Train or Bob the Builder, we did not make a purchase that day.

Yesterday after work, we went to MidValley - visited Jusco, Toys R Us and Metrojaya and choices available were Bob the Builder (last one), Mickey Mouse, Tom & Jerry, Barney, Sponge Bob Squarepants (Metro - last one as well), lots of Spiderman 3 bags - price ranges from RM79.99 to the most expensive of RM159 (Spidey) – wow that much for a school bag? Is it really worth the amount? Will it last a term, two mayhap 3? In the end, we went back to Parkson to pick up the Doraemon bag - best in terms it meets all requirements for now, I will update at a later date on the durability ;-) .

My Thoughts On Motherhood

I have been an aunt for about 7 years now (when my eldest nephew turns 7 next month) - I would like to think I am a wonderful aunt to my cute nieces and nephews - fun, loving and a "Santa Claus" every now and then; but I am just not as sure of myself when it comes to my own brood in the future. When I am just an aunt, I do discipline my nieces and nephews (5 of 'em) whenever I come across behaviours that requires gentle reprimand but when I do become a mother, I am not sure whether I would be entirely too strict for my child's comfort and growth.

There are a lot of things that I worry about when the thought of child bearing and rearing comes to mind - how will I fair as a mother? Motherhood requires a lot of commitment - both monetary and otherwise. My hubby and I would like to provide our children with a head start or at least the means/basics to compete with the rest of generation Y (not sure whether it'll still be gen-Y, else it'll be gen-Z by then). Cost of living and education is increasing in leaps and bounds - would our level of income be able to warrant them a head start? This question keeps revolving in my mind - my gut feel is no however I cannot afford to put off motherhood that much longer as I'll be pushing 30 soon. *Sigh* When I do share pictures of "mini me and hubby" in the future; you can then say that I have found an answer - else it'll be the worse case scenario, I have to because I have crossed the 3rd decade mark of my life thus cannot delay any further.

I am very proud of my friends who are mothers now and when the time comes - I can be proud of myself too.

Sea World (how I wish I am one of the trainers there)

Photos taken at Sea Worlds (Australia and United States). You will see dolphins at both Sea Worlds but the Orca only in San Diego (I have yet to visit others to be entirely sure and I'll definitely share more pictures when I do).
;-)

May 2007 - Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia

December 2004 - Sea World, San Diego, Unites States

* An Orca/Killer Whale gave birth to a baby Orca named Kalia on Dec 21st, 2004

Sunrise in Australia

Just wanted to share pictures of beautiful sunrise captured from the balcony of our hotel room at Courtyard Surfers Paradise Resort on 2 different occasions but both equally mesmerising. Just arm me with a camera and I may be a shutterbug in the making ;-)