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| Image Source: QuotesGram |
that you've lost all sense of urgency?
It's like watching the world whiz by in a blur,
while you stand still,
anchored to a spot by an invisible force.
Time becomes this abstract concept,
slipping through your fingers like sand,
yet leaving no trace of its passing.
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| What my work station used to look like |
Today, I'm here to vent a little and share my current update as
an Insights Analyst working from the cozy disheveled corners of my small office/home office. 😝 Don't get me
wrong; I absolutely love my job and the flexibility it offers. But these past
couple of weeks have been like a whirlwind of data, reports, and gruelling analysis
sessions. I'm feeling the fatigue creeping in, and I know I'm not alone in this
rollercoaster ride!
As an Insights Analyst, my days are all about diving deep
into data, crunching numbers, and deciphering patterns to help our clients (or
potential clients) make informed decisions. It's thrilling and intellectually
stimulating, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. And lately,
those challenges have been coming at me like a meteor shower!
The days seem to blur into one another, and the lines
between work and personal time have become so hazy, I sometimes forget what day
it is. I wake up, and the first thing I see is my laptop, calling me to start
my day. There's no physical commute to an office, but mentally, the commute never
ends, and I find myself checking e-mails in bed before I even brush my teeth
(oops).
The never-ending cycle of projects and deadlines keeps me on
my toes. I love being challenged and having a sense of purpose in my work, but
lately, I've been juggling multiple projects, and it feels like I'm trying to
catch falling stars. Just when I think I've got a handle on things, more
requests come flying in, and my to-do list grows longer than a giraffe's neck!
Let's talk about the glorious world of data. While it's
fascinating to uncover insights that can drive business decisions, it's no
secret that data can be a fickle beast. Cleaning and organising datasets can be
a real chore, and when I finally get to the analysis part, my eyes start to
feel like they're glued to the screen. I swear, I've developed a permanent
squint from staring at those spreadsheets.
I'm grateful for my supportive team, though. We're all in
this together, and having colleagues who understand the struggles of remote
work and data analysis helps me stay sane. We share tips on how to make things
easier or simpler, exchange jokes, and remind each other that we're doing an
awesome job despite the challenges.
But you know what? Even amidst the exhaustion, there's a
silver lining. Every time I crack a tough data puzzle or deliver insights that
have a real impact, it's like an adrenaline rush. The satisfaction of helping
my team keeps me going, even on the toughest days.
So, here's to all the fellow Insights Analysts and remote
workers out there, we may be tired, but we're also resilient, adaptable, and
oh-so-dedicated! Let's take a deep breath, stretch those fingers, and keep
crunching those numbers. And when it all gets overwhelming, let's remember that
it's okay to take a break, recharge, and come back stronger.
Till then, my data-savvy comrades, may your internet
connections stay stable, your spreadsheets behave, and your insights shine
brighter than a supernova! Cheers to making data-driven magic happen! 💪💪
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| Image Source: Redbubble |
When I first started this blog, using "random"
seemed like a convenient way to describe anything unexpected or out of the
ordinary. It was a versatile word that I could employ to add a touch of
unpredictability to my anecdotes and narratives. Whether it was an impromptu
trip to a new place or a quirky encounter with a stranger, "random"
became my go-to adjective to capture those moments that defied the mundane.
But, as with any linguistic crutch, overusing the word
"random" had its consequences. It started to feel like a filler word,
a linguistic shortcut I leaned on without giving much thought. Upon re-reading
my older posts, I couldn't help but cringe at the sheer number of times I had
inserted "random" into my writing. It was becoming a cliche, diluting
the impact of my storytelling and turning it into a repetitive and lacklustre
experience.
Awareness was the first step towards change. Recognising my
overuse of "random" allowed me to take a step back and understand why
I was relying on it so much. Digging deeper, I realised that my desire to sound
relatable and quirky might have fuelled this overuse. "Random" had
become a security blanket, masking the vulnerability of embracing unique and
authentic storytelling.
To break free from this cycle, I’m challenging myself to
find alternative words and expressions that convey the same spirit of surprise
and spontaneity. Instead of "random", I can start using
"unexpected," "unforeseen," "serendipitous," or
even "whimsical" to paint vivid pictures of the moments I want to
share with you, my readers. These words can add depth and nuance to my writing,
and breathe new life into my narratives.
Additionally, I learned the importance of context. While
"random" might still have its place in casual conversations and
informal writing, using it thoughtfully and sparingly in my blog posts was
crucial to maintaining the impact of the word. Contextualising its usage made
it feel more intentional, rather than a default descriptor.
Moreover, I believe that incorporating personal reflections
and emotional connections into my storytelling will help minimise the urge to rely
on cliches like "random". By delving into the emotions that these
moments evoke in me, I can convey their significance more effectively and
create a lasting impression on my readers, hopefully.
In conclusion, embracing my overuse of "random"
has been a valuable journey in linguistic self-awareness. As a writer
blogger, whom no one has ever heard of, it's essential to constantly challenge myself, acknowledge my linguistic crutches, and seek ways to improve my craft. Words hold immense power, and using them with intentionality can elevate
our storytelling to new heights.
So, from now on, you can expect a fresher and more
thoughtfully crafted writing style on this blog. Let's bid adieu to the
overused "random" and welcome a more diverse and exciting range of
adjectives into our literary arsenal.
Thanks for joining me on this reflective journey! Until next time, keep writing and exploring the wonderful world of language!
It's 10:33 pm on Saturday night, and here I am, just waking up from my slumber, feeling a bit sweaty. I fell asleep in front of the TV again. I was watching WHAT/ IF on Netflix. My husband isn't back from the mosque yet. I don't remember him telling me if he would be going to talaqqi after Isya'. That's actually his Thursday or Friday night routine. I checked my phone, no messages nor calls from him, but no worries, I'll just take this moment to jot down how my day went, or rather, how my husband and I spent it together.
So, this morning started way too early at 2 am. Yeah, 2 FRIGGING AM. After a quick bathroom trip, I fed my cats their kibbles (this is my little routine whenever I wake up in the middle of the night). Then I made my way upstairs to the guest room. I prefer sleeping (or doing just about anything) in this room now because it's the only one with AC, and the nights can get pretty hot (let alone in daytime). Anyway, I decided to scroll through Facebook and TikTok until around 3:30 am. Then, I thought to myself, "You know what, I'm going to join my husband for breakfast today." So off to the shower I went, because I had to leave the house with him at dawn (it's his daily routine to pick up my mom-in-law at her place in Sembulan after Subuh prayer and take her to the Kota Kinabalu market).
After that little task was done, we headed to the OldTown
White Coffee Gaya Street outlet, the one we visited on Wednesday where I spent a
half day doing my work, remember? I ordered half-boiled eggs on toasts again,
but this time, I also had some noodles and a cup of hot white coffee. My
husband went for the rice and chicken rendang, although he originally wanted
fried chicken, which was unavailable. Odd. *shrugs* He also had the kaya+butter toasts, just like last time, and the drink
that I had on Wednesday.
I don't know why I'm getting into the nitty-gritty details
of my day, but hey, let's move on. After a satisfying breakfast, we made a trip
to JPJ at UTC to pick up a physical road tax, even though I already got the
digital version. My husband insisted on having a physical copy, so there we
were. But guess what? Turns out, I have to claim it from the Bundusan
headquarters (on Monday or any working day) because I purchased the digital road tax through MyEG instead of
JPJ's website. Sigh, what a waste of time and energy. Oh well, these things
happen, right? While at the JPJ UTC office, we ran into my uncle, Pacik Nawi! He
was there to renew his road tax too. We had a little catch
up and parted ways to continue with our respective errands of the day.
Next stop was Centrepoint, but since it was still pretty early at 9:30 am, most of the lights weren't even on yet.
I actually wanted to go see Barbie with her and Farah. But of course, that couldn’t happen due to
the incident, which left No Joke bedridden, unable to walk normally. A little background story: Farah is in the same netball team as No Joke; Farah and I went to the same primary and secondary schools, but only became friends in Form 4; while No Joke and I first met in Form 1 and became besties since Form 2.
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| From left: Yours truly, Farah, No Joke 💗 |
I hope she has a swift recovery, insya-Allah. She mentioned taking a break from netball for at least a year, and while I felt a twinge of mixed emotions, I know it's essential for her well-being. I admit, I sometimes felt a bit left out since she and Farah got deeply involved in netball, playing in tournaments even in Brunei. She was supposed to play in a tournament in Kota Belud too. Too bad, that also couldn’t happen now. But hey, everything happens for a reason and there is definitely a hikmah behind all of this. Maybe this is a sign for her to take some time for herself. And she absolutely deserves the rest and care. She has been taking care of her family all this time, so it’s her turn now. This may make me sound a little selfish, but I hope we get to spend more time after this. I missed my best friend.
Speaking of which, my husband is back now. Turns out he did go to talaqqi and a kenduri afterward. All is well, I suppose.
Phew! Just wrapped up the day's work and survived our monthly team meeting. Today was a wild rollercoaster work-wise, but hey, it's bearable because I'm currently stationed at my favourite cafe, October Coffee House (well, it's actually the second cafe/restaurant I visited today after OldTown White Coffee, where I spent my morning till noon). You might wonder, why not work from home as per the usual? Well, I had this paranoia that my place might experience yet another blackout like it did yesterday and the day before. Can't risk losing precious time due to power outages! I had a mission to send a daily report for QC by 12.15 pm sharp (spoiler alert: I missed the QC deadline, but we somehow got it out to the client by 1 pm, hooray for us!). The pressure was on, considering it was a new thing for all of us, and to make things more thrilling, it was my first time working on the report (my colleague Aina handled it during the first round). Talk about a nerve-racking joyride!
And hold onto your hats, because here's the real kicker: my workload for the month isn't even close to being finished yet! Can you believe it? My team and I are about to embark on a wild ride, trying to churn out not one, but two more papers on top of our usual assignments, all before the month comes to an end (or at least early next month). Insane, right? It's like we're riding a rollercoaster through a tornado of work, but hey, we're ready to embrace the crazy and conquer it all! Let's buckle up and make this month one for the books!
1. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
I used to daydream about having either Invisibility or Telepathy as my superpower, but lately, I've become enamoured with the idea of Time Travel, which is undeniably captivating. Just imagine journeying back to iconic moments like The Beatles era, basking in the presence of legends like Kurt Cobain, or reliving cherished memories from our childhood. The allure of being a time traveller lies not only in revisiting the past but also venturing forward into the unknown future. However, I must admit that the prospect of peering into the future frightens me a little. There's a certain beauty in the mystery that the future holds, and I'd rather not know the precise details of my life's unfolding events. The fear of learning about when and how I’d leave the world, whether I’d still be married to my husband, or the impending doomsday is enough to make me hesitant about unravelling the secrets of time.
2. What's your favourite book or movie and why does it resonate with you?
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| Image Source: Film School Rejects |
3. If you could travel back in time, which historical era would you visit and what would you do there?
Okay, this is kinda creepy because I just talked about wanting to have Time Travel as a superpower. 😱 But if I had to choose a historical era to visit (apart from The Beatles and Nirvana eras), I would choose The Renaissance period for the artistic and cultural treasures. I would visit Renaissance cities such as Florence, Rome, Venice, or Paris and be immersed by the culture, art, and music of the time.
4. What is one skill or hobby you've always wanted to learn but haven't had the chance to yet?
Playing the HARMONICA. Ugh. Yes! I'd love to learn how to play a harmonica. I almost signed up for a harmonica class when I was still living in KL 10,000 years ago, but I chickened out because I didn't have anyone to go with. I was too afraid to do it on my own. I wish I wasn't though.
5. If you could live in any fictional universe, which one would it be and why?
HARRY POTTER. Need I say more??
6. What's your go-to comfort food or favourite cuisine?
MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM.
7. If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Obviously, Kurt Cobain. And I would ask him how he really, actually died.
8. What's your favourite place you've ever visited, and what made it so special to you?
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| Image Source: iStock |
Madinah. Ya Allah, if I could turn back time (again with the time travelling theme 😄) to that moment when I felt really at peace. I miss that feeling. Subhanallah. I'm so grateful for it. Semoga dapat pegi lagi nanti dengan suami aku pulak, insya-Allah aaaminnnn...
9. If you had the opportunity to change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
Hm macam tau-tau jak kan 10 random questions generator ni. 😅 Well, this is what I posted on Threads the other day, word by word.
"If someone asked me the one thing that I want for this world right now, it would be less discrimination. I don't wanna discriminate or judge people for their chosen lifestyles, what they wanna wear, their sexual orientation or whatever, and I also don't wanna get discriminated or judged for sticking to my religious beliefs. Can we just do that? I'm sick of it. Truly. I just want peace."
10. What's the most adventurous or daring thing you've ever done in your life?
Going on that compulsory Outward Bound Sabah trip when I was in Lower Form 6. We were made to go hiking, rock climbing, flying-foxing, kayaking, etc. Imagine ME doing all that.
I'm taking a short break from the Google Analytics Course and decided to do this for my blog content. This is me keeping my promise to myself to do a double-post whenever I missed 1 day of my daily blogging target, okay. So, here goes.
1. What song was or do you want to be for your first dance at your wedding?
My wedding ceremony was held at a mosque, the same day my husband and I were solemnised. We didn't have a banquet/hall reception. We didn't have that type of wedding, just like my wish for everything to be simple and easy. But if we had that kind of wedding, I would want Mazzy Star's Fade Into You to be playing during our first dance.
2. What song would make the best theme music for you?
Someday by The Strokes. It reminds me of my uni years when my roomie and I used to listen to The Strokes in her car all the time. Good old times.
3. What is the most irrational superstition you have?
I can't think of one at the moment. I guess I don't really believe in those kinds of things. But I'll get back to this in case I remember if I do have one.
4. What is the weirdest food combination you enjoy?
Sambal/jeruk/serondeng tuhau with instant noodles. Yum!
5. What is the stupidest thing you ever did on a dare?
Mmmmmm can't remember this one too! I'll get back to this. Lol. Sorry. Faktor usia kali. Hahaha.
6. What is the worst date you have ever been on?
Ugh. I cringe at being reminded of this. Okay. I was 17. I met this guy at the Kota Kinabalu library when I was studying for SPM. He saw me and asked for my name and number. Being a girl who didn't have any guy showing an interest for her (IRL) at the time, I felt flattered and excited that a guy (he was older, I think he was in his 20s at the time, he told me that he was studying at some university) finally asked for my phone number. So he contacted me that night and asked me out the next day. Excitedly (and stupidly), I agreed. To cut the story short, he ended up taking me to a staircase of a mall (Centrepoint I believe), we sat there and talked for a bit and then he tried to convince me to kiss him. When I refused, he asked me why did I agree to go out with him in the first place? I remember feeling so confused. Well, I thought, you liked me? He asked a couple more times but I still said no. So then we left and I went back home. I remember him asking me to go out with him again. I said okay. But he said, on one condition, he wanted us to kiss this time. YIKES! Of course I said NO. But then he asked again, why did I agree to go out with him again? And then I don't remember what I said next but we never went out again and I think that was the last I heard from him. I know. I was stupid to think that a guy really did like me. When I got older, I realised that he was a predator and a friggin' paedophile going after impressionable minors who didn't have a clue! He should be behind bars!!
7. Who is the most embarrassing person you had a crush on?
Haha okay. I remember this one. At that time, I was working at a local record store located at Wisma Merdeka to gain some pocket money after completing STPM and to fill my free time while waiting for my STPM results. There was this guy who was working at a Kenwood store (it's an electronics shop), he had a Chinese look, not sure what his race was but not Malay I guess. He wore Jack Purcell. That was what caught my eye apart from his looks. I nicknamed him Kenwood. Lol. The Kenwood store was located 1 level above the record store I was working at, and facing the record store. So I could easily watch him whenever he was hanging out outside the shop, which was also our main route to the food court. Lol. Hepi tul kalau time mau pi beli makanan tu bah. Ahahahaha. I've never told my colleagues that I had a crush on that guy, but it became obvious because they could see me staring upstairs from my standing point (we had our own stations designated by our boss so mine was at the centremost, very near the door so it was also the easiest spot where I could "stalk" him). Lol. There were 4 of us: me, Nor, Kak Nor, and Hana. So they used to tease me every time I looked up and they also liked to send me up to the food court to buy food for them. Lol. Of course I didn't mind. Sometimes Nor would accompany me and we would laugh tergedik-gedik when we saw him lol. It was fun. 😂
Eventually, it became obvious even for him too! HAHAHA. So I started noticing that he was also watching me whenever he was hanging out outside of the Kenwood store (this was his norm for a short break I guess). Until, one day, he came into OUR store!!! We were all so shocked by it and had to control our excited laughter. CAN YOU IMAGINE?? ROFL. But then, one day, Nor told me that he was actually married to a woman whom I sometimes saw with him. She was cute but chubby. A lot chubbier than me. And sometimes she gave me a knowing look, y'know, like, she knew what was going on. I've never even spoken to the guy, lol.
Okay, that wasn't the most embarrassing part to be honest. It was this: One day, I saw him laugh, and then I saw it. He didn't have teeth di tengah-tengah bahagian atas. 😅 My colleagues also knew. So they, Nor especially, started to tease me about it (sebenarnya Nor dan Kak Nor pun rongak jugak, so I tried not to make it seems like it was a big deal for fear of hurting their feelings lol. It's not like I have perfect teeth anyway. It is in fact, my BIGGEST insecurity). So to be honest, I didn't mind. It's just the teasing jak lah that made me feel embarrassed. And then I guess, it ended just like that. Actually, my crush on him ended not really because of that, but more due to him being married. So I respected that. I respected his wife. I'm sorry, I didn't know. 😅
8. What is your idea of the perfect day?
Going on a date with my husband somewhere nice and romantic where we don't need to worry about anything else.
9. If you could swap lives with one of your friends, who would it be?
To be honest, no one. I'm not saying this in a cocky, arrogant way. No. It's because, it would mean that, I wouldn't have my husband as my husband. I love him. Wouldn't want to swap him for anyone or anything else. And I'm so grateful to Allah for lending me him. My life has been so much better with him in it. Thank you Allah. 💗
10. Who knows the most secrets about you?
Allah swt.
Ugh okay, I know it's almost 1 am now, so it's technically the 28th of January. Meaning I missed one day of my so-called daily blogging target. Sigh. It's okay. I'll make it up with double posts for every day that I miss. Cool. I can do that. 😓 Lol.
So today, I took my cats Gapil and Zazu to the vet because Zazu has been having a lil trouble with peeing, which I remembered noticing to start since last week, whereas Gapil needed to get his vaccination to prepare him for his long-overdue neutering. It's scheduled next Wednesday, which is perfect because it's gonna be a day off for meee yay! This is because it's a Federal Territory Day on that day (1st of February), and because I follow KL holidays, sooo iolls cuti laaaa hehe. I've been meaning to get them both neutered for the longest time, but I only had the opportunity to bring both of them to the vet today. It wasn't Gapil's 1st time being at the vet though coz he also had the same problem before where he had to be warded for nearly a week for his treatment. I'll bring Zazu for neutering once his urinary problem gets better. He was prescribed with 4 kinds of medicines, so he needs to finish them or at least gets better first before I can bring him to the vet for neutering. I think he's already getting better because um, he was able to pee again earlier, alhamdulillah. Habis merata dia kencing tadi. 😒 But it's alright, because it means that the medicines are working. As for Gapil, he was prescribed with "Kena start jaga makan suda. Kurangkan makan ayam, sekali seminggu jak" and "bawa dia main setiap hari". 😅
After sending the cats back home, my husband and I went to Daily Coffee at Aeropod, a quite new Instagram-worthy hip cafe in Kota Kinabalu (if I'm not mistaken it is actually based in Penang). It was our 2nd visit. This time I ordered their Peach Fruit Blended and S'more Chocolate Waffle, while my husband had Hot Chocolate and Crispy Chicken Fried Rice. Despite being served with 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream, the waffle was meh, it was too hard for my liking and definitely not as I expected. I will not order it again in the future for sure. The Peach Fruit Blended was good although I prefer the mango one (I wanted to have the Mango Fruit Blended but they were out of mangoes so I opted for peach). My husband's Crispy Chicken Fried Rice was okay according to my tastebuds but my husband was not impressed. He said the fried rice from the restaurant near our house tastes better but I think it wasn't too bad.
During our 1st visit, my husband ordered Grilled Chicken Burger, which was good. I wanted to try their Egg Benedict but it was sold out at the time. Next time aku mau try itu sama dorang punya Mac & Cheese sebab kawan aku cakap Mac & Cheese dorang sedap (nah tiba-tiba BM plak hahaha). Please excuse my bahasa rojak. Sama kenapa tiba-tiba macam jadi food review ni? Hahaha. I also ordered their Salmon Rolls to go (I did too last time hehe coz I love salmon pastries. Yum!) Yang bestnya Daily Coffee ni, they have a buy-1-free-1 promotion for all pastries every day after 6 pm (members only). Their other member benefits that I can recall include free sliced cake during birthday month and buy-1-free-1 for cakes every Thursday. So best jugak laa.. RM10 jak ka kalau nda silap the membership fee (not sure if it's lifetime or annual though, I forgot).
Eeee pukul 2 pulak suda ui. Bah kasi habis la ni. Ahaha. Kira mau sambung itu Google Analytics Course but I need to sleep coz tomorrow at 10 am my husband is taking me to a wedding reception. But before that, nah iolls belanja gambar dulu. 😝 Some of these were taken during our 1st visit. I sort it randomly jak. Can you guess which ones are from the 1st visit and which ones from the 2nd? Hehe. Let me know in the comments! (cakap macam la ada ramai followers kau hahaha).
Okay laa.. Let's call it a night. Until next blog post! Take care~
