Toastmasters
This activity has been taken a lot of my time off the first month of January. Here's the stuffs that I've been doing for TI this month.
08th Jan - Club Table Topic master cum Grammarian
15th Jan - Vistana Contest: Toastmaster of the Evening
17th Jan - International Speech Contestant (1st Runner Up)
19th Jan - Division S Judge Workshop (Co-Organizing Chair)
28th Jan - Club Exco Meeting (need to look for members seriously)
29th Jan - Success Club Meeting (evaluator for Assignment #3); VTMC Meeting (Table Topics Speaker)
30th Jan - Timer (To achieve my CL assignment goal)

The good thing is that, Toastmasters has gave me the platform to practice. So much so that my department presentation was an eye opener.

Yesterday I presented a paper about the project I've been doing, and everyone seated is very interested. I did not get the best scores of the day, but I can see that the director graded me better as compared to my presentation when I first join the company.

Company Event
I've been voluntarily helping up in some photography assignments since I join the company. Hopefully they'll show some appreciation by compensating on my equipment depreciation.

12th Jan - Golf Championship, Kulim Golf Club.
22nd Jan - Thaipusam, Waterfall Road.

Toastmasters will be having their Annual Convention in Penang this year (PG2008). And the organizers have asked me to coordinate the video/photography for the whole event. This shows that people start to acknowledge my photography skills. This is a good opportunity to expand my hobby into a full fledge career.

Financial
Since getting out from school, I have been saving enough to spend on the things that I enjoy - photography, travel, electronics...etc. So dad signed me up for an exam by FMUTM (Federation of Malaysian Unit Trust Managers). After hours of bed time reading (yes...I read technical papers to sleep), I managed to finish the exam in a blink of an eye. Turns out the paper is the easiest paper I've sat for the past 10 years!!!

Now, I'm waiting for my agent code, and will start to educate people about savings/ investing/ financial planning. 2 of the 3 is correct, need to sit for more exams to be a licensed financial planner.

I bought a RM1.50 log book to track my daily expenses and see where I've spend excess. Hopefully with the extra money I save, I can bring Irene for a week-long cruise to never-ever-land. So far the most expensive thing I've spent on this month is a RM150 Hoya Pro1 UV filter for my RM700 lens. Will justify the expenditure once I get my hands on this<1685>.

Technology
This month is a blessing for all techno-freaks. CES2008, MacWorld2008 and PMA2008 has announced a lot of wallet drilling gadgets. Here are some of the things I'm crave for includes the Panasonic 150" Plasma TV, MacBook Air, AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.

And DPReview has launched a lens review section. They have 4 lenses tested (no Nikkors though) Looking forward to get the 16-85VR vs 18-200VR lens performance review before putting my money in. For now, 16-85VR is more suitable for the kinda photography I do.

Miscellaneous
February will be a month of celebrations (CNY, Valentines...). I've already building up my to-do lists...and hopefully it'll be a compactly exciting month. My target is to make a list of things I spend and start a sub-blog about frugality/personal finance. Lets see how things go.

Labels: Myself

Happy Thaipusam fellow readers, I've taken some photos of the festival...but as usual, I'll keep it to myself for the time being (excuse for being lazy) :P

Just for today, let's just skip Chinese New Year and look straight for Valentine's Day.I found out this contest from KimOng's blog. There's actually a contest where couples upload their own photos and compete for a RM200 AirAsia Flight Voucher.

One of the main criteria is that photos have to be submitted by an amateur. Since I'm not a professional (thankfully), I'm qualified to compete. Yay~

Not sure if the competition is open for voting, but couples out there can post up ur own photos to join the fun.

Here's the link. [LOVE IS IN THE AIR]

Labels: Relationship

2 weeks ago, I was jotting down points on my laptop during TLI2, nothing turns up
Last week, I was still struggling with a title for my speech
Last night, I'm having trouble getting the pieces of idea together
I tell myself, just go up there and talk for 5~7 minutes. Just like any other 1st timer in a speech contest.

But in the morning, my mentor have a look at my speech and tell me...I can make it. He gave me some pointers, and guide me in the delivery.
Just a few hours ago, I went up the stage and touched the hearts of the audience. When I'm sitting there listening to the other contestants "I tell myself, I'll be going to the Area Contest!"

I even called up my mentor and tell him the good news. Sadly, when the results were announced, I only came 2nd. WHY WHY WHY??? I dressed smart,the delivery is smooth, and it touches people's heart. But why did I lose out so easily? And then I got to know that the expression on my face is all being hidden under the shadow. Damn, the stage "feng shui" was just not right for me.

3 hours after the competition, now...I'm listening to Watson Russell's "Faith Of The Heart" to soothe my dissatisfaction. Will I quit? Hell no! I'll move on and complete my assignments and one day....I'll certainly reach the top. Congratulation to the winners, and I got faith...that I'll go wherever my heart and will takes me --- Reaching for SOARING heights.

Labels: Toastmasters

It's been a very packed month of January. And here is why:-

1. Irene has been down on cough-soreT-flu since X'mas. (Get better now)
2. Toastmasters are flooding January with a lot of Club Contests. Helping up
3. Doing charity photography for the company's Golf Competition
4. Preparing my International Speech for the 17th of the Month. (my 1st time)
5. Bun came visiting from JB. Bring her around Penang island. (Photo & Stories later)
6. Toastmasters Leadership Institute 2...but thankfully not photographer this round

Besides that, I've something that have been getting me worried. But that's all cleared by now. There's no way to express it properly in a public domain. Will figure out something after I've cleared January's burden off my shoulders.

CNY is coming, but I ain't that much excited at all. There's too much worry I have now. Getting back to my work.

Side note:
Now everyone can blog. Even my distant new-born relative have a blog. Check it out.
http://looyixuan.blogspot.com/

Labels: Myself