Dreamwalker

If I got a dollar every time I've seen or heard this line, I probably could go buy my own island and live there forever. Or not.

The thing is, we've all been taught that gratefulness is a virtue. It is a good thing. It is one of the key ingredients to happiness. That there is always something to be grateful for - as that image shows.

But what about those times when all you can feel, find, and see are things you can't be grateful for?

I remember being taught the concept of "in everything give thanks; in every situation".

Boy, have I gone a long way from there.

No one likes a Debbie Downer, but pardon me. I just can't buy into these concepts these days.

Sometimes I surprise myself.

This self-proclaimed mall-hater found herself at the mall the second time in a month. On a rainy Saturday afternoon. The weekend before Christmas.

Crazy, right?

There's a perfectly rational explanation for this, as I met up with the person buying my PS3. (I've been selling stuff that has been serving as dust collectors in the past months/years.)

So I found myself at the mall after the meetup.

I'm a sucker for bagels and cream cheese, and when the craving starts, it doesn't stop. Thing is, we all know that coffee shop bagels, as yummy as they are, can be pricey. When you're tightening your belt, it becomes more of a luxury than a necessity.

So I went the DIY route.

I love giving presents, but for Christmas, I am either late or I just give the kids money. The rush and hectic atmosphere is just too much for me.

This year, even if it's already late by many people's standards, I am going to do a bit of Christmas shopping. The real kind. Have a list. Go to the mall.

It's a weird situation I find myself in, because I really am not the type to be affected by Christmas cheer. I like the season, but as I said, going to the mall at this time of the year is pure torture for me.

But I'm quite excited about getting the little boys stuff that would light up their faces when they open the boxes. I'm excited to find something for my dad. The only sad but is that I don't need to find any gifts like mothers rings from joyjewelers.com...

My mom loved receiving trinkets - necklaces, bracelets, earrings...

Anyhow, this Christmas, I am determined to be cheerful, or at the very least, not grumpy old me. ;)

So, Megamall, here I come (soonish). …

Stupefied.

That's how I felt after a harrowing experience with Smart.

It's ironic if you think about it. Their Twitter handle is @SMARTcares. Even a 2-year-old would know it implies that SMART cares.

But, whom does SMART care for? Its customers or itself?

This is the story of how SMART lost me as a subscriber. A subscriber who very much wanted to continue using SmartBro.

WARNING: Long story in spite me saying I am stupefied (which I still am, actually)