A couple of loyal readers asked how I’ve been doing, so here’s a quick update.
Split into three parts: my blogging, professional, and personal life.
1. BLOGGING LIFE
a) I have continued to update the prolific Mr. Yoong’s blog excerpts throughout this year — check them out here!
b) I’ve been meaning to review Tey Tsun Hang’s book, Legal Consensus, for some time now. Hopefully I can get to it by the end of the year (I am doing a bit of traveling next month to visit my family in Maine, and have “some other stuff to get to” after that).
Tey’s publication is a coolly concise book on “Singapore’s schizophrenic jurisprudence.”
Here’s a paragraph from the second chapter to whet your intellectual appetite:
The danger arises when ‘government-articulated collective interests in the name of culture and community becomes synonymous with state interests’. When this happens, any criticism of the government, even those that are constructive, becomes criticism subversive of the state and hence the community’s interest. The system becomes open to abuse by governments seeking to strengthen their political power and legitimise their actions via legal formalities within a ‘thin’ conception of the rule of law.
— Legal Consensus, by Tey Tsun Hang (Page 5)
I’ll update my social media accounts more regularly once I resume some activity for jessINK-related matters (see below). This year I’ve been enjoying doing more things offline versus online.
2. PROFESSIONAL LIFE
a) As I wrote over a year ago, jessINK’s new direction has been on my mind for the past few weeks and months.
In the past year, I’ve shifted my interests away from indie publishing in order to explore some of my other skills and interests. I have some ideas for what I’d like jessINK 2.0 to be about. It’ll still (and always will) involve SOME degree of writing — my first love forever ♥ — just in a new direction.
It’s because I’m exponentially happier writing when the process is not narrowly dictated by commercial niche genres.
I really appreciate the readers who’ve appreciated my work over the years, so that keeps me motivated to offer good value to my new audience(s) in future, whether it’s in publishing or another field.
b) Playmates, the first book in my psych thriller series, was a finalist in the 9th Indie Excellence Awards last year. That made me smile coz it’s a pretty big contest with tons of entries.
c) Matt Posner, my co-author on Teen Guide, sent me this complimentary mug featuring the book cover. It’s been 5 years since we starting collaborating on it. OMG where did the time go!
That’s not a particularly glam or “PR-worthy” photo of myself (I’m in a night dress, which is what I sometimes wear while working from home)…but, having an acne history, I’m quite pleased that breakouts have become more manageable these days. A lot of it is related to stress management and emotional health.
3. PERSONAL LIFE
a) I relocated to Florida earlier this year in January, after living in Maine for several years.
This was a good move on my part, albeit it took many months of “analysis paralysis” before I finally decided that something had to change in terms of geographic location. Maine is a pretty state, but it can be “desolate” (an adjective used by one of my American friends) depending on which part you are in.
The first few weeks in my new space were devoted to house-cleaning, baking, cooking, and figuring out what was wrong with the washing machine.
b) I passed the basic rider course earlier in the year, so my driver’s license says “Motorcycle Also.”
That was just something I used to think about getting during my teenage days, so I’m glad I got that done even though I’m a LONNNGG way off from being a skillful rider.
At the very least, I got a solid foundation from Highlands Professional Motorcycle Training based on a biker friend’s recommendation. Great coaches who were very positive, focused, and looked out for the well-being of the students.
c) The natural terrain is something else I’ve been getting to know a little better. Alligators and turtles in the small canals are common in certain areas.
Relationship-wise, the guy in the shadow pointing pic above makes me smile and I make him laugh — and that’s important. I will leave it up to you to guess whether or not he rides a bike.
On a slight tangent, I like using the following two brands of sun screen: Badger and Babyganics. I use them a lot if I’m spending some time outdoors.
My skin is very sensitive and I prefer organic skincare products. Right now I use a basic soap cleanser, beauty balm, and sun screen. I prefer to keep things simple on that front and not overload my face with chemicals.
d) Since I haven’t lived or worked in Singapore for Quite A While, I can only gauge what it’d feel like to live there now based on friends’ postings on Facebook, along with updates from sites like The Online Citizen.
Quality of life can be a subjective thing, since it is partly dependent on a person’s preferences and comfort zone(s) when it comes to feeling like a certain location feels like home.
A lot of my friends or former classmates occasionally gripe about SG, but continue to stay because of:
- Their family network, and
- The convenience of transport and amenities.
My immediate family members felt differently, so I grew up within a different way of thinking so to speak.
Here’s the core sentiment I remember the most while growing up in Singapore: that it never felt like home.
This was due to a combination of factors, such as:
- The feeling of claustrophobia from the ever increasing population density,
- Feeling trapped by education/career/housing options, and
- Feeling that freedom of speech did not exist without severe repercussions.
The constant gleam of the latest and greatest shopping malls and eateries didn’t make me feel any different deep inside.
No doubt variety is good when it comes to food, but one can simply cook up a storm at home if malls are struggling to attract customers due to high rentals, etc.
Singapore Politics: Blog 
You’ve got so much going for you, Jess! I had an inkling that you wrote something at year. :)
CONGRATS on your new motorbiking license! Ahhh…am wary of Florida’s corrupted govt there – please take good care of yourself (you and your papa!) I love your news and updates! Keep rocking, Jess!
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Tks, Kelly! Yeah, I’ve had a range of different activities these past few months haha.
I think corrupted govts. exist everywhere :P My dad likes Maine for now (but he might change his mind in future). Tc too!
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