Magic Hat

Know what's circling in my mind today? The fact that sometimes marketing is such a powerful creature. No wonder that's one of the seriously booming sectors these days.

Yeah, it's seriously amazing how evolved and sophisticated marketing has become and the amount of influence it has on our daily lives.

Remember the big drumroll and flurry of activities earlier last month when Windows VISTA rolled out? Gee, even me, this computer dinosaur, got all excited with the countdown and couldn't wait to get my computer outfitted with the lastest Window operating system?
So crazy.............
I can't even say I like computers. I am Chongmal Crazy...........

So, the problem is that I can no longer tell anymore if I really want something, or if someone is making me think I want that something.

Haha - just look at my BYJ stash. After, it's the first few weeks of the Chinese New Year for us, and with spring around the corner, most of us do dwelve a bit into cleaning chores by habit or maybe out of sheer necessity. Looking that at unstable pile, I am reminded of a conversation I had with a friend once before. I told my dear Byj pal that should there be yet another serious earthquake in LA...I'll be safely cushioned by this BYJ avalanche or.....well, at least I'll "go" by being crushed by a mountain of BYJ stuff. Never a good thing no matter how you look at it, but maybe it'll be a soften ride a bit ? seriously kidding again :)
Anyway, here, still looking at the mass of BYJ stuff I've collected (with no where to put, I might add) and I am wondering what percentage of these things really serve a useful purpose in my life? Gosh what could've possessed me to stockpile these. Ya, like I really need so many mufflers in sunny California, and ya, like my poor damaged stomach lining can tolerate that many taster's choice coffee sticks, to name a few. haha - such is a woman's life, isn't it? Yep, for many, shopping is about "the process" rather than what goes in the bag at the end of the day. So I don't know what made me think I needed all this stuff back then, but I guess BYJ things are simply those little "extras" that I reward myself with, rather than any thing I can really "use." I figure that's my own problem though, because I see so many people go about their daily activities fully integrating all these things into their lives and making them useful somehow - like BYJ tags on their bags, BYJ phone strings on their cells, BYJ keychains, BYJ bags to cart their daily groceries to and fro.........you name it. I could never do that, but like I've said, that's my problem of extreme self-consciousness.

Ay....why the long lead in? Who knows? It's kinda a given with me, I guess....

Well, I was sitting here organizing my stuff and keeping busy to pass the time. Why? Coz if I had kept my original plan, well, I should be heading to the airport right around now. Sob, Sob! Yep, was supposed to hop on that red-eye flight tonight to Seoul today but noooooooooooo.............instead I'm sitting here in front of the pc to catch up with my work.

Fortunately, something that I found in my pile cheered me up big time.

Ever seen this?Since I don't keep up with all the posts and all the websites as well as I used to, you could very well have seen it before (and you may stop here, haha).

Hee...anyway, I just bought it at the bazaar section of the EXPO 3 mos ago - remember, at that stall directly facing Key East's where almost everyone was congregated in a shopping frenzy?

You know, I had lost the business card case that my best friend had given me when we graduated together, and I was so desperately looking for a replacement.
And voila............here it was. For the first time in my life, here was a "BYJ thing" that was understated enough for me to use daily in my profession, and it was something I so happen to need as well! All signs pointed to the "BUY" button!

Ah........the great thing is that someone finally gets it right. Like you don't know how many of BYJ's fans are hardworking professionals and can really use stuff like this rather than......let's say.......a talking cup (although it is mightily cute and marvelous cup, the WS mug is). And for those lucky souls that don't work, many of them do need something neat to carry their "BYJ" contact cards in, right?


Anyway, I remember there were 2 versions - a silver and a gold one. Any day of the year, I would generally favor silver, but that day I picked the gold one for reasons you'll see. It's engraved with all those flowers in the front which gives the cold steel case a little more of a softer feminine feel. The little note up there says that this unique chrysanthemum design is supposed to signify "purity, innocence & elegance." You agree?

Actually, if you stop at certain souvenir stations in Korea and especially at the shops in the airports, you will see many similar items made by this company, Kawa. They specialize in producing practical items that blend in some cultural elements from S. Korea. You should look into these if you're stuck about what presents to take home the next time you visit. But those, as nice as they are, are incomparable to this one......................

So why the gold one?

Well, when you swing open the case, the inside of that flap has this etched in the central aspect of it.
Heehee, it's something you know well.
I know you're all saying, "OK, nice.........but what's the big whoop???" hahahahah :)

Patience......................!

And now the back side of the case.
See it??? See it?????????

S-E-E H-I-M, I mean??????????? :)

Hee, it is oh-so-subtle but so nicely done. The detail is all there if you look hard enough.

Don't believe?

OK, I'll show you.
Just for you, okay? haha.

So, I held a black card up close to create a shadow over it, and whoa, this is what effect you get!

.

.

.

.Mercy, mercy!
Now you see it, now you don't! hahahaha

Can you all understand now why this made me so happy today?

Hee, why need to go to S. Korea, when I can pull him out of my Magic Hat at anytime I please? It's so much more convenient this way! :)

Too bad I only discovered how nice this was after I got home, or I would've gotten a few more for presents.

OK, that's all the show & tell I have today.
Have a great one, everybody!