.: Before Lil' Patchee :.

This Blog

2005-03-23T12:01:00.001+08:00

It's easy to own a blog, but it's tough keeping one. Well.. That's a different story altogether if one frequently updates it. Otherwise, it will be just like this one, updated probably once or twice in a month. Which is sad, really.

Of course, a blog is like a diary, except that there's a possibility that at least one person out there in the great, wide world would read it. True enough, we have the freedom to write whatever we like in it. It's where we can express our angers, sadness, joy and thoughts, regardless of who reads it, isn't it?

But that's the problem. Strangers read about your intimate feelings. People around you will somehow accidentally "land" onto your blogspace. Things you don't want certain people to know about but you write about it, and eventually, someway somehow, they know about it. What if I wanna rant about someone? What if I wanna write about any skeletons in my closet? It's.. It's awkward lar.. Freedom of speech or not, people who are close to you, will also judge you by your writings.

There are so many things I'd just want to write about, but at the end, I didn't because of issues like these. Therefore, I've created another blog quite some time ago and remain anonymous there. No such luck of revealing the link to you. Sorry.. That's where I'll write all my inner thoughts without ever fearing of any consequences caused from my writings.

But of course, I will still update this blog. Just that, whatever I write will probably be a bit general. Or I can put up photos. Or, I don't know.. Anything goes.. I might even have duplicate entries in both of the blogs. If you happen to chance upon that mysterious blog and think that you've read it before over here, yup, that's me. Lucky you! Hehe..

Thanks for popping by. Do check on this blog occasionally though. I won't let it die. Who knows, maybe I have another entry up my sleeves now. :)

Have a good day, everyone!

Post CNY

2005-02-24T17:50:00.000+08:00

Oh wow. I haven't been blogging for nearly a month now. Not that it made any difference, did it How are you?

CNY came and went. Angpows collected. Lion dance performances witnessed. I actually saw a 'lion' fell off from a pole (horror!) at Amcorp Mall. Relatives visited. Reunion dinners attended. Listing of nieces/nephews (from my cousins' on Dad's side) increased to at least 20 now. *Gasp* And a lovely newborn cousin brother, who looks exactly like our late grandfather (Mum's dad, he passed away in early 1997). "Reincarnation", Mum and her siblings always said. "Small Father!" as they refer him. Hehe..

Had a mini 'lou sang' dinner with family at home last night for Chap Goh Meh, and 'tong yuen' for dessert. Mum heard from the radio that people normally have 'tong yuen' on the 15th day of CNY. I always thought it was only eaten during the Chinese Winter Solstice!

Now that the CNY celebration is over, it's time to open the angpow packets!! *nyek nyek nyek*

2 Hour Blackout

2005-01-13T15:32:00.000+08:00

We had power shortage at about 12.25pm, shortly before lunch break (I couldn't heat up my nasi lemak!). We thought this was normal (power tripping is a VERY common thing in my company), only to find out that the whole area was affected too. I seriously pitied our next door neighbour - the cake factory. Sure make losses! Us? "Lepak je lar" in the R&D room as darkness surrounded us. Couldn't really go out, anyway, too hot to even want to picnic at the 'taman' in front of our office. Hehe..

Then realized everywhere else also 'kena' - Damansara Perdana, UM, Sunway, Subang, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Mid Valley, Bukit Jalil.. Heard that a power generator in Cameron's was shut down also. Even had trouble making calls from the handphones. Aduhai.. Thank goodness my housing area was not affected at all! Coz we've got renovation going on at home! Hhm.. Must be the fact that we chose a good date from the 'tong sing' (Chinese almanac) for renovation. Hehe.. Mum must have been soooooo glad!

Anyway, wanna know the cause? It's due to power tripping in Kapar's power station. You can read the news here. Other news related to the blackout are in The Star, The Sun, Bloomberg, TV Smith (this is damn cute) and Jeff Ooi. More of fellow bloggers' point of views are in Visa, PapiMami and Oliviasy. ;)

Now that electricity is back, it's back to work for everyone!

Revolving Christmas

2004-12-25T23:31:00.000+08:00

Christmas is always a sentimental and romantic celebration. Last minute gift-shopping for loved ones. Christmas songs being played over the air. Decorations and bright lights hanging everywhere. Family dinners to make the picture perfect.

We had that. Sis' bf, Vainpot came down from Hong Kong yesterday for the weekend. We took that opportunity to go for the Christmas buffet dinner over at the Seri Angkasa Revolving Restaurant in KL Tower. It was a lovely restaurant. There were tables for two by the window glasses, overseeing the whole city as the tower revolves. Definitely the most romantic place in Malaysia. Hint for guyz who want to propose to their gfs, or at least, to make an impression to their ladies on their first dates. *wink* Although, it can be a rather expensive one.. It costs at least 90 bux per person on Christmas!

Bird's eye view of KL

Don't worry about the $$, the setting was lovely (Christmas trees and decorations everywhere), the buffet was marvellously yummy, especially the desserts.. Creme brulee.. Caramel pudding.. Hehe.. I'm a bigger fan of the desserts rather than the food. ;) After a round of Christmas songs, there was a live solo, singing lovey-dovey songs (like "Wonderful Tonight" and "Forever Love") as he plays the piano. How romantic can this NOT be?

Fluffy Santa Claus

Lovely.. Absolutely lovely.. Merry Christmas. ;)

Opening The Wine Bottle

2004-12-24T16:48:00.000+08:00

A pre-Christmas "humour" (if not, a lame one)..

What happens if the R&D dept receives a hamper and there were no bosses around?
Answer: Open it la.

What happens if the hamper contains a bottle of wine and there's 2 and 1/2 more hours to go till the Christmas weekend?
Answer: Drink it la.

What happens if there is no bloody corkscrew around, not within the dept room, the pantry, not any other depts in other buildings?
Answer: Unscrew it the typical engineer way la.

How?
Answer: Get 2 long screws, 1 screwdriver (or testpen), 1 pair of pliers, 2-3 pairs of hands, and the rest as cheerleaders. Drill the screws deep into the cork. 1 pair of hands to use the pliers to pull the screws out (hence, pulling the cork out). The other 1-2 pairs of hands to hold the bottle. Pull as hard as you can get, and *wah lah*, the cork is out.

The screwed cork

Like I said, typical R&D engineers' way to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. Hehe..

Merry Christmas!

2004-12-24T14:26:00.000+08:00

It's Christmas Eve and despite being in a Christian company, they're not letting us off early today. :( Oh well.. Am blasting Billy Gilman's "Jingle Bells Rock" now. I don't care if anyone's gonna be mad about it! It's Christmas Eve!!

I've always loved Christmas rather than CNY. CNYs are mainly "dong dong chang" and there's always the expectations of giving angpaus, exchanging oranges and all. No doubt, I'm not exactly a Christian. But somehow there's something melancholy about Christmas - the Christmas tree, carols, bright lights and cottony snow. Even the songs are sentimental. No expectations whatsoever, but merely the companionship of family and friends. I miss the days when I used to attend Sunday School, and we would go around the nearby housing area singing carols while holding lit candles.. That was, what, almost 15 years ago.

My family is definitely not Christians, but we do put up Christmas trees every year and decorate it with colourful ornaments, bells and candy sticks. Plus, our tree is the fibre optic one which looks like this, well, not exactly la, something like that. I would try to buy them Christmas gifts and we would go for Christmas dinners, just the 4 of us.

This year's Christmas, I got to dress up as Santa Rina for my company's Annual cum Christmas Dinner. It was fun "Ho ho ho"-ing at my colleagues and distributing gifts with another colleague, Santa Hippo. Although we were all required to bring a gift worth at least 10 bux, it was nice to see their excited eyes as they select their gifts. Yeah, I let them choose their own gifts (they suka big one, then take the big one lor). We played games, sang carols, performed a comedy skit and had lucky draw. I hope everyone had fun there.

As for my family, Sis' bf, Vainpot is down from Hong Kong for a short visit. This year, it's gonna be the 6 of us having our Christmad dinner in KL Tower. Hopefully the sky is clear tomorrow night and we'll get to see some fireworks. :)

"And so I'm offering this simple phrase
For kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said, many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you".

Here's wishing you a marvellicious Christmas and may you have a much blessed one, surrounded with loads of love, joy and don't forget this, as I quote Sir Cliff Richard, that Christmas is "a time for giving, a time for getting, a time for forgiving, and for forgetting".

Merry Christmas. *Hugz*

Anyone Feeling Like This?

2004-12-23T09:47:00.000+08:00

Got this through my colleague..

"I WANNA GO ON HOLIDAY NOW!!!"

Hehe.. I'm already on the holiday mood.. Are you?

Shaolin Kung Fu Masters Return

2004-12-17T09:09:00.000+08:00

I went for this last night! Inspector got the 70 bux tickets from his colleague. It started at 8pm, we were late and I guess we'd pretty much missed the lion dance. His colleague managed to get us seats near theirs. The stadium was awfully packed, probably coz they only perform for these 2 nights?

The exponents were really superb! They had group demonstrations for animal styles and drunken fist, spears on the throat, knives on the abdomen, etc. I particularly was looking forward to the needle piercing through the glass pane act. The practitioner was supposed to use Qi Gong to pierce the glass pane with a needle and burst the balloon at the other side of the pane. He took a few tries and in the end, managed to pierce the pane, but he did not burst the balloon. Still.. It was a superb try. Another practitioner managed to push a van by using a spear against the throat. It looked sooooooooooo painful to me. Imaging having the pointy tip over at your throat, the van in front of you, you pushing the van backwards and therefore, pushing the spear deeper onto the throat. But he made it feel like nothing only! *Gasp*

Oh, there was this other fascinating act - Log ramming against the abdomen. They asked the audience to go onto the stage and hit the practitioner's abdomen. Most of the people that went up were kids. Hehe.. One kid kept wanting to hit, most of them left with the look on the face, telling us that their fists hurt, and there were some adults showing off kung fu style lar, taekwando style lar, and whatever style.. Just to hit on the abdomen! Hilarious!

Managed to buy a copy of the Shaolin CD from one of the exponents. 40 bux for a 2-hour disc! Seems expensive, but then again, nevermind lar.. Consider it as a donation to the Tung Shin Hospital lor.. We had to leave early though coz Inspector was really exhausted, so we missed the closing ceremony.

Nevertheless, I had a great time there. Truly wonderful experience. I don't mind going back to watch it the next time they come down. ;)

My Christmas Song Listing

2004-12-15T15:11:00.000+08:00

Since Christmas is just around the corner, thought of sharing my Christmas song listing.. Contemporary ones though. Am gonna play these songs for my company's Christmas dinner on Friday. It's a short list for now, will add more to it later. Feel free to use the list. ;)

Billy Gilman - Warm And Fuzzy
*NSync - Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
Backstreet Boys - Christmas Time
Olivia Olson - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Brenda Lee - Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
*NSync - The First Noel
Jewel - Winter Wonderland
Clay Aiken - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Billy Gilman - Jingle Bell Rock
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe And Wine
Debbie Gibson - Sleigh Ride
Britney Spears - My Only Wish (This Year)

I'm gonna be playing Christmas songs the whole week long over the speakers. My colleagues will all be sick of them by Friday. Muahaha..

Bumblebee's Arrival

2004-12-12T22:08:00.000+08:00

A huge shoutout of CONGRATULATIONS to Inspector's family on the arrival of Princess & Eskimo's firstbon, Bumblebee. What an "ong" date to be born on.. 12th of December on a lovely Sunday afternoon!!

He was born 18 days earlier and until today, the gynae still could not scan for the baby's gender. So you can imagine the whole 9 months of "boy or girl ah?", "I think girl la", and all the midwives' stories of telling whether it's a boy or a girl. To me, I knew it would be a boy, coz I did the pendulum divination thing and it told me "boy". That said, Inspector is now officially a "dai kao fu" (Big Uncle). Hehe.. I may have been an Auntie years ago - from my many cousins' children. Err.. Roughly 20 of them now, I think! But then again, they're not directly related to me. So it's different. And I still make all my nieces and nephews call me "Jie Jie". *lol*

Went to Assunta Hospital as soon as we came back from Sepang Circuit to visit them. Gosh.. Bumblebee is sooooo cute and he smelled soooooo nice.. And very active! He had been awfully active since his "womb days". I have a great feeling that he's gonna be spoiled to bits by everyone - the great grandma, the grandparents and both the uncles. Hehe..

A quick snapshot of Bumblebee. Inspector & I chipped in to buy the pram for him. Oooh.. I can't wait to see him again!!

Bumblebee on the first day of his arrival

AMF Final Day

2004-12-12T18:58:00.000+08:00

It was a lovely weather at Sepang today. Bright and sunny. That my whole face, neck and hands were flushed red and itchy. But on a happier note, I brought my camera! Yippieeeeeeeee!!

Player & Freckles joined us today. We got a much wider range of cars to look at for the Metal Modders ShowOff. I particularly like this BMW. Apparently the owner is one of Aneh's friend's bf. According to Aneh, on top of the full specs of the BMW, the owner spent an additional RM 70k just on the modifications. I don't know what did he do (did I mention I'm lousy at cars?), but it's simple and nice and still as classy.

BMW

We saw the 1/10th Radio Control Car Championship as well for both the electric and the gas categories. My goodness.. I was quite fascinated with it. I couldn't even properly control my Audly Mini Cooper RC that goes like, 10 miles/hour, and the RC cars I saw there were speeding like a jet! No photos were taken for this though..

Next up was the SuperCar Display at the Pit Area. Oh wow.. Damn a lot of 'cun' cars. And since I'm very illiterate on cars, someone kindly please tell me the full model name of the ones below? Anyway, here were some of the nice cars we took..

Ferrari

Lamborghini Murcielago

Zonda, that was used to drive audience with special passes to get a feel of it

There were many more like Lotus, Bentley, Maserati, Porsche, etc. There were other car booth exhibitions like Hyundai, BMW, Nissan, Mazda, etc. I think this one below is a Satria?

I like the dragon look

Managed to watch the SuperCar Sunday Time Trials at the circuit.. Just a glimpse (from where I sat) of the cars that were lining up for the Time Trials..

A couple of Ferraris?

And of course, how could I ever miss taking at least a photo of the "power bomb" models?? Here's one of it. Sorry lar, I sat at the opposite side of the pitlane, so the pic's a bit small to see..

Guyz drooling over them. Hehe..

Before we left, we stayed for the Babe of the Hour Search. That particular hour, there were about 5 girls from the audience. I figured that the crowd would have voted for the absolutely well-endowed girl (suprise, suprise, she is only 16!), but they gave the loudest cheer to another girl who was just clueless and was doing the "Sunday morning walk" (or that's what I thought the emcees described). Justice was done! *smile*

And then we left. 32 bux well worth spent (despite the sunburn!), considering that there's no way I can ever have the $ to get such cars, so being able to see them right in front of my face is my best alternative. ;) In the meantime, I've got to go nurse my aching legs and toes..

Asian Motorsports Festival Weekend

2004-12-11T23:50:00.000+08:00

Went to the BF Goodrich AMF at the Sepang F1 Circuit with Inspector & Aneh. I'm not very good at cars, but what the heck, I wanted to see the circuit! *grin* The entrance fee was RM 32 per person for 3 days (Fri - Sun). Went to check out the modified cars, the in-car entertainment sets, and oooh.. The 'leng luis'. ;)

Managed to watch the Ultimate 1/4 Mile Clash II Finals at the Circuit. Saw a BMW skidded towards the corner and hit the wall. Everyone just cheered when the fire engine, ambulance and the tow truck sped across the circuit. *lol* Good thing the driver wasn't badly injured, but the car had to be towed back to the pitlane.

Too bad I didn't bring a camera along. I must remember to bring it tomorrow!

The Birthday Weekend

2004-11-29T10:44:00.000+08:00

I am now 25. Is that supposed to be a great age to be in? Coz "a quarter of a century" sounds really old, although technically we are still qualified as a young adult. And apparently, we are supposed to be a bunch of confused people. This leads to this article about having the "Quarterlife Crisis" which I'm sure anyone would have received this through e-mails at least once. Ohh.. What am i talking about? It's my birthday, man! So we shall talk happy things here!

Let's start over. I am now 25. Had a quiet birthday weekend, nevertheless, am very glad to have celebrated it with my family and close friends. I guess, as we get older, birthdays are not so much of a huge celebration, playing games and receiving presents anymore. When i was younger, every year Dad would buy a blackforest cake. When I say cake, I meant the 1kg one, with 12 cherries on it. That was huge, considering there were only 3-4 (3 was before Sis was born) of us eating it. Now? "Don't need la.. So old already.. Pai seh lah..". *lol*

Anyway, I had mentioned it here that it would be lovely to meet up with Wan Nei to celebrate our birthdays together on the 27th. We eventually did, along with our other halves, over dim sum in Foh San on Sat morning. It was too bad that Cleopatra couldn't make it (some other time, perhaps?). It was also too bad that another friend is still in Perth, it would have been a sweeter moment to have all 3 of us celebrating our birthdays together (he was 5-7 hours younger than me, while I was 6-7 hours younger than Wan Nei). We had a great time catching up on each other's lives, especially when I have not seen Shaggy for 7 years now. Wan Nei brought her SAM photo album along, so we were laughing and relating back the good old days as I flipped the pages. It made me realize that I wasn't very close to our classmates and that I did not take enough shots as memories. Heck, even there were probably only 1-2 pics of Wan Nei and I together! As of today, we have at least 5 pics! Hehe.. It was all good though. From what I wrote for Wan Nei's testimony on Friendster, despite the major glitch we had in our friendship 7 years ago, we were able to look past that and we are still good friends now like as if that glitch had never happened. :)

Next on the "makan" line was with my family at Eastin for the buffet dinner. As usual, I was more keen on the dessert but I forgot to take the custard pudding! Aw man! Every year, 27th Nov was always my day. But this year, I'm making it as Mum's day. A day to remember how much of pain she had to suffer just to bring me into the world. Apparently, I was supposed to be out 2 weeks later, but the doctor wanted to induce Mum earlier coz he was to go on a holiday! Before he even did it, I came out the very next day by myself. I must have been pretty scared about the induction. Hehe.. As a token of great appreciation, I am buying Mum a DECT cordless phone so that she can take advantage of the speakerphone feature. The phone of course doesn't cost as much as the pain she went through, but.. At least something lar, I hope!

On Sunday pulak, was another dim sum lunch, this time with Moorish, Sue, Lily, Jewel and their other halves. It was in Chynna, Hilton KL (the one in Plaza Sentral). Fulamak, I was pretty impressed with the fine dining environment, so not used to using gold cutlery and all. We were quite amused with the way they served 'pat pou char' (welcoming tea) with this super long spouted teapot. Something like this. Actually not as huge as that, but something like that lar... It was all gold in colour, and at the front of the handle was this gold dragon statue with florescent green pom-poms as its tentacles. Very unnecessary, but.. Amusing lar. Hehe.. It was a great experience though. Thank you guyz!

Finally, had dinner with Inspector's family at La-La Chong Seafood somewhere near Terminal 3. The food there was not too bad, especially the 'ham dan' (salty egg) crabs. Was quite tension to sit beside Princess, coz she's like 8 months preggers and every now and then, the baby would kick her. Kesian her la.. Naughty baby.. Hehe..

Oh well, that was it, a weekend, just eat and eat and eat. And I did not even mention that I had steamboat dinner on my birthday eve with Inspector's friends somewhere in Menjalara. That was to celebrate one of their birthdays in advance. Wow.. What a weekend! And I am now 25!

Just a quick note to thank everyone else who had taken the time to call, SMS, sent e-cards and what not to wish me on Saturday. Thank you so much!!!

Prayers For Furball

2004-11-25T10:08:00.000+08:00

Furball is going through a very tough period now. I shall not dwell into the matter, I don't want to betray his trust. I may not be the only person he confided in, but I'm honoured to be one of his listening ears...

But yes, he needs prayers. Please pray for him. Please pray that God will strengthen his soul and that he will be able to seek the answers he's searching for. May he find peace during this period and that he'll be back to his happy jolly self soon.

Little Kelisa

2004-11-18T11:09:00.000+08:00

.. Is now officially mine! Woo hoo! I have paid off the final installment and am now waiting for the discharge letter.

Yippieeeeeeeeeee!!!! She turns 3 today and uhm.. Needs a service. Hehe.. Got to go call Perodua to fix an appointment now.

I'm done with my car loan!!! YAY!! Hehe.. Just wanted to brag a bit. ;)

Oreo = Fat?

2004-11-12T16:08:00.000+08:00

We met up with Puns for dinner on Wednesday night. He, being a future doctor (gynaecologist, in fact!), we threw questions at him about so-and-so medicines, about childbirth, and how to lose/gain weight. He said that I should take Oreo's.

Apparently, it has some kind of ingredient that can make one gain weight. "Reaaaaaaaaaaaaaally arrrrrrrrr?" Of course this sparked my interest lar.. I don't know how true is this. Maybe someone can be kind enough to show me proof that Oreo's really does help in gaining weight?

In the meantime, no need to second guess what did I just buy and what am I munching on now. ;)

Weekend Festivities

2004-11-10T17:26:00.000+08:00

Just a super quick, advanced note to wish all my Indian and Muslim friends a very Happy Diwali and Selamat Hari Raya Puasa! As for the rest, Happy Holidays!!

I'm off on Friday, so yes, it's gonna be a super long weekend. Not going anywhere though. No $ larrr..

Sharing Birthdays

2004-11-05T16:10:00.000+08:00

I blew off a birthday candle about half an hour ago. Colleagues celebrated the November babies' birthdays with a Chocolate Banana Walnut cake (or something of that sort) from as always, the factory that is just BESIDE our office. Imagine going to the toilet/pantry and you suddenly get a swiff of the cake-baking or lasagne smell from next door. Hehe..

Anyway, there were 4 of us this month. It was fun to know that one of them shares the same birthdate as me (but different year lar). Ever since I was born, I knew no one whose birthday falls on 27th Nov. Back then, it made me feel unique that way. Until 1997..

Wan Nei was my classmate during SAM. She sat in front of me (or was it behind me?) on the first day of college, and she was probably the first few people I got to know of in class. I remember taking out my organizer and passed it to her, to fill in her personal details like full name, address, date of birth, phone number, etc. I read her details after she handed the organizer back to me. I saw "2711" on the date of birth. I stopped there and I probably blinked a few times then. i thought I was imagining things or that she was joking with me. I remember asking her to show me her I.C. to prove it. Hehe.. And true enough, she really shares the same birthdate as me! Exactly same date, same month, same year! Except that she was about 5 hours older than me. It made my birthday feel more special, coz I get to share it with someone! ;)

Wan Nei became my "Jie Jie" (elder sister). And I got to know from her that another friend was born about 7 hours later than me. Wow! Now that makes it 3 of us! Even more fun! *grin* Wan Nei and I did celebrate our 18th birthday together. It was at PD, during our class trip, in which after that, we all parted to each own's direction in life. I truly remember that celebration. We were having barbeque by the beach. When the clock striked midnight to mark the 27th, everyone attacked the both of us - Flour, eggs, sand, even the dirty water they used for the barbeque (that was already mixed with the marinate ingredients, and to wash the utensils). You name it, we got it. Thank goodness no durians involved! *lol* We ended up cleaning ourselves at the nearby public toilet, and we had a bit of a trouble going back to the apartment, coz we were still filled with sand all over. BUT, it was fun. ;)

Then about half an hour before 28th, we were presented with a lingerie fashion show by Poet and FRG. Gosh.. You should have seen them that time. 2 straight guys parading around the apartment wearing satin lingeries with egg carton cardboards as 'breasts' with pointy 'Nips' and heart-shaped papers stuck on their 'breasts' and thighs. *lol* Sorry FRG, I can't help it! ;) And then came our birthday cake - Half of a watermelon! I'm not kidding. Watermelon indeed. The watermelon was initially planned for dessert. They all tried going around town searching for a birthday cake, but they couldn't find any, so they resorted to using the watermelon as our birthday cake, with candles lit on it. *smile*

It was reaaaaaally fun. A truly memorable 18th birthday. Yes, Wan Nei dear, that was 7 years ago. We talked about it recently during one of our daily MSN chats, and thought it would be lovely if we can get to celebrate our 25th birthdays together as well. :) Since it's gonna fall on Saturday this year, hopefully we can arrange to meet up during that weekend?

It's really lovely (am I over-using this word here?) to share birthdays with someone especially if they're close to you. Even more so if they were born exactly on the same date as you, at the same hospital. Too bad Wan Nei weren't from the same place as me. Soo Soo Monster was born 1 day earlier than me, in the same hospital!! We'd probably seen each other naked then. *grin*

The End-Users

2004-11-03T10:44:00.000+08:00

Sometimes it's just so amusing that end-users must always be right and that the problems are always from the product itself.

1 week ago, this particular end-user reported that the product could not poll anything. Alamak.. What went wrong this time??!! We tried calling the end-user but she was unavailable. We asked the guy from our Engineering dept to feedback us as soon as possible if the end-user calls him.

This morning, he called and said, "problem solved". I messaged him online and asked him what was wrong. Guess what he said...

"Yesterday.. Is because the end user move the thing lah.. Move everything and forgot to on the power. Yesterday I have called them and ok liew loh.."

Adoiii... "Forgot to ON the power".. Imagine!

Best Friends

2004-10-26T14:43:00.000+08:00

How do you define a "friend"? What do you expect in a friend? Do best friends exist? If they do, how do you know who are your best friends?

When we are kids, best friends are those who share their Barbie dolls, action figures or sweets, braid each other's hair during school assemblies, buy each other cute and colourful erasers, stuffs like that. If we don't like anyone, we will only "bluff bluff friend them".

When we reach the teenage years, best friends are those whom we would giggle with whenever we spot cute guys, "ponteng" classes together and share silly secrets with.

Fast forward to university years, best friends become people whom we trust, whom we share our deepest secrets and fears with, whom we learn to grow with as we slowly step into the adulthood.

As we grow older, best friends are probably our loved ones, or people whom we've shared many years together with, whom we've known practically the entire life.

I myself have had a string of best friends during my childhood days in which all were shortlived either due to distance (like Christine and Ms. Genius) or we just drifted apart (like Gummy and Sha). The next set of best friends I've had was during college.

Wan Nei and Moong Jue Ngan (MJN) were my classmates, we sat together right at the back and became the devils in the class. Our lecturer nicknamed us The Charlie's Angels. I met Cleopatra through Wan Nei. We started off the year with 4 of us. We helped each other out in our projects, to the extent of skipping lectures just to go to Cyberjacks to type out reports or search for infos. We'd hung out whenever possible and attended the Orientation Nite together. The "Star Hill" stall (or we fondly remember it as Bak Kut Teh stall) became our favourite hangout place.

Few months later, MJN had her own clique, and then there was 3. Wherever we go, it was always 3 of us - me, Cleopatra and Wan Nei. Cleopatra was the all-honest and outgoing one. Wan Nei was the one with a flock of admirers. Me? I was the one screaming the top of my head and anything in between them. In a way, we complement each other. We had our set of hair clips (each of us had a different colour) and a porcupine keychain hanging from our bags. We wore overalls (the "mechanic baju") to college together. We skipped lectures to go to the Aerospace arcade.

During Lecturers' Day, we had lunch at a nearby Jap restaurant, bought a bottle of sake and drank it at the college's entrance until Cleopatra and Wan Nei were red all over the face while everyone else were at the lawn celebrating the occasion. I intro-ed Cleopatra to the world of IRC, and we created #heavensgate, we even named the spot below the SAM block's staircase after it. That was where we would lepak besides Bak Kut Teh stall. We'd drag Wan Nei along to meet new friends.

However, somewhere along the way, I think Cleopatra and I neglected Wan Nei, or that we initially thought she was avoiding us. That one morning at a quiet stairway behind the college, 3 of us talked about it. I remember Cleopatra being the one talking most of the time, Wan Nei in tears and I tried to be the peacemaker. I remember hurting inside. We couldn't solve our indifferences and coz it was the Trials then, we left it that way. Indirectly, we had a "trial separation". I had an awful pressure from Mum and her siblings to score for a place in UNSW then. I did my revisions with Bubbles, while Cleopatra with her bf, and Wan Nei at the library.

Finals ended, we attended Prom Night. We barely talked to each other, but we managed to take a picture together. Wan Nei, MJN and I left for PD for our class trip - with a reason to celebrate mine and Wan Nei's birthdays (we share the same birthdate). I remember the night of the celebration, everyone was busy chatting and laughing with each other. Me? I sat alone by the beach, staring at the stars over the dark sky, reminiscing the year that had been. Unknown to the others, I shed some tears then. I've had lost 2 best friends in that one year, I didn't want to lose another.

After the trip, I've had several online chats with Cleopatra. We argued over the net, but we finally resolved the misunderstandings and started mending our friendship - just the two of us. Shortly after that, Cleopatra left for Melbourne, and I left for Sheffield 9 months later. Despite being continents apart for nearly 3 years, we still furiously snail mailed each other, wrote e-mails, have frequent online chats, confided in each other, sent gifts for each other's birthdays or when we went travelling. We'd only meet up once or twice a year when both were back in Malaysia for breaks. We were there for each other in whatever possible way. Other people would discourage the frinedship, yet I'd defend us till the end.

Just when I believed that best friends do exist, it happened.. She landed in hot soup, needed my help and I offered. But our differences got more obvious after that. She needed help the next two times, but I did not help her. I knew that she would repeat it over and over again. I wanted her to realize what was she doing. At the same time, I couldn't offer anymore, I was struggling myself. Things just got worse after that. To me, Cleopatra was going downhill and all I wanted was to knock some sense into her head. To her, I was the nagging one, that I had no life, and that I should "go die". After a few e-mails of lashing out at each other, I received another e-mail from her, stating that "I don't think we're best friends anymore". Childish as it could sound, the words stung. A LOT. 1-2 more e-mails, and that was it. The end of our "best friendship".

Could it be that I didn't help her the next time, that led to the breakdown of the friendship? Could it be that I did not support her in whatever she was doing, knowing that if I did, she would even be worse? I thought I did the best I could. Guess not.. I thought I was someone who would go all out for a friend. Guess not either. I thought that we would all grow old together and laugh about the times we had. If I had not done what I did or if I had been more outgoing and less nagging, would we still remain as great friends now? Did I expect a lot from her friendship? Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I don't know anymore..

Sometimes when I think about the times when the 3 of us made a pact to be each other's bridesmaids when one of us gets married, or that we would be each other's children's godmothers.. It feels like a joke now. This friendship really made a big impact in my life. If you have read my previous entry, you'll probably understand why I don't believe in best friends anymore. It's easy to have best friends, but it ain't easy to keep one. Ooohh.. How true is that..

We're still on a Hi-Bye basis, Cleopatra and I, but probably not more than that. I've been remisniscing the past with Wan Nei on MSN lately (Wan Nei, know that you inspired me to write this entry. *smile*). Whereas MJN, I don't know where is she and what is she doing now. The last time I bumped into her was nearly 4 months ago.

Cleopatra, Wan Nei and MJN.. If you happen to read this entry, do know that I miss our friendship. Really. Sometimes I'd wish that we would some day, mend back the friendship. I don't know, time will tell. But thank you for the times we've had, good or bad times. And I'll never forget the song we've dedicated for each other - for the friendship. Do know that you can still count on me no matter what, no matter when.

And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today and then if you can remember

Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Well you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
And then for the times when we're apart
Well then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember

Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for.

~~ Dionne Warwick - That's What Friends Are For ~~

Sunflowerians Reunion

2004-10-21T23:30:00.000+08:00

It had been ages since we all last met up, and I meant, all 6 of us - Tai Lou, FRG, Chino, Aneh and Nutty. We finally managed to do that tonight. ;) Nutty flew in from Bintulu for tomorrow's Sheffield gang trip (it's a yearly thing - this time's to Langkawi), and everyone else were from commitments tonight - work, family and the big wedding.

We had dinner at Dome, BSC. I was seated in the center, and when I looked at all 5 of them, I thought of the days we all had together. There I was, looking at a family man (apparently little G still loves the trolley toy we all bought for him on his 1st birthday! *grin*), a groom-to-be, a "taukeh", and the other 2 were paving their ways up the telco lines. Imagine, 4-6 years ago, we were all learning to be independent in a foreign country, yet dependable to each other. *Sighz*

I miss those days. I miss my "heng tais". Over the years, I've had various broken friendships merely due to distance, being taken for granted, or they just didn't work out at all. There was one point in life when I thought I had finally found my true and best friends, but that failed in the end. I'll write about this in a later post. I truly stopped believing in true friends since then, you know. But these people brought back the hope. They made me believe again that true friends do exists, with whom I can truly be myself. And they come in a package of 5 guyz. ;)

So, anyway, the big event's gonna be in less than 3 months time. We are all gonna rope in for this! We all know that Chino's gonna be a wonderful husband and father in the future. He has already done the unevitable by taking care of 5 'monkeys' for 2 whole years! *lol*

We ended the night when FRG gave each of us souvenirs he bought for us during his recent trip to Beijing. It was lovely to meet up with them once again. We would definitely meet up soon for the preparation for the big wedding! :)

And to the guyz going to Langkawi, may you all drink to your heart's content! Please remember not to eat too much before that, especially spaghetti and meatballs. I believe that you all still remember the drinking session in Crescent Flats particularly Flat 22, right? *lol*

Rocket

2004-09-30T10:02:00.000+08:00

As I've mentioned, I would put up the lyrics for Rocket. So here it is..

Remove the covers of the morning
And I don't see the new day dawning
Just can't cope
Cold shadows hide me as I go through the day
No one at all seeming to say
The feelings they long to convey
But could it be I am the one who has lost my way?

Why can't I see my future clearly?
Is there a chance that I can break free?
Please help me
This maze has complicated day into night
Repetitive hours I see
My spirit is ready to flee
Then suddenly you came to me and everything's alright

You've given me reason to live
You've given me reason to try
You've given me reason to stand
You've given me reason to stand
Don't let life pass me by
Whenever I feel hopelessness
Whenever I feel I could cry
You rocket me up to the sky
Give me wings and then I can fly

Together soaring to the sunrise
I feel the passion comes from your eyes
And I know
Strength cast away the fear and faith made the soul sing clear
And love is the music we can all hear

You've given me reason to live
You've given me reason to tryYou've given me reason to stand
You've given me reason to stand
Don't let life pass me by
Whenever I feel hopelessness
Whenever I feel I could cryYou rocket me up to the sky
Give me wings and then I can fly

Whoa.. I can fly
Whoa.. Fly away with you forever
Fly away till end of never

You've given me reason to live
You've given me reason to tryYou've given me reason to stand
You've given me reason to stand
Don't let life pass me by
Whenever I feel hopelessness
Whenever I feel I could cryYou rocket me up to the sky
Give me wings and then I can fly

~~ Ten Tenors - Rocket ~~

Love these kind of songs - inspirational like. I'm a sucker for harmonized music, what's more this one is by 10 people, hence the name Ten Tenors. The other groups I love are The Maranatha Singers and *NSync. Yeah, I know, the latter is a boy band. But have you tried listening to them especially in the slower songs? They're even better when they sing in acapella. *Sighz*

She Will Be Loved

2004-09-27T10:36:00.000+08:00

Hmm.. Am deciding which lyrics should I put in today. Between Maroon 5's or Ten Tenor's.. Maroon 5 wins today! You know, I'm thinking of putting up a Lyrics Blog or something.. I'll see how that goes later. Here are the lyrics to She Will Be Loved.

Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow I want more

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved, and she will be loved

Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore

It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rainLook for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved, and she will be loved

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

I know where you hide alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her everytime she falls

Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rainLook for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved, and she will be loved

And she will be loved, and she will be loved

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye, please don't try so hard to say goodbye

I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain

Please don't try so hard to say goodbye.

~~ Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved ~~

This song got me bopping my head the whole time. Love this song, but the MTV's a bit uhm.. Not so suitable for the lyrics. I don't know.. But yeah, I still love it. Next up, Ten Tenors!

Chinese Mid Autumn Celebration

2004-09-24T23:56:00.000+08:00

It's the time of the year when the Chinese get to munch on mooncakes and play lanterns! I shall not launch into how this celebration came about, so, go Google it lar. ;)

When I was young, 'Zhong Chiu Jie' (as it is known in Mandarin) was always fun to celebrate at night. We would all meet up at my Grandma's house for dinner. Then dessert will be served in the kinds of mooncakes, pomelos and some other sweet stuffs. Few of them are this white, sugary, round 'cake' and a kind of nut with thick, black skin in the shape of a Batman. The younger generation would play with lanterns and light candles all over the car porch and the main gate. Dad would fish out his binoculars and let us take turns to look at the bright, round moon through them, to see if there was really a lady in the moon. :Þ

Over the years, mooncakes have been sold earlier and earlier (this year, they were sold at least 2 months ahead) and they have evolved. From the traditional red bean and lotus pastes, now they have durian, chocolate and green tea mooncakes! Even the packaing is getting nicer!

Anyway, we had our yearly lantern session with Chef, Player and their gfs. This time, it was near Help's library, where the orangey poles are. We lighted candles on top of each poles, hung lanterns wherever possible and even played fireworks. I saved them up since CNY! *lol* It was fun while it lasted. I felt like a kid all over again (since when do I NOT act like a kid??). I don't care if people think that it's childish to still play with lanterns when we're all working adults now. I don't see anything wrong in that. We can still have fun, can't we?

Oh well, I managed to snap some pics of the mooncakes and boxes we got at home. Inspector bought this Corporate Box from Tai Thong for Mum over the weekend. It's beautiful!

Back row (L-R) : Tai Thong Corporate Box (I love the golden butterflies), and Purple Cane mini lantern box.

Middle row (L-R) : Mooncakes - Tai Thong Golden Custard with Pure Red Bean, Tai Thong Snow Skin Yam Paste Single Yolk (snow skin is also known as 'ping pei'), Lian Bee Chocolate Single Yolk, and Purple Cane Assorted Nuts Green Tea.

Front row (L-R) : 'Zhu zhai beng' (pig biscuits?) - Crab, Fish, and Koala Bear shapes.

(L-R) : Mooncake packagings by Oversea Restaurant and Lian Bee

Too bad, Mum didn't manage to get those Batman nuts and we've almost finished up the white, sugary 'cake'. Perhaps I'll try to get some next year, and snap some pics on them and lanterns. Oh well.. Double yolk mooncake, anyone?

Tai Ee Long

2004-09-24T14:01:00.000+08:00

Came across this article from TV Smith's site. Hehe.. Hilarious, I must say.. I think it's a pretty good idea he thought of that. Maybe those Tai Ee Longs really should use it. ;)

For Those Who Are Home Alone.. Please Take Note

2004-09-23T11:04:00.000+08:00

Something for you to know and be aware of. I'm pretty sure you've received chains of e-mails stating that so-and-so was stopped by strangers, or so-and-so was 'hypnotized' into giving in their valuable stuffs to unsuspecting strangers. It actually happened to Mum. Well.. Almost, actually. Thank God!

It happened this morning. Mum was home alone as usual, when the doorbell rang. She walked upstairs towards the main door. As we have a grilled door right after that, she opened the main door to take a peek at who was by the wooden gate. She couldn't see anyone, so she opened the grilled door. Then she saw a Punjabi guy, very smartly dressed. He didn't speak, but she could clearly see his fingers were moving, like how monks move their fingers when they pray. Mum sensed a very strong headache, and she instantly locked the grilled door and the main door. As she tried to walk downstairs to the living room, she felt a 'pull', like, telling her to go back up and open the doors. Thank God that she listened to her inner voice, that told her to keep walking downstairs, and tried to get herself distracted by doing some washing. The headache was still there, but she kept washing until it stopped, which was almost an hour later.

Now, it's not often that headaches would appear just like that, and it's not that she was being overly sensitive about it. But, it's just so suspicious about that guy. What was he doing? Why wasn't he speaking? If he was doing door-to-door sales or doing surveys, he would have instantly said something when Mum opened the door. But why was he silent, and moving his fingers? Recalling all those e-mails about people 'hypnotizing' someone else, and unconsciously they open the doors, then gave them their money, jewellery and stuffs like that, it's really scary. I mean, Mum's alone at home. What if she didn't listen to her inner voice? It's really frightening. I really thank God for keeping Mum safe. There's been too many people ringing our doorbells, especially when Mum's home alone. I told her not to open any doors to anyone at all, not even the postman. Even if it's someone we know, they'll surely call us first, right.

It's really scary. People have resorted to these methods to lure innocent people. I just hope that you take this things seriously, take precautions, especially if your family members are home alone.

Slippers And Appeton

2004-09-19T23:38:00.000+08:00

Had a great weekend. Went for gym last afternoon. Moorish came shortly after that. Was quite amused at her squirming and giving me some kind of look when one of the trainers was flirting at her. Hehe.. There weren't too many people at the gym, so I had some fun fooling around with the machines, trying to build muscle as much as I could and lifting dumbbells. 2 kgs only laaa.. Very 'malu'. But then again, quite 'syok' when the bulge appeared on my arms. Woo hoo! I feel like a mini female version of The Rock. I got muscles!! Which will only last for 1-2 days. *grin*

Oh well.. My family went to Malacca for a day's trip. Guess what Sis bought for me? A new pair of bedroom slippers.. It's a piggy!! You'd probably think I'm childish but hey, no harm feeling young again, right. ;) Oohh.. You got to see the pic below..

Don't you think they're cute? ;)

The left pair is mine. They even had the ribbon placed right and left respectively, so that I know which is left, which is right. Haha.. The right pair is Sis'. Hers is very cute too, I love the nose and the leafy 'hat'. Hehe.. They're very new, so they actually squeak when I walk on them! Quite hilarious whenever both of us walk around the house, walk up and down the stairs, like babies with those squeaky shoes. *lol*

Oh by the way, remember I wrote about building muscle just now? I bought atin of Appeton Weight Gain for Sis and myself. This is already the state for desperate measures! We're supposed to drink it 3 times a day, and if we do follow the instructions, we should finish the tin within 6 days. If we keep on drinking it, we should be able to see the effect within 2-3 months. But we're gonna drink it once a day, after dinner. Do you think it will work? I just want 5 kgsssssssss.. My precious 5 kgssssssss...

I like the stickmen images on the tin. ;D

As I'm typing this entry out, I'm in the midst of munching a bar of Snickers. This is so depressing.. But then again, my piggy slippers are looking up on me. I'm all smily and childish again! ;)

Internet Withdrawal Symptoms

2004-09-10T14:22:00.000+08:00

Oh gosh.. Being internet-less was so depressing. Can't believe that I'm soooo addicted to the Net after, what more than 8 years! My office's Streamyx line went down since last morning - Couldn't ICQ, couldn't MSN, couldn't check webmails, couldn't read or write blogs, couldn't surf the net, couldn't play online games. Aiyoyoooo... Really suffering from Internet withdrawal symptoms. Sheeeeeesh.. All we managed to have was just the DNS mails (that also through dial-up modem) and MS-DOS' Net Send. Urgh..

After 1 and 1/2 days of being sooo isolated, we finally got the Webbit package. Hehe.. I don't care what, as long as the Internet is back. Not only me, kay. My colleagues also grumbled. Even my boss himself (Okay, he's actually worse than us) had to walk around the R&D room, find something to do to keep him distracted from the symptoms. Hehe..

Is this common to most of you?

Venting My Frustration...

2004-09-08T18:17:00.000+08:00

Am currently listening to some worship songs as I'm typing away. The past few days had been mind exhausting, and I had often nearly been close to tears here at work. I don't know, I may not be a Christian, but somehow worship songs soothe me and I feel calm again.

I shall not dwell too much on the event, but I'll just summarize it. The issue was about getting a place of our own and we were just so eager to get it there and then. We were so close to placing the booking fees for it. Then came in the issues on the parents regarding the choice of property, the financial part and the commitment of being tied down to it for almost 30 years. Frustration and anger just kept building up, opinions flew left and right. We were just so torn into making a decision that satisfies everyone and hopefully not one that we would regret in the future. In the end, we did not get it..

It's frustrating when the things you really want but you can't afford, you have to rely on your parents and their decision becomes your decision. *Sighz* Looks like we shall have to wait until it's the right time to get a property then.

On the other hand, I think my frustration was obviously shown on my face while at work. I heard from a colleague that another colleague was very concerned that he prayed for me. It suddenly dawned on me that there are people who cares for me and actually took the time to ask God to be there for me, despite being clueless about what I was going through. I feel blessed.

To my colleagues, thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers. :)

Sunflowerians' Double Celebration

2004-09-02T11:40:00.000+08:00

The day started off with me sending an e-mail to the Sunflowerians - to wish our dear Tai Sou a very Happy Birthday. I'm sure this birthday is a very special one for her, with little G really celebrating his Mummy's birthday for the first time. Last don't really count, coz he was only 1 month old then. ;) And not forgetting Tai Lou suprising her by sending a bouquet of flowers to her office. Awwwwwwwwwwwww...

As the mails poured in with more birthday greetings and catching up from the Sunflowerians, Chino announced that he has already set his wedding date on the 8th January 2005. The last time we all met for lunch, that was in May, he announced that he has already proposed and that they would tie the knot sometime next year. Today, the date has officially been set. We knew this day would come, but it now only starting to sink in. Ooohhh...

Nutty's gonna fly in from Bintulu few days before the occasion. We're all definitely gonna rope in and help Chino make this a very memorable day. He's the 2nd person to tie the knot (after Tai Lou). This leaves us all wondering who's gonna be next - Aneh, FRG, Nutty or me. Oh wow.. Ooohh.. I'm gonna be sentimental now..

If you happen to know us, PRETEND you heard nothing of the wedding. Chino will officially announce it to you guys later as well as hand you the red card. Shhhhh!!! But remember yah. 8th January 2005, it's a Saturday. Woo hoo.. Can't wait for their big day!!

Moorish's 25th At Sugimoto

2004-08-31T01:02:00.000+08:00

A little update on last night's dinner at Sugimoto for Moorish's birthday. There were about 10 of us, including 2 other Moorish's friends.

The food there was alright. We ordered duplicate set of 7-8 dishes including Taco Wasabi (it's actually octopus, Sue's favourite!), salmon with mashed potato, eggplant and crabmeat croquette. We spent the whole time talking about law (of having your car pulled over, of saman, and of marital rape), insurance, production shows and diving. See how diverse the group is? Let's see.. Out of 10 of us, there were 3 lawyers, 1 insurance marketing exec, 4 engineers, 1 production director and an accountant.

Moorish didn't want us to sing her a Birthday song, and hurriedly blew the candles as soon as they were lit up. But we still sang it anyway, and even louder. Hehe..

We were there for nearly 3 hours, and then a few of us proceeded to 'yum char' at Spicy Kitchen. We talked about a common friend whom we knew back in high school. We were suprised how she used to be very serious and studious back then, but turned out wild, flirtatious and bimbo-ish now. Now that we were bitching about her. It was more like, saddened and wondered about what happened to her. What made her take that drastic change. Is it that she spent her high school days for academic reasons and figured that now she's trying to live her life, making up for lost time? And if she realizes that she is known as the entertainer, GRO or even 'the girl with kidneys on the brain' or something like that? It's sad, really.. And that just kept me pondering for the rest of the night..

Holidaeeeeeeee

2004-08-30T16:40:00.000+08:00

Am on leave today. Muahaha.. Syok-a-lingammm... Oh by the way, tomorrow's Merdeka Day. So I'm having a 4-day weekend here. Hehe.. It's been a while since I had such a long weekend. Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Went to Mid Valley with Mum. *Sighz* It's either I really should put on more weight or that my fashion taste is seriously declining. I've been searching for nice denim skirt - Not too long, not too short, not too many patterns on it, no sequins and not too fading at certain parts. All the skirts I looked at today have something wrong in them. Urgh.. Can you see that I'm not a huge fan of shopping? I am definitely not anywhere near Becky, the shopaholic in Sophie Kinsella's series.

On the other hand, guess who I saw in Metrojaya. 2 of the Malaysian Idol contestants - Vick and Saipul. I think they must have been doing their clothes shopping for this week's performance. I recognized them coz I just watched them on 8TV last night for the Vote Results. If they were walking separately, then maybe a bit harder to recognize them. But they were practically just sitting on the bench near the Grand Piano with another guy, whom I'm assuming is their security people. They were bored and yawning the whole them. Hehe.. Saw them again in Guardian, when I think Vick was buying some hair dye? Anyway, not my business.

Will be meeting up later with Moorish, Lily, Jewel, Sue and their partners for Moorish's birthday dinner at Sugimoto in Hartamas. Then perhaps go somewhere to see the fireworks for the Merdeka celebration. Until then.. Happy Holidays, everyone. Happy Merdeka!!

Tanggal 31, bulan lapan, lima puluh tujuh
Merdeka! Merdeka! Tetaplah merdeka
Ia pasti menjadi sejarah

Tanggal 31, bulan lapan lima puluh tujuh
Hari yang mulia, hari bahagia
Sambut dengan jiwa yang merdeka

Mari kita seluruh warga negara
Ramai-ramai menyambut Hari Merdeka
Merdeka!
Tiga satu bulan lapan lima puluh tujuh
Hari mulia negaraku merdeka

~~ Sudirman - Tanggal 31 ~~

How Heavy Are You?

2004-08-21T11:59:00.000+08:00

Everyone I come across would ask me that. People that pass me by would be caught staring at me, which unfortunately is definitely not because I'm gorgeous or anything like that. It's the kind of stare that says, "Oh my goodness, she's sooooooooo thin!!" You know how a matchstick man looks like? Yes, I look exactly like that. I look pretty much a bamboo stick, short one though.

Over the years, I'm being told that I'm like those North Korean famine, or I'm being asked if I'm anorexic or "tak cukup makan ke?". I'm no way any of them. The problem is that I am thin. Blame it on the genes, if you want to. I love to eat, mind you. I just don't eat a lot at one go, but I take many meals. When after I'm full, maybe 1 hour later or so, I'm hungry again.

I never understand why would people love to be as thin as me. To be honest, I hate the way I look. I want some fat! Let me rephrase that.. I DESPERATELY want some fat!! If you must know, I'm only 36-38 kgs. For my height, I should be 48 kgs. The most I managed to go to was 42 kgs, when I was in Sheffield, but I lost them right after I came back to Malaysia.*Sighz* It's nothing to be envious about my weight, really. I fall sick easily.. I get injured too easily.. I can't even donate blood. I can't help around much especially when carrying things. I easily get blown away. Yup, the last statement is sooo true. Back in Sheffield, I got caught off-balance several times during the windy days. There were a few times when it was too windy, that I just couldn't move forward. It was THAT bad! It was a good thing that I always had at least someone walking with me. Literary, they kept me grounded. *lol*

How did I manage to gain some weight back then? Let's see.. Every morning, I would have 2 half-boiled eggs, a bowl of cereal and a cup of hot chocolate. I would walk 40 mins downhill to the uni, with a couple of Snickers bars in which during each lectures, I would a munch a bar. Then I would get sandwiches from the cafeteria for lunch. During the walk back home, I would stop by at Broomhill Friery and get a packet of hot, fresh, salty & vinegar-ish chips (a.k.a. Fries) and munch them till I reach home. Once at home, I would have a cup of hot chocolate and some 5-for-£2 cream biscuits from Jack Fulton with the gang in the kitchen. Then we would have home-cooked dinner, which would always be in big portions since there were 5 guys and me (guys always tend to eat a lot!). After dinner, we would have Granny Smith or Royal Gala apples, or any other fruits while watching tv. Few hours later, we would be munching cream biscuits again and have another cup of hot chocolate before the day ends. During weekends, we would have packets of frozen pizzas, lasagnes, spaghetti, Shepherd's Pie and loads of potatoes. Gosh.. That sounds a lot, huh?

I don't know if this method works over here in Malaysia, but I'm trying. I even joined the PanGlobal Club early this year, hoping that gym would at least help me gain some muscle, which hopefully will eventually become fats. I did mention before that my New Year's resolution is to gain some weight. I still have 4 months to achieve that. I'm freaking tired of being this thin. And please, don't judge me on your first impression of me that I'm on a diet. I'm not what you think that "Girls nowadays ah.. Always want to diet.. Always want to look slim slim". I love chocolates. I love ice-creams. I love pasta. I would take anything fattening or do anything just to reach that 40 kgs mark again.

If you have any ideas, please let me know. I'd truly appreciate it. For the mean time, I shall pack my gym bag and head over to PanGlobal Club now. Hmm... I'll probably dip in the pool as well.. It's so hot today!

The Olympics

2004-08-19T13:55:00.000+08:00

A tribute to the recent Olympics going on in Athens.. Hehe.. Watch HERE.

Speaking of that, when is Malaysia gonna win a medal?

13 Going On 30

2004-08-13T23:53:00.000+08:00

Blur Girl was given a whole cinema in 1U for the sneak preview for "13 Going On 30". She works for Vida magazine, actually. Well, more like, used to work, coz she recently handed in her resignation. It was supposedly to be for her readers, but she managed to snag a couple of tickets for us. Muahaha..

Anyway, all in all, the movie was alright. Purely chick flick. The plotline was very simple. About a 13-year-old girls, geeky-looking typical teenager, trying to fit in with the popular crowd. On the other hand, her best friend Matt thinks that she should just be herself. With some sprinkles of the 'Wishing Dust', she wishes that she was thirty, flirty and thriving. The next thing she knows, she was brought to the future, where she was 30, works for her childhood favourite magazine. Practically everything that she wanted, except for her best friend.

I guess, everyone pretty much shares the pain of growing up. When we were kids, we just wanted to hurrily be an adult. We yearned to be popular, to be rich, to be legal. We rebelled, we tried to be someone else, to be accepted. Along the way, we unknowingly sacrifice a lot of things, including the people that loves you. It would be nice if we can just wind the clock back and fix everything that we've done wrong. or have Doraemon fish out a 'Door to the Future' from his pocket. Unfortunately, we can't. The only things that we can do is to cherish every living moment, to learn from our mistakes and be a better person.

Oohh.. And perhaps a note to the teenagers out there, don't dismiss or look down at your geeky friends. They might end up being your actual Mr./Mrs. Right. *smile*

Happy Birthday, Inspector!

2004-08-06T23:56:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Inspector, Happy Birthday to you!!

I've been 'irritating' him with this song the whole day. Hehe.. We both took leave today and went to 1U to watch Catwoman. Not very interesting movie though, despite Halle Berry and her sexy leather outfit. Then we went to Times Square later in the afternoon. We were to meet up with Chef, Player and their gfs for karaoke + buffet dinner at Neway. So we walked around before that. Had hot dogs from DQ Orange Juice and 1901, and oh, even scouted around for a thick cardigan for myself coz Inspector said that it's freezing cold in Neway. In the end, I bought a dark blue Mickey Mouse fleece from Winter Time. Hehe.. At least I can use it in the office, since the room is practically like an ice box!

Then we headed for Neway. The buffet dinner was considerably ok, just that we spent most of the time selecting songs and having fun, so we didn't really gobble a lot. Everyone had fun, I guess and I hope! Especially when we sang the Birthday song to Inspector. Chef and Player sang the Chinese version - something about "may you change car every year, may you change house every year, pay loans until you die". *lol* Despite the song selections are mostly Chinese ones, I don't mind going there again. The next time, I'm gonna eat a lot! The pasta salad's not bad actually. Yum yum!

By about 11pm, Inspector and I left to meet up with 2 of his colleagues at Wow Wow Cafe in Plaza Damas. It's exactly the same one in New Taman Sea. Except that I preferred the atmosphere in Plaza Damas, coz it's more of an open-aired concept. The one in NTS is dark and gloomy. And I liked the way the singers did their song renditions in acoustic guitar style. It made me feel very relaxed listening to them sing and strum the guitar. And of course, the song requests like "Hoi Fut Tin Hong", "Kau Ilhamku" and "Wonderful Tonight" helped just as much. Had a very good time there.

Hopefully Inspector had a great 25th birthday. Quarter-of-a-century old.. And I'm gonna be in that category in less than 4 months time. *Gasp* Anyway, happy birthday, dear!! *Muakz*

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

2004-07-18T11:32:00.000+08:00

Guess what, guess what.. I got a new phone. *Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh* Hehe.. No, it's not a Communicator. Not an SE P900 either. It's just the SE T630 that I had been eyeing on since it got launched. ;)

So what, right? I'm not very much a gadget person, really. I don't keep myself updated with all the latest phones, or even collect them. I know of a person who has had soooo many phones of various brands and models, that he can actually open a 'Mobile Phone Museum'.

My previous phone was the Nokia 8250, the one with the butterfly looking keypad. I remember surfing through the Nokia website and immediately fell in love with the 8250 model. Or maybe, I just fell in love with the Mysterious Blue coloured cover. Hehe.. That was in Feb 2001 and I had only been in the workforce for a couple of months. I drove home after work and coaxed Mum to accompany me to the nearest Nokia Professional Centre, which was in Bangsar Baru. I left the centre disappointed when the guy said it wasn't out yet, but that it would be launched in about a week's time. Few days later, the guy called and told me that it was out already. I headed to the centre right after work with Mum. I loved it! In an instance, I walked to the nearest ATM machine, took out RM 1.6k (yeah, full cash!), walked back to the centre and bought the silver model. I remember clutching the bag so tightly as if someone's gonna steal it from me as I left the centre, and was beaming the whole night! Ok.. Make that the whole week. Hehe.. It was definitely worth parting my hard-earned cash for it!

3+ years now, new models were launched, new features were introduced. My phone was considered dinosaur age already, and probably worth RM 100 for secondhand value now (IF I'm lucky!). As much as I would love to use it for the entire lifetime, it has been slowly giving way. It still looks very good condition, except that the LCD screen is not working anymore. Could hardly see the screen, what's more to see SMS, see contact numbers or appointments. Repairing the screen would cost as much as buying a brand new, lower end phone. And I got tired or knocking the phone or pressing on the screen with as much of strength as I could give.

So when the SE T630 (Liquid Black limited edition) came out, it took me months to convince myself that this will be exactly whe I need, that it would feel like how the 8250 was to me 3+ years ago, and going to various shops to hold the phone and play with it. Part of me was battling with not willing to part my $ unnecessarily, and the other part was being very sentimental towards the 8250. *Sighz*

In the ended, I decided to go to Dr. Mobile Clinic in Mid Valley. Few days ago, they said there were 2-3 more sets. But when I got there, they were sold and since it's the limited edition, it's not to be produced again. *Sniff* Then the guy said that he would try to call up all the branches in PJ/KL, but that most are all sold out. Got a bit of hope. Hehe.. So he made the calls, and all were sold out in all branches EXCEPT for ONE set in KLCC. *Smile* But I could only get it tomorrow, and I wasnted to pay there and then by card for some rewards promotions. *Sad* Then he said, "Ok, I go over to KLCC now. Give me 1-2 hours". 1 and a half hours later, the last set of SE T630 was in my hands!! Yippppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Wah.. TFT colour screen.. Camera.. Polyphonic tones.. I love it, I love it!

While I'm blogging here, I'm downloading softwares, games, ringtones, screensavers, themes.. Anything that I can download for the T630. I'm gonna fully customize it. Well, I'm off to experiment the phone now. Till the next entry, buh-bwaiii...

Car Accidents

2004-07-17T17:55:00.000+08:00

Sis got into an accident this afternoon. She was crossing over the street with some other colleagues in front of her office. She saw there were no cars on the usually busy street. 2-3 steps away upon reaching the pavement, a car came from nowhere, sped, saw them, couldn't brake in time, and knocked her on her left hip. She flew and fell onto the pavement. The lady driver stopped her car, wound down the window and asked if she was ok. Then she drove off.

Sis laid on the ground for a moment, then slowly got up. Thank God she didn't hit her head. Just a couple of grazes over at her chin and her left elbow. The muscles on her left body were strained though. She could hardly lift up her left arm and she had to limp a bit. Got her x-rayed, and luckily no broken bones, blood clot or memory lapse. She just needs to undergo one or two physiotherapy sessions.

Really thank goodness the injury wasn't very serious. 1 minute too late, she would have hit her head and I don't know what would have happened. It just made me realize how fragile one's life is. 1 minute, one is all geared up with ambitions and all. The next minute, something terrible happens, and he/she's gone just like that.

No doubt that we have conflicts every now and then, I wouldn't want to ever imagine how will I live without her in my life.. My one and only sister. Thank you, Lord, for keeping Sis safe..

Solve This

2004-07-16T10:04:00.000+08:00

Letter after F + Half of 8 + Shadow of q + Opposite of d + Letter before M + Middle of sea + 2x 19th letter + The middle of sun.

What is the answer? :Þ

A Small, Little Primary School Class Get-Together

2004-06-24T13:22:00.000+08:00

Met up with a bunch of classmates from primary school for dinner last night. Pretty disappointing turnout as there were only about 8 of us. Nevertheless, it was still a good one.

We were at Baywatch Cafe, Dataran Prima for about 4 hours, just eating, drinking juices (we recommend the Soursop juice), catching up on each other's lives, yakking away about our primary school days, and listening to the songs they were playing over the speakers. Songs from the 90's.. Songs that were played during our younger days like "U Can't Touch This", "Lambada".. Gosh, don't we sound old? We celebrated Piggy's birthday too. It was supposed to be a double birthday celebration for her and Pin (they share the same birthdate, cool eh?), but Pin couldn't turn up at the very last minute.

One thing I like about reunions like these is that, we try to make it no matter what. We're not there to see who is doing well, or who is earning the highest $ or to compare anything at all. We're just there to meet up with old friends (and I mean, reaaaaaally old, friends for almost 18 years), to learn from each other's experiences, and to laugh about our shared moments many years ago. I don't know about the others, but it never fails to amaze me how there were so many stories that we didn't know back then or that we had all forgotten about. Days when Chin-apek actually 'extorted' $ from a fellow classmate (poor him...) 20-30 cents every day, and Tin Kai just tagged along like his 'ma jai'. Days when the guys would all hung around at Ben's house, lighting up fireworks and watch them fly across the drains or neighbours' houses. Days when they went to another fella's house to watch videos (can we assume that they were watching *ahem*, p0rn? Hehe..). Days when we girls used to oogle over a 'leng chai' trainee teacher, whereas the guys were more into their marbles and spiders. Days when we were all so 'gian' over badminton especially during the big hype when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup.

It's nice to see that these people are actually the people we shared our childhood days with. These people who used to be 4 feet and under tall. Short, little 'ku chee rats'. These people we've never seen for 12 years since we left school, and when we meet up, there were never a quiet or awkward moment. It just felt like there was never the 12 years gap between us. I know that most people would be astounded to hear that we were actually meeting up with our primary school classmates. if say we were all from the same 'kampung', going to the same schools throughout our lives, that will be a different story. But for us, we all lived in different parts of PJ and KL. We went to the same primary school, but we all parted for different secondary schools, colleges and unis. Different states, even countries apart. We went our separate directions in lives, and we finally met up after all these years. I'm not trying to brag here, really. It's just a nice but at the same time, undescribable feeling. That's it. Who knows, 20 years down the road, when we all start to grow white hair and have wrinkles all over our skin, we would still find the time to meet up over a cup of coffee or two, with our kids running all over the place. *grin*

With the Internet and perhaps a little help from your yellow-stained autograph books, it's not too tough to track down your old friends. All you need is a little effort and the heart to do so. You know what? I'm already looking forward to the next gathering yet again. Hehe..

The Weekend In PD

2004-06-14T09:49:00.000+08:00

Spent the weekend over at PD for my company's trip. Drove the little Kelisa down, and realized that one should NOT go above 110 km/h with that car unless you want to have a 'vibrating' journey. Heh!

It was a pretty hectic weekend, considering that I was in the Organizing Committee. Which meant having to help out in the team buildings, assist the telematch, and emcee the dinner event. Prior to all these, we had to plan what activities to do during the team buildings. Even went to Giant Supermarket to buy hamper items and self-wrapped the hampers in the meeting room. Come to think of it, I've been in the Committee for 3 years in a row.. Year in, year out, I would tell myself, "That's it, no more!". But nooooo... I never listen to myself. *Sighz* Then again, it's a good experience. Who knows, you might still find me in the Committee next year. ;)

All in all, I think the whole trip got me & my bunch of R&D people closer to each other. We got to be better friends other than mere colleagues. We got to understand each other better. We had great bonding sessions, especially when we chatted till nearly 5 in the morning (and we were supposed to drive back to KL that morning itself!). We got to whack and slap each other's hands when we played cards till they were all bruised up. Add to the fact that we played beach volleyball before that - Double bruises!

Despite coming home with very, very, very blue-black looking hands (like as if I 'kena tumbuk'), I had a great time there. I hope they did too. *smile*

E-Mail Notice

2004-06-08T13:39:00.000+08:00

I've been promoted, in effective on this coming 1st July. I'm now a Senior Engineer! Woo hoo!!

Which also means salary increment.. Double woo hoo!! Hehe.. I know for some people, it probably doesn't mean much. Like, being promoted to the Senior level is like nothing, or that the increment is probably peanuts. But if you come from an SMI (small medium industry) firm like me, it is a big deal for me. For the past 1 year or so, I had been contemplating to move on to greener pastures, but now, I guess, the promotion has renewed my motivation to stay on. And I thank God for blessing me with this. ;)

Here's congratulating my fellow colleagues - Ketua, Ricepot and Furball on their promotions too!

Walking Down The Memory Lane

2004-06-01T08:59:00.000+08:00

I got this site from Ash.Ox (sorry for "leeching" it from you). It has a number of video intros of TV series that we used to watch when we were perhaps 2-4 feet and under tall. Hehe..

Gosh.. I used to love watching Full House, Growing Pains, Gummi Bears.. Will never forget Transformers, He-Man, Thundercats. Thunder.. Thunder.. Thundercats.. Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh. *lol*

Go and take a look at the site!!

Congrats, Sha!

2004-05-29T17:37:00.000+08:00

Just got back from Sha's Malay wedding lunch reception at her house. Going back to history, we were classmates throughout primary schooldays since Std 1. At one point of time, somewhere around Std 4, I started hanging out with her and these 2 other Malay girls. Eventually we became very close friends. I even skipped recess to 'puasa' with her during the fasting period. ;)

After we left school, our friendship somehow drifted apart. Only once in a blue moon would I pick up the phone, call her and catch up with each other's lives. Until few weeks ago, she asked for my home address, to send me an invitation card to her wedding.

So there I was this afternoon, witnessing her biggest day in her life. Frankly speaking, I felt slightly awkward there. I was probably the only Chinese around and I knew no one there. But as soon as I saw Sha, and I saw her smile, I felt honoured. The person I embraced with was my very close buddy. Someone I knew for 19 years now but have not met for almost 13 years. Someone who's now stepping into the married stage in life. For that, I felt truly honoured. Honoured to be still remembered and to still play a part in her life. I will never forget that moment.

To my dear Sha, semoga bahagia selalu. *Hugz*

That Kind Word "Maybe"

2004-05-24T08:18:00.000+08:00

My parents never had much money, but they enriched us by their use of that wonderful word "maybe".

Much of the time it was a hope word. When we'd plead, "Can I have a new bike?", "Are we going to the circus?", Dad would have to ponder. "Maybe", he would say, not wanting to make a promise he couldn't keep.

"Maybe" was also their word for dreaming. "Maybe next summer we can take a trip to the ocean". "Maybe someday we can buy a little farm with a brook".

But the thing I remember best is that "maybe" was a word for making allowances for others. Whenever one of us would make a snap judgement, we would hear it. "Just look at the poor lady loading all the groceries in the car while her husband sits there. Why doesn't he help her?" "Maybe he's been sick", Dad sympathized. "Maybe he's had a heart attack". Or "Doesn't that woman look awful. Her slip's showing and she's got a big run in her stocking". Mother : "Maybe her strap broke and she doesn't have a safety pin. Maybe she doesn't know about the run".

All this came back to me one awful day when my brakes failed in city traffic. Terrified, I couldn't even pause at lights except to go bucking into neutral. "You fool! Why don't you learn to drive?", a passing motorist bawled.

In my instant hurt and outrage I wanted to bellow back, "You're rude, you're mean! Can't you see I'm in trouble?". I didn't -- It wouldn't have done any good. But that's not what stopped my tirade. It was simply the healing word "maybe". Maybe the man was already tired and mad and hurting. Maybe he's just been fired, or his mate is leaving him. Maybe nobody ever taught him to control his temper.Maybe he can't help it!

Still praying desperately, I finally made it to a filling station and safely home -- Too grateful to blame anybody, and so relieved I found myself praying for that man.

Dear Lord, don't let me be so quick to judge people. We all have burdens and reasons others can't see. No matter what the provocation, help each of us to remember that kind word "maybe".

~~ By Marjorie Holmes, shared by Joe Gatuslao ~~

Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

2004-05-23T18:06:00.000+08:00

I don't wanna lose you, I don't wanna use you
Just to have somebody by my side
And I don't wanna hate you, I don't wanna take you
But I don't wanna be the one to cry
That don't really matter to anyone, anymore
But like a fool I keep losing my place
And I keep seeing you walk through that door

But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

Now I could never change you, I don't wanna blame you
Baby you don't have to take the fall
Yes I may have hurt you, but I did not desert you
Maybe I just want to have it all
It makes a sound like thunder, it makes me feel like rain
And like a fool who will never see the truth
I keep thinking's something's gonna change

But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

And there's no way home, when it's late at night and you're all alone
Are there things that you wanted to say
Do you feel me beside you in your bed
There beside you where I used to lay

And there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch
There's a reason why people don't stay who they are
Cause baby sometimes love just ain't enough
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough.

~~ Patty Smith & Don Henley - Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough ~~

Are We Really Human In The First Place

2004-05-13T14:07:00.000+08:00

My deepest sympathy and condolences to the US civilian, Nick Berg's family on the latest tragic incident. If you haven't been following on what's been going on in Iraq after Saddam Hussein's capture, let me just summarize it for you.

Recently, the papers all around the world had been publishing photos of the Iraqi prisoners being abused and sexually humiliated by the US/UK armies in Abu Ghraib prison. Yesterday, the Iraqis retaliated by holding a US civilian as hostage, and offered to exchange him for the prisoners. However they were refused. The Iraqis beheaded the civilian and filmed the whole process.

Will these never end? Are they going to keep on threatening each other, spill innocent blood all over until one party gives in? The video was totally gruesome!! The Iraqis just tied the guy and held him against the floor, and another Iraqi just slit his head off and holding only the head after the whole thign!! I was nearly at the edge of puking out nasi lemak I took for lunch!! It's worse than slaughtering a cow!! I'm not siding any parties but this is just too much!!

Who are we to have the right to be God, to kill people, to take away their lives?? Innocent people, in fact, thousands of innocent people were sacrificed during the war. Isn't this enough?? I don't care who's wrong, who's right, but come on lar, this is really too much!!

You, the coalition forces, you have your man already. Can't you just go back to your bloody own countries and leave Iraq alone?? Who are you to haev the right to start the war? Do you think that once you've got Saddam, everything's gonna be peaceful and quiet? Bullshit!

And you, the Iraqis, where in your Quran did it say that you can kill humans?? And you don't have the right to honour God after acting this sin!!

All of you, you are disgracing Christianity and Islam and all other religions in the world! You know what, you both parties, every single one of you are worse than animals! I hope that you will all go to hell!!

Thank You, My 'Bridge'

2004-05-11T21:35:00.000+08:00

Just when I'm down in the dumps, I pressed PLAY on my CD player. This song came up, and I felt alright again..

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I'm on your side, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you

I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silvergirl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.

~~ Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water ~~

Happy Good Friday

2004-04-09T20:33:00.000+08:00

Today is one of the most important days for Christians all around the world. It was the day when Jesus Christ was crucified upon the cross. He died for our sins. He sacrificed His life for us. I think the movie "Passion of the Christ" came right on time for us to be reminded and to be grateful of His sacrifice. And so, tonight, I shall watch the movie. Perhaps you can too. Have a great Easter weekend, everyone!

Above all powers
Above all things
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

Crucified
Laid behind the stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

~~ Michael W. Smith - Above All ~~

It's Hailing In Malaysia

2004-04-05T19:11:00.000+08:00

Can you believe it, it actually hailed here early this evening?? And I thought that it only hails in other countries EXCEPT Malaysia!! Hhm.. Ok... That's seriously rare..

But yeah, it was at about 5.20pm or so when it started raining really heavily at my workplace.. Heavily and hard. At first, my colleagues and I thought it was weird coz the rain were making funny noises as it hit the roof. Really sounded like someone was throwing small pebbles onto the roof. We just kept looking up onto the ceiling and looked at each other with a huge question mark above our heads. I mean, who would ever thought that it would ever hail in Malaysia, right? It was then only 10 minutes later, Mum called and told me that the radio announced that it was hailing over at my workplace!!

It was crazy!! I peered out from the window and saw the extremely dark sky. It looked very windy out there, and the rain was just pouring like mad! I could still hear the *tak tak* sound coming from the ceiling. I just felt like running out of the office and play with the hail!!

It reminds me of those times when it hailed in Sheffield. Gosh.. It was fun walking back home in the hail.. Although I would end up getting a headache after that. Hehe..

Inspector Graduates

2004-04-04T22:38:00.000+08:00

Another mark in the history for Inspector & his coursemates! Definitely an exciting and memorable day for them!!

The convocation for his course, together with the rest of the courses, was held at Shangri-La Hotel. The whole ballroom was practically swarmed with red ribbon-sashed graduates! But Inspector's course uses gold ribbon sash and there were, I think, less than 30 people in that course, so it kinda made Inspector and his friends stood out like thorns among the roses. Very easy to spot them. ;)

It was a hectic day. Met up with the rest of his friends at Lemon2Go Cafe which was at the lobby level. It was pretty amusing there coz Inspector was the only guy within the group, and the rest were busy putting on their makeup in front of the huge mirrored wall, putting on their robes, sashes and mortar boards. Hehe..

Then we went to the registration counter and Inspector signed in his attendance. Helped him out with the robe and all. He went for the group photography session. Then helped snapped some photos of him and his friends. Met up with his family. Sat for the whole convo procession. Ohhh.. The Deputy PM's wife was there. Hehe.. Then it was the tea reception. Snapped more photos. Inspector returned his robe. Said bye to his friends and then we left for dinner with his family.

This is the day they will all remember that, after 2 years of slogging and making the trips to the college library a daily routine (not forgetting, it was a place to 'hang out' too. Hehe..), they have finally been rewarded with a degree to their names. And I'm very happy for them! :)

Inspector Graduates

2004-04-04T22:22:00.000+08:00

Another mark in the history for Inspector & his coursemates! Definitely an exciting and memorable day for them!!

The convocation for his course, together with the rest of the courses, was held at Shangri-La Hotel. The whole ballroom was practically swarmed with red ribbon-sashed graduates! But Inspector's course uses gold ribbon sash and there were, I think, less than 30 people in that course, so it kinda made Inspector and his friends stood out like thorns among the roses. Very easy to spot them. ;)

It was a hectic day. Met up with the rest of his friends at Lemon2Go Cafe which was at the lobby level. It was pretty amusing there coz Inspector was the only guy within the group, and the rest were busy putting on their makeup in front of the huge mirrored wall, putting on their robes, sashes and mortar boards. Hehe..

Then we went to the registration counter and Inspector signed in his attendance. Helped him out with the robe and all. He went for the group photography session. Then helped snapped some photos of him and his friends. Met up with his family. Sat for the whole convo procession. Ohhh.. The Deputy PM's wife was there. Hehe.. Then it was the tea reception. Snapped more photos. Inspector returned his robe. Said bye to his friends and then we left for dinner with his family.

This is the day they will all remember that, after 2 years of slogging and making the trips to the college library a daily routine (not forgetting, it was a place to 'hang out' too. Hehe..), they have finally been rewarded with a degree to their names. And I'm very happy for them! :D

Although they have all completed their course almost a year ago and have already embarked on their respective careers, they are now officially graduates and degree holders! Here's wishing Inspector and his friends the very best of luck in their future endeavours. Congrats!!!

Rest In Peace, Yee Poh

2004-03-31T21:30:00.000+08:00

Yee Poh passed away in the evening. She lost her battle against cancer..

She was Butterfly Poh Poh's half-sister. Uhm.. Butterfly Poh Poh was my maternal grandmother, but she passed away when she was in her late 30s, I think when Mum was about 14 or so. So I've never met her except in the pictures. We refer her as Butterfly coz it was believed that the few days after her passing, she came back as a butterfly. Something like that.. But yeah, Yee Poh was technically my grandauntie. In Cantonese it's "2nd grandmother".

Sighz.. Can't believe it.. 2 deaths in my family barely 2 weeks apart.. The other one was an uncle, one of Dad's brother-in-law, 2 Saturdays ago. We were close to Yee Poh and her family. The last I saw her was when we visited her during the last CNY. She was still lively and all, but we never knew that she had been suffering from cancer for about a year, until we were recently informed about her condition. Mum visited her on Monday. Yee Poh was still talking and all, even told Mum in Cantonese, "Go back lar, go back lar. It's late already".

I don't know what else to write now. My mind's just so... So numb.. I don't take news of people's deaths easily, what's more, family members'.. All I can pray now is that may Yee Poh rest in peace and may she be reunited with Butterfly Poh Poh and my maternal Grandfather..

Would also like to convey my condolences to Der Der for the recent loss of his grandfather..

50 First Dates

2004-03-24T13:37:00.000+08:00

Watched 50 First Dates last night. I'm a huge fan of Adam Sandler + Drew Barrymore since The Wedding Singer. So yeah.. I loved it to bits!!

It's a romantic comedy about a Marine vet, Henry who strives to achieve his 10-year dream of sailing to Alaska to study the underwater life of walruses. Hence, a long-term relationship is totally out of the question. He is very close to making his dream come true when a mishap occurs, landing him at the Hukilau Cafe, and is immediately smitten with Lucy. The problem is, she suffers from a permanent short-term memory loss due to an accident involving a stray cow, that wipes her memory clean every night. Now, he has to plan new ways to meet her and get her to fall for him every single day!

The movie reminds me of my first date out with Inspector, to celebrate his birthday. It was after our BM Lisan (aural) test back in Form 5. We met up in front of the MPPJ library in State, where the benches were. I was still wearing my pinafore and all, and I gave him his present which was a silver Sheaffer pen, engraved with his name on it. We went to Melody for lunch, and we watched Mission Impossible at the State cinema (yeah, the cinema pretty much got torn down now).

I remember being nervous with him, although I never did understand the movie plot. After the movie, we walked around just chit-chatting, around State, to Taman Jaya, to his house (very nearby), finally we walked up to the bus stop at Jalan Gasing, and then Mum came to pick me up. There weren't any flowers or goodbye kiss or stuffs like that, but it didn't matter to me. I just remember smiling the whole way back home and the rest of the night. ;) Wow.. That was what, 8 years ago! Gosh.. I can never, ever forget that special day.. *grins*

What's your story? How was your first date like? Here's Adam Sandler's song from the movie..

La-woo-kee-low is the place
Where I first saw your face
We liked each other right away
But you didn't remember me the very next day

Forgetful Lucy
Has got a nice caboose-ie

I used to trick you into pulling your car over so we could chat
But my favorite time was when you beat the shit out of Ula with a bat
Then we drove up to see Dr. Keats
And find out why Doug always has to change his sheets

Forgetful Lucy
Cracked her head like Gary Busey

But I still love her so
And I'll never let her go
Even if while I'm singing this song
She's wishing I had Jocko the Walrus' shlong

Forgetful Lucy
Her lips are so damn juicy

How about another first kiss?

~~ Adam Sandler - Forgetful Lucy ~~

To Be Or Not To Be Equally Yoked

2004-03-23T21:41:00.000+08:00

Imagine this..

You meet the girl of your dreams. She's brainy. She has a sense of humor. She's pretty. She's talented. She's the one you think of first thing in the morning when you wake up, and the last person you say Goodnight to before you go to sleep. Both of you click just like that. You can read each other's minds. You like to spend as much time with each other. You always have jolly good fun with her. You can talk about things, just anything at all under the sun. She's someone you can see yourself marrying to. You're someone her parents would just loveeeee... Both of you are just soooooo compatible with each other.

The problem is :- She's a staunch believer in Christianity, you're not. In fact, you're not even a Christian.

Now what do you do? Most people will probably end up converting to Christianity, coz according to the Bible, believers were told "not to be yoked with unbelievers". Ok.. The rest of the entry might be a little bit sensitive. But hey, feel free to correct me. Apostle Paul once said that "if any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him".

Understandably that a believer and a non-believer have different beliefs regarding religion, and perhaps their certain lifestyles might contradict. And that both should follow the same religion so that they go hand in hand and follow the same path towards the "light". But otherwise, they are just so right for each other.

Going back to the situation, you believe in God too, but you're not gonna tell her, "Hey look, you must convert to MY religion instead". Believer and non-believer can be together. They CAN live together. I have seen countless of married "un-yoked" couples who live happily with each other for many, many years. So long as both of them respect each other's religion. So long as both of them don't step on each other's tails regarding religion, or the non-believe don't tempt the believer with his/her own beliefs.

I don't see why they can't be together. I mean, if you're the girl in the said situation, why can't you give it a shot before saying that, "No, my partner MUST be a Christian". Would you rather lose the opportunity of being with that special someone, knowing that you will end up happily ever after together, than having to give it a try at all?

Fond Memories Of The Sunflower Days

2004-03-18T23:50:00.000+08:00

Had a very great night with the guyz, except for Tai Lou who had to stay home to take care of his baby.

I actually made a VCD :-
* Intro (like the intro for "Friends" TV series)
* 5 sets of photo presentations (from our BDP days in college right to our Convo and after we came back to Malaysia)
* Final 40 odd mins of "interview" and singing sessions with the guyz

Oh, also with background music, transitions, titles and all, including a very nice CD label. Hehe.. Ok.. That's a bit too much, right?

But yeah, FRG & Nutty came to pick me up. Chino wasn't feeling so well, so we stopped by at KFC to get our dinner, then went to Sec 17 and got porridge for him. Headed straight to his place, and Aneh was already there. We had our dinner, then it was a full 61 mins of total laughter!!

3 years of memories captured into 1 VCD. Gosh.. Despite having to edit the stuffs and re-watching it soooooooooooooo many times, I just couldn't stop laughing. ;) From our Maggi mee dinner on the first night in Sheffield, to us releasing our 3 years of "frustration" onto FRG when we "celebrated" his birthday with expired honey mustard, flour and eggs, to the guyz cross-dressing during the Contiki tour, to our numerous mortar board-throwing during Convocation, to the very final tour around Sheffield. There were also the singing sessions by Nutty, Tai Lou and Aneh (he sang Emil Chou's "Ai Xiang Shui", don't play play!). The whole interview was totally hilarious!! Everyone were practically rolling over their seat or floor throughout the whole video. I think even Chino recovered quickly. *lol*

Gosh.. It totally felt like as if we had just opened up the treasure chest of memories that had been locked for nearly 4 years now. It was like, "Oh man.. Did I do/say that??". Or, "Oh man.. I actually forgot about that!" I miss those days, you know. You just don't remember how much you studied for the Finals and all. But you remember very well about the times you spent with your friends. And they're not just my friends. They were my coursemates since college, my housemates in Sheffield and my brothers. Nothing can ever replace the friendship that we have amongst the 6 of us. Especially nothing can ever erase the wonderous and tremendous memories we have had shared together. Cheers to that!!

They suggested that they will send me more pictures to make a much longer video. I'm already looking forward to it. This time, I shall make it as a DVD and add music lyrics to it, you know, like karaoke kind. Hehe.. Got to be high tech a bit lar..

As we go on, we remember all the times we had together
And as our lives change, from whatever, we will still be Friends Forever.

Viva la Sunflower House!!

Just The Way You Are

2004-03-17T22:31:00.000+08:00

Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familar
And I don't see you anymore

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

~~ Barry White - Just The Way You Are ~~

Love the jazzy tune.. Thanks, Der Der!! Dum dum dum dum.. Kinda reminds me of Bridget Jones when Mark Darcy told Bridget that he likes her "just the way you are". Dum dum dum dum.. *smile*

Oohh.. Sod Off!!!

2004-02-20T09:26:00.000+08:00

It's just so frustrating that people just become rude to you for no apparent reason, and that whatever you do, it's ALWAYS wrong, even though they are wrong in the first place. Urgh! I have tried to be nice and patient, but enough is enough. Don't blame me if I'm rude to you, coz you did it first!!

And I'm not a 'listening booth' for you to brag and boast about whatever you've done. If you've done something and want to share your achievement, happiness or whatsoever, yes, I'm ever so willing to 'tumpang' your achievements. But if you just want to show off or that "I'm better than you", or "I'm earning more than you", stuffs like that, BUGGER OFF!! I'm not your comparison tool!!! I'm not someone you can look down onto, and I'm not someone for you to belittle on.

Seriously, I have been extremely patient enough with all these nonsense, and it's high time I put my foot down. Don't put the blame on me. Look at yourself in the mirror first before you start pointing your finger at me!!

Love Knows No Boundaries

2004-02-13T10:01:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, this article in the Star papers caught my attention. In case if you are unable to view the page, here it is..

Student goes the distance to suprise college mate
By Ang See Rene

Penang : Love knows no boundaries. And for 22-year-old Derrick Ooi, it was a nine-hour drive for about 600 km from Penang to Cameron Highlands and back again on the same day just to buy 214 red roses for Valentine's Day - all for a girl he admired in college.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman College engineering student, who started his journey at 4am on Tuesday, said he had to rush back in the evening to get the flowers wrapped by a local florist as his coursemate, S. Y. Yeap, 20, was having an early birthday celebration that night.

Ooi admitted that some people would think he was crazy to have travelled to Cameron Highlands just to buy the flowers but "I only paid RM408 for the roses which would have cost about RM 2,000 in Penang".

Of the 214 roses, Ooi had initially planned to present Yeap with only 212 on her birthday today and to give her the remaining two roses two days later on Valentine's Day.

"But as I didn't want to spoil the nice wrappings, I gave her the whole bouquet to celebrate both occasions", he said.

Cheered on by several college friends, Ooi presented the bouquet to a suprised Yeap in her Jelutong house on Tuesday night before the group went out for dinner.

Ooi said it had always been his dream to do something special for Valentine's Day after working as a part-time flower salesman sometime ago.

"From my experience, most people would buy 12, 14 or even 99 roses but 214 is a special number", he said.

He said the one-day trip was worthwhile as he had accomplished three goals - his dream, and celebrating the birthday and Valentine's Day.

Birthday girl Yeap said that although her friends had anticipated that Ooi would be giving her a suprise, she did not expect such a big bouquet.

"This is something different and I'm happy that I'm celebrating my birthday with my good friends from college", she said.

Yeap said that although she already had a boyfriend, she appreciated Ooi's gift.

Florist Leonard Tan from De Meridian Florist in Cintra Street, who wrapped the roses, said he had never come across someone like Ooi.

"I've been in the business for about five years and this is the first time I've heard about someone making a round trip to Cameron Highlands just to buy Valentine flowers", he said.

He said Ooi came to his shop at 6pm that day and collected the flowers two hours later.

Tan said that if Ooi were to buy the 214 roses from his shop during the Valentine's Day peak season, it would cost him about RM2,000.

I think he's asking for trouble. For goodness sake, she has a boyfriend!!! What was he thinking?? I mean, it's flattering and all, but there has to be some limit there. It's acceptable if he just get a smaller bouquet of flowers from a nearby florist or something. But to travel all the way to Camerons and back, 214 stalks for a girl who has a boyfriend?? I just hope he doesn't get bashed up today, as it's also Friday the 13th..

Fundamentals Of Love

2004-02-12T16:05:00.000+08:00

Got this piece of article from a colleague. It sounds like as if the author's a guy and it's directed to other guys.. But other than that, it's worth reading..

Think back to the day when you first laid eyes on her. You found yourself charmed by the way she talks, the way she dresses herself to show off her best features and the way she embraces life with her laughter. It seemed as if a mysterious "chemistry effect" has suddenly developed to draw you closer to her.

You two then began to meet regularly, and you discover more things that you admire about her. Her clever ideas, her healthy values and the way she stands up for you when others doubt you. You find yourself thinking of her not just as a normal friend, but a very good friend. It is often during this period that a boy and a girl will start thinking of bringing their friendship to another level. After all, the kind of wonderful experience you have between each other can only become even better if it develops into a romantic relationship. In other words, the feeling is really unique - no one else seems to be able to replace her in your heart. So both of you agree to go steady and work even harder on the relationship. You "graduate" to become a couple, and are the envy of the sea of singles.

== When You Forget the Fundamentals ==

However, at some point in your relationship, you forgot how it all began. You start to take your partner for granted. Why can't she laugh in a more ladylike manner? Why doesn't she dress herself more trendily? Why must she assert her views and point out your silly mistakes? Is she really the one for you? To be fair to yourself and to her, take some time to reflect on your "love memory".

The "love memory" contains all the reasons that you fell in love with her right from Day One. It contains rarely accessed snippets of how your life has changed since meeting and loving her. Pre-steady days, did you heap compliments on her for the brave way she spoke her mind on bullies and snobs? You probably did. Did you like her unusual fashion sense that makes her stand out from the crowd? Right-o. So why are you criticising or finding fault with her now that she is your girlfriend?

Because you have forgotten the fundamentals of love, like so many of us. You have forgotten the reasons you admired her during the friendship phase. Instead, once you went steady, you put your "love memory" in cold storage. As her boyfriend, you take up a new set of demands and expectations about her. These new ideas are not necessarily better; they could put your relationship at risk.

== The Secret of Strong Relationships ==

A healthy relationship, like learning to walk properly, follows a step-by-step development. You can't possibly become part of a couple if you aren't friends in the first place. Ok, I know some of us break the rule and plunge straight into whirlwind courtship, but how many of those couples can go the distance? Couplehood works well when there is something you like about her (and vice versa), and I'm not referring to merely the physical aspects.

So whenever your relationship hits a rocky path, don't give up without checking on your "love memory". Rediscover the reasons why you fell in love with her, and watch yoru relationship flourish with a newfound vigour.

The Voice Within

2004-02-11T14:50:00.000+08:00

There are times when you just feel like the whole world's going against you. Challenges being thrown upon you all at once. Nothing seems right. No one to lend you a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. You feel so lost and helpless. You want to get away from it all, but you just can't. You feel like you're being bound on the legs to the ground and everything just hits towards you. But when you feel that you are about to give up, listen to the voice within you. The inner voice. That tells you to stay strong, to believe in yourself. That every cloud has a silver lining. That you'll be able to get through all these. That you're a fighter. And when you win the battle, it makes a better You..

Young girl don't cry, I'll be right here when your world starts to fall
Young girl it's all right, your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly

When you're safe inside your room, you tend to dream
Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems
No one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there's no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
If you will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl don't hide, you'll never change if you just run away
Young girl just hold tight, and soon you're gonna see your brighter day

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed
It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you're lost outside, look inside to your soul

When there's no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
If you will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Yeah.. Life is a journey, it can take you anywhere you choose to go
As long as you're learning, you'll find all you'll ever need to know

(Be strong) You'll break it, (hold on) you'll make it
Just don't forsake it because no one can stop you
You know that I'm talking to you

When there's no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
If you will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl don't cry, I'll be right here when your world starts to fall...

~~ Christina Aguilera - The Voice Within ~~

The Story Of 1, 0 And -1

2004-02-09T14:39:00.000+08:00

I got thrown a question today - - "Human invented '0' or '1' first?"

Got my mind boggling after that!!

Friend: "Hmm.. I got 1 simple thing that keep on in my mind. 1 question thrown to me by my Architect. Human invented '0' or '1' first?"

Me : "Errrrrrrrrr........................................"

So here's his answer :

"I also donno. According to him, human invented 1 first".

Why ah?

"Long long time ago, human didn't know how to count. They learn to count.. And so smart that, to have something, it must be start in 1. If not therefore nothing. Early human when nothing, they didn't bother. It's nothing wat. Then they learn about 2 3 4, made of multiple 1.

After long time only get the 0. When ppl more familiar with the counting (primitive math.. that time), 1 of the genius or at least 1 genius playing with number,

is 2 sticks
is 3 sticks
_ is no stick
_ and is 1 stick
Therefore, _ is no stick >> it's 0.

The genius is so proud.. That he finally solved the mystery of Zero. Conclusion, human always pandai pandai. Didn't learn to walk already start to run".

Just when I thought, "Pwoarhh.. We now know the answer" and change topic, he asked again, "And how the -1 story started?"

"After generation of playing with normal physical number (0 - N), 1 of the genius at least (group genius) too free, start to revise the math mystery (too free until revise).

= 3 sticks
_ + = 1 stick
- = 1 stick
_ - = ?? (ding dung)

The genius must be gila thinking of that. Then the genius so smart.. And obviously, there's no actual answer for negative. Bcos of deadline and pressure, he started to look left and right. Bcos if he couldn't solve it, meaning don't have such thing lohh.. So he look left right left right. He open his right hand.. With 1 stick. But his left hand with no stick. In the middle (his head).

<> < :O) > <>

[ _ ] [head] [ ] = 1
[ _ ] [head] [ _ ] = 0 (obviously nothing)

So he made a remarkable reasoning, if my right hand with 1 stick, and my left hand has no stick. Therefore, I got 1 stick (this is how the genius talking). The right side is always the RIGHT and correct choice. Assume the left is nothing and not obvious (modern day virtual). What will happen if I put 1 stick to the not obvious left hand (virtual)? Ppl say "it will be 1 stick on your not obvious hand!".

Genius : EXACTLY. Therefore we got the NOT EXIST 1 ! (modern day negative 1)

He made his name with the -1 concept and revolutionized the human thinking that left is bad, right is good".

Me : "This genius so smart ah.. What's his name ar?"

Friend : "I forgot.. I think the first person who discovered negative is ancient Chinese. The Indian discovered Zero. So that's how the Negative came into this world.."

Friend : "And rite now.. I will tell u why the Architect so like the Negative".

Me : (pengsan)

Casual Friends Or With Intentions?

2004-02-06T09:11:00.000+08:00

Here's a situation.

Say there's a friend who is attached, treats you really really nice, calls and SMS-es you every day, asks you out for dinner, drinks and stuffs. Very charming and matured person, someone that you can be interested in. He's giving you funny signals. Is he being just friendly to you or something else?

Note : I'm in no way of being involved in this kind of situation, perhaps as a "consultant" for a friend who's having this dilemma. I suggested that she ask him indirectly about this situation, and his reasons are :-

* he enjoys your companionship
* he's confused
* he doesn't want to hurt his girlfriend
* he's a player
* he's a dickhead

I personally like the last answer. *lol* But what do you think? What is the guy up to?

Happy Chap Goh Meh

2004-02-05T09:57:00.000+08:00

To the Chinese, it's Chap Goh Meh today. In Hokkien, it means it's the 15th night of the CNY. Families would have dinner together, decorate their houses with lights and lanterns, offer prayers to the ancestors and light fireworks/crackers as a 'send-off' to mark the end of the CNY.

In Penang, Chap Goh Meh is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day. In the past, it's one of the few occasions where eligible young ladies were allowed out of their homes. They would be dressed prettily and be accompanied by fierce looking aunties and servants. Eager gentlemen would only admire at all the lovely ladies. These young maidens would throw oranges into the sea as a gesture of hope to wed good husbands. The gentlemen would catch the oranges thrown in by the maidens who catch their eyes, and then go on to arrange marriage proposals to them.

Nowadays, the tradition has dwindled into competitions whereby the females will throw oranges into the sea (or lake), and the males will catch as many oranges as they can by boat. The one with the most oranges win.

Personally, I think this is fun. The orange-throwing thing, I mean, not the strangers' marriage proposals part. I've not attended such events in my entire 25 years, though. I wonder if they're gonna have this over at Taman Jaya tonight. Hhm.. Otherwise, I shall just stay at home and watch Lo Ka Leung on Wah Lai Toi's "Golden Faith" series. *wink*

Superman

2004-01-20T11:50:00.000+08:00

Been addicted to Smallville lately. *Tsk tsk* And I've been listening to Five For Fighting's Superman song countless times yesterday. The more I listen to the lyrics, the more I pity Clark Kent, although it's just a fictional character.

Imagine the fact knowing that you don't belong to the world you've been raised up in, and having all sorts of power, to saving the world, and having to keep this secret identity from everyone else including the one person you love, for fear that you will end up hurting that person. It's a huge responsibility and because of this, so much of sacrifices to make..

I can't stand to fly, I'm not that naive
I'm just starting to find the better part of me
I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane
I'm more than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

I wish that I could cry, fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie about a home I'll never see
It may sound absurd, but don't be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed, but won't you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away, away from me
It's all right, you can all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy or anything

I can't stand to fly, I'm not that naive
Men weren't meant to ride with clouds between their knees

I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me, inside of me
Inside of me, inside of me

I'm only a man in a funny red sheet
I'm only a man looking for my dream
I'm only a man in a funny red sheet

It's not easy.. It's not easy to be me.

~~ Five For Fighting - Superman ~~

The Week So Far

2004-01-09T10:04:00.000+08:00

Life has not been a bed of roses at the moment. Definitely not this week. Been having so much of emotional and mental turmoil coming from every angle of my life. Sometimes I'd just rather hide myself, away from everyone, away from everything. And if that's not enough, I pretty much screwed up a very dear friend's PayPal account (I'm sooooo sorry..).

Hopefully things will be better before the week ends, coz tomorrow I finally get to watch Return of the King in GSC's Gold Class. *wink* Yup, FINALLY. And that's coz I actually made the point to go to Mid Valley early last Sunday just to queue up. Can you believe it, there were already 18 people queuing (or rather, sitting on the floor in a single file)! It was only 9 in the morning and the counter only opens at 10.30!!! You can actually see them chowing down their breakfast, or yakking away with each other, or talking super loudly on the phone, or even reading newspapers.. Madness, I tell you! Sheer madness!! As much as I think this is all so ridiculous, I have to shamefully admit that I'm just as kiasu as them. I hope it's worth all that trouble..

Sighz.. With all the things that have been going on, it's just so hard to be Pollyanna all the time. Hopefully the Year of Monkey will turn out to be a better year..

Janji Tinggal Janji

2004-01-08T11:08:00.000+08:00

I've been having a penchant to listen to Malay songs lately.. The ones that I used to listen back in the primary school days.

This particular song by KRU was one of my favourites, it still is though, till this very day. It's about how you've been with someone you love so much, you gave every single drop of your love to him/her, he/she promises you everything. But in the end, they were just broken promises. He/She dumps you for someone else. Kinda makes you feel like a fool..

Tibalah kita di penghujung persimpangan
Di penghujung jalan cinta kita berdua
Terpaksa ku relakan, tak daya ku halangkan
Ker'na ku tahu cintamu bukan lagi milikku

Menanti hatimu kembali padaku
Menanti purnama jatuh ke riba
Beratnya di mata sebaknya di dada
Melihat kau bersama dirinya

Gadisku.. Yang kupinta hanyalah satu
Semadikanlah kenanganmu bersamaku
Walau ditakdirkan tak bersama lagi
Kau gadis pertama yang kucintai

Oh kasih.. Sebelum kau melangkah pergi
Ke pangkuan teman baru yang kau sanjungi
Lihat ke mataku lihatlah padaku
Lihatlah air mata di mataku ker'na mu

Kau pernah berkata cintamu adalah selamanya
Rambulan menjadi saksi, janji tinggal janji
Kata pada diri ni, di mana kan ku cari ganti
Gadis seistimewa, senyuman penawar hati duka

Takkan ku rayu kembali padaku
Wala di hatiku terasa rindu
Beratnya di mata, sebaknya di dada
Melihat kau bersama dirinya

Gadisku.. Yang ku pinta hanyalah satu
Semadikanlah kenanganmu bersamaku
Walau ditakdirkan tak bersama lagi
Kau gadis pertama yang kucintai

Oh kasih.. Sebalum kau melangkah pergi
Ke pangkuan teman baru yang kau sanjungi
Lihat ke mataku lihatlah padaku
Lihatlah air mata di mataku ker'na mu

~~ KRU - Janji Tinggal Janji ~~

Di Persimpangan Dilema

2004-01-06T02:45:00.000+08:00

Masa berlalu tanpa ku menyedari
Percintaan yang kita bina hampir terlerai
Apa salahku, kau buatku begini
Dalam dilema di antara jalan derita
Tidak pernah kuduga ini semua terjadi

Janganlah engkau menghancurkan segala
Setelah lama kita mengharungi bersama
Usah biarkan cinta kita yang suci
Dilambung ombak karam di lautan berduri
Hanya satu pintaku moga kau menginsafi semua ini

Telah banyak yang kuberi sejak dulu lagi
Pengorbanan tiada pernah jemu
Hanyalah Tuhan saja bisa menentukan semua
Kesabaran daku menantimu
Ku tetap memaafkan dan berdoa kau kembali
Sebelum diri melangkah pergi.

~~ Nora - Di Persimpangan Dilema ~~

This Year, I Resolve To...

2004-01-02T15:40:00.000+08:00

It's already the 2nd day of the new year. So fast! Time for us to make our NY resolutions.. As usual, resolutions made always ended up being broken. Well, that does not necessarily applies to everyone, though. But this year, I HOPE I will accomplish mine. So what are my resolutions for the year 2004?

1) To gain weight.
To those who do not know me or hasn't seen how I look like, yes, you're not reading this wrong. I'm practically like a stick. I need to gain weight. Desperately and definitely. I'm seriously sick and tired of hearing people say that I'm too thin, or that I don't eat enough, or that I'll easily get blown off by the wind, or being indirectly told that "girls nowadays ah, always want to diet. Always don't want to eat. Always want to be very thin and slim". Hellooooooooooooo... I'm not trying to be like one of them, kay! Do you think I like being this thin???!! It's like a miracle if I get to gain some weight! Because of people like you, I'll gain as much as I can, and shut your bloody mouths!

2) To complete my Piano course.
I've decided that I'm gonna, once and for all, complete everything till Grade 8. Probably need to repeat a couple of grades, since I'm quite rusted with the exam syllabus. Arpeggios? Chromatic scales? WHAT?? And hopefully, I'll do the Diploma after that. I've called up Selangor Institute of Music to enquire. I'll probably need to attend an audition there one day to decide which grade should I continue from.

That's all I can think of, so far.. Well.. Wish me luck! So, what are your NY resolutions? Care to share your list with me?

As We Begin This New Year

2004-01-02T09:06:00.000+08:00

Each year we are granted the opportunity to start over. Many of us take the time to make a list of resolutions, things we either want to do or want to refrain from doing. This is a sign that recognize this new beginning. At the same time, it's also a reflection on our failures. Each of us comes to the start of a new year with a sense of having failed to accomplish something that we wanted to do, or of having failed to purge ourselves of things we wanted to avoid.

This reality is both painful and constant. Failure seems to be such a big part of who we are and what we do. We set goals that we don't realize, we make expectations that we do not meet, we establish plans that are not accomplished. This cycle seems so endless that, in fact, we may even begin to wonder why we bother with the whole thing.

For some, however, there is a sense of challenge that this process brings out. True, we may not succeed in doing what we set out to do, but the important task is to start. If we simply give up then nothing has been gained, and much has been lost. The old Chinese proverb states that a trip of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step. When we don't take that step, we deprive ourselves of much joy and excitement that life wants to give us.

Success is not guaranteed in any human activity. In fact, some would contend that success is actually a byproduct of good planning, lots of effort, and not a little bit of luck. This understanding should also help us to understand that the joy should be in the effort to succeed, not in success itself. As Spock once noted on a Star Trek episode, "Having a thing is not so great as wanting. It's not logical, but it is often so". Success is a wonderful goal, and we should all be striving for it. But, along the way, we learn so much from our little failures.

Someone once noted that the difference between a person in heaven and a person in hell was that the one in heaven got up one more time. Our little failures should be treated as spurs to get us up and going again rather than as a re-enforcement to keep us down. As long as we are up and moving towards our goals, we are doing the right thing. We may not succeed but we can learn so much from the journey.

So, as we begin this new year, let's look at some positive steps we can take to enhance our journey. Let's smile a little more. Let's hold back from our comments a little more. Let's be open to helping those around us just a little more. Let's allow God to work through us just a little more. Let's pray as a family a little more. Let's give God some silent time in which He can speak to us. Above all, let's love a little more because in loving we are sharing our very selves with those around us. And, at the very end, all we have is the love we have shared.

May God bless and keep you and yours in the coming year. Happy New Year!

~~ By Deacon Ed of St. Joseph Catholic Church, NY. Shared by Joe Gatuslao ~~

The Last Laugh Before The Year Ends

2003-12-31T16:21:00.000+08:00

The year 2003 is drawing nearer to an end. 8 more hours to be precise. Many tragedies, deaths and events had happened throughout the year. No doubt, we should reflect on all these. But we need something to keep us going, to face the new year. No matter how much of tears and sorrows we have had this year, we should never forget to smile and laugh and think of the bright side of life.

So let's have a bit of laughter before we bid au revoir to the year 2003 and welcome the year 2004.

What do your icons do while you are not around

How do you drive?

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

2003-12-24T17:50:00.000+08:00

As Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and tomorrow's a holiday (which means I won't be blogging, of course), let me just make a headstart..

Everyone, come let's sing Majesty.. All together now!!

Majesty, worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory, power and praise
Majesty, Kingdom authority
Flow from His throne, unto his own, His anthem raise

So exalt, lift up on high, the name of Jesus
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King
Majesty, worship His Majesty
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

Merry Christmas

2003-12-22T15:41:00.000+08:00

Another year, another Christmas, and another new year to look forward to...

Christmas is a time for forgiving and for forgetting.
Thinking back, I've done my share of mistakes and I have hurt so many people. Disagreements, name-callings, finger-pointing, broken promises and even broken friendships. If I could turn back time, I would be willing to take back my words and actions. But I know that "Time Wasted, is Time Lost". All I can do is to say "I'm sorry" and that I never meant to say what I said or do what I did, that I will try to not repeat it anymore. Especially to you. We had been best buddies for many years. We were 2 totally different characters. We've often been at loggerheads with each other, whether in opinion-wise or about other people. Yet we've always been there for each other, through thick and thin, near or far, even across countries and continents, in so many ways. When it happened, our friendship was broken just like that. Perhaps we've never really told each other how and what we felt about it, but I would like to say "I'm sorry", and I forgive you for what has happened. Please know that, despite that, despite what other people think about it, you or even about us, I am still there for you, by your side, and I still believe in you. Please know that although I'm probably non-existent in your life anymore, you still exists in mine. I hope that, someday, we can rekindle our friendship..

Christmas is a time for remembrance to everything we have ever loved.
I lost my grandfather this year. I still keep the SMS my cousin brother sent to me, telling me that my grandfather has passed away. I know that I will never be able to forgive myself for not being able to say a proper "Goodbye" to him. Although I hadn't been very close to him in the recent years and that he had been gone for half a year now, I still miss him very much. He was the strength of unity within the family of 4 generations. He would always be so concerned whenever any of us travel abroad or even just to and fro to visit them. He could be stern, yet always ever ready with a smile. I regret taking him for granted, for thinking that he would always be there. I wish I knew him better when he was alive. He was never a Christmas believer, but I hope that wherever he is now, he is in a much happier place. That he knows that I miss him a lot and that he'll always be in my memory.

Christmas is a time for renewed faith and hope.
There had been so much of disappointments, loss of faith and strength in facing life's obstacles this year. Regardless of whether it happened to me, my loved ones, friends, colleagues or anyone else. As the new year approaches, I hope that they will not give up, yet learn to be stronger to withstand all the challenges that will be thrown upon them. I hope that they will not be afraid to fall and no matter how much they fall, they will always stand up on their feet back again. I hope that they will not take the easy way out, but always try to look at the brighter side of life.

Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, to goodwill towards men, to peace on earth.
We had so much of terrorism going on this year, and how can we forget the Iraqi war. I hope that the people will stop fighting and stop hating each other. I hope that they will be able to make amends, to forgive each other's wrongdoings and to start doing good. I hope that the new year will bring peace amongst people, regardless of skin colour and religion. I hope that when the new year draws nearer, the world will be a safer, less suffering and a better place to live in..

May everyone have a blessed Christmas this year..

Tree, Leaf And Wind

2003-12-15T13:32:00.000+08:00

Got this article from Der Der. Apparently, it's originally translated from a Chinese article. It's about 3 person's side of their stories in a love triangle. Quite touching lar. Will write more about the article later.. Read on!

"Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay".

Tree
===
The reason I'm called Tree is because I'm good at painting trees. Overtime I started to paint a tree in the right hand corner as a trademark for all my watercolor paintings. I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There's one girl whom I loved a lot but never dared go after. She didn't have a pretty face, nor a good figure, or outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl.

I like her. I really like her. Like her innocence, her frankness. Like her cuteness, her intelligence and her fragility. My reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary was not good enough for me. I was also afraid that if we got together all the special feelings I had would vanish. I feared that other people's gossiping would hurt her. I also felt that if she was meant to be my girl, she would be mine ultimately and I didn't have to give everything up just for her. The last reason made her stay with me for 3 years. She watched me chase after other girls for 3 years, and I made her heart cry for 3 years.

She wanted to be a good actress and i was a very demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarassed but smiled and said "Go on!" before running off. The next day, her eyes were swollen like walnuts. I purposely ignored what had caused her to cry and instead, laughed at her the whole day. When everyone else went back home, she sat alone crying in the classroom. She didn't know that I had returned from soccer training to get something. I watched her cry for an hour or so.

My fourth girlfriend didn't like her. There was once when both of them quarrelled. I know that based on her character she was not the one who had started off the quarrel. But I still sided with my girlfriend. I shouted at her and her eyes were filled with shock. I didn't care about her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she still laughed and joked with me as though nothing happened. I know that she was very hurt but she didn't kn ow that my heart ached as badly as hers.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. After going out for a day, I told her that I had something to tell her. She told me that coincidentally, she had something to tell me too. I told her about my breakup and she told me about her getting together with someone else. I know who the guy was. He had been going after her for quite a while. He was a very cute guy, full of energy, lively and interesting. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the school.

I couldn't let her know how my heart ached but could only smile and congratulate her. When I reached home, my heart ached so bad that I can't stand it. There was like a heavy weight upon my chest. I couldn't breathe. I wanted to shout but couldn't. Tears rolled down and I broke down and cried. How many times have I seen her cry for the man that didn't even acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read an SMS in my handphone. It was sent 10 days ago when I broke down and cried, but I hadn't read it since then. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay".

Leaf
===
During Pre-U days, I liked to collect leaves. Why? Because I felt that for a leaf to leave the tree she has relied on for so long, it takes a lot of courage. During the 3 years of Pre-U, i was on very close terms with a guy. Not the BGR kind but the buddy kind. But when he had his first girlfriend, I learned a feeling I never should have learnt - jealousy. The sourness in the heart couldn't be described using a lemon. It's Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my strong sense of happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I like him and I know he likes me. But why wouldn't he pursue me? Since he loved me, why didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would ache. Time after time, my heart was hurt again and again. I began to suspect this was a one sided love. But if he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you would do for a normal friend. Liking a person is very heart wrenching. I may know his likes, his dislikes, his habits, etc. But his feelings towards me, I can never figure out. You can't expect me, a girl, to ask him, right?

Despite all this, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, love him, hoping that one day, he will love me too. I waited for his phone call every night, wanting him to send me SMS. I know that no matter how busy he was, he would make time for me. Because of this, I waited for him. The 3 years were the hardest to go through and I really wanted to give up. At times, I wondered whether I should continue waiting. The pain, the hurt, and the dilemma accompanied me for 3 long years.

Towards the end of my 3rd year, a 2nd year junior began to go after me. Everyday he pursued me relentlessly. From outright rejection to a point in time when I felt that I was willing to let him have a small footing in my heart. He's like a warm and gentle wind, trying to blow a leaf away from the tree. In the end, I realised that I didn't want to give this wind just a small footing in my heart. I know this wind will bring this badly battered leaf far away to a better land. Finally I left Tree. But Tree only smiled and didn't ask me to stay. Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.

Wind
===
I like a girl called Leaf. because she's so dependent on Tree, I have to be a gust of Wind, a wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was one month after I transferred to the new school. I saw a petite girl looking at my seniors and I playing soccer. During CCA time, she would always be sitting there looking at him, be it alone or with her friends. When he talked with other girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's happiness in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit, the way she liked to look at him.

One day, she wasn't there. I felt something was amiss. I can't explain the feeling except that it's a sense of uneasiness. The senior was also not there. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scold her. Tears were in her eyes when he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place looking at him. I walked over and smiled at her, took out a note and gave it to her. She was suprised. She looked at me, smiled and accepted the note. The next day, she passed me a note and left.

"Leaf's heart is too heavy and Wind couldn't blow her away".

"It's not that Leaf's heart is too heavy. It is because Leaf never wanted to leave Tree".

I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me and accepted my presents and phone calls. I know that the person she loved wasn't me. But I had the perseverance that one day, I could make her like me. Within 4 months, I had declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she would divert away from the topic. But I never gave up. If I decided I wanted her to be mine, I would definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I had declared my love for her. Although I knew she would try to divert, I still had a small glimmer or hope, hoping that she would agree to be my girlfriend.

I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone, so I asked, "What are you doing? Why didn't you reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head", she replied loudly. I hung up the phone, changed quickly, took a taxi, rushed to her place and pressed her doorbell. When she opened the door, I hugged her tightly. Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay.

Tolkien For Bengs

2003-12-10T09:42:00.000+08:00

Found a pretty interesting article by Talking Cock on a "brief" explanation of Lord of the Rings. Pretty funny, especially if you understand Hokkien. Read on!

So the new Lord of the Rings movie is coming out, and you want to impress some Ah Lian you're trying to buaya by being able to explain the whole complicated plot with all the funny sounding names and words. You want to seem like you've actually read all 3 books, but - damn suay - even The New Paper is too 'cheem' for you. Neh'mine! Dun scared! Here is our easy to understand guide to J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, written especially in the conversational style of Ah Bengs, so you can memorize :

The Fellowship of the Ring
====================

Last time got this short-short person with si-beh hairy legs called Bilbo, lor. He, hor, got this ring that last time belong to some monster. But then, hor, one day suay-suay the monster want it back, and send his kah kiah to Bilbo's house to settle, lah.
But the ring, hor, acherly can make people very powderful. But then, hor, if you wear too long will also kena sai. Si beh hiong one, so better faster go and destroy it, lor.
So Bilbo's nephew Frodo... Aiyah, dun ask me why their name all so funny, can or not? You ask me, I ask who?
Anyway, Frodo and some peng yew kena arrow to go and destroy the ring. But donno why also, they must do it in the monster's home, which is at the end of New Zealand there.
So they walk and walk and walk across New Zealand, lah. And then along the way, got monster chase them, got people want to hoot them, some of them dieded, all sorts of thing, lah.
At the end, Frodo and Sam, his pooi-pooi friend who I think so is a bit ah quah, got separated from the rest.

The Two Towers
============

Frodo and Sam meet up with this thing called Gollum, who look like he take too much Slim 10 like that.
At the same time, hor, the other friends get into some powderful hooting setting, where, wah lau eh, even the trees can do gongfu one. They all fight over what, I also donno, but quite kan cheong, lah.

The Return of the King
==================

In the end, Frodo and his peng yew all win leow, lah. Arbuthen?

- This condensed version of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy was brought to you courtesy of the Coxford Singlish Dictionary.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

2003-12-09T17:12:00.000+08:00

Ok.. So it's not true.. But it's not too early to get into the Christmas mood, right?

So for those who just feel like singing that Christmas song, view this. And oh, be forewarned, it's those cute cute, animation kind, so if you're not into cute stuffs, just errr.. Close your eyes and only listen to the background music. *lol*

Bug Attack

2003-12-01T02:45:00.000+08:00

I've finally been shot down by the flu bug.. Yes, Mr. Bug, you've finally won.

I've skipped work today and been given 2 days MC along with bundles of pills and a cough syrup. Not that it's very necessary (the 2 days MC, I mean), coz I'm gonna go back to work tomorrow. I told the doctor, but she said, "Why not I just give you 2 days, and if you feel you're up and going by tomorrow, then cancel tomorrow's MC". Bad doctor.. Very bad doctor.. Urgh..

The thing I don't like about these medicines is that they leave a very funny, bland taste in the mouth, where you just feel like you wanna puke anytime. And that's not a very nice feeling. It makes you feel so weak that you just wanna sleep all day long and then you wake up feeling so lethargic. I don't know about you, but whenever I'm sick, I tend to have nightmares where I'm mostly stuck in a compact space. Images of boxes keep appearing in front of me and they keep increasing in sizes, and more boxes appear, slowly overcrowding the whole space, suffocating me. And then I'll wake up feeling very nauseous.

Sighz.. I hate being sick.. Don't you, too?

Primary School Reunion Italian Style

2003-11-29T23:59:00.000+08:00

I've got the flu.. Anything related to it, you name it, I've got it - The sniffles, the fever, the oh-very-sore lumpy throat, the dizziness, the dry cough, the phlegm, the headache, the muscle aches. I was very feverish by late afternoon, but after nearly 2 hours of sleep and a Slurpee treat from Inspector (bless him. *Hugz*), I felt a bit better for the reunion.

It was a disappointing turnout, 14 of us including Inspector (he decided to come along since I was sick. *Double hugz*) at Pizza Uno, Centrepoint. But, considering that the last turnout at Souled Out was at least 25 of them, the one that I had to miss coz I had to see Yeh Yeh for the last time. I guess I can say that, the highlight of the reunion was the suprise belated birthday celebration they had for me. Thank you so much, everyone!! I was really moved. For the record, the last birthday celebration we all had together was exactly 12 years ago, and that was to celebrate my 12th birthday. It also marked the final we all had together before we moved on to different secondary schools.

Gosh.. How time flew by so quickly. Just by remembering how we used to play "getah", "batu seremban", "tiang", or even "Police & Thief" makes me wanna laugh. How can I ever forget the times when we would just say, "I dowan to friend you", or "You bluff bluff friend him arrr", or when the guys acted so macho back in Std 1 before the BCG jabs and then came back to the class crying. Hehe.. I miss those days..

Come to think of it, the last reunion we had before this year was in Form 5. And this year itself, we've already had 3. Now they've suggested to have a Christmas party. I for one, am happy coz this bunch of people, no matter how different they've become, how successful they are, they still look forward to every single reunions and yet they can still yak about anything till the cows come home. :)

So is anyone willing to take over my place and organize the Christmas party this time? *wink*

Happy 24th To Me!

2003-11-27T13:30:00.000+08:00

I'm 24 today! Happy Birthday to me.. Happy Birthday to me.. Happy Birthday to me.. Happy Birthday to me!

Hehe.. Oh yeah, not forgetting, Happy Birthday to my "twin" Wai Nee, my nephew, my colleague and another friend. Woo hoo.. So many people sharing the same birthday as me!!! ;)

It's gonna be a quiet family affair today, since I've already celebrated it with my friends for the past week. Tonight I'm gonna go to Victoria Station for dinner with Dad, Mum & Inspector. As for now, I'm off to go shopping at Mid Valley with Mum. Muahaha...

But before I sign off, here's a very big Thank You to my family, Inspector (for everything and the lovely Precious Moments jewelry box) & his family, Der Der (for the lovely TattyTeddy birthday card all the way from England), Bubbs (for the gifts), Moorish/Sue/Lily/Jewel (for the BBQ dinner), Player & Fair Lady, Kari Ayam (my birthday-after-mine friend.. Hehe), Gummy, colleagues and friends for all the birthday wishes! Thank you sooo much!!!

Oh yeah, here's a quote coming from another person who was born on the 27th November -- the late Bruce Lee - "Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."

6 Days Till I'm 24

2003-11-22T13:20:00.000+08:00

I had a double pre-Birthday celebration yesterday.

First was with my colleagues where on each month, we hold a small celebration for staffs whose birthdays fall on that particular month. And this month, I'm sharing it with a female colleague (same day as mine!) and Hammie (2 days after me). A mocha walnut cake from the cake factory next door.

The second one was at a BBQ dinner with Moorish, Sue, Lily, Jewel & her bf over at Moorish's place. They got me a cake. Oooh.. Guess what? It's also a mocha walnut cake! *lol* But theirs was from Baker's Cottage, and of course, it looked so much more better and it tasted better. ;) What a coincidence, eh?

Nevertheless, I had a good time at Moorish's place. It drizzled a bit, so the wind was quite breezy that night. We were there from 8pm, helped out with the food while Inspector, Jewel & her bf set up the BBQ set. We just chatted till past midnight before they took out the cake. By 1am or so, we started claning up the place and left after 2am.

I was very touched, really, coz I wasn't hoping for anything from them at all, no gifts or whatsoever. I was looking forward to the dinner coz it had been ages since I last saw them, and I've always never turned up for the MS-es (mamak sessions). We did a lot of catching up with each other, so yeah, it was good. :)

You know how everytime before you blow your birthday cake, you have to make a wish first and hope that it will come true? As Sue quoted, "Last year I wished that I will pass CLP, and it came true!". Haha.. I'm not gonna really tell you what I wished for, coz otherwise it won't come true! But I shall drop you a hint. For the first time, I didn't make a wish for myself. I wished on their behalfs, all 6 of them who were there to celebrate with me. You know what, I felt good after that. Really good. And I've decided that, for every candles I will blow in the years to come, I'm not gonna make a wish for myself, but for other people. :)

So thank you very much, Inspector and my dear friends for the birthday celebration. I hope that what I wished for you guyz will come true. :D

Little Kelisa Turns Two

2003-11-19T14:28:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday to you.. Happy Birthday to you.. Happy Birthday Little Kelisa.. Happy Birthday to youuuuuuuu!!!

My little car is 2 years old today!! Whoopeee!! Still in a very good condition, no 'koyak' here or there. ;) Can't believe it, just 2 years ago, I was deciding whether to get a car of my own, and I wanted a small one. Mum said, "Don't ever get Kancil! Get Kelisa laa". But but.. The car was launched 2-3 months before that and I didn't even know how it looked like. I just knew it's a small car.

So off I went to Perodua showroom in Section 19 with my parents. There it was, metallic silver, auto, being displayed. I sat on the driver's seat and I just fell in love with it! Hehe.. I was like, "Ok, buy this!". Dad & Mum were ok with it too, so we got down to discuss with the salesperson about the car loan, down payment, road tax, car plate number and all. When i got home, I called Inspector and told him that I made the booking for the car. He asked, "Got hands-free set, right?", Got this one, right? Got that one, right? I just answered, "Errr... Got kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??" I didn't notice anything!! Keke.. I was THAT bad!!

But yeah, not regretting it, not one bit. ;D I just love it! During traffid jams, I can just swerve here, swerve there. Oh.. And when it comes to parking, all the big cars can't fit into that space, I can just go in easily without much hassle. *Nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh nyeh*

I've got 1 more year to completely settle the car loan installment and then it's fully MINE, all MINE! Muahahhaa.. Did I tell you that I love my car? ;)

Pendulum Divination

2003-11-04T14:04:00.000+08:00

Do you believe in predictions of your life's future events? Have you been through fortune telling, tarot card readings, crystal balls, or perhaps Ouija boards? Do you believe in what they tell you? Or do you think that the reader is just making things up?

Dad is a tarot card reader. He keeps his deck of cards in a nice box, covered with a red cloth, together with the book (still in a very mint condition) in a drawer. I've read the book before, even tried out one of the tarot readings using a deck of gambling cards, which reads about my past, present and future. I'm not a very good reader, but the reading seemed true. Should have noted down the future readings, then I could see if it was really true or not.

But what I believe in is "pendulum divination". It's just using a silver ring suspended from a silver chain, hold it with your right hand, and let the ring hang motionless above your left palm. Ask a question, and you'll see the ring starts to swing side-ways or circularly, which means "Yes" or "No". Or it could remain motionless which means "Uncertain". From stationary to swinging by itself, how can this be? But it does! A classmate back in high school taught me that where we were just basically asking for fun about how many children we would get and whether they would be boys or girls. I was to have 3 children - first 2 are boys, third is a girl. That was in 1995. I tried it again a few occasions years after that and I still got the same answer. Mere coincidence? Tried it yesterday and I got the same answer too. Scary, huh?

I was still unsure about where it really works, so I started asking general questions about myself to see which directions it sways to for "Yes" and "No". My pendulum sways circularly for "Yes", and side-ways for "No". What I asked were :

"Is my name xxx?" - yes (correct)
"Am I turning 24 this month?" - yes (correct)
"Is my name $^%&%*^?" - no (correct)
"Do I work in ***?" - yes (correct)
"Was I born in January?" - no (correct)

Then I asked questions about my future, and every now and then, I would ask again the same questions above to double check. They were all correct! Well, except that I don't know whether the answers to the questions I asked about the future will come true or not, but I'll give it the benefit of a doubt for now.

I told Moorish and Sue about this, and Moorish asked if I could 'ask' the pendulum whether she should get a dive computer. So during lunch break, I 'asked' the pendulum these :

"Do I have a friend named Moorish?" - yes (correct)
"Is she 24 this year?" - yes (correct)
"Should Moorish buy a dive computer?" - no answer
"Was she born in January?" - no (correct)
"Should Moorish buy a dive computer?" - no answer again
"Was she born in August?" - yes (correct)

Tonight I will 'ask' again, this time giving the specific model name and price and all, see what answer it will give me.

Did some net surfing about this, and I found a lot of sites which claim that it works, especially for dowsing (locating missing things or people). I wouldn't say that I will very much depend on or hold on to the answers I get. If it's true, then it's true. If it's not, then too bad la. One way or another, it's still cool, eh?

The Missing Rib

2003-10-20T16:08:00.000+08:00

A girl in love asked her boyfriend..

Girl: Tell me, who do you love most in this world?
Boy: You, of course!
Girl: In your heart, what am I to you?
Boy: (He thought for a moment and looked intently in her eyes) You are my rib. In the Bible, it was said that God saw that Adam was lonely. During his sleep, God took one of Adam's rib and created Eve. Every man has been searching for his missing rib. Only when you find the woman in your life, you'll no longer feel the lingering ache in your heart.

After their wedding, the couple had a sweet and happy life for a while. However, the youthful couple began to drift apart due to the busy schedule of life and the never-ending worries of daily problems. Their life became mundane. All the challenges posed by the harsh realities of life began to gnaw away their dreams and love for each other. The couple began to have more quarrels and each quarrel became more heated.

One day, after the quarrel, the girl ran out of the house. At the opposite side of the road, she shouted, "You don't love me!" The boy hated her childishness and out of impulse, retorted, "Maybe it was a mistake for us to be together. You were never my missing rib!"

Suddenly, she turned quiet and stood there for a long while. He regretted what he said but words spoken are like thrown away water, you can never take it back. With tears, she went home to pack her things and was determined in breaking up. Before she left the house, she said, "If I'm really not your missing rib, please let me go". She continued, "It is less painful this way. Let us go on our separate ways and search for our own partners".

Five years went by. He never remarried but he had tried to find out about her life indirectly. She had left the country and came back. She had married a foreigner and divorced. He felt anguished that she never waited for him. In the dark and lonely night, he lit his cigarette and felt the lingering ache in his heart. He couldn't bring himself to admit that he was missing her.

One day, they finally met at the airport, a place where there were many reunions and goodbyes. He was going away on a business trip. She was standing there alone, with just the security door separating them. She smiled at him gently.

Boy: How are you?
Girl: I'm fine. How about you? Have you found your missing rib?
Boy: No.
Girl: I'll be flying to New York in the next flight.
Boy: I'll be back in 2 weeks' time. Give me a call when you are back. You know my number, nothing has changed.

With a smile, she turned around and waved goodbye.

One week later, he heard of her death. She had perished in New York. In the event that shocked the world. Midnight, once again, he lit his cigarette. And like before, he felt the lingering ache in his heart. He finally knew, she was the missing rib that he had carelessly broken..

[Sometimes, people say things out of moments of fury. Most often than not, the outcome could be disastrous and detrimental. We vent our frustrations 99% at our loved ones. And even though we know that we ought to "think twice and act wisely", it's often easier said than done. Things happen each day, many of which are beyond our control. Let us treasure every moment and everyone in our lives. Tomorrow may never come, give and accept what you have today]

~~ Shared by Joe Gatuslao ~~

Dirty Pop

2003-10-19T22:28:00.000+08:00

I bought *NSync's PopOdyssey Live on VCD yesterday. Yes, it's like 2 years ago's story.. Yes, I know they're a boyband. Yes, I know most of you will be rolling your eyes. I love their songs, kay. I love their harmonization.

PopOdyssey was superb! You can actually see how much of effort they really put into their choreographies. They were practically dancing all over the stage, flying across the hall to the other stage at the end of the hall, escalating floors, moving floors, sticking themselves onto walls, etc. Even interacting with their fans, reading fan mails (who would actually take the time to read mails during the concerts??) and dedicating ballads to them. Not forgetting, they are actually involved in the writing of the songs, producing and choreographing their dance moves. And did I mention harmonization? No flaw in that! It just shows how equally important each of their roles are, and they sing with so much of passion in them! They worked with Richard Marx in "This I Promise You", so that's a plus. *wink* I'm the kind of person who really listens to the lyrics in order to appreciate the song, and their lyrics (especially for the ballads) are really realistic, it makes you really feel what they are feeling in that song.

Alright, enough of writing.. Gonna go watch the concert again.. Hehe.. Ta for now!

When You Love Someone

2003-10-08T09:15:00.000+08:00

When you love someone, you'll do anything
You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain
You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun
When you love someone

You'll deny the truth, believe a lie
There'll be times that you'll believe you can really fly
But your lonely nights, have just begun
When you love someone

When you love someone, you'll feel it deep inside
And nothing else can ever change your mind
When you want someone, when you need someone
When you need someone

When you love someone, you'll sacrifice
You'd give it everything you got and you won't think twice
You'd risk it all, no matter what may come
When you love someone

You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun
When you love someone.

~~ Bryan Adams - When You Love Someone ~~

Eat.. Eat.. Eat.. Eat..

2003-09-22T08:44:00.000+08:00

Had a huge appetite during the weekend!

Hmm.. What did I have.. Saturday, went to Ede & Ravenscroft for Inspector & his brother's graduation photoshoot sessions. Then went to Pizza Hut for lunch with their family. Dinner was superb too. Inspector & I went to KTZ, this Chinese dessert shop in SS2. We had cold double boiled longan tea, peanut butter dessert, hak loh mai, shrimp dumplings, fishballs, loh mai kai, Szechuan noodles, and oh, Honeydew loh. Only both of us. *lol* Darn full!! After that, met up with Player and his gf, Fair Lady at Gloria Jean's for Pure Vanilla ice blended. ;)

Sunday was moderate, I guess. Had fishball noodle for brunch, then had dried pork+chicken floss bun, then had lekor with sugarcane juice, then had a can of 100-Plus at Shootout. Dinner pulak, had chicken rice and porkballs. *grin*

Good good.. I need to gain weight.. I'm waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay underweight. Can't even donate blood! But then again, if this keeps going on for weeks, I'll be burning a big hole in my pockets. *lol*

Inspector Graduates!

2003-08-31T22:29:00.000+08:00

Inspector collected his results last morning.. He is now an Honours degree holder! YAY!!! The day has finally come!! It was a sheer 2 days of emotional torture for him as the results were officially released on Thursday, but we collected it yesterday instead. The joy!! The relief!!

He deserves it. Really. Perhaps it may not be as excellent to others, but it is for him and for me. I've seen him struggled throughout his course. I've seen his disappointments. I've seen him being at the edge of wanting to quit halfway through, yet he stuck on with the course. I know for the fact that he really put in his utmost effort, especially during his final year, waking up early every day to go to the library, then to classes, back to the library between classes, and library again till before he goes back home. I was there with him when he went to the library on Saturdays to revise (while I read my novels, listen to mp3s and all. Hehe..).

During our daily phone conversations, he would tell me what he learnt on that day's lectures. or when his term exams were approaching near, he would revise then explain to me every single detail, how the flow or hierarchy is like, the definitions, the equations, the ratios, methods used, stuffs like that. He would explain them in such a way that I could understand them. or he would keep on working out the sample questions until he finally gets the answers.

I've seen him being tensed up during his finals, especially when I drove him to his exams venue one of the days, we reached there 2 hours earlier, I held his study guide, threw a question out from it and he just went on and on about that topic, including describing the graphs and all. And not forgetting that he was already working full time during his finals. It really wasn't easy working and revising at the same time. He was only given a day's leave for each of his exam dates. I know most people would probably say, "Hey! That's how I was too! So what? Big deal...". But if they were in his shoes, they would understand that it is something huge for him. I know it is.

It doesn't matter how people perceives you as. Whether they think you're useless, you're brainless, you're lazy or whatsoever. Or that your results are not that fantastic as theirs. I truly believe that every single person can excel. It doesn't matter whether you excel in your studies or in your job or anything else. It doesn't mean that if you can't score a string of A's in your exams, your future is over. So, maybe your friends and family or anyone else discourages you, looking down on you. It doesn't matter. Your life, your future is in your very own hands. Don't let anyone get into your way. Don't ever let anyone, not even your own family puts you down from achieving your own goals. As long as you give in your 100% effort into whatever you are doing, be it in your studies or work, to reach for the stars, that is what that matters the most. Self-achievement. That's what makes the victory smells even sweeter. Nothing else beats that.

You know what makes it sweeter for Inspector? Apparently most people failed this particular subject, including an "I'm Mr. Smart Guy" of that subject. But Inspector passed it. ;) And the other thing is that, he's already a permanent staff in his company without even needing to show this trials or finals results. He's already been deems as the "up and coming person" by his Regional Manager to the rest of the staff. He doesn't need to show his degree certificate at all.

I'm proud of him. I'm proud that he did not give up. I'm proud that he gave his utmost best shot, and he got more than what he wished for. I'm not saying all these coz he's my boyfriend. I'm merely stating the fact that everyone, anyone can be like him. Everyone can do the same. Everyone can excel. Hopefully, he can be some sort of a motivation to everyone, that like every cloud has a silver lining. As long as you don't give up putting in your best effort, your silver lining will appear one day. And when that day comes, you will understand how sweet self-achievement is.

As for now, congratulations to my dear Inspector!!! *Muakz*

Happy Birthday, Moorish!

2003-08-27T21:57:00.000+08:00

It's Moorish's birthday today. We organized a suprise birthday celebration for her during the weekend. Boy oh boy, was she shocked and speechless!!

It was seriously tough to plan that. Sue & I had to get hold of her boyfriend, KY and her ex-Leeds housemate, EH. We didn't have KY's contact number. All we knew was that he's working in an Oil & Gas firm in Rohas Perkasa. So, thinking thinking.. "the power of the Internet!", I Googled it. Turns our that almost 80% of the firms in Rohas Perkasa are Oil & Gas!! Gosh.. So I scrolled down the page and a name seemed very familar. I remember Moorish mentioning that firm's name in her emails. So, I tried my luck and called up the company, looking for KY. The name exists!!

Anyway, on one side, Sue, KY & I corresponded through e-mails, and decided that we should book for a room at Prince Hotel under KY's company. On another side, EH said that her & Moorish's other housemate, YL was coming up from Singapore to celebrate Moorish's birthday. So, we were gonna group everyone together!

Had some problems fitting everyone's plans in but at the end, we managed to get a room at Micasa Hotel. So the actual plan was, Moorish was supposed to meet up with EH and YL for their housemates' reunion. Moorish was actually searching for a hotel room for them to stay (she did ask me to check the rates for Cititel). So we planned it in such a way where EH said that her mom could get a cheap rate in Micasa (in actual fact, KY was the one getting the room), and it took me, KY, Sue and EH to convince to take up Micasa instead of Cititel. That was tough! Finally she agreed and we got on with the plans.

Saturday afternoon, Sue, Inspector & I went to TMC to get the stuffs for steamboat dinner. We kept putting stuffs into the basket and was worried if they were enough for 11 people. I went to King's and got a Cream Cheese Blueberry Cake. We met again at Micasa, Sue checked in and we started preparing the steamboat. The room was fantastic!! Extremely posh for a hotel apartment!!! It has 2 single beds, a TV, wardrobe with a safe in it, kitchen sink, fridge, microwave oven, toaster, living area, dining area with a huge working desk, and a balcony!! For RM 165!!!!

Anyway, EH came over with another friend, SY, and we waited for Moorish to call EH. Moorish was to meet up with YL at KLCC, while EH was to 'check in' for them, and then Moorish & YL was to drive to Micasa to meet up with EH. So, when they arrived, EH went to meet them at the reception, the steamboat dinner was prepared, we waited in the dark. When they finally came into the room, opened the room door, turned on the lights and Moorish stepped into the room, we shouted "SUPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She was flabbergasted! *lol* Had the whole night eating steamboat and the birthday cake. :) It was too bad that KY had to be in Singapore for work at a very late notice, otherwise it would be an even more memorable birthday for Moorish.

Hehe.. Post birthday celebration, she said it was the best birthday she has ever had. To me, it would be, coz she got to celebrate her 24th birthday with her secondary school classmates as well as her Leeds housemates. What's more, with KY contributing to the plans. Hehe.. Hope that it will really be a memorable one for Moorish. It was all worth it. :)

Happy Birthday, Moorish!!

Where Is The Love

2003-08-20T15:33:00.000+08:00

There's been too much of violence going around the world practically every day. Even Malaysia is not safe. Rape cases (to the extent of raping one's own young grandchild), killing (regardless of age of killer and victim), suicide bombings in Indonesia, bombing of the U.N. HQ in Baghdad, and now, suicide bomber in Jerusalem.

It's been so depressing reading the newspapers. What happened to world peace? What happened to "love one another as you love yourself"? Is there nothing that we can do to make everyone united, to make this world a loving and caring place to live in? Life is like, God's greatest gift, so why are people taking God's gift for granted? What do they get for destroying and toying with other people's lives? If war is being used as an excuse and is a sure way to "get rid of the most dangerous living person in the world", then why is it getting worse now? Why are the people still living in fear? Why are there still so many lives being taken away?

When will all these end?

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin' in the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how a nigga works and operates
Nigga, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin', children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach, and would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us, send us some guidance from above
Coz people got me, got me questionin', where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (the love), where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With the ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin', children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach, and would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us, send us some guidance from above
Coz people got me, got me questionin', where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (the love), where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our own direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead of spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive to lovers bound

People killin', people dyin', children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach, and would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us, send us some guidance from above
Coz people got me, got me questionin', where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love), where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love), where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love), where is the love (The love).

~~ Black Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake - Where Is The Love ~~

Tik Tak Tik Tak

2003-08-14T11:05:00.000+08:00

If you're wondering what sound is that, it's the sound of me playing with the abacus. ;)

Long story.. After my paternal grandfather, Yeh Yeh passed away recently, my relatives had been eyeing on his abacus. Coincidentally, Mum went back to my maternal grandfather, Gong Gong's office in Pudu yesterday to visit the staff there. She remember he used to keep an abacus. Since the abacus is a very "hot item" back in Dad's hometown, she asked for it. The clerk found it and handed the abacus to Mum. I'm now keeping it in my room. Hehe..

If you asked why, it's coz I feel that the abacus is something very personal to me. One, it's something very precious to Gong Gong. He had been using it practically his whole life, doing calculations for his business and personal expenses. It was like his life depended on the abacus. So much of calculations that the rods were already loose. Two, Yeh Yeh used to teach me how to use the abacus when I was very young. I remember going back to visit him, I would see Yeh Yeh sitting on the wooden chair with the abacus on the table in front of him, and he would go *tik tak tik tak* on it. Being a very curious person then, I would sit by him, watched him do that. One day, I asked him what was he doing, he told me and then taught me how to use it. Simple addition, like, 1+2.. 8+9.. 27+34..

So, having the abacus with me now, it will always remind me of it being Gong Gong's precious asset and that Yeh Yeh was the one who taught me how to use it. ;) It's like, a memory of both of them. If I haven't had the abacus now, I wouldn't think that I would remember how to use it. And so, last night, I was happily calculating away with the abacus. *grin* I'm sooo gonna treasure that forever!!

Time Flies

2003-08-13T10:47:00.000+08:00

Can't believe it's been 3 weeks since Yeh Yeh passed away. It felt as if he left us last night. Have already applied 2 days of annual leave in early September to go back to Dad's hometown for Yeh Yeh's 49th day prayers. Every now and then whenever I hear Teresa Teng's song "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" ("The Moon Represents My Heart"), it reminds me of Yeh Yeh's death, coz the band was playing that song during the funeral procession. I think the song will forever remind me of Yeh Yeh.

You know, I keep thinking that whenever I would go back to Dad's hometown, I would see him sitting on his favourite wooden chair by the wooden table, waiting for us to arrive. Or he would come back from his daily morning trip to his favourite coffeeshop. He would ask about my studies (when I was still studying) and I would tell him how I fared in my exams, he would be so proud. He would give me some pocket money to study harder and become a doctor. I used to tell him that I would become a doctor one day so that, whenever he fall sick, I would treat him for free, I could take care of him. I ended up as an Engineer instead. But he was still proud of me coz apparently I was the first and only engineer in the family tree. ;)

I still miss him a lot. My grandparents would always want to come up to KL, to see how were we doing, to see our house and all. Now that Nai Nai's all alone, we're hoping to drive her up to KL for a week's stay or something, somewhere in the near future after the 100 days mourning period. I'm looking forward to having her in the house. ;)

Let's Kick The Ball

2003-08-11T08:19:00.000+08:00

Played futsal yesterday at Outdoor Sports. Guys (Inspector & his friends) vs Girls (the girlfriends). Super tiring! But had good fun, man!

I fell on my butt once. Seriously loud *thud*. I got up, my butt and my right leg ached and became numb. Couldn't really run for a while. But after that, I felt ok and I scored 2 goals!! *lol* Lucky goals la, considering we had a goalie and the guys' team must be keeper-less. Hehe..

It has been a while since I last exercised. Now my whole body is aching like nobody's business. Would love to play another round of futsal this coming weekend though. ;)

Happy Birthday, Inspector!

2003-08-06T09:32:00.000+08:00

It's Inspector's birthday today!! He turns 24. ;)

He's at work now, so hopefully he'll have a good day. I will be seeing him for dinner tonight. Yay!! We're going to BSC American Chili's. Went to Angel Cake Shop to collect his blackforest cake (his fav) last night. Hopefully he'll like it. Happy Birthday, dear!!! *Muakz*!!

Farewell, Yeh Yeh

2003-07-28T14:00:00.000+08:00

My grandfather has finally left us.. 11.35pm, 22nd July 2003 at the age of 93. He died peacefully, in front of my relatives at home. I knew this day would come since 2 weeks ago. I knew he would leave us soon. Yet I still couldn't accept the fact that he left..

I was on the phone, talking to Inspector when my cousin brother texted me that night. "Gong gong passed away already". Just these 5 words.. These 5 words were enough for me to break down. I woke Dad & Mum up, the phone calls from my relatives started coming in, and we were back in Dad's hometown few hours later.

It was just during the afternoon that I told my colleagues I probably wouldn't make it for the departmental trip at Awana, coz I wanted to go back to see my grandfather that Saturday. Even during dinner, I was just discussing with Dad & Mum about going back to see him. I never thought that he would leave us that night itself. He left behind his wife, 9 children, 34 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

One of my relatives told me, that night he asked to speak to my relatives on by one. He told them to stay united, to forgive and to forget. He told my youngest cousin brother to study hard. He asked them to take care of my grandmother. He told them to offer joss sticks to the Gods. They laid him on the lazy man chair and gathered around him. He kept asking why did he have to suffer, why did the Gods kept him alive still. He shed so much of tears. He told them to chant for him. One of my uncles told him that he promised to take care of my grandmother, and he finally closed his eyes slowly and slept forever..

I cried a lot for the next 3 days during the funeral procession. I kept looking at my grandfather, laid in the coffin. I got to touch his forehead before they sealed up the coffin. He looked so fragile and thin in his smart grey coat and pants. One hand was holding his favourite "fatt jee" (black beaded bracelet), the one Mum bought for him from China. Dad put my grandfather's favourite "tongkat" (wooden walking stick) in too, so that he could follow his 'master', Pak Sin Gong (the Beggar God). The hired band played Teresa Teng's songs and people flooded in to pay their last respects to my grandfather.

We went through a lot of sessions of praying, kneeling and walking. When we were not doing all those, we would fold paper money or listen to Nai Nai's stories about Yeh Yeh, how they met and all. Dad cleared Yeh Yeh's drawers, found a few of my graduation photos and even a copy of my maternal grandfather's obituary when he passed away in January 1997. I got to learn how, despite being poor, he managed to raise all his 9 children well, and even took care of his other nieces and nephews. I remember he would always tell me stories about his life, or he would give me some pocket money whenever I went back to visit him or whenever he came down to KL to visit, or he would always smile when I spoke Hakka badly, or he would be happy whenever I told him that I did well in my exams or when I graduated.

I miss being with him. I miss having him around. 2 weeks ago when I left Dad's hometown, I said goodbye to him, I never thought that it would be the last goodbye. When I gave him some money (as I always did once I started working, whenever I went back to visit him), I never thought it would be for the last time. As I rode in the hearse to the cemetery, together with my family, I regret not saying a proper goodbye to him before he took his final breath. As the undertakers buried the coffin underground and the band played "Auld Lang Syne", I just couldn't help crying, knowing that I would never see him again. I would never see his smile. I would never see him coming home from his favourite hangout coffeeshop. I would never hear him ask me "Sip pau mau?" ("have you eaten?" in Hakka).

If my grandfather could hear me now, I would want to tell him that I love him a lot and that I will miss him very, very much. I hope that he would live a brand new and a happy life wherever he is now. Goodbye, Yeh Yeh.. Rest in peace..

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory so clear
Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be

That you are mine forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile
If only for a while to know you're there
A breathe away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen
As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me
Every day

Coz you are mine forever love
Watching me from up above
And I believe that angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight to see you smile
If only for a while to know you're there
A breathe away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breathe away's not far
To where you are.

~~ Josh Groban - To Where You Are ~~

Yeh Yeh Is Dying

2003-07-14T13:49:00.000+08:00

I eventually went back to Dad's hometown on Saturday. It was nerve-wrecking.

In the morning, Dad said that Yeh Yeh was in stable condition and looked better than the previous day. Suddenly come afternoon, Mum was desperate to arrange for me to go back. One of my cousin sisters called me and told me that "Yeh Yeh has no hope", and that she would give me a ride. What do you mean "no hope"??? How could this be??? He was fine in the morning!! Dad called me back to confirm the arrangement of the transportation, and I just cried at that point.

Yeh Yeh was fine earlier on, but there was a sudden change in the afternoon. The doctor called the family to go over to the hospital. He told them that Yeh Yeh's blood pressure was very low. He was anemic. He discharged Yeh Yeh, told them to bring him home and to "be prepared". Be prepared for what??? How can the doctor just discharge him like that?? Couldn't he think of something to save him?? So we're supposed to, like, bring him home and wait until his heart and lungs fail???

I couldn't think straight then. I couldn't even drive properly. Luckily Inspector took over the wheel. I packed as soon as I could, my cousin sister fetched me and we hit the highway 1 hour later. Throughout the journey, I kept praying that if Yeh Yeh is really "going", please let us see him for the final time, please let him see us for one last time.

By the time I reached, my relatives were there. I went to see him in the room. He was sleeping. He looked so fragile and weak. He could still talk, could still recognize us. But I could see that he was suffering tremendously. Yeh Yeh looked better yesterday, though. Thank God! Yet I still can't accept the fact why the doctor just want to discharge him just like that. Aren't doctors not supposed to give up even till the last minute??

We came back home last afternoon. At least we knew Yeh Yeh was OK at the moment. But we're leaving our mobile phones switched on, put the house phone's ringing tone to the loudest. If anytime any of our relatives call about Yeh Yeh, we'll head back immediately. I don't know when is he "going". I don't want to know. I don't want to see him go..

Yeh Yeh

2003-07-11T13:37:00.000+08:00

Got a call from Dad while at work an hour ago. He & Mum were on their way back to his hometown. Yeh Yeh is very, very sick.

They don't know how long they will be there. I didn't know what to do. I called a cousin brother to ask about Yeh Yeh's condition. According to his mum (Dad's 3rd sister, I call her "Sam Ku"), Yeh Yeh had an asthma attack late last night. He had a fall too. My relatives admitted him into the local hospital this morning. My cousin brother will keep me informed. If Yeh Yeh's condition becomes worse, I will follow him back.

I'm worried coz I don't know how is Yeh Yeh now. I don't know how serious is his condition. I'm worried coz he's already 93 years old. He's been falling sick frequently the past 1 year and he's been admitted into the hospital a number of times. I'm worried that he's really failing to the extent of.. Of.. I don't think I can say that word out loud.. I just hope my worst fears won't come true.. Not yet.. Not now.. I'm not ready to accept that fact yet..

Tai Lou's Newborn

2003-07-11T09:25:00.000+08:00

We went to visit Tai Lou & his family at the Maternity Clinic in Klang last night. Aneh fetched me, headed over to FRG & Nutty's place. FRG drove us in his new car. Had dinner at Syed's near PJ Hilton. Please do not try the maggi goreng there. It's not like any maggi goreng, this is maggi mee with black sauce! Eeeewwww.. Spoilt my appetite.

Anyway, after dinner, we went to the Maternity Clinic, opposite Menara Trend. Visited them for about an hour. Upon seeing Tai Lou & Tai Sou looking so very exhausted, we left and went to SS2's Swensen's for ice-cream.

I tell you, Gerald is sooooooo cute... Soooooooooo, soooooooooooooo cute!!! Tai Lou said he has Tai Sou's looks. Tai Lou told us how the whole thing went, that he kept telling Tai Sou to push even harder, that she was at the point of giving up already. I can't imagine the pain and fear they were both going through. But at the end of the day, all that mattered was the support Tai Lou gave Tai Sou throughout the whole pregnancy and the delivery, finally together, welcoming their firstborn into the world. :) I'm just sooo... Speechless... Sooo overwhelmed with mixed feelings.. I just don't know what to say. Gosh.. He's so tiny and fragile. His hands are sooo small, what's more, the fingers! He was sleeping and at times, he yawned.. Even made pouty looks. Hehe.. Sometimes he would open his eyes to see us. Awwwwwww.. Sooooo cute! Managed to snap some digital photos of him! :)

Looking back on the good old days, it just finally sank in upon us that Tai Lou's now a father. A father!! A proud father of his newborn son, in fact! FRG recalled how when we came back from Sheffield and went for a trip at his place in Malacca, we walked from his house to his car, Aneh told him that "This is it.. This is where it ends.. This is where our lives change". How true that was. We've all grown up, chasing the big $$, and even Tai Lou has now settled down and started his own family. But what FRG said last night was right, the most important thing is that, despite all that, despite living our own lives, all 6 of us are still able to meet up. Especially on such historical and memorable occasions like these, we can still talk about anything, about everything.

I'm being nostalgic here already. So I'll just end today's post with a big dedication to the Sunflowerian family - Tai Lou, Aneh, FRG, Nutty & Chino. I dedicate you guyz the song by Vitamin C..

And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same

But when we leave this year, we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day

Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love but it came too soon

And there was me and you and then we got real cool
Stay at home talking on the telephone with me
We'd get so excited, we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

As we go on, we remember all the times we had together
And as our lives change, come whatever
We will still be friends forever

So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money
When we look back now, will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule

Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can we ever find a job that won't interfere with a tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

As we go on, we remember all the times we had together
And as our lives change, come whatever
We will still be friends forever

La, la, la, la... Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la... We will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men

Will the past be a shadow that will follow us around?
Will t hese memories fade when I leave this town?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

As we go on, we remember all the times we had together
And as our lives change, come whatever
We will still be friends forever.

~~ Vitamin C - Graduation (Friends Forever) ~~