Jamie's Journal

Missed me?

2009-12-30T22:07:00.008+08:00

Four months of neglect, now lo and behold! My comment box for the last post is flooded with spam messages flogging ED drugs. I'd never guess an entry on gymming can generate such following.

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Blogging is the last thing on my mind since starting gym. Every other day, I'd spend time in a class or two just to maximise the pricey membership. Today however, I ditched gym and high-tailed home with an inspiration to write and to read a novel.

Guess what...I ended up rolling sushi with my sister and her friends, cooked the frozen Swedish meatballs we bought from Ikea with sauce and all, and played with baby Alex before getting down to the computer. I really think if people absolutely gone ahead and just did what they had to do, a lot of things can be done. *no brainer la, but I wanted to say it anyway*

I've got to digress that I found my cooking ability has gone of whack! Like, very badly. Nevertheless, mom has not given up being encouraging and I won't stop trying my hardest.

Everyone was back home tonight. Including John. Alex is a big boy with a penchant for crawling fast and putting things into his mouth. He is adorable beyond belief! His chubby cheeks and round eyes immediately catches your eye as his little mouth gives way to the gummiest smile. He's a clever baby who's beginning to listen to instructions and ask verbally for things he want. In four months he turns 1 year old. A year flew by in a blink of an eye.

We've been living in the new house for 6 months. I love the new place, and I've gotten used to the distance already. There are those many times in the weekends without classes that I'm not willing to even step out because everything is cosy comfy.

We all stand at the cusp of a brand new year, a new decade in fact. Everyone is excited about a new year. What's not to be excited about?

Pastor Joshua announced the new vision of 2010. *drumroll*

The Jubilee of Exponential Increase.

EXPONENTIAL...

EXPONENTIAL INCREASE!!

What does that mean then? I was reflecting on 2009. It was the Jubilee of Opportunities. Indeed, opportunities abounded. 2 job changes. New learning curve. It was not immediately what I thought it'd be. I expected to fit in like duck to water, but alas no! As a running thought, this is a good thing because I was seeking growth in the first place.

A phrase stuck out this evening on the radio: What have you done to be proud of?

It took me a while to realise I wasn't so sure. I felt relatively struck down from challenges and changes. I keep thinking I've bitten off more than I can chew.

Thank God that, very quickly, I remembered the scene from "The Incredibles" when Edna Mode smacked Helen Parr a.k.a. Mommy a.k.a. Elastigirl in the head and tells her off.

Apparently, the embed code is removed by the person posting. :(

I will remind them who I am! *haha* Its true. I am the child of the Most High God. Why shouldn't I be at the top and enjoying the best? Why wouldn't I be the best there is.

So, in the year of Jubilee of Exponential Increase, I'm looking forward and up ahead for greater things. Blessings beyond my imagination and grace for my health.

Are you getting my drift?

Whoa--oh, here we go!

2009-08-17T22:43:00.002+08:00

"Excuse me, aren't you from Klang? You had shorter hair back then"

Yessirreee!! He remembered me!

(^__^)

It sure pays off to show up and take part.

"Dirrty" shall be our song.

*sigh*

I did it!

2009-08-11T23:51:00.005+08:00

After all the lamenting and sighing...

I've finally signed up!
I'm now a FF passport member....which also means now I pay tolls and parking fees just to go work out. Can't win 'em all, huh?

So Les Mills programs, here I go again!

Blood Updates (May-July '09)

2009-08-09T23:56:00.003+08:00

After being the whole hospital episode, I thought I would be improving. And for a while, I was ok. There were follow ups with Dr Ng every other week.

8/5/09 results:
Haemoglobin, Hb = 11.8 g/dL (normal = 13-18) == improved
Red blood cells, RBC = 3.7 x 10^6uL (normal = 4.2-6.0) == improved
Reticulocytes = 11.0% (normal = 0.2-2.0%) == not good, higher than last test
LDH = 1937 U/L (normal = 100-190) == not good, higher than last test

Some good, some worse. All when the medication is high. Right about this time, I thought I was getting stable, and will improve onwards. Doc was pleased and scheduled me to follow up two months later.

At the end of May, our family was preparing to move to the new place. Right about this time, my body began to show signs of regression. It was similar to the time before I got hospitalised.

It is frustrating. I wasn't exerting or sick. The haemolysis occurred again, ie. dark blood discharge in pee. Subsequently, my complexion was pale and jaundiced again.

More than just frustrating, it was simply nightmarish. You can't imagine how horrible it is to keep it from my family, in case they get worried. I needed help but feared shocking them.

Mom and dad cared a lot and tried doing the best they earnestly can. Any suggestion was worth trying out. We just simply struggle to cope without any proper knowledge. How could we know what to do? No one could tell us if it was right or wrong until it was done.

As a result, I had too much tonic that made me "heaty". It strained my blood system and made things worse. I started being too sweaty but didn't know why. Initially I thought it was due to adjusting to the new house. Only later, we discovered we have been going overboard with the tonic. Ignorance...too much of a good thing became dangerous.

Once we consulted my herbalist, Ms Chong, we scaled back on the tonics. My system cooled and I improved tremedously. And I could begin to see the urine clearing after two weeks.

Two weeks of haemolytic crisis! It's just insane!!

Another blood test during this period with Dr Ng. This is around the time when I started to improve. Overall, the test on 22/6/09 was a regression. But I still believe God is good to me that I have not collapsed altogether. It is still a miracle I get out of bed each day.
Hb = 8.4 g/dL
RBC = 2.5 x 10^6/uL
Reticulocytes = 24.2%

I was still put on moderate amounts of prednisolone by Dr Ng. The next follow up is 1 month's time.

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When I started my new job in July, my boss warned that it'll be a busy month. It's true.

I ended up sleeping very little on many days. I just got consumed by the pace and passion of the medical industry. It's entirely my fault. *shy* Will watch myself on this.

I missed my appointment with Dr Ng on 20/7/09 due to work. Tomorrow is the replacement check-up.

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I appreciate all the genuine concern and prayers from my family and friends. Even my ex-colleague, GK and her hubby have made a bold step to pray for me in my hospital ward and stood with me declaring I'm completely healed.

My parents lovingly speak blessings over my health each day. Close dear friends kindly uphold me in prayer. I keep positive messages and words of healing surrounding me. Pastor Joel shared that in times we are seeking for a breakthrough, we have to be fully persuaded God is faithful to do the miracle. It's good to know facts, like how much I tried to read and understand about PNH. However, it's important to know that I cannot understand it all. I have to shut my mind off from reasoning. And let God's hand bring about the impossible for me.

When I last declared that my flow cytometry results showed no expression of PNH cells, my doc and the research professor from UMMC rationalised it out. They claimed I have to repeat the test with perfect conditions for sampling the blood, ie. not sick, not exerting or haemolysing. It made me shrink back and believed I cannot be healed because of the scientific fact.

When Jesus died on the cross, He took away all diseases...which especially means mine too! I'm a child of the Most High God. He is more than able to heal me completely.

So, right now, I don't want to understand why my results say I'm free of PNH. I am not in a hurry to repeat the test. I want to keep speaking the word into my health and let the breakthrough happen. This means, to me, a complete restoration of my Hb level and no more jaundice. I'm putting a demand on my faith. Why not, right?

Please understand I have not strayed from sane thinking and chant a holy-joe line. I am not going into my health situation being blind to facts. I do my research, have medical follow-ups, take my pills religiously, eat right, and will sleep more. My family has done what we can. And honestly, we can't do anymore. Only God can. Seriously.

The Interim

2009-08-09T22:03:00.004+08:00

Well, looks like I made another disappearing act. ;)

Believe me, I've been preoccupied with many other things. Major significant things like...
1. Baby Alex, my nephew!
2. Moving house
3. Changing jobs
4. Back to teaching speech & drama classes

...all in less than 3 months!

So, you can imagine the wondrous, frenetic ride it's been. ;)

Do bear with me. I don't intend to leave you high and dry on my "bloody diaries" updates. There's some more stories to share. It might be slow...but I'm gonna try my best to get cracking.

Let me just share a couple of powerful worship songs from Lakewood that has touched me. The words bear such incredible impact...

"I am victorious"

"Moving forward / I have decided to follow Jesus / Free to Worship"

I have been virtually attending Lakewood as much as I can each week. I love the spirit-filled, grace-centred, hope-filled, messages that glorify Jesus from Pastor Joel and Victoria Osteen. The word has never failed to encourage and renew hope each time. The worship there absolutely awesome. I am extremely blessed by Lakewood. God is truly doing a mighty work in me through them.

Blood Updates (April '09)

2009-05-10T22:09:00.006+08:00

From my last doctor's appointment till the first week of April, everything went on fine. I felt better than ever. I even began to do light workouts, like yoga and took on a bodypump class. I was awake and alert during the day.

Suddenly at the second week, it all changed.

7/4/09 : Dark blood appeared in my urine. It smelled ferrous. It shocked me because I was all fine. Last time, this doesn't happen unless I'm having high fever. Now, I've no fever whatsoever. Another instance is when I overexert in a cardiovascular workout. But I haven't done that lately.

It didn't clear after 3 days. And still, there's no fever.

10/4/09 : Still experiencing haemolysis. It made me worry that my Hb will plummet after the progress made. I went to Dr Ng for a check up.

Hb = 10.7g/dL. It's even higher than last month's 10.0g/dL! I suspected it was much higher prior to this test.
Red Blood Cells (RBC) = 3.7 x 10^6/uL (Normal = 4.2 - 6.0) It's consistent with my low Hb.
WBC = 4.5 x 10^3/uL. Within normal range of 4.0 - 11.0. Also suspected to be much higher before test.
Reticulocytes = 11.3% (Normal range = 0.2 - 2.0) This indicates the amount of immature blood cells in my system produced to compensate blood loss. Such accelerated production meant that I must've had substantial normal blood cell loss.
LDH = 2356U/L! So much rbc haemolysis.

Remember the flow cytometry test from last month? Turns out my red and white cells populations express the CD55 and CD59 gene! Whoa!! PNH does not express these components in my cells. On paper, I HAVE NO PNH.

Doc scratched his head. He called me a question mark case. He wasn't ready to let go of the PNH differential, and wants a retest. I was between feeling relieved, puzzled, and a little annoyed. After all these years, right?

Yet, back to the most pressing matter, I still have severe haemolysis shown in my urine. Dr Ng thinks it might be s urinary tract infection (UTI) and put me on some antibiotics and urinary alkalizers.

16/4/09 : After the 5-day antiobiotic course, nothing changed. The haemolysis in my urine persisted without abating. It's been ten days since the onset. This is the longest ever! And I wondered how much Hb I still have left.

It got so perplexing that my mom asked me to get admitted into the hospital for a few days till I'm completely well. (=___=") Hospital? Again...?! I'm at my wits' end.

In the morning, my blood test results were as follows:
Hb = 9.8g/dL. Rather surprising.
RBC = 3.0 x 10^6/uL. Already showing a downward trend, still consistent with Hb count.
Reticulocytes = 18.9%. It's very high.
WBC = 4.0 x 10^3/uL...which just barely makes it into the normal range.
LDH = 2592U/L. This means major blood breakdown.

Me? Still no fever.

Dr. Ng ran a few other blood tests for collagen profile, antibodies, and a direct Coombs. They were to rule out other differentials like lupus, auto-immune, or other forms of blood disorders. In the end, since my flow cytometry was positive, and I don't have lupus or other normal blood disorders, he came down to "Coombs negative Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia" (AIHA).

I thank God it's not something like lupus. That will be absolutely devastating. And I don't have thalassemia or myelodysplastic anaemia (a form of pre-leukemia).

I had an abdomen and pelvis ultrasound to make sure my organs were not damaged from all the high protein exposure. The scans came out all clear, save for some small gallstones. Easily manageable. Praise the Lord!

To Dr. Ng, I still remain a question mark diagnosis. On the upside, if I do indeed have AIHA, then I can start to source other forms of medication instead of prednisolone.

While admitted into the hospital for treatment and observation, I was given intravenous methyl prednisolone to halt further haemolytic activities. Once the nurse administer the drip, I could taste this intense and uncomfortable bitterness in my mouth. Such a strong drug. The prednisolone treatment cannot be halted suddenly and I still had to continue taking a tapering dosage after being discharged. Ergh.

18/4/09 : Another round of blood tests.
Hb = 10.1g/dL. Some improvement after the methyl preds.
Reticulocytes = 15.0%. Also some improvement.
WBC = 8.7 x 10^3/uL. At the higher end within normal range. My highest ever in weeks.
LDH = 1961U/L. Also major improvement.

By then, my urine colour has also cleared.

I was discharged that day itself. I was happy to leave the hospital. Being there meant my mom had to rush from home to the hospital to see me. And both her and dad were absolutely busy with house renovations and Karen's almost due to deliver. It's tiring for the both of them.

I felt like this was extra trouble that didn't need to crop up.

But then, the most ironic thing happened. I was about to drive back after sorting out my paperwork and bills. My car couldn't start. The battery was dead. I was pissed! The jockey guys were helpless with neither a spare battery or jumper cables. Random pleas for help from other parkers were futile. Doesn't anyone keep a jumper cable in their car?! I called a few people for help...also useless.

In the end, I had to call dad. He and mom rushed over from the new house to rescue me. I was never more glad to see anyone than them that afternoon!

On 22/4/09, Karen gave birth to Alexander. I was so happy for her and Eng Seng. Imagine, my sister has already stepped into motherhood. *Smiles*

23/4/09 : Another follow-up.
Hb = 10.9g/dL
Reticulocytes = 9.8%
WBC = 5.5 x 10^3/uL
LDH = 1066U/L

Everything showed improvement, and was heading in the right direction towards some normalcy. Still, Dr Ng was keeping me on the preds, albeit tapering to a lower dosage. No changes.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should go for a second opinion... But to Singapore??! Aaauuggh!

(more updates to come)

Blood updates (March '09)

2009-05-10T20:50:00.007+08:00

26/3/09:

This time I went back for a normal follow-up. My test results were surprising! We found out...

Hb = 10.0g/dL (!!)
WBC = 4.0 x 10^3/uL (No infection, meaning all is normal)
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) = 1285U/L (Normal range = 100-190U/L; LDH is a marker of red blood cell haemolysis.)

I did some reading on my condition. I wanted to understand more so that I can level with Dr Ng. Doctors in the private centres have too many patients and, unfortunately, do not spend as much time as they should to work around the treatments they prescribe.

I grit my teeth to say that I feel neglected to a certain degree.

All this while, he's always said there's nothing other than prednisolone and folic acid to take. When we added an iron supplement, look where it got me?

I don't completely understand all that I read, honestly. There's only so much of the biomedical terms that make sense. But I asked Dr Ng to let me do a flow cytometry. From the very beginning, he ran a Hams test, a Coombs test, and a bone marrow biopsy along with all the standard blood and liver profile tests. But a gold-standard, definitive test like the f.c. was never done. He reasoned that all those tests had already proven PNH.

They don't run the f.c. in SDMC and had to send the blood sample to UMMC's lab. It will cost me $$ too. As if the rounds of normal follow-ups and natural medicine are not already expensive. Anyway, the results come out 2 weeks later.

It's all this TV doctors like House and those Grey's Anatomy that made me realise medical investigations involve more than just taking the doctor's words. I want some quantifiable study done as proof. Them TV doctors...I do like them.

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Dad got anxious over me. One of his friends recommended a haematologist from Mt Elizabeth, Singapore to consult as second opinion. Though I'm tempted, I'll consider it after I get my f.c. results.

Blood Updates (February '09)

2009-05-09T18:01:00.003+08:00

Well, whaddya know. It's been about 10 years since I've come to discover I had a rare blood condition. All this while, my family and I stood in faith that I've overcome PNH through God's grace.

The journey had been a long one indeed. It felt like a roller-coaster; sometimes the result of medication were good, then there are those terrifying "crisis" situations with me ending up hospitalised.

This year, I've decided to take this long held condition head-on. With the church declaring this year as the "Year of Jubilee of Opportunities", it's my jubilee in health! And why not, right? Right?!

I wanted to live with more wisdom and to make sure I become the best I can be. I've also been practicing speaking out in faith. In my capacity as a child of God, I have the power in my word to declare my breakthrough.

Still, right after Chinese New Year, things just seem to work against me. I'm journalling the events that happened and will keep updates as they come along.

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Sometime in late January, I was not very well. I became jaundiced for no apparent reason. I'll know it's terrible when I have to resort to wearing spectacles and squint to hide my yellowed eye-whites. This is the most tell-tale of signs.

It grew progressively worse after two weeks and I went to check up with my haematologist, Dr Ng.

13/2/09: Hb was a pathetic 5.0g/dL. (Normal range = 13.0 - 18.0)

White blood cells (WBC) is also low, at 2.7 x 10^3/uL (Normal range = 4.0 - 11.0). It means there's a prevalent infection.

He started me on prednisolone (10 mg/day) and a post-partum supplement. The latter had a high iron content, which may help with the blood count. I hate the preds because of its side effects. However, there's no other option either.

Mom and I also went to see Ms Chong, my herbalist doctor, in Tampin. A wholistic balance to the western medicine. She is marvellous. She does know how to diagnose my root symptoms. But since she's not using aggresive pharmaceutical drugs, her supplements slowly build up my organs and immune system - when the product mix is correct. Sometimes, there's no result from her meds.

This time, she recommended a herbal mutton soup for circulation, which made me feel very heaty; and a clear peanut soup for the blood.

Both physicians' treatments went well. My jaundice cleared a lot within that week.

Follow-up on 23/2/09:
Hb rose to 5.9g/dL. Still way short of 13.0g/dL.
WBC was 2.6 x 10^3/uL. Must've been some infection.

Dr Ng kept me on the preds and iron supplement. My blood pressure is verging on the high range. We scanned my records and the ranges have been progressively rising, especially during hospitalisation. So, he started me on a hypertensive drug with ACE inhibitor. The latter function works as a diuretic to help reduce water retention.

Hypertensives?! I'm not even old...or perpetually stressed! :(

The rationale for a hypertensive? Since my Hb is so low, my heart beats harder to compensate the oxygen carrying capacity. That's where I also have a slight heart murmur, which had been discovered since 2004. My echocardiagram back then didn't show any sign of valve or ventricular defect. There's no reason for any change by now. Thank God!

** At the onset of my medication, my body had to get used to the new regime. Firstly, the miracle mutton soup gave me vitality. So much, that I had problems going to sleep most nights. As for my hypertensive, even with 5mg a day, I start to feel groggy 2 hours after dosage. My morning work suffers. And my afternoon is a lot of toilet breaks. It was solved by taking the pills at night instead. Not much of an eureka. *grin*

(Anyway, if all these medical terms are lost on you, just look up wikipedia!)

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During this time, my parents got very worried. Anything that is indicated to help me with my condition, proven or not, is something they take seriously. If it's the soups, they'd insist for me to take more. If it was a fruit, dad will buy a huge bag of it. If it was a supplement, dad might say take double the dosage.

If I had to bathe in the Klang river, they'd probably dunk me in themselves! Just joking...

I'm really grateful for concerned parents. I don't want to worry them, but when my symptoms suddenly flare up, I really can't hide anything. And this time around, the jaundice blew up without any fever.

I started taking the Holy Communion everyday when possible as a step of faith to remember Jesus already paid the price of my healing through his body and blood.

Oggix blocked

2009-04-29T23:10:00.004+08:00

Whatever any of you have been typing in my Oggix since.....err.....February, I CANNOT VIEW. The domain has been blocked by my computer's anti-virus or firewall. What's Trend Micro considered as, anyone??

Anyway, I'll reinstall another chatbox that will, hopefully, be spam-free. *pfffttt* So much for number verification when I still get countless spam posting from random sources! Oggix is disappointingly lousy.

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Work busy-ness, web-laziness, book-worminess, TV-addiction, new house-hecticness, blah blah...has not encouraged me to blog or be online much. My FB has been very neglected. But then again, with so many quizzes being posted, FB feels more impersonal than ever.

I have been in the hospital for a reason. And now there is another twist in my health story. But trust me, it's a good one this time.

My doc insinuated that I should write it for the irony and wonder it conjured. As for me and my house, on the other hand, we believe a miracle is in progress! I will blog out the experience...I'm not sure where and how to begin.

So it's coming out... I'm getting cracking.

What goes around...

2009-03-11T23:22:00.005+08:00

Sometimes I just catch myself freaking out with my new environment. Customers can be demanding. Colleagues assume I know everything and get mad at me for getting my information mixed up. The other department has plans...we go for many meetings...everyone speaks in jargon I don't understand...

Major freakout!

Then I recalled... I used to be mean to new colleagues too. Ergh!!

Goodness, that serves me right. Anyway, here's to remembering it well enough for me to remember to be nice and more thoughtful to newbies. Because, oh my, we need all the help we can get.

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:: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it ::

Jason Mraz hearts KL

2009-03-07T18:18:00.000+08:00

Welcome back into the blogging world, Esther!!

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I was kinda proud of myself today that I finally got around to actually washing my car...and then it RAINED! *No applauses for the predictable irony* But Gilbert needs more TLC than I'm used to giving to cars; what with it's fresh new coat of paint. It's a grey car no more! Maybe I'll upload a new picture soon.

BUT WAIT!

I've got other pictures, taken at the Jason Mraz concert last week. It was a heckuva fun, albeit cramped up shrieking crazy chaos of a concert. Apparently, another blogger claimed there were 9000 people in Stadium Negara that night. It might be true as we sardined and sanwiched the whole one and a half hours

Carol and I got to the stadium at 6.30pm but the venue was already crowded! Concert doesn't begin till 8.00pm.

Experimental spy-cam. Quite fail.

Carol scoped some fans more avid than her with wannabe fedoras.

Right before showtime.

Just before entering, there were some security checks into our bags for water bottles and sharp objects. The last time I was at Stadium Negara, it was for Disney on Ice aeons ago. It looks very dated and old. Good thing acoustics were good (it helped that we stood next to the speakers).

Crowds up in the seats.

Standing room audience

8pm, no sign of Jason or the band. People got restless. Some complaints were heard.

8.15pm, some excited shrieking started. Who? Who? Cheh... a tour roadie came up on stage to tune the guitars.

8.30pm, lights dimmed and the band kicked off the show. The crowd was a wild frenzy!! By then, no one bothered about the wet sweaty neighbour and started bopping around with the familiar music. They were just eating out of Jason's charming hands.

The band put up a solid and tight show. They are proof of well-travelled seasoned pros of the live performance circuit. They jammed together so fluidly that it was a thrill to hear and behold.

We had so many photo opportunities throughout the concert. But since he wasn't a pop dancer, you get basically the same kinds of shots over and over. heh.

With his brass musicians

Bathed in light

A shot being blocked

Blurred

Blue glow

If you want to check out some of the pirated concert takeaways, you can Youtube it out. Almost every song had been uploaded from many cameras.

Curtain calls for a good show

Taking a bow

You're most welcomed back to KL anytime, dude! Terrific showmanship!! Thanks for a great time.

A hard look

2009-03-03T23:21:00.002+08:00

I hate to admit it but I am feeling overwhelmed in a bad way. I don't like unkind regards. I hate being turned down.

Perhaps I'm being immature. And somehow, it's not going away just yet.

I forgot how it was like being light-hearted...speaking without a grudge...not casting a constant pall over my head...to laugh...to feel...to have energy and enthusiasm.

Who is this??

It's a hard look. I'm not looking long yet.

Still, I should know better. I should leave it to Jesus to take care of, instead of being moody. It was a bad day all around.

Ok ok, change of topic to cheer myself up...

TOMORROW!! Jason Mraz's concert is finally happening!!

Hoo-yeah baybeh!

The Updates

2009-02-28T23:01:00.004+08:00

**peeps around own blog**

Been a long time. haha...honestly, I'm torn between reading a book and blogging.

Has it really been that long? *Look sees last entry date: 21 Dec 2008 ... ... ... blushes*

Morning nightmares
There's been a significant change in my work scenery. As of mid-January, I changed jobs and plonked myself into the medical publishing industry. And oh my, it's not really the job that is the major challenge. It's actually the morning commute on ... THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY!!

All the way to PJ Hilton area, to be exact. God help me if there should be a roadblock for some protest reason or other - and you know this is very likely in Malaysia, no? :P

I like this new job and am still in the learning curve. I don't need to travel outstation anymore, unless an event takes place. I miss the roadtrips but not the stress with travelling. So, now...travelling strictly means holiday!! *woohoo!!*

Waiting for my rocket to come
Gonna be at Jason Mraz's concert next week. Carol's all excited about it and has been making her countdown to that fateful day her blog's current purpose. She's his biggest fan that I know...haha... You should sit down with this sis of mine and hear her out. *wide grin*

I'm looking forward to the sweaty crowd, all night head bopping, and having a good time at a great live performer's gig. Did I mention sweaty bodies ? ....ewww...

Operation: Recuperation
From the end of '08 till after Chinese New Year, it's been an endless cycle of being sick. Getting sick is a warning bell to me especially if it means ceaseless coughing. The whole paranoia of haemolytic crisis inevitably rears it's head.

It was actually after the whole episode, I started to have a severe haemolytic crash and became alarmingly yellow. I did the usual thing by consulting both my haematologist and herbalist for quick SOS.

Hb was 5.0. Which was super crappy since the normal limit is what? 13.0? I'm now on preds, iron multivites, and something else for the bp. It's not ideal, but it's a wise thing to listen to the experts for now. The blood count came up after a week of preds, and I have to be on it for a while longer.

My herbalist gave me some excellent supplements that, I firmly believe, cleared up the bilirubins (the stuff that makes my skin and eyewhites yellow) from my system. She also recommended a soup tonic that improved my circulation. It was such a tremendous help that got me energetic again.

You know, I never realise how terrible chronic lethargy can be until the period I was chronically lethargic and helplessly lifeless.

Subsequently, I'm taking eveything laidback. No heavy activities (argh!! no les mills!!). I'm off from teaching on weekends. I want to see a bigger improvement by my next blood test. Will update on that later...because it's pretty much the biggie on me right now.

New Abode
Renovations are going on at a frantic pace now. It's all looking great and I can't wait to move!!

Precious 2008

2008-12-21T00:58:00.004+08:00

I wanted to be able to just reflect and just boast of God's goodness throughout this year. Truly, it has not been a quiet 2008.

I reckon it was one of the bustling, hectic, nail-bitingly paced years that I can recall in a long time. In all, for a very good outcome indeed. I have had the most brutal week-long schedules due to the dayjob and weekend classes. In contrast, I've also had some of the longest meandering hours when I just seem to have no plans or purpose, and being relaxed is simply the order of the day.

This year, I was hospitalised twice from crazy mysterious viral infections. It didn't stop me from travelling very soon after the medical leave ended. If this isn't strength that God has given, I simply don't know what else I should call it. :) I'm glad to start seeing my herbalist again, after two-years of defaulting follow-up.

There was also the house break-in and my car's unbelievable break-down halfway to Muar, which happened in April. I went to Bangkok for the first time this year and loved the place and food!

More important things come to mind...like...
1) Speech and Drama classes: I had a year-long hiatus from my previous stint. At the end of '07, I serendipitously got Sue's contact and the rest is history. What followed was a mind-blowing experience where incredibly talented teachers mentored, encouraged and spurred me on in being a better teacher myself. And the children are all immensely adorable!

2) Bone Anchored Hearing Aids : Taking on the drama classes was to fill a void in my work routine, as it was, well...routine. When Jen left in January, boss handed me this gem. It meant that dayjob had more responsibility on top of my new weekend stint. Quite the headache then. But handling BAHA has opened new networks, and brought me places around Malaysia. It was not a burden but became a labour of love.

3) The JOB : Not that I hate the familarity of the then work responsibilities, I feared I had no more to learn. However, I got involved with 3 sleep snoring conferences this year, and you've gotta know, I love these events. And from #2, I got to learn and train BAHA...how cool is that? What's more, God has given me my best sales in the 3 years with this company, at what I felt was the least of self-effort.

4) Newbies and freebies : A grand new family house, Karen and Eng Seng's lovely wedding, a cool new handphone that helps me navigate, cash prize, thumbdrive, spa, dried mangoes, four months' of gym installments wiped off my credit card billing...

5) The gym issue : It closed...but reopened pretty soon after! Made very good friends, who were simple but have hearts of gold. Look what a "tragedy" can do to pull people together.

6) Bonding : Keeping family times special. Learning to see people for who they are...having meaningful relationships where I can be an encourager and a blessing to my friends. Less of people who don't have similar goals with me. I still am learning; I'm not an expert on social skills. Be patient with me!

...and now, saving the best for last...

7) THE WORD : The truth and the lifeblood for all God's children. Knowing the promises we have in Jesus Christ. Having the assurance we are loved. Never let the world have a final say about who I am or what I can do. I am a victor and not a victim.
It's all so rudimentary, but were half-theory to me. I do believe this year, a lot of it became real. It's like that lightbulb above my head just *finally* went off! I thank God my dad brought in really superb messages for the household to feed on. That made the difference to my year.

2008 is both meaningful and fruitful to me. I couldn't have asked for a more riveting chain of events, and I wouldn't do it differently.

Jubilee of Opportunies

2008-12-17T23:45:00.000+08:00

Yes…if you’ve tuned in on Red104.9 two weeks back and read the last church bulletin…it was me! I’ve won the on air contest. Praise God for favour.

Really.

And what favour I’ve been experiencing, one after another. It feels as though the year is rolling on by so smoothly towards the end. Isn't it wonderful how God is faithful to His promise that this is going to be the best year so far.

This year's word for the church is to "Sound the Jubilee". This means that we are living in a year of grace and renewal. Bondages are broken and debts are cleared. *You know, I will list down the biggies of this year in my next post. What a joy it is to be able to count the blessings throughout '08!*

Next year's theme at church is "Jubilee of Opportunities" (Isaiah 60). I'm looking forward to ringing in all the breakthroughs and overcoming challenges.

So, the world is heralding a bleak year ahead. The news reports incessantly of terrible situations.

Proverbs 4:23 tells me, above all else, to guard my heart. For in it is the wellspring of life. Who's the king of me? J-E-S-U-S! Therefore, I have a hope and I have a future...that's what my heart knows; and that's what my heart will hold on to steadfastly.

Live Goodness

2008-11-29T20:17:00.004+08:00

I can't get two songs out of my head now.

Even better than a catchy song in the head is the LIVE version. You've got to hand it to a great singer-performer who deliver the goods as well as, if not better than the recorded, remixed, remastered tracks.

}} James Morrison performing "You Make it Real". It's even more soulful live...I like.

}} David Archuleta with "Crush" live at Jay Leno. I love his big voice. Such a pint-sized guy...where does it come from?? Between him and David Cook during American Idol, his voice wins hands-down. (Spare me the argument that Cook is a better all-round performer because, that, I agree. I'm not too hot about Cook's new single, though. *sigh*)

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:: Don't let your mind wander ... anything that small should not be out alone ::

Forgetful

2008-11-28T23:45:00.003+08:00

After Bodypump class today, I got down to catching up with JL.

JL : Ey, tomorrow come for Bodystep. I'm launching the new release.
Me : I don't know. Can't promise if I'm going to make it on time after my classes in the morning.
JL : Oh, you mean, you still teach on weekends?
Me : Yes.
JL : Till what time?
Me : By 1pm, if I finish with everything at the centre...but wait...
JL : ?
Me : Oh gosh...I DON'T HAVE CLASSES TOMORROW!!
JL : ???
Me : The centre's closed tomorrow! I am FREE! I can come for Bodystep.
*Then JL imitated a silly pose I did before I almost started dancing like an idiot. Emoticons cannot display the banality.*

Anyway, that's how happy I am to have a break on Saturday.

And on Monday since I'm on leave to do Christmas shopping. This will be a great long weekend for me. *YAAY!*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But I do have to get down to preparing lesson notes for next week, and the week after next. Free time gets me guilty that way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

++ Dogs come when you call. Cats have answering machines. ++

Rainy Interlude

2008-11-27T22:16:00.002+08:00

The weather these days are so predictable. Your choices are : rainy or heavy rain.

In a way, I love the moodiness and soothing sound of raindrops and the cool feeling during a downpour. However, it is a damper to productivity too.

And speaking of productivity, I seem to feel that I work better under extreme pressure and tight deadlines; or when everyone is out of the office (or I'm at home), ie. having the sense of long meandering hours ahead of me.

Whatever it is, the weight of year-end holidays is looming. I get the hint that many many people have grandiose ideas of long breaks in December. This means a lot of things will drag on till the new year.

Gosh... 2009 is almost here.

I'm being a big softie now with the pitter patter of rain outside. It's too relaxing to get bothered about anything at all. Just like how God intends for me to approach my cares...not get bothered because I'm at rest. :)

I'm also pretty chuffed these days I got back to gymming. It hurts like mad that my stamina and core strength were not where they used to be. But soon, I'm getting back to "psycho-crazy chick at classes" mode. *haha*

The rain is getting to me. Do listen out to these posted tracks...something really nice to accompany a wet and lazy day.

Matt Nathanson's "Come on Get Higher"

Ever the uber-cool, Coldplay with "Lovers in Japan"

And something really sweet from Jim Brickman featuring Lady Antebellum "Never Alone"

*Happy contented sigh of bliss*

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[[ I plan my impulsive moments ]]

Counting

2008-11-22T23:07:00.000+08:00

Had a very long week. I almost forgot about my parents' anniversary bash we wanted to do this weekend.

I felt my schedule had been punishing and relentless. Things came one after another. So, instead of counting down everything in detail, I'm going to count my blessings from this week.

#1. VBS ...but of course. It was tough going at first, because I was neither teaching nor sure of what I'm doing. Info team? I was confused every now and then. But the kindy children were so special. They made everything special during the three days in church.

#2 WORK ...things still went on despite my leave. I'm holding on in faith that my deals have already successful closed in my favour. I need God to open my eyes too see all my possibilities.

#3 CARE GROUP ...I had very little motivation to go for CG on Friday evening. Tiredness and unpreparedness being prime reasons. But God is always faithful to me. No matter how beaten up I am at the beginning of meetings, I'm a completely different and recharged person after leaving. It made me think how wonderful it was for Jesus to be refreshed when He blessed the woman at the well. So really, I am very humbled by this every time.

#4 FAMILY ...I am truly blessed with a wonderful loving family. This is the place I find my belonging and call home.

#5 HEALTH ...I have no worries.

All in all, there was a very important lesson from pastor that my job does not define me, but who I am in Christ that does. I may not have it all or have it all-together...but I have His favour. What more could I ask for?

Oh Goody!

2008-11-15T00:55:00.003+08:00

I've been graciously tagged by John.

And you know I love a good tag when it comes along. But this one...I donch know, huh. ;P

It goes like this...
"The tag rules: Each player starts with 8 random fact/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag 8 people and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged and to read your blog." -- John's blog

What are eight random things you should know about me?? *scritcha scratcha*
I'll be as honest as possible and I hope it gets intriguing enough for y'all.

#1 : I get mistaken for a Malay girl pretty often. There are those random strangers who look at me in the face and say, "Hello cik mahu apa?" And by this, I mean those Chinese people who shouldn't make this kind of mistake.

#2 : I like my coffee sugarless, my chocolate as dark as possible but my milk teas somewhat sweet. Go figure.

#3 : You know what I told my parents what I wanted to be when I grew up? A bus driver! (Good thing the ambition improved dramatically over time!)

#4 : I have a good memory with songs. Most of the time, I can tell what song it is by the first few notes, or introduction beats. At worst case, I won't know the title but I know who sang it.

#5 : I sweat very easily. I'm just one of those people who has huge dams for sweat glands. Though it's embarassing sometimes, it's also advantageous in the gym to let me know if my workout is working.

#6 : The smallest toe of my left foot has an unusual growth of nail. It's chunky, gnarled, and misshapen. Nail polish makes it look worse.

#7 : My first kiss experience was actually being bitten by a dog in the lips at a friend's house. *Ouch!*

#8 : The best thing I heard this week was from Joel Osteen that: "You need to have some big goals out in front of you. If you can accomplish all your goals in a year or two, your goals are too small. You need to set some goals that are going to take you 10 or 15 years to accomplish... You need to have some goals that are so big, you know it's going to take God to bring it to pass. You know He's going have to give you the strength, the favour, the wisdom if you're going to see those goals fulfilled."

This tag is giving me a headache from all the thinking. *haha* But I'm not going to tag anyone, because John has pretty much taken up those few who still blog. Everyone else has abandoned theirs.

It has been an entertaining exercise, dude. (^__^)

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~ Trouble is inevitable, misery is optional ~

My Major Ego Trip

2008-11-14T23:03:00.000+08:00

Everything, to me, is expectedly whirlwind from my last entry till now.

I travelled a lot and had late nights work going on, even when in town. So, in summary, my last two weeks were work and more work. Didn't have the time to go gymming much. :(

However, it was a major blast for me. Despite the hectic arrangements and sleepless nights, I enjoyed those weeks greatly.

First week of November, I got to Singapore right after my drama classes...ie, drove to JB and taxi-ed into the island city. *No, I don't know and don't want to drive into Singapore...no reasons necessary. Anyway, why make things more complicated than I'd want to?*

It was for another snoring conference and cadaveric workshop. I was looking forward to this because, in Singaporean-organised workshops, the scene is more vibrant and there are very interesting people to meet (doctors and exhibitors included). Just the idea of a different setting, I guess. I was also looking forward to working with my gwailo principal too, because I get to learn tonnes of new things from him.

This time around, there was abundant favour my way and I really knew God was in control of the whole trip for me. The networking we managed to create, the business opportunites, and the level of exposure was incredible. Far beyond what I thought possible. And it was so easy!

Truly, it was God all the way!!

Major ego trip too, because I met with very nice and positive people who said very nice things about my work. It felt really good to have that kind of encouragement...and made me realise there is a lot of potential in all the efforts expanded with this RF snoring treatment device. It energised my feelings about this medical job.

So, anyway...the trip also meant working over the weekend and then driving back to KL with my principal, LL. He's become more of a pal to me and it is refreshing to learn things from a marketing perspective. It's just me, being in my teacher-y mode, I like the idea of "mentor-ship". And I get exactly that...impartial, albeit even for the briefest period.

Coming back to town with principal visits to hospitals is a critical to me...because the last time we did it a year back, we converted the calls into business. Good no? It also caused me rather sleepless nights. :(

In the end, it all worked out extremely well. I'm happy. I'm so blessed. Thank You Jesus!

All this didn't rule out the fact I still am looking around for a change. *bleh*

...
...
...
...
...

Boss stopped by the exhibition a while and spoke to me about my job responsibilities. The gist is that he felt I could perform much better given some refocusing and realigning my territorities. Sounded promising. (We spoke again about it, briefly, a week later in KL but he hasn't decided on how best to execute his proposal. I'm just looking forward to hearing how it'll go.)

Ma-aaajor ego trip again!

After LL left and all the visiting ruckus settled, I was still left with doing the speech and drama classes and helping out with productions in the weekend. SECOND straight working weekend! (It's not the end of that as I still have to work this weekend to teach and run my own class' productions!!) Right after that, on Monday-Wednesday (17-19th Nov) is VBS.

This week, just so you know, I travelled to Ipoh and then to JB for cases and demos...it just doesn't seem to end, no? Thank God I'm still standing...I'm still feeling upbeat about everything...this job included. Because no matter where I stand, I'm carrying His promise that He has my best days still ahead of me.

And best part too...I got to the gym this week. Twice. FINALLY!!

But, oh, the soreness of bodypump after slacking off for months. *hiak hiak* I'm contemplating bodystep tomorrow afternoon after drama class...but I know Jonathan will be rather merciless. ;) It'll be so fun....masochistic me.

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[[ For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism ]]

Resistance Is Futile!

2008-10-29T22:06:00.003+08:00

Funny that my past and acquaintances from way back is coming round back into my life. It's as though the things I wanted to disassociate from suddenly become relevant again.

Is this what they call "going a full circle"?

I guess I'm very fortunate where I go to have some people remember me. I'm blessed with a good and strong background, no matter how much I often forget and catch myself thinking otherwise.

It was surprising that even after 5 years, a stranger to me could look up my name and tell something positive was referred about me. I'm not flattered...just curiously suspicious.

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.:: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it ::.

Bring on the CHI

2008-10-27T10:49:00.006+08:00

HAPPY DEEPAVALI to all of you who celebrate this "Festival of Lights".

....and to the rest of you who venture forth to savouring the homecooked goodies at your friends' homes...you have a super-satistying celebration yourselves! *hiak hiak*

I can't wait myself. Drooling for Rubini's mom's awesome tosai and curries this evening. Delish!

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Those of you who know about my gym dilemma, I'm just going to update a fair bit here. Something new happened...good or not, it's arguable.

Getting you up to speed, I've moaned and groaned the a few months since Y-Fitness closed down due to the swindling ex-management. It was the closest most convenient facility to my place that offers everything I like. I didn't join a new club since everything is far and inconvenient...think FF and TF (all need parking and/or tolls). The other lousy thing was not keeping up a good workout regime in addition to the $$ siphoned away. Darn you old management!!

So....three weeks back RPM Janice called to tell me that there is a new operator in town and they wanted a meeting with the members of the former gym. Turns out Clark Hatch International (CHI) will be running the premises from now on. They wanted to meet and announce their new plans. The building owners (Centro) were behind bringing in the new operators.

I was out of town during meeting day...so, the feedback I got from RPM Janice, my cousin, and another member was mixed. Few things worried them. But actually, topmost in their mind was still the money issue.

1. Les Mills... Clark Hatch was not known to favour the programs or carry its license. However...eventually case solved...they are buying the license and hiring old-time instructors we all know.
2. Fees... C'mon, in Klang, price and haggling is everything. A majority were still stung and distrust the management because of their burnt pocket hole. CHI offers RM100/month (plus 5% govt tax) subscription but many people are not happy about it. Me? I think this is reasonable enough, because I'm more concerned about the location over price. My time is worth more than my cash laaa. :)
3. Schedule... So, I've seen the impending Nov launch schedule in someone's blog. It's paltry compared to our old classes. And being the class-freak that I am...I'm being supremely hopeful add-ons will come soon.

As of today, I heard membership signup is under 200. That is even after 1 week since they opened the counter. Last time we had over 3000 members, apparently. I'm surprised because it never felt like we had that many in the club... Klang people maybe lazy to go regularly, probably! *haha*

So...in a way, it's good operator is coming in. The gym has everything going for it in terms of location and it's simple fuss-free facilities. I'm not going to ask if I should or not. I'll just head on down and sign up before the end of the month.

No sense in wait-and-seeing to find out if things will happen before signing up. A bit die-hard, no? The complex owner has already worked hard to bring in CHI. I'm sure CHI will have to prove their mettle.

Gymming life...just you wait...I'm coming right back!

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.:: If you don't care where you're going, any road will get you there ::.

Still Standing

2008-10-25T22:07:00.003+08:00

Two down and three more to go.

Alor Setar OSA conference finished and I'm pleased with the outcome. (^__^)

Followed very soon by a BAHA workshop which was great. I'm not sure what I'm more excited about...the event or the swanky treatment at the hotel there. I'm looking forward to hearing more from my doctors about helping more patients soon.

Next ups: JB and HUKM surgeries right after Deepavali, Singapore OSA course, and Lukas' trip down to KL for the gospel of Sutter. :P
Tentatively there's a KK trip soon after for BAHA training.
Come back in time for speech and drama year-end presentation.
The following week is VBS!
The week after is my speech and drama holiday program.

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And after that...I'm just thinking I might go splurge on a round of spa....

Hmmmm...been drooling about it since I brought my ex-colleague to Thann Sanctuary. They are really good. Just waiting for a free clearance in my schedule.....

My God is so BIG

2008-10-20T23:02:00.009+08:00

I just got back from Alor Setar today.

Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah. If it weren't for the fact it was Tun Dr Mahathir's birthplace, I don't know what else the town is famous for. I'd be bored to tears if I didn't have a car to go around with.

I was there with my products team for an OSA workshop. By products team, I mean the two guys who also sell the same stuff as I do but only in different territories. What a rag-tag bunch we were. It's only my opinion but they can drive me nuts sometimes. But enough about them...

I was very pumped that the conference took place. The OSA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnoea topic is my pet favourite project. I love the fact I have a superb product in the market for snoring treatment. Quite a lot of my customers and potential customers were there, so I had fun with the networking and schmoozing. *bwahaha* We also flew in a sleep surgery expert in to speak and he was a blast to hang around with.

By the grace of God, I believe there is a lot of new successes in store. It was a miracle that Siti, my angel of a Bumi agent, got us prime sponsoring position and a very good opportunity to showcase our stuff in the surgical demonstrations. Initially, there were some patients for a live surgery (ie, a telecasted OT procedure) and a cadaveric surgery. We were only given the cadaveric dissection slots to advertise our products. I wanted live surgery too but the demonstrator wasn't a fan of my RF product... So, not happy la... :P

Even when the organisers tried to talk him into it, he wasn't agreeable. Additionally, he was the only local demonstrator who had surgical rights in this country. The others were foreigners...cadaver ok, live patients not ok.. Capische?

We tried to make the best of it and my sponsored speaker volunteered to use my RF system on the cadaver. Not so ideal but better than nothing. Anyway, I also brought other tools for him for the cadaveric...so, all's not lost. I wasn't too bothered if there were no live surgeries, but to have at least one would've been nice.

Fantastic thing on surgery day, that local surgeon suddenly called for our system to use! How good, right? Yeah...but the unit failed during the first procedure! So shy, k? That surgeon eventually got the hang of it...but still he was pissed with me. *haha* Never the mind, I'm glad he used it anyway, and the crisis control hereafter shouldn't be difficult.

The cadaveric session was fun. I got to juggle with products I'm not familiar with, like the saggital saw and fixation systems. So cool that I got to see firsthand how the mandibular procedures look like done by 3 experts. Best lesson during my course.

Well anyway, if by now your head is spinning with all the jargons, rest assured I tried to make it as simple as possible...but I'm just geeking out right now.

------------------------

Moving along...I spoken about being restless. I'll 'fess up now that I've been going for another round of interviews. This time it was a big company. So big that all I can say is it's really BIG. The first round manager sold me on the company and the idea that everything the position entails is BIG. The I got called for a second round with his boss...who even sold me further that the company is that BIG and more.

Though I knew I had a terrific first round, my second wasn't so great. The bigger boss had his mindset on a different kind of personality for the position...and I could distinctly tell his preference wasn't on me. I'm very bummed about that fact. It's just me; I don't like rejections.

Before I got called for the second round, I prayed very hard about it. Remember that I also mentioned NCC's Pastor Lian's message about "Guarding My Heart"? That was a very sharp accurate message to me. You see, I got anxious and restless because I let the negative scenario get to my heart.

But the word of God clearly tells me:
"Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:23-27

I'm slowly getting there, and the revelation is that I cannot let the negatives mess with my heart. Moreso, I'm trusting God to lead me every step of the way. And even where He takes me, or tells me to stay in the present company, I'm beginning to have a bigger picture of His level of faithfulness to superabound for me.

With that in my spirit, I can feel the tension go away easier. Yes, that position was incredibly mouthwatering. I'm still putting my faith in God to turn the tide in my favour. Logically, by today I didn't get a call from them; meant that I'm not offered the position. Kinda disappointed too la, if you know what I mean... But last time, it was different. Take my previous interview experience, for instance. *haha* I can be so anal, I tell you... Man!

That big boss sized up my value in his big company with just a few questions. It wasn't much by his standards. Truth hurts. But a lot of the things he asked me during our session were very thought-provoking. He made me ponder upon what I'm doing. Nevermind if I'm going to remain in my present environment. Nevermind that it meant I work alongside people who counldn't care less about anything. I wanted greatness. I want excellence. He made me feel I haven't begun to unlock my real potential to succeed yet. I'm more ambitious now than I thought possible.

So, what now? I'm partnering with God for my future plannings. No more taking things for granted and getting by in life merely for the sake of it. I want purpose. I want my goals and aims to get bigger. How big?

GOD-SIZED big.

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[[ Does fuzzy logic tickle? ]]

Guarding my Heart

2008-10-17T08:31:00.004+08:00

I'm restless.

I have been restless for some time already...even more since last week.

Good things are happening but I must seem to be impatient. I'm probably not built with enough emotional resilience somewhere. Timing somehow is messing with my mind.

I learnt from NCC Pastor Lian's message that above all else I have to guard my heart against doubting that God is good and He loves me so much. I cannot and will not let the negative feelings get to me.

It is my season of increase in every area of life. Because Father God loves me, He has only the finest in store for me. This is my best year so far and I'm believing for more. I want to keep dreaming GOD-SIZED dreams.

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This month is a busy one. Here comes my verbal diarrhoea...

I'm going off to Alor Setar for a sleep surgery workshop from today till Monday. Next Wednesday kicks off a two day workshop training at KL for bone anchored hearing aids. Following Tuesday will be a surgery to attend in JB (travelling on Deepavali...yay me. *bleh*)....and then one surgery on Wednesday in KL. Then on Saturday I'll be going down to Singapore till Tuesday...where I'll be driving back with a principal who will be doing training and sales rounds till Thursday. Maybe middle of the next week, it's another trip to KK (hope to drop into Brunei for a quickie).

Not exactly the exotic jet-setting kind of life...but jet-setting nonetheless.

I feel like a nomad.

Then there is my run-up to year-end production with the speech and drama kids on 15th Nov. VBS is on 17th Nov...but I seem to know nothing about it. =___="

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Anyway, all said and done, I'm still standing with His strength. Goodness and mercy will follow me everywhere that I go. Here's signing off with two of the most anointed songs I know and have been listening to endlessly these weeks. They remind me no matter how low I feel, I am not alone, God is with me. I am blessed and I cannot be cursed.

Hope you'll be blessed too.

Lakewood Church's Cindy Cruse Ratcliff - "Everywhere That I Go"

"Still Standing"

Reality Biting

2008-10-05T22:23:00.002+08:00

After my long Hari Raya break (almost 1 week not working!), tomorrow everything has to get back to normal.

To all those who enjoyed a slow past week, let's get cracking!

Long Redux

2008-10-01T12:28:00.030+08:00

I have been laying low a while.

Lazy to update my blog as well...

So, since the long weekend is already here, I will post up some stuff, some pics, some ranting... the usual riff-raff, no? ;)

Sit and stay awhile, if you'd like. I've got quite a lot ahead.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
WEDDING BELLS AND WEDDED BELLES

Two really nice gals I know and go a long way back with got married during the weekend.

Case #1 : AI PING and JASON
I knew Ai Ping from waaaay back in college. She, Chee Bee, and I are those rare ones in our course that stayed in hostel for all our 3 study years. We've all met on and off since graduation and now, finally, she's getting hitched! And to a Klang boy too! :)

The dinner was nice, because they had it a the restaurant very near my house...so, I get to take it really easy and my sis drives me over (no parking needed. *arhaha*). She invited many ex-coursemates whom I have not seen in ages. And a few of them are married, have kids, or are working overseas. Not bad TARC-ians!

Me with Ai Ping and Jason

A whole bunch of who've stayed at the hostel before...

...and just the chemistry-biology graduates.

Case #2 : JAZMYN and DANSON

Jazmyn and Danson's wedding was held as at lunch, or what I called the "Afternoon Wedding Dinner". It was in Eastin Hotel PJ...the last time I was there for a wedding was too long ago. Not such great memories. *haha*

Anyway, even Jaz was happy that there are those from the music team who could make it right after 2nd service. In typical Malaysian fashion, lunch was not spared from the 1 1/2 hour wait. So, we did what we naturally do...pictures!!

My matchy-matchy neighbours, Luke and Angie. Happy CNY you two. ;)

Being lamp-post to my neighbours JohnO and LydiaCruise

Posin' with posers, Angie and Kelvin,

Even Unc Andrew and Aunt Peggy got into the camera action!

Then finally the grand entrance... I missed the church ceremony on Saturday morning, so this was my first look at her as the radiant bride. The couple is so glamorous!

Long shot from my table

After that was a bit of a blur because we were mostly hungry and didn't take any more pictures. All the ravenous people in my table didn't bother to behave...so it's good to sit with folks you know because you can clamour and gobble as you like. Us pigs!

Halfway I also migrated to Aunt Peggy and Unc Andrew's table. More food, less people. *snicker* After the lunch, we kept up with the camera shennanigans.

Family lineup for the toasting

Danson and Jaz doing their customary rounds

We combined tables to YUM-SENG. It was loud!

Must pose with my new neighbours Wei Luen and Pe-top. :)

Candy, the bridesmaid.

And now for the people who takes liberty with the camera when I ask them to take my pictures. Note the typical outstretched arms...

Andrew and Melissa mugging it to the max. Can you see Angie's eye in the far right?

Now it's Kelvin's turn.

But pictures they took came out really nicely.

Andrew's...

Kelvin's...

On our way out was when we could get the grrom and bride free.

Group shot

It's not really the end of the whole story though. Jazmyn's got her tea-ceremony on the following Sunday morning. I'm one of her ji-muis to bully the groom's heng-tais. It's going to be interesting, I guess.

----------------------

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
Slow Motion

I'm not very happy these days during working hours. I don't know why...it's not because I am having a hard time at work, I'm just having a hard time being motivated during work!

WHY?

I'm just smacking my head. Cannot take it. At least I do have some amount of paperwork and conference organising stuff to do to keep me occupied, especially when I cannot make appointments. Not sure if it meant that things are slowing down before the Raya week.

But I hope things pick up for me, moodwise. I want to get the enthusiasm back. Otherwise, things feel mundane.

It's so true when they say you don't have to "work" when you enjoy your job. I want to start enjoying my job again. *argh*

------------------------

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008
Heroes or Zeroes?

Heroes season 3 started with a two-hour episode and it's not very exciting so far. Too many things are happening without consistency in storyline. It's almost like the favourite cast members are being kept on board by unrealistic writing.

I won't spoil it for you now. Watch it and see for yourself. If it doesn't pick up soon, there's no kick in following the series, oei. What a letdown.

The new season of The Office, however, is totally funny. That one is still good. It's keeping us laughing and everyone in the cast is equally interesting to watch. Looking forward to the next download!

-----------------------

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2008
i heart DiGi!

I got a completely free phone from DiGi! *wooohooo*

So happy because it has a better camera than my present phone, and it comes with GPS!

----------------------

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2008
Care Group

Dad's away this Friday. And so is my Calvin, my host. We combined Care Groups with mom's house.

Ok, backtrack...I lead CG in Calvin Lee's house. Mom and Dad also have CG in our house with Dad leading. Anyway, since this week was different, we combined meeting at my house. There were so many people, including the Youth CG. It was great to see the old faces again, in CG meeting.

Sundays are normally so hi & bye. A long meeting with plenty of food and fellowship is terrific. Next round for another mega-meeting might be during Christmas.

Ooooh! Just thinking of Christmas is making me feel tingly and excited!! I have a very good feeling about this year-end. And I'm so so looking forward to it. *seeing visions of all-things Christmassy*

-----------------------

[[ Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing ]]

Auf weidersehen

2008-09-20T00:06:00.004+08:00

This month is a busy feasting one. Two farewells and two weddings (watch out for the next post). A picture says a thousand words, and with chockful of shots uploaded, I'll comment very little and let you see the action in still motion.

Jay Yan's leaving on a jetplane...

Our dear BKR Youth CG intern will be leaving by 24 September to Bristol. We'll really miss her because she's such a good and efficient leader.

During the 12 Sept Care Group meeting, our hosts prepared such a feast to celebrate their daughter's farewell...and really give us an opportunity to pray success over Jay Yan. Pastor Edwin and Sis Damaris even came and joined the meeting. We ate and ate that night. :)

Then on Sunday, we the younger gang went for some steamboat fun at Bukit Tinggi. This time, headmistress of Jay Yan's Sunday School team - Miss May Ee - came along. It was a nice drizzly evening, so steamboat was pretty pleasant.

The seafood mayhem.

Come on Jay Yan! You're gonna do great in Bristol!!

Mee Kee, Justine, Jay Yan, Ee-Laine, and Carol.

Youth Care Leader Ken Han, Reuel, Mark, and Joshua. Some private joke going on there... :)

Sunday School teachers smile.

God bless you, gal!

Lee Fong the Superstar...

My colleague LF tendered his resignation in June, but has been extending his notice till today. It was very nice of him to stand in the vacant position and carry out the job before a new person comes in. Very unusual by market standards but LF is not the average kind of employee. He's very hardworking and incredibly detailed. These kinds of conscientious people don't come along easily.

So, as a farewell gig with the colleagues, we finally (after numerous arrangements and reschedulings) got those who could come for a buffet dinner cum karaoke session on Friday evening, 080919.

What a treat for us, as LF is a trained tenor who absolutely loves to sing. He does the Josh Groban kind of thing like breathing. He's that good.

Anyway, we all also got in on the karaoke action, off pitch, off timing, off key and all!

Me and LF. Good-looking, eh girls? He's still single!!

"You raise me uuuupp, so I can stand on mountains..."

Boon Jeen also doing his thing. He sang very hilarious versions of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" and "Bad".

Brudehr Elson also in on the show. All full of concentration and expression, oei. Don't play-play!

Suddenly Donald also join in with air-mic! Also full of feeling. (=____=")

Simon, Elson, Donald, and Carol.

See LF, in such a nice comfy line-up of his female fans.

(Jenn, LF, Carmen, June, Gaik, and me)

Boon Jeen doesn't like to keep a straight face in group shots. (O___o)

(Gaik, Jenn, me, and BJ)

With the tai kors: Elson and Donald.

More shots...

Even more...with Pei Yin.

Goofing around! (^___^)

Gaik and I behaving ourselves.

On our way out, we looked for a good spot for a group shot. I passed my camera to a staff and asked him to take our picture. He kept on clicking without saying anything while we were looking around and getting organised. The flash went off many times...but it was really clever of him because we got to see all these...

June looking around whole the guys unhooked the barrier rope at the stairs.

Still more looking around and scrambling for positions...

Almost getting there...all this while the flashes were going off.

Didn't matter that passer-bys were coming up and staring at the hoi polloi.

We're going to miss you lots Lee Fong!! All the best.

------------------------

[[ Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. ]]

getting away

2008-09-13T08:11:00.007+08:00

In light of yesterday's need for speed, maybe this will help some of you out there when you get pulled over at a speeding roadblock.

I try to be helpful...

*******************

A police officer pulled a guy over for speeding and had the following exchange:

Officer: May I see your driver's license?
Driver: I don't have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI (Driving Under the Influence).
Officer: May I see the owner's card for this vehicle?
Driver: It's not my car. I stole it.
Officer: The car is stolen?
Driver: That's right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner's card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there.
Officer: There's a gun in the glove box?
Driver: Yes sir. That's where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.
Officer: There's a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!?
Driver: Yes, sir.

Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation:

Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
Driver: Sure. Here it is.

It was valid.

Captain: Who's car is this?
Driver: It's mine, officer. Here's the registration.
Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there's a gun in it?
Driver: Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it.

Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.

Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there's a body in it.
Driver: No problem.

The trunk was opened; no body.

Captain: I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glovebox, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.
Driver: Yeah, I'll bet he told you I was speeding, too.

********************

If you're successful with this, kindly let me know!

Or else, I'll come see you in your cell. (^____~)

-----------------------

.:: Diplomacy is the art of letting somebody else have your way ::.

Faster Kill Pussycat

2008-09-12T23:31:00.000+08:00

I got a speeding compound today!

It's not my first, but it was my first experience of being pulled over to the road shoulder at a police roadblock. Y'know, the kind of roadblocks where they bottleneck the entire 3-lane highway into one.

Anyway, I'm not proud of if but I was driving at 140km/h at a 110km/h speed limit zone, somewhere along Muar. I was northbound towards Malacca in the morning.

The policeman said, "Apa macam?"
I said, "Macam mana?"
He said, "Saman tiga ratus ringgit, cik. Apa macam?"
Nuts. I said, "Saman la, tuan."
No mood to layan. Ramadhan-shcramadhan!

How did it feel? After my heart stopped palpitating when being pulled over and talking to the policeman...I'm really ashamed of irresponsible driving. And irked me that I'll be parting with RM300 to the government.

There are a few options to do.
a) Settle summons with the police on the spot at a bargain. *Don't laa...encourages them to do again.*
b) Pay summons in full at the station.
c) Wait for the annual 50% offer and queue at stations (thus creating the Malaysian record for longest ever human queue to a government counter)
d) Appeal at Bukit Aman for discount.
e) Engage runner at a price to appeal and settle at Bukit Aman for you.

My parents taught me well...and I don't like to keep a debt. When I got back to Klang proper by late afternoon, I hightailed to the traffic police station to settle the compound. An offense is an offense and I might as well pay the price if I offended the law.

In my eager timing, my compound wasn't keyed into computer system yet.
"Datang balik hari Isnin, cik." DUWANNNN!!

A man there was kind enough to speak to the higher-ranking officer there to key my compound from this station on the spot. He's a runner and I was reluctant to speak too much with him. But he didn't ask for anything. Better yet, the officer person offered a 50% discount for me, since I ~~asked nicely~~ was early.

Not bad...I can always count on the Great Malaysian Sale anywhere anytime in the year. (O__O*)

Please note, in case some of you have summonses, it's advisable to settle them promptly too as there is an ongoing "Ops Warta 1" going on till 10 October. Selangor traffic offenders may be arrested and hauled to court.

If you don't want to settle the compounds, maybe just take a long holiday till 11 October.

----------------------

{{ I WANT to have lots of patience; I just don't want to NEED it! }}

Running around and around

2008-09-11T20:36:00.004+08:00

Today was one mad rush in the morning from Malacca to JB. Thought my planned travel time was good enough to meet the surgeon in JB before lunch. Halfway travelling though, he sms-ed me and asked to meet earlier because he's going in for surgery.

Too bad for him that I only read the message 1 hour after he sent it, which was 10.50am. Our meeting is 11am. *bwahaha* Can't be helped, ok. I even asked him yesterday to set our meeting later in the afternoon but he insisted he's free at 11am. In the end, we met at 3pm after his surgery.

This messes up my travel back as I have to pop into Malacca again to meet with another doctor. Thought if I settled everything in Malacca and got to JB, I won't be stretched when coming back on Fridays. Just drive straight home in the afternoon.

Alas, it was not to be. I have to leave in the morning pronto. Cannot take my own sweet time. *bleh*

Still the good news for me, my JB surgeon paid up for his purchase...cash on the spot. And the Malacca trip is to discuss what the doctor wants to buy. And he will definitely buy the device for sure...he's been oogling since last May, anyway.

By God's grace, this trip is fruitful with so little of my effort.

*grateful*

thirsty?

2008-09-10T18:10:00.000+08:00

I waited for the day when I'd say I've gotten the hang of Facebook...and now I can!

It is an addiction and a guilty pleasure at the same time. You get to tell everyone what you're doing whether they care to know or not. And there's all the contacts you get to link up with and all the snooping you get to do with everyone's albums and profile.

Now don't lie and say you don't do that too...!

:P

----------------------

These few days, I don't seem to drink enough water. At the end of the working day, I find my 1L bottle is still 3/4's full and I'm lethargic. *Doesn't take a genius to put 2 and 2 together, eh?*

I notice I drink a lot of boiled water in the morning before leaving to work...but just during the actual day, I will forget or just don't feel like drinking. However, I can be caught making coffee once or twice if I'm in the office...sometimes. It's not the best way to get my fluids in.

But just to be scientific and factual enough, I'll do a John Tan and be sure what I'm actually losing out from my lack of hydration.

WATER...and what happens to me when I don't get enough of it...

So, like packed food labels, water has its own nutritional factsheet.

Since I'm approximately 60% water in body weight, water is essential to satisfy metabolic demand. It is a catalyst for a majority of enzymatic reactions including those involved in nutrient digestion, absorption, transport, and metabolism. It is also required for facilitating excretion of metabolic waste by the kidneys *toilet call!*.

Inadequate intake of water compromises cell functions by contributing electrolyte imbalances, contraction of plasma volume, and inability to regulate body temperature. So now my problem is not drinking enough as thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well below levels required for optimal functioning. The mechanisms don't kick in until my system is very very depleted. There are people who are not able to adequately express or detect thirst sensations...with extreme heat and excessive perspiration, thirst may lag behind actual water requirements.

That's not good. I wonder if I do get fluids from other sources since water is something I lack.

Water requirements are most effectively met by consumption of plain water or beverages which are > 90% water by volume (milk, coffee, soups included). Water may also be obtained from solid foods such as fruits and vegetables which have a high water content (lettuce, watermelon, tomato, etc). Low moisture foods such as grains and meat products do not contribute significantly to water intake.

So, I'm not that worse off. Heh, go to the site and see table at the bottom for your reference.

Did you know that lack of water can cause cancer, rheumatoid joint pains, and lower back pains? It's good to drink more water for good eyes and skin health, maintain muscle tone (I didn't know that!), and regulate body temperature. Ladies, water is good for losing weight and reducing water retention!! Read all about it here.

To prevent dehydration, a minimum of eight cups of fluid is required daily from beverages and foods. Normally, with physical exertion, more is required. How to keep remembering to drink enough? One trick that tempts me to crave drinking water are pictures of delectable and wonderfully cool, thirst-quenching H2O. Maybe watching people drink enthusiastically. Even just glasses of crystal clear water makes we want to drink. Ooooh....

They make me want to drink water so much, that I'd never realised how I'd ever lived without it in the first place. I get switched on very easily....go figure. :/

So, now that I want to drink by visual stimulation, it's the toilet calls I worry about, for I'm not a fan of our public toilets. :(

----------------------

.:: It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats ::.

What a weekend

2008-09-08T12:11:00.000+08:00

Ahh, shall I continue to upload pictures here or do I just refer everyone to facebook to see my albums? Since I cannot decide yet, I'm still going to just put up the same photos here. (=__=")

I just don't have that many pictures anymore. Whatever happened to those days when camwhoring was the norm?

---------------------

So, how was your weekend?

I didn't realise how packed mine was until I was msn-ing on Monday. ~~Not so~~ quick recap:

Friday, I came back from JB. That evening, there was a members' meeting for the gym...they want to form some plan of action against the ex-management. I was so super-reluctant to go. In the end, went late with my cousin and Janice.

As expected the meeting was a dud. But in the end, we all still hope for something good to come up somehow. I really admire Janice for being so bold and outspoken in the meeting, eventhough the original organisers had some suspicious motives. She tried her best to reason out with the members. See what happens after all this, huh?

Saturday was a full teaching day. Andrina was down with bad cough. I took over her afternoon classes. We are rehearsing for the year-end production, and I tell you, the plays are cute! I can't wait to see what the children can do, especially the Upper Primaries to bring their creativity to their characters.

Esther asked, since Thursday, to go for the Shah Alam ramadhan bazaar Saturday evening. She was eager to eat murtabak we buy there each year. My classes end at 5pm. Had to speak to a mother about her sons. *Oh gosh! 5.20pm!*

It was mayhem! I did some crazy stunt-driving to get home A.S.A.P. From Puchong to Klang in less than 1/2 hour. And then, with more insane speeding, we reached the Shah Alam stadium by 6pm. The bazaar was packed! And soppy from the rain puddles. *yucks!*

We squeezed around and got the very famous murtabaks! Since it was late, we couldn't get other usual stuff like rendang (actually, this year, there are no rendang sellers...the kinds with gigantic woks bubbling away), roti jala, briyani... All finished. But we still got loads of food for dinner.

Sunday was choc-a-block! After first service, the we went for lunch without mom and dad. Esther wanted to buy a special birthday gift and we decided 1 Utama would be best to search. We walked all around, but didn't find anything suitable.

By then, I was already late for a meet-up with, Grace, an old schoolmate, who came back from Singapore. Had to meet her at AEON Bukit Tinggi at 2pm but arrived at nearly 3pm. We coffee-d and chatted till 5pm. I got back at 5+pm.

Have a wedding dinner at 7.30pm...but I was feeling a bit too caffeinated and had to work out a bit to settle down. You won't believe it...1/2 hour workout on the trainer and then immediately showered and prepped for an old school-mate's wedding. I did it in record time and stunt-drove to the dinner venue. (Reason also because my only companion there was early and all alone. Sorry Yoong Han!)

We've not been to a true-blue Hindu Indian wedding before. And the bride, Ratna's family splashed out in splendid traditional style. Four dancers paved the way for her and her groom to walk in.

See? Two male dancers...

...and two female dancers (can only see one)...all dancing gracefully as...

...the bride and groom walk in from behind. No need for flowers girls.

There were even traditional dance performances.

Girls jive from the right...

...the guys jive from the left... All very Bollywood. (^__^)

Here's a very interesting thing. When the bride and groom cut the wedding cake, it was the parents' who fed the cake to them, not the newlyweds to each other; as in western weddings. And similar to Chinese weddings, it was akin to the tea ceremony. Yoong Han and I think it's to symbolise the parents welcoming the newlyweds into the family but we're not too sure.

I snuck a shot at the bride at her table from mine. Oh yeah, the dinner was buffet style. And vegetarian. I'm big on good curries and they serve quite delicious ones too. Not bad.

Yoong Han and I...feeling a little bewildered at the start of dinner because we didn't see anyone else we knew from school. We sat at a table with Ratna's colleagues who were all foreigners teaching English. Anyhow, we spent so much time catching up, we didn't make friends.

But later we found Indra! At least another schoolmate we knew. Absolutely nice to hear she's doing so well as a doctor.

Here's one picture for the road with the bride Ratna, groom Danaraj, and her sister Hema. Here's to you both! May your life together be a happy and fruitful one.

Now, the night's not over yet...dinner ended at 9.30pm for me. But at a stone's throw away, Florence and gang are pre-celebrating her birthday. I drove over after their dinner but just in time for cake!

We all sang badly -- like REALLY BADLY -- out of tune, out of key(s), out of timing, out of sync. Anything to make the worst sung "Happy Birthday" ever was done successfully.

Even Esther cannot take it.

All having a good laugh. Don't we always?

Of course, I must pose with the birthday girl. (^__^)

MANY HAPPY RETURNS SWEETIE FLORENCE! May all your dreams and desires become a reality for you.

So, that was my unbelievable weekend. *faints*

-----------------------

[[ If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos, then you probably haven't completely understood the seriousness of the situation ]]

Bummed

2008-09-06T23:39:00.007+08:00

I wish I didn't have to explain myself.

Or be made to feel bad after I did.

I wish I wasn't so obliging and accomodating sometimes.

And then have to explain myself.

I wish there's more time for fun things.

And not be made to feel rushed about so often.

I wish I had more gumption to get things done.

Instead of procrastinating and getting more bummed afterwards.

I wish distance isn't a hassle when making promises.

And fulfilling promises have less time constraints.

I wished I was more appreciated for my work.

It annoys me I'm being overlooked or have been given lip service.

I wish someone just tries to read my mind when I'm visibly upset.

Or at least tries to ask me lovingly about it.

I feel so bummed out.

(=___=)

Connection

2008-09-02T22:40:00.003+08:00

I'm in Malacca tonight. Will be going southwards tomorrow...Batu Pahat...then JB. Good thing there's free internet connection in my hotel here. JB is terrible. My hotels don't offer free internet. They charge an exorbitant fee of RM10/hour...though you can RM30 for a whole day connection. Can you believe that?? Even in Kelantan, my colleagues can get free internet in simple hotels. *roll eyes*

On the flipside, I get Singapore TV and Astro channels in JB; but only terrestrial free tv channels in Malacca. Life is grand, ain't it. *sarcastic bleh*

But today something really cool came up! Managed to get in touch with an OLD friend through Facebook. There are many many people on my list who I have not actually spoken to for years. So...

I have a mission to accomplish: MESSAGE ALL OLD FRIENDS ON MY FACEBOOK LIST...those I haven't spoken to for more than 6 months.

It's crazy, but after making such a connection, I do feel lonely tonight. I'm supposed to have some speech and drama revision to do but no mood. I have audiological indications to read up for Friday's meeting at JB, also no mood.

*GAH!*

Sleep early tonight. Mom would be so proud...I know I am.

---------------------

.:: The grass may be greener on the other side, but that's because there is a lot more manure ::.

Unbalanced

2008-08-31T22:05:00.004+08:00

HAPPY 5IST MERDEKA MALAYSIA!

It's doesn't take fanfare for the nation to boast of national pride. Rather, it is in daily actions and steadfast loyalty to upholding all good things this land represents that truly makes Malaysia what it is.

God bless Malaysia.

----------------------

Eat, eat, eat...

Friday CG: It was Christine's birthday celebration. She's a real merdeka baby. We had cake!

Saturday: Afternoon had a huge lunch with Lydia...evening was a steamboat dinner with family.

Today: Afternoon stuffed myself silly over a dim sum buffet (you read right!) with the church usher team. All of them are makan champions.

Tomorrow : Another family dinner from yours truly to celebrate my commission paycheck.

I tell you, all the eating plus the steroid medication (prednisolone) I've started taking again, I'm not going to bother weighing myself for a long time. The prednisolone is supposed to help suppress blood breakdown, while at the same time, it causes very good appetite. *darn it!*

I do work outs at home on the cross-trainer, but as I said before, it's nothing like going to the gym...it's getting more and more tempting to start another membership somewhere...which I'm pretty sure is a bad call.

How to justify travel, toll and parking to go workout?? Someone please convince me...!!

Oh my gosh...I miss this kind of thing so much! Just do it ah??

Backtrack: LydiaCruise told me to look for something nearby and creative like kickboxing...I admit it's more appealing...but I'm still holding my candle for Les Mills.

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[[ We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads. So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold any more so it started filling up the rest of me ]]

Eating and Getting Eaten

2008-08-30T23:18:00.000+08:00

RLC is a large church but also the smallest. First and foremost a LARGE church.

So large that I don't really see friends around much...maybe see but don't get to chat properly. I've been lying low these days too, anyway. And feel so out of touch.

However, I did get to have a meet-up with Lydia Cruise today. Apart from quick hi-byes on some Sundays, I have no clue what has been going on with her for a long time. We finally set our lunch date at MidValley.

And what a great lunch setting we had...at Yogitree. We didn't know what to expect, but the busy dining hall and tempting menu was enough to draw us in. They serve a wide array of juices, tea in pots, cakes, salads, pastas, meat dishes, etc, etc. If you're vegetarian, you'd be spoilt for choice there.

So, look at what we ate.

*Oh my goodness...I'm finally posting photos in my blog again!*

Lyd's choice...Grilled chicken with GUACAMOLE on mesclun salad (already half-eaten)

My craving for beef isn't over yet...here's a Beefsteak sandwich on granary bread. It is yummy!

Our juices...a mangonana and a mixed fruit thingy.

They serve cakes made of unbleached flour and organic eggs. Didn't fancy the carrot cake too much because of the sweetness.

It's a nice place that I'd definitely go back to again soon. Anyone game?

After lunch, we both browsed around for our favourite indulgence...specialty toilettries. We ran in and out of boutique outlets slathering ourselves silly with creams, lotions, mists, and other samplers.

I got this. It's supposed to help relieve stress...and since I'm supposedly tense often...let's see how well it works.

More walking brought us to this place.

The arguably popular Kenko Reflexology Fish Spa. I was curious about the fish foot treatment and asked Lyd to have a session. Turns out she was a pro at it. (^__^) The fishes will eat away dead skin and the "gentle" bites massage and promote microcirculation. She warned me about being "electric-shocked" and the sometimes frenzied feeding, especially at this outlet.

Quite true la, because there were two types of pools, fishes and bigger fishes. The smaller fishes nibble at the feet and feels like an overall prickly massage. The bigger ones will nibble. You can literally feel being bitten. And that one is a shocking sensation!

These are only the small fishes. They are bit up till up my calves.

So many people watching the fish tank from outside the spa window.

This is the bigger fish pool.

But the feet do feel refreshed after 1/2 hour of being fish food. I even kept getting the prickly biting sensation up to my calves till night. It's not really smoother since I have a lot of dead skin but it is slight improvement.

There are a lot of customers at this spa. NO WONDER the fishes here are so big! The funniest was when a burly man came and soaked in our pool, all the fishes immediately swarmed his feet. Only few left for us both. *whaaddaaa*

There, the man in red t-shirt to Lyd's left...he's the fish magnet!

A fun day out of good food and being fish food with Lyd. (^_^)

I need more of these girly-girl outings!

-----------------------

.:: Be yourself...who else is better qualified? ::.

Damsel...in distress??

2008-08-29T23:30:00.001+08:00

After last night's major freakout, I woke up feeling like...blah. Worse was the breakfast I had with mom. We tried dim sum at a supposedly highly recommended shop in Bukit Tinggi.

However, the food wasn't much good. Too bad that it didn't live up to expectations. It was even expensive! Don't like. Not going to go back there again. (=__=")

If you want to know which one I'm referring to, please don't be shy to ask, hor?

We got back to the car in very bad mood, mom and I. The lousy food even has after-effects. *gasp!*

Suddenly... *jeng-jeng-jeng!!*

Company admin sms-ed me to tell me our paycheck came in today. (^_^) Totally cheered me and made up for the breakfast. If my mood keeps flip-flopping like this all week long, is there any wonder why I'm coming off as insane lately?

Oh boyyyy....

-----------------------

Waaah, this week's running conversations makes me want to blush over and over.

When I went to Pavillion with Elson, we talked and he badgered me about me being single. My reputation from him to the colleagues is a girl who constantly changes boyfriends. While hooking-up and breaking-up at one time then was true, I'm not a player like that. I stopped doing that experimenting bit and just let things be.

It's not over yet.

Had a nice cold-call with an ENT surgeon yesterday. Last time I saw him was more than a year back. We chatted quite long about products and he was sold on the system. (Wonder what I did so badly last time that he didn't want to try it then?)

Then we got to yakking about backgrounds. He exclaimed, "What? Still single? You must be very choosy."

Yeah, I wish that was true.

Then, he offered to introduce me to his brother. *rofl* Completely awkward.

Even more awkward...while asking for requests during prayer time at care group...a well-meaning but very direct sister suddenly shot a request.

"Yes, lets's pray for Jamie to find a Godly life partner!"

GOODNESS! I wanted to bury myself in the concrete right there and then. *ai-yo-yo!*

I'm not that hard-up. A guy would be nice somewhere in my life, but now? I don't think so. Maybe since I'm on the subject, I'd better work on my skills to attract a guy...hahaha...

I found a video on "How to flirt with men".

You can even learn "How to flirt with women".

Go ahead...you know you want to watch them. (^__^) Enjoy.

-----------------------

.:: Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hair stylist you like ::.

Anger Management

2008-08-28T23:21:00.001+08:00

I want to tell you about the interview I went for. It was the one my friend in that company recommended me to try out.

The manager-cum-interviewer did tell me to contact him and arrange for my second round. But it didn't seem to me like a second round, meaning second round after passing the first one. It seemed more like a second round to talk to his boss and then only they decide if I pass any round of interviews at all.

Or so it seemed to me.

But anyway, I took my time to e-mail him, ie. after one week since he and his boss are in HK for meeting. What I got after that was e-mail from the recommending friend saying that recruitment has been frozen till next year. But I'm being kept in file for future contact.

*roll eyes*

OH MY GOODNESS! Can you believe how annoying that sounds? And coming from a third party!! The manager didn't bother to personally call or e-mail.

I was so pissed that I hunted down my paltry msn list and dragged one of my contacts to suffer my torrential ranting. I was not sure which made me more angry...that I didn't get a job change? Or that I wasn't being decently told by the manager fella personally? Or that I have to professionally reply my friend, although I wanted to curse on e-mail, but can't lest the mail gets relayed around the company?

Super pissed. I'm keen to change jobs for a number of reasons. I'm getting too familiar with my present setting, it's getting less stimulating. Before I become a relic and cannot adapt to change, I'd better explore other avenues to learn and grow.

C'mon...I'm still young! And present company, no matter how secure it is, is not a good career final destination. It's just the management structure and all. I'm quite eager to go as soon as I can. Maybe I got desperate.

So my msn friend got the short end of the stick la. I bombarded left and right about everything. Poor Jeff. Rockstar but have to be agony aunt that night.

But ultimately, after all the talk I remembered something I asked God about going for a job change. If I'm successful, then no one can take that away. If not, it's His way of telling me, "no, it's not the right time or job."

Then also my dad was asking me to not change jobs till next year, after the family has moved house. To make sure things remain stable for the time being. I negotiated if a good offer is given, it makes sense to accept and roll with the challenges with new work and house. He acceded.

Well, his prayer is answered. And it was ok with me too...after I got over all the emo and anger and remembered our conversation.

As much as a change would do me good, and I wanted one, it's somewhat some pressure off. So, God is speaking very clearly and loudly to me. I'm not settling...and I'm just going to let Him show me when and where to go.

Kinda weird, but the conversation wrapped up with a resolve and a feel-good ending. Like a 1/2-hour sitcom thing. My life is dramatic over small things. It's good to be a drama queen.

------------------------

[[ If you really want to do something, you'll find a way; if you don't, you'll find an excuse ]]

So pumped!

2008-08-27T11:18:00.002+08:00

Remember I was moaning about my gym closing down? I was really upset that I couldn't do the Les Mills releases coming out this quarter. All the Body- programs la. Pump, step, combat, jam, rpm. Always look forward to new release but now "kena gantung".

Good thing one of the instructors I know was so kind to invite me to a family club gym where he did the new bodypump. Like go there for a free trial. Jonathan L is the best! So shyiok got to try out the new tracks. Got very semangat eventhough it's been a long time since my last resistance training.

And the tracks were tough because they focused on serious workout and intense core training. By the time we did the shoulders, almost gave up. Good thing Jonathan really pushed the class.

He's so motivated that right after class he previewed some bodyattack tracks to the class. Psycho...after all the weights can still jump around energetically. He was so enthusiastic that a couple of members also jumped around with him on the tracks. Attack is the most strenuous of the LM programs, oei.

So, class was on Monday. On Tuesday really suffered...legs, back, and shoulder muscles ached. Went to shop with colleague Gaik after work and can feel the thighs so stiff! (Shopping was fun btw, because I found my stuff.)

Wednesday, Jonathan called again to see if I wanted to walk in for another trial to do the new bodystep release. Gosh, I wanted! But felt a bit "pai seh" to go...free again. And the facilities, honestly, were only so-so compared to all other fancy big gym chains. Only 10 step boards.

Members there also can be just ngam-ngam for the boards. Very awkward if I took regular ~~paying~~ member's spot. Have to decline laa.

----------------------

Today was a very easy-going day for me. Err, morning a bit terrible. Was calling up to a few departments in a KL hospital to arrange rental collection for a loaner machine. Every department pushed me around. Accounts also like that, nursing also like that...sigh.

I just cursed very vulgarly most of the morning...which never happens unless I was under extreme duress.

(=___=*)

BUT...

In the afternoon, Gaik and Elson made my day. I've been craving for beef steak for days...Gaik suggested TGIF. So, we sojourned there for a heavy, but very satisfying, lunch. They serve a very unique tomato pesto sauce on the meat. It was absolutely delicious. *Happy*

After work today, took Elson to Pavillion. He is an avid watch collector. We stood in Omega boutique for almost 1 hour where he nicely discussed models and prices with the shop guy. It was quite an experience, as I learnt so much from them about serious watch collectors.

You need a lot of money to invest if you want to turn this into a money-making hobby. And oh boy, you can definitely earn some big bucks if you play it hard enough! It's legitimate and quite sophisticated, but not my cup of tea. Not with my cash reserves yet. (^_~)

Omegas are exquisite. I liked the way they look compared to Rolex. How can you not like a watch that ...

...George Clooney, or even...

...James Bond wears.

Ladies prefer to go for the Constellation series.

This would look gorgeous with a white leather strap.

What's more. Nicole Kidman wears this series too. How to not like, right?

New frontier...an Omega watch to commemorate the first moon landing and used "moon material" to craft the timepiece. (Or so I think.) Cool huh?

------------------------

.:: Time is just nature's way to keep everything from happening at once ::.

Some cause for cheer

2008-08-23T23:07:00.004+08:00

Shopping with mom and dad was really nice. Hadn't spent time with them like this in a long time already.

----------------------

Friday August 22, 2008 MYT 8:27:48 PM
PM announces reduced fuel prices

PUTRAJAYA: Petrol and diesel price will drop by between eight sen and 22 sen a litre from Saturday.

The price of RON97 petrol will be reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre from RM2.70, while RON92 would be 22 sen less at RM2.40, from RM2.62

The retail price of diesel would drop by eight sen to RM2.50 a litre.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah ahmad Badawi announced the new prices in a statement after Friday's Cabinet meeting.

He said the prices were determined by taking into account the actual price from Aug 1 to 21 and the 30 sen per litre subsidy borne by the government while the subsidy for diesel, based on the new price, was 50 sen a litre.

"The cabinet decided to bring forward the enforcement date for adjustment of the new petrol price," he said.

(courtesy of thestar.com.my)

-----------------------

It started at 6.10pm when my ex-colleague sms-ed to not pump petrol till tomorrow in light of the price reduction. Of course, initially I didn't know if it was true because all these sms-es go around freely. But by 7pm, it was all confirmed on radio and tv news.

*YAAY!*

Apparently, I hear it is not as low as it can go. For sure the government are not revealing how they calculate the reduction. I don't really know economics. Let's see what comes up in the media, right? Maybe I should look up http://www.malaysia-today.net/?

----------------------

.:: The other night my friend asked me to take her out someplace expensive. So I took her to a gas station ::.

When it rains, it pours!

2008-08-22T23:23:00.008+08:00

Today was really super!

IT RAINED! Like very, very heavily...and practically the whole day!

After weeks of endless heat, humidity, and blazing sun, the rain was a huge welcome change. I loved it...although there was a little downpour yesterday evening, today was the motherload.

Throughout the working day, the roads were wet and sloppy. As expected, there were accidents along the highways. On the way to Pantai Bangsar, I passed about three accidents. It kills me how terrible the traffic slows down when all the KPC-s cannot help watching the show. The worst was a whopping 8 car chain collision on the KESAS when going back in the evening.

I thought I'd try to make something out of the crawl. Like manoeuvring the car while taking a handphone camera picture of the wreckage. In the morning, on the Federal Highway, I got this...

Lousy slow handphone camera! I slipped it down real quick as I thought I saw some policemen around.

I tried again in the evening. What I got, then, was this...

It was the 8-car pileup along KESAS. Not much better too. (=___=")

Better leave the photography to the professionals with proper cameras!

-----------------------

My colleague D from East Malaysia is in town this week. Actually, I found it out last night when he popped by my table with another colleague J during my dinner with my "other colleagues". What are the chances of being at the same restaurant on the same night, huh? (^__^)

Took him out to 1U for dinner and we stuffed like crazy at TGIF. I shouldn't have...didn't exercise for so long already. (T_T)

I've been using the elliptical trainer at home these days. But it doesn't beat the intensity of working out with the Les Mills programs. And my stamina is getting poor too. *noooooo!!!* The new quarterly launch is coming out soon and I'm still feeling bummed out about my gym closing. I miss bodypump the most.

Probably not too much to want to seek a trial membership anywhere else because they all involve travel and tolls. Klang FF I've already tried out. Working out shouldn't be that much of a hassle. I'm motivated but not that motivated.

-----------------------

[[ I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap ]]

2008-08-21T08:11:00.005+08:00

The interview yesterday was ok. I thought I'd be more excited about it when I got out of the office...but strangely no. Need to ponder and mull a bit on what I truly want.

I could've asked for too much. Manager said, "Think about the position and job requirements. Call us if you are interested to go for a second round so we can discuss your package." Err...confusing or not?

But I won't settle. Smack me if I do! +____+

-----------------------

These days, things are getting too predictable for me. It's either messed up or really messed up. I'd think that getting *ahem* older next year would mean that I've figured out my life and planned the glorious path to seniorhood and retirement.

*Please credit the pompous phrasing to too much RedFM in the mornings.*

I have been spending a fair amount of time with the ladies from speech and drama. Drama is really the word for their life stories. But they faced their problems boldly and bring to the table their experiences and wisdom to tackle them.

And I can never really tell how things are from the way they go on each day. We are referring to very gorgeous successful energetic women in ages 30, 40, and 50. You'd hear everything about anything in one sitting.

So, I feel la, a bit unhappening. Nothing is going on my side le. (=___=*)

NAAAH....

I'm just thinking I have some uphill work to do to push myself out of complacency. Since nowadays there's no more gym to go to...~~I'm in some denial~~ I've got time. Let you privy into...

SELF-IMPROVEMENT CHECKLIST FOR JAMIE

1. Living space
- Must spruce up my room. I mean, seriously... There's no such thing as deco in my cramped space, unchanged since high school. I want some fancy lamps and table organisers and other doo-hickey thingamajigs. I'll need to start to get into the room deco mode for my own room before the family move by year end.

2. Read a good book
- "Good book" says it all. I've just bought one. Must.finish.Must.finish.Must.finish...!!

3. Social butterfly(?)
- Jessy told me that only 1-2 men in 10 are good. The reason I'm not getting anyone is my lack of socialising. Must join her to hit the social scene.

Wait! Cancel that. Point 3 should be:

Correct #3. Girl power
Ok, ok. I'm not in a rush to get hitched. But one thing I noticed about my divorced friend is her "hyper-feminity". She oozes confidence, charm and coquettishness with full on sexuality but the restraint of an angel all in one heady mix. I wanna be like that! I want to be more feminine. *pout*

4. Be more MAN (O__o")
- Sue's description of the way she speaks her mind is "being man". None of the girly-gossipy-backstabbing-self important kind of talk. If something has to be said, then it has to be said. And I think she is very firm and assertive to get the job done. It's not what I'm really like, but I'm going to give it a try.

5. Loosen up
- I need to be less intense when I go out with people. Could this be a sign of over-mingling with work-related people? Goodness!

Dunno la, really dunno... *haiz*

****************************************

.:: Dear Dorothy: Hate Oz; Took the shoes; Find your own way home. Toto ::.

Being Bipolar...

2008-08-20T07:59:00.007+08:00

Aaargh...it finally happened. There were a lot of bad press in local papers for some time. All of us were concerned about the developments.

Finally, Y Fitness closed...my gym closed. And last Thursday right before my eyes.

Story goes like this, the management of Yogazone has been having financial problems for months. All the yoga clubs around were complaining of cancelled classes and instructors leaving after being unpaid for 2-3 months. (Quite "chin-kak" right, the management? Imagine going to work without pay for that long!)

At Y Fitness, being part of the same company, we were speculating about how bad things can get. Some instructors left while others resiliently kept their classes. Awww... I was going for those few remaining classes last Thursday evening when there was a crowd at the counter and security guards mingling at the door.

O__O"

It was the building management who, apparently, wasn't paid for 3 months too. No surprises there. Being landlords, they had to do the landlord-y thing and close the premises. And yes, there was an official statement that the Yogazone management is now under receivership, meaning that it is being taken over by a ~~ah-long~~ debt collection company. Or something like that.

I'd like to say I'm angry that I've signed up for a lifetime membership early this year and am not sure what's happening it. I'd like to say I'm pissed I don't have a nearby facility to pop over when the new Les Mills releases roll out. *argh!*

But I felt sad for the employees who lost their office that day. Don't have to mention their jobs...they've not had a job for a few months already since they weren't paid. Then, there were those free-lance instructors who are owed by the thousand ringgits. Ooh hoo...even worse, they've sent a few people to the KK Centre and that one also closed down. So, those have to come back by boat, huh?

Everyone lost something....grrrr....

***********************

Despite the spate of non-work-out-ery, work, yes work, has been great.

God is truly faithful to me. How awesome?

On Thursday (the above Thursday)...Puteri Specialist JB confirmed a DVT prophylaxis system purchase.
Friday...Sultanah Aminah Hospital JB sends PO for headlight system.
Monday...Government welfare funding approved for two Bone Anchored Hearing Aids and two ear prostheses cases.
Tuesday...tender specifications for snoring treatment system came out for my product (even when the doc in Malacca Hospital said he wanted Brand C).

Oh man, oh man, OH MAN! Did I or did I not say GOD IS AWESOME??! \O/

Even when the world is preaching economic downturn, God still opens up the reserves for His children.

For that, I'm truly humbled in every way. Thank you Jesus.

********************

Couldn't sleep well last night.

I'm going for an interview today. Was recommended by a friend. No harm to see what other opportunities out there.

options, options....

2008-08-06T21:59:00.007+08:00

The Beijing Olympics is right around the corner, literally. 08.08.08 always seemed far away to me...and here we are now. Fancy that.

I'm looking forward to a super-exciting and groundbreaking event. Loads of world records broken, some ~~doping~~ games drama, goodwill and triumph and all those good stuff during the games.

There's always something magnetic about the Olympics each time. It's like a landmark phase every four years (unless you use the World Cup as your personal four-year markers)...for me anyhow. Looking forward every bit!

-----------------------

I've come to be known as a very stressed person. So much so, I get very sick often. Even more so, I am hospitalised when I'm very very sick.

I'm not that stressed one!! (=___=")

But yes, I was just recently hospitalised and received blood transfusion. Just before that, I was very jaundiced and lethargic a whole week. Finally, went to see my haematologist on Wednesday and got admitted to treat the viral infection. We don't really know what it is; probably something I picked up from KB the day before (??). Or what about JB the week earlier (??). Or East Malaysia the week prior (??).

Thank God it was all treated and I got discharged on Saturday. Went for follow up today and blood count went up. But at 6.2, I'm a far cry from the 11 - 15 bracket.

After 10 years since I was diagnosed with PNH, my doctor still has no proper cure for me. My options aren't favourable - prednisolone, bone marrow transplant, or an extremely expensive new drug with no guarantees. And after 4 years of site jobs, my doctor is telling me to tone down and get a more settled kind of job.

"Maybe all your running around and travelling makes you more susceptible to picking up infections and germs." says Doc.

An office job? AARGH!

I'm not that kind of person lorrr... How?

I need to think this over hard. Discuss with boss to refocus my job scope? Get another job elsewhere? (What???)

I honestly don't mind the day job. I just feel like I want to give up my weekend teaching thing. Because that one is getting very taxing. And I just miss being involved in church service. I'm getting myself cut off from it as long as my weekday activities are so packed.

Confused. Everything also want. *sigh*

Of pride and heritage

2008-07-20T01:18:00.003+08:00

I just found out I have a nickname by people I hardly know. Made me chuckle..."puma"... *RAWWWRR!!*

tee hee hee (^_~)

------------------------

Was at Malacca on Thursday.

Malacca. One half of our latest national ticket to international fame, ergo being listed as one of Unesco World Heritage Sites together with Penang (or is it only Georgetown?) But anyway, it's a good ticket that doesn't involve dirty politicians requiring DNA samples and whatnot.

I really felt that Malacca got into the list by a long shot. Take a good walk down Jonker Street and see for yourself what a disjointed mess it is in terms of old pre-war building upkeep. In a row of perfectly maintained shophouses, there will be decrepit and abandoned lots at regular intervals.

It's like, you see nice - nice - nice - nice - and then, UGLY - then back to nice - nice - nice - UGLY again.

Maybe it's kept that way for some authenticity or the like. I won't know.

There's more. As in hideous overhanging and messy telephone wires between shoplot rows which add to the melee of mixed-up heritage. We happen to be proud of our historical sites but rarely maintain them in it's own beauty. The developments around just inadvertently make it uglier.

I hope someone with a good eye for aesthetics and proper town planning steps in to revamp the place. Otherwise, it would be a shame to harp on our pride and joy of a town without a strong identity of its own.

Now, if you happen to drive downtown in Kuching, that would be a different story altogether. Why doesn't anyone ever mention how beautiful and well maintained their historical buildings and streets are? Why?

Nice on bread, not on the roads

2008-07-15T23:43:00.005+08:00

I never really liked the idea of carrying a backpack to house my notebook and documents, etc because it looks not so flattering for girls to...well, you know...with double-slinging and all... But since being in East Malaysia and constantly on foot, having to carry notebook, documents plus demo items...the backpack I borrowed to use made life a breeze. I'm itching to buy one for my own. *shopping craving!!*

------------------------

Hi John... Thanks so much for your encouraging comment to my last post. Really appreciate it. And erm, touche, I enjoy read your blog very regularly...just that I'm a quiet reader...kinda like your personal blog stalker. *muahaha!!*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Did anyone notice the traffic snarl yesterday?

Picture courtesy of TheStarOnline

They say a picture paints a thousand words. One word pops up in mind - SHALLOWNESS. Doesn't it seem like the powers-that-be like to flaunt their authority to show that they can bear down on those who oppose them? Anyway, papers say that Anwar Ibrahim wasn't allowed to be in a 5km radius vacinity of the Parliament as a motion of no confidence against the PM and his cabinet was expected to be tabled. (Which got rejected. Were you surprised?)

If you haven't read, then have a look-see at The Star Online's article on the Home Minister's press statement over the numerous roadblocks.

Massive jams, Syed Hamid says sorry (Update 2)

KUALA LUMPUR: Police roadblocks leading into the city caused massive jams throughout Monday morning, with Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar issuing an apology to the Malaysian public but reiterating that the police operations were undertaken in the interest of public security.

Most major roads leading to the city have been experiencing traffic congestion since Saturday, when police launched Ops Padam and mounted roadblocks at 12 entry points into the city.

Saying it was for security and safety, Syed Hamid said the roadblocks were carried out in the interest of the public and that the decision was made based on the many statements that were made calling people to demonstrate at Parliament.

(Jamie: I like how this was phrased, because I didn't think I felt my interest was well cared for. Did you think a massive and counter productive traffic clogging series of roadblocks were for your interest and security? Now be honest...)

He added that the police action had nothing to do with Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“The public want their safety, not demonstrations or interference with their daily life.

“We have got a lot of evidence to show that whatever they do - they (demonstrations) do interfere with public interest,” he said at the Parliament lobby on Monday.

Police said they were staving off an illegal gathering that Pakatan Rakyat was planning at Parliament or its grounds on Monday morning, in anticipation of a motion of no-confidence being filed against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Cabinet.

The police obtained a court order barring Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his supporters and the public from holding any rally or participating in it within a 5km radius of the Parliament building.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have denied they were planning any such gathering.
Syed Hamid said after the police obtained their court order, Pakatan Rakyat had issued instructions to cool off on the purported rally.

“The police took the court order to ensure they can enforce law and order so that everyone who comes here (to Parliament) can feel protected and that their safety is not jeopardised.”

Syed Hamid said the police were only exercising their rights in taking preventive measures.
The roadblocks are expected to continue until midnight on Monday or until further notice.

In Dewan Rakyat, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected a motion by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) to seek an explanation on the heightened security measures imposed on roads in the city and the closure of routes to Parliament House.

Salahuddin said that the police roadblocks which began on Saturday had caused discomfort to the public.

“Parliament has become like a war-zone,” he said, adding that Pakatan Rakyat had not given any directive to its members to gather in Parliament on Monday.

Pandikar Amin said that the House could only discuss issues under the Standing Orders that were related to the House proceedings.

“The House cannot discuss anything that occurs outside this House.

“Security concerns which occur outside the House are not under my purview,” he added.

~*~*~*~

Well, there you have it folks.

I'm not one to be extremely emotional about politics or the current state of national affairs. I'm generally not happy with the way that the leaders are conducting themselves, whether BN or PR...they're almost the same to me. A leader says something and do it. Not issue wishy-washy statements which usually mean nothing but to have their name in newsprint from time to time.

I feel for people like Lim Guan Eng who is working very hard to deliver his words, despite being slashed left and right without solid reason by people who can and want to see him fail. I heard his dog got poisoned. True ah? Politics can be so ugly...though it was intended to serve the people whom democracy was founded.

I'm getting out of my league here. So I'll stop.

Most of the time we watch the circus show to see what the monkeys are doing to the lions and whether the dogs have already decided they've had enough of walking on hind legs or if the bears have eaten up the ring master. We all just wait and see. (My analogies bore no meaning whatsoever. ;> )

--------------------

.:: Ever wonder why you don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"? ::.

Saturday and the week that was

2008-07-13T00:22:00.005+08:00

I don't know who still even somes around to read up on me. *haha* Hardly anything is posted these days, huh.

Anyway, I'm going to blog a little right now...since I'm feeling terribly fed up with things. I'm tired but can't sleep. I think it's due to an overall sense of exhaustion, mentally, physically and emotionally. And today of all days, being a teaching day. Ok, make that yesterday, ie Saturday. *pppbbbtthhhh!*

I really didn't feel like teaching at all this morning. I felt so poorly about teaching that I even overslept instead of waking early to prepare the lessons. There was hardly any time during the week as I was travelling.

Oh, by the way, I spent the whole week being in East Malaysia (Kuching, KK, Brunei)...where most parts of some towns seem to be still stuck in the '80s. Even in the greater parts of Brunei, I thought I was in a time warp. But it was also cool being over at the east peninsula...the people are friendly, food is nice and work felt surreal. Thank God most of the appointments were very fruitful and pleasant.

For the many nights before getting into Brunei, I was looking at and preparing what little I knew about audiology to present to the ENT Department...only to be whipped in public by a really "I-know-better-than-you-and-am-all-out-to-prove-it-to-everyone" surgeon. It sucked. I didn't purposely go into the country to be shot down like that. :( Still, the rest of the Department was sympathetic and still didn't dismiss the product entirely. *P-H-E-W!!!* Suffice to say, I was glad indeed to be back home after the trip.

Goodness...getting to my morning class was bad enough. Not as bad as getting an sms from the other teacher who needed me to cover her afternoon class due to illness. Her classes are not my favourite to cover, and you'll see why later. I really wanted a break that afternoon.

Morning passed quickly and it was rather good. Then the replacement classes. To my bewilderment, it's rare for me to take over her classes without getting some sort of glitch, especially with a student or other falling over or getting scraped somewhere. It's the omen I bring to them, I don't know why. *sigggghhhh!*

Half an hour before classes finally end I already got smug thinking it's quite a good day. Last ten minutes...one of the girls got knocked in the chin and cut her lower lip with her teeth. It bled. I freaked out. So did her mother who stormed into the room as I wanted to take her to the toilet to wash up. Darn it.

Mom remarked without looking at me to take her things and go off immediately. Stupid me...I blurly asked if it was ok to let her stay in for a last presentation. She fumed and took the girl out. I wasn't that inconsiderate, ok? She insisted to her mom she was alright...her friends keep telling her she looks ok, she was trying to get back in, and I thought mom calmed down already (NOT!). Darn it! Darn it!!

Mom was displeased. I don't blame her at all. She called up the ladyboss and complained that I was unprofessional and only cared to finish the class at all cost.

It pissed me off...and got me absolutely depressed all evening. Before the principal called to tell me about the mom's remarks, I was already in the doldrums. Of course what...I got another child knocked about in a replacement class. Then when the principal called, I just broke down crying. After I hung up, that is.

Took me a while to compose myself and pop by a friend's son's full moon party for a bit. I was just really buying time...I had to call the mom up to placate her plus explain myself to her. It took me a long time to pace my emotions...it's really bad since I'm already feeling weary all week. And being emotional is my achille's heel in negotiations.

I had not been so nervous and uncohesive on the phone in a long time. It was an unpleasant (to me) conversation...and I had a good long crying session after hanging up. Darn it. Long exhausting bouts does take a terrible toll on one's psyche.

I'm so looking forward to taking a good and nice relaxing break from the grindstone.

God forbid that I'm mean to children. But it was seriously a very unfortunate scenario that led up to what happened. I wished over and over that it didn't happen, but it did. I wished there was someone there with me then, but there wasn't. And many many times, I am very ill-equipped what with the lack of formal training in child education. It gets frustrating.

I really don't know, am I really cut out for this teaching bit? It could either be just me or the timing, because for a long time, I've been feeling like I'm pushing things right up to my limit. And I'm fed-up trying to fight back time, or trying to make up for my lost personal space which is not forthcoming.

Fed up!!!! *eeeeeeekkkk!!!*

I'm not even doing other church things at the moment. One constant outlet is to gym away the tension in my head...and this I definitely know, I'm not going to do any Les Mills training to be an instructor. I thought I wanted to, but not any longer. Bad enough teaching is stressing me out now...I'm not planning to add gym to that list.

So it begs asking, what should I give up to reprioritise myself? I've started itching to drop this part-time teaching bit. I even thought of changing jobs to give myself some predictability during work. What abouts something that travels less? Then again, I must be that bad at managing my time.

This is terrible....I really should go and force myself to sleep. The whole frustration and negative feeling will pass. It must pass. I'll wake up to a new day, my spirits will be up again, and I'll be ready to take on the world again.

I really hope so.

It has to be so.

Oh Behave... (^_^)

2008-06-15T00:38:00.008+08:00

Have you seen the trailers for "Get Smart" yet? Looks so tantalisingly funny, right? I can't wait for it to open locally. I remember the old tv series when Maxwell Smart walks through the loooong corridors of doors during the credits. And then there were the fancy gizmos (read: useless) like the infamous shoe phone! Funny!!

I think Steve Carrell will be as crazy as the original Maxwell Smart from tv. *crossing fingers* I hope he is.

In the vein and spirit of goofy spy movies, I got down to watching...

OMG! Austin Powers is shaggadelic! The movie's even more hilarious than I remember it to be. And that was only the first part. (Got another two more to go. YEAH BABY! YEAH!) Oh gosh, the movie is beginning to affect the way I'm writing.

Austin Powers is at once funny, dashing, disgusting and intriguing. He is...the international man of mystery. *haahahaha* I thought the whole movie was really groovy.

Couldn't stop laughing at all the Dr Evil comments and the fembot scene. You have to watch it for yourself without the children around. It's such a blast!

----------------------------

Before I go to bed, let me just wish a very warm and loving

to my dearest pa. Love you for all the wonderful things you do for our family. Let's share another pack of soya bean drink, yeah?

*bom bom-bom-bom bom*

Smells like June!

2008-06-12T00:08:00.005+08:00

Wooot!

What a great time it has been since my last post. So many things happened. I'm going to recap very quickly. Albeit with no pictures as they are all in the computer outside. It's just too much hassle. To me, that is.

And I do believe I have lost all interest in cam-hogging lately.

Moving right along...

:: Practically every weekend sees a big family dinner or some big party. It's just one thing or another. There was mother's day, family birthday, someone had a bonus, Karen's dinner, mom's dinner on the week before that, on and on...

:: KAREN AND ENG SENG GOT MARRIED! The first wedding of the family. The weeks and especially days leading up to 31st May was a big rush for the couple. Everything went on beautifully and it was a lovely memory for us all to cherish.
Anyway, not much has changed. They still come back for dinners often and it's not a departure for Karen...just a big welcome for Eng Seng permanently into our family.

:: With very brief notice, Karen got me to emcee her dinner with Kenneth. With even briefer notice, we had to be toastmaster for the newlyweds...but eventually it was Kenneth who did a great job with it. I got away with introducing her slideshow. Hehe.

:: While the newlyweds went on their honeymoon, the rest of the family flew to Bangkok (sans John) for the week. I loved the city. And the food! You can get all things pork there. Haha...for people like me, getting pork freely everywhere, even in standard packed foodstuff, is such a blast. No fun meh? Don't have to deal with "halal" this and that. Fun what! Bleh.
Shopping is pretty nice there. Not that everything is incredibly cheap, unless you like funky t-shirts or imitation goods, but just that the variety is boggling. We even went to the famous floating market on boat. Way cool.

:: Happy belated to John...who's finally become a member of the quarter-lifers' club.

:: Got my new replacement notebook. Boss got me a 12.1" display mini gizmo. Am having some strain adjusting as it does cause some neck and backache hitherto. I love that it weighs so little and I can carry it around with little to no thought.

:: Work is a mixed bag for me. Sometimes I feel so good about what I do, only to have a major blooping mistake done before the day ends. I'm not sure what the boss or colleagues think of me...one moment I perform and contribute well, only to cause some brouhaha for them to fix very soon after. *Haiz*
Told my friend today about feeling super-validated if my German principal company recognises what I do for their stuff that they offer me a position in their company. *haha* It's only just a far-fetched dream because ultimately, they are just a small time company in the big league. Not going to work out...
Still, I always thought that for a sales or marketing person, who is doing not working for the main company itself, but is offered a position into the main company, it's really cool. It'll be how I would like to be promoted out of my job. Definitely. Probably not with my present setting. We'll see how it's like next time.

:: Will be flying about next few weeks...including to East Malaysia and Brunei. Can't wait for that.

:: Parents' Day is also coming up for speech and drama. I'm really freaking out on this one. The last time I saw my children, it was a month ago. Wonder if they've been practising by themselves at all. *gasp*
By the way, if you are reading this and is interested to teach speech and drama to children on weekends, please tell me. We are looking for teachers. I have a bumper 5 class marathon on a Saturday in August...it's scaring me. All because there are not enough of us to go around.

:: I finally did it...I'm starting my, how do you call it, unit trust account or policy thing! Had thought about it for a long time already (put it off for some years, in fact). I'm really going to start forcing myself to save once and for all. It's something good I get down to doing for myself for real.

Happy. (^_^)

The Madness That April Was

2008-05-11T21:45:00.007+08:00

There hasn't been much to blog about since the last entry. Quite spastic la, since all I can talk about excitedly happens to be work, who I meet at work, what I did at work, and where I went for work. Yadda, yadda... All work no play and that kind of schtick.

BUT

April was quite an interesting month for me. Because, I happened to work the least that month and took loads of personal time off.

Started out with trying to travel down south during the beginning of the month. Got really feverish in the morning and had to cancel my commissioning appointments in Seremban and JB. That was a Monday.

The thing was, on Tuesday, my house got broken into and my company notebook, bro's notebook, and sister's bicycle among a few other things, got stolen. Darn it! Lousy thief also took my thumbdrives (plus an 8G which was hardly a month old! GRRRR!!!). Losing the notebook was bad enough, but thinking of all the time and work put into my presentations and research materials being lost was unnerving!

Ok, ok... truthfully, I couldn't immediately feel anything when we realised about the break in and the losses that morning. My head was so groggy with antibiotics and my nose was so stuffed out.

John and I went to make a police report, which was a major pain. Local police happens to treat the rakyat like floor rags. In retrospect, we don't know which is worse, being robbed or making a report. My silver lining was that boss was sympathetic and said he'd get me a new notebook. *yaay* Anyway...

Back to the horrible fever which didn't go away and was worse on the next day. I wanted to go to SJMC to check it out with my haematologist. Mom went on further to suggest getting admitted for medical attention. And I stayed what Ken Han calls the white hotel for 4 days.

It's almost like last time when I got admitted, except this time it was only viral fever. Last time, I was verging on bronchitis. Had two blood transfusions and got all ok. Thank you Jesus. Many thanks and much gratitude for all the love and prayers from all those who found out.

It happens to sound like I broke down due to too much work and activities stress. It's not exactly the case. Work is great and getting even better for me. I did push a lot for the job, including teaching because of passion. I just think I didn't listen to my warning signals on time to stop and rest a while. Maybe it wasn't worth it to work without wisdom. I've learnt my lesson the tough way.

Long story right? Not finished yet...

The following week, I tried to travel down south again to settle the unfinished business of comissioning and attending a surgical procedure in JB. When nearly reaching Muar area, my car stalled and died along the highway. It is completely unthinkable, being stranded so far away from home like that. The great miracle happens to be getting my dying car right into the emergency lane before it totally died.

Good thing that I pulled my car alongside a stranded tour bus because the sun was quickly setting. The Chinese tourists kept me company. By the time the PLUS truck got to me, it was pitch dark at the highway. The officer felt oil all over my car boot and told my my exhaust pipe spewed engine oil. (!!!)

Gone la. How to fix this kind of thing in a town with no friends, right?

Dad came in and saved the day. Errr, actually, since he was in Penang then, his friend from Muar came, picked me up, and sent me to a hotel in town. Dad was really my hero, calling me all night checking up on me and making all the arrangements.The next morning, my poor car got towed all the way back to Sunway where my dad recommended his mechanic.

A tow truck ride, I tell you, is a very bumpy experience. Period.

My entire engine was jammed. Wanna know the cause of engine oil leakage? An impact from a hard object hit my oil filter and made a bullet-like hole. Oil was flowing freely during my drive. It was then I remembered that I had something ricochet under my car from a truck or something as I was driving past Malacca.

Please people...DO NOT throw things, especially hard objects, out of your window. Don't subject another innocent soul to a long ~~and expensive~~ tow truck ride.

Epilogue: My car is all fixed up and back home. I'm all healthy and back to doing intensive things like gymming and outstation travelling. I'm also on a long break from Sunday School duties to get more rest periods.

April was a mad mad month. I have some more details to fill you in...but I guess right now, this is just about enough. *grin*

The Other Side

2008-03-04T20:35:00.004+08:00

I flew into Kota Bahru today. Wanted to see some customers for the new product I'm handling now. There were two key surgeons to see, so flying in for a day made sense.

To be very honest, I've never flown domestically via MAS before.

*finished laughing yet?*

Good thing, I bumped into my uncle at KLIA right after the car park. Think I gave him a good laugh when I was so completely clueless about the self-check in process and even where to check in for domestic flights.

When I got to Kelantan, I was thinking if I offended any dress codes or syariah law by talking to the male community. But interestingly enough, it is not as oppresive or as backward as the media made the state to be. Not from my viewpoint for the whole day, at least.

The public, albeit majority Malay-folks, seem to have things looking fine and dandy. Election talks run rife all around. ~~Hideous posters and banners line the streets as it is with everywhere else in the country.~~ And, as mentioned by my Chinese Kelantan colleague, non-Malay communities are satisfied with the PAS rule. I'm not going to vouch for that fully, but I'd take his word and leave it at that.

Needless to say, the trip is an eye-opener. Moral of the story, do watch out what the media reports, because there is someone serving up a perspective that is not the whole full picture.

-----------------------

Something crossed my mind about last Saturday's speech and drama class. One of my star and ham actor boys came into class and gave me an ang-pow.

Jamie : Shane, what is this?
Shane : Teacher, I don't know. My auntie said to give it to you.
Jamie : What for?
Shane : I don't know. My aunie said to pass to you.

And it didn't really look like an ang-pow because it was a cartoon picture on an orange packet. hence, I didn't think about it anymore. I opened the packet after class...lo and behold...RM 10 inside. So surprising.

Asked the counter girl who Shane's aunt was and she said it was the first time she ever came to the centre to pick him up. Such a pleasant surprise and humbling thought that any of my student's family member would bless someone they don't even know. This even includes the ang-pows I randomly get from Sunday School kid's parents during CNY. (O_o)

Thank God for supernatural favour and trust.

And anyway, thanks to Shane's auntie, the class will get lollipops as a term-ending gift.

-------------------------

{{ DIAPER spelled backwards is REPAID. Think about it... }}

Red and Customary

2008-03-02T18:42:00.007+08:00

A bad*ss gangster movie

Have just finally watched "The Departed". Good movie. Since they said it's inferior to the original template, ie. Hongkie movie "Infernal Affairs", I'm keen to watch that as well.

"The Departed" was super violent. Too bad about Matt Damon's character. The movie made me hate his guts, whereas I'm usually a big fan of his roles. Leonardo Di Caprio was great...like he is now with all his recent movies. Everybody is talking about Jack Nicholson...rightly so, cos I think he's being who he is. Good all around anyway. And ooh, Mark Wahlberg too.

The imitator (top) and imitatee (bottom)

----------------------

Weddings! I keep hearing and seeing and getting invited to weddings. Not to mention Karen's one in May.

CONGRATULATIONS too to LYDIA and JONATHAN, who both henceforth are known as the fiancée and the fiancé. Check out Lyd's announcement on her blog.

It’s not unexpected that a spate of weddings are happening this year, particularly Chinese ones, as it is the “ong” 2008. One of my cousin’s wedding yesterday bears the auspicious nos: 1, 3, and 8.

His mom, hence my aunt, is also very feng shui driven. They have the traditions and taboos laid down. The most interesting thing when we were at their house for the “bachelor night” dinner on Friday night.

And oh no, bachelor night in conservative Chinese family practices do not involve raunchy dancers and limitless booze. It’s bright and family oriented, people!

So, yes, we went to the customary “bridal chambers” to have a look at the new furniture…it’s just the room, where for bachelor night, becomes a showroom. We were amply surprised that our usually Beng-fied cousin had a very tasteful and modern room décor. Not bad. The last thing we saw was actually a sign outside the room:

Those born in the year of horse, cannot enter the room.

Wahlieu-ey! Superstitious or not, huh?

I was born in the year of the horse. If I jinxed anything, too bad lah. *hehehe*

----------------------

Speaking of weddings too, it's one more round of wedding dinner after this. Makan, makan...

----------------------

{{ If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? }}

So terribly cold!

2008-02-29T11:06:00.000+08:00

Happy 29th February! Soak it all in because it’s not coming around again till 2012.

It’s actually a day-off for me today. I applied for my annual leave yesterday morning only to cancel by evening as a Malaccan hospital called me for a case, Friday morning at 9am.

It’s already 11am now and *darn-it* I’m still waiting in the operating theatre for something to happen. It’s so cold here that my nose is runny. Thank God that I managed to have some coffee before coming in.

Mmmmm…coffee….

Life is hectic. I wanted to have this day off to re-centre myself. There was a severe problem on Wednesday when I made time to clear up my administration work and study up my new products. Running around for the weeks prior resulted in a huge pile of paperwork and filing to be done.

Guess what? I couldn’t focus at all for the whole day. Could do me jolly good running about instead. I think there’s some mental or emotional imbalance (don’t sneer!) somewhere and I just some R&R…and more sleep.

I also wanted to have a good load of preparation for my speech & drama class plus Sunday School lessons. Last week was a nightmare in Puchong during speech & drama because I couldn’t concentrate well while teaching and had difficulty focusing on the children. It boiled down to having little time to prepare during the week and being too preoccupied with work etc.

Oh nuts, since I’m in Malacca today, I might as well go have some nyonya popiah later. It’s so cold!!!

------------------------

.:: I need not suffer in silence while I can whimper, moan, and complain ::.

Playtime's Over

2008-01-02T20:44:00.000+08:00

First up, a big BLESSED BIRTHDAY TO MIZZ LYDIA CRUISE!! Woohoo!!!

May all your dreams come true, and be over-abundantly showered with favour. (^_^)

---------------------

The whole Hari Raya Haji-Christmas-New Year holiday season just drew to a close. And the fiasco of the daily grind resumed today with a vengeance. Unfortunately, for many people who are like me, there's still a lingering post-holiday hangover; and our gears are taking a while to kick in.

Today, being a classic bad-comedy scenario, where my Malaccan hospital called at 8.30am.

Anuar (hospital guy): Ey, Jamie, confirmed got case today. You come in with your equipment. Say about 1pm and we run the case at 2.30.
Me (horrified stupor): *thinks to myself - NOOO!!* Errrr, are you sure the case will be on today?
Anuar: Can...just come in whenever you can this afternoon.
Me (after thinking hard for an escape): Do you think it's possible to arrange the case for tomorrow afternoon? It's too short noticed for me right now. *not true!*
Anuar: The MATRON is THE patient. If you come and attend her case, your sale will get through much faster.
Me (dang-it!): Since you put it that way....

I got cornered! It's a sale I've been pursuing for half a year. Anyway, I wish I didn't sound as grudging as I did. I was that unmotivated to start work.

I had my ulterior motive too...because...

My office is *finally* having it's Christmas lunch come afternoon. Post-Christmas lunch, if you must. Ok, ok...call me greedy then. But, hanging loose with colleagues hardly happens; I was looking forward to it.

Us salespeople trudged into office, mostly late and mainly sat around for *ahem* the pig-out to start. Right. Not really...we did go out for quick rounds and promptly came back when we were supposed to. Like the greedy pigs we all are! *arhahaha*

Oh yes, Anuar called me at 9.30 am to inform that the case will be held tomorrow at 10.30 am instead. (^_^).v

--------------------

Something else about today's title. Obviously every Malaysian who read the local headlines or heard the news today will have someting to chuckle over a certain randy minister's exploits caught on DVD.

Interestingly, I didn't think too much about the whole issue till late afternoon when a customer casually asked me what I opined the real issue was behind the brouhaha.

I had no idea then.

But in the evening news, watching the minister's press statement, the waters run deeper than it appears. The public can be savages - demanding for a villain (the CCTV pervs?), a victim (minister's wife?), or maybe a framed party (Mr Minister?). For one thing, Mr Minister didn't blatantly blame someone outright. He seemed pretty level-headed and fielded questions diplomatically...without breaking into beetroot blush. I mean after all, what else is there left to the public's imagination? *eewwww...*

Peel off all the drama, there's one word: integrity. Sure he did something wrong. Maybe his family and friends will abandon him. He may not get to walk in public without someone looking at him with distaste. I have to concede it is not easy to come up in public and say, "It's my fault." No sir. Not in this day and age where maintaining face is of utmost importance.

He owned up to a misdeed and comes head-on with the consequences. How was it like for King David last time when he committed adultery? There's a saying that "you can't jump into a swimming pool without getting wet". With all else overlooked, he's done something many many many people cannot ever dare to do.

There's also another saying I told mom: "one thing worse than getting caught is getting caught with your pants down"

(^__^)

----------------

Esther is having her first day of school tomorrow. New school as well.

Playtime is really over for her too. *awww*

----------------

:: Does your life shed light or cast a shadow? ::

Counting Down the Minutes

2007-12-31T23:35:00.000+08:00

As of now, there is merely 22 minutes left of 2007. Woohooo! Gonna SOUND THE JUBILEE!!

--------------------------

The year seemed so long. Even so, I'm looking forward to 2008.

A BRIGHT BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!

2007 was a good year. Not great, but truly good for me. With this year, I was truly grateful for hope. For love. For acceptance. For a fresh start.

As cliched as it sounds, 2007 just got better towards the end than when it started. My family and friends were so good to me. Above all, it is truly God's grace that brought me through it all.

What stood out for me this year?
> Parents' 30th wedding anniversary
> The first time I had a clear prophetic word that I have a ministry in teaching children.
> Care Group in BBK
> The weddings galore - just seemed to be so many this year.
> Three letters: V-B-S
> Got bitten by the gym-bug and feeling great
> The award for the "Sucks-to-be-you" goes to Gilbert my car for being kissed in the rear, tyre problems, side mirror vandalism, power window failure, multiple scratches... poor poor Gil!

*waa-waa-waaaa...*

Melodrama aside, God's promise is more blessings in the new year. The year to SOUND THE JUBILEE (Psalm 89:15) I proclaim my breakthrough in all areas, be it relationships, finances, health, ministry...everything!

Here's what I look forward to in 2008...
> my sister's wedding
> moving over to a new home
> a career shift
> getting back into teaching speech and drama
> being healthier and stronger than ever
> I want to start to dream bigger in the new year. Much bigger that I ever had!

I cut my hair, could you tell?

And boy, oh boy, Lydia and I want to have our joint birthday bash by this week. When and where...undecided as yet. But it's going to be big. Both of us are getting older, so we've got to make it really count, right? *hehe*

------------------------

:: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away ::

Christmas Ruminations before the New Year

2007-12-30T21:12:00.000+08:00

First up...

BLESSED BELATED BIRTHDAY TO DEAR DAD!!

Love ya Dad! Here's to many many more birthdays ahead!

Dad's birthday falls on the 22nd December. If you realise the date, it actually coincides with the Winter Solstice festival. It makes planning for mom a breeze as all Chinese people cook up delicious "tong yuen" to celebrate the day. We get a two-fer...on dad's birthday.

Dad is also very sentimental and hilarious. I think it's a Hokkien thing to eat soupy misua cooked with two hard-boiled eggs on birthdays. Something like in the old days long long ago when the birthday boy or girl gets to eat the "pak cham kai" drumstick over their elders. So, give my dad his misua and tong yuen, the birthday experience is complete.

I like these oldie traditions which may or may not mean anything. Such a colourful characteristic, no? Well, anyway...

Life is pretty superfine and unadventurous since the middle of December.

I got to spend some time travelling mostly to Malacca and thank God business is rolling along all around. I'm rejecting the spirit of office-politicking because it's better to nip it at the bud. Sometimes I get caught up in the whirl of things and it's bad to let sentiments cloud sound judgement. *Jesus, help me! I can't do it on my own.*

And, it was a nice long weekend break from last Thursday (Hari Raya Haji) till Tuesday (Christmas). Unforch, I came down with a seriously bad case of digestion problems on Thursday evening...right when the family braved the traffic and got a sweet parking parking spot in Mid-Valley. After half an hour, I couldn't take the horrible pain and the family had to leave. *sobs*

I couldn't get out of bed till the next afternoon. It was that bad. So much for the start of a long weekend.

Esther and I planned to bake and ice cupcakes as gifts for Christmas. It wasn't difficult to do it and we managed to have a good messy fun experience.

On Monday (Christmas eve), the family did the traditional thing...a homely family dinner with...turkey and stuffings. But honestly, since when did it become a festive thing to have turkey on Christmas? Isn't it an American Thanksgiving practice? We all ar, kena conned adi...

The family plus my Unc Dex

John, Karen (plus their respective partners) and I shared to get Carol and Esther's presents.

Brand new BICYCLES!! Needless to say, they were both so happy.

Christmas is beautiful. Jesus is the reason that makes this day extra special, letting us know we are loved above all else that He came down as the ultimate gift to each of us. I am truly blessed to have a loving family to spend time and enjoy each other's presence.

Over the whole long weekend, I must say, I was just cosy and contented at being a completely useless person, lazing about at home. Just trying to drag my overly rested self back to work must've been one of the hardest tasks this year alone. *hah!*

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>> "No comment" is a comment itself <<

Eat that meat!

2007-12-15T21:36:00.000+08:00

I've discovered a new vice...food blogs!! And what a load of them there are. I'm not talking about the ones that puts out recipes and cooking how-tos. I'm talking about the ones that review eateries and tell you what's good to try out around the country.

All the sales staff *owe* the administration girls a good meal each year when we get our commission. It took most of us a long time since August, so suddenly PY made out an eating out schedule and cc-ed to all the sales staff. *waaaahdaaa!!* She's going to be on her maternity leave early next year, so it's better the girls get that little matter of their treats out of the way lickety split.

Gaik and I thought we'd share and really go all out to eat that proverbial horse. At first the plan was to go to Amarin Heavenly Thai at Mid-Valley. Their clear tom yam soup is to die for. But the traffic at rush hour arond M-V intimidated us out of it.

I started searching online for somewhere nearer our office and found, via all the food blogs...a carnivore's cavern called Carnaval Churrascaria. OMG, I loved it. They serve Brazilian BBQ buffet. The meats are brought out and carved onto your plate by a waiter. They even have grilled pineapple and superb garlic breads.

I tell you, the meat was so succulent and tender it literally melted in my mouth. I'm talking about the medium rare to rare beef topside. Their lamb isn't half bad either. And to top the meal off, we had caramelised banana ala mode. The entire meal was satisfyingly sinful and gratifying...enough to quell the biggest carnivore's craving out there. Unless, of course, if that carnivore wants pork, then it's a no-deal. *hmmm*

No pictures here...you should see it for yourself. If you would care to indulge in a crazy palate of meat, meat, and more meat, call me along, ya? P.L.E.A.S.E??

Full Circle

2007-12-09T22:20:00.000+08:00

WARNING: No pictures, a month's worth of recaps, loads of randomness... Read at your own risk.

muaaahahahahaha!!

--------------------------

So, a month has gone by. A long madcap month both on a personal and workfront. The saying goes: "when it rains, it pours". Even with a vacation last month, I feel exhausted. I'm so looking forward to a day off on Tuesday and my year end break from 20th till 25th December.

Don't you get that kind of feeling sometimes?

~*~ WORKING HARD FOR THE MONEY ~*~

Boss is putting a lot of pressure for our new lines of surgical instruments. He had a day training on the 9th Dec just to talk For the life of me, I cannot think of slogging on selling needle holders and iris forceps and the like. It seems so, brainless...

Call me a sales snob, but I just seem to think that products that come with a technical requirement makes you more...valuable to the customer and device manufacturer. But then again, it's ok-lah. Brainless things can also be fun. Because everyone need to buy those kind of things very often. I shouldn't be complaining too much.

I've spent a lot of time travelling. Lately, I'm starting to venture around the towns I go to a bit more for good food places. Yes...for the last two years, I survive mainly on fastfood and mamak meals outstation. I'm ashamed to admit it.

Happy to say, in Malacca, I've discovered a very nice popiah place at the end of Jonker Walk and red wine misua in Melaka Raya. In JB, hoo hoo, the Taman Pelangi enclave behind where I always stay has a chockful of Chinese coffeeshops waiting to be uncovered. So too, is the Pandan area at Tebrau.

~*~ THIS FEVER THEY CALL SHOPPING ~*~

So many new shopping havens mushrooming around Klang Valley. KL is literally bursting at its seams with retail. Every month heralds a new sales promotion somewhere or another. And in Klang...the biggest Jusco has just opened!

I do most of my shopping outstation. Ironically. Time is so dear when I'm around town that I've not even stepped into Gardens or the new improved Sunway Pyramid yet. I do become very free when I'm away though. My credit cards are weeping.

With the Christmas feel all over, I get all excited looking at sparkly things. Shimmering tops, silvery dresses, bright blingy accessories...it's a false sense of desire to buy things so utterly useless on normal periods apart from the seasonal partying circuits. Have you even seen the tempting coffrets from cosmetics and bath+beauty outlets...the ones packaged with lotions or eyeshadows and come with useless toilettry bags or brush sets? How can you not want to buy them?! I'm itching here!! OMG! I.need.help.

~*~ YOU MAKE ME SO HOT ~*~

Two rounds of fever. I kid you not. In one month, I got super bad wheezing chesty cough and perillously runny nose twice. Even while prancing around lightheadedly and busting my ribs coughing out the phlegm, I didn't get a chance to apply for sick leave.

One happened when we were all in Malacca for a holiday outing, right before VBS. It came back right after the VBS weekend. Both of which are right after a long spell of leave.

I'm all ok now. *yaaay*

~*~ WATERY GETAWAY ~*~

The gang got together and got away for a trip to Malacca where we stayed at A Famosa Waterpark Resort. Place wasn't much to shout about. Bungalow was nice with its own swimming pool.

The Cowboy Town attraction was severely anaemic. I should know what that means and believe me, it meant that the place was b-o-r-i-n-g. Afterwards, we headed to Malacca town to eat. It was my first ever experience to try satay celup. Nice meh?? I didn't really think so.

The objective of the trip was to act like irresponsible kids, go to the waterpark, binge drink, and play Taboo. Done, done, done, and done. We slept so little. We ate so much. Such fun! Though work came-a-calling that weekend, it did little to dampen the holiday mood.

We even made it back on right time to church for a VBS meeting Saturday evening. Right royal rush it was. Hah!

~*~ C.H.A.M.P.S or C.H.I.M.P.S? ~*~

Three letters. V-B-S. People are still talking about it. Or professing an enthusiastic longing for sunday school children. Oh well, for many many of us involved with the Vacation Bible School a.k.a. CHAMPS, it was a first time and a very overwhelming eye-opener.

In spite of first day hiccups, the madcap night shift administration work, those super-tireless children, exhaustion...it was all worth it. It didn't matter who kept on giving us a challenging time.

Heck, it was all such an exhillarating experience to teach a class of lovely 4-6 year olds that number to about a hundred each day. Some were first timers who had no idea what church was all about. Some were so young they felt lost amist the sea of rumbunctious children.

With the third day came a concert at night. And the children did GREAT! I broke out in side splitting laughter watching Esther's 9 yr old group performance. Soooo cute, this little sister of mine!

When all is said and done, I just have one more thing to add: Next round, May Ee!! (^_^)

~*~ SOGGY SOPPY JB ~*~

Flood alert all around the country! I went down to JB from 5th to 8th Dec...right smack when the meteorological department issued a red alert warning for flooding there and Pahang.

No flood occured (phew!!) but the entire mood of the trip was a bland blah, as it was just pouring non-stop from morning till night. I would've enjoyed the lovely rain had I not been working. I mean, wouldn't you just lluuurrrrvve to languish indoors under the covers or with a book and a warm mug of coffee without a single care as it rained outside?

Oh well. I'll wait until my really long break before Christmas and do all that disgustingly self-indulgent lying about at home. Can't wait for a proper holiday.

-------------------------

I'm out of ruminations. Enough for now. Haha. Toodles!

Baby Love

2007-11-07T22:41:00.000+08:00

Driving home at 110km/h from JB is such a pain...but what can I do since Ops Sikap started on the eve of Deepavali. Speaking of which, it's been a very low-keyed herald for this year's festival of lights, huh?

--------------------------

I'm sure most of you must've heard by now about the story of Lakshmi Tatma. This is a girl born with a rare but bizzare condition called isciopagus. She has four arms and four legs because her body has merged with her undeveloped twin while in her mom's womb. Not only that, she has two merged spines, four kidneys, entangled nerves, two chest cavities, and two stomach cavities.

The undeveloped foetus is called a "parasitic twin". It really takes the term parasite to a new level as I always associated that term to Britney's ex.

See how K-Fed is permanently and parasitically fused to Ms Spears' pocket?

I'm sure the parents must've been perplexed about raising her. To add insult to their plight, a circus has offered to "buy" her!

She underwent an very extensive surgery this week to remove the extra limbs and organs. The experts estimated a gruelling 40 hour surgery but it ended at around 27 hours.

Lakshmi is such a beautiful 2-year old girl. Such a shame for her that doctors are not sure if it's possible to walk properly after the surgery since her limbs are quite atrophied, ie. degenerated already. But at least she will have a chance to grow up till her teen years being less dependent of other people.

This story, along with an encounter with a mother last Saturday got me pondering. She has three children...but the second child is a girl with hearing dificulties. 70% of hearing is gone due to a lack of nerve connection.

Therein lies the problem and heartache for the family. The child is extremely aggresive and frustrated because she cannot relate to parents or siblings. She's quite deprived of connection with her world. It must be so difficult for them.

I cannot imagine or put myself in the mother's shoe in either instances. Having a child to me means a perfect angel (preferably a doll of a girl who I dress up every chance I get). Regardless, the common saying is that, once you have a baby of your own, nothing else matters.

I'll take that.

I want to have a baby of my own one day. How can you not love a baby? How can you resist the fresh smell of a clean baby?

EEEEEEEEEEE.....SO CUTE!!!

Even today, I was in the clinic with a surgeon and the nurses carried in the most cutest tiny crimson-faced baby. The baby has the most adorable little cry. When she was exhausted from the wailing, she just shut her eyes and fell asleep a while. Then she stirred and started to cry again.

So, anyway, I said I want to have a baby of my own one day. It's not going to be so soon, since my singlehood status doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon. I've considered adoption or artificial insemination but it'll be a "when-all-else-fails" tactic, ya.

So the gatal la. All in good time, all in good time. (^_^)

Addendum: Yes, I agree with John that God makes all things beautiful in His time. His prerequisite is for me to desire in my heart, believe and wait for Him to bring it to pass.

It's all good... (^_^)

Addendum #2 : I heard in Singapore radio that the rate of isciopagus in newborn babies is 1 in 50000 or 1 in 500000, I wasn't paying too much attention. If that's so, it's not extremely rare. I wonder how much hope Lakshmi's operation gives to the families out there.

-------------------

[[ Familarity breeds children ]]

Pump It!

2007-10-28T21:24:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday, I was standing three feet before the Malaysian Prime Minister! 'Twas a moment of paparazzi-dom when the press flashbulbs went off like Christmas lights and cameras rolled away. (^__^)

They were watching the bloody, gory heart surgery videos at our booth. And the PM made some really blur old fogey joke...and, being me, I actually replied with my own lame joke. (=___=*)

Darn it...didn't get to ask him my question about the petrol and toll price increase!

--------------------------

I signed up for organ donation during my weekend cardiac conference. So chuffed indeed. (^_^)

At first I hesitated because I think the major organs like heart, liver and kidneys are not fit for donation. Even my blood is not donatable. *sigh* I can't wait for the day it will be received again.

But then, Betty, the lady who organised the donation drive informed me that eyes, skin and bones are also acceptable. My colleague VJ also signed up with me. The harvesting may not necessarily happen in event of my death but it's good to know that we have availed ourselves for a good cause. You'll never know what goes around may come around...I may need an organ from someone, just in case, you know...

Anyway, last time I had blood transfusion, someone donated his or her O+ "liquid organ". And I'm ever so grateful.

Betty basically passionately championed the sign-up drive because she liked the whole concept of doing good to humankind. She was even so nice as to give out those irresistable wondermilk decorated cupcakes to each volunteer.

VJ and I walloped the cupcakes since we were pretty hungry. *haha*

---------------------------

{{ If the shoe fits, get another one just like it }}

There should be a Land of Talk-Nonsense

2007-10-26T23:15:00.000+08:00

...and I should be made the QUEEN.

I've talked rots all day. Talked rots to customers, to other vendors, to colleagues, colleagues' spouses, msn friend, mom, everyone. There's so much unintended corniness that it's practically even oozing out of my nose. I'm physically tired but not mentally exhausted yet...a lot of random thoughts pinging in my head like ballistic missiles.

*YIKES!*

Spent the whole day at a swanky 5-star hotel in KL for a conference. It was supposed to be a big day today as the Prime Minister was to grace the event's opening. Imagine...face to face with Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi.

However, the program switched and he will be coming tomorrow instead. Hence, we are having the opening ceremony of the 2-day conference on the 2nd and last day. How ironic is that?

Say.it.with.me...PRESS PUBLICITY.

*ahem*

It was a very strange day too. Two of my male colleagues were driving me up the wall. I don't know how to say it but you male readers will bash me for it when I do. Oh well.

These two male colleagues are my product peers and are rather new. I'm having hiccups working with them. They just seem to be very ungentlemanly, to put it lightly. Sometimes it's crazy that they can be quite ignorant to the ladies. One colleague called it being "thick-skinned" but it may be a tad harsh.

I just think there should be a little courteousness now and then. I guess I may be a little picky on them both. I'm really going to wait out the niggling initial irritation before I possibly talk it out with them about it.

I'm beginning to think I may come across as too particular and assertive over people's space (which is possible as I know I can nag the heck out of anyone. I'm not proud of it.) I used to scare people away because of it...usually they would be subordinates. So, not too bad.

But to peers...I think it's very damaging. Lest I be labelled a bitch in the office, I'll have to make it worth being given that title. Wait.out.the.irritation.

Since it's a conference, all vendors pit themselves against each other to vie for customer attention. This include insincere flattery, making lame jokes, outstanding claims for product benefits, very incredible promises, so on and so forth. All with a gargantum smile and complementary laugh. Maybe some other vendors are not like that but they obviously aren't at the booths visible to me.

I talked major rots to my female colleagues...mostly along the lines of shopping, foods we crave, which surgeon is the most ~~handsome~~ charismatic, industry ~~gossip~~ updates...and especially about my admin colleague's wedding tomorrow.

Then later at said colleague's bachelorette party...lots of talking again. Sarawakian colleague came down, so we yakked about job and business and stuff.

I really have to lay off the caffein too.

Having typed everything about today, I am suddenly sleepy and feeling heavy. This is great. I need the tiredness to set in. I'd better get to sleep. I have a long day again tomorrow.

I wonder if I'll get a chance to get a word in with the Prime Minister. What shall I say to him?

"How much toll and petrol increase next year ah, Datuk?"

--------------------------

[[ The problem with censorship is ****** ***********]]

Joshua & Priscilla's Wedding Dinner...and then some

2007-10-21T18:29:00.000+08:00

To those many nice people who quietly drop by to my blog....

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DROP ME A SHOUTOUT! (^_^)

The tagbox may sometimes be at the very bottom of the page. Blogger's comment window is safe for non-bloggers.

Don't la diam-diam only.

-------------------------

Three weddings, one more to go. Oh, make that two, since my cousin is also getting married on Deepavali day.

Back to the most recent wedding event...

I've known Joshua and Priscilla to be inseparable ever since I joined the RLC youth scene. So, FINALLY, they tie the knot! They complement each other so well and happen to be one of the most romantic and warmest couples around. Everyone was sooo happy for them both.

*Joshua and Priscilla, if you happen to come by my blog, I hope you are pleased with the pictorial entry I can come up with from last night's fabulous dinner.**

An event to remember...

Angeline, Sarah, Grace, and I were roped in to help with the reception. Except for Angie, we were all, erm, a little late.

Photo op!!

The guests were early, by Malaysian standards. Angie and I thought it was because Pris and Josh had their tea ceremony at 4pm. But the early guests weren't all family members. It's a surprising change of habit. Bravo to you people!! *thumbs up*

I only got to see the bride and groom right before they gave their customary walk into the grand ballroom to start the evening proceedings. And we grabbed beautiful Priscilla in her gorgeous ivory white gown for another photo. Josh was held up with another guest bearing well-wishes. :/

Then we also got hold of Denise for more pics. See...so much free time. (^__^)

Nice huh, her dress?

You can't blame us anyway, because we haven't seen them for a long time and miss them so much.

This was what I liked about the ballroom...its beautiful "starry" ceiling!

Dinner was the standard Chinese 9-course fare. But the food was pretty nice. Pris changed to another dress right after the 2nd course. And we started the camera frenzy again. Candy was a little upset she couldn't get a shot with Pris and her white bridal gown.

Hamming it up with the always fresh and youthful Pastor Sally

Not our best foot forward... (=__=)

Savour the rare moments when Grac wears a sexy dress! *weee-uu-iitt!!*

Me being a lamp post to Unc Robin and Aunt Kathy

I notice that nowadays the service staff at Chinese wedding banquets are not the usual just-out-of-school-pimply teenagers anymore. The ballroom is manned by Bangladeshi or Pakistani workers! What? Are locals even too good to be waiting on tables? No wonder we have a glut of foreign workers in the country.

Aunty Katherine was a Hong Kong star last night!

Finally, a group shot with Mr and Mrs Joshua Ratilal

Ben and I in a shot that makes him look tall even while sitting down

Me and Sarah "smiley-smiles"

Me and Esther

Once dinner ended, the usual mad rush for the door ensued...and customarily too, guests will say their parting words to the beaming newlyweds and have a final photocall for good measure. May Ee and I queued for a long time because the people ~~who cut in front of us~~ ahead took a hundred or so solo shots.

When our turn came around, someone from the back of the line hijacked Joshua away! *whaaadaaaa!!* Kena cut left and right. (=___=*) Anyway, Priscilla jumped in and saved the day...hehe...

I finally got to take a picture with them!

Thing is, May Ee and Elena were more excited to strike a pose with this glamorous couple...

CONGRATULATIONS JOSHUA AND PRISCILLA...enjoy your wonderful journey in life together! (^_^)

----------------------------

Another biggie event...~~Fen Han~~ Ken Han turns 21 today!

We had an impromptu late lunch after VBS meeting with him in Wong Kok...mainly because Headmistress May Ee wanted free milk tea!! *hehehe* We all wanted actually...except the birthday boy since he claims all the tea comes from consolidated leftovers. *eeeewwww!!*

The things May Ee and Esther Chin did to get Ken Han's id...~~including checking out passport records!~~ The birthday boy also got his FOURTH CAKE of the year.

Buat muka sedih pulak...

During lunch, suddenly Lydia Flydia started talking about planning our joint birthday party...2 1/2 months in advance!!

Shyiok le, the woman. *love you ar gal!*

We're not gonna reveal any of our schemes yet but officially, I'm inducting Lyd to "everyone's birthday is my birthday" status. You earned it and can wear the badge proudly. (^__^)

--------------------------

You are not yourself today. I noticed the improvement immediately!

oops!

2007-10-14T07:23:00.000+08:00

I meant...

prepubescent

–adjective 1. of or pertaining to the years immediately preceding puberty, prepubertal.
–noun 2. a prepubescent boy or girl.

[Origin: 1900–05; pre- + pubescent]

—Related forms
pre·pu·bes·cence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
(Courtesy of http://www.dictionary.com/)

Thanks for pointing that out John.

Take in a deep breath...and scream!

2007-10-12T18:20:00.000+08:00

Here's my take on our very first Angkasawan...

I just think that the government and Astro made a good choice of a leading man to star in their live broadcast and press coverage.

He looks hot...but sound prebuescent when he talks. And since he is in HUKM, how come I haven't seen him in person before?

--------------------------

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL MOMENT OF FRUSTRATION SCREAM DAY!!

**aaaaaayyyyyiiiiiiiiiieeeeeee!!!!!!!!**

Don't bottle up your frustrations. Don't pent up all that anger.

Just holler and let it all out.

Feel better? (^_~)

The Workshop Saga

2007-10-11T23:47:00.001+08:00

Sue said there may be an opening next year. Am keeping my expectations up.

Can't wait.

-------------------------

First thing...

You know what? My car got VANDALISED!! (T_T)

And right around the church area. *whaaadaaaaa!* After SVG class, I saw this....

Poor defenseless Gilbert's member hanging limp and helpless

But it was in the dark then. Walking to my car, the first thought in my head was, "Eh, that seems to be where I parked my car." Ditz, right?

I parallel parked near the foodcourt. Now, if it was the side mirror on the road/car direction, I'd take it that I parked too "out" (which I didn't) but this...it was INSIDE the lane. Someone clearly was out to vandalise private property. *groaaaan* They broke the side mirror bracket completely and it's merely hanging by it's wires. I am really angry about it.

Dad's car was right in front of mine and his suggestion was to bungkus the mirror so that it doesn't scratch my car on the way back...so, this was what ensued.

[To be very honest, I prayed for calmness on the way back...I also prayed for vindication. No way is someone going to treat God's princess like this without knowing who they are messing with. It's a rare moment that I'm doing so, seriously. But I know God's word says that what the thief comes to steal, God can replace it sevenfold. Hence, I'm not a victim, but a victor.]

Good thing the next day, my usual spare parts shop has stock for a new side mirror assembly. It was a little ridiculous that we left the broken mirror hanging by it's wires because...

observe the WIRE CONNECTOR HEAD on the new set. (=__=)

Haiz...if I had known, I'd have cut the wire clean off and drive without this:

all over town.

I had to take the car to another shop as he's always fixing up my car for body work and spray paintings. He could only finish painting the side mirror by tomorrow evening. So, as a stopgap measure, this was what he did...

he drilled

and placed in a screw

to hold the mirror up. But of course, some duct tape also helped.

Makes my car look like a wounded patient, no? (O__o)

Second thing...

From the day I changed my tyres two months ago, my car rides has not been smooth. (=__=) It really was that long ago and I, erm, even went outstation with a very wobbly set of wheels.

All this while, we thought it was due to lousy balancing. So, when I could spare the time, I took the car to a tyre thingamajig shop...again and again. Off-wheel, on-wheel, balancing, alignment, on and on...but nothing really helped.

Sucks!

The service people basically said my rims are already badly dented and should be knocked out or replaced. *sigh* I just didn't want to spend the money yet since I did my timing belt and tyre change in the same month. ~~Haven't counted in the numerous weddings to attend yet!~~

But the ride is still terrible. Every time my speedometer reached 90km/hr, the cars starts to wobble badly. Sooooo frustrating, k!

I really caved in. Driving has become jarring, rattling, and unbearable. I cannot keep below 80km/hr ~~since I mostly speed because I'm late~~. It's mobile massage chair that does little soothe the spine, if you get what I mean.

This month, I decided to send my car to another tyre shop...ergo, one which does a spanking job but I didn't want to go because the boss...a little gatal one. (=__=*) But he has good tools and skill...I caved in too...and just decided to send my car to his shop.

Can you see how badly scratched my rims are? They are only a little more that two years old!

And I decided to consider changing rims if there was a good deal. He did throw me a decent deal for new rims. But I really wasn't sure so I called my brother and mms-ed him the pics.

John : Are you sure you really want to get new rims?

Me : I've been to a few tyre shops and they all tell me that my rims are shot!

John : That's what they always say. They even tell me that.

Me: Quite about time to change anyway. Just help me look see the ones I picked out.

Guess which one I got? This?

This?

Or this?

John liked the last one. It seems tough-looking...but I think it's something the boys would prefer looking at. I thought the second one was more feminine. It's waaaaay better that getting this:

Hahaha. So ugly.

So, the choice is...

...

...

...

...

...

...

(In the evening, my sister's bf also said the rims are nice. Confirmed! I've made a guy choice.)

Looking somewhat like a bloke car

I thought my problem will be settled for sure. They proded and poked at the tyres. Oh yeah, since the tyres were new, I could do the "twenty sen test".

You need to insert a twenty sen at the deepest groove of your tyre and cannot see the written "twenty sen" word, your tyres are still good...otherwise, it means they have worn out and are not very safe for driving already. I passed!

There's even this contraption that used infrared rays to read the tyre orientation.

Looks spacey. Like a flying craft hovering towards the mothership... (Maybe you can't see too well from the pic. It doesn't do much justice to how it really is. There are blinking red lights emanating from the overhead sensors and the reflectors attached to all four wheels look like spacecraft wings.)

This is how the infrared lights look like.

...blinky...

BUT

BUT

BUT

After doing a whole lot of balancing and alignment...camber nut adjustment (it costs another RM20 to do so!) ... on the road testing followed by some more on-wheel balancing...

THE CAR STILL WOBBLES!!!

I've oficially gone nuts. The boss got perplexed. Finally he suspected that there is something wrong with the tyres itself. He recommended to go back to an authorised Goodyear dealer. So sad, he does Michelin...otherwise can settle in his workshop directly. It seems the thread joints weren't manufactured well or something to that effect. What is this? QC also fail! So, Goodyear ain't so good, heh? *corny, I know*

HOWEVER, since Raya is just around the corner, every single workshop is full of Malay-owned cars preping up for the great exodus. *SIGH!* Have to bear with the wobble till next Tuesday (hopefully no longer than that).

Such a pain that I have to spend the day going from workshop to workshop and deal with customer calls most of the afternoon. They hear pneumatic drills going off in the background which sound like machine guns and politely abstained from asking me where I was.

I also need to look for a foreman to rectify my wheel shaft as that may contribute to the rattling wheels too.

WILL THIS EVER END??!!

-------------------------

Not bad wor...all pics were taken with my handphone's 1.3 megapix camera.

-------------------------

{Since we're here to help others, what are the others here for? }

I Gotta Testify

2007-10-08T22:54:00.000+08:00

"Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, He kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up the twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish." -- Mark 6:41-43

--------------------------

Humbling. Truly humbling.

Last week's care group was exciting. As usual, the week of CG is busy and hectic...usually to the point I get very drained and often disheartened to even attend CG itself. Such is the attack and hindrance of the devil, no?

This happens time and time again. It's incredible indeed.

However, even more incredible is the goodness of God. Personally, I understand how it was like for Jesus when He was refreshed after sharing with the woman of Samaria at the well. I tell you, there hasn't been a meeting where I go feeling discouraged and come out being more refreshed than I had waking up that morning.

You can never outgive God your energy and time. (^_^)

And I just get very humbled.

So, back to last week's meeting. There was an awesome word for the group that God still His best to come before the end of this year. Great favour and provision is poured out upon us.

Amen amen amen!!

The other great thing was an instantaneous healing that came for Danny. Capt David told us how sick he was for a week and and we prayed together. That was it. Immediately on Saturday morning, he messaged me to say Danny is a-okay. Amazing! God is good.

Ministry is exhilarating when you take "self" out of the equation. When God takes charge, I realise there are so many things He faithfully supplies and even the lessons He starts to challenge my character to grow by.

I speak this as a person who has been in a typical "Christian-family" with many many years in ministries and listening to the word. Knowing and experiencing are different things. For much of the frustrating years, serving God meant being exhausted, strained for time, losing fellowship time, broke (seriously) and somewhat deprived.

He's been changing so much of it in me. Taking out the old, legalistic mindset; putting in a renewed understanding. Grace is so real...not just a buzzword. Leadership also positioned me to stretch my faith. It's not an easy challenge. But with each step, I can see He's taken me further from the old nature I was. Sometimes I even feel "paiseh" because things happen with such ease and I don't have to struggle like before.

I've not arrived yet. But the journey is getting sweeter.

*I like it especially that God recently used a simple test of His goodness with me. I always have this simple practice with the Sunday School children to lay hands on themselves and pray for whatever sickness or pain they are having. I wanted them to tap into their pure childlike faith and learn early on to rely on Jesus for their own miracles.

When I had a severe wrist sprain, God distinctly told me to do what I ask the children to do. It is, in all honesty, a difficult exercise for me...the adult mind likes to reason out that they can't receive healing for some reason or other. The adult mind too, is scared of disappointment in case the healing doesn't come. Am I not right?

But if the children can do it, why not me? I had to step aside and let God really be almighty. The healing was instantaneous. I couldn't stop laughing. God is so good. And unconditional.

-------------------------

{{ Each of us is a mixture of dust and deity }}

Fresh from heaven

2007-10-05T23:43:00.000+08:00

## Favour ##

Abundant favour showers me.

The best of this year is still to come. God is going to bring in the best of the year before 2007 ends. More blessings are on the way.

Hallelujah! Yes and amen!!

Gatal betul...

2007-10-04T23:30:00.000+08:00

Almost every blog I read -- that means all of your's -- has posted the following tag. I don't think anyone tagged me...my tag track record is awful anyway.

But I feel left out! *pout*

So, I gatal la...I'm gonna volunteer a tag entry. *chey chey* I really should be ~~sleeping~~ preparing for my care group discussion notes.

But what the hey...

********

Few Names I go by:-
1) Jam (strictly by parents, k!)
2) Teacher Jamie
3) Birthday girl

3 Physical things I like about myself:-
1) My smile
2) My hair
3) My back

3 physical things I hate about myself:-
1) My chunky ankles
2) My abs
3) My thighs

3 parts of my heritage:-
1) My round face
2) My ~~lack of~~ height
3) That unmistakable Hong flat round "prosperous" nose-mouth-chin

3 things I can’t stand:-
1) Dishonesty
2) Inconsiderate people
3) Bad breath

3 things that scare me:-
1) Losing my loved ones
2) Being helpless
3) Horror movies

3 of my favorite movies:-
1) Anchorman
2) Cinderella Man
3) The Incredibles

3 of my favorite Japanese animes?
1) Slam Dunk (which was super hilarious)
2) Samurai X
2) Naruto (right before it got stale)

3 of my favorite current songs:-
1) At the Cross - Hillsongs
2) Wonderful Maker - Jeremy Camp
3) Still Standing - Israel/Lakewood Church
*Oei...like all so basi...but these are golden*

3 movies I can watch over & over again:-
1) LOTR trilogy (cheating...)
2) High School Musical (just don't laugh ar)
3) Hmm...many movies, come to think about it...

3 movies I’d like to watch:- (as of 4/10/07)
1) The Brave One
2) Resident Evil 3 : Extinction
3) Lust, Caution

3 of my everyday essentials:-
1) Handphone with handsfree
2) Loads of water
3) Folic Acid

3 things I am wearing right now:-
1) A yellow t-shirt that screams "I'm a Shopaholic"
2) Black shorts
3) Hairband

3 things I want in a relationship:-
1) He must love Jesus
2) Honesty and trust
3) Respects me

3 physical things about the opposite gender that appeals to me:-
1) A warm smile and good sense of humour
2) Looks good in a shirt
3) The eyes

3 bad habits:-
1) Procrastination
2) Tend to take things for granted
3) Impatience

3 of my favorite hobbies:-
1) Reading (which I hardly do these days, strangely...)
2) Shopping
3) Working out

3 careers I am considering pursuing:-
1) Early childhood education developer
2) Radio jock-cum-emcee
3) Writer

3 places I want to go on vacation:-
1) Japan
2) Italy
3) Brazil

Kid’s name I like:- (off the top of my head)
1) Jordan
2) Gillian
3) Jenna

3 things I want to do before I die:-
1) Leave a legacy of Christ's love and values, particularly through children
2) Send my parents for a full-blown vacation of their dreams
3) Be treated like a queen (HAH! Betcha didn't see that coming.)

3 things that I am stereo typically a girl:-
1) Ditzy
2) Giggly
3) Love big hair and accessories

Initial crush:-
1) A friend's cousin
2) Had one on a girl before too during Form 5 *blush*
3) ...none worth mentioning, I guess...

***PHWOOAARR...I finished!***

---------------

[[ How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night? ]]

I Choose to be Happy

2007-10-04T22:46:00.000+08:00

Not sure if you noticed, but I enjoy going for classes in my local gym...a lot. So super nice to have that adrenaline rush and overall muscle pep because my job can get very sedentary day-to-day. *And yes...the cute instructor...ok, ok...am trying to get over this silly crush.* sigh

Even though it's sales, I really don't relish walking about so much in heels, all for the sake of getting some exercise. *I mean, that's what they all mostly say about sales jobs...that we get physical activity.* Some more, the make-up gets sweated out...very very unpleasant for customers to see. And technically, you should achieve 80% heart rate or so to qualify as quality exercise. Hence, I pooh-pooh at the general consensus of being active even with sales job.

So, thing is, I know it sounds like an excuse in my next sentence, but I have a valid arguement...my idea of getting that so-called quality exercise is really to be generally fit and healthy. I'll go out on a limb and say that I'm not looking out to be like a Hollywood goddesses. *Though the idea is absolutely apealing when it happens.* (^_^).v

Ok, ok...my whole point on this entry is to hissy-fit what happened to me yesterday laaa.

I went to this other gym in a shopping mall yesterday evening to check out the place...see what they have and stuff. I have done this before elsewhere and it takes 15 minutes tops to view the area. Haiyor...I ended up sitting in the place for almost an hour because the personal trainer there was insisting I'm absolutely unhealthy and need special attention. *I admit it's somewhat true.* But it pissed me off nonetheless as he was practically waiting for me to bawl aloud, admitting the folly of my ways and seek salvation from him. *drama drama!*

(I'm also pissed at him because he made me very late for SVG class.)

It's so different what everyone views working out should entail... ultimately, it seems the popular notion is that we all must look like a celebrity figure in order for the world to believe we are doing something right. And they must achieve it at the fastest possible time. Isn't that universally true??

What about the fact that people are achieving better general fitness and losing it slowly? Isn't that some form of solid achievement too? I'm doing it slowly, ergo for some other reason that too much strenuous cardiovascular work may overwork the heart due to my low Hb, but I feel good about it. More stamina and strength too (which is handy when lugging around my ginormous medical equipments).

I choose to be happy about myself and where I am and choose to be excited about where this road may take me. I choose not to let people tell me how I have to be when I'm not ready for it. I think life is less complicated that way.

Now, how's that for a paradigm shift?

---------------------------

[[ Every time I say that dirty word...'DIET'...I wash my mouth out with chocolate ]]

I won't believe I'm blogging this...

2007-10-02T09:10:00.000+08:00

So, the news that caught my eye in msn.com this morning was about Britney Spears.

Fascinating story, this.

She has officially lost custody of her two sons to *shudder* K-Fed. The real victims in this are definitely the two children. Poor poor dears.

Logically, everyone, or at least me, think that Brit should take care of the boys, seeing that she is the only *working* parent, even as young as she is. Ex-hubby has always been the one who milks off from her, no?

Sad to say, this was the accompanying picture in the article...

Observe the stupid pack of malboros in her cupholder.

This girl ar, live in Hollywood for so long also don't know how to pretend she has polished up her act and is a goody-goody mama for the paparazzis. No wonder the judge has ruled against her favour.

So sayang...

--------------------------

[[ If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? ]]

Tulles and roses

2007-10-01T23:22:00.000+08:00

Right now I am on a mood for all things super spicy and sour. Like tomyam and assam laksa. Think it's almost that time of the month again.

(=___=*)

--------------------------

Can you hear it? It's that unmistakable sound all around...

Listen up. Hear that?

Weddings bells and the raucous strains of "yam-seng" resounds with a vengence.

I've been invited for wedding dinners for three Saturdays in October. Plus, I've just attended a wedding lunch yesterday. So much of decadence and indulgence.

And, oh yeah, no pictures because my digital camera's zoom button has konked.

Back to yesterday's lunch, an old college mate got married to the eldest child and only son of a ~~major construction conglomerate maven~~ big time local business owner. The family even owns the banquet hall in Sentul where the wedding was held.

So, the event was grand and formal. Unfortunately, someone *ahem*wedding planner*ahem* didn't do a few things correct. We really didn't mind the delay of lunch being served past 2pm. Or that the emcee said a few rude things on stage.

I thought it was really the Filipino pop band they hired after halfway through lunch. Dunno which pub the foursome worked at but it was hilarious. Almost every song they sang cannot pass one!

It started off with Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton's "I will always love you" which is a breakup song. Death wish or what? Summore dedicated to the beautiful couple arrr. (O_o) The consecutive songs were all really bad too. They were constantly about break-up, love sickness and the champion...

...

...

...

...

...

BEAUTIFUL LIAR by Beyonce and Shakira!!

Wahliauey!

I don't think many people were listening or know what the song's about anyway...but the way the gals gyrated... haaaiz... The kids must've had an eyeful and a lot to ask their moms about.

This is just an ominous warning to near future wedding plans. Do be careful about what goes on in the hall. *hehe*

On to the next bowl of shark's fin soup!

------------------------

[[ i had amnesia once...or twice]]

I lost 4 kgs in 1 week!

2007-09-27T12:28:00.000+08:00

Beat that Marie France!

*muahaahahahah!!*

Anyways, it's not something to be happy about either. (=__=") Read on and you'll know why.

I came down hard with a fever last Friday. Not even sure what it was because I just woke up with the worst headache. Worst.ever.

I wasn't at home. I was at Johor Bahru and was to return that day itself. I could:
a) stay another night in JB and return on Saturday (fat bloody chance!)
b) call for help for someone to come pick me up (fat bloody chance!)
c) take a bus back (leaving Gilbert in JB...fat bloody chance lor)
d) ugh. Drive alone.

And (d) it was. Never hated driving as much ever during that journey.

I slept loads during the weekend...which explained the weight loss as I've really whittled down mostly muscle mass and water retention. I'm already over the fever on Monday but my system is out of whack. Haemoglobinuria was quite severe for two days. Due to unbearable fatigue, it was best to see my haematologist...which I did yesterday.

In my blood test result, the haemoglobin read 4.6 g/dL. The normal range is 13.0 - 18.0 g/dL. That's super low!

Low enough for my doc to say, "I should admit you into the wards today."

My counts were even higher when I stayed in the hospital last time.

Well, he also said it is not advisable to be driving, which I had been doing around KL for two days already. And, that I should possibly faint while walking around, which I don't.

All I can say is "THANK GOD" for protection and divine health. Thank God I got up in the morning on my own and was able to stand up and walk like normal. Thank God I could do push ups just now without passing out.

Thank God. Really.

As doc said I needed rest, we settled for a long MC. (^_^) And he put me on prednisolone again. *argh*

------------------------

:: A laugh is a smile that bursts ::

2007-09-26T20:32:00.000+08:00

This is as stale as cheese but it warrants mention.

Geri celebrated her birthday on the 16th, 2 days before her actual birthdate...which is also MOM's birthday. I'm gonna tell you, like how gramma will tell back an old tale to the children, how the runup was like till the birthday party.

Francis a.k.a. "Bear" sms-ed on 13/9 at 2:54pm :
Hi guys, is that time of the year when my woman gets a year older. But not sure whether a year wiser. You're invited for dinner this coming sunday 16th september @ italiannies the curve 8pm. Jaime hong do take note, do adjust to malaysian time not thailand's as they r an hourbehind ;p it'll be tong tong bayar coz that woman not working yet. She certainy hope you can make it, ur presence is important to her. Do RSVP to me asap. Thank you. God bless.
(as transcribed in full)

It is certainly the longest text invite I've received. And also the most blunt one as well. But I was busy and didn't read it yet. Francis sent the same message at 2:57pm...followed by this at 3:23pm :
Jaime.. Just joking arr.. I know you steady wan ;p so u coming?

So stressed. What to buy? Asked him and this was his reply:
I know you steady marr.. She arr s**t I also dunno.. Make up stuff that posted on her blog maybe?
(complimentary censorship)

I can feel the love here.

Geraldine pulak texted to the lady-invitees on 14/9 at 6:06pm :
Hello my dear bootylicious girlies! My biggest birthday wish is for u girls to dress up on sunday. No need to dress to kill. Just dress to impress. :p Set?

Ok ok. Her wish is our command, right? With pleasure.

Come Sunday, I got on my garb and stuff...put together my handbag and...whoa...where's the camera? Turns out my sis took it out. Since she was on the way back, I waited for the camera. About 20 minutes to 8pm, she got back.

Nuts...despite being singled out and warned to be punctual, I was the second last person to arrive. At Italiannies, Geri and I posed nicely for a shot and I handed over the camera to Angie to shoot. She had problems with the camera, hence passed it to her neighbour Kelvin...who also couldn't get the camera started up. Geri and I also "mouth-pain" already.

Angie gave me back the camera and, lo and behold...NO BATTERIES! (=___=*)

If I had known, I'd left the house earlier. Sigh.

Pictures are in Geraldine, Lydia and Angeline's blogs. SIIIGGGGHHH!

This is the first birthday party I went to where the birthday girl gives out presents to us. *wwaaaahhh...so good, right?*

This is also the first post-party sms I've gotten that goes:
You make my day. Reminds me tat i am really blessed 2 hav fun, loving, whacky, n sesat friends like u. Dun worry, u ll b on my vip list 4 my wedding day. Haha

Party just finished and I'm alreay invited to the next gig. How cool is that? ;P

You are loved Geri!

------------------------

[[ anyone can give advice, but a real friend will lend a helping hand ]]

Hear the Coffee Speak

2007-09-14T21:42:00.000+08:00

Nowsadays, I'm getting blinded from watching music videos on TV. Seems like they are all getting more and more vulgar, what with less and less clothes and ever increasing profanities.

And every singer is trying to outdo each other on the obscenity stakes. So cool meh??

Poor kids will grow up thinking that it's alright to treat women like pieces of cheap meat. Whatever happened to those days when we watched nice stuff like Michael Jackson's "Black or White"?

---------------------------

I am in a good mood today.

Am having some strong coffee. Have had a really good day at work whereby I have closed a good bit of sales from a new hospital in KL. There's this new 7-Star hospital coming up in the KL Golden Triangle soon. So look out! It is massive and extravagant-looking. For those indulgent wealthy folks who want to enjoy life even when diseased and sickly. Ain't the healthcare industry grand?

Still...

God is awesome!

Methinks as a result of the coffee, I'm in a yakkity-yak mode. Very much so. And I wish my brother John is around...because he's one of those rare people I know who pings my inane thoughts. And it cracks me up so much. Ah well... nehmind lah... It's time to do some blogging.

-------------------------

I've got something close to my heart to talk about now...MAKE-UP.

Since I just browsed Geraldine's blog and saw and old post about what she likes with cosmetics. *ahem ahem* Girl, it's gonna take some experimenting before you discover what you really like and what suits you.

Frankly, I ~~envy~~ admire ladies who only needs to whip on some lipsticks and look like a million bucks. So ~~unfair~~ nice! For people like me, I need help to bring out my Asian (read=flat) features. Hence, cosmetics become an indispensable tool.

The world normally strikes a fair balance. So, I figured, since I have to spend so much moolah on make-up, maybe these perfectly-featured girls spend theirs on warts, bunions, or BO. Fair mah!

(^_^)

The first cardinal rule on make-up, IMHO after all these years of powdering up, is to express yourself. Who cares if the mags say green eyeshadow is out but it just matches your outfit that day? So what if you want to use fire-truck red lipstick on for a picnic? And who's going to tell you that brown is too bland when you feel like a million bucks? I love variety and I applaud boldness.

Go ahead...you know you want to...

Ergo, boldness with flair la. Be a bit smart if you know your look is too OTT. Overkill is not attractive.

Glamorous or natural - take your pick!

Second cardinal rule on make-up, buy good foundation and blusher brushes. Trust me. Those two are important and helps with the natural look.

Unless, of course, you've graduated to sponge wedges, then I'm out of your league. Kudos to you

Finally, my cardinal rule on make-up, be bold and ask the pros. This is the cheapest way: ask branded make-up counter promoters on tips to use certain products, especially the ones you're not sure about like eyeliner - even get them to apply for you. I do this and it drives the sale promoters nuts. But I betcha it's helpful! If you can go for those makeover classes, even better.

**Here are my make-up bag favourites:

1. Blusher - It just brightens up the face and gives a burst of energy and freshness to the face.

2. Mascara - The magic wand that instantly opens up the eyes and adds a subtle flirty look. (It's the fake eyelashes that takes "a little flirty" to the next level.)

3. Shu Uemura eyelash curler - Guaranteed the best. Search no further.

4. Finishing powder (when I do get it) - I saw this from Benefit and it is fabulous. It sets the make-up and polishes up the entire look.

5. Lip gloss - Dewy, irressistable, pouty lips. Need I say more?

**When I mentioned about experimenting, here are some stuff that are not worth the curiosity. I know because I've gone down that road before:

1. Revlon Fabulash Mascara - Eventhough I used the waterproof version, it smears and smudges very easily.

2. Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lippies - The colours and texture are heavy. Use if you love the datin look.

3. Faces lip gloss - The gloss is too runny and dissolves lipstick colour instead of enhancing it.

--------------------

:: I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't ::

mood swing (*updated 070914@10.45pm)

2007-09-13T23:38:00.000+08:00

GRRR...!!

I'm feeling so incredibly grumpy. And tired. :(

I'm up helping colleague do some work. Was just trying to be nice.

So, these days I'm just held up with work and travelling. I swear that I'm getting squarer by the moment. It's not a nice thought.

And, hey, there were a series of earthquakes off Sumatra island, near Padang and Jakarta since Wednesday night and Thursday morning. No news of tsunami or major death tolls (as of press time, only 10 were reported dead). Thank God. The end times are indeed near.

(O_o) ...moving along...ahem...

HAPPY BLESSED BELATED BIRTHDAY, FLORENCE!

I'm so glad the gang had Florence's birthday dinner last Sunday with a sumptuous pork-fest...the artery-clogging kind that even Klang BKT doesn't come close to. It was all FRIED fatty pork rump, HUGE slabs of porkchops, LAMB chops, EVIL DELICIOUS sausages, and a heck of a lot of pasta with fatty 3-layer pork meat. (sam-cham bak) Fuuuuaaah...

Pictures are coming. Promise Kelvin!

Pics are here!

Super sinful sam-chan bak with deliciously crispy skin!

Would you believe, at Mr Ho's Fine Foods, they call this dish a "SAMPLER"?? It is huge! There were pork chops, sausages, sam-chan bak again, bacon, pork ribs, and a huge pork trotter.

Even the mixed-grill platter pales in comparison to the gargantum mound above.

"Eeeww Jack...don't be a caveman!"

Jack is a very happy boy. (^_^)

Birthday girl Florence and her "Ama-something" pasta..shyiok, very nice.

Adjourning to Stah-buk, Ken Han "the ji-mui" hams it up for the camera and Geri couldn't be bothered...about him

Florence and I

The Lee "siblings" plus Mrs Lee-to-be (in pink, not white).

Double take! someone loves his "mus-kels" a lot, no?

Pretty Flor and her birthday choc-rich decadent rocky-road. She had her first suckable candle to ring in her 27th birthday. You can't se it 'cos it's been removed.

Kelvin-Felvin posing getting high on tempting fudgy cake...and we pissed him a little by taking a long time to shoot the pic. (^_-)

The birthday girl's bounty

Us girls with Jack (standing far left)

One for the road. Hope you've had a great time, Florence. And by the way, have you forwarded your pics to me yet??

*******************

There are three weddings coming up in the coming month. Many birthdays, including MOM's!!! This weekend Mary and I got tix for "Tunku, the Musical". Sunday lunch date with ex-colleagues, Sunday dinner birthday partay for GERI!! Sunday, also being Sunday School day, means my weekend is a perpetual walking scheming and planning process. Can't wait for the following week so that I can really take a break.

Good thing too. Have a few catch-up sessions with ex-schoolmates. I need some more socialising.

I need more time.

I need to sleep. (+____+)

--------------------------

:: Blessed are the flexible for they will not be bent out of shape ::

Hair and Now

2007-08-27T23:18:00.000+08:00

Did you hear about a funny (or so I thought) piece of news that came out last weekend. The big headlines screamed:

Iran closes barbers offering ‘un-Islamic’ styles

TEHRAN: Iran has shut down barber’s shops offering unconventional Western hairstyles amid a police crackdown on dress deemed un-Islamic, reports said.

Now tell me, WHAT THE HECK is an un-Islamic style? OMG. As if we don't see too many men with bad haircuts out in the open this day and age, regardless of beliefs.

Actually, the story goes on to say:

“Over the past 15 days, 13 barber shops that had not respected the union’s directives have been closed down,” police commander Mohammad Ali Najafi said. He told the Etemad daily that the barbers’ union had banned eyebrow plucking for men as well as “deviant Western styles”.

“Eleven women’s beauty saloons were also shut down for not having a license or for violations such as tattooing, which is banned by a health ministry directive,” he added. Tehran’s barbers’ union said in April that police had issued a directive forbidding its members from giving men offbeat hairstyles. The directive also banned the use of cosmetics in male salons. afp

(afp news, don't play play!)

By cosmetics, do they mean styling products? I pity men who have short hairstyles but cannot use gels, wax, clay, etc. Poor Iranians.

It's really small-minded thinking like this that really makes you wonder what these people do during their free time? Pray? Seriously??

On the local front, there's also this little witch-hunt that makes you wonder what the high-and-mighty in leadership are trying to achieve. Everyone is talking about it, most have seen it and we all pretty much know the name "Namewee". I know you must've watched the video already. The last I checked, it's not a crime in this country to view it, so you're safe.

People are basically out for his blood. Give it a few months and no one will even remember why they are so worked out in the first place over the huhbub.

Unfortunately, for a person who prays for the country and leadership, I do get upset when our ministers like to make major comments on the current hot topic when it's fashionable to do so. I would appreciate it if they concentrate on what's important, ie. work out their constituencies, portfolios, whatever...just don't be a limelight-hogger.

We have, despite my biggest dreams of the otherwise, horrendously horrifying traffic jams due to poor road planning. Our government buildings are falling apart. Crime rates are skyrocketing. Can you remember the days when news of a murder is earth-shattering and not just another report?

Don't you think it's ironic we are touting our progressive nation celebrating 50 years of independence this coming weekend? I do realise now there are dissatisfied people our there more bold to speak out now.

What does it all mean anyway? I want to believe we are living in a land where there is hope and a future. We are the salt and light of this earth and we are the ones standing in the gap. So far, God is truly good to this country for the peace and prosperity we are enjoying.

So, my little plea to you, if you also feel the same about certain state of affairs: register to vote in the next elections! It makes a difference when you want it to. Most importantly,

PRAY.

-------------

++ Carpenter's rule: Cut to fit. Beat into place. ++

Lotsa Rain, Lotsa Sun

2007-08-18T23:00:00.000+08:00

"N- n- now th- that don't kill me
Can only make me stronger
I need you to hurry up now
cause I can't wait much longer
I know I got to be right now
cause I can't get much wronger
Man I've been waitin' all night now
That's how long I've been on ya"
-- from Kanye West's "Stronger"

----------------------------

Last weekend was full of drama!

Drama!

So, since, it's a belated post, I will *drama-fy* my entry!!

!!!!

John has graduated. My little brother graduated. My only brother is ready for the working world. Finally. 'Twas a truly proud moment for the family. *beams*

Smile for the camera!

Mom planned for a family portrait session on Saturday. His real convocation is on Sunday. Talk about jumping the gun. But it was a great opportunity to do so, since the last family portrait was in 2002.

So, on Sunday, in MMU...

Sharing the moment with "da man"

Thing was, there were hundreds of graduates and the University lets only two guests in for each of them. We, as in the sibs, went to Cyberjaya circa dismissal time to take photos. As soon as John came out of the hall, we started snapping away while waiting for my parents to come out from another exit.

Pandemonium suddenly ensued on the campus grounds because a burst of heavy rain scattered all of us like flies into various convofest tents. Smart of the Uni to have a fairground for traders to sell snacks and drinks all over the compound. Hundreds of students and family members crammed into those tents like sardines.

Half of us ended up in the "Nandos" tent. I started taking their serviettes from the stall tables to dry up rainwater on family members. I took so much and didn't even realise the food-seller was right next to me! *shy* But he didn't care, so I didn't care as well. *sly grin*

Wet, sopping misery

Oei! Who touched my bum??!!

Yessirreee...John's graduation is MY graduation

Plush graduate pig doll mom got for John (inside joke)

Rain subsided after half an hour...briefly. Thank God we managed to get to our car before the downpour continued! Who says God can't take care of our little things??

But John wanted to stay back and take photos with his coursemates. Guess who ended up marooned in the tents for another two hours?

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU JOHN for a great job well done over your course!! I'm really proud of you for completing this journey in life with integrity and maturity. Here's wishing you all of God's abundance and favour as you go forth in the next chapter of life. (^_^)

---------------

So, on to my Pangkor trip the next day...

On the way to Lumut Jetty last Monday, Esther Chin and I learnt something from Teacher May Ee.

Jamie : Whoa, the weather is really hot today.
May Ee : You have to be careful. Perak sun is really hot one.
Jamie : How come?
May Ee : It's more hot. You get darker faster.
Esther : In KL also can get dark what.
Jamie : KL also very hot, k.
May Ee : Here very different.
Esther : This is new revelation for me. Malaysia's got two suns!

So that was it, we teased May Ee mercilessly over the two suns comment wherever we could during our trip in Pangkor.

Now, I'm on par with Wei Shin. No longer a Pangkor virgin. *hahah*

Me and Esther in sunnies
May Ee looks darn garang!

Random shot of Lumut jetty

There isn't much to do in Pangkor if you're looking out to shop or eat exotic food (we could've gone to the wrong places). The town is plain sleepy. We wondered incessantly if we could ever survive if we lived and worked there before going bonkers.

Things are rather cheap there compared to standard island rates for essential items like groceries and water. Even food prices are not exorbitant. All we could shop for was the dried seafood.

But the limelight of staying in Pangkor is it's BEAUTIFUL BEACHES!! Esther made a great choice to book Pangkor Island Beach Resort and the sea view is perfect. The waves were soothing. We slept like pigs at the beach. Ok la, the sun was hot. Er, hotter than in KL. (^_-)

We stayed there one night and wanted to continue on to stay in Ipoh but impasse struck. We didn't really know what we would do constructively apart from eating more than we were already. Came up with the bright idea to just go back on the second night but eat a lot on the way in Teluk Intan and Bidor.

May Ee brought is to this famous old-school rojak and coconut water stall and a backlane chee cheong fun shop in TI. The CCF was superb! Absolutely nice. It's the kind steamed with fried onions and dried shrimps and you don't need any sauce to go with it. Esther and I regretted not buying extra back.

At Bidor, it was the famous Pun Chun Restaurant with it's chicken biscuits and fried yam (wo kok). Shopped there again for more foodstuff. Ipoh is a traditional food treasure-trove. I'm missing out so much since I cover southern states. (T_T)

It was good that we got back early one day. I wanted to go cycling with May Ee the next morning in Shah Alam but it rained, unfortunatedly. I went for simulated RPM cycling instead. *haha* I had many many calls from work and spend probably half the day at home working. *sigh*

------------

:: People who cough incessantly never seem to go to the doctor -- they go to banquets, concerts, and cinemas ::

BOLLOCKS!

2007-08-17T22:56:00.000+08:00

I cannot stand it!!

Feel so ...

violated ...

*blerghs!*

got taken advantage of ...

*even worse, huh?*

So sad to say this, there's this disgusting customer I have who has no shame in milking, I'll say again, milking his suppliers for all their worth and then some. I mean, it's ok for the usual entertainment for customer service relationship and all those little stuff.

There's even some special treatment for *ahem* very lucrative customers, which is ok. Like they say, you scratch my back & I scratch yours. That is perfectly fine. Just reasonable.

But this one... *shakes head*

I got from him a 20k order this week. On the project scale, it's not very high. And since we've been dealing with him for 1/2 year already, it's a low return. Minus off the other entertainments for him... the sale is nothing to shout about.

To him, it's a major deal. And he insisted on major entertainment for him the day the order came through. It's just disgusting-lah, what the fella has to arm-twist me into doing. Super disgusting.

I made this first stupid mistake of calling him on Friday afternoon (thought I could get the order details and settle the whole deal with my Singapore office before end of this week). He said to meet at The Curve.

Habis. My knees already started knocking because he was up to something.

Had to bring him for dinner at The Apartment. Made me spend a bloody lot for his drinks. After that, he said he wanted to bring me up to see Sanctuary. The guy shamelessly started giving me lip about future business failing because we, as a company, don't take care of him enough. ie, not belanja him enough. As if all the minimum RM150 meals with him at every meeting is not enough. Too much, right? (Perspective: We don't get 20k business every time we see him. So we lose, in fact.)

Stupid!Stupid!Stupid!

Long one short, he begged his way to a bottle of vodka. And shamelessly said that he is his eyes on my competitor's stuff to my face. (O___o*)

The ruthless bag!

Such a shameless old fart.

This business is simply not worth it. Feel so violated, k? (T_T)

I learnt my lesson not to call him at the end of the day or to meet him at "water fish" places in future. (=__=')

--------------------------

:: If you are good, you'll be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it. ::

Jamie's Journal

Missed me?

Whoa--oh, here we go!

I did it!

Blood Updates (May-July '09)

The Interim

Blood Updates (April '09)

Blood updates (March '09)

Blood Updates (February '09)

Oggix blocked

What goes around...

Jason Mraz *hearts* KL

A hard look

The Updates

Precious 2008

Jubilee of Opportunies

Live Goodness

Forgetful

Rainy Interlude

Counting

Oh Goody!

My Major Ego Trip

Resistance Is Futile!

Bring on the CHI

Still Standing

My God is so BIG

Guarding my Heart

Reality Biting

Long Redux

Auf weidersehen

getting away

Faster Kill Pussycat

Running around and around

thirsty?

What a weekend

Bummed

Connection

Unbalanced

Eating and Getting Eaten

Damsel...in distress??

Anger Management

So pumped!

Some cause for cheer

When it rains, it pours!

Being Bipolar...

options, options....

Of pride and heritage

Nice on bread, not on the roads

Saturday and the week that was

Oh Behave... (^_^)

Smells like June!

The Madness That April Was

The Other Side

Red and Customary

So terribly cold!

Playtime's Over

Counting Down the Minutes

Christmas Ruminations before the New Year

Eat that meat!

Full Circle

Baby Love

Pump It!

There should be a Land of Talk-Nonsense

Joshua & Priscilla's Wedding Dinner...and then some

oops!

Take in a deep breath...and scream!

The Workshop Saga

I Gotta Testify

Fresh from heaven

Gatal betul...

I Choose to be Happy

I won't believe I'm blogging this...

Tulles and roses

I lost 4 kgs in 1 week!

Hear the Coffee Speak

mood swing (*updated 070914@10.45pm)

Hair and Now

Lotsa Rain, Lotsa Sun

BOLLOCKS!

Jason Mraz hearts KL