One Line Posting

Ask and you shall be given.

Love / Hate Relationship With Vehicles

I had wanted to name this Murphy's Law. But I have posted something about Murphy's Law earlier on.

I went back to Melaka on first day of Chinese New Year. Half way, while we were in the highway, I heard strange sound coming from the engine. I was so worried that the car would break down. The noise got louder and louder that cold sweat began to stream down my temple.

After putting up with the noise every now and then, the frequency increased to incessantly bugging us and I was pretty angry in fact, because of all the time it choose to throw a tantrum, it had to be on the first day of Chinese New Year, where practically, all businesses were at a standstill, no one operate anything on the first day, especially not the mechanics and repairmen.

The worst part is, being halfway, neither here nor there, I have decided to proceed with the journey, since it will take me equal time to return back to origin or proceed to destination. I might as well take the risk!! Shortly after, due to some unknown reason, I switched off the air-cond and the sound dissappeared!! Then only I realised that it was the aircond that is throwing a tantrum and at least, I was less worried about the car breaking down on me. I can live with the aircond off, despite the heat and the noise. At least the car will still move without much hindrance.

To make the long short, I have to drive a full 2 hours return journey with my windows down at 110 km/h and to be frank, it is not so bad, all things considered. For the first time, I keep within the speed limit (ehem!!), I get to enjoy both fresh air and polluted air, wind blowing our hairs, messing them up, get to savour all kinds of smell, nice and the not so nice. I didn't realise that we have been shielding most of our senses while driving all this while. It was pretty enjoyable, in fact. Except for the dusts and smoke particles and humidity.

I mentioned this incident to some friends and they too agreed that, whenever they have to make long drives, they would face funny sounds if not outright breakdown of their vehicles and apparently, the vehicles would be in perfect condition just the day before!! Strange but I think, some how, this situation happened to everyone at one time or another, some more than the other, of course.

Happy New Year

Happy Lunar New Year

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy New Year

Happy "Niu" Year

All refers to the same meaning :- the start of a LUNAR new year on 26 Jan 2009, marking the reign of Ox, taking the baton from Rat.

Moo-ing into the new year, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous years ahead (noticed the year is in plural, no typo here)

Here is to lots of love, cheers and money and peace to the world.

Thanks Miu and Roti Kacang Merah for the early greetings, wishing you all same and all of above too.

The World Turns

The world turns on its axis irregardless of what happened.

The exodus to hometown began yesterday. Traffic is much smoother in most big towns. I am hoping that traffic will be scarce come this Monday morning, when I will be driving back to Melaka for a day trip.

Every year, my brothers and I will go back to Melaka for Chinese New Year celebration, as it is in almost the centre from where both of us are staying presently. That way, neither need to travel extremely long hours to reach one another's place. We meet at our sister-in-law's place and leave a few hours later. Same for me, every year, after my sister-in-law's place, I will end up at my friend's house where about 6 - 8 of us, from school days will meet up and exchange stories. Those are friends that I practically grew up with. They are the comfort zone kind of friend, you just relax and enjoy each other's company. Last we checked, we are the few who actually bothered to keep in touch.

Well, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Lunar New Year and many happy times ahead.

Twilight - The Book

We watched the movie. I bought the book afterwards.

I have just finished Book 1 - Twilight. Simple writing. Goes like a diary, nice style of writing for the story. So far, don't really like the character of Bella in the book, sounded so childish, kudos to the author to be able to bring characters to life in such a way.

Took me about 2 days to finish the book. Real fast, I guess, young adult book means less writing, less words and lesser letters even.

I have just started Book 2 - New Moon. My wife read the front and back of the book only, she disliked the development between Jacob and Bella. I think everybody is a closet romantic at heart. Too much lovey dovey stuff in the first book, it make the switch unbearable to loyal people. I will reserve my comment until I finish the book.

Referring back to the first book, as usual, book is always better than the movie. But in this instance, I have to say that probably due to lesser "words" in the book, most of the scenes were captured, unlike the Harry Potter series or the Lord Of The Rings, a mish-mashed of the story here and there.

Luckily, it will be weekend soon to follow by holidays, for lack of anything to do, I can always pick up the book and read. Hmm...

Ships Quote

I am in the business where ships, at least their names, are like daily encounter. Though I don't go to the ship physically.

I was reading a paper's article yesterday concerning another type of ships too. And I found it interesting because it is something dear to my heart.

I like this particular sentence, "There are big ships and there are small ships, but the best ship of all is friendship". How people can come up with such gems really make me wonder.

Another one which I find to be very true is the following, "True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable." That, I find to be very true. I have a group of friends from school days, we meet, practically, once a year, during Chinese New Year. We have known each other for like ages and every time we meet, time really flies. We could be chatting but inevitably, many of us is content to just be listeners. Being there itself is quite sufficient for many of us. These are the people we shared so many of our growing years that there is like, not that many secrets between us (there of course are some darker ones not shared :P)

Jam Jam Jam

For three days in a row, I was caught in traffic congestion. I am staying in Port Klang. My home to my office takes about 10 minutes on normal traffic.

I noticed that actually, a few times, the jam was caused by prime movers breaking down. And you know what? When all this machine breakdown, it will breakdown at the most inconvenient place. For example, on Monday, a prime mover broke down at a cross junction, exactly as it turned left. Meaning, on its lane, it blocked one lane but on the lane that it was turning into, it blocked both lane, causing havoc and all vehicles from the other three roads unable to turn to that one particular road.

Then today, another prime mover broke down at entry to a bridge, which is a one lane entry point, going up and it had to break down exactly in the middle. The jam it caused was quite massive!! All the vehicles passing that particular road's destination is to enter the bridge and with the lane totally blocked, you can imagine the jam it caused? And it being at the middle of the ramp, the tow truck have to enter from another road, go forward and then reverse back down the ramp to reach the prime mover?

Strange right how all this vehicles choose only a certain place to break down? Even I was caught without petrol, once, in the same situation, right in the middle of a bridge without emergency lanes and I can not possibly walk to either side to get petrol!! Probably the silver lining is that we have to maintain our vehicle at the tip top condition and for my case, not to allow the petrol gauge to fall below quarter tank!! hahaha.

Bad Mood

I was pretty pissed off today, twice I lost my temper!! That's about 3 years quota!

Our internet service provider has to be the stupidest in the world. They disconnected my office's internet connection without any warning whatsoever. The reason is dued to delayed payment, of which, we did not receive the bill and that my admin side overlooked!! Simple as that and they disconnect my line. And until just now, when I left office, my office is still without internet line, despite making payment to them.

I will change my service provider, now that there is an alternative in Port Klang. They can be sure of that!! Stupid people. I told them that if it is personal use, I don't mind if they take their own sweet time to reconnect me back but it was registered to office and if office, it is obvious that the internet connection must be up and running as fast as their disconnection, right? They say they have long queue and have to take turn to connect back the line. Aren't they just a bunch of morons!!! No wonder everyone complained about streamyx's services. I just hope that those who are not happy with them to just change service provider. Let them have a taste of having competition, they thought they ARE the only provider, like 5 years back!

Seemed like it is going to be raining cats and dogs in a short while. I hope it is not false alarm as whether had been pretty hot and I really looked forward to the rain. I am very much a rain person, not the sun person, much like Edward Cullens huh? hahaha.

Movie Photo Session

As mentioned last few post, after the movie, Four Christmases, Ewin took some photos for us, he already posted in his blog. I downloaded one from his blog and the photo looked like this :-



Hmmm, one fella goes into hiding!! I will fine her!!! Hehehehe, my friend is camera shy, what to do??

Another Feasting Season

Ok, this coming Monday is the first day of Lunar New Year, aka Chinese New Year in Malaysia. As with any festivities in Malaysia, no festivals would be celebrated without food. I mean, really, really, good, fattening, high calories, frequent eaten and "sinful" food.

Today mark the starting point for the feasting in my 2009 Lunar New Year feasting fiesta, a good friend bought a round of 6 course lunch for us, the so called, "end year feast", which is a yearly ritual for us actually.

Let me see, what we have :-

a) Monk jump over the wall - soup based shark-fin, abalone, scallops, mushrooms, black chicken and some bits of this and that.

b) Giant Sea Cucumber- cooked in some vegetables, mushrooms and a few other, God knows what.

c) Garoupa in cheese sauce - the name tells it all, no?

d) Piglet with glutinous rice and mantou - err, no comment, I am not much of a pork eater.

e) Big prawns in assam sauce - very big prawn indeed.

f) Long life noodles in some kind of sauce again.

Then, we have like corn porridge as dessert, I would say one of the most delicious of serving of the day.

The bill came up to RM 761.00 in total, for 11 persons. Initially, the bill was RM 970.00++ and a friend had a suspicion that the bill was wrong, checking through, indeed it was wrong, someone else's order were included inside our bill!! I guess, we really do have to check our bill more carefully from now onwards.

Sales and Such

Must have gotten the sales bug from someone!!!

Last Saturday, I was caught in a bumper to bumper crawl just to go for a warehouse sales. Actually, the warehouse is not jam up, I think it was the mall further up (MidValley Mall) that was causing all the traffic jam.

So, after enduring the nightmare traffic snarl for approximately 1 hour (two to count the journey from starting point), I reached the warehouse. I was a bit dissappointed that the Ruffles chips were sold out. Small wonder actually, considering it is going for almost 1/3 of it's retail price..

Anyway, since I was there, I bought loads of stuff, with about 100 ringgit. Warehouse sales really stretch your dollars and overall, I was quite happy with the haul, though Ruffles would have been an icing on the cake.

From there, we went over to another mall to get some DVDs and I bought Bolts and Madagascar 2 for my kids plus a few other movies for myself. Had wanted to get the Twilight movie but the vendor said it is not a clear copy, forget about it.

On Sunday, I planted star fruit, which I have ordered from the nursery nearby my office. I hope it will grow fast, hahaha. The rest of the fruit trees are young saplings, I might have to wait for years before they start yielding fruits!! At least the star fruit looked set to flower soon. I hope so, keeping my finger crossed.

A neighbour stopped by and said my garden will be like orchard instead, hahaha. That's what I had in mind, instead of planting flowers and decorative trees, I might as well plant fruiting trees, at least, I can have some fresh fruits to eat if ever all of them decides to bear fruits. I am still considering whether to plant cempedak and jackfruit or not.

Friends

Dedicated to all the friends in this world.

I was reading +sizekitten's entry this time, about how she goes all out to be nice to people and yet, some people tend to snub her good intention?

Well, I personally think that if you have gone all out to be nice to people and try to make friend with them, yet they don't reciprocate, then, let it be. It is their loss, not yours. I mean, if people think they are prettier, handsomer, richer, higher class and whatnots and consider you to be beneath them, why bother? We can always find friends whom do not place all this consideration into real friendships.

I mean, I have friends ranging from the very rich (of course, no where near those like corporate figure, but still rich enough to be counted as millionaires lah) to the not so rich. But at the core, the personality and honesty that carries the relationship through time.

Not all rich people are snobbish and not all the not-so-rich people are humble. The thing is, in Mandarin sayings, there's a word called "yuen fen", I can't find the exact word to explain in English, the closest I could come out with is "soul mate" or "same frequency" - meaning, they could be different as night and day but in the friendship level, they are equal and of same frequency means they can understand each other with the minimum of words. Just like the movie, "Four Christmases", where the main actor's brother, I think Denver or something is so "vulgar" and "uncouth" but his frequency with his wife was fantastic.

Throughout my years, friends come and go, but those good ones stayed, though, at times at a distance, but they always stayed at the fringe of your radar and enters it every now and then. Those who totally dissappeared, nothing can be done about it, but those who chooses to stay, albeit at the fringe, always make an effort to at least say a hello and how do you do every now and then.

I have friends from childhood days, from school days, from working in Singapore, from working in Penang and finally, when I settled in Port Klang, when working in Port Klang. Then some business friends I know when dealing with them, who turned into good friends. When I joined our trade association, I found some good friends too. Early last year, I turned active in blogging and make myself some bloggers' friend. When I shifted to my new place here, I make friends with some of the nice neighbours. You never know where you will find some friends who will turn to good friends, just keep your heart open and you will definitely be pleasantly, surprised.

At lot of things are fated, even the friendships but have faith that as long as you are honest and true to your feeling, you will find some friends along the journey of life that you are walking now. Just don't feel down if people snubbed at you, nothing is wrong with you, it is "them" who have some issues....hear that +sizekitten??

Four Christmases - Review

Thanks to Miu, I get to watch Four Christmases at OneUtama. There were about 22 people but only 8 of us have dinner at Italiennes. I didn't know that Italiennes is same like TGIF, otherwise, I wouldn't have eaten there, not so much because I don't like TGIF, it is dued to the fact that I have eaten numerous time at TGIF that I prefer to try some place and something new.

Anyway, the food there is SLIGHTLY better than TGIF, where Italian foods are concerned, selections a bit wider but the taste more authentic, translated, less salty, less spices, less taste (rather, less Malaysianised taste) hahaha.

I had Shrimp Pra Diablo or something like that. I should have tried their 4 choices of pasta instead. But know that I know, I can try it in future. Servings were big but then, for the kind of price we are paying, it's to be expected, right?

Ok, the now, on to the movie review.

I don't have much expectation from the movie, I went there more for the company rather than anything else. I sort of enjoyed the movie nevertheless but I wouldn't put is as an excellent movie.

First off, the movie paired Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. I don't know but Reese Witherspoon looked set to be crushed by "bearly" Vince Vaughn and that unlikely pair set back my total focus on the movie. Why can't they get a more "balanced" match, may be like, you know, Vince Vaughn and Queen Latifah, or if they really want Reese Witherspoon, to pair her with, say, Michael J. Fox?

The movie had so many potential but not exploited nor developed to the max. By the end of the show, I was like, there could be more. To be fair, there is a few good laugh here and there but really, they could have gone much further with it and make it a smash hit. Instead, the producer or director settled for slightly better than mediocre....In the end, it remains just that, a movie to be watched from a distant, totally not getting any involvement from the audience.

I wouldn't go so far as saying don't watch this movie but if you really want to spend an hour or two in kaleidscopic world, might as well watch other shows, which either enriched or drained you emotionally, not neither here nor there fare.

For the full story, do check out my fellow blogger who were there, Hurley, Miu and Ewin, I believe they would have the synopsis and probably better review. Don't take my words for the review, one man's meat is another's poison, right? Oh, btw, as usual, photo session was done, but only after the movie, by our resident photographer, Ewin, as he had to rush from class/work to the theater. I hope to get the photos soon, he always do take nice photos.

Night Market

I went to Pasar Malam (Night Market) with my sister just now. Actually, going to pasar malam used to be my favourite past time because there is food galore there. You can have so many types of food in on street, it is so convenient. I don't go pasar malam that often anymore though, because I always succumbed to the temptation when all my favourite foods were displayed, calling to me seductively, "touch me, buy me, eat me" grrhhh....

So, testing my will today, I went and in the end, the haul was like :-

a) nasi lemak with sambal kerang and mata kerbau (coconut milk rice with cockle chili paste and sunshine egg) - I finished the whole pack and suddenly, all my pants don't feel that loose anymore - gosh, that's like crazy man...

That is my only "sinful" food from the night market, the rest of the thing I bought? Hehehe, of course I will buy things, I am a spendthrift and shopaholic beside being a glutton ok.

I bought :-

one watermelon for rm 3.00
one honey dew and rock melon for rm 5.00
one kilogramme of green grapes for rm 7.00
one kilogramme of water apple (jambu air).

So, in contra to the just eaten fabulous sambal kerang, it will be fruits galore for breakfast, lunch and dinner from Saturday onwards!!! Friday night is pigging night out too.....after all, since I will be out in a mall, gathering for a movie with miu, so while waiting for the movie to start, time to gorge ourselves silly, no?

Earlier this day, I went to DFO to hunt for some bargain jeans, most of my jeans will drop off without support of belts, so, I have to get myself at least a pair of new one which is more fitting. I don't really like the cut, but at rm 15.00, I just close my eyes and buy it, until such time I can wear those old jeans, this will have to do, hahaha... I have like 8 - 9 pairs of jeans!!! of different cuts, different colours, different everything!!! and I love each and everyone of them... May be I will post about them in the future, wait till I get myself a better camera that can capture clearer image from near. My cap ayam not good for anything within 2 feet or so.

To think that next month I will be going to Bangkok and will come back with another load of clothes, I might need to clear off some older material for make space for new clothes huh? Fortunately, it is not China that I am going, I would come back with even more jeans and shirts!!! hahaha. I am not even there yet and already I am itching to spend money on clothes...

EOE Online Photo Printing - Part 2

Today, I received vide courier, the photos I have uploaded for developing with EOE Online

Thank you EOE. The service is quite impeccable. I mean, for an online services, I would give them a 5 Star, and that is not because of the freebies. If the time taken for order and delivery are taken into consideration, they really impresses me.

Though I must say that, now that I am a convert and being a OC person, I will start rummaging through all my CDs and computers and pendrive for OLD, ANCIENT, ANTIQUE, VINTAGE digital shots and starts uploading them for developing!! Ha!!

In a way, EOE achieved their mission, for spreading the news of their existence and winning over customers (like yours truly). Online is the way to go and I can save time and not having any excuses NOT to develop photos I have taken from my travels.

Now, as far as the print quality goes, I have no complaints. They come as good as they come, the print quality and the paper quality is good to my untrained eyes. After all, what we want is to be able to show and share our pictures and to that end, the quality is nothing to be ashamed of. The 4R quality is excellent, very much to my liking and the 8R is extremely pleasant surprise.

Now that I have experienced it first hand, I would strongly recommend people who are internet savvy and internet dependent to take the full opportunity to use EOE services. My only hope is that their standard of service will be maintained and in doing so, they can only grow bigger and more well known.

On another note, I noticed that they have some branches too, I don't know whether it is franchise or own branches but for those who are more mom and pop store kind of people, they can still get their photos developed in their shops, I saw one inside Tesco Klang..

"Christmas" Movie

Again, our movie queen got herself loads of tickets and for once, the timing is like, more "earthly" (or not) depend on which side you are from.

Normally, the screening time is around 9.00 p.m to 9.30 p.m, but this time, it is 10.20 p.m. There will be more breathing space for us, who travelled from the land far far away, upon which, normally, when we arrived the theatre, our timing is like, insufficient time to sit down and eat, but too long to stand around and wait.

So this time, I hope we can sit down and do some yum cha* and get to know some new friends, whom, I suspect, the majority would be "young cikus" ** - no offense, just indirect envies. Showed huh, how ANCIENT we all are getting??

This time, I managed to get Miu to spare me extra tickets that I can then ajak*** my neighbour friend to join me, being the last time kena**** ffk***** (fong fei kei) due to late confirmation, I am finally able to fulfill my promise, hehehe. Thank you Miu.

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

Legends :-

* yum cha - tea drinking session, or chit chat over tea/drinks
** young cikus - wet behind the ears, youngsters
*** ajak - invite, less formally
**** kena - got, begotten
***** ffk (short form for "fong fei kei") - stood up (as in, no appearance despite promise to appear)

A Note Of My Life Today

This morning, I washed my blanket. The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, was thinking of starting to throw everything washable into the washing machine. Started with the personal blanket....and now it smelt and felt sooooo different....Washed away the familiarity, I guess, hahaha.

Later, met up with a friend to collect a document, he asked me for lunch, so hard to turn him down since I have not met him for quite sometime, had roti telur...expanding....

Got back into the office, did some paperwork and left around 6.00 p.m. Once I got home, I ate some home-baked-sweet-potato bread with peanut butter (I baked them myself, using the auto bread baking machine two days ago, hahaha)....expanding... Went to AEON to buy vouchers, out of stock..@#$%^%$@@ Met TAB and Susan and their daughter and son in law. Had a few words with them, Susan keep complaining I am too thin, SISTA, I know you are concerned but I want to look like this lah, if I eat more, I feel guilty lah. As it is, I already gained more than when you last saw me.....Still, afterward, ended up in Kanna Curry House and had capati and some nasi lemak with cow-milk-tea to boot!!! EXPANDING!!!!

And now, I feel like indigestion and a little bit feeling of, you know, unable to keep the food down. Felt so bloated, probably air, probably psychology, probably bulimic??? I don't think so....I will resist the urge to .....

Ok, that's about the only personal thing I have shared after such a long time. Scary thought, that one...Probably I will look back and remember this episode as one of the "growing pains" :D

Middle Age!

I am years from middle age, but I feel like one already. May be the morbid in me, thinking of the inevitable...

Time really flies. Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year! Already, it is like 10 days (more than a week) from the first day of the new year. And it still feels like last year. Probably the transitionally period.

Went to gym today, not even 15 minutes and I have no more strength to do any weight lifting. It is impossible for me to buff up, I just don't have the cow strength to follow through with iron pumping, hahaha. I guess, I will have to be satisfied with waif look then, like teenage band boy???

Everyone knows about my obsession with weight watching, recently that is, and though I have started to eat more, I always feel guilty afterward and not wanting to risk bulimic tendency, to keep the food down, I try to eat lesser than. And lesserer. And lessererer. Which, my brain is telling me is not that good but my body is refusing to listen? Early sign? Nah...I am still very much a glutton, just probably the food is not that tempting. I must be getting old that fast to be losing appetite that fast too.

I don't want to think when I approach half a decade. Even though it is still years away, it seemed like just around the corner. Shudder, shudder...

My friend asked me whether I want to go Hong Kong, noting that the fare is cheap now, promotion by Cathay Pacific (CX). I would certainly like to go Hong Kong and take my kids to visit the Disneyland there. I do have to work out the budget though. Hmmm...

And I will be going to Bangkok this coming February, yeah!! I love the place!! Everyone who know me knows that I am a cloth horse, meaning, I love garments, as much as I love foods, and Bangkok offers some of the most fantastic bargain for tailoring and their workmanship is very good, with some of the latest cut. I have no qualm of spending hundreds (more like a thousand) on tailored shirts and pants alone, I spent about 1300 the last time I was there (which is like, exactly a year ago!! how time flies)

And they have bargian priced Swensen's. And some nice local foods. Must ask Miu to recommend her brother's friend's restaurant for me to try, hahaha.

The Eyes See What The Heart Wants To See

How many times do we turn a blind eye to our surrounding?

For a good measure, many of us tend to see things through tinted glass. We can see blatant lie and yet, act as if nothing is the matter. Many have been brought up to think along the line that :-

a) it will not happen to us
b) it is none of our business
c) somebody else will do it / correct it.

Above few were written on 27 Dec 08. I didn't post it because I don't really like the tune of it. Anyway, I wanted to use the same title for another experience of mine, so, I would leave above as it is and continue henceforth.

Yesterday, at the invitation of my neighbour (yes, our neighbours have lots of programme and inevitably, many will join in, depending on the program and availability) to attend her church's fund-raising dinner (Christian Life Centre or something like that). A few of us in the neighbourhood accepted the invitation, ranging from Catholics, Buddhist, Hindu and free thinkers.

The beauty of it all was, most of us enjoyed the dinner, the church's philosophy is the celebration of life and they do not seek to preach or convert and do not adopt a holier than thou stance, all this are what they advocated. I prefer it that way; to each his own. Long have I accepted that irregardless of your belief, as long as you believed, the light will shine and light your path. The destination is important, the journey to it is important but the vehicle on which you ride on is immaterial, as long as you reach the destination. Holy people and blessed people are not confined to a certain belief's followers, it spreads among all.

Okay, back to the dinner. There was a local band playing for entertainment, Astro winner of some band contest, named "Auntie Mabel". After the performance, a very good and neutral preach by its pastor (who happened to be my neighbour), then another round of band performance by the pastor and his band mate, called the Dunamis, they were SIZZLING HOT!!! Their popularity was obvious in that the guests asked for encore!! Summing up the dinner, "Auntie Mabel", the first band performed hard rocking and fast moving songs, heating up the hall for the guests who literally let their hair down and danced, enjoying the celebration of life! My neighbours, being the party kakis they are, danced and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

On a very specific note, one of the church member did an abstract painting and the painting was auctioned off earlier on, proceed going to the building fund. As far as abstract goes, we were like, hmmm.. The good pastor himself said that, not being an artist himself, he didn't know what the painting is all about, neither did the rest of us. Out of the blue, another neighbour said the abstract looked like Jesus blessing his followers and she explained it to us. Initially, I didn't see it at all, just a crowded mix of colours to my untrained eyes, thus, I couldn't fanthom it and after a few try, surprisingly, I finally "saw" it. It is interesting what the eyes can see when the heart wills it. Of course, being an abstract, it is unlike realist painting with details of everything, but we definitely are able to make out the outline of a "being" standing, with lights shining all over him and two people kneeling in acceptance of blessings from "Him". I was like, kewl!!! I am finally able to appreciate abstract!!!

Even the painter was not aware of this and she didn't paint it with this in mind, she just followed her instinct and artistic flow, so to speak, as in all abstract painting. Strange huh? It being a church's fund raising dinner and such an occurence happened? Sometimes, you just have to leave certain things to the "Higher Authority" and things will work out just fine.

Not Original Stuff

Misleading eh, the title? I just want to post something I received over the mail and I like it, just thought I would share it.

====================================

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake..
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your resent happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Share and practice this as much as you can.

I Don't Know My Best Friend

Everyone has friends.

Everyone has to have friends.

Almost everyone will have at least one or two best friends. I have some really close friends and would categorically calls three of them my best friend, but I really really have one best friend, whom I can spend hours talking to.

Recently, he met with an accident. I didn't know about it. He was warded in ICU and only discharged after a few days. It was his second major accident, on both occasion, his car was a total loss, meaning, unsalvageable. That in itself implies the severity of the accident(s).

Though we are best of friend, or at least, he is to me, no one cared to inform me and only after a few days of him missing in action, when I called him that he told me that he was warded and just got discharged. He was sad over the total loss of the car but I told him, he is very lucky because God has given him 2 chances. He could be a goner, judging from the way his car was a total wreck.

I guess, some people just don't learn their lesson and thought that we are just machine, can be repaired at our whim and fancy. I guess, once a workaholic, always a workaholic and he is well off as it is. Though I mentioned that what is money if you don't have the life to spend it, the message just won't get through some thick skull of his. Come to think of it, that same thick skull could be the one which saved his life!!

I hope he finally wake up to the fact that there is more to life than making more money and no doubt having lots of money is in itself a joy but there are other things worth looking after too. If he is reading this, (which I doubt he has time to read rubbish) I hope that he will slow down a tiny bit and catch up with me over a meal of crabs and a few bottles of beer. We can do that for hours and it was always and enjoyable evening. That's what is good about having best friends, you could sit with just each other and idle the night away, over small talks, nothing important, just good old chit chatting, in itself a joy and stress reliever...

Life Is A Journey

You know, sometimes we are so caught up in life that we forgot to savour the journey itself. It is already 2009 and in a blink of an eye, 2008 is no more. It was like yesterday that we celebrated the dawn of 2008 and it is already over.

And stretching a bit far back, year 2000, or rather the eve of 2000, a lot of business people and others were worried about the date, affecting banks and governments, which I think in the end, turned out to be a non-issue.

You know, at that time, many people were so anxious and I told many of them, don't be silly. It is not possible for the powers that be, or anybody else for that matter, to foresee the changing of 99 to 00. I mean, computer's internal clock could be just adjusted with a few clicks and everyone will know for sure what is the outcome and they can adjust it there and then. All the hue and cry were just a scare tactic to make people spend money more than necessary, something like fool and his money thingy.

It irritates me to no end when people don't use the faculty given them to make educated deductions and just be shepherded, blindly at that. I always remind myself to take things with a pinch of salt and see things through. On many occasions, this has helped, but at the same time, some losses too. It is just part and parcel of life, you win some, you lose some. As long as you are not hurt in the process, I think as people, we should just savour the moment, with an eye in the future and a bit of consciousnes over the past. Main thing is to savour the now, make full use of it.

Karma

I like this video.



In science, this is called action and reaction.

In most of religions, it is called karma.

Whatever it is, I believe that if one strive hard to do good, somehow or rather, something good will happen in return, even when you don't expect it.

For example, the countdown party that was held by our neighbours recently, I have some nice gifts and a hamper which I have no particular use of, decided to contribute it as lucky draws instead. And unexpectedly, I got another lucky draw for another hamper instead...

Early Day

Today, I reached office around 7.30 a.m. First time ever that I reached office at such unearthly hour.

Reason?

My car is in the "spa", enjoying it's makeover while its owner have not stepped into spa for eons. Such is the life of a pampered car!!

I hope I can collect my car today. It is really getting old and probably, another year or so, I should get myself a new car, or at least, a NEWER car. But I am not the type who will want to waste money on car, as long as it has four wheels, can carry me from point A to point B, all rest is immaterial to me. Just don't die on me, touch wood!!!

Though, through my sheer "risk taking" habit, where car maintenance is concerned, I was stranded quite a few times due to no gasoline in the tank. Well, in actual fact, there were still petrol in the tank but by sheer freak of nature, once, I parked in a slightly slanted road, my guess is the petrol all go to one side and unable to flow to the engine, whereas another time, I was going up a flyover, probably it was too steep and the petrol unable to flow to the engine, again, and my car stalled in the middle of a flyover!!!

Anyway, I hoped my car enjoyed it's stay at the "spa" and have had enough rest for the past 3 days and able to give me its full loyalty and service for the next few years.

Stupid Do As Stupid Does

As per Jamie says, same shit different days.

I was thinking of other things when I typed the title but didn't have the chance to pursue the matter.

As it is, I will leave it at title and you make you own conclusion.

EOE Online Photo Printing

I am practically a very wired (or wireless) person. I would go haywire if I don't have my handphone within my earshot. I would feel restless if I don't at least access internet for once, a day.

I do my banking online.

I pay my bills online.

I do my income tax online.

I check my EPF online.

I met some good friends online.

I saved all my important documents online.

I buy my books online, via Amazon.com and Kinibooks.

NOW, I can finally have my digital photos developed into two dimensional paper based photos, the good old fashion way with a new twist :- I don't have to go to photo shops to do it!! This is exactly what I have been waiting for! I have loads of photos to develop and I never seemed to be able to reach any photo shops with my car (in other words, just plain lazy and procrastinating the processing of the photos).

Thanks to an online buddy, now, I can do what I want at a click of a button (well, a few clicks actually) and all that thanks to EOE Online Photo Printing Services. I am THAT reliant on internet. If I can do everything from the comfort of my chair, I WILL do it and I am a "convert". As of this moment, EOE Online Photo Printing IS the must have in my favourite links.

A little bit of adverts and personal experience to follow, this is the PART 1. Once I received my order from them, I will continue with how is their service and how fast we can get our order after placing them (instant gratification or delayed gratification) :-

I have tried to use their order site, ordering 50 pieces of my family photos (back logged since, I don't know, 3 - 4 years back?). I must say this, it is extremely user friendly and very easy to load, albeit at a speed a tad slower, as most photos size are big nowadays. AND, I believe, it is not their fault, it is the stupid internet speed connection!! People are talking about 40Mbps and we are still stuck at turtle speed of less than 1Mbps!!

Anyway, I digress. For more information, head to EOE Online Photo Printing. Why this service was not recommended earlier, I don't know, because during the many years of procrastinating, I have lost a good many photos, due to computer corruptions and whatnots. If only they were around then. So folks, don't wait, if you have good fond memories photos to develop, head over to this site and get it printed before something else happened to it.

Trust me, even a 7 years old would be able to order print if we give them this site. Even blindfolded, you could use it, it is that easy to use!!

Best still, the promotion price for 4R is 30 sen and 5R at 50 sen. To top it off, order of RM 35.00 or more get free shipping/delivery, what more can a geek ask for!!!

Orchard

Sunday. 04 Jan 2009.

Tomorrow is Monday. It will be the start of a new school day. Traffic is expected to be heavy and jam everywhere. It will be my daughter's first day in school too, I hope she will adapt. My son will be in Standard Four, I hope he will finally get the hang of things. I really understand lessons and get the habit of studying when I reached Standard Four.

I went and bought some nice nasi lemak for breakfast and bought some extra, might as well invite some close friends over for brunch, I thought. The brunch was enjoyable, overeat, nevertheless, though I would love to do this more often, I think I will have to pace it and do it more sparingly, to give my stomach some rest and also to respect my friends need of space and time for themselves, as much as mine, hahaha.

Later in the evening, did some gardening, again and am pleased that most of the things are basically in place today, as I fixed up the fence for my passion fruits to climb, to be shared with the jasmine. I put the jasmine behind the wire mesh and it looked neat and interesting. I guess gardening does give certain satisfaction. There is still a lot to be done, to have a decent garden but I guess, mine would be more an orchard than a garden.

I am thinking, if I am going to spend time in garden, under hot sun at times, I might as well grow something pleasing to the eyes AND yield edibles at the same time, thus my obsession and fascination with fruit trees presently. Just fruit alone, I think I have about 9 types presently and I am looking to round it up to 10 or may be make it to a dozen, am still thinking of some fruits that would look nice and don't take up too much space and time. Someone commented that it will be an orchard. I am thinking, how nice it will be if the trees are all matured and starts yielding fruits. If only there are steroid for trees, hahaha. The trees seemed to be of the same size most of the time, probably because I looked at them everyday...

Strangers but not really

I wrote an email to a neighbour, excerpts as follows :-

Quote

I hope that the new year will bring fonder memories for you. I have actually heard about the sad story but I am a believer in that God always has a better plan for us and that there is always a silver lining to everything, be it happy or otherwise.

We all are brought together to live in the same neighbourhood for a reason and lending shoulder to each other in time of need, is one of the most gifted blessing to us all.

Unquote

I am beginning to feel that all of us have a small role in bigger scheme of things and the power that be always, in its mysterious ways, make you realise that everything, no matter how nice, will always have a small black spot, to remind you not to be overtly complacent in our blissful life, to plant our feet back on the ground.

My personal experience is that I, for some reason bought my current residence, love the place for it's neatness and upmarket appeal. Never have I thought that beside the hardware, the place will be filled with nice, lovely people that are so considerate and huggable that, you can not help but feel very blessed.

Then, God, in it's wisdom, decided to bring you to real life by also including some blotches, to make life more real, more like LIFE, you know, where, nothing is actually really perfect, in the hardware (the houses) and the software (the people).

My house have paints peeling, bubbles popping up and spoiled the paintworks; my neighbours have hairline cracks, some have sinkholes (not major though) but all this small-small things keep us in perspective, which also unites us, in a way.

The software, jeez, I could go on and on, on just on particular person alone. My neighbour and I are some of the most carefree spirit, not petty in any particular order but have to share border with one of the most inconsiderate brute in the neighbourhood. Of all the houses, he has to choose the one next to ours. I believe they are not bad people per se but their inconsideration bugs us like a persistent mosquitoes which you just can't swap. I have debris washed to my backyard from their peeled paints. If this continues, I guess, sooner or later, I too will have to put up some kind of concrete barrier to stop this kind of water flow,, which would easily wash away my garden's top soil. Building extensions and renovations that do not blend with the environment, having structures which is an eyesore from my side, all that is what I meant by inconsideration. When I shifted in, I try my best not to infringe on people's property, privacy and convenience. I am a firm believer of not doing unto others what you don't want others to do unto you. I hope he will just wake up one day and feel ashamed of himself for being such a jerk all this while.

I know I shouldn't say things about people when I said I don't do unto people what I don't want people to do unto me. But certain thing just begs for exception. Anyone in my shoes will share the same feeling, probably only saints could be patient when faced with this type of "challenge" but I am only a mere mortal....

Books

Yippeee!!!

I got my books from Amazon.com!! It was supposed to arrive on first week of February (my order was in mid December!!) and it arrived first working day of January, I am happy because I looked forward to the books.

This is what I have been telling my people when dealing with customers, instead of JIT (Just In Time), always give ourselves some window for delays, hiccups etc. For something to arrive earlier than our estimated time, it will be a pleasant surprise. But of course, before it actually arrived, notification must be made. At least, when something is already in our possession to deliver, we can always fine tune the actual delivery time.

I bought the books from Amazon.com because for hardcover books, USA price is cheaper. At the same time, I wanted to buy the boxed set for the Twilight series, after Miu mentioned that it was out of stock in Klang Valley. Here, I would have to buy individually but in Amazon.com, I am able to get a boxed set, which looked much more nicer.

I also bought the trilogy of The Rose Of The Prophet, which was reprinted into one thick book and I have been looking for it in Malaysia for very long time, even the individual printed ones but to no avails. Since I am buying the other two books, I included this book into my order. It was these books that got me hooked on Fantasy, D&D stories. I have been a fan of these genre ever since.

02 Jan 2009

2nd day of the new year.....

Slept at about 3.00 a.m., woke up about 6.30 a.m. Now, I felt like man on high dose of drug. Moves like koala, think like one too...

Despite new year resolution to start cutting down on food intake, had met up with some friends earlier just now for lunch!!! Was thinking of declining but would not be so nice, right? Like everything else, there would be too side to everything, be nice and put on some weight or be not nice and shunned by people later? Guessed which one win hands down?

Aaaannnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd.......

Just got an sms from my neighbour to gather at his house tomorrow for ANOTHER round of food binge, gossips and reliving some fond memories of the just concluded new year eve countdown party organised by our residents.

But the good news is, this morning, I had my braces tightened again, hehehe.

MEANING, the gum is in a bit discomfort, not really in pain but a discomfort nevertheless.

MEANING, it will not be THAT comfortable to eat.

MEANING, I will have to eat slowly!!

MEANING, I will have no choice but to eat less.

MEANING, less risk of putting on weight, what with +sizekitten's birthday do, which, fortunately, we have to walk all around the big shopping mall to locate the places to take photos, thus, burning of a TEENEE, WEENEE amount of unwanted calories....

See, there is always a silver lining to everything...

YOU eat less, you don't gain weight, you stays healthy....

YOU exercise more, you will have a fit body and help you to stay younger....

I told you guys I am in KOALA mode, I don't know what I am rambling about.....

I will leave it here lest I get you all muddled up too....

01 Jan 2009

Another loooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg day!!!

Woke up about 11.00 a.m today. After going through some mails and surfing a bit, the time was about 12.00 noon. Got ready to leave the house for eating and photo session with +sizekitten and left home about 1.45 p.m. Reached One Utama around 3.00 p.m. The worst part was, there were practically no parking available. What is wrong with all these people? Can't they just stay at home if they have nothing to do? We are excusable, as we were there to celebrate a friend's birthday and utilising our photo coupons, it being a last day, those others were there just to waste their time and make life miserable for other. Jerks!!! I took me practically another 45 minutes before I get a parking lot, after turning, not aimless, with aim for finding a parking but there were simply none to be found!!! What a lousy place to be!!!

Anyway, after everyone, consisting of +sizekitten, her brother, Hurley, Jasmine and her brother and minder and my family of four, had gathered, we watched a movie, Yes Man, quite funny, wish it didn't get censored though but anyway, it was funny and though provoking.

After that, we headed to Nando's, +sizekitten wanted to buy us dinner and then, Hurley suggested we buy her dinner instead after I suggested we eat at TGIF instead. So, we moved to TGIF and had some nice foods. The thing I like about TGIF is that they will sing for the birthday girl (or boy, as the case may be).



Here is the birthday girl, hiding because she was a bit shy....initially....



Not so shy anymore...



+sizekitten and her brother, I think it was very sweet of him to celebrate his sister birthday with a bunch of strangers like us. But by the end of the day, we were not so stranger anymore, I guess. I think she should ask him out and hang out with us more often.

Well, after the feasting, we were on a hunting trail to take photos and though we huffed and puffed, in the end, I think most of the shot turned out nicely. I am quite pleased with the overall effects. It was better in the booklet that +sizekitten gave to us but for the moment, the online version will do, until I found time to scan the booklet of the photos of my family.