Christmas underwater...

I was looking forward to a restful Christmas weekend but that's a dream now seeing as how my home in Melaka is underwater. Yes, underwater.

The insane flooding has reached Melaka and with my home being on low-lying land, flooding was inevitable. I tried to convey the urgency to my parents but they assumed it to be just 'another' flood (we had 4 in the past).

This time round however, the water came up to the waist almost! Damage is surreal and more so for stuff with sentimental value. We can always buy new stuff but will be hard replacing old photos and mementos. All I hope now is that the water stops rising.

I will be off to Melaka tomorrow, hopefully waters has receded some by then. Am feeling terribly sad for my parents. Got to be thankful for blessings though.

Please, please, please let there be no snakes in the house!

Ah... Christmas...

It's Christmas in only 5 days and even with the humongous KLCC tree, just not quite in the mood though am definitely relishing the extra day weekend! It's been crazy of late, what with the LRT acting up a bit and traffic heavy with all the rain but life is good :) And miraculously, I have yet to buy anything this Christmas sales!

JOY TO THE WEEKEND
sung to the tune of Joy to the World

Joy to the world, Christmas is soon to come!
Let alarms no longer ring,
Let every head, just lie in bed,
And dream of silly things,
And dream of silly things,
And dream, and dream of silly things.

Joy to the world, the weekend awaits!
Let men reign over the remote;
Watching old Lost shows, past episodes,
Repeat old rerun joys,
Repeat old rerun joys,
Repeat, repeat, old rerun joys.

No more to wait for the LRT,
No more parking space to find;
Just stay at home and eat Maggi,
Only 3 minutes to cook,
Only 3 minutes to cook,
Only, only, 3 minutes to cook.

Joy for the holidays, it's coming soon,
Don't forget, it's Christmas too,
The glories of the long weekend,
Makes me a happy boy,
Makes me a happy boy,
And makes, makes me a happy boy!

Home is where the heart is...

I've done it, or rather in the process of getting it done. After years of wishful thinking and a few 'almost' situations, I've finally committed to buying a house!

After a week of house viewing, I've found a property I actually can see myself living in. It's a cosy 1 1/2 storey structure that's actually facing a school (so lots of 'yang' energy). I've paid the earnest fee and it's now quite a drama dealing with the lawyers and the bank.

Am definitely excited and also a little trepidatious... it's a big commitment but probably an inevitable one. It's also on my little list of life goals so I can now tick off 'buying a house before the age of 30'.

Woohoo!

Tip-toeing on eggshells...

It's 3 months into my new job and it really feels like 3 years already! I've been uber productive (probably because I'm at work so early and leave so late) and there's been so much to do. Everything's pretty much great except for one unexpected aspect, the politics.

It's quite amazing to me to learn and notice the level and depth of office politics here! Then again, I've never really worked in such a humongous company before. I really do admire the players and the playing field though. And here I thought I was an experienced corporate ladder climber.

It's really not all bad though once you get the gist of it. I know some people who cannot fathom being in a working environment knee deep in political mush but I'm ok with it. Am not sure what that says about me but I find the constant need to be 'aware' and 'observant' a unique challenge. Sure beats crossword puzzles anyway!

Whatever the climate though, at the end of the day the work is all that matters and I definitely do love what I do. Heck, I'm even ok with the commute! The green tea must really be working. :)

Ah... life...

Life is all about perspective. What comes may, it's how you see the world and the context of your world that makes all the difference in the world!

Someone said to me at work that passion is all about our point of view. Passion on its own fades but if we are able to always find that right point of view given whatever vantage point we have, we will always fuel the fire. And I concur!

For those of you that remember, I was a grumpy grumpy boy back in MMU. What changed was the moment I realised I was not tied to my scholarship bond and had all the choices in the world! From that point on, even though life had its ups and downs, things were overall great :)

So, if I may offer a small token of advice, consider perspective. You know what they say, always look for the silver lining!

Days are a daze...

The loudspeakers blared the brain-imprinted tones and announcements to remind all bleary-eyed passengers what the next station is. All I remember hearing was ding-something then some 'blah blah' and then KL Sentral. Having been blissfully asleep, I shrugged off the sandman and then frightfully wondered whether am I on the way home or on the way to work.

Days are such a daze this days! I leave the house in the wee hours of the morning at around 6'ish and am at work in the frigid KLCC tower by 740am. Then it's work and stuff until I leave the office at 8pm to reach home after 9pm. Then I sleep at 10'ish and am up again at 6am!

It's such a tightly spaced cycle that come Friday, I'm hugging and kissing my calendar as I pass the day knowing that for the next two days I can wake up after the sun and be alone in my bed in solitary reward. Hoorah!

More photos!

Have finally uploaded most of the photos. The rest are really junk stuff like my hotel bed (which was incredibly comfortable and blissfully restful), random pictures from the conference and other stuff like my maggi all lined up! :)

Anyways, I have pictures of the Science Centres I visited. Pictures include the Louisville Science Centre, Boston Museum of Science, and the Acton Discovery Museums.

Then I have some pictures of art galleries and museums. I managed to visit the Louisville Slugger Museum (all about baseball!), Louisville Glassworks Museum, Louisville Arts and Crafts Gallery, and the Museum Hotel which is a functioning hotel with an excellent gallery for a lobby (see all the red penguins?).

In Boston, I managed to visit the New England Aquarium as well as the Harvard Museum of Natural History, both really excellent places to visit.

Have fun with the pictures!

Photos of Louisville, Kentucky and Harvard, Massachusettes.

Photos will be added slowly and not in chronological order.

First two up are photos of the city of Louisville in Kentucky and the Harvard campus grounds in Massachusettes.

More will be added soon!

Home sweet home...

I'm finally back! The trip has been quite an ordeal though there were good moments. It is such a relief though to be back home in my own bed after 30 hours of airports and airplanes on the way home.

Will post up pictures soon. It's just good to be back :)

Monday blues? You gotta be kidding!

It's the eve of Raya and driving to work is absolute bliss! Reached the Kelana LRT and parking lots were aplenty. Got a seat on the train and travelled in tune to my phone busting out The Corrs Irresistible twice.

I wondered for awhile the likelihood of my phone's random song selection engine to always select at least 2 songs by The Corrs from a playlist of 40 to be played during the 6-7 song length train ride to and from work daily. My phone must be psychic. Or everyone (and everything) loves The Corrs!

Arrived in KLCC to find a whole lot of people, even before 9am. Also noticed camera flashes everywhere! KLCC has been occupied by a whole bunch of foreign workers, which became more noticeable during lunch.

Office is amazingly quiet, except for a teeny radio beating out Hindi music. The office of 150+ people had only 4 today, myself including.

As I'm off to the USA come Thursday morning and with Tuesday and Wednesday a public holiday, I really have little to do today except of course to shop for travel stuff. Got my usual assortment of Panadol, charcoal tablets, motion sickness meds and 'asam'. I've never been a good long distance traveller and doubt it'll be any different this time around!

Just chilling and killing time today with some readings. My first Raya hols in KL is off to a good start :)

Mondays should always be like this.

Tearjerker...

If you have a couple of minutes to spare, check out the new PETRONAS ad for Raya. It is such a tearjerker... sigh.

Life in KLCC

My second week working in KLCC is about done and I must say, life has changed terribly! Going to work feels like going to another state at times :)

I do have a nice cubicle though with great neighbours.



Here's a shot of my desk area. More shots will come later. I love the 'natural' lighting. Plus windows everywhere means no glaring white fluorescent.

Life in KLCC has its quirks though. For example, lunch can be an adventure, though must say the food is good.



My favourite 'chap fan' combo is a tidy RM10. Definitely pricey but very very good.



But then, considering how much melons are, well...

Working here has its perks though. There's pretty good shopping, or at least window shopping. Office is really secure and there's always the 'wow' factor of having a KLCC Tower address on your business card.

Not to mention perks like the art gallery, MPO and similar.



It's a change :)

It's been a week!

A week has gone by since I've started work at my new job and it's been really good so far. I must admit that I was a nervous wreck last Sunday but am very glad that concerns are unfounded. Office is really such a welcoming place and with so much going on, the day really goes by quite quickly.

Commuting has been an effort so far. I do miss walking to work and waking up after sunrise but I guess it's a small price to pay. It was quite a drama though last Friday when the trains broke down. I guess I really need to evaluate alternatives to the LRT just in case it happens again!

Don't forget to buzz me for lunch if any of you guys are in KLCC! :)

Work or Play?

There's one of this in my office :) It's just SO cool!

Around the World in 12 Days

It's my first day at the new job and amazingly, spent the whole day in meetings, 5 altogether! It's good feeling somewhat 'productive' on Day 1 :) Kinda eases the nerves when there's ample information given. Knowledge is empowering.

Also attended a meeting to clarify a work trip I'll be taking. Come October 26, I will be travelling literally around the world!

First up, I'll be heading to the city of Louisville, Kentucky via KL - Stockholm - Newark, NY - Kentucky. I'll be there attending a 5 day conference which is not just fully paid for, but being the only guy, I get the entire hotel room to myself!

Then after about 7 days in Kentucky, I'll be heading down to Boston via Chicago. Boston's agenda is simple. Check out the competition :)I'll be in Boston for a grand 4 days with a day off to shop!

After Boston I'm off to LA for a short stopover before heading back to KL via Taipei through the other side of the globe. In total, I'll be away on travel for 12 days!

It's going to be a heck of a trip but it sure beats morning commute!

Passport Drama

I went to renew my passport this morning at the Immigration branch at the old Subang Airport. Heeding advice from friends, I left the house at 630am hoping to arrive by 7am and beat the crowd. I did arrive at the AREA at 7am but got lost and ended up at the queue at 8am.

It's amazing how I got lost though. In retrospect, it was so easy to find. But knowing me, probably unsurprising. Anyways, when I arrived, the place was almost full! However, service was darn quick. Even with the queue, I left by 9am, only an hour's wait.

So will be going again tomorrow morning to collect my passport. This time round, I don't plan to wake up so early. Will do that next week when I start my new job in KL. :)

Last Day

It's here. I'm packed. It's time to go.

I'll be leaving behind a lot of memories but come October, life will be very different. For the better or worse? I'll soon find out! :)

5th last day at work

The countdown has begun marking the last few days at my current workplace. When I resigned from my previous company, I remember the elation and relief as well as the excitement with the prospect of being released from the bonds of employment! This time round, I must say I am feeling quite sad. There's a lot I will miss but definitely not enough to make me stay but it's still very much an opposite of what I felt the last time!

I've packed all my things which surprisingly filled only 5 shoeboxes. Was expecting a whole lot more but guess my miniscule office limited my packrat nature. Come Friday I will be enjoying joblessness for a week before I am back again in the never ending rat race :)

Squeak squeak!

All my bags are packed...

I am melancholic... it's been a week of farewells and next week promises even more as I slowly uproot myself from the college and prepare for my new job come October.

It's terribly upsetting leaving a job you enjoy but it's also immensely exciting having the prospect of a job you could enjoy even more! Either way, it's bittersweet... and as much as I'm looking forward to be in KLCC, I'm going to miss the college, my colleagues, students and my desk.

Change is definitely the theme of the month. On top of a new job, I'm also looking at many other new things with a new house being on top of my mind. With certain circumstances, I feel like moving out. Too many memories in my place and I think it may be time to upgrade from a renter to an owner. It's a nagging thought and we'll see how it goes.

I've never been one to hold on to the past. Gawd knows I've hardly ever kept up contact with old friends... can't even remember my friends in secondary school. I have for the most lived in the present with an eye to the future but with age and experience, I have to say that all this moving forward stuff can be delusional. Sometimes, it would be nice to live in the past and remember where you came from and those who helped you through.

Melancholy in September never fails...

Happy Birthdays!

Aimo and Chun! Happy Birthday! Hope you guys have a blast with lots of cake, goodies and presents!

It's been ages since we celebrated birthdays ala MMU days. I can still remember the homemade cards and parties at the playground :)

Picket Fences

I've had an interesting week of neighbourly encounters. First up, I found in the backyard some broken branches from the insane tree that's growing. When I first moved in over 2 years ago, the tree was just a spindly shrub barely 1 feet high. It's now a towering 10 feet tree with beautiful umbrella like branches which unfortunately tend to extend into my neighbours 'delicate' back porch. Thus the broken tree branches left on my side of the backyard like Mafia style warnings.

So in the interest of neighbourly relations, I chopped the entire tree down and my frumpy grumpy neighbour is now all smiles. I guess the centimetre long invasion into the airspace by my tree threatened her sovereignity. People can be quite possesive at times (myself included) so like I said, in the best interest of everyone, a tree is now dead.

Then there's this other neighbour, the one with the biggest most renovated house on the block who wants to build gates at the entrances to the back road. Given the 'recent rise' in crime and the 'threat to safety and belongings', the gates are 'necessary' and since its in shared interest, we should all chip in.

I don't know about you guys but the only ones to gain here are the ones with most to lose. Given that, dividing the cost 'evenly' is practical but somewhat unjustified so I decided to pay nothing.

I do live in a nice neighbourhood but people with high walls and big gates do not nice neighbours make.

Grounded...

I have a problem. I am a shopaholic...

This Megasale has been great thus far, though for all the wrong reasons! I've hardly been to 3-4 malls but have been spending like crazy. It's fun most definitely but at the end of the day, the one having the most fun will be my banks :)

So I've grounded myself from any malls until the sale is over. At least on the upside, I hardly ever pay regular price. But flash that 70% sticker and out comes my credit cards in a flash!

It has been a great sale though I must admit. It won't be long to the year end though and we all know what that means :)

Bye bye furry friends...

It's now official... I am now bunny-free.

All the bunnies in my backyard have found new homes. It's a little sad seeing them go but with the career move, I just won't have time for them. Even at the moment, they're pretty much on their own, though occasionally they do come in useful as 'entertainment' for the kids.

I have learned something though. I no longer want a dog and I most definitely do not want children. I guess the idea of personal freedom is very crucial to me.

My parents will be severely disappointed I am sure but who knows, I may just adopt someday. Maybe at the age of 5 when they're housetrained and fully-teethed. :)

Nervous anticipation...

It's confirmed. I've tendered my resignation from the college. Signed the offer letter with my new employer. Stamped the agreement. And went for the medical checkup. So come October, I'll be working in KLCC!

It's a great career move. Very generous salary hike, great benefits, and the promise of challenges but it's definitely nerve wrecking. Moving out of a comfort zone is definitely scary, especially when it's a very nice comfort zone but some opportunities are rare and I don't want to regret not taking it later in life.

Will definitely miss life in the college. It will be sad to hand over CreativeKids to new teachers. And even rabbits have to go. And in the future, perhaps even a move out of USJ. It's a lot of change but I'm game for it :)

So wish me luck! For friends in KL, well, here I come!

Time For Change

Change is in the air! I've quit my job and am moving on to a more challenging undertaking but one that is more rewarding as well. Out of the 20 or so applications sent out, only 2 responded and I've managed to clinch one. Thankfully, of ALL the ones I've sent out and hoped to get, the job I did get is the one I truly wanted. I am definitely very lucky this year.

Will post more details later. Right now, am basking in rays of change and all pumped up. I am a happy boy.

ps: LOTS of vacancies for fulltime lecturers in multimedia, advertising, mass communications and similar... buzz if keen :)

Tis' the season to be spending... falalalala...

The Malaysian Megasale is back and gosh... am just so pumped. Went on a mini shopping marathon over the weekend and got myself a whole bunch of goodies.

I am such a shopaholic. Someone needs to take my credit cards away from me... all 8 of them.

A weekend to remember...

I have to say I had a GREAT weekend! Went up to Genting on Friday and had to admit, was a little trepidatious (is this a word?) as most of my trips uphill have ended in some form of trauma. (Flashback: - brakes failed while going downhill, - battery died and had to be jumpstarted, - got lost walking, - diarrhorea, etc.).

This time round however, everything went perfectly well! Checked in without delay, got great rooms with great views. Weather was blissful! All nice and clear while driving then suddenly all misty and cool when I've parked. Just perfect!

Throughout, did the whole Genting fanfare. Went on rides, watched movies, went for the Mysteria magic show, ate like a pig, and had a ball of a time!





I want to go again!

Gimme a 'H' 'O' 'L' 'I' 'D' 'A' 'Y' and what do you spell?

Am off and away! Will be on leave from tomorrow till the weekend. Going off to Melaka, then to Sunway Lagoon then off to Genting. Doubt it'll be 'relaxing' but it'll be fun!

HOORAH!

Muddled Monday

I am full of gibberish today. Not sure whether it's all the sleep I got on Sunday or the fact that I'm underdressed (in t-shirt instead of shirt) but today is one muddled Monday.

It has been ages since I have literally nothing to do and it's amazing that it's all tied up to my machine. My PC is in the shop being upgraded to XP and without it, I'm utterly useless. Furthermore, with this week being a mid-semester break, I have no classes to go to and no students are around for consultation.

Summary is... I'm bored.

To make matters worse, only 7 of my colleagues are around and from this 7, only 2-3 are about in the office. Having 14 people on leave certainly makes a huge difference to what is usually a lively office environment. It's just so dead today.

It's now 2pm and I've exhausted all possible time with emails... rearranged the pens and pencils... went to the bathroom almost every 30 minutes and ate lunch twice.

Thankfully, my machine will be back tomorrow and hopefully, life at work will keep me busy again. I like being useful.

Ooooooooooohhhh.......

My happy SpongeBob collection :)

SEGi Community Day (8/7)

If you are around the neighbourhood this Saturday (8/7), do drop by SEGi College Subang Jaya for an activity-filled day! With over 30+ external vendors, Futsal challenges, carnival games, computer games and lots of FOOD, the day promises to be full of fun!

Look me up for 'discounted' coupons :) Hope to see you guys there!

Introducing Raisin!

A new baby bunny has emerged from the burrow and it's Raisin!



Here's Raisin with his mom, Biscotti and dad, Fudge.

what a genius...

I've been having problems with my office email. Any email I send out with attachments get bounced back. So I emailed the IT guy and told him very clearly and slowly that my email works fine except when I send out one with an attachment of any file type and size to any email account. If I do, my email will bounce. Please advise.

His advice?

1. What file type did you attach?

And when I explained, he then asked:

2. Who did you send it to?

When I said both internal and external accounts, he then suggested:

3. Why don't you forward to me a sample of the file you are trying to send so I can test it out.

Hmm...

CreativeKids is 2 years old!

June marks the 2nd year anniversary of CreativeKids and there's definitely cause to celebrate! I started off CreativeKids 2 years ago with a big dream, 3 classes, and an average of 1.5 students a class. For the whole first year, I scraped by with barely 2-3 students a class, earning just enough to break even.

Right now, CreativeKids is at 95% capacity! Out of my 3 classes, I have 34 students from a maximum population of 36. For the first time, I have had to turn down parents and I even had to cancel a fourth class, not due to demand but due to my time constraints. It really feels great to have something you create be so successful :)

Sigh... I am contented, tired, but contented.

Not again...

The World Cup is back. Hoorah...

For the next few weeks it will be another annoying period of trying to explain to people why I don't know who won what or who played who and more importantly, why I don't care. After all, it's only football.

It irks me though why it's so hard to accept that different people like different things. And it's particularly gender bias when it is argued that men must like football although there are some really passionate women fans out there as well. It's human nature I guess to want the justification of others for your interests because I strongly suspect that not every 'fan' out there is really one. Perhaps peer pressure may be involved.

So be nice and don't ask me about football. Otherwise I may very well turn the tables and start discussing the science of Star Trek instead.

Hmm...

Your Personality Profile

You are sexy, powerful, and bold. You're full of passion and energy... Sometimes this passion has a dark side. You feel most alive when you're seducing someone. You never fail to get someone's attention. Quick minded, you're also quick to lose your temper!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

I am bored...

I am bored. Yes... bored.

I've been working at my current place for just over 2 years now and boredom has started to set in. It's quite interesting that I also lasted just 2 years at my previous company. Maybe 2 years is the max that my interest span can last. Hmm...

To be honest though, the job isn't too bad. There are highlights and there are perks. It's just, well, unchallenging, or rather challenging in mundane ways. It's hard to get excited about preparing documents for a regulatory inspection or checking on classes to make sure attendance is a'ok. I'm also bored (or rather fed-up) organising showcases and graduation events that ends up pretty much the same every time.

I need a change. A little disappointed that a scholarship I applied for didn't went through but there's a few more still being processed. Hopefully one works out. I also applied for a job with Google (although that's really a stretch). Then again, can't say I didn't try! :)

I blame Mondays for this.

X-Men 101

This is something you find in a bad horror movie... it is most definitely NOT Jean Grey.



THIS is Jean Grey aka Marvel Girl.

X-Men 3 - Spot your favourite mutant and watch it die a horrible death!

My gawd... Needless to say I've watched X-Men 3 and I feel so annoyed. The movie is such a let down and so terribly corny. Granted some scenes are pretty good but overall, the movie seems to feel like a montage of character clips. It's like the director is having a jolly good time introducing the characters (and then sadistically killing them off, bloody bugger).

(spoilers ahead)

First of all, the tease with the Sentinels is just plain mean. I think the whole movie could do with just the Sentinels. And Grey looks so darn old. And what with the metamorphosis into the Korean horror movie meanie whenever Phoenix (that's DARK Phoenix) takes hold?

I actually don't mind them killing off Cyclops (especially when it's James Marsden) but generally, don't quite see the rationale of the mass killing spree. Also it's quite a shaky X-Men lineup at the final confrontation and it's really quite amazing how 6 or so X-Men (some still seemingly in their underpants) can hold off a force of oh, 50-60 mutants?

Granted, it's a movie, and it's escapist fantasy but these characters form the bedrock for many a childhood's imagination. And you should not 'toy' with them like characters in a carnival shoot-out. Look at Juggernaut for example... a massive force of destruction turned into a bumbling wall wrecker.

I'm not a happy X-Fan.

Unearthed from ancient files of MMU days...

c__k: cool chill

kotakkosong: muahhahaaaa

kotakkosong: @_0

c__k: how goes everything?

c__k: BOB doing well?

kotakkosong: allllmoosssstttt done

c__k: heard a lot bout him

kotakkosong: alive and well

c__k: so how long have u known bob?

c__k: heard bout your problems wif him

c__k: things will work out between u two though

c__k: just wait and see

c__k: :)

kotakkosong: well

kotakkosong: bob is one of a kind

c__k: he sure is

kotakkosong: and one of these days i will kill him

c__k: wah

kotakkosong: NYAHAHAAAA!

c__k: things that bad?

c__k: sigh

c__k: u really need to get that temper in check

c__k: bobs kinda insecure right now and he needs u

kotakkosong: maybe we'll go see counsellor

c__k: i know a very good one

c__k: wait let me give u his number

c__k: 013630xxxx

kotakkosong: ah

kotakkosong: i got that one already

kotakkosong: no good

c__k: haha

c__k: issit?

c__k: u sure?

kotakkosong: he has all these wierd ideas

kotakkosong: and he always telss us his very weird dreams

c__k: thats y he's so good... he's unconventional

kotakkosong: hehhe

c__k: well, if u wan an old school doc

c__k: i have the number here... 013363xxxx

kotakkosong: ah

c__k: u can try calling.. but she's a little slow so speak clearly

kotakkosong: aah

kotakkosong: i...

kotakkosong: see....

c__k: uh huh... and she has rheumatoids and arthritis and haerrmorhoids... so well,... u get the idea

kotakkosong: maybe........

kotakkosong: not..........

kotakkosong: i heard she can do triple somersaults pretty well

kotakkosong: :)

c__k: but that was in her younger days

kotakkosong: ahah

kotakkosong: but u dont know her like i do

c__k: she's pretty much in the wheelchair now... with those baywatch hunks as her assistants

kotakkosong: she has a secret double life

c__k: sigh, u should hear the gossip

c__k: double life? u mean she has even 1?

kotakkosong: yeah

kotakkosong: and one of them she calls affectionately 'abang hensem'

kotakkosong: hehehe

c__k: ouch

c__k: touche

kotakkosong: hahahh

kotakkosong: eh.. i wanna keep this conversation

kotakkosong: save it!!

c__k: haha

kotakkosong: really

c__k: weird conversation of the week

kotakkosong: i closed the window

c__k: i havent

kotakkosong: send to me u hear

kotakkosong: :)

Erm...

Well, thanks to Saw, I feel compelled to do my bid to ensure the continuity of the 'tag' so here goes!

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Dan
2. Teacher Daniel
3. Sir

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My voice (helps command attention)
2. My height (I like towering over most people, hehe)
3. My eternally serious expression

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My receding hairline (woe!)
2. My weight (I need less of it)
3. My eyes (it's too tiny)

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Chinese
2. Peranakan
3. Malaysian

THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T STAND:
1. People who like to complain but don't do anything about it
2. Racism
3. People who cannot seem to be on time

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Going blind.
2. Seeing a ghost
3. Losing my family

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS:
1. Star Trek
2. Simpsons
3. Charmed

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE JAPANESE ANIMES:
1. Gatekeepers
2. Digimon
3. Pokemon

THREE OF YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Think of Me (Phantom of the Opera) - Sarah Brightman
2. Breathless - The Corrs
3. Walking After You - Foo Fighters

THREE MOVIES YOU CAN WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
1. Digimon The Movie
2. Bring It On
3. Finding Nemo

THREE MOVIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH:
1. X Men 3
2. Da Vinci Code
3. Harry Potter

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Torchlight
2. Cellphone
3. Credit Cards

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Shorts
2. T-Shirt
3. Spectacles

THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Trust
2. Great sex
3. Someone who's happy to drive (I hate driving)

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE GENDER THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Great body (I'm shallow)
2. Spiky hair
3. Nice lips

THREE BAD HABITS:
1. Am a control freak
2. I'm always right
3. Always playing Devil's advocate

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Reading
2. Watching TV
3. Eating out

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Buy a house
2. Fire some colleagues
3. Jump in bed

THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING OR CURRENTLY PURSUING:
1. Educator
2. Educator
3. Educator

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Australia
2. Holland
3. New Zealand

THREE KIDS' NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. I don't want children...
2. really...
3. never ever.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Get a PhD
2. Earn enough so my parents can quit working and live with me
3. Get a job in another country

THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GUY
1. Am always thinking about sex
2. Electronic gadgets fascinate me
3. I don't clean very well

INITIALS OF THREE CRUSHES:
1. S
2. E
3. R

THREE PEOPLE YOU TAG TO DO THE SURVEY:
1. MENG!
2. Zeke!
3. Aimo!

Graduation Showcase 2006

Sands of time

I'm getting older and the fact of it is really dawning on me in a big way.

I'm going to be 27 this year and although by many standards, that's still young, but there's a certain ominous feeling about age and how the years seem to be really zooming by.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've never had a problem with going old. Am dealing with a receding hairline and a growing paunch in good stead but there's just no helping the feeling that things will change, and in a big way.

Firstly, students now are really 'kids', not slightly younger peers. I am not as glued to the TV as much and current news affect me! I have to pay tax for the first time ever and worse still, there is a growing realisation that people around me will eventually not be around. It's an upsetting thought.

Age is definitely a concept that needs adjusting to. Too bad there isn't all that much time!

Malaysia is finally noticed... groan...

Noticed in Wired:

The World Record-Breaking Capital
The strongest hair! The youngest sumo wrestler! The longest pencil! In Malaysia, making your mark - any mark - is a matter of national pride.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/capital.html

National pride? Err... yeah... ok...

I have graduated!

Sunday was my graduation for my Masters degree and finally, there's closure after 2 years of incredibly exhausting studying. It's a great feeling to be finish something and finish it well, moreso when you can share it with family and friends.

I was also honoured in being asked to give a speech on behalf of the 100 or so graduates. It was nerve wrecking, considering that most of the post-graduate degree recipients were quite senior but it went well and I'm pleased.

I'm going to enjoy the rest of the year but I do plan to continue studying again before 2007. The itch is hard to resist :)

M! The Opera

I went to watch a special screening of M! The Opera last night, courtesy of CIMB. RM120 tickets were going for only RM15 so it's a great bargain!

Anyways, M! The Opera is definitely, for the lack of a better word, interesting. It didn't leave me breathless nor was I wow'ed over but I was pleasantly entertained and there were some really great scenes.

Overall, I really wished the songs were easier to understand. Most times the vocals were quite muffled or lacked good intonation so trying to figure out what they were singing about can be challenging. And the story, my gosh... convulated and probably over-dramatic? Though then again, it's an opera.

For Malaysia's 'first' opera... not too bad. I wished it had a signature song though. Left the place with no tune to hum.

Just sooooo funny!

Children are the best medicine

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't eat children. What happened was that I was feeling really under the weather yesterday, with a scratchy throat and throbbing headache but after a 2 hour class with the CreativeKids kids, I felt immensely better. It's amazing really.

Though it could be an exceptional situation. I had a great class, great here meaning a well prepared well timed class with wonderful kids. The Tuesday bunch are highly intelligent and so naively funny that it makes you want to have kids. Then Thursday comes along and I'm reminded why I don't want kids. But I digress, being with children is theraupeutic, at least in keeping your mind off yourself and giving a more sensible perspective to life.

It's not always that you sing the Barney song, chant lines like "Leonard the table destroyer!" and run around in circles. I honestly wonder at times what these kids go home and tell their parents. And I wonder what the parents must think of me. If I were a parent, I think I'd worry when my kids teacher is insinuating ideas about how exams are stupid.

It's a great feeling being with them, and in some ways (I'm being hopeful), teaching them. So next time you're sick, don't waste time with the doctor. Drop by my place for two hours of drug free remedy to whatever ails you :) Just leave your adult sensibilities at the door.

The Itch

It's that time again... I'm restless, itching for something but can't quite place what it is that I'm itching for. There's a persistent gnawing thought that leads to restless sleep and fluctuating energy levels but can't quite place my finger on what is it that's bothering me, although there are many candidates. It's an incredibly annoying feeling, especially when it really shouldn't be there in the first place.

Work is work, and though it in many ways could be better, there really is little to complain. CreativeKids is doing good, and I have much to look forward to this year including my graduation coming up soon in which I have been honoured to give a speech on behalf of the graduates. So I suspect the gnawing irritation is something deeper and perhaps sinister. What I do know is that I really really want to get it out of my system!

Perhaps it's the thought that news of my scholarship application will be out soon. Though soon is a good 3 months away. I'm really torn about it, part of me wants it badly yet the other part is quite content to stay where I'm at.

There's also the possibility of wanderlust. I really would like to travel again though my family is keeping me quite anchored down. Don't know whether I could leave them for too long.

Or could it be something as simple as my car. I want a new one. It's as simple as that :)

Whatever it is, I hope the itching stops cause it really is getting to me! Maybe I need to learn to meditate. Hmm...

They're back!

The first three baby bunnies that were adopted are back! Adopted family couldn't cope so they asked if I would take them back and of course I would. They are after all, family.

So Biscotto, Biscotti, and Fudge are back in the backyard but this time in a cage. Am not going to risk death by exposure to the elements again. So playtime will be limited but at least they will be safe.

Here's a picture of Biscotti, the most glamorous of the lot!

Moving on

Colby has died, in my hands actually. It was quick and sudden and ends the bunny legacy in my backyard. Won't be finding new company anytime soon as I'm not quite sure available I will be throughout the year but I definitely will miss my rabbit company... Wallaby Wallace the Fourth, King Wombat, Biscuit, Dominose, Mocha, Caramel, Colby and the babies...

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

I attended my first ever formal Western dinner in Shangri La over the weekend. It was the Queen's University's alumni and college sponsored a table. It was a somewhat interesting though uncomfortable event (for me anyways). Eating with such formal etiquette can be unnerving for someone who likes finger foods. Luckily, I learned that one should use cutlery from the outside coming in from Princess Diaries (yes, I watched it). There was a slight argument among older colleagues regarding which water glass is yours to use. Googled and it's the right one, which makes perfect sense.

New experiences are always invigorating.

Hope lost...

It has been a tragic week in my backyard. Mocha, my beautiful she-bunny has passed away in her burrow, likely due to birthing complications leaving behind not just woeful Caramel but three babies, now sadly undernourished and unkept. I've brought the babies in for some tlc and hopefully, they will be able to start eating solids and build some strength. Caramel however is taking it real badly.

He has been refusing to eat, choosing to sit in the rain and tragically seeming to choose to die. And he will likely pass on by morning, as he now lies in the throes of final minutes. It is sad watching him go, eyes all teary and body limp with lost. But Mocha was his one true friend and in the bunny backyard, good friends are but one.

I will be sad for him and I hope that through the night, when he breathes his final breath, he will be all good. At least I got to say goodbye. Never had the same opportunity with Mocha, who just disappeared to the earth.

At least I have the babies to live on their memories. God bless Mocha, Caramel, and may the three new lives find strength amidst absence.

Accept or Except? Hmm...

Try it out, an English word quiz:

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14457200288064322170

My score:

English Genius
You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 80% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Post CNY Blues

Chinese New Year 2006 was great! It was a tad rushed to go back only a day before the eve but everything worked out beautifully. And the celebrations are more pronounced and festive when the extended family are united in full force. This time round, the roll call included:

Grandmothers: 2
Aunties: 9
Uncles: 9
First Cousins: 35
Cousin's kids: 10

Plus my immediate family, for the first 2 days there were about 70 people in my grandmother's house. The noise, chaos, and the whole communal experience is something I always miss and long for. And the best part, this is not even the whole family. Missing from the group will be about a few aunties and uncles and about 20 more cousins. It's a great feeling to be part of a huge family!



Didn't find much time to visit friends (too occupied with family and when push comes to shove, family comes first anyways). Did manage to visit Meng and HL a bit more though and of course their dogs! Temperamental but beautifully golden Bobbie is shown above and below, my favourite, Bandit the patch-eyed mongrel.



I so love Chinese New Year!

Gong Xi Gong Xi

It's that time of the year again :) and I tell you, I'm about to break into giggle'y fits any time! It's amazing how this time of year turns me into a slobbering wide-eyed shopaholic kid. Must be the red.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

The first ever hamper I've won

I join contests somewhat regularly and I have had won quite a bit of prizes, including the whopper of a trip to LA for the Charlie's Angels II premiere. A few days ago, I received news of having won another contest, albeit the consolation. :) I got myself a hamper worth RM188 full of Pilsbury products, all for buying one cake mix. I'm in sweet-tooth heaven!

CreativeKids studio version 3

The touched up learning studio in mood lighting.



The resource centre with the new pink castle motif.

Kids say the darnest things...

Overheard in CreativeKids:

7 yr old boy: Boys don't cry, except when they're being scolded by their boss. Then they can cry.

Shamelessly in Celebration

Every year, after Chinese New Year, I promise myself to not be taken in by the commercial pull of the celebrations and spend like crazy on red plastic junk. But every year, come Chinese New Year, I willingly enter myself into credit card hell to deck my house shamelessly red with lanterns hanging everywhere. I have at last count 30+ lanterns in varying sizes to fit in a tiny single storey home. But oh, I so love it!

This year, I've went a tad overboard with peach curtains laced with bamboo motifs, striped yellow table cloths, bright orange table runner, more lanterns, dingly dangly stuff, and a whole bunch of plastic cherry blossoms. It's so much fun!

SEGI College, now open!

The past few weeks have been hectic, the past few days have been tumultuous but finally, things have settled enough and our doors are now open! I have to say, after being in dank and dingy Summit the past 2 years, a new building is really refreshing, even with the 'work in progress' status.

Here are some snapshots of the Faculty of Creative Arts and Design :)



Our Theatre.



One of two gallerias.



The performing arts studio.

I like new things. :)

New Year... again?

It's 2006 and it almost felt like yesterday that 2005 came into the picture. With the new year though come fresh expectations and renewed vigour... a strange affliction we all seem to have considering nothing has changed except our calendars. And on the topic of calendars, I really miss my old ones. Getting a new calendar is like going on a first date... there's some chemistry but you just don't know what to expect. Especially when you're like me and you scribble all over the calendar making it highly indispensable!

I had my first Digitalia themed CreativeKids class yesterday and it was not too bad. Kids were all hyped up and I foresee a good 4-5 months of on-time homework before the hype sizzles out. It's good fun though and we're having a photo-shoot next week so I can hang their potraits up on the wall. I also have been getting a steady stream of calls from parents out of USJ2 so it's a good sign. Maybe next year CreativeKids can go fulltime :)



College is a hive of busy'ness... moving campus is more complicated than expected. It's a great big mess but it should be over by this week. And Meng has joined the team so it's nice having friends on board. Will take photos of the actual campus and post them once things have settled down.

To everyone, all the best this new year and may dreams and ambitions be in closer reach!