love lures life on

It is the one who is not in love who makes the tender speeches

2011-10-03T23:55:00.000+08:00

Alain de Botton

I should write again

2011-07-10T01:15:00.003+08:00

I should write again. I feel I really should do.

Write. Something else. Not briefs or speeches or recruitment ads.

Write.

What then should I write about?

I feel like Christian who's moved to bohemian Montmartre to live a penniless existence as a writer, who believes in all that is important - beauty, freedom, truth and above all... love. But he had one problem - he's never been in love!

And I... I have nothing to write about.

Babe the Diver

2011-05-20T10:17:00.001+08:00

Mahout

2011-04-30T20:47:00.000+08:00

Happy New 2011

2011-01-03T00:08:00.000+08:00

What is the feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's goodbye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.

On The Road with Jack

2010-12-20T17:43:00.001+08:00

2010-12-17T17:11:00.000+08:00

2010-12-10T14:11:00.000+08:00

No harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent

2010-12-01T16:07:00.007+08:00

This morning, the first thing greeting me on my way to work was a dead body splayed on the pavement around the corner from the house.

There were lots of people standing around, there was a police car, it was bright - 8.30am and the guard house was just 10 meters away.
Must have been a hit and run or a snatch theft. It was a youngish woman in house clothes. She was lying face down and bleeding from the head.

Shaken up I called my mom to tell her what I'd seen.
Instead of being all pity and concern, she asks me if that was why I called so early in the morning for? And then she tells me don't worry la, nothing will happen to you, cover yourself with the Blood of Jesus and OK now go to work.

Update: It was a hit and run. And I got the title Bible verse wrong.

2010-11-12T00:52:00.000+08:00

I'm so in love...

2010-11-04T01:45:00.002+08:00

With life, with Jesus, with my boyfriend, with my family, with my family!

With Lola! I miss my Lola. I'll see my Lola tomorrow! Lola my Lola!

And I wish all of you are too!!! All of you! Everyone! Here's all the LOVE in the world!!

BIG BEAR HUGS AND WET KISSES EVERYONE!!

Goodnight! Jesus Loves You! Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday!

Don't you love exclamation points!?

SO,

2010-11-04T00:12:00.004+08:00

It's been ONE WHOLE YEAR since I was in the throes of my directional crisis thinking what in the world is going to happen to me next? and feeling like I'm going nowhere, stuck, lost, alone forever!!

And then also I remember having this incredible sense of peace that things will Turn Out Fine. That, I'll be Okay. Incredible even. That I'm being taken care of and I don't have to Fight or Struggle or Worry.
That God will Lead and all I do is Follow.

(I think this post summed it up quite well. Actually may be not really. Don't read!!)

Anyway, it's been ONE WHOLE YEAR and things have been Pretty Amazing (like Grace). AMAZING!!!

I spent my last few minutes being *cough* eighteen talking, laughing with my homies, counting our blessings, tears of joy and laughter filling our eyes and I know that there's nowhere I'd rather be than here.

I'm nineteen, I've got a jPhone I didn't buy, a car I (hardly) pay for, and a boyfriend in Hong Kong! I've got a job which sends me to London, a vacuum which sucks and an iron I don't use. And I have a Ribena Playsuit!
(can you tell how grown up I am??)

I share a room with an Australian girl, in a house with a South African girl, a black South African man, a Philipino woman and her daughter and a Turkish Muslim girl. I love them all to bits.
(Oh I've got a story from last week I need to share! wait for it!!!!)

Have I mentioned the BOYFRIEND!? I have a boyfriend! I l(ove)ike him so much and his anal retentive English ways!! (and then there's also the Italian Stallion ways........)

And Oh, things are so much more awesome this Next Year!! Don't you know it!? I know it!!

GOD IS SO GOOD TO ME.

(Note the past tense, present tense, like in Hebrew, the faith language, like from Young's Literal Translation, like from the Church of Joseph Prince)

My boyfriend is a hipster

2010-10-27T10:03:00.002+08:00

Or he's trying to tell me something..

Last night I dreamt of Morgan

2010-10-24T18:49:00.004+08:00

I was at MNG shopping w Ann. We were paying at the cashier when I was told I had won tickets to go to London! I'd won it by winning lots of points. Ann got to go too but I was the primary winner. I was thinking at that time that it musthave been from all the TopShop dresses I've bought.

We were ushered into a room to meet Morgan - the Boss.

Morgan is this stylish oldish man. Morgan says congratulations and all that and then I ask Morgan, "Morgan, are you the M in MNG?"

He laughs and tells me no, there are lots of Morgans in every MNG store. And I was satisfied with that reply. I won flight tickets to London.

Amen.

I'm a psycho stalker girlfriend...

2010-10-21T20:47:00.001+08:00

but he knew that already...

How much more your Heavenly Father??!???

2010-10-19T23:34:00.003+08:00

I showed off my iPhone to good old Peter Gwee today and he told me like, "Look how much your father loves you!! Imagine how much more your Father in Heaven loves you??!!???"

AMEN!!

Does blogging from jPhone work??

2010-10-17T19:55:00.002+08:00

How annoying right?? Want to hear annoying...?

I'm at HKIA waiting for flight back to Singapore after spending weekend in Hong Kong and Macau w my boyfriend.

This is 3rd consecutive weekend spent there and it's getting expensive... Not like I'm paying for anything...

Adding image doesn't seem to work on jPhone...

Anyways, have I told you about my...

2010-10-05T22:36:00.002+08:00

... BOYFRIEND!??!!!!

2010-09-28T21:18:00.000+08:00

I am NOT the type of girl who gets upset over a stupid phone

2010-09-24T22:13:00.003+08:00

That's right.

I will now talk about the lovely things going on in my life.

I feel on top of my job. I won't talk about the whiney bosses whom I don't report to and don't know what I do who complain I don't do enough. Don't you hate that? I hate them. Especially the Singaporean one. I hope he reads this. Dumb socially inept, emotionally retarded motors engineer. (hint enough?)

I purchased a lovely turquoise dress from Cat's Whiskers last week. It was 50% off. Lovely stiff enough brocade material with a scooped back. Did I mention its TURQUOISE!? Trying it out I mentioned how it would be perfect if it had pockets. Today deciding what to wear to work, I was going through my clothes when I found the pockets on the dress. Ace.

I'm in love with my housemates. I love them. Sure we live in a little house, and I have to share a room, and I do think sometimes that like I'm a capable, gainfully employed, PR executive and I shouldn't be sharing a room!! But the thought of coming home to an empty house, (i.e.: no housemates, own space) is depressing enough.

I am going to Hong Kong next weekend. Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong.

I will not get upset over a stupid phone. In fact, I will go to the Kota Tinggi waterfall tomorrow.

Because there is more to life than stupid phones. And because I'm awesome like that.

-------

This better not be God conspiring to teach me a lesson or have me build character. I have enough and more to spare. Thanks.
Only it probably is. And It better be on the level of awesomeness.

Sigh. If you want to know what the deal is with the phone, please just call and I'll tell you. It's so tragic. you'll laugh.
(I'll tell you about Hong Kong too!!)

New Goal in Life

2010-09-17T00:53:00.004+08:00

To be a TED speaker.

Mantra to repeat when at difficult day at work

2010-09-02T23:25:00.002+08:00

WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT. WORK HARD, BUY RIBENA PLAYSUIT.

I continue work tmrw with French photographer.

Hello, I just bought a RIBENA PLAYSUIT!!!

2010-08-31T05:24:00.003+08:00

THe best thing about the RIBENA PLAYSUIT is it's name!!! My housemates Layan me too much!!!!

Anyway, can you believe I'm a gainfully employed, tax paying, member of society!? ME NEITHER!!!!

New house, new roommate....

2010-08-16T21:56:00.002+08:00

The first night at our new place, I woke up in the middle of the night to Hannah staring at me like a psycho.
So I ask her, "WHAT YOU STARING AT???"
She moved, but kept staring.
So I asked again, "WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT!!?!?!?"
She turns over and goes to sleep, I go to sleep.

The next morning she asks me if I was talking to her last night.
I tell her NO, but YOU were staring at me.
She tells me No but that's because I was talking to her and then I kept asking her why I was staring at her so she was thinking what's wrong with me and went back to sleep.

So apparently the story was, I think, I was talking in my sleep so she wondering what was going on and so was staring at me.
Which was when I woke up and thought she was staring at me like a psycho.

That was pretty funny.

...this story probably doesn't make sense to you... Imagine two ditzy girls talking when you read this.

Ursula, again.

2010-08-09T00:54:00.005+08:00

She was isolated now from the life of her childhood, a foreigner in a new life, of work and mechanical consideration. She and Maggie, in their dinner hours and their occasional teas at the little restaurant, discussed life and ideas. Maggie was a great suffragette, trusting in the vote. To Ursula the vote was never a reality. She had within her the strange, passionate knowledge of religion and living far transcending the limits of the automatic system that contained the vote. But her fundamental, organic knowledge had as yet to take form and rise to utterance. For her, as for Maggie, the liberty of women meant something real and deep. She felt that somewhere, in something, she was not free. And she wanted to be. She was in revolt. For once she were free she could get somewhere. Ah, the wonderful, real somewhere that was beyond her, the somewhere that she felt deep, deep inside her.

In coming out and earning her own living she had made a strong, cruel move towards freeing herself. But having more freedom she only became more profoundly aware of the big want. She wanted so many things. She wanted to read great, beautiful books, and be rich with them; she wanted to see beautiful things, and have the joy of them forever; she wanted to know big, free people; and there remained always the want she could put no name to?

It was so difficult. There were so many things, so much to meet and surpass. And one never knew where one was going. It was a blind fight.

Yes, I know I'm taking a long time in reading

DH Lawrence's The Rainbow,

but how could anyone rush through it

when there are so many big beautiful passages like this to relish?

Ursula ponders work

2010-07-26T01:15:00.003+08:00

She knew that soon she would want to become a self-responsible person, and her dread was that she would be prevented. An all-containing will in her for complete independence, complete social independence, complete independence from any personal authority, kept her dullishly at her studies. For she knew that she had always her price of ransom - her femaleness. She was always a woman, and what she could not get because she was a human being, fellow to the rest of mankind, she would get because she was a female, other than the man. In her femaleness she felt a secret riches, a reserve, she had always the price of freedom.

However, she was sufficiently reserved about this last resource. The other things should be tried first, There was the mysterious man's world to be adventured upon, the world of daily work and duty, and existence as a working member of community. Against this she had a subtle grudge. She wanted to make her conquest also of this man's world.

The Rainbow by DH Lawrence. Note this was set end of 19th century.

Paul's Prayer

2010-07-25T15:43:00.002+08:00

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19

follow

2010-07-04T17:09:00.001+08:00

from etc.

I'm in London

2010-07-01T03:27:00.008+08:00

and I love it that I have my own friends who are colleagues who are pretty damn fun who are taking me out to music.

I love it that I know my way around by myself with a card.

I love it that I'm here on business.

I love it that I belong here. No one questions my being here. I fit.

I love it I, I love London, I'm home.

The One Thing - 29 June 2010

2010-06-29T01:09:00.002+08:00

Right Place, Right Time

Ecclesiastes 9:11
11… the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.

God’s Word tells us that being faster, stronger and wiser does not automatically make you a winner in life. No, it is actually being at the right place at the right time that causes you to receive blessings. And God, who holds time and chance in His hands, is the only one who can put you at the right place at the right time.

He did this for Ruth. She trusted God for favor when she went looking for a field in which to glean. (Ruth 2:2) Then, the Bible tells us that “she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech”. (Ruth 2:3) Of all the fields in Bethlehem, she happened to end up in Boaz’s field, and he was a close relative of Elimelech, her father-in-law. This meant that Boaz was her potential kinsman redeemer, someone who could redeem her from her plight as a young, childless widow in a foreign land.

Boaz also happened to be “a man of great wealth” (Ruth 2:1), and as it turned out, he was willing to redeem Ruth. (Ruth 4:9–10) All these right happenings could only mean that God had placed Ruth in the right place at the right time.

I believe that the very day Ruth told her mother-in-law that the God of Israel would be her God (Ruth 1:16), God took note of it and made everything happen right for her.

Today, God also wants you to know that because you have said, “God, You are My God,” He will be your God of divine happenings. He will place you at the right place at the right time, where you will meet the right people, do the right things and even escape danger!

You may not know where all the great opportunities are, but God does. He was the one who put in you the skills, talents and gifts that you have, and He knows where you need to be, when you should be there and what you need to be doing to be truly fulfilled!

From New Creation Church to me.

The Rainbow

2010-06-22T09:19:00.002+08:00

She used, after she went to the High School, and wanted to be a lady, wanted to fulfil some mysterious ideal, always to listen to the sermon and to try to gather suggestions. That was all very well for a while. The vicar told her to be good in this way and in that. She went away feeling it was her highest aim to fulfil these injunctions.

But quickly this palled. After a short time, she was not very much interested in being good. Her soul was in quest of something, which was just not being good, and doing one's best. No, she wanted something else: something that was not her ready-made duty, and never of her self. They talked about her soul, but somehow never managed to rouse or to implicate her soul. As yet her soul was not brought in at all.

by DH Lawrence

unreality established

2010-06-07T01:01:00.004+08:00

Brangwen felt that here was the unreality established at last. He felt also a curious certainty about her, as if she were destined to him...

A swift change had taken place on the earth for him, as if a new creation were fulfilled, in which he had real existence. Things had all been stark, unreal, barren, mere nullities before. Now they were actualities that he could handle.

from The Rainbow, after Tom Brangwen meets Anna Lemsky for the first time.

i carry your heart with me

2010-06-07T00:56:00.001+08:00

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

2010-05-31T17:58:00.001+08:00

Force Majeure. The Caterer will not assume responsibility for damages or losses in the premises prior to, during or following functions unless caused by the actions or omissions of the Caterer. The performance of the agreement by either party is subject to acts of nature, war, government regulations, disaster, strikes, civil disorder, and curtailment of transportation facilities or any other emergency making it illegal or impossible to provide the facilities. The construction, validity and performance of this letter shall be governed in all aspects by the laws of Malaysia. Your organization assumes ~~entire~~ responsibility and liability of direct (but not indirect or consequential) losses, damages, claims demand and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorney's fees) arising out of, or in anyway connected with injury to persons or damages to the equipment and other property brought into the premises by your Organization or any member, agent or representative where such losses are caused by the actions or omissions of your Organization only.

niece

2010-05-24T11:34:00.000+08:00

Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi

2010-05-24T00:47:00.002+08:00

We walked together, lost in our own thoughts. I forget where we were, or even when it was. Then you moved closer, stroked my hair and took my hand; I know you here holding my hand and talking to me softly. Suddenly I had the feeling that everything was as it should be and nothing could add to this happiness or contentment. This was all that there was, and all that could be. The best of everything had accumulated in this moment. It could only have been love.

Earlier at the airport,

2010-05-23T16:27:00.003+08:00

So I arrived at the airport for my flight back to JB. Walking to my gate I see someone familiar.

"CM!" I call out, "It's Rachel!" I quickly added, to avoid embarrassment.

"Hi Rachel" he says shaking my hand. "How's JB? Do you miss Penang?".

My point being, THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG, MY EX-BOSS REMEMBERS ME!!!!!!!!!!!

:) :) :) :)

on leaving

2010-05-23T00:20:00.003+08:00

I have been trying to convince myself that leaving someone isn't the worst thing you can do to them. Sombre it may be, but it doesn't have to be a tragedy. If you never left anything or anyone there would be no room for the new. Naturally, to move on is an infidelity - to others, to the past, to old notions of oneself. Perhaps everyday should contain at least one essential infidelity or necessary betrayal. It would be an optimistic, hopeful act, guaranteeing belief in the future - a declaration that things can be not only different but better.

A paragraph from Hanif Kureishi's Intimacy found for RM12 at Leo Book'

- my new favourite bookstore.

2010-05-04T10:18:00.000+08:00

from Garance's blog

2010-04-26T03:59:00.000+08:00

Welcome Baby Choong Xin Mei, Eva!

Welcome little girl into the big world!

We celebrate and rejoice, most beloved child.

Your father cried, your aunties flapped

From the excitement and wonder of you.

The world my niece is a treacherous place-

Full of dangerous people who may spit in your face.

Beware of naughty boys who may break your heart

And broken dreams that may tear your hopes apart.

But then there is laughter and flowers

and sweet doggy kisses,

And dancing and music

with lots of acoustics.

So dont you worry 'cause you are loved,

By papa and mama and the big God above.

Look at the world with a big big smile

And say "Bring it on, I'll be sticking around for a while!"

An inspired poem written by a flapping Aunt Abigail

You say you're OK but you're heartbroken!

2010-03-24T07:02:00.000+08:00

Hannah was struggling under the weight of her plastic bags full of fruits and vegetables at the market.

Sweet Princess then asks her, "Are you OK, Miss Hannah?"

"Yes I'm OK, Princess", answers Hannah.

Princess replies, "You say you're OK, but you're Heartbroken!"

In the beginning there was lola

2010-01-25T23:19:00.006+08:00

and then there was me.. and lola
and lola and me
and me. Where's lola?

OK. That was some Lola overload.

Bedside Reading Material.

2010-01-24T19:15:00.004+08:00

I've got two magazines now on my bedside: Vogue and The Economists.
What's so awesome about these 2 different mags is the theme that binds it.

I've got the March 2009 US edition of Vogue which has Michelle Obama on the cover:

I got it from the Senai airport for RM4 after my interview w Dyson. Inside its all about powerful women: Queen Rania, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Melinda Gates...

And then I stole The Economist from the hotel room in Jakarta. This one has Rosie the Riveter on the cover:

It talks about women taking over the workplace, Female Power, and how change is a coming to the workforce!

Powerful stuff. I'm Inspired.
Its time to take a sledgehammer to the remaining glass ceiling oh baby!
(How is it that these 2 editions in particular got into my hands? and Now? Amazing eh.
God must be trynna tell me something)

Watch out World! Rachel's a-coming!

Being a PA

2010-01-23T09:25:00.004+08:00

I watched an episode of Ugly Betty (one of the few w Lindsey Lohan in it),
and she summed it up real well.

To be a good PA, you need to remember A-R-G.
A - Anticipate needs,
R - do Research, and
G - show Gumption.

Repeat after me now, A-R-G!
(I think it could apply to being a lot of other things as well la actually)

I think I made a good PA, the short time I was one..
(if I can say so myself... gotta ask Boss)
I'm still one for the next 4 days la actually.. a remote one while Boss is away..

Next, Johor! and being a PR and Comms girl! and Dyson! :) :)

Blogging from room 762, Nikko Hotel, Jakarta!

2010-01-20T22:08:00.005+08:00

Hola!!

Yesterday on arrival, I watched When Harry Met Sally and then Run Fat Boy Run while eating strawberries and drinking Bintang Beer. And then we went to Food Hall and ate Rendang on a Stick among other things.

Today while Mei was at work I walked to Monas, went to the top, and then couldn't find the museum.

(A self portrait taken thru the bars of viewing deck)

I got on a cab, went to Tanah Abang, and bought 6 items for the grand total of 420,000 Rupiahs which is like 155.56 Ringgits!
(Gail! I got you New Year Baju! We'll do the sister-sister matching thing!)

In the morning we stuff ourselves on Hotel Breakfast Buffet, eat Bananas for Lunch and then stuff ourselves with Mei's USD30 work allowance for dinner. Smart right?

(an example of breakfast. see SALMON)

Yes. Thanks.

Also, when I grow up, I want to be Skinny Bitch.

The Jakartans(what are they called, really?) here are really into Japaneasy things. Maybe I'm really noticing it cos I'm staying in a Japanese Hotel but really there are lots of Japanese restaurants here!
Anyways, I'm getting into it too.
(Imagine me in Kimono. The pictures aren't turning out too well)

More updates tmrw if the spirit so moves and the internet works.

Do you remember your first lunch in 2009?

2010-01-12T21:47:00.010+08:00

I remember mine! I was at Barcelona and had Hornimans tea :p

I was thinking of random stuff then I teringat a band I saw play at Barcelona.
It was the first day of the New Year and we were leaving Barca (after lunch in a cafe outside a church whence I drank Hornimans tea) to head back to London. As we were wandering about, waiting to go to the airport, we saw this huge crowd gathered. So we went to see what it was all about. We saw this:

See all their random instruments! (ok not Random.. just not the most common)
And most of all, see the old lady dancing!
There was so much energy in the performance. Yeah it was pretty awesome :)

Anyways, more pictures from lunch:

My starter (above) and main course (below). Or was it the other way round? It was yum. This one below's a Paella...

Me and Grace

Me doing the cute thing with the dessert

Gail with her starter. Or was it her main course? mmm

Me doing the cute thing with my Starter/Main Course... (yeah we did the touristy thing. Check out hugeass Souvenirs sign)

Gail is cute isn't she?

Anyways Grace and Gail. This post is to remind You Both of Me and to maybe tug at some of your heartstrings (if you have any). I MISS YOU! Stop doing the sister thing without me!

antara Anyer dan Jakarta kita jatuh Cinta

2010-01-12T19:14:00.003+08:00

In Jakarta, I want to eat cheap good food, buy nice cheap dresses, meet Nicolas Saputra and maybe have a close shave w terrorists so I can come back and tell you all about it.
Not too difficult to achieve I thinks.
JAKARTA!!!

Imagine Nicolas Saputra at Nikko Hotel. Nice :)

(title is a song by Sheila Majid)

Latest Favourite Song at Home

2010-01-11T01:00:00.002+08:00

not complaining :)

Sze: politics in malaysia is dangerous

2010-01-08T10:39:00.003+08:00

me: but boss is cool

he's been in jail twice

and questioned so much

Sze: lol yes boss is cool. aih. this place is ridiculous

me: he's like *yawn

been there

Sze: lol

But still like. Not Funny.

I'm poladroiding

2010-01-07T12:10:00.001+08:00

at work!

spot the Lola Ducky

2010-01-03T22:31:00.004+08:00

but first... a dog with wings?
(that's the new French BullDog I've decided to call Sarkozy. Takes over Robin's place following mom around, getting in the way in the kitchen)

oh yes it is doing what it looks like it is doing :p hehe
(that's MooMoo. An offspring of Lola's given away and now returned.)

finally...isn't she lovely? so worth the wait yea :)
(what's with the tongue thing tho?)

Overheard at the Market.

2010-01-01T13:32:00.005+08:00

This morning while at the market w my parents we saw an Old Woman sitting by the fruits.
The fruit seller was putting a piece of tissue over a little cut above her eye to plug the bleeding.
Mom wanted to buy some grapes so she started talking to the man who told her (ma) about the woman.
So she tells me and dad that oh the woman fell down twice and come talk to her! She speaks English.
I put on my Miss World Tiara and went to talk to her:

Me: Aunty How Are You? Why you fall down twice ah?

Old Woman: Yeah lor. Yesterday I fall down, Today also I fall down.

*shows me bruise on other side of face*

Me: How you fall down?

Old Woman: Dunno.

*awkward pause*

Old Woman: Lu oo beh nombor eh ah?
(Do you buy (4D) Number?)

Me: Eh? Nombor? Boh. (No)

Old Woman: Lu ai beh lu kah Ah Poh *points at self* beh la ha..
(if you want to buy, you come and buy from me ya)

.....

And then we got into the car..

Pa: Look at all the hawkers.. they're having a Roaring time.
In fact! I hear them Roaring.
ROAR!

hehe :) rawr.

Eves and New Years

2010-01-01T01:30:00.008+08:00

The last time around I welcomed the new year (2009) in Barcelona. I was with my sisters (I miss them). We celebrated with a few cute Slovenian boys in a little backpackers place far in the suburbs.
There's a tradition in Spain that when the clock strikes 12, you're supposed to eat 12 grapes. One for each chime of the clock. For each grape you eat/chime of clock, you get to make one wish. That was pretty fun.
And then one of the Slovenian boys got pissed drunk, mooned at us through the window, puked all over the toilet floor, felt guilty so packed his things and went to sleep outside.

This time around I was at the Esplanade to welcome the new year. CM had just Rasa Sayang Hey-ed the first verse of the pantun I wrote for him. Then there were fireworks.
As everyone gawked I went on stage and wished my CM a Happy New Year (there was an awkward hug). He handed me over to Miss Ooi, who wished me with a hug and then I went over to Chin Tong (shake hands ne). I celebrated the New Year with 3 of my (ex and current) Bosses.
Now that was pretty fun too.

Happy New Year ya'll!

God's been Good to me this past year already and I'm thinking, things are just gonna get better cos the best is yet to come right? But then like, things are so awesome already! I can't imagine how God's gonna top himself this year. But oh is He gonna!

Its gonna be a good year. I can tell.

20 Things to be thankful for for 2009

2009-12-31T01:56:00.004+08:00

1. finishing up UM
2. PKV, Easter and Other Awesome Uni Stuff
3. The Best Friends in The World
4. The Best Siblings (and Siblings-in-law) in The World
5. Gomez
6. Home to Penang
7. OsraM
8. Bukit Bendera
9. KOMTAR
10. Rapid Penang 304
11. Balik Pulau Hill Billies
12. New Old Friends
13. Penang Global Tourism
14. The Most Amazing Bosses in The World
15. Bladeless Fans
16. Random Strangers
17. Making Friends
18. Manual Cars
19. Gumption
20. The Best is Yet To Come :)

God is so Good to me.

I like this one

2009-12-30T21:09:00.002+08:00

a girl can dream...

Anyways, have you guys seen the latest? :)

My favourite song this week

2009-12-29T09:21:00.002+08:00

Everybody loves it,
You can taste how fresh it is,
Uncle Slocumm's Recipe,
Great Qualityyy

Gardenia... so Good you can even eat it on its own!

Once you take a bite,
You can tell the difference with

Gardenia... so Good you can even eat it on its own!

*click :)

What Happened at the PDC Christmas Celebrations

2009-12-21T18:30:00.004+08:00

CM quoted Albert Einstein's definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Basically he meant Buck Up you Lazy Asses. CM sounds like Pa.

CM announces that all State Government Workers will get a RM1k bonus :)
(I better be getting it too. Or else.)

I tell CM Sorry Boss but I'm Leaving.
CM tells me not to say Sorry to Him.
I should be Saying Sorry to the People of Penang.
CM asks me to rethink leaving.
I tell CM the World is Bigger than Penang.
CM tells me no you've got it Wrong. Penang is The World.

I can leave knowing Penang has got its CM :)

I choose You Pikachu!

2009-12-20T23:39:00.005+08:00

Maybe I should break the news that I've picked Dyson.

Dyson, the makers of vacuum cleaners and bladeless fans. I picked them over Penang and CM. Does sound like I'm a sellout and a penderhaka doesn't it?

It felt like I had to choose between my (imagined)Brother's bestfriend or my Bestfriend's brother. Or between Carrots and Flowers. Can I have both?

Well I chose Me. I voted for Me. I think this is best for Me.
Its like something I have to do...

To justify myself, it wasn't an easy decision. There were waterworks (think last PKV meeting). And yeah I really did do some thinking.

But then I've decided. And there is Peace. And there's no Morning After Regret. Or frantic Panic Attacks. I'm feeling fine. And pretty excited actually.

Also it does seem like it will be an awfully Big Adventure! I get to do the Big Brave Girl in a Big Bad World thing on my own in Johor.

I move to Johor by February :)

carrots

2009-12-20T17:59:00.000+08:00

They pass the Cute test. So do I :p

Here lies a Dead Robin

2009-12-14T23:05:00.004+08:00

Robin the Jack Russell is dead. There is a story of how Ma found him but I can't be bothered to tell it. Never really liked that dog.. very jumpy and yawpy and couldn't relax...

Meanwhile, here's a picture of me and Robin one day after school. Some girl at school had braided my hair in 2 French braids. I felt like a Gretchen and simply had to take pictures. (I think I was secretly wearing eyeliner too) September 2005.

Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

2009-12-11T14:40:00.001+08:00

You see how you're doing in the world's eyes, or your family's, or-worst of all- yours, or in the eyes of people who are doing better than you- much better than you- or worse.

But you are not your bank account, or your ambition. You're not the cold lump of clay you leave behind when you die. You're not your collection of walking personality disorders.

You are Spirit, you are love, and even though it is hard to believe sometimes, you are free. You're here to love, and be loved freely. If you find out next week that you are terminally ill-and we're all terminally ill on this bus- what will matter are memories of beauty, that people loved you, and that you loved them.

I need to get me this book

Have you seen anything quite like it?

2009-12-07T07:28:00.007+08:00

I found the Prettiest Flower in the World. It looks like its made of tissues. We found it blooming on a tree around some kampung houses. Mom says its called "fu rong hua" or "fu yong fa" depending on what dialect your're using (cantonese or mandarin) anddddddd in English it means Seremban Flower :) :)
(Which makes me buzz a little cos Hey! My Parent's Hometown's Seremban!)

When I get married I'll wear it in my hair.

According to Mom (source of all horticultural wisdom and knowledge), this flower, when it blooms in the morning is white in colour, and as the day progresses, turns pinker and pinker and at the end of the day is a deep pink. Loves it. It blooms for just a day. But you can find it all year round.

This calls for comparisons to like Consider The Lilies of The Field!.. and Oh How Fleeting is Your Life!

So pretty kan?

Yesterday at Dewan

2009-12-05T13:35:00.004+08:00

0850: Pick up sticker for Free Parking from Mr. Ong.

0900: Too early to go to Dewan. Eat Tosai Bawang at Little India.

0920: Look for parking.

0940: Make it to Gate A entrance into Dewan.

0942: Guard say cannot go in cos skirt's too short.

0945: Other Guards suggest I exchange skirt for the guard's pants.

0947: Laugh too loud with guards. Miss Ong comes out to shush us.

0953: Pinjam knife from guard. Cut skirt's hem so its long enough. Guards are from KOMTAR. Its good to be friends with guards.

1000: Bagi Hormat kepada Speaker. Pemerhati ya'll.

1005: Thinks YB Speaker's pretty good looking.. sketches Dewan's sitting.

1010: Try to see how many people I can recognise in Dewan.

1015: Count Male to Female ratio. Very bad. Only 1 woman(Lydia Ong) in the inner circle part. Apparently there's one more at the pembangkang side. Only those sore losers never come. Note: Learn Dewan jargon.

1030: Almost claps out loud at something funny CM says.

1040: A YB's poor attempt at BM gets laughed at. YB leaves right after. Poor YB.

1045: Contemplate career as Politician.

1100: Bored. Bagi Hormat. Walk out. Watch reporters do their thing.

1120: CM comes out from Dewan. Walks past. "Hi Rachel". Buzzzzzzzzz.

Still Buzzing. Oh CM. :)

All in a day's work

2009-12-03T21:11:00.006+08:00

1. Wear batik to work. check

2. Go for meeting at KOMTAR. check

3. Deflect sexist comments. check

4. Try to go to Dewan. check

5. Cannot find parking so go to Little India to thread eyebrows. check

6. Letter to the Editor gets published. check

7. Call Nyonya Breeze to check up on non cancellation of Jimmy Choo's cancelled reservation. sigh.

...

I'm still torn. Have you heard of Dyson?
And then there's this.
Tomorrow after Dewan I will go wax my legs.

Isn't it Ironic?

2009-11-29T00:30:00.005+08:00

Just now at church right, this cute boy walks in. Tinggi dan tegap, his badan was so cantik but his muka not so la.. but still ok la.. I was checking him out all through service.. (hee)
(There was a girl next to him and yeah I was ignoring her cos she's like inconsequential if you know what I mean.. hehe)

Service ends and the first thing he does is head to the front, wave at my mom, go shake her hand and talk to her like they're old friends. I'm like all impressed, excited thinking wahh who's this?? got chance d now... So I inch closer to them.

First thing I hear as I get closer to them is him saying, "this is my Wife!" in referring to the girl who was with him.

Yes. Tragic. Its like meeting the man of your dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife.
...

After that his mom turns up and starts going all friendly on me, "Oh you're Rachel! You used to come to my house all the time last time! You were very young then.. Still breastfeeding until quite big I remember!"
And my face goes flaming red.

(Yes I was breastfeeding til I was like almost 2 years old? Hence why I'm build like a cow.)

No I don't remember going to her house every night last time. Old family friends apparently. Sorry Aunty.

After that the hottie comes over to chat.. But no its just not the same anymore with his wife there..
...

So its true yeah.. All the good guys are taken?

I like it when you write oh you

2009-11-28T23:53:00.003+08:00

1:36 AM M: I also just say that you looked good in the brown dress with the white dots the other day.

me: oh.

thanks

thats been a while..

(and I thought I looked fat in it)

1:37 AM M: maybe a bit which is good

me: HMMMM

why is that good?

M: one can see there is a woman in the dress not a bone.

1:38 AM me: ahahahaha

some people like bones

chinese boys

M: bones are also all right but not a rolemodel for mankind

dont worry you look good

Meet Icah

2009-11-28T23:29:00.000+08:00

Icah is my new best friend :)

you know for the longest time I have been carrying my passport around with me hoping someone would ask me to go travelling on a whim

2009-11-27T10:09:00.007+08:00

M : so go to airasia book a flight and meet me in Singapore.

.....

That's my boss :)

2009-11-27T09:33:00.004+08:00

"If I fail and have to go to jail, I have no regrets. I have no regrets of going down fighting for the principles of truth and justice. And pursuit of human rights, especially women's rights. There can be no women's rights if women rape victims are considered equally responsible, and even detained, whilst the accused remain free."

- Lim Guan Eng, 1994.

In a statement after being arrested and charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for causing 'disaffection with the administration of justice in Malaysia'. He had written a book criticizing the government's handling of allegations of statutory rape of one of his constituents by former Chief Minister of the state of Melaka, Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. (taken from Wikipedia)

So power right? And I'm still making escape plans?
.....

JEFFREY CHEW I know you're reading this. Work's good. I like my other boss. I do miss working at KOMTAR tho.. Are we still gonna go do the other thing you were talking about? :) :)

First day at my new workplace!

2009-11-23T22:55:00.002+08:00

This is like my 4th new work place in a year. In half a year. In six months. Not my fault. Boss sent me here. I've got a new boss. A Lady Boss. But I still want to call the old Boss Boss :)

Anyways. First task of the day: *showoff*
Organise transport for Datuk Jimmy Choo from Hotel Room to Restaurant for dinner. (I sent him a text. Like yeeahhh I've got his numberrr)

hee... :D

I am the new Personal Assistant to the General Manager of Penang Global Tourism. She really is something :)

your lips come as some surprise

2009-11-22T18:56:00.006+08:00

I love Gary's Lightbody. And I want to be Lisa Hannigan.

Also see Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice do Get the party started.

we had dinner

2009-11-17T18:44:00.000+08:00

"So you went out with --? What's going on? What did you guys do?"

"We laughed"

Laughter is a smile that has an orgasm.

Perpetuating the personality cult of Lim Guan Eng

2009-11-14T23:47:00.005+08:00

This morning I went with Mr. Ong to meet boss at the airport. He was flying back to Penang from KL after being away the whole week in Bahrain for an investment trip.

We were standing there; Me, Mr.Ong, the body guard, the airport guard when YB Betty turns up with her youngest boy. He was tugging at her hand trying to run off ahead of her. Arms flailing, he was shouting "Daddy Daddy!"

I was briefly introduced to YB Betty (by then she was carrying the boy. His name is Ethan. And oh she has a daughter named Rachel too). We then walked on to the ramp to where the airplane had taxied to a stop.

Boss was 3rd person off the plane.
First things first, he hands his bag over to the bodyguard.
Then, he picks up his son and each(father and son), covers the other with kisses. He walks on and then as if almost forgetting something he turns back to draw his wife in. One arm around his wife (and her arm around him), and the other carrying his son, they walk on together towards the VIP room.
The rest of us trailed behind...

Oh you have to be there to fully appreciate it. From behind I heard grown men marveling at the sight. It was really something.
I know this just perpetuates his personality cult (his staff has only good things to say about him. You should hear them going on over lunch.. there's like no dirt).

But really it was the sweetest thing :)

Praying with Icah

2009-11-12T13:45:00.003+08:00

Me:
OK. We pray for the children in church that they have the wisdom of God.

Icah:
(looks at me quizzically)
No. We pray for all the children in the world!
Pray they all become clever.

Me:
All of them? But got so many!

Icah:
We pray for the 4, 5 year old wan.

Me:
Then the 6, 7 year old wan?

Icah:
They all learn already.

so says Sir James Dyson,

2009-11-10T23:25:00.001+08:00

"Reinventing yourself is a fragile thing.

You can't prove it's going to be a success,

but if you don't do something new,

you will die."

Sir James Dyson sir, please please do let me work for you...

A woman of our time is far from helpless;

2009-11-09T23:11:00.002+08:00

she can work, earn her own money, surround herself with like-minded friends, join protests, even constitute a one-woman protest in her own right. But if there is no love in her life she will know herself to be an exception, an anomaly.

... from The Rules of Engagement by Anita Brookner.

I turned 23

2009-11-04T22:34:00.004+08:00

Over at the beach we laid down on the sand to gaze at the full moon. We discussed love, life, work, escape plans and if the craters on the moon looked like a snail or a baby. (I say snail, Jo says baby)

A bit after midnight, a couple comes along and settle on a mat down the beach from us. The guy then goes a little way down towards the sea, crouches over a box on the sand and lights a fire.

"What's he trynna do?" I asked. And just as realisation dawned, there came a sound like a loud whistle and fireworks, yes, fireworks filled the sky.

Happy Birthday Me :)

These pictures are actually from dinner with Mei at Chili's. She picked me up from work bearing flowers and cake :) :) There's another flower (made of cloth) tucked behind my left ear.

Its out there.

2009-11-02T23:25:00.004+08:00

The things is, I feel like I'm putting my life on hold. I'm waiting for this huge wonderful thing to happen. And I just know that when it does happen it will be big and awesome and my life is gonna change forever and nothing will ever be the same again.

I just don't know what it is. That's another thing see.
What is it? How will I know when its happened? What if I've missed it? What if I was supposed to do that one thing but then I didn't and now the moment's passed.
(Like how Li Ern suggested Nando's and I had been thinking of the Nando's salad and so we go to Nando's and then Janey walks into Nando's. Or like how I'm sitting there bored with colleagues at McDonalds texting Janey goodbye and then she turns up at McDonalds to buy ice cream on her way back to KL)

What if I hadn't gone to Nando's or to McDonalds? What if I'd gone to KFC?
What if I'd turned left instead of walking straight ahead? Is it too late to turn back around?
What if I'd not looked hard enough like my mom always says I do(n't)? Will she always be there to help me find it?

What if all this while it's been right there in front of me and I've just been too blind to see it? (Isn't that the scariest kind?)

Is it a job leading me to a wonderful career in --? Is it a(nother) course I was supposed to take?(i.e: not economics) Is it a million bucks that my long lost dead uncle will leave me? Is it a man I'm supposed to marry? Is it a great revolutionary social movement I'm not a part of?

Is it rather something vague and philosophical? Like something some old person on the bus was supposed to tell me. Or someone I'm supposed to meet. (Like the man on the bus who read my palm or the taxi driver who tilik-ed my nasib) Maybe its a book I've not yet read. Or a place I've not yet visited.

What if I weren't online so much? What if I'd read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? Or had been more hardworking at doing my logbooks for Guides? What if I'd gotten A's for everything? What if I'd practiced my piano?

Maybe I shouldn't have made a joke of everything, taken myself more seriously, thought more deeply. Read the Bible cover to cover.

Would I know by now? Would I join the ranks of the calm unquestioning/knowing people out there?

Is it because I'm fat?

*

I'll be 23.

Its like I'm still sitting on the bus like I was just now. Its hot and muggy. I'm sweating and the bus still isn't leaving the station. I'm sitting by the window but there's no breeze to speak of. Why is it taking so long? I'm sweating into my stiff collared shirt. The tissue in my hand is stained with the day's makeup. I want to stomp my feet and make a fuss but I know it won't help. So I keep still silently hurrying it up. At least I've got a book. Thank goodness I've got a book. Just focus on the book.

Father forgive me, my sin of Despair.

*

I get off at my stop and there's a full yellow moon though the sky is still blue. My dad picks me up and all I really want to do is to cry and when I get back I want to take a long shower and feel sorry about myself. But they're waiting for me to have dinner together and God forbid I keep them waiting.

*

My head is filled with plans. I want a bike. I want my own place. I want to leave. I think of maybe Singapore, maybe even of New York or London (on my invincible days), and most definitely I think at least KL.

But then I think and I know that unless God goes ahead of me like He did with the Israelites in olden times with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar fire by night leading them through the desert, I am not going anywhere.
I want to see the seas split open.

Now that would be something.

2009-10-30T00:52:00.005+08:00

But she was right. Being alone is not the most awful thing in the world. You visit your museums and cultivate your interests and remind yourself how lucky you are not to be one of those spindly Sudanese children with flies beading their mouths. You make out To Do lists - reorganize linen cupboards, learn two sonnets. You dole out little treats to yourself - slices of ice-cream cake, concerts at Wigmore Hall. And then, every once in a while, you wake up and gaze out of the window at another bloody daybreak, and think, I cannot do this anymore. I cannot pull myself together again and spend the next fifteen hours of wakefulness fending off the fact of my own misery.

from Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal.

2009-10-23T08:00:00.000+08:00

This one's about my Dad. Really.

2009-10-22T11:17:00.002+08:00

Psalm 112

Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Happy Birthday Pa! You're 60! woohoo!

oh Sylvia!

2009-10-19T23:04:00.006+08:00

I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig-tree in the story.

From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and off-beat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I could not quite make out.

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig-tree, starving to death, just because I could not make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

from The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

A semi-autobiography by Sylvia, it reads from a first person point of view a young girl's breakdown and treatment. The first part (pre-breakdown) reads too familiarly. No lets not go there.

My 2nd trip to the booksale I got this book, Leaving Home by Anita Brookner and Julie & Julia by Julie Powell for RM30 :)

12 books.

2009-10-16T22:25:00.005+08:00

Ludmila's Broken English by DBC Pierre,
cos I've read Vernon God Little which won him a Booker prize and I remember vaguely good things about it. And I'm a sucker for Booker Prize winners.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Cos her books have very strong women characters.

Bridget Jones's Guide to Life by Helen Fielding,
Cos its Bridget :)

Something Special by Iris Murdoch,
Cos I've watched Iris and it says here it was previously unpublished except in a 1950s anthology and in Japan, and rediscovered after her death. Which just reeks of B-sides and rarities which I'm a sucker for.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie,
Cos it makes for a perfect birthday present :) yes everyone needs one.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt,
Cos there was that movie(which wasn't very good) but is apparently a WorldWide Best-Selling Classic.

The Darts of Cupid by Edith Templeton,
Cos the cover's pretty.

A Perfect Arrangement by Suzanne Berne,
This one won the 1999 Orange Prize for Fiction and as mentioned earlier, I'm a sucker for those.

Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller,
They turned this one into a movie, didn't they? Oh and the cover's pretty :)

Every Inch of Her by Peter Sheridan,
Cos its of a fat, tattooed Irish woman who goes to stay with nuns. I like it already.

The Rules of Engagement by Anita Brookner, and
Cos its by Anita Brookner.

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank.
Cos she wrote a short story with the same title which I liked very much in Nick Hornby's anthology Speaking with the Angel .

12 books for the total price of....

*drumroll please*

RM70!

It was 3 for RM20 except for Peter Pan, Bridget and Iris which was 3 for RM10.
Don't you love book sales?

They say money can't buy the happy.. And yet look what this RM70 got me! hehe.

Jo got RM50 worth of books... You ask her what she got (there's something with China in it)

We left sale with our necks creaking from looking at the books sideways and smiles and beams all around :) :)

Also, aren't I a showoff? :D

2009-10-15T22:09:00.001+08:00

I'll be good. I said I would.

Economics

2009-10-15T21:13:00.004+08:00

I like economics. I like how everything is related. I like how curves slope and intersect. I like how you can get to a point where everything equilibrates. I like finding that equilibrium. I like how you can move up and down a curve. I like how you can shift an entire curve!(but don't you dare mix up the two) I like how economics seems sciency enough but really its quite an art. I like how passionate economists get about economics. I like blogs like this and like this which gives me goosebumps about economics. I like how economics has evolved so much over time. I like how noone has the answers. I like how economists still fight with each other. I like how you can model and model and still you can't get a good picture. I like how Economists speak Economics.

I want to be an Economist I do. But I also know its hard work and I don't know how I'm gonna make it there or if I have what it takes to get there. I really want to be able to go wonkish. But really. Me? Wonky?
I draw a curve and make it pretty and then I get distracted that I forget what the curve really was for. My opinions about the economy goes as far as I have no money in the bank and I need more money for shoes.
How now do I be an Economist?

"... I still love her. But she's retarded too." - Guy Ritchie

2009-10-11T00:23:00.004+08:00

Am I the only person who thinks Guy Ritchie's declaration of love for Madonna's sweet?

See this.

Maybe its cos I expect I'd quite possibly get that one day. Not the divorce part of course but rather the she's retarded part...

and I think Guy Ritchie does look like Mr. Finance Manager man..
(Am I supposed to say it the other way that Mr. Finance manager man looks like Guy Ritchie? hmm)

OK I think can laugh about it d...

2009-10-04T15:15:00.002+08:00

Just now after church I was gonna drive back so I got into the car. It was on a little downward slope facing the back of a shop lot. The hand brake was up and it was in first. I knew cos I parked it there. So I pressed on the clutch to turn on the car. But it went forward! and the front wheels went into the drain.

So shy...

All the men had to come help me push it out. While the women looked and laughed... and then everyone laughed some more.. and I had to get out of the front seat to get into the back cos I figured they wouldn't let me drive after such a spectacular performance.

And then Pa drove us home.

No it wasn't funny at that time.. but now OK d la I think... hehe.

Stephen Kalong Ningkan

2009-10-03T02:49:00.003+08:00

Go look this guy up...

He was just the inspiration I needed. Thanks Gary :)

Other random stories about him:
He wouldn't ever let anyone else iron his clothes cos no one else could do it as well as he does.
He would bring his own liquor when visiting friends and if he liked you he'd stay all day.
He fought for independence for Sarawak and stood up to Tunku but was eventually taken down as Chief Minister of Sarawak through a "vote of no confidence".

Read more here and here.

the straw that broke the camel

2009-10-02T23:50:00.004+08:00

Ali sent me that video and I asked her why do we study economics? Aren't the colours delicious?

Li Ern wrote me an email basically about What Next? and I Don't Know.. but still..

Mei came to talk to me about What in the World are You Doing? and that fit the theme alright...

I had to do a lot of waiting around today and got to read my book but that was fine with me...

I went to church and then my daddie asks me (among other things), "why can't you just be normal?"

and then I wasn't alright.

Disgust!

2009-10-02T20:05:00.004+08:00

Just now while showering, I dugged at my belly button and pulled out a piece of lint the size of a pea, white in colour, which looked (and felt) like egg white cooked in soup.. I pulled it apart and there were 3 hairs in it.

EUuuuuuwwWW!!!! Disgust Babe! No one asked!!

Anyways, you can bet your bottom dollar that I've got The Cleanest Belly Button in the World now!

'... But I think school would be good for her.'

2009-10-01T10:07:00.002+08:00

`Was it good for you?'

Gerald's eyes narrowed uglily. School had been torture to him. Yet he had not questioned whether one should go through this torture. He seemed to believe in education through subjection and torment.

`I hated it at the time, but I can see it was necessary,' he said. `It brought me into line a bit -- and you can't live unless you do come into line somewhere.'

`Well,' said Birkin, `I begin to think that you can't live unless you keep entirely out of the line. It's no good trying to toe the line, when your one impulse is to smash up the line. Winnie is a special nature, and for special natures you must give a special world.'

`Yes, but where's your special world?' said Gerald.

`Make it. Instead of chopping yourself down to fit the world, chop the world down to fit yourself...'

Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence. Chapter XVI. Man to Man

call me Crazy

2009-09-29T21:18:00.002+08:00

Me and Jo are gonna do the Penang Bridge (half) Marathon!

woots!

Training starts Tomorrow.

Help needed: Fees are RM40! and since we're both part of the Reserve Army of the Unemployed, it is pretty steep... Sponsors! Anyone? :D

It was a sunny, soft morning in early summer, when life ran in the world subtly, like a reminiscence.

2009-09-28T00:16:00.003+08:00

Riding in Bev's car after picking Abu up it started raining...

Bev:

Its raining so heavy!!

Abu: (from the back)

Kenapa? Bev basah?

hee hee. And then we went to eat lemang and rendang straight from the buluh with our fingers under a pondok at 7th college :)

title taken from D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love :)

I love Charis.

2009-09-24T00:44:00.003+08:00

Rizuan: (trying to convince Shazwan to wanna go to Langkawi with him)

When I go to Langkawi, the cigarettes are so cheap I take 2 puffs and throw.

Charis:

When I go to Langkawi, I go to Underwater World to look at Penguins.

Chapter 15: Sunday Evening

2009-09-22T12:38:00.002+08:00

As the day wore on, the life-blood seemed to ebb away from Ursula, and within the emptiness a heavy despair gathered. Her passion seemed to bleed to death, and there was nothing. She sat suspended in a state of complete nullity, harder to bear than death.

'Unless something happens,' she said to herself, in the perfect lucidity of final suffering, 'I shall die. I am at the end of my line of life.'

First lines to Chapter 15 of Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence.

Amen.

---

Its so easy to appear like I've read up to Chapter 15 already when really the truth is the best parts are marked from my reading it years ago... Chapter One's opening too feels really relevant right now. Read it yourself here.
I like D.H. Lawrence

Happy Birthday Malaysia

2009-09-16T20:49:00.004+08:00

Yes, there are a hundred, and a thousand voices crying. But what does one do when one cries this thing, and one cries another? Who knows how we shall fashion a land of peace where black outnumber white so greatly? Some say that the earth is bounty enough for all, and that more for one does not mean less for another, that the advance of one does not mean the decline of another. They say that poor-paid labour means a poor nation, and that better-paid labour means greater markets and greater scope for industry and manufacture. And others say that this is a danger, for better-paid labour will not only buy more but will also read more, think more, ask more, and will not be content to be forever voiceless and inferior.

Who knows how we shall fashion such a land? For we fear not only the loss of our possessions, but the loss of our superiority and the loss of our whiteness, Some say it is true that crime is bad, but would this not be worse? Is it not better to hold what we have, and to pay the price of it with fear? And others say, can such fear be endured? For is it not this fear that drives men to ponder these things?

Again, from the book Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton...

Go read it already!

Half awake,

2009-09-14T11:15:00.003+08:00

Lying on my side in bed.
I decided to flip my body over to the other side.
I did, but a little too violently,
and banged head first into the wall.

Good morning Monday.

Urges not to receive God's grace in vain.

2009-09-10T23:43:00.003+08:00

For He says,

"In the time of My favour I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you."

I tell you, now is the time of God's favour,
now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:1,2

Have a Nice Day

2009-09-08T21:06:00.005+08:00

This morning, on my ride to work I sat opposite an old Indian woman in a green cotton saree. She started talking to me. She asked if I were Japanese or Korean cos I looked familiar. Like one of the girls at Dalat school where she used to work at.

No, I'm from here I tell her. And no, I've never been to Dalat..

Was she a teacher? I asked. No, a cook. She used to cook for the Missionary teachers there. She's retired now. Its been 2 years.

She is now on her way to the bank to go pick up her daughter's Socso. Her daughter, in her 30's, passed away 2 years ago of cancer.

Her smiling face showed no trace of sadness at talking of her daughter's death.

Her husband passed away too. One and a half years ago. One after the other.

Still she smiles.

She has 4 children, with one passed away, she now has 3 left. 3 children and 6 grandchildren. But she lives alone, in the house her late daughter bought.
Her son has invited her to live with him and his family. He married a Chinese. She's very fussy (the Chinese daughter-in-law). She rather live alone. More freedom she says. She'd go stay with him and his family and 3 children. For a night and just 2 days maybe.
But no. She rather live alone. She enjoys her freedom.

Her daughter died of throat cancer. At first all she had was a red patch on her neck. The doctors at the private hospital told her it was just an infection. But the medicine didn't work and by the time she started coughing out blood, it was too late. The biopsy confirmed cancer and 6 months later she was dead.

Oh but she had a peaceful death with no suffering. And you know why? It was because all the good missionaries at Dalat were praying for her.

The bus nears KOMTAR. Its her stop, she has to get off. She shakes my hand and waves goodbye. Have a Nice Day.

I sit there beaming the rest of the journey thinking of the woman and her story...

Opposite me, a small old Chinese woman with bedak sejuk still smeared around her face gets up to go. Before she goes, she turns to look at me and gives me a shy wave.

:)

The most romantic thing in a long while

2009-09-05T22:55:00.004+08:00

Today I was hanging out with two cute Chindian brothers... On the ride home the older boy told me (in Mandarin) "when you stare at us, your eyes are like a wolf's"
And then I sent them both home and we played scissors-paper-stone and Pepsi Cola until it got too dark.
Wei Jie is 10, his younger brother Jia Jia is 8.

** Its not wolf! he meant tiger! blame my lousy Mandarin! At first I thought he said wolf.. then I asked my mom what is wolf in mandarin and it was something else.. and I thought the boy said Lau Shu.. which my mom said was Rat. And Rat doesn't sound very nice.. So I ask mom what did the boy said.. and she said he said Tiger la... And I like tiger very much!
I have tiger eyes.