Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Freeeeeeedom

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess who could only dream of the places she wanted to go.

















Most of the time she relied on her kind friends to bring her along with them, and she was very appreciative of their kindness.














One day, a little squirrel told her some news, of a generous Sir from the neighbouring land who had desires to rid himself of certain things, and the beautiful princess had a plan. She approached the generous Sir and spoke to him of her desire.














The princess told some of her friends of her plans, and how she was very excited but would need to have patience.















And so she waited... and waited... and waited for the day when she would recieve the happy news.














Finally, one evening as she was strolling home, the generous Sir called out her name, and told her the words she had been waiting more than half a year to hear.

















Within a few days she was thrown into a world unfamiliar to her, she did not know what to do or where to go. Thankfully, she had a wise old uncle who advised her.














Unfortunately, the her plans were foiled by the evil unnecessarily rigid Witches, who sent the princess away.



















Deciding to fight for her dream, the princess used her wit and charm, went to another location, explained her story and the fairy godmother granted the princess her wish.















She was so happy, and she found most of the people she asked for help were ever willing to lend a helping hand.


















Finally, two weeks later the beautiful princess managed to make her dream come true...

















... and was the proud owner of her very own, self bought pumpkin!













And they lived happily ever after.


The End.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Vacation Bible School 2008













Thursday to Saturday, my church had this 3day program for kids aged 5-12, and for the first time since Life Chapel has had VBS, I was a volunteer.

It was GREAT!

The children are split into three groups based on age, attend classes, then a rotation of games, crafts and music/dance.

I was in the Recreation team, which was in charge of the daily game sessions for the children.

The Senior students had a more stoned/kayu I don't wanna do this kiddy stuff, this is not 'cool' attitude. But they were alright eventually.

The Middle bunch were the worst. What shocked me the most was how rude they were, and the words they used. A number of them shouted 'you're ugly' or 'fat' or 'stupid', not only to each other but to the TEACHERS! When I was that age, there's no way you would get away with saying something like that. But these kids...

The thing that saved each game session was the arrival of the Junior group, who are such a joy to be with. They are at the age where even the most basic of games will be met with exploding enthusiasm, they are a lot more forgiving, and will listen to the teachers when being told what to do. The made my day each day.

I have decided, if I ever have kids, I'll keep them up to the age of 7-8, then get rid of them. Y.San said she'd take them from me till they were about 11-12 and then Su will take over till they've gotten over their teenage angst stage. So I get them back again when they're about 17. Haha...

Moving on, I was glad to be part of it and see so many people come together to contribute their time and energy for the children. As a friend told me, its the one time where you see the church move together, on a larger scale. From the aunties who provided superb meals for the children and helpers (120 people not easy to cook for okay) to the security guards that ensured the children's safety, to those that helped with the decoration prior to VBS and most importantly, all those who prayed for the event.

Behind the decoration, the dancing, the games and all the fun stuff, the ultimate objective of VBS is for the children to know about God and teach them about His ways.

Thinking of the simple truths the children were taught,


God is Real

Jesus is God's Son

The Bible is God's Word

My Actions Show What I Believe


I wonder if I myself truly Know the Truth, Speak the Truth and Live the Truth.

(Wish I had photos to show)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Typical

Malay leadership recognised in the world

The fact that the United States has taken steps similar to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s economic formula in tackling the 1997 financial crisis proves that Malay leadership is recognised in the world, reported Sinar Harian.

Felcra chairman Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said the economic formula introduced by the former prime minister was a success after Malaysia’s economy recovered without the need to borrow money from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.


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


This short article caught my eye on The Star online, and I was thinking, why do they have to say Malay leadership, why can't they say Malaysian leadership.

It seems a small, insignificant thing, but words matter; words are the tools used to convey meaning, words are all you have. Mean what you say, and say what you mean.

When I read that, the meaning that I felt being conveyed was basically emphasizing the superiority of a race, putting one above the others. Why? Why still do it? Why...?
Not only that, were ALL the advisors and financial experts , all the other Ministers etc. that advised Mahathir, Malay only? Sure?
Even if that were the unlikely case, wasn't his decision for the rakyat, which encompasses all races?

Its the small things like this that make people unhappy and annoyed; especially when the country is struggling to climb out of the racial toilet bowl, where the slight mention of this race or that race, keeps the toilet constantly flushing.

I strongly feel the way forward is to promote and embrace the idea of being Malaysian.

How ironic that something so simple is so difficult...

"What are you?"

"I am Malaysian"















(Anyway, I may be wrong but just because the US is using seemingly similar steps as Mahathir, does not (1) prove "Malay" leadership (2) indicate that it is recognized in the world.)

Monday, November 17, 2008

Weird 25km Half Marathon

Dum dum dum dum dum...dum (dush dush dush dush)
Dum dum dum dum dum...dum (dush dush dush dush)
Dum dum dum dum dum...dum (dush dush dush dush)

Dum dum dum dum dummmmmmmm.....














I did it!

I completed 25km in 3hours and 30mins.

Initially I didn't even think to join, but itchy feet me finally decided and practically on the last day for registration, signed up.

Hey, its the ONLY time the Penang Bridge is closed to traffic... Special okay!

What I'm most proud of is I did better compared to the last time and that I managed to run/jog albeit slowly towards the end, but pretty much all the way this time.

In the previous run I suffered a bad cramp on the steep part of the bridge on the return journey, and it was so painful I could only jog a bit, hobble, jog a bit, hobble.

This time around, I felt a whole lot better; I didn't get vomitty or queasy, my leg almost but didn't cramp and my breathing was fine.

Sure there was pain, but I just kept telling myself to push through it, I could take it.

Oh, and I have now a new respect for this thing called - Power Bar.
In the previous Mizuno run, I bought one, but er... I felt it was a waste of my RM7.

However, I bought one again (cause Alan reminded me about it, and I was lazy to buy bananas and assorted stuff) and it kept me 'filled' and I didn't have the empty stomach feeling. Even better, just before the bridge, they were passing out free PowerGel which I kept all the way till I made the u-turn and was on my way back to the island, because I knew it would be most needed then.
And it worked! Somehow the disgusting, worse than medicine goo sustained me till the end.
Wah.
I repent!
I am a believer now!

Sue Min helped load some songs into my mp3 player, so the first half of the run I had no choice but to listen to charismatic, upbeat "Amen! Halelujah! Praise the Lord!" type songs, that did keep me going.
Not only that, on the way back I repeated one of the powerful Christmas songs, 'Welcome Jesus Our Redeemer' about 5times just to get me up the steep part of the bridge.

Most of all though, it was mentally telling myself not to stop, not to give up.

Overall it was a really good run for me, and I surprised myself considering I actually haven't been training for it.

Of course today my muscles are yelping each time I sit and stand, and going up and down the stairs = Agonizing Torture but, the feeling of conquering the bridge once again surpasses it all.

















*Keep 29th november 2009 free!*

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

11/11








I see you sometimes twice a day
Always the same four lines that way
Is it foreshadowing I can't yet see
Or my mind just playing tricks on me

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Safety pin

Within 1 week, 2 guys told me the same thing.

They each went through a break up.










One was a friend who had told me before of his relationship problems and how it was changing, but I was shocked when he told me:

"I found out she was seeing someone else."

"How?"

"I looked through her sms's...Then I confronted her."

"How long had she been seeing the other guy?"

"One and a half years."

"?*!@%!&"

What the heck man. I cannot understand betrayal like that. Its not as if she 'strayed' or made a one off mistake - that is bad, but one and a half years? I know there are many stories out there similar to this, but it still does stun me when people do things like that.

He had told her previously when he was overseas that if she finds someone she likes, let him know and he'd understand. But she did not... Even after he was back. The whole year, not a word. Why...? That is what I still fail to get.

I asked if he wanted me to bash her up. He said no, he's trying to keep it at 'lets be friends'. They were dating for about 4years.

For my other friend, it was a 5year relationship.

Five years...

He said it had been a year of constant arguing, patching up, arguing, patching up. Both side were frustrated, both sides were not satisfied and that feeling grew. Deep and strong undercurrents that eventually came to the surface.

Its sad, and its real.

People fall out of love with people.

It happens.













Which is why the safety pin remains.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Lucky Number 13






13 Episodes - Done!

By the 6th show, I was counting down the weeks.

After the final show, I was feeling a bit sad that it was over.

I am glad that it ended well though, the last episode was good, and the band performing that night was the bomb.

Will there be a Season 5...?

Only time will tell.

Friday, November 07, 2008

New Meaning

Yesterday for the first time I discovered and understood a new meaning to the word;

C L I E N T

As I am still considered 'fresh' in the working world, there's loads I've not experienced yet, but I can strike this one off the list. Those who work will understand what I mean when I say client.


Me: Oh, I'm feeling stressed. Had a bad day at work.

X: A lot of work? Boss scolded you?

Me: No, met with the clients

X: Ohhhh, say so la. I know what you mean.



Before this, the word to me just meant - a person(s) that hire you for your services.

Now I know all the unwritten synonyms that come with that word.

Deep breath, nod your head and smile.

Bah.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Sharing is Caring

I got an unexpected hug from someone unexpected.

I was at work, staring at the computer screen, when I heard her cursing.

The past few days have been tough for a colleague of mine; she's going through some personal issues I think. Sadly, we are not close enough yet for her to share it with me, but I try to make her feel a little better by offering sweets and smiles. I give her her space.

Today her mood was no better and as she was letting off some steam, some of it was unintentionally directed at me. But as usual, we never notice what we say to people when we're angry, only once the moment has passed do we realize and wish we hadn't said it.

She walked away. I continued with my work.

Suddenly, an arm came from behind and she hugged me.

I wasn't prepared for it, or expecting it. It just came.

All I could do was pat her arm and hope that my squeeze would silently reassure her that "It's okay, I understand..."

Part of me thinks maybe she needed the hug more than I did.

I was thinking about that small gesture the whole day.
It reminded me of a gift I had been given some months ago.

It was a stone with the word 'Share' on it.















Hidden on the inside :
















Sometimes we don't need to speak, we don't need to find the right words to say, we don't need to ask a whole load of questions. We try too hard to sound understanding and spew consoling cliche's, which is not always necessary.

I guess sometimes all it takes is a hug.

No need for words, just the comforting touch from one human being to another.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Yes, it was me...

Some weeks ago, a few of you might have seen a Deepavali promo on 8tv, and thought,
Hmmm, the middle one looks familiar...

Well.

I was me.













Hahahaha.... I can blog about it now since its long gone from the tv screens.

A colleague asked if I could help out and I said, okay.

I have no idea why she asked me though, since what they actually needed was a 'white' looking person.

;p

Shooting the short 30second clip was a lot of fun as 'Chinese' and 'Malay' are friendly people, and we had a blast trying SO hard to say the words wrongly. I had to concentrate really hard to try and sound 'White'.

However, once it was out, OMG, felt so shy and wanted to hide under a rock.
Hated it! As in, hated me in it! The others were fine. Of course, once my other colleagues found out, the teasing started. Ah, who cares? You only live once right?

It was a good experience, and my first time wearing a sari.

Unggal anai varukum - Happy Deepavali from 8tv!