It's Actually Less Perverted Than You Think

I'm migrating

2009-09-06T16:08:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone,

I've come back to say that if you've somehow found yourself back here, thank you so much for still checking back despite knowing that this blog has pretty much died. I'm here to let you know that I'm no longer on hiatus and I've started anew!

However, I won't be doing it here anymore.

I've upped and moved to Wordpress. I would be pleased if you were to continue being in my life as I continue on my blogging journey. See you guys there!

Follow me now on

Tête-à-tête

#27 - Braiiiiiiiiiiiiiins!

2009-06-07T17:49:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, I was helping a friend look for children's book titles to help fill up his school's empty bookshelf. While today's subject wasn't exactly discovered in the Children's section, it caught my attention immediately.

Zombiiiiies!

I'll admit straightaway that I do have a fascination with zombies ever since Dawn of the Dead popped my zombie cherry. XD Now what do I find? Zombies invading great classic works of literature?

This purchase made me quite happy today.

#26 - Oooey Gooey Chocolatey Happinessy

2009-06-06T17:40:00.000+08:00

I've been really down lately, which unfortunately led to the dismal stagnancy of this place. I had to take measures in finding my zen, hence this post today. It didn't really cheer me up as good as it was but I think it deserves a second chance. Maybe next Saturday.

#25 - Hummer

2009-05-24T03:26:00.002+08:00

This fancy-schmancy car dealership just opened up right in front of my workplace. As I walked on the pathway along it, I saw the usual luxury cars--all shiny and expensive looking--lined up, ready to be bought by people with money to burn. Mercedes, BMWs, sports cars with Italian names I'm too lazy to pronounce...and then, my eye caught something which led me to a screeching halt.

A Hummer.

A beautiful Hummer just sitting there, waiting to be bought. A Hummer I could look at every day while most car enthusiasts only pray they'd get a glimpse of--if they're lucky.

Darren, eat your heart out. ;)

#24 - Twins

2009-05-21T01:43:00.002+08:00

Here's an interesting fact;

In the entire stretch of buildings in which my company is located, there are only two people who drive the same car with the exact same color; me and some other dude.

We've never actually crossed paths but I am often amused to see where my car's identical twin would be parked by the time I get to work. I suppose the driver works somewhere near me as his car is frequently spotted in close proximity.

Today, I arrived late at work. Like after lunch sort of late. For those of you who know where I work, you'd know that getting decent parking at that time is virtually impossible and that was true for me. Desperate and very, very late, I parked...illegally. I've never gotten a traffic summon before and don't intend to start a trend but I was simply desperate.

Anyway, there I left my car in the middle of the makeshift parking space. I grabbed a speedy lunch and went indoors to punch my card which would inevitably send alarm bells ringing come paycheck day.

Much later, I decided to take a peek outside the window, full of hope there wouldn't be a long piece of paper stuck under my wind wiper. What did I find instead?

A car ... identical to mine ... of identical color ... parked directly next to mine.

Was this the driver's acknowledgement to me that only we drove the same car on the block? Did he think it was funny? Was it a joke? Well, I sure found it hilarious considering the ample illegal parking space which was available surrounding us plus an actual parking space in front of Old Town.

I found it so amusing that I just had to take a picture.

I should have left a friendly note on his wind shield before I left. Maybe we could have become friends. Maybe another opportunity will prop up and I can finally say hello! Of course, if he turns out to be some creepy dude...well, that's another story for another time.

#23 - Human Sticker Book

2009-05-17T22:59:00.003+08:00

Well, obviously this isn't a very well taken shot but some kid at my workplace ran up to me and stuck these three cute stickers on my arm and ran away.

Is that incredibly cute or what? :P

#22 - WTF

2009-05-16T23:11:00.002+08:00

"Smile big like me, girls!!"

The picture above is pretty darn self explanatory but, really, you only see things like these on the internet with other people's futzed up photos! Who is that dude?? Was he that bored with his company? Come to think of it, it's pretty funny to discover this.

#21 - New Watch!

2009-05-03T23:23:00.003+08:00

I've been needing a new watch for some time now but kept putting off buying one because:

a) I'm extremely picky when it comes to watches. It has to feel good from the moment I pick it up right until I put it on my wrist. If there's even a tiny negative feeling to it, I don't bother with it.

b) My current watch is one of sentimental value, as it is a Christmas gift from P about two years ago.

c) I don't usually like buying watches and don't particularly like owning more than one at any time.

I think those are a fairly good reasons to endure wearing my current watch which is much too tight after two pieces of the metal strap went missing. However, it's not only too tight but now I've been getting hives from all the pressure against my skin and that's what prompted me to start looking for a new watch.

As I've said, I'm picky. I looked at every watch store along Batu Feringghi while I was in Penang but didn't find anything. The next day while at Queensbay Mall however, I finally found what I wanted.

This beeeeeeautiful watch above! Simple yet classy/elegant enough. However, as it was a Tissot, it set me back quite a bit but I do think it was worth it because I'm not going to change watches any time soon.

#20 - Just another day at work

2009-04-30T00:46:00.003+08:00

I was a bit bored sometime after lunch at work today and seeing I also had a wee bit of free time to spare, I started doodling. First, it was just a bunch of cartoonish animals but then it started to evolve to me drawing cartoons of the lot in my office.

As you can see, my colleague Naela is as usual glued in front of the telly with her notorious obsession for American Idol (along with her school girl crush of Anoop Desai) while her shaven-headed nemesis,Daniel, crawls to make yet another day more interesting for her.

And of course, the two usual innocent bystanders Jessica and yours truly watch all the drama...that's about to happen. O_o

At the time of typing this, I have already gifted this doodling to Naela who loved it! :D

#19 - Too Damn Early

2009-04-29T03:11:00.003+08:00

Yes, I wasn't the only one who heard aaaaaaallll the commotion about Krispy Kreme opening up here in Malaysia. Hearing something about a launch that already took place, I decided to head down to Times Square and lo and behold...

I was one day too damn early.

Sigh.

#18 - Twenty Six

2009-04-27T00:00:00.000+08:00

Stupid blotch...eggh...

Happy 26th Birthday, my darling P.

#17 - Impulse shopping

2009-04-26T00:21:00.003+08:00

I dropped two pant sizes!! Woot woot!! Well okay, that's not entirely true since I could squeeze myself into a size 29 but well, that was just barely comfortable. While browsing around in F21, I came across some rather cheap white jeans.

White jeans.

Ooooh.

Seeing how they only had sizes 28 and 30 left, I naturally picked the latter but when it was too baggy, I sighed and took my chances with 28. As I slid the jeans up my arse, I chanted...

"Please let it fit! Please let it fit!!"

And with one easy hook of the button, it fiiiiiiiiiit!!

I literally jumped up and down in my little dressing room with joy.

I'm pretty sure my successful treadmill runs (yep, twice today babeh!) didn't cause this instantaneous reduction. I have hope!! Woot!

It looks like a good restart. :D

I'm such a slacker.

2009-04-25T03:31:00.003+08:00

This is yet another post about my ongoing battle against the bulge. If you do not wish to hear me rant, whine, complain and bitch about it, better you move on. The rest of you may stay on while I provide you with vacuum bubbles to hopefully drown out my incessant ramblings.

I think I've been really slacking off.

I've been less than vigilant with what I've been stuffing into my mouth since Chinese New Year and more importantly, I've been allowing myself to indulge in daily guilty pleasures (i.e Starbucks, dim sum) with my colleagues at lunch time (shaddap Jessica!).

I think my Willpower has taken a long--too long--holiday and put its replacement, Laziness, in charge. I think Laziness needs to be fired. After all, we are facing an economic downturn and we need to cut the fat. (Haha I'm beginning to be quite good at this pun thing....)

I only have 12 more pounds to lose. Just twelve! For you metric system lot, that's 5kg. If you think about it, after losing 56 pounds (25kg) so far, 12 more shouldn't be that hard. Or take that much work.

The worst bit is that it's not like there hasn't been any signs which were constantly yelling at me to get my butt off the chair and jump on the treadmill. In fact, there's been plenty! I've been following The Biggest Loser religiously on tv and each episode reminds me how 12 pounds is nothing! Heck, one guy lost thirty-freakin-one pounds in one week!

Watching The Biggest Loser basically tells me that I have no excuse for putting off losing those last 12 pounds. I like feeling the guilt, because it makes me want to do something. Or at least think about it.

But you know, I work all day with kids which tires me out completely. Heck, I get all my exercise there! Jaw exercises from all the screaming, the aerobic exercises from my hands and arms flying about while blasting out all kinds of instructions and doing lots of squats since I can barely ever sit down--because hey, since when do you really sit down when you teach kids?

I'm just making excuses...and a whole lot of them.

I wanted to wait until Monday to start my regime again but I realize that I could easily start tomorrow. I know I've said it before--actually, more than I can count--that I'll wake up to exercise before starting my dailies but I never get round to it.

I'll try my best tomorrow.

Not only do I want to do it for me, but also because J seems to have started doing something about her situation and I admire that, thus reminding me yet again that there's just NO excuse for me to be slacking off!

And also, I want to show a dear colleague of mine, who has been relying on me for advice on nutritionals (though I'm frustrated she rarely listens to me!) that I can do it and will do it, proving that I can help her! Maybe then she'll start listening to me -_-"

As a painful reminder to myself, I dug out an old photo (one which I'm particularly ashamed of) and reminded myself yet again how much I need to finish the damn job.

So I like that yellow t-shirt a lot! So sue me! :P

#16 - Three Reasons

2009-04-24T23:04:00.002+08:00

...that is causing that rotund fuglyness >_<

Still, nothing like something expensively sweet to end a stressful week.

#15 - Decadence

2009-04-23T00:14:00.000+08:00

Nothing like a midnight snack of something sugary and low calorie :D

#14 - Good things to come home to

2009-04-20T19:25:00.002+08:00

A tray of freshly baked scones waiting on the kitchen table, waiting for you to eat them and say...mm mm good! ;)

#13 - Alive

2009-04-18T23:08:00.000+08:00

Is...it...breathing...?

*shudders*

#12 - Weekends

2009-04-17T21:07:00.002+08:00

Because teachers need 'em to protect their sanity after five full days of staring at agonizingly bad English grammar.

#11 - Thundercats

2009-04-16T14:29:00.003+08:00

Warm bed, 100 Plus and 2 seasons of Thundercats - the best combination for the person down with food poisoning. :(

#10 - Four

2009-04-15T22:40:00.004+08:00

Because one just ain't enough O_o

#9 - Homework

2009-04-14T22:47:00.003+08:00

June's homework.

A ginger soy sauce chicken which I haven't tasted, unfortunately, but of which I heard was good!

#8 - Freebies!

2009-04-13T19:36:00.003+08:00

Redeemed on the last day of Starbucks' Buy 8 Get 1 Free .

The ever yummy Mocha Frappucino and a Caramel Macchiato!

#7 - Merchandise Fail

2009-04-12T18:22:00.001+08:00

You think Kitty's trying to tell us something here?

B is for Bored

2009-04-12T18:08:00.003+08:00

I woke up bored.

I ate my lunch bored.

I ran errands half bored.

I was groomed. Was not so bored.

I ran errands again, bored.

I drove to the mall bored.

I walked around bored.

I drove home bored.

I got home bored.

I'm typing this, bored.

I'm bored of being bored.

And, I'm lonely.

#6 - The Best Spaghetti Ever

2009-04-11T22:58:00.002+08:00

Look at that sinful plate of carbs!!

I've had a lot of spaghetti in my pasta-dining-life. Bolognese, Marinara, Pomodoro, Carbonara, Squid Ink, Seafood, Instant...the list goes on.

But nothing, not even in Italy, compares to the mouthwatering culinary orgasm Ms. Reed's Mama's Beef Bolognese Spaghettini induces. It gets my vote as #1 on top of my must-have pasta list. It's sooo good that I can't resist having it each and every time I visit the restaurant.

I wonder if Ms. Reed's will pay me for advertising this..

#5 - Peekaboo!

2009-04-10T21:03:00.003+08:00

Today's entry was taken a little just an hour before this post. Imagine that, spending two hundred bucks on these crocs only to have them tear open a couple of months later. :(

#4 - Resident cat

2009-04-09T23:05:00.002+08:00

This black cat is always spotted loafing around this very spot. I don't think he ever leaves. I shall call him Phat Cat. ;)

I don't want to, I NEED to.

2009-04-09T00:49:00.004+08:00

First, let me tell you a story.

There's this war, right.

On one hand we've got Sgt. Green Vegetable, Cor. Lean Meat and Lt. Fruit.

On the other, we have Heil Fat and his minions; Starbucks, Coco "nut" Milk and Agent Oil who has been ruling the dominion for awhile now.

So, they fight. Hard. Thorns were swashbuckled. But most of all, bad puns were exchanged.

"Orange you going to get the hell out?!"

"Olive you alone if you make yourself sparse!"

"Dis nacho land, get-aoouuwwt!!"

And an unfortunate Coco "nut" Milk who, born with a mouth defect, mispronounced all her Gs and ended up yelling her own name multiple times when telling the troops to charge.

"Cocococococo!!"

...

Eventually, the good guys won and the land was a better place. For awhile.

Over a year since their defeat, Heil Fat was still displeased. For days, he would sit in his potato couch reeling and pondering his revenge. And then...a knock came at the door. It was the person he had been waiting for. He looked at the slick, cool dude with his shiny black sunglasses who was petting his pet cat, Cheetos.

"Mr. Andersens."

Mr. A put up a hand.

"Please, call me Ice Cream."

They conspired. They schemed...and at last, they found the Secret Recipe.

SET LUNCHES!!

The battle continues.

Taking a cue from Ms.Sampat's most recent blog post, I decided to come up with a list of my own.

1. Eat healthily for a day.

2. Eat healthily for more than one day.

3. Eat healthily for a week.

4. Eat healthily for more than one week.

5. Eat healthily for a month.

6. Lose weight.

As you can see, mine's somewhat of a shorter list than hers. My goal is simple;

Stop pigging the fuck out.

#3 - A date with a (really) white guy

2009-04-08T21:42:00.002+08:00

Come on Ronald hunney...lick it, babeh.

#2 - Lunch

2009-04-07T23:08:00.003+08:00

#2 Subway's Turkey Breast and Ham on Hearty Italian bread with a mountain of slivered black olives. Mmmmm...!

Today's entry is my lunch today at Subway. I'm quite proud of myself (and my smidgen of willpower) to have something healthy after pigging out on all kinds of sinful, local delectables. Sigh...oh the nasi lemak/campur/dagang/cheese naan/char koey teow/KFC/Starbucks/xi mut tea/shanghainese noodles/fried carrot cake/tandoori!

Sigh. I'm going to be so fat again. Siiiiiigh.

Project 365 - #1

2009-04-06T22:18:00.005+08:00

My blog is dead--has been dead--and Project 365 is yet another attempt in resurrecting it.

What is Project 365, I asked my happening cousin which inevitably, showed how much I was living under a rock. >_<

"You post a picture each day for a year so I won't be so disappointed whenever I visit your blog lah!"

*sweat*

Smart aleck remarks aside, I've decided to jump on this bandwagon. I've been complaining about having nothing remotely interesting to blog about after refusing to blog about work. Now I'll be able to blog about totally random things without having to actually rummage through my mundane days looking for a morsel of something remotely interesting to talk about. phew!

This will also give me incentive to put some use into my quite neglected new Sony camera (wait, what? new yet neglected already?) other than to take camwhorish pictures of yours truly. In addition, I'll be using my iPhone camera to take pictures of utter randomness to once again bring joy into your exciting lives ;)

Oooh, speaking of iPhones! Did I tell you I finally finally finally got myself one?

No?

That's right! I didn't blog about it *pouts* but wahahaha I blew my entire March paycheck on that ultra cool gadget which I've been waiting feverishly for for two years. In fact, this news is so overdue that it shall be #1 of my Project 365 er, project.

Cole being charged after two long days of mega texting, mega surfing and mega obsessing by its owner.

Purity that should remain as is

2009-02-25T01:40:00.005+08:00

There are a lot of movies I can handle.

While gore isn't exactly my forte at withstanding, I can normally manage those depicted in war, horror and zombie movies. If you have watched Kill Bill or something along the lines of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you'll know where my level of appreciation is at when I say I can't stomach those.

Although...watching Linda Blair walk upside down down a flight of stairs was plain fucking scary.

Tonight, I discovered that I can't watch movies where babies are possessed by spirits. Or babies being evil. Or anything bad about babies in general. I did not want to watch it in the first place but somehow did--and I simply could not sit through it.

Babies to me are something so pure and beautiful and now that I've been working with young children, it sickens me to watch them portrayed as demonic or satanic beings. I think it's just revolting to think of them as anything but pure. Watching a zombie baby in Dawn of the Dead was one thing, but to take a perfectly healthy baby and stick an evil spirit in it is just...blerrgh.

Evil angels, I can handle. Give me evil babies and I'll start begging for rainbows and ponies.

Red

2009-02-19T23:21:00.002+08:00

I got my surprise Valentine's Day gift today in the mail.

The box was squashed from handling.

Some of the chocolates melted into disfigured gloop.

But I still LOVED it!!

It was the longest 13 hour work day ever! :D

Thank you, darling!

Fun Weekend in Melaka

2009-02-08T17:47:00.003+08:00

I just got home from having quite a fun weekend with a friend in Melaka.

We spent just overnight in the tourist trap Jonker Street but it was enough to get our fill of some delicious chicken rice balls and cheap kaya balls! We did some shopping--although one of us more than the other *wink*. The weather was simply gorgeous and was very conducive for walking about looking at all there are to see.

In short, we had fun!

Here are pictures for you to look at.

Happy Birthday June!!

2009-02-02T01:24:00.001+08:00

Through looking glasses

2009-01-31T23:35:00.002+08:00

I did what I said I'd do and today I got it.

In just one day--infact, if calculated precisely, less than 24 hours after I went to get new glasses at Focus Point in Tropicana City, my new pair was ready.

Nice?

They were having a sale where a range of glasses were selling for RM159 inclusive of frame and lenses. My discount coupon as previously mentioned, was only eligible if my purchase rang up to a minimum of RM200. The best part of this tale was that I was asked to upgrade to better lenses for a flat sum of RM50 thus enabling my coupon to be used!

So I got new glasses with upgraded lenses for only RM159!

Kudos to Focus Point for the extremely speedy service and discounts :P

At long last, now I can finally retire my beat up glasses.

See the cellophane tape?

It's fate and I can't fight it

2009-01-29T17:51:00.002+08:00

I've been needing new glasses for awhile now. Not just because my glasses have been unmercifully trod on and is now held in place with cellophane tape but also due to the fact that I'm becoming blinder as of late...which is kind of ironic since last year I had enjoyed improving vision. Meh.

I've been putting off getting new glasses because of one very simple fact; glasses are expensive. Very expensive. I could wait for a sales promotion to get one, but then all they'd have would be fugly frames. So I put it off for as long as I can, even though I could feel my eyesight slowly deteriorating more and more.

Then today, I had a close shave with a motorcycle which I almost hit because I didn't see him right smack in front of me. To make matters more eerie, I came home today and found the above in the mail addressed to me.

It's fate, and I can't fight it. :(

It's time for me to get new glasses.

Puddles

2009-01-27T15:24:00.002+08:00

Joining in the fun in our patio!

Happy Chinese New Year!

2009-01-26T12:23:00.001+08:00

Here's hoping you guys have a prosperous new year!

...and treat the cows nicely. It's their year ;)

Happy Birthday Ian!

2009-01-23T23:18:00.003+08:00

Here he is visibly upset about dropping his half eaten crab pincer...

Ian turns 11 today!

I hope you enjoyed your day out with us :D

The best dream I've had in a very long while

2009-01-19T12:46:00.006+08:00

Seahorses swimming calmly in front of me

Their tiny tails swirl around my wrinkled fingers

Darkness engulfs us

But their luminescent yellow bodies glow

My body hangs where the two meet

air and water

I let them take me where willing

Holding nothing but artificial light in my hand

Time shifts and I'm not alone

Black and white bodies appear

From behind and underneath

Sleepy and silent

Killer whales glide like ghosts in air

And I only hope the light I shine does not distract

More come from behind

I feel calm in their presence

Serene.

I wake up.

Renewal

2009-01-19T00:02:00.003+08:00

Now Playing : "Human" - The Killers

I didn't plan this. Not at all.

But I knew this the moment I woke up today; I needed a renewal of myself.

I had shrivelled into an invisible shell where I found myself not able to do anything except wallow in sorrow from separation and using verbal means of expressing that.

So today, I decided enough was enough. I miss him terribly but I was going to stop letting that control me each day. I still love you though, P ;)

But it didn't feel complete. It wasn't transformational enough. I didn't want to lose myself, mind you, but I needed to break open this shell I'm trapped in and the only way I knew how was firstly to change the music I was listening to.

I pledge not to listen to classical and jazz so much for the remainder of this month.

Then I downloaded the likes of Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Metro Station and Estelle...and even Britney Spears. They've been on loop ever since.

I started to feel a little more upbeat.

Renewing myself didn't end there. Today I had to ferry my mother to the hairdresser's and hadn't the slightest plan to let them touch my hair. Then I decided for a trim to get rid of the split ends.

As I placed myself in their chair, a feeling of an overwhelming desire to do something spontaneous came over me. I peered at myself in the mirror and there it was...my long hair. My comfort zone.

Then I decided this was it. I needed it gone.

It wasn't an easy decision. Despite its six month old perm growing out and its less than healthy shiny complexion, I still loved it because it still made me feel beautiful when I decided it did. But it was also holding me back and ultimately, its dullness was pulling me along with it.

I've always wanted short hair. I promised myself I would when I got rid of the flab.

So, snip snip.

It worked. I felt great instantly. So much that the moment I got home, I slapped on some make up, put on something I haven't worn out in awhile and bolted out the door.

I feel good now. I feel renewed.

Not such a glam picture, but it'll do for now.

Egad

2009-01-17T17:48:00.000+08:00

Eww, no!

I'll take William Hung anytime.

I just want to be weak, sometimes.

2009-01-17T02:01:00.004+08:00

Edgy.

The one word which aptly describes how I've been feeling this week.

Strangely enough, this isn't caused by work as it usually is--in fact, it's been a good week at work. No stress, no meetings, and overall have had enjoyable classes. In short, I've been a pretty free duck this week.

For the past week and into the next month or so, my fiancé is up to his neck with work. We've only spoken twice this week and barely at that, and that's gotten on my nerves a little bit. However, don't get me wrong. I'm not unreasonable and do understand that we can't be conjoined at the hip every breathing moment...but it's just hard.

Then earlier this week, I received happy news that a friend of mine is getting married soon and having a baby.

Wow, that really pained me.

Nononononooo...don't misunderstand me. I am super happy for this friend and very excited to attend the wedding. I was even cooing over the prettiness of the name she had picked out for her soon-to-come baby.

But let me tell you...

I am SO envious.

It just really pains me because I wish I could be in her position.

I wish I could get married now. I wish I had the guts and the screw-it-ness to just drop everything and run off to Italy and get married right now. I wish I don't have to wait another two plus years. I wish I could be picking out baby names too, instead of waiting until I'm 30. I wish I didn't have to spend most of my time being engaged alone. I wish I didn't have to be alone.

I wish I was weak.

I don't want to be rational and know that all these things, I can't do right now. I don't want to be rational and I wish I didn't care that I am financially, legally and geographically unprepared to be all those things I so desperately want to be right now. I wish I didn't sound so whiny whining about this.

There's just so many things I wish right now...and almost all of them involve being not alone anymore.

Party Planner

2009-01-15T01:21:00.004+08:00

Ian's birthday party is coming up this Saturday and yours truly has volunteered to include a game or two into the itinerary--right there between eating, video games and cake--just so the lot does not spend four hours glued in front of the telly.

This isn't my first time coming up with games for a kids party, although technically all those previous years doesn't count as it doesn't take two seconds to throw musical chairs and hide and seek into the mesh. And since now that I'm teaching, hey, who better than to direct those skills into contributing something to this party?

I spent the past week experimenting with a game or two with my classes, whenever I was able to sneak some time. I basically suck at coming up with creative games, so I did what I know best--a general knowledge game. The very mention of the name made my kids literally groan at the possible dullness by the sound of it.

However, they soon changed their minds. Here's how the game works;

1. Divide kids into smaller groups

2. Distribute sheets of paper and pencils to one elected member of each group

3. Ask questions

4. Kids get 60 seconds to write down as many answers as they can come up with

5. Points are awarded based on how many correct answers they give

6. Winner gets bragging rights for the day

This is a list of questions I've been able to come up with so far and have tested;

Name as many...

1. Countries which names end with -land

2. Animals which live on both land and in water

3. Insects which do not have any color of the rainbow

4. Countries which names end with -a

5. Animals which names start with the letter C

The kids really enjoyed these games, but I'm running out of ideas. I try not to ask easy questions like no.5 and prefer those which require a little more thinking (no.1-4). Any ideas? I would appreciate it!

One Step Closer

2009-01-11T23:12:00.008+08:00

I meant to blog about this happy occasion instead of trumpeting it around Facebook, but since I didn't have it with me shortly after arriving back in Malaysia until today, I didn't feel like I should until it was back safely with me.

So folks...

Yours truly has gotten engaged!!

You guys (you know who you are) can stop pestering me to tell you how it happened. It happened on Christmas Day when Phil and I were in Venice. It was my first time there and he has been waiting until I finally visited Venice to ride the ridiculously priced gondola.

No, no, no.

Contrary to what you thought, we did not get engaged on the gondola...and singing gondoliers are a myth anyway. After the gondola ride, we walked around a little bit until we got to a place called the Rialto market which happened to be closed that day. We walked to a quiet, deserted part to an arched walkway overlooking the river where we could see gondolas rowing by.

We stopped at the edge to enjoy the scenery. Then, he turned to face me and took out a small, gift-wrapped box. He said, "here's your second Christmas present". I gleefully unwrapped it, revealing a brown and obvious jewelry box. I had a smile plastered on my face as I looked at him.

I was afraid and a little hesitant to open the box. I had my hopes up. Really, very high up. I wanted it to be what I thought it was. But at the same time, I was worried that I might open the box only to find a pair of earrings or something absolutely the opposite of what I hoped it would be. Silly, right?

Anyway, I did open it. The ring was beautiful, exactly what I would have wanted. My actions were swiftly followed by his words "I know we don't have a date yet but I was wondering if you would marry me...".

My heart leaped out of its cavity completely!

I hugged him and half-whispered,

"Yes!"

He put the ring on my finger and we kissed...

on a date which would forever hold significance more than just Christmas and in the one place I would never forget.

Next month, on February 20th, will mark our four years together.

I really can not wait for the future.

I'm not dead

2009-01-10T22:38:00.003+08:00

*wind howls*

It's really dead here, isn't it?

Yes, I know and I'm sorry. I have nothing to blog about. Well, actually, I do have material from my wonderful trip to Italy but I let the pictures do the job over in Facebook. In fact, I'm spending way too much time over there and not enough here.

I spent my first week of 2009 going through an emotional turmoil. Work, hoping to be a distraction for me, didn't work as well as I'd hope. However, things are looking up as the second week approaches. I'm feeling better and work is getting a little more bearable. Maybe I'll have something not so dismal to talk about here.

In fact, tomorrow I may have something to blog about. I'm pretty excited to get it back.

Anyway, here's just to let you guys know I haven't forgotten about you. :)

Home

2009-01-04T03:14:00.006+08:00

Well, I'm back home again.

Interesting things have happened during this trip.

Experienced a snow storm...

Ate more pizzas to last a lifetime...

Got a shiny rock on my finger...

Rode a gondola...

Experienced bitter cold weather...

Right now, I'm not really in the mood to blog as I'm missing P too much.

So here are two photo albums for you to view of my trip.

Enjoy.

Album 1

Album 2

Album 3

Prego!

2008-12-23T23:55:00.001+08:00

By the time you folks read this, I'll *finally* be on a plane to Venice, Italy.

I will be spending Christmas and New Year's with Phil, so as usual, you'll get pictorial updates either along the way or when I get back on January 3rd.

'Till then, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!

And specially, Happy Birthday to Darren, whose birthday I'll sadly miss this year. I hope you have a good one!

Romance, oh romance, where for art thou hiding?

2008-12-19T00:27:00.006+08:00

Now Playing : "Skylark" - Monica Mancini

Rom-coms 'spoil your love life'

First, click on the link above and read the article. Then scoot back here.

I've always enjoyed watching romantic comedies. In fact, on my list of favorite movies, You've Got Mail scores big. I especially loved the dialogue and at that time, the thrill of meeting someone through the internet was intriguing.

Heh, see where that got me *wink*.

I think that romance as a whole, is pretty subjective. After reading the article, I couldn't help but find myself acknowledging that some of what Hollywood wants to project as being "romantic" has shaped my definition of what's romantic.

Yes, I want to be slow dancing on a dock or on a deserted beach on a quiet night under the bright full moon. Surprise candlelight dinners sound good too. The guy showing up unexpectedly anywhere I am at knowing I'd be ecstatic he did. Midnight walks in the park. Snowball fights. Smooching in front of a fireplace. Being cheeky in a dark cinema.

Heh. I got carried away.

But seriously, how many of the above have not appeared in movies? I tried to think really hard of something that I'd consider romantic that hasn't yet appeared in any movie. I failed.

Up until me being with Phil, I've been sporadically in a few relationships--none of which felt serious or important enough for me to be thinking of romantic situations which I'd like to happen. I suppose it was just as well that none of them were very romantic at all either.

Being in a relationship with Phil has taught me that you can't expect the other person to be romantic the way you want them to be. Of course you could ask, but what's the fun in that? I've learned that all the small (or big) things your loved one does with/for you which makes you smile are what makes him/her romantic and that's what Hollywood can't tell you. If this can't shape your own personal definition of romance, then truly, rom-com movies have indeed ruined your love life.

That being said, rom-com movies aren't the only culprits. Ever listened to a song and cringed at how cheesy the lyrics are? There is only one song in mind which takes the cake for this.

And after you watch it, I don't even need to explain myself.

Then again, nearly all of their songs are pretty unrealistic, though it's nice to dream ;)

Watch it. I don't care how much you protest.

And to put the icing on top...

2008-12-15T19:37:00.001+08:00

I can't wait for this Friday's Christmas party!!

Just add a touch of Chemical X ...

2008-12-15T10:20:00.004+08:00

Now Playing : "Am I Wrong" - Love Spit Love

I'm at work, and I'm bored. It's only 10:20am, I've been here since 8:25am and I won't have a class to teach until 2:30pm. What fun. Trying to kill *some* time, I decided to blog. Yes, something I haven't done in awhile, I know. Thousand apologies.

A couple of days ago, June and I were fantasizing what super powers we'd want. Naturally, we had different answers but this conversation shot me back to a thousand moments I've had over the course of my schooling days.

I'd want, and always have, the ability to manipulate time.

Why bend time? Why not X-Ray vision or supersonic speed or invisibility, etc. Minus the fact that most of them belong to Superman or whomever in a Marvel comic, think about it, to be able to slow time down and speed it up would be infinitely beneficial to one.

Exams around the corner? SLOW DOWN (to study). Sardined in traffic? SPEED UP (to get it over and done with). Nothing to do for hours at work? ZOOM. Already a Sunday afternoon? SCREEEEECH!! (no explanation necessary).

Impending Italian holiday next week? :P

Zoom Zoom Zoom!!

Unfortunately, despite it being more convenient, there would be two things I'd be concerned with having such power.

Firstly, I'd get impatient. Well, actually, I can get quite impatient at times (mostly on the road heh heh) but if I knew I didn't have to wait around for something to git done, as the corporate speak goes, I'd maximize full potential time utilization and minimize time wastage! Think of all the other things I could be willingly wasting my time on! Like getting all impatient and taking a trip to the future and seeing, just for curiousity's sake, where'd I'd be in 10 years. Would I be married? Have had kids? Drive some super power Lamborghini? Own Apple? Hah! Tempting, isn't it?

Also, I reckon I'd get rather evil. Evil? What? It's just bending time, you squeak. I bet a gazillion gummy bears that there are god knows how many kids, come exam time, would love to bring time to a halt and casually walk up to the smartest kid's desk and take a peek. Or two. Or just a very long one. Oh, how I have fantasized as an average student! ;)

It would be easier to rob a bank. Sabotage a friend/colleague/boss/dog/whomever--not that I'd do it. Well, not now anyway, since I don't have an inkling of a radioactive spider's bite. I probably won't do it, but on the other hand, we are talking about me being possibly evil here. Heeee.

I'd be screwing with the widely popular/accepted philosophy; you can't be perfect. Not that having this ability would make me perfect, but to be able to go back in time and rectify all the mistakes I've ever done, I'd be imposing perfection on self. This could equally backfire, I could end up being totally nonchalant about my actions. So what, right? I can just go back and re-do everything.

I think having this super power would no doubt be amazing. However, I think in the end, it would just end up doing more damage than the initial convenience because really, I am only human, and we're a flawed species.

Sulz, what'd you pick?

If you were born during the 80s...

2008-12-11T00:15:00.001+08:00

This was truly one of my ultimate favorite cartoons when I was a kid...

My Extended Weekend in Penang

2008-12-08T23:32:00.004+08:00

You know me better than to assume these are the *only* pictures I took during my trip to Penang ;)

The pictures below are simply my favorites out of the whole bunch.

Enjoy!

A (Late) Night Out at Hard Rock Cafe

2008-12-03T23:32:00.003+08:00

Well finally something to blog about!

Ok, that really sounds depressing. Either way, yesterday we met up with our oldest cousin Wee Liat who was down here on a trip from Australia at Hard Rock Cafe. Dinner was supposed to start at 8pm, but yours truly, having had to travel to USJ (it was my maiden voyage there, worse that I was driving alone and unfamiliar with the place) for work, got lost twice on her attempt to get home. So dinner started at 9pm instead and by that time, everybody's stomachs were rumbling in symphonies.

It was a good dinner overall with the talking and catching up, but sadly to say, HRC's food quality has dropped drastically and nobody enjoyed their food (which made late dinner sort of worse) not mentioning that the night cost us RM400. I think the only thing good about the night was that we all got to see Wee Liat again. You can be sure that we won't be visiting HRC anytime soon and would have rather spent that moolah at Chili's or TGIF.

See any resemblances between us?

Ian loves his steak!

My burger...which I didn't love. Or even like. Bleh.

Seasonal Colors

2008-12-01T22:07:00.002+08:00

Well, sort of.

I know I've been a bad, baaaad girl for not blogging enough lately. My days have been quite full, with my job demanding a lot of my energy for most of the day and after-job activities which drain whatever remaining energy I have left. By the time I come home, blogging is the last thing on my mind as I relish my bed, sweet bed.

But this is the month of Christmas and I thought I'd liven up this place a little by posting something colorful--be it M&M's.

Hopefully, I'll have something more interesting than food to blog about or to take pictures of. Maybe someone can suggest something! Or maybe I could pick your brain!

Sweet Jessica

2008-11-27T00:01:00.004+08:00

Jessica, you could possibly be the sweetest person I know!

Three of my whiteboard markers went missing today and by the end of the day, after searching in vain, they're still missing. I'm pissed but hey, I can always get replacements but this sweet sweeeet woman suddenly flutters by my desk and plops this note on my desk.

I WAS SOOOO TOUCHED!!!!!!!!!!!

I *heart* it!

It's scary what we choose to sacrifice

2008-11-18T22:43:00.004+08:00

Today, I scared myself.

I've always been one to put loved ones first; family, boyfriend. Whether it be a simple outing to a major decision, it was clear and simple. No need for second thoughts.

Then I got this job--my first job--which has been causing me to sacrifice time to be with subjects of matter. At first it was missing two dinners a week with the family. Shortly after, I was cutting down on quality time with Phil on two days.

Now, this job--this, highly unstable job, is giving me back my two missing dinners but taking away five days of substantial quality time with Phil.

And I'm accepting as of tomorrow.

It's a bittersweet thing.

I'm happy to be able to no longer work nights...but, how could I have said Yes, to lean towards agreeing to something which would take away more of what little I have with him? Do I have to sacrifice even more sleep five days a week? Would I sacrifice it?

Yes, I would.

Knowing eventually, it would take its toll on me. I'd grow old faster, die younger and eye bags so big I'd be mistaken for a panda.

But who am I? Sacrificing all these for what? Money? It's sad.

It's just a job!

Loved ones are loved ones.

I just hope I'll only need to keep on doing this for not that much longer.

I don't want to be forced to give up more and more.

Happy Birthday Jules!!

2008-11-16T03:35:00.003+08:00

Darren and I hope you had a blast during your celebratory dinner, ice cream and cake tonight! Oh, and of course I hope you like your presents!

Have a happy birthday, dear friend!

You should click here

Pizza, eat your Hut out!

2008-11-12T22:45:00.003+08:00

Look at the amount of cheese on that thing!

By far Puzzini's best pizza--their tuna pizza! I had like four slices in one sitting! :O

The cookies have invaded!!

2008-11-09T21:35:00.002+08:00

An army of 200+ strong cookies have invaded my home through the microwave and has taken over our minds!! Strategically entering through our mouths, it's only a matter of days before they set up camp in our hips!!

Save me!!!

Did I mention they're effing delicious? :(

Accidental Handiwork

2008-11-07T22:04:00.004+08:00

So, I was bored at work today. That is, after finishing all the marking I had to do and getting out of my I-still-feel-too-sick-to-be-working-today funk, I looked around (i.e my desk) for something to do. We have a mini mini play coming up next week and I wanted to kick up the excitement gears in my kids. Now, to those who know me much too well, I can't do anything productive with my hands...well, almost. ;)

Handiwork, handicraft, whichever it is though I assume both carry more or less the same definition, has never been my forte. Also, I have no patience for that kind of stuff and habitually shun it. I brought an empty tissue box as a makeshift jewelry box, an empty stapler box as a cigarette box and tissue as hankies. Yeah, I am that dull in the creative department.

Then boredom, as I said, kicked in. I hoped to find some sort of colored paper to make it look not like such an obvious tissue box but didn't find any. Ugly, white, boring foolscap paper had to do. When that was done, my box was a white fugly box. So, hoping to jazz it up a bit, I searched for some sort of glitter pen or at least a colored gel pen that I may have lying around. Nada. Had a fine tip blue whiteboard marker pen. Not exactly your preferred choice but it was good enough to draw stars on the box. It was a jewelry box, after all. Had to make it look sparkly-ish. And of course, I had to label it "JEWELS" as a personal in-joke of obviousness. This was the product of said handiwork attempt...

The so called treasures in the jewelry box. Notice my three abysmal police badges.

Once I was done with that, I must admit I was feeling rather proud of my handiwork achievement. I haven't done something like this in...well, many freaking years. So I thought of making something else my play needed but of which was missing; handcuffs. After many pathetic thoughts including one of stapling two long thin pieces of paper together as makeshift handcuffs, I noticed I had some paper cups left from the mini class party from the other day.

This, I'm particularly proud of...

You people in handicraft organizations, don't fret...I'm not planning to join your handicraft societies and all. This is one of those once-in-a-blue-moon sort of thing...despite it being much more fun than I would have thought it to be.

Bang 4 Buck

2008-11-06T13:18:00.003+08:00

Lasagna, Spaghetti Olio (I think), Chilled Salmon Pasta, Carbonara

I've fallen sick, yet again...mind you with more or less the same thing as before. I seem to fall sick quite often ever since I started working and it's no wonder too, with the minimal air circulation and having multiple (sick) kids cough into your face and all that. Sigh, I really must build up on my antibodies.

Still, I managed to have a last spontaneous dinner before I have to hold off for awhile. Su Lyn and I skipped to Italiannies where we tried their special 4 pastas for RM30 and although as you can see, their portions were quite tiny and only meant for two, the excessive talking helped put a little air in our tummies to not make us order more! Quite suitable for tiny eaters who want a variety of delicious pastas.

I recommend this to everyone who want Italian food and are on a budget.

Puddles, the camwhore dog

2008-11-03T00:22:00.003+08:00

How appropriate is it that we have a dog who shares a certain similarity with its owners!

All we need to do is point the camera at him, call out his name and he strikes up a pose for as long as it takes you to press that button.

Isn't he adorable here?

I confess

2008-11-01T23:11:00.002+08:00

I saw it twice and bought the soundtrack.

Now it's looping in my head.

I never grow up, apparently. :|

Nando Nogo

2008-11-01T03:30:00.004+08:00

Now Playing : "Everlong" - Foo Fighters

Ok, you know how much I love Nando's right? That I could eat their chicken all the time if my wallet and jeans size allowed. Heck, I probably would borrow money just so I could smack my lips at the tangy hotness of their garlic sauce.

Well that just sounded like porn. Never mind.

It's no secret (especially since I moan the fact all the time anyway) that the Malaysian service industry suck balls. I think I may have found the place where the creme de la creme of blur cases work--and it's unfortunately at my nearest Nando's.

*wails*

I went there to have a late-ish dinner with the family tonight. It was 9pm by the time we sat down and our stomachs were growling with hunger once we salivated over the menu while giving our orders.

The blur-case waiter kept returning to our table to reconfirm our orders, as if the reminder on the notepad he wrote our orders down on wasn't enough. Dei, what were you scribbling when you were taking our orders lah? Tic Tac Toe?

Nevermind. Still can tahan.

9:25pm. Wahliao, damn freaking hungry already. The manager suddenly pops by our table and said the cook or waiter or possibly both got our orders wrong. So we were asked to wait another 10 minutes. In a little while, our starters, Ian's and my plate arrived. You'd expect that the rest of the family's orders would soon emerge after ours did, right?

9:40pm. Halfway through my chicken only then did Mum and Fred's food arrive. As if the first mistake wasn't bad enough, they got Fred's order wrong. Wrong sauce. Good thing for his stomach and the Nando's staff, Fred tucked in anyway.

9:50pm. No sign of June's order. Unanimously agreeing they weren't out catching chickens to slaughter, we found out that they had forgotten hers. Grumbles of "bodoh" and cusses began to circulate our table. Miraculously, June still wanted her chicken! XD

Here's the biggest joke; once her food came, THEY GOT HER ORDER WRONG!!!!!!!!

Eh hello, the cook having an off day or what?

Never mind the fact that when we pointed out they got the order wrong, in two seconds flat the correct order was plopped onto our table. By then, we were all quite understandably pissed and in cahoots to eat as slowly as we can so the staff had no choice but to stay at work late. We were the last customers there...after all, with all the blur-cases messing up our entire dinner, should they dare open their mouths and remind us they were closing soon, almost surely they would suffer the wrath of a thousand arrows.

And of course, I still had to pay the service charge. Wait lah you, the moment voluntary

tipping becomes a practice in this country, mampus you.

That being said, I will never eat at Nando's in Atria Shopping Center ever again!!

Or at least until they change their blur staff.

Sugar

2008-10-28T23:36:00.002+08:00

Once upon a time, not quite so long ago, soda was my water. Then as you know, I embarked on a healthier eating lifestyle and cut out sugary drinks except for very special occasions. Last week was one of those special occasions, and I treated myself to a can of that sugary liquid.

Whoooaaa...!!

My heart started beating faster. My stomach bloated to rival a pregnant woman's. My pulse races and soon, I was knocked out. From a sugar rush or crash or whatever you call it. Throughout my blackout, I could feel my heartbeat not slow down.

At first, I was terrified.

Then, I suddenly realized it was a good thing. For me, my body to react like that to soda. That it's a good thing because it aids me keeping away from the unhealthy beverage. It's better that I react in such that I don't feel inclined to drink it on a more regular basis. Or even be tempted.

Because it was a horrible feeling. As if I was going to pop an artery and die right there and then.

In short, soda killlllz!

Happy Deepavali!

2008-10-27T16:44:00.002+08:00

Happy Deepavali, Darren and family!

Thank you for inviting us over to your home to wreck havoc on your youngest host! :D

Also, the food was awesome and believe me when I say I got my fill of muruku!

"Come eat my food...or I'll smash mutton curry in your mouth!"

Darren's homemade muruku which I absolutely die for!!

Jules and June satisfied with the yummy Indian food.

The well dressed host with his slightly off grin :D

I just love this picture so that's why it's up here :P

2008-10-26T04:03:00.003+08:00

The End of Birthday Celebrations

2008-10-26T03:34:00.006+08:00

It's been too long a while since I've had a really great birthday.

This year's is one to always remember...thanks to the people involved and the days spent celebrating it, I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend it (other than having Phil down here with us, of course).

Tonight, my family went for our long awaited annual birthday dinner, this year at some really fancy Japanese buffet restaurant in Eastin Hotel. This marks the end of birthday celebrations which began at 12am Thursday and what a way to bring it to an end with great food and great company.

My family and I having awesome Japanese food!

A big surprise!

My dad got me this camera as my birthday present, something quite unusual for him as he normally gives angpows for my birthdays.

Another big surprise!

My dad got my mum this really cool new phone, also something quite unusual for him as he normally gives her jewelry and angpows as well!

Sigh.

What a great birthday.

BEST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION EVER!!

2008-10-25T14:07:00.007+08:00

I wanna thank these few people for making it absolutely wonderful!

June

Jules

Darren

Fred

-->Click Here<--

Happy Birthday To Me!!

2008-10-23T01:27:00.005+08:00

Twenty-three!!

Woo hoo! It's my birthday today!!

It's been one I've been looking forward to a lot, even more than my 16th or 21st birthday as my 23rd birthday holds a lot of significance for me--or at least for this family because the number 23 holds a special place in our hearts.

I want to say thank you all soooo much for the birthday wishes I have been receiving and I'm touched you took the effort of sending them.

Also a special thank you to my family, most especially my sister June, for toiling over two birthday cakes for me and my mum's birthday! (I did mention we share the same birthdate, right?)

Here are a few pictures of our traditional midnight celebration :D

Our lovely cakes that June baked.

Can you guess which belongs to who?

One of the best cakes I've ever had!

I didn't want to cut into the beautiful cake...but eventually I caved.

Oooh, and colorful surprises behold inside!

Someone sent me this lovely birthday card...and forgot to sign it.

I have no idea who sent it O_o

Birthday cards from June and Mum!! Lovely!!

June's homemade birthday gift to me.

Inspired by our joke-cracking dad, of course. ;)

When You've Had a Bad Day...

2008-10-21T23:33:00.003+08:00

...don't pig out.

And I'm sorry I did. With that carton of chocolate milk...and that deliciously irresistable homemade macaroni and cheese...and the two dates I snuck in after that.

I haven't emotionally ate in a very long time so I suppose you can tell that today was just not my day. Why am I sugar(yum!)coating it?

My day sucked.

First, I woke up late. You can imagine all the scrambling around the house that followed.

Then, I got stuck in the most annoying traffic jam ever.

Halfway through my 9am class, I got my period and it was this close for it to show for all to see. My energy levels started to drain because of this.

Then I received a rejection after gathering whatever ounce of courage I had. Though not of anybody's fault, it was the way it was presented that bothered me. By close proximity, it was (unawarely) rubbed in. But I suppose hormones were just making me all the more sensitive.

Lunch. Still can't bring myself to subject my tastebuds to organic food despite having really looked forward to trying the organic food restaurant near my workplace. I settled for curry mee, totally forgetting about my sore throat.

Next class. Power levels dwindled by then. It happened to be a particularly exhausting class, despite all the planning I did for it beforehand. Can you imagine my energy going *zap!* *zap!* *zap!* ? Involved a lot of squatting, not something that goes well with cramps.

It was raining during dinnertime, although that didn't make the day worse as I had already gotten used to it raining everyday. It started out as a nice dinner between colleagues when a fourth one joined us, imho, totally ruining it for me as I was not fond of her. Or maybe just rather intimidated. Or both.

More bad news came. Not chosen...and I couldn't figure out why. Not that I'd ask. I am somewhat surprised at my reaction towards this because I haven't been looking forward to being picked nor having bothered about this event at all...but ever since my leave to go to Italy got rejected, I had started looking forward to it a little so it would take my mind off things. Plus, it looked interesting.

But I didn't get it and I am disappointed.

Last class of the day was particularly easy to handle thank goodness, but I was drained emotionally, physically and well, something else (if you can guess...). I wished I had given it my all as I normally did for this class as I have had trouble with this class in the past in giving and receiving respect on so many levels.

The kids had remembered my birthday and wished me happy birthday and brought a present.

But I was just so...zapped that I could barely force an enthusiastic smile for them. Plus, my throat was acting up from the curry I foolishly ate.

I guess my hormones is doing a lot of the talking for this post. I know I'd get over it and there's always another chance next year...I don't think I've gone so far off the cliff of hope.

I know I've got paranoid issues. I know I've got self-confidence issues. I know I'm quite retarded at doing anything socially.

But things are starting to become how they've always been...in school and in uni.

I'm being overlooked.

The Brilliant Works of M.S Escher

2008-10-16T22:52:00.002+08:00

What did you spot first?

It's said that whichever picture you notice first tells how your mind works. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find exactly what that means. I assume that if you saw the devils first means you're (technically) evil and if you saw angels first, you're (technically) pure. I had trouble spotting the angels until my mum had to point it out to me. *sniff*

Angels or Devils, as the picture above is called, is one of the the brilliant works of mathematician artist M.C Escher whom I highly recommend you check out

here and here.

Looking Back : One Heck of a Year

2008-10-13T00:00:00.008+08:00

Now Playing : "Everlong" - Foo Fighters

This post took a year in the making.

Today marks a year I've been working at improving my life. A year ago today, I started on the gargantuan task of ridding myself of what has bothered me most my whole life; my weight; for all the reasons stated here.

...And now, with an excited yet wary heart, I finally ease my tight grip to share some from my personal pictorial weight-loss diary which consists what I've always been terrified of showing people; pictures of my fat self. Pictures of my fat, ugly self. Pictures that I've never ever shown even Phil for unfounded fear of him being slightly appalled (even though he long established that would never happen). Pictures of which I can't stand to look at for very long without being totally disgusted with myself for having been that way. Pictures that I force myself to look at whenever I get discouraged from toiling on. These pictures have been the source of my inspiration, my constant reminder of what I was and what I should not allow myself to be any longer. These pictures are also minute in number, as shunning the blinding light was second nature.

The pictures below were taken progressively (in order) over a period of a year, nearly all pictures being of a different month. They say, never ask a woman her age and weight. I'll be turning 23 in eleven days, and I don't give a crap about it. Without further adieu...

Please don't wrinkle your faces in horror :(

September 2007. 178lbs.

My cousins and I.

A turning point in my life which spearheaded me into my weight loss in the following month.

October 2007. 178lbs.

The last birthday I would ever (want to) spend obese.

Toy pig is an coincidental yet ironic symbolization.

December 2007. 160lbs.

Christmas party at home w/ friends.

Was personally shocked and appalled by my whale-ish physique here.

February 2008. 145lbs.

Chinese New Year.

Was happy I could get new clothes that fit and no longer needed (or wanted) to hide behind black. Still low in style, however.

February 2008.

At the Switchfoot concert.

Did not rush to press the camera's delete button in a long time.

April 2008. 130lbs.

Uni mates luncheon at Italiannies.

Was extremely happy to have a whole bunch of pictures where I was really pleased with how I looked. Was a total camwhore.

Unknown month.

With cousin Kelz at the movies.

Hated my rotund midsection protruding out in this shirt unlike as previously thought. It promptly went into temporary storage.

Still in storage, infact.

April 2008.

At university on our last day.

Hate. That. Chubby. Arm.

June 2008. 127.5lbs.

At parents' 25 Yr Anniversary.

Wardrobe growing more colorful. Yellow may have been too ambitious, however.

Can still see big stomach from underneath.

August 2008. 120lbs.

At my graduation.

Was pretty pleased with myself despite falling 10 pounds short of original goal.

August 2008.

Florida trip.

Weight fluctuated like a see-saw, went up to 128lbs while there from too much good food. Thank god it didn't show...except in tummy :(

October 2008. 119.5lbs.

Now.

Weight hasn't budged for two months.

Fortunately, still get to buy new additions to growing wardrobe.

Still. Hate. That. Arm.

Last night.

Pigged out the whole day. >_<

Pretty darn happy with this picture (only because arm hides...)

Finally wearing a white top, the color used to be most forbidden.

It's not over.

I still have 10 more pounds to go. Unfortunately, it's not actually going anywhere. I'm stuck. The prospect of losing three pounds by my birthday seems unattainable. I wonder if I can get it to bloody move by the time Christmas swings by.

And please, don't say I don't need to lose anymore.

Stay tuned

2008-10-12T02:24:00.004+08:00

I'm in the middle of constructing a personal milestone post.

Stay tuned.

Hoping

2008-10-09T23:39:00.002+08:00

I hope I get it...

I want it really, really badly.

*prays*

EDIT : I got waaaaay too many calls and texts from people asking if I'm pregnant after reading this post. HELLLOOOOO! Can't a person put up a picture of babies without talking about pregnancy? Still, thanks for the concern (or maybe you guys were just being plain busybody :P) but really, why the heck would I be hoping to be pregnant?! XD

...I wouldn't be. At least, not for a very, very, very looong time.

And when I do, of course lah you'll get the news ;)

Notice an increase of Memes of late? :P

2008-10-06T21:03:00.002+08:00

Yep. Got tagged again.

Chiquitita tagged me to fish out an old picture that was taken preferably while unaware. Hah, fish out need not for I have a couple of them right here on my laptop heeheehee! OK, not like I was totally expecting a Meme such as this, but still.

It's a scan of an oooold photograph, there's no need to point out that I have a large fugly scar across my face (which I do not!). This was taken quite possibly before I was one, and though I may seem totally aware (and posing for) of the camera, I am not because this was taken in my parents' very first home and since I have no memory of living in that place, I can safely argue that I didn't know what a camera was and therefore have no recollection of that...blinding...light...

Whadyathink? Me cute baby? ;)

Doggy Party!

2008-10-04T00:16:00.002+08:00

Puddles had his very first doggy party today! Well, it was more of a doggy mingle when two doggy enthusiasts popped by with their two Shih Tzus, Baby and Sweet.

Puddles has no idea what surprises are in store for him today!

Playmates!

"...and this is where I sleep..."

TRRRREEAATS!!!!

You have no idea how difficult it is to get a nice shot of all three dogs!

The mommies and their doggies!

Roooooma!

2008-10-02T00:48:00.004+08:00

Trevi Fountain, Rome

**Anik Messier**

It's only been two months since my trip to Florida and I'm already thinking--admittedly, somewhat obsessively--about my next one. You know, the journey there (have I mentioned I love being on planes?) and all the new experiences I'll have.

In short, I can't wait to spend Christmas in Rome, Italy!!

It's still a looong way ahead, no need to remind me of that tiny detail but what makes this trip exciting and different from Florida is that I'm looking forward to being in a place where I'm out of my element--language.

Language has never been an issue with all my previous overseas trips I've ever taken, even when I went to Hong Kong because heck, I know I could depend on my parents to speak the lingo. All my talking basically done for me :P

I've read that in more popular touristy areas in Italy such as Rome and Venice, the people speak English but I wonder if I might be forced to speak some Italian (hah! as if I could!)... after all, I won't have my parents to help me out and although Phil's been stationed in Italy for the last er, well long enough! he hasn't learned a lick of Italian so he'll be no use at all *wink*

If some of you remember, I took an Italian 101 class while I was still in university. I really, really wish I had paid attention in class because I can't remember 99% of what I learned! If I knew I was *ever* going to visit Europe, much less Italy, I would have at least remembered some basic phrases and numbers hahah! I think I shall dig around in my room and hope I kept my Italian notes and quickly brush up on a phrase or two ;)

I've always heard of Rome being a beautiful city but never really bothered about it. So, being bored I Flickr'd the city and found so many wonderful pictures of Rome and being fascinated by photography, they were even more so!

Check it out here.

October Resolutions

2008-10-01T13:37:00.003+08:00

Late August, my mum and I had made a bet with each other--and on my part, I had to lose the last 10 pounds of well, me, by our birthday.

But that was in August.

And I haven't exactly been eating as I should be since making that bet. O_o

I haven't gained anything. But I also haven't lost anything. I've been ridiculously stuck at the same number that I'm sick of seeing for over a month! My fingers and forearms have gotten slimmer, but that doesn't reflect on the scale *sniff* .

So since it's now October 1st, I shall make a tiny (and hopefully attainable) resolution to lose 3 pounds by the time October 23rd comes around. I'm going to reapply my "weekend-only" treats again because I've been a baaad girl :(

So, friends (namely you, you and you) whenever you feel like calling moi out to a fab dinner, can wait until the weekend ah? :P

Look, No Touch

2008-09-30T16:13:00.004+08:00

Yes, I know.

It's not even October yet and I've already gotten a birthday present for my mother. At the moment, it's on display on the dining table and will be until the 23rd. She'll have to look at it each and every time she wants to go to the kitchen--and come out of it. I wonder if she's tempted to pry the sides open...hmm! Oh well, could be fun watching her resist for almost a month! Heehee!

The truth about me and buying presents is that I love to do it. Birthdays, Christmas or just-for-fun, I try to find excuses to buy the people I love and/or care for things whenever I see something that makes me think of them. I normally think about what I'm going to get someone a birthday/Christmas present at least a few months ahead and always set out to buy it one month in advance.

Except...

...when I have no idea what to get! :P

Velkommen!

2008-09-30T01:21:00.009+08:00

I got word that my godparents, Linda and Ole had requested my blog address from my dad. I haven't met them since I was 8 years old so here's a BIG shout out to you both! I hoped you have learned more about us while my dad was in Denmark and wished I could have come along to visit! Hopefully, your visit to my blog will bring you more up to speed with what's been happening in our lives (OKOK, mine mostly since this blog is central to it :P).

To make things easier, here's a list of posts containing lots of pictures (so you don't have to wade through tons of posts to get to the juicy bits!)

Mooncake Festival '08

My grandma's birthday (just. look. at. the. colorful. cake.)

My holiday in Florida '08 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

My graduation '08

A random pictorial post with pics of family + the bf

Chinese New Year '08

Puddles

...meh...the list is shorter than I expected.

Enjoy!

Too freaking funny

2008-09-29T02:47:00.001+08:00

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2253060371&ref=mf

So seriously freaking hilarious you'll thank me for sharing this link! XD