Do You Read Me?

The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer

2012-01-15T20:39:00.000+08:00

I really want to like this book even before I read it. I can anticipate myself making a connection to at least one out of the four female protagonists or even to all four. After all, I am inspire to be a housewife one fine day. Yup, you read me right.

The book is about 4 women who leave their careers to embrace motherhood and before you knew it 10 years had lapsed. What was meant to be temporary dragged to a decade ...

It's like the snooze in an alarm clock. No matter how many times, the alarm screams at us, we can always find time for 5 min more (or in my case 9 min more) of sleep. I'm not surprise that motherhood and marriage can make a decade of time flew off just like that.

Alas, it didn't happened. I mean the connection, that I hoped for between the characters and me.

I like the idea of the story but it didn't engage me. I found the story to be too narrative and sometimes too real for me to enjoy. And at the end I struggled to finish the book. But thanks to a short holiday to the island of Tioman where I purposely took only this book with me so I can finish it. Limited access to internet on the island helps too.

ps/finished reading the book on June 9, 2011

Scent of a Woman - Korean Drama

2012-01-08T21:16:00.001+08:00

After Secret Garden and subsequently World's Within mainly due to Hyun Bin the actor, I don't have much options of any interesting drama to watch. But it was better that way bcos I'm easily influenced.
Anyways, I found about this drama and was hooked on it. Storyline is not out of the ordinary. Its pretty straight forward or rather common but I guess that why it works. This time the writer stick to the original sappy story. Rich, about to be engage (to a gorgeous, mean girl) guy fell for an ordinary girl who happened to be his ex-employee and he doesn't know that she has only 5 months to live. And how their path crossed is because she has a bucket list to fulfill. The drama is called Scent of a Woman because it followed the Hollywood movie with the same title whereby there was a tango scene by Al Pacino. And of cos our terminally sick girl wants to learn to dance the sexy dance of tango as one of her bucket list.

What can I say, I'm a sucker for all this melodramatic, romantic, love story. So since I can't wait for the episodes to be shown on tv plus I usually don't get the tv remote at the said time so I have to turn to the internet. Bless the www.

The two main actors came down to KL to promote the drama recently which was how I got to know about it. The famous OST for the drama is You Are So Beautiful sang by Kim Junsu from the band TVXQ who also made a cameo in this drama but I prefer this track. I just learned that the singer is Kim Dong Wook and it is aptly titled Bucket List.

Until the next drama.

A Thousand Years by Christina Perry

2012-01-01T14:56:00.001+08:00

Happy 2012 people!!

Hope you enjoyed your new year eve. I didn't do anything special but family and I had supper at 1am at our favorite 'mamak stall'. So today is a late new year for the whole household.

Opening the blog for the first day of 2012 is this haunting tune. I have yet to watch Breaking Dawn the 4th sequel to the Twilight series. I'm gonna get the DVD. Soon I hope.

So here's wishing 2012 to be the best year yet for everybody. Enjoy the song.

The blog that use to be known as

2011-12-27T00:33:00.003+08:00

Confession of a thirty something.
Hah, I wish! Last I checked I was no longer thirty-something in August this year ^_^
So the change of the blog title is inevitable. And since I'm changing the title, why not change the whole layout right? So here I am after more than 2 hours trying to figure out Blogger's new dashboard layout and how do I make these changes, so pls, pls, bear with me if you encounter a half cook blog here. I'm doing my best. So here's hoping you stick with me and I see you around. Soon. I hope.
PS/ apparently you can choose how you want to view my blog from the drop down menu (on the left). So the choice is in your finger or mouse.

From Russia xoxo

2011-12-26T17:12:00.000+08:00

Okay I'm still in the getting use to mode of using my Mac, so pls excuse me if the arrangement of the photos are somehow all over the place. Maybe it will stay this way for all the entries to come. Its hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

Anyways, hubby went to Moscow and St. Petersburg for yet another company's incentive trip last October (and yes I was green with envy) but I got all these magnets. My favorite will have to be the St. Basel Red Square.

I also 'forced' hubby to make sure to get me the Matryoshka dolls. Aren't they cute especially the babies ^_^

So the magnets are now totaling 123 and counting ...

Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

2011-12-11T10:17:00.000+08:00

Okay so it's been a while since I update my readings. Excuses to that can be several blog entries so I safe you the agony and proceed to this book.
At this point I'm still unsure on how to upload the photo of the book from my iPhoto into this new spanking MacBook Air of mine but I hope I'll figure it out soon so I can paste the book pic here.

But first thing first before I'm bogged down by other things in real life, my Apr-May reading. Can you believe it that I'm only updating this now? I can't either. Let me see, where's my note...

Okay I have several David Mitchell's books. This is my first attempt to read him. It's a combination of several short stories where one or two characters from each story will somehow interlink or with the other story very briefly. Sometimes you have to really pay attention to your reading in order to notice that.

Chapter Tokyo
pp44 Then one of them asked why Japanese kids try to ape American kids? The clothes, the rap music, the skateboards, the hair. I wanted to say it's not America they're aping, it's the Japan of their parents that they're rejecting. It's not American culture exploiting us. It's us exploiting them.
Hmm, thought provoking.

Conversation between two friends pp49
Koji: Do you believe in love at first sight?
Satoru: I believe in lust at first sight.
Koji: Seriously
Satoru: Well, love has to be based on knowledge, hasn't it? You have to know someone intimately to be able to love them. So love at fist sight is a contradiction in terms. Unless in that first sight there's some sort of mystical gigabyte downloading of information from one mind into the other. That doesn't sound too likely does it?
Are you smiling yet?

Chapter Hong Kong
It's about a corrupt financial lawyer. I don't know what to make of it. Don't quite like it but not totally disliking it either.

Chapter Holy Mountain
p146 I think my father was Emperor Chi seen shit. Finding virtue in him was harder than finding a needle in the Yangtze river. He never spoke a word of kindness or thanks to me and he sold my chastity for two tea bowls. But, he was my father and the souls of the ancestors are the responsibility of the descendants.

An old woman who lives at the foot of a holy mountain all her life made her pilgrimage to the summit of holy mountain only to find - it was not holy anymore. This is a tragic story but it has a justified ending.

Chapter Mongolia
This is my favorite chapter thus far. One word, magical.

Chapter Petersburg
This one took me longer than expected. But the last 10 pages were fast but story was not to my liking.

Chapter London
pp271 Question: Why do you exist? Answer: Rugged lust and ruptured rubber?
LOL
pp285 I don't believe in an afterlife. I consider the idea of God to be a childish prank and worst, a sick joke probably pulled by the devil. And oh yes, you can have one without the other ...
London is about a guy who has to convince himself that he can make a commitment to marry the mother of his child. I think ...

Chapter Clear Island
Scientist with a conscience, a fugitive, a woman - a page turner for me. My favorite chapter thus taking over the previously liking above.

Chapter Night Train
This one completely baffled my mind. I couldn't phantom who is whom etc. Confused BUT the story is intriguing and clever for me to keep ploughing through. To sum up, a page turner with clever dialogues and complicated plot.

Chapter Underground
Epilogue of Okinawa. The closure of the first chapter.

So I finished the book, more than a month later. I think its an acquired taste, to read Mitchell that is. I don't really enjoyed my first attempt. But I can't strike it off entirely bcos com'on people this is THE David Mitchell we talking about and not to mention that I have 3 other titles that belongs to him which I bought and have yet to read!!! Don't ask how come? All I can say, not all recommendations out there works for you. But read you must of anything you fancy.

Note: at this moment I have yet to figure out how to download the book's pic so I may have to post this without the book cover.

Day job

2011-11-07T10:38:00.000+08:00

I blame my work. The one thing that never fail to wake me up unwillingly everyday except for weekends. The thing that pays all my bills. The one that allows me to taste all the luxury things that I sometimes splurge on. The one that makes me think is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? The thing that had me cried every time a new year dawns in because I always felt that I haven't done good enough to write it in my achievement column. Everyday I wish I'm doing something else and I don't know what that something else is. Until then, I'll be here stuck to do what everybody thinks I'm very good at except myself, my day job.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

2011-06-27T18:04:00.001+08:00

After 86 pages or so, I don't know why but I kept comparing the book with everything from Dan Brown. Maybe bcos I desperately need it to be as fast pace as any of DB's book. So far it hasn't been. Is it bcos of the lengthy and unfamiliar Scandinavian names of people and places? I struggled to come to terms with the difficult pronunciation and to remember the characters/protagonist's names. But I'm getting there (note to myself)

P117 or so
There were many examples related to real live incidents but bcos it happened in Scandinavia scenes so again I'm not too familiar or even knew about it (even though there were high profile cases in the financial journalism ~ what's happening to me?) so I just assume these were fictional which could have otherwise be plus points or even spark an interest ( I'm losing it unless something happen - fast).

p209 'She looked like an ageing vampire ~ still strikingly beautiful but as venomous as a snake' ~ Isabella raised her cane and pressed the handle against Mikael's chest. To me Isabella Vanger sounds like 'Cruella' from 101 Dalmations. I even pictured her as such.

p214 'Rebecka case' - the killer tied her up and stuck her head into the smouldering embers of a fire place, when she was still alive - OMG. I had to stop reading.

The above was the start of many crimes written in this book. Many other were quite unimaginable and horrendous crimes especially the sexual abuses.

p346 Mikael Blomkvist discovered the mystery behind the names and number in Harriet's diary ~ I knew it!! Bcos that were my guesses too. But I couldn't be sure bcos I don't read the bible, but I suspect as much.

p360 t-shirt slogan : Armageddon was yesterday - today we have a serious problem. LOL

p366 Blomkvist meets Salander. FINALLY. Been waiting for this for like forever. Plot is getting better and there was no stopping for me after that.

Conclusion: It was a page turner but only after more than 300 pages. Thankfully my patience was rewarded. Not many readers can withstand such agony. This is a dark thriller book which I must say is not my favourite genre.

Would I continue reading Larsson's book 2 & 3? Yes ... but not so soon. Maybe I should watch the movie first as to gain more interest on the sequel book.

Warning: spoiler ahead

I did suspect Martin (Harriet's brother). Don't you just love it when you are right?

Fridge magnets chronicle

2011-06-25T20:02:00.000+08:00

Few months back, hubby went to Vietnam. He bought this cute wedding couple fridge magnet.

Earlier, his colleague went to Uzberkistan and got us the above magnet and she later went to Korea and got us this beautiful Hanbok (Korea's traditional dress) magnet.

In the recent school holiday, we took the kids to Tioman Island. Here's one I got from there.

That's a total of 117 to-date.

The September of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer

2011-05-18T00:02:00.000+08:00

I'm going to pretend as if I have been updating my blog all this while and brush off the fact that it has not been updated for the past 4 weeks. Truth be told, I have no valid reason, other than I'm too lazy to on my aged notebook and wait for it to come alive, without falling asleep first.

I read this book somewhere in mid January (yeah, how time flies!) The note in the book stated that I bought it somewhere in 2008. Couldnt believe it took me almost 2 year plus to finally read it.

The story reminds me of Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, but a milder version. What captivated me
was how it was beautifully written, even though subject takes place in a war.

p68 prisoner's decapitated head paraded on the streets on a pike is similarised to kebab on a skewer (okay I admit this not beautiful but gory and unfortunately aptly compared)

p77 notion of death is like a wallpaper ~ present but rarely seen

It is about how the use-to-be affluent people under the Shah's ruling and the common ones survived ~ post Shah of Iran. It tells of how the relationship between master and servant, employer and employee, children between private and public schools and friendship ~
changed during pre and post war.

p103 In 1971, whilst placing 2 wreaths of flowers on the tomb of Cyrus, the Shah solemly recited 'Cyrus, rest in peace for we are well awake'. In the minute of silence that followed his speech, the desert wind blew stronger, swirling the yellow dust in the air etc. Question: Had Cyrus soul responded to the Shah? Spooky.

p227 Pain, he has come to realize is the domain of the elders. Their suffering always more noble and more justified than that of a boy like him, who is expected to find thrills in his new environment and to lock his short past in the cellar, only to retrieve it, years later like a bottle of wine and share it in brief sips with the dinner guests.

This is an engaging story from a debut attempt. I enjoyed it.

Belieber or not

2011-04-18T22:41:00.001+08:00

Image via WikipediaMy 13 year old son Danish is obsessed with Justin Bieber. Yes you name it - the songs, videos, mags, caps, Supra sneakers, the color purple and of cos the hair (before Bieber cuts off his famous locks). We even celebrated his birthday last year with JB's theme.

We've decided that my son will not be going to JB's World Tour Concert here in KL bcos
1) its on a school night
2) none of his (male) friends are going
3) if he were to go; I have to chaperon him
4) that will double the already high price tickets
5) hubby will be outstation and cannot send him to the venue
6) I dont know how to get to the venue on my own (typical me)
7) I have to take half day leave from work
8) etc. etc

I can think of many, many other valid reasons on why he can't go. So to cut the story short - to compensate we brought him to watch the movie instead. The whole family went to watch Justin Bieber Never Say Never (the movie) in 3D no less. Even grandma (my mother) came along. In less than 2 hours when the movie ended, all of us (except my youngest son who fell asleep three quarter of the movie) were converted to 'Belieber'. I cant believe it, we were so fascinated by his natural talent, preseverance and determination. We were discussing about him all the way till we reached home. Even though Danish didnt say it out loud but from his look I know he's sort off saying ~ I told you so ~ to us the grown ups. LOL

I'm not sure what possesed me and hubby but as a result of that I've just confirmed two online tickets for Danish and his chaperone ~ me to watch JB My World Tour Concert in Malaysia this coming Apr 21.

Whatever happens to all the eight reasons above? I'll worry about that soon ... very soon.

I found the video below on a recent flash mobs by kids to celebrate the Bieber Fever (yup I've even learnt their lingo) here in KL. Enjoy!!

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

2011-04-01T22:36:00.007+08:00

I almost reluctant to write anything about this book. Not bcos I don't like but quite the contrary actually. I love it so much! I'm afraid my words will do injustice to it. p3 'cemetery of forgotten books' I dont know why but those mere words stole my heart away and I'm completely smitten by the book. And I only just started. Cemetery of forgotten books is a place of mystery, a sanctuary. Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down it's pages, it's spirit grows and strengthens. How cool is that? Just by reading the introductory I can feel it in my bones that I've just hit the jackpot. It literally gave me goosebumps!! Daniel is entrusted with a book which became his destiny in finding out who and what happen to the said book missing author Julian Carax. p9 A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept p233 Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker or a lottery vendor, it's three most common personification. But what destiny does not do is home visits. You have to go for it yourself. I had many suspicions or theories as the story unfold. So alert - spoilers ahead: 1. Somewhere along the pages, I suspected Julian's mother got to do with something or everything 2. The Devil is Carax or at least Carax is alive 3. Julian is related to Daniel? p76 Presents are made for the pleasure of the one who gives them, not the merits of those who receive them. I can't brag enough ~ I enjoyed The Shadow of the Wind so much. Thank you Zafon.

Don't Go Home by GD & Top (Big Bang)

2011-03-20T00:17:00.000+08:00

The group Big Bang has always been one of my favourite group from South Korea. My favourite band member is G-Dragon. However this video is not from the group per se but rather 2 of the group members G-Dragon and TOP from their mini album project outside the original group. Seung ri another group member also released a mini album on his own. In addition, the group Big Bang itself has recently released a new single. Hopefully I'll be able to post their videos in other entry.

Both GD and Top are famous with their quirky sense of style and hairstyle or rather colors. But it is not so obvious in this video. Anyways their music/songs are often cute, with catchy tunes and naughty lyrics which are typically them. Enjoy.

A Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham

2011-03-18T23:25:00.005+08:00

Read this book somewhere mid Dec last year. I'm not really good in updating the books that I have read am I?? Sigh. Not something I'm proud of.

The two main protagonists in this book were Jonathan and Bobby. Jonathan, lost his younger sister at birth when he was five and Bobby, lost his 16 year old brother when he was nine. Two different lives and on page 41 they finally met. I dont like the way Jonathan treated his mother when he was a teenager. He can get pretty self centred. Whilst for Bobby, honestly I dont quite understand him. I thought he suppose to be quiet, cool and dangerous type of guy. He turned out to be quiet but not the other 2 traits.

The two boys childhood pretty much shaped up their future lives. This is not my usual type of book. Cant really say I like it but I was engrossed by it. I really want to know what happen to these two characters whom were infatuated with each other originally but somehow along the line there is a girl involved and later a baby and another male lover who has Aids. The ending was not what I expected. I remembered feeling like aahh.. there is no closure. It was like one of those ... life goes on thingy, take it or leave it.

The only good thing that when I closed the final page, I finally can enjoy my dinner which was a burger at this ancient A&W outlet in PJ, which surprising still exist. The end.

Genie by SNSD / Girls' Generation

2011-03-05T19:14:00.012+08:00

The next 'it' export of Korea apart from brands like LG, Samsung, Kia would probably be SNSD or also known as Girls Generation. The 9 members (only in korea where you get girl or boy band members exceed the typical 3-5 members in a band) girl group is making wave with their long legged trademarks. Their sold out concert in Bangkok saw 70% of audiences were guys. No surprises there ^_^

Other famous songs from SNSD are Run Devil Run, Oh!, Gee and this one which is my favourite Genie. I hope the video doesn't halt too much for you. If yes, just let it run and replay it again. Enjoy.

The Outcast by Sadie Jones

2011-02-27T00:03:00.007+08:00

'Gilbert, am I all right, do you think? You're lovely.
All right for him? All right for anybody'

That's the conversation between Lewis's future stepmother and his father~ Gilbert. For a while I thought everything will be going well for this troubled young boy. But I was wrong.

From a very young age, Lewis was confused by his parents relationship and his mom's alcoholic daze behaviour. Nevertheless they are his parents and he loves them. Until tragedy strikes and his luck and life seems to spiral down from there. As a young man, he's confused. People misunderstood him, he can't even understand himself which lead him into doing harmful things to his surroundings and himself.

p331 Lewis walks towards the Carmichael's house ... (I can't read anymore. Can't stand the suspense of what Dicky ~ Tamsin's abusive and arrogant father would do to Lewis). Dont know how many times I closed the book with my heart beating fast fearing for Lewis. A few beats went by before I felt brave enough to look at the pages again and read on.

And then there is Kit (Tamsin's younger, plain-jane looking sister). Whom had a secret crush on the much older Lewis. Both Kit and Lewis shared a same bond which neither of them knew at that time. They were both considered difficult and different from the other 'normal' family members. They were both an 'outcast' so to speak.

p433 I can feel myself smirking when Kit said to her mom `but when I'm gone, don't you think it will be your turn again, Mother?'
Domestic violence will never stop or go away by itself, if you keep quiet about it.

There is no justice at the end of this story, well not the kind that I'm looking for. But at least, I believe there is peace in Lewis's very turmoil mind.

p440 'Look Lewis, Kit said holding her arms out wide 'We're saved!'

Worlds Within Korean Drama

2011-02-19T11:35:00.008+08:00

Okay I admit, watched this because of my new interest in the leading actor Hyun Bin who was also in the previous drama which I recently watched Secret Garden. Didnt recognise him in My Lovely Samsoon (which I only see half way).

However, watching the drama reminds me too much of work because it's about people behind the scene. People who makes drama -EP, directors, crews etc. Though I don't do dramas but it's comforting (in a way) to see that TV stations 'atmosphere' are about the same wherever you are. Stressful.
I was reading a comment in one of the episode where someone was asking on the scene where a tape had to be deliver too close to the TX time, PA was rushing back almost got hit by a car, threw the tape at post production, director and editor furiously editing and barely made it into transmission. Don't know in drama production but in tv especially in reality tv shows, that's normal. So if you have a heart problem stay far, far away from this industry. If you don't have such condition, there's a high chance you might develop one.

I read somewhere that this drama didnt get the high ratings that they hope for. Maybe because it was too much of a reality compare to the cinderella fantasy of Secret Garden but I still like it. Hyun Bin and leading lady Song Hye-Kyo on camera chemistry was perfect. So I guess that's why they continue it off set ^_^

Danish's 12th Birthday Bash (part 2)

2011-02-16T23:19:00.000+08:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is the second part of my eldest son Danish's birthday party. At the end the whole 'chaotic' episodes were worth it when he exclaimed he thinks and his friends also think it was the best birthday they have attended so far. Aww... I should have made this into a profession ^_^

Danial my youngest son is asking when will be his turn? Wait for another 3 years if I'm still up to it.

Enjoy this.

Aloha

2011-02-14T23:43:00.001+08:00

Hadi our soon to be latest addition to the family (Yameen's fiance) bought magnets for all his soon to be aunties when he went for a course to Hawaii. Can you imagine? Having a course/training there? I love this cheery, yellow magnet ... so there's my approval stamp, not that he needs it. But the boy is learning fast :)
So this makes 113 so far.

Danish 12th Birthday Bash

2011-02-13T22:49:00.007+08:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This was quite sometime ago, but I only managed to edit the photos now. Danish is a big fan of Justin Bierber so the birthday theme was as such. I had a crash course on everything JB from who is his latest duet partner to which part of his body was injured when he last fell in order for me to prepare JB's trivia during the party.
Hubby is responsible for all JB's songs & videos to play during the party beg/borrow/download. Things parents do for their kids.

This is part one. Enjoy.

Secret Garden (Korean drama)

2011-01-30T12:38:00.011+08:00

Two days ago, I went to office feeling like I've been hit by a 10 tonne trailer the night before.

It's been quite some time since I watch a Korean drama that moved me and when I found this I couldn't catch the tv transmission time so I finally resolved to the ever accommodating www and that's when the trouble started. For 3 nights in a row, my bedtime is getting one hour later than the night before and the last 6 eps had me going over the board. I could have wait until the weekend but no I didn't. Keep telling myself, just one more eps over and over again until it was 4am and the damage has been done!
Needless to say I survived Friday at the office but not without difficulty. I was a walking zombie. And I have no one to blame but myself.

Okay back to the drama, I was completely smitten by the main character Kim Joo Won played by Hyun Bin. As a result, I'm now watching an old drama starring him too. Yes, this time I'll limit myself to 2 eps in a day. Pray: 'God, pls grace me the willpower to stop'. Amen.

The script included some lines from Little Mermaid tale:
the little mermaid's hand holding the knife was shaking..
but next, she tossed away the knife into the waves..
the little mermaid's sight of the prince faded..
and she threw her body into the ocean
and the little mermaid turns into bubble and disappeared..

Funny thing is I thought the book looked so much like Alice In Wonderland. LOL Maybe I was wrong.

While I'm recovering from the drama aftermath, this is one of the sound track from it which I adore. It has two version and this is the female one. Enjoy people and good luck to me ^_^

Second Honeymoon by Joanna Trollope

2011-01-19T23:13:00.002+08:00

It's hard to leave your safety cocoon but coming back after you have left the very house that you've grown up in proves even harder in this book.

The title is kinda soapy. Misleading in a way.

This novel is about what happen to parents (mothers particularly) when their kids grew up and leave the house. Kids looking forward to it but found life is not always rosy and how coming back to the very place you grew up in, somehow doesnt give you the same comfort or peace you craving for. How life was so much simpler then.

Rosa the second child lose her job
p112 Losing a job through retrench(even if you hate the job), when you are faced with rejection, in whatever situation and however deserved or undeserved, it wasnt just your confidence that suffered, it was your faith in the future, your ability to see that any effort you might make could be a tiny investment in what would happen to you there after; how pointless daily life seems when you cant see where you're going

When Ben the youngest child has to sleep on his parent's sofa
p355 ... the strangeness of the sofa didnt belong to the actual sofa: it belonged to the situation

My favourite
p149 It's like presents - the way people give you what they want to give you. It's a sort of conditional generosity

It was an okay read for me. It wasnt what I expected from the cover title.

p166 'You've become responsible forever, for what you have tamed'. Hmm... something to think about.

Remember Me

2011-01-16T10:12:00.006+08:00

It was the evening of hubby's 40th birthday. We had birthday lunch earlier at Madam Kwan's in KLCC. Dinner was a function hosted by hubby's company where I had too much caffein hence the sleepless condition and I took out this VCD. Cried buckets. I tend to agree with the quotes from the movie. Would like to make it my mantra, if possible.

Whatever you do in life will be
insignificant
but it is very
important that you do it
because

You can't know

You can't ever really know the
meaning of your life

And you don't need to
Just know that your life has a meaning

Every life has a meaning
whether it lasts one hundred years or
one hundred seconds

Every life and every death
changes the world in its own way

Ghandi knew this.

He knew his life would mean something to someone,somewhere, somehow.
And he knew with as much certainty that hecould never know that meaning

He understood that enjoying life
should be of much greater concern
then understanding it.

And so do I.

You can't know

So don't take it for granted
But don't take it too seriously

Don't postpone what you want
Don't leave anything misunderstood
Make sure the people you care about know
Make sure they know how you really feel

Because just like that

IT COULD END

Some things will never change

2011-01-07T21:50:00.004+08:00

By posting this pic, I'm showing off and owning to my hard to kick off obssesion of buying books even though I still have many unread titles in my possession.

My family was on our return trip from our hometown where I managed to persuade hubby to make a stop (a detour is more like it) to my favourite bookstore which I can never seem to get the route. BookAccess (the name of the store) is having it's Christmas sale and tell me who in their right mind can just ignore all these great and affordable books?

Well, maybe someone who already has about 24 (yet to read) books lol ... but that someone is not me :D

And now my list has added up to 28 yet to be read books that I own. Yup this is a disease. One that make you lose all sense of reasoning, what-so-ever. Hmm ... I thought only shoes and handbags can do that to you.

Through the Fire by Chaka Khan

2011-01-01T18:13:00.004+08:00

Today is the first day of 2011. It started with Yasmin and Hadi engagement ceremony. It was sweet and simple and everybody had a good time, not to mention good food. Yasmin is hubby's eldest niece.

To the new engaged couple Yasmin & Hadi 'congratulation' and may this day be a start to many, many happy and meaningful occassions.

This is a beautiful song by Chaka Khan, I think it makes a good couple song too. *hint* I'm dedicating it to everyone.

Happy 2011.

Eat, Pray, Love

2010-12-21T17:22:00.004+08:00

The problem of watching such movie is the aftermath. I am now wondering what I am doing with my life. Is this what I really want to do? etc. You get the drift. But when the bill factors come in, the hope/questions quickly dashed away as if I never consider it before. *sigh*

One of the line I really like from the movie is when Elizabeth (played by Julia Roberts) narrated a story about this poor man who religiously prayed to a saint asking that his wish to win a lottery is being answered. He tirelessly pray everyday without fail until one day the saint appeared upon him and said 'My poor man - why don't you buy a ticket'? Ha!ha! How can you wish to win a lottery if you never buy any ticket? Classic.

And now ... I must go and get the book. Typical me.

Big Bad Wolf 2010

2010-12-12T18:59:00.001+08:00

Last October's Big Bad Wolf (book sale) had me picking up books from my to read list which made me super duper happy. Nothing made me more happy than able to spend on my most favourite thing in this world b.o.o.k.s

I love Big Bad Wolf sale. Compare to last year, this time around the place was not too crowded because it was held in a huge space and the air con works! So you have room to browse and breathe. This time around I went alone and luckily I know how to get to the place. So no time curfew since no one was waiting for me. I bought a total of 16 books and spent only RM 126. Huge, huge savings! *grin*

The after math - my arms ached for about 3 days due to carrying all my precious cargo whilst browsing rows and rows of books but it was so worth it!

Now, if I only have the time and space to read and store all these books ...

Hey Soul Sister by Train

2010-12-12T07:49:00.000+08:00

I'm enjoying this at the moment. If I hear the song on the way to the office, then half of the day colleagues will see or hear me humming the tune. Typical me. Too bad for them. But this is such a catchy tune. Enjoy!

Train - Hey, Soul Sister (Official Music Video). Watch more top selected videos about: How You Love Me Now, Hey Monday

Latest addition

2010-12-11T18:37:00.007+08:00

Our short 4 days 3 nights getaway to Singapore brought about these additional magnets. I saw this pretty pink 'Kebaya' (traditional nyonya/malay outfit) magnet at KLIA just before boarding the plane. The magnet freak in me can't resist so I bought it.

This Betty Boo magnet was from Universal Studio Singapore. She's so cute and sexy. I had a tough time choosing this one many of her other versions. So these 2 made up the total of 112 on my over crowded fridge wall ^_^

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

2010-12-05T20:05:00.008+08:00

'Forgiveness was the only path to enlightenment'

Did Buddha said that? Anyways I got it from page 51 of the said book. The start of the book was promising. So I reached 50 over pages with no problem.

p55 Bergofsky Principle - every code is breakable

One of the reason I like reading DB's novel is when he mixed his fictions with facts and I get to learn something that makes me go wow or ooh I see or really??
Like this phrase "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" from Satires of Jurenal which literally translates to "Who will guard the guards" p169

Like this cute one from page 180; The world's 1st computer in Harvard Uni. had a moth landed on one of its circuit boards caused it to short out. Ever since that computer glitches is refer to as 'bugs'. See, now you know ^_^.

And on page 407, I learned about the origin of orange marmalade - how it came to be produce, quite unintentionally I might add.

Somewhere along the line on p300 or so I lose my patience towards the hopeless David Becker (a lead character). I found myself throwing my hands up in the air in exasperation.

Having read 2 of Dan Brown's more famous books, I sort of know whom my prime suspects are ie. who dun it but what kept me going was the reason it was done. The story has a good plot like how many times you read an explosive news in the paper or on the net and brushed it off as just rumours especially when there is no follow up on the story and in this book it turned out to be true and there was a cover up involve. Almost like the WikiLeaks ha!ha! Unfortunately, the main characters were too weak to my liking. They don't live up to their character profiles. But I enjoyed the story.
Without wax; me

Fly to the Sky vol. 4

2010-11-22T22:40:00.006+08:00

I wrote about this group quite some time ago (say a year back) and the only song I knew then was Poison Ivy. I finally got hold of the album 9 days ago from Yes Asia. Needless to say that this is an old album. But I love every single tracks in it!

Still my favourite is PI so enjoy track number 4 -Poison Ivy.

Cuban Heels by Emily Barr

2010-10-31T16:44:00.004+08:00

I read this book so soon after I was badly scarred by the previous book. Hoping to heal the wound but needless to say the wound is too deep or maybe this book was not strong enough.
It's single, white female type of story. You know, the kind that stole other's identity (even spouse) etc but chic...ly done. But my interest was not there. I didnt even take down any note which at one point made me feel guilty. Like punishing this book for mistake done by other book and not giving it a fair chance. But it's too late now to undo any of it.
Again like the previous book I struggled to finish this but thanks to a short weekend getaway to Penang, I finally able speed up my reading and the few final chapters were finished below a shady canopy overlooking the pool at Bayview Hotel, Penang.

Breakout by Swing Out Sister

2010-10-30T15:33:00.004+08:00

When I switched the stereo this morning, this tune came on air. Oh how I love it.
It really perks up my Saturday morning. Oh I'm so stuck in 80s ^_^

Remember by Oh Hyun Ran

2010-10-26T22:18:00.003+08:00

My interest in Korean drama started from this drama called Memories in Bali. That was three years ago. Yes, this is an old drama. I recently bumped into the drama whilst browsing the new HD channels and the haunting soundtrack came to haunt me again, like it did beforw. I love Oh Hyun Ran's vocal in this song and it match the love triangle storyline very well. The story was rather depressing actually and I hate the ending. But the song is good. Enjoy.

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

2010-10-24T19:52:00.003+08:00

I bought the book because the author wrote Lovely Bones, which I haven't read but it was suppose to be good. She was likened to the female Edgar Allan Poe. The character killed her mom on the first page. So what went wrong?

It was a slow start for me and it stayed ... slow. Took me almost 2 months to finish. *deep deep sigh*

If there was any book that kill off my reading interest, this would be the ONE.

At the end, readers were suppose to come out with their own conclusion - I dont have any and I dont care!

Airplane by B.o.B

2010-09-21T22:06:00.000+08:00

I'm enjoying this at the moment. So let's share the joy of music. Enjoy and have a good week ahead.

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

2010-09-19T10:36:00.008+08:00

Shocking, twisted, gross, funny and full of bizarre characters. Too strange.

Everybody in the book was nuTs; to the the T!

I kept turning to the back page of the book to look at the author's picture (the book is labelled as memoir). But I cannot picture him as the real protagonist in the story. I had Kurt (the character from TV series Glee) came to the picture which to me fits the bill.

p174 - toilet bowl reading episode was eeww ... gross!
p191 - phlegm episode ... yucks!

The story was disturbing especially when you consider it was suppose to be based on a true account. Most of the time I can't make up my mind on whether to sympathise (usually my first impression) or to laugh out loud (mostly due to the way it was written)at their misfortune or turn of events. To be honest, I'm not prepared to consider any of the events stated in this book as true - some were just too strange and I dare say sick!
Nevertheless from time to time this saying kept creeping to my mind - fact is stranger than fiction. The fact that the book was totally weird and strange, it prompt me to consider that it may not be fiction too. This brought a stream of critiques from my book read group. Unbeknownst to me, there was already a heated debate out there on the said book and the possibility that the story was fabricated. Not to mention a law suit from people potrayed (I quote) harshly in the book.

Anyways I enjoyed the book ... fabricated or otherwise.

An everlasting love by Andy Gibb

2010-09-03T22:59:00.000+08:00

My office is under renovation. So my team and I are cramped into this sound proof room which used to be an edit room. We will be here for the next two months or so. While everyone else is moved to another building, another 15 minutes away by car from our current location. Sometime when it is too cold we would shut the vault-like door to our room and the room would be dead silent except for our breathing. So we took turn to play whatever songs in our playlist to kill the silence. When I exhausted my 80 songs playlist, I turned to the radio and this song came up. I can't pull it off from my head ever since.

Long live the disco ^_^ Enjoy!

Private View by Jean McNeil

2010-09-01T21:20:00.004+08:00

At the start of this book there were various cliche lines ie. a world of good, get a life to name a few. It was a very slow start for me which was expected.

'A life is what you accept to live. A life can be something very small, something very strange. A life can be anything' so says the book.

I had a tough time understanding the pronoun 'she' in this book. She who? Alex - Erica - Rachel? Who? And is Alex a girl or a guy? That's how confusing the writing is. There was no significant storyline so what am I suppose to look forward to? What? Urrgghh ... it was so frustrating!

Fortunately the pace seemed to pick up by page 157. Not the storyline but me, the reader.

On page 173, I found out about diagnoseyourself.com. It reminds me of a similar sympthom on my face - tingling, twiching just below my eyes, on my cheek = stress; but I found out about it in Merck's Manual.

p174, categories of love in Greek Thought:

agape - altruistic love

pragma - understanding that exists between a long established married couple

ludes - playful affection of children and between casual lover

storge - the love between siblings or people who have gone thru much together

eros - sexual passion

mania - obsession

This is a so-called intellectual book which I hate so much. My agony finally ended on June 22 and it took me 2 months later to blog about it.

From Europe to Turkey

2010-08-10T22:37:00.000+08:00

My sisters in-law went to several places for vacation recently. And I got pretty neat collection of fridge magnets from them.

K Lin followed hubby on a self drive travel to several Europe countries and got me these

Whilst K Long went with a friend to Turkey and I got this one from her:

So its 110 and counting ...

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

2010-08-09T21:45:00.002+08:00

This book ponders the question of how well can we ever really know another person, even our own spouse.

p141 "It was why Mattie slept so long, Kathryn thought, to postpone that awful moment of knowing".

I finished reading this book quite sometime ago, 2 months ago on June 8 to be exact. Some lines in this book did strike a chord especially about married couples.

p147 "We passed out of being in love to just loving"

p226 "If you never suspected someone, you never thought to suspect"

I had high expectation for this book which usually not a good sign; have I not learn from past mistakes? Sigh! Alas, the book doesnt deliver. I so wanted it to be more but it just didnt gave me the oommph that I thought it would. It started okay for me but the pace quickly died. Reading from some of the quotes placed here, I think you would more or less guess what's the book is all about. Anyways, you can read the book synopsis here.

Hats Off

2010-08-08T17:44:00.006+08:00

I know, I know it's been ages since I write anything in my poor blog. Mean, mean me!
A lot has been happening, mostly work related -- boring! Not to mention hectic which left me too tired to on my superfast internet connection and ancient laptop without falling asleep first. So here I am about 3 weeks later.

My company had an annual dinner last Friday nite after a 3.5 hours of townhall and brainstorming session; nothing comes for free nowadays. We suppose to come with a hat. I had no time to dress up from the office and I grabbed a chef hat from the wardobe department since it matches my white blouse - yeah how creative. Anyways I was called Ratatouille the whole nite except once when someone mistaken me for a nurse! I took that as a compliment. I got plenty of orders as well since I was wearing a chef hat. Anyways it was a good fun. I didnt bring any camera with me except my phone so these were the only pics in it. Other interesting pics were in my colleague's camera. I cant wait to see the rest of the pics.

I sincerely hope I will be able to write more often. Have a good week everyone.

Thank you for the music - Amanda Seyfried

2010-07-15T22:42:00.003+08:00

I remember singing this song with a group of friends during our pre-graduation concert. Like a pro, we were all over the place (pitch wise)lol. I like the way Amy Seyfried sang this. Enjoy.

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

2010-07-14T22:07:00.000+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

This is an ebook which I had in my iphone. So I read it only when I dont have a physical book with me. Usually while waiting for food to arrive at the table during eat out.

The Tarzan version that I have has always been the Hollywood's. The 'book' has a more raw, wilder and self sacrificing Tarzan in it. Surprising a sad ending.

Taking Chance

2010-07-12T21:04:00.001+08:00

I cried my eyes out watching this. It was so touching. It's about how a senior marine took an assignment to escort a fallen marine back to his home. True to the tagline of the trailer that this is a journey many don't see and I guess wouldn't want to witness.
But in a way I'm so glad they do this, I mean the respect, honor and the dignity thay gave to a fallen comrade. I even cried when searching and watching the trailer again.
This is so moving, pls do watch this movie starring Kevin Bacon it if you have the chance.

Eclipse

2010-07-11T16:36:00.006+08:00

So the movie is finally out here in KL, 1 week later than it's opening in the States. And I happened to be on leave on a Friday. Ha!Ha! No honestly, I took the day off so I can go and collect my boys school report card which happened in the morning and I have the rest of the afternoon. Thinking the rest of movie goers are at school or at work, I dragged my boys to watch the movie with me. And boy, was I wrong. We were lucky to get good seats for three bcos the theatre was packed at 2:30 in the afternoon on a week day!

Would you believe it that people were actually clapping especially after certain anticipated scenes? My boys were baffled but I totally got it especially if you are a fan of the book ^_^ Jacob (wolf boy) is much cuter than Edward (vampire) in this but Edward has the bestest lines to woo Bella and of cos' the female audiences who went awww...
My favourite scene surprisingly was ... the graduation speech by Jessica which I thought was well said.

This is my favourite book of the saga and I'm very happy of the outcome and having said that I'm sure everyone knows that I'm bias with everything that has to do with Twilight. Oh well ..
Studio's had given the green light for the 4th book to be made into a movie or maybe two since the last book is quite thick. Meanwhile I'm ready for my second dose of the movie (ha!ha! only fans are mad enough like this) and this time with hubby.

Konnichiwa

2010-07-04T16:02:00.006+08:00

Two weeks ago, hubby returned from the land of the rising sun - Japan, to visit the their car manufacturing plant. So I got these wonderful magnets ^_^ Arigato gozaimas hubby san. My favourite will have to be the sumo guys and the kimono girls. Beautiful.

105 and counting.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

2010-06-18T21:30:00.000+08:00

'Can't you stop going on about yourself for even a minute?'

Exactly how I felt about the main character. I know the story is about her but still ...

The book belongs to a colleague who lent it to another colleague and then to me whilst she herself hasn't read it yet.

It's about a 16 years old Tessa whom is dying and she has a list of things she wanted to do before she dies.

Echoing my earlier sentiment was Zoey (her best friend) on page 179: 'You go on and on about yourself, like you are the only one in the world with anything wrong. We're all in the same boat you know. We're born, we eat, we shit, we die. That's it.' Yup my sentiment exactly.
But of cos' Zoey said this to her best friend when she was high on progesterone hormone that caused her to be emotional without a cause.
'I'm pregnant', Zoey confessed on page 180 which I already suspected earlier. So that left me (alone) with my mean sentiment towards Tessa.

Fortunately, the book felt okay to me when Adam (Tessa soon to be boyfriend) appeared. I laughed at his antics towards her which to me was awww... sweet.

When her health starting to spiral down quickly, Tessa started leaving instructions to people around her in a form of writing. I know she's a teenager but why must her last instructions to her best friend, brother and boyfriend most of it was asking them to do the bad stuffs? What's wrong with doing good stuffs when you are alive? Won't you feel equally deprived of not being able to do good or great things in this world like others who had the chance to do so? Maybe its a teen thingy. Nevertheless the one to her dad made me cry.

P. 302 Instructions for Dad:

I dont want to go into a fridge at an undertaker's.
I want you to keep me at home until the funeral.
Pls can someone sit with me in case I get lonely?
I promise not to scare you.

If that got me to cry, her last mental note to her dad had me wailing.

'Dad, you played rounders with me even though you hated it and wished I'd take up cricket. You learned how to keep a stamp collection bcos I wanted to know.
For hours, you sat in hospital and never not once, complained. You brushed my hair like a mother should.
You gave up work for me, friends for me, 4 years of your life for me. You never moaned. Hardly ever.
You let me have Adam. You let me have my list. I was outrageous. Wanting, wanting so much. And you never said 'That's enough. Stop now'.

To me this is her wisen up. To finally acknowledged her dad. Her parent's were divorced. Her mother sort of ran away but she was around at the end but still couldn't take the pressure of dealing with a dying child. But I dont think the father knew bcos that was just a mental note from her. It would be nice if he knows she actually thought that way.

And I, finally warming up to her .

Still, what's wrong with doing right or good or say I love you when you still have the chance or time to do so? Especially to the one mattered most?

Seductive Poisons by Deborah Layton

2010-06-16T23:50:00.000+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple.

This was a page turner for me. Started the book at about 9pm and finished it around 1am in the morning. It's a non fiction but the book is a classic example of how truth is often stranger than fiction. I can't believe how ignorant I was about the subject and am very glad I read the book.

At first I just couldn't understand how one can be so naive as to believe the power that the leader claimed he has but again this naive author/survivor was not the only one. Hundreds were already influenced by Reverend Jim Jones. And they were not a teenager like her. Many were scholars and educated people. I remembered how I got all jittery and nervous as Layton planned her escape and almost didnt make it. Unfortunately 918 others didn't, including her mother.

The Day Diana Died by Christopher P. Andersen

2010-06-14T22:52:00.001+08:00

It was 11:57pm on Apr 14 and I heard Candle in the Wind by Sir Elton John on the radio. My thoughts automatically went to Princess Diana and a book which I happened to have but never read. So I went to rummage by precious book cupboard and found it. That's how I ended up reading the book.

I remembered the fateful night when I first heard the news. I was attending a farewell dinner for my unit's supervisor. It was just so surreal. I for one didnt want the news to be real. It completely changed the mood of the party I was attending.

I was in my teens when Diana became famous. Almost every girl in my circle of friends wanted to be her. Well at least, to have the same haircut as her. I did, for several years ^_^

Some of the information in the book were quite shocking and rather sad but was quite an eye opener for me. All I can say is 'gone too soon'. As a mother, I wished she had the chance to see her sons grew up.

Friends, Lovers & Chocolate by Alexander McCall Smith

2010-06-13T21:58:00.006+08:00

Read this book in April but didnt get to write about it till now.

The story is about Isabel Dalhousie who is a philosopher and a part-time general editor of the Review of Applied Ethics - and this statement is repeated over & over again through out 277 pages!

I was intrigued to read more of the book not because of the moral and ethics struggle (not to mention lengthy elaboration) suffered by Isabel but mainly bcos she happened to fall 'in like' (in love would be unethical word for her to admit) with a younger man whom was an ex-boyfriend to her niece. She was in her early forties whilst he's in mid twenties.

I so wanted her to tackle that issue head on. Alas it didnt happen. So much for wishful thinking. All thru out the book I can't connect with the character and her feelings' issue until I realised that the author is a guy. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be a gender-ist here. It's just my justification on why I can't understand Isabel's stand on her emotional issue. But I do understand that Mc Call has several books under the woman detective series. Maybe it's just me.

I wonder what's the chocolate in the title was all about bcos there were only a few lines about it. Cheese would have been a better choice.

Dear John - the movie

2010-05-31T21:20:00.000+08:00

OMG. I was crying buckets and smiling silly as I watched this. It is so heart wrenching and sweet, all at the same time. Remind hubby and me of our three years long distance relationship. He in Tucson, Arizona and I'm in KL. Time when internet are things you found in IT labs, and I dont own any PC. Notebook was the thing for the rich people. LOL those were the days. So we rely on ... yes letters!!Hand written letters.

Ending was not really to my liking. Im not too sure about the ending in the book bcos I have not read it. But again I'm a sucker for romantics so the movie was quite alright for me. As of Channing Tatum in this movie ... I shall not say anything .. okay maybe just two words ..too cute :)

Fridge magnet - Buenos Aires & Brasil

2010-05-29T21:02:00.005+08:00

Several of hubby's colleagues went to South America for company's incentive trip. And I got these from them which made it to number 99 and counting on my fridge. Arent they beautiful?

Movie week

2010-05-22T07:54:00.011+08:00

It started last weekend.

Saturday - I decided to watch New Moon again so I bought the DVD with several other titles. Guess bcos I'm eagerly anticipating the 3rd movie from the Twilight saga - Eclipse, which will be out in theater somewhere in early July. Sigh, still a long way to go.
Verdict: I'm always bias when it come to anything Twilight, but to be fair the book New Moon is my least favourite in the series (no surprises there) but I enjoyed the movie more. Below is the trailer of my next must watch movie from the book -Eclipse

Sunday - The kids and I went to watched Iron Man 2 in theatre. Hubby bought us the tickets but we went on our own bcos he has to go outstation. My 8 year old boy last for about 35 minutes (well, until his popcorn finished) before he got restless. The movie felt longer that it really was. But I enjoyed watching Robert Downey Jr. He makes the Iron Man suit looks sexy ;)
Verdict: I like this better than Transformer 2. My 12 yr old son like the scenes whenever Iron Man has his partner to fight against or with. I gave it 3 out 5 stars.

Wednesday - I received 2 free passes for the premier of Letters to Juliet. Went to see it with hubby. My colleague predicted that my hubby will sleep halfway thru the movie but I assured her no bcos hubby only sleeps when it's an action (ie. James Bond), robot fighting (ie. Transformer), epic fiction (ie. LOTR) movies lol - go figure. And true enough, he didnt.
Verdict: Nothing spectacular about the movie but it was sweet (Hallmark channel kinda feel) and thanks to the italian fiance chef, the movie become quite funny with his trademark exclaimation 'win-win'. I'm actually looking forward to watch Amy Seyfried in Dear John (I have the dvd, yeah). I gave it 2.5 out 5 stars.

Friday - Again hubby is away. So we got the TV to ourselves. The kids and I decided to watch Avatar. Yup, we are the last people in the galaxy that hadnt watch it yet. I only wish we had caught it on 3D in theatre. My boys would have love it.
Verdict: Awesome. Enjoyed the whole 3 hours, with many pausing in between ie. to make hot drinks for my son and I, on the air-con in the kids room, tuck my sleepy youngest son to bed. 4/5 stars.

Now if only I can persuade hubby to watch it too.

Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice

2010-05-08T19:18:00.011+08:00

PROLOGUE
I'm re-writing this. I cant believe what I wrote earlier vanished as soon as I wrote the end. As if some invisible force is angry at me for not having positive feedback of the book?? Okay, I'm being paranoid.

Azriel the main character doesnt convince me at all. I dont feel anything towards him except maybe a little when earlier he was burned in the boiling couldron .. and I'm already on page 208.

Lord knows how many times I want to quit, give up, raise the white flag .. when I read this book. It was such an agony. Everytime when I picked the book to continue where I left, it felt like a chore. A heavy one.

21 out of 26 chapters were about Azriel the ghost/spirit transforming himself into human like form over and over again. And everytime he does, there is this lengthy narration which seems to go on forever on every chapter. I just cant take it anymore!! And how this powerful spirit Azriel breezed thru his 21st century knowledge and surroundings, to me it felt like a cheap attempt by the author to trick her readers.

I'm desperate for the book to end. Ever since I picked up the book, I had finished two other books in between. That's how difficult it is for me to finish this one. I was praying for a small excitement in the plot to help me put a closure to this book. The excitement came in the last 3 chapters. Amen.

The moment I close the final page, it felt like a huge burden has finally been lift out of me. Such an agonizing journey and I lived to tell the tale.

T.H.E E.N.D

Retail Therapy 2 @ Book Xcess

2010-05-01T08:18:00.006+08:00

Sometime ago I wrote about persuading hubby to visit this unknown bookstore (to me then) that I just found out about. Well, as you can see from the pic that I got him to drive me there, purchased several books and this store has now become my favourite bookstore in the entire country. All books are cheaper than anywhere plus these are all new books (not used) not did I mind before. How fabulous!! If not for the fact that I've gone to another book sale earleir (and feeling guilty of not reading them yet) I would have a shopping spree day. But the beauty of it, I dont have to wait for booksale and these books are going to remain cheap at all time, isnt it? So I can come back any time later. Gosh, I'm salivating just thinking about the store and all the books in it. Place is call Book Xcess at Amcorp Mall, PJ. I bragged about it in the office and 2 colleagues checked it out and agreed with me.

Now, if only I can get myself to drive there on my own.

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

2010-04-19T22:32:00.007+08:00

This book is a typical case of me judging the book by its cover. Yes, I confess. I fell for the cover ...

So I'm being punished. The lead character Jane is so disappointing!!

Page 78 - I sooo want Jane to say/shout/scream 'GET OUT Hugh, get out of this room, get out out from my life ... or better still slap him ... for being a big a** jerk. Alas it didnt happen. She let him kissed her. Urgghhh!!! I have to stop reading just to calm myself. So I braced myself to face another assault.

But wait, in the next paragraph 'Jane suddenly remembered that Hugh was an actor. He's only acting that he still cares for her'. YESss!! That's me shouting. She finally wakes up. There's a light at the end of the tunnel for readers like me, who's hoping for a miracle to hopeless main character like Jane.

I'm already at chapter 29 - I don't understand on how a bright, independent, rich, young woman can waste hours and hours of precious time and tears being treated badly over and over again by a useless man - is beyond my comprehension.

Finally on page 165, Jane retaliate against her over-controlling mother. Hooray, double, triple hooray. I have to read the sentences out aloud just to convince myself she actually said those words. Now if she can keep the high spirit and use it against Hugh too.

So morale of the story. Yeah, you've guessed it. Dont judge the book by its cover or suffer the consequences like I did. And she's not even dark haired ...

The 13th year

2010-04-12T22:41:00.006+08:00

Image by ladybugbkt via Flickr

Yesterday was our 13th wedding anniversary. We celebrated at this restaurant called Ozeki Tokyo Cuisine, right smack in the heart of KL. As the name suggest, it was a Japanese restaurant which was recommended by my husband former boss and friend. I was prepared to devour into the food and the lovely ambience when 15 minutes after we entered the restaurant we were joined by the place's frequent patron, my hubby's ex-boss and his wife. Or rather, they've asked us to join them. Since we had company so I didnt take any food picture, like I normally do, so there's none to show here. But eat I did.
It was a splendid lunch and we had a wonderful time. I also learnt several fancy dishes (to order, hopefully again) from these wonderful couple. And since they were VIPs so we received the same treatment as well ... lucky us ^_^

I received a handmade card from my youngest son which said 'Selamat Ulangtahun Perkawanan' (suppose to be spell Perkahwinan = Wedding). The wrong spelling has turned the greetings to Happy Friendship Anniversary instead which was quite appropriate for us actually. Both hubby and me were high school sweethearts and we met over 27 years ago. Gulp! gosh, we sounded ancient!! LOL

So here's to another 13 and more.

Is this love ...

2010-04-10T09:41:00.013+08:00

It's 0830 am. It's raining and best of all, it's a Saturrdayyy!! I already had my morning coffee and Lisa Stansfield is playing on the radio. Can't get any better than this. Bliss.

Where have I been? No where. I just didnt log into my blog that just it. I've been sleeping early on week nites or reading or sleep while trying to read. And it goes without saying that weekends are just too short. For all you know, its already Sunday evening and I have to tune myself for work the next day. But one thing for sure, time does flies.

I've been dying to visit this bookstore I just found out about but trouble with me is that I'm bad in directions. Hubby got me a GPS but the KL map is so unreliable. It said turn right ... turn right ... and you are in the middle of a bridge highway. What right turn?? You want me to slam the car over the railing is it?? So I dont trust myself even with GPS. And I hate the calculating ... calculating message. Yeah, go ahead calculate! So I'm stuck unless hubby drives me there. Maybe I can try that this afternoon. The hubby persuasion ^_^

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary. Hubby is taking me to this Japanese restaurant where I havent been before. Well for now the menu is japanese food unless we change our preference tomorrow. So we'll see.

So you are wondering, what's my post title all about eh? Bcos for now, I'm leaving you with .... are yoy ready for this? Is This Love by Whitesnake LOL. Ooohhh this is so 80's!! But they are the bestest. Dont hate me, I'm full of love today :D Have a good weekend everyone. Ta da

Download Free Full Songs!---------------------

Web of Deceit by Glenn Meade

2010-04-01T23:35:00.000+08:00

This was a page turner for me. I started reading it at 8pm and would have finish it around 1:30am if not for the fact that I have to go to work the next morning. So I saved it for the day after.

This is my second spy genre in a row. Funny thing is, I don't fancy any of its characters which was pretty weird for me. The plot was intriguing at the beginning but began to wear off as the story reaches its end. When you already know who is who and which side they support (reminds me of the Bourne saga or X Files *gulp*), so that's when the story lose its appeal. But its quite alright since I already enjoyed the journey. It was a lot of twist that didnt make sense in the beginning as I was reading it bcos I kept questioning who was that? why etc and later decided to let it go and enjoy the story, which I did.

I'm actually in the midst of reading another thick novel which still doesnt show any sign of reaching its end, but I'm determine to finish it. So I'm going one chapter at a time ...

You Found Me by The Fray

2010-03-30T22:31:00.005+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

This song 'found me'. It's not new but I'm only paying attention to it now and can't seem to get over it yet. It's been playing in my mind for several days now. I hate to suffer alone so I'm sharing the misery for all to share lol. Very intriguing lyrics. Do have a listen to it and dont say I didn't warn you ^_^

The Fray - You Found Me download at emp3

I found God on the corner of 1st and Amistad
Where the West was all but won
All alone, smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?" He said, "Ask anything"

Where were you when everything was falling apart?
All my days were spent by the telephone that never rang
And all I needed was a call that never came
To the corner of 1st and Amistad

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me

But in the end everyone ends up alone
Losing her, the only one who's ever known
Who I am, who I'm not and who I wanna be
No way to know how long she will be next to me

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me!

The early morning, the city breaks
And I've been calling for years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
You never sent me no letters
You got some kind of nerve taking all I want!

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor, where were you? Where were you?

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me
Lying on the floor surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait? Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late, you found me, you found me!

Why'd you have to wait to find me, to find me?

Kaput

2010-03-28T23:03:00.004+08:00

Our computer modem is kaput. Apparently it was struck by lighting few days ago. I didn't realize bcos I kept accessing my favourite sites via my iPhone. Anyways, that's what Im trying to do now. Updating my blog thru my mobile phone. I don't know how to paste the video that I want to upload here so until the modem is fix, Im stuck with this ugly mode or no updating at all. Sigh.
Hubby was going to take his own sweet time in doing something about the problem of having no internet access at home until I pointed out that it's going to be a hassle to pay our bills since we are so use of paying it online. Well, that got him going.
I dont think Im creative enough ~ IT wise to figure out how to manipulate my phone so I guess blog updating will have to wait.
Till then ...

Paranoia by Joseph Finder

2010-03-24T21:47:00.004+08:00

I kept closing the pages which I'm reading. Why? Bcos I couldnt stand the suspense. I'm such a coward in this, mainly bcos I felt too much for the main character Adam Cassidy. He's like an unwilling spy and I couldnt bear if anything bad would happen to him (he managed to avoid most of it, actually) so much so that I cheated. Yes, after gasping for air and debating for a mili second on whether to go on or not I decided to skip the suspense page and read the page after. When the story continues and I'm convinced that he survived the sticky situation ie. a collegue/security guard saw him enter an off limit room, he accidentally triggered an alarm when he was snooping around, he said the wrong thing during a high profile meeting which can really ruin his under cover etc., I then returned back to the previous page and reread. I know, I know ... I sound like I have several loose screws on the head LOL.
This is a story about corporate espionage with a major twist at the end. But I must confess that I dont like the ending to the character. It's almost like there is no closure for him. At the end I felt like ... so? and thoughts like that's IT??? Apart from that, I enjoyed the book. Looking forward for another spy story.

500 Days of Summer

2010-03-23T21:57:00.006+08:00

I must confess that I watched this movie mainly bcos of Zooey Deschanel. Although I enjoyed the movie but I felt her acting is almost similar to her other films. Different roles but similar character and same acting.

My hubby fell asleep and one of my staff said the movie was boring. Okay, so many finds it not to their liking maybe bcos it is not your typical romantic comedy story. It is different nevertheless I still find it funny.

I find this scene kinda cute. Maybe bcos of the 80's song. LOL You make my dreams come true by Hall and Oates. Enjoy.

Retail therapy

2010-03-21T12:35:00.007+08:00

I was happily browsing through the books at last week's books sale when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. It was my husband. Do you think these are any good? He was showing me two non-fiction titles which he intended to buy and hopefully read :) I had to surpress my laughter when I saw one of the book. Why he said? This one referring to 'How to Win Any Argument' by Robert Mayer is fine but that one 'The 360 Leader' by John C. Maxwell ... I bought that for you in the last book sale along with 'What Made Jack Welch' by Stephen H. Baum but you still hadnt read any of it. Really? Are you sure? he said. Umm hmmp I said. Okay so I just buy one then, he concluded.
Whenever I feel the need to read a non-fiction, I just look at the many distinguish and expensive titles that my hubby had ... but very seldom read, and pick one from there :))

As for the recent sale, I bought 5 books which I'm looking forward to read.

Cante e Dance by Pink Martini

2010-03-14T11:55:00.004+08:00

This band is playing at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas KL this coming Monday and Tuesday nights. Nope, I'm not seeing them. I wish I am. Anyways here's a sample of their beautiful music. Play away folks. Happy Sunday.

Rosie by Alan Titchmarsh

2010-03-07T16:33:00.005+08:00

'Oh yes, funny isnt it? Vic is 10 but more like 40. You are 39 and more like 70 and I'm 87 going on 30! Nobody's the age they seem, are they?'
Cute - is my summation of the whole book especially of its main character Rosie. I wish I will grow old as gracefully as Rosie. But most importantly the book taught me to live life to the fullest, NOW. Not tomorrow, not when ... and not what ifs ... but now irregardless of what your current age is.

This book is part of selected compilation made by Reader's Digest in 2004. I had it for ages but never read. I'm currently reading another heavy volume book which hasnt got much progress so I cheated by pulling out this book which has several stories in it so I can at least finish one story. I was rearranging some photo albums when I came across the book.

Below is a poem found from the book. I like it, unfortunately it is about death; second time in 2 weeks I'm writing about the subject. But the words are encouraging, light hearted and surprisingly alive.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn rain

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry:

I am not there. I did not die.

I'd really love to see you tonight - Dan Seal

2010-03-04T21:57:00.000+08:00

I am being nostalgic. Rest in peace.

The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne

2010-03-02T21:02:00.000+08:00

This was a light reading for me and I intended to finish it during the 4 days CNY break. So I brought the book back to my hometown and turned out it was an enjoyable reading for me.

The cover looks like a chick flick but content wise, the character has more clue of what's going on in her life althought it doesnt seem so in the story plot at first but it's kinda addictive.
It's about a woman who is comfortable of being homey Melissa but at the same time secretly
enjoy being the daring Honey. It's like having two personalities but not necessarily split. Know what I mean? But I must admit, at times I'm kinda impatient and tired of nice Melissa and cannot wait for her to become the spirited Honey.
All in all, I like reading about all the good men in her life especially her flatmate Nelson whom initially I thought was gay and I'm happy to be proven wrong. His like a strong pillar for her and Melissa needs constant knock on the head to make her come to her senses. I envy their friendship.

Needless to say, I finished reading its 472 pages within 3 days in between travel and family chit chat.

A year had passed

2010-02-28T13:10:00.008+08:00

One year ago, yesterday - my abah passed away.

I've been dreading to write about this since the beginning of this month simply bcos I dont know what to write but I guess the harder task in doing so would be hiding the pain and keeping the tears from flowing freely. But I dont want the day to go unnotice either. So the opportunity is now, when other family members are busy watching tv and too busy to notice (this wife and mother of two) is trying to keep her emotion in check. Whilst it (relatively) easier for me to remember the date of my father's passing by the months that had lapsed, my mother on the other hand is remembering it by each passing day; religiously marking it in her calendar. In which ever way, we all remember him and each one of us grieve differently.

But remember him ... we will always do.

I choose to remember my father in my passion for reading. For he was the driving force (and teacher) in me learning to read in the first place. So for every good book that I ever have the pleasure to read and for every rotten book that came across my way, I owe the pleasure and agony of it all to my dearest abah. And thanks to him, I'll be using this gift for a long, long time and hopefully ignite the same passion to his and my grandchildren.

To me this will be a perfect (if I may borrow a quote from the movie Love Happens) 'recognition not only for a person who had died, but a recognition for a person who had lived'.

Love and miss you abah.

Cendol

2010-02-16T21:56:00.009+08:00

Image by ImipolexG via Flickr

I am absolutely, utterly , totally in love with this dessert call 'cendol'. Its basic ingredients are shaved ice, coconut milk, starch noodles (green in color), red beans and palm sugar. There are also other variants (the foodcourt or restaurant versions) which sometimes include vanilla ice cream or durian. But if you ask me, I prefer the roadside vendor style - the basic which sometimes may or may not include 'pulut' (glutinous rice).

My favourite roadside vendor will have to be the one back at my hometown at Manjong, Sitiawan. Owner's name is James. It's located just in front of the Hindu Temple. And this is not the first time I'm writing about this particular stall either (as if I have a share in it or something) Ohh ... but you just can't beat this cendol anywhere. Period. The sugar and ice will be just right. Not too sweet nor too dilute. Perfect.

I was there 3 days ago. Usually the crowd was manageable but this time around there was actually a long line. It was a hot afternoon just one day before Chinese New Year and I found that most of these people were from Singapore. They took the long holidays opportunity to drive down and of cos' savour Sitiawan's famous cendol. I had one in Geylang wet market Singapore just over three weeks ago but it was nothing compare to this. Besides this is just RM1.30 (without pulut) and that will be what ... S$0.50? No wonder.

So with my hubby, son and mother waiting in the car in the hot afternoon sun (they don't have sweet tooth like I do), I queued and waited for my turn to taste my favourite dessert cendol. Mmm, heaven.

Fridge magnet - Venice, Italy (95), Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (96)

2010-02-16T10:05:00.005+08:00

My interest in collecting fridge magnets has the involvement (accidentally) of hubby's friends. Bcos I do received many from them. And of cos' my high fliers sis and bro-in laws whom travel a lot too.

Hubby's friend travel to Venice recently and I got this:

And from K.Lin whom visited Ho Chi Minh during the new year holiday, I got this:

96 and counting ...

Where is the Love - Roberta Flack

2010-02-12T21:41:00.000+08:00

Valentine's Day come early. This is classic. Pure ecstasy to your ear drum. Enjoy people.

Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

2010-02-08T00:31:00.000+08:00

The book was a memoir. I was moved and tickled to tears by it, all at the same time. I put the book on hold for two years. Can you believe it? Bought the book in 2008 and not until last month that I have the guts to go beyond its plain cover and serious subject to tackle the book.
I was already hooked at page 2.
The book is full of clever, witty and sarcastic humors, everyday prejudice and deep emotional ride of a mother-to-be whom also a Harvard scholar. And she's expecting a Down Syndrome baby.

p7 'They decided to allow their baby to be born. What they didnt realize is that they themselves were the ones who would be 'born', infants in a new world where magic is common place, Harvard professors are the slow learners and retarded babies are the master teachers'.

Somehow Martha's (author) 'special-need' child Adam has magic (to simply put it) and miracles surrounded him even before he was born. With bizarre happenings occurred to his parents when the author was expecting him.

I laughed at this, p16 'the more upset John (husband) is, the happier he acts. It's a Harvard thing'. And this p20 'the moment Mr. Sperm and Ms. Egg first encountered each other in my fallopian tubes-before they even had time to make any informed decision about going steady, let alone forming a biological unit- I could sense them conspiring to make my life a hell on earth'.
Maybe I shouldn't have laughed ...

I cried when 2 'angels' appeared out of nowhere to help Martha. Angels read: 2 beautiful and intelligent women - 1 pregnant and the other not. My intermittent cry lasted almost 10 minutes or so .. and I was not even pregnant.

p75 'Adam brought with him a sweetness that surpasses anything I ever felt before he was conceived ... a quality of attention to ordinary life that is so loving and intimate - it's almost worship'.

On p.76, the author wrote about a friend in a lab experimenting with rats - for reason unknown to author but she suspects that her friend was making soup and labelled her friend as 'my rat molesting friend'. That had me laughed out loud (my lunatic personality suddenly escaped me).

When the author wrote about magical/out of this world experiences, perhaps it was just pure, innocent coincidences and the book also spoke a lot about the author's and hubby experiences in Singapore. And I was also in Singapore when I read those pages, what a coincidence.

p317 'vast majority of normal people spend our lives trashing our treasures and treasuring our trash'. How true.

So as you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. However her once too many bizarre occurences were kinda hard to swallow (well, perhaps that's the reason she wrote it down) . I was also not too keen on her labelling/writing Down Syndrome children as 'retarded'. I winced everytime I read that. I prefer special needs children. But other than that I like her writing and love the story. Deeply moved and satisfied.

Fridge magnet - Jakarta (92), Taj Mahal-India (93), Sri Lanka (94)

2010-02-07T08:59:00.004+08:00

It has been quite some time since I posted anything on my collection of fridge magnets. The truth is I didnt realise that it was actually growing, bcos I didnt really go anywhere neither does hubby. I had a good look at my fridge door the other day and saw 3 new magnets. Where did these come from??? Then I realised that the one from Jakarta was from a colleague who went there for a business trip (err.. about a year ago if I recall correctly) while the other 2 must be souvenirs from hubby's friends.

So 94 and counting.

The Vampire Diaries (book 1&2) by L.J Smith

2010-02-01T22:20:00.010+08:00

I have no excuse. I admit I was intrigued (at first). Giving justification (to myself) that perhaps I need something which require less grey matter cells to digest (but was actually looking for another Twilight saga?) What was I thinking?Alas, it didn't meet up to my expectation.

But I found out ... before I read the sequel (it's 2 books in one) - that there is a TV series based on the book and from my short preview of the series in you tube - my preference goes to the tv series. However the characters potrayed on the screen gave me a better (looking) 'vision' of the faceless characters in the book which turned my reading to somewhat bearable for the second sequel.

The saga continues in book three and four which I don't intend to read (but perhaps I shouldn't speak so soon).

Maybe I should find the video set instead.

Pets no more

2010-01-17T19:09:00.008+08:00

Image via Wikipedia

I downloaded an application into my handphone which allows you to 'buy' (you were initially equipped with 200$ when you downloaded the 'game'), create (read: determine body, fin & stripe color) of did I mentioned fish? Yes, sort of tamagotchi pet. 10% of food cost 1$ (which is consider under low food category) and along with it you are expected to clean your aquarium to prevent algae (10$), buys antibiotic for your fish if its sick ( x$ - I didn't reach that far) and if your fish is happy and healthy you get to sell them.

Sad to say my fish died on the second day of creation due to lack of food. Not once but twice!!!

Well I have to say the first time was bcos I dont quite understand how the game goes ie. how often should I feed the the fish etc. By the time I logged into the aquarium, I saw three messages waiting for me with the last accussing me of ignoring my fish pet Orie (yes, you supposed to name your fish) which lead to its death! I refused to believe that I was that ignorant and mean so with the money that left I cleaned the aquarium, bought and create Purie, this time with 20% of food. Mentally reminding myself that I must feed it somewhere around the time when I am at the office.

It turned out work was hell on Friday with an impossible mission to accomplish before a newly outside-broadcast truck is ready to roll on Sunday morning. Needless to say, I've forgotten all about Purie until 12hrs later when what was left of him was bones and a RIP sign.

What can I say, I am now a confirmed virtual fishes murderer. Think I better stick to Tap Tap or Bubble Lab from now on.

So if there is any consolation, here's my way of remembering my one day old pet Orie and Purie.

May you rest in peace. Amen.

Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller

2010-01-16T23:32:00.004+08:00

This book is a gem. Dont be fooled by its plain (and dirty - my copy that is) cover. Indeed the phrase dont judge a book by its cover, come to mind. I bought the book at a steal - RM10 at a book sale and am very pleased with myself. Modern family drama where the author (Sue Miller) creatively map the emotional complexities of almost all family members.

I especially like the part where the mother Eva thought that her rebellious daughter Daisy must had hated the chores entrusted to her while Eva was away from the house by the way the water hose was placed (after she watered the plants) and mails scattered on the table. Daisy on the other hand was glad to be able to visit her old house - mom's place (she lives with her father) and was glad to water the plants and collecting the mails for her mom while she was away. There were many similar 'incidents' written in the book where family members tend to assume and judge each other by their words and actions. We thought we knew our family members that well hence the assumption.

At first I thought the book was about Eva (mother) and Mark (father) but as the story goes it was skewed more towards their second teenage daughter Daisy whereby her characters, words and actions made me think and later worry about my own son (when he reach the same age).

On page 80, 'Does a person drawn to books was seeking a kind of experience or an escape from ordinary life? ... something we don't find, here?'

Ahah! Does that makes you think too? For me, it's more like to forget my normal life (for a while) and with that I usually mean my hectic office work *sigh* which left me exhausted every night. So a good book (hit and miss here) really helps me to wind down.

O good book, good book, where are thee?

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

2010-01-09T23:19:00.003+08:00

All of a sudden I'm going into this reading frenzy. Finishing one book after another. Or is it bcos I was lucky enough to be picking up books which are to my liking hence making it easy for me to breeze thru these books. Lucky, lucky me.

Must admit that I am not so much of a cop/crime investigation book person but am so glad that I found this author. David Baldacci is indeed a master in this genre and I'm looking forward to read more of his books (and he has many!!)

Simple Genius is a page turner for me. It took me less than 3 days to finish it. Thou' the ending of the whole mystery was not really to my liking but the whole journey of cracking the mystery was for me. So that counts. I have already listed out several books written by him.

Not too sure whether that's a good sign or not ... oh my poor purse!

Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants by Louise Rennison

2010-01-04T23:48:00.004+08:00

When do I ever learn? Why dont I just get it that I just can't stand reading chic -flick paperbacks? But noooo ... I have to ignore my instinct and chose the said book to read.

Alas, I was left dumbfounded. It as if I'm reading a book written in some foreign language or make that for people who understand aliens (as in outer space) language?? Or is this merely teenage terms=language? Whatever it is, I felt ... retarded LOL (just by reading it).

Immediately on page 1, I found this 'she who laughs last, laughs the laughingest' -huh???

Just to give you examples few of many, many phrases/words used in this book.

Basooma aka nungas-nungas = breast

Muncho excitemondo - okay I get it, much excited

Nimcompoop - this I actually know, phew.

Snog = kiss

And the winner is 'never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether'.

I rest my case.

Farewell 2009

2010-01-02T08:22:00.004+08:00

I'm nervous about 2010. Cant really put my finger on why ... but I do. Maybe bcos I was 'too' happy to welcome 2009 a year ago, only to have my father taken away from the family - so soon after (in late February).

But 2009 has also been filled with many good events and things happening to me and my family of which I know my father would have been proud of IF I can only share it with him. It's funny to think that I'm nearly forty but whenever I'm with him, I still acted like a young kid forever hungry for his praises and want him to always be proud of my achievement. Not that he said it out a lot, bcos my late father was a man with very few words but he did make an exceptional especially when it comes to his children achievements ... in anything at all.

Lately I found myself thinking more and more of my late father and usually at unexpected places or events. Like only yesterday, my family and I were at this shopping mall where I looked at all these sofas designed for people to take rest and I asked my kids 'remember who had sit here before and fell asleep while you boys had to wait for him while the rest of the family members went shopping?' My children exclaimed well and and loud ... atok lumut!!! (grandfather).

New year's eve had been uneventful for me. But I can hear plenty of fireworks from a distant. Like it or not, we still have to embrace 2010 and with it life's unfold events, surprises and miracles, irregardless whether we are ready for it or not.

Happy New Year.

The Girls by Lori Lansens

2009-12-21T22:53:00.001+08:00

I started reading the book about 2-3 months ago. The book is about a conjoined twin sisters whom see or rather face the world side by side all their lives. They were 'suppose' to be the oldest living craniophagus twins. I somehow have a problem with story being fictional. I wanted it to be a real deal so I can empathize with the characters which I can't with this book. Soon I lost interest and stopped reading altogether.

On Dec 2, I picked the book again and continued from where I had left on page 119. By this time I already forgot who's Rose and who's Ruby? Nevertheless, the book managed to pique my interest again. I especially enjoyed the flash back love story on the twins adopted parents. Where instead of saying I love you to each other, Uncle Stash (father) will hold his heart and look into Aunt Lovey (mother)eyes and say You. And Aunt Lovey will reply You with a smile or a nod. Aaww ...

Cant say I enjoyed the book. But I'm glad I finally finished reading it. Not able to finish a book to me felt like wasting food (although the food may not taste so good or even not to my liking, but it is food nontheless).

I found this quotation on page 307:
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Janda Baik escapade

2009-12-17T23:41:00.000+08:00

An old schoolmate invited our family to his vacation home in Janda Baik, Pahang last weekend. We didnt spend the night there (unlike other friends) due to hubby's other engagement on the next day. After 1hr drive from KL, we reached 'Selindong'. The kids had a blast - swimming in the shallow river, touring the animal's farm within the house compound while I can't stop admiring the beauty of the house itself which is to me like a replica of an old Malacca palace. It was just so beautiful.

It was a fabulous afternoon for all of us. We almost hate to say goodbye.

Temptation

2009-12-06T09:50:00.009+08:00

It was one day before the Aidil Adha public holiday. Both hubby and me took leave to take the family to PD but before leaving KL, I had one request to my hubby - bring me to one of the biggest, boldest book sales aptly named the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale. And he said OK. Yipee!! We soon realised that hundreds of KLites were thinking of the same thing. We were stucked in a long que just to park the car. I went off first in order to safe time (we had a hotel reservation to chase later in the afternoon) whilst hubby tried to find a parking space. It was a Thursday and a working day.

To my dismay, there was another long que before one can get into the sale venue. Malaysians and sales! That's what we all have in common irregardless of race and age :))

An hour later, I came out with 6 new books and 2 house magazines for me and 4 books for the kids. With that I now have ... 22 books (really??) in my to read list. Mustnt say that out loud. Hubby already complained that I didnt read this one (very) thick book he bought for me. Soon was my reply. For me reading a book really much depends on what kind of mood I am. So that's why I keep a lot of genres with me. Just in case :)

I'm currently reading 3 books. Not all together but one after another. No joke. There's this one book which took me forever to finish hence I took another book just to spice up my attention. Lost? So am I.

I better take my shower now. Have a good week everyone.

Angela Ashes - the movie

2009-12-03T22:02:00.005+08:00

Finally we made it. The third activity of the Not-So Bookclub of Sisterhood (and Kite Runner)Society was to watch Angela Ashes. We did it last weekend during the Aidil Adha holiday at our last venue - Kak Lin's house in Sri Iskandar. The usual members were there except for kak long (my eldest sis-in law) who's attending her daughter's graduation in London (and is still there, as I'm writing this).

I enjoyed the movie but I adored the book 10 times more. It probably be just a film for some who havent read the book but for Angela Ashes (the book) fans, the said book leave a lasting impression long after you have read it. Nevertheless, all the child actors in the movie was so convincing and adorable. I can imagine Frank McCourt and his brothers running around in the rain in cold, cold Limerick. Thanks to Kerry who was the one who alerted me about the existence of the said movie ^_^

New Moon the movie

2009-11-29T22:25:00.005+08:00

I had wanted to post this for several days ago but due to technical glitches (I dont know how to download the pic from my ehem ... new phone) that I had to postpone it until I figure out the how-to.

After days of anticipating, it finally here. I've received 2 passes to the premier screening from a colleague who knows I'm a fan of both the books and the previous Twilight movie. And for New Moon the movie... I luurvvvee it!!! No doubt everytime Edward or Jacob appeared .. or did something .. or even something happened to them on screen, you can hear the girls when aawww.. ahhh.. omg!! ... etc. Which was quite comical actually. The were many Team Jacob fans who came for the premier show (judging from the gushes everytime he appeared on screen) and there were even Team Volturi fans who came complete with their costume. Black cape and all. Ha!ha! But in all honesty Volturi's wears such lavish attire. I'm talking Twilight's language here. But what's not so good about it was that all 3 kissing scenes were chopped off by I presume our censorship board to appear shorter. Can you believe it - they sensored kissing scenes. Hmm ... Nevertheless I'm so glad that Chris Weizt (the director) is genius enough to let Edward appear more often on screen to satisfy the Edward-thirst vampire fans. Unlike in the book. Okay enough said.

I'm happy to say that my hubby enjoyed the movie too ^_^ He's interest is of cos towards Alice (the cutest vampire) which I totally am okay with. I'm sooo greatful that he want to see the movie with me, knowing how obssesed I am with the books.

Bottom line is he didnt doze off like he did in Angels and Demon. And for that I'm thankful. Oh I cant wait for the third movie - Eclipse.

Hong Kong pics - final

2009-11-24T22:35:00.000+08:00

These are the final pics of my recent trip. Our last day in HK was spent at Bauhinia Square, Sampan (small boat) ride and at this beach where Jackie Chan has one of his house on top of the hill.

Later in the evening we took a ferry to Zhuhai, China where another shopping iterinary awaits us. Phew! The city is literary across the road from Macau! But we didnt get to see much of Macau except for on our way to its airport the next day. Nevertheless on that short bus ride I got to see about 5-6 of the tiny country's 33 casinos.

Hong Kong pics part 2

2009-11-22T01:15:00.002+08:00

Second day was dedicated to shopping, Disneyland and more shopping. Although it looked like we (hubby and me) spent a lot of time at HK Disneyland but actually we didnt. I think we stayed for about 2 hrs in there and left the rest of the group to venture on our own. Armed with train maps and comfy Crocs we find our own way to HK busy, hip and happening shops and places. I think that was fun. We had no idea where we were everytime we dropped off from the train but just walked and enjoyed ourselves and just making sure we have enough change to take the train back.

Hong Kong - pics part 1

2009-11-15T17:31:00.006+08:00

Finally I am back in the bloggersphere after (was it 3 weeks?) hiatus. I have no idea why. These are pics of my short visit to Hong Kong. Fun Madame Tussauds and breathtaking view of Victoria Peak were the agendas. Both hubby and me had so much fun taking silly poses at MT. I am sorting out pics for part 2. So keep watching for that one. Btw, the above fridge magnet made it to number 91 on my fridge :)

I love the way you're breakin my heart by Nicki Parrott

2009-10-28T00:00:00.000+08:00

I'm going away for the next 4 days to HK. But before I do, I'm posting this beautiful song (I think originally sang by Peggy Lee) but an equally good rendition here by Nicki Parrott. I think you will enjoy it too.
Till then. Ta da.

Team Edward

2009-10-25T00:02:00.006+08:00

26 days and counting before New Moon the movie hits the theatre.
I am sooo looking forward to see this. Although New Moon is my least favourite book in the series (I came to the conclusion after reading all 4 books in the series) but who in her right(or crazy) mind ignore Edward Cullen especially on silver screen? He's like the James Dean of vampires. That's the reason of why this book became my least favourite bcos Edward only appear in the beginning and at the end. But when he does ... all hell freezes over!!
But until then 25, 24, 23 ... *sigh*

Chick flick movies

2009-10-19T23:10:00.007+08:00

Last weekend was the last week of Syawal, meaning people were rushing to hold their open houses and inviting friends and relatives. We had 3 invitations in one Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, at the last house we showed up out of courtesy but couldn't eat much. I did eat a bit although I was really fulled as not too offend the host.

Back to the post title. Although I can't stand book of the same genre but movies fortunately or not (depends) I can. Most often than not, I dont indulge myself in watching TV (prefer book instead) but when I do watch ... oh boy I can go on and on! Case in point, last weekend where I took advantage of the long Diwali weekend holidays and watched 3 movies of the said genre. It nearly went to four titles if I didnt stop myself from watching Nottinghill ... again. My brain has become fuzzy and mushy due to love stories overload ... but I enjoyed it all ^_^ Below are the cute movies according to sequence - watched by yours truly.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-10-13T22:32:00.004+08:00

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows.

I read this book quite some time back - during the raya breaks. It took me only 4 days.

I looooovvvveee this book. It's funny, witty and at many points sad but without being too over bearing.

As the title suggest, it is about a book club which was formed out of neccessity and where the focus of the book was at first to understand the meaning and logic behind the club's name. Slowly the focus shifted to its members, the book they were reading (if there was any book, to begin with), their war torn surroundings and finally to certain individuals whom you cannot help but fell in like with.

On page 111, instead of reading a published book to the club members, a certain member decided to read a book which she wrote herself. She claimed that her book had caused 'more tears and sorrow than anything that Charles Dickens ever wrote'. Why? Because they were in the midst of World War 2 with the German soldiers swarming their island situated across the English Channel in the middle between UK and France. With food ration, no meat diet and surviving on potatoes for many, many cold months and not even wood to burn - this woman is reading out loud her self-wrote book on the correct way to roast a suckling pig to her nearly famished audiences!!!

Image via Wikipedia

I also like the one-liner back and forth notes from one of the book's character with one of her suitor. Which to me was uncharacteristically modern for a story meant to be in 1946 but didnt spoil the flow of the story. The book has plenty of this. Short notes that made me laughed out loud ie. Benjamin's Cook Book for Girl Guides where the writer assumes reader has no idea what-so ever on cooking hence hint like 'when adding eggs, break shell first'.

Since I was in the fast forward mode of reading the book so I was still at it in the wee hours of morning. I reached to a part where a very important character died. I cried. Stopped reading. Went down to the kitchen. Made coffee. Carried 2 pieces of biscuits and the mug of coffee into my room before continuing my read.

I did make some speculation on the lead characters love interest and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was wrong. How very interesting to not be able to predict - the plot.

Amongst all I can't agree more to this line I found on page 58:

'Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books'.

I finished reading at 0320hrs in the morning.

Kite Runner the movie

2009-10-05T22:07:00.002+08:00

Image by chrisuemach via Flickr

The second unofficial activity of the Not-So Bookclub of Sisterhood (and Kite Runner) Society after of cos reading the said book was watching the movie. It was unplanned but since all of us sisters, me - sis in laws and niece had read the book (well some were in the midst of reading the book and one not yet but will soon) and we were all excitingly exchanging notes with each other that we've decided on the 4th raya when all of us will be at one of my sis-in law house in Sri Iskandar that we will book the tv from our husbands and children and watch the movie.
The scene was like watching a movie at TGV cinema at the Gold class (but better) where we had K. Kema's coffee prepared and popcorn was replaced with muruku. The children were shoos away and some brave husbands tried to join the viewing only to quit less than 15 minutes except for Abg Helmi whom stay put (either out of courtesy since it is his house or he has nothing better to do :)).
There were plenty of dont tell me what happen next, do tell what happen, who is this guy, why did he do that etc. In short everything you would expect from a bunch of women, watching Kite Runner at 11pm after being deeply moved by the book.
So our next mission ... to watch Angela Ashes the movie. On Raya Haji perhaps?

Wilder Sisters by Jo-Ann Mapson

2009-09-28T22:08:00.003+08:00

'Destrozado' she said, using the Spanish word for 'broken' heart.

This is where I cried. Dont know why but somehow I felt the character's anguish in this story where she can barely speak of her sorrow. And somehow she's searching for some traditional remedy to make her forget her 'unreturn' love.

Ahh ... a love story. Yes but not entirely. It's about two sisters whom are poles apart in character but fiercely protective of each other. It took me almost a month to finish this. I was not in a hurry. After Kite Runner, I need something light, an unmemorable title to dilute my thoughts. This book served it purpose.

Towards the end of the book there is this prayer mentioned which I kinda like and wanna share it here: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen, to that.

Post Eid Mubarak

2009-09-27T08:55:00.009+08:00

Image by Richard Pluck via Flickr

but the celebration continues ...

I have no excuse for not updating my blog more frequently.

I would like to say that one of the reason is my lack of internet access back at my hometown (which is partly true) but even when I did get a connection (like at my sis-in law house in Sri Iskandar) all I did was typed in a few lines so my fellow blogger friends come followers ( I only have two) will know why I'm m.i.a

I truly can relate to the phrase that busy people get more work done compare to if you have all the time in the world ... like I do during my one week leave whereby I tend to slouch around ... off from everything even thinking hmm ... another word to that is l.a.z.y

And so the Eid ul Fitr celebration/holiday was at full gear last week and even as I'm writing this (lucky me or ... not depends on how one look at it) bcos it is being celebrated over a month long. I like to think that most people are like me, whereby I will gain all 30 days of fasting in Ramadhan (if there was ever any reduce in my weight at all) within the first day of Syawal itself. Blame it on all those delicious ketupat palas, lemang, rendang and off the shelves cookies but never on my weakness to glutton temptation *sigh*

Another good thing that comes with Eid Mubarak apart from the long holiday and good food was of cos the gathering of relatives and siblings under one roof. I know my mom was ecstatic to have us (siblings including son in law minus my younger brother whom celebrated 1st day of raya at his wife's hometown) reciting yasin (quran verses) at my father's grave in the early morning of 1st Syawal right after the Eid ul Fitr prayers at the village surau (a smaller version of a mosque). This is our first raya without my father. That explains my mom lack of interest to bake her own cookies this year. Except for the raya cookies, my mom did cook all her other delicious specialities which all of us can't live without.

The gathering of sistership (4 sis in-law and me ) this year had a new twist. I like to think of it as the born of The Not-So book club of Sisters (and Kite Runner) Society or something like that. Stay tune to that in my next post ^_^

And of cos, what is days off without books? I finished reading two books which satisfied me to the max.

Tomorrow is back to work. I received a text last Friday evening from the GM's office. The secretary texted me to say that I have a 0900hr session with the new GM on Monday morning.
Until then, I have the whole Sunday (today) to enjoy!!

Salam Mubarak

2009-09-22T20:30:00.003+08:00

I'm on one week raya leave which started last Saturday Sept 19. Been very busy chasing deadlines and clearing office's tasks so I can go on leave in peace.

I suppose to leave the office at 4:00pm. I agreed to an impromptu meeting at 3:30pm. 'It will take only 20 minutes the most' said the Accounts Manager. After I said yes to her, my new GM phoned to ask for a summary of all our studios booking in October so she could add in another new channel bookings. 'I thought I catch you before you leave for your raya celebration' she said.

I managed to convinced the Media Sales lady boss that there's nothing wrong with my department's invoices to them and she should start paying us, so the meeting ended in 10 minutes. And I pulled out my thumbdrive to retrive my monthly report and after minor tweeking on the format, posted it to my GM.

Said my goodbye in haste before something else comes up.

Salam Aidil Fitri everybody. Happy Holiday.

One sheep, two sheep, zillionth sheep

2009-09-13T02:56:00.005+08:00

Image by Tattooed JJ via Flickr

It's 2 minutes to 0300am in the morning and I'm still wide awake. This is what one and half plastic cups of San Francisco extreme caffein do to you. I had that this evening after our family had our 'breaking of fast' at a western food restaurant.

Even after 2 hours of tossing and turning, one and half our of reading (and cried too) and a glass of tropical fruit punch, here I am still very much awake. So I've decided to log into my notebook and write this in.

Another one and a half hour, I will have to wake up for 'sahur' (pre-dawn eating). Not sure how I'm gonna survive tomorrow (technically it is already tomorrow). Sure glad its a Sunday!!

I can hear that it's already started to rain outside. Maybe that will help lull me to sleep.

Favourite past time or plain greed?

2009-09-05T14:33:00.009+08:00

2 weeks before Ramadhan started, I managed to persuade hubby to check out a book sale. He reluctantly agreed with spesific warning that I adhere to to the time limit of 1.5 hours. Okaayyy ... I agreed too eagerly which didnt convinced him which lead to another round of lecture in the car as we were making our way there. He knew me too well.
When it comes to books ... his wife can turn into a monster that lose all sense of time, care, even responsibility to her own family !!! tsk!tsk!
On another thought, being a reading and entertaining monster sure could count for something? Isnt it? Hi! hi!
But I'm happy to report that yes I adhered to my time limit and now I'm a proud owner of 8 more new/old books and that gives me a total of 18 books in my to read list. Hmm ... no wonder greed is listed as one of the deadly sins.
ps/ Kak lin, I have Frank McCourt 3rd book (I can lend it to you) and Kerry, I bought Anne Rice ...

Danish turn 11

2009-09-02T22:49:00.009+08:00

My eldest son Danish turned 11 today. We celebrated at TGIF where we break our fast.

The food

Danish with his mp3 present

TGIF staffs singing Happy Birthday to Danish (he was quite nervous and shy about it)