How do you measure a year in the life?

2006 is almost over, my year in Adelaide is almost over. I'll be a graduate soon. A lot has happened this year. But what have I learnt? What lessons can I take with me to 2007? Just how do I measure this year?

Seasons Of Love

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love?

Measure in love.

Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan.

525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried.

In bridges he burned, or the way that she died.

It's time now to sing out, though the story never ends

Let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends.

Remember the love! Remember the love! Remember the love!

Measure in love.

Seasons of love! Seasons of love.

Maybe in love. 4 seasons of kindness and joy, a year of love. Yes, maybe in love.

Exams

Wahahahha.. last paper in 10 hours and 59 minutes. Three more chapters and one mock exam practice paper to go. No need to sleep again tonight. I wanna shoot the person who came up with exams. If he isn't already dead, that is. Bang! Bang! He's dead.

Conversations with mom

Talking on the phone with mom is always....an experience. But, when my 'no boyfriend allowed' mom starts asking questions like this:

Mom: Eh, got boyfriend already or not ar?
Me: Erm... no...
Mom: No ar? Asutralia got no boys wan meh?
Me: Got lah. But none worth looking at lah.
Mom: Church also dun have boys ar?
Me: Gottt. But none I would wanna go out with laa.
Mom: Aiyo.... How come like that wan?
Me: How I know...
Mom: Hmm.. Ok la. I'll pray for you to have one soon.
Me: !?

I wonder who is more desperate. Though I really wouldn't mind her praying for one for me soon.

Maybe she wants grandkids :O !

Must. Learn. To. Be. Tebal. Muka.

It's true.... More and more often I find that I have to be thick skinned or thick face to get what I want. Because I get ignored when I ask nicely. So, Must. Learn. To. Be. Tebal. Muka. and have the hide of an elephant. Just continually ask and bug people till they get the stuff I want done. Muahahhahaha. I'd rather be pushy rather than wait and worry :P

And being Tebal Muka gets things done because people get so fed up with all the badgering. But.. if you end up working with someone you have been Tebal Muka to, then... all I can say is: Good luck, may you have a very enjoyable time. Hahahahaha... in this case you have to be even more Tebal Muka.

I wish it were easier

Life has been a breeze for the past 21 years. Granted, I had my fair share of teenage dramas, dissapoitments, arguments and definately more than enough hospital visit, but I think it's pretty safe for me to say that I've had a pretty good 21 years. I have great parents, I've got a great sister and a great brother, I've got great friends.

I've never really have to work really hard at anything. Studies have always been easy. My grades have always been above average ever since I was in kindergarten. I can still remember that my kindy boyfriend and I were the only ones who scored 100 in everything, including Mandarin, a language I can't even speak now. I missed at least two months of Standard 5 and didn't really study for USPR; and the only preparation I did for PMR was going through the past exam papers. As for SPM, my going to the library was a cover to check out guys. Yes... checking out guys at the library....a bit sad I know, but how can anyone not find smart, serious, broody guys hot? College days at Taylors was more play than study. Deciding what I wanted to study after that was a little tricky, but it didn't take me a lot of thought to decide on Psychology. I did, however, buckle down a little in uni. And I've been doing pretty well in Adelaide. I think I don't suck at sports. I always managed to scrape through my piano and theory exams with minmal practice (from me) and maximum reprimands (from my music teacher).

Point is, I've never worked really hard to acheive anything. Some of the time, I think it was because I thrive under pressure. But most of the time, it was because I never had to. I was the competition that people worked to beat. Kinda arrogant, huh... I admit it, I can be very arrogant at times :) Anyway, I somehow always get what I want, and most of the time come out on top (Or at least, very near the top) by doing, in my opinion, very little.

But everything changes, I guess. I just sent in my applications for a research vacation scholarship and for my honours year. I worry that I won't be able to get in, and I dread the days that I have to wait before I'm told the results of the applications. See, I things to be certain. I like things to be done my way, I like being in charge. And it kills me that I don't have total control over what I'm going to do next year.

And this time, the competition isn't me. Instead, I'm the one who's having to compete with other brilliant minds (yes, I've just reffered to myslef as a brilliant mind). Adding to this is the fact that some idiots I know have said some really discouraging things about my decision to apply for the scholarship and honours. I barely know some of these people. Really felt like givng them a few slaps, but what's the point... The only way out of this, I can see, is to start working really really hard for my exams.

And it sucks that it's the only way. And what happens after I get into honours? I really don't have any clue as to what to do, of what I want to be career wise. And this frightens me, because it's another decision that I'm going to have to make. A decision that I have to make way sooner if I'm not accepted into honours. What then?

It won't be easy, if things don't go my way and I don't get what I want. But I do know some things. I know what I want in life, though I may not know how to get it. I know the type of person I want to be and I know that the only way to do this is to never loose sight of the important things.

I have my dreams, and I'm not going to give up on them yet. Even if it means that I have to start working really really hard. Hey, there's a first time for everything right? :)

Ticking the calender, counting the days

2 days till final tutorial.

5 days till the last assignment is due.

5 days till study break.

10 days to apply for a research summer scholarship.

Roughly 15 more days to complete five psychology honours applications.

20 days till exams, less than 7 days to study for each subject (AAAHHH)

22 days till my life as an undergraduate is over.

23 days to find a job for the holidays.

31 days till I know if I get the research summer vacation scholarship. Please please pray that I do.

50 days till my graduation ceremony.

55 days till Chirstmas.

61 days till 2007 and new resolutions.

68 days till I fall on my knees to kiss my motherland.

Milestones. This whole year has been filled with milestones. Leaving home for another country, letting go and leaving behind people and places that I'm comfortable with, turning 21, learning to really trust God (still learning!), learning to let people in, learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, getting a scholarship, friends getting married, friends having babies, applying for postgrad studies...

I feel overwhelmed with how fast this year has been going, and even more so this week. Since Monday, I find myslef constantly running through a metal checklist of things that I have to do. Maybe it's the fact that it's the last week of lectures and my final semester as an undergraduate is coming to an end, but I'm feeling weird. Kinda like stress + frustrated + determined + hopeful. Guess it's the final sprint before the finish line. I will complete this race. I must. Otherwise dunno how many thousand go down the drain laaaa.....

I'm a bear. A bear!

Hahahahhaha... according to the questionnaire on argument styles and conflict resolution that Colonel Sanders gave on in my counseling tutorial, I usually use the forcing/domination strategy, instead of the three other styles - accomodation, compromise and collaboration. This led to my very loud outburst of giggles in class and a few 'weirdo...' stares from my classmates because the first thing that came to my mind was....

Sorry la... this was truly the first image that came to mind.

But then leh, Colonel Sanders would rather have his students compare their conflict resolution strategies to animals la rather than, uh, the first thing that we thought of. So... we had the turtle, the shark, the teddy bear, the fox, and the owl. And...I'm a shark. The questionnaire says that I act like a shark, trying to achieve my goals at all costs, demanding that the other person let you have your way.

Wahaahhaha... Mindy the Shark. I bite you then you know!

But I'm a bear... My nickname on MSN is Lil'BlueBear. My nickname on blogger is Lil'BlueBear. Some of my friends still call me 'Bearrr'. I dunno why la, hopefully it's because I'm cute and cuddly like a teddy bear and not because I'm fat...Anyway, the point is I wanna be the teddy bear. An evil shark eating, picnic basket stealing, teddybear. A teddy bearrr!!!!!!!

Better to be chased by idiotic park rangers then to be made into sharks fin soup ler...

Bubble wrap

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The Creature

The girl was 19, maybe 20. Clad in a white blouse and khaki shorts, her hair flew behind her as she ran along the water’s edge. She had a knapsack slung over her right shoulder while her left hand held a pair of sneakers. The girl seemed to be rushing somewhere. Then she stopped and took in a deep breath. The smell of the salty sea water transported her back to the miracle day exactly five years ago.

She was in her old room, her eyes closed as she cried, prayed and pleaded with God to bring her beloved back. She knew it was better this way, better that he had left the world, that he had left the pain behind. The girl just wanted to look into those amazing soulless eyes one more time. Then, the heavens opened. Rain poured and lighting lit the skies. Perhaps, God had heard her cries.

Her room was a prism of colors as she opened her eyes. Feeling dizzy, the girl moved to open the window. As she did, she felt that there was something different. She looked out of the window and vaguely realised that the view didn’t belong to her window. Her room wasn’t hers anymore. She was standing on a little mound of sand surrounded by water. One could barely call it an island, for the girl could walk across it in four giant steps, and around it in seven. More puzzled than afraid, she closed her eyes as she sat down and leaned against the single, leafless tree that grew right in the middle of the tiny piece of ‘land’.

A spray of sea water startled the girl. Opening her eyes, the girl found herself level with a bizarrely magnificent creature. At least, the girl thought the creature was magnificent up to the waist. The rest of it the girl couldn’t see; it was in the water. By Cleo standards, the creature was just bizarre. With a soft oval face with ears that stuck out, the fashion police would have arrested it for being noticed with only a chunky coral necklace and nothing else. Perhaps that was the reason the creature was still half immersed in the water. Its emerald hair contrasted with skin so translucent that the girl had to blink away the intensity of the clash.

“Hello Lily… Take a swim with me.” The creature cocked its head to one side, waiting for the girl. It was rather assured that the girl would follow the order, though she seemed disinclined to make any move toward the water.

“Who are you?” the girl asked.

“The waterman’s right today, you know. The water’s nice and warm and I haven’t seen a shark all day.” the creature said.

“That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“Was that question really the question you wanted to ask? Answers don’t explain. There are a few jellyfish swimming around, though. Come on…”

The girl stood and took the step she needed to reach the edge of the island. “Fine”, she said, as she took off her blouse and took the creature’s hand. Together, they plunged deep into the ocean blue…..

O Captain! My Captain!

by Walt Whitman

O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done;

The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won;

The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,

While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring.

But O heart! heart! heart!

O the bleeding drops of red!

Where on the deck my Captain lies,

Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! My Captain! Rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up! For you the flag is flung, for you the bungle trills;
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths, for you the shores a-crowding;
For you the call, the swaing mass, their eager face turning.
O Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head,
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse or will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won!
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I with mornful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

This week

A week ago, my hopes for finding a hot guy in Adelaide had almost been down to zero. This, I knew, was because my 'hot' consituted of both brains AND beauty. Every guy I talked to was either just brains or just 'please take off your shirt for me'. Those who did have both intelligence and looks were gay. Needless to say, I was becoming rather disillusioned. Until... this week Wednesday. I present to you my hotti totti.

Codename: Snofalafugus
Age: Over 25, not yet 30
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dirty sandy brown
Smile: Very nice. Also has a very mischevious grin.
Height: Tall enough for me to wear four inch heels when I go out with him
Academic qualifications: PHD
Marital status: Not married (I know, coz I looked)
Other hot factors: Friendly, funny, charming, talks nonsense, rides a bike to work, almost got to see him take off his sweaty shirt.......

Oh be still my heart *swoon*

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Thursday: Produced a 17 page practical report. I will puke if I have to read another journal.

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Friday: After the horrible all nighter I pulled to finish the report I procrastinated on, I had to help out at Mamak Night, something I volunteered my services for before I knew I was going to pull an all nighter.

My job: Help out with the drinks
What I expected: Help out with the drinks
What I got: 5 hours of looking at CinCau that never sold. Eewks
What I now know: I never want to taste, smell or look at CinCau in my lief ever again

But... I have to say, Mamak Night was excellent. I mean.. with curry, and roti canai, and teh tarik, plus the Mamak atmosphere. Makes me want to go back home more than ever

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Saturday: After going with almost no sleep on Wed, Thurs and Fri, I amazed myslef by waking up before 10 am. Then i decided to go hit a few shuttlecocks since I didn't have anything to do.

3.00 pm: take racquet out of case
3.01 pm: Position myself in the middle of the court
3.02 pm: Hit shuttle
3.03 pm: Move to the left to hit shuttle
3.04 pm: Jump
3.05 pm: On the floor with bruised tailbone and sprained ankle

Now: Cannot walk, have to stand on one foot, have to sit down to change underwear. Backside still aching

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Tomorrow: I need to take two buses to get to a job interview. Hope I can play the sympathy card to get hired.

So tell me

Would you rather be

cleverly stupid

or

stupidly clever?

If I were the writer....

All I have done the past two days is...... stay at home and watch the third Season of One Tree Hill, an incredibly idiotic melodrama with all kinds of dumbo love triangles and donkey characters who are so donkey. And yet, I watch 22 40-minute episodes in two days. Think I'm addicted? I am... definately...

Anyways... Season 4 is out. But I don't have a TV at home (horrrors!!!) so though it's already airing, I won't be able to watch Season 4 until it's downloadable. To satisfy my appetite for stupid One Tree Hill drama, I'm going to predict Season 4. So here's what will happen if I, Mindy Oon, is head writer of this drama.

1. Since Nathan, Cooper and what's her name are trapped in their water grave, they will almost die. Almost because Lucas will come, jump in, and be hero and save them.
2. I'll make Peyton the pregnant one (season 3 ended with the mystery of someone being pregnant) because she's the drama queen. She'll be pregnant with Jake's baby and Jake will come back to Tree Hill.
3. Then they will decide to get married because Jake loves her soooo much.
4. But the the allter during their wedding, Peyton decides that she can't go thorough witht he wedding... because she's still in love with Lucas, who by this time, has broken up with Brooke.
5. So Lucas and Peyton get together, and three days later, Peyton realises that she's wrong and that jake was 'the one' all along
6. By this time, Jake decides that he has had enough and goes back to Savannah
7. And Peyton goes into her 'everyone leaves' mode again.
8. In the meantime, Mouth finally gets out of the friend zone and gets together with Brooke and Rachel gets jealous and regrets that she treated him so horribly so she tries to break them up. And when she succeeds, Lucas comes to Brooke's rescue and they become friends again.
9. Then... Dan gets more psycho and tried to kill Deb because he sees her as the factor that pushed him to kill Keith.
10. And Dan offers his help to help Karen with her new baby because he feels guily for killing Keith. But Karen will hentam him kau kau. So he goes really really psycho and tries to kill the whole town by poisoning the water system.
11. Dan will also have another heart attack
12. Lucas will decide to sacrifice his college fund for Karen's baby and work as a mechanic. And he'll start to have a drinking problem and he'll kiss some girl when he's drunk.
13. Nathan and Hayley will get different colleges and they'll fight about it.
14. Anna comes back and Peyton discovers the real reason why she drives every boy away....

Let's see how many of these will come true..

If only...

Seeing You the other day reminded me exactly why I fell for you months ago...

Your piercing eyes and Your silly grin, Your gentle touch and Your sweet concern, Your whacky sense of humour and Your complete inability to shut that motormouth of yours...

You're a joker, You're a friend. You're my knight and You're my prince. You're my inspiration, my reason...

You make me smile, You make me melt, You make me want to be a better person...

You'll always be my what if guy, the one that got away.

If only You knew....

I am going maddd

I am going mad. I am going to puke if i have to read another article on behavioral enrichment in zoos. I want to be put in a zoo enclosure where I can sleep the whole day and wake up at feeding times. All I have to do is to stand around occasionally for stupid humans to admire me. AHHH... I wanna drop our of uni dee la...Must. Dare. To. Fail. Stupid zoo practical.

Ok.. 'nuff of the mindless ranting.

I cannot wait for Gold Coast! Sun, sand, surf, HOT surfer guys..... Only, I have half a mind not to go because I am pertified of having to go on the rides in the theme parks. How la... I already screamed my lungs out sitting on the puny Royal Adelaide Show ride before the ride even started. And this rides are those that can be taken apart and put together again on summore! Those in Gold Coast... four times higher and 100 times more terrifying laaaa..... I think my kaki will lenguh when I see them. How how how.......

Bah!

average number of times in gym a week since the middle of last month: 3

average time spent in gym per session: 45 mins

number of saturdays spent playing 4 hours of badminton with the UNISA badminton club: 3

number of times sneaked in to play badminton at the Uni Adelaide badminton club: 2

number of times played basketball with the guys and yen yen: about 5

number of times got hit on by some desperado who self invited himself to play basketball: 1

number of times looked at chocolates in Foodland: 100 and something

number of times resisted buying chocolates from Foodland: 1

current weight: Unknown. Because I am to chicken to stand on the evil weighing machine.

The engineer's pond

About two months ago, I made my lazy self useful and 'helped' a soon to be civil engineer who used to flick every available poster in SS15 build this:

I shoveled a grand total of five spadefuls of dirt before hightailing back to Adelaide.

And here, the engineer scratched all his kuli's names into the cement, marks to remind him of our hard labour for all eternity.

Then because I had more than four hours of free Vodaphone to Vodaphone talk time, I had a conversation with the enigineer.

Me: Eh, how's the pond?
P: Never see the pictures I sent you meh?
Me: Got la, but they were so grainy. You're a lousy photographer.
P: Aiya, I send you some more later lor (which by the way, has not arrived). Saw your name or not?
Me: Yeap.
P: But I think they're going to be washed away soon.
Me: Har? how can? You etched it on cement right?
P: Yes......
Me: Then how can la?
P: Because the pond was leaking.
Me: hahahhahahahahha. I'm sorry, you're graduating with a degree in what again at the end of this year?
P: Civil engineers don't build things la. We design.
Me: I thought that was what architects were for.
P: Right. Next time I build your house for you ok?
Me: Erm.... Pond also cannot build properly summore wanna build my house? Hahaha... My house runtuh la.
P: Can la... I'm building my own house also.
Me: And if it falls down?
P: Um, then your house will fall down as well. And we can die together in our fallen houses.

I know who's not going to build or for that matter, design my house next time... :p

Malaysia Negaraku

Seeing that Merdeka (National Day in Malaysia) 2006 is approaching in a couple of days, I decided to demonstrate my patriotism by taking a 'How un-Malaysian Are You?' quiz. Here's what I got.

Congratulations Mindy, you are 60% not Malaysian.

That means you're as Malaysian as...

Guy Sebastian !

How Un-Malaysian Are You?

What the heck? I also don't have afro hair!

Stalker

I have an inkling I gave my new neighbours a little scare yesterday. See, being carless in Adelaide, my only means of transportation is the public bus, unless friends of mine who have cars catch the hints that I ever so often cleverly drop into the conversations we have. However, the reason I had to risk my hand being severed by a moving vehicle to hail the bus 24 hours ago is still a little bit unclear. It may have been that I wasn't very clever yesterday (which in my opinion, is quite unlikely) or that i have stupid thick headed friends who do not have the mental capacity to catch my clever hints (Ahh... more likely). Bottom line was, I had to take the bus. And already it was getting dark....

Upon reaching busstop number seventeen, i reached out for the button that tells mr. bus driver to stop the bus. To my surprise, the little bell which goes off whenever someone presses the beautiful red button tinkled when my finger was still an inch away from it.

"Wah! I got magic finger. Got super powers. Bell can ring before I push button. Psychic powers wei", I thought to myself.

But since I'm a person of very high intelligence, I was able to deduce a little later that someone else on the bus might have pressed the button before me.

"Darn! Cannot join X-Men anymore"

So, the bus stopped and the person in front of me got down. And then I got down. He looked at me. So I smiled. It must have been a very weird smile because he gave me a weird look. But then maybe it was because his girlfriend was wating for him to feet away and she was soon going to walk him back home.

"So sweet. Only crazy people like you will wait at the busstop when it's 13 degrees"

The couple stands on the kerb wating to cross the road. I stand beside them. Of course it wasn't directly beside them. I was approximately one and a half meters away from them. They look lef and right. I look at them, because I'm too lazy to look out for the cars and since I was pretty certain that they didn't have death wish, I was sure I wouldn't get run over if I followed after them. Then they cross. So I cross. They reach the other side. I reach the other side. They get huggy and stary holding hands.

"Hmmm... I bet she doesnt have icy cold hands like me. Hey! can join X-Men after all. I'm the ice queen. I got super cold fingers. Can even work with Iceman!"

They walk. I walk behind them. They turn left. I turn left. They walk pass the house with the orange tree. Occasionally, I try to coerce my dear housemate into stealing oranges for me from this tree but he's a little to short so he can't reach the ornages. They look back. I stare back with a glazed expression. They quicken their pace. I matched theirs.

"Haha... stalker"

They turn left into the driveway. Right behind them I turn left as well (because we share the same driveway). They walk up to their house. I walk behind them. They reach their door step.

"Wonder what will happen if I stop here a while"

I stop for awhile. They look at me, hurry inside the house, shut the grill and glanced at me.

"Haha.. bodoh. Liddat also scared"

I smiled at them. Hey, we're neighbours after all, must be friendly la. I mean, who else am I supposed to go to if I run out of sugar? They slammed shut the wodden door and pulled down the blinds.

"hehehe...."

Answered

God listened. And answered. It isn't that I didn't expect Him to. On the contrary, I had knew that He would. It was just that I was getting very impatient. For those of you people out there who don't know it, I very much like things done my way. Yes, I like to be the boss. Ms. Boss. Mindy the Boss. Mindy Boss. But not Bossy Min. There's also another thing that you should know. I can be the most laid back person and worry about nothing. Dwelling over what would be is foriegn to me. Heck, last semester I didn't open any of my text books till the week before the exam. Ssshhhh...don't tell my mummy and daddy, I don't wanna die yet. But I have been worrying over what I would be going to do next year, since the three long years of mugging and slogging for a degree is finally! coming to an end.

But this week, through not one, but two people who were absolutely clueless about my thoughts reminded me that God has plans. And He would reveal them in His time. All I have to do is stop agonising over what to do next year, submit, continue praying and have faith - heartfelt trust that no matter what happens, with God, victory is already mine. So though I'm still not sure about next year, I know that whatever happens, it will be inline to what He wants for me. And I'm excited.

I wanted God to answer me in black and white.

He didn't.

He answered me in every conceivable color.

Teddy Bear

Darn it, I should have hopped into his car.

But my mummy said never never follow strangers into their car, even if they've introduced themselves as 'teddy bear'.

Heh. If my mummy and daddy had thier way, I would still be a virgin when I'm six feet under.

I should have hopped into his car, taken the car keys and driven it my way. Darn.

Down Down Down Under

Been back for two weeks, haven't been blogging for a while, don't feel like blogging either. Haven't been doing anything much, don't feel like doing anything either. Bleh.

So.... here's what's happened since I blogged weeks ago.

1. Stupid MAS airlines overbooked the flight i was supposed to take by 30 people. Bodoh. And wanted to kick me off the flight. Bodoh. Kick me off to Sydney and then ask me to fly from Sydney to Adelaide. Bodoh. Two hours transit and extra two hours of being in airplanes. Bodoh. And when I told them I didnt want to, they said they would upgrade me to business class if one of their passengers cancelled. Who cancels two hours before their flight la?? Bodoh. and when I got on the flight, there were like 10 Malaysians, or rather, 10 Asians on my flight. The rest were non Asians, who spoke with the very nice Aussie accent. So the airhostess (who was less pretty than I am) lansi and was oh so very rude. Bodoh. No wonder MAS airlines losing money like crazy, discriminating against passengers from their own country. Bodoh betul.

2. When I signed up for Biology and Learning Psychology, little did I know that I would be spending one of my practicals in the zoo observing the American Bison. If I had known, I would have asked for an exemption from this subject. After all, I already live in a zoo.

3. I baked cookies. Freddy said they looked like the poop his dogs produce. Jason said they were not very cooked. Aaron said they tasted horrible. But he ate up everything, including the cookies crumbs.

4. I've finished watching the whole first season of Desperate Housewives and One Tree Hill. That means 45 mins x 22 episodes x 2 seasons of staring at the computer screen.

5. I finally changed my quilt cover and pillow case. However, my quilt cover is now incredibally pink, with purple and blue coloured butterflies everywhere. It's what you'll get if you shop at the kids section because you don't want to cough up an extra 10 dollars for mature adult bed linen.

6. Bananas here are so expensive that I've seen people buying one banana. According to Jason it's because the hurricane ate up all the bananas.

7. My room has been cleaned at least four times in two weeks. And still there is a bathrobe, soccer socks, purple coloured bed socks, yellow socks, two bags and racquets on the floor. I don't even want to mention the stuff on the bed and on the table.

8. I met this guy last Saturday when I went to 'play' soccer. After arranging myslef in strategic locations on the pitch for two hours, he intoduced himslef as teddy bear and offered me a ride home. I'll be playing a lot more soccer from here on.

9. I joined the gym. And you can stop laughing.

Ponds, Superman, Lausy Friends.

Superman should take note of fashion trends and change his costume. Like Batman did (although the only change most people remember about Batman's costume was that they could see his nipples). Superman should trade in the tight little red number that he wears to cover his unmentionables for a pair of boxers with bird and airplane prints.

I learnt something today. A LAUSY friend of mine decided that building a POND was more important that going to KL with me. Although I do admit that the only reason that I wanted him to go with me was so that I would have transport to KL to see a few other friends of mine before I left for Adelaide, and in doing so would have dumped him the minute I crossed the state boundaries. However, since the LAUSY fella had his priorities all wrong, he decided to go ahead with the POND and yours truly and a few others were asked to be slaves for the day.

And so we dug and shovelled and toilled under the hot tropical sun. For hours and hours. My hands blistered. My back ached. My feet were buried in muddy soil more than once because some people could not tell the difference between my feet and the wheel-barrow. Sweat poured out from my very core. Even my finger nails were crying out as i shovelled my 100th spadeful of dirt into the wheel-barrow.

Fine. I was standing there most of the time talking nonsense and laughing at the people who were digging. I mean, I was giving them lots of encouragement and even praised them with a "Well done" and "Good job". I ask you, which girl, except for the most caring and supportive one (ie. me), would be willing to stand under the sun and get bitten by mosquitoes just to give encouragement and praise to people who refused her very last request before she left for a freezing cold country where everything except ice-cream has pork flavour?

Sigh.... so I guess I've learnt something today...

No, no, its not that I can't rely on my friends because they're LAUSY. I've known this from the very first time I met them :p

No, its not that I shouldn't help my LAUSY friends do backbreaking work either.

Nor is it the fact that it is more rewarding to help my LAUSY friend dig holes in his front yard rather than to give him a few smacks and avenge myslef.

What I learnt is this.

When people who have absolutely no idea what you have been up to ask where and what have you been doing all day, it is NOT very wise to say "I have been at his place helping him make POND".

Tag #1

I've decided to respond to this tag. Since I've been doing nothing much in Malaysia for the plus three weeks. Except opening my very own casino, playing badminton and watching football. And turning 21. And watching Superman and POC. And hanging out at mamak stalls. And going shopping. And having my circadian clock turned upside down.

But back to the point. The tag - 8 criteria for my perfect partner.

1. Has cash, credit cards, a condominium and cars, and connections to more cash, credit cars, condominiums and cars.
2. Preferbally aged, with a will stating that I get to inherit everything in No. 1.
3. Is a mixture of Johnny Depp, Edward Norton, and Wentworth Miller
4. Drives me where ever I want to go. And picks me up. And stops to ask for directions when he's lost.
5. Does the housework.
6. Is hairy enough to shave everyday.
7. Is able to give the perfect answer to the question "Honey, do I look fat in this?"
8. Wears boxers, not underwear.

So there you have it. The perfect partner. I have friends telling me that I'd do better if I just mail order a bridegroom. But then again, with Pos Laju, he'll probabaly get lost in the mail. Hah. But fortunately, I'm not all that shallow laa...

1. Knows God.
2. Has purpose and dreams that are parallel to mine.
3. Is able to give me the occasional push that I need, being the slacker that I am.
4. Is able to give me challenge. Or able to with me take up a challenge.
5. Is emotionally stable and matured.
6. Knows when to take the lead.
7. Is determined.
8. Is man enough to know that just sometimes, he may be wrong.

Now I'm beginning to think that I'd better go try my luck at mail ordering a perfect partner. Or maybe I'll just go with the first list and be shallow :p

My Football Fever

Yar Har Har and a Bottle of Rum
Guess Who's in KL Wanting to have Some Fun?

Since I've decided to be a true blue Portugal supporter (haha), yours truly and a few friends stayed up to watch the semi-finals between Italy and Germany, hoping that the yummy Italian boys with their thight fitting blue jerseys would beat Germany so that Portugal wouldn't have to face the host country WHEN (haha) she gets into the finals.

BUT, by half-time, the score was STILL nil for each side and all the other people I was wathcing the game with HAD FALLEN ASLEEP. Buruk betul. Ask me watch the game and then fall asleep. Snoring summore! Heh.

Anyway, I thought I'd watch the game till full time since I've already sat through half of the match. And not one goal. Not one. None. Zero. AArrghh. Aiyooo.... terrible soccer players make me sit there for 90 minutes until my backside pain and never score.

Piss me off laaa... so I went home just when extra time was starting. And went to sleep. Only to be woken up 40 minutes later to be told that Italy scored two goals in extra-time. Donkey. Dun wanna score when I watch. Cannot stop scoring when I stop watching. Mengada betul. Piss me off.

At least I got to see my darling Michael Ballack. And since Germany's out, Portugal will win la! hehehehehehehehehe

21 Years of His Grace and Mercy

Driving to KL and back again within one day is such a bore. But it gave me time to think about turning TWENTY-ONE. Supposed to be such a milestone and all ma, so must think a bit (think alot will hurt la). Anyway, after all that brainwork, I can only say that throughout my 21 years, God has alwyas been there for me. And I am grateful for this because I know I would not be who amd where I am today if not for Him.

I thought about You today,

And all I could do was give thanks and pray.

For even when I was unaware,

You were always, always there.

You were there when I stumbled and fell,

When I was disapointed and no one could tell.

You did not fail when others fell short,

You gave me strength, You gave me hope, You gave me support.

When all I wanted to do was run away and hide,

It was at these times You were most by my side.

For all this I say a grateful Thank You,

From the bottom of my heart, a Thank You that is long overdue.

Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot

A week ago the only thought that prevented me from putting myslef in an oven was that I was coming back to Malaysia. Now I'm thinking of putting myself in the frigde. It's fricking hot la...

I wake up at seven in an air-conditioned room with my pajamas drenched in sweat. I take a nap later in the afternoon only to find myself waking up because my shirt is drenched with sweat. I take three cold showers a day because let's face it, turning on the water heater in this weather is plain insane. I only drink water from the fridge and I've been switching on both fan and aircond in the afternoon. An yet it's still so hot that my nose has bled for the past three days.

I think I'm going to melt into a human puddle. Please, take me back to Adelaide. I don't care how. Buy me an air ticket, stuff me in you backpack, disguise me as a suitcase and check me in as your luggage, chop me up and fit little pieces of me in different bags, smuggle me past the airport secuirty. Whatever way you think is best. As long as I don't have to stay in this crazy place with its insanely hot weather.

And the Award Goes to...

I made a very important discovery today:

Jumping around the house with stiches in your mouth screaming "AAAAHHHHHH" because you're happy is NOT a good idea.

I think I deserve a Nobel Prize.

The Dentist

One of the reasons I came back to Malaysia was to eat. Heck, it was the only reason I was willing to submit myself to one whole month of sweltering under the scorching sun. But, it looks as if I'm gonna be sweltering without doing much eating at least for a week.

Because I went to THE DENTIST.

And took out two wisdom teeth.

The top one was infringing on my lower gum.

And the bottom one was inbedded one inch deep in my jawbone.

Oh, the utter dismay! when THE DENTIST said "give me the long needle".

Oh, the horror!! when THE DENTIST took out his mini saw.

Oh, the pain!!! when THE DENTIST sawed and pulled and tugged and lauged at my anguish.

Oh, the agony!!!! when THE DENTIST gave me a RM 660 bill.

I'm beginning to wonder whether it was worth it to pay that much so that I could drool all over myself because I have absolutely no feeling in the left part of my face. Plus I can't eat. Nor talk without sounding like I have a golf ball in my mouth.

The only thought that comforts me it that at least the forced diet will help me loose some of the pounds I've packed on in the past four months.

Magic Fingers

I have magic fingers. Like Dr. Elliot Reed from Scrubs has magic breasts. Only my magic fingers doesn’t increase the heart rate of a comatose patient. They cause me to freeze in the living room.

Let me explain.

Ever since I came to Adelaide, I’ve unintentionally damaged things. Unfortunately, the things I’ve destroyed have all been electrical appliances. Here’s the list of stuff so far.
1. My room light. I switch it on and *poof*. No more light
2. The bathroom light.
3. The porch light
4. The room light of a certain housemate. And this time, these magic fingers really worked their magic. Lets just say that by the time magic fingers had finished with the light bulb that she was trying to save, the wires connecting the light bulb to the ceiling had snapped and there was a household blackout because the electricity tripped.
5. These magic fingers were not only contented with spoiling lights. Freddy’s phone was next. I did not mean to break of one of the buttons. Really.
6. Then there was my brand new laptop. Magic fingers somehow managed to mess up the sound system. I had to watch silent movies for a good few weeks.

But, the lights were fixed, and these magic fingers of mine didn’t cause them to fuse anymore. Freddy got a new phone and my laptop sound system started to work again. Things were good. Until today.

Magic fingers destroyed light bulb in room. Again.

So I’m out in the living room, freezing my ass off typing this until somebody replaces the bulb for me because I don’t think I wanna cause another blackout.

At least not until exams are over.

Conversations with a friend

Me: Eh, I’m coming back to Malaysia.
C: When you coming back?
Me: On the 25th. Remember to put red carpet for me ar.
C: Hmmm. Remind me.
Me: Sure, I’ll tell you again later la.
C: Ya. Ya, remind me. Remind me so I can forget.

The Blogger Min

Finally. I’m an official blogger. After living my life for 20.9 years writing in the occasional diary that would inevitably vanish after a couple of weeks - and when I say vanish I mean totally disappear, never to be seen or heard of again – I’ve decided that I would do something different (Well, at least something that won't pull the dissapearing act on me). So, here, with syllogisms, I present to you my highly excellent deductive skills to illustrate why I’ve decided to take it upon myself to waste cyberspace.

Syllogism One
Premise 1: If I have a blog, then certain people who have asked me to blog will stop their
persistent whining.
Premise 2: I’ve started a blog
Conclusion: Therefore, the persistent whining will stop.

Syllogism Two
Premise1: If I blog, then I won’t die of boredom in Adelaide.
Premise 2: I don’t want to die of boredom
Conclusion: Therefore, I blog.

Syllogism Three
Premise 1: My sister has a blog, my cousin has a blog, my cousin-in-law has a blog, my friends
have blogs
Premise 2: I don’t have a blog and I have a bad habit of wanting what I don’t have
Conclusion: Therefore, I want a blog.

Syllogism Four
Premise 1: Bloggers are cool
Premise 2: Some people are bloggers
Conclusion: Therefore, If I am a blogger, I will be cool.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think I'm not very good at dealing with peer pressure. But who cares. Here's to a lifetime of squandering cyberspace!