There's a bigger world

The past week I've lived in a small world made up of family and friends, and it was a happy time filled with simple but meaningful activities.

I was browsing the headlines in the world updates today when I saw the articles on the massacre of a family in California by none other than a 'santa', who so happened was someone known to the family. A man, reportedly a nice church-going guy, dressed up as a Santa, showed up at his ex-wife's place and just randomly opened fire at people who were attending a christmas party there. He killed his ex-wife, her parents, her brothers and their wives, and a nephew, while injured a few others including a little girl who opened the door for him because she was excited to see Santa.

That is sad. I was shocked. I have problems but now they looked small, even tiny, when compared to what happened there and many other places. I have difficulties but what are bills compared to violence and death.

first christmas eve

This year promised to be a different year. It's my first christmas at my new place and I decided to do an at-home christmas. My family came, including my parents, SIL and my two cute nephews. Brothers were still working on xmas eve. By the time they reached my place, it was almost time for lunch. But before that, they were so excited to see the tree and gifts, we had to do the gift-stuff first. We had lunch by the cafe at my place, then, proceed to Queensbay mall. Games for the kids and shopping for the adults. I had to get a gift for the get-together with PS and PL on the 26th. I decided to go with a photo frame. And a nice one too!

The kids were ofcourse excited about going into the pool. After a few rounds of games, we went back and all of us quickly changed into our suits and jumped into the water.

By night-time, I was so tired I slept soundly that night and even slept through the very loud fireworks at midnight.

Simon Baker, I heart u

I'm revisiting my adolescent... I would like to shout from the highest peak, Simon Baker (or rather the character he plays in The Guardian, Channel 701, 7pm, daily), I lurve you! He is really gorgeous. and he is nice (in the TV show). and cool.

That's all... Haha...

Last minute luck

I have not had much luck playing scrable with Alvin. Although I could be leading in terms of scores throughout the game, he would usually (100% so far) come up with a Bingo almost towards the end of the game. And it would be too late for me to try to catch up. I hated that. Ofcourse I did that plenty of times to other people. But I've not managed to do any of it during games with Alvin!

Yeah, that's so last-minute luck! I guess he is just good, also.

Alone, in darkness

Well, the situation was not as morbid as the title suggests. It's just that the darkness was due to the power being cut which was due to the work being performed on the transformer. And alone was because the day was not a working day for almost everybody else but me. But ofcourse, I had asked to come to work because I just have too many on my desk. Call me dedicated, or whatever.

I had to remind myself that it was day time and it was bright outside. Actually only rooms along my corridor were affected. If I were to stand at the corridor, I would see light at the end. And it was not exactly pitch black. Some rooms had lights. My room had no light but the power to my equipments were all there. That's why I was there anyways.

When the power was first shut off, I found out that I couldn't open my door and was locked in! It was one of those kind of door with an automated security lock. That gave me a few minutes of panic. Then, I calmed down. The phone was still working. All I had to do was call the chargeman. They would know what to do. True enough, they were working on the temporary power supply. And a few minutes after my call, the facilities guys came and with a screwdriver, did something to the door so that it could be opened. How useful a screwdriver is! Hoorah!

With the being-trapped feeling gone, I kinda like the quiet...

He's just not that into you

Hmmm... by a stroke of fate, the book landed in my hands. Actually, I was to act as a messenger carrying this book from a friend for another friend. I've been curious about this book for some time now, although had not been motivated enough to actually purchase the book. As the critics said, I don't need a book to tell me when a guy doesn't like me THAT much.

However, since it was in my possession, and it wasn't that thick, I started reading it and was 3 quarters way through it by the time another friend came to pick us up for lunch.

My two-cent on this issue:
1. Even if a guy is into you now, he can get not-into-you some time in the future. There's just NO CERTAINTY.
2. Universally, I think humans want the same thing, but do they go about getting them the same way? I think not. The book is SO 'New York-ish'. We need a book on 'Penang-ish'. (How I know it's New York? Come on, SATC was set in New York! And these guys were the writers!)

However, one thing is true, if the guy is not into you, you would not be happy in the relationship... and vice versa, if you are not into the guy, you would not be happy in the relationship...

p/s: Not too sure about the 'not-asking-the-guy-out-until-he-asks-you', although I actually do practice that - not that it's doing me any good. That smack a lot of male supremacy and power to the man. But then again, some men are just into that. It must be the remnance of the cave-men instinct. BUT are ALL men that way?

Mamma Mia! The musical.

I was excited, really excited for this since I bought the tickets. Maybe all the excitement drove up my expectation way high. I loved the movie so so much. It had been a long time since a movie excited me so.

The first solo of the musical started low. The movie one was better. But as the show went on, Sophie redeemed herself. It's not fair that the 'mom' would be compared to Meryl Streep since Meryl Streep's performance is a tough act to top. Although I have not been a Meryl Streep fan, I loved her in Mamma Mia, the movie.

The set impressed me at first, but then it started to bore me after the first hour.

Other than Sophie and the Mom, the voices of others didn't really impress me. Tanya at the beach was really sad!

After watching the musical and the movie, I thought the movie was cleverly adapted and done. Bravo to the screenwriter(s)!

ALthough all that, the ending encore performances of the stage show were super!! I enjoyed that the most (haha) and the song "our last summer". I still love that song, although the setting in the movie is nicer.

p/s (23/12/08): apparently another reviewer agreed with me on some points regarding the stage show. He also raised the points on the stage setting and Tanya's singing...
http://www.rochester-citynews.com/entertainment/stage/2008/12/THEATER-REVIEW-RBTLs-Mamma-Mia

The day YP came to town...

I haven't seen friend YP for a while. Say a few years, except for facebook. It looked like he had a ball of a life travelling all over. And he has a new job too! For the past 2 months. And a new car too, for the past 2 years. All this I found out on Friday night.

Friday evening, after dinner with LP and CW, I went home looking forward to pack for my whirlwind trip on Saturday and Sunday. As I was locking up my doors, my phone rang. It was a surprise to see CA calling (caller ID). He hasn't called me for like, ages. And yes, the news was that YP was coming to town! [A bit like Santa coz he did bring a big melon for me from Cameron. Although I still expect a house warming gift that he still owes me...] And that, he would like to meet us for supper. My answer was OK, since if I didn't see him that night, I wouldn't be seeing him for another few years at the very least (based on our track record).

After a couple of hours, YP finally reached the island and then, he said that he would like to visit my house and check out my xmas tree... So no supper for me!

YP came and he looked the same as he did many years ago. Still as loopy as ever. (Although he is a m.a.n.a.g.e.r now). He commented that although my house looks nice, it doesn't seem like 'me'. Hmmm... and it looks like a bar. [BC's response:??] And that my furniture does not match my walls. [BC's response: haha] Funny guy!

It used to bother me quite a bit that people think they know my taste or 'me' better than 'moi', or that they have some unpleasant comments about my place. My immediate mental reaction would be that those commentss or statements are reflections of myself. After settling in for more than two months now, I'm able to look at it more impersonally, take it less personally, and now, those comments bothered me less.

I don't know why people would make statements that make other people uncomfortable for no particularly beneficial purpose. And since it is not beneficial, I am able to just let it slide...

This is when the lessons from the Abhayarajakumara Sutta come in handy... and for the record, I enjoyed YP's visit tremendously. It's fun to catch up and crack up over silly stuff from yesteryears...

Putting up My First Christmas Tree

O Yay! I have a tree! Not a live one, but it blinks and sparkles.

December the 15th is D Day for putting up a Christmas Tree. It was still in pieces inside the box. LP came to help me with the tree and to share the joy with me. Ofcourse she came for a swim too, but the weather put paid to that idea. It rained. Heavily. So, we had to do something indoor. Which is good because the second part of the plan for the night IS the tree.

After assembling and bending the branches to places that we think they should go, we thought it would be difficult to get the lights on. But we were wrong. It was relatively easy, although I still need an extension cord to make it work better!

So, we had the lights and then the decors went up. I especially love the position of the two angels!

In the end, the tree is still a bit bare, but it's my first year! I'll improve...

Sales! Sales!

Last Thursday, I decided that I haven't been shopping with my parents for some time now. I haven't serviced my car for some time now. I haven't been home to my parents' place for some time also. And enough of procrastination! I would do all that on Saturday. And it is the season of sales!

Saturday morning, we started the day early by going to the breakfast place that we used to go every weekend. The fried bee hoon aunty had commented to my mom just the week before that we've been absent for some time. It's still as yummy as ever, even though she has left the fish balls out these days. After breakfast, I made my way to the workshop to get my car serviced. And then, my little nephew came to the house to visit - o how I missed him. We had lunch at home then, my parents, my uncle (who's visiting from KL) and I were off to Jusco at BM for a shopping day! Yay!

It was a superb and good day at the mall. My mom got something. My dad got something. My uncle got something. I got lots. I bought another comforter set, two table fans and one of those floating device for swimming! O yeah!

The comforter was silk (on one side) and it's only RM139. I got the 16" dark red Elba fan for RM79 each. I think they are good prices!

What a day!

The season of joyful tidings is upon us

I think this is the year that I will re-gain the joy of christmas. It is a good time (as good as any) to start. A good time to be happy. I went through the first of december without fun-fare. It was uneventful. It was a Monday, need I say more.

The first thought that came to me (as an effort to create a happy and festive time) is that I need a tree. I have had good responses to a posting on this on my facebook. Friends have given good suggestions and support. Next, I looked around for a tree. My cousin, who herself, has a 6-ft tree gave me some ideas on what I should be looking for. As of yesterday, I was still dragging my feet and couldn't decide which tree to get and a bit worried that I might be too late!

I had dinner with my best friend last night. A belated birthday treat for him, having missed his birthday because I was in Europe at the time. While trying to catch up on all the things that have been going on in our lives since the last time we met, I just mentioned that I thought of getting a christmas tree! And boom, we paid the bill, got out of the restaurant (luckily we were done eating by then) and went to the department store. He was as excited as me. I chose a 5-ft tree which is reasonably priced (to me) and got the lights and decorations! The sales person there was so helpful I may have bought more that I planned. I'm on my way to have lights and colors in my living room!!

Next, putting up the tree...

The road less travelled, the high road...

I remember one occassion when I was a kid, still in primary school, still attending piano classes, it was that time of the year to choose a piece for the exams. My piano teacher played the two pieces that we got to choose from every year. Both didn't sound all that good to me. One slow and full of expression. Another one, full of twists. After she finished playing, she turned to me and asked if I wanted to choose the easier one or the tougher one. Duh! She obviously did not know me. Ofcourse I would choose the tougher one. Not that I'm all that good at playing. I just love a challenge. I just love the more difficult things in life... But ofcourse I love things that come easily to me. But if I was asked, I would more often than not choose the difficult ones...

Sigh!

And given a choice again, I would do them all over, without doubt.

Breaking Dawn (Twilight Series #4)

I was kind of sad that I finished the book because I just found out that this is the last book for this series. I had all the while thought that there would be five books.

The ending was a happily-ever-after so the book is good for me. But there may be a book on Jacob and Nessie. That's certainly how it looked like to me.

The Heart Calls

There is a story in the newspaper today of a woman who gave away RM100,000 to a man who claimed that he is the living Buddha. The reason she gave away the money was her son who were claimed by the 'living Buddha' as having a medical condition. Out of her very strong maternal love, she did whatever was asked by the guy to save her son.

The call of the heart is strong. Strong enough that it could overwhelm logic and reason.

Would a true living Buddha who has overcome greed, hatred and delusion, who is the embodiment of wisdom and compassion, ever ask for money if there were anything that he could do to alleviate the suffering of another?

Sometimes in life, after exhausting all effort, physical or otherwise, there is just nothing that we could do to make things right, to fix things up. Then, it is time for the hard practice of equanimity & acceptance.

Wonderful Saturday

What a great day Saturday was! The day started with a very down to earth breakfast of Hokkien Mee for me with two other great gal-pals. After which, we proceed to my place for our planned swim. When we reached SV, the aunts n uncle were already there. And I got my first xmas gift for the year - ehem, which could be the only xmas gift for this year. I was excited that it was a very fancy, red high heel door stopper! I had wanted to get fancy door stopper but could not find any in Penang, so far. And ofcourse, there were gifts from their Langkawi trip. It was fun. After all that, my pals and I went down to the pool and had a really productive session. One of the outcome I hope is to motivate our other friend to want to learn how to swim...

Mom had brought with her lots of stuff and she, along with the aunts proceed to prepare lunch for the whole bunch.

TS had set her heart on eating at Japin, so, after the swim we went off to QB for lunch and shopping! Actually it was Sunday that we discovered we've been calling the cafe by the wrong name. We called it Jopin!

The shopping was incredible althought it started real slow and disappointing as we did not find the sales to be any better than normal. Thankfully, it ended as the greatest day at the mall. I've forgotten how fun 'real' shopping could be.

Half way through Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn is the 4th book in the Twilight series. And it is the thickest one that I've encountered so far. At 500+ pages, it is equivalent to the thickness of 2 of the previous books. There are 3 books in this one book called Breaking Dawn. Book 1 is centered on Bella. Book 2 is on Jacob. And book 3 is back to Bella.

I've gone up to Book 2 and a few pages into Book 3.

More of the book later...

Fit as a Fiddle

So not. I came back from a squash session totally deflated. And after playing dismally for 3 games, only. Not even a match. I told my squash mates, that I felt depressed after each game. I couldn't swing properly, and the swings just didn't go smoothly. Leg movements were lethargic! And slow. Frustrating.

This kinda motivate me to keep Tuesdays and Fridays in mind for squash. I should atleast go back to the position where I enjoy playing squash. Sigh!

1 December 2008

The first day of the month started on a low. I'm feeling ill at ease, not comfortable, not composed, depressed and down. Just sad. I'm feeling like the tears could start at any time.

Sad things do that to me. Sad movies do that to me. Sad books do that to me. People doing bad things to other people or themselves do that to me. Or bad things happening to people I know do that to me.

Ofcourse I never advertised this but I cried watching sad movies, every time. And the part that I always say out loud is that I only watch 'happy' movies. That's why.

Equanimity is such a priceless state. I failed miserably to achieve it, today.

Since today is a low. I hope the month will only get better...

Eclipse (Twilight Series #3)

Oh yes, I have finished Eclipse. I couldn't wait. I couldn't put it down. Although it took me longer that I normally do for a book of that thickness. I had to do a host of other stuff in between.

Yes, we're back on track. This is a much more enjoyable book that the 2nd one. I'm feeling buoyant again. No spoilers. I know there are still a lot of people out there who have not read this. The flow and smoothness of the plot really got to me. I like that SM tried to reconcile the myths and the reality in the book.

This is a really good teen-lit. Coz I constantly forgot that they are not even 19. Ofcourse Edward is forever 17. Those old-fashion values of his is really adorable.

Looking forward to #4.

What a feeling?

Chuck (for those of you who doesn't know, it's a TV series) was in Stanford Uni last weekend. As the camera panned across the campus, I felt nostalgic. Although I didn't go to school there, I was there for a very short campus tour.

Everytime I see a place that I've been to on TV or in a movie, something in me moves. Recently, a few shows shot in Rome, Florence, Venice & Vienna were shown, and watching them, I felt something, although I couldn't explain what it is I felt exactly. I especially like shows/books based in San Francisco.

Ha ha, silly me and my sentimentality...

New Moon

After finishing Twilight, I became very obsessed with what would come next for Bella and Edward. It seems that the book ended on a high note (the way that I like).

New Moon, however, was three-quarter a disappointment. I'm not going to spoil too much for those who haven't read the book, I hope. But heart-break for more than half a book, is no good for the reader. It plunged me into an abyss that I didn't want to remember. I almost didn't finish. But after re-reading the synopsis, I persevered.

This book is no good for those who just broke up. It might give you hope that the person who left you would return. In real life, they rarely do. Just go on with live... Next phase.

Ps: Again, Italy is the location chosen for a scene in the story....

Twilight

The movie, was so-so. I left the theatre wondering why it did so well in the box office chart. The first half of the movie was weird. The acting was stilted. The relationship development was not well presented. The second half of the movie was better, after the relationship started.

After the movie, I decided not to get the book.

The book, was amazing. After reading the book, I understood why the movie did so well. Since I'm a die-hard romantic (on the inside), I loved the book. The details that were missing from the movie were finally explained - why she acted the way she did and he acted the way he did. And why Dr Cullen and his wife were so young looking yet has 5 grown up children, although adopted. The character development of all the Cullens' kids was well done.

Ofcourse a lot of things in the book were adapted. A lot of things were changed. Somehow, Bella didn't seem that wimpy in the movie.

On to New Moon... I couldn't stop. I wanted to know.