Vain Ol' Vain Ol'

*sigh* Today had been hectic. 2 meetings in a day but luckily they were quite brief. I wont go into detail about the meetings and I normally dont talk about work as I feel that I would be breaking a code of conduct or something. A site meeting tomorrow morning (I hate site meetings..wish I could do away with those..well, I hate meetings in general), an internal meeting on wednesday and a possible meeting this week to present our restaurant fit-outs design. *double sigh* Tired just from thinking about them and it's only Monday! Anyway, the week would probably fly by which may be a good thing. I need a break!!!

I have to take my bath but am procrastinating as today is my hair washing day. Being a girl is a pain at times like this. To give you an idea I would list down my ritual ; put on cleansing milk and massage all over made-up face - sponge off - wash face with cleanser - shower - shampoo hair - wash - put on conditioner - rinse off - rub on body shampoo - shower - rub hair dry and tie a turban - put on body lotion (sometimes) - put hair gel on hair - blow dry - use toner on face - put on moisturiser. Hiuh..long list huh. All that takes at least half an hour. By the time I am done I am almost ready for bed. Better get cracking then. >_~..

Lovely Prayer..

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
And give me the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
But I thank You that I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes; that they are out of debt and all their needs are met I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it in Jesus' name. Amen!

The Apple of Our Eyes

I was reading a manga that has a baby theme the other day and the little tot reminded me of my baby nephew. So unbearably cute...when his mood is right. At other times though, he would be like a spoilt royal highness who must have his demands met at the snap of his fingers. His full blown bawl is really a sight to behold. It makes you wonder how those tiny lungs can produce such powerful sound that causes adults to have palpitations. Really scary. If I am alone with him and sees him scrunching up his face, I would grab him, run to wherever my sister is and deposit him in her arms. Let the pro handle him.

Mum, my sis, nephew and myself went to a hotel for lunch during our trip back to Malaysia last year. While we were waiting for our orders, my nephew who had been quietly playing with his cars suddenly lost his temper, threw the cars and started to howl in earnest. My sister tried to quiet him down but was rewarded with a vigorous hair pulling. I tried to make him break his hold but believe you me, the little fella is an incredible hulk in disguise. Remember that this happened in a hotel restaurant. The horror! My mum and sis rushed the incredible hulk out of the restaurant and left me to fend for myself. With my face burning with embarrassment, I requested for take aways and waited patiently while people around continued to gawp at me. As soon as we got in the car, the tears stopped. We think he just wants us to bring him for rides. The little devil.

But for all his tantrums and moods, there are much more incidents where he made my heart melt. I remember putting on sunglasses and talking to him once. He loves it and stared at me as if transfixed and won't let me take it down. I smiled and said hi softly to him a couple of times and he suddenly smiled back and repeated the greeting in a very soft and gentle voice! My heart!! My heart has been stolen!! He loves watching 'Finding Nemo' and can memorize all the scenes. Whenever the whale or jellyfish is due to appear, he would pull my arms around him and whimper. The first time he did that, I was bewildered but my sister explained that he couldnt stand it when Dory got stung by the jellyfishes or when they got swallowed by the whale. So cute! I love it when my sister sang the teddy bear song and when she got to the part where she said..he's my favourite one! he would always always laugh. There's another time when I got in the car after having my hair permed and baby Joel kept turning to look at me sitting at the back and smiling as if to say..'Hey..you look different!' I love to see him running around in his diapers and would hate the day when he is potty trained. I think that would mark the end of babyhood. I love it when I carry him and he lays his head on my chest so trustingly. The list is endless eventhough I normally see him only once a year and a few weeks at a time. Being the first grandchild from both sides, he will always be precious to us. It is hard to imagine that less than 3 years ago, this little gem was still absent from our lives.

I envy my sister. She is a very dedicated mother and has to sacrifice a lot for her child. Not having had a good sleep ever since she becomes a mother. Rushing home from work every lunch break just so she can spend a few minutes with my nephew. Giving him the best of everything. She says it's all worth it. Mum says it's worth it as well eventhough we were an ungrateful bunch (she says)..lol. Well, I hope I would one day feel ready to bear such responsibility. But first I have to find a man to settle down with and I have a feeling that would be a long time coming. O-H-W-E-L-L what will be will be I guess.

Rainy Days

The location of the ticket validating machine in the busses here varies and are not always on the same spot. Sometimes it's located behind the bus driver. Sometimes next to the bus driver and sometimes on the opposite aisle. While on the bus today, I happened to see a girl coming up the bus with her outstretched hand holding a ticket. This girl extended her hand towards the driver but upon realising that the ticket validating machine is missing, did a 360 degree turn trying to locate the said item. I just couldn't supress my giggles as she missed it even when it's right under her nose. I've been in that situation before and it's amazing how hard it is to see anything when you were in a moving vehicle doing a 360 turn. Anyhow, some kind soul pointed out the machine and her mission is accomplished.

It has been raining on and off these past few weeks in Adelaide. I just loooooove rainy days. Love the sound, love the smell. Eventhough it's cold and windy while waiting for the bus. Everything just turns into a really mellowy, refreshing canvas. Sometimes lying in bed, with my ears half buried under my blanket, everytime a car passes by, I could imagine hearing the sound of rain. It's really soothing. Isn't God great to have thought of making water fall from the sky?

Arigatou by Kokia

English Lyrics

Everyone loses something

Before they even realise it

I suddenly realise that you’ve gone

Leaving behind only memories

Amid the happiness, we lost our words

Like dolls

Like all those lost cats on the street corner

I hear a silent scream

If I could see you one more time

I just want to say one word: thank you, thank you

Even if I get hurt sometimes

I want to keep feeling you

At least I have my memories to comfort me

I’ll always have you here

If I could see you one more time

I just want to say one word: thank you, thank you

If I could see you one more time

I just want to say one word

If I could see you one more time

I just want to say one word: thank you, thank you

Even if I get hurt sometimes, I want to keep feeling you...

Blogger's note: Really love this song. Been listening to it non-stop these few days. Some songs have the ability to calm you down and make you feel glad to be alive. This song definitely does that to me. The lyrics is bittersweet but beautiful in it's simplicity nontheless.

Can't Get It Out of My Head

If embarrassment could kill I'd probably have died a very painful death today. I got on a bus back to the city after work and for some weird reason there were a lot of ppl in the bus today and the seats at the back were all taken. I had to take the seat on the very front row which I've always tried to avoid as it's higher up than all the other seats. This is where my nightmare begins. When the bus reaches my stop, I slithered off my seat as I couldnt reach the floor. As soon as I've landed on my feet, I felt draft on my legs, looked down, and to my horror saw my long skirt puddled around my ankle. Everything was in slow mo and I even heard people gasping and exclaiming (arggghhhh!! the memory!!!) As I was standing right in front of the bus door and the bus was lighted from within, everyone outside the bus could see me as well. My mind went numb and I reached down and pulled my skirt up and zipped it up while everyone else passes me by. I tried to pretend that I am not affected and got down the bus without uttering a single word but all the while my brain was screaming SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

I am ruined! I see most of them daily as I take the same bus to work and back! The thought of seeing them again tomorrow fills me with dread..I could curl up and die! They'll probably recount it at their dinner table and I will be forever known as the girl who flashes her underwear.

However, after much tears and a lot of anguish, I went and googled up 'skirt fell down' and to my utter relief, saw that I am not the only who'd gone through that humiliating experience. (I think mine still top it all though) Reading about all that makes me feel a little less suicidal and the experience a little bit funnier. So I am putting it all down to...1) exorcise the bad experience 2) let others know that they r not alone 3) explain that I didnt do it on purpose 4) apologize for flashing my ugly butt 5) be able to read again and find humour.

SAVE ME!!

4 months' lapse

Geez. This is horrible. I've only written 2 entries so far and there's a gap of around 4 months where I didnt write anything at all. Hurray me...there goes my pledge to write down everything and anything under the sun.

We (mum -yippe, she's in Adelaide with us now, me and my sis) went to see Adelaide's Christmas Parade, yesterday. We really enjoyed the event eventhough it was hot and sunny. There's floats and clowns and bands and everyone seems happy and carefree. The streets were packed with people of all ages and ethnic. Some brought their own rugs and chairs to sit on. Some sat directly on the baking pavement and doodled on it with chalks to pass the time. Some clever ones came early and sat in the bus and tram shade. Some parents hoist their children up the shopfronts' high window sills to avoid them from being trampled on (I suspect) and of course, to give them a better view of the whole procession. I felt kindda sorry for those who had to walk around in costumes as the weather was really punishing but I guess that hot is preferable to rain. The parade lasted for more than an hour. The mood here is already festive and yet we have a month to go before Christmas. I've even changed my ringtone to 'Joy to the World'.

After that we went to the Tourist and Info Centre so that I could collect brochures for our family trip around SA end of this year. This is probably going to be the last time we will tour South Australia so I'm hoping that I've squeezed everything in. We will be 'up-rooting' again and moving to Melbourne early next year after my sister's graduation.

I'm in the middle of a book titled 'Down Under' by Bill Bryson borrowed to me by my colleague. It's a really good 'travel' book and the author is very entertaining. He manages to make even history fun for me. There's a lot of facts and history of Australia crammed inside but it reads so effortlessly that you'd think that you're reading a novel. Hope that I'll be able to remember everything and become a paragon of information during our trip *smirk*.

Until I feel the urge to write again. Adios!~