MY GREAT WORK OF ART

I foresee myself being the next Picaso. Don't laugh!


Painting name : Framed





Painting name : Monster

CHLOE'S NEW TOY

Got Chloe a new toy. Here it is.




And she's loving it! :D

CHINESE TURNIP ?

This is a chinese turnip.



Or is it?



Which is which?

To tell you the truth, one of them is a sweet potato actually. :D

CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

Okay, okay... I should say ex-Chief Minister of Penang, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon. :P

Anyway, for as long as I can remember or should I say, all my life growing up and in fact, born in Penang, he was the only Chief Minister that I knew. Who before that or whatever was never registered in my mind. I never know. Only after doing some research out of curiosity a while ago, did I know that the Chief Minister before him was Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu. :D

So by now, I think most of you can roughly guess my age. :P

All that said, I had the honour of meeting him in person last night at a dinner. Close enough to shake his hand. And I should say that he looks so much better in person. Those pictures published on media are totally unflattering!

Here, just to show you what I mean. :D

CHINESE TEA

B and I had dinner at Sushi King today. But that's not the story, of course. Hehehee...

Half way through, a father with his two young sons came by and occupied a table very near to us. A waiter presented them with the menu and asked for their order. The father ordered green tea - usual. Then the waiter turned to the boys and asked, "And for you, sir?"

One of the boys promptly put up his index finger and answered, "Chinese tea!"

Being polite, the waiter smiled and turned to the father. The father cleared his throat and said, "Three green tea, please."

The waiter took their order and walked away, laughing to himself. Hahahaa...

LITTLE CHLOE IS AFRAID OF THE TEDDY BEAR

Yes... My little puppy is a coward... We should change her name to Chloe The Cowardly Dog instead.

Went home to parents' for 5 days. Came back by flight 'cus B only got to stay 2 days this time around, due to visitors from Spain.

Anyway, to welcome me home, he bought a big white teddy with the sweetest face and pink ribbon, and placed it at the front passenger seat. As we approached the car, I saw this baby sitting there, waiting for me!

Thereafter, we headed home. Then nightmare for Chloe started. At first, she was so glad to see me. Been missing me a lot, according to B - she was just not her usual self.

But as soon as little Chloe saw this teddy, she freaked out! It took us 2 whole days just to convince her that it's harmless. But then again, can't blame her, right? 'Cus this teddy is 4 times her size. Hehehee...

MORE ON PEBBLES

Ok, it’s a new day. We woke up early, determined to fix the area - my way. :P

When I told B of my idea yesterday after the disaster, he went “Aiyo, dear… Why didn’t you tell me earlier…? Next time, tell me please…” Hearing that and feeling guilty, I gave him my 'you caught me grin' and went “Ehe, hehehee…” :P Hahahaa... Works best when you've got no answer to provide, trust me.

And yeah, we went out for breakfast and dropped by the same nursery to buy more pebbles and smaller stones.

Back home, we had to remove all the pebbles that we have laid yesterday and wash every single piece off mud. So it’s back to square one, with lots and lots of washing. :P

With the pebbles removed, the land now looks like moon surface. So we had to even out the land again before we could start. After that, small stones followed by pebbles. Talking about double job with extras. :P

We spent the whole Sunday afternoon just tending to the backyard. Hardwork but fun. It felt very much like being on the beach and playing with sands, but minus the sea breeze and water. :D

The area looks good now and both of us are very happy with the result, thanks to my geniusness. Makes me wonder how the world would be without a brainy like me...

OF PEBBLES AND MUD

As mentioned in the previous post, we bought lots of things for the backyard. Once home, we hit the backyard and started working.

It was a nice afternoon, cool and breezy, with minimal sunlight. Finished with plants, we started working on the pebbles. One piece at a time… With lotsa love…

We completed the task after several hours, and B, being excited to try out the result, started pouring water onto the spot. It started flooding a little bit and being naughty or whatever that you call it, he stepped on parts of the area. To my horror, the pebbles started to sink and water turned into mud! There goes our hard work for the afternoon! Looking at the mess, we called it off for the day.

Being the smarter one, I actually thought of layering the area with sand or smaller stones first. Only then, the pebbles will follow. But I kept it to myself, since B is the Project Manager - if you know what I mean… :P Hehehee…

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

We were driving home after lunch and having bought lotsa stuffs for the backyard. As we turned into the road up the hill where our home is, I noticed one side of a slippers in the middle of the road. All sorts of speculations started crossing my mind…

“I wonder what happened here… Did anyone just have an accident or something? Or was it something else…”

As I was entertaining my thoughts, a motorcyclist at the roadside caught my eyes. The motorcycle was wobbling as a result of him slowing down and looking for something at the same time. Being a curious creature, my eyes started searching around also, wondering what was it that he’s looking for.

Then I noticed that it’s actually his slippers! The one on the right foot had fallen off! I immediately burst into laughter and so did B. Apparently, he went through the same sequence of thoughts as I did, and noticed the motorcyclist’s barefoot at the same time. The timing was just so right - we started laughing at the exact same moment. Hehehee…

The whole situation was really comical, and we’re glad that nothing bad happened. It’s only a clumsy motorcyclist with his slippers. :>

Lesson to learn here : Always wear a proper pair of shoes when riding a motorcycle or bicycle. You won’t want to lose a shoe! :P

MORE PICTURES OF CHLOE

Master, Chloe love you.


Lick lick.


Drunk. Urgh...


Bored...


Huh? Me?


Missing teeth?


Chloe's actual size.

JUMBO CAPSICUM

See how big this is? Bigger than my palm! :>

PICTURES OF CHLOE

Presenting to the world, Chloe The Criminal! Run for your life!!!!!

BON ODORI 2008

Attended the Bon Odori Festival at the Panasonic Sports Complex on July 12. Here are some of the pictures. I know, I know... After more than 2 weeks! :P

Boys preparing for the drum act.

Girls preparing for their dance.

Boys in action.

Girls in action. I absolutely love the kimonos, so sweet and pretty.

These 2 sisters are simply adorable.... There were so many people fighting just to have their photos taken. I guess that explains their facial expressions. Poor things. Hehehee...

They were stuck at the spot for a long time ‘cus the crowd was surrounding them. Best part was that their mother was so nice, smiling all the way and coaxing the girls to just hang on for a while more. And in case you're wondering, they're not objects of exhibition - they're only visitors just like the rest of us. So there's absolutely no obligation whatsoever. :D

RED WINE OR WHITE WINE ?

In general, people would choose red wine over white wine due to several reasons :
1. Health benefits – rich in antioxidants, thus aids in preventing coronary heart disease and some cancers, lowering the cholesterol level, etc
2. The body a.k.a. the weight
3. It’s just more popular

What’s the difference between red wine and white wine anyway, other than the distinguished difference in colour and some commonly known facts? Well... For red wine, red or purple grapes are used and fermented together with skins, seeds and sometimes even stems – which contribute to its weight a.k.a. woody taste a.k.a. tannin. On the other hand, white wine uses green or yellow grapes and fermented only with the flesh and nothing else – reason why it’s lighter and sweeter.

As to the health benefits, a science article produced in year 2006 wrote that “the flesh of grapes is equally as cardioprotective with respect to the skins”. In other words, white wine is as good as red wine - contrary to the common belief that cardioprotective compound (polyphenolic antioxidants) is only present in red wine, due to the grape skins and seeds content. Hrmm...

So red or white? It’s a matter of choice, I guess...

All that said, what does the writer a.k.a. me, prefer? I’m a fan of white, of course. And I love late harvest. :>

REASON WHY U SHOULD LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE

This is classic, man... :D

When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Paradise, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household, and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St. Peter."

Soon, the women were gone, and there were two lines of men.

The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man.

God said, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves, I created you to be the head of your household! You have been disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose! Of all of you, only one obeyed. Learn from him."

God turned to the one man, "How did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

The man replied, "My wife told me to stand here."

Moral of the story :

1. All men listen to their wives

2. You'll never go wrong when you listen to your wife

LOOKING THROUGH THE SMALL WINDOW

Looking through the small window, what do you see?
Colorful rainbow, beautiful flowers and happy children

Looking back into this small dark room, what do you see?
Money, fame and loneliness

Wishing hard that you could turn back time
Be back where you used to be
But alas, everything is honey and sugar dust coated
Only the owner knows its true worth

So where is where, and what is what?

WHEN FUEL PRICES GO HIGH...

This was sent to me from a friend quite some time ago.

Yeah... "Change your lifestyle, people!"

MORE ABOUT “THE BITCH”

Ok, I’ve been receiving inquiries as to why she is labeled as the ‘well-established bitch’ - other than because of the ‘Property Invasion’ story. There must be more to it.

Well, indeed. It all began like 1-2 years ago, when everyone was just getting the house keys and renovation in progress. This family a.k.a. bitch’s family had the habit of parking their cars right in the middle of people’s gates, especially ours, since we’re right next door. The thing is, their own driveway and compounds would be free of obstacles ‘cus they don’t park there, and they would rather obstruct other people’s gates. For what reason? I have several. :P

1. To make way for her big fat butt to strut around
2. They have the fixation to invade people’s space, which is incurable
3. They’re just plain sick and ignorant (don’t give a damn attitude)

Worse is that even when they see the other house owners driving up the driveway and couldn’t enter the house ‘cus they’re obstructing, they’ll just pretend not to see anything and carry on with whatever trivial thing that they’re doing. So the poor house owners will have to park elsewhere, as in the roadsides or wherever possible.

So back to me and B. Being sane people, we just let them be since we are neighbours. Won’t want the first ever sentence to them to be “Hi, excuse me. I need to enter my house. So... Ermm...” – if you know what I mean.

Anyway, totally different from the rest of the community, if you remember I mentioned, this family is like total snobs! My gawd! There’re stories about this also. So I’m sure you can guess, there’s no social contact whatsoever till to date.

Ok, the juiciest part of the story. Both families have not moved in ‘cus renovation was still on-going. So one fine day, we happened to park our car a little more to their side – like what, 20cm? In other words, their gate was unobstructed and they could still enter their house. And it’s so minor that we hardly noticed.

Then came the bitch driving along. She suddenly stopped right in front of our house and gave us the lioness look. Not having any clue, we were like “Huh?” And she stayed there, staring till we figured out why, no words said. If she hated it so much, she could’ve said something, straight to the point and we’d get it. Instead, she had to stay there and stare.

She continued to stare as we went into the house to get the car keys. And still stared while B moved the car. And continued staring even after the car was out of the way. The staring went on till she had enough and decided to continue driving. Thereafter, we were like “Gawd... What was that? And that’s supposed to be our neighbour. How on earth do we get so lucky?”

So that’s her story. A well-established bitch. I have more to tell, if you’re interested. :D But not gonna write more 'cus she's not worth the effort. :P

CHLOE THE CRIMINAL

As the title suggests, this little criminal of ours did something very, very bad. And she did it twice.

Everyday after dinner, she’d be sitting around with us, watching TV – to be specific, she rests on my lap. Whenever there’s a need to do her business or have a drink, she’d squirm, a signal to go down – so she can run to her room. Very good girl.

So last night, the same thing happened. Very normal that we didn’t suspect anything.

However, during commercial break, we started to wonder on her whereabout ‘cus she’d usually come back to me after she’s finished. But she’s not back. So we called out to her, to which she will come running – but no response. Something is not right.

We went to look for her and to our shock, half of her body was inside her big bag of puppy food. There she was, happily eating away. It turned out that B had forgotten to close the bag after feeding her earlier. As we picked her up, we felt her tummy and it was hard! All filled with food. Very bad puppy, it’s only gonna make her sick.

The very next day, when we got home after work, a happy little face greeted us at the door. She has broken out of her room! So we went around, checking to see whether she has created any mess, but everything looks fine. But when we went to get her dinner, we found a big hole in her bag of food. Turned out that this little criminal has bitten a hole in it and hosted a feast for herself throughout the day. Imagine that! Again, we checked her tummy and it’s swelling like a balloon, worse compared to yesterday.

Put her into her room to reflect on her crime and found that she has not poo and shue for the day. Very suspicious! And there’s nothing around the house when we checked earlier. Then it dawned upon us that the mess could be upstairs.

So up we went and found 7 spots of poo and 3 spots of shue! It’s all around! Crime scenes include our bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, ironing board, family area and wallpaper! Yes, wallpaper, you got that right. I wonder how she managed to leave a whole strip of poo on the wall, just sticking there like a monkey’s tail.

Normally, she’d only poo once after breakfast and another time after dinner. But today, there were 7 poo spots and we have yet to feed her dinner. That only shows how much she has eaten the night before and today. Bad baby!

All that said, she is now inside her room, grounded until further notice.

MILESTONE FOR CHLOE

I'm on leave today, so spent the whole day at home with Chloe. As usual, she'd follow me around the house, poking her nosy little nose in everything.

However, something big happened today! Chloe went down the stairs all by herself! It came as a great surprise 'cus all the while, she has been a little chicken that would never try no matter what.

She learnt to go up the stairs after around 2 weeks staying with us. But she could never, never get down. We tried all means just to train her but nothing works. She would just stay up there, whining for help - regardless of the circumstances. So we finally came to the conclusion that perhaps she's too small and the steps are too big for her. Just let her be and we shall carry her down each time.

Then out of a sudden, after a whole month, she transformed into a pro!

She was actually upstairs with me, when I realized that she's missing. Searched every nook and crany, and she's just not there. Feeling puzzled, I called out to her. And to my surprise, I heard her downstairs and in no time, she started walking up the stairs and appeared right in front of me. I almost couldn't believe my eyes!

I tested her after that and she became her usual dependant self, wanting to be picked up. But I continued to walk and just left her there. Few steps down and she followed. :> When I turned back to check on her, again she stopped and gave me the "Me? Me?" look. Hehehee... But I carried on and again she followed. From that moment on, there's no turning back. She's finally learnt the skill!

JUMPSTART TO MODELLING CAREER

The title sounds great, isn’t it? Hahahaa...

Well, yea... I did actually model for a photo shoot, but for the company that I’m working for. Not for Guess, Estee Lauder, or whatsoever... Sorry to disappoint you! Hehehee... But soon, soon... :P

The pictures taken will appear in the company's website, brochures, forms, etc. So yea, I’m kinda like famous now. :P Hehehee...

Oh c’mon, c’mon... Don’t turn the page... I’ll stop bragging. :P

Well, the thing is... This is even harder than wedding pictures. ‘Cus for wedding pictures, every single pose is properly choreographed. You know, there’d be people telling you where to look, which exact angles your head, arms, legs, hips, etc should be. And you just stick to it, like a mannequin, till the shot is taken. And next, new pose again. So that’s about it for the rest of the day.

But for the photo shoot this time, other than where to look and stand, we’re expected to move and speak – with grace and all that. Not forgetting, to move slowly, for the photographer to capture the right moments.

To add to it, there were the 3 of us. So we kinda like have to coordinate with each other, making sure that we sync and stuffs like that. It is especially funny when we had to walk, ‘cus we had to like walk very close to each other to create the connection – at the same time, looking at each other and talk. Most importantly, the walk will have to look natural. But how to be natural, when we have to be very careful not to have our hands knock each other’s butts? :P Hehehee...

So it’s a really great and fun experience. Can’t wait to see the pictures! Hopefully they’ll turn out fine and I don’t appear too awkward. Hehehee...

Last but not least, autograph, anyone?

PROPERTY INVASION

We were back home in Penang for Dumpling Festival and early Father's Day celebration. Got back here last night.

As usual, once home and settled down, we’d be checking the compound, making sure that everything is alright and in place.

To our horror, we found scaffoldings and building materials in our backyard! Obvious signs of intrusion! My gawd... To make things worse, there’s an ugly extension to our wall! Stupid neighbour!

For your info, the wall was built by us on our land, every single penny borne by us. In others words, this stupid neighbour does not have the slightest tinge of right to it. And they dared building something on it, without even consulting us. And they picked to do it while we were away. How sneaky is that??

Like that is not enough. They had to trespass our property by letting their contractors enter our compound, which is securely locked at all times. To enter our compound, they’ll have to use a ladder and climb over. How daring is that? To add to it, they brought along the scaffoldings and building materials, and left them there on our nicely planted grass. With all this evidence, we can really charge them for trespassing!

Seeing all these, we went over to their front gate wanting to talk. Once doorbell was rung, they switched off the porch light and ignored our presence – obvious sign of guilt. That really got us boiling. So we continued ringing the doorbell till they finally appeared.

Cut the story short, this neighbour is really ridiculous! Especially the wife a.k.a. bitch. Anyway, just for the record, she’s a well established bitch with a reputation.

At first, she didn’t even want to talk. She said, “Well, since you’re not really using the wall, might as well we use it first. And when it’s time, only come talk to us.” Then she grabbed the husband’s arm, pulling him back into the house, saying “Jom masuk, sayang.” So it’s like what, end of discussion?? Ignore these people? It’s our wall we’re talking about, you bitch!

Of course we won’t let go and wanna state our points. After all, they’re the wrong ones here – of property invasion. This bitch was really so harsh and uncivilized that we had to shout back at her to make our points heard.

The interesting part was that the husband didn’t even say a single word throughout the drama. And when he had enough of everything, he finally said something, “Ok, this is enough. I’ll get the contractors to move everything away from your compound tomorrow. And I will also ask them to bring down the wall.” The bitch stared at him, like wanting to swallow him up.

So ok, at least he’s more reasonable. And problem solved.

EASTER EGG

Look at my easter egg! :D B brought it back from Barcelona, and I don't have the heart to eat it... But I finally did. :>

Here's my easter egg a.k.a. huevo negro. It's from Xocoa.

And it hatched! :D

CHESTNUT EXPLOSION

We had lunch at the coffee shop at the corner in SS15. I ate Prawn Bee Hoon, yummy... But that's not the story. :P

The story is........ The chestnuts roasting at the chestnut stall by the roadside exploded! To my horror, they exploded right when we walked by. And one of the bits hit my feet and stuck there. It was hot and all, and we thought it burnt me!

I got B a little bit panicky somehow, as I was screaming for my life. Hehehee... Can't help it, ok? It was shocking enough with the noise, heat, debris and everything. To add to it, the chestnut bit was really hot! Straight from the wok. So painful...

By the way, guess what was the first thing that crossed my mind? "Oh no... It's left a burnt mark on me, it's gonna scar..."

So there you have it, my chestnut explosion story. Hehehee... Lesson to learn is to stay away from roasting chestnuts! :D

DURIAN OR CEMPEDAK ??

Durian or cempedak? Cempedak or durian? :D Hrmmm...

Well, we bought some durian and cempedak pancakes in 2 separate packets. But when B brought them to me, he arranged them in such a way that one cannot differentiate them just by looks 'cus as you can see, they look the same! :>

So common sense, I sniffed them to identify the types. As you know, both durian and cempedak have strong, distinguished smells. But guess what? I failed! Hahaa...

How come? By right, it should be easy... But nah... Try it, and you'll see what I mean. :P

HER NAME IS CHLOE

Yeap, as the title suggests, we named our new baby Chloe.

As to puppies feeling anxious about new home, new company, bla bla... Not at all! At least not with this particular one. :P Hahahaa...

This morning, after getting out of bed, we were excited to check out on our baby. You know, just see how's she's adjusting, etc. We took it very slow, to the extend of tip-toeing and speaking with very low voices, not wanting to startle her. But once there, we found an excited little baby, hopping on her hind legs with tail wagging and all smiles, wanting to be picked up. So we were like "Okay... We underestimated her... What a darling!" :>

Anyway, today would be the 1st day of her potty training. I hope she's gonna learn fast 'cus I've heard from friends that puppies can be quite forgetful sometimes - meaning one moment they'd remember and another, they don't. So it's gonna be great challenge because our ultimate goal is to let her roam freely, and she'll need to learn exactly where to go when nature calls.

So we shall see. :>

DECISION ON BABY MALTESE

Remember I mentioned that we were having 2nd thoughts on the baby Maltese, with a lot of concerns, etc? :P

Well, the petshop called on Wednesday and informed us that she's ready to go home. "Just call when you're coming so that we can prepare her!" So B and I were like, "Err... How? This is it."

Anyway, we gave ourselves time till Friday, i.e. today, 'cus even if we're bringing her home with us, it would be better to start on a weekend so that we can spend more time with her - rather than having to leave her on her own for 2 whole days alone. It is a totally new place for her and it may be difficult for her to adjust, and we wanna ensure that we're there to see that she's alright... 'Cus this is a great commitment and if we are to go on with it, then her well-being would be priority.

All that said, what's the decision??

Well.... We're bringing her home! I'm actually waiting for B now, to go together. I am somehow feeling rather anxious, just like a new parent - hoping that everything will turn out fine...

TODAY IN HISTORY

Today, M got back from lunch earlier than me - which is an extremely rare occasion. And she got all excited and went, "Oooh... I'm earlier than you today, for the very first time! Hahahaa... Wow..."

Just for the record, it was a mere 5 minutes in difference. :P But anyway, since this is such a big thing for her, I've promised to document it somewhere so we'll always remember this day.

So M, here you are, Today In History! :D *HuGz* Luv ya!

Think she's gonna kill me. :P

PICTURES OF BABY MALTESE

Due to high demands, I am posting some baby maltese pictures here so that you can understand the reason why me and B ended up making the impulsive decision! Hahahaa...

By the way, the baby that we're considering looks even more baby as compared to these, as she is so much younger. :P

TEAM BUILDING - CONCLUSION

I'm officially off the hook! Hahahaa... :P

Well, somehow, I was known as the most fragile participant in the team building program so far... :P But know what? Not anymore! 'Cus somebody fainted last week, and it's a guy! So he's the new superstar! Hahahaa...

It's such big news that I've got colleagues visiting me from the other end of the building, and another one from a totally different location. All came with the same excitement. "Know what? You're not the worst anymore! There's a new champion!" :D

So good luck, man... We shall wait for the time when there's someone else who can top that. :P

Oh, by the way, in case if anyone is wondering, I was the reigning champion for 5 consecutive weeks! It felt like celebrity 'cus everywhere I went, there'd be people asking how I'm doing and looking very concerned, wanting to have a good look at the blood clot in my toenail, etc... Hahahaa... And as the tale travels, it sounded more and more serious - if you know what I mean. :P Hahahaa...

TEAM BUILDING - PART 3

The team building program was really so taxing... I ended up being sick for a pro-longed period of time. Finally stopped coughing on Saturday, May 10 - after a whole month!

But asked if I regret going, my answer is of course not. It's really fun and a great experience 'cus we did things that we normally wouldn't do and the places that we went to were like so awesome! And me, if you know me personally, you'll know that I'm not made for this kind of stuffs. Never in a 100 years would I go for something like this! Hehehee... But surprisingly, I enjoyed it very much and I can't believe that I'm actually saying that. :P

Anyway, as mentioned earlier, I returned home from the team building on Apr 10. The very next day, my whole body was aching like crazy and I could hardly walk! I somehow twisted my right ankle and knee during the jungle-trekking... So had to call my boss and told her that I'm in too much pain that I can't go to work. :P

Throat started feeling very dry on Saturday, Apr 12. Feeling worried and not wanting the condition to worsen, I visited the doctor immediately to relieve the condition. But too late, it's not helping and by the very next day, I started having fever, losing my voice and developed coughing. Gone case!

Story cut short, I ended up not being able to speak for 1 whole week due to inflammed vocal cord. And mind you, it was painful - more than you could ever imagine. Painkiller didn't really help, so you know how bad it was.

Anyway, I totally lost my beautiful voice, and couldn't even manage a squeak! If you're wondering how'd I survived the 1 week, well, I communicated with everyone via texting on my mobile phone. Hahahaa...

To bring back my voice and heal the infection in my vocal cord, I had to undergo 2 separate courses of antibiotics. The 1st course didn't help. So the 2nd course, which was a stronger and better version, did something - thank goodness. Yeah, by the way, I was made to rest for that whole week. :P

Thereafter, I walked around sounding like a broken machine for 2 weeks. Coughing continued till 3 days ago, which lasted a month. :P

Oh yeah, one more thing not to be left out... As mentioned earlier, I jungle-trekked for 8 hours. So my poor toenails were put under constant pressure against the front of my shoes. Imagine that... By the end of the day, all of them were red and swollen. The pain was almost unbearable! The very next day, my left big toenail started showing blood clot. It hurts each time I walk, never fails. And I still have it even now. :P

But despite all that, no regrets! :D Crazy? Don't know.

BABY MALTESE

We visited a petshop to buy food for Margaret on Saturday evening. It was late and the shop was closing. So B grabbed the food and went to the counter to pay. And me, as usual, would stray to the pets area. Hehehee... And by the way, Margaret is our 4-year-old guinea pig.

Anyway, it's our first time to this shop and it's a great surprise to find that they have so many types of puppy breeds in store. And all of them are like few months old! How precious! Anyway, we couldn't stay long to look at the puppies 'cus like I said they were closing.

We went back the next day to have a good look at the puppies. One of them on offer is a 3-month-old Maltese puppy! I asked the sales attendance if I could hold her and he said sure. Placed her on my arms and I was inlove. :> She's really so tiny and delicate, with hair so silky that I can hardly feel it. And the face is so beautiful. We just bonded instantly! Even B fell inlove 'cus she's just so adorable and melts into our arms. So we were like, "Bring her home?"

Eventually, we decided on her. But there's a tiny problem, she's coughing a little. So the sales attendance told us that we can place a deposit first, while she's staying back to be treated. Once she's well again, we can bring her home. And we did.

But now that she's not at home with us, it gave us time to have second thoughts. :P Then the part on added responsibilities and also finding a spot for her and where to potty train, etc. started to frown upon us. Oops, too late? There's a lot of adjustments to be made and stuffs, whether we're ready for all that? But I've always wanted a Maltese though... As you can see from my profile, she's one of my favourite things.

Anyway, we'll have time to think it through until when the shop calls. Till then, there's still chance to turn back. 'Cus afterall, we've not paid the full amount yet. So... By the way, this baby Maltese costs a whopping RM1980. RM1000 more as compared to other breeds like Silky Terrier, Shih Tzu, Jack Russell and alike - which only cost RM980 each. So yeah, it's a pinch and I actually wondered whether it's really worth the investment. Or should I settle for a more economical breed?

All that said, Maltese is still my favourite. So not gonna settle for anything less. And we shall see, whether I'd actually keep her eventually. Stay tuned for my decision!

TEAM BUILDING - PART 1

I've just returned from a 3 days 2 nights team building program at D'Ark Resort, Janda Baik. Home sweet home!

Well, let me tell you how it all began. On Monday morning, my boss walked into my office room with the sweetest smile on her face, with hands clasped together and gleaming eyes. At that very moment, I immediately knew that something is not right. Then she said, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to attend the team building which commences tomorrow." I was like "What...???" Hoping that I might have heard her wrongly. And she said, "Yeah, I'll need you to go. Sorry for the short notice. You may have half the day off to prepare for your journey."

In shock and feeling distressed, I started visiting colleagues who have been there before me, trying to gather as much info as I can. You know, on what to bring, what to expect, etc. This is because I've heard that it's really tough, and it gets worse with each session.

Anyway, it is a weekly program, specially tailored by the company's training centre, meant for managers and above, and will be on-going till everyone has completed the program. In other words, there's no way to escape. And this is really no joke, man... The program was designed with a vision in mind - to push the participants way beyond their boundaries and see how they fare.

So by speaking to colleagues, I gathered a long list of things to buy and bring. And I ended up spending more than RM 200 just for the trip - solely on special clothings and gadgets. :P

The thing is that these items that I've bought is meant only for the jungle trekking, which takes place on the 2nd day of the program. In other words, I will not be needing them under normal circumstances. So it's kinda painful in that sense.

And I should not forget to mention that I spent a good 3 hours, just walking around looking for the items in my list. To make it worse, I was wearing a rather new pair of high-heels. A peep-toe to be exact, about 4 inches in height. So you can imagine, what kind of torture that I went through. It's hell!

ON THE WAY

B is on the plane, heading home at this very moment. And I'm boiling his favourite soup. He's been eating out in a foreign land for a long time now. So I'm sure he'll be happy to find it. :>

Anyway, he's touching down tomorrow at 2.40pm, and I'm gonna totally surprise him by appearing in the airport. The look on his face when he sees me at the arrival gate will be priceless! Know why? 'Cus I'm not good with roads and I am actually clueless on how to get there. Hehehee...

You know, I'm the typically girl who would just enjoy the scenery while riding in the car. So even though I've been to a place for like a thousand times, I wouldn't know how to get there - unless if circumstances force me to be independent, then I'd learn. :P And it's B's responsibility to show me how to get there, times and times again, till he's confident that I'd not lose my way. Hehehee... Anyway, he has not shown me on how to get to the airport yet, so there's no way that he's gonna suspect it. :>

My original plan was just to start the car engine, take a deep breath and just see where the road signages lead me to. But M being worried of my 'safety', decided to narrate the way to me. So at least I'll have some clues on what to expect. Hehehee... I have some pictures in my mind now. Hopefully I'll succeed in sniffing my way around tomorrow!

So KLIA, here I come! :P

COUNTING DOWN

3½ days to go and B will be home again! Yeap, he's touching down on Saturday, April 5, 2.40pm.

I can't wait! It's been a long 2½ weeks... Way too long...

"Lonely... I'm so lonely... I have nobody... I'm on my own... Ooh..."

Hehehee... Know the song? Sounds familiar huh? I know. ;P

HOME ALONE

Came back yesterday evening. It's my first day here on my own without B. Well to be exact, the first few hours. ;P

Anyway, after being away for one whole week, there's of course clean-ups to do. So right after dinner of instant noodles, I started working. Then around 10.20pm or so, I started feeling tired 'cus it's been a long day. So took my shower and hit the bed at around 10.50pm.

Thought I'm just gonna doze off since I was feeling so worn out. But who knows, the longer I lie there, the more awake I got. Ended up couldn't sleep!

I finally fell asleep at around 1.00am or later, I guess... Nonetheless, I kept on waking up throughout the night. Just couldn't sleep well without B by my side... Gosh, and I gotta work tomorrow... Why now? Didn't have this problem back home at parents'... But I guess it's because I was used to sleeping alone there anyway, so it's just back to good old days.

Anyway, I woke up looking like a panda this morning. So B, you owe me tons of rejuvenating eye treatments and eye creams for putting me through this. ;P

AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

B joined a new company today. To mark his first day, he is required to travel to Barcelona for 3 weeks. Sigh... He’s at the airport now actually. The flight is scheduled to depart at 11.25pm.

I should be happy for him, I know. But this is the very first time that we have to be apart after we’re married, so it’s hard... Really, really hard... By the way, we’ve been married for a year and 4 months now. Time flies, eh?

Anyway, I’m back home at parents’. B sent me off earlier at the airport this afternoon. He thinks that I’d be able to adjust to the change better here. So at least I won’t be home alone, feeling depressed and indulging in self-pity. Most importantly, my parents can help to take my mind off it by keeping me occupied, feeding me good food, etc... And I have to admit that it is working so far. Well at least for now. :P By the way, I’ll be here for one whole week. :>

All that said, being apart from B is not a totally bad thing afterall. It actually has its good points too! Know why? ‘Cus he bought me a new notebook! Hahahaa... Good exchange, right? I won't get to see him for 3 weeks, but I get to keep the notebook for as long as I want. But mind you, I'm not a person who is so easily influenced by material gratifications! Haven't you heard of "distance makes the heart fonder"?? ;P

Anyway, the last time he was away in Chennai, he got me my baby guinea pig, Margaret.

Now I wonder... What will I be getting next when he travels again? ;P Perhaps I should start a wish list! Hehehee...

By the way, miss u, B... And thank you for the notebook! ;P

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

“To be or not to be” is probably the best-known line from drama or literature. Certainly, if anyone is asked to quote a line of Shakespeare, this is probably the one that will first come to mind for most people. It is, of course, from Shakespeare's play ‘Hamlet’, 1603.

The actual meaning : “Is it better to live or to die?”

However, in layman terms, it simply implies a person’s dilemma when it comes to making difficult and major decisions.

So what can we do when we’re faced with this kind of situations? To take chances and risk losing something in the process? Or to play safe and risk regretting the decision in the end? Tough choice.

What I’ve learned is that there is no right or wrong to a decision. Only whether it is what you really wanted for yourself. We may consult as many family and friends as we would want in the process, but at the end of the day, the choice is still in our hands. No one can really tell us what to do ‘cus this is our lives and thus, our call.

And most of the times, we’ve already known the answer – but somehow, we lack the confidence or shall I say, guts, to take that one step. Ask that little voice inside you, and you’ll know that it’s true. Hehehee…

Anyway, gathering opinions at the initial stage is really about gathering opinions. No doubt about that. But as you go along, when hours turn into days and days turn into weeks… Chances are you have already made up your mind. But deep down inside, there’s a part of you that says “Hey, are you sure? What if this… What if that…” And you’d go through the whole process all over again.

However, at this second stage, it’s actually more like trying to gain some reassurance. When somebody comes up with a reason that points towards your supposedly ‘decision’, you’d be feeling so much better, like you’re almost confident with the decision. “Don’t wanna think so much anymore, I’ll just do it!” And suddenly, another person says something that points towards the opposite direction, and there you go again!

Then how...???

Let me tell you something. Stop thinking, just do it! Just take the risk and see how things turn out – with due considerations, of course. It’s not easy, I know. But with proper deliberation and taking all the factors into account, you’ll be able to see it.

Have you wondered what prompted you to even think about it in the very first place? It’s the desire for change! Doesn’t that ring a bell?

Anyway, trust me, it is a never-ending dilemma. Unless you do something about it, it has no ends! This is because every time you think about it or be presented with the same situations, you’ll be going through the exact “What if…” process all over again, hovering over a stale topic (pardon me).

Unless, unless if you are able to let go of it totally and be at peace with yourself. Or else, looking down the road in 10-20 years to come, it might be too late ‘cus time waits for no man. So it’s your choice. Yes or no, take action now! Most importantly, no regrets...

PECULIAR DIET IDEAS

Hehehee... Diet, diet... A hot topic which will never go out of time - especially after festive seasons! You know, the times of the year when we'll just indulge in all the good foods on offer without having the consequences crossing our minds. And when we're finally back to our good old routines, the clothes seem to look wrong somewhere and the waistlines somehow seems tighter? Then reality hits and you go "Oh, nooo...!!!" Sounds familiar? Hehehee...

If you bring up the subject, everyone will start pointing out their flaws, trying to outdo each other. And before you know it, it becomes a contest of 'Who Fares Worse'. Hahahaa...

Common problems include :

1. Flabby upper arms

2. Big hips (some claim that their's look like bells!)

3. Bulging tummy (especially for guys)

4. Fat thighs (they call it elephant legs)

Anyway, to combat all the unwanted fats in the body, everyone seems to have their own strategies and theories to lose it - whether or not it works!

1. Replace regular meals with sour plums. To take 2 sour plums for each main meal of the day, i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meaning to consume only 6 sour plums per day and that's about it. To continue till desired weight is achieved.

2. No food intake for 1 whole week. To only live on green tea and apple cider to combat hunger.

3. Replace water intake with black coffee. This is to increase bowel movement, i.e. to drain out food consumed in the shortest time possible and to avoid the food being digested and absorbed into the system.

4. To consume only meat and fat, minus carbohydrate and vegetables.

5. Fast for 7 consecutive days and have colonics to cleanse the system and of course, to wash away fats.

6. Limit food intake to only 2 meals per day. To eat whatever that the heart desires in no specific serving size for lunch. In other words, you may eat as much as you like. However, this is for lunch only. Dinner time, to restrict diet to fruits and vegetables. Good news is that there is no restriction on serving size as well.

7. To fast and cleanse the system with a combination of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper.

8. To fast and drink a cup of olive oil mixed with 3/4 cup lemon juice per day - again, to cleanse the system.

9. Food monogamy. Now this is interesting. The idea is to decide on a food, and to stick to it for as long as you can. When you're eating the same food everyday, you'll get bored of it and eventually decrease your intake due to lack of appetite.

So these are what I can recall at the moment. Peculiar but true...

Please feel free to share if you have a method or two that may or may not work. It'll definitely be interesting to read! Hehehee... In the meantime, happy dieting or should I say, keeping in shape. ;P

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOGA AND PILATES

Ballet, a definite no no... :D Yoga or pilates? Yoga or pilates?? What's the difference anyway? How to choose when both seems to be the same thing? Both involves stretching exercise and breathing techniques, and done on a mat placed on the floor - well, at least that's what I derived from TV shows! Hahahaa... There must be some difference between them, but what? Well, I've got the answer! Read on to find out more...

Yoga vs. Pilates : Which Is Best For You? by Kathy Smith

When people speak of the physical benefits of exercise, they tend to focus on the three S's : strength, stamina and slimming. With this in mind, their training programs usually consist of weight lifting to build muscle, with some form of aerobic activity to build cardiovascular endurance and burn calories. But there's a second tier of benefits we're starting to value. These include flexibility, coordination, posture and stress relief. It's not that these secondary benefits weren't always important -- it's just that they're more in the spotlight these days thanks to the growing popularity of so-called "softer" training modalities. Two of the most popular of these are yoga and pilates.

Yoga, of course, has been popular in the U.S. for decades. I started practicing yoga more than 20 years ago and it's still one of my favourite ways to tone my body and calm my mind. Pilates though is a newer trend that apparently still has many people baffled. I often get letters inquiring about the difference between pilates and yoga, and asking which I recommend. As with most "which do I recommend" questions, the answer depends on your physical goals. Simply put, the difference between yoga and pilates is that between East and West. Both systems build strength and flexibility; the difference between them is not so much physical as it is philosophical.

A Tale of Two Workouts

Let's take yoga first. Yoga is based on the Eastern idea of moving energy through your body. The more freely the energy flows, the healthier and more energetic you feel. Physical tension hinders the flow; over time, areas of tension in your body can become tight and rigid, even painful. The goal of yoga is to keep the body supple through movement and stretching. But there's another dimension. Yoga is a holistic spiritual discipline with its roots in Eastern forms of meditation. The physical postures, although they condition the body, are really aimed at the mind. They symbolize the goal of living your life in a state of balance and composure. When I spend an hour in a yoga class, I melt into a kind of meditative state and emerge wonderfully relaxed and refreshed.

Pilates on the other hand is physical conditioning first and foremost -- and there's nothing quite like it. Its creator, Joseph Pilates, was looking for a way to rehabilitate injured soldiers after World War I. He developed an assortment of curious machines with names like the "Reformer" and the "Cadillac." Using cables and trolleys and unusual body positioning, pilates exercises stretch and strengthen and are unique in their ability to encourage coordination between the muscles that stabilize the body.

Pilates techniques quickly became a hit with dancers, who found them a highly effective way to improve body awareness and alignment and promote graceful, fluid motion. Machine-based pilates actually has more in common with weight training than with yoga since it involves moving against resistance (provided by springs) with the aim of overloading the muscles. In particular it resembles functional strength exercises such as squats or cable pulls. There's also a new form of pilates, the pilates mat class, which relies more on callisthenic-style exercises and stretches. This form is physically more similar to a yoga class though the emphasis is still on physical change rather than on spiritual development through postures and breathing.

The Choice Is Yours

Generally speaking, I think it's fair to say yoga is more about how it makes you feel while pilates is about how you look -- how you carry yourself and move. So if you're looking for a limbering, rejuvenating workout that will provide as much of a lift for your brain as your body -- and you're not too concerned about building muscle -- I'd recommend yoga. If you're interested in a more dynamic system of muscle conditioning -- or if you just want to try something new and different -- pilates may be the answer.

In fact, it doesn't have to be an either-or choice. After all, no single training system can give your body all the types of conditioning it needs. That's why my week includes a variety of activities, from weight lifting to hiking, running, yoga and more. My best recommendation is to try everything -- experience it all -- and see what works best for you. East or West, the important thing is to explore!