Saturday, December 31, 2005

Friday, December 30, 2005

ain't no mountain!

ain't no mountain high enough...
ain't no valley low enough...
ain't no river long enough....


alright...i've come to my senses. i'm cool. just a sudden burst of insanity. my apologies.

i've modified my bike a bit. gave it new pedals. bought a new hand pump so i don't have to go to the petrol station to pump 'em wheels anymore. i can't wait for my next race!

the weather hasn't been very merciful. i mean, rain pours down on me at HTM in OB. Rain pours down on me before i go to Sekadeh. and rain now pours down on me every freaking morning during my run. i decided to sleep in this morning and try the evening. and guess what? the sky was a clear crystal blue this morning, while the dark clouds blotched the sky at 5 pm. wth! i know i appreciate a challenge but do i really have to be tested this way?

i'm having a photo shoot tomorrow. family portrait. and big bro says a tube top is unacceptable. oh bummer....

new year's eve for me shall be low key. a bunch of fellas will be over for some chips n movies. then we'll probably humour ourselves with charades or multiple rounds of spin the bottle. as the great OB instructors say to me...Anything also can...:)

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

the void

for the past 3 days i've been tuning my clock to ring t 7 am. Big bro's back...so it's time to whip both myself and him into shape. hence, the reason why i havent exactly been online later in the night, and also probably the reason to why my blogging has been on the low side. my bad. =)

ever since i came home from OB i have this draggy feeling. i feel moody and agitated. and i tend to feel sleepy very frequently. i do miss OB. no doubts about it. but very very frankly, it aint so much about missing the people in OB and all. I miss them, true, but there's always MSN and Friendster that makes distances halved in a nano second. so there's not much room for missing them. And of course i miss the activities. where else can i kayak a single kayak for over an hour, or climb a genuine rock wall, or get stung by unseen and unheard of before insects. i crave for that too, but there's a limit to how much i can take Mother Nature. There will come a time when i yearn to come home to my comfy bed and air-conditioned room.

what saddens me most about the end of OB is the fact that i'm back to face the harsh reality of my life. (which may sound overly exaggerated but yea...read on...). i'm not going to put up a facade. things have changed around me. my friends have changed. i just got home from one of those spontaneous mamak sessions. i had fun. there was a point i had stitches in my sides. but there was also a point where i was completely clueless and lost. and for a split second i felt like i didn't fit in. let's face it. there are a lot of stuff which i do not do, which my friends do. and i would try it for the sake of fitting in more, but that's just wrong. and sometimes, i get this vibe like they think of me as Ms Goody 2 Shoes, however lame that my sound. but it happens. there will come a moment where this pang of loneliness would just stab me.

then there's him. the more i talk to him, the more i see how things are just not meant to be. and i do want to move on. very very desperately. i really want to get rid of that queesiness that comes after each conversation i have with him...no matter how short it was. and most importantly, i really want to enjoy love songs without feeling like i'm missing something. i want myself back.

and there's my studies. i didn't quite score in the last sem. I almost failed one subject, which freaked my parents out. they fear that my scholarship may be withdrawn. and after i have tried so hard to ask them to trust me, and to convince them that i know what i'm doing. they're going to go back to keeping an eye on me. all the more do i wish i could go abroad!

i really don't want to be all moody, and emo. but it's the festive season. and it's hard not to feel the void when it's all around you.

Monday, December 26, 2005

inferiority

after checking out melanie's and OJ's post on OB, i'm starting to feel like my post was inferior to theirs. i don't intend to update mine. i have other matters to blog about. but just so my readers get an equal share of details of The Great OB Experience, do check out their blogs. Especially Mel's. haha...

I can, however, provide you with a more visual representation of The Great OB Experience. Check out my photos and OJ's photos.

Now that i've got that off my chest, i can move on to other Christmassy matters.

25th of December 2005 begun at 9.00 am. Unusually early for me. I had breakfast with my extended family, namely uncle n aunty from Brunei, cousins from Singapore, big brother from Perth. Yes! The big korkor's back!! he actually came home the night i returned from OB. And both my brothers and i went shopping in 1U yesterday! We watched The Chronicles of Narnia which was good. it started of draggy (or perhaps i was still a little OB-hung over) but then it just got better n better!

the much awaited Uncle Peter's Christmas Lunch finally came! every year i save my stomach for this auspicious event! The food is fantastic!!! we had turkey, macaroni, lasagne, cakes, pies...*burp*. I had fun talking to all those triathletes and duathletes again! Most of them said i look very different. It's probably the tan. and the hair. =) My brother was like some celeb walking down the red carpet. "Kevin, you're back from Perth!!". i have a famous brother...=)

then i went to see my porpor in SJMC. great news! she'll be discharged tomorrow!

My handphone has been fixed! the handphone which i lost to the freak rain in OB while trekking! The battery was short circuited but the interior of the phone is fine! yay! i got all my contacts and messages back!!! which means i now have more disposable income to spend!

Edwin called me just now and said Chun kit and him were dead bored and were in need of my companionship! ahahha....i met up with them at 10 at Coffee Bean Subang Parade. There, i bumped into Anne, Cheryl and Tasha! haha...i haven't seen Cheryl and Tasha in like donkey years! then a while later a group of guys walked in. They were Faris, Fadhli, Iqram, Nor Azlan and someone whom i can't seem to remember his name. Either that or i never knew it to begin with. =)

I was dead hungry and since expensive cakes won't do the trick, we adjourned to Rafi's SS15. Lo and behold, we met Sing Foong and Daniel! hahaha...Soon Seng then joined us after i called him. So it was a case of 5 guys, a girl and a mamak.

Beautiful times....

Saturday, December 24, 2005

OB-ised!

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i'm home~! bee-stung, jellyfish-stung, red ant-bitten, sun-blazed and everything!

yup...bearing much more battle scars than last year, i'm proud to say that i have experienced yet another gruelling 10 days in OB! priceless.

i'm dead tired. my brains are a bit messed up right now. so i'll spare you the long windedness and sprinkle you with highlights.

in the past 2 weeks i learned that:

1. you should never trust mosquito repellants bought from KL. They don't work on jungle mozzies.

2. you can get sick of chicken from eating them too much.

3. teenagers have this miraculous way of surviving through the day with very very little sleep.

4. never follow people blindly.

5. just because u can't see anything, doesn't mean there's nothing there.

6. bee stings hurt like hell, no matter what you say.

7. random words created with meaning and all, can become a whole new language by itself if influencial enough.

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8. all random words created with meaning and all are influencial enough.

9. the quality of a pair shoes rises exponentially with the price of the shoes. in other words, Power shoes may save you financially, but it may not save you physically.

10. you should never underestimate the power of air-borne disease.

11. never tease the guy with the red eye. he infects.

12. it is not fun being forced to stay in and do nothing, no matter what you say.

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13. should you be quarantined, be so with people who won't sleep all day.

14. that one can learn how to play, master it, and get sick of chor dai di all in but 2 days.

15. rain sucks.

16. blisters on the feet are as torturous as any form of physical discomfort, if not worse.

17. you should never tie your hammock on a tree infested with ants.

18. no, mosquito repellant does not work on ants.

19. mosquito repellant does not work. period.

20. my Bata hiking shoes are waterproof!

21. water may not seep into the material of the shoe, but leave it hanging outside in the rain and it just might get wet through the hole you put your feet in through.

22. making a fire with wet wood not only takes aeons to do, but it also makes a funny sound and produces loads of smoke.

23. when you're exhausted, you can not hear the alarm even if it's next to your ear.

24. 10 days lasts an eye wink when you are having a blast.

25. missing people actually depreciates your apetite.

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to my Clima Cools, you'll forever be in my heart.

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Friday, December 09, 2005

all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go!


all my bags are packed...i'm ready to go
i'm standing here...all psyched and so
i hate to leave this blog and say goodbye

but the clock is ticking, tomorrow's coming
melanie's waiting, she's already screaming
already i'm so excited i could die!


yes! To serve, to strive but not to yield! OBS...here i come! hehe...i spent the day packing. and basically all i did was put in stuff, and took them out again. I seem to think twice about everything i'm bringing. I don't know why. OB is supposed to be about living with the simple resources nature can provide. haha owell. Least i'm done now. I'm SO psyched! It seems so exciting to be meeting Mel, Oj and Poh Leng again! Can't wait can't wait!

This shall be my last entry for the next 2 weeks! There's a counter for my homecoming under Profile. But for those of you who really can't bear not seeing Galnexdor online, feel free to call me. You got my number. *wink*. Call after 11pm. i think that's when we'll be free. haha...

the pics for Yvonne's Heart4Hope bunting are out! You can see them here.

till the 23rd! Adios!!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Dear Nick and Pods!

i took this picture some time back actually. i don't know why but i find it so fascinating. it was the first time i went to my uncle's hardware shop in Gombak. and the moment i entered the shop i was greeted by rows n rows of pigeon holes like the ones above. pardon my jakunness but i've really never stepped into a spare part/hardware shop quite like that before. i've seen the ones here in Subang but they don't seem quite the same.

anyway, i went out with Nick, Jackie, Wen Ching, O-Wern, Jolvin and Ju. it was fun! really! i was never particularly close to this group of SJians but when you leave school for a while you tend to treat all former schoolmates with the same enthusiasm. haha...and i honestly found it fun! especially when i started to tease a few of them who have found themselves their respective other halves. such is the situation i seem to be facing day in day out. everyone's hooking up. *frowns*

and Nick brought me Pods!! hehe...Nick's such a dear! =) he actually brought 3 boxes but for some reason nobody wanted it (?!?!?!?!?) so i took home all 3. haha...i feel so greedy and selfish and glutton-ish! so anybody who wants some feel free to come over alright? i'm feeling generous with my Pods! =)

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

sleeping habits


i've been getting this command all night. i tried signing into Keith's account and i got in within a second. I always thought when things like this happen it, it happens to everyone on MSN. But Ju says hers is fine, so i'm thinking this is God's way of saying, "Go to sleep Karen! you need to change your sleeping habit!". hehe...i do. i sleep at 3-4 am and i wake up at noon. it's bad. my mum thinks i'm a bad influence to Keith. so i should start sleeping earlier and waking up earlier. =)

i went to Fajar today with my mum and my aunt. I think my mum plans to buy up the entire Fajar. hehe she's been making multiple trips to it and coming home with heaps of plstic bags exclaiming "Very cheap la!". since i was in Summit, i thought i might drop by Fitness First to show how eager i was to get started. Isaiah was there. Unfortunately his boss wasn't. Darn. So we had a tour around the place, not like i've never been there, but yea. It was nice seeing Isaiah again. ahah i think the last time i saw him was at Powerman Putrajaya. Looking good i must say. I really wanna work in Fitness First. I could use some shedding of pounds and toning of abs and biceps. haha yes, even girls need to tone biceps. =)

alright. almost 1 am. let's see if i can get some sleep at this hour. it takes some getting used to.=)

-update- i just got connected to MSN. haha maybe God decided to reward my persistence in trying and retrying to sign in. =) anyway, i forgot to mention, i went jogging today. hehe up SS18. feels good...=)

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

ice skating and McSundaes

I had a gala time with Ju today. it's been a while since the last time we went out, just the 2 of us. And just like those times, we were in Pyramid. And just like those times, we ate McSundae cones. I miss those times...=)

They had this christmas performance by Pyramid Ice. I've always loved figure skaters. But these ones looked pretty beginnerish. anyhow, they were pretty fascinating. they had like groups of skaters to represent different countries. The theme was One World, One Christmas. and i especially liked the Spanish group. coz they came in pairs and the guys carried the girls! i tell you, the man i marry must be able to carry me. and that's not very likely to happen unless i find someone strong enough. so, now you know why i like buffed guys. *wink* i liked one of the guys very much. found him very charming in a way, the way he smiled at the audience and all. very good showmanship!=)

and to my surprise, one of those Moscow guys was ZiHao! ahah he called out to me after the show. i havent seen him since i left Taylor's a year ago. =) Wanted him to introduce me to that charming Spanish guy but he seemed to be in a hurry. Owell, he also said that the guy's a year younger, and you know how pantang i am about dating younger guys. no. =)

i'm picky. and stubborn. sue me.

Monday, December 05, 2005

the new galnexdor

yes. i've got a new skin. u like?

and no, john, i don't look cute. i wonder if that midnite person would come back and have a look. the last time she commented it was too boastful to put a large studio pic there. very unlike the common girl next door. i have to admit when i chose the nick i didn't know what it meant. i just thought it was cool. haha...

anyway, this is me. with nothing but an eyeliner to define 'em eyes. yup...no foundation, no airbrushing, no studio, no photoshopping. AND taken with a 3.0 megapixel Sony cybershot by my best friend Julie. no big-fancy-multifocus-whatchamacallit-camera. yup...

so comment if you please. =) plenty of room for improvement.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

bukits, 1U, the lake and cycling

i've been thinking of something to blog about to get rid of the horrid emo post. i'm fine now. honest. but i can't think of anything that might seem somewhat amusing. let me gather what i can:

well, you already heard from Ju that the Bukit Tabur climb was cancelled since it rained like crazy this morning. i actually woke up at 5.45 am. went to brush my teeth and put on my contacts before i got dressed into my hiking attire. i switched on my phone and in came Beat's message saying that the hike was put on hold. so i lay in bed, dozing off again and again, but not falling into deep slumber. at 7.15 am another message from Beat came saying the hike's off. darn. i was looking forward to it man! but i had trouble sleeping the night before so i figured it was a blessing in disguise. i took out my contacts again and went back to sleep.

***

i went to 1U again last night with the usual gang. Ate in Peranakan Place again. that's 3 times in a row. and the 4th time i've been to 1U. gosh...was cool really...i somehow found myself thinking what it would be like if this gang meets up again say 10 years down the road. then i found myself wondering which of us girls would be married off first and somehow Pei Jien came to mind. the girl's been going strong with her boy. *shrugs*. but then i found myself worrying that i'd be the last person to be distributing wedding invitations, so i just shook the whole idea off altogether.

***

this morning, my mum woke me up and said we're going to 1U. again. that's the 5th time. i'm swearing off 1U for the rest of 2005 now. Keith went to watch Harry Potter with his friends so we sent him there. My grandparents came along. Lucky for me we had Teppenyaki instead of the Peranakan Place again. =)

***

in both the times I was in 1U i met Thean Aik. *beams* hehe...

***

isaiah called me today from the gym. we talked about his job and then my mum came in and announced she was going jogging with my dad. so while talking to the fitness freak on the line, and saying no to my parents on the other hand, i found myself blushing with embarrassment. "daddy mummy go jogging, karen not going jogging ar?". ok isaiah! u got me. i'm going jogging!

so we went to the lake and that scary guy was there again. so i followed my parents' pace. i didn't dare go on my own for fear the guy might just come up to me and talk to me again. *shudders*. i don't think i'll jog there for a while, so long as he's gonna be there. think i'll stick to good ol' ss18. =)

my dad's fitter and faster than me now! boohoo! i need to regain my level of fitness. after putting running off for so long i actually lost to my old man in a 200m sprint! grr...this should not be happening! next thing i know he'd be beating me in the 10km's! Nooooooooo....ok, so he has been running everyday. Watch out daddy! i'm gonna beat u again! Muahahahah!!

***

i want plan to go cycling tomorrow. but first i need to pump my bike. haha i have a feeling Ben's gonna trash me with his mountie if i go cycling with him. i may have a roadie, but he probably has the skills. =) so yea i want need to go cycling tomorrow.

***

Genting Trailblazer got postponed! grr...why why why?? i was looking forward to it!

Friday, December 02, 2005

love songs

i remember when a friend of mine was feeling really low, she'd flip the radio channels whenever a love song came on air. she'd just avoid the whole emotional crap and brave herself to stay strong.

i, on the other hand, would just drown in those blues. i'd be in no mood for Ciara or Missy E. i'd just hit any slow moving song without a techno beat in my media player. and i did that just now. but when i ran out of songs to listen to, i realised how deep in a rut i've dragged myself into. i have a gazillion songs to suit the mood. but half of which were sent by you. and as much as i love those songs, as appropriate as those songs may seem to be for now, i didn't feel like listening to them. because i didn't want you to have the satisfaction of sending me a song which i liked. i didn't want you to have the satisfaction of knowing that you knew just what i'd like. because i was mad.

but i can't find a reason to be mad for. there's no one to blame, no mistake to bring up, and no evidence to prove.

so after listening to repeats of Lisa Loeb, i decided to hit some of the songs you sent me. and it just said all that i wanted to say. but it also said all you wanted to say to her, didn't it?

Thursday, December 01, 2005

talk the Lingo!

when Yvonne told me about John Ling sometime back, i pictured someone very prominent. someone chatty, yet not air-headed. someone who spoke very confidently and very surely. and considering he has been rather successful as a writer, i somehow figured he was closing in on his 30s.

i met John Ling today. we went for a photoshoot for Yvonne's Heart4Hope t-shirts. he wasn't very chatty. he was rather quiet. and he sure as hell did not look 30. haha...Ju and Lyn were giving me the raised eyebrows (yes, those newly shaped eyebrows which the 3 of us paid 10 bucks each for). I told them he was probably about late 20s. how wrong was i!

i found out he was 22. That's my brother's age! and he has 5 books in his name! talk about a writing prodigy! well, i offered to give hima ride to the KTM station. On the way, i asked him about his books and stuff and that was when the chitter-chatter poured out of him. haha...pretty entertaining fella i'd say. boy, does he love his books!

i am yet to read the short stories he just sent me. All of the romantic theme. My fav! =)

well, just thought i'd say it was fun meeting you, John! Should you read this that is. And all the best in your writing career! You're going places alright. =)