dresses

I've never been a dressy person. I've always been most comfortable in a singlet top and jeans or shorts. But it doesn't mean I don't like dresses. I just never had any use for them. My family is not the kind to dress up when we go out to dinner. We just throw on a pair of jeans at the most if the place is in an enclosed air conditioned table clothed restaurant. But I think the whole dressing up thing is starting to become a trend among my friends back in Subang. Thus, I feel more compelled to look at dresses when I window shop nowadays. And if when I make heaps of money, I will buy myself an expensive push up bra (because I need it) and pretty dresses to wear out. =)

I went from Karen Cheng's site to this site and found some really really nice dresses. Or maybe it's just coz the models are really gorgeous. But the dresses are really nice! Here are a few I really liked.This black one in the bottom row is my favourite. It's got parrots on it.

Hopefully my shoulders don't grow any broader by then.

It's funny, that day the massage therapist at the gym said she wanted to look like me - slim, slender and feminine. She mentioned this other person in the gym whom she thinks is "too bulky". Ah...one great thing about being in New Zealand is, here, I am considered tiny. Here I am a size S. =D

I just got back

I realised something. I just got back. It's been only 5 weeks.

Have u ever had the feeling that things go by so quickly that within a few blinks it is once again the weekend, and another blink it is once again Monday? But at the same time, when you actually start counting, time is crawling by.

I spent the day just chillaxing. I didn't want to do anything school related till Monday so I pretty much slept in, went for a run, ate an hour long breakfast, did my laundry, watched Seven Pounds (which was really good), lazed about online (probably used up heaps of bandwidth today), baked a banana chocolate loaf and lazed around even more.

And I really think lazing around makes u extremely tired. because it's barely 10 pm and I feel like sleeping already.

I need a storybook. Think I shall go get one from Ingrid soon.

12 more weeks. =)

***

Jon just sent me this site. It tells you what happened the year you were born.
I can't remember who I was in love with at age 15. heh.

good company

I hate being alone. So when it is the last day of the first half of the semester, after I am done with mid terms, and before I begin my 2 week term break, the last thing I wanted to do was to go back to an empty house and sit in front of my pc refraining from using too much bandwidth.

So i got some people to come over! I used Merdeka Day as an excuse, but really I just wanted to have more people around me. And it was really successful!

I think I had about 13 people altogether. It was pretty good! I cooked up some stuff, and we played charades, and some of the guests brought really delicious stuff, like Abby's bubur chacha and Wye Yin's roast stuffed chicken.

This is just some of those who came.
Some of the things i managed to cook up. Frying pappadums are awesome!
Playing with Zhi's multishot function. 8 frames i think.

Photos are compliments of Zhi. The company was really good. I don't know why I was too lazy to get my own camera to snap more photos. But owell...=)

However, when the party's over, and everyone leaves, there's always this sinking feeling in my heart. Sigh. 14 more weeks before mum, dad and keith comes over...=)

O for Awesome!

I had the opportunity to join a Body Attack class in Les Mills today. My friend, Georgia, brought me in so I could try it out.

I was really excited. I was gonna go into THE Les Mills building! The place where Group X classes were born and made and taught to the world! This is where they film the DVDs you people get in your quarterly updates. This is where the magic happens!

After finding an incredibly lucky parking spot near the gym, I rushed in to meet Georgia at the reception. She then led me up something like 4 flights of stairs. On every floor there was a dance studio and it was HUGE. They're all amazing, it's entirely carpeted, nice lights in the background, the stage is an ACTUAL STAGE and not some raised platform. And there were HEAPS of people in EVERY studio. AND...its open door - which means you don't have to sneak in quietly if you're late. Just jump right in and fall in sync with everyone else! The ENERGY emanating through each class was just amazing!

Then we got to the highest studio, and I was BLOWN AWAY. It was the largest studio out of all, there were maybe 60-70 people in the class, the stage was huge, glass panels all around allowed for a panaromic view of Auckland city, sky tower in view, and because it was at 5.10 pm, the sun was just setting. The class had already started, so G and I hurriedly dropped our stuff at the corner and just jumped right in. And BOY DID WE JUMP! 5.30 pm and my heart was already banging against my ribs! It was intense!

Cut short, I had a blast! It was a great class. There were bits where the instructor came down to the floor and we started running around in circles, and I kinda had this feeling we were koi fishes in a pond all swimming in the same direction. And we split into 2 and did a little dancey-hoppy stuff. I had so much fun!

And so it struck me. Les Mills is the ONLY company that produces group exercise classes. They're the ONLY company who monopolizes the group ex industry and they're a worldwide MONOPOLY GIANT. Why hasn't anyone tried to compete with them? Honestly, it's not hard to throw together some beats, and some moves, that last for 50 minutes. Really it isn't hard at all. Like how many moves can you do on a spin bike? How many ways can you jump up and down, or lift your legs up, or bend your knees, or punch? It really is all about displaying it to everyone else. It's about the energy, the personality that comes with being apart of this tribe. And it's just AWESOME. Or like the kiwis say it - OWSUM!

You know what? I'm gonna do it. Yeah. It's gonna be me. I will gather a few friends, throw some beats together, work some moves, and BAM! Come up with a whole new line of group exercise classes that'll be priced more competitively than Les Mills, but jam packed with sheer AWESOME! I'm gonna sell it to Malaysia. Then, the world.

Yeah. It's gonna be me.

*sings*Everything's going up Karen!*sings*

bright and cheery

I went out to buy myself some new covers today. It was 60% off and I figured I might as well make my room a little more bright and cheery.

So I went from this...

to this...

...because we all could use a lil' sunshine sometimes.

i think of you

it rains.
little drops of mist, turns into torrents of water.
big heavy drops of water.
my clothes are wet.
i'm getting soaked.
and i think of you.

it's morning again.
air is cold and dry.
my tummy rumbles out of hunger.
i almost hurry to get breakfast.
and i think of you.

i'm getting into my car.
i pull a cd out of the overhead cd holder.
a song comes on.
the song.
and i think of you.

sitting on the bus.
way back at the corner.
a couple comes onto the bus.
hand in hand, they fall synchronously on the seat.
she looks up at him.
she smiles.
he smiles.
and i think of you.

been a great 34 months, d.
xx

what lies ahead

I attended a Careers Event at uni just now, organized by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science. To be honest, I went more for the free food than anything else (we got pizza, yo!). Because I have a pretty clear idea of what i intend to embark on once I graduate and go home. But I guess I wanted to be open to ideas and seeing that my degree is of a very sciencey base, I'm guessing the opportunities are endless.

I was right. There are heaps of things I can go into with my degree. It all sounded very fancy, doing research, dealing with government investors, traveling with professional athletes, rehabilitation work, coming up with new technology etc. And I think it would be really cool to be part of a research team, coming up with the latest technology in sport performance gear. But truth be told, I just do not have the patience and drive to go into post grad, because to enter these specialised fields, you kinda have to. And it sounds cool, telling people "Oh yeah, you know that Nike Free 9.0, yeah I thought of that idea", but really, if I had to look up another journal article or run another statistical analysis, or prepare another lab report after this degree, I would literally throw up. That's how much I hate the academic world right now.

And if at all, the event only made me want to finish the course even faster so I can start my career NOW. Stop asking me to do things I don't want to do (such as neurology and organ physiology and stupid scigen projects where i have to write project plans on sustainable soil resources) and let me focus on things I actually want to do! Gosh. This degree is HARD work. There. I've said it. It's hard work trying to stay focused, and stay driven, yet have fun and enjoy. Right now I just couldn't be stuffed. Just let me pass my subjects, and let me go home so I can start earning proper pay cheques.

my room

yes, if u were fast enough to read the post i had before this, i've deleted it. i figured before my family and friends start telling me to suck it up and grow up, i should really stop the whining.

So I've finally got my camera SD card back. I had left it in Calvin's Wii. hehe...lucky me, he was such a dear, he sent it to me as soon as he could.

I thought I might just put a few pictures of my room up. I've raved about it a couple of times.so this is how it looks when u first step in. It's not THAT huge, but its the biggest room in the house. And it's nice and cosy.This is my very nice queen sized bed, for which I do not have a queen sized duvet. I've always wanted a queen sized bed though, so when I have guests *hint* there's always place for people to sleep.And finally this is my magic mirror. Because it makes me look very nice and slim all the time. I love it to bits! It's made me even more vain than I already am. haha...oh and i need to trim my fringe. It's getting a wee bit too long, I'm starting to look like Nicole Ritchie. Which isn't a good thing.

post #1200

I can't believe it's the puasa month again. I love this time of the year. If only for the food. =)

The Bazaar Ramadhan right outside my house is the awesomest day market ever. Just walking along the stalls, immersing yourself in the mixed up aroma of the most delicious Malay food there is, it's heavenly.

I've not been able to attend this bazaar for 3 years now. I miss my potato brick, mashed potato, murtabak, curry puffs, onde-onde, roti booms..the list goes on.

Another little bit of trivia - this Bazaar Ramadhan played a role in the story of D and I. If you'd like to know how, you gotta ask me next time you see me. ;) And perhaps that is why I often think fondly of this foodie haven. I look forward to the next time I am able to walk this street again with him. That'll be next year. Won't be long now...=)

pro.cras.ti.na.tor

I wonder why is it so hard for me to get started on something. Like a lab report, or an assignment. Even though I know it doesn't take that long, I just find it so hard to whip out my books and just get on with it.

It is this aspect of studying that I don't like. The research, the homework, the assignments. God, how I can't wait to be rid of them. When I am done I never want to see another journal article ever again.

Every day I dream of the time when I can just go to work happily, earn some money, and have time to run without a nagging thought at the back of my head about assignment deadlines, and exams to study for. Why does every working person tell me to enjoy student life? Seriously people, don't tell me that unless you're willing to drop your work and go back to studying again, WITHOUT the luxury of a constant monthly income.

Work life brings on more responsibilities, sure. But I'd say bring on those responsibilities, if only to trade them for report and assignment deadlines, journal article readings, and examinations.

Okay! I'll stop complaining. In case you haven't noticed, I'm good at that. Next to procrastinating, complaining is something else I've mastered over here. Well, I don't complain to anyone over here, I just keep it all in, so this blog is the only avenue for me to spit everything back out. sorry. =/ I need to be inspired again. I was already low on enthusiasm last semester, then failing 205 took another big chunk of motivation out of me again. I have to pick myself up and move forwards. I know what I have to do, I just need to believe in myself again.

Alright! Enough blabber, time to start cracking. Biomechanics, I'm coming to get you!

My love

He bends his breath around my name
And I am humbled
I feel small and plain
But his arms are angels by his side
You need not ask if they're open, just how wide

His lips are day
And his skin is night
Oooh, and with our love we conjure up the twilight
His fingers are music to my soul
And I feel his song play everywhere I go

My love, my love is on his way
I can't wait to see the day
I thankfully lay me down
Oh, my love, my love is on his way
I'm waiting patiently
But if you see me now
My love, please hurry

He loves with rhythm
And paints with flame
He comes in pieces with no name
I won't need answers, I'll just know
Cause I've read the sonnets about his soul

He can be ordinary in the best ways
And still dance like a poet
Through every word he says

My love, my love is on his way
I can't wait to see the day I thankfully
Lay me down
My love, my love is on his way
I'm waiting patiently
But if you see me now
My love, please hurry

All that I never knew
Can you see me now
All that I never said
Can you see me now

He makes me crazy
He makes me cruel
Oh, but I pray he makes me anything
But a fool

Oooh, my love
Please hurry

-sara bareilles-

flights

*edit* I went running. 7.7km. =)

I just booked my flight from KL to Melbourne for February 18th next year. oh.my.god.

I'm kinda at a stage where I know it's my last year, yet it's not quite the last semester. Like I know, when I say "next year", I refer to a time when I am done with this degree. And that is quite thrilling I think. From today onwards, "next year" refers to a time I am back in Malaysia, making money. =)

This sem is supposed to be my toughest sem, because it's the final sem of this degree i.e. Year 3 Semester 2. But because I started with a semester 2, I'm ending with a semester 1 next year. It was supposed to be a lighter semester, a nice, slightly breezy semester to finish up my degree. But because of Medsci 205, it's gonna be one helluva tough semester with 5 subjects.

(I'm still harbouring hope that the recount I applied for will come back with positive results, telling me i actually passed! Positive thinking, Karen, law of attraction)

But even with one last year to complete, I have still a handful of assignments to write, a stack of lab reports to complete, 8 final exam papers to agonize and stress over, and approximately 7 more months of being away. Of course i have a nice 3 month break in between, but I think given the choice I would've loved to have a 3 week break this time, and finish 2 months earlier.

I've only been running once since I came back. I know, that's like once in 10 days. Sigh, i'm such a slacker in winter. But i've cycled up the steep steep steep hill about 4 times, and I walk about 3 kms in total every day. All these super low and super high intensity work outs ought to contribute to some fat burn. And I gave a crazy inpromptu step/bootcamp class at work that day. I was sweating heaps from it. So yea, got exercise la. =)

Alright, I'm officially hungry. But every snack that's good here is extremely rich in fat. Come to think of it, eventhough we Malaysians eat all the time. Our food's actually quite healthy. heh.

Ok, I'm gonna go back home and rummage through my pantry. Else I'll just have a banana.

dear you

Hey you.

It's stupid how life screws us over sometimes, ya? I mean, why does the most amazing things happen to the shittiest of people and the shittiest of things happen to the most amazing people? I honestly question karma.

So, I know we haven't been in touch in the past year or two. But I hope you know that you've always been someone very dear to me. I remember how we met. I remember meeting your friend, C first, through Accounts tuition. And he told me he had this friend who rock climbed, and that we should all go rock climbing together someday. And by "this friend who rock climbed" he actually meant D. And I remember being really excited to meet this guy.

But the person who caught my eye wasn't D. Wasn't C. It was you. Because you were sweet and nice. And i think it's not a secret anymore that I had the hugest crush on you back then. haha...I still can't believe your entire family knew. Including Gene's family. I think I actually avoided going to her house for a while, out of sheer embarrassment. But yeah, you were always very graceful about it. I remember how i wanted to hang out with you so much, but for some reason a lot of your friends couldn't make it that day, and so it was just my friends and i, but you were willing to go anyway. Though I didn't want to put you through such an awkward situation, so I called the outing off. But yea, appreciated it. You're really nice. =) And I remember gathering the courage to confess my highschool teenage crush to you, through sms no less, and you replied, in 4 smses, how you valued our friendship and that you wanted to be just friends. Which was a rejection, but you were graceful about it. Tactful. I kept those smses for a long time. Till that handphone died i think. But yeah.

We went on with our lives. And I must say it's a shame we drifted apart. I remember bumping into you in Melbourne in 2005. Just out of the blue. We had dinner with Gene and your friend and hung out for a while.

After that was just a blur. We didnt really keep in contact. And so I think the last time I saw you was probably...I don't know. I possibly saw you around in Subang or KL in the past few years, but to be honest I can't remember.

Anyway, Ron, just a letter to say you were someone special. You leave footprints in many people's lives, and most definitely in mine. Your family, your friends, your girlfriend, they all suffer a tragic loss. My deepest condolences to all of them. And to you, old friend, rest in peace. You will definitely be missed.

In Melbourne, 2005.
Clockwise from the top left: Ron, Gene, Eric, me

Truly,
me.