A Hermit’s Hiatus

Sorry to everyone for my long hiatus – I got distracted or shall I say sidetracked *tee hee hee*.

I have to admit that I have got some problems maintaining this site now due to my immersion in another site (sorry people, as much as I wished to disclose the whereabouts of this site, I can’t. Simply because I do not wish to uncover my identity here. So sorry).

Will try to continue with the Slogan post I have promised so looooong….loooong…. time ago *blush*. Anyway, I doubted that I ace it :( - I am saying this because lately, (after the closing of the competition) I have noticed so many ads on this new processor chip with way.... too good slogans, of which, I wouldn’t have thought of in a million years. LOL!!!!!

Well, looking at the brighter side of it, this competition had somehow given me new strength and new found confidence - I am proud that I am able to come out with so many slogans, though they kinda suck, big time – after I made the comparison with the commercial ones. Ahaha.

Until then, adious!

One Mean Machine

Whoopee!!! Yesterday night, I have been churning out slogans like a mean ol’ sloganizer - albeit still being bugged by my itchy butt *roll eyes* - yes, it’s a very irritating itch but, hey, maybe…. just maybe…. I think better with it (said with full intent of sarcasm).

Can you believe that I actually scratched 2 full pages of slogans in less than an hour or so. But, in the end, only 11 from the list actually made it through my own very stringent QC board. Still, I am felling pretty good with myself *silly grin on face*.

Don’t you think it’s a great achievement on my part? Well, for once I am quite amazed by myself, for I never thought that I could actually do it in the first place cos’ in the beginning, I can’t even think of one lousy slogans. So, hey Intel Core 2 Duo processor PC, here I come!!! – you are mine…. all mine…. *of to the dreamland of the geeks :P*

Wish me luck you guys!

Ciao, until next time.


NOTE: I promised I will post those slogans I have written right after the closing of this contest ok. So, be patience *blew raspberry*.

Itchy Butt Dilemma

Got one hell of an itchy butt this whole morning. Thus, in a highly irritable mood now. And scratch I did but, discreetly of course. Worst of all I had to do this in my office cubicle in the most subtle way I could muster :P (for this, I had to thank my company's uniform Jacket for easy hidding of my hand down my skirt from behind) - look, I can't be running off to the toilet every second it act up right!

So god help me!!!!! Arghh... this is driving me absolutely crazy. *fierce glare* YOU DARE LAUGH AT ME!? Growwwl......

(Sign stuck on forehead reads: KEEP-OUT. DO NOT APPROACH AT ALL COST!!!)

Slogan Writing is a Bummer

Slogan writing is a pain-in-the-butt. Really, it drives you nuts most of the time but, at the same time it gets you excited at the notion that you might just be able to pull it off this one time with a sudden flash of brilliance. As the saying goes, “If you have the Will, there is a Way”.

So therefore, I had gotten myself brain drained by this hazardous endeavor lately. All this headache was for the greed of owning one state-of-the-art PC powered by the much hyped world’s best processor at the moment – the ‘Intel Core 2 Duo processor’. It has claimed to be 40% much faster and 40% much more energy efficient than any other of its counterparts. Basically, it was the “Ultimate-All-Geeks-Dream-Hardware” (for your info, I am absolutely not a geek - just in case you might mistook my meaning. Hehehe).

Alright, moving on, more about this contest by Intel coming right up…

The first part, you have got to answer a few no-brainer questions (as usual, answers are already provided or I should say STATED somewhere obvious – in this case it’s in their website). Then comes the real road block…. SURPRISED! SURPRISED! *acting like really astounded* is to complete a slogan in not more than 10 words – this sucks big time right!? Writing a slogan is already an uphill task but, one that is within 10 words? Tsk! tsk! tsk! Don’t you think any slogan would have sounded much better within the frame of say, 20 words?

Personally I think that the 10 words limit should only be reserved for taglines and not slogans. Don’t you think so? I find that the prepositions in the sentence of my slogan already taken up 5-6 words and this will only leave me the same or less amount of words for the important keywords %^$#@*

Now, enough with my lamentations and on with the report of my slogan writing progress. Somehow, I did manage to get the ball rolling. All thanks to my rare-at-times-but-not-zero stroke of brilliance *light bulb blinking on my head luminously* - I decided to turn to my trusty ‘Eveready-Answer-Guru’…. the INTERNET.

I surfed…. and surfed… Googled… and Googled, till I stumbled upon a few nifty websites that offers what they called a Slogan Generator. Tada!!!!! Ever heard of one before?? I for one haven’t until todate. (here is a sample of one of these slogan generator - Sloganizer).

A wonderful find isn’t it, you asked. Well…. It’s a YES and a NO – ‘cos these so called generators do not exactly dish out slogans that are nicely constructed as I have been hoping for. Most of the time, what it generated are gibberish. But, then again to me, it’s a start – I get inspirations or ideas from these gibble-jabbles. I just need to rephrase it, give it twist of creativity here and there and WOILA!!! An almost perfecto slogan at hand.

Alrighty then, I shall post my slogans right after the closing of this contest ok. (to prevent any possible pilfering you know - however ‘teruk’ my slogans are, I still feel the need to protect my own interest) Then you can all critique at will.

Meanwhile, I shall challenge you to complete this slogan “I want to own a personal computer based on the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor because…………………………………………………” (in no more than 10 words) :P *cheeky laugh*

The Slurpee Getaway

I popped into 7-Eleven just now during lunch hour - and you what, I had managed to embarrassed myself in less than 2 seconds being in there. You see, I was feeling kinda childish and young today so I decided to have a Grape Slurpee just for the fun of it.

There I go….. minding my own business, trying not to look too out-of-place while patiently filing up a small size cup with Grape Slurpee. Ahem… luckily I still remembered how to turn the knob (yeah.. it has been a while since I have had a cup of Slurpee – the last time was like, ermmm… during my college days and that was eons ago *blush-blush*).

Once I gotten my cup filled up I decided to go for the plastic-dome-cap. Just about then, a bunch of secondary school kids entered the premise noisily and was hovering around at the counter area. So, I popped the cap on unceremoniously and approached the cash counter with it and started digging my coin purse for some change as quickly as possible – determined to make a fast getaway before I attract any unwanted patronizing stares from this bunch of young-and-happening-kids.

To my mortification, when I glance back at the counter top - my Slurpee was slurping all over, a great amount of it was forcing its way out from the hole on top of that dome-cap - making me look like a complete fool and a greedy cum idiotic woman who was way too old for this stuff anyways.

The thing is, I didn’t know this stuff expands – so I filled my cup full (but, not like mountain kinda full but, just right up to the brim with 1 cm to spare though). Trust me, I wasn’t trying to be greedy or something like that *indignant look*. I swear!

The worst thing was… all this was witnessed by the said bunch of youngster who had also had the cheek to point at my cup of offending flowing juice, while making some remarks to their friends. Ooo… how I wished I could just disappeared into thin air *face turning beetroot-red* And that cashier guy wasn’t much better at sparing me the embarrassment – cos’ he looked stupidly at me and the cup - apparently baffled. I had no choice but to open my mouth to ask him for a plastic bag and made a quick exit.

I have never felt so old and foolish – and this was only over a cup of beverage. Sigh… *sob! sniff-sniff*

All Paws on Deck!!!

13th August 2006, Sunday

Ahoy there mate! I was washed ashore the ‘Bukit Ekspo’ this morn’ with my four-legged mate ‘Kopi-O’ and ‘Susu’ together with my Momsie, Brosie and BB (my five-year-old son). It was my Brosie’s brilliant idea to set sail for the Pirateland-of-the-Four-Legged-Canines.

KOPI-O & SUSU

Yup! Your guess is right! I am babbling about this years’ Dogathon 2006 organized by the Veterinary students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia (UPM), and sponsored by Pedigree. The event is from 7am-1pm and is held at ‘Bukit Ekspo' in the spacious campus grounds of UPM, Serdang. They even have a theme for it - “Pirates: All Paws on Deck!!” DOGATHON 2006. After some Googling I found out that, last year they had a Cowboy theme. I guess this year’s theme has been pretty much influenced by the current hype-up blockbuster movie, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”.

I can’t believe that it was already the 10^th Dogathon Annivesary (started since 1997) and yet, I have not even been to one until now. What a shame “tsk, tsk, tsk”. I am glad that I agreed to go when my Momsie offered to slot me and my boy in this time. Frankly speaking, I was a little bit reluctant to tag along at first, as I will have to get up goddamn early - at 6.20am on a lazy Sunday too! Have to be there early to avoid the scorching sun my Momsie reasoned – it suck! But, I had to agree on this cos’ I too detest the sun’s damaging effect on my beautiful alabaster skin *cheeky grin*. At first, I was perplexed when she mentioned dogathon – I thought I heard ‘togathon’ or something *chuckle*.

Some info on the event:-

Ok, as I am currently trying not to be too long-winded when I blog – here are some photos taken at this fun event: -

Top Clockwise: The Stage of course / Just one of the many Signs with the Piratry Theme / One of the Booth / Ahoy there! Me ship has docked at the Pirateland-of-the-Four-Legged-Canines.

Top Clockwise: That Booth again (sorry for the repeated photo) / Pic 2 & 4: A booth by SPCA for Dogs Adoption – there are some cuties waiting for loving master in their cages / Other pooch-related-booths for those shopaholics out there.

Left: Babes with picnicking with their as-lovely-as-their-owner pooch.

Right: Actually, I was trying to snap a pic of that cute lil’ old man there – A Schnauzer, I believe. Sorry, I know I didn’t do much of a good job taking this lousy pic – thing is, it kept turning its head left-right, left-right, over and over again. Sigh.

An Obstacle-Course for owners to show-off their pooch’s skill and to satisfy their own ego *grin* - no offends, just joking ok!

This was actually, quite fun - ‘Kopi-O’ enjoyed it the most (as you can see from these pics. On the other hand, ‘Susu’ wasn’t very game for this – then again, that’s expected as she is already in the Old-ladies category (she’s a 10-years-old dog). She’s grumpy most of the time nowadays – so, don’t irk her or else you’ll be at the receiving end of a bitch’s wrath. Growl!!!

‘Kopi-O’ performing with agility and grace with much courage too – for a young pooch. Sigh! And here is ‘Susu’ being forced coaxed by my Brosie to go up the ramp – poor thing, she was shaky throughout the ordeal.

This ‘Kopi-O’ is truly a ‘Cili-Padi’ (hot pepper) – she may by small and all but, she was really daring, as many other poochies were terrified of this ramp. God, it was steep. Kudos to ‘Kopi-O’!

Top Clockwise: What’s a cute lil’ thing doing on the ramp? – poor thing, did your master put you up there for his own ego? / ‘Kopi-O’ exploring the Tunnel-of-Love while old ‘Susu’ looks on. / Had to coax ‘Kopi-O’ out from the tunnel as she was intoxicated by love and lost direction *snigger* / Another poochy with it’s owner exploring the course.

Top Clockwise: This set-up was for the Master-Hunt event. We had ‘Kopi-O’ tried it out – the first time, she was puzzled as to what we want her to do. After the first run, she was brilliant – completed the hunt in seconds!

This event was called the ‘Fastest Eating Duo’ – where the owner and their pooch stuff their faces with food as-quick-as-possible to clinch the title.

Awww… ‘Susu’ made a friend - such an adorable lil’ thing too. Looks like ‘Susu’ still has her own charm albeit being an old pooch.

P/S: They were butt-sniffing each other. Euww!

Top Clockwise:

Ø BB (my son) pats a cute poochie of his choice. I don’t know what breed it was but, I sure would like one too – feels like squeezing the life out of it – its too cute (Ok, ok! please don’t call the Animal Abuse Hotline – I am just trying to describe how cute and cuddly this little pooch was)

Ø Aik!? This one looks exactly like my ‘Kopi-O’. It was sitting contently on the lap of an old lady throughout the morning.

Ø Wow, very original. A kingly pooch. Aye, yer majesty! (Next time, must convince my Momsie to dress ‘Kopi-O’ as a clown *tee hee hee* and ‘Susu’ can be a princess)

Ø Just another pooch I spotted.

Introducing the Cute-Ones – loved the two at the bottom of this pic (clockwise, pic no. 3 & 4) very much.

More cuties and some of Susu’s look-alikes (clockwise, pic no. 2 & 4).

Aha! The Majestic-Ones. My dream dogs are the two on top

(Golden Retriever/Labrador). The Afghan hound in this pic looks a little weird.

A dog with sunshades – Cool man!

Top Clockwise:

Ø Oooo… my dream dog again – the Labrador/Golden Retriever.

Ø “This old man, he plays one. He plays knick-knack on my drum…” – the Schnauzer again.

Ø A trio of Alsatian?? Or is it German Shepherd? They gave me and my boy a scare as one of them leap and barked at us for no reason at all, Shessh! (or maybe it was barking at ‘Susu’?).

Ø The Beetles - Oops! sorry, I meant the 'Beagles'. Yeah!!! – love em!

Tada!!! – the biggest of em’ all in the pack. The ‘Big-Brother’ in this event. LOL. Don’t they look magnificent?

Saint Bernard is one cool breed – I love em’ too! – at least, I wouldn’t squeeze them to death as easily as the cutes-ones.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

End of photography session!!! Hoped you enjoyed it cos’ I really did enjoyed the whole event *grinning eye-to-eye*. Came out of it with a huge urge to squeeze every warm and cuddly thing in my path.

If you are interested to know more about this event you can log on to Dogathon 2006 the official site by UPM. Alternatively, you may also visit a fellow blogger Che-Cheh.

The One with a Gecko in it

4th August 2006, Friday

One Crappy Morning

Had I lousy morning today – that stupid filling of my lower bottom left tooth dropped out while I was brushing my teeth. Startled me with a ‘ting’ on the bathroom floor – it was quite a big filing, mind you - hence the alleged sound can be produced. Sigh, there goes my plan to procrastinate till the eleventh hour. Guess this is it. I finally had to meet the sadist dentist. Ouch…

It has been a couple of years since my last visit to a dental clinic – not that I don’t need one though. As we speak, there are already a few cavities lurking around from the last few years – just never gotten around to patch it up – or I never seem to be able to pluck up enough courage to face the inevitable fact that I needed an appointment desperately. Oh just shut-up okay. I know that I am being a Chicken here “Cluck. Cluck” – Hmph! So what! Betcha scared like me too if it’s your turn *stick-out tongue. Blew raspberry*

This time around I am going to the company’s panel dentist around my neighborhood. Hopefully, I’ll come out from in one piece and mentally unmarred. Now… if I could just pluck up enough courage and resolution to make that appointment call. Sigh! I am pathetic ain’t I?

Cheeky Boy turns Barbaric!

This too happens on this same crappy morning!

I heard a loud banging noise downstairs while changing into my work uniform - yup, where I work; there is no freedom in expression of style and personality through fashion. I guess they just want to promote a sense of unity and loyalty plus, the so-called-image thingy.

Oh okay sorry bout’ the distraction, now where was I……… yeah, I heard the loud noise and proceeded to go downstairs into the living room to check, and that’s when I saw my soon-to-be five-year-old boy trying to pocket something urgently with his back to me (apparently, heard me coming down the stairs and trying to hide something from me).

When I ordered asked him to show me what he has in his hand, Cheeky Boy (my son) was startled and looks at me guilty but, still very much reluctant to show me the hidden goods. Only after several times repeating my request firmly, did he unwilling bow to my demand – and showed me that offending object…….... YIKES!!!! –shrieking and jumping around in shock- %$#%& - Had goose-bumps all over when Cheeky Boy held up a DEAD LIZARD dangling it by its tail! Shit!!!. That’s when I go ballistic – shouting for him to throw it away or to put it down (cos’ I didn’t dare to take even one step closer to him to solve the dilemma myself). Cringed – I HATE lizards. Period!

At last I managed to persuade him to put it down on a stool and quickly whisked him off to the bathroom for a throughout clean up from any residual left by that offending icky-yucky thing when he whack it to its death (so now I know what was that banging noise while I was changing upstairs). Oh my gawd, never knew my boy was so barbaric! And all this while I thought he has at least some trepidation when it comes to the creepy crawlies just like me.

Just when I thought the worst was over, I had my final fright of all when I reach out to pick-up that icky-dead-thing with a bunch of tissues – it moved! It damn freaking MOVED!!! My heart nearly jumps out from my throat at that time. Continues with more shrieking until I woke “His-Royal-Crankiness” (my hubby) who grumpily grabs that offending stool with that ‘thing’ on it, and promptly left it at the back of the kitchen.

It’s just not fair… I mean, how can that ‘thing’ still be alive for gods sake! Cheeky Boy has practically beaten it to pulp when I saw it – it was all bruised and reddish in the mid body.

You know what; Cheeky Boy even has the cheek to ask me if he could bring it (the dead lizard) to school with him. Geezz!!! Not in a million years son!

Anyhow, I count my blessing for the early discovery of that lizard incident or else, I cringed to think if Cheeky Boy did manage to put it in his pocket - and it crawling out while we are in the car sending him of to Kindergarten – I would have died there and then :P –shuddered-

A Romeo at the Tender Age of Five - A True Casanova in the Making?

Last week my boy happens to tag along with his grandma to fetch me back from work, when something amusing occurs.






While in the Car

My mum and I were busy chit-chatting away to take much notice of my cheeky little boy who was then safely belted on the back passenger seat. As usual, he would try all means to join our conversation or gain our attention at least, by babbling away noisily – which we would normally just ignore him until he ‘shush’ us loudly and cover his ears in protest.

After sometime, I heard him giggling and laughing loudly back there. Curiously, I turned to take a look at him and to my surprise and amusement, I found him trying his best to capture the attention of 2 cute little Malay girls in the car (an MPV) that stopped next to ours at the red light. They were both at about the same age as him – one is younger though.

He looked so cute gesturing away and boldly asking the girls as to where they are heading to (in his not so perfect Mandarin of course). He kept on teasing and made the girls giggling shyly away and smiling sweetly - apparently taken by his ahem, handsomeness and charm *grin*.


The Story about the Red Light Courtship

It was a weekday, we were on our way home when our car stops at the red light and an MPV stops right beside us. My Romeo boy spotted 2 cute little Malay girls in the MPV.

My Boy: -Laughing and waving his hands to get the girls’ attention- He asked them “Ni Chu Na Li? Ni Chu Na Li?” (Mandarin 您处哪里: Where are you going?)
Girls in the MPV: *giggling* -looks at each other- *resume giggling covering mouth*

Me & My mom: Tries to tease my boy “Oh my gawd, boy why you are so thick skin?” -both trying to hide our apparent amusement and delights-

My Boy: -Ignored us. Gave his best charming smile – Apparently determined, he tries again “Ni Chu Na Li Ah? Ni Chu Na Li?” – this time louder too.

Girls in the MPV: Apparently taken by his cuteness and brazenness, waves back and smiled sweetly while looking at each other and continue to giggle.

My Boy: Getting braver and started knocking at the window pane while repeating the question again and again “Ni Chu Na Li Ah?” –flashes his megawatts smile-

Unfortunately, the light turned green by this time and we had to drive on.

My Boy: Not given up yet, calls out loudly “Bye-bye. Bye-bye…?” –waves happily with much gusto-

Girls in the MPV: Both waves back shyly.

Me & My mom: -Shakes our head in disbelieves-
Me: Mom, it looks like our little-one has got a taste for pretty girls. And I must rephrase that as PRETTY girls ONLY.

The Evidence – Years Ago

Frankly speaking, I already have inkling that my boy has an eye for beauty – and that was, when he was just a baby. How did I deduce so? Well, he was by then, already pretty much inclined to stare ONLY at pretty girls (of any age) - he would ogle at attractive woman in the TV ads (Oh yes, we did test our theory by changing the channel and as expected he would promptly take his gaze of the screen a soon as the pretty girl is no longer on it!), and he would be all excited and happy when cooed by cute-young-things.

Last week, he had also fussed when I tried to chance the TV channel when he was appreciating the beauty and charm of one China actress, Crystal Liu Yifei (leading lady “Xiao Long Nu” in the wuxia drama series “Return of the Condor Hero” produced in China).

He kept telling me “Mummy, mummy, che-che (Cantonese: sister or lady) is very pretty” –points at ‘Xiao Long Nu’ a.k.a. Crystal Liu Yifei-. Amused and curious as to his judgment of beauty, I then asked him if the character ‘Li Mo Chou’ (the martial sister and arch enemy of Xiao Long Nu) is also beautiful – to my incredulity, he actually said NO. I was surprised by his answer, as the actress for this malevolent character is also another beauty. When I press on, he just gave her a look of distaste – then, it struck me, for I have discovered that he actual can differentiate the Good versus Evil perspective at his tender age. Awww… I felt so proud of him. *sighing contently*

However, I did not let the subject drop – instead, I asked him if he finds mummy pretty too *blush* (sorry, for my thick skin but, I had to know *grin*). You know what? He actually made my day and gave me a wonderful cloud-nine answer – he said mummy is also pretty and gave me a very sweet shy look (Instantly, I felt my heart melts, flooded with tender feelings for him).
Honestly, did I believe him wholeheartedly (or I choose to believe him anyway, for my own benefit. Hahaha :P) although I did say to him “Are you sure? You are not just saying it to ‘Angkat-my-Bakul’ is it?” (Malay: ‘Angkat Bakul’ simply means to butter-up/sweet talk). Ah, the frustration of having an insecure and skeptical mum must be driving my son nuts.


What Mummy Wished For

In conclusion, I do hope that my sweet little boy wouldn’t turned into a Casanova for real in the near future – a Romeo is okay but, must be one with a fairytale wholesome ending.

As they always say “A Mom always wants the Best for her Child”.

Huh!?? Where did I leave my Brain?

This morning I literally left my brain at home AGAIN. Yeap, this is not my first time, it’s my don’t-know-how-many gazillion times! Sigh… must be an early sign of Alzheimer disease *wailing in self-pity*.

The Story Goes Like this…

This Morning

Was skipping happily to the office front door this morning in anticipation of indulging the pack of freshly ‘ta pau’ (Cantonese: takeaways) Nasi Lemak I bought from the street opposite my office.

When I reached the front door, I took a look at the tote-bag on my right shoulder and realized my Access Card was not clipped on it as usual. Then, I proceeded to frantically rummage around my handbag (as I vaguely remembered putting the card in it when I pick it up from the floor yesterday after it dropped out from my tote-bag). Several seconds later, (feels more like half an hour) and still no luck, I started to feel stupid standing at the front door like that. Since lady luck does not favor me today, I had no choice but to tap the glass door gracefully for our favourite receptionist to let me in, and I resignedly dutifully signs the Staff Movement Log book at the lobby as a record of my crime.


Later after Breaky

Returning to my humble cubicle upon satiating my condescending appetite in the pantry on that pack of zero-wow-factor Nasi Lemak, to my astonishment, I found that offending Access Card nicely clipped on my tote-bag after all this while! Geezzz! –exasperated by self- What the f&*%$^@k!

Proceeded to DOINK self on the head HARD for being such a silly bitch. Then, unceremoniously POKE self in the eyes for being such a ‘mata-juling’ (Malay: meaning cross-eyed which can also describe a person who is not observant enough).

Later part of the morning, I found the lighter side of today’s lesson and laugh about it alone.


Some Musings on the Incident

Being silly is always a trademark of mine, as my hubby likes to put it. He adores this little imperfection side of me, and yet, at the same time also cursed me for it. Hmph! Talking about contradictory comments, so far no one I know can top him in this catergory :P

Voices of Joy

Note: Sorry, as this is a belated post of an event I attended on 20th July 2006.


20th July 2006, Thursday

Hurray, finally the hermit has headed out to town for the night, after long time hiding in her own shell, hibernating. Yesterday night, I went to a charity choral performance (Voices of Joy – Choral Performances by Juvenalia, Viva and Operafest Choirs) at Jalan Imbi. The concert was held at the Auditorium 3rd floor, Wisma Kebudayaan SGM, No. 243 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur (see pic below).

A bit about The Journey

Rushed home straight from work to get ready as a friend will pick me up at 6.30pm sharp. As we are civic minded, we decided to car pool with several other acquaintances. Luckily, I am working very close to my home and it’s just a few minutes drive away - if not, I would not be able to make it in time as I can only pack my bags to go home after 5.30pm everyday. There, this is the luxury of working close to home (flaunting counting my blessing gratefully).

The journey itself was yawn inducing to the extreme, as my friend actually slotted me into a car jam-packed with Aunties. Sigh… I guess that’s the price of accepting freebies (I was only included into this outing when someone pulled-out last minutely with a paid-for ticket).

The yawn inducing conversations throughout the trip:

Aunty A to another Aunty B: Aiyah! You know this daughter of so-and-so-friend ah? She ah very good at dancing one.

Aunty B to Aunty A: Yalah! That’s why she got such a beautiful body with big boobs to boot.

Aunty C: Her body ah, is that type people called, *bee-waist and **cockroach belly lor! (Chinese idioms: *small waist like a bee. **flat tummy like a cockroach).

Aunty B: Hahaha. Too bad her skin is a tad bit on the dark side if not, then very pretty hor?

Me: -Yawns- (Eyes watering after the countless yawns produced since I came into the car)

Aunty D (the driver): Where are we now hor? Are we supposed to turn into this junction kah? You people please let me know ah! (driving very slowly and anxiously looking for the turning).

Aunty A: Aiyoh! Don’t worry lah! I know the way there one. Lagipun, so many people here in the car to help. –continues with the jabbering with the other Aunties-

Me: -Sigh- Yawwn….. zzzzzzz


And this sort of conversations carries on with a variety of other mundane topics.

The Venue

The lobby was still quite empty when we reached there an hour too early. The show only starts at 8.00pm and we can only be seated by 7.45pm. So, we just stood around at the lobby area waiting for the time to pass. -Yawn-

As I came with the Aunties, I was basically left alone by them as they continued with another round of jabbering with me trying to look not-so-lonely and out-of-place.



And most importantly, about the Choral Recitals





JUVENALIA YOUTH CHOIR

The choral recital was kicked-off by the awesome Juvenalia Youth Choir from Finland of which in my humble opinion, was the best group in this show. Pardon me for my limited knowledge on Choral Music as this was my first experience of one.

I was pleasantly surprised to note that this choral assemblage didn’t have any - or in their case, even need any instrumental accompaniment to sound so otherworldly enchanting. I was enthralled throughout their performance – mesmerized by their perfect blending of voices which filled the auditorium with beautifully pleasing vocal resonance.

Maestro Matti Järvinen’s expression of tempo, dynamics, blending and style of the repertoires was very precise and masterfully delivered.

I am happy to declare that their performance has really made it worth my while -Thumbs Up-


Bits of Intro on the Juvenalia Youth Choir:
(as plucked out straight from the Programme Sheet itself)

The JUVENALIA Youth Choir consists of 32 singers aged between 16 and 26. The choir rehearses at Juvenalia’s premises in the Sello-complex in Leppävaara, Finland. The choir’s artistic director is Matti Järvinen and Anitta Ranta acts as the choir’s voice trainer.

The youth choir’s repertoire consists of medieval and renaissance songs as well as the new music, rune songs and modern music from Finland, Estonia and Hungary. The choir has also collaborated the Eero Koivistoinen, who has composed the works Kökkelö and Suomalainen Sarja specifically to the choir’s order. The choir performs a cappella, without accompaniment.

Juvenalia has successfully taken part in many choir events and competitions both in Finland and abroad, bringing home gold and silver diplomas and category wins as results. The choir has published several records, including Puer Natus in Betlehem and Discantemus.


Ahem, just in case you wondered about the visual part of the show - the members of this choir assemblage was also very much ogle-worthy *wink* (and I did stared ceaselessly to my heart’s content - especially at those cute looking choir boys – forgive me, for I am only human. Ok *grins*. Plus, they all did look like models for an Armani ad in their smart two-piece suit!). Oh! And did I mention anywhere that this was a mixed choir group? Although, it mainly consist more of female than males – there were only like about 10 or so males in this group.

Footnote
Cappella : Singing without accompaniment



VIVA YOUTH CHOIR

Okay moving on, up next was the group, Viva Youth Choir from Norway. This group’s performance was more on a joie de vi vre note. It was accompanied by the piano, two cellos and an accordion. This choral was largely made up of young junior school kids. Yet again, it was also dominated by females as I have only managed to spot up to like, two prancing little boys perhaps?? Then again, I am not so sure, as this was a large group of about 40-50 singers and I might have be a little visually distracted by all their dancing and formation routines. Yet, I guess we can still call this a mixed group, agreed?

Overall, I felt that this choral did put up a very good show - considering their age. But, I must say that it did sound and feels more like a Broadway kind of show. Alright, maybe some of the fellow spectators actually felt relieved to be entertained by a livelier group after the first choral group – which some may deem a little too rigid and unexciting as their recitals were mostly of their local classical songs (sung in their own tongue too – nope, not in English. I believed it is all in Finnish).

Footnote:
joie de vi·vre (zhwä d v vr )
n. Hearty or carefree enjoyment of life.


Bits of Intro on the Viva Youth Choir:
(as plucked out straight from the Programme Sheet itself)

VIVA is a youth choir with 45 girls and boys aged between 11 and 19 years old. Established in 1968, the choir belongs to Sandnes School of Culture, which is one of the oldest and biggest music schools in Norway. It is recognized both nationally and internationally as an outstanding choir, having won the first prize in Randers International Music Festival in Denmark and awarded the Sandness Community Achievement Award 2005 for outstanding national and international cultural achievements. Viva also won 1st prize in a national choir-competition for youth/adult choirs in Bergen this year.

The choir has performed in various key events, including the opening ceremony of the Stavanger University in the presence of King Harald of Norway, fund-raising concert for the Asian Tsunami victims with top-selling Norwegian artists and as demonstration choir in a choir conductors’ congress in Vasterås, Sweden.

Viva’s conductor, Liv Hugstmyr Særheim, was voted Youth Choir Conductor of 2005 by Norwegian Association of Child and Youth Choirs.



OPERAFEST CHILDREN’S CHOIR

Last but not least, is our home-grown award-winning choir group, Operafest Children’s Choir. This choir group was very spirited and dynamic. It was lead by Maestro Kam Sun-Yoke, the founder and artistic director of this commendable choir group.

This was the smallest group of all, as it only consist of about 20-25 young girls and boys - two of them as young as, let’s say, 5 – 6 years old? And the rest is about 9 – 13 years old. Their repertoire pieces has a mixed of international flavors – from Filipino Folk and Hungarian Dance song to the Chinese Folk songs e.g. ‘Jasmine Flower’ or ‘Muo Li Hua’ in Mandarin.

On the whole, this last group put up a very entertaining show with touches of humor in its midst - even though, it did lack the brilliance of strong vocal and tempo control as witnessed from the first group. But heck, this group did manage to grab the attention of most of the audiences and even managed to get the crowd to join in clapping and singing a few tunes towards the end of the show. All this was quite refreshing after being cooped up in the auditorium for about three long hours - trying hard to sit very still.


Bits of Intro on the Operafest Children’s Choir:
(as plucked out straight from the Programme Sheet itself)

The OPERAFEST Children’s Choir was formed in 1986 to promote the arts and to provide a sound education through music. Little was expected as to what it could achieve. Nonetheless, the vision to acquire artistic excellence never waned, because of the strong bond shared among the children, their parents, and the artistic director, Kam Sun-Yoke. Sun-Yoke drew inspiration from the late, world-renowned opera conductor, Dr. Jan Popper of UCLA, USA, and the then director of the Vienna Boy’s Choir, Dr. Tautschnig, who both convinced her that any project tempered with patience, love and dedication, must succeed.

In 1991, through hard work, unstinting persistence, grit and grind, The Operafest Children’s Choir became the first Malaysian Choir to have won second place in their presentation of Purcell’s ‘Sound the Trumpet’ in the famous Llangollen, International Eisteddfod, Wales, and third place in the Koorfestival of Arnheim, Holland, a choir Olympics held once in every four years.

To date, The Operafest Children’s Choir has performed in Holland, Wales, Spain, Argentina, India, Greece, Macedonia, Australia, Singapore, Indiana, New York and Montana (USA).



Discoveries - Of The Pleasant & The Unpleasant Kind

I really came into this performance not knowing what to expect and was frankly a little skeptical if I would actually enjoy it – and enjoy it I did, with much gusto too (enough to even blog about it – in a long winded way too).

Even though, I did enjoy the show very much but, sadly it was partially marred by two inconsiderate buffoons sitting in front of me who fidgets non-stop and was merrily chattering away throughout the whole show. To make the matter worst, they even have got the galls to sing along a few songs when not being prompted to - I mean it is okay if, we audience are prompted by the performer to sing-along, like in the last act by The Operafest Children’s Choir to get the audience to join in their act to work the crowd. But, singing along when other paying audiences are trying to enjoy the show, was way over the line *shakes fist*. It is just plain RUDE and UNCIVILIZED – there, I’ve said it and I feel so much better now.



Kleio muses “So, let’s let music touch your heart as it did mine, for music is the universal language of peace, love and joy”.



Some Wonderful Quotations on Music:

Nothing exists without music,
for the universe itself is said to have been framed
by a kind of harmony of sounds,
and the heaven itself revolves
under the tones of that harmony.
- Isodore of Seville

The discovery of song and the creation of musical instruments both owed their origin to a human impulse which lies much deeper than conscious intention: the need for rhythm in life... the need is a deep one, transcending thought,and disregarded at our peril.
- Richard Baker

In art, and in the higher ranges of science,
there is a feeling of harmonywhich underlies all endeavor.
There is no true greatness in art or sciencewithout that sense of harmony.
- Albert Einstein

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.
- Confucius

Song is the pen of the soul.
- Rabbi Chaim Drizin

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
- Berthold Auerbach

The essence of all art is having pleasure giving pleasure.
- Mikhail Baryshinikov

When words leave off, music begins.
- Heinrich Heine

Music is the universal language of mankind.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Without music, life would be a mistake.
- Friedrich Nietzsche

I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
- Ludwig van Beethoven

Nothing on earth is so well suited to make the sad merry, the merry sad, to give courage to the despairing, to make the proud humble, to lessen envy and hate, as music.
- Martin Luther

Music is the medicine of the mind.
- John Logan

It is music's lofty mission toshed light on the depthsof the human heart.
- Robert Schumann

A poet must write, an artistmust paint, and musiciansmust make music if they areto be at peace within themselves.What we can be, we must be.
- Howard Swan

"Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings."
- Ed Gardner

I must study politics and warthat my sons may have libertyto study mathematics and philosophy...in order to give their children a rightto study painting, poetry and music
- John Adams

Music will save the world
- Pablo Casals

On stage, I make love to 25,000 different people, then I go home alone.- Janis Joplin Music, when soft voices dieVibrates in the memory.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Knock, knock. Who's There?

Woken up by an indistinct sound of someone trying to turn the doorknob of my locked bedroom. My heart races. Swallowed hard. Trying to clear my blurry head to listen more closely - heart thumping against my chest. After several seconds… nope, still no sound. Mind started racing through unwanted images of unwelcome guests of any kind (shuddered).

Checked the time - it’s just 6.00am. Looking at my peacefully sleeping hubby on my right, contemplating hard if I should alarm him to take a look-see for me. Except, my brain keeps telling me that it is just a fiction of my imagination, if not just a residual of my dream. I do hate waking him up especially in the early mornings when he is basically best known as His-Royal-Crankiness. *sigh*

Swallowed hard again. Stared intensely at the bottom of the door for some sign of any intruder lurking at the other end. Satisfied there is none, then braced self and step out of the bed. Opened the door latch. Takes deep breath, and swings the door open……. Whew! Nothing – nope, not a single soul anywhere. Thinking to self, "Can he be lurking somewhere downstairs perhaps??" Oh no! Here we go again.

With renewed apprehension, I got down the creaky stairs slowly and switched on the living room light. Getting much more confidence by this time that it was all just the work of my over active imagination, I checked every room in the house steadily. Well, ahem… the conclusion was just like what I thought i.e. it all being a mind trick only.

You know what; the only worst part of it all was… I actually did all this stupid bravery act together with my 4-year-old boy following closely behind me! *cowering quickly to avoid being pelted with sticks and stones by other level-headed parents out there*

But, but, but, I did thought it was all just in my head. Plus, I was still blurry headed from my sleep to start with *looking innocent*. Anyway, god bless it was all just a hoax, for I shuddered now to think if it is otherwise.

Nevertheless, to appeased those indignant parents out there – my hubby did admonished me this morning for my foolish act of bravery :P

Now, I will end this with a note to everyone to serve as a friendly reminder “It is Better to be Safe than to be Sorry”. And from now onwards, I vowed to live by it.

P/S: Luckily it’s not yet the Month-of-the-Ghost *shakes head* - on second thought, maybe, it wasn’t a bad thing at all if it is, cos’ then I would not be so damn foolishly brave.

The Moon-Face Theory

Was in the car with my hubby yesterday evening when he made a very enlightening but, too straightforward remark about how my hairstyle affects the look of my face.

This is our conversation as per summarized by me:

Hubby: -greets me with a quizzical look- Hey, what happened to your hair today?

Me: Hair? What about it?? –thinking to self “Oh oh! What is he suspicious of now? It’s always like this. Why can’t he just greets me with a welcoming smile once a while”- *sigh*

Hubby: Eh!? I thought I saw you tied up your hair this morning? How come now it’s loose and it looks so messy?

Me: Duh!?? You’ve must have been dreaming. My hair was let loose the whole day since this morning *smiling sweetly maintaining my cool*. –thinking to self “Humph! This shows that you never really took any notice of me”.

Hubby: Oh is it? *giving me that “I-don’t-think-so” look* Btw, your face looked sooo… round with your hair down.

Me: *&$@#@* -grinding teeth- Is it? But, why? –still trying to maintain my cool-

Hubby: It’s just that when you had your hair down, it gives an illusion of you standing in front of a blackboard and all I can see is just your white round face. And you look plump like this –states matter-of-factly-

Me: *chuckled* -trying to hide hurt-

Hubby: You know, I think you should tie your hair up – I like it more that way.

Me: *sigh*

Me: -trying to retaliate- But, my grandma always said I looked like an old lady with my hair all up.

Hubby: Aiyah! Next time just tell her “My hubby likes it” then, full stop. Ok.

Me: *sigh* Ok.

That’s the curse of being born with a puffy-round-face or a moon-face (what I was constantly and unmercifully being reminded of by my loved ones and so-called-friends).

-Sigh-


Note to self: Must go for face slimming when I got the dough one fine day. Meanwhile, just starve self in hope of a speedy miracle *stuffing face with 'Quaker Oats' while posting this. Sigh*

Know-Thyself-Test

Was sorta blog surfing yesterday when I found a post on a personality test titled ‘Advance Global Personality Test’ of which I’ve then apprehensively albeit excitingly decided to take a spin at it since, I’ve been cracking my head lately as to how best to descript myself for a post on self introduction for this blog of mine. And woila! I was wonderfully surprised at the results which came out to be about 80-90% correct, in my opinion that is.

Although there are some areas in the results which I don’t exactly agree with whole heartedly but overall, it does really reflect my personality quite well. However, I AM surprised at some of the somewhat-quite-true-findings though i.e. being fragile, frequently second guessing self, likes-to-fit-in etc… I mean, *frowns disbelievingly* I didn’t know myself to be a fragile or sensitive kinda person, flicker minded and a crowd-pleaser too??? Blah!!! – okay, I do have to admit that I do exhibit a certain degree of the said unsavory traits but, I’ve often thought of myself to be a level-headed and a fairly resilient person –held head high with dignity-

Taking this test was in a way a real eye opener to me. It makes me understands myself even more as it allows me to identify my strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully, I am able to take this opportunity to re-adjust myself accordingly to reflect a more desirable disposition in the future *smile* –in deep profound thoughts-

After all… life is really all about creating value of life wherein, achieving human revolution is the main component to a brighter future – Ahh… to be a better person.

This is the results generated for my test:

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion 46% Stability 40% Orderliness 66% Accommodation 70% Interdependence 36% Intellectual 56% Mystical 50% Artistic 56% Religious 43% Hedonism 10% Materialism 63% Narcissism 30% Adventurousness 50% Work ethic 70% Self absorbed 56% Conflict seeking 10% Need to dominate 36% Romantic 56% Avoidant 56% Anti-authority 50% Wealth 23% Dependency 50% Change averse 36% Cautiousness 63% Individuality 70% Sexuality 36% Peter pan complex 63% Physical security 43% Physical Fitness 37% Histrionic 30% Paranoia 56% Vanity 36% Hypersensitivity 63% Female cliche 70%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Traits Snapshots:
neat freak, organized, worrying, phobic, fears the unknown, irritable, pessimistic, emotionally sensitive, fears chaos, risk averse, fragile, unadventurous, depressed, frequently second guesses self, likes to fit in, does not like to stand out, perfectionist, hard working, does not like to be alone, clingy, dependent, practical, ordinary, cautious, takes precautions, good at saving money, suspicious, heart over mind, busy, altruistic


First of all, I am going to rebuke some of the traits I found to be not-so-true in my POV, that is –serious look-

My NEGATIVE point-of-views on the Traits Snapshots:
(see those words in Red and Italicized)

Neat freak: Must be kidding me. I can be a total mess if time does not agree with me. Duh? I AM human too remember.

Emotionally Sensitive: Nah! I refused to nod to this. Humph! –sulk-

Unadventurous: Yakah?? I can be very adventurous if I wanna be. Plghhhttt!! – I’ve always wanted to backpack and travel around the world alone (Now, how’s that for being adventurous huh?).

Likes to fit in: NO! Since when am I a labeled Crowd-Pleaser?? *mumbling incoherent abuse*

Does not like to be alone: This is absolutely WRONG!!! Oh so wrong… - The fact is that, I-So-Desperately-Loved-to-be-Freaking-ALONE!! Get it! And please take that as most of the time too –folding arms across body for emphasis- I really do enjoy my own lonely moments if you must know – not that I’ve got the luxury of it most of the time *sigh*. It’s in a way a romantic moment to me. After all I am a hermit remember? - Although only a semi-hermit.

Clingy: Huh? In what sense? *raised eyebrows questioningly* I am really baffled by this you know cos’ I personally abhorred anyone with this trait.


Next, comes my approval on some of the traits I found to be oh-so-very-true in my POV of course *smile*

My POSITIVE point-of-views on the Traits Snapshots:
(see those words in Blue and Bolded)

Organized: Most of the time - Yes. I am a true Virgoans wat.

Fears chaos: Yep! I do have utmost abhorrence towards conflicts – avoid at all cost. Might even shrink to a Yes-person just to appease the state of affairs. *sigh*

Depressed: In a sense, yeah... I am depressed most of the times but, I will survive - I mean, who’s not depressed nowadays when the cost of living is so harsh *frowns*.

Does not like to stand out: True, true, true – that’s the shy side of me acting up (reminder – I am a semi-recluse wat. What do you expect?)

Perfectionist: Aha! This proves that somehow the Star Sign Characteristic Analysis does have its basis - Me being a Virgo can’t escape this trait in whatever personality test taken *grins thoughtfully*

Hard working: This is yet another trait of a true Virgoans too cos’ we really can’t help it most of the but, to put in our best effort each time – Damn, there goes my vow to ‘Work-Smart and Not-Work-Hard’ *roll eyes*

Practical: U-huh! This I had to agree too – hates idle chit-chats on the phone *nods head agreeably*

Heart over mind: Does this mean I am rash? - I do tend to act first before my brain even has the time to digest the suggestions popped-up in my head :P

Altruistic: Happily agree to this *grinning eye-to-eye*


Summary of Test Result:

(as per generated online by the test page)

Stability results were moderately low which suggests you are worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.

Orderliness results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly organized, reliable, neat, and hard working at the expense of flexibility, efficiency, spontaneity, and fun.

Extraversion results were medium which suggests you are moderately talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting.

Note: See all those words I've formated in purple and italicized? I derived from here that I do own a healthy mind after all, as moderation is a good sign in almost everything right? :P