Where have I been and where will I be going?

Actually this blog is for me to harness and sharpen my writing skill and definitely not for me to vent out my emotions.

It has been so difficult for me to start real 'writing' because I have been putting it off for, like, since the day I started this blog. But anyway, I will (repeat, will) try to make this happen.

So I will dedicate this blog to writing and share whatever tips I come across. It might be boring but it might help me to start writing about "anything and its magic".

Bored

I'm bored. Bored with my life. Bored with the problems that never seems to go away. Bored ... just plain bored.

*** Sigh!!!

I said "NO".. is it really OK?

I should learn to say "NO" without feeling bad.

I should not feel remorse after declining a request for favour or invitation or any of the sorts. Of course, there is valid reason as to why I declined. However, this sickening feeling of remorse is haunting me nevertheless.

By right, I should just ignore it as the person has already affirm that it was ok. But i keep on asking, was it ok? really ok? really really ok? ... Oh my chest hurts......

Whatever! I should just take it as it is... if he says it is ok then it is really ok, right?

Why suddenly...

I feel bad, I feel remorse. Why?

There must be something that pass my thoughts that made my heart feel this remorse.

But what was it? What was it?

I have a secret

Should I tell you? If I don't I'd be keeping it bottled inside me and I'd be miserable. Then again, if I tell you... I'd have no more secrets...

I am miserable.

I cannot let go of this emotions that is like a volcano waiting to erupt anytime. Worried about the mess that it will make.

I am like a caged lion prowling around wanting desperately to escape and pounce on anyone and anything that is on its way.

Right now... I am wishing I could just tell the secret and let go of the emotions. An later, deal with the mess once I am free of the miseries the secret is causing me... After all, like I said before this will soon pass...

Am I ready just yet?

I found an old friend in facebook

Guess what? I have found an old friend in facebook. It has been years since I heard from this guy. 22 years to be exact.

The wonders of technology and facebook, of course. Hope to hear from many more old friends.....

Things I want to do for the rest of my life

The list is non-exhaustive. I will update it from time to time.

Keep fit and healthy.

• Jog at Tmn Bulatan every Wednesday.
• Park far away from office entrance so that I can brisk walk for at least 10 minutes
• Drink a lot of water
• Eat meals on schedule

Hobbies & Interest

• Take a photo a day
• Write a post a day
• Finish reading the books on my shelf

Positivity

• Reduce complaining and thus reduce stress
• Take life positively even it does not seem like it

So much has happened

... this couple of week. I lost a dear friend on 1 July and yesterday my cousin has passed on. Both of them has terminal illnesses and both died at a young age of 30's. Just a moment ago, I received a news from a friend that another friend of early 40's has got a stroke.

Thinking about this, I wondered what has gone wrong? No, I don't question fate. I don't question my faith. I believe that all is in Allah's will. He gives and takes life.

But putting that aside, still I wondered what have we done wrong? Are we too ignorant of our health. Are we trying too much making our lives better, pressuring ourselves beyond limit? Are we worried about things in our life (and the worries could be so petty) that makes us lose control of managing our life? Are we living the wrong lifestyle? ... what? what is it that we did or did not do that makes ourselves suffer the unfortunate events.

Maybe we should worry less and just be happy comes what may as no success is good if we are not healthy or fit to enjoy it.

Ok! lets be happy and be healthy, or vice versa. Hopefully we live longer to enjoy life.

I am just a lost soul

image from redbubble.net

Have you ever wondered what you want out of your life? Or wondered why you need to be successful? Why is success so hype? What is the purpose of living other than living? Why can't we just be?

Right now ... I feel I have not ulterior purpose in my life. Everything seems so stagnant. My job sucks (because I made it suck). My life is in trance. I feel like as if I am a peck of dust particle floating... floating aimlessly in the air.

I question the need to be successful, I question the purpose of being.

I just feel the emptiness inside me and it makes me feel depressed. Despite this... I still hesitate to identify my needs. What do I want to get out of this life? I'm lost.... totally lost.

It does not matter

I was thinking about this: I consider him great friend but wonder if he thinks of me the same way too? Or maybe if he was to know that I think of him that way he might laugh because to him I am just like any other ordinary friend.

It doesn't matter. If you take a person as great friend than a great friend, he is.

But what actually makes a great friend?

A great friend could be :-

• Someone who makes you laugh as if there is no worries in the world.
• Someone who makes you feel very comfortable to be with.
• Someone who makes you feel appreciated.
• Someone who makes you like yourself.
• Someone who is always here, there and everywhere.
• Someone who makes your life worthwhile.

... the list goes on

I have many great friends, even though we are sometimes out of touch but when we do, we know that those "out of touch" times never exists. We can pick up wherever we left off because it does not matter as we are great friends.

To all my friends, thank you for being one.

Do I have a problem?

Everybody has problems: Big, small, important, immaterial. It all depends on you. A big problem to me may be a petty one to you.

Here is an article that gives to tips on How to solve a problem by Henrik Edberg in his "The Positivity Blog".

Now lets see, whether I can use the tips:-

1. Is there a problem here? Yes there is.
2. Do I accept it? Yes I do.
   
3. Have I asked for help? Yes I have but only from one person, I wish I could ask someone else but this problem is a hush-hush problem. Then again, I can always ask second opinion and pretend that this is my friend's problem.
4. Have I found the solution? There is a solution to this problem. But it is not attainable yet. In fact, there are solutions, but other alternative seems to be not attainable too. Anyway, it now leaves me with the 20% complaining and whining, *** poor that guy only he has to listen to me whine.*** I need to find some other solutions then.
5. Did I break the problem down to smaller pieces? It is one BIG piece on its own.
6. Have I found opportunity or lesson learned from the problem? Yes I found the opportunity and be hold! there is indeed 1 BIG lesson learned. Never succumb to something that you know you can not handle but out of egoistic instinct that you can do it, you did it and now you are in deep trouble!

No matter what your problems are, they will soon pass. This I believe.

It may seem a big deal now, but once it is over, you may have the last laugh. I am sure you have come across bigger problems in life but treat the problems you are having now a little petty than the ones before, you will be ok. Or may be think about other peoples' problem. Yours may be just a speck of tiny winy dirt.

Lost and In Loving Memory

I lost a friend less than a couple week ago. It was indeed a big lost to me and his other friends too especially his family.

I just couldn't bring myself to write about him soon after his demise. Not that there is nothing to write about, there are lots and I feel I don't want to miss any of the details that has made up great memories about him.

One of the thing that I remember most about him was his smile - a flashy smile of straight white teeth just like the smile of Columbus Short.

He was a playful guy, I'm sure everybody would acknowledge that. We even nicknamed him poret which means "keypoh" (busy body). Sure enough, he was "keypoh" in his cute way.

He was kindhearted and sensitive though would not show it as it would effect his "macho" self. But I know way down inside he was a sensitive guy. He was also, i guess, "anak emak" being the youngest in the family. But one thing for sure he was "adik manja kakak".

There was one thing that we wanted to do together.. that was to eat at "All You Can Eat Buffet" at Holiday Inn, Kuching. But we had to postpone it due to his health condition. We settled with the rojak kucei and he had to eat without the chicken.

I still remember, the first lunch that we had at The Elephant. He had .. what was it? .. chicken chop and I had steak and we had to eat up the big potion and my half bit was passed to him as I could not muster it any longer. While we were eating, he kept on staring at the other table. There sat a Malay girl and her friends. In short I would describe her as "Perempuan Melayu Terakhir". From the look of her, I could see that she was "lemah lembut" and soft-spoken girl --- any mak mertua's dream. *** over-rated description, I know! *** Anyway, I knew from the look, he was attracted to this girl. We even contemplating to write his number on the napkin and pass to the girl. Somehow our plan did not materialize, he was shy. Even after so much coaxing done by me... he did not do it. So... we finished our lunch and he sent me back to the office. I had wondered whether he ever thought about the girl anymore after that. I guess it was just a passing fancy.

Had he any girlfriend? That I would not know. There are millions of things I do not know about him but he was one of my great friends. I just felt so comfortable with him. Being with him could make you feel so. That was one of the great things about this guy.

Sometimes thinking about him makes me smile and sad all over... sad that I have lost a dear friend and a brother I never had. I could feel the lump in my throat right now. Shedding tears is normal to me when my thoughts are with him.

May Allah bless his soul and may he rest in peace. Amin. Al-fatihah.

Complain

Complaining is just like worrying... its not productive when you complain about things that are not worth complaining.

Human likes to whine.

"how come I don't get appreciated with the hard work that I have put in"
"how come we have to pay when they don't"
"I don't want to go if I have to fork out that RM10..."
bla bla bla yakkadiyak.......

That is human nature.

I complain every time, but only to myself. I complain to myself... How come I don't have that zest of working that I used to have. How come I could not grow in my career. How come this and that... but then I realise if I don't do anything to rectify this I will soon die complaining without having to achieve anything......

so .... okay!!! lets do something about it....

Worry...

why worry ...
when it is not productive as you ponder too much on the things that worry you and giving extra attention to it when eventually you realise after all efforts it's just not worth the worry.

however....
worrying sometimes makes you elaborate on the problem and work your brains out to find the solutions and finally helps you to make a decision

so...bottom line is
worry enough and STOP when productivity is compromised.

The Silent Treatment

I do not know why I deserve it. But I get it all the same. The thing is, I do not know how and why I earn it. Why is he treating me the way he does? I don't want to care but I do. I need to know the reason why.

The day before life was as normal. He is normal... I am normal. Suddenly on Monday morning, he gave me the cold shoulder. Freezing cold. We only exchanged minimal conversational bits.

I don't want to talk about it with him. If he chooses to be quiet, so be it.

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART (Bonnie Tyler )

Turnaround, every now and then I get a
little bit lonely and you're never coming around
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit restless and I dream of something wild
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround, every now and then I know
you'll never be the boy you always you wanted to be
Turnaround, every now and then I know
you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am
Turnaround, every now and then I know
there's no one in the universe as magical and wonderous as you
Turnaround, every now and then I know
there's nothing any better and there's nothing I just wouldn't do
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

This too will pass - Peter Himmelman

~ I have never heard this song before but the words captured in the lyrics are so true...
I've learned that no matter how bad things are today, tomorrow it will be ok. 
Trust me... this too will pass!~


This Too Will Pass
Like the river flows, like the east wind blows
You're gonna find your situation changing for the better
Like the melting snow just let your trouble go
'Cause you and I will get through this together

Some days seem to drag on forever
You need all your strength just to keep your head together
Soon you'll see, things are gonna get better at last
This too will pass

Like a sprouting seed, you'll grow through this need
And the things that bring you grief shall be forgotten
Like an hourglass, this too will pass
And what's hard as rock will soon be soft as cotton

Some days seem to drag on forever
You need all your strength just to keep your head together
But soon you'll see, things are gonna get better at last
This too will pass

This too will pass
This too will pass
This too will pass

You feel like you've been chosen to be frozen in time
Your body is exhausted, you feel like you've lost your mind

Happy Mother's Day...

image from dreamstime.com

To all the mothers anywhere in the world.... you are great! I dedicate to you this song from boyz II men.

A Song For Mama

You taught me everything
And everything you've given me
I always keep it inside
You're the driving force in my life, yeah

There isn't anything
Or anyone I can be
And it just wouldn't feel right
If I didn't have you by my side

You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there to comfort me
And no one else can be what you have been to me
You'll always be you always will be the girl
In my life for all times


Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama, I just want you to know
Lovin' you is like food to my soul

You're always down for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
Yes you did

And you took up for me
When everyone was downin' me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on

There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And say to me I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You'll always be
You will always be the girl in my life

Sad Love Song - I have a lover

Translated by doolee10

You ask me why I'm still alone
I just smile weakly
I'm in love with someone
Yes I do have a lover

You look at me with worried eyes
And tell me to meet someone nice

But you never knew
I already have someone special
So precious that I hide inside

No one can see the man but me
He is only visible to my eyes
I will keep him inside forever
Sometimes tears filling up my eyes says

You are the one I cherish

I don't wanna have him
I don't wanna be greedy
Just let me love him the way I do

Look at me
I am not alone
So don't worry about me
Someday I'll introduce him to you
Can't you see the tears in my eyes say
You are the one I cherish

White Flag - Dido

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you I'll tell you that But if I didn't say it Well, I'd still have felt it Where's the sense in that? I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder Or return to where we were Well I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be I know I left too much mess And destruction to come back again And I caused but nothing but trouble I understand if you can't talk to me again And if you live by the rules of "It's over" Then I'm sure that that makes sense Well I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be And when we meet As I'm sure we will All that was then Will be there still I'll let it pass And hold my tongue And you will think That I've moved on Well I will go down with this ship And I won't put my hands up and surrender There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Believe it or not, I have been typing away using the keyboard since I was in the college learning computer science. I didn't even learn how to type after leaving my form 5. I remember the days when I was tortured browsing through the keyboard searching for the alphabets. Really! and to think programming in COBOL needs a long list of instructions. I was like a chicken pecking on the food. Peck ... errr... where is 'A'... peck again....

Most of my friends go for typing classes to learn the skills and techniques of typing with all 10 fingers after the MCE. Me? I learned to drive. I prefer driving as driving at young age was quite a thing back then. Little did I know, learning to type with all 10 fingers is indeed useful. But even if it is not, I still want to learn because I'd think it is something I should be doing. Petty to you, maybe, but not to me. At least not now.

Truthfully, I regret not learning. Yes, after 20 years or so... I do, at times, still peck on the keyboard. Sure enough, I can type. But I type with my eyes on the keyboard and not the computer screen. And pity my poor 2 index fingers. With little help from the rest, they are like succumbing to slavery.

But guess what, I will learn the skill to type with my 10 figures and not looking at the keyboard for the alphabet. Give me 2 weeks ... that was what they say: it only takes 2 weeks to master the '"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog". Please pray for me ... otherwise I will die and still pecking on the keyboard.

All I need now is perseverence. .... and the article Typing with All Ten Fingers by Christopher Berg.

Here is the figure indicated by colors, on which keys to be pressed by which finger.

Figure: Sun Type 5 layout, screenshot from xkeycaps

Emotions...

I'm an emotional being. I get worked out over nothing... happens every time. When I drive, when I play games, when ... almost all 'whens' ... I will get onto that emotional roller coaster, swoosh up down, in and out...

An innocent comment from you may cost me migraines and chest pains. However mundane and trivial it may be... I get worked up. Maybe age is catching up with me. But should the phrase "a year older, a year wiser" hold some truths? I used to be a believer on this. Now? guess not.

As you grow, you get more sensitive over almost anything. Not true for you? Well... it is for me. Blame it on the hormones. Blame it on the pre-menopausal (is there such a word?) stage. Blame it on anything.

Write a Book Review

Have you ever thought about writing a book review? Or sharing an interesting book with friends and do not know how to exactly "tell" your friends about the contents/story in the book?

Here is a good book review which I like to share with you by Rodman Philbrick. Honestly, after reading this book review I went to the bookstore and bought the book. You can also visit Writing With Writers for tips on how to write a book review and some interesting goodies about writing there.

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Review by Rodman Philbrick

I've never been to Alabama, but novelist Harper Lee made me feel as if I had been there in the long, hot summer of 1935, when a lawyer named Atticus Finch decided to defend an innocent black man accused of a horrible crime. The story of how the whole town reacted to the trial is told by the lawyer's daughter, Scout, who remembers exactly what it was like to be eight years old in 1935, in Maycomb, Alabama.

Scout is the reason I loved this book, because her voice rings so clear and true. Not only does she make me see the things she sees, she makes me feel the things she feels. There's a lot more going on than just the trial, and Scout tells you all about it.

A man called Boo Radley lives next door. Very few people have ever seen Boo, and Scout and her friends have a lot of fun telling scary stories about him. The mystery about Boo Radley is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Scout and her big brother, Jem, run wild and play games and have a great time while their father is busy with the trial. One of their friends is a strange boy called Dill. Actually Dill isn't really so strange once you get to know him. He says things like "I'm little but I'm old," which is funny but also pretty sad, because some of the time Dill acts more like a little old man than a seven–year–old boy.

To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with interesting characters like Dill, and Scout makes them all seem just as real as the people in your own hometown. Here's how Scout describes Miss Caroline, who wore a red–striped dress: "She looked and smelled like a peppermint drop."

Dill and Boo and Jem are all fascinating, but the most important character in the book is Scout's father, Atticus Finch. You get the idea that Scout is writing the story down because she wants the world to know what a good man her dad was, and how hard he tried to do the right thing, even though the deck was stacked against him.

The larger theme of the story is about racial intolerance, but Scout never tries to make it a "lesson," it's simply part of the world she describes. That's why To Kill a Mockingbird rings true, and why it all seems so real.

The trial of the wrongly accused Tom Robinson takes place during the time of segregation, when black people were not allowed to socialize with white people. In that era, when a white man said a black man committed a crime, the black man was presumed to be guilty. The law required that they have a trial, but everybody knew the defendant was going to be convicted.

Atticus Finch, the quiet hero of the book, tries to persuade the jury that bigotry is wrong. His words are eloquent and heartfelt. He demonstrates that Tom Robinson couldn't possibly have assaulted the victim. Atticus even reveals the identity of the real villain, which enrages a very dangerous enemy. This act of courage endangers not only Atticus Finch but his family as well. They become the target of hate mongers and bigots.

Even though the story took place many years ago, you get the idea that parts of it could happen today, in any town where people distrust and fear each other's differences.

In a just world an innocent man should be found not guilty. But if you want to know what this particular jury finally decides and what happens to Scout and Jem and Dill and Boo Radley and the rest of the people who live and breathe in To Kill a Mockingbird, you'll have to read the book!

That handphone never stops ringing....

I regret the day I gave my handphone number to the sale rep from a software company. It never stops ringing. Sure enough, I have been looking for some solutions to our problem for support (Mo qian ma!!!) so I have discussed the issue with the sales rep from Singapore. I gave my contact number (which is a grave mistake) and thereon it has never stopped ringing. Maybe I'll answer to the call tomorrow (heh heh *** evil laugh***). But putting that aside, I am really awed by their persistence. They have to get the deal. I am hooked, if not careful.

Same goes to the insurance agents. Calling me every now and then, selling their insurance products. They can be a pain (very painful one!) in the butt.

Just be wary of their tactics. My other half was very furious with one insurance agent. After he declined the offer, the agent has the guts to send an sms saying that he has made an arrangement to deduct the monthly payment through the credit card, WITHOUT CONSENT. He had to deactivate the card. To think the insecurities of all these in this highly technical world.

These people are like flies. Hovering around and making irritating noises.... hate them!

So much for being a avid blogger!

Say what?

Its been almost a month since I last post anything...
I have wanted to be serious about writing, apparently my time is spent on something else.
Been very busy lately, what with moving to a new house, need to pack and all. No time to write (excuses!!! i know)
So much for my resolution to write every day. I have to opt for 1 month per entry.. before April 2009 says goodbye, I'd better put in at least 1 entry... so taa-daa... 1 entry to slot in for April 2009. Phew!!!! luckily its not too late.

LIFE is WONDERFUL!

It takes a crane to build a crane
It takes two floors to make a story
It takes an egg to make a hen
It takes a hen to make an egg
There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word
And it takes some words to make an action
It takes some work to make it work
It takes some good to make it hurt
It takes some bad for satisfaction

La la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Al la la la la

It takes a night to make it dawn
And it takes a day to make you yawn brother
And it takes some old to make you young
It takes some cold to know the sun
It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust
It takes those tears to make it rust
It takes the dust to have it polished

Ha la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is so full of
Ah la la la la la la life is so rough
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is our love
Ah la la la la la

It takes some silence to make sound
It takes a loss before you found it
And it takes a road to go nowhere
It takes a toll to make you care
It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life is meaningful
Ha la la la la la life is wonderful
Ha la la la la la life it is...so... wonderful
It is so meaningful
It is so wonderful
It is meaningful
It is wonderful
It is meaningful
It goes full circle
Wonderful
Meaningful
Full circle
Wonderful

True Love

true love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about but few have seen

- Francois Duc de La Rochefoucauld

Business Advice

Sounds boring? Maybe ... maybe not.

I stumbled upon these 7 pieces of Business Wisdom from the Freelance Folder. Please read on :-

1 — Push through your limitations

“The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.” — Thomas Edison

2 — Never stop improving

“An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.”— Jack Welch

3 — Action is more important than talk

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing”— Walt Disney

4 — Success takes hard work

“Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.”— Albert Einstein

5 — Hard work brings happiness (and success)

“Satisfaction does not come with achievement, but with effort. Full effort is full victory.”— Mahatma Gandhi

6 — Don’t be afraid of failure

“Success is not built on success. It’s built on failure. It’s built on frustration. Sometimes its built on catastrophe.”— Sumner Redstone

7 — Strive to provide something great

“A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets.”— Steve Jobs

The Color of My Love - Celine Dion

Ill paint my mood in shades of blue
Paint my soul to be with you
Ill sketch your lips in shaded tones
Draw your mouth to my own

Ill draw your arms around my waist
Then all doubt I shall erase
Ill paint the rain that softly lands on your wind-blown hair

Ill trace a hand to wipe out your tears
A look to calm your fears
A silhouette of dark and light
While we hold each other oh so tight

Ill paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that well never part
Thats the colour of my love

Ill paint the truth
Show how I feel
Try to make you completely real
Ill use a brush so light and fine
To draw you close and make you mine

Ill paint a sun to warm your heart
Swearing that well never part
Thats the colour of my love

Ill draw the years all passing by
So much to learn so much to try

And with this ring our lives will start
Swearing that well never part
I offer what you cannot buy
Devoted love until we die

Study Effectively

ATTITUDE TO STUDY

• importance of studying
• open mind
• cultivate right/positive mental attitudes on subjects and teachers
• make study interesting

TIME FOR STUDY

• how much time devoted to study
• time to study must be regular and consistent

PLACE OF STUDY

• conducive environment
• proper ventilation and bright lights
• no distractions
• desk, chair and stationaries

METHOD OF STUDY

• map and plan topics to study and cover
• take quick quiz sessions
• take notes
• underline keywords
• say out what you have read as discussion with friends
• do some practice problems

GOOD DIET

REGULAR SLEEP SCHEDULE

Hocus Pocus FOCUS !

These are interesting tips for improving your concentration.

F = Five More Rule
O = One Think At a Time
C = Conquer Procrastination
U = Use Your Hands as Blinkers
S = See As If For the First or Last Time

You may read the full article Focus Pocus: How to Magically Improve Your Concentration 5 tips to help you concentrate from Sam Horn.

This is an except from the said article.

What people have said about concentration

"I used to think the human brain was the most fascinating part of the body, and then I realized, 'What is telling me that?'" - Emo Phillips

"Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen, even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind." Leonardo da Vinci

"Tell me to what you pay attention, and I will tell you who you are." - Jose Ortega y Gasset

I would go without shirt or shoe sooner than lose for a minute the two separate sides of my head." - Rudyard Kipling

"It's not that I don't want to listen to people. I very much want to listen to people. I jut can't hear them over my talking." - Paula Poundstone

"I'm getting so absent-minded and forgetful. Sometimes in the middle of a sentence, I . . . " - Milton Berle

i carry your heart with me - eecummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

My Bowling Mantra

Please don't mind me. I am INTO bowling at the moment. What with the coming competition (sports & recreation club level.. ** ehem!!**).

For a beginner like me, bowling is tough. I have to learn from basic, that is, from the posture, to the steps, to the throw, to the release, to the score (did I miss anything?).

Anyway, I have created myself a "BOWLING MANTRA" (thanks to the bowling tips in the internet, of course and some informal trainers), So as to choreograph my bowling steps

Here goes...

Step 1 - "Push Away" (Ball moves out)
Step 2 - "Pro Zone" (Ball moves down)
Step 3 - "Pivot Step" (Ball moves back)
Step 4 - "Slide" (Ball moves down)

Ball moves out --> ball moves down --> ball moves back --> ball moves down --> release --> follow through.

Bowl the ball and knock the pins

photo from ourworld.compuserve.com

photo from winbowling.com

Four-step Delivery - from eHow.com (with my little notes in italics)

Step1

Pick up the ball and go to your starting position.

Step2

Hold the ball on your bowling arm side (not the center of your body) to create a straight arm swing.

Step3

Take a deep breath and relax.

Step4

Take your first step with you right foot if you are right handed, or with your left foot if you are left handed.

Step5

Move the ball out and down, away from your body, as you take you first step.

Step6

Allow the weight of the ball to swing it past your side as you take your second step.

Step7

Take your third step as the ball reaches the top of your backswing.

Step8

Slide your foot on your fourth step, and swing the ball down into the release. (focus on the arrow that you are throwing to)

Step9

Close your fingers together, like snapping, as you release the ball.

Step10

Follow through, extending your arm towards the pins and continuing upward. (swing arms completely like a pendulum - to avoid the gutter or getting the ball too far to the left/right)

Step11

Finish with your left foot in front (or right foot for left handers), and your back foot pointing toward 7:00 (with 12:00 being the pins).

Step12

Keep you shoulders square to the foul line

Most importantly, FOCUS and always remember to HAVE FUN!

P/S : There are many interesting articles about "how to" bowling at http://winbowling.com/

Love, Reign O'er Me by Pearl Jam

Reign Over Me - Original Soundtrack

Only love can make it rain
The way the beach is kissed by the sea
Only love can make it rain
Like the sweat of lovers
Laying in the fields

Love, reign o'er me
Love, reign on me, rain o'er me
Rain on me

Only love can bring the rain
That makes you yearn to the sky
Only love can bring the rain
That falls like tears from on high

Love, reign o'er me, rain on me
Love, reign o'er me, rain on me
Rain on me

On the dry and dusty road
The nights we spend apart alone
I need to get back home to cool cool rain
I can't sleep and I lay and I think
The night is hot and black as ink
Wooh God, I need a drink of cool cool rain

Love, reign o'er me
Reign o'er me, o'er me
Love, reign o'er me
Rain on me


I watched the movie 'Reign Over Me' on HBO the other night. It was a touching story about a man named Charlie who lost his family in a plane crash. Ever since the tragedy, he was living in a world that deluded this tragic fate. He became a recluse. Until one day, an old college mate, Alan, met him and tried to reconnect to him. From then on, the life journey of the 2 friends began. In a way, rekindling the friendship saved both their lives.