I LOVE EARTH HOUR (and the entire day)

So how was your Earth Hour and the entire day, for that matter? Mine can only be expressed by one word: Glorious.

Before Earth Hour begun:

I found a priceless novel which was (sort of) misplaced a month ago! Coincidence? I found the organiser that was, well, misplaced several weeks ago. Haha, I thought, I'm in luck today, to things I lost.

Earth Hour saw only darkness, because Pa didn't like the idea of polluting the air with candles.

50 minutes before Earth Hour ended: We indulged in chocolate ice cream, since there wasn't much to do.

35 minutes before Earth Hour ended: We left the house for a stroll, armed with a bulky torch light just in case we catch a glimpse of her. The air was chilly and there were many other neighbours killing time as they sauntered about. Many croaking toads too, if I may add.

15 minutes before Earth Hour ended: We made our way back after haunting the streets once more with our mewing.

10 minutes before Earth Hour ended: "SEE! THERE! SEE THERE!!!!" Joyce recognised that pair of gleaming eyes, I recognised that sweet voice. Coaxing didn't do us well, she slithered into the neighbour's garden, and we impatiently exhorted the doorbell. Realising that we were no rogues, we were allowed to enter. On my knees I went, reaching my hands under the danky shade as my fingers ran through the soil and mud. They found a thin figure.

"Are you sure it's the right one?" My father shone his torchlight to pull back that veil of darkness.

1 minute before Earth Hour ended: I stared face to face with a pair of blue eyes. "YES!!!" I was sure, furthur reinforced my shrills of delight from my siblings, and a welcoming mew by her brother.

EARTH HOUR (and the entire day) found EVERYTHING I lost! MIRACLES do happen!! Support it next year!!

Here I must say... THANK YOU to all my neighbours (and security guards) who have been keeping their eyes open for her(You know who you are)...THANK YOU to Shermaine for checking PAWS out...THANK YOU to those who expressed their concern (and did not leave sacarstic remarks), THANK YOU to those who was willing to help even though you were living a little too far away.

THANK YOU EARTH HOUR!! Happy face back again!!

3600 seconds in the Dark

In a few hours time, it'll be 8.30pm, and we all know what that means.
In support of Earth Hour, we are! It's circulating as the biggest news around, even especially in college, so why not?

The only thing that continues to bug me is that 1 hour=60 minutes=3600 seconds and that's not a lot for one day every one year. Shouldn't it be an ongoing thing, say each month?

Then again, I must pull that back in case hypocrisy kicks in.

Switch off ALL electrical appliances, no movies in the dark, okay?

Praying hard for Winter

I can't imagine her roaming lost on the streets.

Every time it rains, which happens lately, sadness weighs down on me like the school bag back in primary school.

Every time I see Summer sitting beneath the car and staring at the street, pitifully mewing with THAT tone, it weighs down even more.

Many times I walked around the neighbourhood. The security guard must think I'm mad. So do most of the neighbours.

Assignments and tests started pouring in so suddenly, as if destroying a dam to drown the sea. Time is not on my side, but I have to walk down the streets for that one inch of hope.

Frankly, I just don't know what to do. *SOBS*

PS The wedding day will have to wait.

PPS. It is not JUST a cat. She is the one of the kittens we found on the roof and fed with milk through a bottle, the same one who 'mews' my stress away at the sight of her innocent look every afternoon, thrills us with their double trouble and literally bouncing off everything, and licks my hand for fun.

PPPS. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm frustrated and upset. Pray hard she'll come home.

Bring back our kittie...

They sat on the car, almost a routine for the night lately, until tonight they were accidentally driven off with the car. Prancing off into the bushes on another street, our kittens were gone.

Yet to have ventured any further from the gate, they're as good as litle children thrown into a abandoned mall. Like desperate 'parents', we shook the road as if it were a carpet to be cleaned, calling them as we walked about under the eerie glow of the streetlamps.

"Do you know those are vampire bats?" Vincent whispered. The road was quiet...far too quiet, the silence only broken by sudden appearance of cars. Maybe not vampire bats; fruit bats I think.

I don't care.

We found one. As I carried him, his paws clutched against me in trauma. His heart beat was faster, and amidst his wails, he 'mewed' for his sister to join the rescue team...

But...it's been hours and hours, and she didn't show. Of both siblings, she is definitely the more passive, weaker one. Time drove us tired, and us three siblings have tests to worry about tomorrow.

Sniff...

THOSE LIVING WHERE I LIVE (reaching out to neighbours)

Winter is a white burmese cat with black ears and feet, small, with blue eyes, and a sweet voice.
Help find her...bring her to the security guards, they know about this.

Beyond the Bottled Messages

Many a time we hear of a message in a bottle. It bobs about on the surface of the sea, carrying a little note to where the current wishes it to be.

When desperation needs a distant cry for help...a ray of hope remains.

When it reminds you of home and that of family...

When you miss someone on the other end of the world...yet feels unreachable.

Always know that they are close by...

Bottling up your feelings never seem to work

Not if you can open it up to release a genie...

And to realise that out there many people think the same...

That there is beauty beyond that bottled message.


Do people like finding a bottle with a note in it out on the sandy shores? You'll never know, maybe that single case of glass could change your entire course of life...
I think it'll be nice to discover a message that will kick start an adventure, don't you think?

What about college I like and don't really

College life, at this point, seems rather feverish.

Leaving home at 7am and returning home at the oddest hour (even reached home at 8.45pm once: and was by then, drunk with fatigue). So many things come in a jumble and blurs my eyes, with some subjects slightly overwhelming, and exams ready to haunt us in a few months time. My pockets burn by the end of the month. If anybody complains that their college lunch break is only one hour, I'll smirk.

Everything's different now.

Which is why I smile to the fact that it's as if you can start over new and fresh, because no one cares about your past and who you were back then. You'd be surprised if you knew. Other subjects take on an interesting twist to it all. All that walking to and fro around the blocks (and chasing after that bus), well, call it exercise then.

College life, at this point, ain't that bad.



PS. The student council nominees will be having their campaigning period next week, and election commences next Friday! Wishing all the best in carrying out your 'missions' and 'visions' and 'Tony-Blair-like-speeches'! While I have no favourites yet, we'll see then who stands high on the podium.

PSS. Watching Slumdog Millionaire while eating ice cream with family. Got to go!

Union of Two Souls #2 Episode 2

The night before it all, one thing must be done. While undoubtedly a culture of the Western world, it has seeped into that of others. Therefore, instead of calling it a bachelor party, we call it a buffet dinner, for feasting is one thing we enjoy, do we not?

Such a big event it is that nothing must go wrong! All the discussions, contingency plans, surveys and detailed planning really paid off! How my adoration for the setting cannot be expressed with mere words!

And if you perk your head upwards, the romantic chandelier will throw sparkles into your eyes.

The food was fantastic. Every now and then, someone would get a gastronomic pang, and yet not get enough. The satay, kerabu. banana chocolate cake were hits!

That would be the awesome part. For the fun part, our job for the event was to be baby-sitters for the many parents needing a bite. Such innocuous laughter and carefree souls! Sometimes I long for us cousins to take a step back to the days of youth again.

Till the next time!

Procedures for a Chinese wedding:

The night before:
1. Bachelor party
2. Hair combing ritual

The day itself:
3. Prayers for good fortune/Receiving of parent's blessings (At the same time, a young male relative must jump on the couple's bed and all sorts of other procedures
4. (Bringing the bride back) aka Torture the groom and his "brothers"
5. More prayers
6. Tea ceremony at the lady's place
7. Be at groom's place for prayers
8. Tea ceremony(lots to do)
9. Be at future home
10. Prayers for good luck
11. Lunch!
12. Supposed rest
13. Wedding dinner/ grand finale

14. PHEW! What a day.

On Facing The Music

The ritual begun when my mum spreads the sms-es like wildfire. Then came the numerous calls and handshakes.

"Hi!! Congratulations!!"

"Thanks!!"

"Haha! You have to 'belanja' (treat) me, ya?"

"OH REALLY! Why? Hahahaa..." My, how broke I would be...

"Are you happy with your results?"

"Well..."

Random Flashback: Imagine my luck--- the heavy rain went against me, lightning struck the electric cord three times, the second one damaging the laptop, and I was busy the whole of Friday. So here I am, typing as fast as I can before I leave for another event.

Mei Yee and I left for school, and guess what? Time drags. The way to school seemed longer than usual. The traffic light seemed to love the colour red. Walking in took a while. Meeting everyone else was the highlight of the day, although, yes, everybody else were more focused on getting the results back.

Time had to drag on and on. As we stood under the shade of the hall, nervously sharing jokes and latest news, we knew that any time now, it's the final call.

And when it did, SHOCK was the word. I stood staring at the slip until or form teacher called out. Shock was the basic emotion. Only after I calmed down did I see the big picture.

Back to reality: "Well, yes, I am."

THUMP thump...

"Why are we eating 'yee sang' for anyway?"

"To finish it up before in expires in April..."

"Okay then, let's wish for good luck anyway. May next week's wedding and buffet be great! May the events run themselves smoothly!"

"Yes, yes....Oh! May the wedding be smooth!" They cried almost in unison.

Amidst the joy of the spontaneous decision to eat 'yee sang' and the wishing of luck for the wedding, a panic attack struck me hard.

So silent was I as I took every bite, with only my heart screaming and trying to jump out off my mouth and go "THUMP THUMP" on the floor. Forgive the grotesque image. No doubt I did join in their wish of luck for this weekend, but no one realised my mind had wandered off to Thursday. The anxiety kicked in so hard, I wished for luck on Thursday too.

"THUMP THUMP, THUMP THUMP...." I'm not the only one feeling this, I know. Trying to convince myself to hold back my heart from leaping out was in miserable vain. To all those suffering from panic attacks, a new patient is about to step into your ward.

Filling my bowl with another round of yee sang, I slurped in it and wished it brings just as much luck.

"THUMP THUMP, THUMP THUMP, THUMP THUMP, THUMP THUMP, THUMP THUMP..."

PS. The discussions on the wedding plans went very well, but not my poor nerves and heart.

Union of Two Souls #2 Episode 1

Dolls on a cake always seem to be alive. They stand on a majestic platform rich with icing, knowing that unless Yao Ming comes by, they are on the top of the world. They speak to each other only in whispers.

"I wonder when they're coming in..."

"Not long now, what a happy couple..."

"Oh! Now there's icing on my pants, it'll take hours to wash it off..."

"Shhh...here they come."

They stare as the everyone else around them await in anticipation for the only two people they long to see.

When they do, the focus no longer goes to little dolls. Don't they look sweet together? Before I go on, episode one means celebration for the girl's family. There will be more to come, after all, this my family has marked on the calender as the highlight of the year!

First dishes are important, they say, for they give first impressions. The food was fantastic, especially the desserts, but posting up mountains of food grants me no time.

All of us just cannot wait for next week, when all would congregate once again for the highlight of the year, where we would laugh through a feast, where there will be another red carpet to greet two souls, and when we would have to get used to calling her 'aunt' in Hokkien.

Dolls on a cake---sigh--- they can hear every laughter of joy, and see all the happiness. Felicitous, despite the fact that their shoes are sunken in the icing. Yet they speak in whispers so all you can trust is what I tell you.

Tag : Listen to Your Heart

Tagged by Joanne Wong

1. Put your iTunes/Winamp/Media Player on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name
5. Tag at least 10 friends
6. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because fun pointlessness spreads like a virus.

If someone says "Is this okay?" you say?

馬德里不思议 aka A Wonder in Madrid (lol sounds overly optimistic!)

How would you describe yourself?

Crush (hmm...am I in some sort of conflict?)

What do you like in a guy/girl?

真爱 aka True Love (Haha. That's some sweet randomness)

How do you feel today?

改变自己 aka Change Yourself (Time for a change. Yes, this happened)

What is your life’s purpose?

Potential Breakup (NO! My life's purpose is NOT to break someone's heart)

What is your motto?

Do you know? Pingpong song (Well, do you?)

What do your friends think of you?

Hello爱情风 aka Hello Love Wind (erm. no comment)

What do you think of your parents?

招牌动作 (They're up, up? No idea what this means)

What do you think about very often?

Makes me wonder (yes I suppose so)

What is 2 + 2?

What I've Done (funny equation then. Maybe it means 2day and 2morrow. Does it make any sense?)

What do you think of your best friend?

The Sweet Escape (Aww...I agree)

What do you think of the person you like?

When You Believe (so you should trust my choice)

What is your life story?

Superman (lol I'm a reporter chasing after villians and saving the world, not easy to be me! )

What do you want to be when you grow up?

All Out of Love (how morbid)

What do you think of when you see the person you like?

How Deep is Your Love (Well, I really need to know...)

What will you dance to at your wedding?

Words (And words are all I have...)

What will they play at your funeral?

Beautiful Girl (right...)

What is your hobby/interest?

Don't Matter (My lips are sealed I guess)

What is your biggest fear?

When You're Gone (losing people around me?)

What is your biggest secret?

Four in the Morning (not that accurate because I've not stayed up till four so far, or have I?*evil grin*)

What do you think of your friends?

不能说的秘密 aka Secret (Wonder what that means)

What will you post this as?

Listen to Your Heart (To your heart and your music)

I choose not to tag. Anyone may do the tag, but for the fun of it, why not just try it out and see what you get without posting it? You could get surprises.

Anyway, Listen to your heart!!

Bus Dread

If, yesterday, you had seen anyone from Tuesday's Malaysian Studies class, you would most likely have seen clouds of thunder misting over their heads, the eye bags carrying eye bags, and a number of complaints.

Guess what? Time broke my record of reaching home the latest! Woohoo!

So this was how it all begun.

It was the latest time it ever ended. Okay, it was 7pm, and technically it did end on time, but that's besides the point, because we were normally released much earlier. The storms had been lashing against the windows as the class went on, only dying off as we were about to leave.

Stuffing myself into the shuttle bus, and scurrying to the bus stop, I knew the bus would arrive late. And it'll be packed. True enough, a group of us had to be left behind when it came at 7.30pm.

"Don't worry yet. Let's wait 5 to 10 minutes." he said. "By then, the Metro bus will come. That's what I surveyed."

20 minutes later, we were either conversing, staring upon the empty road, or expressing our frustration.

It felt like hours, but 8pm was when we forced ourselves into the bus. With the massive traffic jam (a normal situation after downpours) I could only be home at 8.45pm.

This is only my part of the story. Others even reached back as late as 12.30am(KL flooded)! Cross my fingers, may after six more torturous weeks, I need not have to vent about buses on my blog again.

PS. Thank you, Ming Chun, for joining in such a mad evening, and offering to buy a snack. We better get a pass for our LAN subjects. Thank you again!

Don't give in to Nightmares

Random flashback: I told myself I will not give in to nightmares, at least not until March. I'll live the days between December and February to the fullest, forgetting the tormenting regurgitations of every definition from every textbook, the endless haunts of war since freedom prevailed, the angst and the agony. I'll start over as a soldier would upon tasting the sweet air of liberty(To fellow literature classmates, no I don't agree with 'The New House' by Edward Thomas)

Back to reality: March. I just told myself I will control myself until next week. No nightmares, no anxiety attacks. So far it's working well, although my mind does drift to those gruesome moments, and back again. Then it drifts to the painful insecurities, and back again. I can feel it twisting my gut, and I know deep down it's back again.

"You're already in college, it doesn't matter anymore, it's okay..." They tell me.

It's not true what they say. We all just want to know that our efforts did not go to waste, and that we will never hear after it all the words, "You're already in college, it doesn't matter anymore, it's okay." And no guilt.

Back to the past: The footprints of those many people who took a step in my life are fading as the seas hacked the shores. If anything is to cheer me up about this, it would be the footprints emerging from the sand again.

For now, however, I'm telling myself I will not give in to nightmares. Not until next week, at least.

Union of two souls #1

The shimmers of the exquisite ice sculpture drew us into their seduction, the glazed swans elegently greeting us by the door. It led us into a magnificent hall, the 96 tables surrounded by chairs trussed with ribbons of classic gold, where only two at the main table were as grand as thrones. High upon the ceilings, too, were rich golden cloths gracing every corner, as if prepared for that of royalty.


Then there were the dreamy "Korean-romance-dramas" slide shows and videos, the songs and speeches. The entrance of the two superstars of the day drew the attention of every soul present, with thousands of people awed by beauty of the couple. Even the presentation of the first dish bubbled alongside the poshness of the atmosphere!

The ambience captivated us every minute of it. Seldom does one get to be part of a meticulously planned wedding that entrances us to the last detail, bursting with romance, and true love and all that.

My photos lack people, I do realise, but it came from being enchanted the entire night. Well, with two events downs, my heart longs for the next event next week. I'll update!