Random quote I stumbled upon.

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death.

~Robert Fulghum~

I can't agree more. I've recently stumbled upon this quote and this American author while doing research. His books seem to be good reads (maybe I should get my hands on one) - little events in life being so significant - or probably that's just me.

Said Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." (Saw this in bookstores). What a brilliant quote, don't you think?

To say about myths and dreams and laughter and love, it's making me feel cozy, which is really what I need after going through so much of Larkin over the past week.

Of course Larkin's poems are good, with that irony and shock factor which I really like in poems, and getting to see things in another light, but they push me under that gloomy raincloud with each read.

Fulghum and Larkin could be very much the same, only that one gives a more happy, optimistic take on little things in life while the other does the exact opposite.

And I'm in need of happy thoughts now.

They come back.

They say that I would have forgotten how you left, perhaps wiped out every bit of who you are, but such memories are not as volatile as road directions.

Though the memories may not be like movies, they flicker in my mind now and then. Sometimes when I see the big rattan chair, or walk into your old office, even hear a car blasting its horn, they come back.

Or when I have to burn another joss stick.

Who said out of sight means out of mind?

The only thing that I didn't notice was that it's been 12 years now.



PS. One day sleeping in, with no work in mind, went out for lunch, watched 'Brother Bear' with my siblings. I'm feeling better.

They're asking me to go get ice cream. Hmm...

Week Ends.

I've not been sleeping well lately. That I know. And when I do sleep late get these criptic (and sometimes scary) dreams. It must be the pressure. So tomorrow will be one full day of relaxation before I start on all my college work on Saturday. Catching up on my Z's is my main priority.


To summarise the week, Monday was our 'Adventure Day' since we had a two-hour break. Not much time, really, but we had a delicious lunch to make up for the same boxes of rice and bread we had to eat throughout the month.

And on Wednesday, Banana Day! Not the way Malaysians would perceive it, of course. Just that last year on that same day, a group of us had lunch together, coincidentally buying everything 'banana-ish' (juice, roti pisang...). We announced it a day to consume bananas.

That's all for now. American Idol starting soon. See you!

PS. Sorry for the short post. My head is spinning a little from fatigue.

Just the way it was and will be.

Last weekend, childhood family friends unite once again! It's been such a long time since we've all gathered together. I've always missed those wild adventures we go through - the countless trips we went on together, and the many other 'ventures' in a world we call our own.

To suggest a sleep over was a definite yes, and whisked away we were again.

We had some rounds of this wonderful karaoke game, where we separated into two teams and sang our way for the most points. Trying to stay on pitch could become pretty hilarious (I really like Celine Dion's vocals but to stretch ours to that extent can tire you in seconds)

Mei Shan and I singing The Script's 'The Man Who Won't Be Moved'. If I get into UK, we may only be able to meet after more than a year, and that's to say the least.

From left: Joyce, Vincent, Mei Yen, me, Mei Shan.

Mei Ting looked so adorable looking out at the open. Little adventurer in the making!

Had lunch with the chilly wind tossing our hair about.

I can't help but think that this is just the way it was. And just the way we all hope it will be.

PS. They made me a Facebook account. Now it's just sitting in my email waiting for confirmation which I'm not sure of yet, while boosting my emails to astounding amount everyday.

In the Eyes of the Tiger...

Possibly my last Chinese New Year celebration before the record is broken? Time to preserve it all every tiniest bit of memory, I decided.

This you may recognise from last year, with a little spice from that tinsel.

At first you'll get excited over this citrus fruit (once a year after all!). Not the case when we have to finish them.

Guilt...guilt...guilt...

Our 团圆 (Reunion dinner, 圆 standing for the traditional use of the round table) and er..."团长方形" (since we're sitting at the other table)

Day One: Chinese New Year and some people simply take so long to dress up.

Our cousins group photo, captured once more like every other year.

Someone yelled "Act like you are lost!" Really, I'm not sure how to do so but that itself should make me look pretty lost, right?

Grandma!

Watching the music videos. Only three people thought it embarrassing, but I stand by those who felt otherwise.

Steamboat dinner, Oliver Twist style.

Said Chris 'Twist' : "Please, Sir, can I have some more?"

Day Two: Arranging ourselves for yearly photo shoot.

Tossing 'yee sang' for good luck. Note this year's fashion theme; we got a lot of attention when visiting.

Another steamboat, this time on a 'Lazy Susan' (the type of table with the revolving platform)

The little cousins persuaded us to watch 'The Princess and the Frog'. It was a nice movie - I like the fact that the main character is individualistic.

We spent the final remnants of our day with another annual 'tradition' (and I stress on the word annual)

That's about it. Life just goes on so fast. It's amazing how it isn't like the board game.

Happy Chinese New Year 2010!

(and yes, Happy Valentine's Day)

Rejection pinches

It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would be - this rejection. It pinched, just a little. I suppose it is only natural to feel a little uneasiness. One never gives it a thought until it is there...right smack in the face.

And like a smack in the face.

I recall, time and time again, whenever my friends faced the same situation, it would be the same words trying to console.

"It's okay. There will be better times..."

"You deserve better..."

"Didn't see how good you are..."



"Stay strong..."

These carefully strung lines I have heard and even used in attempt to comfort the broken hearted, but not once did it occur to me how it would never entirely mend the soul or put together the broken pieces.

How strange that I should not shed a tear. Maybe this is how it is the first time round. It just feels numb and stays like that until reality seeps in.

It isn't the end of the world, right? So...so...forgetting would be a way to cure this. I guess there's just one thing left to do...










I'll have to just wait for the other two universities to reply.

PS. Yes, I'm fine. XD And I hope it shocked you there for a while.



CNY posts on the way.

Back.

Hi. It's about time I turned back to reality.

It's the same thing year after year. There will be some days with nothing much to do, though I have to add that it depends on what you decide to do with it. Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day may collide, but it's obvious (for most of us, at least) which tradition should be adopted.

There will be the usual hopping from house to house, rounds of Black Jack, catching up and joking about. It helps that the cousins are in a relatively similar age gap.

Sometimes there will be new experiences. I made three music videos using photos and old videos from years ago. I think they're great! My siblings and a cousin thought them embarrassing; the rest of us thought it nice to show how different we are now.

I plan to post one of the videos up - the one I found most touching - but until I figure out how to do that, good morning and wish me luck in finding my research at UM again!


PS. I haven't filled in my exam registration form. It's partially guilt, I believe.

Note the time: 2.11AM.

I am still up to finish the special surprise for my extended family when we gather at our hometown. Now who was it who said I wouldn't be able to complete even one, let alone two of what we had planned? I am completing the third one soon!

(I feel like an evil laugh would be appropriate. Something like 'muahaha' but I'm too tired to do that now. Perhaps you may want to imagine a fatigued chuckle.)

Note the time: 2.14AM.

That will be about 4pm for 12th of February in UK, right?

Dear May Ling,


Happy Birthday! Being 20 may mark the end of teen years, but it's also a new beginning!


If this is supposed to be like a mountain climb, soon you'll be at the peak. May your year be filled with wonders, surprises and successes. Miss you!

Note the time: 2.17AM

Need. Sleep. Good. Night.

Of the things to be tired of.

Aww...come on! You've got to be kidding me. Only one week since January exams finished, and we are to register for the May/June exams. On top of that, we have to speculate which units to resit, to which I don't exactly have a gauge for.

The exam timetables will be the busiest ever, even forces me to sacrifice an important day of my year. Boy, I'll be worked out by the end of it. And what was supposed to be an end turned out to be the new face-paced beginning.

I don't know which to resit for.

It scares me - both the exams and the coursework.

I'm tired and really need a break. That's what I look forward to next week, although it may be partially dedicated to coursework research. Perhaps I should get some rest now, just as well.

Now she goes as well.

And then another person has to go. Quite expected in February but not something to feel overly joyous about.

All the best to you too, Yu Ning! May you have a great time in Australia, do well in your course, and achieve your 'dream of not working' after that. There will always be a time to meet up again, somehow!!

Nemo is such a sweetie, isn't he? The movie was amazingly funny, and I do believe it's not just for kids. 'U' means everyone, so yes, I admit... I really like 'Finding Nemo' (and Dory's my favourite character in it).

P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney. I can't believe it got stuck in my head for such a long time. I'm in a craze over farewell cards now, but don't anyone leave too soon...

Come to think about it, there's another one next month.

BAA.

Zhe Kai flew to New Zealand lately, so we had a small farewell lunch with him before that. I won't be posting a lot of photos here since they''ll be in the class blog.

Thanks to those who came and also all that wrote a message in the card. Speaking of the card, I finally got around to start creating craft variations again! I like that sheep, don't you think?


That's the gift Shen Yen prepared for him, along with a 'certificate'.


The lamb steak looked delicious, but since I had just made a card of it, I settled for chicken.

First Time in Two Months

The 'Cupids' got together for a shopping trip that we lacked last few months (At least, for some of us). I don't have what it takes to really go all out and shop till I drop (and to the maximum of desires), but I really should learn to do so.

It was fun since we were introduced to new shops for which I never knew some existed. And it may shock you (or not) but in the end I got one item.

I would not cut back on food, though. Craving for Japanese food got us all into this.

PS. Guess who took that first photo of us?

Can't Put a Finger on It.

I can't put a finger on it somehow.

Each time we decide that we will not have any more pets, another one would curiously show up at our doorstep. Last year, it was our two felines. Years ago, it was that helpless featherless chick whose mother never showed up. There were tortoises back then, but that's a different story.

Our tiger-like Summer jumped into the house with a live bird in its mouth. Surely he must have meant to toy about with it, but that is more terrifying than would the cockroaches he usually finds, or a dead birds.

It could only hop about, and every time it landed, two pairs of hunter's eyes fixate themselves on it, All of a sudden, a chilling pounce! How do you put out their killer instinct? (Though as I mentioned, I am certain they mean to play and not devour, not realising that their fangs and claws have been sharpened for slaughter.)

Hopefully it gets better by tomorrow so we may stop panicking each time the cats hear the chirps, give that long stare on the cupboard, and jumping up and down like hyperactive children wanting cookies.

It's just that I can't seem to put a finger on this sort of coincidence somehow.

Three in One

Here are some photos I've been yearning to post since December, but never really found the time to do so - that one day I made three cards so that I could get my mine off studying... and partially because of the events going on that month.

One birthday card for Cheryl on Christmas Eve! (Hope you liked it.)

One wedding card for Mei Yee's sister on Christmas Day! (When will you be back in the neighbourhood again?)

And another birthday card for Pa...

Now that exams are over, I have more cards to make, predominantly because of friends leaving for overseas. That's fast, don't you think? Suddenly it's the peak of the season again, when everyone starts to leave.