do but don't do !

We often make plans and seldom see these plans through. Is it human nature or is it procastination ? Plans always seem interesting at first and suddenly when it comes to making the decisions, we simply put the plan off because it can wait ! Aiyoh it happens to most of us. I have been thinking of cleaning my ceiling fans for over a month now and each timke the weekend arrives, every excuse available to manking will run through my head; I deserve a rest after working so hard, work so hard will make be too tired for work on Monday, fall down lah...and the list goes on and on and on and on. I am asking myself if it's really so hard to bring the ladder out, put some water in a pail and get that darn bottle of whatever spray it is out from wherever ? Of course lah. I have certified myself as a couch-potato, piggy, snake, python or whatever else you want to call it. It's no wonder that I can only expand sideways (yes, I AM getting fatter). All I can think of doing is catching my zzzzzzz ! Wanna hear about my earlier endeavour(s) ? Yeah....first it was exercise (I need exercise), then it was unpacking (and yes, I am still in a packed state from over a year ago), baking (yes again, I have expired stuff as proof), repotting my plants (yeah, yeah, yeah) and only God knows what else I have been dreaming of. Living alone is surely loads of fun no ? Hell....I don't have anyone to remind me of what I said I would do ! In conclusion, I deserve to be what I am....python, pig, potato, fat butt and all !

syabas bail out

the sad truth

A Letter from a Shelter Manager

I think our society needs a huge " Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all. ..a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know. That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs. The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat). " Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets and why did you choose that place instead of a pet friendly home? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10- 12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She' s tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me: "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog." Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment. Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".... First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails. Until, they get to "The Room", every one of them freak out and put the brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be *stacked like firewood in a large freezer* in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. *What happens next?* Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right? I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much further than the pets you dump at a shelter. Between *9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year* in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

* ADOPT A HOMELESS ANIMAL AND GIVE IT A LOVING HOME *

* MAKE YOUR PET A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY *

DIY mosquito trap

Its just a mix of water, brown sugar and yeast.

1. Cut a plastic bottle in half, keep both parts. Can be Coca Cola / Pepsi bottle.
2. Take the lower portion of the bottle. Dissolve the brown sugar in hot water. Let it cool down to ~70 degF.
3. Add the yeast. Carbon dioxide will form (This will attract the mosquitos)
4. Cover the bottle with a dark wrap and place the top portion upside down like a funnel. Place it in a corner in your house.
5. In 2 weeks you will be surprised by the number of mosquitos killed.

who's smarter

Mom comes to visit her son Kumar for dinner.....who lives with a girl roommate Sunita. During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how pretty Kumar's roommate was. She had long beensuspicious of a relationship between the two, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Kumar and his roommate than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Kumar volunteered, "I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Sunita and I are just roommates." About a week later, Sunita came to Kumar saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver plate. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" Kumar said ,"Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure." So he sat down and wrote:

Dear Mother:I'm not saying that you 'did' take the silver plate from my house, I'm not saying that you 'did not' take the silver plate. But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Kumar

Several days later, Kumar received an email from his Mother which read

Dear Son: I'm not saying that you 'do' sleep with Sunita, and I'm not saying that you 'do not' sleep with Sunita. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the silver plate by now under the pillow...Love,Mom.

wd-40 try at your own risk

I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open. Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I'm impressed! WD-40 who knew? Water Displacement #40. The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stovetop... Voila! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed. Here are some of the uses:
1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
5) Keeps flies off cows.
6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
7) Removes lipstick stains.
8) Loosens stubborn zippers.
9) Untangles jewellery chains.
10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
18) It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.
19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40!
20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
21) Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.
22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
26) Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.
30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.
37) Florida's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers."
38) The favorite use in the state of New York WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.
39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.
40) Use it for fire ant bites . It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.
41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag.
42) Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
43) If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allo

first date

Jay Leno went into the audience to find the most embarrassing first date that a woman ever had.

The winner described her worst first date experience. There was absolutely no question as to why her tale took the prize!

She said it was midwinter... snowing and quite cold...and the guy had taken her skiing in the mountains outside Salt Lake City , Utah. It was a day trip (no overnight). They were strangers, after all, and truly had never met before. The outing was fun, the skiing great, the coffee hot. The day was uneventful until they were headed home late that afternoon.

They were driving back down the mountain, when she gradually began to realize that she should not have had that extra latte. They were about an hour away from anywhere with a rest room and, to top it off, they were in the middle of nowhere! Her companion recognised her discomfort, and suggested she try to hold it, which she did for a while. Unfortunately, because of the heavy snow and slow going, there came a point where she told him that he had better stop and let her go beside the road, or it would be the front seat of his car.

They stopped and she quickly crawled out beside the car, yanked her pants down and started. In the deep snow she didn't have good footing, so she let her butt rest against the rear fender to steady herself.

Her companion stood on the side of the car watching for traffic and indeed was a real gentleman and refrained from peeking. All she could think about was the relief she felt despite the rather embarrassing nature of the
situation. Upon finishing however, she soon became aware of another sensation. As she bent to pull up her pants, the young lady discovered her buttocks were firmly glued against the car's fender! Thoughts of tongues frozen to poles immediately came to mind as she attempted to disengage her flesh from the icy metal. It was
quickly apparent that she had a brand new problem due to the extreme cold. Horrified by her plight and yet aware of the humor of the moment, she answered her date's concerns about 'what is taking so long' with a reply that indeed, she was 'freezing her butt off' and in need of some assistance! He came around the car as she tried to cover herself with her sweater and then, as she looked imploringly into his eyes, he burst out laughing.
She too, got the giggles and when they finally managed to compose themselves, they assessed her dilemma.
Obviously, as hysterical as the situation was, they also were faced with a real problem. Both agreed it would take something hot to free her chilly cheeks from the grip of the icy metal! Thinking about what had gotten her into the predicament in the first place, both quickly realised that there was only one way to get her free. So, as she looked the other way, her first-time date proceeded to unzip his pants and pee her bottom off the fender.

As the audience screamed in laughter, she took the Tonight Show prize hands down. Or perhaps that should be 'pants down.'

'Did you ever see the young man again?' asked Mr. Leno.

'I married him,' was the reply. 'He's sitting right here next to me.'

driving licence humour !

colours of the world

This poem was nominated by UN as the best poem of 2006, Written by anAfrican Kid.....

When I born, I black

When I grow up, I black

When I go in Sun, I black

When I scared, I black

When I sick, I black

And when I die, I still black

And you white fellow

When you born, you pink

When you grow up, you white

When you go in sun, you red

When you cold, you blue

When you scared, you yellow

When you sick, you green

And when you die, you gray

And you calling me colored?

useful hints

Bed Sheets
After drying sheets, put both sheets and one pillowcase in the other pillow case. Fold neatly in a square. Next time you change sheets, you just take the one pillow case and all the sheets and pillow case are inside. No need to look for matches.
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. Saw this on the cooking channel and it really works. Reheating refrigerated breadTo warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken pieces of glass - the fibers catch ones you can't see!
Easier Thank You's
When you throw a bridal/baby shower, buy a pack of thank you cards for the guest of honor. During the party, pass out the envelopes and have everyone put their address on one. When the bride/new mother sends the thank you's, they're all addressed!
Name Tag
If you purchase a new bike for your child, place their picture inside the handle bar before placing the grips on. If the bike is stolen and later recovered, remove the grip and there is your proof who owns the bike.
Flexible Vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- voila -- static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening Envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...
Good-bye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2 with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' & can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, esp. if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
Baby Powder
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you're ready to leave the beach sprinkle yourself and kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

northern light

Here are some really beautiful photos of the Northern Light.

view from the top

As some of you may already know, I live on a high floor of my condominium building. I've "borrowed" some photos taken by a neighbour of our view. Since my neighbour is just a floor below, we would share the same view. My thanks to R & N for the loan - until I get myself a decent camera to take my own shots ! Thanks !!!

who knows.....

It came totally as a shock. A good friend's husband whom I recently met was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. This is the 2nd case of "surprise" cancer that has befallen my friends. The 1st incident happened last year when one of my neighbours was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Whatever is happening inside our bodies, who could ever tell. Both friends were unsuspecting victims - healthy career people; going about their daily lives and chores as anybody would. Our lives are likened to a "candle in the wind" and we are at the mercy of a power and force beyond our imagination. When Z was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, she never told anyone. I was told that Z was shamed by the fact that cancer is born of bad karma. To let it be known that she was a cancer victim would have been similar to admitting that her ancestors has done wrong and were bad people. She suffered alone until word started getting around and while we showered her with friendship and understanding, she soon accepted that cancer was not a stigma that would attach to her nor her family; but rather a really bad bug that had to be squashed. Nothing can confirm what I have written as it was (and still is) a sensitive question to ask and not to mention, rude. K however was simply complaining of a bloated stomach and when doctors told him that he was having a bad case of constipation, thought nothing much of it. It was not until a few days later when his wife noticed that he was not getting any better and insisted on an immediate visit to the clinic. Thankfully, the doctor was cautious and insisted that certain tests were taken almost immediately. At times like this, should we be thankful or do we curse the world for this misfortune ? With much pain and discomfort, both Z and K have undergone surgeries and treatments that I pray will lead them to the road of recovery. None of these could have been or will ever be easy on the families and my heart goes out to them. Indeed it is God's will but it is also our own will to survive that matters. My prayers and thoughts are constantly with Z and K and their families.

to remember me

Here's another beautiful poem that I came across sometime in 2000 by Robert Noel Test.

To Remember Me

Robert Noel Test

(1926 - 1994)

The day will come when my body will be upon a while sheet neatly tucked under four corners of mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying

At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has creased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped

When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine

And don't call this my deathbed

Let it be called the Bed of Life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives

Give my sight to another man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman

Give my heart to a person whose own heart has pain

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his own car, so that he may live to see his grandchildren play

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week

Take my bones, every fibre and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk

Explore every corner of my brain

Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, a speechless boy will shout at a crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window

Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all my prejudice against my fellow men

Give my sins to the devil, give my soul to God.

If, by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you

If you have done all that I ask, I will live forever

poem......the next room

This poem was extracted from the eulogies published in Harinder Veriah's website. Hari, as she was fondly known, died at the young age of 33 in 2001. She was a victim of racial discrimination in Hong Kong. She was a Malaysian married to a British nationale with a young son at the time of her death. She was an outstanding wife, mother and friend, as many have testified. Visit her website at http://www.harinderveriah.com/

The Next Room

Canon Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all

I have only slipped away into the next room

I am I and you are you

Whatever we were to each other; that we still are

Call me by my old familiar name

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used

Put no difference in your tone

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we enjoy together

Pray smile, think of me, pray for me

Let my name be ever the household word it always was

Let it be spoken without effect

Without the trace of a shadow upon it

Life means all that it ever was

There is an unbroken continuity

What is death but a negligeble accident ?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight ?

I am just waiting for you for an interval, somewhere very near

Just around the corner

All is well

mother teresa

Mother Teresa is one person that I admire most; not only for what she has done but for her wisdom and her understanding of the worst of times and situations. May she rest in peace.

In her own words, "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."

“I think today the world is upside down, and is suffering so much because there is so very little love in the home, and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other, there is no time to enjoy each other.”

“Love begins at home; love lives in homes, and that is why there is so much suffering and so much unhappiness in the world today...Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”


ON POVERTY

"I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?"

"When I see waste here, I feel angry on the inside. I don't approve of myself getting angry. But it's something you can't help after seeing Ethiopia."

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”

“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”

“There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”

“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”


ON WAR

"I have never been in a war before, but I have seen famine and death. I was asking (myself), 'What do they feel when they do this?' I don't understand it. They are all children of God. Why do they do it? I don't understand."

"Please choose the way of peace. ... In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause."


ON ABORTION

Abortion "is murder in the womb ... A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me."

“The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.”

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”


ON HER LIFE’S WORK

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

"The other day I dreamed that I was at the gates of heaven. And St. Peter said, 'Go back to Earth. There are no slums up here.'"

“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.”


ON LOVE

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

“I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I do know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask, How many good things have you done in your life?, rather he will ask, How much LOVE did you put into what you did?”

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

Good works are links that form a chain of love.


ON SERVING GOD

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

“I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.”

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.”

“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.”

“Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.”

“There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough.”

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”

“Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.”

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in."

green with envy

A befitting title indeed. Just yesterday I was reading a friend's blog. She's somewhere in her mid 20's, a lovely and unassuming lady and married to a man who thinks the world of her. Her hubby works hard to ensure their future is secured and buys her the loveliest gifts. She loves pink and unfortunately through her honest blogging, she managed to attract the "green" community who have somewhat tortured her with their extreme criticism. I can only pretend to understand her hurt when in reality we could never delve into the deep recess of such pain and anguish. It bothers me that many can never accept the fact that others' could be luckier than them. Me ? I love to look, admire and wish (upon a shooting star !) but that's about as far as I go. I accept my friends for who they are and what they have no matter how little or how much. If I like something they have, I'll just ask about it and if I have to, save for it. What is the point of making myself turn into that horrible green monster ? I'm just happy that my friend has what she has and I'm glad that she's my friend.

....here's one nice quote

I want all the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.

~ Mahatma Gandhi ~

family and the festivities

Everyone usually spends time with their families during the festivities. Christmas and New Year are both trying times for me where work is concerned. I have deadlines to meet early in the year and I will choose to skip family events. I am a prudent when it comes to money matters and I don't see the logic behind having to spend such a lot of money for a set menu that I hardly like. Buffets just make me sick to my gut. All that food.......what can I say. My mum, well she's different. She believes in festivities and gatherings of any sort while I'm more of a loner. Not a true loner but after a hard day's work, I just appreciate my "quiet time". Time that I spend on my own and doing the things I want to do. My "quiet time" is limited since I work most of the time. Whatever time I don't spend on my official work, I will spend on my part time work. Coming back to the festivities, I see it as nothing more than the entertainment industry capitalizing on festivities. We could easily have a meal that costs half as much any other day. So why only on that day ? I've spent years and years reasoning with my mum and her reply is always the same, "it's only once a year !". I can barely afford to survive each month and this is another reason that I'm mostly absent at these family gatherings. I have never favoured living off others and if I can't afford it, then I'll just stay home even if it means being alone. I don't mind at all. Friends keep repeating that I can't take my money with me when I die and I do realize this but I'd rather stick to my budget and have a year that is financially easier than to splurge on one very expensive meal. I've told my mum over and over again that when I can afford it, I'll surely be there and I'll be the one paying the bill. Do I make any sense at all ?

monotony

I am one of the very few who has never really appreciated long stretches of holidays like the recent Chinese New Year. I felt completely lost being away from the office for a long period of time. I felt as if my routine was broken and felt nervous thinking about what awaited me on my return. Needless to say, I appreciated being able to sleep in. I got to thinking about the life of homemakers and what they do with themselves everyday. Time seemed endless. I did nothing but cook, eat, read and watch movies ! Baking was a laborious task that I chose to skip. Somehow, through the fog of laziness, I couldn't imagine myself washing up all the greasy utensils even though having a nice butter cake was tempting. Unpacking was another task on my long list that I completely chose to ignore. So I'd need to be honest and add to my year's resolutions. Words that are kind to myself would sound something like choosing to take it easy but in actual fact, I am nothing more than LAZY ! Sometimes I do give in and this is one time....I'll give in. And what did I do this past weekend. Oh well I might as well be honest. I fried keropok, ate keropok, fried keropok, ate keropok, roasted chicken, ate chicken and ate and ate ! If only I could produce electricity from what I ate, I could light up the city of Petaling Jaya !

cycle & carriage service centres

How screwed up can a service centre as large and "professional" as Cycle & Carriage become ??? VERY screwed-up in fact. Since the 1st year I bought my Smart ForTwo, I have been complaining that the rear screen was leaking. First it only leaked when I wasked the car. They "fixed" it but the problem persisted. Made another and another and another complaint but everytime the problem persisted if not worse. Finally about a year back, the service centre decided to replace the rear spoiler and claimed that it was the cause of the leak. Then it was dry weather and I never knew if the problem was finally resolved. After that, I noticed the spoiler was loose and it rattled quite a bit. This time, I was referred to the other service centre near Jalan 222. Again, the claimed to have fixed the problem. We are now experincing the wet season and I found that my rear screen was leaking again and this time it was worse !

Yesterday, I finally sent my car to a new workshop, GERMAN MOTORS. German Motors is owned by Fritz Imbacher, the person entrusted with the Si Khiong service centres. After his retirement, he decided to set up a business in Malaysia and German Motors was born. Prior to his retirement, Fritz has been working with Mercedes Benz for 32 long years. German Motors is about 6 months old.

I was and still am impressed with their service. It's very personal and the Service Manager, Thomas together with Fritz actually took the time to listen to my complaints and asked many questions to make sure that they understood the reason for such complaints. It's a first and I am grateful for the attention.

I arrived at the workshop a little past 9.30am. Registered my presence with the sweet lady there, Mandy and a short while later, Thomas attended to me. I explained that during my past visits to C&C, my complaints were never rectified though they were claimed to have been "fixed". Fritz walked in shortly after I sat down with Thomas and he enquired about my complaints.

At about 11am, I walked over to Jaya 33 to pass some time. Met up with a friend there who later gave me a ride back to the workshop. As I was finishing my lunch, Thomas called and enquired when I could get back to the workshop. They had discovered some disturbing problem about the rear screen leak and needed to explain and show me the problem. When I got back to the workshop, both Fritz and Thomas attended to me. I am greatly disappointed with C&C for what they did and failed to do......

a) Rear spoiler fitting was forced during a repair visit and became detached from the rear screen.
b) Rear spoiler clip broken.
c) Screws missing.
d) 3rd brake light seal missing.
e) Rear spoiler not sealed during replacement.

Fritz and Thomas were both sympathetic. I had to decide if I wanted to return to C&C and offer them a good piece of "advise" or if I should bear the cost and have someone reliable to rectify the persistant problem. I decided on the latter. I was already there, the car was too and I was greatly impressed by the effort taken to show and explain the problem, what could be done and the sincerity shown throughout.

They would need to carefully and slowly detach the spoiler from the screen. Then the sealent (whatever is left) will need to be thoroughly removed and cleaned and re-applied. Hopefully the plastic will not crack and will work. Thomas will see if the seal for the brake light is available otherwise I have told them to just seal it off permanently.

C&C......thanks a million for the shitty work. And to Fritz and Thomas, my heartfelt gratitude for the effort and most of all the concern and sincerity.

For those of you owners of BMW, Mercedes Benz, Smart cars, I encourage you to try GERMAN MOTORS.

sweets for charity

Last Christmas, I ordered some heavenly cookies and sugee cakes. These cakes were made for charity for the San Pedro Shelter Home by Datin Betty Saw and the San Pedro team. Prices were extremely reasonable and the goodies were delivered right to my doorstep. For everything that I ordered, it was love at first bite ! Here's what they had in store for us.....

Eurasian Sugee Cake with Almonds (RM25)
Portugese Sugee Cake with Almonds (RM25)
Gingerbread Man Shortcake (RM20)
Eurasian Pineapple Jam Tarts (RM20)
London Almond Cookies (RM20)
Belgium White Chocolate Cashewnut Cookies (RM20)
Hollywood Midnight Cookies (RM20)
German Orange Butter Cookies (RM20)

In addition, they also had Eurasian Moist Fruit Cakes in an assortment of flavours such as Grandpa's Russian Red, Caribbean Rum Chocolate Fudge, Eurasian Wedding, Jewish Orange and Hawaiian Wine for a very reasonable price of RM30 each.

Orders were made by calling Julia @ (016) 277-0764 or Jenny @ (012) 252-0056. Orders could also be sent by email to elshaddai24hrs@yahoo.com or elshaddai_2000@hotmail.com

I'd definitely and gladly repeat my order again this year if it is available.

thoughts of joy (by adrian)

The last three days have been some of the most difficult. As some of you may already know, I had to make a very difficult decision to put my beloved dog Joy to sleep on Sunday 1st of February at around 2.30pm. She was diagnosed with bone tumor on Friday and has been noted by the vet to be in severe pain. I made the decision purely on the fact that I could not bear to see her suffer any more. She was 15, and has been with us for that long.It's funny how posts about pets sometimes split people. From those who would say it is justifiable to dedicate a whole post to a dog and those who would say that 'isn't it just a dog?' So for the benefit of everyone, I want to qualify by saying that Joy was not just a dog to us, she was family.She wasn't some dog we kept out in the rain for security, she was always sitting either by the side of my dad while he watches TV or by mine when I was finishing up my freelance writing. She ate when we did and she slept when we slept, and often times in the last year, by my bed. So for me, having to look into her eyes for the last two days knowing what was going to happen to her on Sunday was exceptionally difficult for me.It almost felt like I was cheating her, betraying her. Unlike people, dogs can offer little retort for your decisions. They cannot object nor reinforce. You have to make those decisions purely on what you feel is absolutely best for them. And I made that decision at around 12.30pm on Friday.15 years is a long time, in my case, half my existence. And she was around for most of the juicier bits of my life. After all, you don't really live until you're about 17 right? So she was there, stumbling in her little puppy-ish feet in 1995 to welcome me back after i finished my very last day of secondary school. Those same feet also shuffled to the door to welcome me back after my first day of proper work. She was there to lick my face when I had my heart broken for the first time, and she was there when I picked my best get-up for my first day of college. She was there to bark a hearty bark of displeasure after our first trip overseas as a family in 2001 and she was there barking to break up a fight between me and my sis in 2002. I can't think of a single memorable moment in my life where Joy was not part of it in some way. So in a way, a part of my existence has died. A part that I will miss terribly in the coming years. She has lived in eight houses in her lifetime, from the flood-happening one in Sec 19 PJ to this one here in Kota Damansara, where she has seen out her last days. She has seen much adventure and have lived as well as my family could afford her to. I am proud of myself, and my family because in many ways, even after 15 years, Joy has never been anything less than extremely important to us. Whether she's been fed, whose room did she sleep in last night and when should we bathe her have always been at the forefront of most of our conversations even up until last week. There were seriously very little things in the world that I would not have dropped if I knew she needed to be tended to urgently. People have been asking me - what is the hardest thing? Or what is the thing I will miss the most? There are countless things. But at the very top of my head, I would miss the soft gentle feel of her fur when I reach over to pat her head every morning. I would miss the sound of her paw clicking against the marble floor downstairs. The boom of her bark around the house whenever someone is at the gate. The coo of her breathing in the quiet afternoon lull. One of my deepest fears was that Joy would die alone, when all of us were out of the house, living our lives. Perhaps therefore it is fitting that she should go this way, allowing us two precious days to spend with her, playing with her, taking pictures and videos with her and showering her with all the love, attention and food we could. She went with the sound of my voice in her left ear and the sound of my sis' voice in her other. She was surrounded by loved ones, loved ones who wept for her and told her that everything was going to be alright and that from now on there would be no more pain. As I sit here typing this note, I already feel such an emptiness as a result of this loss of such a faithful companion. It's a post to not only thank some of you out there that have played with her that I for one am eternally grateful that you've helped enrich her life, even if it was for a moment but also to remind myself constantly of what an important part she was in my life, my family's life.So Joy Joy, wherever you are now, know that 'Ko Ko' misses you very much and he hopes you're not cold or hungry tonight and that you're now in a much better place

Her Endearing Ways

She loved to sit in the morning sun.She hated lightning and thunder. She would butt in to break up arguments between family members by either barking or tugging at our trouser sleeves while growling. She loved cheese slices.She used to stand on her hind legs to greet my dad whenever she wanted to be fedShe used to love sleeping under beds, near electrical sockets or by the shoe racks. She hates baths.She loved Wan Tan Mee. She would do a circular dance motion on her back whenever she's had some, without fail every time. She loved car rides.She loved durian. She used to heave sighs whenever we were nagging her about something.Whenever she wanted food from you, she would sit real close so that her snout was just above your leg so that you can feel some of her drool dripping on you. Once, my sis was irritatingly disturbing her tail when she was sleeping (something she hates) and she growled at my sis. I smacked her for growling and she refused to acknowledge my sis for a week. Not even when she brought cheese slices. She once peed on my room carpet because I scolded her for something.She loved to sleep on this rotan couch we used to have. She preffered to drink water from either the toiler floor or from the top of overturned buckets, hardly ever from her bowl.She loved ice-waterI remember that one time when she merticulously hunted a rat patiently and stepped on it till it died. Not bite mind you, step. She could never be left outside the front yard alone. She would scream to come in when the door is closed. She liked to sit with her back pressed up against the chair you were on.She loved to sleep on her back. She liked to scratch both her front paws on top of mattresses.

for JOY and ROCKY with love

The passing of a loved one is traumatic even if it's just the passing of a pet. My cousin, Adrian and I both share the same loss. Adrian had to make this painful decision on Friday, 30th January 2009. Being part of the family for 15 long yet short years, Joy is dearly missed and her absence deeply felt.



The loss of a 4-legged family member can only be understood by animal lovers who've shared this wonderful joy. Such family members are seldom reminded of their differences. I could never understand the phrase, "It's a dog's life" ! We love them to bits and more often than not, sacrifice much for their well-being. They act as the psychiatrist that most of us can ill afford. Somehow, they have this 6th sense and they know when be are sad or happy. One look into those eyes and there's immediate comfort. Most of all, their love is unconditional. Their love is till the very end even during times of abandonment.....till death do us part......

Rocky was the 1st pet I ever had and the joy is beyong anything I can explain. I brought him home from a pet shop in Brickfields in 1995. I always wanted a pug and I knew I had found the perfect companion when I first laid eyes on him. We gave in to him most times and never knew or understood what the word "training" meant. But he was intelligent. He learnt on his own, how to take his bath towel to the bathroom and to remove his pillow from the kitchen (where he slept) in the morning. My grandmother "silently" spoilt him and I used to wonder how she could consume such an amount of potato chips until I discovered this "one for you and one for me" thing that they shared over chips ! We lost Rocky to heart failure on Sunday, 13th march 2004. I still feel the loss today and whenever I see a pug, I still grief. I still remember how it feels to hug him and the folds on his body.....oooooooh. He was a boy with a beautiful heart and I will always love and miss him.

To Joy and Rocky, you have brought so much joy and love to our lives and we will love you forever and ever. We are sad that you left us so suddenly yet comforted that you are in a better place free of pain. Rest in eternal peace and when it is our time, we hope that you'll be waiting for us.

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

IN LOVING MEMORY

ROCKY

Born : 17th June 1995

Departed : 13th March 2004

JOY

Departed : 30th January 2009

when biology fails

I see so many people in their early 20's getting hitched these days and it's worrisome. Some are doing it because their friends are doing it while others are doing it for fear of a lost opportunity. Having come from a broken family at a young age, I've seen the suffering, the damage and the irresponsibility. I have a father. A father who had the impression that fatherhood was obligation of marriage. It would have made no difference if my brothers and I were made in a petri dish and as an adult, I can no longer forgive his ignorance nor his irresponsibility. As a child and teenager, I never realized what parenthood was. I was happy so long as he arrived at our doorstep each month with the RM60 pocket money he promised. He never provided any financial assistance to either my mother or my grandparents who raised us. When it was time for him to move on, that's exactly what he did. He left because there was a woman involved. He never looked back. He was MAN ! When I started schooling, all he gave was a miserable RM10 a month. This amount could not even pay for my school bus that was RM15 a month.

I recall days when I did marketing for my grandmother and how the fish monger would tell me that my father was at his stall earlier and had bought a whole "ikan kurau". We could barely afford fish. Fortunately for my father, I never knew anger then nor the value of money. I never realized how hard it was for my mother and grandmother to raise us.

The memory that's truly etched in my mind is that one night when my grandmother was warded at the University Hospital (now called University Malaya Medical Centre). My grandmother was gravely ill and the hospital bill was escalating and we were so worried about finances. The only person I knew who had the resources to help was my father and so I talked to him about it. His reply, in just four short word, made me realize then how little we all meant to him, "That's just too bad.". At that very moment, I knew I hated him but because of the support he gave during my grandmother's illness, I gave him the benefit of a doubt. We continued to keep in touch and when my grandmother passed away, he continued to be supportive. He was present throughout the seven days of prayers that was held at home and for that we are thankful. Through him, we also met many wonderful friends like Jeannie and Nick.

Following my grandmother's passing, I sold my Fiat Bravo for a Kancil. One day my father asked me to sell my car because it was a dangerous car to drive and that he would help me with the downpayment towards a better car. God is answering my prayers, I thought to myself. He's changed and he cares ! I was stupid enough to believe him. I sold my car and patiently waited for the downpayment he promised me. Months passed and I finally plucked up the courage to ask him and his reply shocked me. All he did was laugh and told me that the car that I'm supposed to buy is still in the production line ! I cried and I cried. I screamed at him and told him what I really thought of him. In my heart and from the very bottom of my soul I felt worthless, cheated, lied to and taken for granted in every sense of the word.

It has been almost 9 years now. I have severed all ties with this person whom I used to call my father. I have moved on and I do not care if he live or dies and I have made it clear to everyone that I was born of immaculate conception. I do not have a father and if he died, not to even bother informing me. As far as I am concerned, he does not exist.

my long lost brother

I am thankful that I've found him on Facebook ! Yeah ! It's been almost 3 years that I haven't spoken or seen HL. By nature, he's an independent soul. But it only matters that I have found him and will contact him. Hopefully, I'll be posting something on this topic real soon.

the new year of the OX

As we welcome the new lunar year, we face the uncertainties of the world with the world economic slowdown being the foremost thought in our minds. Let's all welcome this year with some optimism. Let's all do our very best and not use the economy as an excuse. Over the past years, I've heard so many excuses. Salesmen expecially adopt a laidback attitude. I, for one, am grateful for my job and for the company that I work for. Though during better times when other companies are giving their employees more than a month's bonus, my colleague and I are both thankful for what we are getting. Money is not everything even though many would disagree. Yes, it does allow us to afford the comforts of the world but what about the other things that we should be thankful for; peace in our country, happiness, family, etc. Doesn't all these matter too ?

On the eve of Chinese New Year, Bernard and I were talking about his trip to Ipoh with his extended family and how much fun they had. I asked him what he'd choose if given the choice; money or happiness ? A bit of both he said. I agreed. Today, we earn quite a bit. What we jointly earn today allows us to own cars, properties and eat almost anything we wish but sometimes when we really sit down to think about it, our day is just another day. We seldom appreciate what we have anymore. Life has become a routine, a routine that is sometimes boring and fun is almost non-existent. I remember those days when I was a child when a trip to KFC was filled with so much excitement. It was a real treat that we appreciated. Today, a car is just a car and a home is where we return to sleep and sometimes eat ! Maybe fun out the window as we age and accept the responsibilities in life. Whatever it is, life is what it is and I will accept everyday that comes as a challenge.

gong xi fa cai

I wish everyone GONG XI FA CAI

May the year and the years to come be filled with

GOOD LUCK

PROSPERITY

PEACE

GOOD HEALTH

the loss of a loved one

Late on Tuesday night, January 20th, B lost his Dad to an undiagnosed illness and a recurring heart problem. I do not know Uncle or his other family that well. What I do know, I've learnt mostly from B and that's not much. B's Dad and Mum split up when he was still in his teens but B continued to maintain a close relationship with his Dad. Over the years, I've seen his Dad age with a heart problem but without complaints. Whenever we visited, he always enquired, "How is Mother ?" and "How is D ?". Yesterday, as I sat at Uncle's wake, it saddened me that D (B's younger brother who's estranged from his father) never made any effort to attend. He earlier sent B a text message saying how remorseful he felt. Somehow I feel that remorse was not something he felt in his heart. It may have easily been a word he looked up in the dictionary. Today at the funeral, there was also no sign of D. So what's the point of feeling remorseful if one does not bother to act on such a feeling when an opportunity exist ? How easily a person forgets ! Somehow, with Uncle's death, B has managed to forge a relationship with his half brother, K. His extended family treated him really well. They were a family consisting of Auntie (Uncle's second wife), three sons and the youngest, a daughter, P. Oh yes, and BiBi the Shih Tzu.

Auntie is a warm and hardworking lady. When we were much younger, she used to wait on tables in the day and wash dishes to supplement the family income in the night. She progressed to work as a seamstress in a garment factory. She recently has to stop working when Uncle became ill. Her children may not all be well educated but as a mother, she succeeded in bringing up four respectful and well-mannered children. That's her success story; a success that she shared with Uncle and it was evident in the way they accepted B.

K is a funny, cute, humble and respectful guy with a cheerful and caring disposition. We call him "Mr. Why" for the many questions that he keeps asking. K and B seemed to get along exceptionally well and I am happy for them as B knows his Dad is. It was always Uncle's wish that both his families meet and bond with each other and with the exception of D, it was a wish fullfilled. It's somewhat sad that Uncle never witnessed this but I know that he knows and is watching his family from a better place and with a smile. I hope and pray that B finds it in himself to "look the other way" when irritatability hits.

P is the baby and princess in the family. She's getting married on February 6th and it's really sad that Uncle won't be there in person to celebrate this joyous occassion. I'm sure he'll be watching over them and savouring every moment as well as those who are there in person.

I can't say anything about both the other sons. I never had the chance to meet or speak with them so I'll let them remain a mystery for now.

And to Uncle, may your soul rest in eternal peace and may perpetual light shine upon you always. Your work is done and it is now time for you to have a well-deserved rest. You're in a better place, safe from ills and pain.

today

As I celebrate the new year, I ask myself what I have achieved in 2008 and what I'll need to achieve in 2009. These are not simple questions to answer especially when I need to look into a really big mirror and judge that reflection looking back at me. It's difficult to be honest and I'm definitely scared to be honest. What if I haven't done enough and what if I've got too much to do this year ? I'm getting a wee bit laid-back as I age. Housework is now done every alternate week instead of the usual twice a week routine. But.....here it is

What I've achieved in 2008
1. Moved into Armanee @ Damansara Damai
2. Getting used to living alone and enjoying every moment with myself
3. Learnt to download movies from the internet !
4. Baked quite a lot and making use of my built-in oven.
5. Tried a few new recipes and was successful.
6. Maintained "only spend what I can afford"
7. Cut down on my smoking.
8. Got in and got out of the JMC
9. Doing well without air-conditioning !

What I hope to achieve in 2009
1. Spend more time with family
2. Cut down even more on smoking
3. Eat and live healthy - try to exercise
4. Try something different at work
5. Exercise prudent spending
6. Learn to cook more dishes and cuisines
7. Lose weight ! Can't afford new clothes; they cost an arm and two legs !
8. Unpack !!!!!

Won't even bother burdening myself with more resolutions or even to round up the number of things I have to do to a wholesome 10 ! That's it. That's what I'll aim to achieve in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ya all ! May be be blessed only with the very best.

home sweet home

Swimming Pool

Podium

Night View

Night View

Entrance

Living Room

Living Room

Kitchen