Brain Dead

I am literally brain dead. My mind is so tired that I feel as though the juice in my brain is all dried up. What have I been up to? Plenty. I don't understand why I make myself soooo busy... and no, it is not that I don't enjoy what I am doing (will story you on what I have been doing in a bit) - I enjoy it.. but I get tired, get what I mean.. because of this mentality of always wanting to complete EVERYTHING on time or ahead of schedule which allows me little rest and is what makes me run around like a headless chicken for the past few weeks. The best part about this is, I buy into this mentality!!!

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Told you about the Secretarial Post with the Sri KL Alumni right? Yeah, I was pretty busy with that for the past week of checking the minutes, letter writing, organising meetings, planning this and that.. but that has been done and tasks had been delegated. Now we just have to wait for NEXT week to follow up and finalise some details and to shoot out some more appreciation letters. Great job huh?

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And then, last Thursday (this, I didn't mention), I was 'promoted' from the post of a Resident Committee's street representative for my street to the Treasurer of the Resident Committee of my neighbourhood!! Ya, I know.. I could have said no. But one of my neighbours had a point when he suggested that since the ex-committee (which was the committee I was working with) did such a great job (which I think so too) and had executed certain planning towards enhancing the security of the neighbourhood, at least one of the ex-committee ought to stay back another term with the new elected committee members to sort of 'guide' the new committee through. OBVIOUSLY, all the other ex-committee members gave reasons like work commitments, too many years in committee and etc etc etc... so when my name was suggested (initially the President post which I had uprightly rejected due to my level of maturity to handle such a role) for the post of the Treasurer, I said 'ok'. So there is a meeting tonight.. in fact, in 15 minutes.. so let's see if I can finish this entry before heading there! hahaaha...

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And this other 'job', which I would say the longest job in terms of time in comparison with the two mentioned above, was absolutely the most challenging for me. To edit articles for a book to be published by a meditation centre which I am quite closely associated with. Why I say closely associated is because, I am pretty close to the people there and offer my assistance in some programmes or free talks that they offer to the public, but I don't exactly consider myself as belonging to the centre although the management recognises me as one of their fun team member which I am awfully grateful for. So, this adhoc job was offered to me by BB. He was coming up with this book which I think is a good one to encourage people to take responsibility of the world that they create. Of course, there are many other good lessons in it... but I won't speak much of it here now since it is not yet published and I am pressed for time! :{

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So I took on the job as an editor for the first time. What I thought was a simple task of just 'proofreading' articles led to me changing people's articles not only in terms of sentence structures but literally re-phrasing what they mean to the extend of altering what they had initially meant. Why I did that? Honestly, I don't know. Whenever I edited, it was not like I thought of HOW I wanted to edit the article. The words and the meanings just flows right through my fingers and onto the screen! I am not saying that I have no part in it.. but what I am trying to say is that there is a certain kind of energy that comes through me... Amazing! But ulltimately, my ONE & ONLY concern was and still is that all the articles are in line with the objective of the book - otherwise there's really just no point. Anyway, editing 20 some articles is no joke to me. Once again, I declare that I am brain dead.

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And in addition to this project where to me, the hard work is finally over, I was invited to look at another of BB's work. So so beautiful... it is about nature and trees... I feel so honoured and privileged to be one of the first to view this book before it is published to inspire many. Anyway, I could have waited till next week to start the 'job' so to speak, but I just couldn't wait. So I have finished proofreading BB's new work, but due to the limitations of the body and time which makes it somewhat a drag to send out my comments to BB tonight or almost immediately... I decided to do myself this favour... I am going to rest for the night and for the next few days. Why? BECAUSE I AM BRAIN DEAD and will be going to KK!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!

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So off I go on a holiday with my family, accompanying me my G10. Aaahhhh.... I ask to be inspired to capture many beautiful memories and serene displays of nature. Till I come back... Be good to yourselves! :)

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Namaste.

500D

EOS 500D

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Something must have gone wrong. I manifested for a 500D. Found out tonight that dad bought a unit today with wide angle lens somemore... No, no... not for me.. for his office use - to take official pictures for work purposes.. Arghh.....

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Must go talk to God tonight... :{

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

By the way, I've just finished reading the book 'A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle'. It is a well written book about the nature of the unobserved mind - the ego, painbodies, who we truly are and recommendations on how to serve our purpose on earth... I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is eyeing on a good book to read. Hubby read it too and felt a 'shift'!

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This book was given to me last year by a like-minded friend, Soon for whom I am grateful for this gift. And may you too find Truth which has always been there and emerged consciously on the coming New Earth.

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Namaste.

Tuna Sandwich at 4am

It is now 5:18am. Even hubby was surprised why I am up so early.

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Well, I woke up at approximately 4am. I tried to get back to sleep, but it was not easy. So while I laid there, awake although with my eyes closed, a thought floated by - make Tuna Sandwich for hubby to bring to work.

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So, without much hesitation or doubt, I got up and headed downstairs and did the necessary. By the time I finished it was already 4ish am. So I decided to turn on my laptop to check my mails and to see what else is there I could do.. besides also the thought to blog about this insignificant event.

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So hubby just left home. He asked if I had not sleep... I assured him that I did and as I ushered him to the door.. surprisingly, I started yawning again. So it looks like the purpose of waking up at such odd hours was ACTUALLY just to make him Tuna Sandwich and to see him to the door! How awesome! If only I could automatically do that for most of the mornings that he'd had to go to work at the wee hours of the morning!

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Anyway, he was touched. He was not feeling too well, both physically and emotionally, for the past few days. I don't know what is wrong with him... and honestly had no desire to make him feel better or anyhow... hahha... mean, hor? Well, that's not it. I just don't really see him as a 'victim' but someone who is entitled to his own experience. I choose to play the role to just remind him that if ad when he cannot 'tahan', to either surrender it to Buddha or go make an appointment to see Hari! Haha.. I leave the decision making to him.

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For now, I wanna finish up some paperwork and then *yawn* go back to sleep...

Burnt

Bought some lamb from Carrefour today. Was in the mood to pamper the family. Didn't refer to any recipe from the books or the internet. Just used my instincts. And guess what...

It's BURNT!

And this was how the vegetables looked before I put them in the oven. Look fresh hor?

And it turned out BURNT, too!

And this was the end result...

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The BURNT dinner.

But hubby loved it anyway and asked for more. He is always very encouraging whenever it comes to me cooking. :)

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The other day, I was toying with the idea of attending cooking classes. Hubby was fully supportive, as usual. But whether I will actually go for it, is another story... ;p

The Request

I don't forbid my maid going out at all although I have to admit I place conditions upon it. It has to be done on a not-too-frequent basis and that she has to be accompanied by people that I know. So yes, it is NOT unconditional, although I allow it.

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Today, she asked me if she could go out on Sunday. I asked her why. She explained that she needed to buy some pants. I questioned her intentions because she never seemed to like to go out whenever I asked her to join us. She laughed. And then I asked her what would she do (with the understanding that she would be going out with my dad's maid who goes to church every Sunday) when Mia goes to church. She said that she would watch a movie, alone. Since that did not satisfy my need of her safety (although safety is an illusion since anything that is meant to happen will happen) or rather, my conditions of her going out; I said no.

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She was upset. I think she felt shocked at first because I had never declined her request on going out before, so she cried a little. I noticed that it was more than just the movie. I asked her what were her needs. She just kept shaking her head, with tears in her eyes saying, "no, it is ok.. I don't want to go out already" despite my explaining the reasons behind the NO.

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I have not gotten any answers from her. All I told her before she took off from my sight within the home is that, "Let me know your needs so that I could consider how I could compromise." She continuously shook her head and repeatedly said, "no, it is ok... I don't want to go out already."

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Do I feel bad? Yes, I do. I feel bad not because I had said no, but because I had not built enough trust between us (the maid and I) for her to be completely honest with me about her needs. While many of my friends who are employers of domestic maids give me advice that I SHOULD NOT let my maid out ; I take into consideration that she too, is human and deserves time of her own. Doesn't everyone?

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I remember when I had my first maid, I drove her nuts as much as she did (as in drive me nuts). Later, when I was calculating her pro-rated salary after the decision to send her back to the agent, I realised that she was working for only approximately RM11++ (RM350/30 days) a day and I was asking her to do this and that for me/the household without consideration to her feelings or her well-being here. She was XXkm away from home, away from her loved ones in an entirely new country, in the hope of buidling a better future for herself and her family and here I was, totally NOT treating her as a human being, limiting her freedom. Can you imagine, I didn't even allow her to lock her room door! I told myself that I would treat my future maids better. And I did; my subsequent maids which includes the present one. When I am conscious and appreciate all that she has done for me and my family, she is my guardian angel. Of course, when I am unconscious, and start blaming her for all the things that she'd done or not do; she is THE MAID!

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I don't know if she'd come talk to me later. And I guess I'd only know when the time comes. Just the other day, BB encouraged me to look at her (the maid) as an equal, rather than a maid whom I had employed. To my understanding, there would be 2 possible outcome for this changed perception - no. 1, the karmic patterns between me and her would be relieved and no. 2, so that I'd treat her better with respect and appreciation. And no. 2 would lead me to realise that the 'salary' I pay her is merely an appreciation I have for her.

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In truth, I do appreciate her. I remember her last request of wanting to go out on Mother's Day where I jokingly told her that it was Mother's Day and it was supposed to be MY day off, not hers! But because of her presence in my household, EVERYDAY is Mother's Day to me, I had said 'yes' to her request. She ended up going on on a weekday (not on my request but my preference anyway) and had a good time.

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Who am I to restrict her? Just because I am 'seemingly' paying her?? Out of her respect for me, as her rightfully 'caretaker' here in Malaysia, she takes my words as her duties. And I willingly respect, appreciate and protect her while she is under my 'care' until she goes home to her loved ones.

Wah!

Wah!! 5 (including this one) entries within 24 hours... not bad, not bad...

Show-Off II

Following my last entry, I wish to share something relevant from a book that I am currently reading. This is a paragraph extract under the topic of 'Allowing the Diminishment of the Ego'.

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"Another aspect of this practice is to refrain from attempting to strengthen the self by showing off, wanting to stand out, be special, make an impression, or demand attention. It may include occasionally refraining from expressing your opinion when everybody is expressing his or hers, and seeing what that feels like."

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*Excerpts from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle*

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He explains further under the same topic, different para that a powerful spiritual practice is to consciously allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. He explains that the ego is always on guard against any perceived diminished sense of self and usually is already on an automatic ego-repair mode through self justification, defense or blaming so to preserve the psychological form or false sense of "me". Hah! How true to my own experience! He explains further that all repair mechanisms make perfect sense to the ego but are in fact, all dysfunctional. How true that most of us live our lives dysfunctionally in a state of unconsciousness... and how fortunate, to be able to consciously choose once again our intention of any next course of action...

Show-Off

I realised that I do have a mentality to show-off - and I am speaking of only material stuffs here.

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I always thought that I am humble (meaning, I am NOT a show-off!!) and that I don't really care what people think of me from the aspects of material things. Since I became more aware of my thoughts and the attitude behind those thoughts, I noticed that the humbleness that I portray is merely a camouflage to 2 beliefs: No. 1 - mentality of lack / fear of being inferior and No. 2 - fear of showing-off arising from the mentality of superiority!

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Wow! Another amazing discovery about myself!

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No. 1 - Mentality of Lack / Fear of Being Inferior

It's like this... actually, I can afford this, but because I am practical I choose not to buy it. So I am happy and proud of myself that I am practical and if people say, "eh, why you use this or drive this...", I can readily answer back, "because it is more practical." This is very much on the surface.

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The scary truth behind it is this...

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I can't afford that (due to the mentality of lack which is a false-made-truth belief). So, I have no choice but to buy this, and it is more practical anyway... The contemplation is, if I buy this, I still have extra $$$ to buy other things; but if I buy that, I cannot have other things. And by this logical reasoning the decision is made to buy this over that. And each time I meet someone whom I perceived to have 'more' than me, then the mind is ready with answers to defend the ego, "oh.. it is more practical..." Aiks, as I type this, another realisation! This, is from the space of unworthiness... Unworthy to own what is perceived of more value than what you are. Goodness, the limiting beliefs surely had its way to make me feel small!

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No. 2 - Fear of Showing-Off arising from the Mentality of Superiority

When I already have something that I love, I like to use it constantly. But when I meet someone whom I perceived to have 'less' than me, I switch from what I love into something that I could 'live' with for the day or for the moment. Quite differently the mind functions in this scenario because there would be no cause to 'defend' - as no one would be 'putting' me down, and I had 'secured' my position of not having to 'put' anyone down by 'not being superior' for the day.

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Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! *shaking head* The kind of defilement that had run in my head for ages!! And what blessings, to finally be aware of them and to be able to consciously choose from this day forth!

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And you know what... in whatever situations that I'd been in... nobody ever asked me, questioned me or put me down... And no matter how hard I tried 'not being superior', I could not stop anyone from feeling that they were inferior to me!

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So the truth to me is this, and this is more relevant to my belief that people would actually put me down - nobody ever cared about what I had, what I wore, or what I did... They only saw me, for ME...

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Now, isn't that wonderful? To know that anything and everything that seemed so real of which I had needed to prepare myself with a defense, was just a creation of what's in that conditioned mind of mine... :) Isn't it wonderful, that now... I can actually consciously choose??? :)

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Aaahhhh... what a revelation... what freedom... what joy...

Sri KL Alumni Association (is this correct?)

Today was some AGM for the Sri KL Alumni Association. I busybody volunteered myself to attend because it was mentioned in the message that if there was not enough quorum, the whole association would be dissolved. Since one of my old friends whom I had not met in years is the President, I decided to go support2.

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Arrived there at 230pm. The school really changed alot.. A lot more buildings, infrastructure and etc. Nice. I didn't have time to take pictures (although that was one of my initial reason for attending the AGM) as I was running a little late for the meeting, which was supposed to start at 230pm. Konon-lah... President & Vice President also belum sampai.. so waited and chatted with the current principal, Mr. Chew, Bee Lian who is the advisor (I think) to the Association and some juniors. I graduated in year 1994... they graduated between the years of 2006-2008. Amazing! I was a super senior.. hah!

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So the President & Vice President arrived. Meeting started... citing this business and that business according to the agenda of the meeting.. and you know what... I landed myself as a newly appointed Secretary of the Alumni for the following terms. Cool! I only wanted to go there to meet old friends and I get a 'job' in return!!

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Ya, I could have said no. But I didn't. Not sure if I created it, because prior to the arrival of the President, the others were sharing with me how difficult it was to get hold of the older students to be active in the alumni and etc etc etc, and the thoughts that were running at the back of my head was, "eh, ya hor.. how come I am here ar? do I have business here ar?"

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Being at a state where I am now, I accepted the role since I have an assistant Secretary too.. cheh... glamour right.. got assistant leh... hahaha... While unsure of my actual job function/description, ideas were already running in my head on how to boost the Alumni - as in increase its membership and make it a 'happening' alumni so that students would actually want to be part of the old students association! How encouraging!

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I doubt that it is going to be hard work. In fact, I think it is going to be quite fun! One thing about having an additional fun thing to do, but imagine all the old friends I'd be able to connect with!! It'd be a ball to catch up with most of them!

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Btw, I did meet old friends. The President, Wee Khai & Vice President, Steven were my seniors in school. It sure felt great to see them. We caught up a bit after the meeting and guess what!!! THEY ARE ALL INTO PHOTOGRAPHY TOO!!!! Wee Khai even introduced me to his professional photographer friend, Anthony who takes photographs for models!! Can you imagine my delight! Coolness!!!

Birthday Marathon: Bonus No. 1

Like I said.. I must be very loved. :D

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Last night, I had my bonus no. 1 to my birthday marathon with the girls. This time, Florence and An joined us.

An, Terri, Flo, Gladys & me

We had great fun at TGIF, Subang Parade. The highlight of the night (to me), was deciding where to head after dinner. We were deciding between clubbing at Holiday Villa, RP and some event in KL, OR karaoke-ing at Neway, Subang. Gladys, An and I voted for singing, over clubbing. It's not that I don't enjoy clubbing, but I just didn't feel like drinking (or rather, consciously not wanting to drink) and since I am now in the journey of slowing down cigarettes, I still don't have the confidence in myself not to puff away while at the club. For your information, I am in the journey of breaking my belief that I need to smoke. I must give myself a pat on the back because I now do not need to smoke ALL the time. I can't deny that I still do, but there is much control now - as in, I do not need to do it every hour or so. I could even do without it for a few days!! BRAVO FOR ME!! The limit for me now is none a day, or at max 4 sticks a day when there is actually stock (which only means that I am in the company of smokers ;p); and that is considered a 'I-could've-done-better' day for me. Not judging myself, mind you... but just consciously being gentle with myself with the understanding that, to entirely break this belief that I had created for myself and practised for so many years, it'd take me some time to entirely be free of it since it was quite an important part of my life that I needed to smoke. Note the 'was'. :) But, am looking forward to a completely free 'is'!! ;D

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Anyway, back to Bonus No. 1. We proceeded to Neway. Here's us.

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An (with the mic), Gladys, Terri & me

Must admit. We were all DIVAs! hahaha.. there were four mics. Each of us held one and sang our hearts out. I think we were just non-stop singing for the whole four hours when we were there. I had a great, great time! Oh yes, Flo decided not to join us because she wished to be home with her kids in anticipation of the late night we'd have. Well, she was right. We left Neway at 1:30am.. hahaha..

I absolutely had a great time. I've noticed that I enjoy myself a lot more when I fully accept and love myself. It's like, I can now fully allow myself to experience the moment, rather than being cautious or careful with the experience, as if restricting myself. I realised that I've always held myself back because of fear... well, that was the past. And I am grateful for many reminders that come my way to live in the Now - because Here is where I Am. Isn't it wonderful to just be present to 'what is' - as in what is already happening now for me - rather than carrying the burden of guilt of the past of what had been done, OR the burden of the future of what needs to be done!

Btw, the below are gifts I received from An & Flo.

I appreciate the many moments of giving, receiving & wonderment. Thank you girls, for the beautiful night of joy. Love. :)

Last Night

Last night, hubby and I took Thea to Sunway Pyramid. I wanted to go to GNC to get some vitamins. In the midst of my shopping, dad called and invited me over to his house for a chat. I still remember his invitation, "Do you have time to come over to my house for a chat?" I know this might not sound special to you, but to me, it is... First of all, he hardly asked me if I ever had time (normally he'd just abruptly make his request) and invited me over to his house 'for a chat'. Normally, it is to discuss about this or that - and his tone of voice would usually be serious and deep. Last night, it was different. He sounded... nice.

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After accepting his invitation, my mind went wild. "er... what does he want to talk to me about ar?", "will he ask me what I have been doing with my life again and then get disappointed and pissed off with me when I say 'nothing'?", "will he tell me things that would make me angry?" I could literally feel my body tense up. My shoulders started aching and I started to have a bad headache - clearly indications of thinking too much. Being mindful of such thoughts, I consciously let out a big sigh (in a 'letting-go' kinda way) and gently told myself, "My mind was already creating stories before I am in the presence of my dad. I am now in Sunway Pyramid with hubby and Thea and I will stay present in the Now." Well, it worked for a while.. and then I had to constantly reaffirm to myself, "I will accept whatever IS. Any dis-ease is only my own and my opportunity to reflect and grow." When we left Pyramid, I was still experiencing shoulder and head aches. :(

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The chat with dad was miraculously pleasant. I was present to whatever he was saying. Usually I'd just 'look' as if I am there while my mind wanders away - clearly and obviously a sign of resisting the then present situation with dad. But last night, I was just there... listening to what he had to say and share. I don't know how to explain how well the conversation went... though in actual fact, I did not say much. But I guess by not saying much and my willingness to stay present to him, I kinda reached out to him - his heart and his essence. Jon later came downstairs to join us for the chat. It was getting kinda late so as dad expressed that his readiness to retire for the night, I excused myself too. And the next thing that happened was something that I had not experienced or felt for many years. For many times since a long time ago, when I hugged and kissed my dad, his gestures would show a kind of reluctance and resistance AND, he would never kiss me back. But last night, it was different. He hugged and kissed me back as I placed my arms around him and gave him a peck on his cheek.. He'd even put his hand on my butt and gave it a squeeze - something he'd not done for many many many years... It was our father-daughter hug. Ok ok.. it was a father-child kinda hug for our family. I remember when we were young children, we'd rush to the door whenever he was home, fight amongst each other so that we could be the first ones that dad kissed and hugged the minute he got home. The one who wins was always the happiest, and the second and third runner ups, despite getting their equal share of attention, hugs and kisses sulk because they didn't get to be the first! It was really cute!

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So you can see.. how last night's event with my dad meant so much to me. We used to be really really close, but somehow grew apart when mom and dad got separated.

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Dad & Thea when she was 5 months old

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Anyway, I am truly touched by his invitation and my willingness to be open to what was there for me. Perhaps, his tone of voice had never been deep or serious; perhaps, he had always said, "do you have time to have a chat with me?"; or perhaps, he always saw me... and it was all the stories created in my head that did not allow me to see the love he was showering onto me, but instead again and again convincing me that I was the victim. But it doesn't matter now, because I was only unconscious then and I do forgive myself for that.

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While I take baby steps to be conscious, to deter myself from being on auto-pilot - there is indeed more clarity and somehow a twist to the creation of reality. I am able to experience much more love, joy, peace and gratitude from my surroundings and relationships that I am in. I guess my new found interest in photography was also telling me subtly that I am now beginning to take notice and be more aware of my surroundings without judgments, without the stories in my head. Well, not all the time.. but I've experienced it. :)

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Thank you Dad.. for the many moments that you've never stopped knocking on my door even when I never saw you. I see you now... and I see me. We are one. I love you.

The Makan Marathon with Terry Kreitzberg

I had a great 4-days of non-stop eating. In between the 4 days, I had 2 rounds of massages too! All thanks to Terry! Because he wanted to try our local food, and loved massages - hubby and I got to ride on the excuse to eat and to massage!! Ok ok, hubby didn't go for the massages, just me.. I am a sucker for massages.. haha!

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He arrived on the 9th morning on Day 1. Hubby was off. So after dropping Thea at class, we both took a drive to LCCT to pick Terry up. We had a light breakfast at Old Town, LCCT and then headed back to pick Thea up from school. After picking Thea up from school, we headed to Pun Chun Duck Noodles in Kota Kemuning. He absolutely loved lunch! He was licking the duck and finishing the soup! Can tell, a grateful face.. hahaha.. Thea loved the duck and the noodles too!

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After lunch, hubby went home to nap. Terry & I took a rest and then headed to Joyluck - my regular joint for reflexology. I got a foot massage and he got a body massage. Again, he loved it.

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At about 6pm, we headed to Jalan Alor. Wanted him to try the frog porridge and the chicken wings. He didn't really appreciate the frog porridge from my observation but loved the chicken wings. He explained that the frogs in the states (he is from America) are much bigger!

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After the early dinner, we walked towards Jalan Bukit Bintang. While he was the tourist, I was the one taking snapshots of KL with my G10, behaving like a tourist! hahahha.. hubby and Terry were having a good time teasing me! But it didn't bother me. I loved the shots I took. Will share them on facebook. :)

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We stopped by at Dome for coffee and shisha (is this how we spell it?). Flavour was green apple. While the boys talked about flying, flying and flying.. or sailing, sailing and sailing... (Terry was a pilot and now a sailor) I was busy taking pictures (AGAIN!) with my G10. Awesome awesome! Of course, we included other common topics like religions, Phuket and etc etc when I wasn't holding my G10 aiming at something else.. haha..

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It was time for supper. We wanted to go for beef balls along Jalan Alor but decided to head towards Chinatown for claypot noodles & roast pork instead. At first Terry was quite intimidated by the sight of the rice noodles (loh shu fun) because he thought they looked like worms. He finished his noodles anyway.. hahaha.. and that, was the end of Day 1.

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Day 2 started off Banana Leaf Rice for us at Raju's. Amazingly, he loved the Rasum (the indian soup with spice) and the Moara (yogurt drink with spice). I am not sure if I got the spellings correct but yup.. he loved them! Plus the banana leaf rice also! And, we all (including the maid and Thea) ate with our hands. :) Hubby warned that we would all be sleepy after lunch. True enough, everyone (except the maid) took a nap.

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For tea at approximately 3pm, we headed to the roundabouts near dad's place for Durians followed by Indian rojak and Cendol. He wasn't a big fan of Durians, but loved the cendols though he commented that they looked very much like green worms (much like the loh shu fun). Haha!

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Since we had time to spare, we bought beer at 7-11 and headed to the park nearby. No, I was a good girl. I bought mineral water and drank water only. At the park, Terry allowed me to toy with his 1000D which I had a fabulous time experimenting with! I took so many awesome pictures!! Well, time to manifest a SLR perhaps?? hahaha.. Shortly after that, hubby ran off from our spot when he caught sight of the kite stall. He finally bought a kite - the Bat, which he said for quite some time that he would get. So, for a while there, Terry and hubby were.. yup... flying hubby's kite... hahahaha.. it was a cute sight. Two grown men flying a kite in the park, one helping the other, and the other one being helped, behaving like a little boy... hehehhe..

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We left the park at about 5:55pm. We needed to get home, get changed and head to Port Village in Port Klang for seafood dinner. And boy, did we have a ball!!! He loved most of the food that we ordered.. except for the bamboo clams. We had an early night though, because hubby had to work the next day.

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I took Terry to our faithful HaiSiang on Day 3 for lunch. He loved Adrian & Elly's chicken rice.. and also the yao cha kuai. I explained to him that he could dip the yao cha kuai into his black coffee which he did. It is indeed a traditional breakfast style that many of us don't practice anymore but you know what, he enjoyed it and found it really interesting!

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At 3pm, we went to Santai Spa for traditional malay massages. Will spare you the details on that one since he wants to keep the whole experience confidential (ahem, not due to X-rated details, mind you!). But my session was good. We ended our session at about 430pm and then walked around at the nearby Pasar Malam for a while before heading home. We had to get ready for my cousin's wedding in Klang. Full of activities huh?

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So off we went to Klang at about 7pm. We warned him about certain cultures which he might experience at a Chinese wedding. You know la.. the food serving late, the yum-sengs, the karaoke singing... (it was held at a Chinese restaurant). He enjoyed himself immensely! Especially the food! The whole 9-course of it!

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Day 4 (which is today) left us with pork ball noodles, also in Kota Kemuning. Since hubby was working, Bee joined us. We then took a leisure drive to Subang Parade so that I could do some shopping (retail therapy.. haha!) and he could have his latte. After the shopping, we went back to Secret Recipe at Kota Kemuning for cheesecakes. Yummy!

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It was about 3pm when we got home. Coincidentally, 'What Dreams May Come' was showing on HBO, so Terry and I both watched it together while waiting for hubby to return home from work. It was about 510pm when hubby got home. He got changed while Terry packed up. It was time for an early dinner of Luk-Luk before ferrying him to LCCT for his flight back to Phuket. Again, he absolutely loved the Luk-Luk plus the dessert (there was a tong sum van next to the luk-luk van). I am contented that we sent off a satisfied man!

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I know this is a looooooong entry and may somehow bore you. But these are reminisces of Terry's stay with us and I would love for him to occasionally come back here to rekindle the makan marathon memory with us. :)

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It's been fun and warming having you with us, Terry.. I hope you enjoyed your stay as much as we have enjoyed your company. 4 days is not enough... so I guess that leaves us looking forward for more... :)

The Birthday Marathon

The Marathon started on 2nd July 2009 and ended on 8th July 2009 officially. Why officially? Because they were planned way in advanced prior the birthday date. The rest after these dates are bonuses. And I am sure there are already a few lining up! *winks*

On 2nd July, which is also the first event to kick start the marathon, was dinner with my in laws at the Vietnamese Restaurant in USJ. Dinner was superb. Company as usual was great!

The guardian angel, me, Thea, hubby, JayLyn (standing from left to right)

MIL, FIL, Siang (sitting from left to right)

Birthday presents I got that night. Pyrex bakeware from MIL.

The book & bath creme from JayLyn. (love the smell...)

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The next day, 3rd July, hubby took me to KL for dim sum and kai-kai. :D

This is us on the way to MO for Dim Sum.

Hubby brought me to MO for dim sum because I love dim sum & we both missed this durian pancake which is simply yummy and to our limiting knowledge, only served in MO.

After dim sum, we went to Pavillion to shop2. Watched Transformers also in Gold Class... ooohh.. damn shiock leh... After the movie, we went for more shopping and stopped by the food court for some yummy egg tarts.

Presents I got for the day from hubby.

On the real day, 4th July (which I already mentioned in my earlier post what I did during the day) was a day of fabulous A-L-O-N-E time.. haha... had dinner with dad and bros & their partners on the same night at Dragon Boat, Kota Permai Golf Club. It was a pleasant dinner... I loved the company! :)

Jon, Pauline, Prissy, Bee, Dad (standing from left to right)

Thea, hubby & me (sitting from left to right)

Birthday cake from Prissy. Size was just nice, plus it was yummy!!

Birthday present I got that night from Jon & Pauline.

On the 5th July, it was dinner with mom & Chow at San Francisco Steakhouse at Jaya Square. Food was ok-lah, but mom really had a great time playing with Thea. Ok ok, I had a good time too! :D

Pauline, Jon, Mom, Bee, Chow (standing from left to right)

Hubby, me & Thea (sitting from left to right)

Presents I got that night. 2 blouse, 1 shorts, 2 belts (I love the belts!) & some Loccitane stuffs from Mom. Digital photo frame from Bee.

On the 8th July, which is the officially end of the Marathon after this event, was dinner with mom, Chow, Uncle Stewart & Aunty Mandy. My aunt & uncle have grown to become very special people in my life too hence my wish to include them into the birthday marathon. My mom told me that my uncle Stewart likes nyonya food and I thought it not to be a bad idea since it is a new menu from our routine (whenever dining with them, it is either steamboat, jap, chinese or western), hence the decision to have dinner at the Nyonya Restaurant in SS2. I don't know about the others, but I think Uncle Stewart really enjoyed the dinner...

Hubby, me, Uncle Stewart (standing from left to right)

Mom, Thea, Chow, Aunty Mandy (sitting from left to right)

Birthday present I received from my Aunty Mandy. A Coach keychain from my future new car. :D *hint*hint* hubby!! hahahaha...

I appreciate the creation of such a wonderful experience. Thank to all my friends, family & relatives who had taken the time and effort to sent me loving messages or to spend time with me or to prepare tokens of appreciation for me on this birthday. I appreciate them all.

So that is it. Today, I have a guest from Phuket, Terry who will stay with us until Sunday. Another makan marathon for me. Until then... ta! ta!

An Ordinary Day With No Meaning for the Adorable One

In between my conversation with Angeline last night, I looked at my watch. It was 12.03am. I bluntly told her, "eh, it's 12:03 oledi, you wanna wish me happy birthday or not?" She answered, "eh, at my side only 11:59 la, got 1 more minute." She then waited a while and said, "happy birthday, sweetie!!" hehhehehe... we both laughed... damn perasan hor... ask people to wish me happy birthday... hahhaa.. I went to bed at about 12:15am. I heard some 'ding-dong's sound coming from my handphone, but since I was already in bed, I told myself that tomorrow is still the 4th of July. :)

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I woke up at 810am this morning. Please don't ask me why. I have this tendency of waking up pretty early on the day of my birth eversince God knows when; unless I was pissed drunk the night before, that is! Brushed my teeth, washed my face, said my morning prayer, went downstairs to pray at my altar, ate my vitamins and sat in front of my laptop. Chatted with Alina, Eva and Allen - longest chat I've ever had since dunno when. Thea woke up; played and talked to her a while, changed and went for a massage at 11am. In between all that, loads of messages flooded the handphone and facebook. Nice!

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Massage was good. Came out from the spa feeling rejuvenated and oily. Went to Jusco to buy butter for hubby. Checked handphone -wooahhh... so many more messages and 2 missed calls from mom. Ok ok... replied thanks to almost all the messages (I left out some because some of them were from OCBC lah, New York Skin Specialist lah... suddenly so good customer service hor?), returned mom's call. I think she must miss me a lot, because she kept wanting to talk more and more.

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When I got home, 2 lovely bouquets were waiting for me...

This vase arrangement is from Penny. Isn't it beautiful!! I don't know what is the scientific name of these orchids, but Jess told me that they are from Holland.... the arrangement is so simply, yet elegant! I love it!

And this, is from hubby.... Calla lilies... another beautiful species of the lilies... this is the first time I've ever received calla lilies. Nice, nice, nice... Just last night, I had a thought - since hubby took me out today (as in yesterday) and bought me stuffs, does that mean I won't get any flowers tomorrow (as in today)? I am so glad that I am wrong.. hahahha.. love the flowers!

What plans do I have for today? Actually I could do a couple of things. In fact, I was supposed to have lunch with Jer Lin. But I changed my mind yesterday because I decided that the best birthday gift I could give myself is some time to myself, hmm.. and since I am home, Thea too. :) So this will last till about 6pm until hubby gets home and we all get ready for dinner with dad tonight at 7pm at the club.

If you'd ask me, I'd say that today is just an ordinary day with no meaning. It has been like this for me since a long time. Of course, there were birthdays where I've really enjoyed myself thoroughly. But what I am trying to say is - what makes a birthday so special? The sun still shines, astro channels still play its routine series and blah blah blah right.. and yet, the messages and gestures I received for today so far has filled my heart with much appreciation and love! And it is not only for today... my birthday marathon had actually started on 30th June with Terri & Gladys' birthday cake!

I've always felt as if I was unworthy. But sometimes I'd kid around and say to others, "I am so adorable... yan kin yan ai (everybody see, everybody love), cheh kin cheh chuoi (car see, car fetch)" - it's a cantonese slang that despicts one is so loved and welcomed everywhere. Hmm, perhaps, I really am just that... :) haha... ;D

Out of the Box

This is what the cake looks like out of the box: -

Pretty isn't it? It was yummy too... I tried it after brunch today. :) Gladys wrote a nice entry about the journey on getting the cake, the book and the card. Please visit her blog at http://redbabecc.blogspot.com/2009/07/special-gift-for-someone-special.html.

Just so to share, I really love Gladys' blog because she shares a large variety of entries of her experience in life in the blog. Her entries, besides updates on her almost daily life shows her creativity in almost anything she touches on and most importantly, reminds me to stop a while and smell the roses. Reading her entries makes me smile and sometimes, gives me inspiration to live spontaneously - a quality that I so lack and yet to venture upon.

Well, I have to pen off now. It is almost 6pm and Thea is finishing class. I stole a little of the in between time to put in this entry because I wanted to share what the cake really looked like, out of the box.

Once again, thank you my dear angels... love, love, love... :D

The Cake, The Book & The Card

Last night, they came over at approximately 9pm++ with this: -

The history of this cake is something like this: -

In either year 2001/2002 or maybe 2003, Terri started baking. Since Gladys was always the more homey one, she and Terri started experimenting baking together.... or maybe Gladys was the one who taught Terri how to do it.. can't remember their history there... but ermm, I was the guinea pig. If I never mentioned before in my previous blog, we were known as the 'Angels' and each had a nickname of our own - Gladys was the Sun, Terri was the Star & I was the Moon.

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So one fateful day in one of the earlier years that I mentioned, they baked me a crescent/half moon shaped cake. It looked horrible (given that they were amateurs then) and it tasted horrible (because it was too sweet for my tastebuds and I am not really a fan of cakes). Well, because they baked the cake unconditionally for me (either with love or as a lab rat - gosh, only they'd know!), i.e. without any expectations of me liking or hating it - they only laughed when I gave them my honest feedback. I really suffered because they wanted me to finish off the cake all by myself to prove that I love them. Thank God they had mercy and allowed me to share the cake with others... *phew!*

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So this year, they did it again. They baked me a crescent/half moon shaped cake AGAIN. It's chocolate mint. Why? Oh.. because I bluntly requested for it a few months ago. :) This time, the cake looks more lovely than ever... In case you didn't know Terri, Terri's cake baking skills and dedorating skills are fantastic! She now takes orders for cakes or cupcakes. I am really proud of her. And Gladys, well... she is like almost good at everything she touches, especially when it comes to home-stuffs, if you know what I mean. Can't you believe it, now she can do plumbing too! *winks* Oops, I have diverted... And yeah, I appreciate it more than ever... It's beautiful... The cake, the thought, the gesture...

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And together with the cake, came this book: -

They know, and they understand. They fully support my journey in awakening and I am so very grateful. Although we don't talk much about spiritually a lot whenever we are together, but I know that they accept my 'weirdness', with Love... Still, so unconditionally...

And I love this card signed by all of them: -

Thank you Terri & Gladys, my angels... I am sure you already know what I will say. You two always make me wonder what good things I've done to deserve 2 such beautiful friends in my life to love me so unconditionally. I truly appreciate your presence in my life, and all that we experience together.

And thank you too, Ramesh, Christian, Harrison & Gladys' mom for signing the card. :)