Train - 16/6/2012

Choo-choo.... Choo-choo....

Thanks to a newly acquainted friend who invited me to the Train Live Concert, I was there with my new friends and my little brother KL Life Centre last night.

I didn't know anything about Train. I only knew one song - Hey Soul Sister, and that too was introduced by my brother because he thought I might be able to sing that song while he played the guitar (ya, we occasionally 'jam' together).

I told my brother I needed to condition my mind to enjoy the concert so he gave me Train's whole album which actually seemed redundant since I felt in love with practically only 4 songs of theirs which was repeatedly playing on my iPhone each time I get the chance. Lyrics were superb (though created illusionary and hallucinating dreams of being in a relationship) and the music was simply awesome.

It was to be my first concert. The Kevin Cheng concert experience, to me wasn't really a concert since the meaning of concert to my mind had much relevancy to music and jammin' as opposed to going to see 'leng chais' which was the case for the Kevin Cheng concert (actually I think it was called the All Men Concert or something like that). I was totally excited while my new acquainted friend wasn't really since he knew nuts about Train. Actually, the four of us knew nuts about Train... but enjoyed the music they produced.

I remember as I was walking up the staircase, I had a thought of how perfect the whole universal setup was during the past weeks just to ensure I was here walking up these sets of staircase just to experience something I had not before. And I remember, while singing along with the lead singer (we googled the lyrics on my iPhone) how awesome it was to be able to experience singing along LIVE with the lead singer at the same time within a confined space with all these people who were cheering and being inspired.

My little brother was dancing, my newly acquainted friend started loosenin' up (he was pretty tense due to unfamiliarity to the band though he was the one who invited me to the concert-DUH!) and we were all singing along mindlessly to the music simply surrendering to the surrounding atmosphere. What I was most amazed about was the list of songs chosen was mainly positive instead of some sad puppy love songs (which is awfully common and so commercially sellable amongst artists - seriously, nothing else to life?). The vibes were simply exhilarating! And I enjoyed every minute of it.

I remember as I walked down the staircase, I held my brother's hand and expressed how great it felt to be able to experience the concert with his presence. I hadn't hung out with my brother this way before am sure glad that I was blessed with such an experience. I actually blurted, "Let's do it again!" My cool brother said, "Ok.. Jason Mraz, next week."

Well, he was just joking. He always teases me and I love it.. because it makes both of us laugh. The joy is not in the teasing... but in the laughter. And it was indeed a joyful night.

Thank you, Train... for being here in Kuala Lumpur... My deep bow of respect...

Distracted

The other day I asked Thea a question.

I said, "Thea, am I too nice or not strict enough that you do not listen to my instructions?"

She replied, "You are too nice."

I said, "Oh.... so it is because I am nice that is why you are not listening to my instructions?"

She replied, "Not really, mommi."

I asked, "Then what is it?"

She replied, "I am distracted, mommi"

I was surprised... and then asked again, "What are you distracted by, pumpkin?"

She replied, "Your beauty"

Obviously, I burst out into laughter since I was expecting her to tell me that it was the trees, or the moon or the sun...

And she continued, "You are so beautiful and I keep getting distracted by your beauty, that's why I couldn't concentrate on your instructions."

With that, she came forth and gave me a big hug.

For all I know, she was trying to get her way around... but then again, who cares? My constant observation of her behavior tells me that she is such a beautiful, beautiful being with much love to offer to herself and the world around her.

I love you, Thea.

The Second Creation

I completed this within a span of two hours I think. A little advice from here and there and trusting an inner nudge, somehow by the time it was completed, my tears streamed down my face with overwhelming appreciation, joy and love.

It is either He felt that, or I felt it... or perhaps.. there was no one, but simply Presence felt...

Someone asked me what made me do this. I said I don't know. I just felt like it; and I am glad I did.

Illustrator

Attended a class on Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop. It was pretty interesting and met an old friend there. But what was more interesting is that I found myself having fun despite the poor beginner's skills in attempting creativity. But then again, its the journey and not the destination right?

So I was inspired to come up with something for this week's blast and while there were some feedback that said it looked more like an ant fishing... well, really... who cares? I had fun!

Ok mah, right?

Wicked

Went down to Singapore with Terri & Gladys to watch Wicked. The last time we went to Singapore together was 11 years ago. This time, we were all more grown up and matured. It's nice.

And I loved Wicked! I am going to watch it again... yippppeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Butter Rice & Lamb Kebabs

Brought some friends to the Blue Cow for the big BBQ breakfast this morning. Bought some meat and kebabs from the same place for home as well.

The initial plan was to wait for a couple of days later to grill the kebabs, but somehow when guardian angel asked, I told her we'd have it for dinner tonight.

Interestingly, I started googling recipes for butter rice. Some recipes and methods were just too complicated, so I picked an easy one and there after took a nap. A looooong nap to the point I might not have woken up if the guardian angel had not reminded me that it is time to cook dinner.

As I was cooking even vegetables, guardian angel was beaming from ear to ear... i asked her what was she so happy about and she said that she was happy that she did not need to cook dinner tonight.. haha. it was great to be able to give her a break. And I noticed that she gets pretty excited each time I said I will cook though through experience, she might not take my word for real every time.. haha

Bro enjoyed the kebabs and told me though the butter rice could have been more fragrant (which I agreed), it was pretty good. But the kebabs were really awesome.

I realised that I do enjoy the experience of cooking.. yet my fear of how it turns out always scares me to not go ahead to attempt it. Ah well, I will be cooking for the next 2 days... some friends are coming over. Hopefully there will be improvement *cross fingers*

Reunion Dinner

It is tradition that the Chinese has reunion dinner with their family members on the eve or prior to the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

And every year, I have three reunion dinners to attend; this year is no different.

While all reunion dinners are usually with lavished or scrumptious food, one of my reunion dinner experiences was really cool.

It was the reunion between Thea, her father, my brother and myself. Initially, the thought was that Thea, her father and myself would head to Curve for dinner. Since it was still early, I decided to head to the night market. It was there, my brother called and asked me to pack Nasi Lemak for him and guardian angel for dinner.

As I was queuing for my turn at the Nasi Lemak stall, a tiny mad idea struck. I made a call to the father, and asked if he would like to have Nasi Lemak for reunion dinner instead. He said, 'ok' and there you go.. that was our reunion dinner menu.

It was not a scrumptious deal with abalone, or fish, or yee-sang, or prawns... but the scrumptiousness was in the company of those uniting for the meal.

It was the coolest yet simplest reunion dinner and yet strangely, as we all were chatting by the porch, all three of us (the father, the brother and myself) agreed that it was the best reunion dinner ever... lols..

Lunar New Year (2012)

Lunar is to mean Moon, as opposed to Chinese.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year must mean a New Moon.

Yet, is there a new Moon
or even the birth of a Full Moon,
but a new Moon ‘born’ visually in sight, in the context of the human mind,
or more truthfully,
the seeing of simply, Mind…

Blessed New Moon then.

May all that you remember as joyful and loving purpose for this celebration
be yours for all appearing of the Moon within your visual sight in any moment.

Blessed Be.

Life's Good

Life's Good...

1) the Guardian Angel has a new lap top and is embarking on her 6-months online English course soon.
2) Thea has a new study desk.
3) little Bro is at home with me most of the time.
4) the ex-partner has got a new iPhone (though an old model) to play with.
5) i have a new bed and new mattress.
6) Thea likes my new bed and new mattress.
7) we have a new magnetic whiteboard in the study room.
8) I am singing all the time.
9) *They* are with me all the time.
10) the study room is nice.
11) the book shelf is upstairs.
12) the fish pond is being treated.
13) I have an extra car (which is automatic) to drive.
14) Thea has a friend to travel to and from school with.
15) the smurf village is restored.
16) little Bro is teaching the Guardian Angel how to use her new laptop.
17) my friends in smurf village helps me to water my plants.


probably the most important thing is... I Am Being Joyful, unconditionally... :)

May you be, too.. :)

Breaking Free from Worry

A Little Overwhelming

It is indeed a little overwhelming, being everywhere... and I do mean, the mind. It is crazy because there seems to be much to do, yet noticing every moment is perfect as it is, as if there is nothing to rush, nothing to delay for all is happening in its own time. And I don't really have to do anything, except to wait a little, do a little, speak a little, write a little, smile a little, giggle a little, smurf a little..

There are a list of things written on the magnetic white board. And I am moving along each item where the flows take me, a little bit here and a little bit there.. and it is quite amazing to me, while seated on the chair and staring at the screen attempting to squeeze the creative juice out of my brains on one project and find that the creative juice was squeezed out for something else irrelevantly from the one that I am apparently looking at.

I smile a little again.. and then head off to the hall to spend some time with the little one only to realise that she has been in her room for hours eventhough I promised her just the night before that I will spend an hour a day with her just watching TV, the ipad, the ipod or even whatever that is on the iphone. Yet, by the time she comes down, I will have to go up to shower and get ready for work.

Still, there is no fault in there... and I find myself enjoying the ride to the centre, at the same time receiving numerous calls or messages on 'when can we meet? I need you.'

A little feeling of constraint slipped in, and it is not so much that I am limited in my physical body, but more of that busybody-ness of the mind wishing to uplift another. And all I can do, at that point in time, is to joyfully do what I am apparently already doing and trust that whoever that is at the end of the line be bestowed with light and to stay present to what is around them or what is already arising in them. Any form of emptiness, loneliness, or needing another's presence is simply, simply an error or an egoic trip.

The MAGNETIC white board

We were listing down activities in some weekly activity sheet.. for the heck of it.. Thea got excited and said she wanted to place it on the white board. I told her that I do not have any magnets and asked her if she might have any.

She sat quiet for a while and said, "yes, I do have some" and ran away from where I sat to get it.

She came back with the fridge magnet... how creative and intelligent!! So I gave her the weekly sheet and told her to place it on the white board.

Sadly, she walked back with the magnet and the weekly sheet saying that it doesn't work (as in the fridge magnet) does not work. I was pretty surprised as I was quite sure I purchased a magnetic white board instead of a non-magnetic one. Made a mental note to call Eddie the supplier to check on what I ordered.

I asked her, "how come?"

She said, "because it is not a white-board magnet but a fridge magnet. That is why it doesn't work. It only works for fridges."

I was quite amazed and explained my understanding that it would be quite impossible for that to happen. So I walked with her to the study room to try again... *click* it worked.. and then I looked at her and she was amazed herself.

She looked at me and said, "ooooh.... actually, I did this..." she took down the magnet and the weekly sheet and placed the magnet on the board and the weekly sheet over it. Obviously it would not work!!!! We burst out into laughters... such silliness and innocence!

And she said again, "now I know.. come, let me do it again and I will place it here" which is the lower corner of the white board where she can easily access it.

Yup, so the mental note is scratched off from the head and back to AOD in the hall. :)

It is a magnetic white board afterall! Haha!

The Lazy Mom swimmin'

Promised Thea last night to go for a swim this morning. But the sun was blazing... and I was toddling between changing my mind about it or to go ahead as promised. She also gave up hope saying, "mommi, let's go!!!" knowing how lazy her mommi is...

Miraculously, the sun blaze eased off a bit, so we got ready. The father is off to have his fun, the uncle is off for a brunch appointment, and the guardian angel is off for a date with her hubby. So, it was just the two of us.

While we were changing, it rained; but I was not aware of it. After putting sun block on Thea, Thea said, "you see mommi.. thank goodness it stopped raining!" I was literally surprised when she said that and when I opened the front door and saw the porch area wet did I realise that it was indeed raining before.

Smiled and told Thea to tell God to let us swim for at least half hour before it rains again, if it is supposed to rain. The sweetie pie said, "God, please let us swim for half an hour." And the weather was cool and balanced...

When we arrived at the swimming pool, Thea spoke once again, "thanks God.." It was really sweet.

She showed me all her stunts and what she could do. In fact, I think she outdid herself today.

We swam for more than an hour. And yes, we had fun ~ just the two of us. :)

Now ~ 2012

If Now is what creates Tomorrow,

Blessed Now.. to all... <3