What Am I doing now?

Well, indulging in Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Low Cost Carrier Terminal, KL.

Isn't life good? well, the chicken pie is heavenly and the Cafe latte is good except that the air corn here is a bit warm..

Life is a bliss... jus that this meal set me back RM18.20.

Well, I hope that the wedding luncheon in Sibu for me will be a wonderful time and smooth and that I also can eat!....

Wish me well and pray for me!

Current reading

Well, I am currently reading a book by the title Life's like that: A Scenes from Malaysian Life. This book is humorous as it takes a look at the life of Malaysian today. What seems to be a nuisance and what every body goes thru, the author, Lydia Teh put it in such a humurous way, as she adds her own expewrience.

She has published 3 books thus far:

1. Congratulations! You have won - A guidebook on how to maximize your chances of winning competitions - Malita Jaya, 2001
2. Life’s Like That - Scenes from Malaysian Life - Pelanduk Publications, 2004
3. Honk If You’re Malaysian - MPH Publishing, Jan 2007

From a working women to working part time and then, a full time mother, she sure knows what women goes thru. Having four children and a husband who loves football and plays badminton, she in going thru what I called "a pure malaysian family" lifestyles. Husband comes back from work, turn on the tv and watch football while the children are screaming for helps and attention. Only that husband can listen to the cheer of the football fans..Goooaaalllll...

If you have not read it, try it! its humurous and it put your thinking into a "little" more Malaysian perspective.

I was in the One Utama last weekend for shopping, trying to get my leather shoe for the wedding. When we arrive, the place was starting to get more crowds. It was Sunday, so as usual, as shopping place in KL will be packed with people. I always wonder, where does all this people lives or where they find all the money to shop non stop... If you go to One Utama or MidValley in any days, you will find these places pack with people.

Anyway, today is different. We are having the OctoberFest, and this is the event where people just line up to buy cheap beer that goes for RM1.

But, we are also having the World Gamemaster Tournament onf! And its the final day.

There was two big screen set up and they are place FIFA.

And they are in their final, playing for the 3rd and 4th placing. Just take a look at their concentration!

Fully concentrated and can't even be disturb by the crowd!

But for me, I am more amazed with the amount of computer they have for this tournament. All by Asus computer. they have like 8 rows of computer with each row having about 5 pc...that's amazing 40 pc just dedicated for games!

And, they even have they whole system of AV dedicated to bring the best sound out and the best visual on screen for the games played!

Talks about dedication to work, this is how dedicated they are to games!

Look at the crowd sited on the floor, they are more in the first floor and thesecond floor, looking down.

After the event, they even have a group of dancers, nearly 20 of them performing accompanying by the cheering of crowd!

But, for me, I am excited and thrilled just looking at the PC. look at the design and the crystal clear LCD screen! ahhh.....

My first facial

Well, since my last post about my preparation for my wedding, which is also the only one, I have not updated anything about it. And from now till the wedding date, its just about three weeks away! Nevertheless, I don't have three weeks, I only have slightly less than two weeks, as I will be flying off the Sibu, Sarawak first for the reception there.

So, there is so much to do, and so little time left, I have to start cancelling off my task one by one by fulfilling it fast. However, this one thing is never in my to-do list, to have a facial wash in the beauty salon.

Last Thursday, I accompany my wife-to-be to do her facial. No, I did not go to just any shop, but we went to the ADONIS in Mines Shopping Center, Serdang.

Thanks to our friend, we have a free trial to do facial in Adonis. Once we are there, we were greeted by the Adonis ladies, who never fail to keep promoting the facial package to us. For me, I just went to the corner and sit on their comfortable chair. But, longer I sit on it, I feel myself slipping thru the hole at the chair...use your imagination la...

But, sitting there too, I was bombarded with the Adonis marketing strategy. Right in front of me was the poster, telling me about their forefront beauty techniques used in facial wash. And after reading it for a while, I was tempted to join. Thanks also to our friend, who willingly, offer me her package to be use.(I paid her back after the facial wash) So, what more... I fell to the temptation of having my first facial wash.

Once they get me filled up a registration form, including what beauty products I used, they test my skin, using the UV light and diagnosed it. After that I was led into the room lightly lit with just this cute little light on the wall. At once, I felt so sleepy. With a bed at the side of the room, and the music play lightly over the background, its so soothing...

isn't it cute?

They didn't waste anytime and immediately started washing my face and do some treatment to it. The wash then, scrub then, moisten it with what I feel like automated cold water spray then, with salt wash and mask and finish it off with toner and moisturiser...Most of the time, my eyes were closed and I can't see anything other than feeling that a pair of hand keep rubbing my face. Most of the time, I feel very restless, wondering what time it will end and how long more it will take. But on the other hand, I feel very relax and enjoy every moment of it, being pampered and having somebody to wash your face for you!.

Look...I didn't grow up to be some big celebrity and socialist, like Paris Hilton

nor have every money in the world and have peopleS to serve me, I have to do everything myself. So, having my face wash is luxury for me...

So, I enjoy it though having my eyes closed most of the time. Before I knew it, 1 and half hour is up and my face is ready. I felt so gooooood. and soooo nice. But I can't see any different though both my friends tells me that my face look radiant. Ahhhhh.. it better be since I am paying RM50 for it!

me doing mask! I know the holes looks big!

After that, they usher me into a room and serve me drink. I am thinking to myself, I better finish it off, since I am paying for it and they say this is also part of the treatment process and package, I happily drank everything. Then, I ask them, what is the drink, they just point to three flask outside...

I went out to take a closed look, and I saw three labels, Anti-Toxin, Energy Plus and Anti-Flush! And immediately I knew which one they serve me since there are some leaves in the cup! I take a closed look and it says ANTI-TOXIN! I am thinking to myself...What! You mean I have a lot of toxin in me?

But taking a closer look at the pot, I saw mostly leaves and tree bark.. I felt like this is more like TOXIN then anti-toxin. They explained that this is good for my blackhead! arrgghhhh!

After I signed the receipt, I take a sit while waiting for both my friend at the airy-at-the-back-chair, I saw another poster there. But this is something more radiculous. I know, people eat it and even have it to take back as souvenir, but here, they used it to do facial! I mean GOLD not shark fins!

What more can people ask for? The price you see above is for per session! And for a beauty package, its for ten session!

Who cover yourself and have treatment using GOLD leaves, other then I know the Egyptian Pharaoh?

What next? Gold toilet tissue paper ?

All I asked for my wedding is to serve me all my food on Gold plate!

Hit by an 'ELEPHANT"

I know time is runing short and the wedding is about one month away, I have to speed things up. So, I try to do as much as possible now, with lots more to do left. The list for things to do runs up to about 50 items, from getting sands for church deco to washing bedsheet and curtains...

So, this morning, I try to plan and do as much as I can. I need to wash my laundry, curtains,...at the same time, write my abstract for HUGO-AP2008 conference that I want to attend in Cebu, Phillipines in April next year. But after more than 2 years staying in my condo, I woke up to find the water pressure to be low, suspecting that the water tank to be faulty. Never did I know, there is a water cut...Ahhhh......

Now, I can't do any washing. And I CAN'T even wash myself though I HAVE brushed my teeth. ok...so, I can do something at home,at least I thought! But my computer again is infected with spyware and virus. So I have to resolve that. I called Machines, hoping that I can collect my iBook which I send for repair, only to find out that they have not repair it since 5 october 2007!....

And being asked a question in Facebook, 'what is the most frequent word/ phrase I used (that best describe me)?' I am like ...... shudduppllaaa.....

And more, the Streamyx is up to something too... its so S...............L................O................W............. I can't believe it! ahhhh.....I think i will spend time in prayer today!

talking about being hit by an ELEPHANT...well, mentally I have been hit today!

Rather than bringing me closer to others, the time that I spend online isolates me from the most important people in my life, my family, my friends, my neighbourhood, my community.

Clifford Stoll

What is LOVE?

MAYBE YOU HAVE READ THIS BUT ITS WORTH THE SECOND TIME

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds,

'What does love mean?'


The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think :

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bendover and paint her toenails anymore. So my grand-father does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8


'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'

Billy - age 4 (I love this one)



'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'

Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'

Chrissy - age 6


'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'

Terri - age 4



'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'

Danny - age 7


'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when
they kiss'

Emily - age 8


'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen..'

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)



'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'

Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)



'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'

Noelle - age 7


'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'

Tommy - age 6


'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'

Elaine-age 5



'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'

Chris - age 7


'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'

Mary Ann - age 4



'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'

Lauren - age 4


When you love somebody, your eye lashes go up and down and little stars come out of you..' (what an image)

Karen - age 7


'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'

Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.People forget.'

Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little Boy said,

'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.


GOD, bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

The World is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.

~Albert Einstein

My old faithful Canon Powershot A80

Yes, I am still using the old Canon model of Powershot A80. it has been so good that I am very satisfied with the quality of the photo and thrustworthy of it. I bought this camera since May 2003 and it has been with me for 4 years. This four years, this old faithful have gone thru a lot. it has been touch by many. More so, during one of the time when my friend was using it, the camera was dropped from the from the upper floor to the hall in my house, rolling and crushing thru the staircase. But it survive, as thought it was singing I will survive from the fall.

It has went through twice replacement of mechanical part of gear when my zoom lense jammed This prove how much I used the camera. It been to so many place with me, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and Cambodia. It was so good that I decided to buy a new 2Gb CF card last month.

But finally last weekend, the shutter door finally shut, seemingly telling me my time is up.

Now I am looking for a new camera. I am wondering about a new camera to get. It has to be quick as I am getting married this November... why you A80 died on me now? I am running thru the idea of getting a dSLR camera or maybe a semi-pro such as Canon Powershot s5 IS or maybe a Canon Powershot G9. But I have in mind too Olympus SP-560, Sony DSC-H9 or maybe a Panasonic Lumix semi-pro line.

Canon Powershot S5 IS

Canon Powershot G9

After all the searching and browsing online, I have narrowed down to Canon Powershot S5 IS or maybe a Canon Powershot G9.

First is the Canon Powershot S5 IS. This camera caught my eyes because of the design. I love the solid feeling holding the camera with the curve on the right side of the camera. More so, I am a strong supporter of using AA alkaline battery. I won't need to buy one of those Li-Ion battery which cost a bomb, and for a student, that will cause a BIG hole in my pocket. All I will need to do if the battery runs out is to go a store and buy 4 new AA battery which will last me that day.

Notice the vari-angle LCD screen and the hand grip

And this camera comes with a rotating LCD screen. I LOVE rotating screen. If you have not use it, you might wonder why I need it. But once you used it, you wont want to part from it...

The vari-angle (270') can be flip and turn into conventional screen.

This camera give you a function of near full dSLR camera. There are few extension lenses that can be fix to it.

Next will be the Powershot G9. This camera is on the higher end of the semi-pro camera. It comes with a wide LCD screen but it can't rotate. Furthermore, this camera have to use one of those li-ion battery which you can't simply find a use-and-throw battery from the store. What I love about this camera is that it have the waterproof casing for me to use, when I go diving. Furthermore, this camera comes 12.1 mega pixel and 6x optical zoom. More is that this camera save your picture in RAW format, allowing you to edit the picture later in TIFF or JPEG format. This will helps not to compromise the quality of the pictures for final editing.

Look very solid and yes it feels very solid too

The LCD screen is big. and it comes with the hot shoe for extra flash

Notice the two knob for the shutter speed and the mode. I love these.

But, the shutter release button and the zoom button is too small. Do see that this is a 12.1 megapixel camera. The powershot G9 lack of the grip too. This camera is just too square-ish -la. Look very old and conventional.

Both will use the SD card. And yes, they can use MMC and those tiny card too. But, they dont use the CF card anymore. What a waste! Anyway, I am going to the Canon Digital Fair next week to check it out!

Do you have comment? Do recommend if you have any camera that you prefere and let me know why?

Say a little prayer, would you?

I received a wonderful email today and it cheers me up! One things I realise being a person, as I am, do expect somethings, that God will do for you today. And He always have something in store for everybody. A little suprise to cheer us up! And its not just someday, but if you see carefully enough, or maybe listen carefully enough, it will be everyday.

Some of the surprises will come in BIG package, and some comes in little wonderfull package. But its always nice.

However, one of the things I will have to consistantly remind myself to do is to say 'thank you'. I mean, after all, what can we do in return for God's favour. As much as I do, I can't return the favour of Him dying on the cross for me. And I will have to consistantly telling myself, spend a little time with Him.

So, today, I open an e-mail from one of my wonderful friend from Kuching, Sarawak, and I have this little reminder about who am I. Pray in every circumstances. The shameful things is that I have to be reminded by a pre-believer friend. Anyway, I am reminded to say a little prayer for him too.

Its a little reminder to pray and in every circumstances thank God and praise Him! For we know, everything works out for good to those who love Him. and there is always light at the end. Sunrise will come!

Pray for our pre-believer friends and spend a little time with Him!

So, pass this on. And now I tag

Gary

Leona

Jaya

Sherine

Sioameen

Arielle Alexis Leong @ RiRi

Some of you might have received text messages from me to pray for Aylwin's & Li-Ann's newborn. Others might have read it on Pacmee shoutout about the baby, or maybe THE baby, for now. Arielle Alexis Leong Xiao En was born 30 September.

But wait, why did I take so long to update you about her? Before you throw rotten eggs at me nor floods me with emails, let me explain. She was admitted to NICU (no, not a fancy name for confinement home; but Nursery Intensive Care Unit) and for that reasons, I can't get any pictures of her till yesterday.

She was discharged from hospital Putrajaya on Sunday after a week in there.

So, yesterday, we visited the proud parent. and the baby is cute, sleeping at that time. Well, take a look the pics, isn't she cute? And this happy "kai ma" (self proclaim and installed) happily cradle her and with TLC, put her on the bed.

Take a look at her again when she sleeps. Who does she look like? Papa RaRi or Mama RaRa

emmm... for you who can't make out your mind, this is what most of us think...

Overall, she looks like mama RaRa la. with sharp chin too. Thank God, she have a nose looking like her papa RaRi. When you look at her from side ways, she looks like her papa la... but whenin front, she looks like her mama...well, you ask me why? I say that's because it's the creation of God! Amazing huh!

She looks pinkish here in the picture. this is because, she is pinkish la. baby ma... I am sure when she grows, she will be fair. Oh by the way, she got LONG legs... emmm... next top model, maybe?

Well, welcome to the world; baby mermaid "RiRi" Arielle Alexis Leong!

No I am not Afraid... And it's the Scar of Glory

The nation have been captivated by the miracle story of Hui Yi's heart transplant. Not that she manage to pull through the whole procedure, but she made it through freaking twice in 24 hours. The first heart tranplant she had to endure about 10 hours and only hours later, the body rejected it. Miraculously, another heart is available for her. Within 24 hours, 2 hearts that fit her (in size, no damage to the heart, same blood group, etc) were found...So, she went through the knife of the doctors again, to replace the first heart. The whole nation is praying her speedy recovery. And thank God, the second heart show no sign of rejection, though she is still in critical condition. Another similiar story from the same first donor too made headlines few days ago, receiving lungs. This Sarawakian too, made good recovery after the first transplant.All these, thanks to the set up of Institut Jantung Negara.

Hui Yi (from The Star)

Captivated by the success of the transplant, I am challenge to make a different too. Well, I don't have any organs to donate now,but I am determine to do something. So, yesterday morning, after some chores, I decided to donate blood... Yes, freakingly having needles to be prick thru my hairy hand, and donated a bag of blood.

Look how happy I am in the morning, on my way to Tesco Extra in Cheras

This is not my first time donating blood. I have been donating blood during the Ramadan season. This is because during this time, the blood bank runs low in blood. Mainly because, our Muslim friends are fasting and can't donate blood. SO, YES, YOU!!! able body and healthy people, go to the hospital or blood bank and start to donate blood now and help somebody! Don't just sit around but get your bumbs moving now for somebody might need your help. Not just organ but blood too...

coming back.....So, I went back home to change and make my way to church, and donated blood. Our church organise blood donation every year to help out the community. Upon reaching there, I was greated with these sights... peoples...counters... freaking long counters. First, you have fill in a form and declares that you are healthy, sleep more then 5 hours the night before, don't take drugs, not on medication, did not have multiple sex partners, and the list goes on and on... after that, you move on to the second table, you have a doctor asking you the same questions, shyly...

D: Kamu tidur berapa lama semalam?

M: 6 jam *smiling*

D: Kamu ada pergi luar negara?

M: errrr????

D: satu tahun ini...

M:???Ya....

D:Ke mana?

M:Thailand... dan Indonesia...

D:BUAT APA?

M: ...Cuti la... (thinking why she is so surprise and in suddenly asking me that)

D:Oh....Jadi, you ada practice ini tak? (shyly and pointing to a column showing HIV/ Multiple sex partner/ visit sex workers)

M: TAK Da la... Saya sudah bertunang la! Akan berkahwin la....(my mind was like, what the heck you asked me this after I say I went to Thailand...Can't we go there for business? feeling like wanted to tell her, I am going again end of the year with my wife (soon-51 days to go))

After all the interogations, my finger was pricked to check on my antigen... then, I would move on to the next counter to collect my bag for blood donations. After that, I was asked to 'go and wait' suddenly, I was greated with this sight.

Judgement chair

Freaking looking chairs, look like you are about to be punished for travelling to Thailand and Indonesia...or maybe looks like some ancient chair they used to punished the criminal by injecting lethal injection while you are chain sitting to it...And my heart pump faster....

After a while, I was ushered to a chair and two nurses came back start to wipe my hand with alcohols and injected my with a little anesthetic. And then, she pricked thru my hand with a larger needles...suprisingly without any feeling. At a moment, you feel you lose your feeling in your hand. Before I know it (~10 minutes) I am done.

Smilling happily, knowing I had did something good today.

But, the nurse who came by to put on the plaster, did it too soon, and my hand start to bleed. The 'hole' had not bleeding (blood had not co-agulate). So, she just coolly said, lipat tangan.

OK la... I also do that lo while my friend happy snapping pictures away.

And, after I went back home and removing my plaster, this is what I saw!

The SCAR OF GLORY!

So, you, move now... if you have not donated any blood for the past 3 months, go to the blood bank now! and if you have not donated before, you can do now!

And now, I am looking for info to sign up as organ donor too. After all, I don't need my physical organ when I pass away for I am made whole in heaven again!