Cheat Work Thursday

Hi, it's 2+AM with a long weekend ahead here, and I'm about to say something that might upset about half of the world's population if I don't edit this post after two hours and, you know, if half of the world's population actually reads this. So I was thinking, imagine everything we think inside our head is audible, or gets tweeted or posted online automatically... And imagine if there's no cover behind it. Everything is transparent. We know exactly what everyone is thinking about. No anonymous identity, no sugarcoating. (Although, in some cases we don't have to, actually. They are happening as we speak *looks at some people*.) Imagine being cornered by our own (or other people's) audible thoughts. [ post edited ] Happy New Year.

I shouldn't entertain this. But it's there in my head since this morning. Maybe since much earlier than that, but I've always managed to ignore it until it goes away on its own. So it's still there. I think I'm just going to acknowledge it then. I think the sooner I do that, the sooner I can move on. Or maybe because it's already 11PM. Trying to dodge it all day does not stop the wall from closing in. Maybe my brain is just exhausted from the 14 hours of analyzing and being in denial. Maybe I'd feel ok again tomorrow like I always do. Maybe I'm just too tired and sad staring at my Inbox. So I accept that it's just not going to happen today. Funny thing is, I also put the phone on silent mode all day today. I was nervous that it was going to ring. The ringing would make me jump in my seat. As for tonight, I'll just have to crawl into that place for a while. I think I caused this.

I'm currently obsessed with rainbow cake and miniatures. On most days, my loyalty can be bought with a huge plate of cheesecake. But if you can't find me a cheesecake, I'll still accept chocolate cake. Rainbow cakes (pictures, just the pictures because I've never seen it in real life), however, just give me -- I'm positive -- an adrenaline rush. Isn't it a normal butter cake, the type that you have no reason to have a craving for? But look at the cake, it's creamy and rich and pretty, and I can't wait for that day when I finally meet and touch this slice of magic. Imagine having this with a bowl of milk: I stumbled upon Tiny People's Wonderful World of Food on mymodernmet.com and was led to the artist Christopher Boffoli 's site a while ago, which I still visit till today. Doesn't the work just make you grin and your heart beat faster? I can't pick one favourite -- there are farmers working on strawberries, scuba divers sit...

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash chal·lenge n . 4. A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking. ~ Thefreedictionary . I didn't have a car until my second year of working. Taking public transport was not a problem to me then. I took public transport for 20 over years of my life. When everyone was driving in uni*, I stayed off campus and took the bus so I could stay in a house and have a room that I liked, and it would be easier for me to get to my part time job** after class. (*I was in a uni where only about 20 people taking the public bus. Thirty if you count the cleaning staff.) (**Want to read about that time I got company walking home ?) But once I bought the car, I felt like my feet needed more rest and my makeup should last for at least two minutes. Which is a waste in another way because when I spent a few months in City X, I walked all the time and my weight was all time low. Ok, it was a different weather. Bu...

Next year (or starting from today would be nice too, please), I wish for: - Less stress ie by making better choices. Which, by the way, I realize is a very rare wish. Almost as rare as asking "to lose weight" and "for more money". - More ways to create happy clients. They should I want them to be proud to hire me. Maybe I should relook into branding(?) or be better at what I do or something. Thank you.

I never understand the "If you are nervous about a presentation, imagine your audience is naked" advice . There's another advice that I never get: "Roll your clothes to save space and avoid wrinkles ." WHO CAME UP WITH THIS DUMB ADVICE? One, IKEA makes everything flat to save space. Two, so here's a pretty dress: Here's a pretty dress when folded. True, with four irritating lines: And here's a pretty dress when rolled: Thank you. Just what I needed. Another 432 lines.

Photo by Adrián Tormo on Unsplash Happythankyoumoreplease is comforting. It was directed and written by, also starring Josh Radnor . (Here are the trailer and the Wikipedia page .) _____ I've always believed in 'everything happens for a reason'. Even if you don't see it now, you'll see it eventually. No, it's not entirely meant to justify or be an excuse for things that didn't go according to plan. So, I've always believed in this until this one point of my life when I wasn't really in a good place. During that period, I'd be staring at the ceiling, asking my brain to solve my life's puzzle. "Ok, what's the reason for this ?" ....... "Am I going to see it tomorrow?" ....... I didn't. I couldn't see either the reason or the way out, which I never thought could ever happen to me (you know, because I've always been super smart and all). All this reason thing must be a lie. At one point...

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Parents are supposed to be Superman/woman. My father was hospitalized for breathing difficulty last Thursday. Four of us the kids arrived Thursday night and were allowed to spend 10 minutes with him. It was tough to watch, you knew that already. He still could walk and joke with us like usual, although you'd notice the heavy breathing. He had this tube on his nose that he took out after five minutes. That was the first time he slept in a hospital. It was harder to watch when the other patients around him looked so much sicker (or should I feel the other way around? I don't know). I hated to show how painful it was seeing him in that room. I actually had this huge smile across my face the entire time. I think we all put on a brave face. We visited him again on Friday and he told us about his first night in the hospital: Patients next to his bed came and went. One discharged, one transferred, and one died that morning -- not before five or six people performed CPR on him -- i...

Good old hair relaxant. (And no combing for the next six months.) Image: fasterhair.net _____ On another note, you know you need a new direction when the highlights of your day are clipping your nails and making coffee.

I'm glad 2011 is a better year for me than 2010 was. Had a much better year in the past, but I believe I'd seen the worst too, so, no complaint. We welcomed a new niece to the family last month. A beautiful baby girl with a beautiful name -- part of it means noble and part of it means wisdom, not in Arabic. It was supposed to be a slightly different name, but it was changed after the baby was born... Must be divine intervention. (The mother, and sometimes us too in the car, had been planning and googling for names for months, excited for her arrival. You know, the name has to be simple... and lovely and uncommon and must not sound like it was picked from a novel and all. Haha.) At five hours old, she already looks like she has opinions of her own. She stares at you like you are supposed to do other things more important than staring back at her all day, and she sleeps like she owns the place. I still haven't held her yet. I don't know how to, actually. (I don...

As if this were read by more than five people, I find myself filtering things to blog even more these days. Such a five-year-old. On a second thought, five-year-olds don't filter much actually. So, for 10 minutes this morning, I was mean to someone. Below is not the actual story. Let's say I'm a top, very important surgeon... and I've been given an allocated parking space right in front of the hospital or basement elevator (I'm not sure which, this is not a real story), with a picture of myself, wearing a lab coat and a stethoscope around my neck, clearly displayed on the board. However, for 20 days in a row now, I arrive in the morning and find that the parking space has been taken by this particular red car. As a result, I've had to walk for 200 metres from the nearest bay for those 20 days. This morning I decided that I'd had enough. So I arrived earlier than usual to catch the red car. It arrived five minutes later and the driver got out -- a...

A client thought I'm the youngest in my family. It wasn't the first time I heard that from a client or a stranger. Unfortunately, I kind of get where that came from. I admit with my current work, I'm probably a different person at work and outside work. It's hard not to be. I know there must be a way to avoid this. There must be a way where I can make people happy without having to turn into an extra-chirpy-I-need-your-approval human. So, Work Objective #43: Be a smart, confident businessperson. And intuitive. And one that still has her soul and, hopefully, some sense of humour too. - This post, but I don't drink alcohol. - Regardless of my mild obsession with clothes or shoes, I don't own or need many anymore , and they don't cost that much either. - Also, I've never owned a Jonas Brothers' poster . Image of clever folders: from the clever site knockknockstuff.com

Someone I know makes a lifestyle change because her new family 'encourages' her to. This person is not so fond of the idea but her soft heart led her to. If this were me, would I do it because eg 'my' partner wants me to? Ha. Good thing is, most of the time I get the concept of space and place. I'd keep my opinion to myself, although the blunt side of me would be rolling on the floor wanting to let it out. I am lucky my parents always have to let me make my own decision. Oh wait, plus this is not a bridge that I have to cross cross yet. I know friends who work hard and are doing well with their careers, only to let it go to accommodate changes in family. I guess that is love. You compromise or something, I don't know the right word. You probably take turn and make way to achieve one goal at a time because of the circumstances. It makes you happy to make your loved ones happy. Just like when I'm happy to accompany my parents to weddings of...

A few months back I gave my wardrobe a thorough inspection, and with a heavy heart I set a pile of clothes aside. (I often do that, but this time it was extra thorough.) The clothes were still good and pretty, but I'd worn them enough times, they were going to befriend a new owner. This is rarely an easy process. In my head I kept putting them back into my cupboard, apologizing for even thinking about letting them go. Then the other side of my brain would go, "Don't be ridiculous, find a real friend," so I took them back out. After about two days, I was finally ready. I ironed them properly and gave them a good hug. We even had a few quiet moments alone saying goodbye. Then I called my sister to pick them up. In the middle of giving her the important introduction to The Brown Pleated Skirt, she got up and opened my cupboard widely. "Awww... thank you. Let me have a look what else is going to be mine in a few months' time." The way my eyes squint ...

My friend Ave has been trying to make a decision on her career for the past one year and most especially this week. She has been asking everyone for opinions, and we often speak about it on the phone. I'm almost sure she already knew what she wanted, but as we get older, I understand that we are probably just not as bold as we used to be. And there are more factors to be taken into consideration now too. Though I usually try to give anyone asking for my opinion both sides of the argument, I often believe in "As long as you want to (and it's legal and safe etc), just do it." It's not difficult to find people who would tell you that everything will go wrong, that you are not good enough, talented enough or even beautiful(!) enough to do something. No one needs another person who not only gives no clue on how to move forward but also shows up just to crush other people's spirits.

Adapted from a memoir, it's a story of a newly single father and sports writer, Joe, who suddenly finds himself responsible raising his two sons alone after his second wife died. His older son, from his previous marriage, lives with his first wife in the UK and initially comes to visit. The plot's here from Wikipedia. It's tear-jerking and funny and literally a beautiful movie too, mostly shot in Australia in pretty houses with breakfast on the porches. Though thinking about it now, there were only two breakfasts on the porch. The rest were probably served while running and yelling. And maybe the kitchen was kind of messy. The philosophy is "just say yes", the parenting is unconventional, the older son is a-bit-of-a-rebel teen who tries to bond just as much as the rest of the family, and the 6-year-old has a lot to say. _____ I'm also currently watching Pillars of the Earth OMG I love medieval drama, especially one made with this scale and detai...

I blame my -- occasional -- paranoia on one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life: to work and live alone the dumb decision I made to work and live alone my highly commendable work ethic. Two* clients with goals I could not perfect, and I started imagining a long tunnel and three dementors. * that I'm aware of Meeting with Mr White Hair went better than I imagined. I even had a suspicion that he wanted to hug me while I was leaving. If I didn't have this reservation about hugging random men over 50, I might have hugged him too. Here's to dreams and having faith that your work can actually make a difference in someone's life. (I know! I'm surprised too.) Image: bluntcard.com

If you are one of my clients, chances are you are one lucky soul -- I probably love you like I love my wardrobe, makeup kit, tiny library and travel souvenirs. I'll take your expectations and interests seriously, and I'll make you happy and all warm and safe with the services I provide you. I want you to be in awe of my charm and nod in agreement when I'm imparting my wisdom to you. So it breaks my heart if you are less than happy with my work. How a company handles three million clients, I have no idea. I can't stand two people pouting  at me. Just like this post , pretend that I'm a stylist for the purpose of this post and you pay me to style you. While I won't be able to control what the fashion police says about your look, I can advise you of your options. We can explore and make decisions based on your preferences, what would look good on you, and what event you are going to attend. If your goal is A, we'll adopt action A. If your goal is B, we...

I watched this over the weekend. I'm ok with it. Although, Rotten Tomatoes disagrees. Good night. Have a good week! The plot's here . Poster: The Film Department

I don't own any fine or gold jewelry. Just like how I've no idea how to appreciate expensive paintings, they've never been on my wish list. Expensive necklaces make me nervous of my safety, while bracelets, watches and rings -- expensive or not -- restrict my movement. Not to mention how I'm not really into yellow golds. There's a reason, people, why they make bricks from it. But I still love fashion jewelry, specifically earrings and necklaces. If you ever propose to me, don't bother buying me a ring. They are ridiculously expensive and impractical. And what if the material was unethically sourced? Imagine starting a new life with that. Instead, get me a pair of earring s , please. For now, a pair of light blue diamond earrings would be fine, thank you. But do check with me again, just in case I change my mind -- and prefer the classic white ones. A while ago, no one proposed. But I thought of buying myself a pair of diamond earrings. So I walked...

Most people separate their laundry into whites and other colours. I separate mine into blacks and other colours: all the cheerful grey, white, brown and blue. So I usually dress like a normal person, unless I'm hungry at one in the morning. Then I'd sometimes look like I'm in my PJs walking into a 7-Eleven at one in the morning. But this year I bought a *gasp* yellow baju raya! Major-sun-bright yellow, with bright pink shoes that surprised my mother, and I have to post the picture here... that I'd probably delete by tomorrow morning because I'm paranoid about posting personal pictures. I not so secretly call baju raya a 'social obligation'. If it's up to me, I can wear one kebaya for five rayas because you can almost be sure that raya and, occasionally, weddings are the only times I'd wear them. In other words, I can't remember when was the last time I felt excited about raya. To me, raya means my mother's cooking, seeing all my fam...

I'm eight and a half. I need a distraction to survive puasa month. I just discovered Harry Potter this year and read the series in the whole of August. It helped make the entire puasa month fly by 😅. And it answers a lot of life's questions too! Like, the depressing, gloomy challenging days you often face? It's not you. It's the dementors . Which can easily be defeated by casting a Patronus charm *dusts hands*. But most importantly, as always, movie / TV series / book marathons will help you realize what's important in life. When you first heard about it -- What? Books about an 11-year-old wizard fighting some Dark Lord ? lol The first time you read it -- Fine. I need something to read anyway. And if you insist. Halfway reading the first book -- Ok, I'll cancel dinner with ABC. By the time you finish the first book -- Bookshop. Pronto. I need the second book. Fourth book -- I'll cancel dinner with ABC to XYZ. Who needs to socialize w...

Half of my family is at my hometown this weekend, and I'm here in my bedroom in front of my PC. I could not join them this week, and it makes me a tiny bit homesick. My sisters dropped by my place this morning to pick up some stuff and have breakfast with me before heading out. It was raining 🌧 ... Then we said goodbye 😩... Ok, drama . But raise your hand if you, too, get homesick more often as you get older. Anyway. I made two huge glasses of watermelon juice and resorted to movies today. (Should I be worried if I found a giant glass from a certain fast food chain in my kitchen today without knowing how it got there?) I've been going part movie-roulette, part fixing my zombie-deprivation state, part I-watch-it-because-Colin-Egglesfield-is-in-it. 1) A movie with no spoilers on the internet. This is a roulette. I've never heard of this movie before. As usual, I have to read the plot summary before I watch a movie. There's no such thing as 'the thrill ...

Ok, in percentage, how much have I whined this month? How much have I "I'm-the-Victim-Here-Take-Me-Seriously"? Have I reached the 2% quota yet? I'm still at 0.34%? Good. So, question: How do you solve at least half of your life problems and inconveniences? By staying away from the people who bring them, of course! God, why had it never occurred to me to take this practice more seriously before? It's the easiest and just the most logical thing to do! I bet many of you have already known this and have been enjoying the benefits all to yourselves for a very long time. People, why didn't you tell me? Keep your friends close and your enemy closer ? What kind of advice is that? I say, get rid of your enemies, dusts hands. I sort of have to cooperate with Group _____ for a very long time now. It's not convenient, but it's necessary. If I get one less wrinkle for each time I'm being walked over, I wouldn't need Botox for the next 300 ...

Sometimes all I wish for are: A nice cursive handwriting that I can nonchalantly show off at every chance I get. A colder climate so I can do my work at a park. I'm a simple person and a light traveller. It won't be difficult to set my office anywhere to do my desk work. All I need is a tiny computer. And a phone. And my work bag with all the documents and papers too, of course. Everyone needs their work bag to do their work. _____ The most that I would add to the list might be just Wi-Fi service (please). And I'll be productive and creative all day, inhaling fresh air, reconnecting with nature and soaking up positive energy all around... ... and probably a blanket. Even the lightest traveller is allowed a piece of blanket to sit on. That's it. I won't be needing anything else. Bring it, bright blue sky and chirping birds! _____ Except maybe I would need some water. And snacks. Also, speaking of being productive all day , I might need to freshen...

I did not know who Lord Voldemort was until early this year. I saw some fake accounts on Twitter and still had no clue. Then I learned to prioritize and finally got my hands on Harry Potter movies. OMG I love them. Did you see those people in the pictures on the wall? They are moving! How did I have the nerve to fall asleep halfway watching the first movie many years ago? Twice? But you know there are a lot of things going on in the movies, and naturally I've forgotten most of them. So I just saw Deathly Hallows 2 this afternoon, and I was totally awestruck. It's probably mostly CGI, but I've always wished I built Hogwarts. But the point is, I was lost during most of the first part of the movie. Some of you may disagree, "What a lot of things? It's always about Voldemort," but there are a lot of things going on in the movies! I tried to catch up. Ok, Dobby died. I forgot how. They are looking for something now... Horcrux...? A cup? What's a Horcr...

I went to see Mr H, a client, the other day. He is usually a happy, friendly person, but was extra chirpy that day. He's an accountant, it is the quarter close, his company is currently being visited by the auditors, his boss is on maternity leave, and he was down with a cold that day. What's your secret, Sir, for making everything look easy? A new age meditation technique? Sheer sense of determination and responsibility? Purely joyous and fulfilling career? Ohhh... he was on flu meds and cough syrup.

I've known my friend Jones for ages. After A-Levels, she studied in Uni A while I went to Uni B and stayed in Town C. During studies, I always had a part time job -- retail rep, admin work at an advertising company, filing, data entry, coordinating customer loyalty programme at a cosmetic company, waiting tables. So this was when I was in Uni B and had this waiting tables job during weekends that I had to commute to by train, and take a 10-minute walk between my house and the train station. My boss would usually put me in the morning shift because he knew the 10-minute walk was on a quiet, dark road. And Town C is known as a bit of a dodgy town. Once, I was walking home at around 7 from work, and there were several men fighting, screaming and beating each other by the roadside five metres away from me! However, one day, I had to work late. Fortunately,  Jones came to visit that evening, so she waited for me at the restaurant and we went home together. We reached Town C...

My energy is embarrassing has clearly been put to good use these days. I go out all day for work, reach home at 5, exercise for five minutes, and fall asleep after that until 9 as if I was logging trees the whole day. I promise I'm going to exercise in the morning instead, starting tomorrow. I'm going to pretend this is a new promise have all the energy I want starting tomorrow. I kind of also have an important task to do tomorrow morning. I have some a**-kissing work to do tomorrow. I have a few people to approach tomorrow. I wish myself all the courage and charm in the world. And intelligence! Yes, intelligence too.

My three younger sisters came to my place last evening. We went out almost all day earlier today, and now we are already back to our own places -- and lives. I had a good time. It's a time like this, however, the first few hours after guests leaving the house, I feel lonely and a tiny bit depressed and wish my siblings and I, parents and all, lived happily ever after under one roof forever.

I wish I had a more optimistic answer to that question, but I think my answer for now would be: "MmmmmIDon'tThinkSo." But how come? In this time when women have more choices and power and work really hard to get what they want, that answer doesn't fit what we're all working for and sounds so uncool. What are you doing wrong with your life and why? Come back with a better answer. Ok, I don't think that I'm not happy* all the time... In percentage, it's currently at 51% of the time. I wish it were only at my allowance of 2%. I wish I were happier. I wish I were happy at least 98% of the time instead of just 49% now. I can see your eye-roll. I am working on changing things that I'm not happy about. But I admit there are things that I have no idea how to change (or I wish there were an easier way to do it), and there are things that I know how to change but haven't taken the action to change them yet. *I don't know what's the...

I went back to my hometown last weekend with my younger sister and niece. Passing by Melaka, I suggested to my sister that we make a detour to A Famosa on the way back to KL the next day to which she agreed. (I was born in the state and used to frequently visit my grandparents here, yet I've never been to its historical sites.) So, the next day, I told my sister probably we should take the highway from Alor Gajah to the city centre. She frowned. "Where are we going?" she asked. "A Famosa." "Why take the highway? We are almost there already." "The historical site . Not the resort." "Ohh." Silence. "What's A Famosa actually?" she continued. ................ I really had no idea where this ruin was actually located, but I was positive it was supposed to be on a famous hill or something. "Oh, there's a hill somewhere around here," my sister said when we reached the Stadhuys area. (I just...

It's amazing what a dreadful, unfortunately necessary task can do to your mind and creativity. Suddenly when you're supposed to do the task, you'll have a better idea -- you'll feel like you need to sort the laundry; visit the bookshop and buy that colourful stationery that you've been meaning to get (the idea is nice stationery increases productivity); call your nieces; make nasi lemak; post four blog posts, even though your usual rate of posting is one every 14 days; put on a face mask, complete with two perfectly sliced cucumbers for the eyes (also for productivity); and build a school, a dancing school! For me, it's dealing with my spreadsheets, sending out e-mails and sorting out my mailbox. I'm not a big fan of e-mail for a very long time. I think a lot of things can be solved faster and time saved if we are less dependent on e-mail. Need to discuss the deadline with your colleague? Pick up the phone, walk to the cubicle, and compare your sched...

We women try thousands of beauty products and tricks in our lifetime. If we are lucky, we would turn into another statistic in a marketing campaign for only half of the time. But that has never dampened our spirit, has it? With a renewed hope and heightened giddiness, we'll move on to another product, or just stay with the same moisturizer or shampoo because we just have to, to at least look like a normal person living in the 21st century. Sometimes, though, we do find things that we like. On my list today, they include: 1) Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit. 2) Shampooing twice. First with shampoo that "cleanses" your hair, then with shampoo that "moisturizes". 3) Makeup base. I wrote about it here . As much as I don't like the idea because that just means more makeup expenses for me, unfortunately they do make a difference. While I've never tried other brands, I like these two: Strobe Cream and Prep + Prime from M.A.C. 4) Bobbi Brown lip glo...

I only saw a few episodes of Band of Brothers many years ago and finally got to watch the entire series last year. Early this month, I found the book. The WWII movie buff in me WWII movies-made-by-Tom-Hanks-and-Spielberg buff in me loves both the series and the book. I mean, if these stories are told in textbook form, they may have a different effect on me. Case in point: I wasn't really aware (or didn't really care?) of the US's role in WWII, not until I was older. In my mind, Japan was always the brutal occupier. I didn't know what they wanted from us exactly, and that the British were here too and lost or something. And I must have thought H*tler was from a different time -- and I got A1 in History for my SPM! To be honest, school sounds so alien now, I can't remember what I knew and what I didn't then. When I thought of the US and war, I always thought of Vietnam, though. I watched Tour of Duty with my father when I was a kid. I went to Vietnam, v...

I did a lot of shopping this week and received a lot of freebies. Which is good, and thank you, God and you generous, generous people. It got me into thinking about this the whole week: how businesses work, especially these days -- how celebrities or people with tons of money receive tons of gifts and free stuff, some they don't even want, while people who actually need them are often forgotten. If this person can afford an RM10,000 bag, I think we shouldn't worry about her. She can afford the RM10 parking fee. Give the parking voucher to that father who's counting every ringgit in his wallet to buy some milk for his kids instead. - I do realize this can be argued in so many other ways. - Can I myself honestly practice that with my own work and life? - No, I wasn't the one who bought the RM10,000 bag.

Bridesmaids I follow Paul Feig, the director, on Twitter. He's hilarious. Update: The parts where it's funny, it's really funny, I laughed out loud. And they mostly land in the first half of the movie. A lot from the second half, however, unfortunately feels forced. Something Borrowed "Are you okay, Darce?" "No, I'm fine. I wanna cry on the day. So I wanna check on my mascaras. Make sure it doesn't run." LOL. Update, Sunday: I've seen it and I love it. It's pretty funny, though it has way too many DBs in one movie. But if you are not into romantic comedy anyway, I doubt it would change anything for you. And I love this new cinema about one kilometre from my house because I can now just run there (which I totally meant drive) should I need to catch a movie in my PJs and cardigan. Cheating, however, is still wrong. Don't do it.

Besides those photos that I took out , I also found this in our family album -- a photo of my mother feeding my then probably two-or-three-year-old sister. My mother looks very young in the photo, probably in her mid 30s. She looks thin, too, and occupied attending to her kid. I hope I was a good kid back then*. I hope I made her happy every day. I hope I did show my appreciation for everything she has done for us. (*Because I surely am not as an adult.)

I am grateful for all the good things that happened today, including this slice of Black Forest cheesecake.

I have to post another SYTYCD7 link. Here's Robert and Lauren's performance at the finale , which many called 'the pillow routine', choreographed by Dee Caspary. If I get it correctly, the story is about going home after a tiring journey. This is one of my favourite performances too. Have a good week.

I've never been successful at making a French twist before. However, I was playing with and twisting my hair while holding my tears watching The Blind Side this morning, and suddenly *bling!* there was a French twist on my head! In one attempt and with only one pin too! How come? You have no idea how many times, how many techniques I've tried before, only to knot my hair into a pile of confused mess. I haven't taken this one out since morning.

Haha, maybe writing about it only creates more of this. My modem and network card were fried last Monday. This has probably happened twice before, and I've already learned the lesson. So when the storm started, I switched off and unplugged the modem... but not the PC. ......... Then when it happened, I could only sit on the floor, raise my eyebrows and stare at the machine in amazement. _____ Stopped to have an Oreo cheesecake on the way home from the PC shop. _____ On another note, six and a half seasons late, but I now love So You Think You Can Dance . Why has nobody ever told me of how awesome this show is before? Below are some of my favourite performances, which might mean I've only seen ten performances and I'm about to announce my love for nine of them: Billy (and Kathryn) - Jar of Hearts . Choreographed by Stacey Tookey. Billy (and Ade) - Mad World . This is brilliant. It's a story of two old friends who meet again when they are now livin...

A number of small things have been bothering me today. The two sides of my brain have been busy arguing, debating, sulking and coaxing each other over them all day. Then I remember I have a blog. 1) The shower head in my bathroom is old and rusty, and the water goes to 300 different directions. Once, a plumber quoted RM180 to fix two sets of my toilet seat covers. I thought about alternatives for the first time, so I fixed them myself -- bought two pairs of screws for less than RM10. (I used to call a plumber to unclog the sink when I should just buy an RM12 declogger-in-a-bottle -- to name one of my many survival skills.) (To be continued...) 2) My car is reliable, loyal and has taken me, my family and friends everywhere. He's always there when I need him. I'd cry, curse, sing and laugh, and he'd just listen, understanding. Not once has he judged me. For this post, it's just polite that you, too, call him Henry. Last Thursday, my usual service centre (H...

(Hi! How have you been?) Early this month, I babysat my nieces for two days while their parents went back to my hometown. My first task for the weekend was to attend my niece's taekwondo tournament. I arrived at 9.45 in the middle of the opening speech (my niece arrived earlier for registration), and the first match started at around 10 with the youngest ones, 7-9 year olds, went first. OMG these kids were awesome. With their vests taking up one-third of their bodies, they were basically miniature ninjas. (During the half-time breaks, these miniatures were fed water and attended to by their coach like they'd just saved the world from Godzillas.) Some were crying in pain but got back up and finished the match. I almost teared up watching this, and these were other people’s kids! The point is, I wanted to have a seven-year-old in a taekwondo match too. He/she will wear the cutest taekwondo outfit and be the most awesome kid in the room. And I will be beaming with pride th...

Everybody's Fine Although it did not make me feel fine at all. The Departed The Town I went for a long time thinking this was a ghost movie. It was the poster. I just saw the mask and not the gun. So I didn't watch it until I realized Jeremy Renner was in it. I wish his and Ben Affleck's characters had met a different fate, but they did not, so that makes the ending satisfyingly sad which I'm a sucker for. I probably have a new respect for Ben Affleck now and want to see Gone Baby Gone. Brothers It's impossible that Tobey Maguire can be that scary. Also, while I get that Natalie Portman's character in Black Swan is more demanding, I love her performance in Brothers more. Revolutionary Road I don't know what I couldn't stand more: My Heart Will Go On or Jack Dawson's hair. People made me watch Titanic. I watched it under duress. But watching it, I was surprised and squealed in awe at... its scale, details, sets, props and the whole produ...

Did you read my posts about books and think, "I'm so going to find that book because this awesome woman (me) says this is an equally awesome book"? Did you? The 19th Wife , Never Let Me Go , The Road , The Host , Twilight ? No? You could've been more supportive. So I'm guessing this is the same case with you: When I was in primary school, we had this Rekod Bacaan where we recorded books that we read for the year, and the person who read the most* would receive a book or a geometry set an awesome prize. I won several of those because it was easy to win things when you were 10. Did I tell you that my mother had to discreetly bring a huge basket or bag every time we had Hari Penyampaian Hadiah at school because my name would be called up in practically every category I was in? True, it was a tiny school and all, and you can't compare them with the accomplishments of today's kids, but the point is I won those prizes -- in whatever condition that was....

Read it! Because 1) it's sort of funny 2) you are loyal Image: sophiekinsella.com