Down with sore throat, flu, and cough.  I think the avocado juice had something to do with this. Hmm. 

Anyway, I really had fun yesterday! It was a long drive (took us about 3 hours to get there), but being there was just worth the tiredness.  The weather was nice to us too, it only drizzled for a while then it was hot, hot, hot until we decided to leave.  

Can you see the tip? 

I want to upload more pictures but somehow this time I don't know what's taking it too long to upload a picture.  Probably the size is too big, but I'm too lazy to resize them because I'm getting sleepy now even as I type.  

Drifting off to lala-land..... 

In approximately an hour or two, I will be driving to Tanjung Sempang Mengayau (The Tip of Borneo) together with Fiona, Lorena, and Sondang! This will be my first time driving there.  I've been there 3 times but I've never driven there, so this will be our little adventure for the day.  I will just have to rely on the signs and hope that we will go in the correct junctions that will lead us to our destination.  

It's gonna be fun! I just love it when friends come over for a visit because I get to do these kinda things!  One thing I haven't done but would really like to do though is climbing Mt. Kinabalu.  That mission is yet to come.  

Will post photos of our exciting little adventure today :D 

I really do want to go far, far away.  For now, at least.

I feel so disconnected to myself right now.  It's as if I'm just looking at myself from a distance, watching this person walk and talk, faking feelings and expressions. 

Right now, probably the only time I feel me is when I'm with my puppies.  Weird, I know.  

Didn't mean to come up with this after a 2-weeks hiatus, just not feeling the "me-ness" in me at the moment.  

Heh.

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin

Have a good weekend and Happy Sabbath!

Kaibigan

Today, I reconnected with another childhood friend from the Philippines.  

Through Facebook.  

About 15 years ago.  I don't quite remember the names of some of them, but I do still keep in touch with the ones I was close with in those days. :D

I'm so happy!  And that's all I've got to say for now.

Bitten

It was 2.31 a.m. 

I was asleep, but somehow I felt my hand brushing the right side of my neck.  I thought I felt something creeping, but didn't give it much thought.  Then, I felt it.  The pain.  It got more and more painful by the minute.  So, I jumped out of the bed and turned the light on.  It was swelling, and I still didn't know what it was that bit me.  

Turned the pillows, nothing.  Looked under my macbook box, and there it was, trying to run away.  A centipede.  I think I panicked for a second when I saw it.  Then I realized that I needed to kill it, otherwise I won't be able to have a peace of mind going back to sleep with it still lurking around.  

Before I could hit it with a pencil box, it disappeared.  I looked under the bed, couldn't spot it because it was dark.  I wasn't going back to bed until I killed that creature.  After a few minutes, it did appear, this time on the floor.  I quickly hit it with the pencil box, silently cursing.  I kept hitting it until I was convinced it was dead. 

 

Dead. 

It took me probably about an hour before being able to go back to sleep.  The pain was just intense, being stung by a honey bee is better.  Luckily, I wasn't allergic.

It's still slightly swollen and I could still feel the pain.  That was the first for me, and I surely hope it's the last.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile.
- Sean Connery

The ride was worthwhile.  :D

21:22. 

I'm online while waiting for my cousin to be done with his rehearsals.  There's no electricity at home now.  I hate it whenever that happens.  Well, I can accept it if it happens on any other night, but why Wednesday night??!! Haha, I have my reasons. :P

I'm chatting with a student (or should I say "ex-student") of mine from the school I worked at last year.  He says his class misses me.  Aww, I miss them too! Their class was my favourite class (are teachers allowed to have favourites?hehe :D), I loved going in their class! 

Okay. Rehearsals done. Time to go back home.  Hopefully the electricity's back by now.

Good night, people. 

Was down with knee and backache last week. Yes. I'm only 22, and I have these problems already. The knee problem has probably gotten worse sometime around last year.  The back problem? It runs in the family.  I remember there was one time in MC I had to go back to the dorm because the pain was just unbearable.  

I went for a massage, and was told that this pain will probably be forever. Ha! Okay, yeah, whatever.  I just hope I won't be bedridden anytime soon.  Sigh...

Anyway. 

Last Saturday, I was in Daron's house watching "When a Stranger Calls".  It's a thriller, and though I'm not so much of a fan of thriller movies, I actually enjoyed watching the movie! Terima kasih, Daron, kerana menjemput kami menonton wayang di rumah kau. hihihihi... 

Let's do it again this weekend! Haha! 

It's Friday.  Another week comes to a close to make way for a new week. 

Before entering a new week, I think back to what I'm thankful for this week.  

1.  I'm thankful for my students.  Though sometimes they may disappoint you, you just have to make sure you are ever patient with them.  In teaching, your students learn from you and at the same time, you also learn from them.  It just warms up my heart to see a child learn something new and being very inquisitive about it.  Kids. :D  

2.  I'm thankful that I get to know and feel how difficult it is for the people who heavily rely on their crops to survive.  (Planting corn on a hill under blistering heat is definitely not an easy task.)

Of course there are a lot more to be thankful of, I just thought of sharing those two. 

~~~

Have a nice long weekend for those of you who are working.  Be safe on the road. :D

Happy Chinese New Year!

This song

I heard this song from Amy's blog.  

This song just simply touches my heart.  The lyrics, the music, everything about it.  

I guess there are people who go through a phase in their lives where they drift away from God for a while.  I know I have gone through that phase, and am slowly working on renewing and improving my personal relationship with Him. It does feel good to know that there is Someone who loves us unconditionally, no matter what we did.  

Have a pleasant weekend, people. 

I'm glad I got to know these two people.  They were the ones who made my stay a fun and memorable one, full of laughter!  

I miss them. 

Looking forward to spend a day with them soon. 

I said I'll have a great weekend, and I DID! 

Pulau Mamutik

Vuja, it was really fun to have you here! Come again okay, and we shall have the roti canai that we still owe you. :D

It's Friday.  

Will be back next week. 

Happy Sabbath!

O.T.

It's 5.29 and I'm still at my brother's shop.  Now, who goes to work from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.?  I have been here for 10 hours.  Can't leave just yet, there is till one person on the computer and his time ends at 5.43.  Hmm. 

I should get paid for the long hours I spend here. 

And I will. :P

Trust

Sometimes I wonder, when someone says "I trust you", do they really mean it? Or when I say that to someone, do I really believe the words that come out of my mouth? Hmm.  

I trusted that someone I was in a relationship with.  He broke my trust once.  Although we patched things up and got back together for another 2 years, things were not the same, so it ended...again.  This time, maybe for good.  

Friends.  In my 22 years of life, I've had some trust issues with my friends, but nothing so severe. However, one did almost ruin the friendship that we had.  Almost.  

Last night, it got me thinking.  I was all alone at home, and it was dark.  As I was lying on my bed, waiting for the electricity to return, I decided to have a conversation with Him. About trust, of course.  It turned out to be a good conversation because when the electricity returned, I felt a strange (in a good way) feeling of peace.  If there's anybody I can fully put my trust on, it's Him.  I say that because throughout my 22 years of life, He has proved to me over and over again that I can count on Him.  

Just a thought.  

~~~ 

On the other hand, another house has been licked by fire last night.  I didn't realize a house was on fire, until my brother smsed me all the way from Kota Marudu to check whether that house is anywhere near our house.  I had a look out of the window and it was dark everywhere.  No people screaming.  No noise outside.  Quiet.  So, I smsed him and told him no house was burning.  

A few minutes after that, I got a call from my best friend asking me whether there was a house burning because she could see fire from where she lived.  I decided to go for a drive.  Indeed, there was a house on fire probably about 500 metres from our house.  There were many cars parked on the roadside so I didn't stop. I only managed to snap this picture while driving slowly. 

Took it with my phone from a distance.  Night + phone camera + 100 metres, not exactly a perfect combination for a clear picture.  

My heart goes to the unfortunate family.  Heard it was a teacher's house.  This is the second building burned to ashes in less than a month.  

~~~

Tomorrow is Friday.  I've been looking forward to this particular weekend since last year! Hopefully, it will be a blast.  No.  I know it WILL be a great weekend!!! :D You'll just have to wait and see why. Hihihihi! :P

Whateverness

I'm unemployed and that gives an excuse for my mom and brother to ask me to be in I.T.I.K Productions from morning till evening.  I do like it, sometimes.  I can access the internet for free.  I can photocopy things for free.  I can print for free.  Well actually, I'm just assuming it's free. Haha! 

It's not entirely boring having to be here the whole day.  I get to see people of different ages coming in here.  

A few weeks ago, there were a few orang-orang tua coming in here.  One of the conversations with one of them was:

Orang tua: Haro poki'renew' hiti'd dih?

Me: Nu hoi? Poki'renew'?(I have never heard that word being used here.)

Orang tua: Oh...poki'renew' ku daa iti diaa boh(showing his IC to me).

Me: Ohh..moki'photocopy' ko'd ti dia?

Orang tua: Oo daa...

New vocabulary learned.  When they say 'renew', it means 'photocopy'. 

And then....just a few minutes ago, this guy came in.  I assumed he's probably still in high school. I was busy on my laptop, and he was asking a question.

Boy: boleh main game kah ni, auntie?

Me: boleh.

Then, I realised what he said. Chisssssssssssss.....I'm just a little older than him. Kurang asem betul.  Haha!

I wonder what else will entertain me next. 

This year, I'm looking forward...

... to spend more time with family and friends

... to travel more

... to continue my studies

... to putting more time in practicing the violin and piano

... to renew commitments

... to explore the city (not that it's a big city, but i've never really familiarized myself with the city even though I've worked there for 11 months)

... to climb Mt. Kinabalu 

... to learn how to bake 

... to eat healthy

I'm also anticipating the start of American Idol Season 8.  Just looking for things to entertain myself.  

Oh, and I'm so looking forward for the weekend to arrive! :D

This year has been a good one for me.  

Tonight, as I await the clock to strike midnight, I shall be contemplating on everything -good or bad- that have happened to me this year.  This year is rated among the best of my 22 years of existence.  I once thought that life after college would suck for me, but I have come to realize that it's just another phase in my life that I have to go through.  And this year has proved to me that it's not that bad to be in the 'real' world. 

Next year, things will be different.  

This is my last post for 2008.  So, HAPPY NEW YEAR to all! :D

Won't be blogging for a few days. 

Family gathering. Friends. Engagement. Parties. 

These will keep me away from staring at the computer for a few days.

A song for today - "It's About The Cross" 

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

Enjoy the remaining days of 2008...