I love it hot

I've this thing for summer. The weather, the fashion, the beach, the people, the energy.

I can't stick winter. It's icky and no matter how many layers I put on, the chill is ALWAYS there. Summer is different. If it's too hot, just put on a tank top. If it's still too hot, put on a bikini. Still too hot? Go for a dip. There's always a solution to hot weather.

I've this fashion fetish. I love summer dresses. And I thank God it's always almost summer here in Malaysia. And I can always wear it no matter what size I balloon into. And I don't have to worry if it's too baggy... there's no such thing as a baggy summer dress. Pants bothers me so much. I can never find the best cut. Hey, I've got short legs to deal with.

And the beach and the ice-cream and the energy and the colors. I love the sun.

There's no better time to be in Australia than in summer. And that'll be me going there. *teehee*

Shopping Escapade

I'm heading south! Nope, not Australia yet.

I'll be in Singapore next month, and I've already made plans with my Singaporean konco-s for a shopping escapade. First thing Suleen (my Singaporean konco) said after knowing my trip was, "I'll get Audrey and Azny and our discount cards ready."

Oh, I can't wait *jumping in joy*

Ugly wardrobe

I have an ugly wardrobe. I don't mean the physical cupboard. I just don't have anything nice to wear.

Just last Saturday, I had to attend my five-former's farewell party. There was a theme and the theme was parody. I really couldn't think of anything to parody neither did I want to buy them specially for this occassion.

On the morning of the event, I openned my wardrobe and was quite decided to go as Ugly Betty. Purely because I can mimic her best with my clothes. I need new clothes badly.

Anyhow, I went as Mrs. Smith *winks*

Picture updates

Fraser's Hill

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Cambodia

The one who finally confesses

Phil 1. 15 - 18, "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."

I've never been a big fan of Mike Guglielmucci. I can't even say his name right. But seriously, he made himself a bigger legend with his latest confession. We can now wiki him, i mean his hoax.

I'm not angry nor am I disappointed. I'm only amazed by how he managed to put on the show for such a long time. And I also feel that he has made us Christians look stupid and desperately crave for fame. Oh, who am I to judge? We all have our little mishaps. Unfortunately, his is magnified.

Quoting Billy Graham - thousands of aircrafts land safely at the world's airports every day - but the only time the media will take an interest is when one crashes. How true!

As Christians, let's not elaborate his mistakes. Let's not spin the news just like how the devil wants us to. We may experience many emotions now, but let us learn that he (and any other Christian leaders) is as human as us.

We all need God and close accountability.

So, will I still sing...

I believe You’re my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You’re my Portion
I believe You’re more than enough for me
Jesus You’re all I need?

You bet I will! After all, "the authenticity of worship resides not in the composer of a song, but rather in the heart of the singer" (Batsirai Chada).

Going down under

We've just booked our tickets to Perth. Quite painful to have come up with that amount of money. I can only imagine how much more we've to spend when we are there. I wish I have a million ringgit now.

The Kite Runner - movie

The Kite Runner? So-so lar. One big consolation - they didn't alter the story as much as they did for P.S. I Love You.

Kinsan attempts to review without being a spoiler for Wern Yi's sake

One area that draws me is the accuracy of its setting. The contrast between Kabul before and during the Taliban regime is starking and nicely portrayed through colors in the movie. And I love how they make kite flying such an intriguing sports. I've never flew a kite professionally, and after watching the show, i don't think I want to attempt it. Way too complicating. What happen to those aimless kite flying activities?

There were definitely a lot of parts which didn't happen in the book. Or rather, parts that was told in the original story didn't come to live on screen. Nevertheless, the screenplay writers didn't make a huge boo-boo with that. Story still make sense, but I felt that the establishment of the events happened too quick and reached the climatic point too soon.

I'm not sure about the non-Kite Runner readers, but the scenes were too short to establish the whys and hows and whats. In this case, this is a story about unconditional love and redemption. Hence, some may find it hard to grasp the internal torture Amir goes through when he is asked to go back to Kabul. And it's not the fear of Talibans but the idea of facing his past and being good again.

A word of advice for those who've not watched it, please read the book first. I had to explain to my student (who watched the movie but not read the book) the reasons why people hated the servant boy despite how looking he is in the movie). Otherwise, you'll probably pass this movie as something that made you tear a little and not too sure why. Let the words do a deeper magic in you.

Some things happened over the weekend

Something fragile

We finally got to see the latest addition to our family. He is so small. So precious. So fragile.

As most of us are first time aunties and grandaunties, we 'struggled' trying to carry Wallace and not make him cry. It was hilarious when all the ladies deliberated on the best way to pass him over to each other. We are really noobs (newbies in Daniel's dictionary).

Something bizarre

I know I'm mean, but I must share. At the full moon party, I finally got to know someone named Bosco (he's my distant cousin's son).

*in Cantonese intonation* "Meet my son, Bosco ah"

The most bizarre name parents could give their child. I know I'm mean. Sorry.

Something lovely

My forty-something-year-old uncle finally got hitched. His new beau met most of us for the first time. It's somewhat weird, but delightful, to see my uncle is now a changed man.

He's neater.

He tucks in his shirt.

His hair is less greasy.

His face is flushed.

He got himself a new pair of Levi's.

Less loud and less oblivious.

It was really lovely to see how he really cares for his new beau. He made sure she was confortable. Teman-ed her everywhere she went. Spoke to her softly. That is so unlike my uncle. Not the uncle I know in the last 26 years of my life. Love changed him.

Something confusing

The relationship between my forty-something-year-old uncle who just got hitched and his new beau is quite complicating. On papers, they are officially married. But in the Chinese custom, they are not not until the tea ceremony and wedding reception, and it won't be until this November.

If that's not enough to confuse you, hear this. When my uncle introduced his new beau to us, he refered her as his girlfriend. Later, he said she's his fiancee. To another person, he called her his wife. How's that?

We, his nieces and nephews, were more puzzled. We don't know what to refer her as. We can't call her aunt yet as she's not officially one. We can't call her aunty (in a generic manner) as she's only in her mid-30s. We have no solution to this, yet.

Something out of the blue

My forty-something-year-old uncle who just got hitched came to me during lunch and asked me about my opinion on styrofoam cut out words on the stage backdrop for his wedding dinner. Then I realised that I was informally, unofficially recruited as his wedding decorator cum coordinator.

Something honorable

We rushed back to KL for the badminton finals. And like many Malaysians, we were just as dissapointed. Daniel's still not over the lost.

But when Lee Chong Wei stood on the pedestals, I felt he did us proud. Hey, at least he got us a silver medal, and not you. I teared when I saw the Malaysian flag raised.

Quote of the day

“Ok well there are about 100 steps between where we are right now and building our dream house. And they’ll be fun steps, and sexy steps, and we’ll try not to fall down them together, ok?”

Dr. Meredith Grey

The very reason why I love Grey's Anatomy. She just makes so much sense.

Randomificationess

I woke up feeling like writing some hate-mails to some people.

I'm so terrible.

God forgive me.

***

Going to Ipoh for the weekend.

Meeting Wallace for the first time.

Hoping to meet Daniel's first and only nephew too.

And for grandma's birthday bash too.

I can't wait too.

***

Good news.

Gold price has dropped significantly.

Bad news.

Tight is my pocket.

***

School holiday begins.

So does my rest.

***

Kite Runner DVD is sitting on my bed.

So is my tissue box.

***

Googling for Master's programs.

It's almost like going on a Yeti hunt.

I reckon the latter will be more fruitful.

Why I microfinance

"Microfinance? Can eat one ar?"

Cannot eat one, but you can help put food on people's table by YOU loaning money to people.

It all happened in Muhammad Yunus's trip to one of the poorest households in Jobra. As jobs are scarce in the village, the only answer to break poverty (and for some, survival) is to build businesses.

Simple common sense tells us that we need money to start a business. And at Jobra (or any other villages), money is always a rare commodity. Banks are regarded as unreachable saviors. Bank policies are never made in favour of poor people. They regard them as bad borrowers. Again, they are merely flogging the dead horse harder.

In the village, Yunus made his first loan, loaning USD$27 from his pocket to a group of female basket weavers. Not long later, these ladies were able to make a profit out of their trade and pay off their loan in a short period of time. It was an epiphany for him on that day.

An epiphany because from that little profit they made, they were able to reinvest into the business, and one thing leads to another. As a result, they are now out of poverty and children are in schools.

So, I microfinance because it works. It helps. It is a mean to someone's end. I'm a strong believer in microfinancing. Leveraging on the power of trade, we break the poverty cycle. And since the money is loaned, the loaner gets the money back, which could be used to help another person.

Look at the white box on the right of my page. Kiva is a philanthropic organization built on the concept of microfinancing. Many will enlist themselves on Kiva for help. Financiers like me (and many others) would go through their business proposals and their backgrounds before we decide to loan them the money. One can loan a minimum of USD$25 (approx RM82) to anyone enlisted there. This money loaned will be repaid in full amount within the time frame set by the debtors.

It's so easy. No brainers. Seriously, if you're looking for an effective way to help people, start microfinancing.

So, why don't you microfinance, too?

See I told you so

They are sweet, right??

Thinking of...

... the sweet blue roses Daniel bought for me

...... the new dress I got

... and heels that came with the dress

...... the greatness of God's love for me and all of YOU

... tomorrow's work

...... the possible reasons why my phone won't connect to my computer

.. buying a new phone, or perhaps a new computer

Coming in at the 11th Hour

There have been so much raves about this heartthrob environmentalist's documentary, The 11th Hour, and I finally got myself to it. I was floored.

His good looks aside, I find this piece more appealing as compared to The Inconvenient Truth. The Inconvenient Truth was mind-blowing and it was definitely terrifying to know where human civilisation has brought us to and where it will bring us in future. It is an important piece of work as it did lay the ground works for this battle, for people like Leo Di. But, I felt a tinge of political agenda in it. And no doubt that the climate crisis will effectively be reversed when public policies are being altered in favour of the environment.

As for The 11th Hour, it approaches the subject with more hope. At the end of the documentary, I didn't feel doomed. And even if I did, I knew that I could do something within my own means. Being an environmentalist is not that far-fetched anymore. It's merely by voting, everyday. Trully, in future, I don't want my children, wearing the oxygen masks, to scream at me, "What were you thinking about!?!??!!?!??!"

Go watch it NOW. Even if you feel that a greener Earth is an utopia, go watch it for Leonardo's good looks *winks*

Love to Hate

Note to self: Shop for Wallace!

I need to get him something. I need to make myself his favourite, super cool, ultra pretty aunt. *winks*

Maybe a golden pacifier.... or a Braun Buffel wallet to keep his angpow money. Oh decisions, decisions.

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Know what I really hate now? I hate it when Internet Explorer keeps hanging on me!

I was really excited earlier. I wanted so much to post pix of things I love. Things like the Coach bag. People like baby Wallace. Friends like Carebears. I really really wanted to post them. And everytime I click 'Save picture as ', IT HANGS!! *#$%@ I've restarted my comp umpteen times.

Snipets

:: went to Fraser's and back

:: watched The Dark Knight

:: watched Sex and the City with the Bears and loved it

:: watched The 11th Hour

:: Passion

:: started some new projects for my tuition centre

:: can't wait to see Wallace, my first and only nephew, next weekend

:: recovering from food poisoning, pumping in Vitagen and 100Plus into my system

:: counting down to cousin's wedding in S'pore, hence looking forward to a new dress

:: looking for cheap flight tix to Australia

:: going to post more pix, soon... that's when I stop procrastinating