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.