10

July 2005

on the bridge in front of Istana Budaya, crossing over to the football field, with a massive traffic jam under the bridge

You: Hey, look, on your left, it's all red lights from the cars on the left lane, and all yellow lights on the right lane.

Me: *amazed* yeah..

You: However, on your right, it's the opposite!

Me: Haha! I was just about to point that out!

:)

11

Last Monday I had department lunch with my colleagues in Tony Roma, Pavilion. It's actually a farewell lunch for me. We had their set lunch and I think it kinda worth it :)

Me: Hey Abdullah, mai duduk sini! *grinning*
*patting at the seat right next to me*
Abdullah puzzled and quickly sat at the opposite seat, next to my Head of Dept, and BLUSHED.
HOD: Hey duduk dengan yang sudah kahwin buat apa? You kena practise kurangkan rasa malu dengan yang belum kahwin la.

HAHAAHAHAHA

Abdullah is a clerk in my department. He knows everything about the department, where things are and how things go about. But he's a very shy person. We always tease him about finding his significant half, and very concern about this issue, too, because even himself admitted that he'll get panicky if the girl he likes is around.

And, it's not just us who likes to tease him. Girls from other departments like to do that to him, too. Hahahaha!

And there's an inside joke that Abdullah is the Pengetua, Amy is his assistant (Penolong Pengetua) and I am the disciplinary teacher, haha :)

12

We celebrated Xu Vin's birthday at San Francisco Steak House, KLCC last Sunday night. To get there from UiTM Women's IV:

I was already at Women's IV when I found out Kevin's note about this surplaise dinner for Xu Vin. It didn't take me long to decide if I wanted to attend, though. (Have I finally found the cure for decidophobia?? Hee hee!)

Initially the plan was Lee Fang and I would be attending, and hence Lee Fang could drive us there. After the Women's Forum, Lee Fang was very much moved by how much effort the organisers had put in to for this tournament, and felt guilty for leaving early. That automatically rendered me a double sinner as I did feel the same guilt as well, with me being the most senior adj except the adj core - the turn out for the tournament was kinda small.

But for some reasons, it didn't affect my previous decision. And I happened to talk to Shaq and Fairuz about hitching a ride, and they had graciously went all out to get Reza to send me to the nearest (not necessarily near, mind you) Putra LRT station so that I can avoid taking KTM, to go to KLCC.

At first, Fairuz and Reza were suppose to attend an open house together, and they could drop me at Kelana Jaya station on the way there. But this wasn't what happened. Fairuz had to stay back for some prize giving ceremony event, hence only Reza drove me all the way to that station from UiTM Shah Alam (if you're familar with the distance, you know how much it means to me), just to send me there, then back to campus to wait for Fairuz. And Shaq was partly involved in talking Reza into doing this favour for me. He later sms me just to make sure I reached wherever I needed to go.

I am (still, present tense) indeed overwhelmed by their great hospitality and kindness. The world should have more amazing people like them. I am glad to be given the chance to know them via debate :)

13

UiTM Women's IV

I took a day off from work for it. It's been a long time I haven't seen Khairun in the debating scene. This time she came back as CA for this tournament. I actually liked most of the motions in this tournament - which only consisted of 4 prelims, semi and final. I don't quite like the motion for semi though, maybe because most of us don't have much understanding about that particular person, and the debate I adjudicated in were slightly below average. And I haven't known the motion for final round as I left UiTM for Xu Vin's birthday celebration dinner at KLCC right after semi.

On Fri and Sat night, in our hotel room, I gave massages to my girls, one by one :) I like giving massages because I like it when people feel good after my "service". I am not a pro. But that's the best I can give. Massage is good way for team bonding, or strength relationship.

On Sat night, the girls asked me to write a message for each of them on their book. That's very sweet of them. These girls are very precious to me. Each of them. I am glad that I get to know them and spend time with them.

14

With Amy's cubicle next to mine at work, we basically spend about 8 hours a day sitting just two feet from each other, separated by chest-height partition. However, both of us usually communicate with each other via (surprise surprise) Gtalk :)

*type*type*type*

Suddenly, Amy turned around and stared at me in disbelief.

Me: *chuckled* HEY! Don't stare at me like that!

Amy: *whispered* what the..??

Me: *whispered* groans, I don't know la.. :S

And we went back to typing.

But well, that's only when we have the time to do so. Most of the time, either she or me or both of us are occupied. Yet, it does make working less stressful or boring. Haha :)

I will totally miss these moments :)

15

I'm suffering from abdominal muscles ache since Sunday evening. Push-ups and stomach crunches are no jokes. I can't even cough properly. Whenever I do, I feel the ache immediately. I can't imagine when I want to laugh out loud.

Except that I haven't got the chance to.

Heart has muscles, too. When I say I feel heartache, how do you know if it's a physical or emotional agony?

Kick-boxing training is good for my heart. Having a conflict with the trainer is not.

I feel like a drill has been forced through my heart. But I will still take each session seriously until I've finished them. I am going to miss every bit of punching and kicking, or even the sound of punches, the sweat and muscle aches, the yelling out of pain and later learn to swallow it by bitting lips.

16

On the dining table:

Pineapple Tart - Raya cookies from Ana

Red Bean Mooncake (Halal) - Mooncake Festival from me

I love diversity - the benefit of living with different races :)

17

I've finally asked him to stop asking me out.

Nonetheless it's not something I did with a cheerful heart.

18

Si Qin: Do you like musical drama?

Me: Yes I do! Who doesn't? Haha.

It reminded me of Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical I attended with Kevin, Xu Vin, Pau, Kok Joo, Fea and Jun Hoe last year. It was my first time watching a performance in Istana Budaya. The show was splendidly done - awesome singings and musics, impressive props and beautiful lyrics. Bahasa Malaysia has never been this beautiful to me. The show was very enjoyable that it made me wanted to fall in love right at that moment, too.

I may not have musical background, but I do love watching theatric performance, orchestra or even just a small live band in a restaurant, be it country, jazz, cosa nova or R&B. I am always amazed at the sound produced when individual notes dances in concert.

HY said it's good that I accepted the invite from Sue Lee because I have less chance to catch a performance in MPO once I move to Subang, compared to him, who will still be in KL for a long time, and can attend MPO performance whenever he feels like it. Heh, at my face, haha!

19

KL also gives me a lot of heartbreaks. But I don't want zero-heartbreak life from God, but a friend who is willing to spend time with me at times like this. To sit next to me and accompany me, without a word. Or a friend who will hold on to the line even if both of us don't say anything through the phone. Because that is the best conversation ever. When my heart's broken and I don't know how to pick up the pieces, it's just like how I don't know how to pick the words to form sentences.

I've met people. Nice people. Not-very-nice people. The latter let me treasure the former even more. The latter shall be the past. The former shall be in my heart.

You are the former. But you have no idea how much I need you now.

20

There is only one grand chamber for all MPO performance. I always wonder what would every inches of the chamber feel, to be there for every performances, years over years. Will they bask in the good musics and wear the heavenly notes as a scented coat? Or will they ever get bored of the harps and violin, cello and drums? Will they be inspired or moved, or depressed or sorrowed by every moves of the conductor?

I guess it's like asking how does the moon feel, watching the Earth years after years - civil wars, family affairs, changes in political leaders, rise and fall of economy, heart breaks, natural disaster, the invention of electricity and penicillin, every birth and death.

While all human does, is to live the moment as it is. I love MPO performances, and I like to attend it with friends. It's been a great evening to attend Operatic Gems conducted by Claus Peter Flor with Soprano singer Nicole Cabell, with Sue Lee.

21

Just came back from my last debate training with the kids in KTSN. I only managed to attend one round as I needed to get back and get ready for MPO at 8:30pm later. And hopefully get something else done as well, such as laundry and wrap books - bought some books during the KVBC and couldn't wait to start reading already. I've started on one but still prefer to wrap it up before continue reading. And I still haven't done with HY's The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

Anyway, I wanted to write down my favourite conversations with the debaters. But I can't really remember how those conversations were initiated, or ended. I remembered I laughed a lot throughout all conversations. Like, hilariously. And they're funny effortlessly.

Jeremy: Pau, I've finally found out the shortest way to come to KTSN from Bangi!

Pau: Which is?

Jeremy: come out from istana then straaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiighhhhtt then turn left then it's KTSN!

Dev: Why do you have to say "straaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiighhhhtt" and not just "straight"?

Jeremy: Because the road is really long! It's 9km!

Have I told you Jeremy is indeed a drama king?

And oh, one shouldn't miss the way Kevin and Jeremy have their impromptu talk show, live.

It's very comfortable and warm to be with them. Saturday afternoons should be like this :)