Monday's Child

"Molten Liquid Gold" - Photography by Clark Little

Poem by Mother Goose

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

This rhyme was first recorded in A. E. Bray's Traditions of Devonshire in 1838 and was collected by James Orchard Halliwell in the mid-nineteenth century.

Meet Joe Black ... well HELL-O!

With the realization that my day off was coming to an end, the stress of still having stacks of articles left unread welled up. I found myself parked on the couch multi-tasking between typing out a project proposal on my laptop and watching the 1998 movie Meet Joe Black on Astro TV.

The movie had already been playing for slightly more than an hour. The storyline was interesting but I didn't completely "get it" because I had missed the beginning; I continued to watch the movie anyway. I would normally have switched channels or moved on to something else.

Truth is, I couldn't keep my eyes off the principal character Joe Black. Actor Brad Pitt, then 10 years younger, with his boyish good looks was just too difficult to dismiss. He seemed to have the best of pretty boy Rob Lowe and handsome Robert Redford ... and was completely mesmerizing. Breathtaking like a saint, and yet, he played the character of Death/Angel of Death.

A brief synopsis of the movie for those of you who have yet to see this old movie:

Joe Black and Bill Parrish enter into a most unusual gentleman's agreement. Wealthy media tycoon William Parrish leads a charmed existence until Death comes calling with an extraordinary proposition - he'll delay Bill's imminent demise in exchange for a tour of life. Innocent, enigmatic and often hilarious, Joe disrupts Bill's world of privilege and corporate intrigue. But when he falls for Bill's beautiful daughter, Joe threatens to change the rules. Now Bill must fight not for his future, but for those he loves in this bittersweet tale of life and death.

Written by Robert Lynch

Well that's not all, the movie ends with two of my favorite songs - combined into one theme song - Somewhere over the rainbow / What a wonderful world.

• Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

More Israel Kamakawiwo'ole music on iLike

Now, back to the books ... .

Time for some comic relief ...

Golly, it sure has been extremely, heart-breakingly stressful ... hard-pressed, shaken-up and completely running over with all possible negativity and attacks from all aspects of professional and personal life ... I think I have gone almost completely mad!

But laughter never fails to be the panacea for the downtrodden ...

Joke of the day:

An English university creative writing class was asked to write a concise essay containing the following elements:

1) Religion
2) Royalty
3) Sex
4) Mystery

The prize-winner wrote:

'My God,' said the Queen,
'I'm pregnant. I wonder who the father is.'


Another one closer to home would read ...

What is the latest brand of instant noodles in Malaysia, the land where all things can become possible?

The incredulous answer is ... and all Malaysians chime ...
"SO DO MEE!"

As embarrassed as I am and for my beloved nation, I really cannot help but burst out laughing ...

In case you are not aware, do read this article on the laughable talk of town.

Goodness, it does seem like many are having a hard time of late ... may God never allow those destined to rise be suppressed and wiped out before their time. There is a calling for a few to stand up and be counted ... for such a time as this.

OK, so much for the comic relief, I now return to the battlefield of Goliaths.

The Sandpaper of sandpapers

Of course, I absolutely just love my friends, don't I? We have decided that we would be like sandpaper to one another ... you know, like iron sharpens iron, and all ...

I was told that we need such friends from time to time. Fortunately or unfortunately, this one is just a "ping" away ... LOL.

It looks like I just took home the trophy on this one. My loyal friend "pings" me and dedicates these wonderfully written lyrics to me ...

You Are The Sandpaper Of My Life
You’re the sandpaper in my life
That's why I'll always be in pain,
You are the finger in my eye,
Forever I wish I was slain

Although this is the beginning,
In truth it feels like a million years,
And if I thought my grief was ending,
I'd find myself laughing in my own tears

You’re the sandpaper in my life
That's why I'll always be in pain,
You are the finger in my eye,
Forever I wish I was slain

You must have known I needed sanding,
Because you came and scrubbed on cue,
And I know that this feels like heaven,
How could so much grit be inside of you?

You’re the sandpaper in my life
That's why I'll always be in pain,
You are the finger in my eye,
Forever I wish I was slain

[Background]
Pain has joined us,
Grace has joined us,
Let's think refining.

The above lyrics are to be sung to Stevie Wonder's "You are the Sunshine of My Life")



Awwww, thanks J. You're so thoughtful to have spent all this time writing this just to remind me what a sandpaper I am to you ... I don't know whether to be flattered or what.

As always, I am just laughing out loud ... :-D

What are the odds ...

I am still quite baffled with the recent events that have taken place in my life. In total, I have found four buddies whom I can climb with in the past three months, but for some reason, none of them were able to make it for this past week and likely this coming week.

Climb buddy #1: A scuba diving buddy, we began climbing together. She fell and injured herself in January. The sprained ankle is taking a long time to heal. She will, hopefully, climb again in mid-March ... yes, that's just two weeks away!

By the way, we are now knitting buddies ... LOL!

Climb buddy #2: Began rather enthusiastically end last year. She went for a minor surgery to remove a cyst on her foot over the Christmas holidays. She did try to climb with me in January but her wound bursts open just before she was to meet me for climbing. She is prone to having kiloids and has been advised to keep off strenous activities for a few months to allow the wound to completely heal.

She has since taken up Japanese and is faithfully attending those classes. She may return to climbing someday soon.

Climb buddy #3: Also a scuba diving buddy, she has recently signed up for a 10-entry pass to the climbing gym but can only climb as and when work is not too hectic. She is also a member of a fitness gym and has made a decision to frequent the fitness gym more than the climbing one. I guess I won't be seeing or climbing much with her.

Climb buddy #4: Has become a more active climber since January. However, she climbs only once a week on Fridays and takes the rest of the week off. If there were other social engagements on Fridays, these would take priority over climbing. I don't blame her given her numbered days in Malaysia.

What are the odds of having four climbing buddies and yet not a single one to climb wtih for a span of 1-2 weeks? Last week, 50 percent of my buddies were out of action due to physical wounds, while the other half had work or social engagements.

At the rate I am going, I might need eight climbing buddies just to be able to climb on a weekly basis!

I can almost feel the banished fat cells from a couple months ago jump for joy as they work their way back to the sedentary areas of my otherwise toned body.

I feel so bummed ... among the many other things ... sigh!

**********************************************************

The only saving grace are my knitting projects. They give my arms and fingers some exercise ...

My absence from the climbing scene this past week has led to the start of a third knitting project - a multi-colored, sleeveless cardigan with shades of pink, red, and maroon. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to finish this one.

I am almost done with knitting project number 1 - the hunter green, bolero-like cardigan. While I missed my personal deadline of completing this by 29 February, the chances of completing it this week are quite high with only 10 inches of collar left to do.

Knitting - the other extreme sport?

Last year, I started this blog over Chinese New Year break, and I have had great fun building my own website and seeking to capture experiences that will last a life time.

I thank you all for keeping up and in touch with me through this blog.

This year, apart from sleeping in every single day of the long Chinese New Year weekend, I will likely be knitting and hope to make greater progress in the two projects I have begun ...

(Above) Project 1: The front of the bolero-like cardigan







(Right) Project 1: The back

Project 2: It will be a grey-white cardigan when it's finished.

The goal is, of course, to complete at least one by the end of February, and the other by May 2008.

Here's wishing those who celebrate this special season Gong Xi Fa Cai and showers of blessings for 2008.

Damsel(s) in Distress!

I thought about this title two weeks ago when my climbing buddy fell from 10 feet high while climbing a boulder. It's not supposed to be a major issue, I don't think, unless one landed awkwardly - like on one side of her foot and proceeded to sprain her ankle. She had all the necessary attention to her injury but still hobbled around at the airport while I became her "blessed" porter.

I say "blessed porter" because we both happened to be travelling out of the country two Sundays ago. She was off to Singapore for work, while I was on my way to Bangkok. And since our flights were an hour apart, I was able to help push her luggage trolley along with mine while she concentrated on walking with three legs (the third being the walking stick acquired from a Mt Kinabalu climb some years ago!)

She resolved to requesting for and travelled on a wheelchair when she got to Changi Airport ... LOL!

With her injured, I too am in distress because ...

1. I now have to get used to climbing alone. And if I don't have a buddy, I can't do top-rope climbing and am restricted to bouldering, and even then, not where it involves climbing upwards (since I have no one to spot me), but rather traversing the boulders ... which really means I will visit Camp5 a lot less than I would like to ... except for doing fun climbing with my new climbing buddies ...

2. The reduced exercise each week has caused some restlessness that in turn may have led to sleepless nights. This all began while I was in Bangkok and has continued until now. The buckwheat tea one evening seemed to have been the miracle cure for insomnia, but then I really couldn't tell if that was THE reason I slept soundly that evening, or the fact that I had not slept a wink in two nights.

Given my resolution and theme to upgrade myself in 2008, it appears that being a damsel in distress has some positive perspectives as well ... the one-on-one private coaching for the time being should technically improve my climbing in leaps and bounds.

The other is I've made tremendous progress with my knitting. For the first project, I am almost at 20 inches with the first sleeve and if I work at this, I should be able to finish it during the Chinese New Year holidays.

I also started a second project - a neck scarf, which I hope can be completed soon, and should be on to a third piece - a simple cardigan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has been a week of milestones ...

1. I've moved to a bigger room so I now have more space to spread the mess! And I think my room looks a lot neater and more tidy. I no longer see match-box cars crawling the streets of KL highways from the 65th floor room at the Twin Towers offices, rather I see the busy traffic of human silhouttes passing by just outside my room and heading towards the entrance/exit of the office. In short, I now have a window-less room and a different kind of view ... like a fish in a fish bowl ... feeling somewhat trapped!

2. I've also been offerred the opportunity to study again. And I really want to do this. While this is great news, it is under prayerful consideration as many factors need to come together before i can spread my wings and begin to fly with this mission. But right now, I need to figure out how to make ends meet ... my wings feel clipped!

So, in short, I feel like a "damsel in distress" ... but certainly not as bad as having kicked off my own fins while swimming against strong currents during the first dive on Christmas Day in Koh Bon last December!

OK ... as history and Hollywood dictate, the damsel in distress ought to have her Prince Charming/hero come to her rescue. Well, either I am blind or he's really late ... .

For all the good times and challenges in life, Psalm 136 bids us all to give thanks to God for His faithful love for us endures forever. This I will do.

Facebook-ed!

I was introduced to Facebook back in May. I didn't think my participation in this latest social network craze would last since I had in mind to focus on keeping the momentum going with this blog.

Six months later, I realized I had religiously checked Facebook and interacted with friends from various parts of my life experiences (regardless of which country they now live in) whenever I was able to get online. I have sensed a certain contentment in being able to stay "connected" with my friends, even if that meant sending a message, posting a note on The Wall, Super Poke stay top-of-mind, challenging yet another to a game of Scrabulous, or solving PuzzleBee.

Today, I asked myself the same question I had months ago - Why am I on Facebook? Why do I seem addicted to Facebook? After all, it is a virtual platform and impersonal when compared to catching up with a friend over coffee.

I remembered this video on my SuperWall. Remembered what and why it is that many are addicted to Facebook. I laughed and couldn't agree more with the quirkiness of human beings in this day an age ...

Winter Time Tests

Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Free Test)
Multiple Intelligences (Free Test)

In such wintery times, where life outside seems all cold and grey, introspective exercises can contribute to one's understanding of oneself, lead one towards new challenges, experiences and discoveries in life.

I, honestly, don't think anybody would be interested to read details about the personality type that I possess, but you just might if your Myers-Briggs personality is an ENTP - Extroverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving.

In a nutshell, I am an ENTP - The "Originator"
ENTPs are logical, innovative, curious and downright inventive. They see possibilities for improvement everywhere and possess the ability to understand complex concepts. ENTPs are introspective and carefree nonconformists. They often neglect the more common areas of life while pursuing new solutions. ENTPs can be good conversationalists and exciting company.

A comprehensive description of such a personality type can be found at this ENTP site ... so much details that it's rather boring. However, there was this blurb that I thought was quite good:

At midlife ENTP's can allow their tendency to experiment recklessly to get out of hand and may destroy or discard the work of half a lifetime, both in personal relationships and in careers. Energy spent in sorting out priorities and values may be a good investment at this time. Developing an increased awareness of emotional reactions and expanding the intensity and range of these through self-development work may be something ENTP's might want to consider at midlife. An increased repertoire of introverted-type activities; for example, gardening, painting, or reading may be a source of pleasure to ENTP's.

Ah ... perhaps this explains the internal turmoils that I have been experiencing ... and the increased appetite for chick lits - well, I don't quite understand how that contributes to self-development but it sure makes for good laughs.

And then, there was the multiple intelligences test that provides an indication of your learning style. This is what came out for me:

Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
People with Kinesthetic intelligence love movement. They enjoy sports and/or dance. They are good at building things and like to stay active. They have good motor skills and are very aware of their bodies. They learn best through movement and experimentation.

Yes, perhaps I should seriously consider coming out of dance retirement and learn to move, experiment, and create once again ... I can already foresee my body retaliating, screaming in pain!

Intrapersonal Intelligence
People with intrapersonal intelligence are adept at looking inward and figuring out their own feelings, motivations and goals. They are introspective and seek understanding. They are intuitive and typically introverted. They learn best independently.

Oh no, that sounds like winter time for eternity :-P. Seriously, such quiet times are absolutely necessary to consider one's ways, see the vision, chart the course, before realizing the dream!

And of all self-evaluating instruments I have experienced today, I found this from facebook the most interesting. Why? Because it elicited an "uh huh" from me: I am a METAL PIG!

In your amorous quest, don't dash into the dark; let your tender feelings work on your beloved one--for when the fruit's ripe, it'll fall by itself! Don't disdain the small profits that pass within your reach--the one who doesn't bend down to pick-up a penny doesn't deserve to find a pound. Learn how to save. Dermatological care will be favored--avoid over-smoking or drinking too much alcohol, definitely go without delicatessen and canned foods.

General description of all pigs
"Its better to give than to receive" would probably be the Pig's motto. Pigs are more comfortable giving of their own time or attention than they are to ask others for it. They do not find asking for help an easy task and would rather carry the burden themselves. Pigs will do anything they can to maintain a sense of peace amongst family or friends. This can lead to a tendency to be taken advantage of, but Pigs basically forgive and forget everything. They are compassionate souls who simply want to keep the peace.

I beg to differ on the "forgive and forget everything" part. It's more likely they have too many things happening and too much of thinking going on that they forget easily. I've been known to be forgetful and absentminded ... and perhaps it really is age that is catching up!

Detailed description of the metal pig
Outspoken and confident, Metal Pigs give 110% for everything they do. They throw themselves into relationships with others completely, sometimes to a fault. These Pigs are headstrong and diligent in the workplace, honest and caring in a relationship and trustworthy with everyone he meets unless given reason not to be. Metal Pigs usually give people more credit than they deserve but when challenged can be a hard nut to crack.

Of integrity and burps ...

It all started with integrity and ended up with a burp!

The past few weeks seemed to have gone by so slowly. It must have been the hardest weeks of my life and truth be told ... I am not sure when this difficult season is going to be over. I have never felt so stressed, mentally drained and physically exhausted.

I taught a class on Christians@Work and how having integrity is so important for Christians. By "integrity" I mean knowing who we are in God (our identity) and living out a life that is reflective of who we say we are and what we say we will do.

And so the test began ...

I found myself suddenly overloaded with work. I blew most of my deadlines. Everyone was edgy. And to top it all, Murphy's Law was at work. Whatever that could possibly go wrong, went wrong. Everything was urgent, and things just didn't go as planned. From having your company's speaker arriving at the wrong hotel to having your company name spelt "ASS ...." on the meeting room door and many more! The most frustrating thing was, it was all completely out of my control.

Time out came this weekend. I went for a four-hour massage spa and cremebath. It was heavenly beginning with a sauna then a body scrub followed by a 90-minute body massage and ending with a cremebath for my hair. But I must say, it was one of the most noisy massages I have ever been through. The Indonesian masseuse kept burping throughout the massage from the time she started massaging my feet all the way through to my shoulders and arms when I was given the cremebath.

I was later told that I was the reason for all that noise (burp!) from the masseuse. Apparently this is a common occurance when Malay or Indonesian massuese massages her customers. If the "wind" that's accumulated in your body does not come out from the customers via burps or farts then it gets passed on to the masseuse and she would have no choice but to release the "wind" by burping. Well, I must say it was my first time experiencing a burping masseuse.

Well ... it is also the most stressful time I have ever been in!

Given all the misfortunes in my life of late, frankly, I am just thankful that it wasn't me burping or farting away. It would have been an extremely embarrassing moment considering my colleague was just next door!

Anyway, moral of the story is life sucks from time to time. Sometimes, having done all, things can still go very wrong. There's no right or wrong nor should one be pointing the finger at someone else or oneself.

I still haven't got it all figured out. It there was one thing I learnt through this time so far, it's to have a clear conscience that I have done my best and it's now time to trust God to do the rest. The burps, tears and laughter in the low seasons help release tension and provide a good night's sleep.

I highly recommend massages to get through tough times. The next time you go through one, remember "Burp!"

WANTED: The Alternative Male

I had an out-of-this-world conversation with a friend today. I didn't expect the surprising twists and turns in the conversation; nevertheless, I found the entire exchange rather amusing.

The conversation with a friend went like this ...

I said: I am headed to Bangkok this weekend. Apart from work, perhaps, I may get some sightseeing done. But I really don't know what I should be doing as a single gal - should I roam the streets of Bangkok or just head straight for the shopping complex? Or God forbid, hide in my hotel room and work throughout every single waking hour of my weekend?

She said: Hey, I know a friend, who may be willing to show you around. He is a really nice guy and enjoys meeting people and showing them around. He could also take you to a really good tailor and you could get a few suits made.

I said (thinking that she was trying to set me up): Really? He wouldn't mind showing a complete stranger around?

She said: Don't worry, he's a really nice guy. Dresses really well. He's really good in terms of giving advice on which tie patterns are in and which one's out. He's also enjoys cooking and getting everyone together for a meal. ... He also would be the one to do up the interiors of the home ...

I said: Wow! Sounds like a really cool guy ...

I am thinking: WOW! He doesn't mind cooking ... and cleaning, perhaps! He also likes decorating the house. He also sounds like the perfect host! Hummmm ....

She said: Oh but I've got to warn you ... he's gay!

(Surprised and at a lost for words) I said: Gay!!!!! Does he look gay?

She said: No he doesn't. He looks Thai!

I said (somewhat laughing, amazed that I am having this conversation): Oh! No kidding! Really? He sounds like a really, really nice guy. Perhaps, a good catch for me ... he can do all the cooking, cleaning, and decorations for the home ... all the things that I don't do well or if at all ...

She said (trying to conceal her shock): And he also is a really good listener and likes to get into all the details!

I said (smiling contentedly): Cool! Happy to meet with him this weekend if he doesn't mind showing a complete stranger around. I think he will be a good match for me (wink!)

She said (trying to keep a straight face): I am sure he wouldn't mind meeting you for lunch at the very least.

I said: Yes, if he doesn't mind, I would be happy to meet with him. He doesn't need to be there the whole afternoon. If he could just point out the places to visit, things to see, and how to get there ... I am sure I would be able to fill my weekend nicely. (Grin)

Facebook Question: What is the one thing I learnt today?

Answer: My best bet for a life partner could very well be an alternative guy, who enjoys cooking, cleaning, enjoys interior decorations, fashion consultation, and enjoy the details ... generally things that I don't have time to do or don't like to do! Hahahaha!

The afterthought: Mind you, the alternative male could be someone who naturally enjoys the "finer" or "fairer" things in life - an absolutely acceptable modern male attribute. They may not be the typical macho Marlboro men as society has portrayed the "real" men to be, but that does not necessarily mean they are gay. I prefer to call them the alternative (modern) male, who are not afraid to get in touch with their emotions or seek to express himself in creative ways that used to be stereotypical attributes for females.

As for those who thrive in the corporate rat race, let us not forget that at the end of the race, we will still be rats! As "ratty" as we may be in the corporate world, we all (or at least I) desire to return to a place that exuberates peace, comfort, and love. It may not be a place where I spend all my energies trying to pull together ... that's where I think the alternative male partner would complement me and be brilliant in being who he naturally is!

A Superhero in the the making ...

Life's been like an emotional roller coaster of late. It's difficult for me to express what it is that I am going through so I have turned to doing what some might call "nonsensical" quizzes to help "lighten" the atmosphere and hopefully alleviate the unfounded fears and sense of disorientation that have been plaguing my otherwise peaceful rest ...

I chanced upon several fun quizzes that help you determine your comic superheros while reading an old friend's blog. He's not literally "old" but I best remember him from my very first missions trip to Khon Kean, Thailand, in the mid-90s. He was the leader of the group. I digress ...

Back to the quizzes ... it helps to know that my X-Men Personality is Storm. Controlling the weather (atmokinesis) might be her mutant talent, but it's her sharp wit and loyalty that make her a valuable asset to the X-Men crew. Ororo Munroe, known for her ability to spark lightening storms and command rain and snow, is consumed by her allegiance to Professor X's goal of peacefully coexisting with humans. Storm is one of the oldest and respected members of the X-Men squad, often acting as its second in command.

Then there's the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz and it turns out that my inner superhero is Spider-Man / Catwoman. There's a dark side to you, but you always end up doing the right thing. With great power comes greater responsibility, so don't be fooled by the glitz and get caught in a web of evil.

It helps to day dream a little about the great and mighty things that my superhero personalities can fulfill in this life time!

Perhaps, I could also someday partake of supernatural wonders of such majestic scale. After all didn't the Bible characters Moses part the Red Sea or Joshua the Jordon River? or Daniel who came out of the fiery furnace unscathed or out of the lion's den alive? or Jesus (then Peter ... and then not!) who walked on water?

I believe God has given us the ability to exercise the supernatural in our natural realms, where miracles can and should perhaps be common place for those who know God and seek to fulfill His purposes in a needy world!

It feels like I am going through some kind of transition. It feels like I have just journeyed down a tunnel towards the light that is at the end of the tunnel. It feels like I just got flushed out into the deep blue as if I were a little fish called Nemo or the high-society mouse butler (from Flushed Away). At that point, my senses require a refocusing to adapt to the vastness of the deep blue.

It will take time to orientate myself to this new level or perspective. I would like to be able to see God do greater things in and through my life and see the nations blessed. For isn't this one of the reasons He has called us to partner Him in world missions?

My personality in a flash!

Was reading other people's blog and found this- What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Gosh, this is pretty accurate, don't you think? If you've been following my blog entries or if you know me pretty well, you just may find yourself nodding your head to a lot of these descriptions about me. Some parts of it seems utterly rubbish though! Read on ...

Your Birthdate: November 29

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet. (1/2 Temper + 1/2 mental?) Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings. (Blogging?) You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments. (I need my space!) You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action. (Thankfully, I also know a BIG GOD!) Your strength: Your vivid imagination (Absolutely! I had nightmares after seeing Talented Mr Ripley & was swinging down the banister escaping villains after X-Men) Your weakness: Fear of failure (Well, nobody likes to fail, right?) Your power color: Coral (Brings out the color or the lack of it on my face :-! ) Your power symbol: Oval (My face shape :-) Your power month: November (I gain a year!)

Get yours and share with me.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?