of mustard-tinged resolutions

To start the year with my usual musings would be far too normal and wouldn't resonate the sense of excitement and eagerness I seem to have awoken this year thus far. But first, in true klutzworks-style (if ever there was such a thing), let me recap the final moments of 2006 as I lived it:
November with the usual rigmarole of work and play - celebrated nal's birthday, aisling and mohan got hitched, made a few new friends, discovered more of melbourne with the parentals,
December: relished in my last few days for the year in Melbourne before returning to the homeland to play tour guide extroardinaire, spent the last 14 days of 2006 eating, shopping, discovering new and old sightseeing spots, catching up and running into friends and comrades from school days.
Highlights: Puff's houseparty, Nal's xmas party, Attic (random night with high school, college,and uni friends), NYE @ Attic, The Band @ Ol' Skool...
and most importantly, remembering all the days gone by - the bad and the good, thick and thin, and reliving the moments with the people who count the most. BIG HUGS!

Things to remember for the new year (and for when I begin the arduous task of re-reading past posts for the sake of re-reading past posts): the mind is a fertile ground - letting it go barren is as rubbish as making a flowerpot house pebbles; salt makes everything more palatable, sugar masks the pinch; finishing is just the icing, starting takes the cake. Yes, these are my goals for the year (what? what code?!!).
oh, and yellow is in..for the long-haul. the blues can get pretty stale.

LOVE HUGS AND CHOCOLATE COOKIE CHUNK PEACE.
:O)

somewhere along the way...

i've lost all rational thought. i have no sense of direction. my head feels like an empty vessel just waiting to pounce on anything even remotely educational to fill that void. and yet it doesn't seem to care if it answers questions or not. are there even questions, i cant be sure. in the same breadth, i have a gazillion things on my 'to-do (theoretically) list' which i have not even attempted but am hungering leap into RIGHT NOW. unfortunately, many of the (fun) and most suitable things (for me at this point in my life - age, thirst for adventure, social standing) are not quite within my grasp due to the monetary aspect. i know things can happen, if you want it badly enough. but do i really? do i want to spend 'x' amount of money (of which i will have to work my butt off to attain- byebye 48 hour weekends!) on i) a brand new setting/life or ii) on further studies. both may have a drastic (not negatively) impact on my life and career goals. but then again, one may have me on more of a solid footing even during the process. AND SINCE WHEN did my blog become a site for my philosophical agonising and whingeing...

i digress. but like always. SO MANY PATHS TO TAKE. BUT WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

like eating copenhagen ice cream in manly...

You Are Chocolate Ice Cream

You have a flair for the dramatic and love to party. Your personality is super strong and unique. Many people crave you constantly - while you turn a few off. You are most compatible with coffee ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

things to make the stuffy nose & head go away...

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

setting adrift my memory bliss..

it's mildly saddening (and i swear that was not an exagerration..cue roll eyes) when people you've come to cherish and uphold in the highest regard become an utter waste of time and space in your ship of friends. It's like this one sailor has decided to defect just to be different (read: to be center of attention) and decides to rope in an unwitting member to fall prey in becoming, ultimately, the villain of the sea (without proper cause and effect). childish. farqin childish. farg.

I am what i am and what i am is what i am...so go get your own boat if it's giving you the shits. And whilst you're about it, take those other two-faced wheezebag-asswipes with you. There. Enough to start up your own bandwagon complete with the shit-stirrers and wipe-ups. All ready to go. SO GO ALREADY. farq.

Well then, the sails are off, the boat is adrift and this is one pirate who has played the role to the end. stump leg and all. acting like an ughly motherchorte, but who gives a damn really.

The sinking feeling is worse than actually being at the bottom. The reality of knowing that I was so easily set adrift and then blamed for keeping afloat sux. But nothing hurts more than the knowledge that you were sailing solo all along. I want to be elsewhere, warm and snug, loved and hugged. I want out now. the clock ticks. I have fallen into destiny's folds.

Either letting go is easy, or I've one too many rash decisions tonight that have in turn made a fool out of me.

Hitting back the hurt ball seems so much easier to do, so here's one for my side.

farq.
you.

the work that wasn't

the work-on-the-side...

i have a confession to make. it isn't really a confession, so to speak. more like a revelation. a personal one, albeit. so, to start off from the beginning, the last month has been spent mostly volunteering at the Oxfam Shop and at events where we've participated on behalf of the organisers or by invitation from other companies/organisers. very exciting, fun-OutThere stuff. and i've met a heap of Awesome People through volunteering, be it other volunteers or customers/supporters of the 'Cause'.
Nonetheless, as much as i REALLY REALLY do like working at the shop (where it's actually more customer service based and more product oriented), i still encounter many moments of panic and anxiety (i think...it's where my heart pounds and i CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME and get on the computer to look/apply JOBS) about finding a monetarily-sound position. i know it sounds hypocritical, but volunteer work makes sense when u can support yourself and you feel happy and want to spread the love. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, i would want to work for a NFP organization if given a choice. wait. let me change that. i would want to work for a NFP organisation whose work and work ethic completely meld with principles i hold true. and having worked at this agency, i realise that no matter how true to the standards (of being a nfp agency and for the cause which they champion) the founders mean it to be, there is always risk of straying-"we are only human". it's heaps worse when the errors aren't even due to callousness. when it's due to downright loss of vision-when we forget what we were fighting for, in the first place. when we succumb to committing the same type of crimes as those we accuse of perpetrating them. but i digress.
all i want, at this point, is to experience more of the world, more of what the world has to offer. i have an opportunity that many are still struggling to attain, that many are struggling to fight for for others. SO i shall make myself useful, and use it. the opportunity, that is.
and by the way. since i'm already rambling and rolling and digressing, Oppression and Discrimination and Racism takes place on MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS. think of it as being a domino effect. a chain reaction, of sorts. our every move has an after-effect.
all the same, i still am adamant at selling my soul to the demons of advertising, for the purpose of extracting relevant information and developing skills to contribute to the CAUSES FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

this is the current me: volunteer, looking for (other) opportunities
this is the ideal me: workaholic with a penchant for volunteer endeavours

CONCLUSION?

i am so not hippy...yet.

and i dont want to be hypocritical like some people i've met along the way..seriously, why bother saving the world (no, not the world..just the poor bloody-mostly-Asian countries that can't save themselves..but MAN, IS IT CHEAP to travel there!! *cue rolling eyes, on my part*) when you can't even be arsed to be nice on a daily basis? WHY?
good grief. yes, keep kidding yourself that you're great just cos you do work (that isn't). blech.

i like the people keep it real. They've got the Right Stuff. With the Right Intentions. Some Leftist Appeal, but Lots of Brain Power. i likes. i lurves. i hugs.

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE CHOCOLATE.

the goo that wasn't

WHERE IS THIS SCRUMPTIOUS GOOEY MESSY MELTY OOZY CHOCOLATEY chocolate food WHEN i NEED IT MOST???
WHERE WHERE WHEREEEEEE?????????
gimme back.

if i had green suede shoes...

someone would notice, take big strides up to me, and offer me a job. right there and then. a happy ending. the end.

sigh.
and then there are the days where you just know you're going stumble upon that perfectjob (an oxymoron, if i ever saw one! ok, no. i didnt mean that. there are dream jobs out there, dammit!)
I WILL I HAVE TO i MUST.
"we're off to see the wizard.."

this one i couldn't help

my inner child? this one i couldn't go past.

Your Inner Child Is Happy

You see life as simple, and simple is a very good thing. You're cheerful and upbeat, taking everything as it comes. And you decide not to worry, even when things look bad. You figure there's just so many great things to look forward to.

How Is Your Inner Child?

quote me

You Should Get a PhD in Liberal Arts (like political science, literature, or philosophy)

You're a great thinker and a true philosopher. You'd make a talented professor or writer.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

destined for more ambiguity! there was this one dialogue i had with my philosophical uncle (a spiritual guide, in his own right) where we discussed extensively the idea of the gray (as opposed to black & white..yes, i'm serious). we feel ill-prepared and discouraged to try paths less trodden on. WHY? no doubt, each move one makes should be an analysed one, calculated even. but, sometimes, during all the hours of pondering, we overlook the most important voice of all: our own. do what YOU feel is right. the other voices that surround you are meant to create a platform from which you can make an educated and well-informed decision. life is challenging. and decisions seem life-threatening. but if assumption "is the mother of all fuck-ups", then we cannot assume. and we cannot deprive ourselves of the rainbow that may await us right in the middle of the gray matter. rainbows are made up from rain and sunshine. gray is from black and white. 1+1=3. :O)

*this is awesome, i get to be even more convoluted than before...with a purpose!

stark raving random

(yes, i made the one with covered up with choc buttons..a proud moment!)

one of many self-explanatory photos captured during the 4th quarter of last year..
getting creative in bims' shower...(to put it in perspective, it was thanksgiving!)

i heart
...melbourne

ON TO THE NEXT!

rather than go with the usual long-winded shpiel reflecting on the old, and gingerly predicting the future, i figured i'd just be...random :O) ok. maybe i'll just do the season's greetings and well wishes before i indulge in my (questionable) artistic flair. heh.

LURVEYALOTSL.BIG HUGS.ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND BESTEST OF WISHES IN ALL EXPLORATIONS (yes, even if it's a self-help book) AND LIFE (in general!)

now i've decided to discard my initial thoughts and be reflective. because one learns from one's past, but one should always remember to live in the present, whilst having outlines/plans for the future. never mind that it sounds like a handful..erm, i guess it's like never judging a book by its cover. words are like a cover to a story. it's the inner information that is all the juice, where we're able to derive further meaning (if at all). to deal with the right here, right now, and see it in a positive light with supercharged enthusiasm, i think it is important to have moments of dealing with the past. the modus operandi of each individual may differ...given that our reasons or experiences would have affected or been dealt with in our distinct individual style. of course, this brings us to the core of my post...i'm relating to my past year through verbal reflection. especially in these last few days, i've noticed several disctint points: i) engaging in discourse allows for a wealth of opinions and sentiments that may relate or teach one new avenues ii) being more open to criticism and differing views iii)having to publicly disclose my thoughts on previously grievious subjects affords me the skill of managing and organizing my thoughts in a less-random structure, ie. there is a point to my rambling...and then, of course, there's clarity, patience-calm&collectiveness iv) the feeling of letting-go,accepting my newfound knowledge from the past and learning to use it in newer pastures v) there are more than just my own eyes and ears watching out for me..all equipped with the same first-hand information your past. or something like that.
more tracks to be made tomorrow.
but for now, the temporary sydneysider must retire in an effort to make the most of days coming forth. hugsywugsypuddingnppies. much love.

drawing on my inner child...

You're an Etch-a-Sketch!! You're the creative, artsy type who doesn't need to actually utilize a single muscle group in order to have fun. Doesn't matter though, you're still cool.>

of course, i had to take a quiz on a site which doesnt have the right sort of code for blogspot...but never mind. i'd like to think i've left some part of this post to the imagination, never mind if it was unintentional. hah. explore realms of visualization like never before. in technicolour*.

*and then, of course, you realize that etch-a-sketches of the 80's generation weren't exactly colourful, save for the orange casing.**

**orange is a colour, so technically...

ok. i've left the building. peace out.

a bit of mena chi...

look what i found on one of my walks in may 2005. my parents, who were with me at the time, weren't the slightest bit disturbed by my over-excitement at the discovery. they've just put it down to me being eccentric. bah.

if tit were to look for mena, what better place to start! :O)
this still cracks me up.

drippetydrippetyplop

drip drip drip
the tap leaks
my nose runs
raindrops roll off the window pane

i sneeze
it shakes
the computer
almost breaks

my body needs time out
my mind wants to play
my stuffy nose puts a halt
to the oxygen passage way

gimme a fruit
surely that's key
to make the nose
less leaky

i skip i run i hop hop hop
my leaky nose runs drip drip drop

just a few of my favourite kl things...

where the heart is

cow n chicken

mmm...droolworthy, i swear!

that's what friends are for...good pictures. hehe.

according to this quiz...

Your Nail Polish Color is Black

How you're unique: There's nothing about you that isn't unique Why your style rocks: You are a total indie chick... and you can pull it off What this color says about you: "I'm a trendsetter and don't care what anyone else is doing!"

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

ok. i'm maintaining that the heat has made my nails turn a different shade of COLOUR here (with a li'l help from my mother's friends at the nail shop...). presenting stage 1 of Ops.Makeover-KLstyle. ahem. (help!!)

and yes, that's a flower motif on my big toe. shup.

suasana meriah!

I"VE BEEN EATING practically EVERY WAKING moment since i got here!!!

take today, for instance...after spending the WHOLE morning (i'm talking 4.5hours!!!!!!!!) milling around impatiently at the immigration office (with 100s of disgruntled and unshowered passport seeking citizens) just to submit a renewal form, i was treated to a nasi beriyani lunch by the family, in the sweltering heat. YUMMMMMM! never mind that i've been trying to rid my stomach of the pesky mild food poisoning bug since yesterday...oh, and that i was still in the midst of digesting my b'fast of a roti canai with sambal. ahem.
and then, my bro n his gf took me out to town to have looksy at handyphones...but as my mother predicted, i was to come home later with the dad's same wonky, old mobile i left to town with (which, btw, is only worth RM20 on the market...not that there is even one for it, to begin with, but we just thought we'd ask!). :O) oh well. nothing caught my fancy, and everything that may have sparked a glint of interest was priced out of my budget. but such is...i'll have another browse next week.
so, when we'd decided we'd had enough of mobiles and BO ridden crowds, we decided to plop ourselves down at a coffee bean joint to refuel our individual fatty counts, whilst amusing ourselves with a picture session that only planks of a certain genre would be proud of. heh.
then, we walked a few more rounds, bought some games and dvds, and drove our junk-ship home. upon arrival, i ran to the loo for a quick wash-up, then was picked up by my honorable chindian counterpart for our first night-time outing in 2 WHOLE years. we found parking, skipped to a spanish eating and watering hole in the vicinity to meet up with engaged couple. woogles and i had: a jug of red sangria (ahem...), two tapas, and a warm melty chocolate dessert. ai may & senghong had a beer and a tiramisu. 1.5hours and two vacant chairs later, our table housed a very full & tipsy woogles and a very full & amused me. but right after our last shared morsel of cake, we made our merry way down to devi's corner for a nescafe ais, milo suam, and a plate of mee goreng. ahem. ( and still i wonder why my tummy feels constantly bloated...) :O)
is was 12.20am by then, and we were all set (tummies and otherwise) to roll home. sigh of content. the festivities have begun and are well contained within the confines of my stomach! exercise is in order...maybe next week? :O) heh.
thank you, wooogles!!BIG HUGS!

ah ah yeh yeh

balik kampung....

a) my passport needed to be rescanned in the special office at the oz airport. i was LEAVING the country?! i took my place next to an indian and a chinese. looks-wise, we would have made tourism m'sia proud.
b) i started to choke up when they played a video about 20 mins before landing, highlighting the beauty and progress that only a country so immersed in its overflowing "melting pot" would be able to advertise..do they even know the implications of the melting pot syndrome? never mind. i felt teary anyways. for that split second. and then, i watched the rest of the video through a squint, as only a cynic at her best would. and THEN, i wanted to laugh. because no self respecting country would end a "you've made the ultimate choice in holidaying in m;sia" video without so much as a salam to heart gesture from the the ultimate word on travel and tours, the tourism minister himself. who is no other than the father of a certain bespectacled young man with whom i had add maths tuition with, in upper secondary school. heh.
c) when i was about to leap out into the polluted kl atmosphere (i swear there's a distinct smell), i was wished a "selamat hari raya" in a very natan manner by a stewardess. and she had to repeat herself, cos it didn't register the first time. and as it sunk in, my history and reality of being a malaysian IN malaysia thwacked me on the head...DUH! mat mena. here we go. rock.
d) i rolled my bag out into the mass of people in the arrivals waiting area (most of whom turned out to be very hyper taxi drivers...it was 6.45am!!) and amidst the confusion weaving a 28kg bag through human road blocks, i smiled whilst declining a taxi offer...the doode looks at his friend next to him, "eh...lawa". the friend replies,"yalah, kan gadis malaysia".
OHMYGOODNESS.

i have resolved to practice my bo-chap look. :O) super plank!
in general, its amazing how just by virtue of my looks and gender, i fall into a certain category where even reciprocating a smile (with one of the opposite sex) can bear consequences of quite a traumatising degree.
my memory has been triggered. i'm plugged in. en garde!

handy

yes, for real. those are painted nails. in fushcia, no less. the result of a bims & tit 'we-need-retail-therapy-friday' after work outing.

and that's what it looks like when you plop on an accessory :O) hello!