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Archive for the Category »Life «

When The Night Comes

22 Apr 2009 by Legendria

I awoke with a start, the primal instinct taking over as the first thought that urged my body to move was ‘RUN!’ And I ran, all the way to my mom’s room, hammering away at the door, which she had locked.

Before anyone starts thinking that I’m a mommy’s girl, let me de-mist the situation.

A few nights ago, when I had finally drifted off to sleep at 2 a.m., I was jostled out of my slumber by a very loud, very long thunder. Mingled in with my instinct to run was my rational (or irrational, whichever you may please) thought saying, “The end of the world is here. The monster has awaken from the land.” (For those who don’t understand, ask a Muslim about the monster that is supposed to emerge when the end of the world is nigh). In all my life, I have never heard a thunder that sounds so much like a monster roaring at the heavens, and I have been through some of the worst rainstorms to hit my area.

I couldn’t sleep for an hour after that. I had to psychically and mentally calm my body down, which was unfortunately still on edge at every single sound, the muscles twitching in preparation for leap. I woke up a few hours later, exhausted and tensed. It was not a good feeling. Big Frown

It makes me wonder whether anyone else has a problem like mine. My house used to be extremely sensitive to thunder and lightning so the slightest thunder vibration will automatically shut the whole house’s electrical system, engulfing us in darkness. Ever since I saw a ghost in my room at the age of 14, I wasn’t able to sleep without a light on after that and so, somewhat as per Pavlov’s classical conditioning, whenever there’s rain at night, I will wake up scared. Why? Because rain = thunder = electricity off = darkness = something I don’t want to see!!!

Yeah, yeah, call me a baby. Mad Razz But can I help it if it’s been imprinted in me? I’m only fine if someone is sleeping with me but since I’m not married and I don’t have any siblings staying with me, I have to make do by kidnapping my cat to sleep with me on my bed. Which he doesn’t mind, by the way, since he’s scared of thunder as well. Grin

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Does Anyone Still Want To Use Taxis?

02 Apr 2009 by Legendria

Yesterday, as I was slurping up some Wan Tan Mee for brunch, I read what may have been one of the worst suggestions ever made regarding our ‘dear’ Malaysian taxis. As I’m sure most Malaysians, and a few unlucky tourists, know, we’ve been having problems with our local taxi drivers, what with the lack of using the meters, refusal to send passengers to certain areas, and of course, marking up the fare. Mad

Malaysian Taxi (from Getty Images)

Malaysian Taxi (from Getty Images)

So, in The Star paper yesterday (Wednesday, 1st April 2009), a short article by Lester Kong was highlighting these rogue taxi drivers. The Road Transport Department, better known as JPJ, was going to “send show-cause letters to 612 taxi drivers”, demanding them to respond within three weeks in regards to their “offenses of not using meters, overcharging, not displaying their driver cards and refusing to pick up passengers.” Would you believe that a JPJ operation showed that only 15 out of 627 drivers followed these regulations? It definitely explains the mistrust we have towards Malaysian taxi drivers in general.

Anyway, the article continued on with some suggestions on curbing this irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour, and here is the suggestion that I mentioned earlier. “Taxi drivers and associations have suggested to the Government to increase the starting meter fare from RM2 to RM4 if they want taxi drivers to behave.”

What the hell??!!

Do you know what that sounds like? It’s like asking the public to pay the taxi drivers so that they would behave. It’s like, “Hey, I’ll give you two additional ringgit if you’d switch on your meter and send me here during the most jammed time.” It’s like what Malays often do to little children to get them to start fasting, i.e. a ringgit for each day they fast. Are they going to try and use it to the snatch-thieves as well? “Let’s give all snatch-thieves RM5 so that they won’t harm the public anymore.”

Look, regardless how much you raise the starting meter, it would not work. What’s the point of gaining an extra measly RM2 when you can gain at least RM5 to RM10 more by overcharging passengers or putting a fixed rate to go somewhere? I had one taxi driver asking me to pay him RM25 for a journey from KLCC to Lake Garden without his meter. Hello??!! I doubt the journey costs that much.

Malaysian Taxi Driver (from www.daylife.com)

Malaysian Taxi Driver (from www.daylife.com)

Moving on, one of the interviewed taxi drivers claimed that the starting meter rate was set 13 years ago and that it should be reviewed as prices for most other goods and services were raised parallel to the economic growth. Personally, the rate that should be increased is the rate per kilometer, not the starting meter fare. That, in my opinion, is more fair and makes much more sense what with our up-and-down petrol prices, wear-and-tear of the taxi and other factors that I won’t go through here.

Look, there’s always a root to every problem. Based on the articles, voiced-out opinions and forums I read, the root is so diverse and points to many directions. Some say the taxi drivers’ moral values should be questioned for using such underhanded tricks. Others point the finger of blame to the taxi companies that imposed high rates for the lease and permit on the drivers, a number which they are unable to meet. Then, of course, there’s the story (which I don’t know is true or not so don’t ask me) that the private taxi companies are owned by ‘cronies of certain organizations’. A few people complain that the Government is at fault because the public is suffering by paying these ‘additional rates’, not the Government, thus the reason why the Government is not reacting. So, which is the root of the problem? All or them? None of them?

Whatever it is, I think it is best for the moment to avoid taking unscrupulous taxi drivers. If the taxi driver refuses to use a meter, refuse to ride with him. He’ll then have to waste precious time and wait for another passenger to consider using his service. At the airport, PLEASE take the taxis that use the coupon system, not the ones that hound you as soon as you leave the arrival hall. Be safe.

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How to Behave at a Wedding

18 Mar 2009 by Legendria

I have been to my fair share of weddings over the years, weddings of relatives, friends and strangers. My most recent one is my friend’s brother’s wedding where I helped out as an usher. I noticed, after this latest event, most Malaysians are not aware of how to behave at weddings. Here’s a list of what NOT to do when attending a wedding:-

  • Let me tell you why RSVP is important. When weddings are held at halls or hotel ballrooms, the tables are limited and are often assigned to selected names. When you are invited and you RSVPed yourself and your wife, there will only be 2 of your names listed at an assigned table. If you choose to bring another guest or your children without informing the invitees, you have caused the problem of the organizers having to reshuffle the tables and names, or open another table, which will cost them more money. You also create the problem of the organizers having to shuffle the other guests at your table to be seated elsewhere simply to accommodate your selfish, thoughtless self. So (1) When a wedding requires you to RSVP, kindly do RSVP and inform the total number of attendees. Even though the invitation says ‘Mr Name and Wife’, if you’re bringing your children, tell the invitees that they will be, what, 3, 4 of you attending. DON’T arrive at the wedding hall bringing other uninformed guests.
  • Unless you are family members or the organizers, you do not have to right to decide where other guests sit. I encountered a lady who put it upon herself to redirect where people sit, even though she is not a family member or an organizer. Because of her, we faced the problem of having to reshuffle not one, but two tables of guests to other tables. So (2) If you have been assigned to a table, please sit at that table. If you wish to sit elsewhere or with friends, if there is space or lack of guests, it is fine. If not, you can mingle with your friends later.
  • Another ‘mistake’ I’ve noticed is minimal but it does happen. Unless it is a dress code, guests, please DO NOT wear white. You’re at someone else’s wedding, not your own, so let the bride have the honour of being the only one to wear full-on white, even if she does decide to wear another colour. I encountered a lady wearing all white, and she was the only guest to do so, which set her apart from the rest and also garnered the attention which should have been on the bride. So (3) Refrain from wearing a full white outfit (it’s not your wedding), or a full black outfit (it’s not a funeral). If you are wearing white or black, set it off with another colour, either a scarf or jacket.

  • The happy couple and their family extended their invitations to you to join them on their happy day. It is rude if you choose to leave early without giving thanks to the family. I have seen many wedding guests doing what I call the ‘eat-and-run’; they come to the wedding, they eat their fill and leave without congratulating the family. So (4) If you really need to leave early (because of a meeting the next day or something), then kindly say thanks to the family before taking leave. If you don’t need to leave urgently, then kindly stay until the ceremonies are over. After all, it is only polite.

These are but a few basic behavioural rules when attending a wedding, but some guests are either unaware of it or simply don’t care for it. It will help relieve alot of headaches if guests could just kindly be more considerate towards the family and the other guests. Keep in mind that you would feel the same way if the guests at your wedding or your loved one’s wedding behave in those inconsiderate ways.

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Unique Individuals

11 Mar 2009 by Legendria

There are many wonders in this world and I believe humans are the most wondrous being on Earth simply because everyone is a unique individual. No two people are exactly the same, even twins. However, what I think makes humans the subject of atttention is the sheer stupidity they sometimes have, even with all that brain power God has generously given.

I received this in my email the other day and it simply must be shared. Not because it’s fun to laugh at people or to put these people in a bad light. I’m posting it because at one time or other, I’m sure we ALL have gone through a similar situation before, including me. Enjoy. Grin

****

One day, I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone shouted, ‘Look at that dead bird!’  Someone looked up at the sky and said…’where???’

***

While looking at a house, my brother asked the estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn’t want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, ‘Does the sun rise  in the north?’ When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, ‘Oh, I don’t  keep up with that stuff.’

****

My colleague and I  were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the beach. She drove down in a convertible, but ‘didn’t think she’d get sunburned because the car was moving’.

***

I told the girl at the steakhouse register that I wanted the half  kilogram sirloin. She informed me they only had an 500g sirloin. Not wanting to make a scene, I told her I would take the 500g steak instead of the half-kilogram.

****

My sister has a  lifesaving tool in her car, it’s designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the car trunk…

***

My friends and I  were on a Lager run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount….

****

I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, ‘Wouldn’t the chain rip out every time she turned her head?’  I had to explain that a person’s nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned…

***

I couldn’t find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. ‘Now,’ she asked me, ‘Has your plane arrived yet?’…

****

While working at a pizza parlour, I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. ‘Just cut it into 4  pieces; I don’t think I’m hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.’

What I found hilarious was the sentence right at the end of the e-mail. Someone wrote: “Sadly, not only do they walk among us, they also reproduce!!!!” LOL

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The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

09 Mar 2009 by Legendria

“And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life.” – Holy Quran 19:15

Today is a time for rest, relaxation and reflection as the Muslims celebrate the birth of the last and best prophet. It’s a nice rainy Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, not sure how it is in the other regions of the world. I’m sure many people are out praying or holding holy ceremonies. No matter what you’re doing today, be safe. Smile Peace.

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The BIG Issue

03 Mar 2009 by Legendria

The other day I decided to head down to Burger King for dinner and picked up Malaysian Today, a free youth weekly newspaper, to read as I munch. The cover page totally pulled my attention away from my food as the bold red title ‘A Big, Fat Issue’ slammed itself into my eyes. Not only was there a 2-page article on image issues, the Chief Executive Officer, Jessie Soon, also wrote a short editorial on it.

Jessie Soon relates how she feels sad for her friend who’s on the slightly weighty side and how she tries so hard to lose weight only to gain the pounds all back again. It is her personal belief that ‘true friends don’t really bother about how big or small’ a person looks and that ‘others are more inclined to like or dislike a person based on his or her personality rather than their weight’.

How heavy am I?

How heavy am I?

While I strongly agree with Jessie Soon, I have to say that people who are immune to other people’s body are a minority in our current world. Face the facts; image does matter. Other people do judge you by how you look. It sucks, yes, I know. It’s stupid, yes, I agree. But then again, the current world is full of superficial image-conscious people. The 2-page article even goes as far as to quote that ’studies show that attractive people get smiled at more often, are more likely to ace a job interview, and unbelievably, are found guilty less often in court’.

The article referred to fashion trends of the past, including the plump trend during the Victorian age and the corset rage in the 19th century, and how they went away after a while. However, this ‘thin is in’ trend has been around for quite some time and I don’t believe it will go away anytime soon, not as long as the media keep portraying skinny celebrities as idols and role models.

As I have written many times before (back in 2007), I have been through weight-consciousness and self-esteem issues to the point of becoming anorexic. I wouldn’t eat, I avoid eating with people, I lied whenever someone asked me if I’ve eaten, all because people around me was commenting how big I was or how much weight I gained. I managed to pull myself out of anorexia, though, and developed a more sensitive attitude towards weight.

Because of my experience, I refrain from commenting on how big a person has gotten. I cannot tell how often Malaysians greet each other with “Wah, so fat already”. Yes, most Malaysians are not known for their sensitivity. These are the kind of people I try my hardest to avoid because it shows that they have no tact whatsoever and that they care too much about image. Would they like it if everytime I see them I go “Wah, you so ugly now”? This is a topic that I predict will never go away so the best solution if you’re weighty and you care about what people say is to avoid these shallow-minded people.

I don’t understand why other countries don’t really pay mind to big girls. Just the other day I was watching the gameshow ‘I Survived’ and the last two American male contestants had their wife & girlfriend come onto the show, and they were both ‘very voluptuous women’. The men sure as hell didn’t care with the dating guy proclaiming proudly to the camera that he can’t wait to marry his girlfriend. So why do Malaysian men care so much about their wife’s body shape? I mean, you married her because you love her, right? Because of her personality, right? Because of who she is, right? Bloody hell, no!!

Take my father, for instance. He goes on to his friends about how women gain weight after they get married, but you’re the one who married your wife!! Don’t tell me you never once thought that it was possible your wife would gain weight after giving birth to your children??!! I once asked my boyfriend what he would do if we ever got married and I gained weight. He said, “I’ll start buying you sexy lingerie in XS size.” I so wanted to whack his head. The best reply I’ve ever gotten was from my ex-boyfriend who said that if I gained weight, he would ask me to accompany him to go jogging to make sure that I stay healthy. Why can’t more men be like this?

I have dated chubby men before and men my friends find totally unattractive, but I don’t give a damn. In my eyes, they are wonderful inside and out, and I hope that I would be lucky enough to marry a man who will love me for who I am, regardless whether I look like a stick or a blimp.

Here’s an advice to my fellow women who have faced insults and scorn over your body: just like Jessie Soon say, love your body and start living your life to your own expectations and beliefs instead of others. Don’t let anyone, anyone at all, bring you down or make you think you are lesser than them. We are all humans, we all came from the same place, and we are all equal, regardless of our looks.

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Another Year Cometh

21 Feb 2009 by Legendria

Another year has arrived, and with it, another birthday. I don’t know whether to be happy that I’m getting presents (and wishes, of course LOL ) or be worried that I’m turning yet another year older 8O .

I’m starting to understand why some women out there are sensitive about their birthdays and their age. There are even some women who don’t like to be reminded that it’s their birthday. I’m thankful that I’m still in the frame of mind to be happy and excited about my coming-of-age day. But I can’t help but be slightly worried when I think about my age.

I’m more than a quarter of a century old, and I am still single, still not on a stable income and…..hmmm, I guess those are the only things I’m worried about.  8)

Reading back the last time I wrote about my birthday (2 years ago in 2007), I seemed to see my birthday in a more hyper, humourous view than I do now. My blog entries in those days sounded much more angst, relaxed and fun too compared to the way I write now. Perhaps, as you age, you tend to get more serious-minded? Confused:

People are now asking me what I want for my birthday, and truthfully, I have no idea what I want for my birthday. I mean, the one thing I really wanted was an iPod Nano, and I already bought myself one just a few weeks ago. There are a few things I wish for, though, but am uncertain whether it is actually possible to get those wishes answered. I’ll just leave it up to God, I guess.

As I grow yet another year older, there are stuff I remember back in the past that I regret doing. Actually, no, I don’t regret them because they happened for a reason and I think it’s much better this way. It’s more like, I’m sad that they had to happen but I’m also glad they did happen because I don’t hurt as much as I did back then. I think I’ve regained the strength I lost a few years ago and have developed a much harder shell than the one I carried before. Many have said that I am harsher now and more prone to anger, but it’s better this way because now, people take me for granted less, they take less advantage of me, simply because they don’t want to deal with me anymore. 8)

People have wondered if I’m lonely because I’m losing friends. No, I’m not. I’m perfectly content with those I have in my life now. There are always reasons behind everything I do, and there are good reasons behind my actions; whether it’s good for me or for others, it depends. Whatever it is, though, one thing I have learnt in the last 2 years alone is ‘think of yourself first, put yourself first’. I used to think it sounded selfish, but now I know that it’s actually for your own good, for your own well-being.

Okie, enough of this doom and gloom. Let’s turn up the energy abit.

Pisces Rules!! from http://www.astrologyweekly.com

Pisces Rules!! <http://www.astrologyweekly.com>

The Pisces is conquering the year at the moment!!! I always wonder why they paint us Pisces in such a dreamy, wishy-washy attitude. I mean, sometimes we’re not that dreamy, we’re actually quite stern and stubborn at times. Smile I used to love reading the description of my astrological sign, but nowadays, I kinda laugh at them because, well, I used to be like that, but I no longer am.

Like this one at the bottom. I think most of it is right, I mean, at least it kinda describes me better than most of the ones I’ve read before. The most accurate one is the weirdness. Yes, incase you don’t know it yet, I am totally extremely weird, in many sense of the word. Grin I’m not popular though and I’m certainly not the center of attention (I try not to be in the center of attention, I get shy Oops! ). I find the ‘hard to keep’ part quite true as recent events has shown that I am actually quite unforgiving towards certain people and am prone to totally cut off all contacts and connections with those I no longer want to have in my life and those I see as ‘poison friends’, which is why I think as you get older, your friend-list gets shorter as you weed out some names. The ‘always get what he/she wants’…..we~ll, that’s kinda true, hehehehe!! Can I help it if I’m spoiled? Grin

From http://i192.photobucket.com/

Pisces description from http://i192.photobucket.com/

I love being a Pisces though. I find the sign to be quite special compared to the rest, or maybe I’m just being bias. Razz Anyway, I’m not sure what to do today so I’m just going to enjoy my day of birth by hanging out with some close friends. To all those who have sent me wishes (and pressies!!), thank you very much, honto ni arigatou gozaimasu!!

Bring on the new older me!!!! Tanjoubi omedetou!!!! Wheeeeeeee!!!!!

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‘Can You Do Me A Favour?’

08 Feb 2009 by Legendria

* Warning: Cursing is now in session with lots of exclamation points.

Sometimes I have to wonder…why do we do favours? I’m not talking about party favours, such as those gifts you give out at the end of a wedding or bridal shower. I’m talking about errands or helpful things we do for other people. Aside from gratitude and appreciation, what else do you get for it? Is it worth going out of your way for other people? I’m not saying that we should get payment in any form for doing favours, but it doesn’t hurt if the people who ask you to help them out would be more appreciative towards you or refrain from stepping on your head.

Back in the past, I used to love helping people; my friends, my family, whoever that needed me. But, perhaps, as you grow older, you experience more unsavoury people and situations, which makes you more jaded and less inclined to be helpful. It is rare nowadays to find someone who asks you for help because they truly need it, not because they’re too lazy or they don’t feel like it. It is also rare to find someone who asks for your help and is really grateful for the assist, instead of thinking, “Oh, I can always ask this person to do it for me next time.”

I have a few people who constantly ask me for something. “Can you send me here?” “Can you book this for me?” “Can you go and buy this for me?” “Can you check this for me?” It’s a constant flow of, what I would call, ‘considerate demand’, which means demanding for something but putting it in a polite context to fool the person into thinking that you’re asking for a favour instead of forcing for a favour. It got to the point that I started avoiding these people’s calls and SMSes. I just couldn’t take it anymore. Look, you, I am not your bloody driver, nor am I your servant, your errand-girl or your secretary.

I don’t mind ‘helping‘ you out but you’re asking for waaaaayyyy too much and at the same time, you treat me like dirt.

(1) You make me wait for you for an hour (!!) while you choose your outfit and make-up when I’m doing you a favour by accompanying and driving you somewhere at your request. I arrive at the appointed time agreed by both parties and you’re still not ready!!

(2) You ask me to run an errand, which you yourself volunteered to do and had lots of time to do it!! But, nooooo, you were too busy hanging out with your friends everyday, every free time, until it got to almost the last minute, at which you decided to call me and bombard me with lots of stupid excuses.

(3) You call me to fetch something you left at a shopping mall, even though I’m totally far away from said shopping mall, and try your best to cajole me and guilt me into going all that way for you. This one didn’t succeed, thank God for my common sense.

(4) You make me come all the way to an appointed place for an outing only for you to cancel out on me after I’ve arrived. Hello, there’s something called the telephone. At least call me before I arrive at the place so that I may change my destination. Next time you do this, I’m going to demand you pay for my petrol. I’m not some damn free person whose life revolves around you!!

(5) You pass on your responsibility as a family member to me because it’s too far or you’re too lazy to fetch or send someone from your family somewhere. They are your family. Stop being so selfish, thoughtless and inconsiderate all the time!! Grow up and take on some responsibilities, for God’s sake.

(6) You want me to send you to a place with the excuse that you don’t know the area. Hey, here’s an idea, look at a bloody map!! Some of those places you want to go, I don’t know the area either but at least I took the effort to look it up.

(7) You assume that I will be driving, even though you have your own car and your own valid driver’s license. I am not the designated driver. We ALL have cars, at least take turns to drive. You don’t even offer to pay for my petrol or even to treat me to a drink or something.

There are SO many things you guys have done to make me scream bloody murder at you but I still hold my peace. Do not go on until I finally snap!! And no, you may think you’re playing the ‘person-in-distress’ card but in actuality, you’re more of an ‘opportunist‘. I don’t like to ask people for favours because I don’t like to bother people, and now I’m starting to hate doing favours as well because of how these people treated me. You know, instead of  being like Jim Carey who keeps saying ‘yes’ to everything in the movie, ‘Yes Man’, I’m going to be the ‘No Lady’ or the ‘We’ll See Girl’. Everytime someone asks me for something, it’ll be ‘No’ and ‘We’ll see’. Twisted

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Goodbye, old man 2008! Welcome, new baby 2009!

05 Jan 2009 by legendria

So long, father time of 2008. It’s been a blast but you know how it is, out with the old, on with the new. Oh, hello, cute little baby 2009. What an adorable thing you are, filled with youth and a fresh beginning. We’re gonna have so much fun, yes, we are. Ok, I know I’m talking gibberish. Could be all the partying and the high of a new year. Grin

Anyway, 2008 is gone and I have to say that I’m happy and sad to reach a new year. Happy ‘coz, well, hopefully the new year will bring more to life. Sad ‘coz, well, it’s a whole new year, the past is gone, I’m getting older (NOOOO!!!). But there’s something about odd-numbered years that I just don’t like, and I have no idea why. I hope the year would go well though.

2008 was a year of joy and pain for me, as I’m sure was the same for most people. Some of the miseries I faced were hurtful but they always had a silver lining behind them if I took the time to look through them.

I broke away from one relationship, which was bittersweet, but found someone else. I lost contacts with many people, which I have to say is a blessing in disguise because it helps to ease the tension I have always felt being among them. I discovered that a family member attempted to take advantage of my kindness many, many times, but I became more assertive towards this person because of it. I discovered that another family member couldn’t keep their nose out of my personal life and I warned the rest of the family of this busybody so as to safeguard their own personal details from this particular person. Also, I closed my business and moved to another premise, which was a big relief.

2008 was also a year of many happiness. My young cousin got married, and in a wedding very close to what she has wished for. Another cousin has fallen in love, finally, after years of being hounded by weird (and I DO mean weird) guys. My sister-in-law gave birth to a lovely baby girl, on the 8th of August 2008 mind you, and no, it wasn’t a Caesarean birth. I went to the first Formula One night race in Singapore (woohooo!!!). I managed to travel to a lot of places this year, my favourite being Pulau Tioman. And I finally got a new laptop (an Apple Mac!!! Wheee!!!).

Truth be told, I find 2009 a little bit daunting, I’m not sure why though. Actually, alot of people I talked to believe that this new year is going to be either a busy or a problematic year. I’m feeling that skittishness too, but hopefully, nothing too dramatic will happen this year. However, I have to be prepared for loads of weddings this year. There are already three weddings that I know of and it’s still only the first week of the year!!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot one of the most important things. With every new year comes that dreaded question; What’s your new year’s resolution? Well, I’m pleased to say that I really kept my resolution last year, which was to take as many photos as possible, and the amount of photo albums I have in my Facebook is proof of that. For this year, I’m still keeping to a simple and achievable resolution and I have made up my mind to…..(drumroll)…..write as much as possible. You see, I love writing, whether it’s stories, fiction, a monologue, scripts or blogs. I used to write alot back in my high school and university days but I noticed that going into the business world just kills your creativity. I haven’t wrote a decent writing in so long, I forgot the feeling when you get so caught up with your characters, as though you’re living their life right beside them. I finally got the inspiration for a story and I hope to at least keep at it until it’s done, instead of writing half-way. So good luck to me keeping my resolution and good luck to you in keeping yours.

There’s another resolution I should make for this year but I am unsure if it’s possible to maintain. I haven’t done it for a long time back in 2008, which was quite a record given my history, and I hope that this record remains unbroken for 2009. There were times when I’ve forgotten that I had this habit and at times, in certain lighting when the scars can be seen, the memories of each of those scars flooded into my mind. Hopefully it’s gone for good this time but I think I’ll keep to only one resolution for now.

No matter what happens this year, I hope that it will be a memorable one. I know that Malaysia will face some drastic changes this new year but I’m sure the rakyat (countrymen) can handle them, with decency and logic, I pray. Let us hope for the best this year, filled with enough happiness to keep us living but with enough sorrow to keep us humble. Grin

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Junk or Treasure?

20 Dec 2008 by legendria

“AHHH-CHOOO!!!”

The loud sneeze traveled into the living room where my mom sat on the floor, riffling through bags of clothes, papers and old tubes of lotions.

“You better wear a mask,” she called out to me. “You’ve been sneezing non-stop.”

I sniffled and promptly let out another unfeminine blast for the umpteenth time. I was in the study/store room of the house, which was almost choked full of dust and ’stuff’ (my polite word for junk) that we don’t even know what’s in it anymore. A few days ago, I had this brilliant idea of finally cleaning out the room of its ‘indigestion’. Today, with my head throbbing, my nose sniffling and my throat sore from inhaling all the dust, I’m not so sure that I’m as smart as I think I am. Razz

My mom, bless her heart, is an active charity-giver. She loves helping out her selected orphanage and frequently donates used clothes, toys and neccessities to the home. Unfortunately, whatever she collects from other people (boxes and bags of old items) are brought into the house, which are then disposed of into the study room, which is why the word ’store’ has been added to the room’s name.

And so, I kidnapped my young cousin to help me sort out the stuff, setting aside whatever my mom’s orphanage will not use, such as revealing clothes, into one pile and throwing whatever that is truly ‘a gone case’ (torn clothes, broken toys) into a transparent bag for the garbage-collectors. The thing is some of the stuff we were sorting out were actually our own toys, knick-knacks and clothes way back from our younger days.

As I pulled out some soft toys, I saw a toy guitar which my mom had bought for me and I held on to it for a while. I was thinking, “Oh, my mom bought this for me. I should keep it.” In the next instance though, I was shaking my head vigorously and told myself, “No, no, no! No holding on to sentimental value.”

You see, this is where my mom and I differ. My mom is the type who would hold on to something for so long because it reminds her of the past, and I’m not talking about a family heirloom or an item that signifies a specific memorable time. I’m talking about old magazines from the 80s, old empty lotion tubes, clothes that don’t even fit her anymore, those kind of stuff. My mom is a person who loves to say “Keep that. We can use it for (insert reason here).” No matter what it is, be it baggy clothes or old telephones, she’ll always think that it can be used when people come over, when we have a gathering, or incase of emergency.

My young cousin was facing the same ordeal as she slowly looked through her old Barbie dolls and cooking set. Though she was tempted several times, she repeated my sentence ‘No sentimental value’ and in the end, only took one small Pooh bear back with her.

I noticed that whenever most people spring clean their house, it’s always a battle to get rid of stuff. They are emotionally tied to their teddy bears which gave such comfort to them, to their high school textbooks that offered so much knowledge, even to their numerous coffee cups stained with the brown liquid. Because of what it represents, the owner finds it hard to let go. I was once just like that, but I learned from my aunt that you have to be ruthless when it comes to cleaning.

For clothes, any item that you haven’t worn in 6 months should be given away. For books, any title that you find even the least bit uninteresting should be recycled. The rule to cleaning is actually pretty simple; anything you don’t use, chuck it aside. It’s best to have someone who is firm with you when you clean because that someone will be asking, “Do you really need that?” and “Don’t you think it will be beneficial to someone else?” It will hurt to part with your stuff at first, but the feeling after the cleaning is of pure relief. It feels like a weight is off your shoulder. It feels like you can breathe in deeper. In the most basic sense of it all, it feels so much more spacious. Grin

So, when you’re doing your spring cleaning, remember two simple rules; (1) Be ruthless, and (2) Throw/give away anything you haven’t used in a long while. Once you have hypnotized your brain into thinking that way, you most likely won’t have any problems differentiating junk and treasure. Smile

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