Another Phase

February is creeping towards its end, marking the end of my holidays and life as a student. It is the beginning of another phase in my life, the working phase. Officially starting on 2 March 2009.

Can't believe I'm finally here. It always seemed so far away. Ah .... I seriously dread the 8-5 hours. Can you believe it ? We have to repeat this routine everyday till the age of 55 ...

Anyways, enough of the ramblings.

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Something to look forward to next weekend: The wedding of my dear cowzen, Benjamin.

Introducing ...

The to-be weds
(Hope Ben wouldn't mind me stealing this photo from facebook)

So do look forward to wedding photos !

I Hope Not

I hope not ... I hope not ...
I really hope not ... Please do not be ...

Oscar Material

I've noticed that movies that win Oscars tend to be reality based, perhaps a depiction of a drug addict and sorts. These movies are mostly melancholic, so I never do enjoy them.

As I've had almost two months of holidays, I've put my time to 'good use' by watching 3 of such genre: Rachel Getting Married, The Visitor and Reign Over Me. Of these three, I actually enjoyed 'The Visitor'.

It is an intertwined story of an university professor who has lost his sense to life after the death of his wife and a couple who are illegal immigrants in the New York City. It also tells a tale of ignorance of the rights of illegal immigrants and racial discrimination.

'Rachel Getting Married' was good but I didn't quite enjoy it. Good because Anne Hathaway did a rather good job and the movie really depicts the problems that came with having a sister who is always in and out of the rehabilitation center.

'Reign Over Me' was good according to my sister, but I actually find it rather boring. It tells a story of a man who struggles to help an old college roommate, in dealing with the lost of his family in the September 11 attack. An interesting watch though, to see Adam Sandler in a non-comedy movie.

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Today I went to watch 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. I really liked the movie, and would have liked it more if not for my full bladder. Throughout most of the movie I was changing positions to better control my pee, I didn't want to miss any part of it and I also didn't want to disturb anyone by leaving my seat. (I was sitting right in the middle you see) But well, I still had to run to the toilet.

Boy was the movie long. Almost a whole 3 hours. Totally worth my RM 7 student price. Great movie, a must watch.

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Recently, the hype has been on 'Slumdog Millonaire' or 'Q & A' (book title). In fact, it got an Oscar for Best Picture. Got myself the book. Not gonna watch the movie till I finish the book.

Meaningful

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I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.

I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many friends leave this world too soon, before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it should I choose to read or play computer until 4 am and sleep until noon ? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60s & 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk to the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car ?

But broken hearts are what give strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hairs could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've earned the right to be wrong.

I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

***

Read this in an email. This is the second time I've received it. And it came at the right time.

Take Care

Just a while ago I received a message from a friend, "Going to airport now, tata !"

He was back here for almost 3 months, and I only met up with him thrice. Throughout those three times, we barely talked. Worse still, I didn't even initiated any of these gatherings.

Now he is gone, for a year, or maybe for good, since his parents have plans for him to obtain PR and to work there.

It's not like I'm busy. In fact, I have plenty of time. Which I spent watching tv and sleeping. I kept thinking he'd be here for a couple of months, there's plenty of time. But I've soon forgotten all about it, and before I know it, he's gone.

Though I know you don't read my blog, I still wanna wish you a safe journey and to take care. Do well as you always do !

Choices

I always tell myself I should have done something this way or that way, that if I could go back I would have done it differently.

Maybe I should learn to believe that I have made the choices the best way I knew how, given the circumstances, and that makes me, me. That it's because of these decisions that I become me, and I would have it no other way.

Graduation Trip - Finale

I guess I won't be writing about the final two days.

But if you would still like to read about it, you could go to Stories I Could Tell. It's the blog of my travel partner. She offers a rather comprehensive depiction of the final two days.

Verdict of the trip: 10/10 (because I had an awesome partner !) (Haha ... exaggerate a bit)
-Hong Kong is definitely heaven for food & shopping !
-Public transport is supreme !

Disappointments:
-I find some Hongkies rather rude. (And I thought Malaysians are the rudest)
-We did not managed to take perfect jumping shots.
-Didn't get to visit the Venetian Casino.
-Didn't get to try the artificial sharkfin's soup & Portuguese cuisines
-Spoiled a number of pictures due to my sucky photographic skills & unintentional show of my eh hem ... spare tyres.

Miss Moey

In my 16 years of education, I have only met one teacher, that had inspired me the most. Her name is Miss Moey Yoke Lai, my principal of less than a year in Methodist Boy's school.

She gives the most inspiring speech ever. Never have I met someone, who spoke with such enthusiasm, every single time. She is the only principal, that I ever bothered to pay attention to during assemblies. Eventhough her speeches are usually really long, eventhough I had to stand for an hour under the morning sun.

Each time she spoke, I always feel energized to stop procrastinating and to start working hard for my STPM. Sadly though, my renewed energy normally lasts for only a fraction of the day, after of which I tend to fall back to my old self.

The things that she chooses to say, I've never heard any other person say this to us. The fire in her eyes and the tone of her voice, tells me she is really dedicated and determined to bring the best out of us.

For instance, I remember her saying: "It is already towards the end of the year. Have you been revising ? If not, buck up ! "

During her short tenure at MBS, she tried her best to do all she could for the school. For years, the project for the Centenary block had been put on hold, but when she became principal, she actually got Genting's Lim Kok Thay to donate, if I'm not mistaken, RM 2 million to the school, and that got the project started.

One of the most surprising thing I've heard about her, is about how she punishes students. One student, she punished him by asking him to come by her office, where she asked him to separate a bowl full of mixed green and red beans. Now, have you ever seen such punishment ? On TV maybe, but never in real life !

I was just reminded about her, when talking to my friends today. And I couldn't help but to feel inspired to be a little more enthusiatic about everything I do, to strive for the best and to do good to society.

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When she sings the school song with us, she sings it with enthusiasm too.

mbs.mp3 -

" Go forward MBS
Filled with courage fine
With your colours flying
We will cheer you all the time
And so you go forward MBS
On to victory
Work for the fame of our fair name
Forward we must play the game
MBS ! MBS !
Play up ! Play up ! Play up ! "

Changeling

... the best movie I've watched this year.

Listen now, though I'm no fan of Angelina Jolie, but I think she did a hell of a job.

The movie was absolutely intriguing. I had just finished watching it and right away it triggered me to write this post.

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It tells of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a single mother who came home to find her son lost. She filed for a police report, and months later they claimed to have found him. She took one look at the boy and told the police it wasn't her son, but the police insisted, in order to negate the bad publicity they had about corruption and their inability to solve cases.

As she continued to insist that the boy wasn't her son, bringing along the press and public attention, the police captain declared her mentally unstable and had her sent to a psychiatric ward.

The story is based on a true story, that happened in 1928. Watch it yourself, I'll stop with the details here, don't want to be a spoiler. Really, watch it.

Twice is enough

About only 3 weeks ago, I reported about my car being nearly stolen.

Yesterday, I found it broken into AGAIN ... The second time in 3 weeks. On exactly the same quarter glass of the window !

C'mon lah, WHAT THE F*CK ? What is it with breaking into my car ?