It Wouldn't Be Christmas

Before Tim and Wini left for KL a few years ago, she gave me a CD full of MP3 songs and podcasts compiled by Tim.

There is a lovely Christmas song there which I love most sung by Jaci Velasquez from her album Christmas. Come the Christmas season, I would set it as my phone ring tone.

We hang the lights, have snowball fights
And sing our favorite tunes
All of these are memories
I make each year with you

We decorate the douglas together
And watch "It's A Wonderful Life"
I look forward to every December
Because you're always here by my side

It wouldn't be Christmas without you
The season would just come and go
The holiday cheer would all disappear
Along with the sleigh bells and snow
Santa and eight little reindeer
Might as well pass on through
'Cause baby it wouldn't be Christmas
Without you

HappySlip Jingle

This is one of my favourite Youtube comedians, HappySlip. She is one talented artist who plays different characters in her humourous videos.

Here she sings a Christmas jingle using the cup beat.

Enjoy!

(Youtube uploaded by HappySlip, Dec 21, 2007)

Regular Friends

I don't normally listen to Chinese songs because I'm a 'banana woman'; I don't read and write Mandarin though I could converse rather fluently in the language.

I chanced upon David Tao's song, Regular Friends, when I dropped by couzie Laine2's blog. She has it on her music playlist.

Surprisingly, I've taken quite a liking for it. I reckon it must be the beautifully-composed classical guitar intro which sounds so romantic.

And no, I can't really understand what David's singing. Somehow I understand the spoken Mandarin better than the language penned for lyrics.

(Youtube uploaded by wenjhe88, Oct 20, 2007)

Free!!

I'm free at last!

A huge burden is lifted off my shoulders the moment the last page of my research proposal was printed. I have no idea if the proposal will be understood by my lecturer but it's done and was handed in today at 10 a.m.

I still can't believe that I've officially completed the first semester of my study. How quickly time passes by! I will be starting my second semester sometime in January next year.

It seemed just like yesterday when I first started my journey of going back to full time study again.

At this moment in time, I do not miss my working life at all. Nope, never missed it since the day I left though I miss my few kindred spirits there.

Even though there were times of confusion, inability to grasp the new concepts and theories that I'm learning, adjusting to being an independent learner and encountering some stressful situations academically, it is much better than working.

I'm savouring every moment right now. I want to enjoy what I have now to the fullest!

Thanks, DD. Only You know what I really need. I can't thank You enough!

Birthday Pig Out

So it's makan time again.

We celebrated Kenny's birthday a day earlier since everyone's free. The birthday boy had wanted to go for steamboat somewhere in Taman Dickson but the place was just too crowded with people. So Vic suggested Welcome (Ta Jia Lai), another popular restaurant that is always filled to the brim with patrons young and old.

The food was finger-licking good!!!

Chicken in Mongolian Sauce

Shell

Prawns...
(forgot the name of the sauce
but it's cooked in a lot of pounded dried shrimps)

Fried Tofu with mayonnaise

Wet Butter Crabs

Oh, and there was a platter of veggie which I did not bother to a take pic of.

After dinner, we went to Uncle Biscuit and I bought Kenny a Green Tea birthday cake which will be cut tomorrow...

Gallivanting

So I'm just a very undisciplined, lazy bum. Instead of finishing up the proposal, I went on a day out with Sim; first for Sim's belated birthday lunch at The Hut, Damai, before we took off to the newly opened Suria KK. The parking is free for the first two hours before they start charging at RM1 per hour, I think.

It was a barren mall at the moment; with construction workers still carrying on works and renovation. The over-powering smell of new paint and dust greeted us as we stepped into the mall.

Only a handful of shops were open such as Eu Yan Sang, GNC, Reject Shop, Voir and a boutique or two.

I love this tiny black thing and the masquerade mask in the window at Voir! Suitable for a Christmas party!

The much anticipated Metrojaya is in full-swing operation.

It was good to walk through the department. It brought back so many memories of my student days in KL, when I was so much poorer where I had gone through the sections during sales to hunt for cheap stuff but I found out then that Metrojaya could never ever offer the best price compared to Parkson Grand.

It was, however, good to see some familiar labels such as Somerset Bay, Laura Ashley, Passage, Arthur Yen and Emmanuel.


And on this floor, I saw Strudel which was tucked away in a corner! Tired patrons can grab a quick bite and at the same time enjoy the scenic seaview.

We were there for less than an hour so we went to Wisma Merdeka. The last time I was here was sometime in June. Sim introduced me to the most delectable and scrumptious bite-sized goodness of Takoyaki, a Japanese snack. It was heavenly!!! So much better than the one in Damai.

I also managed to buy some outfits for myself *happy*

Before we left, I went and bought myself two sets of Takoyaki. I just could not get the taste out of my mind. They are just too delicious!

Yums!!!

My very valid concern now is that I'm afraid I'd get this sudden uncontrollable urge for Takoyaki and may drive down to KK just to satisfy my cravings!

Say It Again

I like this particular music video of Marie Christina Digby singing Say It Again. It's the props! They are cute and lovely :)

(Youtube uploaded by MarieDigby, May 22, 2008)

Stupid For You

(Youtube uploaded by MarieDigby, Feb 25, 2008)

Verse 1:
It's not everyday
That I meet a person quite like you
Perfect every way
I finally found the nerve to confess

That it's you - that I want
I don't care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you!
Put aside, all my pride
So don't keep me hanging here
Cause this girl is falling stupid for you

Chorus:
Ooh...
Oh, stupid for you
Ooh...
Oh

Verse 2:
The proper thing to do
Is for me to act like a lady and wait
For you to make the first move
But I don't think you're getting the point

That it's you - that I want
I don't care if I act a fool
I would damn near beg for you
Put aside, all my pride
So don't keep me hanging here
Cause this girl is falling stupid for you!

Oh, oh, oh, stupid for you
Oh, oh, oh

Bridge:
Why is it always feel like I am
Chasing love when nothing's there
And here I go just making the same mistake
I've fallen stupid for you

Updated on Dec 6, 9.59 p.m.:
I am falling stupid for this song! ^^
Ooh... stupid for you... lalalala...

Relieved

Finally I could breathe a sigh of relief. I'm done with my exam though I still have to finish up my proposal which is due on Dec 10.

It was just a very different experience sitting for the exam. It's been nearly a decade since I last had to read so much and try to memorize certain facts. There were just so much to cover and understand. Seriously, I have never ever gone into an exam hall with this much feelings of inadequacy, unpreparedness, uncertainty, fear and doubt (except for my government PTK multiple-choice exam which I had never bothered to read).

Another aspect that I'm still struggling with is the application of all these knowledge. At this level, it is more about application which I'm still trying to get used to - the application of theories into practice or practice supported by theories. The link.

Besides juggling all these facts, I realize that I've lost the momentum and memory power to study. It used to be such a breeze; understanding, reading up, making short notes, memorizing, remembering - all done in quite a short time.

Now, I'm like dragging myself - read, reread, and reread and yet not really comprehending and soaking it all up. Sigh... is it really age catching up or do I still need to work harder?

The funny thing that I couldn't help but to bang my head on the wall is I failed to practice good time management during my first paper (and there I was all these years advising and reminding my students to practise good time management during an exam... =.=).

I had three hours to answer four questions but my time management was so horrendously bad that I had only ten minutes to write the fourth essay! I have no one else but myself to blame. Am keeping my fingers crossed that this will not cause me to get only a B-. Getting a B- is bad. It will cause me to get kicked out of school!!!

I'm realistic - just aiming for a B. Please, DD, please.

At this moment, I'm relieved that the exam part is over but there's still the proposal to be churned out. More reading and writing.

Yup, this is the reflection of a more 'mature' student sitting for an exam which she deems rigorous.

I just can't wait for Dec 10. It's independence day for me study-wise. I want to enjoy my Christmas holiday; set up my simple Christmas tree, stroll down the malls, window-shop, buy some new outfits for myself, eat some fattening food with family and friends, watch some movies, read more novels, watch TV, laze around and also not forgetting, exercise more...

Ah... pure bliss...