Christmas down south

Saturday the 23rd
So we boarded the Aeroline bus from 1 Utama. The waiting lounge is quite classy, with long black sofa benches, a tea-making area, LCD screens, automatic sliding doors. Left at 10am sharp on Saturday morning. And we got one of the newer buses! Yippeee. Happily awed at the amazing leg space - my legs could not stretch and touch the front seat at all, that's how much leg space we had! And they had a huge LCD screen at the front of the bus, so those of us sitting in the middle and back part of the bus didn't have to squint during the movie session. A good ride, although it took about 6 hours due to jams along the PLUS highway and the long immigration queue entering Singapore.

Halfway through the ride, my mum jabbed me out of my sleep to look out the window. Next to the PLUS highway, houses were flooded up to their windows and there were lakes where there wasn't supposed to be. Oil palm trees looked like they were planted in swamps. A motorbike or two with a few lonely figures stood staring at the huge masses of water at what used to be dry land. I think the hardest-hit by these floods would be those in the agricultural sector, and I truly pity the poor farmers and estate owners. It was quite a sobering start to the holiday, noting that while I traipsed happily from a rather dry KL to a drizzly Singapore, there were people in the same country who had lost all their worldly possessions and income sources, and were helpless over this supposedly merry season.

Anyway, me being me, I forgot all of it when waiting in the long queue at immigration. When we finally arrived in Harbourfront, we quickly got off the bus and caught a cab (a Premier Mercedes one at that) to my sister's apartment in Orchard Road. Then, all of us jostled to bathe in the bathroom before rushing down for our hair appointments and running back up to the apartment to make up for the dinner. Finally ready at 7.30pm, we walked next door to the Grand Hyatt hotel (thank goodness it's just next door) and gosh, is it grand! They had 3 weddings on the same night, and the couples' pictures were flashed on LCD screens around the hotel, directing guests to the right function rooms.

Since my cousin's wedding is the main purpose of the trip to Singapore, I'm obliged to write a bit about it. There were roses everywhere, really nice deep red roses arranged in tight clusters along the bridal walkway and on the stage and on every table. Everything else was simple, understated but classy. Each table had its own waiter. And, the food, cannot be faulted, at all. It's one of the best wedding meals I've had. At the end of the dinner, the waiter handed us a paper to ask us to comment and rate his service. How could we complain - since the waiter had efficiently de-boned a fish to my amazement, attended to our every need, and efficiently taken care of one of my little cousins who had thrown up at the table? No wonder the wedding dinner cost a bomb, since it also came with 2 nights' stay at the bridal suite - which I heard is real big and luxurious.

We weren't around for the morning tea ceremony, so a video was shown. The bridegroom had to drink an assortment of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, etc liquids, sing and dance around a broomstick, wax his legs, and guess answers in order to claim his bride. Then we also got a glimpse of the beautiful new apartment when the bridegroom carried the bride all the way in to the bridal suite from the white bridal car. The camera works were quite good, and everything looked like it went well :)

After dinner, since many relatives were around, we hung out around Orchard Road for a while, before the aunties and little children begged tiredness. We gratefully clambered back to the apartment too.

Sunday (Christmas Eve)
Got woken up at half past six - totally ungodly hour for a holiday. But managed to snatch some minutes of MTV Asia (been really a while since I've watched tv) in between jostling for the bathroom. We went out to meet the rest for prawn noodles in Pek Kio market (yes, this is a must-do pilgrimage everytime I'm in Singapore). Unfortunately, the auntie told us that the bad weather means she doesn't have $8 prawn noodles to sell, so we had to settle for the $5 ones. Prawns not as huge, and no separate little "kuali" for the prawns, so somehow, the experience was not as I'd hoped.

Then, 9 of us squeezed into my uncle's Rexton and headed to Suntec City. Shopped, hung around and finally met somemore relatives (making 12 of us) to sit down for lunch at Tony Roma's. That place has freezing air-conditioning, so all of us had warm water (so boring). The baby back ribs, mmmmmmmm! We had yummy Caesar salad, a full slab of their signature baby back ribs (finger-licking good!), some chicken dish (so-so), and their famous onion loaf (nice). A cousin brought along a Christmas log cake to celebrate my sister's birthday - first time I've ever had a log cake, realized it's merely a very nicely-decorated Swiss roll.

By the time lunch was over, it was about 4pm. When we got out of the restaurant, we met throngs and throngs and THRONGS of people. So we decided to head back to the apartment and jostled our way back to Orchard. My sisters and I bathed and headed out to meet my uncle for dinner (on the way we wanted to eat fishball at the Tangs market but to my utter amazement, Tangs was closed from 5pm on Christmas eve and the entire day on Christmas!). My mum went with my aunties to another aunty's house for a chatting festival cum slumber party.

My uncle brought us back to his sister-in-law's place to celebrate my cousin's birthday. They booked the function room and the BBQ pit at the condo. Unfortunately it was raining, so we settled in the function room. The condo is one of those high-end ones called Shelford-something-or-other in the upscale Bukit Timah area. We took a look into the apartment (a 2-bedroom) - me being professional me sized it up as about less than 1,200 sf. Price - you wouldn't believe it - they bought it for SGD$720,000/- *gag*. For that kind of money, you can get a really large condo with a fantastic view of the majestic KLCC here.

After spending the entire day eating (yeah this trip seems to be more for my tummy - guess that's what happens when the trip mostly involves relatives), my sisters and I finally traipsed back to Orchard. Being too full, we couldn't even try the mocha shake that I wanted from McD's. I showered, packed, settled down to watch "Love Actually" on tv (really good movie that), heard the countdown shouts from downstairs at Orchard, and snuggled into bed.

Monday (Christmas day)
Got up early to bathe, do some last-minute packing and eat chicken pau that my sister bought from 7-11 downstairs (the pau was quite good for a 24-hour store). Then as I was about to step out for my 1-hour trip to the bus stop, my uncle called and said he's coming with my cousin to take us all for breakfast. Yippee! We went to Harbourfront's McD's and had fluffy pancakes for breakfast (yum yum!). Then I boarded the Aeroline from the same building and headed back to PJ alone.

After days spent cooped up with the family, I relished the time alone. I finished the book I was reading "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (great book, I'm going to see if I can find the movie that Scarlett Johannson acted in), watched a bit of "13 going on 30" (great chick flick), and found KF waiting for me when the Aeroline stopped at Menara Axis :) He whizzed me off to have dinner with his relatives (bak kut teh in Setapak) before I finally settled home after a long eventful weekend.

Another long 4-day weekend coming up. With more relatives and more meals and plenty of house-cleaning. KF's due to move in to the house this Saturday! So you see why my days are so filled that blogging's the last thing on my mind? (Haha, yes, I brag a bit).

Wishing everyone a very merry and joyful time of the year and a fantastic happy weekend - it's not every year we get 4 whole days to celebrate the beginning of another year filled with prospects and opportunities and stories to tell.

Hang in there

Getting a new house ready is blardy stressful. Not helped by the fact that I've no more leaves left (already running on advanced leave) and that stress levels are running high everywhere, trying to get things ready on a self-imposed deadline.

Through this process, I've learnt a few things. Among which are :

1. If you can't manage events, you won't be able to handle the stress of moving house. The good thing about going through this process is you realize that you can either bend under stress but not break, or that you're just not cut out for these stuffs which is when you start screaming at everything.
2. Paint colour doesn't really look like what's in the colour chart.
3. Plumbing works are messy.
4. Interest-free installment plans are a godsent.
5. Some contractors are very neat, punctual and reliable. Some others just make your life difficult and mess things up.
6. Expect to blow your budget (maybe by about 30% - 50%). Because somehow or other, you'll want your house to look pretty and comfortable. And somehow or other, your original budget won't allow that. Because somehow or other, prices of furniture and everything else just continues soaring higher and higher as the weeks fly by.

I could go on and on, I really could. I'm glad the process is coming to an end soon because I think the next bend I make will definitely make me break. Emotional Pilates is not something I can do long-term. I'm looking forward to the finished project, so that I can finally enjoy the finished product and say goodbye to the thoroughly burdening renovation process.

Tagged by Nat

1. Are u photogenic?

Wah, why start off with perasan question?! No, I don't think so!

2. What time do you go to bed?

I like to be settled in bed latest by 11pm on weekdays, read for an hour or so before konking off.

3. What was the last thing u did before this?

Switch on my computer.

4. Who's the one u always meet the most?

Specifically take time to meet - KF. Whether I want to meet or not - family and colleagues.

5. Who's the person u'll call if u need help?

KF or mummy.

6. What's on ur mind right now?

What to pack to Singapore ah?

7. What do you prefer? American Idol/ Malaysian Idol?

Fear Factor.

8. With whom do u wanna be with to have fun?

Good friends.

9. Wat movie do u wanna watch right now?

Flushed Away.

10. When was the last time u went out?

Wednesday night - to Macy's at Ikano to order curtains.

11. What do u hate the most for now?

That work is spilling out of my nose.

12. What do u do everyday besides eat and sleep?

Wah, u think I live on agong's money ah?

13. Colors that make u happy?

The new light green colour in our new master bedroom ... the new paint in our new house.

14. Most favourite thing in ur room?

My Pooh bear.

15. Miss someone?

Too busy to do that.

16. Plan to buy sumthing?

Yeah, stuffS for the house, new pair of shoes, new handbag, and if I had an extra couple of thousand ringgit, I'd get an Ipod, a new Sony Ericsson handphone, ... aiya, I always plan to buy something wan ... whether I buy or not is another story.

17. Are you satisfied with your life now?

Yeah, although less work and more pay would be good ... hahahaha

18. Do you like seafood?

If they didn't send your cholesterol levels sky high, I'd eat them every day!

19. Breakfast or dinner?

Breakfast, especially on the weekends when the family goes out for dim sum - yum yum!

20. Like chocolate?

Yes, especially expensive dark chocolate - hahaha ...

21. Do you have a laptop?

No.

22. Wat's ur favourite food from fastfood?

Ayam Goreng McD

23. Cats or Dogs?

Puppies.

24. Salty or sweet?

Salty then sweet.

25. City or country?

City for life, country for holidays.

26. Is kissing normal for ur age?

Hah!

27. Are u athletic?

In my dreams.

28. Favourite bands for now?

Bon Jovi, Maroon 5, Soul Asylum

29. Do you own ur own cellphone?

Who doesn't? This survey is starting to sound like it's made for 7-year-olds ...

30. Wat do u wear to bed?

T-shirt and long pants.

31. Ever had a crush on teacher in highschool?

No la, girls' school with only female teachers, how to crush worr ...

32. Coke or Pepsi?

Neither if I can help it.

33. Sugar or spice?

And everything nice.

34. Can you use chopsticks?

Okay, this survey is made for 7-year-old non-Asians.

35. Do you care about getting good grades?

I used to until university, kakakakaka ....

36. Have u ever fallen asleep in class?

Who hasn't?

37. Get a job or ask ur parents for money?

Get a job.

38. Is your mom strict?

No.

39. Do your parents gip u enuff privacy?

Okay la.

40. Do your parents trust you?

Yeah.

41. Would u ever wanna lose ur bestfriend?

Now I'm really starting to think this isn't worth my time.

42. Does your bestfriend get on your nerves?

*sigh*

43. Do you make friends quickly?

Hello ... at this stage in life, you network, not make friends.

44. Do you tell ur mom everything?

No.

45. Wat do u and ur parents fight about most?

What I want to do and what they think I should do.

46. If u love sumone and he/she rejected you, wat will you do to him/her?

Throw something at him.

47. Can u sing or rap?

Yes.

48. If u had one wish, who would u make ur wife/husband for life?

You know who lor (aiyo, I'm starting to act like 7-year-old already)

49. Wat do you think of this survey?

If not because I was tagged, I wouldn't do it ... hehe ... no offense ah, Nat ;P

Almost there

When "cleaning" the house :

1. In a clean pail (preferably red), mix 5-colour beans. These beans consist of red beans, green beans, rice, tea leaves, and salt.
2. At the appointed time, step into the house and throw a huge handful at the first wall you see. Throw it high and hard.
3. Then proceed inwards from the halls to the rooms from front to back, throwing to every corner high and low. Visualize the beans "cleaning" the house.
4. Once you've finished throwing at the rear portion of the house, walk straight out and lock up.
5. Come back again at the appointed time to sweep the beans up. Sweep from the back of the house to the front. Bag the beans and throw them away. Your "cleaning" process is complete :)

This morning, while "moving in" :
1. We filled a heat-resistant glass with red-coloured water and some oil. Topped it with a candle wick and lighted it.
2. At the apppointed time, walked in through the gate and the main door into the house.
3. Walked in and brought light to every part of the house, while calling out lucky Chinese phrases. Visualized "lighting" up the house. Switched on the lights as we went.
4. We then put the light glass at a part of the house, and began moving stuff in i.e. a box of clothes and a chair.
5. Had a mini-breakfast in the house. Then by 7.45am, we went off to work.

December 21 = technically our move-in date. Because it's good to move into a new house on the new year. New year because today is "guo tong", the Chinese solstice festival day.

The kitchen cabinets and curtain tracks will only be installed this weekend. All furniture will be moved in over the week. And we've to do some cleaning before we get to move in properly next weekend. Luckily next weekend is a long one :)

The next time I post, it'll be with pictures :)

Renovating a house is a whole lot of work.

Work is a whole lot of work.

Christmas is so close, but this is the first time in a very long time that I haven't felt that Christmas cheer. Just now when driving back from work, a couple of radio stations were playing Christmas songs and I smiled, remembering how happy the season makes me, how I love the carols and the mall decorations, how I used to relish buying presents.

I'm just swamped with work. And a whole lot of things to think about.

This weekend will be better, I hope. Spending Christmas down south in Singapore with the family, splat in the middle of Orchard Road. With a grand wedding dinner in a 5-star hotel in Orchard. A plan to visit Tony Roma's and taste the famous pork ribs. The pilgrimage to Pek Kio market to eat the orgasmically-delicious prawn noodles. Long bus rides with nothing to do and not being able to do anything anyway.

By New Year's, everything WILL be a lot better. When we can quit handling contractors and really revel in the idea of our very own home. It's coming along so prettily, albeit some errors here and there - nothing we can't live with or without.

And now, back to work, while waiting to download some Christmas carols to get me in the year-end mood ...

Stoneware or earthenware

Apparently, both are microwave and dishwasher safe, and heavier and harder than porcelain.

However, stoneware appears to be the better of the two due to several factors : water tight, chip-resistant, has a textured feel, can withstand high / low temperature, oven-safe and generally heavier and harder, making it less ready to break.

Earthenware, on the other hand, cannot hold water (although most nowadays come with a waterproof glazed surface), chips easily, has an off-white colour, feels chalky, cannot withstand temperature, and not oven-safe. It contains some impurities, making it fragile and absorbent.

Of course, these details were taken off the Seeleys website about pottery art. I'm particularly interested in these details at the moment because I'm trying to choose a set of tableware for the new house. The Bed Bath and Beyond website (yeah, the same store featured in Click starring Adam Sandler) lists tableware according to grade, from good to best : earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, fine china, bone china. Obviously, porcelain onwards is not an option, judging from the prices in Jusco.

Apparently, too, stainless steel knives with a high carbon content tend to stay sharper longer and are easily sharpened when needed.

Okay, that's all the housewife knowledge acquired today. Stay tuned for another upcoming lesson. "Creating A Home" is a life-lesson in progress.

Work in progress

The house is looking nicer and bigger by the day, with each demolition of old walls and creation of new ones. Of course, there are the nitty-gritty details that make this project a rather tedious one. But, I'm a nitty-gritty person :)

Check out the progress pics here.

51 days

before we celebrate the new year of 2007. Now's the season for that frantic rush to renew resolutions before we make new ones again. To salvage what we can to improve our standing in the boss' eyes before that final-year appraisal in hopes of a good new year bonus. To slim down that figure in order to look good for the new year feasting.

To look forward to a brand new year which will bring new hopes and carry our dreams further. New opportunities, new beginnings, new days.

I'm looking forward to 2007.

Roger!

Newest addition to the family - Roger the puppy! Adorable hor? Born on 22nd September 2006 to a stray and has 2 other "siblings" all adopted to different families. The vet says it has a cold, needs deworming and has a small fungus patch under its chin. But otherwise, it's not running a fever and is perfectly fat and healthy. Both Max and Bobby (our other 2 dogs) have quite taken to it, but at night we keep Roger in the wet kitchen - don't want it to be exposed to rain or unnecessary dogfights when we're asleep. Cracked our heads for names for him, some of which included King Kong and Bak Kut Teh, but finally parents settled on Roger, coined by KF. It's utterly cute and has this adorable habit of literally falling asleep every 10 minutes, wherever it happens to be. He cannot be more adorable, and that's saying something, because even KF takes time to play with it :)

Vacant possession

Today we officially receive the keys to the house. In another 2 weeks, after getting the necessary approvals, we'll begin our renovation works. And hopefully, a month after that, KF can move in :)

The vendor is actually liable to pay us about RM900/- as interest charge for late delivery. But, aiya, never mind la. After all, with the Raya break and everything, it's understandable that it's been a bit difficult to clear bills and everything. He still owes us the Indah Water bill, but out of good faith, I'll let him sit on that until he deems fit to pay. Or I seek him out the next time the bill arrives.

We went to the developer's office yesterday to sign the Deed of Mutual Covenants. Cost us RM180/- just for those few pages of paper. But these are the costs of living in a gated community. We'll have to put an RM3,000/- deposit with them later when we want to apply for a renovation permit. The lady forgot to collect RM500/- from us as "performance deposit" - whatever that is. And we have to pay about RM28/- monthly as service charges.

Another hidden cost we didn't expect - submission of renovation plans to MBPJ for approval. It'll cost us about RM1,000/- for MBPJ to draw up the plans and submit and process and finally, approve. But the guy has promised to get it done quickly for us, so it should take about a week. Then I have to submit those plans to the developer again for approval, which will take another week.

Tedious-ness.

Money is gushing out very quickly, but trickling in oh so slowly. That's the way the world goes, isn't it?

By the time my house is ready for move-in, it should be worth at least RM300,000/- ... muahahaha!

Beraya kat PD

Raya hari pertama - Got up early at 7am to do the necessary early-morning matters that my mum usually does. After ensuring my sister will bring the whole bunch of relatives out for breakfast, I got into the car with KF and DL to pick KP up for breakfast in Sri Petaling with JY, MY, YL and JT (the acronyms drive people up the wall with curiousity lehh). Dimsum One exceeded my expectations, probably because I didn't expect it to be better than usual. However, it was better than usual, and rather cheap, with the har kau and siu mai coming in slightly larger-than-usual sizes. Not bad at all.

Arrived at Glory Beach Resort in Port Dickson at about 11-ish. Since the reception counter refused to check us in until 3pm, we then drove to the Blue Lagoon. JY, MY, YL and KP went swimming-cum-snorkelling, while KF, DL, JT and I played Taboo. Blue Lagoon is said to be one of the best beaches at PD where you can still snorkel and see fishes.

We then drove into town to search for food. Ended up at Restoran Hai Chiew, which was the only Chinese restaurant opened. And of course, we ended up paying more than we should for taufu, chicken and vege - no seafood at all. I guess that's bound to happen when you go out on a major festive occasion.

Finally went back to Glory to check in. And spent a very fruitful afternoon watching 2 rather good movies - The Fast and the Furious : Tokyo Drift and Take The Lead. Tokyo Drift was good for the revving action, and Take the Lead was good because of the dance moves. And since it was raining quite heavily, we stayed in to play a group round of Taboo. That game is good la, no wonder the BU boys love the game.

We went to this Restaurant Bee Hoo in Lukut for a seafood dinner of fish, crab, la la, vege and egg. Amazingly, this dinner cost us less than the lunch we had. By the time we finished dinner, it was already 10pm. We then settled down to another movie (JT's portable hard-disk movie player is really useful la) - The Benchwarmers. Funny funny, typical Rob Schneider movie.

After this 3rd movie of the day, a bunch of them decided to take a night walk to the Legend Water Chalets nearby. A few of us stayed in just to chit-chat. After all, that's what the trip should be about - hanging out and catching up with friends. We all tumbled into bed by 2am. Since it was past my usual bed time, I was still quite awake and had to toss and turn till almost 3 before I could really fall asleep.

Raya hari kedua - Woke up at 7am again! Was the 2nd person up after JT, who went out for a morning traipse. I sat down and finished my book Dark Angel by Sally Beauman. (I'll review this book another time, along with the movie The Prestige which I watched on Monday with KF and DL). Everyone slowly started to wake, bathe and pack up. We checked out at about 9.30am and drove to a nearby Medan Selera in Lukut for a completely tasteless breakfast. Headed back to KL and arrived at Subang at about 11.30am.

Someone suggested karaoke, so we went to Galaxy at SS15. Not a bad package, at RM12++ per person you get a drink and a semi-buffet lunch plus the room for 3 hours. KP spent his time utilising the free wi-fi to chat on his new dopod. But it was quite a good singing session, because everyone joined in a lot of the songs, rather than individual singing sessions. We finally dispersed home at 3.30pm.

I got home, dropped the bags and went out grocery shopping at Giant Kelana Jaya. JT's successful diet influenced KF to start on granola-bars-snacking. After that, we had dinner in Kepong with YL, DL and the other KP who just returned from New York. Dinner was quite good. We had la mian at this Dragon-i spin-off. But the prices were reasonable and me, not a noodle fan, quite liked it too. But dinner was actually for the benefit of KP who's leaving soon for Melbourne, and we were trying to stuff her up to a reasonable BMI. By this time, I was already quite exhausted. Aiya, old already, cannot have so many late nights and exciting days anymore. Glad to finally drop into bed at 11pm, after a truly good 5-day weekend.

Feminine wiles

My weekend has started! Almost la.

I've had my hair cut and my facial done - yippee! Less chores for the actual weekend. Now all that's left is a pedicure - always wanted one but never actually went to get one, because it just feels weird to have someone sitting at your feet and scrubbing them clean for you. But, you know there are certain phases in your life when you just feel you have to dye your hair red or buy that pair of super-expensive jeans or try a full body massage? Well, it's that phase in my life where I just have to see if a French pedicure does it for me.

Ok, all those sounded like it came straight from a brainless chick-lit novel. Too bad, I feel a little light-headed at the moment - because of my new haircut. It's not exactly new, just layered with a bit of bangs, like how it's always done. But it always feels good to get a good haircut, that makes your head feel lighter; and a good wash, that makes your scalp feel oh-so-clean. I'm beginning to like Razor Edge at 1U's old wing. Been there 3 times and had 3 different stylists, and this time, this stylist was good. I think men stylists treat me better than women ones do. Ok, that's not supposed to be some sexist remark, but it's true. Men stylists listen more to what you want and give good suggestions that don't turn out to be mistakes. And this particular stylist gave a really good wash - haha - 15 minutes of scrubbing and massaging my head, amazing fingers. Ok, better not get carried away. Anyway, the last really good stylist I had was at Jantzen in Mid Valley, who migrated to Australia after about a year, and although that place costs an arm and a leg, he's done quite amazing things to my hair. I've been on the trail for a good stylist ever since. This new stylist at Razor Edge seems rather too young - yes, experience counts when you're dealing with hair.

Today's also the first day at work, where I don't share a cubbie partition with anyone because she's left. Feels good that the competition's left, but I'm anticipating that I'll be bored soon enough without the competition. Hoping against hope that my boss digs up interesting stuff for me to do before my mind wanders.

The Gap store opened at 1U yesterday and I forgot to go check it out after my haircut. Heard that it's the place to go for a good pair of jeans, and yes I've been searching quite long for a well-cut one. I'm not one who's given to lying flat on the bed just to zip up skin-tight jeans. But I do want one that looks good, makes my legs that wee bit longer, slims my thighs, or better still, make me look like a super-model. Haha. Unless Gap jeans can do that, I doubt I'd be willing to fork out good money for them. It's the main reason why I've lived in my only pair of Levi's for so long.

Okay, back to work now ... only 2 more days before the 5-day Deepa-Raya holiday, yippee!

I just noticed, I'm supposedly still on vacation in Rome and London - muahahaha! I've to do something about that soon. Keep putting it off because whenever I fiddle with the template and those html-nonsense, the layout gets screwed up and something goes wrong, of which I then have to spend another few hours or days getting the display right again.

I'm-look-ing-for-ward-to-the-long-week-end ... (in a sing-song voice) ... maybe I'll get my hair cut, get my nails done, go for a facial, work out extra long on the crosstrainer OR maybe I'll just go around and continue researching and comparing prices of all sorts of house things. Aiya, five whole days ... I can spend one day pampering, 2 days shopping for prices (or catching up on my Desperate Housewives and The OC), and 2 days lounging in PD. And there goes a whole work week. Hmm ...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie is scheduled to be released worldwide on July 13 next year! I can't believe I'll be 27 years old and still looking forward to these kinda things. Hey ... 27! Hmmm ... 27. Next year, it'll be 10 years since I left school. And it'll mark 5 years of drudgery in the working world.

But but but ... it'll also mark a new home, a year of slogging to be a registered valuer, and a year of things I've always thought I'd do at 27. Life is good, particularly if you have someone to share it with ;)

Work in progress

The vendor has to clear his Syabas, TNB, Indah Water and developer's maintenance fees before we get vacant possession of the house. The quit rent and assessment have been paid. So right now, we're waiting for the rest of the receipts before our lawyer releases the final payment and we officially get the key to the house.

Meanwhile, we've cut the grass and purchased a number of things. But still cracking our heads over the kitchen cabinets which will possibly be the most expensive thing in the house, seeing that we don't plan to buy a 42" plasma tv :P The Arlig beech ones in Ikea will cost us RM5,642/- and the Adel medium-brown ones will cost us RM7,107/-. That's excluding delivery charge of RM65/- and installation charges of RM60/- per metre run. They have 24-month 0%-interest installment payment scheme and it's rather tempting, but I cannot imagine paying RM300/- per month for my kitchen cabinets for the next 2 years. Like owning part of a Kancil.

We bought a really pretty set of lights for our dining counter and I'm really happy with those lights :) And we've gotten a leather 3-seater from Lorenzo. And an induction cooker for lazy cooking days. It's all rather time-consuming going round researching which is the most affordable and fits our requirements. But we're having fun :)

Looking forward to the long weekend at the end of the week. Hopefully we get the key before Raya, then we can begin harassing contractors ;)

A few minutes in between

A home requires so much of your time and energy. Well, more like, making a home requires lorry-loads of time and energy. Our lawyer told us to be ready to receive vacant possession in a couple of weeks' time. So we're in a quotation-shopping frenzy. Add to that the many choices of taps, toilet bowls, kitchen sinks, showerheads, cabinets, wardrobes, doors, locks, paint colours, lights, drawers and what-have-you's. Enough to turn anyone's hair grey.

But, it's actually happy news. Because we're getting the keys soon! After Raya, if all goes well, we get to start renovations and then hopefully, KF gets to move in by Christmastime. We started off having quite a lot of fun looking at the various variations of everything there is. But the novelty is starting to wear off, and we're starting to realize what a humongous task we have at hand :P

I am, however, learning a lot. So much more than I'm learning at work :P Really, renovating a house and building a home is a diploma in itself.

The haze is getting to me. The inspection list is growing in my in-tray, but I'm trying to delay making those appointments as long as I possibly can because hanging out in the smog is just not my idea of a good work day. But, work is work and I get paid to do what I do - the tediousness of earning a living.

And oh, I've finally handed in my 2nd year log book! *big clap on the back* Another accomplished goal for the year.

Today's a public holiday in Selangor, and I managed to use it to run errands at the banks in Damansara Heights - hehe. It's great that Selangor has extra 3 days' public holidays, great Sultan we have :)

I guess it shows that I'm tired. Hazy days are depressing, gets to your bones - or nose and throat, more like. I wonder if the people up in Genting can differentiate between smog and fog.

Why I'll never have a pet dog

(Or any other pet for that matter.)

1. It's too cumbersome, troublesome and expensive to clean, feed and train a dog.
2. I have to hit its mouth with a slipper several times to let it know that it cannot bite my shoes, even though it's a teething puppy with itchy gums.
3. It barks incessantly whenever the newspaper vendor arrives every morning.
4. It howls for no reason at all, which sets off the other dogs in the neighbourhood.
5. It requires regular vaccination to keep it everything-free.
6. It guards the house real well - making sure strangers don't pass through without warning us.
7. We sleep well knowing that it's there to cause a ruckus if anyone so much as passes our front gate - better than any advanced alarm system.
8. It wags its tail at us, no matter what. Even after it's taken a beating for being naughty.
9. It looks at us knowingly when we unload our entire day's and heart's nonsense to it.
10. It loves too unconditionally.

Our family's doggie died on Saturday night. It went out for a walk when we accidentally left the gates open, got hit by a car and died of brain injury. Daisy was a beautiful Spitz we picked up from the SPCA. She was the oldest among our 3 dogs, and always spent time grooming our little spaniel puppy Bobby, licking its eyes and ears clean whenever Bobby got into a fight with our other dog Max. A family friend said that Daisy had to go to "replace" the life of another who would have gone otherwise. I hope that she finds peace and happiness, wherever she is.

Terry Fox Run

It was a rather great Sunday, in fact. First, the day lasted extremely longer than usual because I got up at 6.30am. By 10.30am, I had finished my bit for charity - the Terry Fox Run. KF, Dennis and me went along with our RM25 each t-shirts, in support of cancer research.

My first impression when we arrived at Lake Gardens - wah, so many ang moh's in KL wan worr!! And they're built bigger and taller than us, with many adorable-looking kids.

But that's beside the point. I'm not a fan of marathons / runs because there's a time limit. But for this run, no. We could run or walk or cycle or otherwise "propel" ourselves along the route. Some kids came in tricycles, some roller-bladed, and some merely rode on their fathers' broad shoulders.

These pictures taken by Lensamalaysia impressively depict the rather wonderful event I was glad to be a part of, albeit the headache that puteri lilin me ended the day with due to the heat :P

Duets

At the moment, this is rotating endlessly on my playlist :

David Tao & Jolin Tsai - Marry me today
Leo Ku & Vivian Chow - Belated love

If only I could read Chinese.
I spent the entire past 2 hours searching for translation of the lyrics. And trying to memorize the romanized lyrics (Karazen is a godsent!) Both still unsuccessful - haha. But thoroughly enjoyed watching the videos on youtube (which is another one of those really helpfully cool sites).

Someone, anyone, tell me what does the MV for that Leo - Vivian song mean? I don't get it at all. They cry a lot. And Vivian Chow hasn't aged since I was a kid! Still as gorgeous as ever, even more so now after so many decades.

The David - Jolin collaboration is quite hilarious. I never knew DT looked like that! And the English rap in the song tickles me, it's so cheesy!

Still, fun entertainment for Friday night. I love Chinese duets :)

Second Glance

Is it love if you get drawn to the loneliness in the other's soul? Is it love, if you do all you can to protect your wife from the heartache of a stillborn child? Is it true that the apple never falls far from the tree? Are you truly being helpful, if you have the power to provide embryo choices to parents who do not want genetically-deformed babies? Can you dream about the person you haven't met, but about to fall in love with? Is it possible that a person only ever has one true love, that that true love is always the one you fall in love with in every life? Are there really ghosts?

This is one heck of a book. It's filled with symbolism, and is an uncommonly romantic book. It also touches on the disturbing science of eugenics (a new word I learnt in this book). The theory of sterilization for all families which are deemed to have weak human strains i.e. dominant negative traits of crime, feeblemindedness, etc. But what made the book really beautiful was the picture Jodi painted, in describing a woman's heartache, a man's loss, a mother's sacrifice. Somewhere along the lines, she paints an environment so unreal, that you know you're reading fiction, but you still believe that it is possible - that circumstances will somehow cause one to look at things in such a manner.

You know, until Jodi Picoult, I never knew there were so many ways to fall, and be, in love.

A friend of mine just realized her dream wedding. And dream wedding it was indeed. Held in Oxford, UK, the wedding was in a lovely English cottage with winding lanes and a chimney, a vintage Rolls Royce, the loveliest flowers, super-elegant food for the luncheon, and of course, a gorgeous bride with her groom and many happy guests. They zoomed off for a week's honeymoon at the Hilton Barbados after the reception. She was really happy, being able to find the one after so many failed relationships. And the one being in another continent, too. Love should definitely transcend all age, culture and location barriers.

What I'm busy with (to justify the infrequent posts) :

1. Making an appointment for an Estee Lauder make-up lesson (yippee yes yes! finally I decided to embrace my feminity and give make-up a go ... definitely everything to do with the fact that I missed out on the Blockbuster Limited Edition Professional Make-up Set last year and I'm not gonna miss it again this time!)

2. Drawing up kitchen cabinet plans for the new house

3. Reading reading and reading lots of Jodi Picoult and various female magazines (Cleo and Women's Weekly both have "Best Beauty Products" features this month with free giveaways!)

4. Trying my best to get back onto that "diet" that made me that wee bit thinner (lighter, more like it) before the Lang Tengah trip. No success so far. I just need to eat.

5. Also trying my best to get back my momentum of wee morning exercise that gave me that wee bit toned arms and thighs before that island trip. Also no success :( Have no motivation to drag myself up at 5.30am at all. Maybe another island trip? Muahahaha!

6. Writing my log book - yes yes getting on it. I've completed 1 month, out of 12, haha. I need to get those 11 months out by the end of this month, urgh.

7. Daydreaming about zooming off to nowhere, leaving everything behind for a year, and just travel! (daydreaming takes a lot of time wei!)

8. Thinking and thinking. Being 26 isn't all it's cut out to be.

And that thinking process has got me stuck in a rut. Hence the very boring entry. There, I've explained myself ;)

Just checked the calendar and realized that my 2nd year logbook is due to be handed in next month. Argh - gotta get started. Or doomed to be stuck at this nowhere-else-to-go job for an eternity :(

Which therefore means an inevitable delay to the Europe travel stories. But I'll be back, definitely definitely - promise promise. In October though. Too much happening this month.

The new IKEA catalogue just arrived yesterday morning - yippee! Flipped thru and saw there were new kitchen cabinet designs. Also, there's a HomeDec Expo at KLCC Convention Centre on 21 - 24 September. And this time it features a paint colour showcase by Nippon. And seminars on interior design, feng shui and creative home decor on that Sunday afternoon. Just in time to steal ideas, collect prices, book and make orders for the new house :)

While driving to work just now, I was just thinking about the mini problems on my car and how they were irking me. Just recently changed the horn and the wipers, which cost me more than RM100. And then, now my alarm system decides to go bonkers - going off by itself, or whenever I open the doors, or lock them. Ish. Coupled with the constant grinding and knocking noises when I drive, I am really thinking of changing the car. Doesn't have to be an upgrade - because this Vitara cost almost RM100K about 9 years ago. Don't think I can afford something on that price scale right now. But I thought the Suzuki Swift or the Peugeot 206 (or something along those numbers) looks rather nice. Small and easy to zip around. Am done with big bulky 4WDs, for now at least - until I can afford a Freelander, muahaha!

Been reading a lot of Jodi Picoult books lately. I've started on my 8th book, out of 12 published ones. She's good, really good. I'm not bored of her - yet. She shows that you can't possibly see everything in black and white after knowing there are so many shades of gray. And that humans sometimes cannot control what they feel, that sometimes you can only just stand and watch.

48-hour holiday

I could barely get up this morning. Got the Monday blues. After a great weekend of shopping in Singapore. That little country is an amazing haven for shopping. I felt like buying everything off the rack, because everything looked so wearable! However, I only ended up buying a top from Tangs, a pair of pants from Bossini, a pair of Hush Puppies sandals and an Oral-B toothbrush. It's great that HSBC card offers a 20% discount for Hush Puppies shoes in Singapore, I got mine for slightly cheaper than I would have in KL - if KL had that design.

We ended our 2-year craving for the prawn mee at Pek Kio market. Pigged out on fishballs, yakitori and what-nots in the Tang's Marketplace, which also served the most authentic and freshest soya bean ever : Jollibean. Next to it was also a sugar cane drinks stall selling sugar cane with all kinds of additions i.e. plum or lemon. Singaporeans have this thing of sugar cane with lemon, not my cup of tea because it tastes and looks like dishwashing liquid. Thirst-quenching though, I must admit.

Also decided to take advantage of the 15% discount for HSBC credit card holders in Marche. But when we arrived at The Heeren, we saw that Marche had been taken over by Vila'ge (pronounced vee-lah-jhay). Same concept, same design, same everything. But the prices appeared to be more expensive than I remembered. And no more discount for HSBC :( Had soft-shell crabs, rosti with cheese sausage and roast chicken. All on my sister's account - haha! :)

After dinner, Su Yin brought us to this nice little Italian deli called Ricciotti. Had the most delicious desserts! Cute little sinful Italian cakes - yummy! Address : B1-49/50, The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Road (Tel : 6533-9060). We got off at Raffles Place, took the Battery Road exit and took a 10-minute walk along the River to get there. We had the diplomatica, soffiato (definite must-have), tiramisu and I-don't-remember-what. The Ricciotti overlooked SY's favourite building in Singapore - the old police station with the colourful windows, which we couldn't make much of in the night.

Also had lunch in Scott's Picnic Food Court. The sizzling lamb chop was actually quite good, juicy and tender. Set me back by SGD7.50 (high, for food court prices) before I remembered my gum job didn't allow me to eat so much meaty stuff.

Plans to visit the Japanese and Chinese Gardens in Jurong and the Haw Par Villa were dashed as the Orchard buzz got to us - haha. My sister's apartment in Far East Plaza was such a truly convenient location that we just couldn't NOT shop.

It was a rather nice weekend, all-in. Great weather too. I think Singapore's a great place to get away from KL, because it's such a convenient city. For a holiday without forsaking city comforts, definitely go to Singapore ;)

Lighting the rail way

Did you read the news today? They're finally expanding the LRT lines! After years of talking about it.

I thought it was a great idea to expand the Kelana Jaya line all the way to Subang. And to extend the Sri Petaling / Bkt Jalil line all the way to Puchong. And I was ecstatic that they're also extending the line to Kota Damansara, near my future home! :)

But I thought it a bit weird to connect the Kota Damansara line to Masjid Jamek - like, huh? So I have to take the train down to KL city and then trawl all the way back up the Kelana Jaya line if I wanna go to my parent's place in SS3 or visit friends in Subang? Bit stewpid. Might as well drive.

The newspaper article mentioned that the extended lines should be ready in 4 years i.e. 2010. Cool. We'll see if that becomes reality. I guess "barring all major catastrophes and economic recessions".

Deep down though, I'm happy. Property prices in PJ will increase once again, or at least maintain its high levels, due to the wider coverage of LRT services. PJ is a great place to live in. Although it basically takes you about 30 minutes to get anywhere within PJ or even get out of PJ, due to the traffic and traffic lights. But, I love this city, with all its jams, idiosyncracies, great shopping - grew up here, studied here, and hopefully, will build a good life here :)

It's the week of patriotism!

Tang-gal tiga-puluh satuuu ... bulan lapan, lima-puluh-tujuh ...!!! That Sudirman song never fails to make me smile :)

I'm happy to be Malaysian, I really am. I can find lots of things to complain about the government, the mentality of its people, the mindless driving, the crime-rate. But, in the end, there is still no where else I'd rather be. Of course, living in Bangkok or Australia or London for a year or two would be great, but Malaysia is where I'd really want to stay, grow up, raise a family, earn a living, and basically just, live.

Just because I was born here.

The news in the papers about the various antics of our government really annoy me. But then, which government doesn't?

The special benefits awarded to bumiputera's also irk me a little. But hey, I can live with it, because it teaches me to be stronger.

The uncivilized drivers sometimes drive me to honk like a maniac. But then, which country's driving doesn't?

But it is sad that racial segregation seems to be so obvious these days. Or maybe it is the same. Maybe when we were younger and our schoolmates weren't differentiated in colours, it was for adults what it is now for us as grown kids. Maybe we just grow more cynical as days pass.

This Merdeka, I will probably spend it like how I spend Sundays, pottering around doing nothing in particular, just luxuriating that there's a comfortable home and great companionship (also enjoying the mid-work week break). Then, come Friday evening, I take a trip down to our southern neighbour, to enjoy a 48-hour holiday right in the middle of the Orchard shopping haven. Isn't it great to be Malaysian?

Latest project

Here's where I'm spending most of my time these days. KF made a lovely Pixart book for me, immortalizing our trip together. So this is where I'm doing it for us. Our trip to Italy and England. It's not finished, because I just started working on it. But it's a work in progress.

Yes yes, I remember the Bangkok one's not finished. Haha. Will get back to that one day.

By the way, Pixart is a really lovely way to have your photos displayed in a bound format. We've already made 2 orders with Pixart, and both came out wonderfully, and punctually at that. They promise the product is delivered 5 days after order is received. Service is excellent! I totally recommend everyone to this ingenious photobook site. Makes an excellent present or an eternal keepsake. For a very small price. I'm a total fan :)

Btw, Dominic, the "Marketing Manager" (I think he's also probably the Owner, Financier, Production Manager, etc.) is this young Malaysian fellow, and the office is in TTDI. I think he stumbled upon this fantastic idea and this person renews my faith that young Malaysians are enterprising souls.

As opposed to those lousy so-called university students-cum-thugs in that fracas that happened at UPM. Ho-humph. The Sun newspaper today has opinions and write-ups on the matter, and I particularly liked the write-up by the assistant editor Jacqueline Ann Surin - concise and exact. I hope The Sun pursues this issue until the university takes appropriate action. I like this paper, it's not a tabloid, and it works to ensure fairness - great advocate of human rights. The news that it has dug up lately on the MBPJ billboards and the Selangor state government pest control monopoly is fantastic journalism. My favourite newspaper right now for daily news. The Edge for business news. The Star Metro for local neighbourhood news and warehouse sales advertisements.

Miracle wipes

I've just wet-wiped my entire work space, it's now spick and span! Swiped the towelettes all around my monitor, workspace, shelves, files, then proceeded to methodically wipe every single nook and cranny on the telephone and the keyboard. Took one whole hour off my morning. First time in my life I'm cleaning a keyboard, honest to goodness. And boy, does it feel nice to type on it now! :P My black Dell keyboard is now ... as black as ever! :)

For something I put my fingers on everyday, it's a wonder I didn't think of cleaning it earlier. Will do so more regularly from now on.

I've heard somewhere that you can actually pull out the keys and insert them back, so you can clear the tray holding the keys. Well, I didn't dare to do that, just in case I forget how to put my qwerty keyboard back together. Just whipped my keyboard upside down, and out fell some clumps of dust and maybe bits of chips - haha. Should try doing the same to yours, you might be surprised (or rather, disgusted) by what falls out.

My telephone now smells like how some people smell after exiting a restaurant. But, the smell smells good on my phone, rather than on people. Can talk on the phone now without worrying about creepy-crawlies surprising me out of the mouthpiece.

My greatest sense of achievement so far this morning is to see those wet wipes with black streaks of trapped dust. Wet wipes are a great, great invention!

A Wedding in December

Just completed this book by Anita Shreve last night. Don't even bother wasting your time, if you, like me, hate books that have no endings. To me, an ending = a happy ending OR an ending where someone dies, and the story doesn't go on anymore. But oh no, this book had to end with a dangler - leaves you with that feeling of what-if's.

This book is filled with what-if's. But it's not even that beautifully-written. Yes, I'm going to lambast the book, because I was given to expect that the book would be good, Jodi-Picoult-like. It didn't even come close.

And, given that the synopsis says it's a reunion of sorts for 7 high-school friends who meet again after 27 years, I kinda expected it to be quite full of drama - like that Reunion series by Fox (which I really liked, by the way, and was quite pissed that Fox decided to pull the series halfway thru - without an ending!!!). Well, anyway, this book is anything but dramatic. More like, boring. I won't even bother to do the synopsis thingy, because it'll only give a false image of what the book is about.

So yes, the ending did spoil the book for me. If there had been an ending of some kind, that would probably have resulted in a different review. See how important endings are? It's not just enough to have a good storyline, a nice setting, a good plot, intriguing characters, captivating page-by-page narratives - there must be an ending! Heck, this book is comparable to "The Break-Up" : the not-romantic romance movie.

But, there must have been some reason or other that the book was published. Someone must have seen that there's some redeemable qualities in the book. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the enlightened ones.

My very wonderful weekend

Finally, finally, I have all the photos of the trip in hand! So, from today onwards, whenever I have the free time, if I have the inclination to, there shall be stories to tell :)

My first real trip to the periodontist - and I'm proud I survived! Lesson 1 learnt : You either need to learn to floss, or else get yourself an Oral-B Hummingbird. Lesson 2 learnt : Drag, cajole, persuade, threaten and do whatever else you need to do to get your children to the dentist's chair twice a year - they'll thank you for it. Me, I still have to survive another 2 more trips on my cool periodontist's chair. (She's good, she really is, I totally totally recommend her to anyone who has bleeding gums).

Watched "The Break-Up" yesterday. Vince Vaughn is not likeable at all, and Jennifer Aniston is very forgettable (although there's this scene where she struts around naked - nothing much can be seen - but it left me wondering if she used a body double). That just about sums up the story with no ending. Don't watch it unless you really have nothing else left to watch. Then, watch it only to relive upon the petty arguments that you used to have with an ex, or are still having with your supposedly less-than-better half.

Also re-watched "Da Vinci Code", but this time at the annual Starlight Cinema, which was held in Sentul Park this year. The second time around, the movie is much better and easier to digest, although I've read the book a zillion times. But hmm, the movie was good. But still I stand by what I said in my earlier review.

About Starlight Cinema, well, having it in Kiara (which they did for the past 3 or 4 years) is a far better option than in Sentul. Because :
1. Kiara had a much better general environment, although there's the occasional whiff of horse-shit. But Kiara had no big concrete building behind its screen (of which Sentul's had the KLPac).
2. Kiara's very near the general population area, compared to Sentul. Okay, maybe I should rephrase. Kiara, is very near the targeted market of young urbanites who would picnic under the stars to watch a movie. Sentul has a very different demographic.
3. Kiara's site is bigger. Even then, Sentul's site did not fill up, not like Kiara's.
4. Kiara just attracts more people to go.
5. Sentul is just too troublesome to reach.

Oooh, and one more other thing I did this weekend, went for a traditional massage at this place called D'Manja in Damansara Perdana. Promotional price was only RM30 for 45 minutes. The place had lotsa atmospheric curtains fluttering, and little pebbles leading up the steps to the door. Nice first impression. The lady boss Adeline was chirpy and friendly. She led us to this room with timber sliding doors and Japanese-style beds on the floor. Quite similar to what they had in Thailand. A little lamp was in the corner. The therapists were friendly, although a bit too chatty with each other, causing them to sometimes stop mid-way to finish their sentences. Overall though, I preferred the ones in Thailand. This place seemed a little too impersonal.

Best thing about the weekend though was that we spent time together! :)

Okay, very oh-so-reluctantly, I have to begin my work Monday now. Ta!

Love Rules

1. Thou shalt fall in love, or grow in love, to be in love.

2. Sex is not the be-all and end-all of a relationship.

3. Is there only one meaning to fidelity?

4. Friends pull you through every relationship - bad or good.

I truly loved this book - not just because it came free with a magazine I purchased in Heathrow airport, but because it was such a refreshing read. Chick-lit, the good ones that is, offer great balm for the chicky soul. And this one is no different.

Love Rules by Freya North. Story revolves around 4 people - Alice Heggarty and Thea Luckmore who are best friends, Mark who has loved Alice through various boyfriends and eventually becomes her husband, and Saul Mundy who becomes Thea's fairytale-prince. Yeah, the names are hard to remember, but you get pulled into their lives rather quickly.

Alice is one girl who loves falling for lust. So she runs through many many boyfriends because obviously, like Rule no. 2, sex is not everything. Finally, she realizes that there's this guy waiting in the sidelines ever-so-patiently to marry her (it's been Mark's life-long dream, really). So Alice proposes to Mark - yes! They get married. He's rich, has a well-paying job, even owns a Lexus, is a neat man who tidies up after Alice, and puts up with all sorts of womanly-nonsense from her. (Apparently Alice doesn't even know how to set up the canggih DVD player in the super nice house Mark bought for them). He loves Alice to bits. But, with all his work-travelling, Alice begins to feel lonely. And ta-da, things start to happen. Alice begins breaking the love rules one by one.

Thea is Alice's stabilizer best friend. She believes in fairytale love, that one day she'll find someone who loves her for who she is, and she'll love him as much back. She meets Saul, who falls incredibly deeply in love with her. It becomes rather like a fairytale, actually, because they fit each other so well. But, of course, what is a book without some dramatic interventions?

The plot is nothing very much to shout about. But, the writing is. I particularly loved the conversation pieces between Alice and Thea, because these were the parts which dissected morality, what's wrong and what's right in love, whether one set of principles are better than the other set. But, for all the morals in the story, one rule ruled supreme : that good friends pull you through everything.

There's one particular part though in the book that I've thought and thought about. But I can't dissect it here without spoilers. Just generally though ... if you're truly in love with the one you're with, but you occasionally look for sex elsewhere, does that step into the boundaries of fidelity? You'll find the answer (or more questions) in the book, muahahaha ...

My weekend

What I did this weekend :

... Went to see the periodontist (new word I learnt!). Go look up the dictionary if you dunno what it is. Anyway, I have a standing appointment every Saturday for the next 4 Saturdays to sit for an hour each session in her room. Will cost me a bomb, but I just have to spend that money.

... Had takeaway lunch from this Thai restaurant in Amcorp Mall's lower ground floor. Quite nice, not bad. Pineapple fried rice (KF said not bad), Thai braised spaghetti (I think it's ok too) and mango chicken (chicken had too much fried skin, but it was acceptable). 3 dishes, RM20 - ok mah :)

... Checked out prices of electrical items in Tong Kong electrical shop - a Panasonic dealer in SS3 near my house.

... Went for paintball!!!!! First time playing. Key words : adrenaline rush, shooting sounds, bruises (not on me), overalls, mosquitoes, Sg Buloh Mudtrekker, good workout. Too bad didn't take pictures. And as a souvenir, I have totally utterly sore thighs. Don't ask me why. Could be an accumulation from the lunging / cross-training exercises I've been overworking, or too much squatting when aiming my paintball gun. Now I can climb stairs slowly, but I can't come down the stairs, can't sit down without groaning, and can't go to toilet without holding on tight to some disabled person's handle. However, I'm running away from the topic. It was a good first time, because it was quite a good group of people - 13 of us I think. But, I think for the price we paid, it is an overrated game. Fun, because we get to shoot, but not so good because for that price I could have paid for a good saloon haircut.

... Dinner at Mum's Place at Damansara Perdana. Another overrated place. Food was okay. But expensive. Ambience was nice, but soured by some Lampeberger smell (I recognized it because it's the one my sister liked to burn in our room - urgh). Furniture was ornate, but not appreciated by the likes of me. Ah well, at least I can say I've been there.

... Watched "Click"! Good good GOOD movie. Definitely not overrated. Worth every single cent of the RM6 we paid (yah, cheapskates like me like to watch TGV's earlybird). Everyone should watch it, yes. You'll come out all fuzzy and feeling like loving everyone you see - haha, ok, I'm exaggerating. But was glad we decided to watch Click instead of Lakehouse. Someone told me later that Lakehouse was soooo slow it was a good thing we didn't watch it, hah.

... Lunch at Yippee Cup at 1 Utama. Nothing to shout about. But it was quite cheap - their traditional nasi lemak only RM4.90 - for something in a shopping complex.

... Checked out prices of electrical goods in Best Denki. Compared it with the prices from Tong Kong, and goodness, for a ceiling fan ah, the price can differ up to RM60! And Best Denki had the nerve to label it a "Great Deal!". Some shops just go all out to mislead people.

... My house is undergoing landscaping work. So now we have 5 mini palm trees (I think that's what they are) in the garden, and a lot of nice-looking Filipino grass (don't ask me how they differ from pearl grass and what-nots) plus lotsa cute white pebbles in all kinds of shapes. Nice :)

... Oops, I shouldn't have said "my" house earlier. I meant, my parents' house. My house, the one I co-own with KF (hehe) is something that has taken up most of my time during the weekend - furniture shopping, price-comparison shopping, etc.

And so, that was my weekend. I'm trying to see if I can squeeze in a weekend to travel down to Singapore, but first have to see what kinda workload my boss is planning for me (because sometimes that workload eats into my weekends). Ah well. It's nice to see that the days are flying by happily :)

Mid-year review

Which is past due.

Still.

It's here - my to-do list for 2006.

My to-do list for 2006:
1. Finish my thesis by 28 February.
Done! Yippee - got my MSc certificate in the post last night too! A bit of an anti-climax actually, because the cert was literally just a piece of hard paper. Ah well.

2. Complete the 2nd year of my valuer's log book by 30 June (reminds me that I need to speak to my boss for more acquisition cases).
Hmm. I haven't done this. The deadline's by mid-September. I should get down to this.

3. Completed Task 1 for my valuer's license by 31 December.
Okay, as soon as no. 2 is completed, I should do this.

4. Renovated and decorated our new house.
In progress :) This is where all those reward points from credit cards and loyalty cards get put to good use. And this is also where I put my MSc-learnt research skills to good practice. And oh yes, this is also the time where I learn to layer on a few inches of skin and bargain down prices like nobody's business.

5. Travel to London for my graduation and visit Paris.
Yay - done this! :) But not Paris, that can be another time.

6. Make a trip to Redang Island.
Not exactly Redang, but Lang Tengah - which is supposed to be even better! It was bliss, and then some :)

7. Organize one family trip.
Okay, to be honest, I don't see this happening. I have absolutely no more leave left. But, it may happen. There's about 5 more months to the end of the year.

8. Do something for my own spiritual and emotional development (I realized that is lacking in my yearly things-to-do).
Yes, I found something - reading. More particularly, Jodi Picoult. She is good. Very thought-provoking, and after every book, you learn something. And yesterday night, I was sitting in bed, and realized that my emotional control is quite praise-able. It's much easier now to consciously tell myself to stop being angry or stressed and just simmer back down to a neutral emotion. But, I know what my initial goal was : to find someone to emulate, to be a better person. A tad bit too general, this goal.

9. Look out for better professional positions.
This is not gonna happen this year.

So, now I know what else I have left to do with the rest of the 5 months in the year. Always good to have set clear targets. 'Least I know I didn't just fly past the year in a blur.

This time

The 1st day of the 8th month in the 6th year of the 21st century. Dramatic leh?

But it is, indeed.

When you grow older, time flies a heckuva lot faster. When I was in school, an entire year seemed to take ages to pass. At that time, I always looked forward to Mondays - the start of the week when I get to spend 5 whole days with friends. These days, Mondays are a drag. Maybe if I started looking forward to Mondays, the year will pass slower?

I'd love to have the power to slow time down. Although being 20+ (haha, that looks young hor?) is a fun period of discovery, it's also the decade when responsibilities begin to bog me down and horror of horrors, I realized that I have little lines in my eyes when I smile! (I'm already resigned to the fact of white hairs).

I cannot begin to imagine what being in my 30's will be like. Not just in the physical sense. I wonder if I can still have a sense of fun (which even now, is often quelled by my strong sense of paranoia). Whether I can upkeep a reasonable level of spontaneity. If I would still be able to listen to hitz.fm without cringing. If I can avoid getting too jaded.

I stuffed my list of resolutions for this year somewhere. Need to search it out and do some self-reflections. But, although I want time to slow, it certainly doesn't mean I want it to stop. I'm actually looking forward to next year, a million trillion things to look forward to. I'm sure next year will be great - just need to ensure that this year passes fruitfully, because I'm sure next year will be a whirl :)

New things

There's just something about the word s.a.l.e. that gets to you.

Especially since you have a long l-o-n-g shopping list of furniture, lightings, fabrics and what-nots along with the usual clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, knick-knacks.

Shopping is fun. 'S long as it doesn't involve your own hard-earned money. But what kind of shopping doesn't?

And the credit card is evil. Definitely so. It doesn't feel like I spent anything at all. But I know that next month, I'll definitely FEEL what I've spent.

But, I can't just cut off those cards. I mean, spending on credit cards means I get points, which I can accummulate and redeem for future household things I need.

See, the whole world conspires to make everyone shop. The London summer sale was on at the same time as Hong Kong's and Singapore's big sales. And now, Malaysia's having its own newly-annual-rather-than-triannual mega sale.

And, to add to that, Air Asia has those frequent cheap flights constantly advertised, so much so that you have to totally hold yourself down in order not to purchase flights to nowhere just because it's cheap.

And then, because I don't have enough to shop with, I start griping that I earn a measly income for someone who's an M holder. I mean, it's real easy to blow off my entire month's salary just walking around 1 Utama, you know! But of course, I'm not that irresponsible. Not like I have mouths to feed - merely have a mortgage to maintain and a wedding to plan for, definitely one of those biggest expenses of your life.

But, the point is, ... hmm, I have no point at all. Merely blowing off some steam before I begin my shopping spree this weekend, if my immense willpower succumbs to a spree :)

This is the place I come to rant. Realized that?

I just settled down after an early evening home from work. I take out my digital camera and prepare to download the photos. I pull open the drawer to grab the download cable. And, ta-da!

The cable's not there.

I pull open all the drawers and realize that someone has rearranged all the contents in all the drawers.

See, this is the reason why most family houses are cluttered and slightly untidy. Because a family lives in it.

S-I-G-H.

This weekend I shall go to the mall and get myself a new cable. I just hope it costs very little.

And therefore, here's to another delay in announcing my adventures.

Random thoughts

It keeps on popping up everywhere!

AirAsia has a promotion - flights to Bangkok from RM9.99!! Boy would I have lurvvvveeed to just book the tickets and fly off for a week of luxurious massages, fantastic food and cheap shopping.

Friends from everywhere just returning from a sojourn to Bangkok claiming they already miss that city of angels.

If there were anywhere in the world I'd go for a holiday right now, it would definitely be Bangkok. Because I've done all the touring I need to do there, and all I have to do the next time I'm there is just to shop, eat and luxuriate - definitely THE way to holiday.

I know, I just got back from one.

Didn't feel much like one though. Because I just realized that travelling takes work. And you usually work your feet more on holiday than at work. (My poor poor feet, I suffered cramps almost every night in Italy.) Also, when you just feel that you need to do the Collosseum, the Vatican City, the Pantheon, the Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, etc etc, it doesn't so much feel like a holiday anymore when there's a set itinerary to the day.

A holiday should mean that every day of the holiday feels like a Saturday, right?

Well, that's what a real holiday should mean. But seeing that we spent half our life savings for the trip, it'd have felt like a real waste just curling up in the bedsheets. So we dragged ourselves out to walk and walk and walk.

Not that the trip wasn't good. It was. Really. But I'm just sucked up in a lot of work at work right now, so you'll have to forgive the rather unpositive mood.

I'll post on the trip soon, promise I will. After I've downloaded the photos. After I've unpacked my luggage. All which will be done only after I'm done with deadlines at work.

Work, work.

When I was driving home from work, there was this topic going on on Radio 4. Something about, "What would you do if you had a million pounds i.e. RM7 million?"

Ooooh! I had this exact thought before I left for London that I'd buy a British lottery, just for the heck of that slim chance of hitting the million pounds jackpot. Haha.

Anyway, that question got me thinking.

Would I quit my job? Probably, because I find no satisfaction whatsoever in what I do.

And then? Stash half for investments. Give about RM100K to 2 medical research charities like AIDS or cancer. Pay off the mortgage. Beautifully renovate and furnish the house. Have a dream wedding. Go on an even dreamier honeymoon in Eastern Europe. Bring the family on holiday to Bangkok.

Anything else? Then ah, get on with life la! Probably work again, but this time do what I want to do lor. But that's another topic for another time ;)

See, I've thought it over. So, whoever's up there, you know I'm ready to win the lottery! :)

Burn

Today is one of those days I'm looking forward to the jam driving home.

Today I shall purposely leave the office at 6.30pm, to get stuck in the jams involving the end of the afternoon-session school. I pass 3 schools on the way home.

I usually either leave by 6.15pm or after 7.00pm, just to avoid the crowds of cars stopping and parking haphazardly to pick up happy kids.

But today.

Today I shall relish the extra-long time in my car just listening to the radio, inching my way down the roads, and not having to face my files of work at all.

I should actually be staying back to work until my eyes can't open. But I just cannot do it. Working on this same case for a week (even thru the weekend) and not seeing it progress anywhere is driving me nuts. Bugger deadline's this Wednesday and I'm nowhere near halfway.

Too bad my salary isn't much of a motivator.

Ah well.

I'm that wick on the candle. Flickering, flickering, blows off for 0.5 seconds, flickers again.

One of the saved ones

This pic is one of those salvaged from THE memory card. JC on my right and Cindy on my left. KF's behind the camera ;) 

Swamped

With work.

Seems like all I can do these days is complain about work. So what else is new? :P

Peeved that I have to work through this weekend. I was thinking of using the time to unpack and blog out my holiday adventures. Looks like that plan isn't going to work out.

Photos aren't upcoming yet because they're in KF's laptop which is taking a trip across the South China Sea this weekend.

Speaking of photos, we nearly suffered a heart attack. Until the miracle of computer geeks managed to resolve it to only a minor heartache. A memory card of ours suffered some glitch during transfer. And of all the memory cards to corrupt, it HAD to be the one with THE graduation pictures - THE reason we made the trip.

Thank goodness, really THANK goodness, for PC Inspector Smart Recovery. We managed to recover the graduation pictures. But we lost all of our pictures from Stonehenge and Hampton Court :(

I am still amazed, much amazed and thankful, that there exists software such as PC Inspector Smart Recovery. Free, at that!

Right, back to the swamp. Later.

Back.

At work.

Trying my hardest and bestest to cope with everything that happens after an extended holiday, and then some.

Amazing that after only 2 weeks, my house looks somewhat strange but familiar, my workdesk looks slightly different but same, and driving and typing at the keyboard seems to feel odd-ish.

I'll have to take down that daisypath when I have time, it makes me disillusioned :P

Yes yes, holiday trip reports coming up, s-l-o-w-l-y but surely :)

On Vacation

Yippeee!!!!!

In 5 hours, will be leaving for the airport.

3 hours later, will be boarding the Cathay flight to Hong Kong.

4 hours later, arrive in Hong Kong.

2 hours after that, board the British Airways flight to London.

13 hours later, arrive in Heathrow.

5 hours then, check in to London Stansted airport.

In 2 hours, board the Ryanair flight to Rome.

3.5 hours later, finally finally arrive in Rome Ciampino airport.

So excited!

Joanna's and KJ's wedding

Weddings are always pretty. This one was also quite a "reunion" of sorts, when most of us only gather when our "gatherer" Jonie groups us together. We took up 1.5 tables, along with a few partners. More photos at my Multiply site : http://fong28.multiply.com/photos/album/2

Last day at work for the next 2 weeks. So much stuff to finish, to hand over, to leave notes. Stressed.

My graduation admission tickets also haven't arrived. And my London accommodation voucher is not ready. Just hope against hope that it'll be ready by tomorrow morning. If not, my roaming phone bill will just have to hit the ceiling. Even more stress.

Also haven't packed. Spent two nights just shuffling my toiletries and cosmetics around, trying to find the pouches that fit them best without taking up half the space in my already-small suitcase. Yah yah, I dawdle. If only I could just twirl my shiny wand and say the magic words "Pack!" or "Unpack!". If only.

Better stop day-dreaming and get back to work - fully utilize the day. One final post tomorrow before I fly :)

S.t.r.e.s.s.e.d.

2 days and a couple of hours more

I've always wondered why they say Italy is in the shape of a boot. I've looked and looked and I can finally deduce that it looks like a lady's high-heeled knee-length boot. "They" should be more precise, then. Because a lady's boot is a sexier one than just a boot.

Started packing toiletries last night - I think my toiletries bag is gonna weigh 5 kilos! Hahaha. Tonight, if I don't work too late, I'll probably start on my clothes, medicine, cosmetics, shoes, reading materials.

Excited that I'm flying in 57 hours! Never sat in a Cathay flight, nor a British Airways flight before. But not expecting much.

Filled with trepidation because my work desk is still piled high with work. (Yeah I know I should be working on that pile, I will, I will). The boss (and the company atmosphere) ain't motivating me much.

But I shouldn't dwell on unhappy thoughts. Must psyche (did I spell that right?) myself up for the 2-week sojourn! :) Days where I only think of what to eat, where to go, how to get there ... bliss :)

3 days to Hong Kong

Haha ... yeah, for about less than 2 hours we'll be in transit at the famous Chek Lap Kok Airport, the one that is purported to be similar to KLIA in design, but apparently the better twin of the two.

A brand new day, so no more temper tantrums :) Just lots of deadlines to concentrate on, and a growing shopping list that I have to complete before locking my luggage (of which I haven't yet found a suitcase for yet).

You know, late last year I was thinking that I would have stopped working by now. That I would have thrown in my letter and would just be enjoying in Europe, knowing that I have all the time in the world to overcome jet lag when I return. Too bad that's not to be. The little rat is spending faster than she can earn.

Morons at work

This is going to be an exhibit of my usually well-kept temper.

My tolerance level is amazing, because I'm a pushover. But when someone starts concocting rubbish stories and lame excuses when there's a deadline to be met, there is only that much postponement I can take.

This guy, from Berjaya Vacation Club no less, had informed me that my hotel voucher for the London stay would be ready last week, in time for me to collect before I fly to Italy this Saturday. Great. So I called him last Thursday (and everyday since then) to ask if I could please get a fax copy of the voucher first.

"I'm sorry I'm in the hospital now with my wife. I can't talk now. I'll be back in the office tomorrow morning and I'll fax it to you."

"I'm not going in to office this morning, but I'll be in in the afternoon. I'll get it done for you then."

"Sorry my wife is very sick. I can't leave her. I'll be back tonight to get things done for you."

"The clerk who issues the vouchers is not around. I'll wait for her to come in, if not it'll be ready tomorrow. Yes, I promise I'll fax to you."

"Don't worry, Ms. Wong. I'll get the voucher ready. I've contacted my colleague, he'll arrange things for me so I can come in to the office and immediately issue you the voucher tomorrow."

"Yes you can meet me at 2pm tomorrow afternoon in the office. I promise."

"No, I can't talk now. I'm in a meeting. I'll call you back."

"I'm still in a meeting. That's why I didn't pick up your calls. I will do it right now."

"Can you please be patient? The clerk is in a discussion and if she's not back today, I'll issue it tomorrow. Don't worry, I will fax it to you by 10.30am tomorrow and you can collect it at 2pm."

Great, just great. Those are snippets of his excuses given to me ever since Thursday, when I've called him every single hour of the day just to hear the same excuses over and over.

I lost my temper today, and I remembered the reason why I try very hard never to lose my temper. It causes this throbbing in my chest and a perpetual frown on my face. My brain cannot concentrate and there's this weird adrenaline rush in me that doesn't feel like the same rush you get when you eat chocolates. My voice changes into this high, shriek-y tone that even I don't like to hear. And if I reach a point where I scream swear words and insults instoppably, I will start tearing in my eyes.

Luckily, it has been very long, maybe about 10 years, since I've reached that stage. Today however, I almost did. But I stopped myself in time, only because I reminded myself that swearing and insulting someone gets nothing done. It merely lessens my good karma. So no way am I going to let that eejit moron benefit from my anger. Anyway, swearing at someone somehow pricks needles into my invisible soul. I'm serious. Not trying to be a goody-two-shoes. I hate conflicts, I hate arguments, I hate quarrels, and I'm a pushover because I avoid all disagreements. No point hurting myself over some eejit morons.

And if tomorrow at 10.30am that fax voucher is not in ... oh boy is there gonna be drama! It's not an empty threat, because I banked in money much earlier to this eejit moron, and I WILL GET WHAT I NEED, even if it means going to corner him at UMCC where his wife is warded and where he appears to be spending most of his time.

No eejit moron is going to ruin my perfectly-planned holiday.

PJ city celebrations

In conjunction with PJ's city status celebrations tomorrow, the entire PJ State area (near MPPJ building) will be closed to traffic from early morning till late afternoon. Re-opening of the roads will be subject to the event schedule tomorrow.

So, when PJ becomes a city, does that mean that normal people like us don't need to work?

Like, aiyo, they must be reasonable mah. When KL closes roads for visiting dignitaries, they close it for 2 hours for a specified period of time, so you can make your way to your required destination at designated hours. But nooo, PJ being a city is a big thing - so all PJ State workers have to be subject to numerous headaches trying to think how to come to work tomorrow morning or afternoon, depending when MPPJ (or should I say MBPJ) decides to re-open the roads for public roads.

However, I heard a rumour that all parking areas under the MPPJ municipality has free parking tomorrow. Rumour only la. To be confirmed in the Chinese papers tonight, or the English papers tomorrow morning.

So, what does the normal person-in-the-street get from PJ becoming a city?

From what my short-sighted eyes can see at the moment - nothing but more inconveniences.

Maxis roaming charges

For calls using *120*number# (not direct-dial):
Calling Malaysia from UK is RM2.50 per/min
Calling Malaysia from Italy / France is RM4.00 per/min

All calls are charged in 1-min blocks

For SMS :
From anywhere, except Singapore, it is RM2.00 per/sms

These rates apply for both post-paid and pre-paid plans.

Countdown : 5 days to go ...

I haven't packed! Muahahaha ... that's how excited I am ...

Rape in Damansara

It makes you wonder what goes on in the minds of these men. Those who rob, AND rape. So many thoughts of disgust and contempt and anger and paranoia running through my mind - no way to put it all down.

Headline in The Sun this morning, and small article in The Star : Robber rapes victim for not giving enough cash - where a 24-year old stewardess (young mother) is robbed in a car park of a shopping complex in Damansara (the place is not named, everyone knows why), and then forced to drive to a nearby park to be raped in the backseat.

What is this world coming to?

What exactly did that man think of when he decided to rape the young mother? What, in the first place, compelled him to wait in the car park for a victim? Why did he think that robbing is the solution to his problems?

And that poor lady, when she returns to her husband. The horrible thoughts running through her ravaged mind, but the biggest question is the one that every woman is scared of - will her husband be there to support her through the ordeal?

It's sickening to see how the action of one criminal can affect the lives of otherwise normal people.

Meanwhile, I'll maintain my high level of paranoia - parking near escalators / lifts at shopping malls (although there's plenty of parking space elsewhere), constantly jerking my handbag tightly whenever I hear a car / motorbike pass me on the street, locking my car doors as soon as I get into it, looking into the rear view mirror at nights to ensure no one's following me home, getting someone to follow me to the toilets in shopping complexes, not getting into lifts at apartments if there's a bunch of men in it (or even, a doubtful-looking man), and always always watching my back.

Men can't blame women for being paranoid. All men have to worry about is car-hijacking and robbery. No, I don't mean for that to sound like that's all men have to worry about. But, imagine (if it's possible) what it's like to be a woman, afraid of every single darn thing that happens out of our control and results in havoc in our daily lives.

It's sad what this world has come to. I dread, really dread to know what the world would be like for our children.

Consent obtained!

Surprise, surprise, the land office is much more efficient than I thought it was! In less than 3 months, we've obtained the consent to our house.

So, now comes the 4-month waiting period for the banks to discharge and charge, and do all the necessary, before the keys are handed to us.

Was just doing up the accounting just now ... haih, there goes the savings. Lawyer fees cost a bomb. Thank goodness for the super-low interest rate on our home loan for the first year (my banker just informed me that this package has been withdrawn already - luckily we signed the offer letter early!)

Am super, super excited that we're nearer to getting our home! But having feelings of trepidation ... not because of depleting savings account la (money can earn back marr), more like, what happens when we get the keys?

Just 10 more days!

I'm looking forward to Rome ... to Venice ... to the Capri Isles ... to eating gelato ... to just being on a Roman holiday!

And, although London didn't impress me so much the last time I was there, there's just something about the place that makes me excited to be there again. Maybe it's because travelling anywhere is exciting, or maybe it's because London marks the first time I was independently alone overseas (and survived to tell the tale!), or maybe it's just because it's London! And I'm going to be garbed in graduation robes to receive my scroll!

Best of all, I get to share all these with KF :)

I can't wait! :)

Monday heat

I hate Mondays when ...

I have to come back to a desk full of work,
with an armful of weekend files threatening to topple over when I punch in to work.

My cubicle neighbour begins her DAY-long phone calls gossiping ENDLESSLY about anything and everything. It completely drains me of the little inspiration I have left to work. And I hate that I lose what little I have to keep me sane.

It's going to be one heck of a Monday, I just know it.

At my bedside table

I just picked up this book, after having been on the waiting list to rent this book for months. I love historical fiction, induced particularly after my doses of Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon by Philippa Gregory. And since this book has a recommendation by Ms. Gregory, I was sold on reading it - also because it revolves around the old rich families of the Pope in the Papal States (now known as Rome and the Vatican City) and Naples. Nothing like some historical fiction to get your blood flowing with the feel of the place you're about to visit. Betrayal, cruelty, love, passion, incest, treachery, poison - all recipes for a good bedtime read ;)

I can't review it yet, because I've just started on it. But thus far, I grasp that the protagonist is Sancha of Aragon, who is wed to a weakling son of the Pope, Jofre. The Pope's family, known as the Borgia family, is apparently is with its various secrets, as are most political families. Again, I repeat, this is historical fiction. But, historical fiction is based on some fact. Which makes it more interesting ;)

And because I thoroughly loved "The Pact", I cannot wait to begin "Mercy", also by Jodi Picoult. She appears to have a fascination for the various facets of love - and all the gray area that love revolves around.

According to the synopsis behind the book, "Mercy" is about how James kills his wife and confesses it to his brother, a police chief. Cameron, the police chief, immediately arrests him. However, Cameron's wife, Allie, is not so sure that what James did was wrong - because Allie is seduced by the idea that James loved his wife so much that he'd do anything for her, including fulfill her wish for him to kill her.

To add to that plot, Cameron falls for Allie's new assistant, Mia. And of course, thus begins Jodi Picoult's expert exploration of love - what is right, what is wrong, and how one handles the love handed to him / her.

"You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on a pedestal. Someone works very hard to keep things rolling smoothly; someone else sails along for the ride."

I'm planning to finish reading Borgia Bride in the next 2 weeks, but I'll bring Mercy along for the ride to Italy. I'll probably be sniffing while reading on the plane, or on the train, but at least, I'll be suitably engrossed :)

And the lovely Bernice in My Book Place (the place where I rent my books for RM5 per book) has told me that she has 8 books out of the 12 Jodi Picoult has written. It shall be a Jodi Picoult blitz from now possibly till the end of the year ;)

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

It's not often that you come across a book that thoroughly immerses you in its characters. I mean, when reading Harry Potter and other chick-lit books, you know you're reading fiction. But Jodi Picoult - whoa!

The story revolves around 2 protagonists - Chris and Emily, a loving teenage couple who has a relationship so amazing and so mature that I truly felt jealous. Emily commits suicide. Chris is accused of first degree murder. Both sets of parents, who were absolute best friends and neighbours, start to face cracks in their relationships. The book then brings you, via flashbacks, to depict how Chris and Emily began as childhood buddies to teenage lovers. Its present day narration describes the various emotions of its various characters via a courtroom and prison drama.

The beauty of the book is not in the storyline, it's in the writing - the emotions depicted in the writing. How Jodi Picoult flawlessly painted a crystal clear image of the heartbreak, confusion, and resigned feeling of Chris, the lover who was left alive. How the author described the conflicting, painful and disturbed thoughts of Emily which eventually caused her to submit to suicide. How Chris, out of total love for Emily, helped to release Emily from her pain. How both sets of parents come to terms with the idea that their children were contemplating suicide.

It's a truly amazing book. So many aspects to explore. Quite a lot of depth and significance. A rather good book to be dissected in an English class. And best of all, the beautiful dialogue of Chris - who gives a whole new perspective on what love is about. Or, should I say, the emotionally-beautiful writing of Jodi Picoult.

"My entire life was all about her. What if hers was not about me?"

I'm a new fan.