.: 4am :.

That's the time I slept last night.

And no. It wasn't becoz I was burning midnight-oil studying.

I had a mild insomia.

And I ran out of books for my light night reading.

And no, I wasn't that desprate to read my ICAEW books!~

So there I was, staring at the ceiling. Didn't really know what to do. So I asked myself - who would be awake at this ungodly hour?

I immediately dialled Yin's number on my handphone.

She never fails to be awake at such hour.

My hunch was right as she perkily answered her phone. Try calling her at 12pm in the afternoon and all you can get out from her is a few grunts of uh-huhs, usually ending in a few seconds when she says "I'm not awake yet!". (Yes, she's a confirmed nocturnal animal!)

Anyhows, there we were, chatting bout everything that we could think of - from the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy, to how many biological & non-biological children that Angelina Jolie now has now, to how one of the contestant in ANTM looks so like her (as in Jolie not Yin), to over-clingy gf of a friend, to the world's current economy state. Yin tried to steer the conversation into M'sian politics - but I refuse to discuss about that (coz I find the M'sian politician super childish - and quite frankly, I don't give a rat's ar$e on who is doing what or who is doing who anymore).

Anyways, after RM10 of my phone bill worth of call - I went to sleep.

Woke up the next morning, reached for my handphone, and dialled JC's number.
The phone rang, someone on the other end picked up, but said nothing.

Then I woke up from that dream.

And so I reached for my handphone, dialled JC's number - it rang, someone picked up, but no reply.

And then I woke up from that dream. For real this time.

Weird. But I've been having really weird dreams recently - possible due to exam stress. I dreamt I was chasing someone (vaguely remember who tho), and minutes later, I was being chased by a bear (not your friendly Winnie The Pooh bear, but a mean ferocious one).

So here I'm again, posting this post from my uni's library.

I'm stressed from studying!

Arggggg!!!~

.: Guess Who's Back? :.

Qian's back!

Wheeee!~

Last weekend (Sunday) a small group of ex-5 Bataians met up. Apart from the usual SJian, Jes & myself; SMay, EWei (who's now working in Singapore - with 3 bosses under him [private joke]) & CKong joined us.

We had dinner at BubbaGump Shrimp, The Curve.

Tho we have aged (I mean we knew each other for almost 5 years now), but some of us are still the same. We laughed, we teased each other, we had fun! :)

I love meeting up with my ol' buddies - there's so much catching up to do, and time do fly when we are all having fun! :)

So now that CKong & Qian are back for good, we can have lots more outings and lots more fun (coz Qian is the fun-est person to be with! - [She reminds me of Tigger - spelt T .I. double-Grr. Errr])

Ok, I think I should continue to hit the books now.......

[I'm in SyUC library - it's as nerdy as I can get]

Cheers!~

.: Sense And Sensibility :.

The difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense.

-Tom Clancy-

No wonder my life doesn't make sense. It never has. And I'm really inclined to believe that it never will.

Sometimes, I think my life is perfect (Well, it will never be perfect perfect per say, but when that feeling of contentment at that very moment and point in time - to me it's almost as good as perfect).

Sometimes, I think my life is so messed up that I don't even know what I'm doing or who am I anymore.

I can swing from 'perky happy-go-lucky sunshine-and-rainbows me' to 'melancholy leave-me-alone storm-and-dark clouds me' in matters of seconds. I highly doubt (though I never did completely rule out) that I'm suffering from bipolar disorder (like that of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde).

Ok, so I'm dramatising it a lil, but you get what I mean....

Arg!

Anyways, my final ICAEW exam paper is coming soon Wed next week to be exact. I can't believe that I'm finally at the end of this long, time-consuming-tear-sweat-and-blood journey, but yes, here I'm!

It's the final hurdle, before they "let you lose into the world as chartered accountants" as how my lecturer, Ms Jackie, puts it. So you can pretty much guess that this paper is NOT going to be easy.

And it's a really different paper altogether - it's not at all technical, not at all computational, in fact it's just advise,advise,advise! Or that's what I think it is - coz I can't seem to make head or tails of this paper and already it's like my final week of preparation! (What have I gotten myself into when I signed up for this exams!)

Random rantings of my very real life that doesn't make very much sense.

Ah, that's just me and my life.

And who ever said reality has to make sense?

.: Branding :.

Your personal brand is what people say about you behind you back. It's the word they use to describe you to other people and its how you make other people feel about you - just like a corporate brand or a product brand.

We are now in a business world where people represent a brand more strongly than any slick website or glossy brochure ever can.

The top ten things to do to create a strong and memorable personal brand:

1) Make sure it's authentic
- uncover and clarify your strenghts...

2) Measure the perceptions
- get feedback from others on how they see you...

3) Be clear on your uniqueness
- if you were to write your life story so far, what would the title of the book be?

4) Clarify your target market
- write down the top 100 people - people who will help you reach your business, career and personal goal...

5) Increase your visibility and exposure
- how can you be more visible - write an article, attend networking groups,etc...

6) Check out your first impressions
- it takes seven seconds to make a first impression - do it right the first time...

7) Don't dilute the brand with inconsistencies
- be consistant in all ways you communicate, be it via email or face-to-face conversations or on the phone...

8) Pay attention to your brand packaging
- how do you present yourself? your voice, tone, dress, appearance, etc...

9) Clearly define your goals
- if you don't clearly articulate your goals, you are very unlikely to reach them - write it out and stick them somewhere...

10) Start NOW!
- don't delay and do it NOW!

Article from Lesley Everett

.: Mamma Mia! :.

I must confess that I actually enjoyed this movie. Not that big of a fan when it comes to music from the 70's, but I just can't refrain myself from tapping my feet to the familiar ABBA songs like "Honey, Honey", "Money, Money, Money", "Mammamia", "Dancing Queen", "Super Trouper", "Take A Chance On Me" - tho I don't think the storyline was that great (unlike Dream Girls)

Another confession to make, I think I want to re-watch this again! :)

Arg! Can't get the tunes out of my head.....

"So I say thank you for the music,
The song I'm singing,
Thanks for all,
The joy they're bringing..."

And thank you JC for the movie date *wink* :)

.: In The Company Of Good Books :.

Just the knowledge that a good book is
awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.

- Kathleen Norris -

Give me a good book anytime......

I just love, love, love to read a good book, and for some odd reason, I've been reading alot this month or two. So here goes, the list of books that I've recently read :

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

I first heard of this book while watching The Oprah Show on Hallmark channel one late night, and I thought to myself - that's one book that I would like to read.

But then again, there's alot of book that is on my reading list, so I never really gotten to it. But last night, the re-run of this episod on Oprah was on, and again I thought to myself, I MUST read this.

And today, I was in SyUC library looking for a map (a research for my exams - long story, so don't ask why an accountancy student needs a world map) under the "Geography" section, when lo and behold, this very book, nestled among the world map and tourism books (it must be a sign that I really need to read this very book).

I'm halfway through this book - it's not easy that I need to actually study, while this book is calling out for my attention, so I divided (tho not so equally *wink*) my time between this book and my studies.

-to be updated once I finish this book-

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Blue-Eyed Devil

Lisa Kleypas

Another book that was dying to be read.

I was walking up and down my Uni's library when I saw this book sitting on the rack. It just got my attention, so I grab this book, settled down at my place, and started to read - from cover to cover (without stopping - wish I can do that when it comes to studying). Needless to say, it was a good book. And needless to say as well, my objective to study that day was not met.

This book is a story of a rich, oil tycoon's daughter; Haven Marie Travis.

Of her abusive marriage, and how this brave young woman is learning and coping to survive from the physical and emotional scar left by her abusive ex-husband. And the came Hardy Cates, and when she thought she could never fall in love again, she did. But she was playing with fire, taking the risk of being hurt once again.

A lil bit of sexual details in the book - so anyone under 18 should not be reading this! *wink*

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

More Than Conquerors

Steven Masood

Uncle Jeffrey from church recommended me to read this book. And I can see why.

It's a fairly short book (wouldn't take more that 2 hours to read) about how a Muslim-converted-Christian tries to explain to his Muslim best friend on the basic claims of Islam and Christianity.

References were made to both the Quran and The Bible.

There's really not much I can say, coz as a young Christian, this book of debate may be a lil too deep for me, but it does give a lil insight to the origin of Islam and Christianity.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Where Rainbows End

Love, Rosie

Cecilia Ahern

Don't make the same mistake as I did. Tho these two books are under different title, they are of the same. Exactly the same!

But I love this novel so much so that I read it TWICE. Yeah, to me it was that good! I just absolutely love it!

Even though I wasn't such a big fan of Cecilia's PS I Love You , I love (I think I've used the word "love" way too many times) the way she wrote this book i.e. in the form of letters exchanged between Rosie Dunne and Alex Steward - two bestest, best friend (with cute lil spelling mistakes like "no" for "know") to emails to instant messages within a span of 45 years.

This is a book which I will not reveal any spoiler, coz I'm making all of you just grab this book and read it! (You must! You must!)

Just let you in on my favourite part

" ...you deserve far better. You deserve someone who loves you with every single beat of his heart, someone who thinks about you constantly, someone who spends every minute of every day wondering what you are doing, where you are, who you're with and if you're ok. You need someone who can help you reach your dreams and who can protect you from your fears. You need someone who can treat you with respect, love every part of you especially your flaws. You should be with someone who can make you happy, really happy, dancing on air happy..."

Go on, grab this book. You won't be dissapointed.

.: It's A Girl! - Full Moon (updated) :.

Congratulation David for his new baby girl (16th September)!

Baby Katelyn turn 1 month on 16th October.

With a name like Katelyn, I'm sure she will grow up to be a sweet, nice girl - just like me! :)

.: Tear Drops On My Guitar :.

Drew and I have been friends from back since as far as I can remember. We were next-door neighbors, and he would often come over and we would play together. Being two years older than me, he was like an elder brother I never had. He was always very protective of me, and really took good care of me.

We spend all our growing up time with each other. We took the same bus to our primary school every morning. And we would meet up during recesses. When I was down with chicken pox, he disobeyed our parents’ commands, and sneaked into my room with his Nintendo for me to occupy myself. End up, he contracted my chicken pox viral and we were off school for two weeks – and it was then we got the highest score in town for the Super Mario game.

--*--

As years go by, the gawky, nerdy Drew blossomed into a tall, well built, almost Greek-god like young man. Yet, his sense of humor – or lack of it, remains the same, though he never fails to make me laugh with his lame jokes or funny Johnny-Bravo pick up lines that he would try out on me. No one ever gets why I snorts and roll on the floor laughing till my stomach hurts at Drew’s jokes, but he’s the only person who could make me laugh that way.

It was that one particular day when I was at his place watching Casablanca (it was our all time favorite and we will watch it over and over again), when he put his arms over my shoulder, like he always does, and at that moment, I felt my heart pulse beating faster and my palms sweating. For the first time, I was actually nervous around Drew. It was then that I realize that I’ve fallen for him.

Of course there was times when I contemplated telling him my feelings. But I don’t want to ruin out friendship. It was not worth the risk, so I kept it all to myself, and Teddy, whom I’m sure won’t divulge this lil secret

--*--

I was in Drew’s room the on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I lay down on his bed, face up, hugging the Barney pillow that I got for him for his 9th birthday with my hard saved allowance. The royal purple pillowcase is now almost grayish-purplish like. He was lying down next to me, fiddling with his handphone.

We were quite for a while. I looked around his room. I caught a look at the metallic photo frame engraved with “Best Friend Forever” with our picture together, taken about a year back. We were hugging each other, beaming at the trophy between us; that of we won inthe talentine competition – where Drew & I sang a beautiful duet. I have an identical photo frame and picture lying on my bedside table.

“I’ve something to tell you…”

My heart skipped a beat. Could it be? Could it be that he feels the same for me?

“I think I’m in love…”

I’m nervous at the same time, speechless. I recalled that he once told me that I’m his “true love”, but that was ten years ago, when we were watching Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs together.

“She’s sweet, nice and has a big heart. Every time I see her smile, it makes my heart melt...”

“You know, …” he turned from his bed, lying flat on his belly, and looked at me with those big brown eyes,

“…Amy is the only girl that makes me feel this way. She’s not like any other girls, she’s genuinely beautiful inside out.”

I tried my best to fake a smile, swallowing hard on the tears that are threatening to flow out anytime.

The next hour that followed felt like eternity as I listen to Drew describing Amy. She sounds so perfect, so flawless; I wished that I was her.

I ran over to my house, locked my room door and drown my pillow with my tears.

I looked at our picture.

If only Drew knows.

--*--

A month has passed by – Drew’s asked Amy to be his girl. Things between Drew and me can never be the same again.
No more watching classic movies with each other, no more ice-skating or hiking together, no more sharing Swenson’s Earthquake and spoon-fighting for the only cherry – all these things he will share with Amy, not me.


As I look outside my window at night, saw a shooting star – I closed my eyes, and made a wish – for Drew and his happiness.

I picked up my guitar, cried, as I strummed.

If only Drew knows.

Drew looks at me,

I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I need everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without

Drew talks to me,

I laugh cause it's just so funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar

The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star

He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.



(This story is only fictional - any resemblance is purely coincidental)

.: Jungle Trekking :.

*screamsssssssssss...........*

"Get it off me!!!!"

*screamssssssss...................*

--------- minutes before----------

Uncle Albert (from SLS) invited JC and I for jungle trekking last Sunday.

So, in spite of the rain, and the fact that I was taking my nap on Sunday evening (that's like the bestest time to nap), we went to FRIM.

We hiked for about 200m, stopped at a small hut to take a breather, when uncle Albert asked us to roll up our pants, to check for leaches.

At first glance, it seemed that I was "leach-free" and we proceed to check on JC. And just when I was about to roll back my pants, I saw this slimy black thing crawling at my left leg and I started screaming my lungs off.......

And there I was, making a "scene" in front of other onlookers that was giving me that funny look, while Uncle Albert uses his saliva to get rid of the leach.

I was still screaming when that thing was off me, and didn't really stop until I realise how hilarious this whole situation was and started laughing at myself.

JC thought I went nuts when I stop screaming and started laughing.

Of course, Uncle Albert had the pleasure of making fun of me through out.

Such an "adventure", my first and last. Don't get me wrong, I love hiking, but absolutely hate leaches and other creepy crawlers alike and now that I am fully aware that there are leaches there, I'm not going anymore! :)

.: Put On Your Parteee Hat :.

To : Elaine, SYen
From : Kathlynn
Subject : It's Fri - put on your parteee hat!~

Hey, it's Friday! Happy, happy, happy!
I'm going to have a hectic Sat, a test that I haven't even studied for, but what the heck......
It's Friday!

To : Kathlynn
Cc : Elaine
From : SYen
Subject : Re : It's Fri - put on your parteee hat!~

You wild crazy girl! It's only 9.02am and you're sending this kind of email, shouting for a party! :)

So I was extra happy on Friday, thinking this must be an exceptionally beautiful Friday, but it all ended when I felt nausea and threw up and was down with a fever in the mid-afternoon.

What a way to start the weekend!

So there ends my chain of "beautiful days" but I enjoyed it while it lasted!

.: PMR :.

Dearest Chu Xian,

Wishing you all the best in your PMR examinations!~


Myspace Graphics, Good Luck Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Lots of love,
Me
xoxo

.: Presentation Of Happy Life :.

Something to remind ourselves everyday!~ :)

.: Beautiful Thursday :.

I got a seat in the LRT station today...

I got myself a nice cup of Immuno Kick (apple, orrange & carrot - I think!) from the JuiceWork booth in KLCC....

I got to listen my currently favourite song on my mini I-Pod....

Ah....

It's a beautiful Thursday!~

.: It's A Beautiful Day :.

For some bizarre reason or another, I’m feeling extra “perky” this week.

On Monday, my MSN Messenger profile was - ~beautiful Monday!~

On Tuesday – ~beautiful Tuesday!~

And on Wednesday - ~beautiful Wednesday!~

Yeah. So I’m not the world’s most unpredictable, capricious character. Sue me.

Anyways, reason why I’m a lil bit happier as oppose to my melancholy self is…

…because I’m at peace with myself.

Yeah, those very rare moments that I actually feel content.

Why?

I’m not so sure. And of course I do wish I know the secret behind this feeling of contentment inside me.
Afterall, it's not everyday where I would go "Wheeeee…..it's a beautiful day!~"
And no, I'm not on drugs or weed or anything to that effect…


Ahhhhhh…
So this is how it feels to have finally balance everything in life.
I really have been struggling the past few years to balance everything in my life.
From my studies, to my friends and families, to my work, to my love life, to my spiritual life…..
I know this feeling won't last that long, coz one problem or another will bound to crop up anyways, so while I'm still havin this temporary moment of absolute bliss …. ENJOY *wink* :)

.: WaMu :.

Typical conversation between myself and JC when I'm obviously bored with the all-so-serious-world-financial-crisis conversation:

Both of us, being accountants, can't help but discuss deadly serious world financial related issues (if not Malaysian political issues). And JC, being JC, at that time, couldn't take the hint that I have enough of debating on whether Asian countries are not suffering as bad as their US & UK counterpart because Asian are still financially strong or it's just a lag effect.

So, my last resort was just to simply act dumb (and throw in a bimboish accent if I can help it!~ *wink*)

Me : Dear, what's a Wamu?

JC: Wamu is short for Washington Mutual. It's a bank in the US which was declared bankrupt today! (this conversation took place about a week back)

Me : o0o0o0o0o...... But is sounds too cute to be a bank. *puts on a naive face*

JC: But it is.... (still oblivious to what I'm trying doing)

Me: You know what it sounds like? *innocent voice* It sounds like an animal.... A small fury, fluffy lil animal....

JC: Really? And how big is this animal? (obviously gotten the hint and started to play along)

Me: About this big *cup my hand* Just like a small lil hamster!

JC: I see....

Me: Dear.......

JC: Uh huh?

Me: Can we go get a Wamu as a pet?

JC: *laughs* Ok.... *kisses my forehead*

So now, we are in a constant look out to get this imaginary animal that doesn't exist as our pet!
So if you hear a couple going around talking bout small, furry lil Wamus, that will be us! *wink*

.: Message In The Bottle :.

This brilliant American bestseller author, Nicholas Sparks, has done it again.

Message In The Bottle has moved me to tears, especially towards the ending....

--*-- Edited --*--

"But now, alone in my house, I've come to realise that destiny can hurt a person as much as it can bless him, and I find myself wondering why - out of all the people in the world I could ever have loved - I had to fall in love with someone who was taken away from me"

Fate took a cruel twist when the love of Garrett's live was taken away from him.

This story is of Garrett struggling to move on with the ghost of someone he love and lost still haunting his dreams.

Would it be possible for him to move on back to his normal life? Even to fall in love again?

I love how Nicholas brings out the raw emotions of this man, a man who has lost his wife & unborn child... On one hand, Garrett wants to move on, to lead a normal life. On another hand, he couldn't let go, he was still in love with his late wife.

Then Theresa came along.

What happens next?

Did it have a twisted, unexpected ending?

This is one of Nicholas' better novel (and knowing Nicholas, you can always expect a twist to the ending of his novels - as far as those I've read)

Read and enjoy it!

.: Wounded, But Not Broken :.

I was devastated when I found out that my family optician is married!
(the last I checked, he was not wearing a wedding band)
Coz I had like the biggest crush on him (that was even way before I knew JC)!
*sobs*

Ok, life still goes on. I will continue to live with this wounded but not broken heart! :)
*laughs*

Cheers!

P/S : Selamat Hari Raya to all!~