Good Sign

Sat for sign language exam today. I think I did quite ok, can pass. Bought a sign CD from YMCA, observed the sign for Malaysian's favourite "lah" - the L shape hand dragging out, farnee hehe. Next Saturday will be our last class for basic level, after which my classmates and I will proceed to level 1 class which will start in January. So happy I'm finally starting to learn something and not giving up halfway. Oops did I just say give up? I mean, I hope I won't give up this time.

Btw, Sara there's no need to feel bad or unhappy. My mom has no part to play in it so please remember this, do not involve her. I'll get you the cue no matter what you say or said, but I won't play pool till I start to work. That's final. Bite me. Anyway don't worry, I'm a good loser. When I'm upset with myself, it doesn't mean that I'm angry with you or I won't befriend you anymore, grow up-lah...

Bet is Bad :(

Three months ago I thought of something fun. It's a game called "Race to 10", with Sara. Rules of the game go like this:-

Conducted once in a month for 3 months consecutively, we play pool (billard) and in each month's game, each round there will be a winner, till one of us win the 10th game, and the winner will be called the winner of the month. At the 3rd month, the true winner will be born.

Sara won in September and I'm the winner for October. Today we had one final race. Sara defeated me, 10-6. Terrible game for me, but he did very well in each game. I've never seen him played so well in fact. Bravo, Sara! Keep it up.

The price of the bet? A pool cue.

So conclusion, betting is bad. Bad for the pocket, bad for the health (confidence is partly dead, mood affected, upset with oneself's performance). Mom knows about almost everything about me, bout my daily life, but not this. She asked if I still have enough money to spend while she ties her belt everyday, already so tight. My dark secret is making me feel very bad, very lousy. I feel sorry for her, for having such a playful, and childish daughter.

Bad girl, mel. So bloody bad.

I don't wanna talk about it anymore. After buying Sara the cue, I shall not step into any pool centre until I start to earn my own living.

But then again, I'll miss Alex even more... and he'll be so disappointed if he knows that I bet, and worse that I lost. ArRGghhH! I asked for it. FinE! Pool no more till I work!

What Has the World Become?!

A very dear, close friend of mine was snatched yesterday. She was carrying a sling handbag waiting for her friend by the road side, then two motorcyclist came by and the idiot at the back seat tried snachting. She refused to give in and fell on the ground. The idiot tried to pull her bag again and she got hurt. The face, the hands, the legs, the waist. She bled a lot and was sent to the hospital immediately.

I was furious when I heard of the news, and am still haunted.

And the other day when dining with Ng, he told me that he heard that nowadays thiefs use a kind of laptop detector to detect if there is laptop placed in locked car boot.

All these terrible criminal cases happening nowadays frighten the sh*t out of me. I'm always over-sensitive to the surrounding sounds. When I'm in my room, I'm worried if something's happening in the kitchen, toilet, living room, balcony or in the garden; When I'm in an indoor pulic place, I'm afraid of everybody that is near me as they may hurt me easily and those who are far away may be observing me and waiting for the perfect time to attack; When I'm on the road, I'm afraid that people will hit my car from all directions so that I'll stop and they'll rob; When I'm walking on the road they'll snatch my bag my laptop or even my water tumbler and give me a deep cut. Worse still, when any of my family members returns home late, I'm worried; When sis doesn't call from her friend's place, I'm worried; When somebody's at home but no one picks up the phone when I call, I'm worried if someone had broken in, the worries go on and on and on. Sigh...

I think I'm very very sick! I feel weak all the time, even if I'm having a knife or a baseball bat or a golf club in my hand.

So just a reminder to all my friends to be careful. Always be aware of your surrounding, and try not to have your purse, handphone and other valuables be visible. Try not to carry sling handbags. Always get ready to run and scream and bite and kick and hit and kill. I'm very sick already...

I See. I Saw. I Hear. I Heard

Ng the classmate from Sign class is departing for China to work, tonight we bid him farewell. Morley, Dino, Anne Laura, Koon Wei, Sharon, Ng and I were happily talking (signing) away at dinner table. Sharon's treat at a restaurant nearby YMCA, yummy!. We sat at a table located on the pavement next to a busy road. I sat nearest to the blind man's path, back facing the road. Oh just for your info, most roads around YMCA are carpeted with blind's pathways as many blinds and/or deafs travel around Brickfields.

Morley, Dino, Anne and Koon Wei were speaking really quickly, the three of us can hardly catch up even when they slow down for us. Feel like a complete child in their presence. Way to go, Mel, way to go. So buck up!!

Okay, so when dinner was served. The leg of my chair was hit by blindman's stick for more than once. Each time I turn around and I took pity on them. Then I overheard the man at the next table saying "Look, nothing in this world comes easily. You've to work hard for everything." Hmm sounds a lil' harsh. I turned to peep at the man, he was looking at my direction as well so immediately I turned my head back to my plate and continue my dinner. After sometime, I heard the man's voice again. This time "Now my daughter, walk slowly ok?**". Dear readers, you must be thinking that I'm busybody lar, eavesdrop lar. No. The man was speaking in a tone, though not too loud or high-pitched, but clear enough that I could tell what he said. So I turned to look at his direction again. To my surprise, he held a blindman's stick in his hand, walking slowing towards my direction with the stick's guidance. Even more to my surprise, his daughter, walking towards the opposite direction of the man, was also holding a blindman's stick, walking slowly into the dark.

Now imagine yourselves being in my shoes, seeing what I saw. What's running on your mind? Sympathy for them? You offer your prayer silently? I felt sorry for them, did and still do, but mostly I am touched by the man's love for his daughter's and and the daughter's trust for his dad. They can't see each other, but they communicate, understand and trust each other. The scene of bond amongst family members that many envies and long for, is good to experience. The man's tone, though strict yet full of passion for life and his daughter, still lingers in my head because it sounds like my dad speaking to us at times - harsh, but full of love.

After dinner, I gave Koon Wei a lift as her house is located on my way home. In fact, she stays in the housing areas more than 2km from Chong Hwa High School I studied many years back. No buses service her area of living, it's too far in. I haven't got the chance to ask how does she bear walking to the main road Jalan Gombak to go to work everyday (I was driving, as a sign beginner asking and looking at her speak as she answers requires full concentration). Only met with her today, Koon Wei leads all sign language classes. She's deaf and mute, just like Anne Laura. Where as Dino's luckier, he could speak most words. Befriending the less fortunate's, being able to communicate with them, having the opportunity to observe the deafs and the blinds' way of living, is a whole new chapter in my life.

Dear friends, we're so blessed in case you don't realise. Please be grateful for all that you're blessed with. And do not take for granted the opportunities to help the less priviledged - the blinds can show you what you can't see with your eyes, the deafs can teach you to listen, the mutes can tell you what is life; At the very least, you learn from them to appreciate lives and keep striving no matter how hard life turns on you.

Lastly for today's blog, bon voyage, Ng. Hope to see you soon. Good luck in the new assignment and thanks for the sign CD :) Good night.

** walk slowly - direct translation of Cantonese. It means take good care of oneself.

The Scorpios Got Older

According to Chinese calendar today's a good day. To summarize why it's a good day, it goes like this:-

Early in the morn I was awaken by car honks, so it seems a neighbour's daughter is becoming somebody else's wife today.

At noon, many Indians gathered at the TSG MPH, guess it's a good day in the Indian calendar as well.

At night, bro showed up at dinner table with Patricia, with an SR mango cake, was overjoyed to see the cake *clear throat* I mean bro after so long (I stayed at home for more than a week, but I only met with him twice, including today. Sons, tsk tsk tsk...). Then something better followed. Someone tapped my shoulder at the arrival of the first dish of dinner, it was Jing Wen and family - the friend whom I made since standard 2, whose mom was my teacher, whose 3rd sister was TS' classmate, whose 4th sister was sent to the same babysitter's house as all of us (my siblings and I) were - so happy we shouted in joy (in public, people seated at the neightbourhood tables turned and stared). JW's mom pinched my butt *blush* even, saying she was jealous of me hugging her daughter! Hehehe *shy* anyway her mom was always very kind to me, last time sent me back after school together with JW while picking up JW's sisters at babysitter's house. Then, many friends called to greet. See Calvin, this is what I meant by "I'm Super Blessed!"

Thanks to (alphabetically) Alvin, Brian, Calvin, Casey, Constance, Dinesh, Fuei Fong, Huei Ying, Jing Wen, Joe, Kah Keong, Kheng Sin, Lock Lee, Louisa, Matt NF, Patricia, Sara, Shirley, Wei Chiang, William, Wyter, Yanti, and the rest (forgive my lousy memory, will upgrade to greater RAM soon), for all your warm wishes in forms of calls, smses, emails, companionships, and gifts. It's all heart-warming and I appreciate your kind thoughts and promise to continue to treasure your friendships. (And your handphone operators love you when you spend long hours on the phone :P)

To my family - mommy, 'old bean*' dad, 'tailo*' Kelvin, TS and Felicia - thank you for your unconditional love, support (and slaps) at the perfect timings. Thank you for walking through the thicks and thins of my life with me, holding my hands, showing me the paths (choices) I have yet always being very liberal to let me make my decision (and the best part is you respect my decisions!) You allow me to fly freely, showing me in the horizon lays unlimited opportunities. You instil the correct values in me (dear fans, I don't mean I never make wrong decisions or that I never done anything wrong, but I'm very lucky to be granted the chances to fall and taste failures in life) You respect me as an adult yet love me like I'll never grow up or will ever leave your side. You inspire me and help me materialise my dreams since young. None of you ever discouraged me in pursuing any of my interests and studies. You always encourage me to dream big, aim high, and NEVER give up. I'm glad we're never shy in expressing our love for each another. Thank you for everything. I love you for everything, every reason, every moment. Being blessed as a family, I believe it's miracle comes alive.

Oh thanks for the bday present and celebration btw :) Didn't really expect it though.

So again, today is a good day. It's a special day. A great day in fact.

It's the day, when my mom suffered the most compared to delivering 3 other of my siblings (but she gets the best baby of all :p I wanna believe that haha). HapPY BiRtHdaY to Mel! That's me, that's right.

It's also the day, when Sara's mom showed him the colours of this world for the first time, 25 years ago. HapPY BiRtHdaY, Sara! Again the same day 20 years ago, when Choon Jin's mom heard him cry for the first time. HapPY BiRtHdaY, CJ!! HapPY BiRtHdaY, Yaw Poi, whose mom brought him here X years ago (X - not mentioned - becoz this guy was born on the exact day as I was born, same year!) Now guys, there's never a right time to take revenge on me, so don't you dare to mention my age! shhh... *shouting in attempt to cover their voices, in case they try to be farnee* ~yam seng~! Haha...


* 'old bean' - direct translation of Cantonese, 'daddy' in a funnier way (less respectful though). But for my case, I respect my dad.
* 'tailo' - elder brother. Also used by the mafias in addressing their head/leader.

Truly IncrRrRRrredible!

Watched The Incredible today. How do I find it? Incrrrrrrredible!! Marvelous, stunning, superb graphics! Funny design of characters and storyline. Somehow Violet the lil' girl in the super family reminds me of Final Fantasy the Movie. If only there were shows like this when I was a kid, I definitely would have had my eyes stuck on the TV day and night. Love it. Highly recommended for those who have not/plan to watch it. A not-to-be-missed of Mel’s cartoon list! *shout*


Ready to fight? 

Hwei don’t miss it! Hope you’ll be able to catch it in cinema. And then, I hope Hayao Miyazaki’s houru no ugoku shiro will be shown in Malaysian soon (or at all)! Oh, remember last time the comic that comes with every issue of shao4 nian2 magazine? There was this comic about the lil mischievous Jap boy, hua1 tian2 yi2 lu4 who can communicate with spirits? I've the first 4 episodes of it's animation. Looking forward to share it with all da PIGs. I think it's very entertaining. And oh, I just found out today that the voice of Zazu in The Lion King belongs to Rowan Atkinson! Didn't know that guy can sing though... :P

Oh (3rd 'oh', Mel says it when she remembers things) also got Edward Scissorhands and Sound of Music from FF today, and some great oldies, mom and my favorites. Hehe…

The next not-to-be-missed is certainly Phantom of the Opera...

Thank You, Matthew

Dear Matt

Thanks for the lovely present, it's a good surprise, it's very kind of you.
Thanks for the times when you let me to tag along to your CS gang gatherings, EB party, etc, and introducing me to great people like Mable.
Thanks for all the good times, bad times, up times, down times, joy, laughters, tears.
Thanks for all your prayers for me, I'm lucky to have your blessings.
Thanks for your love, guidance and support for me as always, and still.
Thanks for allowing me to star in one of the chapters in your life. I'm thankful for our fate to meet, really glad that you played a part in my life, too. *hugkiss*

Good luck.

P/S Thanks for being a regular of my blog :)


Cheers
Mel

Novels-Turned-Movies

Watched The Notebook movie today, it's about braveness in love, heartbreak, and then eternity. Touching yet not as good as the novel writen by Nicholas Sparks. So far among all Nic's novel-turned-movies that I've watched, the novel A Walk To Remember is better than its movie, but Message In A Bottle the movie was equally good as the novel. Is anyone a sucker for romance film as I am or wanna borrow the three movies mentioned above?

Hopefully 'll have time to catch Shark Tale and The Incredible soon... Oh just a lil tot about movie title. Browsed through GSC's website, there's this movie called I Know What You Did Last Raya, what da crap! People who are in the filmmaking industry, you think that's funny? No it's crap and you're supposed to be creative!

OBS

Sis Felicia's going to OBS tomorrow, bro TS' going on the 29th for the second time, these remind me of yesterday when I went there. It was Jan 11th, 1999 when I return from OBS Lumut. The first Youth Challenge Course (YCC1) ever organised that lasted 10 days. There I knew a bunch of good poeple, such as Michelle aka Phillip, Jason, Kheng Wee, May, and most of all, Ms Karen.

Since then I enjoyed outdoor activities, I become more outspoken, I see the world with a different perspective, wider view point. I have even more respect for people of all races and backgrounds. I toughened myself physically and mentally. I have always want to go back. One day, I'll go back. And the next time, I hope it's OBS USA next time.

P/S Dear Willie, so sorry I had to call off the adventure on this 19th. I wish I could be there and hope you'll still be my partner next year.

Wisdom?

I suspect the other side of my wisdom teeth are growing coz the entire row of teeth 've been aching for so long! Wonder why it is called wisdom tooth when

1. you're in pain, you lost your patience, where goes the wisdom?
2. when the tooth/teeth didn't grow straight up, it itself has no wisdom!
3. you won't really feel wiser. Some say 'wisdom grows with experience' but it's definitely not applicable in this case! You wish you won't have to go through that kind of experience (aka pain)

aight what the crap. don't even know what i'm saying. just wanna complain. also to drop a silly note. bonjour my blogspot! special thanks to all happy-meal fans :p well at least i hope there are! if you've been looking forward to reading my new blog(s), sorry i've been really layzeee *knock my own head*

Magnet of Road Idiots

I seem to be a bad magnet for bad drivers, willie you jinx!

Meeting with idiotic drivers everyday on the road who stop suddenly in the middle of the busy road, who join into my lane from a junction without looking out for traffic from my side, who keep sticking on the third lane when they drive slower than drivers on the second lane, who double-park and refuse to shift their vehicle timely and without apology, damn!

Trying not to drive, I appreciate the public transport service. Viva Putra LRT! Most of all, trying not to step out of the house... Home sweet home.