Sign Level One

attended sign language level 1, this time the class' bigger, 10 new friends, most of 'em are psychology degree students, regina's a graduate, wow.

Jenny Kuan (J-K)
Sharon Lim (S-H)
Regina (R,,)
Kenneth (K^^)
Joyce(J-girl)
Lim Jia Yin (L?)
Yip Ga Wae (G?)
Samantha Beh (E)
Anitha (A-E)
Chai Kam Meng (goat) <- haha!

Thanks to Morley for being concern bout my well-being in the new class, I'm fine :) Jessica will be conducting the first few classes, think she's rather inexperienced in teaching sign. She says she's deaf but thought I saw her translating during one of the deaf seminars before, mm..

The first class' teaching's rather confusing, having to learn nonmanual signals (facial expresssions) and grammar within 2 hours, JC more or less gotta rush through to cover everything each class, must keep refering to the ASL grammar book now. Learning's still fun though, hehe.

Tempted to pick up conversational Thai now, especially mom gives green light, hehe..

Survival

Ralston still living life to the fullest after accident

人人都不可避免会在生活中遭遇大大小小的挫折，在遭遇“祸”的时候，一般人都会忙乱、沮丧，使自己智力水平下降，直到再遭一次“祸”。祸福相依，都和一个人的智慧相关。

舍弃是大自然的定律，舍弃是生存的一种方式，舍弃是勇敢者的行为。成功者是那些善于取舍的人。

“变化”代表着希望、转机、新的机会、新的突破、成长的机会。

摘自《变色龙定律》

希望生存，得敢于取舍生存希望的条件。好勇敢的一个人，不得不向他致敬；生存下来，却又跑回去挑战极限。这样的想法与行动，是不学还是无惧？是愚蠢还是勇敢？要是真的畏惧却步、顾虑多多，生命还剩什么？真的去接受挑战，生命不值得尊重与珍惜吗？我想，这是个人生存的原则与选择。

只此一生么？好，勇敢无悔地去闯。但我是华人，重视孝义的华人，明白身体发肤皆受之于父母之说，在享受与彩绘生命的同时，有时无法像西人般不惜代价，有所顾虑但不代表我们胆怯，我珍惜生命因为我孝顺父母。要紧记，慧龄。

噢，好一本好书！

Strange Snack

an hour of ping pong with weelee was good exercise in the morn (pity him gotta dress up formally :p). oh, get well soon, weelee :)

was having paramount porridge, seaweed and yong tao foo as lunch with mom, i wrapped the porridge in seaweed and ate it as sandwich. but still feel hungry when arrive home. strange day. strange me cooked half a bitter gourd as snack. bitter gourd as SNACK? err, yeah, whatever edible, man! :p haha (actually i do feel a lil' strange, but yes it was snack that i intended to make myself just now...)

after that the lazy bum continues her job hunt.

oh strange thing, obs sabah's website's last updated in 1998, and no one picks up the telephone, wonder if they've closed down... hope not.

btw thanks carven for forwarding the msc IT job fair leaflet, it'll be held on penang though, girl, mom said no going alone...

not shortlisted by m1 singapore but am offered as office/logistic manager for supercamp, yay!

White Water Rafting

watched River Wild with mom coz it shows white water rafting, wow looks really tough, damn. but i'm tempted to try now! mm.. obs sabah, i wanna try! must find out and just go before start work.

i love you, mom!

Untitled

Haven't been able to load my Yahoo inbox for days, sis can't load hers either. Black! I'm expecting important mails, stupid Yahoo! Can't even sign in to Blogger, damn it.

Was playing Minesweeper, realise EVERYTHING in life needs constant practise to be good or excellent, including in-born gifts such as talents, like instincts, speed of reflex, observation. Anything exposed to the air can be rusted and became blunt. And we need air to survive. (And air don't cost, ok, not at home, not in shopping complex! :p) Yeah we can be good (enough to be competant) with almost everything if we keep practising. Can't be perfect but good is good enough sometimes.

And for something that is based on simple arithmetics, we can't run away from prediction of pattern, probability and assumptions. Minesweeper is such, and such is life? Nothing can be fully calculated and predicted. Sometimes we'd be trapped in a corner, have no choice but to take a chance.

New Schedule Tues 7pm-9pm Sign@YMCA
"Level 1: registers within a language, code switching, conversational behaviours and exposure to sign variations. Question, commands, fingerspelling drill and simple sentiences structure."
Ms Lucy's the instructor? Oh *cold sweat* and I missed the first class! *sweat sweat sweat!*
"Where's the system, girl?"
"erm, well, beautifying?"
I'm not joking, really TRYING to beautify it. mostly working on the bundle installation of database and system. ok ok, try to work on the test and games, mel. yes, ma'am.

Thanks, No, Thanks.

dear ff

hello, good to hear from you. sorry it took so long for me to reply. am sure you figured out this blog long time ago. anyway thank you for remembering me as you travel around the world, i envy you and admire your humanity act. reading the descriptions made me fat already. yep, we sinned! you did by offering, and i did by reading and feeling fat. bleh.

told you many a time, it's not about the price nor brand nor distance. you have the thoughts, the ideas touched me, the memories are all i could ask for and we have it. all i need to cry with a smile when i'm on my dying bed one day. don't get me wrong, i cherish your friendship, i appreciate you kindness, but you don't have to spend a cent (you reminds me of ky that way, heh, good and no good!)

birthday to me is celebration I should do with my parents coz they gave me life, they bring me up. and i should be giving them presents while they give their blessings in return. the best and only present my parents want, would be learning that i live well and happily. tangible presents? nah, tangible = gimmick = worldly = falsehood = i don't want it.

so don't buy anything anymore, seriously. thanks, appreciate the thoughts, but no, thanks, trying to stay away from heartbreak! you presented the greatest gift when we became friends, it wasn't bought hense it can never be sold; it wasn't measured thus there's no way it can be torn; it can't be seen so it won't be forgotten. beautiful isn't it? coz it's not touchable but felt :) thanks.


Still the same
Old me

p/s i remember when i watched To Catch the Uncatchable whenever the old lady calls the girl "Wai Wai" i was awakened... loved the nick, thanks.

I Wish

the idea of seeing you, talking to you, still excites me
because i know i trust you, i can share everything with you
i always care, i sometimes mind, sometimes don't
when i mind, it means something bothers me but i'm not holding you back you from (doing) it
when i don't, doesn't mean that i don't care, i just don't wanna interfere


silence you chose, walk away follows
like you're not interested in making things work
like you wouldn't mind throwing away all the effort we put in together
like i'm so guilty or dirty that you must avoid me
like falling off the cliff, i'd be paralysed for indefinite
won't be able to feel anything for anyone anymore, you want that? no i don't.
the emotional torture, i wish you know
but i think you don't, coz you keep doing it
like you don't care at all
I wish you'd be frank
instead of saying you're fine when it's not okay

seal it, baby, yeah
keep it, suck it
swallow it, snore with it
good luck, mel.

Gallery List

ARTrageously RamsayOng
43 & 45 Changkat Bukit Bintang
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21412566

Badan Warisan Malaysia
2 Jalan Stonor
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21449273

Galeri Petronas
Level 3 Suria KLCC
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-20517770

Galeri Shah Alam
Laman Budaya, Persiaran Tasik
Tasik Barat
40000 Shah Alam
Selangor
Tel: 03-55105344

National Art Gallery Malaysia
2 Jalan Temerloh
Off Jalan Tun Razak
53200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-40254990

Sutra Gallery
12 Persiaran Titiwangsa 3
53200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-40211092

The Photographers' Gallery (City)
Lot FF3(B), 4th Floor-Muse
StarHill Gallery
Jalan Bukit Bintang
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21452434

The Photographers' Gallery (Garden)
183 Jalan Ampang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
(Near Ampang Park LRT, next to British High Commision)
Tel: 03-21452434

Art Space Gallery
S162, 2nd Floor City Square
182 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21617128

Darling Muse Art Gallery
142 Jalan Bukit Pantai
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-22847441

Galeri Seni Maya
1st Floor, 12 Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-22822069

NN Gallery
53A & 56 Jalan Sulaiman 1
Taman Ampang Hilir
68000 Ampang
Selangor
Tel: 03-42706588

Gallerie Taksu
117 Jalan Pawang
54000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-42514396

The Art Loft
4th Floor-Muse
StarHill Gallery
Jalan Bukit Bintang
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-21452434

Townhouse Gallery
19A Jalan Medang Tanduk
Bukit Bandaraya
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-20943381

Valentine Willie Fine Art
1st Floor, 17 Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-22842348

From Biennale 2005 (KL International Photography booklet).

So Thankful I'm Speechless

Dear Dush

Thank you so much for being there for me, to help me debug my fyp system for nights and nights and nights without complaining at all. Really appreciate your kindness, enthusiasm, helpfulness, intelligence and patience. Thanks for the laughters and companion throughout these years, when I was studying in Monash, after I've dropped out from Monash...

I must have done something really really, blacking good to deserve a friend like you! Thanks a zillion!

p/s don't forget to let me repay your help by being your tour guide around KL yeah :) Lemme know anytime you need a cab - if I could lend a hand I certainly would!


So grateful that I'm speechless
Mel

*Salute* to Designer WeeLee!

before


after

I never doubt your creativity and talent, dude! Nice job, keep up the creativity juices!

Mel definitely thinks that weelee'd be better off being a designer/modeler instead of programmer. Anyway good luck in your future pursues :)

Feeling Good...

Dear Prof. Merilyn, thank you for taking time to write all of us testimonials. Not sure how much weight it will carry during interviews, but your kindness is most appreciated. Didn't know you observed me during my term though, hehe *shy* Thank you so much... Amelia, thanks for keeping it for mel :)

mowed the lawn, as soon as i finished it rained, stayed in rain for 10 minutes to clear the drain, felt dirty but good.

chat with brada weelee's always fun! thanks for keeping up with mel's life :) good surprise.

oh, went to National Art Gallery today. 3-floor building with a great spiral walkway. Not that I like criticising, but the place's not too well upkept (look at the floor, even Kinokuniya's floor's more waxed and properly tiled!). Artwork can only be fully appreciated if the environment is appropriate imho. However the stupidest thing is, the place's lighting's not right, and the placement of pieces of arts are awful! Not enough space for people to stand afar from the artwork, how to appreciate? furthermore, compare to taiwan national art gallery's massive exhibitions, our collection's just so pathetic. arrghh.. a bit disappointed, expected more. but then artworks such as Swinging in the Moon, Afghans Massacre and some of the children's diaries at 2C were great.

next visit should be the art gallery at sentul west. weelee, interested to go?

received wsffm's new quarterly directory of benefits, RM118++ (weekdays) and RM138++ (weekends) at cherating, inviting! damn it's cheap but i need a job!!! *look around* anyone needs part-timer urgently?

hopefully I fit SuperCamp, look forward to the fun and experience of being TL...

Simpsons, simpsons, I wanna watch simpsons! looking forward to sunday, hopefully lovey's free to shop for simpsons with little me...

Back to Life

1. Met with Sara at 1U, books added to my collection:-

The Simpsons and Philosophy (2001) by William Irwin, Mark T. Conard, Aeon J. Skoble, Frames of Mind (1993) by Howard Gardner, Dogbert's Management Handbook, and National Geographic

2. blacking unscheduled surprise!

3. didn't manage to swim yet...

4. cake temptations in text descriptions, boring but tempting and touching offer. Thanks FF, but no, thanks :)

ARGENTINA, Latin - Welsh Cake
+ Raisins, Chopped Nuts, Crystallized fruit, soda,brown
sugar,honey,Margarine and liquor

ARMENIA, Former USSR - Nutmeg Cake
+ brown sugar, Walnuts,Nutmeg,Salt
+ Not complete ingredient but that 's all I knew content in the cake

AUSTRALIA - Beer Bun
+ use normal drinking beer to make the bun

Austria, European - Salzburger Nockerln
+ Also known as Mozart cake (Mozart hometown cake)
+ souffle, vanilla sugar

Belgium, European - Devil Cake
+ belgium (dark beer), unsalted butter, cocoa, salt, butter, vanilla,
chocolate

Bermuda, Carribean - Bermuda Rum Cake
+ Rum

Bosnia Herzegovina, European - Tufahije
+ apple,walnuts,whipped cream

Cambodia, Asia - Rice banana cake
+ banana leaves, banana, rice, coconut milk, cassava flour

Cayman Island, Carribean - Tortuga
+ Rum

China, Asia - MoonCake
+ Tea and Lotus Seed

Costa Rica, Carribean - Queque Seco
+ wheat flour, soy oil, butter

Cyprus, Middle East - Kalo Brama
+ Semolina, cooking oil, Almond,milk,Rose Water, Cinnamon stick, Yogurt

Czech Republic, European - Linzertorte
+ Blackcurrent and Raspberry Jam

Denmark, European - Sweetheart Cake
+ Butter, coffee

EGYPT , Africa - Pyramid Cake
+ Raisin, chocolate, butter

Finland, European - Piimakakku
+ Butter, syrup, cinnamon, ginger, buttermilk
+ Another several hidden recipe that I still don't know even tasted.

France, European - Gateau Breton
+ Vanilla, strawberry wine, blueberry, LAVENDER, cinnamon, vanilla
+ After brushed teeth and gargle with anticeptic, the smell still in
mouth for several day unless Wai Wai ate ""Durian"" then that is
different issue.
+ Also Sweetheart cake for couple

Germany, European - Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte
+ Also known as ""Blackforest cake""

Germany, European - Dresdner Stollen
+ Fruit cake but very high sugar content

Hong Kong, Asia - Wife Cake
+ winter melon paste

India, Asia - Taj Cake
+ butter, cocoa, and many Unknown recipes

Indonesia, Asia - hundred layer cake
+ butter, vanilla
+ MANY layers and not easy for the chef to cook.

Iran, Asia - Unknown name
+ Very high Cholesterol and sugar level cake
+ margerine, coconut oil, flowers, caramel, cooking oil
+ Fried Cake

Iraq, Asia - unknown name
+ flour, sugar, cooking oil
+ toasted

Italy, European - Torta Sacher
+ apricot jam, chocolate
+ Very high chocolate content cake
+ The Chocolate like no need money to buy because chocolate everywhere
in every form, liquid;crushed;frozen;marinated;well whatever you can
think.
+ Hard to eat if Wai Wai are not Chocolate Maniac

Italy, European - Cheese Cake
+ Dont remember all the cheddar, mozarella, mamamia, ferrari, toyota,
hitachi, mitsubishi cheese name
+ The next day Wai Wai will weight more 1 kg for each 30 scopes
+ Nice to eat but once get in touch the next thing Wai Wai emptied the
whole cake
+ ""Temptation""

Italy, European - Tiramisu
+ Italian translation is ""fetch me""
+ State of the Art cake because this can be the most hardest to make
cake in the world
+ Not one Malaysian cake store did extract the taste correctly just
secret recipe a bit close to the taste of real Italian Tiramisu.

Jamaica, Caribbean - Carrot Cake
+ Carrot

South Korea, Asia - Unknown name
+ Female breast milk, soya bean, very little butter
+ A little red coloured layer cake
+ Very addicted cake if tasted, mild taste but taste like sponge cake

Mexico , South America - Vanilla
+ The purest Vanilla cake
+ Made from real vanilla
+ The only country that use original vanilla powder
+ Vanilla is hardest to extract powder and need more than half year to
process it.
+ Vanilla are made from Orchid Flower.
+ Original Vanilla powder extracted from orchid are very expensive
powder.
+ Not available in Malaysia, all Malaysia Vanilla are artifical.

Netherlands, European - Oat Cake
+ oat, milk, white wine
+ taste like biscuit

Spain, European - Tarta De Almendras
+ Almond, flour, salt, dark rum

Switzerland, European - Rosti
+ Not ""ROTI"" but Rosti
+ Potato, butter, milk
+ Swiss Milk are low fat milk
+ The cows exercise every morning walk to up to mountain so the milk
are mild taste and more watery.
+ Taste a merely similar to KFC whipped potato without the pepper sauce

Thailand, Asia - white chocolate cake
+ White Chocolate,cocoa, caramel, some unknown ingredient to make it
taste ""flower""

Turkey, Middle East - Pudina Cake
+ A type of tea leaf cake taste like mint flavour

UNITED STATES, New York - Chocolate Banana Cake
+ Chocolate layer, banana, milk
+ Very milky Chocolate liquid
+ For Chocolate Maniac Only

To Do

to do
1. visit STS
2. read newspapers pile
3. research on sales and marketing
4. enrol: sign language
5. enrol: german (jap?)
6. enquiry: super camp
7. mow lawn
8. service mom's car
9. fyp copy for ymca
10. change stupid tupperwares
11. redeem bag for mei
12. meet with tracy and mrs yong
13. resume exercise
14. read read read and surf surf surf like there's no tomorrow!
15. national art galery

tentative
1. comics
2. photography
3. organ
4. drawings & calligraphy
5. meetings with
a. cheryl
b. dush
c. benny
d. ben
e. sara - done
f. shirley
g. steph
h. matt nf
i. henry - 20th

About Blogging

william soh said it's "no life"; dush asked why; many friends says good attempt i've made.

what's my blog about? Why do i blog?

simple. i want to be able to recall what happened in the past in the future (complicated? but it's literally correct, think.) as a matter of fact, like i told sze hwei and she has the same feeling, i cry, i laugh, i sigh when i relive my history.

i learn from my past. i inform my friends and myself of my current, future? what future? :p

Great Holiday

Friday, August 12 2005
Went to Malacca with lovey, Jesse and Stella.
crystal clear weather - no haze!! good choice to have gone south.
Chicken rice balls and barley lime for lunch, yummy barley lime!
had otak-otak at the restaurant along Heeren Street, the restaurant has very nice ambience.
browsed hotel puri, debriefed the Tan's history :) glorious.
checked in at the Baba's House, thankful for it's air-conditioned for hot weather!
walked to A'Famosa fort, St. Paul Church, pasar malam at jonker street before dinner. saw the muzium where the Puteri Gunung Ledang was shot just next to the fort!
trishaws over-decorated, one with audio player even!! what the...
seafood dinner at portugese's settlement - windy yet warm-feeling place
"look-look" celup hit or miss - it's a miss for mel.
delicious fried oyster but could not finish... hehe.


Saturday, August 13 2005
Walked to Tua Khor's wantan after wake
Baba House breakfast, over heard the Baba's history, astonishing!
walk along the coastline of Straits of Malacca at the portugese's settlement. closed my eyes, showered in the morning sun, listening to the sound of wind and waves..
dutch's fort - malaccan uncles and ah peks never seen visitors/girls!
went into the orangutan art shop, cute shirts.
Baba's restaurant, eight precious ice-kacang and poppiah for lunch - the ice-kacang with home-made gula melaka was the best ABC i've ever had, but the place's a bit slow in upkeep?
tapau otak-otak, head for KL
stopped by at home to cold-store otak-otak and stock food for the following destinations.

Arrived at Bkt Tinggi, stayed at Meranti Resort, nice weather, nice view. saw fire flies!
pizza and pasta at calmar resort.
card games + apple juice? haha.

today i learned:
1. car front breaks - drum breaks and rear breask - disc breaks. or am i correct?
2. i learn as much manual driving skills from lovey as i did from brother

wonderful things about malacca:
1. within the area of heeren street, everywhere seems to be within walking distance
2. nice food, nice restaurants, nice ambience
3. less kiasu ah-bengs than can be found in singapore, KL and ipoh

trip observations:
1. lots of art shops
2. lots of muziums
3. everything's in BM...
4. narrow and long houses
5. one-way streets
6. people here mostly speak mandarin, hokkien, teo chew, english.
7. lack of road signs
8. many hospitals for a small town


Sunday, August 14 2005
Genting day trip - outdoor theme park
flying coaster reminded me of the tornado twist xp, scared of being hung upside-down, watched 'em scream and laughed like retarded ;p
mist covered the sky, rain cleared the mist
tea cup and spinning seats - spin, spin, spin, and get bored...
space shot - "the wind caught my breath". 2nd ride this time, more horrified than previous time coz couldn't shout aloud for the first few secs. awful.
knocked my jaw while riding corkscrew, stupid corkscrew seat.
space adventure - realise how money can be wasted :p
haunted house - waste of time
sungai rejang flume ride - "romantic" motorbike ride, gosh!
bumper boat - the fear of not knowing how to manuever the boat at first, "rescued" the kid (so sorry didn't know you were also trying to save him, lovey :P) bah!

today i learned:
1. rain clears mist
2. i can stay sleeveless in genting but can't bear shirtless in air-cond room


Had a terrific holiday. never felt so relieved and charged after holiday breakaway. i earned it from myself and you made it possible for me, thanks lovey *hugkiss* and to jessie and stella, you people have been real fun to hang out with, thanks for your company. take care :)

Stressssed!!

(random + untitled)

the best and worst way to handle stress, is to actually face it - you either collapse or be invincible.

i'm gonna rock so hard after the bloody blacking submission. anyone can call me for meet up and more*.

i love you, i love you, i love you still. i don't know how to handle situations with you at times, and i blacking hate myself. but at the end of the day, i still love you...

*terms and conditions applied :p

It Was Like This...

ok it evolved like this ok.

1. entered 3x wrong pin code -> sim card locked
2. entered nx puk code followed by new pin code attempts -> 'sim card rejected'
3. called maxis -> 'sorry there's nothing we can do, i'm afraid you've to walk-in to get it solved'

thank you very much. there goes all my data in the sim. sigh...

stupid stupid mel *bang head against wall*

Pandainya...

if you need to contact me from now till 11th Aug, pls either

1. ring ring my room number
2. toot toot my house number
3. uh-oh me@msn or Y! msgr
4. email me@Y!
5. type here (not HERE, tagboard! :p)

what happened? I stupidly locked my sim card and have no time to walk-in into maxis yet...

Lesson learnt: Stay away from your digital devices when:-
1. you're driving@100+ and your batt runs flat
2. you're all drained and exhausted
3. you failed to present your work
4. your mind's too full of serious junks
5. you're handling >1 digital devices
6. all of the above

simply too much to handle at this very moment, and this moment lasts for another week... sad.

Lousy, lousy!

For Lovey

Ella - Standing in the Eyes of the World

Pahit getir hidup... dan pengorbanan
terpaksa dihadapi, demi kejayaan
terdidik sejak mula, tabah berusaha
tanpa cuba melangkah, tak kemana
di mana kau berada
pencapaian tak tiba dengan mudah

kini "standing in the eyes of the world"
hanyalah selangkah dari nyata
keazaman membara dijiwa
menanti saat bebas merdeka
tiba masa kau melangkah gagah
bersemangat ke arah matlamat sedaya upaya
engkau terunggul

wajar "standing in the eyes of the world"
Harapan yang pernah terkulai layu
kembali segar mekar bawah bayanganmu
setiap manusia ingin berjaya
namun tak semua miliki tuah
engkau menghampirinya
kesempatan telah pun tiba...

Hi, Handsome!

Dear Lovey

Congratulations on your achievements! *hug* It's a joyful news and I'm very happy for you. Your parents must be very proud of you :)

It's the longest time that we've been parted now since March, and I really miss you. Distance and time constraints definitely make my heart fonder. Thanks for calling to check in everday to share, Mel really appreciates your effort. *kiss* Hope to see you soon...

Looking forward to more good news from you. All the best with your new commitment, with the recruitment and contracts and stuff :) 加油(jia you)! God speed!


Stranger_Mel
who adores you still...