He Shall Drink Coffee.

Feel like Amy, who
"came to... console herself with the beauty all about her."

- Louisa May Alcott -

Pictures Hanging Crooked On The Wall

Fun-filled Jan! For a quick post I've combed through months-old albums and picked out that which struck my fancy. The shots documenting my art shall appear in the following post, as some have yet to be transferred from camera.



Where old and new meet



My most beautiful keychain, from Auckland



It broke after I dropped my carkeys for the third time. ='(



Get your fix ;)
Oral Fixation candy in Damned Delicious Cinnamon

Of course, aside from the flavour, I fell for its packaging.
Sucker for boxes and paper products.



For the past year and a half, my bed has been used strictly for storage purposes.
*Ahem, didn't I just tell you, -paper products- ?* XP

I've been collecting boxes since primary schooldays, but stopped a few years back when I realised I wouldn't have space to keep them all. =(
Paper remains an active passion, though. Still perusing craftstore shelves, ending in debate as to which to take and which to leave.
You're gorgeous.
I don't need you.
But there's something about your colour, something I've never seen before.
What if I don't make use of you, wouldn't that be a waste?
What if I never see you again; a bigger waste?
As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, shopping is not for the mentally challenged.




Next up is a bunch of photos from nearing the end of CAL.

In college, Literature has always been where I felt weakest. The medieval-English text we had in A2 wasn't helping; spelling correctly in modern English would usually mean your textual knowledge was deplorable, 'cause the English had a completely different set of spelling back then. On the one hand, spelling like Chaucer made you feel less like an airheaded moron; on the other, spelling as you usually would made you feel sure of your sanity, that you hadn't yet succumbed to the Lit Invasion.
At least, that was the fear our seniors ingrained in us within the first week of classes: "Lit Will Take Over Your Life!!"

Well, I held on 'til the very end.



=P
A few weeks before the Lit paper, I decided I was tired of being unsure of Chaucer's spelling, and went all out to make friends with it.

(Photo evidence that desperate times call for desperate measures.)

Placed his work so I could see them



While I looked up to drink water...



While I washed the dishes...



While I brushed my teeth...



The bunch of 'em, over 40 quotes in total stuck all over the house.
Crazy is as crazy does. ;)



Pretty cell sketches from secondary Science,
dug them up as I was clearing out my old academic stuff.



Selling my CAL books off was rather gratifying.
I'd driven straight to Subang from Genting, got stunned by the flock of students camping about their cartons of books. None of the faces were familiar. Wanted to chicken out but I went chin up instead to do things I've never done before.
The sun blazed down with a vengeance and the whole lot seemed about wilting with the exception of one or two crazies who charged down the walkway roaring the most ridiculous rates in attempt to end their suffering. I expect they were among the ones who'd been there since 7 in the morning.
During the three hours I was one of them, I
Shouted like a potato vendor in a strawberry field. I was the only one selling CAL at that part of the walkway that day; everyone else was from SAM.
Chased a client across the street. One of the SAMs referred him to me, bless her. And chased after him again when he forgot to take half of what he'd paid for.
Did all that without lunch.

Now, as far as I know,
Nicole doesn't shout, she doesn't chase strangers across the road, and she definitely isn't one to miss a square meal.
But I did that day, and I'm glad about it. =D




A file for every occasion. =)



Dutifully sorted every piece of paper into one of three piles:
Fully used
Relatively blank
and
Ican'tremember,Ijusthaveathingforcategorisation.



Massive clearout.
Also the day I reclaimed my bed. X)



Our big Lit notes, three-quarters of which I didn't actually read. =X
It was plain slogging away!



So long, Bronte.
Jane Eyre fell apart and I had to send her for a second binding.


Off to work now. =)
Where we sing songs, blow bubbles, and do happy things.

Growing Like A Bamboo Shoot

Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should live their lives, but none about his or her own.

-The Alchemist-

Finally, I'm reading it! After years and months of putting it off. Yesterday I decided to treat myself to taking this hotcake home - to celebrate the end of AS trials. And before that, a group of us popped down to Pavilion for How to Train Your Dragon which - awww darnit - had some pretty cute dragons featured. Storyline was typical of a son-railing-against-father's-expectations tale, but the fanciful life of dragons - their characteristics, behaviour - engaged the audience well enough to compensate.

The boys cramming in for aircond while waiting for Vinna to change her outfit and pick us up.

Faces from left to right are of Aaron, Abhinav and Yohan.
Imran, Hari and Douglas are somewhere behind them. X)

Hmmm I think this was Aaron on Douggie.

Came back in time for another fruitful meeting with my organising committee for the Club's soon-to-be charity concert. I love how these occasions end up teaching me so much - in fact, my only vexation is how long everyone takes to show up. Precious time is lost!
Interviewing the committee members one by one allowed me to see from an employer's point of view; began to suss out the necessity of the questions which often make the interviewee squirm in their seat.
Interesting, really.


Strange-woman-who-smiles-at-me (how Red Indian is my vocab these days) seems to have joined the ranks of the remarkable people I've met in college; most of whom seem to be meant for a pitifully short term at TCSH.

These who have impacted me on a personal level include Ms. Thinking Skills (from scarily brilliant to respectfully human), Mr. Lee (the funniest, most candid Math lecturer) and - never forgotten - Ms. Ratnes (the best teacher I've ever had). I hate how the last three are all going, going, gone. At least we still have the powerhouse Ms. Anne for Lit!

Here's something I realise they have in common: all are highly experienced in their field, and that's what garnered my initial respect. But all also have personalities and attitudes which stand to firmly prop up their intellectual prowess - no wishy washy giggling here.

Spelt.

As far as college work goes, most of the hols. have been spent immersed in Jane Eyre - or at least, as far as I can immerse myself; having abstained from casual reading for some months.
I've lost the speed, the effortless joy of skimming line after line in comprehension; for classic novels are oft generously bodied by (superbly) long sentences.

The reason why I've been hard pressed to leave this novel for another assignment is, firstly, because it has to be completely read by the time college reopens (my first holiday reading item!), and secondly, simply because it is delightful homework compared to that of other subjects.


It would be contradictory, I suppose, to say that though this homework is pleasant, I have also never slipped off into stupor so many times while reading before. Lack of practice brings me back to where neophytes might stand, unable to fall under the enchantment of words. But I suppose, also, that this post (thus far) is therefore a contradiction in itself; since it has comprised of nothing but words.


They were right;
Lit is taking over my life. Every article I see, every work of words (ads, spoken phrases, MY own writing, etc.) is beginning to come under unconscious scrutiny and review of meaning, the application of micro- and macro-view, the telescopic lens of Literature. I mean, not two days ago, I was taking a drive with Sean and Jaf while John Lennon played; and off the tip of my tongue I asked,

"What's the significance of the lemon tree?"

It still bothers me, slightly.






Fear not, readers (ala Charlotte Bronte), I have not been cloistered at home with that single novel!

Truth is, I've been out every day all last week, thus leaving (yet again) not enough time as deemed sufficient for my work to be completed. But I will (as usual) try.

Today, haircut - errands - dance practice - dinner!



I must run.

I Need Two Hands To Shop

My weekly red-letter day was spent at the Gardens, shopping while my mom had a facial. I gaily walked into Promod - good quality for reasonable prices. Slipped past the two store assistants who were chatting rather boisterously with a middle-aged customer; but that's the way I like it. To be left alone; not maddeningly tailed by some paranoid-but-acting-helpful shopgirl. It's majorly irritating, and doesn't help with "providing a great shopping experience" in the least!

After 10 minutes of browsing, one of the assistants sneaked up on me and words started gushing out of her mouth - much the same way as when she yakked with the aforesaid customer.
I listened, stunned, to her tirade of Chinese gibberish and near the end, made out the word 'interview'.

Ohh.

That one word saved what would otherwise have been wasted breath for her. Without missing a beat, I replied: "I already have a job."
Take that! Bet you thought I was some pampered, unproductive student with nothing better to do for her semester break, didn't you?
=P

On another matter...
I've been reading Anne Frank's diary. Actually, I've been reading more than one book and though the idea doesn't appeal to me, I've had to because two books are from Kumon and I have to return them by Thursday the 4th because thats my last day there! And on the very next, I'll be off to church camp in Malacca. No time to mourn the loss of my little students!
Perhaps I'll miss them. I will remember some of them, I know. How to tell them I'm leaving? How not to tell? =(
Anyway, the point is, I've been reading Anne Frank's diary. (See how my train of thought trails all over the place?)
And... I'm near the end of the book. I don't really want to finish reading it, because...

because it's hard to believe that this girl, with so many ardent admirers at her feet, so many beautiful hopes and dreams and plans; she died. Three years younger than I am now.
That someone so bright had so deserved to live but instead passed on to the next realm, it saddens me.

She wanted to be a writer, because when she poured her soul into her diary, her restraints, oppression and frustration at being cooped up in a secret place for two years, melted away. And today her thoughts and musings have been and are being read by millions all over the globe. What a way for her wish to materialise. Which brings me to... Is it worth it, to die for a dream?

Not that she killed herself to get published, but the very sufferings which brought her life to a close were the backbone of her writings, and the fodder on which she became mature.
All this only after a single read. I shall have a second, and third, from which to glean more insight as to this interesting personality - in future when I'm at leisure.

Wednesday night :

Sean needed help in picking a shirt for prom. Weellllllll, he asked the right person! ^ ^
We went straightaway to OU. Spotted one in a rich, warm shade of red. After which he couldn't stop thinking about it. Ahaha. Plus, I got a free pretzel after 'scolding' the cashier at Auntie Anne's! Something like that. =P

Thursday morning :

Continued where we left off, this time at Midvalley. Found a dark grey one, so close to black. But he liked it, that's what matters. Then in Sub, I pulled shirt after shirt off the racks for him to try. This is one of my dream jobs. It'd be lovely getting paid... to spend other people's money. => There was a heartthrob of a shirt we both liked, only, it was more of smart casual and less of prom king. He might still get it, after all.

Friday night :

Fell prey to a sudden fever. Woke up every few hours in the night, aching and feeling sticky all over. It felt so horrible.

Sunday, after church :

I shot off to pick Yann up and then to the Mines!

Power Beat In The House, yo!

Another dance finals I've had on my schedule for months. The thing is...
after obeying the impulse of gaining access into the Mines residential area and ogling at numerous grandly done-up bungalows (including one with a weird wavy UFO roof, and Mahathir's own residence),
debating whether to get free parking at the Mines Clubhouse (which we did),
and having a casual, very filling lunch... we arrived in time for the results.

T.T

What a let down! Maybe we shouldn't have eaten so much. Maybe I shouldn't have cared whether that house was cooler than the other or not. Maybe I should have skipped the debate and parked in the hot hot sun for RM2. Then maybe I would've had time to squeeze through the tall tall crowd to watch the final contestants properly. I felt quite deflated, after all the fuss and anticipation generated (by me). Frankly, if it weren't for the ReadMalaysia book fair, it would've been hard to cheer up.

So much for the 'largest book fair of the year'. The organisers of the BU3 fair didn't know what they were talking about, because the Mines do was definitely more heavyweight. The centre English section was dwarfed by the Chinese one on the left, and Malay on the right. At least it'll encourage reading among those ones. *Ok, didn't intend to sound like the Prime Minister or anything...* =>

And this week'll be even busier. It's college hols all around; my darling 'nett and Sean are on break! I'm squeezing them into schedule wherever I can. Steamboat, Picadilly, Asia Cafe on the menu? Then for a free screening of Zac Efron's 17 Again? Oh, swell. Anything, because I don't have to spend a cent for a great time with ya'll.

Transparent

This post is, coincidentally, about my major loves in life.

How many people, I wonder, have to sneak around guilt-ridden just to attend a book fair?
Not all that many, I suspect. I just have the misfortune to be one of those few.

Now, sneaking around behind your mother's back doesn't sound very ethical... but it wasn't my fault, really. I hadn't even meant to go. I mean, I did. My reflex action to spotting the banner concerning the 'largest book fair of the year' was to - in true bookworm style - resolve to be there. Asap. But I smothered that impulse, knowing full well my mom's disapproval of it. She thinks I have too many books. Nonsense! A girl can never have too many of them.

Well, on a fairly unremarkable Wednesday, I happened to be walking into the house behind my mom, who'd just taken in the mail. A paper fluttered down into my pathway and - unsuspecting me - I picked it up just like a docile daughter should. Which was just as well, because it was a freakin' SIGN, I tell ya. That paper was a flyer for the event billed as... THE LARGEST BOOK FAIR OF THE YEAR. *Bug-eyed*
I hastily stuffed it into my handbag, where my mom wouldn't see. Not an hour later, I left the house on the pretext of getting a new photo album. And made a beeline for the fair. Well, it must've been a very drunken bee, 'cause it took me some time to find the place. But it was worth it. Oh it was. Goodness knew how I was gonna find a photo album to bring home, but right then I was the very picture of a kid in a candy store - and anyway, isn't a photo album a sort of book? And this is a book fair... right? *Continues deceiving myself with slim chances and fat hopes*

My basket grew steadily heftier as I scoured each and every table for good reads. By the end of two hours, I went from lifting it with one hand to practically lugging it around. Heheheh. And then I found myself an empty table space to sift through my potential purchases.

The first one to make the cut was - get this - a book about shopping. How to shop... ALL OVER THE WORLD. Omg. *Blabbering away at top speed* It got me so excited; it'd teach me lifelong skills like how to bargain anywhere, even if I don't speak the local tongue! I'd be able to get countless brill bargains for souvenirs on my honeymoon, just like Becky Bloomwood! =X
Next to join were a new recipe book and some reads for myself. Then a couple of books for my little cousins were screened through, in addition to dictionaries for psychology terms going for a song! I got a similar one for English literature, also RM2. Altogether, my booty cost little more than 80 bucks. And then I hid it all inside my car boot. And started thinking hard about how to get that photo album.

On Friday I took off, just to catch the supposed bboy finals at Sunway Pyramid. Yes, I arrived safely. And no, no more pillars bumping into the side of my car. Once is enough. Puhtooey.

To my dismay, they'd shifted the finals to Sunday the 24th. Or perhaps the date was misprinted in the newspapers those many weeks ago. =(

I'd abandoned my little Kumon students for... this?

A stage that didn't exist...

An exhilaration which had to be put on hold...

A whole day just... for... shopping.

Here's where the sun comes out and its golden rays engulf my being. I cheer up right away and begin my rounds. T-Joue is definitely one of the stores I'll patronise for workwear, in the future. It spells class.

Come to speak of shopping, the newbie Tropicana City Mall has been gathering momentum since the last time I dropped in. The eateries are ever more varied and interesting; its tenants are fairly well picked for diversity; and parking - at the moment - is free. Not to mention, it is barely 10 minutes away from where I reside! With the soon-to-be-opened GSC outlet and a well-stocked arcade, TC Mall looks set to be my new favourite hangout, after OU.

Why not Curve, you ask? I'm not sure. There's not much of a cozy feeling there, maybe because the shops are spread too far apart and it makes you waste too much time just walking from place to place. I'm all for convenience, yo.

Saturday was a night of dinner and dance. A perfect combination, aye. I strapped on my fancy heels and was chauffeured onto the streets of KL; Jalan Ampang, to be exact.

I wasn't to do any dancing; just going for a theatrical production.

And the chauffeur was my father, and the tickets were on me - my treat! - because, well um, I didn't know how to get to Wisma MCA on my own. =/

BUT it did cost me a lot! A chunk of my first wages! =D

How apt, that it should go towards watching a dance performance; my very first earnings.

It was the most lowkey international production I'd been to; no glitzy venue, no carpeted stairways or elevated seating. The arrangement was a tad bit like any I.U. Day, complete with a slightly akward (bordering on incompetent) emcee. But who cared?

It was Breakout; the Korean extreme dance comedy I'd been pining to go for ever since I'd laid eyes on its ad. And for a charity performance, it didn't fail to satisfy.

The opening saw numerous hooded figures darting and sliding expertly across the stage floor; their movements sharp and synchronised to the music. Then the breakdancing began, and I was thrilled to see that two of the breakers were girls! Cut to the next scene, where the acting began. I was rather taken by the - what else? - tallest of the five main characters. Dancers they may be, but their faces were expressive and movements trained enough to carry the plot without dialogue. No wonder this show has traveled to the likes of New York! Nearly every scene was closed with a highly energised dance number. Each of the five main dancers had his own area of specialisation. One did some solid popping and locking, another kept *ahem* baring his torso before doing amazing flips on his left arm, and my tall one... he's a sexay beatboxing machine. The night was full of breakdancing and beatboxing, which was like manna to me. There was creative, amusing use of backdrops; and a different approach to audience interaction. I ENVY the girl who walked away with the Breakout shirt. The one and only girl. Why not me? Why noT ME?!@? T.T
*Sigh* What can I say? It was simply wonderful.

Flashbacks of the week :

Dinner at Zuup.
I like soup. O.o


Got down to straightening out my earring collection, on my new earring rack (a birthday gift from my mom), crowned with swirls!



A daunting task, to the uninitiated.
The subjects have to be organised according to length, colour and width.



Babes like these don't qualify to be hung up, unfortunately.
Wrong shape.



Amber on Straw.
What if I told you, these only cost me 4 ringgit?
Still decent-looking, unlike those tacky 3 for 10s.



Barely over 40 pairs, not counting my studs (non-dangly earrings).
Definitely... not enough. XD



Result.



NOT for sale!

I don't know about you, but when I look at my beloveds...
Each one has a story to tell.
Every pair is special and different, in that I may not have chosen it for myself,
or I fell hard for it at first sight.



The ballerina from Chiangmai,
One of my favourites - the filigree butterfly,
A gift from my big bro - little iridescent beads.



Another big bro gift - blue droplets,
See-through acid blue cubes,
Simple deep red stacked mini-cubes.



Korean seahorses (not that I've been to Korea) standing in line.



White Vincci roses,
An all-time favourite - slim blue beaded chandeliers,
Gypsy-style concoction in green - a bazaar buy.



The rival to the slim blue chandeliers;
Chains of seduction.



Glomesh in gold - usually I hate (yellow) gold, but in this case, it seemed fitting. Though a black-grey would've been so much sexier. I have a thing for almost-blacks. Or very deep blacks.
To the right are
Beaded chandeliers in a chocolate sheen.



Pink chandeliers from Singapore - these I don't really adore,
Charming wooden carved hoops - suspected ripoffs,
Amber on Straw,
Shadow Hearts.


*Big smile*
=)

Seek And Destroy

Wednesday :
My final photoshoot with Yann. We kept it simple, as opposed to our previous one. No lugging around of heavy hardcovers, no gingerly transfering numerous outfit changes from wardrobe to car, and no boxes and boxes of accessories to complement aforesaid outfits - which weren't even utilised, by the way.



Here she is, seen with my most precious collection of classic novels. Katy, Anne, The Little Women... all in her hands.
And then unceremoniously chucked into her car boot. =(



Her mission : To Seek and Destroy.

What else?
It's Yann, after all. I first knew her as a first-class annoyance and relentless (though mild-mannered) bully.

Oh, those weren't all the books we used. She filched two piles of hardcovers from her father's book cabinet, and we spent hours arranging them on my father's lawn, on the dining table, and on the stairs.
Yes, I sat among ants like I wanted nothing more than to read the words with them;
and I climbed onto the dining table as though I needed more light from the chandelier overhead;
and I reposed on the steps as if it wouldn't hurt my back to read there for hours.
To top it off, we did a bonus shot on the white rug, which stuck to my favourite shorts like a giler-shedding dog.

This last photoshoot was good. The location was TTDI's Taman Kiara, and the process was tiring but we got some satisfactory shots!
There was lots of monkeying around on rocks, grass and water features.
Note : My aunt spotted a black cobra in that park, about to cross the jogging track ahead of her. So please be wary the next time you drop by.

That same night, I resolved to go for a movie as I've been meaning to for weeks. Only, we didn't manage to catch Fast&Furious4 OR Shopaholic. =( Too many couples dating! Gah.
So we watched Knowing instead. It had a pretty gripping storyline, and was significantly creepy at times, but I was so disappointed at the ending where it turned out to be just another sci-fi. I hate sci-fi's.

_________________________________________________


Today was the second time in the week I took leave early from work. Don't think I'll be doing it again for the rest of my job duration. That's 1 month plus for you.

I left early mainly because I was on duty in church that night, but I also took the opportunity to meet up with my Lynette for a quick jog and even quicker clicking of tongues.


I brought her to check out the Taman Rimba Kiara, which I've never really seen before.



Turned out to be rather deserted except for a bunch of Indian boys. I rather regretted my choice of destination when they started calling out derogatory terms to which we - for what else was to be done? - showed complete oblivion, with a sliver of distaste for good measure.
We talked all the more, to show them we didn't have time to listen to their nonsense.



Slightly picturesque.
Many benches, to cater to...
nobody.



Penny for your thoughts, babe.



'nett and I slapped mosquitoes off each other all the time, and I got bitten by a red ant for the first time - after all these years of laughing at other people's fear of ants. Ahaha.
That doesn't make me any more afraid, though.



The cherry on top was catching sight of this holycowbig spider, spinning its web high in the trees.



That's...
pretty far away from us short people. XP


In conjuction with Good Friday, my church screened a movie entitled Fireproof, at night.
It was nearly faultless; with a cleverly written script, and dialogue not too contrived nor too plain. Upon the rolling of credits, I'd concluded that it had been even better than most commercial movies shown in cinemas.
Therefore, going for tonight's movie - Facing The Giants - is a given.

This Is Where My Castle Tumbles Out Of The Sky

JAFRI ADAM DE SOUZAAA!!!!!!!


Do you know how sad this makes me? How disappointed? How... how... deflated?

It's as though my aim is gone; I only wanted to work because of that lifelong discount, I admit. Okay, I'm such a bookworm... so sue me!

And the Borders interview hasn't even arrived.

*After 2 minutes of being utterly let down*

Alright, this calls for a new P.O.A.. Using the best artillery on Earth, it's called :

Take It As It Comes.

Chilliiiing....