ps : Sorry for the long silence

Ok . . It has been ages.

And lots has happened since then...

LOTS. . .

Meanwhile, I have another blog just to talk about / post UK photos so folks at home are up to date.

Most of you have the site already.

If you don't, let me know...

Feeling : Excited, Grateful & Blessed

As things slowly but surely fall in place for me, I can't help but feel totally excited!

I am also very Grateful & Blessed.

Grateful for the people who came into my life to give me that little push I needed.

It's a long time dream and I always thought it would remain that way.

But thanks to the people who came into my life at the right time, the dream will come through.

And with the help and support of those who are already apart of my life, I will get to see my dream come alive.

Truely Blessed.

Weddings - to KISS or not to KISS

Wedding. . . Afterall it's once in a lifetime.

So why not?

Why not spend all we have (or even if we don't have it) for that one day?

What ever happened to Keeping It Simple & Short (KISS)?

Ok - so that never applied to weddings, ever.

Since I've attended more Indian Weddings compared to any other, I know how extravagant Indians can be and how they really go all out - just so friends and relatives etc don't comment on it. Malays just have this huge kenduri party where all the kampung people come together and cook, and you have your ayam masak merah, rendang, and air sirap. Chinese would limit the guestlist inviting only the important people - i should know. (I never knew some folks in my team were married till, I saw them bring their kid to the office a year or so later) or heard from someone, or saw a wedding photo pinned up at the cube. But that's fine, saves me the ang pow money ;). The Indians however, will invite everyone. Because they think they have to. It's a question of dignity and pride.

So I got to attend 2 Indian weddings in March. The 1st of a dear friend of mine, Anushia who married a German guy, Daniel and the second a family friend's.

As simple as it gets and yet beautiful - That's how I would describe Anu's wedding.

(Anu, Premilla and I met in 2002 at a Girl Guides Leadership Training in Seremban. We've been the closest of friends since, despite Anu travelling for work and being away to do her Masters for a year in UK, and Prem located in London with PwC, we make it a point to meet whenever both of them are back, or even if either one is back in the country.) Anu had started planning for the wedding once she got back from her studies.

I remember how she wanted the wedding to be simple (we spoke about it years ago). So simple, even Prem and I weren't on the list. She wanted a wedding at the Scott Road Temple in Brickfields since that's where her parents got married. For those who don't know, it's a prestigeous temple built by the Ceylonese comminuty.

**(The word Ceylonese (The Brits used to refer to Sri Lanka as Ceylon), is usually used in Malaysia by Sri Lankan Tamils to differenciate themselves from the Indians here. Despite the fact that the Sri Lankan Tamils themselves did migrate to Sri Lanka from the southern part of India, they refuse to categorise themselves as Indians.) **

So fancy a temple being called prestigeous! It really is a nice looking temple from the outside. I've not set foot inside, so I won't be able to comment on that. Anushia found out that to have the wedding there (Simple or Not) would cost her quite a bit, just for the name. It's all in the brand isn't it? That plan went out the window.

The wedding was later held at a Golf Resort in Seremban. From her ideal guest list of only parents and closest relatives at Scott Road Temple, to a 100 something people guest list, to a 300 people guest list . . .The last number was somewhere between 200 and 250 after much drama. Lucky for her Daniel's list was no more than 20. She had a little do the night before for the neighbourhood folks who weren't invited to the wedding. Afterall her family just moved to Seremban from Sitiawan a few months before, so they weren't the neighbours you knew for years. Practical I would say.

Anu's wedding saree was a pretty red saree. That's her favourite colour. Her make-up was done by Ashwini, her sister. She hired a saree tying lady, which is, well a must if you are not a pro at saree tying. And you really wouldn't want any mis-haps tying that wedding saree. Also Anu had a few non Indian friends who needed to tie saree and Daniel's sister as well. Somehow I feel in that "I need help with my saree!" category, due to the fanciness of my saree.

The wedding and reception were held together at the same place. The ceylonese wedding was cut short to 45 minutes. (A complete Ceylonese wedding takes up to 3 hours, the bride has a change of saree and wears a veil). And you guessed it. There was no veil or saree changing involved here. Anu was thoughtful enough to have an evening ceromony so those from KL and beyond would have time to travel back before it got very late. High tea reception instead of the usual dinner was something refreshing as well. Being the very proud Malaysian that she is, Anu made sure there was a variety of Indian, Chinese and Malay food served. I've never seen Roti Jala at an Indian wedding :). Or see couples YAM SENG at an Indian wedding. . . But this one had it.

Next was an orientation session, thanks to Daniel's Scouts Buddies. This was to initiate Anu into the "Scout Circle", and as a sign of Initiation, they both received a custom made scarf with both their names on it.

What I really loved about Anu's wedding was the fact that she and Daniel took the pains to come up with a little booklet containing Details of the Ceromony and it's meaning.

Why are they walking around the fire, what's the significance of everything they do throughout the ceremony.

Something very thoughtful, meaningful for the guests, especially those who are non Indians. And yet, I dare say the Indians probably didn't know what each and every part of the ceremony meant. Because I didn't. And this was definitely something different Anu!

So to the Beautiful Couple, I wish you all the best and God Bless!

Must Write . . . . M U S T W R I T E . . . . . .

Bloggers Block.... Writers Block. . . 

Feels like I haven't blogged in ages. Initially I needed time to get used to the new stuff at work, then I just lost it. I can't write. . . 

Right now, I am cracking my head to come up with a Personal Statement for Uni Application. Googled for some sample, still not able to get any inspiration.

So I decided to simultaneously watch Brothers & Sisters . . . Think its a coincidence that Justin was also cracking his head For a Personal Statement to get into Med School? Or is this simply the Law of Attraction at work?

I read this book on the Law of Attraction. It appears that the the LoA already exist in our daily lifes. And last week,  Aunty Pushpa sat me down and spoke to me about how to attract what I want, whether its the ideal man, or career. And the notes she gave me (orally), was like exactly from the book. Of course I didn't want to tell her that I already read the book and ... well, wasn't putting any of it to practice. She's also been encouraging me to read The Secret, which I have yet to do. 

Is this the Universe's way of saying, "Since the book didn't work, I'm sending someone to kick some LoA sense into your head?" Maybe. . . 

Aunty practically swears by it. She told me that, till today (starting from the day she practiced the LoA), she's never had issues finding a good parking spot (among other things). I believe her.

And What did I do? I tried it. 3 times, at the office, at Queensbay and Outside EGate. I got the closest Parking Spots just like I visualised! It got me really excited.

Probably sounds like some new age hoolabaloo. . . .But if it works, why not eh?

I really needed to scribble something somewhere. . . 

And now that I broke the no writing / blogging spell, hopefully I come up with something smashing for my Personal Statement!

Woo hoo!

New .... New..... New....

It's that time of the year. . . Re - Org !

Seems to have become a habbit for this department of mine.

I completed 1 year and going on year 2. This is the second Reorg.

So, there's the New Team, the 2 New Team Members, the New Shift, the New Manager.

The Manager talks non stop, I wonder if he remembers escalating me when I was a CW way back, just because I used land-desk instead of netmeeting. Because he thought I really don't have anything better to do but go through his files while he walks to the Printer to check if his printouts were coming out. Ironically, few years down the road, he becomes my manager for a team called, Printer, Hardware and Collaboration Team. What a mouthfull!

But I'm not going to start whining about it. Yes, it's not easy, it's uncomfortable, I'm restless. About the manager, about the new cube mate I'm getting. He's not really the most like-able person in the entire department. My TL flipped when she found out he was in our team. 

I just need to chill and go with the flow. . .

This is not permanent for me. . . 

I got My Ideal 2009 to think about, and since this is not part of it. . . I'll just give my best to this team, and work on my plans like I'm supposed to. . . 

Cephas Hawkins

Cephas was a friend of mine. . .

We started out as colleagues. Me in Penang, and he the other side of the world in Arizona.

We briefly met while having dinner on shift 4 while I was there.

And when I got back, he took care of all the escalations made to the local Fab Support for Fab 22 and Fab 12.

And at some point we became friends.

He would give me pointers on gym workouts, what should be done, how frequently, and the kind of food we should take.

But the sweet part is, he would never tell me to loose tons of weight. And when I hurt my back, he would IM me daily to find out how I was doing. We seldom emailed, as chatting was real time and more effective since we worked the same shift.

Some weeks ago, I told him that due to my reorg I will be moving to the back end shift, which is the opposite of my current shift.

His next words still appear clearly in front of me. . . 

"u leaving me . . .?"

Later that day, he sent me a Valentines Day forward email. . . .

A few days later, I found out that he passed away 

in a bike accident. As I was away from work, I wasn't able to confirm it with my US colleagues till later that week.

I still don't believe it and expect his IM message to pop up my screen when I'm at work.

"I'll miss having a caring friend like you Cephas. But I know you're in a better place and in good hands, because you were a wonderful person"

And so it shall be . . .

I bumped into an ex college mate this morning.

Not someone I was particularly close to back at college, or someone I kept constant contact with. But when we met, we would talk.

In fact, if I recall correctly, we might be from the same hometown.

She was asking about when's my next trip back home.

I told her I was going back in March since there where a few weddings to attend. . . 

OOPS!

Talk about classic foor in the mouth syndrome. . . 

And she replied "Yes, is it a good month for Indians?"

Not that I knew, but considering the fact that there were a few wedding invitations.. I said Yes..

And then came the dreaded question...

So, when's your turn?

I swallowed hard, removed my foot from my mouth...

And said - "In 2 years"

I just wanted to avoid that sympathy face people give you when they hear that you are single and start to give you that, 'I'm sure the right guy will come along' talk.

Her response to my answer was, " 2 years? So long?"

But this is what got me...

"So where's your boyfriend working?"

Crap...She actually thinks I have a boyfriend. . .

"He's in KL"

"Wah, Long Distance ah?"

"Yes"

Then the lift came, And I just waved bye as I got off at the second floor.

I just hope she doesn't come back with more questions . . .Because I'm bad at keeping up to date with lies. I tend to forget what I lied about . . .

So for now. . .

It shall be, that I have a boyfriend. . .  In KL. . .

LOL!

Long Drives, Empty Hearts

What do you do when you just feel empty?
When you feel like there's just nothing for you?
Even if it may not be really so. . .

I did something scary yesterday.
Scary for me, Scary at the time.

Just like every other off day, I went over to my aunt's place.
Book in hand, there's the TV if I wanted to watch.
But I felt like going out.
Going out with someone, and talking.
The only person I could think of, had made plans with her mom.
Everyone else I knew had their own things to do. I didn't want to waste a text and turned down anyway.

As I got into the car, my mind just started to wonder.
The next thing I knew, I was driving away, further away from my home.

My car was heading to, well, nowhere in particular.
I drove pass Bayan Baru, then towards Balik Pulau.
I passed this place where the old GOS gang had our BBQ and campfire, if I may call it.
I missed those days. If I could remember exactly where the turnoff was, I would've gone there.
But I didn't. So I drove on.

The road went up hill.
Hardly any lights there. At some point, it was pitch black.
Narrow 2 lanes.
There were 2 narrow lanes, and the roads were winding.
With busses on the next lane, it was scary.
With the roads that were unfamiliar, it was scary.
Everytime I came to a place where the road was a little broader, where I could've attempted to turn back. . .
Part of me said "Do it, just turn back. You don't know where this is going."
Another part would say, "Just go."
So I just drove.
My palms were icy cold, despite the AC being on 1.

I drove through lonely roads, and unfamiliar kampungs, took a few wrong turnings because my eyes were too misty to read the Sign Boards and reached home 2 hours later.
Feeling a little calmer.