LASIK Procedure

February 5, 2008 in Celebrations & Festivals, Health Issues, Personal Reflections

Welp, in another two hours or so, I’ll be heading down to iSec Malaysia to undergo the LASIK procedure to give me back perfect eyesight.

Which means, for another week or so, I’m suppose to take good rest, don’t stress out my eyes and eat healthy stuff rather than the heaty and oily stuff. Which means, in other words, my Chinese New Year revelry would be a quiet one. Oh well, I’d do anything to ensure that I have ood eye sight again and I definitely don’t want to do anything to jeopardise that.

As such, pls keep me in your thoughts and prayers, yeh! Hopefully I’ll make a speedy recovery with excellent vision!

Oh, and since I won’t be able to make my CNY post and shoutouts in the next few days, let me take this opportunity to say to all my friends, family and anyone who is Chinese a very HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS YEAR OF THE RAT!!!

Be safe and check you guys later in a week or so!

Christmas is About God’s Perfect Love For Us!

December 23, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Personal Reflections

Another year, another Christmas.

Somehow this year, I haven’t really felt or got into the spirit of the Christmassy mood. Perhaps its because I fully agree with this writer’s take on the Christmas celebration and how the meaning of Christmas has been lost and buried under the deep sea of commercialism.

Year after year, Christmas has always been the same thing over and again for me – it’s shopping time for that perfect gift for friends, pig out to my heart’s content, revelling in the joy of the Christmas/year end holidays, singing carols, decorating our church and home and of course, visiting each other on Christmas day. You know, I’d have gotten sick of it all like Jacqueline Pereira and just escape to some isolated place for a vacation if it weren’t for a simple Christmas message that was printed on my church bulletin today. And coupled with the message from my pastor about the fact that we must not forget that Christmas is truly about God’s perfect love for us – the agape love, unconditional love – I felt so much calmer and peaceful as my heart radiated from a strange warmth. A little voice spoke into my heart, “Yes, you have forgotten. Christmas is not about giving and receiving and eating and carols and Santa Claus. It’s about MY love, MY precious perfect love for you. And that would never change!”

I knew it was God’s voice that spoke to me then. I felt comforted. I felt at peace. The fact that all the Christmas craze raging around me has not irked me on bit since coming back from church really says a lot – let them have their Christmas fun. Why was I so uptight about it. As long as I know that Christmas is about God’s perfect love for me, it’s all that matters. I must love like God has shown love to me, was my only thought.

As such, let me share with you the message on my church bulletin – which is a gentle reminder to all of us to spread the spirit of goodwill and love to anyone and everyone.

Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value:
Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone “I love you.”
Give something away – anonymously. Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.
Turn away wrath with a soft answer, visit someone in nursing home.
Apologise if you are wrong. Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.
Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.
- Chuck Swindoll

I cannot begin to tell you how true this is. It seemed such an effort and a chore to do what Swindoll exhorted us to do during Christmas time, doesn’t it? Of course it does, when you think about how unnatural it is for the majority of us to do something that we don’t normally do every time or any time. The things above are certainly not easy for any of us to do. How many of us can swallow our pride and say to someone who have wronged us, “I forgive you and I love you”? How many of us are willing to go visit a nursing home and spend time with the elderly and infirmed? It’s hard to say sorry to people we’ve wronged to, doesn’t it? Sure, we can give away stuff for charity but how many of us do it because we just want to, and not because we were compelled to and have ulterior motives?

I admit that I rarely did any of the above that Swindoll said we should do. And reading that, I felt a tad shameful. And from that, I realised how awful a person I must be to certain people and how I wish I could undo the things I’ve done or said to people without thinking or caring for their feelings. I know I can’t change myself overnight, but I do resolve that in from this time on, I will try my best to be a good person, to do all that which Swindoll told us we should do as much as I could because God Himself has already given so much to us. Shouldn’t we, do just as much, to give back to Him for the benefit of those who not as well-off as us?

I don’t mean to sound like a preacher, but it’s just some bit of soul-searching which I felt I had to do to think about what I’ve done this year and for years passed. I feel that I can’t hide myself from the truth, and I can’t run away from reality, and so, I felt that I should write this down so I won’t forget, so you all would know and be able to put me in my place should I err.

I’m still me, but I do hope, with God’s grace, that it’s a better ME.

Well, have a Blessed Christmas, my dear friends and to all of you whom I love and hate.

I’m 25, y’all!

November 29, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Personal Reflections

THANK BE TO JEBUS GOD ALMIGHTY I SURVIVED ANOTHER ONE HECK OF A YEAR!

Ahem… this calls for a song, don’tcha think? Right, a one and a two and three…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEEEE!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

WOO-HOO!

Okay, so, I don’t…like…planned on doing anything on my birthday, for once, I don’t care whether I celebrate it or not. For a change, a quiet, peaceful and relaxing day is all I want. So, this weekend I’m taking off to Penang for some much needed R&R. We all need that once in a while. It’s not like we’re all Energizer bunnies, eh?

So….. what does it mean to be turning a quarter of a century old, you might be wondering?

I’ve still a long ways from achieving some of my dreams and ambitions, by with tiny little steps, I’m inching my way there. The past year, as always, has been quite a mixed bag, I must say. There are golden moments that I’ll cherish forevermore, and there are those incredibly hellish moments that I wish were totally erased from my memories forever. In any case, the past year has been quite eventful to say the least.  Sorry if I hadn’t been really blogging much in the past several months, but work has been hectic, so I’m quite sure you all know why I so desperately need a private vacation of my own. I’m definitely looking to a few trips in the coming weeks.

That’s about it. Had gone to bed a a couple of hours ago, but I dragged my sleepy ass off the bed just to make this “birthday post” – am trying to make this an annual thing so that I could keep track of how each of my birthdays go differently. I’m deffo looking for a good day today… hopefully the weather is tolerable.

Ok, am going back to bed now, y’all!  Good night and have a great day! (Please think of me! :-p)

Happy Ramadhan to all my Muslim friends!

September 13, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Local Politics, Social Activism & Religious Matter

Hope you guys and girls have a great time of fasting and reflection this year! Just make sure that you’re fasting because you really want to and that you believe in it, and not fast just for the sake of fasting or that everyone else you know is doing it.  And, to the girls… don’t force yourself if you can’t take it, alright?

And to the rest of the non-Muslims, please, please be sensitive to our Muslim brethren and sisthren as they observe this holy month. Be courteous and nice! Don’t tempt them by eating in front of them! You don’t have to add fuel to the fire… Muslim and non-Muslim relations are already quite strained as it is (no thanks to a bunch of gobloks in the government!), don’t give them any more reason to hate us.

That is all I ask. For peace and harmony in our country, forever! Happy Ramadhan, everyone!

Kepada Malaysia yang kusayangi…

August 30, 2007 in 50th Merdeka Postings in Malay, Celebrations & Festivals

 

Selamat Menyambut Ulang Tahun Kemerdekaanmu yang ke-50!

Haraplah anda kian membangun dengan hebatnya dan sentiasa menjaga kebebasan dan keharmonian rakyat kita serta keunggulan dan keistimewaan negara kita!

Happy Father’s Day, everyone!!!

June 17, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Family Matters, Memoirs of a Wanderer, Personal Reflections

I thank God everyday that I had a father for 23 years of my life and that he had moulded me into the person that I am today. My heart goes out to all the children whose father left them while they were still young, yearning for a strong, trustworthy father figure in their life. How will the boys ever learn to be a father of their own when they missed such an important parental figure in their lives? And how will the girls know about the kind of man/partner they should choose without the expert guidance/opinion of their wise and experienced fathers?

What grieves me even more so now is the fact that some fathers don’t even know how to be a father to their kids. The ghastly stories of incestual rape, abuse and neglect that we often see in the media often disturbs me as I never really understood how any human being could treat their own offspring in such a wicked and perverse manner. To these kids, Father’s Day means nothing to them…for their fathers were nothing but a living nightmare. Instead of love, affection, protection and guidance, they received violence, abuse, ridicule and contempt. As a result of these bad experiences, these children will never be able to trust another man ever, it would be so very difficult to for them to do so as the only male figure in their life had betrayed them.

I hope to God one day that these kind of fathers receive the kind of punishment that will come upon them for the things that they’ve done to their kids. How can they even call themselves human beings with intellect when the things they’ve done are so depraved and vile, worse than the worst of animals. Nevertheless, I pray that these fathers would come to their senses and realise the errors of their ways – they should learn to love, offer their kids words of encouragement and support rather than ridiculing them or belittling them.

The fathers of today ought not be the fathers of yesterday’s generation where fathers were devoid of emotion and affection for doing so were perceived to be weakness and giving kids the leverage to climb all over their heads. No, we are living in a different time and we all know now the importance of having not just a strong father but also one who is able to express his love and affection for his children freely without shame.

A strong, comforting hug goes a long way to improving the relationship between a father and child. A pat on the back and ruffling of the hair and stroking the face of their children conveys a deep sense of affection, encouragement and support to the child, letting them know that no matter what happens, they will always have a daddy that they can look up to for help and support. How many of you fathers out there do this to your kids? Again, I am thankful that I am surrounded by a lot of father figures in my church who are all not shy of expressing their affection and love to their kids.

My father has his faults, but whose father doesn’t? Regardless of everything, he is still my father and I love him very much and miss him to bits. He has taught me to be resourceful, to be independent, to think and make decisions wisely and carefully and to always be well-prepared in case of any emergencies. He is all about the details… he is very careful and very thorough kind of person who never smoke, drink or gamble. When he knew his days were coming to an end, even before he got struck down by a stroke, he made sure that his house and his affairs were all in order.

Sadly, it is always when a person is on their last leg of their journey through life that we began to realise how much we need and love each other. How I wish I could turn back the hands of time and undo the hurtful things that I did to my father out of my bitterness and resentment towards his apparent lack of affection and love towards me. I know for a fact that during my father’s last 24-36 hours of his life, I said, “I love you, Papa” more times than I have ever said in a year.

I urge you, my friends, to set aside all hurt and grievances from your heart and love your old man for everything that he is. They only want the best for us and which father wouldn’t want that for their sons and daughters? I know my dad would move mountains and brave the storms for me if I ever had a problem that I couldn’t solve…he’ll go all out of his way to do so. And  had never realised that until my dad’s last days and until he was gone. It’s too late for me to make up for lost time with my dad, but I wish it would not be the same for you. Treasure your dads, celebrate each day as if it were Father’s Day.

And to you dads… I only have this to say to you: “A child is not likely to find a father in God unless he/she finds something of God in his/her father.”  Regardless of which ever religion you’re from, I hope that this quote from Glenn Wheeler speaks strongly into your hearts. To be a good father, you must first be a good son to your Father in Heaven. After all, it is only through our faith and reverence to God that we seek to become righteous, loving and honourable human beings.

Wishing all of you a most cherished and joyous Father’s Day. I love you all. 

World Environment Day is Today!

June 5, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Citizen of the World, The Conservationist in Me

The Earth is dying and you’d better be believing it!

Never has the topic of conservation and protection of our environment been this urgent and this serious ever. Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth has hit home the message and it really hit hard… our Earth is not getting any better as temperatures rise because of global warming. Green house emissions are still at critical levels, more forests are being chopped down and cleared for its expensive wood and for development, our rivers and seas are so polluted that it is affecting our main source of protein, fish, and many governments, in fact, many of us ordinary folks, are still clueless as to what to do about it.

There are the naysayers among us – those who think that this whole global warming thing is just a bunch of cock & bull shit cooked up by scientists and selfish environmental activists with dubious research findings. These naysayers are either refusing to believe what’s happening to the world as a result of our careless actions or they are truly blind to the unhealthy state the Earth is in. Either way, they are not going to do anything to improve the situation because all they care about is the economic growth and monetary interests of their country.

Indeed, countries like the US of A and China are still reluctant to be part of Kyoto Protocol as they are not about to jeopardise their economic interests, the US of A more so. A lot of US Congressmen are the ones who think global warming is just a hoax. Now, because of people like these, countries can’t really do much to cut down on pollution and global warming.

So what chances does Earth have?

Quite a lot actually, ’cause if governments of the world and major corporations are so reluctant to do anything about our dying Earth, then, it is up to US, the little people, to do what we can to help prolong the Earth’s survival. We have to do it for our future generations’ sake because if we don’t do it now, if we don’t start now, our future generation might not have much left to fight for.

I admit, I haven’t really thought much about doing what I can to help protect the environment and conserve it. But in recent months, the media, especially The Star, have highlighted many articles regarding the state our Earth is in. And none of it is very good. It was only then that I realise how bleak our future would be if we are not serious about doing what we should be doing, what we must do… to make Earth a better place for us to live in.

If none of you have watched An Inconvenient Truth yet, I urge you to see it and see it with an open mind and an open heart. Then, maybe, just maybe, your eyes will be open to the truth and to the dire state our Earth is in. And maybe we will all rally together and go GREEN…

Because there isn’t much time left if you want our future generations to survive beyond the 21st century.

Related Stories

Global Events held in conjunction with World Environment Day 2007
The Mend of the World
Public Concern Over Climate Change
U.N. sees G8 climate progress despite U.S.-EU feuds
Global Warming: Early Warning Signs
Bush urged to back U.N. efforts on climate change
Global warming or not, ocean is rising over Pacific islands
Special Report: Climate Change
U.S. Speaker Pelosi says Bush ‘in denial’ on warming

Memes galore!

May 12, 2007 in Celebrations & Festivals, Quizzes, Memes & Questionnaires

Will be out and about for most of today and tomorrow, so, won’t have any chance to write something productive as much as I like. Therefore, be entertained by these fun and amusing memes…

Meme No.1 – Will You Be a Multimillionaire?

Your Chances of Being a Multimillionaire: 84%

It’s almost certain you’ll be a multimillionaire. Just keep doing what you’re doing. You are good with money, a creative thinker, and an ethical person. You might be the next Donald Trump!

Will You Be a Multimillionaire?

A man can dream, can’t he? Besides, I am good with money, I don’t spend a lot and am creative but also confident. Now…regarding me being an ethical person…well…that’s still open to interpretation.

Meme No.2 – How Liberal or Conservative Are You?

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 20% Conservative, 80% Liberal Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Defense and Crime: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

As expected, as I’ve always have been…I’m a LIBERAL! No place in the 21st century for the teachings of the conservatives and fundamentalists today!

Meme No. 3 – How Evil Are You?

You Are 56% Evil

You are evil, but you haven’t yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though – you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

LOL! This is funny! Well, I guess I’ve done quite a few bad things in my the past but I certainly assure you, I’m over that now. Well…maybe…you’ll never know! *grins wickedly*

Well people, tomorrow’s Mother’s Day. So, you know the drill…go do something EXTRA special for your mom and LOVE her. After all, she’s the ONLY mother you could EVER have…so cherish HER as much as possible! UNDERSTAND?? I know I will.

Love y’all! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!