What Will Matter

* My honey emailed me this and I thought it was very sweet... I love you very much Jim!!!

What Will Matter by Michael Josephson

Ready or not,

someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises,

no minutes, hours or days.

All the things you collected,

whether treasured or forgotten,

will pass to someone else

Your wealth,

fame and temporal power

will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned

or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations,

and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans,

and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses

that once seemed so important

will fade away.

It won't matter where you came from,

or on what side of the tracks you lived,

at the end.

It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will it matter?

How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought,

but what you built;

not what you got,

but what you gave?

What will matter is not your success,

but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned,

but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity,

compassion,

courage or sacrifice that enriched,

empowered or encouraged others

to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence,

but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew,

but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories,

but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered,

by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.

It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

Happy Birthday Elaine

HAPPY 34th BIRTHDAY to my cuz ELAINE!!! Sorry, terlupa that it was on October 31....

Reign Over Me

Jim & I were over at Chris' (Jim's sister) today for a late lunch with the family. On our way back from picking up the pizza, Chris & I decided to stop at Blockbuster and rent the movie "Reign Over Me".

The movie starred, Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Liv Tyler and a few other popular actors. It's about a man (Don Cheadle) who ran into his college roommate, Adam Sandler, who lost his wife & 3 daughters on 9/11. He rekindled their friendship and helped his friend (Sandler) work past his lost of his family.

It was a pretty good movie. A little long and the middle part of the movie kinda got a little boring for me but alll in all it's good. You might shed a few tears at the end.

You Kill Me

We saw the movie, "You Kill Me" earlier today. We thought it was pretty good. It's a dark comedy starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson and Bill Pullman.

Ben Kingsley played a drunk assassin who slept thru his last job. His boss told him to get sober so he moved from Buffalo to San Francisco where he met Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson and Bill Pullman. A few "events" ensued and......

The movie is pretty good especially if you like dark humor....

World Series '07

VS

Tonight is the start of the World Series between the Colorado Rockies & the Boston Red Sox. Which team will win? Jim thinks that the Boston Red Sox will since they won their last World Series 4 years ago. As for me, I don't really care though it would be nice if the Rockies win since this is their first time in the World Series....


UPDATE:
Oct 24: Red Sox won 13 - 1
Oct 25: Red Sox won 2 - 1
Oct 27: Red Sox won 10 - 5 *Looks like the Boston Red Sox is going to win the World Series this year
Oct 28: Red Sox won 4 - 3 BOSTON RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!!!

1408

Jim & I just finished watching the movie "1408" starring John Cusack & Samuel L Jackson. It's a horror movie based on a Stephen King book. Though I am not a big fan of horror movies, I do like Stephen King's and I think this movie was pretty well made.

Those of you who knows me know that I watched the movie behind my pillow(s)..penakut...he he he.

John Cusack (used to have a big crush on him when I was younger *wink*) was good in it and so was Samuel L Jackson, though he did not have a very big role in it.

John Cusack played an author who writes about haunted hotels. Samuel L Jackson was the manager at the Hotel Dolphin where John Cusack stayed in room 1408 which supposedly is haunted.

Pretty cool (scary...to me anyways) movie...Watch it....

** Other recommended Stephen King's movies..

- "The Shining" (both the movie with Jack Nicholson & the tv version with Steven Weber are good)

- "Pet Cemetary"

- "Cujo"

- "The Stand"

There are a few others which I can't think of the titles at the moment

How My "Sons" Wake Me Up in the Morning - A Depiction...

Jim sent me this email and it somewhat of a true depiction of how my two "sons", Sammy & Tiger, would try to wake me up in the morning, though it's a guy in the video and the last bit isn't true...at least I don't think so...he he he

J.K. Rowling outs Hogwarts character By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

* I read this on Yahoo news a few minutes ago. What a surprise....

NEW YORK - Harry Potter fans, the rumors are true: Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character Friday night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall.

After reading briefly from the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," she took questions from audience members.

She was asked by one young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love."

"Dumbledore is gay," the author responded to gasps and applause.

She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. "Falling in love can blind us to an extent," Rowling said of Dumbledore's feelings, adding that Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."

Dumbledore's love, she observed, was his "great tragedy."

"Oh, my god," Rowling concluded with a laugh, "the fan fiction."

Potter readers on fan sites and elsewhere on the Internet have speculated on the sexuality of Dumbledore, noting that he has no close relationship with women and a mysterious, troubled past. And explicit scenes with Dumbledore already have appeared in fan fiction.

Rowling told the audience that while working on the planned sixth Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," she spotted a reference in the script to a girl who once was of interest to Dumbledore. A note was duly passed to director David Yates, revealing the truth about her character.

Rowling, finishing a brief "Open Book Tour" of the United States, her first tour here since 2000, also said that she regarded her Potter books as a "prolonged argument for tolerance" and urged her fans to "question authority."

Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.

"Vacancy" & "4:Rise of the Silver Surfer"

We saw both these movies, "Vacancy" & "4: Rise of the Silver Surfer" this week. All I have to say is that both movies sucked...bad, especially "4:Rise of the Silver Surfer"

"Vacancy" is a thriller/slasher/horror movie starring Luke Wilson (I do think he's cute *wink*) and Kate Beckinsale. Though I consider both of them good actors, this movie just doesn't do it for me. They played a couple whose car broke down in the middle of nowhere (haven't this been done so many times before?) and had to spend the night in the only motel available. While watching movies in their room, they realized that the movies shown was actually taped in the room they were occupying. The normal thriller/slasher stuff ensued after that and then blah, blah, blah and more blah....

"4:Rise of the Silver Surfer" is the sequeal to the "Fantastic 4" movie starring Ioan Gruffudd (Mr Fantastic), Jessica Alba (Invisible Girl), Chris Evans (Human Torch) & Michael Chiklis (The Thing). Though I wasn't too impressed with the original movie, this sequal is even worst. It looked like the producers/writers threw in a few lines (stupid lines, that is) just so that they can have a sequel. Yes, there were a few cool special effects in it but that doesn't mean anything if there is no plotline and the acting was so bad. Neither of the actors, Julian McMahon (Dr Doom) & Doug Jones (Silver Surfer) included, were very interesting.

I definitely would not recommend either of these movies....

Wedding

Congrats to my cousin Hazel & her new hubby, Alex on their wedding. Moga bahagia ke anak cucu.

Happy Birthday Ali

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to my youngest cousin, Ali (far left)

Colbert announces presidential pursuit - Jake Coyle

NEW YORK - Stephen Colbert has announced his candidacy for president on "The Colbert Report," tossing his satirical hat into the ring of an already crowded race.

"I shall seek the office of the president of the United States," Colbert said Tuesday on his Comedy Central show as red, white and blue balloons fell around him.

Colbert, 43, had recently satirized the coyness of would-be presidential candidates by refusing to disclose whether he would seek the country's highest office — a refusal that often came without any prompting.

Shortly before making the announcement, Colbert appeared on "The Daily Show" (the show that spawned Colbert's spin-off) and played cagey, claiming he was only ready to consider a White House bid. He entered the studio set pulled by a bicycle pedaled by Uncle Sam and quickly pulled out a bale of hay and a bottle of beer to show that he was "an Average Joe."

Colbert said his final decision would be announced on a "more prestigious show," which turned out to be his own.

"After nearly 15 minutes of soul-searching, I have heard the call," said Colbert.

His recent best-seller, "I Am America (And So Can You!)," allowed him to mock the now-standard approach to a White House run, complete with a high-profile book tour.

Colbert said he planned to run in South Carolina, "and South Carolina alone." The state, one of the key early primaries, is also Colbert's native state. Earlier this week, South Carolina public television station ETV invited Colbert to announce his candidacy on its air.

Exactly how far the mock conservative pundit planned to stretch his impression of a presidential candidate wasn't clear. Colbert rarely breaks character on camera, including at his memorable speech at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner last year.

The Comedy Central host has often mobilized his fans ("Colbert Nation"), encouraging them to vote to have a Hungarian bridge named after him, for example, or to vandalize Web site Wikipedia.com with his version of "truthiness" and "wikiality."

Colbert said he would run as both a Democrat and Republican. He earlier explained the strategy: "I can lose twice." He claimed three running mate possibilities: Colbert-Huckabee, Colbert-Putin or Colbert-Colbert.

Minutes after announcing his presidential pursuit, Colbert welcomed CBS political analyst Jeff Greenfield to ask how he had changed the race.

"This is going to be one for the books," said Greenfield.

A spokesman for Colbert said he would be unavailable for further comment Tuesday evening.

In a guest column for Maureen Dowd in Sunday's New York Times, Colbert wrote: "I am not ready to announce yet — even though it's clear that the voters are desperate for a white, male, middle-aged, Jesus-trumpeting alternative."

Happy Birthday Asrolf

HAPPY 36th BIRTHDAY to my cousin YOF (Asrolf), my partner in crime when we were younger.... he he he

Arizona Diamondbacks

Last night the Arizona Diamondbacks lost their 4th and final games in a best of 7 games series against the Colorado Rockies (1-5, 2-3, 4-1 & 4-6) which means that the Colorado Rockies will be in the World Series against the winner of the Cleveland Indians vs Boston Red Sox series.

I was happy & sad when the Diamondbacks lost last night. I was sad because I live in Arizona and would like to see them win another World Series. I was HAPPY they lost coz they made such a big deal when they won against the Chicago Cubs (my favorite TEAM!!!) in 3 straight games. They were making fun of the Cubs fans since we haven't won the World Series since 1908. Can I say KARMA!!! Coz the very next series they (Diamondbacks) lost!!!!

One thing I find interesting is that I live(d) in all three cities where the three teams call home. I lived in Wheeling (surburb of Chicago, Illinois) when I went to Roosevelt University and Jim & I got married in Chicago. 5 months after we were married, we moved to Arvada (surburb of Denver, Colorado) while Jim was doing his post graduate studies at the Colorado School of Mines. Then in late 1999 we moved to Mesa (surburb of Phoenix, Arizona) where we still live now.

Though we live(d) in all three cities, the Chicago Cubs remains my true team. I can see why Jim loves the team since he was born and raised in Chicago. As for myself, I first fell in love with the team when I was doing my A-Levels in Holland. The main reason was that I liked the little Cubbie that they have for their logo. I thought the Cubbie was really cute...Then when I came to the US to further my studies I get to follow the team even more since I was studying at Southern Illinois University. I got to really love the team when I started going out with Jim.

We would go to their games every year. When we lived in Wheeling, we would take the el-train down to Wrigley Field (home of the Cubs). We would sit on the bleacher section and watch them play. Sometimes we go home reeking of beer, not because we drink them, but coz some fans behind us would be so drunk that they spilled beer on us. There is nothing compared to the experience of watching a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

Then, when we moved to Colorado, we would go to their games when the Cubs come over. And when we moved to Arizona, our dreams would not have come any better since the Cubs have their spring training at Hohokam Park just 8 miles down the street from where we live. We would go to their spring training games every year as well as during the regular season when they come to play the Diamondbacks.

Life is sweet for me where the Cubs are concern...Only one thing would make it perfect...winning the World Series...Lets hope that 100 years will be the longest since they won their last World Series...

GO CUBS!!!!

I Am America (And So Can You)

Jim & I were at the mall earlier today and bought this book, "I Am America (And So Can You)" by Stephen Colbert. For those of you who don't know who Stephen Colbert (shame on you!!! he he he) is, he has a show called "The Colbert Report" which airs nightly on Comedy Central (channel 51). Just by noticing that the show is on Comedy Central explains that his show is meant to be a joke. He makes fun of the right-wing conservative Republican talk shows like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly.

I am on the 4th chapter of the book right now and have been laughing my head off since I first read the inside jacket...Get the book if you can...

Nostalgia...

*I received this email from a friend and thought I'd share it with you, my fellow bloggers...

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's

First, we survived being born to mothers who had no full time maids/cooked food/cleaned the house while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate cheese , sweet dishes and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking .

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a local bus/train was a special treat. We drank water from the tap and NOT from a bottle. We would spend hours on the terrace under bright sunlight flying our kites,without worrying about the UV effect which never ever effect us. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate pastries, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because...... WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours repairing our out dated bicycle and scooter out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms........! WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were never given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, we made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Cricket League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them!
CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good and while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

PS -The big type is because your eyes are shot at your age

Salam Aidil Fitri

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri & Maaf Zahir Batin to all my family, friends and fellow bloggers. Kalu ada yang terkasar bahasa, terusik hati etc Yin hulurkan tangan mohon maaf. To those yang balik kampung tu, please drive careful...better later than....

Tahun ni raya kat US la nampaknya. Insya allah ada rezeki tahun depan Jim & Yin balik la kot. Panjang umur kita jumpa la nanti...

Britney vs Diana

In a recent interview Britney Spears had likened herself to the late Princess Diana. I burst out laughing when I heard her say that coz that is the most unrealistic comparison between the two. Yes, both are famous, have 2 sons and hounded by the papparazzi all the time but that is where the similarities end.

Britney is a train wreck waiting to happen. Well actually, it already happened. She is a selfish, no talent, drug & alcoholic "famous" person. With the prospect of losing her sons, which she now already does, to her ex-husband, she still thinks of herself. Maybe because she was so used to having her way that she thinks she is above everyone else.

I am not saying that Princess Diana is perfect...she has her flaws too. But for Britney to think that she is like Princess Diana is such an idiot thing to say. I don't see her volunteering for any good causes or visit any of those poor unfortunate people. All she cares about is booze, drugs, and/or sluty outfits. I think she is hoping that the judge would have her ex-husband take custody of the kids coz then she won't have any responsibility for them. She can go out and have a good time getting drunk and have her vajajay photographed by the papparazzis.

I am just venting here...I feel that a lot of celebraties are clueless with what's going on with the rest of the world. To them, they are the center of the universe and the rest of just just revolves around them....

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs lost their bid to the World Series last night when they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 3 straight games in a best of 5 series (3-1, 8-4, 5-1). As always, the Cubs fan had high hopes for their favorite team and yet again the team disappoints them and the curse of the Billy goat lives on. The last time the Cubs had won the World Series was in 1908 and that was almost 100 years ago!!!

Both Jim & I are big Cubs fans, Jim even so since that was where he was born. Every year we would go their spring training games which happens to be not far from where we live in Mesa as well as during the regular season when they come here to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Every year we would hope that they would do well and be in the playoffs but every year they disappoint us. This year looked like they might be able to make it since Lou Piniella took over as their manager and yet again they disappoint us. The Cubs players have more experience than the Diamondbacks and still....they disappoint us. As a true Chicago Cubs fans, Jim & I will still root for them no matter how bad they do. Lets hope next year is our year. It will be 100 years after all.......

"Knocked Up" & "Bug"

We saw both "Knocked Up" and "Bug" over the weekend. I really enjoyed "Knocked Up" (Katherine Heigl & Seth Rogen). The movie is really funny and I couldn't stop laughing. I recommend this movie for anyone who wants a laugh.

As for "Bug" (Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr.) it was an interesting movie. I did like it though towards the end of the movie, I got a little disgusted. Certain part of the movie is a little confusing but all in all it is pretty good

The Visit

Elaine (my cousin Yof's wife) came over for a visit on her way to Malaysia on Friday, Sept 28. She was only able to stay for one night coz the next day she flew to San Diego to visit some of her friends there before flying back to Malaysia on October 1. I was really happy to see her. It felt good to have one of my relatives come to visit us.

"The Office" vs "Grey's Anatomy"

Tonight is the premier of 2 of 4 of my favorite tv shows, "The Office" & "Grey's Anatomy" (the other 2 shows are "Heroes" & "Lost") and this puts me in kinda tight situation. You see, last season "The Office" was on at 7:30pm on NBC (channel 12) and "Grey's Anatomy" was on at 8:00pm on ABC (channel 15). So, we would watch "The Office" on channel 12 then switch over to channel 15 for "Grey's Anatomy".

This season both shows will be on at 8:00pm. Also, for the next 4 episodes, "The Office" will be an hour long episodes instead of their normal half hour sitcom. So, here is my delima...which one do I want to tape while watching the other? If I ask Jim, I know what his answer would be....watch "The Office" & tape "Grey's Anatomy"....

Elektra

I saw this movie on channel 27 (FX) last night. I really like Jennifer Gardner in "Alias" and "13 going 30" but this movie did not make any sense to me. Maybe I am just not familiar with the comic book on which the movie was based on. The movie did not explain why she did what she did and why those villains wanted the "treasure"... On the flip side, I did enjoy watching how rip Ms. Gardner's body is... wish mine is like that.... *laughing hysterically*

Disturbia

Finally finished watching "Disturbia" the other night. The movie was okay, I wasn't too impress with it. It was an updated version of "Rear Window".

5 Great Jobs you can do From Home by Joe Taylor Jr.

Clogged interstates and expanding suburbs have pushed commute times in some cities above the two-hour mark. Meanwhile, school schedules, extracurricular activities, and rising child care costs have placed greater burdens on working parents. For many adults, working from home offers both a cost savings and a quality of life improvement that the entire family can enjoy.

Before you take the plunge into the home-based job pool, consider what sort of education you'll need to gain clients and do the best job for them. An online career training program may be the shortest path to your work-at-home goals. Thanks to new technology, you can bring your work home with you--and keep it there. These five careers offer enjoyable job duties, flexible hours, good pay, and no commute.

1. Database Administrator
As businesses of all sizes rely on complex customer relationship management systems and information technology networks, a growing army of freelance database administrators provide the same level of technical support once enjoyed only by Fortune 500 companies. Meanwhile, more large companies now allow database administrators to work from home. Many database administrator jobs require flexible hours and on-call scheduling, which also makes them ideal for working parents who want to make more time for their kids. By earning a bachelor's degree in information technology and passing a certification exam, you can start earning $60,000 or more per year as a home-based database administrator.

2. HR Recruiter
In a tightening economy, it's crucial for companies to find the right team members as quickly as possible. With a typical job search costing as much as one third of a position's annual salary, more businesses hire professional recruiters to speed up the hiring process. While some recruiters travel to meet with potential candidates individually, most recruiters perform their work online and over the phone. Many HR recruiters start their careers as associates with larger agencies, earning $41,000 or more per year. By getting an online business degree specializing in human resources and building experience and a portfolio of successful placement, a home-based recruiter can even go solo, working from home exclusively.

3. Graphic Designer
Now that high-end graphic design workstations cost less than $4,000, many talented graphic designers can easily set up home offices. Whether telecommuting for an employer or working as a freelance professional, a home-based graphic designer can often earn more than $38,000 per year. Competition for graphic design jobs is still intense, so a degree in digital graphic design and a solid portfolio are essential to landing a home-based job. For the home-based student, online graphic design degrees are also available.

4. Medical Transcriptionist
A growing number of medical offices have discovered how to reduce their overhead by outsourcing transcription of patient records. After completing the required medical administration training courses and certification exams, home-based medical transcriptionists can earn $27,000 or more per year. Communicating via dedicated fax and internet lines, doctors and nurses send sensitive and urgent information to transcriptionists, who turn those notes into consistent data for hospital and insurance computer systems. Medical transcriptionists with a background in sales and marketing can usually expand their practices by training and hiring additional transcriptionists.

5. Customer Service Specialist
Airlines started using home-based customer service specialists a few years ago, in response to consumer backlash to overseas call centers. Banks, insurance agencies, and credit card issuers have followed suit, opening up new opportunities for people who love to solve problems but who prefer to work from home. Courses and degrees in business and customer support can prepare you for this home-based career. Employers pay for dedicated telephone lines and often provide reimbursement for headsets, computers, online degree classes, and other customer service necessities. Most home-based customer service specialists earn $27,000 or more per year.

Look Before You Leap Into Working From Home...
Though the benefits are many, working from home in any of these five careers can pose certain challenges. For instance, you'll need to teach children not to disturb you while you handle customer calls. Veteran work-at-home professionals reveal that it took some time for household members to realize that they work at full time jobs that require concentration. Also keep in mind that most employers and clients will expect you to have a degree, training, or both in your chosen field. Still, the benefits of working from home far outweigh the disadvantages. Americans are uniquely suited to telecommuting jobs, and online career training programs make learning job skills easier than ever.

Tagged - yet again..he he he

Nin tagged me this time, so here it is...

5 Things In My Bag
* 2 wallets (1 "big" & 1 "small/slim")
* keys - 12 work keys on a big silver ring (ala warden jail), 6 house keys (mailbox, storage, pool, 2 frontdoors, backdoor) on a Petronas Towers glass etched keychain, 2 car keys on a pewter Malaysian flag keychain
* insulin "kit"
* lipstick/lip gloss
* compact powder

5 Things That Are In My Wallet
"Big" wallet
* 2 pics of Jim
* some RMs ("Ringgit Malaysia" for those of you not familiar with Malaysian currency) from my last visit to Malaysia
* membership cards: Barnes & Noble, library card, grocery stores (Safeway, Fry's, Basha's), Petsmart, Blockbuster
* frequent cards (e.g. buy 9, the 10th is free): Paradise Bakery, Whole Grain Bread Store, Panda Express, Taco del Mar, The Good Egg
* insurance cards: health, auto, dental/eye

"Small/Slim" wallet
* driver license
* cash & coin
* 1 each debit card & credit card
* water punch card
* a couple of receipts that I need to get reimbursed for from work

5 Favourite Things In My Bedroom
* tv set and vcr/dvd combo player
* exercise bike
* complete set of winter village on the shelf along the wall
* shelves of Archie/Veronica & Betty/Jughead comic books
* puzzles - jigsaw, crossword, logic

5 Things I Wish To Do
* clone another me so that I could finish all the things that needed to be done
* get some rest
* win the lottery so that I don't have to work anymore - yeah in my dreams!!!
* retire
* be at home with my 3 boys

5 Things That I Am Doing Now
* listening to Yahoo Music Launchcast
* replying to this tag
* enjoying the peace and quiet in the office before everyone else comes in
* going thru my to do list for today (too many of them and not enough time to do them all in)
* staring at a bird perched on the saguaro cactus outside the office window

5 People I Would Like To Tag
* Deen
* Sofia
* Wan Chik
* Mawan
* Idham

Ramadan

Selamat berpuasa everyone....

Visit to the Vet

We took Sammy (back) and Tiger (front) to the vet this morning for their annual check up. I am happy to report that both Sammy and Tiger had lost some weight. Sammy now weights 13.4 lbs (previously 16.8 lbs) and Tiger is now at exactly 11 lbs (was 11.2 lbs).

Both are in good health though Sammy has a little bit of plague on his teeth. The vet also prescribed some medication for Tiger's waxy ears. All in all, they are both healthy and well.

They are now happily dozing, Sammy by me on the floor in the computer room and Tiger is by his daddy on top of the sofa in the living room.....

Ten Ways to Lose Friends and Alienate Coworkers - Caroline Levchuck

The people you work with can make a bad day better. They can even make a less-than-thrilling job tolerable. However, if you get on the bad side of your coworkers, they have the ability to make your work life miserable.

Read on for some surefire ways to test the boundaries of your on-the-job friendships.

1. Eat stinky snacks.
You may be the most likeable person in your office, but your popularity will definitely take a dive if you begin bringing in overly aromatic foods. If your lunch involves microwaving anything containing fish, leave it at home.

2. Make endless meeting requests.
Learn how to determine when it's absolutely necessary to schedule a meeting (and for whom attendance is absolutely necessary). A tendency to request too many meetings will irritate your teammates as well as making it look like you cannot move ahead on a project autonomously.

3. "Reply to All" all the time.
Don't make your coworkers' lives more complicated by hitting "reply to all" on every single email. Also, if you have a beef with the author of the email, don't air your grievance to the entire recipient list. Discuss your problem face to face.

4. Pump up the volume.
Be aware of the volume of your voice, as well as how loud you listen to music. Avoid using speakerphone unless you're behind closed doors. Also, check the volume on your computer the next time you watch a video on YouTube. The content could be offensive to a cube neighbor.

5. Be the office boozehound.
Socializing with the people you work with can be great for business. Make certain, though, that you keep a close eye on your alcohol consumption. Your coworkers will definitely lose respect for you if you start slurring your words or, worse yet, falling down.

6. Take super-long lunches.
Every now and again, it's fun to take a leisurely lunch out with your coworkers. However, if you do it every day -- or even every week -- people will notice and probably grow resentful.

7. "Borrow" magazines or newspapers.
If you're a "Brangelina" watcher and your colleague's issue of In Touch arrives announcing their separation, you may be tempted to take it. Instead of snatching up the magazine, deliver it to the recipient and ask if you can browse through it when he's done with it. If you cannot wait, go buy the magazine yourself. After all, tampering with the mail is a federal offense.

8. Use your manager as a referee.
It is inevitable that you are going to clash with your coworkers from time to time. Resist the urge to seek support from management every instance. Rather, try to problem-solve yourself -- it could help you gain important managerial experience.

9. Avoid attending company gatherings.
Not everyone looks forward to these events and, in fact, some folks avoid them altogether. This isn't good for your career or your work friendships. You're missing out on bonding with your work buddies, whether it be over a silly scavenger hunt or an ant-infested picnic. Your coworkers will begin to take it personally if you never participate.

10. Always have the last word.
When you do have the inevitable disagreement with a colleague, it's important to make your point. This doesn't mean you always have to have the last word. Learn how to voice your opinion and move on -- and let someone else have the final say once in a while.

Blades of Glory

Jim & I watched this movie last night. It is one of the funniest movies I've seen so far. Will Ferrell (Elf) and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) were hilarious. Definitely watch it if you can...

Labor Day

Today is Labor Day so I am off of work along with most other Americans. What did I do? Absolutely nothing!!! Having 3 jobs (1 full time, 2 part times)have left me exhausted and on my days off, I just don't feel like doing anything but catch up on some rest. Anyways, now that I am somewhat rested, it is time for me to start on the other job every wife has... housework!!! They don't call it Labor Day for nothing....

Merdeka!!!

MALAYSIA

Celebrating 50 years of independence

August 31, 1957 - present

Harry Potter

I am so fascinated with Harry Potter that I am now on my second round of reading the whole series again. I am now in the middle of the 4th book, "Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire". Jim is getting a little frustrated with me coz I would get so engrossed with the books that sometimes I am oblivious to my surroundings. I would lose track of time that before I know it, it's already 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning...and I usually have to be at work by 7:00am! Lack of sleep definitely hasn't stop me from enjoying the books tho...

Since I have all 7 books, I think now I just might collect the DVDs too. Whenever they show one of the first 3 movies on tv, I never miss it....Man, I think I'm getting obsessed!!!!

Are You Too Clingy? by David Zinczenko

A guy in a good relationship is, for the most part, a pretty happy guy - and most of us know how lucky we are.
In fact, 75 percent of men would grade their current relationship as an A or a B, according to a poll of more than 2,000 men for my book, "Men, Love & Sex." But there are three main sins that can turn a man from happy to "hey-where's-the-door" in no time.

Lying is the first one, and unless you're lying to yourself, as well, you know how not to do it. Nagging is the second, and you'll know you're doing it when the words you say are immediately followed by the thought, "I sound just like my mother!"

But the third deadly sin is harder to spot in one's self, because it often looks and feels just like love. I'm talking about clinginess. Men are hard to decipher on this point, because they value in women both vulnerability (they want to be your hero) and independence (they want to be left alone once in a while). He wants you close; he doesn't want you on him like a freshly dried sock. Here are some signs that your relationship Velcro is about to endure a loud ripping noise.

Needy Sign 1: Your Over-Under on Daily Phone Calls is Two*
Fine, you need to check in once during the day to see if you're set for dinner, and then once again later in the day just to fill him in on what happened to your boss/friend/grandmom, or just to say hello.

You make more calls than that? The unspoken message is that maybe you don't trust him, or don't have enough to do yourself, or are relying too much on him for everyday satisfaction. All are turn-offs-and, in all likelihood, grounds for tuning out. * Three, if you have kids.

Needy Sign 2: You Insist on a Joint E-mail Account
Oh, how nice it is when "Bob and Karen@yahoo" can e-mail "Joe and Linda@yahoo" to set up the night at the Italian place on the 20th. Not really.

While there's no problem with joint bank accounts, joint car loans, and joint mortgages, there's a not so subtle message that's sent to guys when their Internet activity is being monitored like it's under the eyes of a 24-hour surveillance camera: That you don't trust him a lick.

There's certainly some dangerous ground online (and I can't deny that plenty of men abuse their electronic privacy), but tightening the cyber-noose too much in the beginning of a relationship can send the signal to a man that he's not going to have an iota of privacy anytime or anywhere.

Needy Sign 3: You Update Him on the Latest Celebrity Gossip
Granted, a lot of men don't like to talk. And granted, a lot of men could be more talkative, better listeners, and more of an emotional sounding board for their partners. But some men are like cars - they have only so much emotional and conversational fuel before they run out of gas.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with banter about such inane stuff as Britney, Lindsay, or who's dating whom, but do that too often with a guy, and he may wonder if there's something wrong with your other social networks - which would make him think that he's going to be obligated to carry more of the social weight than he's ready to handle. Needy Sign 4: You Don't Have Your Own Poker NightGet this: 64 percent of men say they're happy to have time to themselves when their girlfriends have plans. A lot of men want their ladies to go out and do stuff on their own, whether it's through hobbies or socializing or working.

One, that away-from-each-other time ensures that women have their own independent outlets. And two, it gives men a chance to have their own testosterone release. If this doesn't happen - at least occasionally - resentment and frustration can build, because the unspoken message is that you may not have enough of your own independence to respect his.Know a few other needy signs? Share them here. And guys: Lest you think you're off the hook, here are 10 ways that women are judging you.
Read ‘em and heed ‘em.

Zodiac

I finished watching this movie at 5am this morning. Mark Ruffalo (Just Like Heaven), Robert Downey Jr. (Good Night and Good Luck) & Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) starred in it along with several other famous actors. I do like the movie tho it did run for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

It is based on the book by Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) about the serial killer Zodiac who claimed several lives in and around the San Francisco area in the late 60's and early 70's. The movie is pretty good but you have to pay attention to clues throughout the movie. I actually saw the movie last night but re-watched it this morning to catch the clues...

Fracture

Jim & I rented this DVD over the weekend. Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal) and, Ryan Gosling (The Notebook) starred in it. The movie was pretty good. Anthony Hopkins played a husband who was accused of killing his cheating wife and Ryan Gosling was the ADA who is prosecuting him. They play this cat & mouse game where Gosling, though in his heart knows that Hopkins is guilty but he's having trouble trying to prove it. Watch it if you can.

Rose is Rose - Aug 16, '07

Rose is Rose - Aug 5, '07

4 years ago.....

4 years ago today at about 3:30 am Malaysia time, I lost someone whom I love very much, my mom, Raja Hjh Hairul Nisha bt. Raja Hj Hussein. She passed away after battling breast cancer for about 2 years which in the end had spread to her colon, bones and brain. She was diagnosed with the illness in 2001. After her surgery and rounds of chemotherapy, she was in remiscion for about a year. Then, in late 2002 we got the devastating news that she had a relapse.

I was able to go back to Malaysia with Jim for her 56th birthday (her last) in December '02 and also during my sister, Deen's wedding, in March '03. Late July '03 I received the devastating call from my dad saying that her cancer had spread to her bones and brain and she would not have much time left. I frantically tried to book my flight home with Malaysia Airlines and since it was the summer holidays, their flight were fully booked so they put me on a waiting list. Not 30 minutes after I spoke with MAS, I had just gotten of the phone with various other airlines to see if I could get a ticket (they were either fully booked or the price was so outrageous that I could buy a brand new car with it), MAS called me back and said that someone had just cancelled their ticket so they have one ready for me. Anyways, I left for Malaysia on Aug 6th and arrived at KLIA on the afternoon of August 8th. Went straight to my parents house to see my mom.

She looked so much different from the last time I saw her 5 months earlier. She was so thin and frail that I almost did not recognize her. She was able to recognize me and she seemed happy to see me there. All her family was there and it seemed like (to me anyways) she was a little better than when I first saw her that afternoon. Alas, by night fall she had gotten worse that we took her to the emergency room and was admitted at Damansara Specialist. I stayed with her all night (I was still in the clothes I had on the airplane). Our family was in and out of her room all day, taking turns to stay with her. That night my dad, aunt (Wan Chik - mom's youngest sister), their maid and myself took turn staying up with her. I woke up at 3 am for my turn. Mummy was asleep so I read the Surah Yassin as I kept an eye on the heart & pulse monitor by the bed. At about 3:20 am I felt her gently squeezed my hand, took a very deep breathe (the lines on the heart & pulse monitor went up) and then she was gone (the lines went all the way down and never came back). It took me a couple of seconds to realized what had just happened but as soon as I came back to reality, I started screaming for my dad and aunt to wake up. After that everything was a blur, I was walking around like a zombie that I don't know how I even managed to drive. Everything was on "auto-pilot" from then on...

My mom's last wish was for her to be buried among her family in her hometown of Kuala Kangsar, Perak. So after all the legalities were done and the "kapan" was done at my parents house in KL, we drove her to KK. Everything was done by about 5pm that day....

She was an awesome woman, loved by all her family & friends. I missed her very much and tho we have had our differences, I truly love her. I am just glad that she's not suffering anymore.

Mummy, I love you & miss you lots. Alfatihah...

Sicko

Jim & I saw the movie "Sicko" by Michael Moore last night. It was a documentary about the health system in the US compared to other countries in the world. I love watching his movies/documentaries coz it makes you think. Anyways, if you have a chance, go watch it...

Harry Potter & the Deadly Hollows

I finally finished reading "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows" at 3am this morning. For the last 4 days I could not put that book down. I've never had so much fun reading a fictional book ever since I read "Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien so many years ago when I was in high school.

I have to admit that this is the only book I've read of the Harry Potter series. I've always just wait for the movie to come out. Haven't had a chance to see the 5th movie yet, "Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix" but I am sure I will love it just like I love the first 4 movies. Reading "Deadly Hollows" makes me want to read the first 6 books. It is one of a few books that while reading it, I would sink into the imaginary world of Harry Potter. I feel like I was actually there seeing all their adventure unfold in front of me. I was so into my imaginary world that Jim (my hubby) said I was totally oblivious to my surrounding. I had this total concentration on my face as I turn page after page of that book.

Anyways, I am thinking of ordering the hardcover set, book 1 - 6 on Amazon.com. The set doesn't go on sale until October 1st and I am not sure if I want to wait that long to read it. Since I've already seen the first 4 movies and most likely will see the 5th, I might just buy the "Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince" so as to keep my "thirsty" mind from wondering too far.....

It Finally Happened....

Alas, what I have been waiting for the last few months finally happened. Remember a few blogs ago I wrote about changes happening at work? It finally happened yesterday. Everything is signed, t's are crossed, i's are dotted and the ink is dry. Dr. K now owns 100% of the dental practice. Dr. S and Mr. A are no longer part of the dental ownership.... Starting next week I will be working from home for Dr. K doing the books and all the stuff I normally do. It will be interesting to see how that goes. I am looking forward to working from home coz I get to see my 3 boys more..he he he.

Anyways, even though Dr. S and Mr. A are no longer partners with Dr. K on the dental practice, I will still work for them on the dental software side along with Mr. V. In fact, Dr. S wants me to start working for him for his own dental practice. So, now I will have 3 part time jobs instead of a full time and a part time and I still have the same 4 bosses as I did before.

I am excited about the new arrangement. I just hope that I will be able to handle juggling 3 different companies all at once... Oh well, here's to a new beginning....