Tagged by Mickey

♥ People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs & replace any question that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

o1◢ How has Facebook changed your life?

I've never been very active on Facebook, but I like to check on friends' photos and profiles once in a while to find out how they are doing. It's probably the worst way to keep in touch, but it's something. Note to self: Will work on this.

o2◢ What do you do before bedtime?

Read. Magazines (currently: Readers' Digest April 08', 女友 June 08'), books (currently: A New Earth, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban *2nd time). I always read till I fall asleep.

o3◢ What are you going to have for dinner tonight?

Durian. *Burb.

o4◢ What is the city of your dreams and why?

I've yet to set foot in any European cities. I'd love to taste life in an old European town... Old churches, quality wines, foreign languages, small alleys, laid back lifestyle... ;)

o5◢ Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Combination. Introvert to strangers only.

o6◢ Name something you wish you could do in your free time, but don't actually do.

Update all my scrap books, and.... yea clean up my room.

o7◢ Do you trust easily?

I have trust issues... Again, towards strangers only. If a stranger came up to me, the chances are that he'd walk away within seconds. I don't entertain strangers.

o8◢ What personal belonging do you have with you everywhere you go?

Cell phone is a must, iPod, a pen and a notebook coz I like to jot down ideas and pen down the moment, lip balm (I don't use it that much. I think it's the comfort of just having it handy), a book or magazine (that contributes to my 'heavy-weight' handbag), enough money to get me home (I'm really bad with directions) and credit cards.

o9◢ Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

My other half... within me. I'm complicated like that. The "ego" is slowly creeping in and finding sync with the "pain body". Struggling to always be 'Present'.

1o◢ What is your best quality?

You tell me, please.... worst quality welcome too. I hope to hear from you.

11◢ Do you plan on changing questions in this memo, or are you too lazy for that?

Changed.

12◢ What is your ideal lifestyle 5 years from now?

My partner and I would live in a double-storey terrace house, with 1 son and 1 daughter. I hope to get my Masters by then. We would have interesting and fulfilling jobs. I'd do some coaching on weekends, and play in some tournaments a few times a year. We'd travel once or twice a year and convert memories into photo books.

Sweet & simple :)

13◢ Who are currently the most important people to you?
MOST = Family.

14◢ What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?
*Mischievious & Fiecy*

15◢ Would you rather be single & rich or married but poor? Married & rich! Married because life is colorful only when you have someone to share it with; Rich because... I will make sure of that and make it as a life goal. After all, given a choice, rich is always better than poor.

16◢ How many children do you want to have, if any?

A Pair would be perfect.

17◢ What's better to give or to receive?

Receive. But I'd like to work on the 'giving' part because it is as important. Giving defines who you are, and I have to admit I have not done enough of that. Again, note to self: Work on it!

18◢ If you fall in love with two people simultaneously, who would you pick?

It's almost (never say never) impossible for me to fall for 2 simultaneously. I always make myself clear from the beginning. If I'm attached, you'd definitely know it.

19◢ Would you have 100% safe sex with a stranger for $10,000,000?

Tempting... But hell nuh.... Unless my family's lives depend on it. I may regret it later coz the sum may last a life time, but for now the answer is a definite no.

2o◢ Is there anything that has made you happy these days?

I just got a job promotion ;)

The F Word

One more reason to fail and cherish failure. A hard lesson to learn, but a worthy one.

Failure: those moments when life gives you lemons

—and there's no lemonade squeezer handy.

In the following quotes, these accomplished women describe the lessons they learned by failing. Each of them recognized the paradox that success requires a willingness to risk failure.

Lisa Rau is a lawyer living in Philadelphia. She was recently elected as a city judge, but dealt with a very public loss on her first try, two years earlier.

"One of the things that's great about failure is it's never as bad as you think it's going to be. You think it's going to be the end of the world, and it's really not. The people who loved you still love you. You find out who your real friends are: the people who call the next day or who treat you just the same way. You realize that your best relationships are not about whether you win, they're about you—all of you, even the part that loses."

Carol Venezia is a well-known photographer married to her second husband, painter Michael Venezia.

"The hard part was giving up on my first marriage, acknowledging its failure. I was trying to hang on to the positive things. Certainly the message I got from my mother was, 'You don't give up.' But it was the failure of my first marriage that led to my resolve to be with someone as different and unknown as Michael—and to say, 'I'm going to make this leap. Even though it scares me, it's for good reasons.' I finally said, 'Wait a minute, I'm not going to holdback my life for a dream that hasn't worked out.'"

Terry Gross is the host and an executive producer of Fresh Air, the award-winning interview show on National Public Radio.

"I think we're shaped by failure at least as much as we're shaped by our successes. When I have guests on a show, I like to talk to them about their failures—not to show them up, but because that's part of what defines us. Sometimes it's not the cheery, upbeat lessons that really explain how a person got to be where they are; it's the things they failed at, the things they tried to do and couldn't do, the things they're still struggling to do. Even the artistic style, if you're an artist, is often based on struggling to sound like your influences and failing, and through that effort finding your own voice."

Taken from Oprah.com

Photo Updates

Sokka Cultural show

Sunway Beach Volleyball Tournament

My parents with 'Jiu Choy'. He actually shares our last name. He's getting really big now.

See the book missing on the top left corner? I got the last copy! A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.

Last but not least, my poor car. It was scratched by some dumb-A at the parking lot. Whoever he is, he must have paid his way to his driving license. Seriously, how could you run into a still-object? It's not even moving!

Live: Soul Search

Soul searching.

2.5 years have past since I returned from the US. I've taken 2 months off, 1 was the month after I came back, another was in between my 1st and 2nd job. Perhaps I should have taken more time off and not rush into a new job. Looking back, I think I rushed into decisions too soon, without really knowing if that was the job I desired. I guess that's a common mistake for fresh grads.

Few months ago, T landed himself in an oil & gas company, doing what he desired. That's a jackpot.

My sis recently made a move to an American based Telco company, and she's now in her first month, undergoing intensive training. Next month, she will be leaving for Indiana for another 2 month training. She has always wanted to go overseas and experience a life away from home. With this opportunity, her wish will come true. I can already see her much happier than before. It is only natural when you have something to look forward.

A close friend/team mate of mine had recently quit her job, after 7 long years. That was her very first job. She will be heading to Australia to visit her grandmother, backpacking around the continent, get a job there if possible, and perhaps try to bump into the love of her life.

A best buddy of mine will be coming back from Hawaii in a few weeks. Besides dying to reunite with her lover boy, her mind is already filled with ideas on her future plans.

These are the wonderful events happening around me. They are all making changes, taking strides towards the life they intended. It makes me think, really hard.

I know what I want now.

Meanwhile, read the Chamber of Secrets for the 2nd time.

Live: A Funeral

I attended a funeral yesterday. A good friend's father passed away at 71 years old from stroke. The family did not see it coming. The stroke left him only 5 days, unconscious. The family was not around when he passed. They had left the hospital to get some rest when the hospital called them. Although all tried to rush to the hospital at once, they were 5 minutes late. My friend said that her father had always been a carefree person. That was his way of saying goodbye, avoiding the heart breaking moment. He left peacefully.

I was there to pay respect and express my condolences, as the friend is like a sister to me. She is 10 years older than me, but we clicked as friends and she's a superb teammate.

I never knew her father, so I did not expect any teary eyes. When I saw my friend's mother, she was a picture of sadness and pain. Imagine losing the love of your life, your life long soul mate. She remembered me. I did not know what to say. I feared that I would trigger her sadness and tears.

After paying respect to the deceased, we sat down with my friend. My friend started telling us about the last moments of her father, and how all happened in a sudden. She also recalled many sweet memories of her and her father. He was a loving father, husband, and an incredibly caring grandfather to the family. She spoke of him in awe and utmost respect. He will be missed sorely, I am sure.

As I watched and listened, my eyes became teary. All these made me think of my parents and grandparents. I fear that day. I have never lost a close relative before. When my grandfather passed away, I was in the US and only found out about it a week after. I was sad, but the impact was not unbearable.

I visited my grandfather's grave for the first time 2 years ago with my grandmother. I remember seeing her talking to my grandfather's grave. She brought his favorite Fried Meehun and 'Kopi-Ice'. Even several years after my grandfather left, she was still in tears. I could tell that she missed him so much, and it was a sight that I would never forget.

As for my parents, seeing them getting older by the year is scary. I know it is part of life. Therefore, I try to spend more time with them, and give them whatever I could offer. I have a pair of parents who had worked so hard to give us the best upbringing and life. They deserve every bit of my attention and love. I could not ask for better parents.

Now, I am really looking forward to the Phuket trip with my parents. I want to take many pictures and give them the experience that they never had.

“樹欲靜而風不止，子欲養而親不在。”