Archive for December, 2007

Counting down

Monday, December 31, 2007

As we all usher into the new year, I took a minute or two to recap what I’ve done this year. And so far, I think I did pretty well. I managed to travel overseas twice this year and took three vacations. My classes with the kids went on smoothly with occasional hiccups. I managed to get a new laptop. I became an aunt again (Well, this part didn’t need much effort from my side, get my drift? Hehe…). I found a long lost friend and got reacquainted (sorta…). My relationship with the hubby got thru some tough times early this year but we persevered hard and were rewarded with a deeper level of understanding and communications were much closer.

Of course, there were certain sad times as well but I’m glad all is over now and I’m looking forward for a new year ahead with anticipation and hope.

So, I thought of some list of things that I wanna achieve in the forthcoming year. Well, I gave up high aspirations like stop world hunger and taking a bungee jump. Those things are way beyond my control and I hope to make little changes so that I learn to mature well into the 30s. 🙂

Anyways, here’re some of the things:

1. Have more discipline.

This is pretty simple. This year, I realized I’ve somewhat cultivated a habit of sleeping late and waking up late. I know, I get the luxury of not having to wake up in the wee hours and get stuck in the morning jam. But, that’s not really a reason to wake up when everyone else are already up and working. I felt more lethargic, actually. It ain’t healthy to sleep until the sun shines on my butt. My mom used to say that. “Wake up before the sun shines on your butt.” So, I aspire to have a regular sleeping pattern and wake up earlier to start an early day.

2 . Be a better aunt.

I love my niece and nephew but sometimes, I’m a tad too strict with them. Other times, I even have the nerve to ignore them a little. I’m ashamed to admit it but I did. Especially when I wanted to do my own things, say, hog the PC and play games on Facebook. I even snorted an answer to my niece that I was working. Yeah, I’m a terrible adult. Hehe…and it’s unbelievable that I work with kids, eh? *grins mischievously* Next year, my niece will be five and she’ll some learn that I’m actually playing Scrabble online and not ‘working’. Never underestimate a kid’s intelligence. This resolution is of 2nd priority.

3. Cook more at home.

I’m not proud to say that I seldom cook. The reason being that the hubby is always home late and as the years go by, we tend to have late dinners. Thus, the big expansion of the waistline. But, that doesn’t seem to be a valid reason not to enjoy home cooked food. I hope that our household will get more ‘homely’ and doesn’t end up looking like a bachelor pad. I hope to devise new recipes to entice the hubby and make him unable to resist the temptation of eating what I cook. Haha!

4. Last but not least, to lose the extra pounds and without a doubt, the pair of ‘wings’ I’ve developed this year.

Okay, I wish to shed the extra 10kgs 5kgs and I hope to fit in a pair of slim jeans without looking like a bloated goat! I’ve not even gave birth and I’m already on the ‘big’ side!!! Yikes!

Well, I don’t make it a secret that I’m getting fed up of looking at my pair of flabby arms and thinking to myself, “What happened to my previous body? The one with firm and toned muscles?” So, in order to relieve myself of this distress, I still aim to lose weight, even though this had been my resolution for as long as I can remember. The sad thing is that I’ve been getting ‘bigger’ as the years go by. It’s time to put a stop on that. It scares me just to think of how I’ll look like when I hit the 40s. Aiks!!!

So, you see, my resolutions are quite simple but unnecessarily achievable. That’s why this year, I’ve decided to document it down in my public blog. As a motivational force to remind me when I falter.

In about 3 hours time, we’ll be saying goodbye to the year 2007 and as Father Time brings in the whole new year, let me just wish everyone A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

G’nite y’all.

Summer Christmas

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Christmas had been hot this year as the hubby and I went on a long-anticipated leisurely vacation. For once in our holidays, we were not rushing for tours or being mashed up in shopping malls. Neither did we need to follow the tour group where we were obliged to wait for everyone else.

. . .

 

Slippers

 

. . .

We landed in Langkawi Island and went on a leisure pace. Our itinerary was quite simple. Rest, rest and more rest. Well, apart from frolicking under the sun, doing some catch-up reading and getting a wee bit tanned, we drove round the island on the little Kancil we rented for the duration of our stay.

Snuggling up on the beach chair during the late afternoon with a trusty entertaining book and listening to soothing New Age music was simply fantastic! With the warm salty breeze, the occasional shrieks of laughter from children playing at the beach and the melodious crashing waves, we lolled around the couple of days, doing practically nothing.

What else could a girl ask for than this almost heavenly bliss of idleness albeit the short span of time?

 

Beach Time

 

. . .

As we basked and got a little baked on the skin, I watched a little girl trying to make a funny round-ish sandcastle while her grandmother fussed around her. Another end of the beach, a group of young bikini-clad chicks were posing and camwhoring puas-puas and their guy mates were busy clicking away with their digicams. They were unabashed with their overly PDA (Public Display of Affection) as they made out in the sand. Whoa! What’s wrong with the younger generations nowadays? We’re still in Malaysia, for Pete’s sake. At least, get an umbrella lah! *This statement makes me sound like a middle-aged auntie.Hehe!*

. . .

Once we were in the same Cable Car with a Caucasian couple and I was quite amused with how bad a person could be so afraid of heights. Being an Altophobic (someone who has fear of heights) myself, I considered myself quite a champion and could still gazed down the ravine while the cable car crawled its way up the mountains. The lady who was sitting beside me practically closed her eyes and was shaking quite badly. Her boyfriend actually had to hold her hand the entire time. Even when she reached the top station, she hung on to the pillars and never once walked to the viewing deck.

. . .

Nothing much exciting happened anyway. We were too busy trying not to be busy although the hubby’s phone kept ringing most of the time. Bah! Someone can’t really wind down and relax. Anyhow, we managed to keep ourselves entertained with our mindless chatter and giggled ourselves silly with crazy topics. Er…well, most of the time, I giggled lah. The hubby’s got to maintain a ‘cool’ image. MUAHAHA!

. . .

 

Yummy Yummy Bread at the Loaf
. . .
Which one to eat first?

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All in all, it was a pretty good vacation. Everything was much done leisurely. No rushing for time. No rushing for buses. No rushing to go anywhere at all.

Pre-Post Christmas

Sunday, December 30, 2007

After I sent off the last class of this year, my brains immediately went on a ‘Idle’ mode and all thoughts of work were thrown off board and my body also went into a ‘Lethargic’ state, whereby I snoozed whenever I like. Aahh…this time of the year allows me to let my hair down and just be idyllic. Very unproductive, I know. But nonetheless, most enjoyable.

Sorry for not posting Christmas Greetings here on my blog, fellas. Well, it’s better late than nevar!

So, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Seasons Greetings 2007

. . .

On the 1st Day of Christmas, I got stuck in a jam, with my family with me.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas, I flew to Langkawi, with my backpack on my back.

On the 3rd Day of Christmas, I basked under the sun, with my new pink bikini.

On the 4th Day of Christmas, I flew back home, with a heavy heart left behind.

On the 5th Day of Christmas, I bade farewell to him, as he flew off to Sabah.

On the 6th Day of Christmas, I switched on my PC, and started blogging away.

. . .

I know, it’s really corny, but anyhow, it sums up all that has happened to me the past week.

Wings?

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I had a freakish day today when I found out that I’ve grown a pair of wings.

Was bidding goodbye to the kids after a class when that happened. (more…)

Sweet Findings

Saturday, December 15, 2007

I’ve been proven guilty of neglecting my blog the entire week. I know. I can’t help it. I’ve been hooked to Facebook this entire week, playing some silly games with the hubby and a couple of friends. Moreover, I’ve found a couple of old high school friends whom I’ve totally lost contact with all these years. So, yadda yadda yadda…and I’m still sitting in front of my lappie (hmm…haven’t found a name for it yet), fiddling with my new mouse.

Anyways, today, I managed to blog hop a little at my regulars and had a good time laughing at some really great posts.

What I didn’t expect to find was this.

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TA-DAH!

True Blue Award
Dolphins are blue, so true blue, calm in the storm,
they never sleep, so ever-present, they’re friendly, so amicable,
accountable, dependable, and protective.
This award is presented for bloggers who always stand by you!

 

 

Presented by SweetMamaShemah, a super mommy of two kids and a fellow Sabahan blogger, at her blog on Monday to me! It even came with a short poem! 🙂

What a WONDERFUL surprise! Wow! I’m totally speechless. Me, such a newbie in this blogosphere and had never been consistent in posting my entries. And I get this? WOW!

Really APPRECIATE your thoughts and encouragement, SweetMama Shemah.