A lot of friends have been blessed with the opportunity to travel overseas, be it far or just across the border. And when they do, they tend to post a lot of photos.
Photos of how exciting life has suddenly become... stories of how much they're enjoying themselves... of how it's all a work assignment but they're having Fun Fun FUN...and the never-ending tease of "oh, how I wish you were here!" crap.
Truth to be told... I get jealous. I get extremely jealous and a huge unpleasant feeling just sorts of swells up inside and eats my heart inside out.
Why the green monster raging inside me?
Because I want to travel, to see places and meet new faces. No, instead, I got stuck with the dead-beat job, with no future and only reprimands to face everyday. So I chose the wrong career path. So, I didn't bother to be more bold and seek overseas opportunities. So, instead, I chose to pay more attention to my parents' happiness.
Sigh!
I do get to go traveling, once a year... self paid SHORT trip. Regional. Usually within the country. Just for ONCE, I wish that the company sends me overseas.
And then, I think back on all that I have had... and all that I still have: a home, my own place, a car, my parents who are still strong, and most of all, a job that pays. I have other friends who are still within reach, and I have my faith. So... there will times for travel later... if not soon. I will make my own way to see the world. Til then, hold on to the things that you have. Afterall, the grass may always look greener on the other side, but home is where the heart is.
About a month ago, I got hooked on the Vertigo comic series "Fables".
It's good... it's really good.
Like the title goes,Fables tells the tale of what happen after "...happily ever after." How come Prince Charming appeared in Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty's tale?? What happen to the big bad wolf after the three little piggies built a house of bricks? And how did they all end up living in a small fictional part of New York called Fabletown?
But it got me to thinking about something else... Comics form a part of our Generation's lifestlye. Comics are bought for pleasure reading, trade or share, and at times, a collector's item. How can we turn comic reading into a form of humanitarian act?
There must be some interesting way to start a cause with comics. 20 cent into a relief fund for each copy sold? Inside adverts to make people aware of needed moral/monetary support? Sign petition appeals for big comic production houses to contribute monetary donations?
What about donating old comic books to school children in poverty ridden countries? With these you achieve a few goals :
1. entertainment – colors, pictures and storylines to delight the troubled minds
2. education – a form to teach how to read, write and draw
3. encouragement – for the children to feel appreciated and build self esteem. Let them know that they are thought and cared for.
I just realised just how L-O-N-G it has been since I made my last blog entry. Lazy, i guess. So lazy to maintain this site.
Year 2008 has come to an end, and 2009 is here. Nothing's changed. That's alright... there's still 11 more months to go before we see the closing of another year.
So, to all my friends... thank you for your love and support. I will always be here, if you need a shoulder or a listening ear. And yes, food and movies anytime, babes!
To my colleagues, I'll try to remain calmer than usual.
This is Mid Valley Megamall's Deepavali decor. * *This was the Centre Court decor in Mid Valley Megamall for the Eid Fitri celebrations. They re-created an ol' kampong house. * * Last year, this was their Christmas Fairyland mall decor. Their BEST ever!! * *
This was the Eid Fitri decor in Jusco Seremban. Patheric, ain't it?! Well, at least they tried.
On my Uncle Christopher's funeral... so, as to follow tradition, it was kinda like his "wedding ceremony". We all dressed in white.... there was simple white flowers and ribbons decorated in the hall of the house... and we toasted wine and ate cake just before the body left for church. But our hearts were still heavy and tears kept flooding our eyes.
We told each other (aunts and cousins), "Don't you start sobbing... or I'll start sobbing too!!"
The funeral and cremation was held in the small town of Muar (nice quaint town by the rivermouth, where it meets the sea. Lots of breeze), where he has spent his last month with Uncle Jerry. It was the first time I had attended a cremating ceremony.
My granny, amazingly, was much much stronger than I thought she would be. On one evening, we were sittingat the same table and having tea, and she asked me, what should she write in the Condolences Book... which was to be placed inside the coffin at the end. I just said, "Just write... as if you were speaking to him right now".
And she wrote a pageful... and she turned to me and read what she had written! It was a mother's last letter to her closest son. I couldn't even look straight at her... because I was afraid I'd breakdown and cry in front of her.
But she was cool.
You know, what death does to some families... is bring them closer together. My family is huge... and even at Christmas we don't get to see everyone at the same time.
It's also a time when people say, "let's put aside our differences. Our brother is death."
It's also a strange time when you've got a relative who "sees dead people".
Seriously... Uncle Jerry's wife has a half-sister in Australia (migrated) has the inner eye. She called to say, on Day 2: Christopher met Daddy (his dad) in heaven, and his dad hugged him and said "Welcome Home, son".
And the second time, on the funeral morning : he thanks all his brothers and sisters for coming together and seeing him off for the last time.
It's been a month since that beautiful morning... in the sweet bye and bye.
Sometimes, good things come out of the bad situations. At other times, these bad situations just... aren't that bad.
My Uncle Christopher ('Boy') passed away on the 7th hour of the 8th Year after the millennium, in the 9th month and on the 10th day.
That's 7am, 10th Sept 2008.
He was only 57 years, and barely enjoyed his retirement. Brain cancer. At one point, he actually lost his memory, followed by the ability to speak.
Eternal rest grant unto his soul, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
So, that's why I'm saying here. Death is not the end... it's only the beginning of many things. A good beggining, in fact! The only END that exists is the end of suffering.
Death provides the beginning of family members to come together again, and forget all squabble and hurts. Death lets us comfort each other; we then recognise how crumbly the strong members of our families really are. Death is also a time to rejoice, for a member of our family has come back to the Lord. Plus, I get to escape the office tension and just have the time out I really need. The time out that all of us needed: my cousins who are working, uncles and aunts, parents, and even the college-going juniors.
Except maybe poor Gregory. He has to sit for one more UPSR day.
Talking about the number of family members I have, the amount of Death Certificate to be photocopied will be a record!
Saturday afternoon, I took my parents to watch Disney's Beauty & The Beast: The Musical. I wanted it to be the perfect afternoon, and a real treat for my mum. She's always wondering WHY I spend so much money on theatrical performances???!
Oh mama, I'm a big girl now! I'm passionate about musicals, dancing, live orchaestra music and happy endings... and not mention, being amazed at how these professional actors can sing and dance at the same time!
So, Saturday afternoon Matinee show. I AM NEVER going to go for weekend afternoon shows EVER AGAIN!
Reason being, that's the day when 70% of the crowd are kids. Kids who are either well behaved and sit still... and kids who are rowdy, keep-standing-up-and-blocking-your-view, and babies who wail.
WHOEVER said babies were allowed in the theater??!
When we first entered the Plenary Hall at KL Convention Centre, we saw three large groups from Orphan / Welfare Homes. Surprisingly, these kids were good and enjoyed the show.
But it was the spoilt KL brats that made so much commotion. And their KL spoilt parents who, at one point, decided it was okay to answer his cellphone and talk aloud for 7 minutes!
To make it worse, the show started 70 minutes later than scheduled.
Oh my goodness!! They only annouced the "technical equipment malfunction" 40 minutes past 3.00pm, after the crowd got tired of waiting, and decided to voice up. Chanting "Why are we waiting?" and "Refund!"
Someone also cried, "Kill the Beast!!"
Well, at least it was really a techical malfunction... and not some dumb-ass VIP who decided the world events run on his/her time. A representative from the KL Convention Centre had to stand in front of a large angry, frustrated crowd... and apologise. Poor guy.
So, finally the show started, curtains raised, and the music began. And the crowd totally forgot about the delay, about time wasted, and the anger they felt earlier.
Because Beauty & The Beast: The Musical was awesome!!
Belle had a little-girl-squicky voice which was a bit irritating at first, but got used to that voice after a while. Everyone on the show had good voices and the characters were amazing!
Gaston, reminded me a lot of Danny Zuko from Grease. That hair and those moves... below the belt.
My mum pointed out that the Beast actually had a lot less on-stage appearance than Belle and Lumiere.
That was true... but when he did, his presence was always strong. I liked his "If I Can't Love Her" rendition... you could feel his agony. No surprisingly, the actor that played the Beast, is a veteran Phantom.
But the actor that totaly vowed the crowds was Lumiere, the candle-bearer. "Be Our Guest" was always the movie's top pleaser... but when you watch it on Broadway... it is simply stunning! That's why I'm showing you clip of it... in Portuguese. Click at the Link if the clip doesn't appear here.
Oh, when Belle entered the ballroom with that signature golden gown, the crowd were awed. Seriously, there was this "wooow" and "woooo" and "whoooaaaa" heard, going all around the huge hall. The gown was huge!
One last note on why I really recommend watching it before it ends July 3rd... the set and props. Especially scenes from the Beast's castle, the set design blew me away!! With those colurful backdrop... and at one part, the night sky filled with stars. First, they show the beast room with the Enchanted Rose inside a glass caskette. The beast is singing "If I Can't Love Her". And then as the song goes into the bridge part, the set rotates 180 degrees, and the night sky appears! It's no more a castle room, but a castle balcony!
Truth to be told, I was a bit skeptical about this production's version of B&B. Don't you noticed that all the musical's brought from overseas to KL... are not exactly as top-notched. Especially since this was the same Production company from Australia that gave us Grease (2006), My Fair Lady (2007) and Chicago (2007). I guessed they got better... and improved their selection of shows to perform.
My evening had a happy ending. My parents were happy, I was happy and my mum thanked me for the tickets. She saw how I beamed with smiles and de-stressed, watching happy endings.
"Because happy is what happens, when all your dreams come true... isn't it?" - Glinda from Wicked
The day that Wicked or The Lion King comes to town, I swear I'll sing "Defying Gravity" / "Endless Night" in front of anyone who wants a song. Heck, I'll even do phone request!
Meet Hank. He has a brother called John, and together, they host Brotherhood2.0 on YouTube. I just found out about them and they're and both are hillarious with nerdfighters' rights, song and the happy dance, quacky punishments, and bizzare theories.
So, one day, Hank's at the airport and he is bored. So, what does he do??
A lot of friends have been blessed with the opportunity to travel overseas, be it far or just across the border. And when they do, they tend to post a lot of photos.
Truth to be told... I get jealous. I get extremely jealous and a huge unpleasant feeling just sorts of swells up inside and eats my heart inside out.
So... there will times for travel later... if not soon. I will make my own way to see the world. Til then, hold on to the things that you have. Afterall, the grass may always look greener on the other side, but home is where the heart is. 
Truth to be told, I was a bit skeptical about this production's version of B&B. Don't you noticed that all the musical's brought from overseas to KL... are not exactly as top-notched. Especially since this was the same Production company from Australia that gave us Grease (2006), My Fair Lady (2007) and Chicago (2007). I guessed they got better... and improved their selection of shows to perform. 
