Donation Needed

Yesterday, thanks to some 'fantastic' drivers, poor CatchaVinod got into a minor accident and now his car is in the workshop for fixing *andrea is trying to not laugh*

When I called him, he was just getting out of the car and I did not realize anything even when he said "accident. Call you later." I had actually started laughing! *andrea looks at the ceiling*

It was only later when I was getting an earfull from him for laughing that I knew he really got into an accident. *oops*

The repairs are gonna cost him RM500.

On my side, the renewal of my car insurance and road tax is coming up which is gonna cost me RM800 in total. *sigh...so much for enjoying my increment...yes, I got an increment*

So CatchaVinod and I were discussing on where in the world to get that kind of money...and we've come up with our own donation support funds like WWF!

Please support and donate to the CatchaVinod and DramaQueenDrea Funds! We are in dire need for money! Please call for more details.

*psst: my b'day is coming up. Don't get me presents. Give me money!* =D

The Aftermath

A day has passed since my argument with this guy friend of mine. I must say that even though I know I meant well and that I wanted to set him in the right direction, nothing prepared me for how misrable I would feel for the rest of the day.

I made the conscious decision to not do anything but it was frustrating because I enjoy the kind of friendship we have. We click!

Anyway, after thinking things thru this morning, I wrote him a long email this morning. Well, since then, we've talked a a bit about it and the air is much clearer than it was yesterday. As he said, the systems needed reformatting due to the attack of the virus...definitely only a man would say this!

Well, to you my friend, I'm glad we're ok and I must say that I missed you!

To all of you who have given your opinions on the topic, I thank you for giving us a clearer picture. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Cheating Below The Line

Today is not going so well. I wanted it to but it's not. My heart aches even though I know I've done all that I could. At least I think so.

I have an issue with a friend. I won't say his name for confidentiality reasons but what I argued with him today, I cannot put out of my mind.

This friend of mine is currently single. He broke up with his girlfriend about 3 months or so. According to him, the break up was not their fault. To a certain extent, I agree because her father didn't really like him. They have remained friends ever since.

But here's the catch, she's getting married soon. Her engagement was not too long ago. He says that he's accepted the fact and is moving on. Here's the even bigger catch....she still calls, she still sends him messages, she gets him to call her in the morning, she still holds on to the supplementary line he gave her! (which he says she's giving back after I asked him to ask her for it)

Is there something wrong with the picture?

To me, there is something terribly wrong with the picture! Here's how I see this. If you are to be someone else's wife, then let go of your ex and prepare to be your future husband's wife. Why continue to have such a loving relationship with your ex-boyfriend when you know you cannot have him anymore. Yes, its painful to let go because neither one of you wanted to but you have to let him go. By doing what you're doing, you're holding him back. And it shows that you still love him very much and you're doing anything you can to keep him to you even if it means just making nite calls to him. To me, that's being bloody selfish!

To him, he feels that they're not doing anything wrong as he says they have accepted the reality of it and have both moved on. And so talking on the phone and all that is ok.

To me, doesn't that mean cheating below the line? You're starting out a new relationship with someone else but you're still calling you ex-boyfriend every other day. That's just you wanting the best of both worlds!

So now, this guy and I have had an argument about this. He is still adamant that they are not doing anything wrong. And I am upset over all this because I've been in that situation before and this friend matters a lot to me.

To this friend: you are my friend and I do love you but I cannot stand here and just watch you hold on to the past...to something you were not meant to have. It's too painful for me...

Could someone please shed some light on this...

Self Image & Self Love

I was telling Isabel the other day how I sometimes hated how I looked. Deep down everyone wants to look like a super model right?? If you asked me what I wanted to change, I'd have a lot!
1) smaller boobs (I hate having to wear a bra all the time)
2) thinner body
3) thinner legs
4) not so sensitive and problematic skin
5) smaller and nicer everything la

But she chastised me for my low self-esteem and reminded me as a Psychology major, that it was my choice to accept and love myself more. And in her recent post on her blog, this is a quote she had for me...

"Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It is about accepting all of yourself. You've got to accept the fool in you as well as the part that's got it going on." (Quoted from Tyra Banks in America's Next Top Model)

10 Steps To A Healthy Relationship / Marriage

I was reading CynCyn's blog just now and I came upon this interesting article on healthy relationships. Article is courtesy of
http://online-articles.org/relationship.s/site-map.php

I personally love step 3. I'm always telling my girl friends I want a guy who is spontaneous enough to do that kinda thing. And that's why I loathe Valentine's Day. It's a whole lot of bullshit and money making scam. There should't have to be one particular day to tell your loved one how much they mean to you by going out or buying flowers when everthing is 3x more expensive. You should be telling and showing them that you love them EVERYDAY!

10 Steps To A Healthy Relationship / Marriage

1. Make time for each other. It's so easy in our hyper-busy modern lifestyles to
forget to set aside a little time to enjoy each other's company. Start a weekly
tradition of setting a date for the two of you to be together doing something you
both enjoy. Keep it simple. Take a nice walk together. Sip coffee together in a
cozy coffeehouse. Talk to each other, reminisce, and get to know each other
again.

2. Take time off from each other. Give each other space and time to work on
hobbies and personal interests. When you have an interesting project to work
on, you will feel more fulfilled and you will be a more interesting person.

3. Make little romantic gestures. Remember to compliment your spouse. Leave a
little love note for them to find once in awhile. Celebrate the day you first met.
Send flowers for no particular reason.

4. Fight fair. Don't argue in front of other people. Don't insult each other or each
other's families. Never threaten divorce, and never go to bed angry. Let the
little things go, and don't make a big deal out of every disagreement. Before
arguing, think; is this really going to matter in the long run?

5. Take interest in what interests your spouse. Watch their favorite shows with
them. Read their favorite book, so you can talk about it with them. Encourage
them to develop their talents.

6. Listen to your spouse. Husbands, remember that women need to express their
feelings. Be a good sport and just listen. Don't interrupt, or get distracted.
Empathize with her. Let her know that you can relate to what she's feeling.
Ladies, please remember that the kind of talk you might like to have with your
husband does not come naturally to most men. Just be patient. It's not a good
idea to "unload" on him right when he comes home from work.

7. Accept your spouse for who they are. Practice total acceptance. Don't hold your
spouse to your expectations; you will only succeed at building resentment.

8. Express your commitment. In little ways, you can, and should, renew your vows
to each other over and over. Your spouse will feel comfortable and secure
knowing that you are truly committed to the marriage. True closeness will only
happen when all doubt and insecurity is replaced by confidence in the
relationship. Let your spouse know that you really are in it "till death do us
part."

9. Trust in each other. Don't be suspicious. Don't snoop through each other's
belongings. To help ensure the trust, be honest with your spouse in all things.
Never keep secrets from each other, not even little ones.

10. Make it your aim to be your spouse's best friend. Appreciate your spouse for
who they are. Loosen up and have fun with each other.

Carlsberg Temptations Party

Hey y'all, this is the only picture I have of the Carlsberg Temptations Party that was held on September 15, 2006 at Cafe Citron.

Had an ok time but it would have been better if it didn't rain before that coz my 90 dollar shoe got caked with mud! Eurgh! The other sad thing was that CynCyn was not there and CatchaVinod said he was too shy to come!!!!!

Farewell, Jack In The Box

I've never been one to say that God has a weird sense of humour. But today, I will say it. "God, you have a really weird sense of humour!"

I always thought that I would be ready to face my closure with Jack In The Box when the time came to do so. But, I wasn't ready at all.

On Friday, I went out with Pearly Pearl to catch You, Me & Dupree since we were both bumming. As the lights turned on when the movie ended, I happen to glance around and I saw this familiar face. I looked again, and there he was....my Jack In The Box.

It felt like seeing a ghost. I think he probably felt the same way too judging from his face. He just stared and I stared right back, my memories of him came flooding back. I thought he would smile, but instead, he just turned away like he didn't know who I was and turn to look at his new girlfriend.

It wasn't so much of the fact that he had moved on while standing me up at the last date. It was the fact that he pretended not to recognize me. I know he knew who I was. He knew who I was the minute he laid eyes on me. But when he turned away, that felt like a slap.

So much for being ready for my closure. I wasn't ready, I never was.

But now, as I think about it, I don't feel the urge to cry anymore. I think it's because my heart has been ready to move on for a while now, it just needed the closure. Seeing him that day with someone new, that was my closure to the chapter I had with him. I officially say good bye to you, Jack In The Box. I hope that you are happy wherever you are. I thank you for putting me through pain because it has made me stronger. I'm only sorry that you were not brave enough to end things earlier.

Here's my song to you:

"You'll Think Of Me" by Keith Urban

I woke up early this morning around 4am
With the moon shining bright as headlights on the interstate
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to catch some sleep
But thoughts of us kept keeping me awake
Ever since you found yourself in someone else's arms
I've been tryin' my best to get along
But that's OK
There's nothing left to say, but

Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me

I went out driving trying to clear my head
I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left
I guess I'm feeling just a little tired of this
And all the baggage that seems to still exist
It seems the only blessing I have left to my name
Is not knowing what we could have been
What we should have been

SoTake your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me

Someday I'm gonna run across your mind
Don't worry, I'll be fineI'm gonna be alright
While you're sleeping with your pride
Wishing I could hold you tightI'll be over you
And on with my life

So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me
So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and all your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we got nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me

Speed Friendship

If you know anything about speed dating, then you would know its concept. But I'll give a brief summary. Basically, speed dating is dating a dozen people all in the same night. Women are placed at every table the restaurant can possibly hold, then every 10 minutes or so, different men are placed at the table and the couple gets to know one another in the given time frame. At the end, both men and women can evaluate who they would possible like to see again.

That's how I would describe my friendship with CatchaVinod. On a professional basis, I've known him for a year or so. But personally, we've only begun to get to know each other in the last 2 weeks. Ok, the time frame is not the same as speed dating but you get the concept.

CatchaVinod has got to be one of the sweetest guys I've crossed since i don't know when. The great thing about this friendship of ours is that we're comfortable with each other (at least I think so). Maybe its the fact that he and I have found some kind of connection in some issues that we're both facing personally.

I'm not usually the kind of person to tell certain parts of my life story unless I'm confortable with them. But with CatchaVinod, I am! I am totally at ease with this man. He's easy to talk to, very easy to tease (hehe) but most of all, he's understanding.

Here's to more times with you like the one we had on Saturday (maybe Gentings the next round ya Vinod)

I'm On Leave

I'm on my break and loving it! I've been going out non-stop. The first day of my break and I made full use of it by being out of the house the whole day. Serviced my car, walked to The Curve, Ikea and then even had time to meet up with FunkyMonkeyErin to walk some more at 1U. I even had the time to go with DannyBoy to see PhatBoyDarren off at the airport. Not bad.

FunkyMonkeyErin and I are officially champions...we have conquered the whole of 1U. We can now say that we have walked the whole of 1U. Not bad...

The rest of the days have been somewhat lazy ones. If this is how it feels to be a Tai Tai, then I don't mind being one for a month. Just one month will do coz I think I might go crazy with no work.

The only bad thing about being on leave is that I don't have any bloody internet access that I have to go all the way to 1U just to get free internet usage.

OK, I'm off. Time to eat...Toodles

SSEAYP 4th Anniversary

Today marks the exact date our journey or a lifetime commenced. Today marks the day we crossed paths with one another.

Back then, we stuck to our own kind because we didn't know each other. Who knew that by the end of this wonderful journey, we would become family. Who knew that we would always hold each other dear to our hearts. Who knew that we will always remember SSEAYP as our journey of a lifetime. Our journey to discovering ourselves.

Somehow, without me even consciously thinking about it, my mind drifts back to the days on Nippon Maru during this time of the year. I can be doing anything in the world, but somehow my body and soul floats back to those beautiful days. My mind goes back in reverse gear and I am taken back to those wonderful memories that I hold so close to my heart everyday. My body just automatically reacts to this time of the month.

My journey on SSEAYP will always be close to my heart. It is the one journey that I will never ever regret taking. SSEAYP has opened my eyes to culture and it has helped me to hold mine even closer to me. The most beautiful thing about SSEAYP is that it gave me the beautiful people that I met and now know. It gave me a new family outside my own.

To my SSEAYP family (fellow SSEAYP-ians & foster families), you will always be dear to my heart and always know that you have made a difference in my life and that I cherish our memories together. I love you all...

My 3-Point Chair

Yup...that's me! With Danny Boy making a face at the back. Big thank you to VonVon for taking the picture!

Joe, you still owe me one more!

Click & Monster House

Didn't do much over the weekend. Nowadays, I need to conserve energy coz dance training has been shifted to Saturday and Sunday. Die liao!

I tell you, finding parking in Sunway on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is like looking for gold! It's so bloody hard to find a decent space. You'll only find a space after you've wasted about 2km worth of petrol doing the merry-go-round!!

Anyway, I did a movie marathon on Saturday with Pearly Pearl. We has our usual 2 movies a night date. This round it was Click and Monster House. Yes, I finally watched click!

To all those who told it was going to be funny... shame on you! I cried near the end! Especially the part when last saw his father!

Overall, it was a good movie. Good moral behind the story because that is what we need to keep reminding ourselves. No matter how much money or what kind of status we want in life, our family and loved ones come first. Because at the end of the day, that's what really matters.

Monster house was good too! Definitely not a cartoon for children. Some part, I have to admit, were a little too creepy for children... yes, Andrea does not do well with horror flicks.

Here's the funny part. Pearly Pearl bought the tickets on Friday. She has specifically told the counter girl she wanted 2 September. We were sitting in our seats for Monster House and this lady came along ith ther kids wanting to sit at our place. How could anyone be stupid enough to sell 2 same seats?? It wasn't that. The stupid girl at the counter sold us a ticket for 1 September!!! DUMB!!! Our mistake as well for not checking *andrea makes mental note to remember to check movie tickets*

Anyway, this lovely guy in charge for the hall took the trouble to look for empty seats for us. And we got to watch the show in the end. Phew!!!