When the wind blows...

... i know that Christmas is near.

Just imagine... 

when the wind gently blows, 

the curtains took the crows.

silence surround the house,

as quiet as a mouse.

lounging on a chaise,

enjoying the breezy chase.

oh! how i love this feeling!

I love being home. 

I love silence.

I love Christmas.  

have you seen anything like this before?

Look! an antique Uno cards!

My auntie who doesn't play uno has it. 

and it is still in very goooooooood condition!

amazing! so retro!

UuuuuuuNOoooo!

The psychology of learning

"Pavlov's theory is known as classical conditioning. The distinticive characteristic of this form of learning is that a particular stimulus comes to elicit a response after the learning experience that it did not elicit before. Skinner (1978, 1953) calls this respondent behaviour: the response follow automatically upon the appearance of the stimulus. Skinner, however, argued that most behaviour is not to be accounted for in terms of classical conditioning, for most behaviour is operant behaviour. Operant behaviour is so called because it is behaviour that operates on the environment; we cannot normally identify any particular stimulus produces such operant responding as talking, grasping, play. Operant behaviour is emitted by the organism rather than elicited by stimuli. Skinner does not explain the learning of termsof the patterns of reinforcement that determine its occurence. In classical conditioning what reinforces the behaviour is the unconditioned stimulus, but what reinforces the operant response is a reward that follows the response. The reward following the operant makes the response more likely to occur again. This is operant conditioning."

Liap wu giu bo?

If you finished reading this, i admire you for the patience.

I'm going to lay hands on my notes, burn it, put it in water, speak into it and then drink it.

Admire me back for my bo-liao-ness. hee

Signboard

[Postdated entry 20 Aug 2008]

David took this signboard couple of months ago at a coffeeshop in the West. I find it amusing.

The owner might as well save the money from doing that signboard. There will be no chance that a customer will be served based on the requirements to be served. Or just print two words "自助" (self service) would be suffice. 

Serving out of convenience is not service at all. 

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"Life is so unloving for a servant who's not serving." - Beauty & the Beast 

Emotions unplugged

Today's class. 

Activity 1. 

1. What is your happiest memory of being in a learning situation as a child under the age of 16?

2. What is your least happy memory of a learning situation as a child under the age of 16?

3. Were your memories you have described for questions 1 and 2 linked in any way?

4. How might your happinest memory have shaped your subsequent development as a learner?

5. How might your least happy memory have shaped your subsequent development as a learner?

6. Has either memory played any part in shaping you as a person?

7. How do you feel about your answers? Do they surprise you?

Faint. hardisk crashed. I cant recall anything!

(but i had a wonderful childhood, sompa!)

Yearbook yourself

This is how my "ang mo" ancestors looked like.
You must be laughing now. Try it! and laugh your head off.
mUuahahahahahahah~

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Lots of backlogs to catch up..

check.list.

1. Laundry needs to be cleared
















2. Rooms need to be tided





















3. post-dated blogs need to be published



















4. and etc
5. and etc etc

I wish when i open my eyes the next morning, everything would be done.
In my dreams, perhaps.

20082008

Today is 20 Aug 2008

David and i have been collecting $1 and $0.50 coins some months ago.
We reckon that this is one of the best way to save money. Slightly more than 3 months, we managed to save up $450 plus. It is quite an achievement huh.

This sum comes handy when Sze Chuan Single parent project comes along.
We decided to donate what we have saved to this project.

To cut the whole story short... I packed the coins into two bags - $1 coin mounted $360. $0.50 mounted $100. I took both bags with me to Tanjong Pagar market, wanting to change notes with a fruit seller. The auntie only wants to change $100. Ok, so i took the other bag of $360 back, planning to break those coins down into bags of $100 so that i can change over 3 days. It is more 'sell-able' this way.

My colleague wanted to help me to change the remaining sum that i have with a florist this afternoon. During lunch, i took out the bag and re-count the money. To my horror, i have given the $360 bag in exchange for $100 from the fruit seller on Monday! Dozens of question flooded into my mind. Has she used the money? Would she be honest and return me the money? My colleague quickly went to the fruit seller with me. She counted the money with me, so in a way can be my witness and i guess with her around, i would feel more secure.

I was panick along the way, but not as panicky as i thought i would be. Even though i was wondering if i would get back the money, i somehow managed to calm myself down and trust that God would help me overcome this implication. I kept on confessing that i will get back the money. That is God's money! We intended that for good use, surely God will not allow the wealth to fall into the world right... At the same time, i was also prepared myself that i may not get back the money at all. And i thought about how should i account this to David.. However, God's peace and assurance was there. I cant describe it.. even though i was still quite jittery, but i just have this assurance that i would get the money back.

When we approaching the fruit stall, i suddenly have butterflies in my belly. How should i start? I suddenly have no confidence. If the auntie denies, how should i react? It was slightly after lunch time, the fruit stall was quite crowded. I was afraid that the auntie may shoo me aside.. anyhow, i pluck out the courage to ask her:

(she was quite emotionless when she talked to me)
me: auntie, do you remember me? i came to change money with you on monday
auntie: how much?
me: have you used the money?
(she then stretched her hands to her drawer and i was delighted to see my bag of coins still intact, only that it was put in a clear plastic bag)

auntie: how much?
me: $360!!
she nodded and from her apron, she took out a couple of $50 notes and handed me $260.

I was supermely elated! at the end of the day, i bought $13+ worth of fruits from her to repay her kindness. (it was so heavy to carry them to school later the evening. but worth it! haha)

PRAISE THE LORD!

I will always remember this day - 20082008

Snippets of the day

On our way to church this morning, i heard this very funny joke in Class95 by Flying Dutchman & Glenn Ong. I must say, they are really a good match!

"Why do scuba divers fall backwards to get off the boat?"
Guess what is the answer?

(because... if they fall forward, they will fall into the boat!)

I spent a good 1 min laughing at this joke. They are really good, it helps to chase away whatever blues you may have for the day and laughing is a good morning exercise! Do tune in if you may! (though sometimes it was quite lame, but the lameness will lighten you up) :)

I reached office at 930am. While waiting for the lift that goes directly to the higher level of the building, i turned and saw an Indian lady stood outside a lift full of eager commuters, pointing her index finger upwards, as if asking whether the lift is going up. My first thought was... there is no basement in this building and for goodness sake, this is ground zero, no way you can go down, of course they are going up... what a question to ask.. 真不清醒。

Then later the day, this incident came back to me. And it just dawn to me that the lady might be asking whether the lift goes to a certain storey and other possibilities etc. I was too quick to judge and look at things too superficially. Something to reflect upon. I was praying to God to guard my heart this morning, i suspect this is God's way of testing/working in me. haha. 不知道是谁不清醒。

Morning breakfast kakis for the day~

Happy 5th birthday metamorphoziz!

I was very tired, but could not sleep last night (Must be the half cup coffee i consumed in the late afternoon).. I was mingling with my blogs and suddenly i have an urge to revamp my blog interface and fah-laa! what you see is what you get. By the time i decided on a blogskin and customized the scripting to my preference, it was about 5 in the morning already. Oh gosh!

Coincidently, because of the new blogskin that i am very pleased with, i begin to re-read my past entries, and realised that my blog is 5 years old on 13 August 2008! 5 years for 150 entries, averaging each year 30, which means to say in a month i have blogged at least 2.5 posts. I thought not bad huh! (or not? hahaha)

As i was reminiscing, i was quite surprised at some enteries i wrote... quite proud of myself. Hahaha. Where on earth i have those thoughts?? I thought i wrote better last time than now. Have i been progressing forward or naught? gee..

anyway.

Happy birthday metamorphoziz!

A nightmare came true

My nightmare came true this morning..

My friend sent me a loud (really loud) old song called "Cha Cham Bo" last month. I have decided to set that song as my alarm melody every morning because it is loud enough (double emphasis) to wake me up.

I always have this fear that my bonkers phone may blast out the melody in the middle of the service someday... in my denial, i told myself it wont happen because it only rings at 8 o'clock in the morning.. and i have been very cautious; whenever i attend any meetings to have my phone turned to silent mode. I thought i was safe, until... i met THE day...

I turned my phone to silent mode.
I was having a great time worshiping the Lord, immersing into His presence..
After a series of corporate prayer, Pastor Kong was ending the prayer meeting with a closing prayer, and while he was praying... (this was the time the hall was quieter..) all of a sudden... "CHA CHAM BOOOoOooooo" I almost flipped. Thank God I am quick enough to stop the alarm before it moved on to "你看我，我看你..."

Faint. (But thank God I was swift enough to stop the catastrophe. My neighbors seems nonchalant about it, so "phew")

I quickly switched off my alarm, thinking that it will not ring again.
Lo and hold, 5 mins later... "CHA CHAM BOooooOOoo"

Faint, faint.

(I wanted to post the song here, but dont know how to do it)

Ah, to round up, i have a good time praying today. Even though i was late... Actually waking up early feels really good! the air is cooler and... it just feels goood!

This is the breakfast for the day!
A pack of green tea, lo mai kaie, 2x siew mai and 2x prawn dumplings


















I found something similar at the back of the chilli sauce..(see arrow. looks like our church logo!!!) triple faint.
















And.. yeah! i got my stickers! Blessings~Hope~Provision

missing something

Today is my second morning.
Arriving church slightly before 7 in the morning.
Seeing church from afar... nostalgia.
I'm missing something...


















I can feel it coming. something familiar.
It overwhelmed my heart,
I can smell it.
I miss SOT.

















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Can you see the difference in the skylight?
We were just trying to make a U-turn from the multi-storey carpark into the church building, and it took us from dust till dawn... just within a few minutes?

岁月不留人呀！
在你不留意的时候，时间似从没关紧水龙头的水，滴答滴答地悄悄溜进了那无边无际的大海。。
永远都找不回遗失的那一滴。。

你是否是那个关不紧的水龙头，就这样浪费了每一滴，每一秒呢？

好好的珍惜每一分，每一秒。
好好的珍惜身旁的人吧！

The first morning

First out of the 10 days of morning spiritual exercise.

This is how wonderful the sky looks like when i was on my way to church for morning prayer meeting.

Just one word - shiok

Sail away

I was trying out the Photoshop software that bundled with my laptop. Quite fun mingling with it.

I really love my Vaio laptop. So many multimedia softwares and most of all, Photoshop! now i can edit pictures! I dont do super-impose, dont worry. What you see is what you get. heehee.

Time for creative juice to ozzze!

The Dark Knight

First time watching a Batman show. Another one of those superhero stylo milo show.

The joker is ruthless.
I wonder where the director/producer get the 'killings' ideas from..
How can they be so creative to come such psycho killing ideas like the "permanent smile" (and etc).
I wonder if they have done research and have seen such deeds somewhere in the world.. if they do, that is really scary!
Though the ending of such shows is always the good triumphs over the evil, but i just simply help but think if such killing ideas should be screened internationally. It could just simply giving the extremists more ideas to kill and torture (or perhaps they do not even need to be taught). Referencing the Roman history... perhaps their psycho-ness is even more psycho. They throw people into the lions' den to see how the beasts tear up human for enjoyment.

People in the world are living in fear.
Some fear lack. Some fear the supernatural, and the list goes on.
However, the most fearful thing in the world is human. Or should I say, the evil intent (heart) of human. They can create peace, they can create chaos - depend which side they are at. The intent of the heart.. something that no naked eye can see...
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Love each other or perish - Auden

Nowadays trend

Nowadays, before you can partake of your food,
not only you must say grace (for christian),
before you indulge in your delicious meal,
it is a trend to have your camera to 'devour' the food first before it fills your empty stomach.




















What has the world turning into?

Rain Down

A picture i took from my office today. Rain is coming in. shhoooosh! Rain down! My heart is dry but still I'm singing, rain down... rain it down!

Why sit?

I have been wondering why for many years, why do ladies like to use sitting toilet bowl when squat is more hygienic.

There are times you see footprints on the pedestal. Apparently some squatted on top of the pedestal seat. How 'considerate' they are! Some don't know how they sit, never 'aim' (yea right. Ladies need to aim too) properly and dirty the pedestal seat. To weigh to pros and cons, personally i think squat is so much better than sit. Why have all the public toilets turn most of the cubicles to sitting toilet bowl?

Only yesterday then i realised the possible reason.

It was my grandpa's 90th birthday. My family made a trip back to Malaysia to celebrate this BIG occasion with him. Half way through the dinner, my grandma wanted to go to the restroom. I held her there. The inconsiderate me trying to look for a clean squatting cubicle for her, at the same time she is looking for a sitting one. Not understanding why, i held her to the sitting cubicle. While she was closing the door, i suddenly have a revelation. It can be pretty dangerous for elderly to use the squatting cubicle because they could easily fall when they get up. Ah.. the answer that i have been looking has finally came to me. Its one advantage 'kills' all the pros of a squatting toilet bowl. Sitting toilet bowls are created for safety reasons, friendly for the elderly, the handicaps and even for the sick. People with low blood pressure can feel faint when they got up from squatting. I used to think the design is mere stupidity! I have to repent and salute them!

Truly, every creation is designed to serve its purpose. Everything exists for a reason. Surely, God does not create human being for mere existence. There is surely something more than life and the question we should ask ourselves is, "are we living up to our purpose?" instead of "why are we here on earth?"

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If you are like me who can't use the sitting toilet bowl with a peace of mind, try using the toilet hygiene spray. It sanctifies the pedestal seat and with the aroma that lingers in the air, it really gives you a pleasant feeling while you do your business (hee). It can be purchased at Carrefour or Guidance. Look something like this Sure Clean Hygiene spray. I never leave home without this!

Photographers & Beautiful things

This picture was taken from an old alley in VilleFranche, France. If you are there, you might not even give it a second look. But this picture was beautifully taken and it has a 'taste', really made this alley look beautiful and rich. So i have a thought...

Photographers like beautiful things or
Photographers see things beautifully?

What would you do?

I picked up a book (Christmas present from my bosses) a couple of days ago, wanted to share this part with you guys/gals.

Becoming a person of influence by John C Maxwell & Jim Dornan;

An amusing story about the impact of influence comes from the administration of President Calvin Coolidge. An overnight guest at the White House was having breakfast with Coolidge one morning, and he wanted to make a good impression on the president. He noticed that Coolidge, having been served his coffee, took the coffee cup, poured some of its contents into a deep saucer, and leisurely added a little bit of sugar and cream. Not wanting to breach any rules of etiquette, the visitor followed the commander n chief's lead, and he poured some of his coffee into his saucer and added sugar and cream. Then he waited for the president's next move. He was horrified to see him place the saucer on the floor for the cat. No one reported what the visitor did next.

Well, i couldn't help giggling after reading this and wonder how this man get off the 'stage'. oh well, everyone of us will get "one of this day".

i was just thinking aloud, if you are that man, what would you do? in another word, what would be your response?

A Favour

I was looking for the chords of a particular song. It cannot be found in the website I usually patron. Asked a friend, and I got what I need.

Some thoughts after this:
It is not just about asking the 'right' person. It is about asking a person who is willing to go an extra mile for you. Even when the person does not have what you want, when she is willing to go an extra mile and source out for you, that's a friend indeed.

躺在星空下

对不起，我一声不响。
今天，我去看了星星。

Dancing in the rain

I came across an article today. It is such a lovely story...
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It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are'? He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is'.

I had to hold back tears as he left; I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life'. True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
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'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

习惯成自然

有时爱可以是种习惯。
你每一句的‘我爱你’可能是一个习惯。
习惯，成为了自然。。而慢慢的，自然也变成了理所当然。
爱，就不知不觉停留在那理所当然。
也许，是太习惯了那理所当然，
所以也很自然的接受这份爱。
时不时就会有这种感觉：
你是真的爱我吗？

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我所说的这份爱，不一定是夫妻之间的爱。
也许是对子女的爱，朋友之间的爱，对家长的爱。。
对教会的爱，对神的爱，对事物的爱。。等。

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Reading list: The Memory Keeper's daughter by Kim Edwards.

MRT Bench

Good news! MRT has finally 'brighten up'! They have changed their bench! Not sure if you have realised that the metal benches that they used to install in the various MRT stations? Those up to the butt height, top is slightly slanted, making the surface very 'slippery'. You cant simply sit firmly on it because your butt kept sliding off! Now they have changed to a flat surface. It is so much better! Design is so important!

Beautiful things may not be practical.
Food that taste good may not be healthy.
Sometimes life is full of contradictions.

Would'nt it be loverly

(sing to the tune of "My Fair Lady - would'nt it be lover-ly")

Lots of strawberries for me to eat,
Lots of cherries and lots of piece,
One plup, one squash, one bite,
Hmm, would-nt it be loverly...

A masterpiece

This is the 'masterpiece' i did last December. Ever since after i left secondary two, i have not touch brushes and paint till i did the module on Creative Arts last year. Quite satisfied with this piece of work, though its far from good. But i think i did well with the shades of tones. Definitely i cannot claim all the credits cause my lecturer helped me with some parts when she used mine as a demo to the rest of the class.

However, there is a flaw, or i should say fault. See if you can idenitfy it. You dont need to be an artist to realise it, just need to be more observant. Clue: nothing to do with the techniques or colours. =)

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For older blogs, go to metamorphoziz.blogspot.com

Thoughts tots

My husband recently has this urge to start a blog on tots; yea, parents thoughts abt their tots, tots' thoughts, thoughts of the tots, any thoughts on tot of all colors, shapes, sizes, culture of human race are welcome to blog it down. So he bought a domain name - http://www.blogtots.com/

He intended it to be an online journal where parents keep a record of e life journey of their child, and by the time their child are competent and mature to take over the blog and continue the rest of their life story themselves.

Further to that, he is very keen to start a community/network for local mums to share about their experiences, struggles n joy with the rest of the mummies out there. It can also be a place where new mummies could find useful and interesting articles where it comes to their child's development. Looking for confinement lady? Nannies? Reviews of islandwide childcare can be found as well.. so he bought another domain name - http://www.jollitots.com/

Yea, good idea. However, poor me. I am being assigned to write articles n build a sumptuous contents, simply because im doing early childhood diploma.
So now i need to categorize my blogs n maintain 2 blogs. I used to think tat people who maintained more than 1 blog a bit 'siao', esp they usualy blog e same thing in all the blogs (except they will start by writing 'this is e #th blog..') and now im actually doing that. Haha. For self consolation, I tell myself that well, for my situation im blogging different subjects. Just like in school, Maths, you do in Maths exercise book, we will have another one for Chinese, another one for Science. Hey, actually come to think of it, I am not that 'siao' after all. Hee. And guess what!? In future, i might have to maintain 3 blogs! cause i have already create a blog address for my unborn child @blogtots.com

Super kiasu right.. just as we were conveived in God's mind before we were in our mother's womb, my baby has already conceived in my mind too!

So,what r u waiting for? go www.blogtots.com n grab the one and only blog address for your unique child!

psss...pls bear with us as e website may look a bit plain. We are till in e midst of developing it.
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For older blogs, go to metamorphoziz.blogspot.com

A Wedding

Couple of days ago, i was coordinating a wedding. And through it i learnt something...

When you are in the midst of making an important decision, there bound to be lots of 'creative' ideas (be it relevant or irrelevant) bombarded to you (yes, even from the field experts) which may hinder you from making THE RIGHT decision.

And if you are like me, you will definitely be shaken and would easily go for the 'popular' idea, which may be disastrous. However, those ideas are not not-do-able. Perhaps for that immediate circumstance, it is not workable. There are moments where we may try to attempt on the popular idea (simply because its popular,or they may seems favourable to many at that point of time), in order to cover up the 'unsettle-ness' in our heart, we begin to waste time looking for (more) support from elsewhere-from people whom we could get more security and assurance; instead of staying calm n resolute if this is really the right decision.

Thank God everything went well, and He gave me the strength and courage to stay firm to my decision.

God has showed my weakness straight to the face.
Thank God. I will never be the same again.
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For older blogs, go to metamorphoziz.blogspot.com

Let it be to me according to my word?

I kept asking myself what is the thing that is withholding me.
I asked.. and i found myself saying "privacy and freedom".
I began to ask myself again, "is it really that important?"
I almost burst into tears..
I guess it is.

I begin to dread chinese new year.

Can see the common factor in each sentence?
(Its the big "I")

Am i too selfish? All i think is myself. But is it wrong to love yourself? Or am i overboard? With the thoughts of how life would be... i simply hate it. Perhaps i think too much. Things might not be so bad as i thought. Yea, it will not. But i am not willing to let go of my privacy just as yet... not now, nor will be. Perhaps, i just got to look at it with another perspective and learn to be happy, and live through it. But i know it will take alot, alot, alot, alot of time and effort to convince myself.

Its just THE choice i have to accept, and make another choice to be happy.
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除了逃避，还是逃避
There are things that he will never understand.

A new day

Today is the start of a new working day.
Nothing new.

Still, there are people wanting to be the first to get into the train, and the first to get out.
Still, there are people wanting to be the first to get into the lift, and the first to get out.
Still, even when you have already signaled to the person who is pushing behind you that you will be getting off at the same station as him/her (even when you have no space to make way), the person still pushes you anyway.
Still, ladies like to put their EZ link card in their bag, and refuses to take out their card even when the gantry cant detect their card. Their persistency caused a long queue behind them, and yet, they are still flipping their bag....

Dom.
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"No choice is still a choice".

yea, no choice is still a choice because there is only one choice.

心里有十万个不愿意，
但事实上是别无选择。
是最不想要的结果，
可能是这一年发生。
知道会很不快乐，
就是要学习去习惯，去快乐。

如果可以从头，
我会多加一个祈祷要求。
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不是独子多好。。