Washing away bad luck

In a weeks' time, it will be Thaipusam. The day when the Hindus fulfill their promises made to Lord Muruga either by carrying the kavadi or by carrying milk pots as offerings to Him. I've always "celebrated" Thaipusam, although I only go to the temple and pray for good blessings. I did however, carry a milk pot one year as my grandmother had made a vow to Lord Muruga in regards to my mum's health.

The journey from Waterfall Temple to the hilltop temple isn't far and I actually enjoyed myself as I was not alone. My whole family was involved; my cousin carried the milk kavadi; so did my aunt and little cousins. I felt refreshed and 'clean' afterwards.

Fast forward to this year, and I am once again contemplating carrying a milk pot this Thaipusam. Not that I made any vows or promises. You see, I didn't exactly start the new year very well. As you all know, the moment the clock struck 12 on New Year's, the first thing that greeted me was a fall. I fell and hurt both knees which caused me two weeks of limping and visiting the doctor.

As though that was not enough, BOTH my cars gave problems!! Call it coincidence or not, I figured I needed to do something. I had to cleanse myself and my family of all the bad aura that has been surrounding us. I'm not superstitious but once in awhile when many things happen in succession, I just know that it cannot be coincidence. After all, it's only January!! Who knows what else will happen? *touch wood*

While I have made up my mind that I am indeed going to carry a milk pot this year, I have people who have been telling me to shave my head instead. That's the other 'sacrifice' that people do on Thaipusam. I'm not exactly adverse to the idea of going bald (after all, I did consider going bald after SPM). However, I am vain enough to say that, one of the reasons why I will not go bald is because I worry about how I will look or what people would say. Now I know that some of you will say that, if I want to sacrifice for God, I should not let such thoughts stop me. I am sorry....but that is how I feel and I do not want to sacrifice without a full and sincere heart. I want to do something willingly and wholeheartedly. Another reason is that my mum said I'll look ugly!! :-)

Anyway, I'm excited despite the fact that I'll have to be a vegetarian prior to carrying the milk pot. Well, since I am going to cleanse my family's aura, I might as well "cleanse" my biology at one go.

I'm going to pray for success, good health, prosperity, protection from any evil or any harm (or accident) lots of love for me and my family. :-)

Kong Hei Fatt Choy! Xin Nian Huai Ler! Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year!

TO ALL MY DEAR CHINESE FRIENDS, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU GUYS A VERY VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY THE YEAR OF THE OX BRING YOU GREAT JOY, PROSPERITY, SUCCESS, GOOD HEALTH AND LOTS OF LOVE!

Anticipation

2 hours and counting. As the clock ticks away and every minute passes, the anticipation is heavy. I can't wait. My heart is beating fast, just waiting for that moment to arrive. Will it be as satisfying as I think it would be? I hope so. Tick. Tick. Tick.

What am I waiting for?

The long weekend ahead. I can just hear the smirks and laugh of people reading this. They probably thought I was waiting for something so exciting and was just as eager to find out what it is; only to discover that I am waiting for a holiday!

Ever since I started working, holidays have become a precious commodity. No longer are there two-month breaks or even "study breaks". Now, if I want a holiday, I have to apply for leave, which is dependent upon approval from my superiors!! Therefore...it shouldn't be a surprise that I look forward to long weekends. There's no applying and no waiting/hoping for approval.

Relaxation and rest is now the talk among my friends and I. While we do talk about stress and the workload we shoulder (not that we hate our jobs), relaxing and finding time to rest is our dream now. It used to be "I dream of having this car or that car". But now...it's "I dream of having a long break" or "I wish I was studying again!"

Haha. I smile every time my sis complains about exams and classes. If only I were studying again. (It won't be the same even if I am studying now coz I'll most probably take a night course or part-time course, so as to not clash with my work. )

Oh well....it took me just 15 minutes to write this. The clock is still ticking away the minutes...

What a morning!

What a morning! Both cars could not start this morning and I was left hanging, thinking, "How am I going to get to work today?"

On Sunday, as my mum, sis and I were on our way to Tesco, our car (Wira) got hit from behind. The thing is, we were NOT MOVING; in fact, we were waiting for the traffic light to turn green..when..*bam* all of us jerked forward in unison with the sound. After driving to the side of the road, I came out of the car, ready to confront the "criminal". Turns out, she's just a 21-year old 'P' driver, driving a black Myvi. She knew she was in the wrong, as she was already smiling as she got out of the car. Replying to my question of what happened, she said she used the emergency break. MEANING: She was obviously not paying attention!! How can someone hit a stationary car?

Anyway, after many phone calls, we exchanged phone numbers, (I took her car and IC number down) and she agreed to pay for the damages. That was easily done. The problem came the next day.

After my dad took the car to the workshop, he decided to go to Tesco for some shopping. When it was time to leave, the car couldn't start!! There must be something wrong with Tesco!! Anyway, mum and sis came and fetched me from work (she'd borrowed my Kancil) and off to dad's rescue we went. In the meantime, dad had called his mechanic friend and after inspection, it was concluded that the problem was the petrol pump. We left the car at Tesco. Dad would have to tow the car to the shop the next day.

Tuesday - With tow truck in tow (hehe) Dad went to get our car from Tesco. And surprise surprise...the car could start!! Mum was using my car, so dad had to pick me up from work.

Tuesday night/Early Wednesday morning - Mum called and said that my car couldn't start!! (what luck!). She told me dad was on the way to pick her up.

Wednesday morning - When I was getting ready for work, dad woke up and told me that both cars are not working. Turns out, dad couldn't fetch mum last night as the Wira couldn't start. As I am writing this, I am still not sure how my mum got home as my Kancil is still in Farlim.

And so...I'm back to my first question: How am I going to get to work today? My neighbours had already left for work, so there was no way of tumpang-ing. Thank God not all my relatives left Penang and I have a reliable aunt to count on. Calling her so early in the morning made me feel so guilty. But she was ever so pleasant. At 8.20am she was outside my house.

On the way to work, she told me to call her if I needed anything. She even doubted me when I said my colleague would send me home after work.

SIGHS.....what rotten luck! To have BOTH cars die on us on the same day!!

2009: 25

Ushering in the New Year is always exciting. It promises new hope, new resolutions, new dreams, new adventures.

I have a lot of ambitions for 2009. Like I said in my previous entry, my 2009 list is ready and up on my board. I look at it almost everyday, reminding myself of what I want to achieve this year. So far, my progress looks positive and I'm hoping to keep the momentum.

But what is really bugging me...well....not really bugging me....but more of occupying my thoughts is the fact that I am turning 25 this year. Yes...that's right...25! 1/4 of a century. 1/2 of 50. 5 years to 30. When I mentioned this fact to my mum last year, all she said was, "That's the age I got married." Like that helped a lot!! Blek!

Back in high school, I always wondered whether I would ever reach 21, let alone 25!! And yet, here I am today, lamenting on my turning 25 this year. Truthfully, I don't feel 25. Heck, I don't feel any older than when I left high school. Though I may look more matured than I did at 18, my spirit is still young. Maybe it's due to genes and my environment. My mum is way past 50 and yet, my friends think she's cooler than me!! And my sis, she's only 19 this year!! So...maybe being surrounded by young people and those who are young at heart (that's you amah!), I'm more inclined to feel younger than my actual age.

Since I am turning 25 this year, I told my sis that I want a party. Surprise party or not, I don't care, as long as I have one. It is something to celebrate. After all, you only turn 25 once!! And so, being the public relations student that she is and ever eager to plan something, my sis has decided to undertake the responsibility of being the party planner!! :-) So....till my birthday....

A week into the New Year

It's January 7th today. That means it's been a week since 2009 begin. So...I told myself at the end of last year that 2009 would be different for me. I was going to be pro-active, positive and more relax. I finally got down to writing my 2009 To-Do-List and just like last year, I've jotted down around 5-6 things to achieve this year. I'm not going to tell what's on my list; but I can say that is practical and realistic enough. I think...NO!...I KNOW I can achieve whatever it is I wrote on my list! With a little effort and luck, I should be able to cross off every point on my list.

It's only been a week into 2009 and I must say that, despite my injury (I'm still limping) and me dreading to get back to work, I'm pretty positive that things will change to my favour. After all, it's only 7 days. I've given myself at least 6 months to see some changes. And if by then (I've decided to use my birthday as the deadline) I see/feel no changes, I'll revise my list.

And so...till June....wish me luck! ASK.BELIEVE.RECEIVE.

2009

2009 is finally here. Although it's just like any other year that is beginning, I somehow feel different. I used to be so excited that a whole new year was beginning, promising good things ahead. This year however, though I am just as excited, I also feel apprehensive and worried. And I am not alone. My sister feels the same. We talked about it and came to the conclusion that, the reason we may be feeling this way is because 2008 was such an eventful year and it passed so fast. This time last year, my sister was at NS and I was busy preparing for my month long stay in India. This year however, we're both at home, with no future plans planned as of yet. So maybe that's the reason for all the apprehension and worry.


I've not written my '2009 To Do List' yet. I'm quite contented with what I have so far; although I know it is dangerous to be so contented with what I have. I have the usual dreams of wanting to make more money, getting rich and so on and so forth. But I'm determined to be level-headed and make a list that is realistic and achievable. My list last year was pretty good (if I may say so), so I may just follow the same but improve on my list for this year.


Anyway, it's the second day of 2009, so let me tell you what happened last year and yesterday. I spent New Year's eve at the shop. As I said in one of my previous entries, there was an expected spray foam war. And happen it did. This time round, there were more people involved, so there was no chance to run!! The war was a success to the opposition, as the victims (me, mum and sis) were totally brutalised!! Here are the evidences:

I was chased and accidentally knocked down. I fell onto the road, tore my jeans and hurt both knees. As you can see, it was pretty bad. My right knee is more bruised (with yellow, purple, black, blue marks all over) than this knee; but this knee was the one with the open wound.

Thanks to the fall, I can't straightened my leg, can't walk properly (am limping) and am on medical leave!! On the second day of the new year!!

Also a victim: mum. Though she shed no blood, she got the brunt of the whole war. Attacked mercilessly by everyone, her happy, smiling face seen here is testament of her youthfulness and fun-loving ways. May she be as youthful as she wants for as long she can.

"Injuries" sustained during the war. By the end of the war, our hair and body were all soapy and sticky. It was like we had taken a "dry" bath!

On another note, I texted my friends yesterday asking them how the new year has been for them so far. I got one positive reply, saying all was fine so far. However, another replied saying her grandma got a heart attack and is in the ICU now. When I checked my mail earlier, another friend told me that her father had passed away!

Now...I don't really believe in fengshui or anything. So I hope that my getting injured and not being able to work at the beginning of the year and my friends' relatives having health problems and passing away will not affect my 2009 chi. I'm not the type to believe that, just because something happens at the beginning of year, my whole year will be afflicted. I'm more of the you-determine-your-life type. Ever since I read The Secret I'm more inclined to being positive. Whatever I do/want, I just ASK for it; BELIEVE that I will get it or achieve it; and be open to RECEIVING. It has kept me optimistic, positive and happy.

And that's how I am going to continue living througout the year!