My Anchor

I've never dedicate a song to my husband. Perhaps never will. Couldn't think a good reason why actually. I mean, there's a lot of other ways to tell him how I feel, right? We do 'have a song' to which we really like and said 'hey. maybe we should play this when we walk together, as husband and wife, on our wedding day.' We did and it was the loveliest day.

But Mindy Gledhill's Anchor seems to wrap my heart in its softness and reminds me so much of my husband and why I chose him for the ever after.

When all the world is spinning around
Like a red balloon way up in the clouds
And my feet will not stay on the ground
You anchor me back down 

I am nearly world renowned
As a restless soul who always skips town
But I look for you to come around
And anchor me back down 

There are those who think that I'm strange
They would box me up and tell me to change
But you hold me close and softly say
That you wouldn't have me any other way 

When people pin me as a clown
You behave as though I'm wearing a crown
When I'm lost I feel so very found
When you anchor me back down 

A sip of silence.

I have my quiet daybreak again. Find it the easiest part of the day to do reflective thinking. Under a shady tree, had a little breakfast with hubby and my morning slipped into a kind of wonderful calm. I can never say no to morning.

http://stareyednomad.tumblr.com

Tough Lesson

"I've learned this past year. I’ve changed, I’ve grown. Maybe things do happen for a reason, maybe they don’t. but no matter what, they still happen. That’s what we need to remember. I learned to stop analyzing things, to just let them happen. And if I get hurt, or if something bad happens, then it happens. There’s nothing I can do to change that. I’ve learned to go with my gut, and that it’s okay to make mistakes because the ones that matter, won’t care. I’ve learned that love really is as great as they say it is. I’ve learned that your friends can save you from your worst enemy: yourself. And most importantly, I’ve learned that today is all we have."

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year :)

The 30 Most Satisfying Simple Pleasure Life Has To Offer

1. Sleeping In on a Rainy Day – As the rain beats lightly against the window, you nestle your head deeper into your pillow. The sound is soothing and your bed feels like a sanctuary. There is no place you would rather be.
2. Finding Money You Didn’t Know You Had – You reach into your pocket and find a $20 bill from the last time you wore these jeans. You aren’t rich, but you are richer than you were a second earlier.
   
   
3. Making Brief Eye Contact with Someone of the Opposite Sex – You pass him/her on the street or in the subway. He/she glances up at you momentarily, making direct eye contact in a way that seems to communicate a subtle curiosity. For a split second it makes you think… and then it’s gone.
   
   
4. Skinny Dipping – There is something mysteriously liberating about being naked in a body of water. You are naked, but it feels natural, a sense of unrefined freedom.
   
   
5. Receiving a Real Letter or Package via Snail Mail – E-mail has become the primary source of written communication. Most snail mail these days is junk mail. When you check the mail and find a real letter or package from someone you know, excitement overtakes you as you tear into this rare gift.
   
   
6. Making the Yellow Light - It’s one of the most common simple pleasures, the act of beating the pack. As you blaze through the yellow light you glance in your rearview to see all the cars behind you stopping at the red light. Yes! You made it!
   
   
7. Telling a Funny or Interesting, True Story - One of the most enticing roles you lead in life is that of the storyteller. You love to share stories, especially those that will captivate your audience with deep curiosity and humor. There are few things more satisfying than telling a true story that others enjoy listening to.
   
   
8. Seeing a Friend Stumble Over Himself – As you walk across the street with your friend, he fails to accurately address the curb on the other side. He trips and stumbles around momentarily before regaining his footing, then swiftly attempts to play it off like nothing happened. This can be a hilarious sight if the moment is right.
   
   
9. Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment - It doesn’t matter what the setting is, hearing the right song for that moment is one of those simple pleasures in life that instantly lifts your spirits. You could be driving home from work, hanging out at a bar with friends, or jogging. When the right song rattles your ear drums the entire meaning of life seems crystal clear.
   
   
10. The First Sip of a Beverage When You’re Thirsty – You just finished mowing the lawn or taking a long jog. The only thing on your mind is an ice-cold glass of water. When you are really, really thirsty, that first sip of any liquid beverage is sheer bliss.
    
    
11. Catching a Glimpse of Bare Skin on the Opposite Sex – For guys, it’s when the waitress bends over a little too far. For girls it’s seeing that buff guy in a Speedo. Either way, when you see a bit more skin than you were expecting on the opposite sex, you can’t help but to smirk on the inside.
    
    
12. Saying the Same Thing Simultaneously – There is a moment of silence. Then all of the sudden you and your friend blurt out the same exact set of words simultaneously. This rare occurrence is something to smile about.
    
    
13. The Pull-Through Parking Spot – You pull into a parking spot and are delighted to see the availability of the parking spot immediately in front of you. You pull through to the spot in front so that when you return to the car you can drive forward out of the parking spot. Why? Because driving backwards is a pain in the butt.
    
    
14. Realizing You Have More Time to Sleep – Something abruptly awakens you and you think it’s time to get up. Then you squint over at your alarm clock and realize you still have 2 more hours to sleep. A warm euphoric feeling shoots though your body as you glide gracefully back to your dreams.
    
    
15. People Watching – Sitting there on your bench you can see people in every direction. Tall people, small people, thin and plump. Blond, brunette, and redhead alike. Each of them has a different stride and a unique expression. As you drift from body to body you are mesmerized by what you see.
    
    
16. Putting On Clothes Straight from the Dryer – As soon as the dryer buzzes, you pull out your clothes and put them on. They feel soothingly warm on your skin and emit a fresh-scented aroma into the air. A sentiment of ease comes over you as you head out to conquer the day.
    
    
17. A Familiar Smell – You just pulled into your parent’s driveway and opened the car door. You haven’t been home in a long while. You smell familiarity in the air, the scent of a large pine tree in the neighbor’s yard. As you head through the front door, more familiar smells consume your senses. Gosh, it feels good to be home…
    
    
18. The Feeling You Get When Your Idea Works – You have been struggling to resolve a complex problem all day and you just can’t seem to get it right. Filled with frustration, you decide to exercise one last idea before calling it a night. You’ve had many ideas before that failed miserably… but this time it works.
    
    
19. Fresh, Clean Bed Sheets – You yank at the corner of the bedspread to create just enough space to slide your body under the freshly cleaned sheets. The sheets feel cool to the touch. Everything seems so clean, like nobody has ever slept in this bed before.
    
    
20. A Beautiful View – As the car veers around the side of the mountain you gaze out the passenger window. It’s a clear, sunny day and you can see the entire valley below filled with wild flowers and bright green vegetation. The scenery reminds you of something you once saw in National Geographic. But here it is live, right before your eyes.
    
    
21. Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Closest Friends – Pink Floyd once said “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”. There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.
    
    
22. Receiving an Unexpected Compliment – It’s been an average day. Nothing really great has happened, but nothing terrible occurred either. This monotonous day has put you in a dreary mood. Unexpectedly, an older, attractive lady taps you on the shoulder, calls you “handsome” and says she loves your shirt. The day just got a whole lot better.
    
    
23. Having a Good Laugh – Laughter is the greatest cure of all. Life is extraordinary in the moments when you are laughing so hard you can barely breathe. These moments of deep laughter are divine in the sense that they cleanse your mood and set your mind on a positive track.
    
    
24. The Feeling After a Healthy Workout - It’s a giddy feeling of self accomplishment; the one true activity that actually makes you feel better and look better simultaneously. When you walk out the front door of the gym you are on top of the world.
    
    
25. The Celebration in the Instant Something Makes Sense – Even now that it has explained to you for the third time, you just don’t understand how it works. Everyone else seems to understand but you. Then out of the blue the dots connect in your mind. You finally get it, and it feels great!
    
    
26. Relaxing Outdoors on a Sunny Day – As you relax sprawled out in a lawn chair, the sun warms your skin and a light breeze keeps the temperature comfortable. Birds are chirping merrily in the trees behind you. You are at complete peace with the environment.
    
    
27. Holding Hands with Someone You Love – Every time she grabs your hand you are overcome with an awareness of how much she means to you. Holding hands is sensual and physically intimate, yet subtle. There are few people you allow to hold your hand, so when it happens you can be sure that the moment is special.
    
    
28. Playing in the Water – Water marvels people of all ages. From jumping in puddles as a child, to doing cannon balls in the pool as an adolescent, to enjoying a cocktail in the Jacuzzi as an adult… water is enjoyable.
    
    
29. Making Someone Smile – You notice that your colleague has been under a great deal of stress with meeting a deadline, so you take it upon yourself to complete one of her indirect responsibilities for her. As soon as she realizes what you did, she comes into your office with a big smile on her face. “Thank you”, she says. You just hit two birds with one stone, because making her smile just made your day.
    
    
30. Finishing What You Started – You just finished up a big project you’ve been working on for the last few months, or maybe you just finished your first marathon… Either way, you finalized what you set out to accomplish. The feeling of self accomplishment you get when you finish what you started is by far one of the most rewarding simple pleasures life has to offer.

Something for the morning :)

A Quick Note

A quick hello.

HELLO!

I’ve been camping out at the office to finish up an account that’s due tomorrow. Or the day after, depends on how our client would behave.

And the office has been a second home as soon as I started to work. Which is....hang on a sec - I got married on Saturday and I got back to work Monday. So yea, 17 days ago.

Nuts ey?

I wanna complain - A LOT, and grumble and cry and boil all the designs i've made, copies i've wrote and then drink the water; but you see, nothing will make things easier for me.

All i’m thankful for right now are the facts that:

-i have a wonderful wonderful supportive and understanding husband who never raise a stink every time i come home late. who is still crazy about me even though he only got to see my face after 3am for exactly 4 hours.

-my beloved family who loves unconditionally

-my good health

-my soooooooooooo awesome close friends who always there when i need them

-my crazy fun bosses and colleague, partially a family now

There’s not even a day that goes by without me being absolutely grateful for being this lucky! Shall write more about my wedding soon :)

All Work and No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

I guess it's time to cheer up a little and write something.

I've been insanely zombiefied and caffeinated for the past two weeks. Nadiah told me 'Ibah, you're nuts. Nuts!' which cracks me up. She has been accompanying me till midnight, chatting up in between staying awake at work. Going home from work at 5am for two straight weeks wasn't that bad actually. Traffic is super clear and the weather's always balmy and chilly.

I thank God that I have my main support beside me all the time. I love him.

Surprisingly, living life in the fast lane doesn't affect my social life at all. Managed to catch up with old friends, meeting up with new ones, attended all sorts of family luncheons/dinners, preparing for my big day and traveling a little bit here and there.

Weekends were filled with happy activities, that's for sure. Traveled to Penang a week after my engagement which was an absolute fun. Brought mom to taste food that she has never tasted before - nasi daun pisang and sushi. I could imagine her surprise but she had lotsa fun too. Head on to Passions of Kerala along Burmah Road if you happen to be in Penang. The owner is a lovely Indian lady who shared with us her cooking tips and secrets. But the best time I must say was during a small little hike up in Spice Garden where we sat on a giant swing and had lovely drinks at a cafe on top of the hill overlooking Batu Feringghi. They have a big jar of lovely lotus on each table. Which I think is sweet and perfect for a small wedding reception. The place is so cosy surrounded by huge trees.

Two weeks back, I finally had the chance to meet up with my flickr friend nicknamed 'kediwah' which means 'us' in kelabit. Chris and Sam are a lovely couple, proud film supporters I may add, who always stream on my photostream and share with me street shots they stumble upon in flickr. Chris is originally from SFO while Sam is a Kuchingite who now resides in Wellington. They were back in Malaysia on a two weeks vacation. Another photographer friend also managed to join us that night; Reza Ali who inspired me a lot with his insights and Zac Labang from Euro. I think Chris drove my fiance crazy with his gadgets. Twas a great meet up alright with everyone having a jolly good time talking about photography. I shall post up the group photo if Chris happen to upload 'em on his flickr.

Here are some pics from today's lovely luncheon at Han's:















So rajin to upload stuff now that I got internet at home.

If you notice a little link in my left-side bar; feel free to drop by and have a look :)

Mad week!

Whoo.

Whirlwind.

Ever since I joined WOMB everything seems to be turning upside down, in a good way. Work has been nothing but madness and I'm loving it. Its the kinda job I've always yearning for. Its a pretty cool environment here, I especially love the big Lego Santa at the entrance. Humming Christmas song each time I arrive at the door. 

Advertising is super fun. Playing with ideas and finding creative solutions. I fancy the fact that my creative head is also a Sagittarian. You can imagine.

My birthday was an absolute wonderful moment for this year. MN came for merisik and I couldn't ask for a better gift. 

Apart from that, my sister bought me a lovely gold necklace as my engagement/birthday gift which made me all teary eyes. My bosses; Ben and Sai Meng surprised me with a small yummylicious chocolate cake during lunch. We had 'em while Ben reminiscing his high-school rebellious memories. 8-ish; my girlfriends arranged a surprise birthday dinner by dragging me out of the office to a cosy, quiet restaurant (best kept secret, they said) in the hearts of Subang and bought me an old-skool looking brownie cake with a cute angel doll on top. 

It's all great, you see. I'm grateful every minute.

It's Thursday and everyone's looking forward for the weekend. Artrage Lab @ Soho KL and FJ Benjamin Sale. All this ongoing sales are the reason I'm longing for a quiet weekend at home. 

How Free Is Free?

I finally got the blind rolled up again and let the sun peeking in and smile. One thing that makes a good start for me is the morning light. It reflects hope.

I was talking to a close friend the other day about freedom.

Freedom to do whatever you want to do.
Freedom to feel however you feel it in your heart.
Freedom to write, to photograph, to listen.

Are we free? Are you free?

I remember the famous quote "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains".

Probably I am. I mean, how can I be, when my mind thinks from the moment I wake up in the morning until I fall asleep at night. No moment of rest. It creates thoughts and also receives thoughts from the outside.

I want to make my mind quiet and enjoy real freedom.

You know the feeling of being tied down to something and not be able to wriggle free? That’s exactly how I feel right now. Break the chain, my friend said.

I’ve been dreaming of my late dad these past few days. The kind of dream that told me I’ve forgotten about him.

I have forgotten about a lot of things, a lot of people.

I realized these during the time I was really sick for three weeks back then. I could count with fingers how many people who were really there for me, been kind enough to send sms-es and asking about my condition. Some even take the effort to visit.

And I realized, those that did, were my friends whom I’ve known long enough to know that friends, no matter how close or far away they are, would always stick to you without asking for anything in return.

Without asking where I have been missing.
Without asking why I have not ring for so long.
Without having to be emotional about the whole concept of having friends.

*pause*

There are people who complained about not having many friends or how friends dumped them etc. These people should know how lucky they are that no matter how few friends they have, this and that, they are still be able to just give a single call and say ‘hey are you free to hang out?’ and meet them.

The only time for me to meet my late dad is in my dreams. And he was my best friend who came to ‘see me’ and told me that I have forgotten of him.

How sucky I am. How lucky are you?

Perhaps, most of the time we only have the idea in our head that we have forgotten or being forgotten.

Gosh, i think too much. I have to be above my own thoughts to enjoy the state of mind. Here I list out forty freedoms (to awaken and stir that secret part of you that knows living in any kind of bondage is a lie) by Guy Finley.
You're Well Along Freedom's Path When:

1. You have no desire to change places in life with anyone else.
2. You step over setbacks without stopping or looking back.
3. You accept and appreciate praise, but never take it to heart.
4. You don't overeat or feel driven to diet.
5. You don't think about your sex life.
6. You meet and do what's true without fear of the consequences.
7. You really don't want anything from anyone.
8. You stop thinking about how much money you may or may not have.
9. You don't carry any upset from the last moment into the present one.
10. You have no interest in old resentments.
11. You start spending more time alone and enjoying it more.
12. You stop dreaming of the perfect vacation.
13. You're neither frightened nor shocked by the evening news.
14. You stop making deals with yourself.
15. You dress for comfort, not for compliments.
16. You lose all interest in trying to win mental arguments.
17. You don't blame anyone else for the way you feel.
18. You forget what it was you didn't like about someone.
19. You're awake to and spontaneously considerate of the needs of others.
20. You see beauty in life where you never could see it before.
21. Your life gets progressively simpler.
22. You see where you're wrong sooner than later, and stop defending yourself faster.
23. You do what you don't want to do, and you do it with a lighter spirit.
24. You're not afraid of having nothing to say or do, if that's your true condition.
25. You can take criticism without cringing away from the truth it may hold.
26. You have no concern for what others may think of you.
27. You stop trying to make others see life in your way.
28. You enjoy the sound of silence as much or more than the sound of your own voice.
29. You see the same unpleasant traits within yourself that have made you shun others.
30. You say what you want, and not what you think others may want to hear you say.
31. You actually enjoy hearing about the good fortune of someone else.
32. You see more and more just how unfree you and others really are.
33. Your moods are fewer, lighter, and move on much quicker.
34. You see that society is destroying itself and that the only solution is self-change.
35. You can listen to others without the need to tell them what you know.
36. You don't find a thrill in any kind of fear.
37. You know that forgiveness of others is the kindest thing you can do for yourself.
38. You realize that the world is the way it is because you are the way you are.
39. You'd rather not think about yourself.
40. You can't come up with one good reason why you should ever be anxious or frightened.

Something to ponder on a Friday afternoon.

I love sick jokes

http://www.xkcd.com