IT'S A PANDAN LIFE ...!

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~Flavia Weedn News about an old flame can really ripple the deep waters of the heart. And when this happens, the self becomes fragmented for a while, and takes an agonized stroll down memory lane. I guess the agony stems from a lot of memories – good and bad ones – and in my case, the bad ones often outweigh the good ones (Grimace). To top it all is the very fact that I had actually taken the ultimate step in the relationship – JUMPING OFF THE CLIFF – and got severely wounded! To put it simply, jumping off the cliff means giving your all, carrying the person you love in your heart, mind and soul. Not everyone survived this jump but those who did would know that nothing beats the joy and the adrenaline rush that come with it. Those who didn’t would bear the scar that resides in the deep waters of their hearts forever.

Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey. ~ Pat Conroy Now that I’ve come to the 6 th week of the semester, and another week long holiday is just around the corner, I just can’t believe how time flies! Seems like it was only yesterday that I watched the fireworks on TV… Anyways, I don’t have much to complain this semester. I’ve always liked the December semester, anyway. When I was a Master’s student, I looked forward to this semester because I'd have so many holidays - Christmas, New Year’s, Awal Muharram, Thaipusam etc - and these holidays would be the time that I’d get to sit down and complete my assignments in peace! Now that I’m no longer a student, I find myself planning out with friends what to do during these holidays! What I don’t like about the December semester though, is the fact that the break that precedes it is too short – around 4 to 5 weeks – which ...

Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self-assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle. ~ Eric Zorn It was New Year's Eve and as usual, I was at home with my cat; remote control in hand alternating between TV3 and RIA; waiting for the countdown albeit without much enthusiasm. Probably because deep in my heart I know that every year, I keep carrying forward my New Year Resolutions ( Chuckle ). I guess about the only thing that I do every New Year’s Eve is come up with resolutions. Necessary or not is debatable but this is what I do every year. It’s ingrained in my head. Well, let’s not call it resolutions anymore. Let’s just call it TO-DO LIST. Resolutions sound so cliché and so easy-to-carry-forward-next-year. ( Grin ). Well, here it is, my 2008 TO-DO LIST. I guess if I post it on my blog, I will not lose or forget it (as normally the case if I jot it down on POST-IT notes). 2008 TO-DO LIST ...

Everything can change, but not the language that we carry inside us, like a world more exclusive and final than one’s mother’s womb. ~ Italo Cavino Recently I walked into a bank and was surprised to see one of its promotional posters pasted on the wall. I can’t really recall the product or service that is being promoted but I remember vividly, much to my chagrin, the wordings used: " Tiada fi tahunan ." Now, what on earth is fi ? I know, I know, it is borrowed from the English word ‘fee’ but why borrow when there is an equivalent word in Malay? Isn’t the equivalent word ‘yuran’? And aren’t all Malaysians very familiar with the latter? I have noticed this sickening adoption of English words into the Malay language for so long. But this one takes the cake. But hey, please don’t get me wrong. I am okay if the words borrowed from English are borrowed because there are no equivalent terms in Malay. Borrowing happens in almost every language, anyway. When it comes to the Malay la...

Jealousy is all the fun you think they had. ~ Erica Jong I have money But it doesn’t fulfill me I have a house But my heart is not in it I have a car But it doesn’t lift my soul I have a family But they’re far away from me I have friends But they’re busy with their lives I have kids But they’re not with me all the time I have you But my life is half empty.

How much of human life is lost in waiting ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson You're there I'm here So we don't. You're there I'm here So we can't. You're there I'm here So we remain where we are And drown in our sorrows.

A woman isn't complete without a man. But where do you find a man - a real man- these days? ~ Lauren Bacall I am a person who needs a partner who is a practising Muslim. Someone who is self-sufficient with an education (early 20s and 50s and 60s are a no-no). Who is willing to share responsibilities with me (yes, we're talking about household responsibilities here). Who can support me emotionally (especially when I'm having PMS). Who can keep up with the heat and romance (I have a lot of love to give). Effort (in making the marriage work) is a must for me and I need to see efforts being made by my partner often. Lack of efforts makes me feel like he may not be worth it and can cause problems (Uh, scary). Open and honest communication with my partner is a big thing for me because I believe this will help the relationship grow into a closer and loving one. Understanding and caring about each other is the key to making a relationship with me work. Looks are not important a...