HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY!

HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY TO ALL TEACHERS!
... and try to see the funny side of teaching life sometimes...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

UPCYCLING OLD CASSETTES

I'm sure everybody has at least bought a cassette tape once (this does not apply to the current generation) and I'm pretty sure that some of us have tons and tons of these remnants from the 80s and 90s. So what do you do with them since nobody listens to cassette tapes anymore? They have become obsolete and to be seen listening to your music on your mega-obsolete Sony Walkman is a definite no-no (unless it's a Sony Sport Retropod which is cool). Well, you recycle them or better, you upcycle them. I came across a few sites which show items made from old cassette tapes. Some of them are quite brilliant and will definitely not look out of place in a modern home or for a modern person. In fact, some of them can be considered as avant-garde and revolutionary. These old cassettes are quite versatile. You can turn them into numerous items ranging from the ordinary to the spectacular. Here are a few examples of what you can do with them.

p/s I would love to get my hands on that cassette tape cabinet. It will be the perfect place for me to keep my other music stuff.

HAPPY LABOUR DAY (NOT)!

Yes, it's Labour Day today but instead of getting the rest that I deserved (did I?), I ended up doing some spring cleaning around the house. I'm always particular about the way I carry out my cleaning (that's the reason why I don't like others to do it or to help me) and I will not stop doing the chores until I'm fully satisfied (or ready to drop due to exhaustion). In no way am I close to being another cleaning freak à la Joan Crawford but I like seeing everything being spotless. I know my muscles are going to be sore tonight from all the washing, cleaning, mopping, dusting and scrubbing but I also know that it's going to be worth it. Please don't get the wrong idea. My place is not immaculately clean 24/7 since there are times when I refuse to lift even a finger to do anything at all. My bedroom can look like a refugee camp when my laziness seeps in and I can simply ignore the mess that I've made all over the house. I can dump my dirty laundry in the basket (sometimes even outside the basket) and it will not bother me one bit. Keeping house is definitely no easy task and knowing that I can be quite good at it, maybe I should start providing domestic service to those who don't feel like doing such hard labour.

p/s By the way, I'll do everything except clean other people's toilet. For that, they have to find another domestic service provider.

THE THINGS YOU TAUGHT ME

He left us five years ago and yet, his presence is still felt around the house. The lazy chair where he used to sit is still there and oftentimes, my mind can still see him sitting there in quiet solitude after breakfast. His clothes are still neatly folded in the drawers and his bougainvillea plants around the house are still flowering. There are so many things that I can tell about him but my words fail me. What will I write? Where do I start? I know no stories told will ever justify the memories that I have of him. For Abah, this poem is dedicated to you and what you have taught me.

The things you taught me I will always know.
How could I not? The roots have sunk so deep:
All lessons of the heart that I will keep
No matter who I am or where I go.
Kids learn from what their parents are, and so
You are my book of life, the thoughts I reap;
Only in your arms I quiet sleep;
Under my words your voice sings soft and slow.
From you I learned the rules of right and wrong
Against which I at times had to rebel,
Though with regret I carry with me still.
How lucky I am to have been loved so well,
Even as I pushed against your will,
Relying on a father fair and strong.

GOOGLE DOODLES

In conjunction with Hans Christian Andersen's 250th birthday celebration yesterday, Google came up with a new banner depicting scenes from Thumbelina replacing its company logo. Google has always managed to come up with interesting images and ways to depict special occasions, festivals and individuals. The Olympics and Sesame Street (I blogged about this last year) banners really caught my eye and I'm sure they are going to come up with more interesting ones in the future. What makes the Hans Christian Andersen banner interesting is the way it is presented. There are only five pictures but all of them are presented as if you are reading a book. Simply brilliant!

AM I A NERD?

I had always thought that I was quite sophisticated, worldly and street-wise until one of my friends told me recently that I could pass for a nerd. What! His statement really shocked me and I could not believe my ears. He pointed out my lack of interest in sports and outdoor activities to support his opinion. He also told me that I had no sense of fashion and my wardrobe was totally blah. I have a one-track mind and can be quite obsessed with certain things that interest me. Hmmm, he has a point (a few actually) there but does that mean that I qualify as one? I have to admit that I am not a jock and I prefer to stay indoors rather than sweat myself out doing physical activities. I also have to admit that I am no longer the social type and I prefer to indulge myself in solitary activities. But does that make me a nerd? Well, I don't really look like a nerd and I don't really go for anything that is considered intellectual or academic in nature. Yes, I love to argue with my friends but most of the time, my ideas and opinions are baseless and do not carry any merits. So how can I be considered a nerd? I am quite adept socially (when I choose to) and I am not really that weird-looking. I am not into the latest fashion and style since I don't want to be a fashion victim (I was when I was younger and I no longer want to go down that street). I simply choose to be alone at times since I can't stand noise and crowds anymore (age factor, I guess). I don't like to participate in so-called 'popular' activities since they are simply more of a fad than anything. I like to focus on one thing at a time because I want to prioritise. But does that make me a nerd? To a certain extent, maybe I am but nerds always think that they are cool and never realise that they are nerds...

p/s I found this on the Net (I think it's just brilliant) and it definitely makes me feel better!

GETTING TO HAPPY

Getting To Happy? What the hell is that? Well, it's another book from Terry Mcmillan, the author of 'Waiting To Exhale', 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back' and a few others. It will only be released in September this year and I can hardly wait for September to be here (though I can be sure that it's going to be a while before it reaches here). I have always loved Terry McMillan's stories and I'm sure I'm going to love this one too. I have never heard of Terry McMillan until I watched 'Waiting To Exhale' (another movie in which Whitney Houston has a starring role). After watching that movie, I decided that I wanted to read the book. I finally found the book in a secondhand bookstore and I can safely say that it is one of my favourite reads. Since then I've bought a few other books by this amazing author and I have found them equally interesting. True, I had nothing in common (I still don't) with any of the main characters in her books (they are mostly African-American women by the way) yet I felt that I could relate to some of the situations and issues. I believe any story about people and relationships, hopes and disappointments, successes and failures, joy and sorrow are universal in nature. Such stories usually warm the heart and rejuvenate the soul. The characters and backgrounds are only platforms and means for the stories to be told. I like the way Terry usually writes since it reflects the African-American community which makes the stories much more realistic and believable. 'Getting To Happy' is going to continue where 'Waiting To Exhale' left. I truly hope a movie sequel is going to be in the works once the book is published. Well, I am happy now but I definitely don't mind Getting To Happier!

EARTH HOUR 2010

I wrote about it last year and now, it's back. Yes, Malaysia will be observing Earth Hour 2010 starting at 8.30 tomorrow night. What can I write which has not been written about the importance of preserving whatever resources that we still have? Not much I would say. So this year, I'm going to do what I did last year : stay at home and try not to use as much electricity as I usually do. It won't be much and I doubt anyone will see any difference but at least, I'll be doing my part for the world.

By the way, this is the same picture that I used during Earth hour 2009 last year.

A BITCH WITH AN ITCH OR SIMPLY AN EVIL WITCH?

I don't understand why some people can be so bitchy and nasty. It seems as if they are unhappy with certain aspects of their lives and they have to take it on others by giving what they consider as smart remarks and comments. Recently, I received a text message from a certain somebody who took it upon himself (yes, it's a HE not a SHE) to comment on an issue that clearly had nothing to do with him but definitely had a lot to do with me. The comment came at a very inappropriate time and of course, I was deeply offended. It was also uncalled for and tasteless. Maybe he felt that he had to give his two cents regarding the issue but why gave it to me? He definitely couldn't be suffering from pre/while/post menstrual syndrome since he is biologically male. Some people may wonder if a man can be a bitch and I am here to testify that many men can be bigger bitches than women. To me, he is not even an asshole. He is simply a bitch. B.I.T.C.H. (all letters in capital, please). He knew my stand regarding the issue and by doing that, he was actually showing disrespect towards me and my stand. Couldn't he just respect my stand and let it be? We can be friends and still not agree on every matter but clever conversations don't necessarily start that way. After all, there are millions of other casual conversational topics under the sun which can be discussed without aggravating anybody. Well, it takes two to bitch and I can be a bigger bitch if I want to and when I want to (I'm a closet bitch by the way). Usually, I would keep quiet and act like a good schoolboy but not this time (this is not the first time I have received such comments and remarks from him). I won't even try to give my two cents to him since I don't think he can fathom any intelligent notions at all and I don't want to keep repeating them (I guess that will also make him a dumb bitch). This time, I'm going to act like a total bitch by giving it to him like the uneducated , unsophisticated and tactless person that he is. So this entry is for him and the award below is just right for a bitch like him.

At the rate he is going, I'm certain he will be eligible for the title below too!

And he can drink from the mug (comes free with the certificate) that will nourish him with more dumb bitchiness!

If that is still not enough, he can join the club below and I will willingly pay the membership fee (provided he wears the club's t-shirt every time he hangs out with friends)


And before long, he'll be just like the picture below, an ugly Bitch Witch.