A Train of Very Random Thoughts

Last week I went to see a doctor. An Orthopeadist to be exact.

You see, I have this nagging pain in my left knee whenever I put weight on it or bending it. It started sometime during the weekend but I thought I only pulled a muscle so didn't give it that much mine. But then the pain decided to make itself home. So after 4 days, I finally had enough. I went to see an orthopeadist.

And he told me that he has two hypotheses to why my knee hurt the way it did. One, he thinks that I somehow injured my right lateral ligament. Wait, is that what it's called? Crap, I don't even remember anthing from anatomy lectures back at Uni. What a waste of 1,300+ NZD! Meh, don't worry. I'll google it.

Funny how the term "google" became both a noun and a verb.

Wouldn't it be cool to work at google?

I still think that wikipedia is a great site if you want to know something. But for some reason, no one says "I'll wikipedia it".

Aaah.found it! it's medial collateral ligament of my left knee.

Anyway.. he also suspects that if my medial ligament wasn't the one that got injured then he thinks it might be that I've torn my meniscus. Weird, I don't remember doing anything harsh on my knee. I would surely remember if I did some serious harm to any of my body parts. Wouldn't you?

So anyway, he gave me a bunch of very expensive medications (one makes me very sleepy and I have to take that after every meal!) and told me that if the pain doesn't go away in a week then it means that the injury is surely at my meniscus.

And that is bad. Cery bad.

Good news is.. today is the 6th day and my knee feels perfect! Yes!

Ha! no money for you now Mr. Orthopeadist!

Annnd one more news. Steph & Mon is here! Gosh, I am so happy to see them again. They looked gorgeous! As you can see from the photo below.



Urgh.. the medicine is taking off and affecting my mental state. I better go.

Chao~

To Be Is To Do

Quote of the day:

"To be is to do"

~Immanuel Kent~

How many times we let our lives pass us by without doing much about it? If we don't do anything to make our lives meaningful and worthwhile, then how can we say that we really lived? That we really be?

Drive

Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear

And I can't help but ask myself how much I let the fear

Take the wheel and steerIt's driven me before

And it seems to have a vague, haunting mass appeal

But lately I'm beginning to find that I

Should be the one behind the wheel

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there

With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there

I'll be there

So if I decide to waiver my chance to be one of the hive

Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive?

It's driven me before

And it seems to be the way that everyone else gets around

But lately I'm beginning to find that

When I drive myself my light is found

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there

With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there

I'll be there

Would you choose the water over wine

Hold the wheel and drive

Life As An Addict

I am an addict.

Yes, I am.

I am addicted to a Korean series.

Ha Ha.. I had you there didn't I!!

The series is called "Coffee Prince" and it is about a girl who looks like a guy and decided to work as a guy at a coffee shop named "Coffee Prince" where the waiters are all good looking men. The shop is run by a rich playboy that never handle responsibility in his entire life. The trouble is this, she fell in love with him but he thought she is a guy. However, she cannot tell him the truth because she needs to job to get her family out of debt!

Oh my goodness, can you NOT guess what will happen at the end? The plot is SO predictable.

IBut it is still so addictive! I will forever curse the day I channel hop and stopped at Channel 7.. just as the first episode is showing. My goodness. The series is not even that good. The plot is predictable but I guess I have to say that it's more entertaining than Home & Away or Shortland Street. (Uh-Oh..blasphemy!!).

On a good note, Coffee Prince is nothing compared to The Simpson or Futurama. Those are the classics.

Oops, Coffee Prince is on. Gotta go!

A Blog from an Ex-Blogger

OMG.. it's been a while since I write a post. Hmmm.. currently I am sitting infront of my laptop passing time before I head out to work. Quite depressing really. I totally don't feel like working today but then again, who does?

I just came out of my 4-day holiday (more like hibernation really) yesterday and I guess I'm suffering from post-holiday-slash-hibernation-stress-disorder. But thinking optimistically, this means that I only work for 3 days this week. (A short lived optimism, but that'll do for now).
During my hibernation, I have decided that I should get a move on with my thesis. I have left it lying around untouched for absolutely ages and this has gone far far far too long. And no matter how hard I tried to pretend that my thesis doesn't exist but the evil thing still lurks around at the brim of my conciousness. But having decided that I shall continue my thesis brings me to the next decision. Now I have to decide whether to keep my topic on a change in sexual script in victims from sexual assualt. (Complicated huh? I think so too)

Yeah, to keep or not to keep. That is the question.

I've decided NOT to keep.

So today I am going to head to Uni and find my self a new advisor. Because of my idleness my old advisor decided to abandon me but who could blame her? So my itinery today is: work at Ladprow & Ramkamhaeng hospitals, then to Uni to find new advisor and pay thesis fees, then home to start researching for a new topic.

Ain't life grand?

(Gosh, I can't make sarcasm oozing out of that last three words enough)

OH MY WORD...

It has been 3 months since my last post...

I wonder if anybody still visit this blog but it doesn't matter. Blogger is still one of the best procrasination tools out there even though it is slowly out compete by Facebook. I wonder if any CEers beside Abby still keep regular updates on their blogs. Even Sam the Man stops updating his!! Funny that back a few years ago we usually update our blogs multiple times a day. Oh well, I guess real life is slowly squeezing its death grasp on us. Gosh, looking back I can see that uni life is such a cruisy life! With real life presenting never ending projects and pressure, it make me miss Uni where the only stressful times are only during exams.

Anyway.. I'm just posting this just to prove that I can. Now I'm going to have a shower, curl up in bed with Tami Hoag's Night Sin... and perhaps a cup of hot chocolate. MMmmmmm....

A Note From Me

Wow.. this is the post that I have written by myself in a very long long long time. I doubt if anyone ever visit this blog anymore. For those who have.. first of all, well done..you probably saw me through the "I'm going to write more often" phase, "I'm going to put up cool quotes" phase, "I'm going to put up some photos" phase, and there was even the "I'm posting up my story" phase where I posted the story I've written with Rebecca called The Balance.

Anyway, the reason I'm writting this post is because it almost the end of the year and it feels wrong not to write something. Probably also because it's close to Christmas and the stores are starting to put up Christmas trees, decorations, and music. *sigh* and Bangkok will once again be filled with "Santa Claus is Coming To Town", "Jingle Bells", and "Silent Night" among many others.. all these things bring me back to the time when I started blogging (around December 2004).

So what happened to the life of Nam this year?

Well, I got a full time job at Wyeth and been working there since Feb. It has been a pretty good experience so far, so can't complain much. The only thing I can and want to complain about is my boss. Though, who doesn't complain about their boss?

I am still doing my Master degree in Counselling Psych, my thesis is not where near the finish line. I have to say that this degree is a waste of time but oh well, I only have my thesis left and an extra degree on my CV doesn't hurt.

I have Facebook!

I occasionally danced Salsa and it was awesome. I absolutely loved it (but not as much as Ceroc)

I am going to see "Cats" tonight, which would be my first broadway experience.

I get to spend a lot of time with my family. It feels weird to be living at home again after spending 5 and a half years in NZ, but I am adjusting.

I'm going to NZ in 5 weeks and 5 days!!

La la la... Christmas is near and it's so exciting. Not that we celebrate it over here, but I like the feelings that comes with Christmas.. and Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha Frappuchino.

Another year is almost gone, and I will be one year older. Am I any wiser? perhaps....and also perhaps not.

What I've learned from my two years experience in the real world, is that life is too short and you'll never know when you are going to die. It might be in 50 years or it might be in 50 seconds. So might as well spend it well, you only have one go at life. So people, are you REALLY LIVING YOUR LIFE?

A Site That You Should Bookmarked

Cringel...

Cringel...

Cringel...

This is a blog operated by four people who decided to leave their office jobs and went travelling. Read below if you're interested...

Have you ever had thoughts similar to:

"Oh, I wish I could be a pensioner when I'm young, and work when I'm old"

or

"I'm so exhausted in my job, I really need half a year of vacation to sort things out and get back on track"?

I bet you did. What action did you take? Erm, yes. The action to "wait a little bit and see what happens".

That's ok - most of us choose this one, and later on wonder what would happen IF a different option was chosen.

And thats exactly what we'll do: cringel.com is here to illustrate and document the progress of 4 close friends, who once decided to quit the established positions in companies they worked for, take a break in their careers and travel to Asia, for travel and exploration purposes.

So whenever you get bored in the office, you should come over and read what would you be doing at this very moment if you had chosen that other option. (Bookmark cringel.com now, it will be easier to find it later!)

Update: we are already out of the jobs and on the road for hal a year. Feels great!

Some quick facts:

The departure was 2007 January 23
We started in Thailand
We managed to persuade 2 more friends to join us in Thailand, met two more in Nepal, and plan to meet one more in Australia. Small world.
The plan is to stay until August, 2007.

Update: return date moved to December 2007

Countries visited are:
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
Nepal
Malaysia
Countries to visit:
Singapore
New Zealand
Australia

So, what do you think? Was worth trying this or should we have better stayed at our jobs?

So are you interested? If you are, then click here

Once there was a girl who went to work
And most people regards her as a dork
She once glued her toe to a cork
Before she went home and ate some pork!

Her favourite hobby is to daydream
She liked to think about strawberries and cream
And imagine herself looking very trim
And loves to act very prim

One day she tripped over a slippery stair

And landed on the floor with dust in her hair

Her skirt alas, suffered a big long tear

Her underwear of course, faced the same fear

"Oh, how unfortunate" she cried

"I feel like a runaway bride"

So she got up and quickly covered her exposed behind

Hoping very much that nobody would mind

The girl hurried to the closest lingerie shop,
Hoping the cover she used wouldn't drop,

She was worried of course, that the tear would go pop!

She started to walk, then run, then hop

A bright blue pair of knickers she spotted
And then a pair that were bright yellow and dotted
"Oh my," she exclaimed, "these are so very ugly!"
But I will wear them to a party

She walked out of the shop, wearing a bright yellow pair
An old lady nearby yelled, "oh, how, how can you dare!"
"You looked just like a yellow-dyed mare!"
She retorted, rudely, "at least I don't look like a bear"

To be continue...

By: Rebecca, Mel, & Nam

Mr. Moon

Oh Mr Moon,
In this silent night, please appear soon!
I wait for you, like a silly loon
like the sun waiting for noon

It is a starry night
with Mr. Moon lending his light
Casting the world in white
Oh, such a sight!!

Like rainbows and rain
The beauty in the world is countless like the sand and its grains
As exciting and as lovely as bright choo-choo trains
Sweet tasting as christmas candy canes

Sometimes Mr. Moon would whispers to the stars
And the wee babies perched high up on Mars
trying to capture the comets into the jars
Whooshing past them like fast cars

Mr.Moon retires as dawn approaching

Hiding behind a cloak of grey, crouching
Waiting for Mr. Sun to appear, shining
So sad he is almost crying

"Don't cry" said Mr.Sun when he appears
He looks like he's been smiling for years
"Because when you cry, you look like crinkle pears"
Your face, it has no room for salty tears

"But Mr. Sun" said Mr.Moon, "I am sad because I have so much fun"

"Each time you come, I hate having to run"
"Ah, but run you must" declared Mr.Sun

"I do, I run like Maria the Nun"

"It is time for you to go, Mr.Moon" said Mr. Sun "Until I retire and you come out to play"
"Ok, dear sun, have a great day"
"Same for you, Mr. Moon" said Mr. Sun while arranging his ray
Quickly, softly, Mr Moon faded into the gray

So here ends Nam & Mel's little story of Mr.Moon

By: Mel & Nam

Nam & Rebecca next project

We'll be co-writing short story next..so stay tune!!

(But we won't abandon poetry, of course)

A Poetry Recipe

A poem is a funny thing, a little bit of rhyme

Like making a dish with a little bit of thyme

With a dash of rosemary, and perhaps some poppy seeds

And a pinch of salt to complete the deed

But do you need to cook it? Oh no

You only have to read it, be it here or on the go

It might make you laugh, it might make you cry

Or it might make you feel as if you could fly

It'll let you pretend you're touching the sky

Though, be warned, some poems can be a bit sly

They'll mock, and laugh, and tease

And the mirth with never cease

So if you're happy, or when you're sad

Just pick up a pen and a pad

Tell the world your troubles, or if you're mad

It might make you feel better, just a tad

You can make it look all pretty

Or even put a picture of a jetty

If you do that, it'll become like a picture book

Just like Peter Pan & Captain Hook

Listen now to my moral, it's a good one I'm sure
If you're sad and down, poetry might be your cure
Whether happy or sad, poetry is honest and true
Addictive poetry also is, lack of it might make you blue

But if you write (and read) it, it'll take away your cares
So if you think you're brave enough, then I'll dare you upon dares
But other than that, let's not split hairs
Or push each other down the stairs

Because that would hurt and then we wouldn't write poems in pairs!
So my dear readers, who likes to go to the fairs

Come along and join me, in a poetry-writing spree
So if you're ready and sure, then let your hands go free!

Your mind and your heart will follow soon after
And your soul will be filled with laughter

By: Rebecca & Nam

In the Silence

The stars shining in the darkening sky
Twinkling, whispering, playing upon the silent mind
The northern wind swept by
And dancing leaves leapt up in delight

I stand in the darkness with my hair swaying gently in the breeze
From beneath my feet comes a whisper
That sooth my heart with its sweet melody
Sighs of contentment escaped me

The pale light from the moon dancing across the surface of the lake
A spray of foam, a trace of stardust
The smell of pine trees, the twinkling lights of fireflies
And I am alone with my thoughts

I step towards the lake, shivers as the cold water touched my feet
Starfish leap around and across my toes
I look up to the starry sky and close my eyes
Peace, a thick envelope sealing me

My lips move in silent prayers, to Him who resides in heaven
A feeling of faith surges within me
And a sense of wholeness filled my soul
Wonderful peace was mine

By: Mel & Nam

The Racket in the Forest

There's a racket by the lake, which shooke the forst in its wake
A sight to be seen, that magnificent drake
and the biggest toad you could ever seen!!!
"Hello Sir Drake!" proclaimed the toad, "Where have you been?"

"Meee?" drawled Sir Drake in a bored voice, "Oh, I've been up and down, left and right."
"Here, there, and everywhere... but I saw such a fright!"
"Oh my!!" exclaimed Lord Toad, "It must have been a sight!"
" You couldn't imagine! You couldn't guess! But... what do you think I saw?"

"Well, I imagined that you saw Countess the Cat who is so fierce with her claws!"
"By jove! you've guessed it" cried Sir Drake, as Countess the Cat approached on silent paws.

"Sir Drake, Lord Toad" greeted Countess with a nod of her elegant head, "You two would never guess what I just saw"

"A fish?" "A frog?" ... Lord Toad looked sly "a dog?"

"Oh, my dear Lord Toad" replied Countess, "Do you think that I am excited by mere fishes and frogs? or even dogs?"
"Well, I don't know" Sir Drake began to tease, "did it chase you into a bog?"
"Oh ssh, Sir Drake" answered Countess, "or I'll tell Lord Toad about the time the wood nymphs chased you into a log"
Sir Drake quacked and fussed, and trees overhead rippled in the breeze

Then five wood nymphs appeared, and one was greeted with a sneeze!
"Thank you for that" the wood nymph "now that you've stained my clothes, I'll need some febreeze!"
Then Sir Drake flaps his wing with a fever that surpasses any dumbstuck beaver

"Whatever is wrong with you?" asked Countess Cat, "anyone would think you'd seen a cleaver!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Sir Drake, "something just whizz pass my swimming legs!"
They all looked into the water, into the deepest, darkest dregs

And bobbed up, a little duckling by the name of Mooshoo

"Ah ha!" cried Sir Drake, "a little duckling, Mooshoo, tis you!"

"Tis me, papa" replied Mooshoo, "I heard the voices of the pretty nymphs, so I came here to investigate"
"Is it a party? Is it fun? Is there any chance I can participate?"

"Oh Mooshoo, you do know how to make a nymph blush" teased the nymph in pale blue dress,
Mooshoo quacked, and tried to bow but fell flat on his face, oh what a mess!

He then scambled up on his legs, flapped his legs, and hide behind Sir Drake

"Oh" cried a nymph, "a party, let's do! We can have cake!"
"And a jazz quartet, flowing stream from hot chocolate, and perhaps unlimited gingernuts!"
Oh what fun, the cry went out, let's also invite the neighbourhood mutts!

So the small party of animals and nymphs, decorate the forest with ribbons and stars
They're happy and laughing and dancing and joking, far far away from the sound of cars
So ends the story of the racket in the forest, until the next time we meet

By: Rebecca & Nam

The Eagle Fails

Two white clouds dancing in the sky

Chuckling and chortling, "We'll laugh til we cry!"
And the sun comes twirling and jumping
"Dance with me, I'll keep you pumping!"

Then two birds with red tails come chirping and singing

Up so high in the sky, with wings winging

"Come, lets us sing! Til Mr Sun hides behind the hill and Mrs Moon rise high in the sky. Come, let us sing!"

And each of us will make sure to bring...

swinging, spinning sets of songs!!
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry to interrupt" cried a flying eagle, "but haven't you noticed that something just pongs?"
"What what?" cried a peacock from below, "did someone just said something dongs?"
The eagle looked down his beak "No, you feathered freak, I said pongs!"

"Oh" replied the peacock, "Then it must be you, Mr. Eagle, coz I rarely see you groom your feathers"
"How rude!" cried the eagle, greatly offended "if I was a cow, I'd use my leathers!"
"Excuse me!" said the cow, "I don't think you could use leathers as you don't have four legs and a tail"
"Oh" said the eagle, sad and glum, "I suppose that means I fail..."

By: Rebecca & Nam

Tension of Opposites

"Have I told you about the tension of opposites?" he says,

The tension of opposites?

"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.

"A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle."

Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.

"A wrestling match." He laughs. "Yes, you could describe life that way."

So which side wins, I asked?

"Which side wins?"

He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.

"Love wins. Love always wins."

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

New Shoes

"New Shoes" - Paolo Nutini

Woke up cold one Tuesday,
I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick,
I felt like there was something missing in my day to day life,
So I quickly opened the wardrobe,
Pulled out some jeans and a T-Shirt that seemed clean,
Topped it off with a pair of old shoes,
That were ripped around the seams,
And I thought these shoes just don't suit me.

[CHORUS:]
Hey, I put some new shoes on,
And suddenly everything is right,
I said, hey, I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling,
It so inviting,
Oh, short on money,
But long on time,
Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine,
And I'm running late,
And I don't need an excuse,'cause I'm wearing my brand new shoes.

Woke up late one Thursday,
And I'm seeing stars as I'm rubbing my eyes,
And I felt like there were two days missing,
As I focused all the time,
And I made my way to the kitchen,
But I had to stop from the shock of what I found,
A room full of all my friends dancing round and round,
And I thought hello new shoes,
Bye bye them blues.

[CHORUS]

Take me wandering through these streets,
Where bright lights and angels meet,S
tone to stone they take me on,I'm walking to the break of dawn.

Squirrel vs Ginger cat

I am watching my squirrel making a fool of him/herself (its sex is still unidentified). Those of you visit my blog might've know about this little squirrel (what did I named it?? was it "Sparky"?) and its gang that steal the fruit from my promegranate tree.

well.. now it just realised that it might not be as easy anymore.

For some reason the outter wall of my house gets a very regular visit from a ginger cat as well. As we are in the middle of rainy season, my promegranate tree is very fruitious and the visits from both the squirrel gang and the cat increase in frequency.

So here I am, typing away, listening to Audioslave, sipping my morning coffee, and watch cat-and-squirrel chase.

I am still determine to name all the squirrels (there's about 4 in total) and, since the cat decided to join our lttle party, I think I will name the cat as well.

So, all ye faithful readers, any ideas?

Last night I went to La Rueda, the Latin club I posted about half a century ago. I actually planned to go tonight (Saturday night) but when I rang my salsa friends to find out who's going tomorrow, they told me that no one is going tomorrow..well, apparently last night was La Rueda anniversary (6 years) and there will be some performances. I couldn't help it...so I went home, got changed, and went out.

I met this guy I danced with who just got a break from the navy so we did a wee bit of salsa, not as much as I wanted. My New York salsa teacher, Louis, was also there. I'm suspecting that he has a thing for my Taiwan friend, Paulie, but Paulie deny everything *roll eyes*. Tho I didn't dance as much as I wanted (and I wasn't wearing the right shoes) but the performances really made up for it. There were performances of swing (and it was cool to see the little asian girl got tossed around), argentine tango (MARVELOUS!!! I would love to learn that), belly dance (so exotic, made me wish I didn't gave it up), striptease (so-so.. not a big fan), New York Salsa (I'm learning that.. and OMG last night it was SO amazing!!), zouk (share some familiarities with Ceroc.. so I am thinking whether I should learn that too) and finally the highlight of the night was definitely the owner's brother and his girlfriend/dance partner. They went to Blackpool to compete.. BLACKPOOL!!! can you believe that. So I had an up, close, & not personal night with the pros. They did cha-cha and some thing else for us and man.. they were AWESOME!! Their movement is very strong yet graceful and very very sensual and sexy. The close moves are very close and they really perform, you know, their facial experssions and their body language really speaks. I learned so much last night and I really wish all of you were there with me.

Sudden Inspiration

I finally figure out what I am going to do with my "Little Miss" blog.. I'm going to post the photos that I like!! Most of them will be the photos I browsed from flikr.. or maybe from Google...but there will be some of my own photos too.

Why? Coz seeing these wonderful & beautiful & amazing photos inspires me to capture the beauty of life! I am not saying that I am a good photographer and I don't even know how to use Photoshop or Illustrator.. but I can try to capture beauty on camera lens.

whoops.. boss is back so I must get back to work.. and more photo browsing!

What Will You Last Be Seen Doing?

MISSING: Nam

Was last seen laughing at a mafia boss

'What will you last be seen doing?' at QuizGalaxy.com