Izzy, Izza, Wha?

Someone complained I was being a sexist because I talked more about Shine than him. Well my friend, you've just earned yourself a smacking post on my blog. I know you'll looooooovvee this *insert big, wide smile here*.



One day, there was a boy named Mohd Izzat, or Mohammad Izzat, or Izzy, or Izza (Man, why do you have so many names?). He went to study in Sunway University College and met many interesting people there during his first semester. He laughed, he talked, he made friends with the people there. But he wasn't ready for what was in store for him during the second semester. He was yet to meet the most interesting person of all. Me!

Then came the second semester and he realised that there was this familiar looking girl who attends the same class that he has chosen. With just a simple "Hi!", it started up a blast of experiences with this quirky girl during the second semester. Now Izzat is a hardworking boy. Unfortunately, the girl is much more smarter. While Izzat finishes his work and does the hard studying, the girl waits for him to finish and then easily pokes out important information from him. Then came the theory that Izzat becomes the host, the girl was the parasite.

I beg to differ. What actually happened was a formation of mutualism. For those of you who are wondering what in the world is mutualism, I quote from wordnet.princeton.edu, "the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other". So you see, the so called "host" is actually also benefiting from the "parasite".

For example, he offers her his work, she offers him company. He offers tutoring, she offers him counselling in times of depression. He starts a project, she ends it for him. He complains about her being a sexist, she creates a post of him. You see how that works?

Alright, enough of this nonsense. Izzat, are you happy that you have a post all for yourself now? Hahaha!

Let's get serious. Good news about Izzat is that he's imaginative. And don't give me crap saying you're not because the fact that you can draw and write, points that you have a good imagination, albeit taken from some other sources.


Samples of his drawings. Aren't they cool?

Other forms of good news: he's caring, can dance, a Para Para pro, and also hardworking.

Now for the bad news... he has issues. What was that song that Charis sent to you? "I Am Stupid"? It suits you. Hee hee.

Other forms of bad news: he's a dance machine addict, competitive, e-m-o, made me envy his drawings (dammit!).

That's Izzat for you. Nah, don't blame me being sexist anymore!

Psychology

Hello!

It's been so long since I actually wrote something, eh? It's the holidays now and I'm so super free! So what's been happening to me since? Nothing special. Started my degree course in Psychology and no, I can't read minds neither will I become psycho while studying the course... although I'll be a little bit more quirky. Which human isn't? Haha!

Psycholgy is fun though I forsee that it's going to get a lot more hectic later on. I have just a few pictures to share with you during my first semester studying Psychology. There are more, but aren't with me. The two pictures below were taken during Orientation day. It was just orientation and we needed to do an activity already! Ack!


Fred and Izzat hanging on for dear life on Ryan's finger


I'm tired of them. Let's squish them!

Hehe... you see how they stressed us out during orientation day? We have to introduce ourselves with people we barely knew and take weird photos with them. Then came the day where we had classes, yadayadayada... and then we had to choose our class representitive. We had to nominate three people. One was Ian, a loud, vibrant guy who loves to chat. Another was Shine, whom calls everything cute but is good in organizing her work. The last was Qadir, a Singaporean whom attended the compulsory 2 years training in National Service. Each candidate had to come up the front of the class and tell a little bit about themselves and then wait outside the class while voting takes place. But what happened was they each promoted another person.

Ian came out, told everyone not to vote for him because he's not a good leader, pointed to Shine and said, "Shine's much better! Vote for Shine!" and went out of the class. When came Shine's turn, she told the class that she's not the one for them, Ian was better since he's very helpful with good leadership qualities and went out of the class. But Qadir was the one who closed it up really good. He told the class to vote for either Shine or Ian and then said, "I'm a foreinger, so I can't be trusted". And then he left the class to join Shine and Ian. Guess who got the highest votes?


Taken during one of our theme days which we weren't participating in. Shine and I coincidentally wore similar set of clothing.

SHINE!!! That's the pretty girl right there beside me. Honestly, it wasn't a surprise. I knew it was going to be Shine from the start. Her leadership qualities just shines out of her. Hahaha!

I also got to meet one very cute Psychology staff down at the lab. I see him there every Friday. Him and colleague are one of the many cute staffs in Psychology that I enjoy being with. I LOVE playing with them! Though I spend more time with his colleague than him, I managed to only get his picture taken.

>>>>
>>>
>>
>

Meet Somnus

That's right! Somnus (which means Roman God of Sleep)! Ever seen a cuter staff? Him and his colleages will be teaching the students during the third semester. I rarely get to play with him because he's almost ALWAYS asleep. His colleague, Rocky, is much more active.

That's all for now! I'll update more life pictures later.

Speaking With A Picture #8

Speaking With A Picture #7

Speaking With A Picture #6

Haha!

Speaking With A Picture #5

Speaking With A Picture #4

Speaking With A Picture #3

Speaking With A Picture #2

Speaking With A Picture #1

Pink & Red Day

Last Thursday, CIMP's theme was to come in either Pink or Red and it was in support of breast cancer awareness. In fact, this October month is Pink month all around the world! It was fun, everyone had fun, pink ribbons were handed out, flyers were flying and as expected, pictures were taken.


Informational flyers


In support of breast cancer awareness.


Kyle: Adeline... what are you doing?


Me and Adeline in all her pink gloriness.


Try spotting our ribbons. (Adeline doesn't need one cause she's donned fully in pink!)


Wow, this guy is so supportive!

Putting the fun aside, the breast cancer awareness run was really good as it (hopefully) caused many of us to be more open-eyed to this rising seriousness. Now guys, if you think this doesn't apply to you and that you're free from this sort of thing, think again. About 1% of breast cancer cases are males. May not seem like a big number, but you could be in that lucky 1%. The horrors!!! Ok-lah guys, no need worry so much. I was just scaring you.

Breast cancer is the most common case and possibly also the most common cause of death among women in Malaysia. Though breast cancer isn't as common in teens as they are with women over their 40's, it is advisable for all girls and women to be aware of what's going on with their bodies. So ladies (and some rare men), don't be afraid of checking yourself. Early detection is much better than late because chances of survival are high. You can either self-check, get clinical examination, or go for a mammography. Or you could do all 3 if you really want to be sure. Just make sure you have the cash available.

Also note that if you find lumps, don't freak out. They may be there because your body is growing or undergoing hormonal changes. To know more about this and breast cancer, click the links provided below.

So here are the 7 early warning signs of cancer:

• Changes in bowel or bladder habits, such as bleeding, constipation & diarrhoea.
  
• A lump in the neck, bleeding from the nose or changes in hearing.
  
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge.
  
• A lump, bleeding or changes in the breast or nipple.
  
• Difficulty in swallowing or frequent indigestion & abdominal discomfort.
  
• Bothersome persistent cough or hoarseness of voice.
  
• Sores that do not heal or changes in a mole or wart.
  

Early detection is better than late because there is a cure. However, prevention is better than cure, don't everyone agree? :) To prevent breast cancer is to love your body.

Love!

Lower your risk by:

• Not smoking. If you already do, do quit.
  
• Exercise, exercise, exercise!
  
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  
• Maintain a healthy weight.
  
• Manage stress in your life. (Whatever affects you psychologically, affects you physically)
  
• Monthly breast self examinations.
  
• Get mammography screening.
  

---

Nifty sites and articles that I went for infos:
Young Adults Program
Outsmart Breast Cancer
Malaysia Oncology
National Cancer Society
Malaysia and Breast Cancer

Distracted

Hello! I'm not dead. I'm still alive! I just got distracted with... TV SERIES!!! Anime as well as dramas. Ahhh... the live of a TV addict. I could just get lost in my own little fantasy world and never come out. I could just go crazy over all the hot, sensitive guys with ultimate personalities and backgrounds portrayed on media. I could just sigh at the fictional life they lead. Oh... the wonders of fiction and the media. *goes all dreamy*

So I've been watching anime this week. And I totally recommend to you (anime lovers)... Vampire Knight! The graphics are great (sort of like Bleach and Naruto) and the story line is haunting. I love the opening theme and the closing theme is the absolute best! There is a dash of humour here and there so all in all, it'll be a great series to watch. Especially if you fancy vampires!

Taken from animekiwi.com

Yuki's earliest memory is of a stormy night in winter, wherein she was attacked by a vampire... And then rescued by another. Now 10 years later, Yuki Cross, the adapted daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy, has grown up and become a guardian of the vampire race, protecting her savior, Kaname, from discovery as he leads a group of vampires at the elite boarding school. But also at her side is Zero Kiryu, a childhood friend who’s hatred for the creatures that destroyed everything he held dear, is now determined never to trust them. This coexisting arrangement seems all well and good, but have the vampires truly renounced their murderous ways, or is there a darker truth behind their actions. Is Kaname's infatuation with Yuki the beginning of a forbidden romance, or is it something in her forgotten past that draws him to her. Because in this world of secrets, nothing is as it seems. And the price of misplaced trust may even be worse than death.

And also, I've been trying to get One Tree Hill Season 5. I've finally gotten a few episodes to watch! I love this drama to pieces! So I'm going off now to watch the series.


Perhaps I'll return soon to post something better. Maybe. We'll see =D.

Being Pet Starved

I was so pet starved! As in I crave for pets and I'm not getting any. Ever since my father got ill, I've been having no pets at all. Then when I moved to my brother's house, there's absolutely no chance of me having furries. No dogs, no cats, no hamsters... I felt like I've been caged for months without food but I'm still surviving (okay, that don't make sense)! So I did the unthinkable. I bought fishes.

AUSMAT (Australian Matriculation) was having a charity drive on Friday. They had a fishing booth whereby you pay RM1 and for 15 seconds, you get to fish your own fish, as many as you can get, using tissue paper wrapped around hard wire instead of a real net. It was so exiciting to see the little things swimming around and my head spun with the prospect of having a pet. Even if it was just a fish. Filled with anticipation and excitement, with my eyes wide open and a stupid grin plastered on my face, I dragged Catherine to accompany me to fish. I gave RM1 to the guy behind the booth and happily dipped my handmade fishing net into the tank when the time started.

I didn't get any fish at all. Which was disappointing. I was just aiming a single fish because it was the only attractive one in that tank. What got me more disappointed was when the guy told me he gave me extra time to fish and he stopped the time when I almost got the fish. Then it jumped out of the net! Frustrating! So I went back to my group of friends wailing that I want a fish and Izzat was like, "Aiya, I go pay and you get one la!". So I went with Izzat to the booth and suddenly Aliza popped out and said she wanted to play too. So I gave her my RM1. I tried my best and finally got the fish I wanted! Yay! I had extra time too cause the guy behind the booth was being kind. Aliza caught 3 fishes but I was just happy with my 1.


Introducing my guppy fish named Fish!

If you look beside Fish, there's Chloe, Zaleha's fish. And to Zaleha, that fish is a male. I think you'd better rename it ;). Aliza gave me the other 3 fishes too but she wanted to carry them around 'til I go back home. So I only carried Fish, the fish I caught myself, around to my Biology and IDC class.

So I met Eng Yew when my break was almost over and asked him to take home one of the fishes. He said no. Pfft! But he followed me around with my mom after school to buy the stuff required for my fishes. My mom bought me a tank (I thought I had one at home but she gave the old one away), fish food and 4 more other guppies! Then Eng Yew helped me fix it up.


Cleaning the small tank.

Just a simple filter.

Getting some water in

Fishies!!!

Hm, so anyway, here comes the sad part. Fish died and the following day and the next day and the next, the fishes caught from the charity drive all died. So I was left with four very stressed fishes (yes, fishes do get stressed) from the local aquarium shop and one had its tail ripped to shreds because the other three kept bullying him. I lost that one this afternoon while I was in school.

I, unfortunately, learnt the hard way that it's not the fishes that I need to pay attention to, rather the water condition. I learnt that the tank was overcrowded with eight fishes. I learnt that new tanks are not really good for the fishes. I learnt that fishes need specific water conditions to be happy in and that my tank is very, very small, which makes it harder to maintain than a bigger tank because if ammonia builds up, the fishes get poisoned faster in a small tank than a big one. I learnt a lot about water. It was a lot to digest in a few days.

So now I know and now have three happy fishes swimming around the small tank. They seem to be supremely big eaters- like me. Haha!

Take The Plunge

Ever had one of those times when you felt like doing something you really wanted, but in the end something else held you back? Perhaps it involves your pride, or maybe your ego. Perhaps it was fear and insecurity. Or complicated as it is, all these factors combined into one? Then you never got to do the thing you wanted and you watched it slip by, realizing only too late that you should have grabbed that chance.

What if it doesn't turn out the way I want? What if it's pointless? What if they/he/she don't like me? Oh the so many 'what ifs' possibilities that can surface. So what? In your life there's bound to be mistakes made. We learn from that. In your whole life there's bound to be people that hate you. You can't please everyone. So what's stopping you? Focus on the people that truly appreciates you. There's so many out there! You don't notice them, but they certaintly do notice you. Focus on the values you learn and the experience you will gain. If you don't try, you will never know. Never surpress knowledge, never surpress experience.

If you have that something you wanted to do, some passion stirring inside of you, a confession you want to make, well I say just do it. Push yourself, slap yourself, by all means just squish that insecure or prideful part of yourself and go freaking do that thing you want!

Because opportunities don't come everytime.
Because later in life, you learn from the outcome and can look back without regrets.
Because you took that risk.
Because you live a little more of your life.
Because life can only be lived once.

So go grab it. Grab that opportunity. Suck in your breath and prepare for the harsh waters. Trust me, that feeling of satisfaction beats the feeling of regret.



So here's to me, taking a deep breath and plunging into the waters.

Wish me luck.

My Dream Wedding

---

Out of fun, this is in reply to This Post. Yeah, it's quite late. I actually planned on posting this earlier but other stuff caught my interests.

---

I've never really thought of a dream wedding before I read about a dream wedding post. In fact, I think that my own dream wedding wouldn't come true. I mean, how many out of all the dreams out there really, really do come true? Financial constraint is one of the factors for me. Realistically, with the money I would have (being a psychic now, haha!), my dream wedding would be in Malaysia, in a church with a simple wedding gown (or maybe none)with close family and friends. Then we'll have a simple dinner at a restaurant or at home. Nothing too fancy and nothing that involves red table cloths, people shouting yam seng and a karaoke box on stage where aunties and uncles sing songs that are long ago lost to guests who just want to eat (no offence to anyone). Just that simple, non-chinese wedding dinner with boisterous friends and families if you please. (=

Now, letting my imaginations go wild, my dream wedding would cost a bomb. A nuclear bomb. I want to fly overseas, bring close friends and families, my favourite priest to hold the wedding ceremony, have a big yet simple event, custom made dress and probably stay a night or two in a resort for my honeymoon.

Let's start with the place, shall we? I always thought that marrying by the beach would be oh-so-romantic. But I had to keep options open for the best of the best places. Afterall, I am miraculously, in this dream, filthy rich. After looking through top ten venues of wedding locations, I've fallen in love with this place:

Just look at it! How can you not love it?! The clear, blue waters just make me melt. It's the Grand Anse Beach in South Caribbean. Caribbean! You think I would meet Captian Jack Sparrow? Heh heh.


I want to catch the sunsets and the beautiful skies. I want to get married in the morning and enjoy a nice wedding dinner during sunset by the beach. Yes, right by the beach! With white table cloths, wine, relaxing music and cool breeze blowing at my dolled up face. If the weather doesn't permit, I'd dine in one of the resorts located there. And will you look at the place?



One of the rooms look something like this...


It suddenly sounds as if I am planning for a honeymoon instead of a wedding. Hmm...

Moving on to the dress. As said before, I would want a custom made dress. I want the front of my dress to look like this and also most of the dress made of the same material. The ribbon-like lines on the dress could be of different colour though. Maybe gold or royal blue..

I want the back of the dress to look like this...


and I want the length to be sweeping the floor (of course my bridesmaids would lift the hems up for me) but not too long, just like this...


I haven't yet decided if my dress should have that flowing straps or not. Hmm...

Anyway, my bridesmaids would also have their own dresses! Just like the picture below, except that they get to choose their own ribbon colours. I know, I'm cruel. Uniformed gowns make them seem all plain and blah. But don't that dress look fantastic as well?

And what would be Joanna's wedding without food? Cakes! First we'll have these cupcakes for the guests...

One pair for each!
Then my wedding cake would be of 6 to 8 layers just like this minus the ugly rose sitting there...



I guess I will just stop here. One last point is that I want my favourite singer there to sing for my wedding (Cheh! Like some big shot). I can go on and on and on about how I want the wedding to go and all that, but I decided to spare you the bore. So have you thought about your own dream wedding that may or may not come true?

A Baby Moment - Mammam

This post might not mean much to you readers but I just couldn't help blogging about it. You know, I do go pretty random once in a blue moon. I'll say random things, make random noises or do something so totally out of the blue that people would just give me a blank stare, lost in my insanity moment. And then I would end up laughing at my poor victim and walk away. I think my 9-month old baby niece had inherited that bit of insanity from me (or my mother. I don't know which).



She's currently learning how to talk. Unless she wants to eat her mother, I don't think she understands what she's saying/gurgling when she goes, "Mammam Ma!". So the family was having dinner and she was happy sitting on her bright yellow training chair, accessorizing the chair with bits and pieces of her biscuit when suddenly she just went, "Mammammam!". It was really a cute moment and we started smiling and chuckling. I guess she knew she had an audience because she began entertaining us with a Mammam song and I started giggling.

Then she looked at me and went, "MamMAAAAmm maaam ma- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Only that didn't cause me to have a blank stare, it caused me to burst into laughter alongside her mother. Oh gosh, if she gives me anymore funny surprises I'm going to die of her cuteness. Really.

A Time For Celebration

So the celebration came few days later. Sunday happened to be very boring. Woke up in the morning feeling like a zombie, went to church, watched my niece smile like there's no tomorrow, ate wan ton mee, came home, slept... and woke up again. Haha. I know, boring. But then something interesting was going to happen at night. Who is to blame? Him...



He brought me for dinner. At first he told me that we were going to the Food Court nearby. I really did believe him at first. I worried that I've overdressed and wanted to whack his head really hard for not telling me earlier. Wear a short skirt to a hawker centre? GAH!

But then on the way out, I thought things over in my head and it's very, very unlikely that he asked me out for dinner days earlier just so we could go eat at the Food Court (he does not really like the Food Court, by the way). We went out to the Puteri shop lots when he suddenly slowed down and said he had forgotten something to buy. I knew immediately then that something was amiss. He U-turned and went to the new shop lots area right beside Giant. I remembered that I've sneaked a peep at his phone messages on Friday and I read that he wanted to go for a Korean BBQ (Yeah, yeah. Naughty me! Eh, next time delete those harmful SMS-es lah!). So I looked out the window and saw this HUGE sign that said...



So it was either Nasi Kandar or BBQ. The latter is the most obvious. I smiled to myself while he continued on complaining how he could forget to buy that certain "thing". I'm sooo smart, right? Haha! When I looked through the menu, I saw that the price was... wow. I CAN'T BE SPOILT LIKE THIS!!! So anyway, the rest of this post will be in pictures! Enjoy, enjoy!


Here's where we had to take out our shoes to get unto the platform.

A picture of one of the beautiful seating places. Instead of chairs, we have a hole!

Ordered just two meat sets and look the the variety of side dishes!

This is my favourite... Actually, no. I just love having vege with my meal.

First served was soup with loads of pepper. Yum!

Then came the thin slices of beef. We didn't have to do anything. The waiters did everything for us, walking up and down, turning over the meat, refilling our drinks and asking if we want more side dishes to eat when we ate finish one plate.

Our second set. Don't the meat look all juicy and tender?

We had watermelon for dessert too. I wonder if they'll give more...

Sweet, sweet barley.

Really, you shouldn't spoil me so much. Because I don't know how to spoil you back. =P