Happy Niu 牛 Year!

With the moo moo here, moo moo there, here moo, there moo, everywhere moo moo... Everyone is in the holiday mood again because it's the chinese "niu" year. And because it falls on a Monday, everyone is getting a long weekend break, some may even continue through Friday. Me and some friends at work are busy checking the traffic online and predicting what time would be best to get out of Penang. Most of us are planning after midnight or maybe tomorrow. I'm sure traffic at the bridge is going to be insane after 6pm today. But some say it wouldn't because most people had already taken the day off and left last night or taken half day off today and left after lunch. Either way, I am not taking the risk of getting myself in the jam. I think midnight will suit me best.

Happy Chinese New Year, everybody!

One million cars and nine traffic lights to go.

That is what I have to go through every morning. I hate being caught up in the traffic, it makes me feel so restless as there is nothing I can do when all the cars in front, at the back and my left and right are not moving an inch. I just want to scream out of my lungs when every traffic light turns red just a few seconds before it’s my turn to go.

For the past one month I moved to my new crib, I had to travel a little further to work everyday. What used to be a 10 minute drive has now become a 30 to 40 minute drive. And if ever an accident or a breakdown happens on my route, it could take up to an hour. Imagine that! Penang is becoming like Kay El. The only thing that is keeping my sanity in those horrifying drives is Linkin Park’s Minutes to Midnight blasting.

So I wonder, how could anyone keep in the positive mood every morning when seems like the traffic jam is causing a bad start for everyone? I’m not sure if anyone enjoys the traffic jams? I think creepy crawly traffic jam is number one in my hate list! Will anyone come up with a warp machine in the next couple of years? Or else, I’m gonna need to go to Japan to look for Doraemon.

Sometimes

I wonder what am I doing here? No, no, it's MOST of the time. Everyday at work seems like a junction, and every second you got to make a choice whether you want to take a right turn or a left turn. Try as I might to think straight and do the best I can, seems like there's a stronger than gravity magnet pulling me back. Is it time to move? Surely it's time to get out of this comfort zone. If I don't try, I will never know what beholds on the other side.

It's hurting so bad.

I am trying my best. I am not sure if anyone else feels the same way too. But the best that I am trying here is leading me to too much distress. Is it worth it? Their in-efficiency is a problem to me. Their simple-mindedness and total lack of responsibility is getting on my nerves. What is wrong with them? I so hate people who preaches X and practices Y.

Self-centeredness is killing me too. When all they think about is their own self interest, and to hell with others, what is the meaning of being another human in this world?

Why can’t people have a little bit more sense of responsibility? Why do they like to cause so much hurt to others, knowingly and not knowingly? Is this world really a bad place to be in? I believe it’s more of the people who is making it like that.

What is wrong with a little bit of sharing and caring? Add that with a little bit of understanding and tolerance. Why can't we all live happily together? Why can't we make each other's life something to look forward to tomorrow? Why isn't everyone striving to make this world a better place to live in? It is afterall their home.

I think I am having a bad day. Shutting down now.

20 and counting.

I pushed myself to a 20 lap last night. Surprisingly, my arms didn't feel like it was going to fall off. I am happy that I did the 20 laps. It's like something that I look forward to at the end of each day, besides Gossip Girl. I'll increase the laps gradually.

I figured this swimming improves my sleep as I slept like a baby last night. I am a very light sleeper, I can hardly fall asleep just with the clock ticking. I'd have to use a digital clock. The slightest sound would awaken me. I would wake up from my sleep every now and then in the middle of the night. But last night, I slept all the way through. I figured I have burnt all the excessive energy I had in the swim, which is something good.

Getting in line.

I am very proud of myself last night. I took the effort to go for a swim. It was really a herculean effort on my part. I could not remember when was the last time I actually swam. I could not even remember when was the last time I took some time for some kind of exercise. Hence, the shape that I am in right now.

For the past 6 years, I lived just opposite PISA. And never have I ever been to the swimming pool. The very 1 time I stepped into PISA’s swimming pool was more than 10 years ago, when I went to see Kah Soon’s polo competition. Hang on, was it PISA or PSC? I think it’s PSC. That means, I have never been to PISA’s swimming pool, when all it took me was less than 5 minutes to get there.

So, since the new place I am staying now comes with a swimming pool, I willed myself to do a 10 lap last night. I did, and right after that, I felt as though my arms were falling off my shoulders. Papa threw me into the pool when I was 9. Believe it or not, I swam everyday. And at that age, I picked it up pretty fast. Unfortunately, without proper and further guidance, I was just swimming for the fun of it. It would have been different if I was encouraged to join some swimming competition. With the rate that I was swimming 7 days a week, more than 3 hours a day, I would have been in the junior swimming team for Malaysia back then.

I might go for a swim again tonight. Looks like I am getting in line with the right things this year. More good stuff coming my way.

Lazy days are over.

I wanted to start this post (the first few for this year) on a positive note. Upon checking and updating my facebook, I realised many people were ranting about going back to work today. Yea, the past 2 weeks, many workers were clearing their annual leaves or companies were closed to cut down operating expenses. I had my fair share of not waking up at 8am and drag myself to work. I kept work out, though I was not doing anything else.

So, getting back to routine today was a little bit more difficult than ever. It's not like the ordinary 2 days weekend break, and you come back to work on a Monday morning. I'm sure everyone else is feeling the same way I was. Throughout my journey from Taiping to Penang this morning, I made a mental note to myself that this is going to be the first official working day for year 2009, therefore, I have got to make this a good one, so that the following days for the rest of the year will follow suit.

The day ended well. I'm going home now. I hope everyone else had a great day today too. Go home now, and rest well. We've got another day to deal with tomorrow.

Bigger is better. Biggest is best.

Funny how I used to sleep in a single bed, and could make do with that small little space. Now, I got a queen sized bed, but I am fretting that I don’t have enough space. Silly, I know. Seriously, the bed feels small. Or was it because my room now is smaller, and comes with a bigger wardrobe? I don’t have a CRT TV in my room anymore (planning to get a wall-mount LCD somewhere in the near future). So, how come my bed still feels small? Should I move that bed to the other room and get myself a king sized bed instead? That is going to reduce the already limited walking space in my room further more. And not mentioning burning another hole in my pocket. Any sponsors?

Happy New Year 2009!

This was the spectacular view from my sanctuary just a few moments ago. There were many places spotted with fireworks at the strike of midnight. This picture was taken facing Queensbay. Of course Queensbay didn't want to miss out the fireworks too. The more I am loving this place! Being so high up has it's own perks. It's cool up here.

Happy New Year 2009 to all! It will definitely be a better year.

Last Day of 2008…

was the first day I had my own moment in my own house. I stood at the balcony overlooking the lights of Bayan Lepas area. Straight ahead, I could see Butterworth. I really like it. As I was lying down on my bed, I was counting aeroplanes taking off and touching down. It was really an awesome feeling. I finally made it to having my own place which I can proudly call home.

Looks like I will be home tonight for the countdown. I’ll either watch CSI on AXN or Gossip Girl on my notebook. With the anticipation of a bad traffic crawl, I definitely want to stay in. Not going back to Taiping tonight as I’m on duty tomorrow, earning myself some extra cash.

xo xo