Moved

Something new

Somebody got an early birthday present (which is actually not anytime soon - March). 

Mirzan's "mama" and "papa" appeared at the door with a package in hand.

Inline skates! 

This boy got his pair before I got mine pfft. 

But I have to say, he's a fast-learner. It was like baby taking his first steps again.

He could move on his own in less than half-hour. Way to go baby!

He's such an active boy I guess it's good to have something new and challenging for him to pick up on and channel all that energy towards. He loves it so much I think he'll wear it to sleep.

Wee new skates!

Putting it on.

"Mama" helping him gain balance.

Tired, but happy :)

Britain is outraged

(source: mirror.co.uk)

This little blue-eyed cutie known as "Baby P", was only 17-months-old when he died. And he lived a (very short) life that was probably a thousand times rougher than any of ours. To cut long story short, his Mummy didn't give him the love every toddler should receive.

But if someone's hungry for a long story, here it is (chipped off The New Paper):

    "The toddler had been visited 60 times by social workers. A doctor examined him, but missed the fact that the child had a broken back and eight fractured ribs. His mother managed to explain away his constant bruises time and time again, sometimes even smearing the wounds with chocolate to hide them."                                                               

    "Last week, his mother, her boyfriend, and their tenant were found guilty of causing his death. The Times reported that Baby P had been in the sole care of his mother, who lives in North London, since she split from his father when the child was 3 months old, after she had affairs with two men."

    "Her 32-year-old live-in boyfriend treated him even more brutally, using him 'like a punching bag' and treating him worse than the family pet..."      

    "Investigators said that after the boyfriend moved in, not one item of the boy's clothing was left unstained with blood. While the mother chatted with friends online, her boyfriend would beat the boy, swinging him around by the neck or legs and pinching him.

      He also forced Baby P to obey commands like a dog. A snap of the fingers meant the boy would have to sit with his head bent between his legs. Another snap 20 minutes later would be the signal that he could sit upright again. 

       Other instances of abuse included placing the boy on a stool and spinning it around until he fell off. As Baby P grew too old for milk and jars of baby food, he was forced to scavenge bits of broken biscuits from older children and was even seen eating dirt in the garden."

It seemed social workers never noticed his injuries. A doctor noticed marks on the boy. The mother said he "bruised easily". The same doctor later referred Baby P to hospital for a head injury. Mother said he was a "head-banger".

The boyfriend was said to enjoy torturing animals and would skin frogs alive before breaking their legs (this dude's a serious nutcase). 

3 Aug, Baby P was found stiff and blue in his blood-spattered cot. The Guardian reported even as the ambulance crew tried to rush him to hospital, the mother demanded they wait while she got her ciggies. This mum's a real f------ b----! 

Baby P was pronounced dead on arrival. He suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother. 

                                                                                             

(source: mirror.co.uk)

"Physical injuries included eight broken ribs, a broken back and the missing top of a finger, while the emotional damage was almost incalculable. Despite it all, Baby P was said to have still attempted a smile." - Times Online

R.I.P. little baby.

Baby likes to Move It

Mirzan dancing to Madagascar's theme song, with a bit of big brother talking.

A Limo spotted

I forgot the name of this road, somewhere after Chinatown. I gawked when it drove in and stopped opposite from where we were. It's a frigging limo in SG!!! And this time a real one, not the white Mercedes cab that they call "limo".

Memories of the red bricks

(source: timesofmylife.wordpress.com)

It used to be known as the Red Brick Library to many who visited it. It was the Motherhouse of Books, only cos it was the National Library since the 60s. I used to go there with my family. It was located next to the National Museum. It was always such a thrill going there. Recently, it was demolished. The kopitiam, that I went to after visiting the library just a short walk away at the corner of the road too was taken away to build the Fort Canning Tunnel.

The road that used to be in front of the library is now replaced by grass, pavements, and an SMU building. And in place of the library is now an escalator. As funny as it sounds, but I have proof. The escalator leads up to Fort Canning Hill. I kind of miss going up that slope to the porch of the library.

(what remains of it today, escalator in place of library. on the left, is entrance to Fort Canning Tunnel.)

(a presence marked, and National Museum)

(Escalator on grass)

(up ahead, SMU)

(kopitiam was next to white building)

More history of our National Library (timesofmylife.wordpress.com).

Live forever

When you were younger, you probably know you can't touch a lot of the things in the house or else you'd get a good smack or scolding from the parents. But when you're older, you realise you can touch things in the house (whether it belongs to parents or not) without really having to ask.

So my itchy hands began rummaging through my parents drawers. And I began discovering a lot of cards, letters, love letters. Some were funny, some were sad. I can't believe I got my mum a Loony Tunes card for her last birthday. I realised she laminated some family photos with messages written on the back for us. And I got to see the things dad wrote to her.

One thing I've learned is if we can and want to retain a certain memory, it helps if we take a photo or document it somewhere with the date, venue, and what we remember most about it. Cos if we grow real old, our brain's not gonna be fresh forever. But perhaps seeing the picture or reading smth about it might trigger the memory. 

But say if we don't live long enough, at least we've left a part of us for whoever's still alive in the family to see. 

I have to be honest, I'm so afraid to die. I had another nightmare of dying. But this time everyone's going to die. There was a collective understanding that soon everyone would pass at the same time. We didn't know the exact time and day but we knew it was soon. I hugged everyone close to me and said my last words. I took all of mum's things, held it tight and closed my eyes, hoping sleeping would make the 'transition' into wherever life after death brings us, easier. 

Then Mirzan jolted me awake "Kakak wake up, wake up". I've never felt better about being alive. 

Worth the watch

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (by David Fincher)

"I was born under unusual circumstances"

Coming out Christmas (US)

Cannot say "lah" or "yah"!

What Mirzan is teaching me. 

"Eh you say lah! Miss Wong say cannot say lah!"

Today in 2 hours alone when conversing with him he caught me saying it at least 20 to 30 times. As much as I tried to stop myself, I found myself saying it sub-consciously. "Eh you say lah, again!"

I want to do it cos I do want him to practice the language properly besides our everyday 'lahs'  'lors' 'orhs' and 'yahs' since he's already on the right track.

"Next time you must think first.. use your brain and think. Promise you don't say lah or yah again?" holding out his cute pinkie.

I took his pinkie in mine in a swift and said "Yalah, yalah".

"YOU SAY YALAH AGAIN!!"  

Oops!

When something sweet turns bitter

Hardly Working: Girlfriend - CHTV

When big boys move

It's kind of cute. Gary Brolsma is one of the greatest internet celebrities and it all started from harmless fun of moving to the Numa Numa song and uploading it on YouTube. Known as the Numa Numa guy, he runs a website called newnuma.com .

Magic pinch

It's that special pinch. That sends millions of watts of jolt into the mind and soul, instantly giving the 'wake up' we need. It occurs once in a blue moon. And when it does, it makes the body cringe in fear of scary possibilities. It makes the brain rethink and create new paths. The body screams "Revamp revamp!"

The time to enjoy is now. Less time for stressing over problems. Less time for self-pity. Less time for wandering. Less time for complaining. Execution has to begin now. Make the best out of things now. Appreciation and gratitude.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

If you want to hug your cat, hug it. If you need to apologize to your friend, apologize. Life is too short for waiting. Life is too short for lingering. Because you might not be able to do it tomorrow. Or the minute after that. The divine being up there can cut the breath out of us in a split second or faster. 

Time and tide waits for no man. (Ruz's fav. quote teehee, not sure if it still is) 

When I was little, mum kissed me goodnight every night and I asked her why. She said, in case she doesn't see me the next day. I guess at least I go to sleep knowing mum loves me. I kind of miss her strawberry kisses now but nothing I can do about it. So I spread it on. I'm kind of awkward in showing love to dad and Mat. But Mirzan and the lloved one. Like Mirzan, when I first see him in the day I hug him tight and kiss him on the cheek. Then after that I keep wanting to hug him. He'll probably get sick of it one day haha, but I don't care. 

Live life with no regrets. The time to act is now!

Apparently

This is what I've learned from watching the lives of a group of boxers.

They're not just a group of dumb dudes going around flailing their arms around trying to knock their opponent out. I mean that's their motive usually but that's not who they are. Like artists, this is their passion. They can 'paint a picture' with their punches. They have to have footwork to move around fast enough. 

We were discussing around the room few weeks back. Maybe boxers are good dancers. They move well with their feet. While watching one of the Contender matches, someone behind me shouted "Dance baby, dance!" He's a local boxing trainer, screaming to a fighter in the ring.

If their rhythm is good, they can beat the opponent. Cos some fighters don't really have rhythm and would find it hard to keep up.

Here's a short clip of Ali dancing, since I'm on abit of Ali craze now. But he is indeed the greatest! Watch the legs.

"The Greatest"

Muhammad Ali.

Such a clever man who spoke with great poetry. A man who always knew what he wanted and got it. I can't help but research him. I've been watching boxing footage day in and out.

It all started when he was 12, and his bicycle was stolen. He ran up to a policeman, Joe Martin, fuming. Turns out, Joe runs his own gym and trained the boy to box. From there it began.

After Ali had converted to Muslim he was supposed to join the Vietnam War. But he didn't. He was furious at the thought that black people were not treated right, but still had to put on a uniform and "continue the domination of white slave masters" by murdering another nation. 

"I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong... they never called me nigger."

He said war is against the teachings of the Qur'an. 

"I'd rather face machine gunfire before, uh, deviate from the teachings of almighty God and the religion of Islam."

1967, Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title and boxing license due to his refusal to join the Armed Forces on religious grounds. 3 years later, he was vindicated by the US Supreme Court and returned to the ring. 

Ali on how he'd like to be remembered

Already know

Patience is a good way to go. 

Not the only way, but one of many ways. 

Don't let the heart jump before you. 

Maybe what I'm saying is not even logical cos I'm sleepy now. 

Patience is divine. In my opinion. I just forget to do it sometimes.

Patience is the companion of wisdom. In Saint Augustine's opinion.

But I agree. Good one Saint Augustine.

I'm so grateful to have the ability to see, hear, touch, taste, smell. I thank god everyday for it. People who walk around with one hand, people who can't see and have to depend on the stick, people who weren't born normal. Most of them would want to be in our shoes. For some reason I see many of them nowadays. And you know what they say, you're there for a reason. Made to witness these things that makes you rethink and rethink. 

I'm happy. No matter how unhappy I am, I'm happy.

Don't know what

It's so hard to stay optimistic when you're feeling pessimist. 

But you know positive is the way to go.

So go.

But you don' feel like budging.

You feel like remaining negative cos the feeling seems right. 

Sensitivity, shut up. you're doing too good a job.

iRack

A new product of Apple, iRack - MadTV. 

Trunk-ated

There's a big elephant in the room I can't seem to get rid of.

Imagine

Smiles! 

Dedicated to a certain baby monster whom I love, Mirzan.

With photos taken by another lloved one, Mohd Faiz.

I hope Mirzan never loses his magic of imagination growing up. Cos he inspires people like that. People like his big sister. And sometimes it's funny watching him amuse himself with his own make believe stories and watch him laugh at it, and having fun with it. You just can't help but smile.  

Randy's last lecture

This is a great example of how we could try and live life right, but still be hit by a fast-killing disease. Dr Randy Pausch excercises everyday, he tries to eat right but is one day hit by Pancreatic cancer. Later told that he has months to live. Randy has to try stay positive, for he will be leaving behind a loving wife and 3 beautiful young children. He won't be able to watch them grow up to be big boys, or grow old with his wife. 

But he accepted it, and helped to raise awareness for Pancreatic Cancer before he died. Being a researcher himself, Randy, says the researches going towards Pancreatic cancer isn't well-funded. He believes that if it is, they might be able to find more ways to help patients rather than just chemotherapy and radiation. 

Here he is on Oprah, with his Last Lecture, talking about achieving childhood dreams and sharing lessons he learned in life.