Entries from November 2007 ↓

Being scared by a horror movie is one thing. But having your worst nightmare come true is about a million times worse.

I had mine happen this past weekend. My handbag got stolen out of a friend’s car (don’t ask how, its embarrassing and a stupid act on my part)  and with it went my wallet, mobile phone, and house keys.

I spent the better part of Saturday morning in a bit of a tizz, running around lodging police reports and calling up the various banks to block my credit and ATM cards, and calling up Maxis to block my sim card.

In the middle of all the stress and hassle, we had a very pleasant encounter with the police, much to our surprise. So, our thanks go out to the police patrol car that stopped to help and led us to the TTDI police station, the police at TTDI station who took our report (Shahrul and Edwin) and Sgt. Isa of Brickfields police station. The police get a lot of flack, but these personnel were exemplary and actually friendly and sympathetic - rare indeed.

So, for now, all my credit cards are blocked and being replaced which is a relief. The ATM cards don’t look to be a hassle too which again is a relief.

I got a new sim card from Maxis on Sunday itself, and it was activated nearly immediately, which is impressive. I cannot quite recall what other cards I held in my wallet, but they were mostly loyalty cards of various programmes I subscribe to and I’ll probably have to slowly replace them as I remember.

The phone will have to be replaced soon - any ideas or recommendations? Budget is not a constraint! hehe… I kid It is a constraint - so ideas please!

I just called up to find out how to replace my MyKad and Driving License, the 2 biggest worries and the bloody MyKad will cost me RM110 to replace!!! Idiot thieves! The problem is that I’m super paranoid about the photo on the MyKad and now I’m going to have to undergo the trauma of taking another. Sigh…

The other concern is my house keys. I am quite sure I have no form of identification showing where I live, but its worrying, so the house locks will too have to be changed. I started by changing the padlock as the house locks will take a while to effect change.

The moral of the story, boys and girls, is never leave your bag or personal items in the car. It was a stupid foolish thing I did and I’m now paying for my stupidity. Don’t follow in my footsteps yes?

Photo Credit of vonkale

Giddy Tigers screamed at scary movies and asked what makes me scream along.

Here’s the snag. I don’t watch horror movies.  I somehow don’t believe in gratuitously scaring myself silly during movies and then jumping at shadows after. So, I’m afraid I’m not going to be very good at this, GT.

Be that as it may, there are some scary movies that have stuck in my mind - they didn’t make me scream because although I’d cringe and hide behind cushions and watch from behind my fingers, I don’t scream per se.

The Omen - My mom was watching it when I happened to come out of my room one night as a wee kid. The black dog was filling up the screen and I fled. Till today, Damien isn’t a name of choice for me.

Sapphire and Steel -  Does anyone remember this one? This was the predecessor to The X-Files if I recall correctly. I was still in primary school when it aired in the afternoons. I don’t know what possessed my mom to allow me to watch it because it scared me silly. Till today, the nursery rhyme “ring-a-ring-a-roses” sends a chill down my spine because it was played in a very haunting fashion with little ghosts of children playing *shudder*

Carrie - That psychotic scene in the gym at the end, with all the blood was just too much. I don’t blame Carrie for burning up everyone.

Beowulf - LOL… Yes, its a CGI 3-D cartoon thing, and yes it was meant to be a fantasy adventure movie. But I spent the better first half of the movie cringing and hunched down in my seat and watching from behind my fingers as Grendel tore apart the warriors in a most gory fashion. I did not impress, no? LOL…

Can I hide behind you Kyh and Tine? 

And on that scary note, it brings me to yet another Friday, so Happy Friday and Happy Weekend all!

When I was growing up, I asked my mom once “Why don’t I have adventures?” I’d just finished reading one of the Famous Five books and their adventures had captured my imagination.

My mom told me “You can make your own adventures, they are all around.”. I never believed her. Adventures can’t be made. They happen to you. Or so I thought.

Well, my mom was right. You can make your own adventures, depending on what happens around you. It might not seem like an adventure at the time - you stumble on something different and novel, you meet someone new, you get inducted into a different way of life - and when you think about it, that by itself is an adventure.

Dictionary.com defines “adventure” as:

1. an exciting or very unusual experience.
2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.
3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.
4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.

An adventure is about taking risks. It is about stepping into the unknown. It is trusting that you are making the right decision in embarking on the experience even as you wonder if you are doing the right thing. It is a leap of faith.

Life is an adventure. If you know how to look out for it.

And I’ve just discovered that the Enchanted Wood and the Magic Faraway Tree is in a sense, real. You just have to look for it.

In the world of Enid Blyton, we were introduced to a magical tree where lands (both good and bad) swing in and out in the high tops of the tree. Lovely isn’t it to experience the nice lands that swing around, like the Land of Birthdays or the Land of Take-What-You-Want?

So I have discovered that I seem to be climbing the Magic Faraway Tree of late. The different “dimensions” I’ve been experiencing lend themselves to a magical air of experiencing different “lands”. It might not all be good and I’m sure the odd horrid land will swing by at some point. But for now, I’m living a bit of a magical adventure.

Mom was right. Adventures are there for the finding. You just have to look hard enough

♥♥♥♥♥

THANK YOU!!

I tell you, its no joke being short.

I’ve been “lucky” before this in the sense that most of my friends and the people I know aren’t very tall or even if they are, they are just a little taller than I am. Or maybe I just unconsciously don’t hang around with many very tall people at the same time.

So, I’d never really noticed how tall (or short) I was until this past weekend.

I’d met up with 3 others over lunch. With everyone sitting down, it was easy to see eye to eye and chat amiably. I never really realised just how much difference a simple act of standing up would make.

But, at the end of the meal when everyone stood up, I found myself surrounded by giants. Everyone was at least half a head (or so) taller than I was. I never felt more conscious nor more uncomfortable as when I realised that:

1. I had to look upwards to talk to them
2. They had to look down to talk to me. (which was actually embarrassing for me)

I felt very much like Merryweather and Pippin, the Hobbits who were talking to the Ents in The Lord of the Rings. If you’ve ever been in the same situation you’d know what I mean.

So, what this tells me is that I have to wear heels (it gives some illusion of height) around these people or risk having that sinking feeling again. And at 5′ 2.5″ I did not think I was THAT short!