Daniel Singing Tuhan Kasihani Kami and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

This was taken on New Year, at my mum's house where my bro was having a new year party. I actually never knew Daniel know how to use the mic to sing. Probably he saw his daddy and mummy doing it so many times in the church. Sorry, the video was the other way. I dunno how to rotate it back. Hope you enjoy.

PhD Anyone ?

Um, should I or should I not get myself a PhD ? Not Permanent Head Damage, but a doctorate. Most of my colleagues are now queing to advance in their stuying phase. As for me, I am still deliberating. For me to get a full sponsorship from the Government, I need to find a title that will contribute to my organization (and for those of you who doesn't know where I work, I work with the National Space Agency a.k.a ANGKASA). Which I find it rather hard, you know, coz coming from a Computer Science background, I can't seem to find any topic relating to space technologies and space applications. You know, sometimes I wished I studied engineering field. I would be much better off today. But then again, I am sure everything happens for a reason, and the Almighty has His plan for me. All I need to do is just to trust in Him.

If any of you all have any idea on what I should do, please feel free to pen down your suggestions. Really appreciate it. Who knows, your idea may open up a whole universe.

Thank you so much folks !

2nd Baby ?

Ummm, by right, this should be the year to try for our 2nd baby... By God's grace, Daniel should have another brother or sister to play with end of the year (that's our target actually).

Hopefully, we will get a pair (I do love if the next baby will gonna be a baby gal) but all I hope for is we will get a baby that is healthy, regardless of the gender.

Though I have some worries of my work, well that is because all the equipments will be install, test and commission by this year. I hope I'll be able to plan the delivery till end of the year.

Wish us luck.

Working With A Sincere Heart

I guess that is my resolution for this year.

I was hurt by some remarks (unintentionally, I guess) from a colleague as well as some other problems in work yesterday. I can't help it but felt the sharp pain in my chest. I wondered where had gone wrong. Was I not supportive ? Did I failed in protecting my teammates' interest ? Had I failed to be the leader ? Was I not diligent enough ?

The pain was great that it really numbed me the whole evening. The one in the morning was still bearable, though it hurts but the one in the evening took out the toll on me. I drove home wondering where had gone wrong.

It immobilized me to even say grace for dinner. Thank god syg was there. He said the prayer and there my tear drops were falling down. It's kinda relief I guessed to have that tear drops coming down, or else, I would be so cooked up inside and it may even drag on till today and the following days.

I then told myself - "O God, let me work with a sincere heart, and let me deliver what I need to deliver."

Happy New Year 2011

I hope it is not too late to wish everyone a very Happy New Year 2011. May this year of Rabbit brings you and your loved ones much joy, happiness, prosperity, good health and great wealth.

Have a blessed year ahead.



Cheers to all readers !

Daniel's Passport

We planned to go Singapore on the last week of December. Therefore, we need to get Daniel's passport ready in time. Being a first timer, I thought one day would settle everything. So, a week before, Egbert took Daniel, my mum and Lai Yenn to do their passport.

Reached there, took Daniel's picture, lined up and took the number. Then the Immigration officer asked:

Officer: "Anak ni nak buat passport Sabah ke Semenanjung ? Ikut ayah ke mak ?
Egbert: "Huh ? Ada beza ke ?"
Officer: "Kalau ikut mak (Semenanjung), rugilah semua priviledge anak negeri Sabah."
Egbert: "Oh, ya ke ? Kejap. I call my wife dulu ye."

Ring... Ring.... Ring...

Egbert: "Syg, passport Daniel mo buat ikut ayah ka ikut mak ?"
Me: "Huh, apa itu ?"
Egbert: "Kalau Sabah, retain la semua priviledge anak negeri Sabah. Tapi kalau semenanjung, hilang la priviledge dia. Tapi mo makan masa sebulan"
Me: "Ha! Lamanya. Next week mo pi Singapore suda. Apa priviledge dia?"
Egbert: "Emmm, beli tanah, kerja, semua la... So, mcm mana?"
Me: Silence for a while ...... 
Me: "Ok la, ok lah, ikut Sabah la... Kalu tia sempat, biarlah tu Singapore. Turun JB sajalah"
Egbert: "Butul ? Confirm ?"
Me: "Iya, butul... Kasi ikut ko saja lah..."

Off the phone.... Tanda protes + tia suka + tia gembira + lain-lain...

So, in the end, Egbert went back to do Daniel's passport, making sure Daniel to follow after him so that he will be entitled to all the priviledges a Sabahan should get.

I guessed God work in a miracle way. The officer said to call back within a week to checked is the Immigration department at Sabah had approved Daniel's application. So, true to the officer's word, on Monday we called and the application had been approved. We were asked to come and proceed with the payment and passport collection.

I was truly thankful to God for granting my wish. Thank you...

Trip to Singapore

Yeah, we travelled down to JB and to Singapore on the last week of December 2010. I would have say it is a nice break from work since for the whole month of Dec I was really busy.

We stayed at this new hotel in Tmn U - Hotel Q. I have no idea why hotels in Tmn U ended up with only one alphabet. Is that the latest trend ? I already saw Hotel U somewhere down the road, and this Hotel Q stood on where the "old and previous" Bersatu Jaya was. If you guys had been to Tmn U from those days before Jusco was built, you'll know that the only "shopping complex" in Tmn U is Bersatu Jaya, apart from Skudai Parade, which is kinda far from Tmn U (at least according to a student's budget at that time).

This Hotel Q had just been operating from 3 months. Very new indeed. We took a King-Size bedroom, so it was spacious and Daniel was practically running up and down. The only thing that we don't really like was the bed, which was hard, and I tell you, I could feel all those springs when I lie down on it. Well, what do you expect ? Hotel business around Tmn U is more of those budget purpose kind, not even a 3-star hotel.

We arrived about 5pm, coz in the morning we had to pick up Daniel's passport (which I will blog about it later), had our bath and off we went for our dinner. I always love eating at Tmn U coz there are plenty of choices. Ordered chee cheong fun for Daniel, me and mummy had pandan nasi lemak (which I think wasnt as nice as the first time I ate back in 2001).

Then we went over to Tmn Daya, where my aunty stayed, coz mummy and Lai Yenn will be staying there. Took the old road - Pasir Gudang and we were stuck for an hour in the jam. Went back to Tmn U using the new highway - much easier and faster, though have to pay RM2.10. Is ok I guess, as long as we can get back to the bed as fast as possible.

The next morn, we took a bus to Singapore. Wanted to go to Universal Studio Singapore in Sentosa, but as the ticket was full, all we can do was only to walk outside. Mummy and Aunty and Egbert spent time in the casino, while me, Daniel and Lai Yenn walked around the Waterfront, went up to the cable car, took the monorail to Vivo City and back to Waterfront.

Didn't take much photo though coz was busy looking after Daniel. You know how active a 2-year old boy is now. And is kinda tiring carrying him all the time. But I hope he had fun. I loved watching him play at the water fountain. His expression was just priceless. But me and Egbert's experience wasn't very good. The jam, both on the road and at Singapore Immigration Counter was too long. It was a total of 6 hours just for travelling and immigration. Next time, we will fly in, instead of using a bus.

Meanwhile, here are some captions that I took during our trip:

Looks like there is a serious need to "look better" in the coming year. I looked so "old" and so "worn out". My god.... Life has really taken a toll on me...

2nd Birthday For Daniel

Daniel will soon be celebrating his 2nd birthday. Boy, how fast he had grown. He is now 90cm tall and weighing 12.4kg. As heavy as he is now, he still wants to be carry all the time, especially after he had not seen me for the whole day. Manja boy ..

Sometimes, it's real funny to hear him speak. For the things that he didn't want, either a "No" or "Don't want" will come out from his mouth. He can also sing. Just ask him to sing to you Tuhan, Kasihani Kami, Tamaza, Lamb of God, Alleluia and Twinkle Twnkle Little Star. He'll sing the first word and the last word, with some words in the middle missing and not pronounced properly.

And he had a very strong leg as well. Really love playing ball and driving. Good mixture from the daddy and mummy, hehehehe....

Still unsure when to celebrate his birthday. This year, we are planning to do a small-scale for him. Maybe do it on the Christmas Day, together with my mum's birthday. Um, that shall be nice. My dad will also be around. Then, my bro-in-laws and their families can also be around. Plus, it will be nice to do a small-scale open house on Christmas. Need to suggest this to syg and do proper planning. But whatever it is, a birthday cake for Daniel in the shape of a ball is a must. And I know where I can get it - Secret Recipe...

Universal Studio Singapore (USS)

My next destination of holiday shall be the Universal Studio in Singapore. So, I have started conducting some research on where to stay, how to get to USS, ticket pricing, et cetera ...

I guess the main thing that was giving me headache was where to stay. Should I stay in a budget hotel, or should I opt for slightly higher rate of accomodation, which are causing RM100 and more per night. I do like staying in a better hotel, but then again, we will be out most of the time, so there wasnt any point in putting more money in rooms that we hardly stay.

So, I guess, my choice will be budget hotel in Taman U.

I have also found transportation to USS (or actually Resort World Sentosa). There is a bus departing from Kota Raya Terminal II, which brings you directly to RWS. So I think that will be a nice start - bringing Daniel to experience bus. He always pointed out busses whenever we pass by some on the road.

My next step is of course getting Daniel his own passport. Need to find some time to actually get to the Immigration Counter. Maybe on 24th ? Let just see how my schedule shall be in the upcoming weeks.

Advent Season Is Here !

Yeah.... We have come to the last month of the year - December ! And it is a season of Advent, a season of hope, joy and love. I have always look forward to celebrate Christmas. I think it is such a nice season - both Christmas and Easter. And I was get goosebumps whenever we started singing Gloria (with bells ringing) during Easter Vigil and Christmas Vigil masses. Tonight we have eucharistic celebration in Jenjarom as well as Penitential Services after that. Woah, haven't really prepare myself for the service. I know I have a lot to seek forgiveness for...

And this is also the month where we celebrate Daniel 2nd birthday for this year. Truly thankful for God's so many wonderful blessings on our family. Daniel is certainly growing up fast now, and getting more stubborn day by day. But his love for singing is grewing. He knows the song Tuhan Kasihani Kami, Tamaza (Our Father in Kadazan), Lamb of God, Alleluia, Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star. Every night, before sle ep, it will be our family routine to sing some of the songs above. Previously, all he knew was Tamaza. Lately, when his database of songs grew, he will be the one dictating which song to sing. And he will say "no" for the song which he didn't want to sing. Well, that's Daniel. From time to time, we are trying to introduce more songs but sometimes, he really surprised us coz he knew the song even before we started teaching him. Probably because he listened to us singing during mass times.

Bored

I was getting bored, so I decided to pen down some thoughts into this lovely (but abandoned) blog of mine.
I had been so busy lately, trying to get all the things done before Christmas. And the most important of it all, is trying to ensure that the budget is being maximised, if not utilised fully.

Now, we are having our 3rd Symposium of Space Research and Development. It has been an annual program ever since 2008, but frankly speaking, this is my first year presenting. I missed the one in year 2008 because I just delivered Daniel, I passed year 2009 because I had already presented in 2 international conferences, and this year, due to budget tighting, I was only able to present in one international conference (which was quite frustrating, but its over though), so here I am, presenting my paper in this Symposium.

I have done my part, but I can't say that I am happy with it. Felt as though it was just for the purpose of putting up a paper, not throughly doing my part as a researcher. My head has started giving numerous excuses but I have decided to ignore it. I put the blame solely on myself, for not having the drive to do a research. Shall this be my new year's resolution ? I think I should ....

Ok, I will try to do a bit more research next year onwards.... Hopefully I won't procrastinate (again !)

No Idea

My mind is blank, empty.....
My body felt as though it doesn't belong to me....
Why oh why ?

Annapolis, Maryland

I have been here for the past one week, and am actually leaving tonight.

Came here to attend the conference on Space Simulation, jointly organized by Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was a fruitful conference I would say, for I have learned so much in just past 4 days. Things that I may need to implement back in Malaysia, certainly.

Also, managed to walked around the historic site of Annapolis yesterday, after the conclusion of the conference.  The hotel shuttle sent me to the historic site, and dropped me off there. I walked around, buying some souvenirs and I walked back to the hotel. Mind you, it was 3.2 miles and I walked for more than an hour. Well, it wasnt really tiring coz I was appreciating the sceneary laid before me. And I did got detour a few times when I saw first the Goodwill store along West Street, next I saw McD (which I went in and bought my lunch cum dinner set). Then I went into WholeFood at the Festival Riva (very much near the hotel actually, which means I am near to my destination) and bought some fruits, water and chips to last me till tomorrow.

I think it was nice making that decision to walk for only God knows when my next chance of exercising will be. I think I'll walk to the Westfield Mall today, before the shuttle come and pick me up at 5.

Oh, did I mentioned that I spent a lot here as well ? Beauty of shopping... I just love it. Muahahahahaha...

Lact Of Update

I'm so sorry folks... I can't seem to bring myself to pen down my thoughts. Blame it on my laziness.
What have I been doing lately ? Office works + Meetings + Travelling + Conference. That sums it up.

Daniel and His Love For Glasses

That's my little boy alright...