Reality bytes

Upin Ipin Mania

2009-12-19T19:43:00.001+08:00

http://www.upindanipin.com.my/episodes.html

IELTS tuition

2009-07-03T12:37:00.000+08:00

Anybody interested in IELTS home tuition?

Langkawi Trip 27 - 30 April 2009

2009-05-01T19:25:00.001+08:00

Apple of my eye

2008-11-18T19:28:00.004+08:00

Attended Apple Content Development Workshop today at Apple Malaysia. It was a long drive there, early in the morning... we had to go through the old jammed Sg Buloh road to IKANO, since we were meeting Shah, the instructor. We had to tail him to the training center. Neither one of us could read the map they gave us.

A lot of flashy stuff from Apple... as I expected. It is part of training as well as promoting their products. My 8 year old iBook G4 seems to be verrrry obsolete.... was embarrassed to take it out from my computer bag.

It was a good course (considering that it was free!!). Even a novice Mac user to pick up the tricks and trades in a couple of hours. Of course, Apple promises a very high tech learning environment and delivers what they claim.... but there are still grey areas that some of us were sceptical about... like the technical support that each of our organizations can or cannot provide.. and the fact that each student needs to have an iPhone to achieve what Apple is offering us...

Tomorrow we will be learning how to develop lessons using Mac softwares... cool eh? GarageBand, iMovie, iTunes, PodCast etc...

New home new me!

2008-11-15T20:21:00.002+08:00

BEFORE PICS OF THE APARTMENT

- wait for the after pics....

Birthday

2008-10-28T20:30:00.003+08:00

For my birthday this year, I did something different. I did a mamograme... well not really. I wanted to, but because I'm still under 40, the doc decided to do ultrasound. According to her, the age affects the density of the tissue bla bla.. some medical terms... I went with three of my friends... Good news... everyone is ok. We were nervous while waiting for our turn for the check up.

Then Lunch.... had a surprise birthday cake!!! Happy birthday to me!!!

Change of Tune

2008-09-01T13:05:00.003+08:00

I notice how my blog seems to sound like 'outbursts' of my inner emotions. Makes me look like I'm an emotional wreck. Filled with personal problem... insights of my dull chores... hmmm here I go again

So, now since I have more time at home, I'll write about more interesting stuff... promise. Maybe I should talk about food? politics? travel? hobby? shopping?.... I need a theme.... What am I good at? Hmmmm been traveling quite a bit... watch tv... shopping tips? I'm really not good at blogging!!

21 days to countdown

2008-06-09T17:55:00.002+08:00

I have 21 days to go.... still a tonnes of things to do. I'm taking my own sweet time to do things.... maybe I'm just waiting for the last minute adrenaline rush.

Not much to say.... soon very soon, I'll be free....

Thank you for the memories

2008-05-09T20:41:00.002+08:00

I know it sounds like a cliche... "Thank you for the memories"... But, I can't help it. That's what I feel right now. It's almost towards the end of the semester, which means I'm almost at the 'finishing line'.... crossing over to a new beginning.

It's going to weird I guess, waking up in the morning and I don't have to go to work. No rush hours... no punch card... nobody breathing down my neck, pressuring about work... nobody to please.... hmmm heaven!! But, I know I'm going to get bored after a week. One thing for sure, I'm not going to do anything for the first week... just enjoy the peace and quiet...

After a week, then I'll start 'work'. Hope I won't lose track. My boss asked me just now, "Hey, why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to be on leave?".... Well... I am I am soon... Sometimes, I just can't believe that I'm actually going to stop teaching for 4 years.. after 10 years of toiling... hmmm 12 years actually!!! hah! Man... it has been that long eh!

The good thing is... maybe I finally get this blog going...

Mc Dreamy

2008-05-06T20:01:00.005+08:00

Had a really mentally challenging day.... the mid year exam is coming which means more marking. The never ending story. So the whole day I was trying to catch up on my marking of students' assignments. I feel like my work is going to be unfinished since I'm leaving them this July. Feeling a bit guilty but relief at the same time. One thing for sure, the place that I'm working right now gives me the satisfaction, career wise. You get recognition when you deserve it... no strings attached. It is here that I learn that, if you work hard enough, someone would notice.

Now, I'm at home, thinking of Mc Dreamy.... just to relax my brain a little bit before I continue marking again. Where are you Mc Dreamy?

Today Mc Dreamy, last nite was Miller Wentworth... the tortured soul of Prison Break hmmm

Sixth Sense

2008-05-05T20:02:00.002+08:00

Do you ever have this feeling that somehow that some bad or good is going to happen? Or is it just hormones? Coincidence?

Sometimes you have this feeling that you are going to meet someone you know while you were out shopping, then bang! you bumped into someone you know... weird huh. It did happen to me a few times. It's either I really have the sixth sense or people simply go to the same shopping complex heheh.

It would be great to have a sixth sense. At least, you are prepared. Not that I don't like surprises, I do. So why am I talking about this? Well, been having this bad feeling lately. Probably, hormones. Only time will tell. For the time being just enjoy life as it is today!

Defensive

2008-01-18T15:04:00.000+08:00

What is being defensive? Will you be labelled defensive if you are reacting to comments that you know that you do not deserve? Is it being defensive or you are just standing up to what you believe. Sometimes, I think people need to know when it's ok to say something and when it is not.

Lately, I have been facing with situations where people say things to my face without thinking of the repercussions. Am I supposed to just stand there and smile? or say something to defend myself and risk being labelled defensive? People hide their verbal attacks behind their 'kind intentions.... "I have to be mean to be kind" or "I meant well" or "I didn't mean it that way?" when you ask them to own up to what they say.... Maybe, I am defensive... hmmm...

Maybe I'm getting old. Older, meaning I'm set with my own rules and perceptions of the world and how people should behave. But again, can't blame me for voicing out my opinion. I believe that there are times when we can just ignore what people say about you. But there are times when you need to stand up for yourselves because no one else will do it for you.

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T12:56:00.000+08:00

Jumanji is on tv... I will never get tired of Jumanji. Robin Williams.. funny guy

A bit distracted today. I have this presentation I need to prepare. Still have a few things to do before going off to get my Nasi Ayam from Azira's.

It's not that I don't appreciate New Years. Though people make a big fuss out of it, fireworks, concerts, wishes.... To me, it's still just any other day... no pressure to come up with new resolutions. The important thing is to keep on doing what you do best, and keep on improving the things that you set out to do. It may not sound as fancy as "Ooo this year I'm gong to get a new car" but think its more practical and achievable. I guess the appeal of New Years is it marks the starting point of a new episode in your life, you feel like you get a second chance, another go of what you didn't achieve. But again, goal realizing is more important that goal setting...

I was born in the year of the Rat. Born on the 28th... Wonder what's in store for me in 2008?

Happy New Year 2008

I'm back!

2007-12-19T10:19:00.000+08:00

Back from NZ last week. Will post the experience later in the blog.... But for now, I just want to announce that the results of SSABSA exams 2007 are out!!!!

The SMSs and calls have arrived since this morning.... word of thanks and appreciation. Its good to get thank yous at the end of the year. Makes me feel that I've made a difference in the lives of my students. These results are the turning points of their lives since they determine whether they can pursue their dreams studying overseas - Australia and New Zealand. Of course, as a teacher, I hope that this time round all my students get to go.... so that when I go there for holidays I have people to help me out :). The first person to thank me was Pat. I guess she thanked me quite early in the morning because she had a rough start in the beginning of the semester. Getting the topic and format right for the research paper proved to be a challenge. Hard work paid off! Then Jack called, notoriously known in class as the 'hyperactive' when he's awake in class... always have questions that picks your brain... Its good to have students like him in class, challenging you every step of the way.

2007-11-19T10:48:00.001+08:00

Well, I celebrated my birthday with a bang! More of a surprise actually. My students came to the house and brought a birthday cake.... had tears in my eyes.... hehehheh. I asked them to come to the house since it was still Hari Raya and I thought of treating my students with roti jala, nasi himpit and rojak was my way of saying thank you to them too. At least, this year they didn't give me too much headache. And also, I intend to be more charitable.

This coming Sunday, I will be flying off to Penang and then the next day to New Zealand. My ultimate vacation! I have it planned since the beginning of the year. And that was one of the reasons that made me go through some of the unprecedented mishaps this year. It's going to be a 2 week vacation, North-South Island backpacking. Hopefully, I won't break my back! Got the most expensive backpack, Deuter, so it won't pressure my back so much. Haven't packed my things yet, waiting for the last minute. Still got some office work to settle before I go off ... and some shopping to do like I need another cargo pants and track bottom, have enough t-shirts. I wish somebody would invent disposable clothing for backpackers.

2007 querkies

2007-10-06T19:59:00.000+08:00

2007 is really weird for me....

Early this week I got an unexpected call from my boss. She asked me about a package that I received last week. I did get a package - a registered letter actually - Nor Fazlin Romli. Well, it did looked like my name, though there's a misspelt of my dad's name. I opened it anyway, just to check whether its mine since it was in my pigeon hole. The content was not mine since it was a piece of official document from an unknown man. Immediately, I returned it to the office... and that was that - case closed.

My boss called because it turned out, it belonged to a student whose name was uncannily similar to mine, residing in the same campus. It was an important document that she needed urgently- for zakat application. Hmmm my boss was quite 'disturbed' over the incident because of the mishandling of the letter, but she didn't blame me... I was just doing my thing... I had to explain myself though (not that its my fault) and apologized profusely.

Who would have thought that there is actually someone else with my name and our path crossed in this letter mishap.

Then, later this week, I received a Raya card from the main office addressed to Nor Fazlin Awang Ramli. Again wrong father's name..... though its just a wish card, but still.... So I had to call them and set the record straight.

My friend asked me, what do I learn from this experience?.... Just that, 2007 is a weird year for me... a lot of unexpected events happened. Wonder what's next.

2007-09-11T11:10:00.000+08:00

Hey... at home again. Did some house chores... like washing the curtains and cleaning the windows. I know Raya is 1 month from now, but can't blame me for starting early. Fasting month is not really the time to d heavy duty house cleaning.

Got to finish my work since I have the whole day to sit in front of the computer. Last nite, I managed to do quite a lot of work.. so today hopefully a whole bunch of them. I'm still behind in terms of marking students' work, updating emails, answering students' questions etc...

But I still need to go out for lunch.. and go to the money changer. Need to get NZ dollars for this november vacation. So far I have NZD500... need about another RM1000 if I want a 'comfortable' holiday. Today exchange for another NZD500.

Ok get back to work now... still can't figure out how to use EndNote.. anybody.. help!

2007-09-10T18:41:00.001+08:00

Called in sick today. the doctor gave me 2 days MC.... I needed the break to heal physically and emotionally...

I've been through tough times lately. Break-ups, work load etc. I guess my body is telling me to slow down. The things that are going on in my life are taking their toll on my health.... I'm not having any serious illness, just the common flu, due to lack of rest. I'll be taking these 2 days mc to really relax..... but i can't relax... work... pending work... but at least I'm home and do some catching up with what really matters in life.

A lot of things happened

2007-09-04T16:17:00.000+08:00

The last time I wrote something in this blog was last november.... that was quite sometime ago. A lot of things happened... I mean a LOT....

Well, I got my appendix removed in december... I didn't see it coming though I had some symptoms. But I thought it was the usual 'gas' making its way in the gastronomical areas. Frankly, it was PAINFUL..... indescribable, but I always put on a brave face... no good crying. The pain killers helped a lot in dealing with the pain especially after I had my meals.....

Anyway, that is just half of the story.... after surgery, the doctor told me something that I never imagined... to be continued...

Have to sign off now, got to return the keys to the office. Locked myself out yesterday

2006-11-30T16:03:00.000+08:00

Towards the end of the year now... time to clean the mess. Starting from the office desk right up to under the bed. So many to do actually, like this - creating this blog. I wanted to do it quite sometime ago, but never had the nerve or time to do it..

Finally, I'm here... feel weird thouh putting up my thought, dunno who will look at them.. or why?