Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones : Review

After finished reading Chris Manby's Girl Meets Ape book, I was on a reading trance and immediately searched for another book to peruse. And so I come across this book. Winter Wonderland by Belinda Jones. Or more commercially known as the Belinda Jones Travel Club. Whichever tickles your fancy. 

Synopsis

Imagine waking up in a snow globe...

That's how travel journalist Krista feels when she arrives in magical Quebec to report on Canada's glittering Winter Carnival.

Over ten sub-zero days Krista's formerly frozen hear begins to melt as she discovers an enchanting world of ice palaces, husky dog-sledding and maple syrup treats galore. And the she meets Jacques, a man as handsome and rugged as he is mysterious...

The two share a secret that could bond them forever, but can they find a way to break through the protective layers around their hearts to warm up this winter wonderland?

Black Swan : The Hoarder

Remember my Yard Sale entry? It actually have to do with this entry, which is a continuation of an entry about our dear friend that is going to study abroad in Australia next month. I'm happy for her being able to pursue her dream, but I'm not happy for her for being a hoarder. No offence my dear, just teasing. But that's the problem when you live in a place for a long time, you tend to collect a lot of things. Some can be very useful, and some can be expendable.

Spicy Chicken McWrap

I've been nagging for the past two weeks already that I wanted to eat the new Spicy Chicken McWrap. And fortunately, I was able to sate my  craving for it this afternoon. When I went out to Sogo as usual during my Friday lunch break, I did not wander around here and there as usual, but went straight to McDonald, get in the seriously vexatious line, and ordered the wrap there and then.

At last.....

Okay, verdict?

It's awesome.

Scorpio & Pisces

Can you believe this?

#Scorpio & #Pisces often are an excellent match, b/c they intuitively understand each other without the need for words.
— IntenselyScorpio (@ScorpioMystique) June 19, 2013

I guess this answered our question all along, eh Faiz? It's no wonder that we have been such good friends for five years now. Five years is a long time to be committed to a relationship for me. We've hardly been that apart since the beginning and I'm glad that we are still together. I hope we can treasure this friendship for as long as we can. Till death do us part.

Wordless Wednesday : Hazardous Haze?

I don't know about you guys, but our current 'hazy' situation looked like some motherfucking bad-ass blizzard. Without the actual snow.

Therapeutic Tuesday : A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion

Seasons change, the flowers bloom and wilt, and so does life. Every day is a new beginning and every beginning brings about change. In the events of recent development between my life and Faiz's life, we have been through some rough patches in our life; financially and personally. Recently, we were given an opportunity in life to tweak something in our life for the better.

Faiz was offered as a trainer position in his company, which help him out in a few ways that involve both financial crisis, and life-purpose sort of way. And soon, hopefully a good news will follow for him. As for myself, I've told you about my employment at the RLC. This is a new chapter to my life. One that involves personal development and character-changing paradigm.

So, for this week's Therapeutic Tuesday, a song that relish the mark of a new beginning would best befit the changes in our life. As our days go by, let not the bad things drag you back to the past, but instead embrace, A New Day.

Sang by Canadian singer, Celine Dion, A New Day Has Come was released by Sony Music Entertainment on March 22, 2002. This 'fresh' single by Dion garnered a lot of positive reviews, commenting on her exploration to a 'broader, more adventurous' range of pop music. Staying on top of the list for twenty-one weeks, this particular song which represents the birth of her child and also for those 'who has to find strength again', broke the record for most weeks at number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.

 

"It represent my child, because I gave life. And obviously, it also marks the  my return with a new album. But a new day has also come in the lives of other people because something bad has happened, because we've lost lives, because there's a scar on our world now." - Dion

Yard Sale

Yard sale, garage sale, however and whatever you call it, we have our own means of getting rid of our junk. All those years, buying whatever-it-is that ends up collecting dusts on the shelve or covered in cobwebs and thick layer or dust. So the human community came up with a way to actually get rid of those junk (not by throwing it in the dumpster) through reselling these items instead. Because "one man's trash is another man's treasure". You might be helping that next door neighbour who is actually looking for a mountain-climbing equipment that you had never use, mint-in-package in your store room never cease to set sights on the trails it was meant for.

Wordless Wednesday : Air-Conditioning

This is exactly how I feel everyday in my office. 

Damn motherfucking library is freaking cold.

Therapeutic Tuesday : Sugar Sugar by The Archies

Do you guys know how much a glorious age it is in 70s. They are known for its famous bubblegum pop music genre. The music is easy, fun and totally groovy. The lyrics aren't bullshit like most modern songs nowadays. And they emphasis on the message of optimism in their songs. Knowing how to have fun and lead a life with happiness. Besides, who would like to advertise misery?

Although I do understand the beauty of break-up and heartbreak songs, it sometimes make us more sad than we already are. It makes us think of all the bad things that had happened and revivifying the sadness and painful memories. So, let's take a break from all the emo songs and snap your fingers and move to the groove of the good old 70s.

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I think it'd pretty damn fucking stupid that people won't recognise this song. For those who've seen the cartoon itself, we were entertained by the witty and funny drama in it. This sugary bubblegum pop song was produced by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, performed by The Archies, a band formed by a group of fictional teenagers in the television cartoon series itself, The Archie Show. This particular hit song made it stomp on the musical history by being the number one single of the year in 1969 and becoming one of the biggest hit of the bubblegum pop genre.

"Sugar, ah honey, honey,

You are my candy girl

And you got me wanting you

Honey, ah sugar, sugar

You are my candy girl

An you got me wanting you..."

Girl Meets Ape by Chris Manby : Review

When I picked up this book at our RLC library a few weeks back, I was drawn to the purple-toned cover and the illustrations. But when I started to the first few pages of the book, I was inveigled to keep on reading. Girl Meets Ape, by Chris Manby.

Synopsis

"He's the King of the Swingers. But she's the Ice Queen."

When Dr Jennifer Niederhauser becomes head of the chimpanzee project at Prowdes Animal Sanctuary, the uptight young zoologist looks forward to making her mark in the conservation world. But the regime is ramshackle, the chimpanzees uncontrollable and her first meeting with head keeper Guy Gibson finds him naked and covered in baby oil. She decides never to work with animals or the childish again. But, she may not have a job for much longer anyway – Prowdes is in big financial trouble.Salvation comes in the form of a TV documentary. Prowdes needs the money and exposure. But does Jennifer need to be exposed to the show’s smooth presenter, chimpanzee expert Dr Timothy Lauder? The ultimate alpha male.

Farewell Black Swan

"It was just last year.

By fate's design, that I laid eyes on this rare animal. 

She was ebony in colour. Mysterious yet enchanting, masculine yet graceful, harsh yet gentle, a true diamond in the rough. She soars not, dawdle not, but rather strut her way through existence. Her quill cloaked her sagely wisdom as she is perspicacious. Yet in her deadly pulchritude, lies a magnanimous matron."

Wordless Wednesday : WeChat

Have you all fallen victim to the current mainstream trend yet?

Therapeutic Tuesday : Bada-Ya Dancing In September

Okay, let's hype up and relieve all the stress of work piling on your desk (if you're working) or chores that needed to be done, or homework that is making you scratch your head like a primate. Our selection for this week's song (chosen by Faiz, of course) is one of the all time favorite feel good music by Earth, Wind &  Fire, September.

The song was written by Allee Willis with the help of Maurice White and Al McKay from Earth Wind & Fire. Allee describes it as 'joyful music'. Maurice also said that he got the idea of the song from an unlikely place. Read more about the origin of this musical wonder here.

So, get your flare pants and bell bottoms from those closet gathering dust and sporting cobwebs accessories, dust them all off, and dance away your stress with this groovy "Bada-ya" song. It's time to relive the 70s with the far-out beats and jolly good lyrics of September.

"Ba da ya, say do you remember

Ba da ya, dancing in September

Ba da ya, never was a cloudy day

Ba duda, ba duda, ba duda, badu

Ba duda, bad, ba duda, ba du

Ba duda, badu, ba duda..."

- Maurice White

Turning the tables

At first I was inclined on writing a third entry on the issue of 'freedom of speech'. But since I've lost the momentum of excitement because I was too exhausted from Saturday and I didn't exactly have the mood to be inspired into writing on the Sunday itself because my body was aching all over. So I guess I'll just settle with an update on my life instead. Boring? Yeah, just bear with me. Besides, I haven't been writing about my life in a while now.

The last time I updated about my life was.......... on an entry called Prolific-less Day. Yup, that was it, but mostly it doesn't involve a lot with my current life. More on about my first time working at the Royal Lake Club. And also this entry, Still a Duckling, not a Swan yet, which I wrapped up about my emotional hodgepodge.

Restriction to Freedom of Speech

If you read my previous post on the price of 'freedom of speech', you can tell that, as much as I love the human rights to express our opinions and ideas to the masses; no matter how dumb it may be, there is a price for that 'belief'. Everything in this world has a chain reaction to it. It is the karma way of the universe. Good is re-compensated with good future, and bad... you know the drill. But this time around, I'd like to poke around the 'freedom of speech' innuendo in our country.

The Price for Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech, or free speech as you may call it is the political rights for express one's opinion and ideas using any sorts of medium to whoever is willing to receive it. I have no need to explain further about what freedom of speech all about since you can find it yourself in the first amendment. Just Google it. It's all over the place. That's what the internet are for, (not just for surfing the net, social networks, gaming, and porn). In these days, freedom of speech is being used far too widely and vaguely. Why do I say that? Look at the image here. The spectacles over the the word 'freedom of speech' itself is self-explanatory.

Okay, let's just generalize that you might be too blunt to even understand the symbolism here. Yes, I do believe that freedom of speech is probably one of the best thing that the human mind can come up with to counter arguments, express dissatisfaction, overrule restrictions and what-not. But look at the image. Why the spectacles? Because how many of you out there that really understand the concept of 'freedom of speech'? 

Malaysian Manners : Responsibility gone out the window

If you read last Friday's newspaper The Star dated 31st of May 2013, you'll find an article written by Christine Cheah about our young generations in Malaysia have no sense of responsibility. Here, I would like to, not object, but further catechize this incomprehensible disgusting display of human kinship.

I would like to cite Christine in her opening statement; TRICK QUESTION. It really is a trick question, but it's not a tricky act. Most young adults these days (I'm rounding them all up in one category as it is much more easier to speak of them this way; applies to young adults of 18 to 20++, those in secondary and also those mongrels in primary.) too wrapped up in their own self-preserved world, or their boyfriend's/girlfriend's or even amongst their own that everything else in the world doesn't matter if it doesn't concern them.

"So what? That's not my problem."

Wordless Wednesday : Grand Spicy Chicken McDeluxe

Have you tasted the ....

Therapeutic Tuesday : A new Tradition

My roommate which is also my best friend came up with the idea of this idea where I should post a song on a selected day, every week. Much like our famous Wordless Wednesday trend in our bloggersphere, we came up with Therapeutic Tuesday to cope with the aftermath of Monday blues which leaves much of the human souls in discontent. 

The sole purpose of this day is to help the people out there to embrace the pain and overcome with grace. Rise from the ashes, like the great phoenix. The songs selected will mostly be a mix of either R&B, Ballads, Pop, of Classical beauties that help us to turn the tables of our emotional roller coaster. Be it joy, warmth, sense of security, or self-worth, we hope that you could achieve it by listening to the music pierces your soul, and engross you with it's beautifully heart-wrenching lyrics.

And so we started the official debut of this new tradition with one of the classics.

Written by R. Kelly, this R&B wonder hold the records for the first song in the 37 year-long history in Billboard Hot 100 to debut at number one. Lovely and supple, the song produced by both R. Kelly and Micheal Jackson received a rainbows of comments ranging from the good to the bad.

"You are not alone

I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart."

- R. Kelly

Out with the Old

If both of my previous post about the increment of the minimum retirement age seemed to be on the positive outlook of the scale, now I shall bombard it with one big fucking reason why it is actually such a no-no, and inconsiderate to a point.

Saving up for the Future

If you've read my previous post about the increment in the retirement age from 56 to 60, and the benefits (?) of it to these work-obsessed veterans, now here I would like to add a side of dessert to this notion.

Work till you DROP DEAD

 

Retirement. A word that mean a lot to those who had spent half the time of their life working, earning money to support their life and presumably their families too. They'll be jumping for joy like children who received their first ang pow. In a way, the same could be said in the case of retirement. These retirees will either be given pension (government employees) or their cumulative amount of money saved up in the Employee Pension Fund (EPF - for those private sector labours) as they are being release from employment. So what's  the issue?