Of Ramadhan

Haha. Never thought I'd post a post under that name.

Today marks the first day of Ramadhan, 1st September 2008.

I think for the second? third? year already, I've not been welcoming its arrival. And not for voluntary reasons, and you know what it is. Perhaps its a metaphore - of a particular subject that I'm not welcoming too.

Anyway, last Friday, 29 Aug, marked another first for me. First time to a driving range. Finally! It's been almost a year since I've had the intention to start golf and here it comes.

We went to Kiara, with Rams and Amir, and I got me my first white golf gloves :)

It was fun, but probably I gripped the clubs to hard - my hands still hurt from Friday (today's Monday). Fun because it triggers focus and patience, I guess. But hey, that was only my one first time. I can't wait to get addicted to it!

Yesterday was Merdeka, so today's public holiday. Aleef's at home and its been a lazy weekend for all of us, except yesterday when Mama had a bunch of guests. Tiring.

Last week on 28th was Fahimi's birthday and this week on 5th will be Papa's.

I ran a 5.7km yesterday, which is one full round at UM, plus the very steep hill at 10th (that I dreamt about last night) at 47 minutes. Coincidentally, when I was just about done, there was a competitive run for the API students, I think. The female were all clad in hijjab. By the way, I supposed to run with Fahimi, but he didn't wake up. And I sorta sensed it coming when I was driving to UM yesterday morning. Probably I was thinking too much about it, that he appeared in my dream where we both conquered that steep hill at 10th together. Haha.

So yeah, Raya will be around the corner. Can't wait to see what surprises it holds for us this year. Think positive, cause a positive thought can't be denied. Be healthy. Be happy :)

Of Hospitals and Airports

This is the week that epitomizes the above.

Hospitals - Dengue for Zul and Fino. Baby girl for Kent. Ennie's mum, bro and sister met with minor accident yesterday.

Airports - Ishida to Aussie. Ennie to Sarawak. Mama to Ho Chi Minh. Chong and Goh to Taipei.

I haven't run since 10K last Sunday, then pulled a 3K yesterday. Didn't sweat enough and didn't push myself harder. Today, feeling a bit of difficulty to breath.

Oh, and just wanted to share... Looking back at the list of things to do (drafted last year) - I actually achieved 3 of it! Wall climbing? Check. Wide water? Check. Run? Check.

Next thing I should pursue - learn a classical by heart. What else if not Chopin :)

Be positive, be happy, be healthy!

Of Attaining a Resolution

About two months, now? Yes. Haven't blogged.

All time devoted to work? Yes. And today is different.

Got a lot of free time? Apparently. It's a dark and rainy Monday morning, and I've just returned from a 5-day break. From Wednesday last week.

Unexpected? Yes.

Good news? Plenty. *smile*

1. The Work
Since most of the team members are out, except me and Rena, of course. I'm a bit off track trying to catch up with what I've left last week. YS and Ali are all in the mood of leaving, really, their last day is this Wednesday, so there's nothing much I can do with them. So, here I am, blogging. Haha. I bet they can see from the reflection of my window I'm blogging. Who cares. I am happy.

2. The Break
Took Mama and Aleef to Cameron Highlands. Stayed at Equatorial for 3D-2N. Relaxing and fulfilling. Thing I enjoyed most? Long hot baths!

3. The Run
Have been training for about 2.5 weeks to participate in a 10K run. Larian Perpaduan Merdeka.

Quoted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/18/nation/22110351&sec=nation

Over 7,000 take part in Merdeka Unity Run

By AUDREY EDWARDS

KUALA LUMPUR: Droves of Malaysians passed up the chance of sleeping in and instead turned up bright and early at Dataran Merdeka to take part in the inaugural Merdeka Unity Run.
They gathered before 7am yesterday and were seen warming up for the run in groups while others did morning aerobics with an instructor at the main stage.

More than 7,000 people took part in the run organised by the Unity Committee of the Merdeka celebrations chaired by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

And while many were revved up to start their run, the rest took photographs and tried and get a closer glimpse of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Carnival-like atmosphere: Participants having fun on the main stage after finishing the Merdeka Unity Run at Dataran Merdeka Sunday.

Abdullah flagged off the race, which was divided into three categories – 10km, 5km and the fun run.

Joining him on the podium were his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Dr Ng, National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his wife Datin Seri Shuryani Shuaib and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed.
The Prime Minister and VIPs also visited booths that had been set up on the sprawling field and the crowd, including families, friends, students, the disabled and single mothers, checked out the various activities at the community carnival held for them.

This included free health screenings, stage performances, aero dancing (a type of aerobics) and colouring contests which, Dr Ng told reporters, were events that brought people together.
She said having a category where people of various ethnic groups entered as teams was to embrace the fact that while they were still Malaysians, one could not deny ethnic lines of division.

Wheelchair-bound former safety officer Karthigesan Eswara, 41, who took part in the 3km fun run, said the event would foster unity among Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Fiona Zuzartee, 20, beat 15 other finalists to win the Fitness Round of the 9th National Miss MalaysiaIndian Global (MMIGlobal) pageant at the run.

Zuzartee, of Indian-Portuguese parentage, completed the 5km run in 39.02 minutes.
Following hot on her heels was medical student Sowmya Krishnan, 20, in 39.12 minutes.
Law student Keshreena Kaur Sidhu, 20, finished third in 43.32 minutes.

And me?

Ran with Fahimi and Yot. But Yot was far ahead from us.

We both completed the 10K - non-stop - at approximately 90 minutes.

The route? From Dataran Merdeka - Jln Tun Ismail - Bulatan Duta - Pass Tennis Stadium - Into Jln Duta - Up the ramp in front of Parliament - Jln Tugu - Back to Dataran Merdeka.

This goes down the books. Why? Cause I actually achieved one of my (two-years-old) new year's resolution! And, I actually thought to SMS Rizal. But then, I did a Re-Thought. Ha.

So next on the map - 20K run. Talk about ambitious.

However, this training and running has given me a new me. I feel good, light and crushy (again).

This time, the crush could potentially be more rational. It feels to be two-sided, and probably not as a long shot as the one before. I feel better in the mind too. And I feel a bit more confident than I did few months back.

4. The 17th
Yesterday, 17th August marked a few events - A Run, A TV Appearance and A Birthday.

Enough said for the first marked item.

Renny debuted as a newscaster on Bernama yesterday at 10.30 am. She looked beautiful, and so professional. I'm so happy for her. Hello, celebrity in the family!

It was Jan's birthday yesterday. We had a "surprise" party for her at our house, and had her fiancee come over too.

5. The New Family Member
Tessa gave birth to a baby boy, on 15 August at 8.15 am. Nice.

6. The Prediction
When I was training for the run, I had a vision that someone would probably need some sort of help during my run.

I was running with Fahimi on 15 Aug, at Kota Damansara, when a biker in distress called for our help. He ran across the road to help out this guy to restart his bike. Then, we continued running. Another round later, we stumbled this same guy at the spot where Fahimi help restart the bike. He was actually waiting for us. Why?

He had gone to buy some drinks for us. A token for helping us out.

Our reaction? Pleasantly surprised. There's still some good in this world. Subhanallah.

7. Nifsu Syabaan
Came the night before the run :)

8. The Masters
Still haven't got a channel to finance my accepted course at UQ, to do MSc International Econs & Finance. STILL working on it, after about 1 YEAR ALREADY!

Aaaaaandddd.. guess what? Ok, don't guess cause I'm telling.

Ishida will be going to UQ to pursue her PhD. When? This Saturday. Sigh. Talk about making a hoo-haa about things. Then I read the quote from Dina Zaman again. Keep it close to the heart, girl, keep it CLOSED. Mental note to me - repeat over and over and over and over.

So yeah, she's going, fully sponsored, and I'm still here. The best part about it is - I don't feel so bad! I know there's a reason I'm still going to be here for quite some time. Aaaaaannnddd.. it could be because of the 20K. It just could be :)

Oh, did I tell that Ennie is preggie? Nice.

Oh, did I tell that Dz is married? Nice.

Oh, did I tell that this running thing started when I participated for 5K walk last month? Guess I didn't, did I?

Oh, maybe I should say that the training started when we went to catch X-Files at Mid Valley. Lame movie. Good excuse.

And another Oh, I've started making music again.

And another another Oh, keep a watch for a company possibly called Right-On-Track.

And another another another Oh, I bought myself a new watch. Which, to think of it, I've never ever bought myself a proper watch. But I did it last weekend.

Encapsulating the past two months? Done.

Way forward? More positive energy to be exerted and much more to be garnered.

Be happy and be healthy!

*OMG, forgot to mention that I was down with food poisoining after consuming maggie goreng at a gerai in Titiwangsa. What a traumatic experience. I'm banning maggie goreng from my palate 10 years from now!

Be healthy! :)