To give or not to give

Cash flow had been tight lately. Considered terminating some of the few monthly auto-debit to charity organisations. *guilty*  I think they all add up to less than RM200 ...heeee...not that much right? Probably one month of lunch money?


But then..there were emails in circulation warning us about the possibilities of mismanagement of funds resulting in luxurious lifestyle of the supposedly non-profitable organisations leaders.

So..do we still give or no give?


World Vision sent us little tokens every year as a gesture of appreciation.

Nothing valuable ..but nice little souveniers that make us (me at the very least) feel proud that we had done some good.  At the same time..we play a part in generating awareness. 

My car displays like three or four different kinds of these  little souveniors from World Vision.  All are unique and different.  I must say they do take extra efforts to come out with something different every year. 

..I think I will still continue to contribute.  I think it's RM60 a month ...that's the half the cost of an Iphone monthly installment which I'm gonna get very very soon *glee*

Have not written to my sponsored child for a long long time...may be I should send her a card.

So..are you going to give or not?

Picasa Movie Making Trial

Sorry.
Didn't mean to post another running related post.
Was testing picasa movie making in preparation for CC's coming big day using the running photo collections  fro 2010.

Here goes :D

My 1st Half Marathon

21st November 2010...I ran my 1st Half Marathon.  Not too bad leh...for someone who never liked running before and only started trying out 7 months ago.  *pat on shouulder*

Red for half marathoners ; Green for quarter marathoners

Timing chip by main sponsor  DiGi

Attaching chip onto shoes

Ready to rock!

Imagine  : "waking up" at 12.30am (my normal bedtime -.-).....tell me..what facial product do you put on under such circumstances? Night cream or day cream?

Protection to prevent recurring injuries

It was quite puzzling....why on earth?!  

Breakfast or supper?

We got to the event site around around 2 ish....in the morning.  It was a short drive from our suite at Vistana.  Fare: RM25.

First and most important task before flag off...was to look for the loo.

After a short session of stretching and warming up ..soon it was time...to roll !!!

The best part has always been the flag off.....close to euphoric.

Unlike previous runs..I learnt to start at a slower and relaxed pace ..mainly to avoid aggravating the muscle injury again.  In fact...I didn't pick up pace at all...so I ended up pacing with SH all the way till the end.

We enjoyed ourselves....making fun of each other yet......silently motivating and pushing each other to keep running while listening to our favourite cardio music.  She didn't put hers on..but apparently she could hear mine ..lol

2 unlimited's Get Ready For This

Billy Idol's Shock to the System and many more...kept us me pumped up all the way

a first glimpse of the bridge

We got to the beginning of the bridge after about 30 mins (roughly)  into running

Wind was blowing strongly from the sea as we move further up the bridge..rumors say that..the lighter ones may be blown off the bridge :D

Finally...the peak of the bridge.

It starting POURING when we reached the arch.  Initially we were like...Oh man!  Oh shit! Oh f**k!
Co-incidentally..my shuffle started playing OMG from Usher :D :D :D

After getting used to the rain and it was all FUN FUN FUN !!

We were drenched from head to toe..my earphone started going cranky..but it was still FUN.  At one point I shut off shuffle cos I was worried about the rain spoiling it..but then....it became so boring..I was complaining to SH....that I suddenly felt very tired and de-motivated..and bored and hungry...and I needed to pee...bla bla bla.  Put music back on....and ..I'm back 'up' :D

Oh..have I mentioned that Ms P arrived 8 hours before the race :s  Not going to elaborate...will leave it to your imagination :P

I started having major pains on the left leg towards the final 5km...but had to continue running cos it hurts more to walk.  Pit stopped at every medic corner to get treatment...which helped ease a little.  Wasn't fun aanymore.....especially during the last 3km after leaving the bridge ...it was sooooo boring....and the pain was soooo bad.  Limped all the way back to KL :P but all's well now..almost back to normal. I've resumed normal gym activities :)

Overall, in my opinion, the event was quite well organised.

Our of all the 6-7 runs I participated in so far..PBIM has the most 'bodies' in terms of medics, scouts, volunteers, etc

Will I do it again next year?  May be...

Pssst..a naughty little voice keeps telling me that 42km is achievable : /

Oh..by the way..my official timing..3 hrs 14 mins =) within the qualifying time of 3.5 hours =)

Air Bed

I shared an air bed with SH while we were in Penang.

Mistake #1 : It's not meant for more than one person.

Mistake #2: We couldn't locate the outer cover..so air 'may' escape s l o w l y

I couldn't sleep at all..I'm a very light sleeper plus not the type who falls asleep easily especially in a new environment.  

It was impossible for me to dose off.

And I had to refrain from tossing about cos I didn't wanna wake SH.

We had to be up by 1am (latest), women's half marathon flag off time was at 3.15pm and the car's coming to pick us up at 2am.  Imagine ..trying to sleep at 8pm..totally NUTS.

Well..everyone dosed off ..except yours truly.

After about half an hour or so...the air bed had lost half of its air :D ..I could feel my bump bump touching the floor...I decided to crawl out to pee. 

Then I saw the empty beds in the other rooms..the fun runners "quarter marathoners" were still out feasting..their flag off time is much later ..so they can stay out a little longer.  It was about 8pm..I crawled into their bed...hoping that they will only be back around midnite : P

They came back around 9ish....I was still AWAKE :s

Lisa who wasn't running offered to sleep at the living area.in a sleeping bag...just so I can sleep on the bed..TQ. 

Everyone dosed off..around 11ish...I was still t r y i n g -.-

I think I only dosed off..very lightly for about an hour or so...and it was time to get up :s

No wonder...I'm still trying to catch up on sleep till today.

The condition of the AIR bed in the morning ..

Totally Flat!

Don't ask me how SH slept through the night ...on an air-less air bed : /

y a w n..now I need to go get some sleep. Having a mild cold, cough and bad throat : ( 

Foodie Trail : Kampar-Penang-Ipoh

Not feeling well today and I'm still too tired physically and mentally to put together a satisfying post about the recent PBIM experience.  Instead ..I'm gonna flood your screen with pictures of all the yummy yummy food that we had in the two days up north.

Starting with Kampar, Perak  at the famous food court near the market:

One of the very few attap houses left in Kampar town

..as Lisa puts it..you can taste how much 'heart' the maker has put into making this good cuppa

Curry chee cheong fun, wan tan mee, glutinous rice, lai fun

Next up ..Penang of course:

Penang Bridge

Starting with lunch at Macallister Road:

You will find dozens of hawkers along this road

Oops..forgot to take pictures before eating :P

And these were breakfast after the run ..at Bayan Lepas..(forgot name of place)..but food was fantastic and cheap:

Excellent yam cake RM2

Curry Laksa Penang style

Hokkien Mee RM2.50

Peanut Pancake..price..unknown :P

We can't help but wondered if we will be like them in the future : /

These were for tea break at Swatow Lane

Yummy cendol

This rojak is to die for!

some kuih...not too bad.

Last stop - Ipoh : Restoran Kam Wan (Aneka Selera) a.k.a Tung Ku Teng

Fried Chicken Wing..the gals think these are better than Jalan Alor's Wong Ah Wah

Yucky..it's delicious..snail  :D

Plateful of snails..

Delicious delicious clams...

Bamboo clams..

Popiah!

Dessert - leng chi kang

Burp..

It was awesome

Food.Food.Rain.Lots of Rain.Fun.Fun.Pain.and more food.

Stay tuned :)

The Truth Unveils

Herewith, an in-depth conversation that unveiled the real reasons to why I have not moved ...






FY says:

eh.. u haven't moved yet?

wsl says:

nope

FY says:

you reno your house, got into credit card debt and still don't want to move?

wsl says:

get iphone 1st

FY says:

and then you said you are broke?

wsl says:

hahaha

FY says:

ha ha ha

wsl says:

cos new hse no int

dear streamyx needs one wk to activate

new line

or watever they nd to do

FY says:

excuse

nothing to do with moving

wsl says:

i move or stay..the cost is un-seen

i move or stay ..i stil hv to pay instalmt

no tthat..after mvg i get rental for old hse or pay less instalmet

FY says:

i don't think it is a pack-a-bag and move kinda thing.. it's really packing up the old house to move right?

wsl says:

move esentails lo

FY says:

so u haven't even pack right?

wsl says:

tv, frdge etc

i hv to make sure my father has his astro..taht is if he lets me move his TV

FY says:

and there's also the mental preparation..

wsl says:

ya

and i cant live without internet

FY says:

not if u have the iphone

no need to depend on tmnut

wsl says:

tas why i said buy iphone 1st :D

ya..NUTS

and i need a man too

to help me run all this

FY says:

ya.. u do

post in fb

wsl says:

sigh..only te mareid ones wil respon

i attract married men?

FY says:

u post something like "WSL is desperate for a man"

wsl says:

no way

FY says:

then when people ask u baru  said ' to help her move house'

LOL!

all the married men will be scared away

left the single ones

*ahem*

I'm still Michael

In September (blogged HERE) ....they sent me Michael's Shuffle..which I happily accepted.

Early October....some tele marketer called asking for Michael Wong...(blogged HERE)

On the same month, they sent me the redemption letter of the second Shuffle ..still. addressed to Michael!

Since then..I've became a regular but patient caller to the card centre...and many times..they re-assured ..that they will make sure I get my shuffle and more importantly..will make sure I'm still a Female..and not MICHAEL.


This letter dated 4th Nov..came in last week.

May be I should change sex ....
After all, Michael Wong sounds like a nice name..

Messed up post

I've been quiet....if you noticed...and I don't know why.

Year end approaching..as usual..I feel left behind by time : /

And yes.I have not moved to the new place! booo hooo...

Don't ask me why is it so difficult.
As ML said several times..she thinks I have excessive male hormones in me....that's why I have difficulty getting these things done.

The only one proud deed for me this year is that I started running.  Something I never liked doing..not that I am damn good at it now.... not exactly looking forward to PBIM this Sunday..but I know I will enjoy it although I'm pretty sure it will be my first and last Marathon...concluded that I'm physically and mentally not fit for serious running.

Whether or not I will still run for fun in 2011...is to be known.


Other than that..nothing much has happened to my life.

Work's been a tad bit busier. So much so that I may have to miss my best friend's ROM :(

sigh. not too happy about that.


Oh..Dad has been recovering well.  His arm's still weak but....we are very thankful that he is still able and helpful instead of being difficult.  In fact, we find him less grumpy compared to when he was working. That's good.


Christmas' approaching!  Time to shop! shop! shop!  The three little one's pressie.  Angie's birthday too..
I need money.


K..that's all for now..a bit of a mess up post.  Just how messed up my mind is right now :P Had such a funny dream last night about me working with one of my friend.  It either reflects..how I think about her or..my mind's really messed up.

New Adventure?

http://www.penangdragonboat.gov.my

Someone invited me to try this :P

Shall I?

Nah....unlikely...although..it's quite tempting :D

Dethroned

This is Bentong Kaya Puff bought from Kampung Bukit Tinggi (Restoran Foon Lock) 

80 cents each. RM8 for a pack of 10.

I blogged about it (HERE) when I discovered this gem recenlty.

This was from Kampar taken in September 2009.

I was a big fan of Kampar's kaya puff, blogged about them several times (recent posts HERE and HERE)

It cost RM1 each... then

This was from the same shop in Kampar.

Fresh from yesterday's trip.

Now priced at RM1.10 each.

Do you see the difference?

I do! And it tasted different too!

I've just taken this 'item' out of my favourite food album in Facebook.

Dethroned!

It will be replaced by Bentong Kaya Puffs..*hmmph*

Never short change a foodie I tell ya....WE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE!

*gulp*

Will be wearing this in about about 7 days from now..
It's gonna be 21 km..double the normal distance that I ran in previous races.

I'm so not ready!  

I'm so gonna walk half of the Half Marathon.

I have almost not trained at all since the Nike run in 10th Oct.  Where has the time gone to??  

Well, I ran a bit here and there..at the gym, at the park....may be about 5km ?!
Thought I could make up for the lack of running by going to RPM classes two days in a row.  Monday this week and then Tuesday but went totally flat -.- had to leave my favourite combat class half way..for first time ever -.- -.- -.-

Sigh~
Haven't been very fit lately..wonder why~

Don't think I will train much this weekend too..planning to dedicate whole of Saturday to Dad who had been home bound since the fall.  Sunday...may be just a short one in the morning...I still prefer evening runs..somehow. sigh.

Gan has already scolded me a few times for talking her into signing up for Half instead of Quarter Marathon :P  What was I thinking?

A comment on my fb status said something in the likes of.."athletes.. don't normally think straight when it comes to sport"

I don't consider myself as a full blown athlete..so I should be thinking straight.... no?

Why did I opt for Half again?
..........reading thru I'm thinking PBIM


One of the main reason was that I didn't want to go all the way up north to run a quarter of the Bridge ...sounds sensible what....


Ok..no matter what I'm now a proud owner of this and shall earn my worth by finishing the distance within the qualifying time ... \o/

3.5 hours it is. *gulp*