This just in: New YouTube video!

I have a new YouTube video out!

It’s a little bit special because it’s a mashup of Grammy winner Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now and Taio Cruz’s chart-topper Dynamite. Well, we tried anyway 🙂

A country song and a dance tune combo? You betcha!

Click on the video below to hear it for yourself. Enjoy!

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How was your day?

There are days when you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You leave your bed with little motivation and enthusiasm to go about your day that although nothing bad happens, (your day) just lacks that umph.

Other days, you wake up the moment that alarm clock rings and you immediately hop off the bed, sing or dance in the shower and proceed to have a mini-adventure of your own later that day.

I think I just had one of those days where I felt alive and chatty.

I had all reasons to be grouchy because I had to wake up at 5am just to make sure that I finish my work before 7am and have it ready for the boss to go over at 10am.

Plus, I had to rush all the way to Bandar Baru Sg Buloh to meet a class or Fifth formers who published a book, which is now in its second print. I’ll blog more about that some other day.

And then, I had to take the komuter to go back to the office and finish another piece of writing to be submitted before my sub leaves the office and takes the day off tomorrow.

But today, I also have a lot to be thankful for.

I work up at 5am and managed to finish my work within two hours  —  just like how I had planned. Normally, I would set the alarm at 5am and would hit the alarm and go back to sleep.

Then, my husband was free to send me to Bdr Baru Sg Buloh, so I didn’t have to take the train because I was running late anyway. We got to the school without any problems because I could find the school in the GPS and it took us right to it, right on time.

I had a blast talking to the students and some of the teachers who treated me to lunch. And then, one teacher — who was on the way home — was very kind to give me a lift to the komuter station.

I had to wait for only 15 minutes for the train to arrive and had a good chat with a Sixth former who was going back to her boarding school in Seremban. Before I alighted the train at KL Sentral, she actually salam-cium my hand as a sign of respect because earlier I had told her I was older than she thought. She thought I was a college student. Haha! That made my day 🙂

I got back to the office just in time to write the piece and still managed to leave the office at 6pm.

And when I got home, my mom-in-law had cooked yummilicious nasi ayam and I had that for dinner.

My day couldn’t be any better, really!

So I wonder what kind of day is in store for me tomorrow? Whatever tomorrow lies for me, I’ll start the day with a prayer and a rock-out session with my Disney princesses Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.

I love my manufactured pop and rock songs 🙂

I was nervous but the butterflies flew away

Oh looky… Sesame Street turns 40 this week!

That means the SS gang is not that much older than me. (For the record, I’m 31) Yikes! But I love SS. I learned English watching the show.

Anyway, I felt like blogging again today but I’m going to do it real quick because I do have a deadline to meet tomorrow.

Now I haven’t forgotten what I wrote in yesterday’s post. That I’d prefer to wake up early to meet a deadline than do work at night.

But I think I have to make an exception tonight.

I’ll just spend an hour on it tonight — promise! I really must do as much as I can because I have an appointment at 1130 hours in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh. So I had better make sure the copy is ready by the time I reach the office. I really hate missing deadlines.

Which reminds me; I forgot to pass the cover photo to the graphic artist. I forgot to do it because it wasn’t on my Ta Da list — figures! But then again I didn’t see him today either. Oh well. I’ll just consult the boss and let her choose which one she likes.

Because this is a super quick story, we would have to settle with what we have. When we’re not so pressed for time, we normally go for illustrations. But we can’t be perfect all the time, now can we?

Initially, I was really nervous about completing this story because of its pretty rushed. But thanks to some extra information the organisers emailed me today, I’m much calmer now. I just need to focus. And for an added boost, I’ll need some kick-ass soundtrack playing in the background 🙂

Ok. Blogging time is up. Next: hot shower. to wash the day away.

Till next time!

 

 

 

 

 

My new obsession: little Nate

When I was growing up, my family had this blue Olympus camera that served us well. As a family we liked taking pictures and developing them. We had tons of photo albums of all sorts of family events.

While some families moved on to camcorders, that fad never latched on to my family. A camcorder isn’t very affordable. Although we now have digital cameras, we haven’t got into the habit of taping ourselves doing the most mundane things.

But I’m glad this couple decided back in 2006 to tape their children’s daily activities and post them on YouTube. It’s an absolute joy to watch little Nate and Mia grow up before my very eyes.

I love watching spunky little Mia but I have a soft spot for Nate, the music lover. He is one cool babe. When he was about 15 month old or so, he was already grooving to Justin Timberlake’s My Love and later, when he was slightly older, Sexy Back

It’s obvious from this video that his favourite American Idol 7 contestant was David Cook.

And he wanted so badly for Adam Lambert to win American Idol 8 in this video that he almost cried when Adam didn’t!

I hope his mom will post a new video of the two of them soon. I wonder what they’ll be up to next…

I thought we didn’t care?

I think people are strange. When I say people, myself included.

We’re strange because we tell ourselves that we don’t care but we do. For example, we’ve forgotten that old ex-boyfriend whom we haven’t seen in years. But when we realise that we might bump into them or, God forbid, have to attend a function with them, we still dread the thought. We’re excited but at the same time we think, “God, I’m not ready to meet him. I look like crap!”

But why? I thought we didn’t care??

I just had that “OMG, I hope I don’t meet him because I look like crap” moment just now when I saw some pictures of this “old fling” doing what I was supposed to be doing with his sister in the near future. I don’t think he looks particularly hot these days actually (did he ever?) but still, the thought of even bumping into him makes me want to get a liposuction or something.

Like, I want to one up him in terms of looks.. at least. I want to be able to say (in my mind, confidently), “Look at me! I’m gorgeous and I’ve got me a man. See the ice on my finger?”

Secretly, I want him to say, “Man, she was the one that got away… *sigh*

Hehehehe… I think I have issues. I suppose we all do.

Speaking of issues, I still have a bone to pick with the my t-shirt thief. Why god why?? Not my NKOTB t-shirt!! *loud sigh*

Anyway, I ripped the songs from my NKOTB Greatest Hits CD and transfered them to my iPod. I shall go to sleep with Jordan Knight serenading me tonight.

Oh before that, I had chilly crab with husband and friend for dinner. Am not a fan of crabs but after a long hiatus from eating the crustacian, I was wallopping it like nobody’s business.

Anyway, here’s a pantun dua kerat.

My stomach’s full and my eyes are heavy. Good night everybody!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I received a parcel yesterday morning. It contained a small box with a 4gb pen drive inside of it storing some pictures for my articles. The best thing is, I get to keep the pen drive. AND it comes with a warranty. Cool!

When I saw the envelope on my desk, it reminded me of a “little something” that the good people at Jamsbio.com said they would mail me. I had a feeling that I would be getting the parcel yesterday.

Guess what? It did arrive… yesterday!

My large parcel

A huge Ready Post cushion mailer (padded huge envelope) with my name on it and a return address to Houston, Texas, USA.

When I saw it, my husband immediately snatched it from me. I didn’t get a chance to see what it was. It felt like a t-shirt, so I thought, “yeah, they gave me a t-shirt. That’s nice”.

And then when I finally got my hands on the parcel, I saw a green note which said “1 t-shirt, 1 dvd and 1 cd”. Dvd and CD?

I would never have guessed in a million years…. that they would be NKOTB merchandise!!!!!!

In the parcel was NKOTB Greatest Hits: The Videos (DVD) and NKOTB Greatest Hits (CD). Here’s the not-so-cool part. There was no t-shirt.

It says: 1 t-shirt, 1 DVD, 1 CD

Someone stole my NKOTB t-shirt man!!!!! Well, I assume it’s a NKOTB t-shirt because everything else was NKOTB-related. I almost cried okay! I mean, how can these people at the immigration or postal department do this to me?

Should I consult Sy3d Faisal (our former ceo who is now with the postal department) about this? I’m really upset because this is not the first time and I’m not the first victim.

I’m embarrassed to inform the good people at Jamsbio.com , but I think they ought to know that while I got the DVD and CD, the t-shirt is missing.

Anyway, I want to thank them so much for the gift. I know my Law of Attraction book says never turn down free gifts or offers to buy me lunch (or something similar) but you guys shouldn’t have! But thank you. It’s very sweet of you!

The DVD and CD

I watched the DVD — which has NKOTB’s music videos and live concert performances — from start to finish. I appreciate the fact that the DVD has a music video and live version of Tonight which is my husband’s favourite NKOTB song. I’m sure he enjoyed it because he stopped whatever he was doing to watch it and sing along. I haven’t seen many of those videos in a loooooong time, so they brought back good memories.

And that’s what Jamsbio.com is all about to me: revisiting long forgotten memories that seem to be triggered by the sound of an old favourite tune or the sight of an old favourite video. Meet like-minded people who also grew up listening to the same stuff that you did there and … I don’t know… network I guess. It’s really up to you… the possibility is endless 😛

The video and cd are just what I need to get myself psyched for the real concert. I know that NKOTB will come to Malaysia. I don’t know when but I know they will. At least I know I’m going* (wherever that concert may be) 🙂

*Practising the Law of Attraction here.

The Price of Fame

I promise not to let anything or anyone get to me ever again. So not worth it. So not worth my time. They’ll never get anything from me” – Suzie

This time yesterday, one teeny weeny incident ruined my entire day. It lingered with me through the entire day like an embarrassing memory that makes you cringe and want to crawl into a hole and bury yourself in it forever.

And then I had a good night’s sleep and felt much, much better in the morning. It’s true what they say —  when you feel positive, you’ll attract good things even when you had a bad start to your day. I think today has been one of those good days that not only went well but also went by super fast — just the way I like it 🙂

When I got home tonight, I was lucky to catch an E! Special on Britney Spears The Price of Fame. The 90-minute show follows Britney’s life from her MM Club days to April 2008 after she allowed her parents back into her life and let them help her get better.

I genuinely, genuinely feel happy for her. This is a woman who nearly lost her sanity. Sure, she partied a lot and probably took a lot of drugs too. Drugs + booze = recipe for disaster. As a result, she “proved” to the world what an incompetent mom she was in 2007 with her strange, un-mom like behavour.

BUT when she was hospitalised (after the LAPD sent a squad and paramedics to her home because they believed she could be a danger to herself and others), they found no traces of drug in her system. She was not drunk either. It wasn’t the drugs that made her go out of her mind. She was beyond depressed. Her first love ended bitterly; her first marriage didn’t last two days; her second marriage ended with a messy custody battle and she was appearing in the media for all the wrong reasons. She basically had  a crappy year.

So it’s good to see her back making hit songs and cool videos. From her latest video Womanizer, she looked amazing. And she doesn’t have “crazy eyes” (as one blogger describes her during her drama days), as she did last year.

It shows that, in difficult times, all a girl needs is to be around her family who care for her unconditionally. She nearly lost her career, children and her mental health. She regained them back and more. To quote Britney in her single Gimme More: “Britney’s back b!tch!”

He was in blue jeans, thinking about September Morn(ing). Now (and again) he is safe :)

Yesterday was Labour Day (in Malaysia, at least) and I woke up slightly late. I completely forgot that it was results day in the States. So, I logged on to the Net and saw the headline about Paula’s antics (she judged Jason Castro’s second performance when he hadn’t even performed it) from the night before. Under it was a line which (cheekily) said: Since Paula can’t be eliminated, one of the Idols has to go.

Dreadheads (Jasons fans) are furious, calling the incident unfair. For a while now they have been speculating on a conspiracy theory to oust the dreadlocked contestant. What Paula did further convinced them that there is INDEED a conspiracy. One website even asked: Are they THAT scared that (Jason) will win this contest? Is he getting THAT many votes?

I don’t know about him winning the title. All I care is seeing Jason through one more week (and hopefully another week after that). With Rock and Roll Hall of Fame week coming up next and Jason reportedly being “very excited about it”, I hope he’ll do well.

Jason Castro performing Neil Diamond’s Forever in Blue Jeans.

There is also an article in Entertainment Weekly which revealed that Jason may have grown tired of being in the competition. Part of me feels a little angry that he has even expressed the thought of giving up. I mean, thousands of people are dying to be in your shoes right now, Jason. But another part of me sympathises with him. At this point, the whole contest has become rather taxing, even on me as an audience.

That Jason is thinking that going home sounds really good at this point may stem from the fact that he has some self-confidence issues. He has admitted on tv that he doesn’t get embarrassed easily but imagine being told again and again (on the show, over the Internet) that you’re the weaker singer in the contest. What will that do to your self-esteem? So apparently, he has been given a mantra to recite before he performs. The mantra is: People love seeing me on stage, people love seeing me on stage. Jason, honey, that’s more than a mantra because it is true. People vote for you because you’re YOU. I listen to your mp3s and think, “wow, this boy has a really nice, soothing voice! I can’t wait for his CD to be released,” and NOT, “Gosh, Jason Castro blows!”

So, Jason, hang in there. You just have a few weeks more before the competition ends. You’ve come so far and it’s such a waste to give up now!

Ok, I just gave Jason Castro a pep talk. How geeky and groupie-like is that?

Anyway, I was IM-ing with Dell the other day and she said that I haven’t blogged about moving to Section 2. I think I have. I’m SURE I have. Haven’t I? If I haven’t then, yeah, I have moved to the new house. Surprise! 😛

Other new developments include:

a) I got an iPod Nano as my wedding anniversary gift to myself. It’s a grey, 4-gig iPod which is so slim, it fits nicely into my pockets. I also got the nike arm band to go with it. I haven’t taken it to the gym yet but I have uploaded songs/playlists and videos of Self Challenge. Maybe I’ll go next week, if I’m not too busy.

b) My Self subscription has been arriving very late of late. Earlier the magazine arrives in the mail on the first week of every month. Nowadays, it arrives at the last week of the month. I’m quite unhappy about that. I’m wondering if it’s the customs here that’s causing the delay.

c) Ironman was absolutely fun. I think it’s a brilliant decision to cast Robert Downey Jr as the lead because he brought a lot of character to the …errr… character. I really recommend it.

Yay, happy 2nd anniversary to me!

Two years ago today, today was a Saturday. On that hot Saturday morning, my husband and I were married.

So, yeah, happy 2nd anniversary to me and my husband!

We haven’t planned anything special tonight. Truth be told, I completely forgot the significance of today until I was keying something into my Outlook calender and saw the date. These days, I operate by days, not dates. I can tell you today is a Tuesday but don’t ask me what date it is. So yeah, that’s the story of my life.

Anyway, my husband incidentally got two tickets for the premier of Ironman tonight. So, we’re watching that as a way of celebrating our union. These days, I’m up for just about anything. Because it is normally the last minute plans that end up being the most enjoyable.

Since the cinema is near The Curve, we may just have dinner at Marche, where we normally go to treat ourselves. See how it goes.

I know anniversaries should be big deals but not to me. I’ve never been one to celebrate, not even my own birthday. So not surprisingly, I didn’t get any gifts for my husband and neither did he for me. We’re broke this month anyway.

If I have the money, I’ll probably surprise him with an Ipod or something. But we’re the type of couple who splurge on each other for no real reason. I would have made some effort if I weren’t so freakking busy this month.

Whatever it is, I’m glad that I’m able to get one story out of the way. It’s not mine but I’ve been tasked to rejig it. So rejig it I did. I can’t say I enjoyed it. How can you enjoy ripping apart someone else’s work and changing it beyond recognition. On second thought, it sounds like utter pleasure, esp if the story belongs to your enemy.

But I have no enemies (at least I’d like to think so), so I was doing the (re)jiggy like I was treading on eggshells. I hope I made a decent job.

Oklah. Tomorrow is American Idol day for me. Whatever Jason decides to sing, please, please, please make it so good that Simon says its BRILLIANT and ON THE MONEY, Paula starts bawling her eyes out and Randy gives a standing ovation and urges the audience to do the same. Coz I just want to see this boy in the Top Three. That’s not too much to ask, right?

Hopelessly devoted to you

How can this be? Alaina Withaker out of the American Idol so soon? This Carrie Underwood look-alike stole my heart last week with her peppy rendition of More Today Than Yesterday.

So what happened? She sang my favourite song Hopelessly Devoted To You poorly, that’s what. I saw the video of her performance on youtube and I can’t argue much because she sounded awful during the high notes. It was a case of poor song choice and not enough luck. I mean Kady “Britney Impersonator” Malloy sang off-key when she was performing Magic Man but she stayed!

I also think that Alexandrea Lushington didn’t do too bad. She was, in fact, better than last week. Spinning Wheel (her song last week) was all over the place for me but this week, she’s fine. I mean, at least she doesn’t deserve to leave.

I have to say that Brooke White’s You’re So Vain was so polished. To me (personality wise), she started out sweet and then last week I thought she was so annoying. I wasn’t enamoured with her rendition of Happy Together. But this week I’m in love with her again. I hope she doesn’t annoy me again.

If the Internet is good, I’d like to check out Carly Smithson’s and Miranda Overmyer’s videos. They’re the ones that I bother to check out. Ramielle Malubay has potential but she lacks personality. I like her, I think she’s cute but she hasn’t got that X factor. I’m afraid she’d be booted out in a week or so. If she’s really lucky, she will get to the Top 12 but she won’t go very far. That’s my prediction anyway.

Well, I’m off to download some BSB’s songs. I have forgotten a lot of their lyrics, it’s not funny. It hasn’t got anything to do with age. No, no, nothing to do with the fact that I just turned 30. I just haven’t been singing to them in a while. I’m one of those who can forget names if I haven’t said them in a while. That’s not a sign of Alzheimers or old age *lol*

Speaking of turning 30, I haven’t put up pictures of my birthday cupcakes! I’ll do that if the Internet connection is good. Later!