Bits and Pieces

Here comes the sun!

2008-04-20T12:52:00.002-05:00

The sun is out and it feels sooooo good. It's 12.53pm on Sunday and I'm having lunch at the Atlanta Bread Company on Germantown and Poplar. I've decided that this will be my new hangout ... the food is good ... the coffee is as good as Starbucks ... and best of all, the wi-fi is FREE!! woohoo!

So I just had a Chopstix chicken salad which is an Asian-American style salad. Romaine lettuce, chopped almonds, grilled chicken (or so they claim; it look more like broiled to me), dried chow mein noodles, mandarin oranges, and a sweet-sour dressing (haven't found out exactly what it is yet). And of course, my all time favorite vanilla latte.

There's jazz music playing in the air, people are starting to fill up the place, and it's such a lovely day. I'll be playing tennis in a while with Edgar before church again tonight. And the week is supposed to be in the 80s ... which means more sun and soccer!

Wedding bells

2008-04-17T21:32:00.002-05:00

Ricardo was like ... "Hey dude, I'm so glad I got to meet you today. Got a favor to ask. Will you be my ... I mean, I'd be honored if you will be one of my groomsmen for the wedding."

Me: "Of course, dude! I'd be honored to!"

So we're going to get me fitted for a tux sometime next week.

And I'm helping Jessica plan the reception ... woohoo!

... and things worked out.

2008-04-15T17:54:00.004-05:00

Was on my way to Starbucks on Sycamore View when Doc called.

I was in his office 15 minutes later.

He explained that there was not enough funding in the scholarship fund to support an out-of-state student, and that was the reason why I did not get the scholarship. He assured me it was nothing personal, although my audition wasn't the best ever... but I would still be able to do piano and ensemble in the fall which I'm very glad about.

In my heart, I knew things would work out although over the past two days I've been in a state of curiosity/anxiety as to what happened and what would. But Doc has always come through as he did again this time. Of course, God always has a part to play in working things out and I'm thankful he watches over me.

Done ... finally....

2008-04-13T22:07:00.003-05:00

Today was the final concert of the semester ... finally! Making music has been fun, but has been really tiring this semester. I didn't get the piano scholarship this time, and I'm not sure whether I'll be able to take piano classes with Doc in the fall, but whatever happens ... I'm sure things will work out. Anyways, it was an awesome concert today and I'm glad it's done!

Super la-la

2008-03-23T08:35:00.004-05:00

Saturday night + Starbucks + Rachel's apartment + Beverly's camera = Crazi-ness!

HP 10bii

2008-03-19T01:51:00.002-05:00

My new HP 10bii financial calculator can do wonders. For all your financial calculating needs, use this. It's worth the $32.76 spent at Best Buy.

I should be studying ...

2008-03-18T23:56:00.004-05:00

The fact that I have a Finance exam in the morning doesn't seem to be bothering me. I've been back for about 2.5 hours now, and I haven't started studying. Instead, I'm blogging and Facebook-ing and reading the news and looking at the stocks and practicing on the piano ... everything but studying. I guess I'll be up all night then. Oh yeah, got the laundry to do in a bit. Sweet.

New Sem!

2008-01-22T16:32:00.001-06:00

Finally started the new sem! The break has really got on my nerves ... no, seriously, I mean the break really got on my nerves. Too looooo----oooong. Two to three weeks is plenty time to recuperate after the last sem. But one month?! I was starting to think I might feign insanity and see if I actually DID go insane. But anyways, it's great to be back at school ... work, not so much. I think I've been there too long. But hey, I need the money, right?

So here's a breakdown of my courses for this sem:

Accounting 2020 - Managerial Accounting
Accounting 3130 - Business Law and Ethics
Management 3110 - Organization and Management
Management 3215 - Management of Human Resources
Management 3510 - Business Communication
Finance 3410 - Business Finance
Finance 2220 - Personal Finance
Music 1910 - Private Piano Instruction
Music 1550 - Piano Ensemble

... for a grand total of 25 credit hours!

So I'm totally motivated this semester ... no, really, seriously. 4.0, here I come! I believe I'll be able to accomplish that goal this sem, and I intend on seeing it through.

The Student Delegate Board seems to finally be in order now. Dave, Sarah, and I got together last Wednesday and came up with some pretty good ideas that the SDB could work on this sem. Dave and I took the ideas to the board on Friday and the rest of the board seemed pretty agreeable with the ideas, all of which I really like and believe they will work. The board has some new blood this sem ... we've got 6 new members. Hopefully all the motivation and hype will not die down over the sem, but will continue persist and our projects can be accomplished.

The Golden Key Honor Society has got off to a good start too. We had our officer transition meeting two Saturdays ago and we're pretty motivated, but personally, I don't think we're as motivated as the SDB. However, we've got some pretty good project coming up too. The Go Green campaign is going to be a biggie ... requires lots of planning and it's a pretty major task, but I believe Katie is up to it. We're going to be working with the environmental club on campus and we're trying to get recycling bins all over campus. Which reminds me, I need to get all that paper junk in my room out and re-cy-cled. We're also going to have a Valentine's day event ... I'm thinking a dinner at a local restaurant. We're going to book half if not the whole restaurant, have a menu, and then sell tickets for it ... in efforts to raise funds for the chapter. Also looking forward to the International Conference at the end of July in New Orleans. Matter of fact, I just had a meeting about an hour ago with Elizabeth Knott from international headquarters and she gave some really good ideas on how to raise funds.

Anyways, that's about it for the first week and a half of school. Looking forward to a great sem!

p.s. btw, the U of Memphis men's basketball team is now ranked No. 1! Go Tigers!

Discount!

2007-10-05T15:29:00.000-05:00

So today I found out that you can actually get a discount at Starbucks if you bring your own cup. I got like 20 cents off my coffee this morning because I used my carafe. Sweet!! Woohoo for Starbucks!!

Nothing like a cuppa ...

2007-10-02T08:43:00.000-05:00

6am - Rise and shine! (is it considered shine if the sun is not up yet?)

7am - Breakfast

7:20am - Leave the house and get stuck in a miserable traffic jam

8:10am - Starbucks on Sycamore View (had to wait 10 mins in the drive-thru)

8:20am - Arrive at work

8:30am - Starting the day with a cup of Starbucks at my side - priceless!

Love the new Starbucks carafe mum and dad got for me from Singapore ... keeps my coffee nice and warm, not too hot, not too cool, just the right temp to start my day!

And the latest news on campus is that we're getting a new Starbucks in place of Java Cafe at the library ... this will be the fourth Starbucks store on campus! Woohoo!

So I'm back

2007-10-02T00:36:00.000-05:00

So I'm finally back to blogging after taking a hiatus for a couple of months. So much has happened since then of course, but to spare the long story (or stories), I'm just gonna start anew here. So university life has been awesome ... despite the workload and pressure, learning all this stuff is so enriching. And the people have been great ... I'm able to spend more time meeting friends and new acquaintances and I love being a people-person (which I believe I am more now than before). Even though I've been here in Memphis for the past 3 years or so, I'm experiencing life in a totally new dimension than before .. every day is a learning experience. I'm loving it! Well, as my favorite quote goes:

Cherish Yesterday, Live Today, Dream Tomorrow

Awesomeness!

still messy ?!

2007-05-09T13:09:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if packing was supposed to create an entire mess of its own, but this is how organized my packing has been so far:

messy monday morning

2007-05-07T03:15:00.000-05:00

It’s 3:05 am, Monday, May 07, 2007. And I’m fully awake looking at the mess I have created in my room. Unlike the usual mess from a hectic lifestyle, today’s mess is a result of taking my books of the shelves and deciding what to do with them: pack them away till my return, give them away, sell them back to the bookstore, sell them online, or simply dispose of them.

There seems to be a thousand and one things to do with my departure simply 5 weeks away. Pack the room, decide what stays in the U.S., what goes back home, or what goes in the trash. I’ve gotten a head-start so far. When I left Malaysia, I had one week to pack. I’ve still got a couple of weeks. That is, unless I procrastinate – which I am definitely not planning to do.

The birds are chirping outside and it’s 3:11 am. They’ve definitely got a head-start on the day. I believe I’ll take 40 winks – perhaps 40 and ½ so I can say I’m on break. And then I’ll hit the books.

Il Neige Dehors

2007-02-15T10:17:00.001-06:00

It's snowing outside. But not the kind that sticks to the ground, not flurries either. Heavy enough to look really pretty and yet not heavy enough to stay on the ground. I'm in the FedEx building now waiting for my MIS class to start, and looking through the glass walls of the building, it is just so beautiful to watch another part of God's creation.

The little twirls that the snow makes as it comes falling down is just such an amazing sight - how it lands on your face, your hair, your clothes; and then just vanishes away. Life is like that too...while it is there, it is a journey is full of unexpected twists and turns (and twirls!); but in the end, life is like a vapor that vanishes away. A fleeting moment.

Yet some cling on to life so dearly and never want to let go. Other are caught up in the pursuit of finding an elixir to life, trying to gain immortality. Foolishness. Then there are those who live like there is no tomorrow. For them it is just fun, fun, fun...but little do they realize that life is not just fun, but it can be so much more meaningful. Life is short. But it can be short and full of fulfillment. I’m trying to live life to the fullest.

I baked a strawberry cheesecake (my first attempt!) last night. Usually I bake tiramisu cheesecakes but I was so tempted to try out the strawberry flavoured one after a glance at the picture. Of course, mine turned out nothing like the one in the picture (in terms of physical appearance), but it smells so good. I think it will turn out to be really good.

I was supposed to pass the cake to Jessica this morning, but due to the weather, I could not get to Memphis by 9.10am as I planned to. Jessica calls to ask to meet after classes (because of me being unable to get there on time); she thinks the cold outside should be able to keep the cheesecake in good condition. Something I have learned from life when it comes to baking, colours, and a plethora of other things, the lady is usually right. So my cheesecake is basking in all its glory on the front passenger-seat of my car. And I am totally pleased with it.

The snow has stopped falling for now. I believe it's because the sun has come up and it's probably to warm for the snow to form. There are a few flurries flying here and there, though. Class starts in about 10 minutes. Better get going.

Chit-Chat

2007-02-09T11:35:00.000-06:00

It was freezing cold this morning. The ice had covered my car and there were accidents happening all over Memphis, the interstate, Poplar Ave. There was a video footage on the news showing the Arkansas - Memphis bridge early this morning and a truck was trying to drive up the slippery slope, but in the attempt to, slipped on the ice and swung and hit the divider on the left side of the bridge first, then swung the other direction and hit the left divider before coming to a stop. By the time I got on the road however, the ice seem to have aolready cleared up (or perhaps the roads I was travelling on weren't affected as much). It was pretty much a smooth drive down Poplar - other than the 1500 or so traffic lights along the way.

I managed to reach Memphis' parking lot at about 8.45am (which I have not really done before when using the interstate which is ironic because the interstate is supposed to cut down on travel time). Amazingly, the parking lot waas not as filled as it usually is (the people who usually park there must have been on the interstate with all those accidents). I even had time to listen to one more song in the car before I got out to brace the cold and all the ice on the road.

---------------- a 45 minute break ----------

Jessica arrived just as I finished the last sentence above and thus, the 45 minute break (and I am now in Accounts, 11:23am, about 12 minutes before class will start)

My conversation with Jessica was very enlightening. This is probably the first time (in the 6 months that she has been here) that I have actually had a conversation with her which lasted more than 4 minutes. And I learned a lot from her. She is very matured in her speech and thought for her age (she's 18).

We talked about her conversion from the denominational world to the Church, about our impression about the church, the MSOP, the students, and some other stuff. To my surprise, she shared a lot of what I thought about these topics. The conversation was really eye-opening. Didn't get to my grande Green Tea Latte as I wanted to, but the conversation was definitely worth the miss.

It's still really cold out there. My quick 5 second walk from the FedEx building to Fogelman was long enough to get my shirt icy cold (I went out without my cold thinking I could stand it for just that short time). Too cold.

Time for class.

Cherish Yesterday - Live Today - Dream Tomorrow

2007-01-06T01:59:00.000-06:00

In my endeavor to do better this year, I have taken down the certificates which hang on my bedroom wall...certificates and awards which I have earned at Southwest. I believe that one of the reasons of my complacency during the fall semester was due to the fact that I truly believed that university life and study would be identical to that of what I had experienced in college. And to my surprise, it was totally different!

That is so obvious, one might say. Well, true...but I guess sometimes it takes a hard knock to wake someone who has been oblivious to his situation and the changes which have taken place. Me in particular. The success which I had achieved at Southwest, in my view, had blinded me from the fact that university was no longer the same domain which I had been accustomed to during my first one and a half years of college education.

So, the pledge which I took about two weeks ago to change my life still holds strong. Today, I am still committed to my course, to my plan, and to my goal which I want to achieve. To do the very best that I can in all I do. I wish to be a better person, a better Christian, a better son, a better brother, a better friend, a better student, a better pianist...and the list goes on. It's true that no one is perfect, but whoever said that striving to be so was impossible? I believe that in setting a goal so high, I would be even more motivated to press on and stay committed to achieving my goal. As the saying goes, "Shoot for the moon, and if you miss, you will still be among the stars."

And so, this morning, I decided that it was time to remove from my bedroom wall all the certificates and awards which I had put up and store them away to be looked upon at some other time in life. However, noting the bare wall which would stand in front of me after taking down the certificates and awards...it just had to be aesthetically furnished. And so began my quest of acquiring some form of art or entity of similar nature.

I had seen some very beautiful paintings at World Market the night before...selling for half-price due to the mid-year sale which was ongoing. I was very tempted to purchase a painting with the word "Happiness" inscribed at the bottom. As I attempted to take down this piece from the shelf, my movement caused a slight noise which resulted in one of the employees of the outlet to inform me that the store had actually already closed! "You are such a quiet shopper!" she exclaimed. Not willing to take any longer, I left the piece at its shelf (intending to return the next day to further survey it) and purchased my other items. It was a good decision not to purchase it because it left more room, both on my wall and in my wallet to purchase another piece which I found today at JC Penney's.

Walking around JC Penney's, I chanced upon the home decor area which was also offering some huge offers and sales. My eyes immediately darted around to find something similar to the piece which I had left at World Market the night before...nothing of that nature, but some very, very beautiful drawings and oil paintings. But as I looked even further, I noticed that they had motivational inscriptions on it...excellent! This would fit my goal...to furnish my barren wall and also to motivate me in whatever I was doing! What a deal! And so, I now have two pieces hanging on my wall. One which says, "Cherish yesterday, Live today, Dream tomorrow" and the other, "Strength of purpose achieves the impossible."

Hence, I will from now on Cherish the sweet memories and achievements of yesterday, I will Live today to its fullest, and I set my mind and work towards my Dreams of tomorrow.

Cherish yesterday

Live today

Dream tomorrow

Friends

2007-01-02T20:06:00.000-06:00

"A friend is a person whom you can rely on with confidence to help pull you through the hard times and hold you accountable for your actions.
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born in a time of need. A friend will not judge you for who you are, but they will help you to grow in life."

As the new year has just passed, I am grateful for all the blessings which God has bestowed upon me. Little do I realise the importance of the little things in life, which sometimes play a huge role and impact my life in so many different ways.

Sitting at me desk last Saturday night (due to the fact that I could not sleep for some unknown reason) I looked through some of the photographs taken this past year and could not help resisting the temptation to go through (for perhaps the thousandth time) photographs of mes amis et moi. Oh, all the sweet memories that flooded my mind...the different occasions which we spent time together; may it be Tina's surprise birhtday party, or the TNCIL camp, or the time when Ping and Doreen visited us. Or the numerous times which we feasted on Vihn or Tina's hotpot, or the picnic and barbeque by the lake at Shelby Farms.

Sweet memories will never be forgotten.

And for this cause, I designed a video slide show, just for the fun of it, of some of the good times of 2006.

May we all "GO CONFIDENTLY in our dreams and LIVE THE LIFE we have imagined."

Happy New Year...Love you all always.

Tong Hua

2006-12-29T15:56:00.000-06:00

I'm finally starting to listen to Chinese music in my endeavor to learn Mandarin before my trip home next summer. Along this line, I was introduced Tong Hua by Michael Wong or Guang Liang as he is more familiarly known (and is incidentally from Malaysia) . I was then further directed to a website with the sheet music for this wonderful piece and I am now happilly playing this composition on the piano.

When I first started playing Tong Hua, the only impression I had was that it was just another love song, not any different from other. However, after watching the following video, my emotional stance towards this piece has changed tremendously. This piece has been one of the rare pop songs which has actually moved my heart.

Subsequently, my curiosity led me to look up the English translation for the lyrics to give me further insight to the emotions conveyed:

I've forgotten how long it has been
since I've never again...
listened to you telling your beloved fairytale
I've thought for a long time
I start to panic
have I done something wrong?

You said to me with full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

You said to me with full of tears
Inside the fairytale are all lies
I can't possibly be your prince
Maybe you can ever understand
You said I love you ever after
The stars in my sky has lightened up

I'm willing to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I want to be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

I will be
that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands
become the wings to protect you
You must believe
believe that we can be like that in the fairytale
prosperity and happiness is the ending

Let's write our ending together

My performance of this piece has now totally changed and I try my very best to convey these feelings whenever I play it...in the privacy of my home or before an audience.

"I will be that angel you love inside the fairytale
Spread up my hands become the wings to protect you"

- Tong Hua - "Fairytale" -

Hello hello !

2006-12-29T00:05:00.000-06:00

One of the most gratifying things in my view is to be able to communicate with someone after a long period of separation. And that's exactly what I did last night. Sitting at my desk, I had the sudden urge to call someone back in Malaysia. I didn't really mind who it was; it would just be refreshing to speak with someone from home.

Call number 1: Tan Jia Huey. Jia Huey was my class VP while I was President in that ever so awesome Lower 6 Azam class of 2004. Thinking of her brings back fond memories of my last few months in Klang before departing for the States. I recall that she was elected (despite her reluctance) to the VP position by the big group of Convent girls in the class. She did an excellent job though. I remember the preparation for our Hari Kantin; Jia Huey's assistance in coordinating the different foods which the class would sell was ever so helpful. But it was not just class matters which Jia Huey reminds me off, but the group of friends whom she brought along with her would later on be some of my friends whom I would establish bonds with. There was Pinky, or Capt. Pinky as the rest of the group would call her due to her authoritarian nature; there was Pei Sim, ever so mindful of her facial complexion; Jia Yong, the math wiz of the group; and Lee Kean whom was at times the absent-minded one. Throughout the few months which I spent mingling with them, we had barbecue at a birthday party, occasionally left school during the last period (which was a free period), had dim sum the Friday before I left, and a lunch at McDonalds about four hours before I left for the airport. Fond memories...and I shall always cherish them.

However, my call to Jia Huey did not go further than a "Hi" and "Bye" because Ms. Tan was in the midst of driving. So I said I'd call back some other time. Ended the Skype phone call and dialed another number.

Call number 2: Sook Mei, Yong. Sook Mei is also another friend which brings to me memories of home. I did not spend as much time with Sook Mei as I did with Jia Huey's gang, but Sook Mei was one of those friendly faces I would see every morning before assembly. I would walk over to her class everyday to chat with the Lower 6 Gigih bunch, and Sook Mei would usually be one of those who could spare the time to chat. Shanmugam, my partner in crime, and I would occasionally drive out of school after assembly for some breakfast at Moden, the mamak stall in Chi Liung, and we would bring back some roti canai or tosai and stuff for Sook Mei and her buddy, Chee Unn.

The phone rang a couple of times and Sook Mei picks it up.

"Hello? Hello? Hellooo.... Hel-lo!"
"Sook Mei! This is Andy!"
"Andy?! Ei...you spoke Malay just now is it?"
"Malay? No, no...I didn't say anything in Malay"
"Oh...I thought I heard something...but anyways...hey! How are you?"
"Hahaha...I'm doing great...and you?"

And a 45 minute long conversation soon followed.

Sook Mei tells me of her university studies in Sungai Petani (or S.P.) as she calls it, and how the mamak there is not good, but the ice kacang is soooo big! And it's only RM 2! And so I say, "Ok, ok...don't have to make me feel jealous" (for I am drooling in my mind). We talk about my life here, I tell her that I would be going back next June for holidays. She asks if she should inform everyone else. I tell her that I'm buying everyone mamak when I get back. We talk about our friends, how she didn't know about the flood in Johor till she got back from S.P. She laughs at Chee Unn being stuck in Johor due to the flood. I say,

"Sook Mei...tch tch...you're sooooo bad!"

And she mischievously replies, "Hey, have to laugh at her a bit mah...you know la...how people say Johor will never get flood, but now got flood d."

I smile to myself. That's the same Sook Mei I left behind two years ago. We talk about my going back home. She checks her calendar to see if she would be down in Klang during that time. I playfully beg, " Sook Mei...after two years...can you not just make a li---------ttle time for me?" She replies, "Of course I will come and see you. But I have to see when I'm free." She has her finals and the bus ride to Klang takes 6 hours. "Bus ride?" I ask. "Ya la...I don't have car over there." "Oh...I see." She then proceeds to tell me about the accident which the bus she was riding in almost got into the last time she came back. And she slept through that near encounter. She heard the story from her friend later on.

Things like this brighten up my day. Just to hear a voice whom I have not heard for some time. Just to be reminded of home. To be assured that there are still people who know me. To gleefully anticipate the time when I will be back home. To wonder what the changes are; over there, and in me. But I patiently await, and look forward to returning home.

Sook Mei and Andy

To my loving mother, Happy Birthday...

2006-12-14T13:36:00.000-06:00

Mama thank you for who I am
Thank you for all the things I'm not
Forgive me for the words unsaid
For the times
I forgot

Mama remember all my life
You showed me love, You sacrificed
Think of those young and early days
How I've changed
along the way

And I know you believed
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
That I am where I am because of your truth
I miss you, I miss you

Mama forgive the times you cried
Forgive me for not making right
All of the storms I may have caused
And I've been wrong
Dry your eyes

Mama I hope this makes you smile
I hope you're happy with my life
At peace with every choice I made
How I've changed
Along the way
And I know you believed in all of my dreams
And I owe it all to you, Mama

- Il Divo "Mama" -

I love you so much, mum. Happy Birthday.

Carpe Diem!

2006-12-13T22:58:00.000-06:00

Carpe Diem!

They say oppportunity knocks only once on your door. Only problem was I was not home at that time.

Seize the day! How far is the human soul willing to go to achieve great heights? Where is the line drawn between a realistic and unrealistic goal? Is there even such a thing as an unrealistic goal?

Go confidently

in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life

you have imagined.

The impossible is possible...if one puts heart to the matter. And this is what I intend to do from now on. No more excuses, no more procrastinating. It is time to go beyond my expectations and achieve.

Have I been achieving? Yes, but not enough. I know deep inside that I am capable of doing even more. It is time for a change of heart, a change of mind, and a change of life.

You only live once. No more, no less.

Go confidently...and live the life!