Passbook of Happiness

Monica married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party,Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbookwith Rs.1000 deposit amount.
Mother: 'Monica, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life.When there's something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it's about next to the line.The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in.I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh.When you look back after years,you can know how much happiness you've had.'
Monica shared this with Hitesh when getting home.They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to knowwhen the second deposit can be made.
This was what they did after certain time:
- 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage
- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica
- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali
- 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant
- 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted
..... and so on...
However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things.They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had marriedthe most nasty people in the world.... no more love...Kind of typical nowadays, huh?
One day Monica talked to her Mother:
'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce.I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'
Mother: 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal.Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it.But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbookI gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first.You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.'
Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank,waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account.While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record.She looked, and looked, and looked.Then the memory of all the previous joy and happinessjust came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears.She left and went home.
When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh,asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.
The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Monica.She found a new deposit of Rs.5000.And a line next to the record:'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years.How much happiness you've brought me.'
They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.
Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired?I did not ask.I believe the money did not matter any more afterthey had gone thru all the good years in their life.
"When you fall, in any way,Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you slipped.Life is about correcting mistakes."

Talk but no action

I conducted my quarterly meeting for the Pusat Sumber committee members this afternoon. As asual, not all the members turned up. All sorts of excuses..bapa sakit, mak lelah, anak demam.....! Lame excuses. I couldn't care less..as long as the meeting goes on and minutes are produced for documentation purposes..

To those who present..thank you. In the meeting, everyone gave brilliant ideas and comments but who is reponsible to execute the the fancyful ideas. At last, it's just cakap-cakap only. "Hangat-hangat tahi ayam..."

Conclusion, talk and no action is equivalent to talking cock.

Ann's Study Tips

Terrible stress-culprit, EXAMS. The key to doing well in an exam is to, obviously, study hard and this also means to study in the proper manner so that the studying experience will show results.


Rules No 1...Pay attention while in class. It's worth much more than reading 10 rounds at home. Our brain absorbs facts better thru hearing than reading.

Tips..Listen attentively in class before exams. Don't play truants. Many teachers will playfully or subtly hint things that might be on the exam papers. Many a times, they might focus on certain topics more than others. Question leaking from teachers' mouth..normal occurances.

Rules No. 2....eat well. With a healthy body, automatically our brain gets more alert. With a healthy brain, we learn better. So eat regularly and healthily during exams periods.

Rules No. 3....sleep well. Don't burn the midnight oil. It's useless. A tired mind won't help u to face the exams.

Rules No. 4...start revision months b4 the exams. Don't wait till the very last minute as you won't be able to cramp all facts into your tiny brain cells within a short limit of time. By then, you would get panicky and the brain will block anything from entering.

All these rules works well on me..and I think it works on you too. Good luck to you and me. To all OUM students, study hard.

Brain Tired

Just feel sick right to my stomach. Sick of work, sick of my books, sick of everything. My brain is so damn tired. Is this the sign of depression ? Am I suffering from depression ?

You see for the past 2 months, I had been working non stop. First, I was bothered by my uni assignments. Besides that I was thrown in a lot of paper works from my school's administrative. Then I had to attend several courses and workshops which were all held in the afternoons. Meaning, I had to forgo my free afternoon sessions to attend courses. Apart from that, I need to to go to work (school) on almost every other Saturdays. Then as usual, I had to attend my uni tutorials classes on Sundays. See, I hardly have any single day for my self to indulge in what I like and fancy. All the 7 days were packed like sardines in cans.

Now, I felt so damned tired from within me. The inner me is displaying the tiredness. No matter how tired, I still need to prepare for my exams which is around the corner. In between my teaching, I had to squeeze in some time to revise my modules. Without readings, I doubt I'm able to answer my exams questions. I'm aiming for a perfect score..I wanna a "Dean List".

Stressful...I am showing some signs of depressions now. SOS

Genius

Thinking Outside The Box. . .

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night,
when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus, you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back.
However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the
hospital. I would stay behind, and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."

"English teachers in rural areas to get extra incentives"


Leaving my loved ones and relocate to a remote place...thousands of miles away from home...living in a poor condition with no electricity and proper sewage system.

I don't think I'm able to render such service to the rural folks. Perhaps I would agree to this, say a decade ago when I was much younger and lead a carefree life then. During my first posting, I wouldn't mind settling in a rural towns. That time, as a single and zero commitments, I'm willing to teach at just any schools.

However, today with heavy family commitments and my middle age...I doubt I ever have the stamina to teach in a rural school anymore.

My present school has urban settings, my students have easy access to modern amenities. Though they lived away from school but transport wasn't an issue for them. This would be a total contrast to rural schools.

I would forgo the incentive..and stay back at my current school.

Vow

I made a vow a while ago that I would study hard this semester. I wanna obtain the Dean List. I want to score straight As....scoring a 4Flat...can I?

My finals in just around the corner. I have four papers for this sem. Exams dates are 3rd, 12th, 15th & 18th August 2009. Still have time to perform a proper read-up. If I concentrate on my modules..I would be able to pass with flying colours. Though, I'm a bit tied up with my school commitments...but I think I should able to manage my time accordingly.

Should reduce my blogging N surfing activities so that I can concentrate on my books. Can I live a day without internet. Difficult but can...only the willpower must be strong.

Promised to study hard....less blogging and interneting....

Justice

It's sad that someone has to die so soon. Dying in such a painful way. His life chapter ended abruptly. He's about to get married to his sweetheart and going to be a daddy in a couple of months time.

Seek justice for him. ...for he died innocently from another person’s sinful and premeditated act of murder.

May your soul rest in peace.

I was celebrating my birthday when you die. How ironic..

Exams

I have an exam later today @ OUMM 3203 Professional Ethics..and I have no idea how I am going to deal with it. I am alone in the room, sitting face to face with the computer screen. My chest is so tight that I cant breath. I try to look at my book but I cant think and I don’t understand what’s wrong with me. Just feel so lost.

Whistleblowers

Getting sick with some whistleblowers in my school. These quarters have nothing to do except going around finding faults with other people. Their main interest are creating tensions among the staff in the organisation. Unbelievable...they simple have so much time and energy to dig into other people's dirty linen.... What type of people are they..I wonder? Disguisting people..YUCKS..
I hope the ground would open up and swallow them in..! Eat them up...eat them up. Their hearts are full of envy, jealousy and dissastifactions....overpowering their urges to be decent people.

Annoyance ....

Happy Birthday to Ann

It's 16 July again. Another candle on my cake. Uncountable...number. Before I blow them, need to make a wish. Hope for a salary increment, good health and my darling boy doing well in life.

Happy Birthday to myself. Many happy returns...

Back-Stabbing Evils

Feeling rather annoyed with my evil colleagues who have no other better things to do than to dig into other people's matters. Mmmm, guess..."office politics do occur everywhere". Envy, jealousy, discontented human who goes round making other people's life miserable.

Certain quarters will go all out to 'murder' his/her rival . Fought towards the finishing lines...

You see, I had been in my present school ever since it opens in 2002. Essentially, I'm one of the pioneer teachers who established this school. I was put in charge of the School Resource Centre aka Library. From an empty hall, I had gradually turned it into a fully equipt place where my students and teahcers could make full use of it. Seven years of sweat...I hardly complain even though I was doing it all by myself with little help from the other staffs.

And now these 'evils' went spreading malicious gossips about me. Partly my mistake, coz I don't like to advertise my work, whatever I do, I do them behind close door. I don't fancy blowing my own trumpet. These evils are envious over my achivements and seems to get aggitated seeing my success. JEALOUSY ....roots cause of the problem.

These evils incredulously spins another story in front of the boss, leaving me seemingly in denial.
I could always pray for lightning to strike and render them bald, as it did the many Hindi movies. But why should I..? As a Buddhist, I believed in Kharmma..

These evils also attempted to claim credit for something I did. I'm cool about it - as I know she won't reap the fruits of my labour for long. Being the proprietor of my idea means that I'm definite sure and know exactly what works and what doesn't.

You stab my back and I'll surely stab yours in return. And now I am being backstabbed by my evil colleagues and I'm not getting mad..let's get even.

It's no fun playing Miss Nice Gal all the time. I think, at times, I've got to let loose and unleash the Miss Vice Gal in me so as to teach those scheming evils a lesson or two. Arggggggggggggg
Sweet vengeance. I'm sure to find much pleasure in executing them .....

Transformers

I got some premier tickets to watch Transformer~Revenge of the Fallen...last night. It was a 8.45pm show at Cathay Cineplex Jusco. Managed to rush home right after my tutorial, fetch my boy..and zoomed off to the cinema. Bought some quickie snack of burger and popcorns. For my boy, it didn't matter anymore with lousy dinner in the cineplex. as the main objective of the day was to watch Optimus Prime in action !

The movie was great esp the many robotic fighting scenes.. give a hand of applause to Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg for the wonderful graphic and sound effect.


It had been some time since I last visited the cinema. If not wrong, it was Kungfu Panda, last year. But for my boy's sake, I had to take him so that he would not be left out among his peers in school. My boy told me that he experienced this awesome feeling while watching this show...the robots seems so real and alive.


At first I was kinda sceptical about this kiddy show cause I was doubtful that it was interesting, but once the movie starts, I was stunned by the graphic and sound system. From the beginning till the end, I didn't move from my seat for toilet trips as I would normally do if the story line is boring.


The movie got it on comedy and action and some steamy scenes which isn't suitable for children. Ya...every guy would love the 'running part' of Megan Fox which may boost ur libido !

When Optimus Prime DIED while saving the young Sam Witwicky...I did shed a tear.! See how I had gotten so engrossed into this robotic thing.



Anyway you people better watch it and experience it by watching the movie. Go and Watch It...

Cooking

Tempeh, a fermented soybean is like tofu,made of soybean but retained in whole soybean shape. Actually I only know about this fact when my Malay colleague told me yesterday.

Tempeh is easily found in Malaysia, mostly eaten by the Malay, Indon and Thai community. I only learnt to consume this goodness a few years back thru an Indon friend of mine.

Normally, I would just deep fried and eat them with chilly sauce. I liked them crispy. It's cheap and and easily available at any stalls selling vegetables or even supermarkets or sundry shops. You can get it fresh at Pasar Malam. It's normally packed in plactic but the ones wrapped in banana leaves taste better.

Recently, I've tried this recipe by making "Sambal Ikan Bilis (anchovies)with Tempeh" and it turned out to be delicious. Let me share the recipe with you.

3 tbs of Sambal Tumis
A block of tempeh, cut into small pieces
A cup of anchovies - cleaned, rinsed and drained
1/2 onion, sliced
Oil for frying

1. Fry the tempeh till crips and golden brown, set aside.
2. Fry the anchovies and set aside.
3. In a pan, lightly saute onion and add sambal and stir until it thickened. Put in
tempeh and anchovies and stir until they are fully coat by the sambal.
4. Removed and eat it with warm rice.

Sambal tumis is basically a cooked chilly paste. Here's a simple way to make Sambal Tumis.

Basic Sambal Tumis

1. Blend...1 garlic, 2 onions (shallots), 10 dried chillies (soaked

and seeded), 2 cm shrimp paste, a cupful dried shrimps

2. Heat up oil and saute the blended ingredients until oil has separated.

3. Add 1 onion (quartered), tamarind juice and leave it to boil. Add salt to taste.


A word of advice
When slicing the onions, wearing sunglasses or goggles can prevent you from tearing up or run the onion under the cold water before cutting.

Driving

This morning, on my way to the market....I was caught in a massive jam. The traffic lights at the junction near my place malfunctioned. Must be due to the heavy thunderstorm late last night. Therefore, vehicles...big and small plus tiny were coming from all angles. North, South, East and west...!

As usual me and my faithful kancil. I wanted to get to the opposite road. Which meant that I had to handle traffics from both direction. The cars, buses and lorries plus huge tons containers...were zooming as if they were chased by Decepticons.

I attempted to sway thru...but got caught in the middle. There were just too many cars coming from my left. There was a Green Myvi right after me. The driver seemed so inpatient..as he kept honking at me. The honking sounds irritate me a lot...it's not the usual honking but loud high pitched one (what do you call that..air honk ). I got so mad. And guess what I did..?

I pulled down my window and show hand signal with my right middle finger..! Ya I know, my profession doesn't permit me to do this..but I just could resist this annoyance.

When I managed to cross over to the opposite road and as I was driving and that Myvi tailed from behind. Oh gosh.."Road Bully" ah? Is he coming after me with a vengeance? I sped off....and what a relieved..that Myvi made a turn into another lane as I moved straight ahead.

PPSMI

I strongly feel that English is very important in the present and will be more important in the future. Teaching Science & Maths being revamped from English to BM...is not a desirable move. Our country will be moving backward..

With additional English periods isn't going to make much improvement if the same teacher deals with the same faces day in day out. A class of 44 pupils will be having 300 minutes of English per week and the same teacher is going to teach them for a year. The syllabus of English comprises of 4 skilld ~Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Teacher incorporates various topics into the lessons. This time around, the teacher will blend in some Science and Mathematical related topics into the English lesson. How about grammar then? Without proper grammar knowledge, the pupils will still be unable to construct proper sentence structures. How are they going to express themselves using English when they reach tertiary level?

Attitude towards learning English must change. Don't keep blaming this and that when thyself is not willing to be open minded..!!!!

I don't believe that by increasing the English hours, the pupils can improve their English proficiency with their current perception towards the language. They don't seem to be interested in the language. The reason why I say this is because I'm dealing with pupils from the last few classes. My Year 3 pupils just don't want to learn English. Their attitute...their laziness, the stubborness are putting a full stop to learning. In addition, their parents aren't contributing anything to the fact that English is important. Everyday, I stood before the class babbling to the walls as these pupils of mine just refuses to lend me their ears. Whatever I say..will flow into their right ears and out from the other. Their attitute puts me off....and eventually kills myinterest towards teaching. I'm sure many teachers would have the similar feelings as I am...

What say you, dear teachers ?

Finish

Hooray..I've finally completed all my papers @ assignments for this semester. Already summited my Moral HBEL1203 and Research Proposal to my tutors. And also completed my HBET 1203 English Phonetics and Phonology assignment and will be summiting it to my tutor in my next tutorial. For the moment, I should be revising for my exams which is sometime in August. This time around, hopefully I'll be able to obtain flying colours so that I could get into the Dean List @ CGPA 3.67 above. Hopefully to get a straight A.s....which is tough but I would want to give it a try..WISH me LUCK.

One month to study. If I start studying from now..I should be able to achive that Dean List target.

Pangkor Island

Back from Pangkor. Was there for 4 days ~ 30/6 -3/7. The 1st day was boring. Extremely boring. The whole island was isolated and pratically deserted...prob because it wasn't the holiday season. Shopping...not much. Only salted fish, sotong...greeted us at the many shops. Sea shells as souvenirs and arrays of 3 for RM10 T-shirts..with the miserable word painted on them..Pangkor Island.

Shared a room with another teacher from my neighbouring school. The world was indeed small..as she turned out to be my former school mate way back in the 80s. Got acquitanced with her..reminising the goold ol days. Thruout the journey, I was exchanging all the grandma stories with her...telling ab our family, kids, life history..etc. The 3 hour journey was fast as we were too engrossed with our lady's talks.

The ICTL course was fun as we got to pick up tips on how to integrate computer knowledge in our daily teaching practices in the classroom. Computer literacy is taught explisitly during our english lessons. Teachers from various school in Penang were grouped together. We sat down to plan interesting lessons and worksheets for our pupils back home. We exchanged and shared knowledge. The seniors imparted their valuable experiences, meanwhile the youngers ones shared their compter knowledge. It's a win-win situation.

We tried to make this trip a half-half study cum leisure. The 1st two days were packed with workshops..and we rushed and squeezed everything in within that 2 days...so that we could make way for some holiday package. On the 3rd day, we organised an "Island Hopping" trip to the surounding adjacent islands in Pangkor. We hired a boat ...RM130 per boat for 10 passengers. It was fun and exciting. Got to touch the corals, marine fishes, live sea cucumber (gamat) and corals with my bare hands. These beautiful creatures were right b4 my eyes...when I snorkelled into the water. The water was extra salty compares to those in Penang. Why ya ? Perhaps, Penang Island must be too over polluted and it diluted the salt taste ...haha.

Next..visited a factory specialising in preserved seafoods like salted fish, dried squid, satay fish..prawns etc. Gotten the fresher stuff from here....though a bit pricey but the goods were fresh. No chocolate like Langkawi but countless types of dried seafoods.