Easy - The Commodores

Know it sounds funny
But I just can't stand the pain
Girl I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I've done all I can
You see I begged, stole
And I borrowed

Ooh, that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning

Why in the world
Would anybody put chains on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everbody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it!
No!

Ooh,that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning

I wanna be high, so high
I wanna be free to know
The things I do are right
I wanna be free
Just me, babe!

That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like sunday morning
Because I'm easy
Easy like sunday morning
Because I'm easy
Easy like sunday morning

So This Is Malaysia

Recently, I've been trying to keep up with the local news in Malaysia through The Star Online and honestly...what I've read so far has been rather depressing. I wonder what fascinates people about politics? The dirt that politicians attempt to throw at each other? The backstabbing? Their war-of-words? Our country already lacks so much transparency and to see the people in charge hurl insults at each other and come up with ridiculous proposals like the ban on lipstick and high heels seems to me that they don't really care about the welfare of the people. Why bother arguing with each other about stupid and I mean...really effing stupid trivial matters when there are families in Malaysia who are unable to make ends meet because of the recent increase in fuel prices.

I read an article about the MB of Kedah approving a logging plan for the state. One question. Are you insane? The problem with our country is that we focus too much on reaping instantaneous rewards from our work. We have to realize that planning has to be done in the long run. Isn't there enough development in the West coast where large areas of rainforests have already been logged? We do not need to lose any more green areas to greedy politicans who get their palms greased under the table by developers. You'd be stupid to think that the habitat that you allowed to be destroyed would grow back in even 20 years. Try 100 years.

Things like these make me so mad about the state of things back home even while I'm studying overseas. A part of me wants to say F*** this and I'll just permanently plant my butt here and deny that I'm even Malaysian when I'm asked because I am so ashamed of the way things are going on back home. But then again, if I...if we; those who were given the chance to widen our worldviews and to express our opinion without falling under censorship don't do anything, who will? Who will go back home and root themselves in the marketplace and eventually be influential enough so that by collectively collaborating, produce change that is powerful enough to sweep through the nation.

I hate the attitudes of Malaysians back home. I really do. But I'm not saying that all Malaysians are like that because change is happening; slowly but surely seen at the last elections. People are sick of the way corrupt and greedy politicians run the country and how they use race as a tool to divide the people. Over here, when people ask me what I am...I don't say I'm Chinese...I say I'm Malaysian.

You heard me.

Malaysian.

So instead of sitting your butt down in the comfortable chairs at parliament, try getting out of your comfort zone and walk through the streets of Malaysia without bringing your stupid entourage of photographers and bodyguards. Talk to the random Ah Pek or Makcik and ask them how are things going. Ask them if they have enough to eat or a place to stay. Being a politician means you were elected by the people, for the people. You were chosen to represent them....to voice out their concerns and needs so that they will be met. You were not chosen to line your pockets with bribes or APs but to serve the people.

I read an article about how people were so desperate such that they would resort to stealing fuel from parked cars in the middle of the night. Is this what our nation has come to? Petty thievery? And we call ourselves a developed nation? We are far from achieving that goal and all that rubbish talk about Wawasan 2020. We seem not to care about resorting to anything to project the image of apparent success. Any honest Malaysian would tell you well enough that it is all a farce.

I am angry and I have rights to be. I can not stand to see my homeland go to the dogs. If you're Malaysian and feel dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country, I urge you to do something. Make a change. Work hard. Innovate and invent. Recycle and think twice about throwing that cigarette butt out of your car window. Don't do what we've been criticizing our politicans about...don't have a "tidak apa" attitude.

WTF?!!

Okay, sure its nice to grab the attention of a guy every now and then....especially if you just happen to be single at the moment but this...this is killing me. Imagine working the front desk and dealing with coaches who flirt with you and ask you out for drinks.

Yeah, so they know I'm a collage girl but it does not...and I repeat, it DOES NOT mean I want to party and hang out with you; especially if you happen to be from out of town. Also this is not the first time that it happened to me (go and check my posts last summer). Same thing, different guy...the other coach happened to be from Drake...this one...God knows where...Arizona? Even had the nerve to give me his name card. Ugh! Feeling very pissed right now.

I feel like a piece of meat! Besides, I have a man...who is as crazy about me as I'm about him and who loves me very much and I couldn't ask for more. Let alone some random dude from Arizona who coaches high school basketball.

Far beyond comparison.

I have to work here again tomorrow and I pray that I do not see that dude because I would be utterly disgusted to see his face and would have to wear my plastic face. Gag!

Chicago

Heck, I love that place. It was my first time visiting the Windy City and I couldn't have picked a better time. The whole time I was there, I lived 2 blocks from Michigan Ave, in the posh North section of the city. Imagine coming down from your apartment and there are tons of bars and restaurants at your disposal; right down the exact street where you live.

I spent most of the time shopping and eating. I cannot fully describe the experience of being able to walk 10 minutes to the best shopping district in the Midwest which happens to be along Lake Michigan. I envy your apartment! At the same time while trying not to blow my credit card on shopping, I ate the best Chinese food I had in the US and had dessert on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Tower. The view and company was amazing. :)

If you ever go down to Chicago, head down to Chinatown to Lao Sze Chuan. It serves the most delicious and authentic Szechuan cusine and I am definitely looking forward to going back there in a fortnight. I did not take any pictures this time but I will definitely take some this coming July 4th trip.

I even think that it was better than the trip I made to LA the previous summer...specifically because this trip did not feel very touristy. For many a time, I felt like a local...riding the CTA and walking around like I knew the place. I actually took the Greyhound east to Chicago and despite the numerous warnings of it being a lil dodgy, it didn't feel that way to me. It was a really long bus ride though.

My mind has already begun to formulate plans to visit the city again before the end of the summer. I am looking forward to that very much. Coming back to Des Moines however was kind of blah compared to the bustling sidewalks and glimmer of city lights in Chicago. I guess I'm a city girl at heart.

Update

I think I should've done it a while ago...reformat my computer. It now runs almost like new but according to my friend, it needs more RAM and I'm still undecided about getting it. Ahh...nothing quite like efficiency. I actually enjoy using my computer much much more. :)

Those Sweet Words

What did you say?
I know I saw you singing
But my ears won't stop ringing
Long enough to hear
Those sweet words
What did you say?

End of the day
The hour hand has spun
But before the night is done
I just have to hear
Those sweet words
Spoken like a melody

All your love
Is a lost balloon
Rising up through the afternoon
'Til it could fit on the head of a pin
Come on in
Did you have a hard time sleeping?
Cuz the heavy moon was keeping
Me awake, and all I know is
I'm just glad to
See you again

See my love
Like a lost balloon
Rising up
Through the afternoon, and
Then you appeared

What did you say?
I know what you were singing
But my ears won't stop ringing
Long enough to hear
Those sweet words
And your simple melody

I just have to hear
Those sweet words
Spoken like a melody

I just want to hear
Those sweet words

Intentionality

One thing I realized about relationships is that you have to be very intentional when dealing with them. It is really easy to fall into a rut and be complacent about the way things are heading. It is extremely important to continue to remind each other about the initial goal of the relationship; what you both agreed on before even starting the relationship. It is about trying to make things work out in spite of your differences.

Imagine two people with very different backgrounds and perceptions coming together, trying to understand and love each other. It is hard. I think in the span of several months, we have fought many times but we resolve the issue almost immediately which is great. I guess we both can't stand being mad at each other for very long. It's also true what they say, the ones that are closest to you hurt you the most.

Which brings me back to my point; you have to be intentional. What do you think?

Stuck

I was looking forward to a quiet summer, being able to work, earn some money but above that, to have my own room to live in. I was wrong...very wrong. Because of insufficient planning and housing, I am now stuck in a small one bedroom apartment that I have to share with another girl. I know the girl but I don't know her well enough so I don't know how that will work out. I would hate to live with someone who may get on my nerves. I tried to work things out with the housing people but they gave a whole bunch of excuses and in some way, it is unfair because we were promised otherwise.

But it's only for about 2 months and I hope I'll be able to survive the time living there. I think I'm going to need a lot of grace as well as patience to deal with it. As such, I'm going to try and move in as best as I can, with a whole bunch of my stuff into the apartment. I'll move most of my stuff tomorrow and hopefully, that works out. My fingers are crossed!