A Reason to Cry, Many More Reasons To Laugh 02

More than two years ago, I put a short entry on this blog. Today, this is the answer to that entry.

My Emma-Noelle Caitlin, born 25th December 2003, was born with Trisomy 21.

At about 18 months, she decided that she no longer wants to drag her bottom on the floor. So one fine day, she got up right and stood up.


For her second birthday, she spent it in Miri at her Godmother's home.


At 2 and a half, she was showing the cheeky side of her.


At 3years of age, she was naughty, cheeky, considerate, and loving.


Now she is young lady of nearing 4years.

And that, my dear readers, is God's gift to me. Because no matter what others say, my Emma writes!

note: background noise is of sisters Aidan and Ashleigh

All I Want For Christmas...

All I Want for Christmas is

Peace

Love

Hope

Patience

Strength

and ....

these

At Play (01)

My girls love going back up country to where my parents live. Because there, they get to play outside the house and not be confined in doors. Here, you get to see what happens when they are let 'loose' ...

Circle of Friends

Some people, I will always treasure their friendship and association. Many people whom I know, especially through my former employment, are people of great character. Not to mention, well-known in society for their work and thoughts.

Without mentioning names - cos I really don't have to esp. if you're Malaysian - I am grateful for their friendship and to be called a friend by....

The trick is, always be sincere and not be afraid.

When Thank You Is Just Not Enough...

The last time I counted, I have been working at my present employment for 26 months. And within that 26 months, I have had only one increment. Actually, it was more like an adjustment I got on my salary when I was confirmed at my job.

Two months later, I was re designated.

I was re-titled Manager.

And my take-home pay check is less than USD450.00(equiv.)

My pay slip makes me want to cry...

Because

... after making sure that the organisation's Annual report is of international standard....

... after burning the midnight oil to salvage the damage done onto the souvenir booklet of our first international conference...

... after diligently coming to work early and going back late...

... after squeezing out all forms of ideas out of my head to come up with articles so our newspaper column is sustained...

... after designing the organisation's library system's logo....

... after designing the logo for our first international conference...

all I got was a 'thank you' cert and a check for (equiv.) USD88.23

Didn't people say designers/creative persons are well-paid?

Please help me...

get these I-Want-It-Although-I-Don't-Really-Need-It-Stuffs


the Apple iPhone
because I never bought any fancy gadgets, and since I am to own one, I might as well have the ULTIMATE gadget... More info here

the Samsung SGH F300,
the dual-faced mobile-mp3 player. One side mobile phone, one side mp3 with the full works. More info here

the Creative Zen Vision:M
to put all my kids' pictures, my fav songs as well as funny mini-videos to keep them entertained while I drive them to pick their father after work and in heavy-carzy traffic. More info here

a Sony NW-A800
because I would like to be entertained while I drive me and the kids. More info here
{me wan the black one...}



a Canon camera ...

either the A640
so that I can be in front of the camera for once becuase the LCD display panel swivels.

or the S3 IS
so that whoever takes MY picture won't unnecessarily ruin it because its functions are dummy-proof. More info here

a Belgian waffle maker from Black and Decker
because my kids prefers hot food for breakfast and waffls are the easiest, freshly made food I can prepare in the limited time there is available for breakfast before they are off to school. More info here

The Palm TX pda
because I need an organizer FAST before I loose my grey-spaghetti-like-matter. More info here

theCICAK

I support all efforts to make Malaysian youths think more important things instead of just the latest mobile phones or fashion.

Therefore I support

A juxtapose of every day irregularities

While on an outing to Semantan (the seaside) one weekend, I came across this amusing sight of a lady enjoying a swim in the sea. can someone recommend her a tube of Boots Sun Protection cream. Make it SPF 50 while you're at it!

There are a lot of 3-in-1s in the market. So why not three-picture-in-one photography as shown here of Ashleigh taking the pictures of the trees whilst also taking pictures of herself taking the picture.... ?

Like this war-time aircraft at Pangkalan TUDM in Kuching, maybe all our aircrafts should be grounded too due to the many crashes that occurs. Or maybe its just our (sic...incompetent) pilots.

No wonder sea food is cheap in Kota Kinabalu!!! Look at where they are caught! Right there next to the Sutera Harbor Resort golf course!

The Person You Are Trying To Reach Is Not Available....

I am off to KK in sabah tomorrow for a business meeting.

I love this trip because I may potentially meet my brother whom I have not met since 1989! Having worked and married the local there, he never came back after that. That's the Prodigal Son in the family....

I hate this trip because this will be my 2nd travels within this month alone. And I am tired. I also hate this trip because traveling drains my personal finances, no matter how much we avoid buying unnecessary stuff. But buying food to feed your stomach on a strange and new place is enough to burn a hole in your pocket. And somehow, McDonald's seems more 'expensive' in these strange and new places compared to home.

So will I have a good trip or one that I wish I didn't embark on. Only time will tell...and that will be Friday pm when I return once again to update this blog....


**St Christopher, please look over me**

Photography 02

My kids are officially Chindian-Bidayuh (if Jabatan Pendaftaran allows it). But having been exposed to so many things Bidayuh, I am proud to say that they are well versed in all things Bidayuh...

Kih kih kih....

don't blame me! Hubby should do his part to promote his Sino-Indian cultures.

Photography

I LOVE photography.

I LOVE getting my hands on an imaging device such as cameras (digital ones are best for instant results) and camera phones. My favourite subject? My kids of course.

But for today, I feature the Telekom's Tower on Parkroyal Hotel.

tadaa...!

Life is Full of Waiting

I am tired of waiting but life seems full of it.

Waiting for my supervisor....
Waiting for my meeting participants....
Waiting for the time to pick up Hubby from work...
Waiting for my kid after school...
Waiting for the weekend...
Waiting for my pay raise...
Waiting for my PC to switch on/off...

Waiting....

We even wait for the day when we are summoned to the Creator's negotiation table...

Sorry, no time....

I have been extremely busy at work lately. I can't even find the time to put things up here. So many readers can help me...

..find another job that pays me enough to be busy enough to not have time to feel guilty about maintaining a blog that is not updated regularly.

The Many Faces of Ashleigh G

Having a Try at Video Making

For Hubby's 40th Birthday last year, I made this video for him...




Unfortunately, he was not able to open/view the file because his office computer did not have the required software.... :-(

p/s
please be patient as it may take a while to upload...

The Source of My Patience, Love, Understanding and Humility: Emma-Nolle Caitlin

21st of the 3rd month

21st March is chosen to signify the uniqueness of the Down Syndrome as the Trisomy 21 chromosome is used synonymously with Down Syndrome.

In conjunction with today, I share with all readers this poignant poem about the disability.

My face might be different
But my feelings the same
I laugh and I cry
And I take pride in my gains

I was sent here among you
To teach you to love
As god in the heavens
Looks down from above

To him I'm no different
His love knows no bounds
It's those here among you
In cities and towns

That judge me by standards
That man has imparted
But this family I've chosen
Will help me get started

For I'm one of the children
So special and few
That came here to learn
The same lessons as you

That love is acceptance
It must come from the heart
We all have the same purpose
Though not the same start

The Lord gave me life
To live and embrace
And I'll do as you do
But at my own pace.

Additionally, I would like to share this little article in the National Geographic website written by a teenager with Down Syndrome. Someday I hope my Emma will be able to express herself as such.

Article by Melissa Roggio

Two Months Down The Road, and I Wish Its Still Christmas...

This pool… I Like

Some weeks back, I organized a talk at a local hotel here. While waiting for the participants to arrive, I went around the hotel to look at the facilities offered. And I came across the swimming pool.

And I like.

Situated on the 2nd floor, the pool is very private. During the time I came across it, it was empty. Probably because it was a week-day. Probably because it was drizzling.

But really, the privacy offered to swimmers – being on the 2^nd floor – is the best that a pool can offer.

And so, thumbs up to the Grand Hotels Group for this. Yahoo….! Swim!

Into Full Gear

Today is exactly two weeks into the new year. And things seems to be picking up its momentum.

For one, I am busy.

With the kids, with works, with life.

The kids are going to the child care this year. We have made do without a maid early this year. Though Hubby and I have more to do in terms of the housework and the kids, but we also feel that without the presence of an outsider, we feel more of a family now.

Work is work. And it is demanding more of my time. I am being sent to KL end of this month for a 2-day working visit to places.

Strengthening family bond seems also like work too. This year, my parents wants to see more of the kids. So that means we may have to make more trips to Serian than normal.

Looking at this, there is one thing which I feel I need to do. And that is to look up my chinese horoscope and see that the year of the Pig have in store for this Dog.

Have a GREAT day and a WONDERFUL new year!