November « 2009 « da blogs da thang

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Archive for November, 2009

it was a busy Sunday…

30 Nov

… though I did not get the cleaning that I wanted to done. Guess I’ll have my Monday morning cut out for me. Ah well…

Still… it was a productive day. I was heavily involved with web-work… specifically this site below. (Yeah, just click the graphic to get to the site.)

Work actually started at 6:30 AM and lasted for most of the day. I am sure there are a few more tweaks to be done… but I think for the most part… it works.

Then of course, instead of getting to the cleaning at hand, (it was already dark outside) I decided to work change the template of my blog. How do you like this one? Like the creepy little handi-work I did on (customizing) the header? LOL! OK… a fair word of warning… I may be (annoyingly) changing the template of this blog for the next several days/weeks until something sticks. BTW if you do want to leave a comment click the top right corner… just sayin.

Once that was accomplished… I went on to fix my video site. Yeah, go ahead… click the banner below to see it.

I really like this one. Pretty slick, eh? Though the content is still being set up. There are more videos to post, descriptions, categories, etc. But at least it’s a template that I’ve settled on… for now.

So, that was my Sunday (and it’s pretty close to midnight as it is)… how was yours?

1 Comment

Posted in bits and pieces

a year ago last Wednesday…

28 Nov

… the Mumbai attacks took place. HERE is a documentary worth watching. Not only to be reminded that lives were changed but also to give ourselves something more to be thankful for.

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Posted in bits and pieces

Da Big Count 2009

27 Nov

Looking back over the year the shifts have been some pretty momentous ones in my life. Yes, they have been challenging… and continue to be. But through it all the constants have been family and friends… all of whom have been there when I reached out. Tis a blessing, no? It has also been a time when I have been reconnected with so many from my past… happily so.

It has also been a time of a change in life… one that is still occurring. Yes, I am floating in transition somewhere. Where I eventually land… I am uncertain of at this time.

That being said… it is not only the constants that I count but also the shifts and even transitions. Because taken together they serve to remind us that life is ongoing. If we can’t be thankful for that… what can we be? Afterall, this guarantees us to live another day… and to keep counting.

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Posted in Da Count

I am awkward during holidays

25 Nov

tradition Tis true. I am. It wasn’t always that way and I’m not entirely sure when this (me being awkward) actually began. But are you not awkward most times anyway? Yeah… sure… but I’m talking about holidays in this post. Try to keep focus, will ya?

Anyway, this much I know… it wasn’t always that way… at least, not back in Malaysia. I loved holidays and Malaysia still has one of the highest number of public holidays in the world.

There were more “feast days” (Chinese New Year, 2 Hari Rayas, Deepavali, Christmas, etc) along with a slew of other sundry holidays (National Day, Sultan’s birthday, etc) that were spread throughout the year. I enjoyed all of them… especially the “feast days” mainly because there was a wonderful mix of camaraderie and food involved. This was especially prevalent with the cultural quirk of the “open house” practiced there.

I’m guessing the development of (my present) awkwardness may stem from the fact that I grew up with a set of traditions and with moving from one country and culture to another… let’s just say that bag got lost in transit. It also didn’t help that the ever flowing shifts in my life since then have been continual. (Nay, some would claim relentless.) Not exactly conducive factors to make something stick.

No, no, no… this is not a poor me post. Look, I have enjoyed holiday traditions here as a guest of several friends on many an occasion. Enjoyed them in a major way, I may add. And this year is no different as a generous number of invitations have poured in. As much as I appreciate that sharing and have been enriched by those experiences… they are not mine.

The closest I’ve gotten was while living with Mum over the last 10 or so years. Mostly in terms of food and a quieter version of what I grew up with. So much so, I now much prefer quiet celebrations during the holidays. This is strange (and a little awkward) because the traditions I grew up with had a definite mix of family along with a hefty social component in the milieu. So you see even that (the social component) of the tradition I grew up with… I’m not so crazy about anymore. (Now, that’s awkward.) The food on the other hand, I am. And I do happily cook those dishes to satiate my taste of the season.

So, being awkward during the holidays may not necessarily be a bad thing. Not everyone needs to be some place with other people during the holidays. I appreciate the sentiment… but it’s not a law. They just need to be. And if being means finding solace and comfort on their own… that’s OK too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

BTW… Da BIG Count is on Friday. Just sayin.

4 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces, perception

we all lie, dont we?

24 Nov

At least we fib or divert or “diplomatisize” what we mean. Most often we do so to take that “sting” out of our honesty. The most common example is…

GUY: Hey, how’s it going?

DUDE: Good. And you?

GUY: Great, Thanks.

WeLiePic

Simple. To the point… and 3 lies were perpetuated in that short everyday exchange.

Guy doesn’t really want to know how Dude is doing… he has problems of his own. But it’s the standard greeting when you meet someone you know… acknowledging their presence. Not greeting Dude would be just plain rude.
Dude, whose life is in hock, figures it’s not any of Guy’s business to be informed of this. Admitting that fact would burden Guy with information he didn’t really need to know. It’s just plain rude considering the fact that Guy was nice enough to acknowledge his presence. And if he did it would be another blow to his esteem which is already at an all time low by admitting to being a total loser.
Guy, when the question is volleyed back is actually having relationship issues with his hot new girlfriend that Dude saw him with the night before. Dude doesn’t need to know this especially because these issues lie in the bedroom. TMI, really. And if he did spill the beans it would place doubt over Guy’s “coolness” factor that was evident in Dude’s face the night before.

So yeah… they order drinks at the bar and talk football.

Perhaps step one to true honesty is to admit that we lie… just sayin.

*Image from THIS site.

2 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces

… and then Friday comes along…

23 Nov

huh … and no “Da Count” from me? What is up with that Lecram guy? OK… I’m still alive… and yes, there are still things to count… but I was… er… well… busy. Besides, there is a HUGE count coming up this week… with a holiday and all! So, for you who are not active counters… this is a big chance to spill it all.

What exactly have I been busy with? Web work, cooking and cleaning out the back room… which is very nearly done. (OK… truth be told I was going to count that… but just felt it would have been disingenuous about counting something that was “nearly” done. I know, I’m funny that way.) Soon the middle room will be done as well. Yes,I’ve weeded through a lot and tons have been thrown away. I have also come across a goodly amount of things that made me smile. It would be redundant to once again say how amazed I am by all that we accumulate as we trudge through life… but once again I was thoroughly amazed. I am sure it won’t stop there as there is more to go through.

Saturday night I did skype with family in Australia. That was fun. Even though the connection was spotty it was great to at least say “hi” and see faces I have not seen in years.

Yesterday I was a slug… totally and unabashedly so. No cooking. No going out. Just spending my time watching episodes of “Reaper”… I think I have 4 or 5 more to go of the first season. As soon as I watched the first episode I drew comparisons to “Dead Like Me“. Though I think the latter is a better show (conceptually and writing-wise) “Reaper” does have it’s own entertainment value as a show and is worth catching at your own convenience. For those in the Ameriucan market… both are available for streaming on Hulu.

So, that was pretty much my weekend. How was yours?

* Image in this post fron THIS site.

2 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces

… and the other

19 Nov

Yeah, I know… another Wednesday comes and goes without a post from me. Like you care… really. LOL! Anyway, most of today’s post is a slugfest. No, not in the “beat you up” kinda way but various things in short bursts sort of way.

* Went to the hearing at City Hall last night. It was a Planning Commission hearing on the fate of the business that runs out of the historical “Russ Clements gas station”. I was impressed by the turn out. A conclusion wasn’t reached and the hearing will continue on Dec. 2.

* Looking around the City Hall chamber last night I think they could save some money (including our taxes) by switching out the light bulbs that presently illuminate the place. There are also stage lights overhead (Par cans) that can be swapped out with less power sucking led types.

* It was overcast and cold yesterday… just made me want to curl up and nap. I didn’t, of course… but it made me want to… just sayin.

* I haven’t repeated a meal in close to 7 weeks. I’m shooting for 8. It’s a personal challenge and I’m delightfully impressed with myself. (That doesn’t happen very often.

* I may go through a bunch of photographs and scan more pictures from the past. It’s been fun doing the few I have some of late. Yeah, I’ve threatened to revive “Picture Daze” on several occasions… but I may actually follow through with it this time. (Don’t hold your breath though… LOL)

Hope you are all having a good week. Cheers!

3 Comments

Posted in bits and pieces

a lot and nothing…

17 Nov

… or so it seems today.

I did start a facebook group on the historic service station in my neighborhood. (Join if you like… Russ Clements historical gas station.) Why? Because of THIS. I’ll state for the record that I like the place and the business that runs out of there. Anyway, here are some pics of the place I took and posted on my blog a while ago.

russc1

russc2

russc3

2 Comments

Posted in life in da Big NO

some pics I came across pt.1

15 Nov

As I was cleaning out the back room these are some I came across and scanned. Just click for bigger versions. Yeah, there are stories but that’s for another time.