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Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Lightning Flash

Last Friday, Edmonton received its first rainfall marking the arrival of spring. This got many "Edmonton-ians" excited and was clearly demonstrated by the number of people who seemed to pop out of nowhere from the apartment block across the street from me, standing at the balcony watching the rain come down. Should have taken a photo of it cos it was an interesting sight for me. The last 4 weeks or so i have been here, i have come to the assumption that the apt block is not even 1/2 full cos very lil lights are on during the nite regardless weekday or weekend. So yeah, seeing so many people standing at their balcony watching the rain... i was surprised.

Now that i am here and basically at home most of the time, i spent quite a lot of time on twitter reading what people here have to say about anything and everything that is going on in this city. So that evening, everyone was tweeting about lightning and thunder and here i was sitting in front of my mac going "Lighting?? *looks out the window* No..... Thunder?? *listens*... No....Am I the ONLY one no seeing or hearing anything????" So naturally, i kept my eyes and ears out, looking out the window every now and then. Suddenly, everything went bright white and i saw it! Lightning streaking ACROSS the sky! Ok, when i was in Singapore ALL the lightning i have seen were ones that came right down from the sky. This one went ACROSS ... yes, left to right.... ACROSS the sky. Can you imagine how exciting this is??? OK, maybe not for you but it was for me. :)

What was the next thing i did? I went to the dining room window, slide the 2 layer of glass open and stood there waiting to catch the next one. I took a few test shots first to determine which angle i liked best and all, as well as the shutter speed. Then i saw a flash in the left corner of my eye, i looked up and BRIGHT WHITE .... damn, i missed it! So i stood there for another good 5mins with my hand on the camera, poise and aim to shoot. Another flash in the corner of my eye, i instantly reacted and took the shot and then........... WHAM.... SUCCESS!!!!! I nervously viewed the shot on the camera ... wondering if i screwed it up by a slight twitched of the hand or something. Ok... photo looks clear... doesn't seem to have any blurry lines..... zoom in... the lightning looks clear....

WOW.... i captured my first lightning .....

If, Hubbie were there i would have been jumping for joy and going all Tigger on him. But i was alone so i contained my excitement although on the inside i was doing sommersaults and cartwheels! Didn't help that we have paper thin curtains in this house that i didn't want to risk people in the apt block across from me saw me going crazy with joy in the house and think that i am some lunatic. :P

Without further adieu, here is the shot....

Just a lil extra tidbit... this photo (cropped version) was featured yesterday morning on inews880.com. Heh. My 30secs of small fame. Heehee.
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Sunday, 05 April 2009

DIY Project - Framing a Poster
Have been spending time walking the streets of Edmonton and getting my bearings right on where is where. I've more or less know how to walk and get myself to the nearest Safeway, walk to Edmonton City Centre, Stanley Miller Library, Empire Theatres, and of course the nearest few Starbucks around my area. I've also figured out my way to WEM, Ikea, and Whyte Ave by bus and have bought myself a monthly bus pass. To make myself more contactable to the few friends i have here, i re-connected with the world of mobile phones and SMS (text messages) by signing up with Rogers. I could say i am more or less ready to go out and explore the city by myself when Hubbie is at work.... somehow am a lil hesitant. Still have to get myself out there and be independent... Hubbie's friends have been really helpful and hopefully i will get to hang out with them more. Today, i spent the day indoors even though it was really good sunny day to be out and about. Instead, we chose to stay home to chill out, watch tv and just having the time to spend with each other. I did spend a small part of the afternoon working on a short project that i should have done a long, long time ago.

Back in 1987, my 5th aunt was working as a graphic designer for an advertising company back in Malaysia. For my 8th birthday that year, she drew me a nice birthday poster which i have kept with me all these years through our move from Malaysia to Singapore. I've always wanted to have it framed up and hang it in my room... somehow, that never materialise ...till now. Last week, i bought a simple frame from Ikea and today the poster is nicely framed ready to be hung up on the wall in my craft room. What can i say, i am sentimental like that. Still working slowly on the look of the craft room and i need more storage boxes for my stuff. When everything is done i will post photos of the room.

The original 'Happy Birthday' poster that my 5th aunt gave me back in 1987.

Covering the backboard of the frame with black paper for the background of the poster.

Final Look. Just wondering if i should paint the wooden edge in a more vibrant colour.

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

iMac Baby

Early this morning, we got a call saying that there is a Fed Ex delivery waiting for us in the lobby. The first thought that ran through my mind? .... "IT'S HERE!!!!" So we went down, i signed for the package and Darcy carried the huge box up to our apartment for me. So i present to you ...

Compared to the brown box with the words "Certified Reconditioned Product" that arrived at Kenneth's place when he got his iMac last September, i had a plain white, huge ass box. No apples with bite marks seen on it anywhere. I unwrapped my iMac Baby out of the confines of the box and wrapper anyways, since there was an Apple Packing Slip attached to the box. And yes, it is a refurbished set too. :)

When i plugged in iMac Baby and the welcome clip was played, i had to scream out "It's alive! It's allliiiiiiiiivvvvvvveeeeeeeeee!"

Fortunately, everything is up and running but am waiting till tomorrow afternoon before i explore more since the Futureshop tech guy is coming down to install the wireless router, hook up my iMac Baby to the wireless printer and internet connection. The service is a promotion that came with the router and printer package we purchased yesterday. Am excited about sitting in front of my iMac Baby to surf the net and chat with family and friends. :P

Can't wait.

Can't wait!

Sunday, 04 January 2009

First Three Days of 2009

Thursday
I headed over to Kenneth's place with Ningy to pick up the durian cheesecake that Kenneth had ordered on my behalf. I have always heard about how good his mom's durian cheesecakes are and there was a time in 2007 that i was going to get my first taste of it but heh his brother got to it first. So yeah, i finally, got to try his mom's durian cheesecake! Kenneth had told me that his relatives are over for New Year's lunch so when i got there i was just going to pick up the cake and go. However, when i got there Wynnie waved me in. His relatives had left and there were plenty of sugee cake and chocolate mousse left to go around. Rich chocolate mousse and sugee cake.... mmmmmmmmm yum! Plus Kenneth offered me a small glass of port. Yeah, i was definitely on a sugar high after that lil snack. *heehee* So much so that i could walk by the Yami Yoghurt outlet at J8 and not stop to get a medium cup with gronola. *heehee*

Friday
Hi ho! Hi ho! It's off to work we go! First day of school for every kid out here in Singapore.
I had prepared myself for the potential crying fest that could happen since i was handling the Nursery class this year. Thankfully, it was managable with only two who were unconsolable throughout the 2 hours they were in class with me. Understandable since this is their first time away from home and in a classroom setting. However, with all the cute, adorable faces and personality that greeted me throughout the day... i will miss this when i am sitting at home in Canada enjoying some quiet time before the visa comes in and i get to work again. By the end of the day, i was quite worn out having been on holiday for the last 6 weeks and trying to console the children. So i guess my body is still trying to get back into the mode of teaching full time again. :) Really looking forward to my time with the children in the next few weeks and continue on my learning journey with them.

Saturday
I met Eila to go walk walk see see look look around Orchard where she decided i should try on fake eyelashes. We walked around Far East Plaza and found this place that not only sold them at a rather decent price but also showed you how to put them on. After the first one went on, i was hooked! Everywhere i walked by that had a mirror i would stop and stare at my eyes. *lol* Eila was just shaking her head and laughing at me. :) We ended up walking from Far East Plaza all the way to Plaza Sing, you see with Eila there is no way you can go to Orchard with her and not walk all the way to Dhoby Ghaut. It's just her! *grin* I also showed her the pretty old buildings at Emerald Hill because she has never been there before since it is just pub after pub. :)

Which eye do you think has the false eyelashes?

Thursday, 01 January 2009

Farewell 2008.... Hello 2009

I ushered in the new year by spending a quiet evening with close friends. Dinner at Ikoi, Miramar Hotel. Followed by ring shopping with a close friend (12 years...) and her bf ... they were looking for an engagement ring. We did find the perfect one. Towards midnight, we ended up at Vivo City and basically drank Bacardi Breezers as we welcome 2009. No fireworks. No 10 seconds countdown. We didn't know it was already the new year till we heard the resounding booms of the fireworks being let off at Sentosa.

It has definitely been a year to remember... looking back there are things i wished i had done differently but at the same time i am glad i experienced all the emotions and thoughts that came along throughout the year. You learn from mistakes and walk on with the knowledge on how you can improve and change to make yourself a better person. The highlights?

1. Spending time with my husband during his stay here in Singapore.
2. My kids from Mars and Jupiter class of 2009. They will forever hold a special place in my heart.
3. Pulling off a drama and dance performance with my fellow teachers for the year end graduation concert.

I'll be turning 30 this coming March and somehow it has presented me with a new sense of urgency and direction in life and life doesn't always match up to how we planned and like it to be. I am hoping that the year ahead will not have too many bumps ... but create enough highlights to make it memorable and (hopefully) fulfilling one. I know i will have quite the adventure with my move in March 2009 to Canada to start a new chapter in my life with my husband.

Here is wishing everyone good health and best wishes in all your future endeavours