a story in progress

Can anyone guess what it is? No prize for getting it right though. (Wait maybe a cone of ice-cream will do) So what say you?

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival where people get around to feast on mooncakes and playing lanterns all night. Also know as the Mooncake Festival or the Lantern Festival.

You know a festival is known as an occasion for feasting or celebration, especially during a day or time of religious significance that recurs at regular intervals. In a modern day context however, I am afraid these festivals no longer hold true to their original purpose. What meant to be a celebration of a belief or culture is no longer adhere to. Rather mass gathering or celebration is held just for the sake of having them. In other words, partying for the sake of partying.

But I guess this is how it is nowadays anyway. People just need an excuse to get together and have fun. It's a good thing I guess. You know strengthening bonds, friendship and etc. Besides, one get to have a valid excuse to 'let their hair down'.

As for me tonight is like every other night. Yes there might be the 'dinner' with my family but other then that, that's it. And like every other day, I mundanely await for the next.

Of late I am having these medical condition known as an uncontrollable running nose a.k.a URN for days. SO what does one do anyway when faced with such serious medical condition? Run to the nearest pharmacy for some cold medicines? Been there, done that. Or perhaps consulting the doctor? Done that too. Tried other remedies too. But URN proves to be more resistant.

So the final resort?

Taking those traditional boiled Chinese herbal drink! In fact it hasn't really been that serious since I last took those Chinese herbal medicine. Guess they were right when they say the road towards recovery often come from unsuspecting places (or from a bunch of herbs wrapped in packets in this case). SO lucky me, I get to try it once again today.

Now presenting 3 simple steps on how to prepare a traditional remedy to get rid of URN~

Place all the prescribed ingredients into an earthen pot.

Step 2:

Add in 3 bowl of water in to the earthen pot and let it boiled.

Step 3:

Presenting the birthday boy and birthday girl, Wang and Yu Hyuen~

From the left, Sharon, Shen Yee,Vijay,Yu Hyuen,Melissa and Chia Leh~

From the left Vijay,Eu Jin,Yu Hyuen,Jordan,Nigel,Putra and Hafiz~

Clockwise from top Ben,me,Chia Leh and Yu Hyuen~

And now presenting a chronicle of events involving a RM 68 worth of Secret Recipe cake.

Alas, one final issue left on the list! Guess what? Its all about frogs this time! Hahah... For once during Biology class we get to do something interesting! Dissecting frogs! Yay! But of course the troubles that took us just to catch those frogs itself are worthwhile when you get to cut it open while it is sedated with chloroform (which logic will tells you that it is still alive throughout the whole scientific process) Not to mention removing out the frog's organ one by one for in the name of science and of the greater cause. My friend told me it was better that way for them (referring to those amphibians) or else they would have 'mati katak' or died either way. kinda right actually. Gotta agree with you Mani on this point. Hahah.. I sounded like some sadistic person don't I? Hahah... Oh well, anything goes anyway nowadays. We did complete the whole scientific process by burying them. R.I.P dear frogs.

So in a nutshell, I have learnt the following:

1. Failure tends to happen anyway in life regardless of the effort or circumstances surrounding it! Just gotta be stronger after each fall!
2. Never use your own mouth as a replacement to a faulty pipette filler at all cost. Regardless of how good of your excuses you had at that time!
3. Don't be bother about making a fool of yourself! Even if you are in public! Making people laugh is a good thing! Be bold, be loud!
4. September is officially the month of Birthday's! Make sure one has a load of spare cash or money in one's wallet!
5. Dissecting live creatures or more specifically amphibians can be quite daunting at first! Nevertheless, it's one heck of an experience!

Elegy by Lim Kar-Men

She stood solemnly by the window,
Gazing upon those Autumn leaves,
As the cool breeze passes by,
It greeted her rosy cheeks,
Teardrops began to fall upon her,
She knew not what it meant,
For she had neither Anguish nor Sorrow,
Yet unable to part with words,
She could only weep silently.

It’s the time once again, where people display their patriotism with much eager and excitement. Flags are erected from the most common places to even the unlikeliest of places. Cries of “Merdeka” are heard almost everywhere. Yes, all this signifies the approaching Independence Day of our beloved country. In fact, it’s going to be our 50th Independence this year. A memorable occasion indeed where people are at their patriotic best.

Yet patriotism is a highly debatable subject. It’s a subject worth reasoning and questioned. As it is through this process we are made better then who we are before. I believe this process is called as “meta-thinking”. Without any shadow of doubt patriotism is a crucial element for our nation. Without it, we wouldn’t even be celebrating our Independence Day today. We wouldn't gained our very freedom from those colonial eras where our people have suffered so greatly.

So it’s only normal for one to express his love or his patriotism by doing his bit when our 50th Independence Day approaches. Flag waving has indeed proven to be one of the most popular forms of expressing one’s patriotism and it is highly applauded. In fact, I would be going to school tomorrow to do my bit in this joyous occasion by joining the “Merdeka” procession around my schooling area.

But then again, by doing all of these, can one truly be counted as being patriotic? How about those who couldn’t even be bother to purchase a flag to be hung at their house or even to their own cars? Are they consider unpatriotic? How about those who rather sleep in on Merdeka morning? Are these people unpatriotic? The list can go on and on. The arguments can be long winded. Raging from scandalous acts to trivial matter.

A perfect example would be on today’s news. In our very own Dewan Negara itself, a heated argument was erupted when several Members of the Parliament did not stood up following to the cries of “Merdeka” by the other Members of the Parliament. A war of words was then issued on whether one is patriotic enough in the first place.

Yes, it is highly debatable when it comes to patriotism. Some can be skeptical, or even outright obsequious. What ever happen to the very basis of this country which it is built upon? Trust? Tolerance? Understanding? Why does one even bother judging or passing comments on whose patriotic or not?

It is certainly not our right to do so, as each one of us might have our own different method of expressing our patriotism. Perhaps even in a less showy manner. Let us all us just truly enjoy what it means to be a Malaysian and celebrate our nation’s 50th Independence Day in our very own unique manner.