Satisfied

Oh boy..

I did it anyway.

Staying up to finish a book that I cannot bring myself to put down.

I have a few hours left to get some sleep before work..

Prolly need the caffeine boost to keep me awake and definitely really rebellious kids to keep me going.

Happy Monday peeps!

It has been quite sometime since some character in a book make me sad when the story came to an end.

World Book Day

Today is World Book Day 

And  yesterday Jyun surprised me with two books that I've been wanting to read..

I wanted to read this book for months!

And Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult!

Her newly released book..

I have no idea how he managed to get his hands on that book when I thought it's only released in the UK.

Maybe it's here already but I just saw Picoult's tweets about her newly released book a few days ago.

I still wonder how he got that book.. 

Then again, he wants to leave it as a mystery for me since it's supposed to be a surprise :P

Thanks, Jyun!!! *huggies*

It's March already! =)

Yesterday we did something different for a change =D

Sister however got a tummy ache since she ate too many dishes yesterday=D

Right now, I am cramming for my finals..

RAWR!

After the finals

I am on my semester break!=D Finals ended two days ago and the first thing I did was, I hit the gym with the bestie/boyfriend. Taking out the pent up excess energy through gymming was a good plan. I've been indoors for quite sometime cramming/just being unhealthy and I know I need to move a lil to let the restless energy within me fade away. I am still quite restless but not as much as the other day.

Meet my partner in crime, Jyun who is more than willing to join me to hit the gym after the finals.

After lunch, we went for coffee at Coffee Bean. That seem to be our after exams ritual since semester 2 during my first year *grins*. I got Jyun to like mocha as much as I do or maybe not as much as I do, but he has been drinking more coffee than ever due to my influence =p. Yes, I am proud of it!=D Heh!

Yesterday, I decided to make a simple lunch/brunch for both of us. I miss mashed potatoes. So I made that as my to do list=p

I finally watched Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows part 2. It was SO GOOD! I cannot decide which part is my favourite part but I am definitely going to watch it again. I am currently reading Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince.

3 more days to David Archuleta's concert! ZOMG! Shoooooooooooo freaking excited!!!=D

3 down, 1 more to go

3 down, one final paper left for this semester. Sat for the craziest and lousiest paper on Friday. I feel much lighter after that paper. Heeee. Although I have my other paper to sit for this coming Wednesday, but it feels like I am done with everything.

How was your weekend? Mine was good!=) I am supposed to go for the Bon Odori festival but there was a slight change of plan when we can't find any parking spot. I don't mind really cause the plan to go for the festival was a pretty last minute thing. Instead I went for food hunt with my bestie and my mom=) It was all good. Plus it's not too crowded either.

I got my first taste of dark mocha after 2 weeks of being on a coffee diet. It was a rather looooooong 2 weeks. The taste of dark mocha swirling on my tongue and sliding through my throat is so very heavenly. *sighs with satisfaction* And of course who else besides my best friend is there to satisfy my coffee cravings=)

On a different note, it's funny how I read more during exam season. Well compare to how I used to be like 2 years ago, I usually finish reading at least 3 books a week. 3 books a week isn't that bad considering I used to finish reading at least 5-6 books a week back in my high school days regardless of me having to sit for an exam or not. And it's not text book that I am reading but leisure reading. I hate it when my friends come up to me and ask me questions like "Owh. You must be done with your revision to be able to indulge yourself in other reading materials" or "Why are you reading this?" as if I am not supposed to know other things besides the information found in the text book or my notes=.=

Anyhoo, for the past 2 weeks I managed to finish these:



Including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Yes, I am rereading JK Rowling's books for the god-knows-how-many-times. It's so good. And I have my best friend to discuss the best bits with me to take my mind off other mundane boring stuff=) Rice Mother by Rani Manicka is another good read. Can hardly put down the book once I started reading it and she's a local author. She changed my perception towards local authors, somehow. Or not. Maybe I am a bit bias towards the way she writes. On the other hand, John Grisham's book isn't that good. Rather disappointing. The story ended rather abruptly. I actually went wth at the end of the book=.=

I can't wait to watch Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 2. In a couple of days I'll be watching it. OMGIamsoexcitedIcandie.

Restless-ness

I will be sitting for my first paper on Monday. There there, don't you start telling me stuff like, "I am sure you've prepared yourself well for the paper" just to get replies for me like "Oh no..I am still preparing for it." Cause frankly I have no interest in reply any of those comments so keep them to yourself, thankyouverymuch.

In my previous post, I've mentioned about my study break and having a good break from uni before my paper on Monday. But now that I got the luxury of sleeping in and taking my time the next day to think of what to do next, I sort of got restless. I am beginning to think that restless is an understatement since there are still a lot of restrictions but there isn't really any restrictions. Now I don't think I make any sense there. Blargh.!

It's 4am in the morning or slightly after 4am, and I am still awake. Why? Cause I can't sleep of course! Despite of my having an exam on Monday, but I can't feel the exams vibe, YET. Although I am not sure why. I am sick of going through the same thing over and over again just to make sure that I have them embedded in my memory. It feels like I am done with my finals since I've been spending the past two days watching Gossip Girls series (credits to Jyun dearest for helping me to download them). And I even managed to finish reading two books (Harry Potter 4th book, I am rereading the series and thanks to Jyun dearest for loaning me the series and a novel by John Grisham which made me cringe at the thought of the abrupt ending). I am currently reading a new book by a local author, Rani Manicka and once I start reading it, I almost cannot put down the book. Again, thanks to Jyun dearest for getting me that book when I didn't expect it=)

For now I am looking forward to David's concert. I am gonna watch him perform live THIS MONTH! Oh goshhhhh!! So looking forward to it! I am about 3 weeks away from watching him performing live on stage!*grins*

As for my coffee diet, it's going on well. I think the last time I had coffee was during the presentation that I did with my group mates to convince others about the benefits of coffee. Although I must say I really miss my coffee.

I have about 2 weeks left before I break my coffee diet.

I really should start reading now or I won't sleep.

Yawnnnnnn..

Sing You Home

Runa's 21st birthday party was awesomely fun!=)

We were almost the last bunch to leave her place. And Runa has such cool dad who is Indian but he can speak Hokkien better than me (actually I don't speak Hokkien, HAHA!)

I am currently working on one of my assignment which is to search for the brain model/theories. Reading the journals of Neuropsychology is dreadfully confusing. Not only I don't understand most of the stuff that is written in the journal but the models the oh-so-ever-intelligent-beings proposed there are just plain confusing instead of mind boggling. I haven't even learn most of the terms being use there. They even have those algorithm equations to explain the model and a person like me who swears off Physics after she got out from high school almost had her eye balls falling off from her eye socket going through them. Not exaggerating. So yeah, it's a rather frustrating research to work on since most of the stuff that I came across confuses me and in return it makes me feel incapable like not doing the thing get over it as soon as possible. But there are stuff that I understand since I've had lesson based on them already but there are still terms that I am not familiar with and am still getting to get myself to get use to those.

I even had Punjabi lesson with one of my Pakistani classmate. She's a Punjabi herself and one of our assignment requires us to teach one of our classmate a skill. Hence, I'll be teaching her how to speak Bahasa Melayu and she'll be teaching me how to speak Punjabi=) Pretty cool eh?

During our tutorial lesson for our Education and Learning class, we were asked to design a computer lab with the materials given by our lecturers. My group and I designed a computer lab for children and the outcome is pretty satisfying.

This week has actually been eventful in terms of the stuff that I've learnt. The upcoming week will be hectic. I can't wait for my brain dissection lesson=) Gonna make brain patty out of the brain that we dissected.

I even managed to get the book by Jodi Picoult this week, Sing You Home. If it's not because of Jyun I'll be walking out from the bookstore feeling disappointed. I even managed to finish reading the book since I stayed up on Friday night to read it. It's an incredibly good read. A must read book for Jodi Picoult's fans. I can't even bring myself to put down the book once I read it. That explains how I managed to finish reading whole book in 2 days. Ellen Degeneres interviewed Jodi Picoult about her latest novel and she said she wanted to make a movie out of it!

There's this part in the book Picoult describe how a lesbian relationship can be like a heterosexual relationship be. I don't wanna spoil it for you readers who is planning to read that book. I am still having a hangover due to that book. The Slap that I managed to finish reading somewhere this week seem to be buried way behind my head right now. But The Slap is another good read for those of you who enjoys reading book that contains a diverse social issue. Again, it's because of Jyun I get to read these books without needing to wait for a couple of months more. *grins*

A good book does make the week more interesting actually^^

Second Year

I am officially a second year Psychology student!

My new semester begins on Monday and predictably, we all got busy by the first day of the week. By the third day of my class, I have 11 assignments in line pending. I have such crazy and long week. So much so, Monday seemed to be so far away from Friday. I like Friday best so far. Not only I only have to go for tutorials, but class ends early which means I have the rest of the day to myself. Only problem is I have to drive all the way to campus for that one hour class=_______=

Thursdays are the worse. Since my tutorial begins at 11am which means I'll have to wait for approximately 5 hours before that since I havta drag myself to campus early due to the scarce space for parking. Sigh.

My longest day of the week are Tuesdays and Wednesdays since classes ends at 5.30pm on Tuesdays and 3.30pm on Wednesdays. And by the time I get myself back home, I'll havta go through the traffic. And usually I'll get back home feeling incredibly exhausted. My classes on Monday are equally long too. As much as I am trying to avoid the word exhaustion, but I can't help it since I've been rather sleep deprived for the past 3 days, or was it 4. Somehow when I sleep I tend to still think of things. And that makes me feel like I hardly slept at all.

But don't get me wrong there. I am coping fine. Only thing is I have a lot to organize and prioritize. Even my conversation with Jyun seemed to revolve a lot about work these days or we might just be sitting next to each other not talking much since we were both working on our tasks.

Hence, year two semester one begins. It's gonna be a rather long journey I reckon.

It has been a rather eventful week I think. We celebrated, Runa', Yvonne's and Clarissa's 21st birthday on Monday at TGIF and there'll be another gathering at Runa's place tomorrow. A couple of group discussion or a few of them. And we did a few assessments during our tutorial and being taught how to use some tools (yeah pretty "eventful" indeed). Yawn. I am already yawning as I typed this out despite of the 4 hours nap I had this noon (super satisfying nap).

Jyun gave me this awesome book, The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. I've been eyeing on that book for ages already and he bought that for me recently! *grins* That dude sure know how to surprise me=) It's a good read. Although I am only half way through the book, but I am savoring every bit of the story line.

Also, Jodi Picoult has a new book. This book is her support for gay rights and it's a must read book my list.

Despite the fact that I only have the time before bedtime to do my leisure reading or sometimes in the morning before I go for my lecture classes but that will not stop me from my leisure reading moments. Right now I am craving for more leisure reading hours but sighhhh..oh well..I shall stop ranting now.

The number five!

♥

House Rules

There are times when Jacob's world makes a lot of sense to me than the one rest of us live in. Why do people ask people how they are doing when we don't give a crap about the answer? Is Mr. Jennison asking me that question because he's worried about me, or because it's something to say to fill up the air between us?

"I'm okay," I say, because old habits die hard. If I were like Jacob, I would have answered directly: I can't sleep at night. And sometimes, when I run too fast, I can't breathe. But in reality, someone who asks you how you're doing doesn't want to hear the truth. He wants the pat answer, the expected response, so that he can go on his merry way.

It is from House Rules, written by my favourite author, Jodi Picoult.

The passage makes so much sense to me since it directly explains why do I always automatically give the same answer to questions like "How are you doing?" or "How are you?". Like a well rehearsed phrase that I use over and over again, I'll say "I'm fine" or "I'm good" and at times, "I'm cool" without meaning it since like what Jodi Picoult mentioned above,"in reality, someone who asks you how you're doing doesn't want to hear the truth. He wants the pat answer, the expected response, so that he can go on his merry way."

Another, I like to sound optimistic despite of how bleak things can be..

After all, how far will self sympathy will lead me to anyway..

And like what Dr Priya says, "Who says life is fair? Nobody says so."

Or what a friend used to tell me "Life's a piece of shit, deal with it."

The "How are you" cliche, is something if you're a stranger to that person whom you wanna check out acts as a way to initiate conversation thinking that, the conversation will revolve around that question. But, since the phrase is overused, one may begin to wonder if that someone is just being nice and probably wanting to appear to be friendly and later go straight to the whole point of wanting to check on the person.

That is something, that I don't bother to do, but I've been the ultimate prey to answering the how are you's question and putting up with the speechlessness after answering the question and as a result, ending the conversation(I can't even call them a conversation to begin with!). I'll ask you how's everything instead of how are you since I DO REALLY wanna know how are things for you and I don't go around asking anyone that question.

But honestly, why bother asking someone such question when your intentions are not sincere anyway? You might as well ask the wall the exact question cause it makes no difference if the only answer you can get is "I'm fine", "I'm good" or "I'm alright". Then again, to me, it's a half hearted question so the answer provided explains everything.

Funny, I just gave the exact answer to some dude online. Yeah, SOME DUDE. Which means some stranger.

It's so much better to listen to a good friend of yours asking you "How's life?" instead of that stupid "How are you?" cliche.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult is a super duper good read. After all, I've been wanting to read that book since it got released a month or two ago! If you have an interest in court case, extreme cases, or an unpredictable ending to a story, Jodi Picoult books suits you best

I know I suck as an advertiser, but she deserves the credit for the books that she wrote.

Jodi Picoult

What can I say?

I watched My Sister's Keeper AGAIN!

andcriedbuckets

This is a movie that I don't think I'll get sick of..

I guess..=X

Aneewaay..

Jodi Picoult is a remarkable author.

I've said it before and I am gonna mention it again.

Dear Jodi Picoult,

If you happen to drop by my site..

Can I have your autograph?

I am a Malaysian and I am pulling our legs when I say that I really really really like your books.

I was raving about being so wide awake and couldn't sleep tonight and stuff..

But now I am yawning away as I type this out.

Had an amazing day today(yesterday to be honest)..

And I'll blog about it later perhaps?

Happy Friday..

Good morning and good night to me.

Owh wait.

I need another dose of Jodi Picoult before I go to bed..

Currently reading Nineteen Minutes for the second time.

Not bad compared to Keeping Faith which I read for ten times already or more.

(I swear I am not exaggerating)

Book Review

I just read this really interesting book based on a true story about what a psychiatrist did or faced when he had a client who is suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder(MPD) which is now labelled as Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID).

His patient/client, has 17 personality within her which took over her body to help her to endure the constant abuse that she faced since she was young.

She has symptoms of dissociative fugue, dissociative amnesia, and somatoform disorder which includes conversion disorder and there were no physical disorder that causes the pain(pain such as experiences extreme headaches, nausea, pregnancy hysteria, paralysis)

When she first visited the psychiatrist..

Her multiple personality disorder wasn't that obvious just yet..

The psychiatrist namely, Dr Baer put her under medication,

Gave her some pills(I guess it's the prozac that he gave her)..

Asked her to come back a few months later..

But the pills made her even more depressed...

However, at times, she'll attend her appointment as if she has no trace of depression disorders in her..

She was under therapy under Dr Baer for a total of 18 years..

He performed hypnosis to know more about her other personalities within her..

My thoughts..

Above is the summary of the story..

As for my views based on the story..

I must say..

He's the first book based on multiple personality that I've read..

And also the first book that I've read written by a psychiatrist,

I've read books written by psychologists..

But there's a different touch in books like that..

For one, I get to know how is the life of a psychiatrist,

Though I've spoken to one before when I was on my vacation in Melbourne,

Since he's my aunt's neighbour..

Their life are very normal(as in their social life and life after work)..

But what I really wanted to know is..

How is it like being a psychiatrist and meeting with clients like the Karen(she's the one with MPD in the novel)

It's rather stressful, working with patients..

Not forgetting is their life is placed in your hands..

Of course patients seek for help must also be willing to help themselves..

Since a psychologist or a psychiatrist is there to guide them through their healing process and to help them to ease the pain, besides giving them all the motivation they need.

Being able to dig for books like that...

Gives me a utter feeling of satisfaction..

=)

That book..

I give it a..

4 and a half stars rating out of five stars..

Read..

Two books by Cecelia Ahern..

The Gift, borrowed from Carmen,

And The Book of Tomorrow which is mine..

Both books are..

Not what I'll call it as a good read books..

It's an easily forgettable book..

The story plot are..

Predictable..

Sappily boring in some way..

Or maybe its just me..

Being sick of stories like those..

Even A Walk to Remember story line by Nicholas Sparks..

Doesn't leave any impact..

Since I've read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult and I personally think..

The book left more impact in me compared to A Walk to Remember..

Watched the movie yesterday..

And it wasn't a movie that I'll watch again or book that I'll read again.

Ratings for those two books by Cecelia Ahern..

I'll give it a two and a half..

Though it's properly written..

Story line wise..

Not my cup of tea.

“The wonderful thing about books is that they allow us to enter imaginatively into someone else’s life. And when we do that, we learn to sympathize with other people. But the real surprise is that we also learn truths about ourselves, about our own lives, that somehow we hadn’t been able to see before.”

— Katherine Paterson

Indeed, I have my finals in a week time..

But that's not gonna stop me from reading..

It's stupid to stop reading for leisure just because I have exams..

=p

Decided to go back to journal writing..

Though I'd sworn not to write anymore journals..

But somehow, I have this urge to write again....

I still am figuring out how to dispose my old journals though..

Any suggestion??

=)

BOOKSSS!

OMG!!!

Jodi Picoult has just release her new book!!

The one below :

Since its still new..

I think they'll have that gigantic size book printed instead of the usual smaller ones that I usually purchase..

And I am actually hoping that the coming book fair will have that book..

I might actually buy that book without bothering if there're any discount for it or not..=X

Oh yeah..

A few weeks ago(can't remember when)..

I read that book above by Khaled Hosseini..

He's an author for The Kite Runner(I still am hunting for the book actually),

Its a good read.

I must give that author credit for doing such a brilliant job writing that book..

And all the time when I was reading that book I've been wondering what makes him understand issues like that so intensely.

I usually read books with themes like that from a women since they are usually writing for their experience.

He's such an awesome writer:)

He transports me to another world just like how good authors will do..

And that reminds me of another book that I've read..

I've forgotten the title of the book..

Since I don't really like the story line(its downright dull)

Same thing over and over again, predictable..

Though its written based on the author's experience..

But still..

I gotta give her credit for writing and publishing that book..

Did I mention anything about my all time favourite bookstore in this country?

Its not that hard to dig for good reads,

Since there are heaps of good authors around..

Not to say I am not selective when comes to reading,

But reading books from a different range of authors is an eye opening experience?

Though I don't remember reading any books from our local writers, except for that Sweetheart from Hell, which I find it a utter waste of time reading it..

And gosh!

I love that expression of a "sweetheart from hell".

Anyway, my point is..

That I absolutely love spending time in the MPH bookstore.

It has been ages since I've been in there(a few months maybe)..

Compared to the year before..

I usually visit the store a couple of times a week?

The smell of new books and the bookstore itself is that intoxicating..

And all I havta do after a not so good day is to spend my time in that bookstore browsing at books..

Though I havta refrain myself from purchasing a couple of books whenever I am in that store.

*checked mphonline*

*gasps*

Ohhhhhh...shitttt...

Sophie Kinsella has another new book..

And Cecelia Ahern too!

Right right..

Those are chick-lit books and are books meant for me to have a good laugh reading them..

Come to think about it..

I actually have endless list of books that I would wanna get my hands on..

And yesh, I love Sophie Kinsella's books..

She has this tendency to make me laugh so hard reading her books..

I remember the first book from her that I read which is Can You Keep a Secret,

A birthday present from Audrey, but a bitch borrowed it and lost that precious book of mine..

Anyway, that book made me laughed so much that I teared and I think that book is the reason why Audrey and I were so close back then..X)

Jeez! I can't wait for the bookfair!^^

I know I've been jumping from this subject to that..

But that's the thing about books..

It makes me feel uber excited over the prospect of owning them..

*look over my shoulders at my bookshelves*

*gulp*

I think I'll havta make space for my new book collection..

*grins*

Good thing that my parents are cool with me buying heaps of books at once..

And good thing that I've managed to brainwashed my lil sis into the habit of reading cause the next thing I am gonna do is to manipulate her into buying heaps of books at once just like me, then we can both swap!:)

But for now, I am the one who buy her all the books she wants..

She has this tendency to talk to me into buying things for her=____=

Like yesterday, she managed to get me to buy her a soft toy(she's a fan of those)..

But my mom doesn't allow me to get that for her..

Since she has tonnes of them at home already..

Yeah yeah..

I am blabbering here..

Just had my cup of coffee and its pouring and its Sunday and I woke up from a nightmare and mom gave me a piece of her mind(well sorta) and ugh..

Yaaaa daaa yaaaa daaaa...

I am gonna stop her and get going with my tasks.

Till then..

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here"

-William Shakespeare-

PS : Did I tell you guys that I am so lucky to have my mom and dad as my parents? Cause I very well know that I don't wanna be a daughter of some good for nothing parents.

:)