Goodbye 2011!!

Okay readers... We are at the end of 2011. So much has happened in the year. Happiness & sorrows, hope & betrayals, disillusionments & disappointments, love & hate, friendships & family. Time to reflect back on what I have gone through in the year before planning my steps ahead to 2012. Hopefully, this will help me in paving the path of my life journey. 


We start with reviewing my 2011 plans:


1) Further my studies - I've enrolled in OUM for Bachelor in English Studies with Honors and will be registering there on 8th January 2011. Target is to be on Dean's List for the 1st semester.

2) I will reduce my weight. I'll be starting on a weight plan regime on 3rd of January 2011. Which, to my mom's delight, will include exercising.

3) I have just changed the view from my bedroom window. Now what I need to do is to make it my home.

4) I have also changed my work life to be more flexible. Now I have to make sure that I work hard enough and not playing around too much.



Okayyy.... only two was striked off. (T^T)


Studies


My first semester in OUM was a success. I've managed to achieve Dean's List for my 1st semester as targeted. Not only that, I've got a 4flat. (o.0) I even shocked myself. Never thought I could get that score. It inspired me to continue on, telling myself... I really could do this.


However, when I registered for my 2nd semester, work got in the way. I've taken all my study materials, skimmed through the contents & assignments but I totally forgot to attend my 1st tutorial. Only when my batchmate smsed me the next day that I remembered. I had to make a quick decision. My work schedule was so tight, and after skimming through the modules, I know I would not be able to understand unless I went to the tutorials. Missing 1 tutorial is a huge deal as we have only 4 tutorials per semester. So I decided to defer the semester.


When I registered for my 3rd semester (2nd officially), I realized that I have made a good decision. All of my batchmates' had lower grades for that semester due to the stress of having 3 assignments to be submitted all at once. But I felt sad as now I won't be graduating with them. I made a point not to miss my tutorials this time and luckily towards the end of the year, work was not as hectic, so I was able to concentrate on my studies. I can say I did quite well in my mid-year exam & assignment and results showed that I have passed the subject. My finals will only show if I have it to maintain on Dean's List. 


Now I've registered for my 4th semester (3rd officially) but instead of 3 subjects, I'll be taking 4 subjects to make up for the lost time so that I could complete together with my batchmates. (^-^)


Weight


For all who knew me personally knows that this is a never ending battle for me. My highest for the year is 78.2kg. Last I weighed myself I was at 74.6kg. My final effort for the year, joining a bootcamp, was a disaster as I sprained my ankle on the 1st 2 minutes of session, resulting to a bench sitting session instead.


However, I have rescheduled myself for the upcoming session starting 2nd January 2012. A good start to the new year!! (^-^) - Must slim down as the target is to take a new family photo on Aidilfitri. Hehehe....


THE MUST CHANGE PHOTO!!
p/s: Changes in appearances & family members need to be taken into consideration as well.


Home


I moved to another block since middle of the year and settled in quite okay. The only sad part is I have to be separated from my son as the house is an all-girls only. Before moving over, we had a discussion and decided this is the best option as he wouldn't be around much anyway due to his studies. We will make do until he completes his studies or if I can find some better arrangements. Still need a few items to make it more conducive for me and my daughter.  


Work


Okay. This is the tricky part. Having flexibility in time is great but working on your own means no stability. Something that I could not afford to have. So, I've started job hunting since November without any luck yet. At my age, I know it is not easy to get a job with so many competitors out there. Plus, not like I have any technical abilities that can make me stand out or specialized. Any freshie can do administration/secretarial work. I had to bank on my past experiences in various industries to make me more unique. Although it might scare off potential employers as it seems that I change jobs frequently, all I need is an interview to be able to explain myself why. 


Finally on the 29th, I've got a call for interview on the 5th January 2011 at a well-known legal firm. Again, a different industry but secretarial work is adaptable to any kind of industry depending who you work with. Seems like lady luck is finally smiling on me. I'll take whatever is offered and supplement it with whatever I can get from my VO world. 


Relationships


Reflecting back, the whole year was a year of ups and downs. New found friends, renewing old friendships, lost of trust, rekindling old flames, forgive and forgets. 


Sad to say, lately my relationship with my Creator has taken a step back and I feel that I'm such a hypocrite. I must review all my relationships and make it right between me and Him. No other relationship most important to me than this relationship and the relationship I have with my family, immediate and extended.


So, in a nutshell, these will be the plans for 2012:


1) Studies: DL for all 3 semesters. Taking 4 subjects each semester, without any deferment. No more playing around.


2) Weight: To reach ideal weight of 57kg by year end no matter what, no matter how. (Yikes!! That is 17 kilos to shed off). Bootcamp starting on 2nd January for a month and will find a way to continue the sessions. Taking on new supplement plan and revising daily menu. HOOYAH!!


3) Home: Going shopping after budget calculations. Hopefully, I can complete my home improvement exercise before school starts.


4) Work: Cannot do much this subject except continue sending resumes to potential employers. Prepare & present my best at the interview on the 5th January. If selected, my daily schedule will be changed and new arrangements will be made.


5) Relationships: Must review!!! No more excuses. 




Movie Time!!!

Papa, I love you.

A story of a single dad, Baha who is trying to raise his daughter Mia Sara while willing to do anything due to financial constraints. He then meets Elly who is willing to take care of Mia Sara while he finds a job. Meanwhile, Elly is striving on her own after having caught her father with another woman after her mother dies at the hospital.

The cuteness of Mia Sara in this movie reminded me of Haziq in Syurga Cinta. The way young children recite "Astghfirullahalazim" when they are surprised or shocked. Some people might be able to relate to this movie. However, no one in the right mind would let a child sleep out in the open. 

But, some people could take it as a lesson. Don't take what you have for granted as it can be taken away from you in a blink of an eye. In a blink of an eye, the world as you know it can change. Either you would be better off or worse. Either way, life has to go on and you have the choice to move ahead or reminiscing about the past. 



 Light-hearted movie. Interpret it as how you see it. But most importantly... enjoy!!!

Movie time!!

As soon as it was screened, we were one of those few early birds to catch these movies. So another movie marathon with FKTwo thanks to movieholics tickets.

Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 - Chipwrecked.

FKTwo have been bugging me to see this movie since she first saw its trailer when we went to another movie. She was counting the days till 15th December and was the 1st person up at 6am... waking me to go to the movie. Only after I went online and showed her the movie schedule that the movie isn't starting till another few more hours she relented and let me continue snoozing.



So the story is about the Chipmunks and Chipettes took a cruise to go to the International Music Awards, but end up getting shipwrecked, because non other than Alvin. They met a woman named Zoe who seemed to be nice at first but ended up capturing Jeanette in order to bring up the treasure they've found. All six of them were then rescued by Dave and Ian, who was a bit nicer in this film and they made it to the Awards show just in time.

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

I can never get enough of Ethan Hunt's antics, so we went to see MI4. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (Tom Cruise) has always been my first love since Top Gun and I would not miss watching him in action again for anything.  This time he and 2 other agents infiltrates Kremlin archives to locate files identifying Cobalt, but the mission failed. A bomb destroyed Kremlin and Russian agent, Sidirov accuses Hunt of masterminding the attack.

The team identifies Cobalt as Kurt Hendricks, a Swedish born Russian nuclear strategist who believes the weak must die in order for the strong survives, and plan to start a nuclear war to start the next stage of human evolution.

Was Ethan able to stop the nuclear catastrophe in time? Or was it the end of the world as we know it? Find out yourself as this is a movie not to be missed.


We actually planned to see Songlap as well but FKTwo was under 18 so we were not allowed. So sent FKTwo over to my mom's place after dinner so that I could prepare for my finals.

The Candle in My Heart.

There was once a small candle. Lighted and shined ever so brightly. It brought out warmth and glow to all who felt it. It burnt itself for the sake of a loved one. Giving happiness without asking anything in return. As years gone by, the candle was ignored as it symbolizes something that can never be owned. The owner of the candle suffered in silence, looking elsewhere in search for happiness. Till one day, the owner realized that the candle had not given up its light and it is still shining, not a single day passed without its warm glow. The owner gratefully return to embrace its warmth. For the owner knows, there is no other happiness than the happiness offered by this small candle.

FKTwo @ I-City!!

I've been wanting to go to this place since it first opened. Only last night we had the time to go. It is situated in Seksyen 7 Shah Alam, Selangor. There is not really much to see. A few rides, animal show and a snowwalk. The rides are priced reasonably but the snow place... tickets are RM35 for adults and RM25 for kids are bit of a turnoff.

Nevertheless, we still had fun and FKTwo enjoyed the ride immensely. FKTwo wanted to see the snowwalk but since it's too expensive, we opted out of it. With that price, both of us could spend a whole day at Sunway Pyramid Ice Skating Rink which I know she would enjoy much more. As for having the experience of snow, I told her to study hard and one day we will.


I remember a place in Bukit Cherakah where they have a 4 seasons park. I took FKOne there once. I wonder whether the place still exist.



Movie again!!


Ok.. you guys might think I'm crazy. Ankle still swollen but still going to movies. Last Sunday, I fulfilled my promise to my housemate to take her out for movie and we went to see Ombak Rindu. We have been waiting to see this movie since it came out on the 1st December 2011. All reviews say its sad, need to prepare tissue bla bla bla... unfortunately for me, it is not that sad. No tears shed. Maybe because I've read the book the night before and the movie was not up to my expectations.

So here it goes, in the movie Izzah (Maya Karin) is an innocent orphaned kampung  girl who teaches Koranic verses to children in that kampung. She was sold to a brothel by her lecherous uncle Pak Taha under the pretext that the family needed money for the Aunt's surgery. She tried to run and bumped into Harriz, pleading for help. Unknown to her, Harriz (Aaron Aziz) a wealthy playboy became her 1st customer thus had taken her virginity. Izzah begs him to marry her as a way out of prostitution. She was even willing to waive off whatever responsibility he has as a husband towards her. Harriz agrees with the intention of making her a kept woman.

But throughout the whole time Izzah did not lack in performing her duties as a wife. And in time, Harriz falls head over heels with Izzah. He tried to talk his childhood fiancée out of marriage. But Mila (Lisa Surihani), a well known actress, a force to be reckoned with determined to win him back, at all costs. Unknown by Harriz, Mila or Harriz's mother, Harriz is actually the driver's son. The driver, Pak Dollah and his wife, Mak Jah, have been keeping an eye on Harriz since small and teach him religious teachings, were at first angry with Harriz and Izzah, thinking that they are cohabiting against the law. But were relieved when Harriz admitted to them that they were already married.


The thing is this story has its second part. But none of it's connections were shown in this movie so I wonder whether they will run the next part or not. I must say, the soundtrack is good. I love the song.


Love is a funny thing. When you think time and event will change a person, you suddenly realize that they will never change, no matter what happened. Egos aside. It just a matter of personal preference. Differences in opinion on what is important, what is want and what is need. But love will always be in my mind... no matter how hard I tried to push it aside. I do things that people misinterpret but it's for people to judge. I am who I am... you want me to accept you as who you are, accept me as what I am. Don't try to change me since you don't even bother to change. If you think you're right, by all means, go ahead. Allah s.w.t gave me brains to think, so if I think I'm right, who are you to say that I'm wrong. Allah s.w.t made each and every individual different. It's on us to find common ground, make the differences complement each other. That's where the famous saying by Jerry Maguire goes.... YOU COMPLETE ME.


And so the story goes... I'll be here waiting the right time to be completed as I still have unfinished business to attend to. I'm searching a way for love to reunite even though people don't see or understand what I do. I don't care to explain either. Just take it at face value. Judge me however you want to judge me. Everyone is free of the own opinion. 



That's all for now.... till later!

Movie Time!!!

Both me and FKToo love going to the movies. We would go anywhere for a movie. Here's what we have watched recently. (*Plot & photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Happy Feet 2

Mumble (Elijah Wood) and Gloria's (Alecia Moore (P!nk)) son Erik (Ava Acres) is reluctant to try dancing as most of the penguins in Emperor-land do. Erik's first attempt at dancing embarrasses and outcasts him from the rest of the penguins. After Ramon's (Robin Williams) misguided advice that Emperor-Land isn't fit for outcast penguins like themselves, Erik and his two friends Boadicia (Meibh Campbell) and Atticus (Lil P-Nut) follow Ramon back to Adélie-Land. Upon returning, Ramon learns that Adélie-Land has been ruled by a God-like penguin named The Mighty Sven (Hank Azaria). Sven is the last of his kind who survived death by his ability to fly. Erik instantly becomes enamored with Sven, who takes a liking to him as well as there are "many brave warriors named Erik" back in Svenland. Sven and Lovelace (Robin Williams) tell the story of The Mighty Sven, who was rescued by a Russian vessel and rehabilitated alongside Lovelace. One night Sven discovers the "aliens" that saved them cooking and eating chicken meat. He flees the boat with Lovelace in tow. The two wind up on the shore of Antartica, where Sven performs his first miracle by revealing moss to the local penguins. Ramon accuses Sven of being a fraud and a false idol, until Sven uses his power of "Sven Think" to help Ramon find a mate. Ramon instantly falls in love with Carmen (Sofía Vergara), another Adélie penguin who shows no interest in him. Mumble follows the chicks' footprints to Adélie land and orders them to return to Emperor-Land. The chicks refuse, especially Erik, who has adopted Sven as a hero. Sven encourages Erik to believe in himself, because "Sven believes in you", before sending Erik back to Emperor-land with Mumble.
Meanwhile, the story shifts to two krill in the midst of a swarm. Will (Brad Pitt) is an adventurous and existentialist krill determined to discover what lies beyond the krill swarm. His friend, Bill, (Matt Damon) reluctantly follows him to ensure his safety. Once separated from the swarm, Will and Bill realize that krill are at the bottom of the food chain, created to be eaten. Inspired, Will ventures out to evolve and "move up the food chain", eating a real creature instead of being eaten.
On the way back from Adélie-Land, Mumble tells Erik that he is unique to the world and that he will someday find his calling. Erik, still inspired by Sven's words of wisdom, quickly dismisses Mumble's advice. While trying to cross a perilous ice bridge, the penguins encounter Bryan the Beach Master (Richard Carter) and his two young sons, who refuse to let the penguins pass. Suddenly the ice gives away and Bryan is trapped in a deep crevice below the ice. Mumble sets out to free Bryan by antagonizing a sleeping leopard seal until it chases him down. In actuality, it is the work of Bill and Will "moving up the food chain" and trying to eat a creature with a face that awakens the seal. During the fight, Mumble manages to use the leopard seal to shatter the wall of ice between Bryan and the sea, saving his life. Seeking acceptance from Erik, Mumble is disheartened to learn Erik attributed the feat of courage to Sven Think, Sven's motivational process of achieving what one wants by willing it to happen. Bryan returns to the Elephant Seal beach, but not before thanking Mumble and promising to return the favor to him at any time.
When the penguins returns to Emperor-Land they are shocked to discover a large iceberg has struck their home, trapping the entire Emperor Penguin population below large walls of ice. Boadicia ventures out to Adélie Land to recruit the help of Ramon, the Amigos and all the Adélie penguins to bring fish to the doomed Emperor penguins. In the meantime Mumble, Erik and Atticus deliver meager supplies of fish to the trapped penguins. Erik, still convinced penguins can fly through Sven Think, attempts to deliver a fish to Gloria by flying and nearly tossing himself over the edge of the iceberg. Mumble scolds Erik for his beliefs, claiming that no penguin can fly and that none of the Emperor Penguins will be able to escape. Once Erik realizes Emperor-Land is destined to die, he begins to break down. Gloria sends Mumble off to hunt for fish, calming Erik and the rest of the hysterical Emperor-Land through song (Bridge of Light). In the process, Bill becomes inspired to create another swarm of krill but Will refuses, preferring to adhere to his new predator lifestyle.
The next morning, a large flock of Skua attack the trapped Emperor-Land. Noah the Elder (Hugo Weaving) encourages the penguins to stand up to the birds (Anthony LaPagliaMichael Cornacchia) through perseverance and unity. When all hope seems lost, Boadica returns with the entire Adélie-Land, led by Sven, to aid the trapped Emperor Penguins. Sven orchestrates a cooperative effort to feed the trapped Emperor Penguins through hunting and bringing back a flow of fish from the sea.
During this period Will becomes increasingly agitated with Bill's behavior and ventures out alone, into the Adélie feeding swarm, to join "fellow predators". In the process he is whisked away attached to a fish carried by Sven and down into the trapped Emperor-Land.
Suddenly the Adélie penguins recognize the same Russian vessel that saved Sven and Lovelace. Sven, terrified for his life, flees and hides from the humans. Lovelace, meanwhile, swims to the top of an iceberg and dances to attract the ship's attention. He successfully leads the humans back to Emperor-Land, where they begin carving a path up the side of the iceberg to freedom. Halfway through the effort, a large storm rolls in, forcing the penguins to huddle up and the humans to flee. The next morning Sven returns, reporting that the ocean has frozen over significantly and there is no chance of the humans returning or the Adélie Penguins transporting food over such a distance. Tensions arise as the Emperor Penguins become frantic at the lack of food and attempt to launch themselves into the air and "fly" out of the crevice. Erik urges Sven to teach the penguins how to fly, but he reveals his true nature. Sven is a not a penguin at all, but a Puffin-- and puffins can fly. He admits that after the loss of Svenland, he was lonely and grew to love the penguins who accepted him as a family. Dejected, Sven flies off. Mumble, after watching snow fall into a crevice between chunks of iceberg, begins to tap-dance on the ice and lead the Adélie penguins in a dance to force snow between the ice and weaken it. The plan works well until several chunks break loose, sending a large portion of the Adélies into the doomed crevice. In attempting to save Erik from plummeting over the edge, Mumble injures his foot and is unable to dance and lead the Adélies. Ramon realizes Carmen is trapped below and, risking his own life, jumps off the iceberg to be with her. As he professes his love to her, she immediately falls in love with him.
Sven becomes aware of the dancing and proves himself to be a worthy dancer despite public outcry against him. He leads the remaining Adélies in dance (Dragostea din tei) while Erik and Mumble venture off to the Elephant Seal beach.
Meanwhile Will, weary from the dangers he experienced as a predator on the surface, ventures back into the sea to find Bill, but not before experiencing the penguin's dancing. He is suddenly forced down a crack in the ice and into the sea beneath Emperor-Land. He reunites with Bill and his swarm, who tell him he has the purpose of changing the world and evolving the swarm. Once Bill told the swarm of their position on the food chain and their lives as pure herbivores, they followed him to the safety of the inaccessible ice below Emperor-Land.
Mumble and Erik arrive at Elephant Seal Beach where Bryan is in the middle of a fight of dominance between another large male. Mumble pleads with the elephant seals to help free the Emperor Penguins. Bryan, initially hesitant to return a favor at such a pivotal time of the year, becomes aggressive and threatens Mumble off the beach. Erik, unnerved by the lack of honor and respect from Bryan, discovers his true ability- a strong operatic voice. He sings an impromptu opera, commemorating Mumble as his hero for his acts of bravery and chides Bryan for his lack of compassion and gratitude towards him. At the end he runs up and hugs Mumble, accepting him as his inspiration. Touched by Erik's song, the elephant seals travel to Emperor-Land to free the penguins (Rawhide). The penguins and the seals begin slamming the ice on beat, joined by the krill below the ice, to the tune of "Under Pressure". Finally, the iceberg crumbles enough for the Emperor Penguins to climb out of the crevice and reunite with their families.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

On the night of her wedding to Edward CullenBella Swan is visited by her friend Jacob Black. When Bella accidentally indicates to him that she and Edward plan to consummate their marriage during their honeymoon, Jacob tries to attack Edward but members of his wolf pack hold him back. He then runs off into the woods, and Edward takes an upset Bella back to the reception.
The couple spends their honeymoon on a private island in Brazil. Although hesitant, Edward has sex with Bella for the first time. After Edward realizes that he bruised Bella's arm, back and shoulders during sex, he says that he will never have sex with her again, much to her disappointment; he later gives in to her seductions. Two weeks into their honeymoon, Bella discovers that she is pregnant with a fetus growing at an extraordinarily accelerated rate, and they rush back to Forks. Bella refuses to heed the urging from most of the Cullens for her to have an abortion, and enlists Rosalie to protect her wishes.
Opposed to Sam Uley's plans to kill Bella and her child, Jacob leaves the pack in protest and arrives at the Cullen house to protect Bella; Seth and Leah Clearwater join him. As the pregnancy progresses, Bella's health severely detoriates. As a last resort, she begins drinking blood, which satisfies the fetus and allows her to regain some strength. Soon afterward Bella goes into a very painful labor and gives birth to her daughter, Renesmee. To save her life by turning her into a vampire, Edward injects Bella's heart with his venom, but nothing happens, and Bella is thought to be dead. Greatly distraught, Jacob attempts to kill the baby, but stops when he realizes he has imprinted on the child.
When the werewolves learn of Bella's death, they attack the Cullen house to try to kill the baby. They stop when they learn of Jacob's imprinting of Renesmee, which, under werewolf law, means Renesmee cannot be harmed. Bella's wounds heal and she wakes up with red eyes as a new-born vampire.
In a post-credits scene, the Volturi learn of Bella's conversion; Aro notes that this is not the end of their dispute with the Cullens, as the Cullens "have something he wants."

Puss in Boots

Sometime before Puss (Antonio Banderas) meets Shrek and Donkey in Shrek 2, he arrives at a town while escaping a bounty hunter. There he learns that the outlaw couple Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) have the magic beans he's been looking for most of his life, beans that can lead him to a giant's castle holding valuable golden goose eggs. When Puss tries to steal them from the outlaws' room, a masked cat (Salma Hayek) interrupts. Both fail and escape, and Puss follows the cat back a club, where they have a dance-off and a sword fight, ending when Puss hits the masked cat in the head with a guitar. He learns that the masked cat was Kitty Softpaws. She is allied with Humpty Alexander Dumpty (Zach Galifianakis), a talking egg and Puss' long-estranged childhood friend from the orphanage where he was raised. Overcoming Puss' feelings of betrayal for a youthful misadventure when Humpty tricked Puss into helping commit a crime, they convince him to join them in finding the beans and retrieving the golden eggs.
The trio steals the beans from Jack and Jill and elude the angry outlaws in a canyon chase. As Humpty leads his compatriots to the spot where they must plant the beans, Puss and Kitty's relationship begins to grow from rivalry into friendship. The trio ride the fast-growing beanstalk into the clouds where, Humpty explains, they'll find castle of the late giant. Now, he continues, a fearsome monster called the Terror guards the Golden Goose. When they realize the golden eggs are too heavy to carry, they steal the Goose — which is just a gosling — and escape the castle and the Terror. While celebrating their victory, the group is ambushed by Jack and Jill, who knock Puss unconscious.
When Puss wakes up, he tracks Jack and Jill back to his old hometown, where he learns that the entire heist was a plot by Humpty to lure him home to be captured, as revenge for abandoning him to the authorities when Humpty's youthful heist went bad. Jack, Jill, and even Kitty were involved in the con. After pleas from his adoptive mother, the head of the orphanage, Puss turns himself in to the guards while Humpty donates many golden eggs to the town and becomes a hero.
While in prison, Puss meets the original Jack from the "Jack and the Beanstalk" story who warns him that the Terror is in fact the Golden Goose's mother, and it will stop at nothing to get its child back. A repentant Kitty helps Puss break out of prison. Puss convinces Humpty to help him fight off the Terror, saying he knows Humpty is a good person at heart, and he will be forgiven if he helps save the town. The Terror arrives, revealing itself to be a giant goose. Using the Golden Goose as bait, Puss and Humpty lure the Terror out of the town, but Humpty and the Goose are knocked off a bridge with Puss holding on to them. Humpty knows Puss cannot hold both of them, and he lets go, sacrificing himself to save the Goose and the town. Humpty's shell cracks open to reveal that he was a golden egg on the inside. The Terror then takes the Goose and Humpty away back to the giant's castle.
Puss is forced to flee because he is still an outlaw, but his efforts to save the town make him a hero among the townspeople. Puss and Kitty escape the guards once more, and Kitty says she will see him again soon, showing that she has taken his boots. In the epilogue, Jack and Jill are recovering from their injuries after being crushed by the Terror, Humpty is shown once again in his regular egg form as he rides the Terror into the clouds, and Puss and Kitty head back to dance at Kitty's hideout, the Glitter Box, where they finally kiss.

Seeking Justice

The film is about Nick Gerard (Cage) who, after his wife Laura (Jones) is raped and assaulted, enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score. However Nick discovers some of the group led by Simon (Pearce) demands a favour in return and when he refuses, they frame him for murder, leading him into a world where anyone who is deemed even the slightest threat to this group is dealt with and anyone he knows could be a potential member of the group.






Arthur Christmas

The story of Arthur Christmas revolves around the current Santa Claus, his wife, his two sons Arthur and Steve, and their grandfather, Grandsanta. Set on Christmas Eve night, the film opens with a set of elves sitting behind their computers at the commando bridge of Santa's gigantic, ultra-high-tech sleigh. While Santa and the elves deliver presents to children using fancy advanced equipment and military precision, Santa's oldest son Steve is managing the operation at mission control. Suddenly, Santa's clumsy younger son Arthur, who works at the post station answering childrens' letters, rushes into to deliver correspondence disturbing their operation to everyone's resentment.
With the seventieth annual delivery mission under his official command completed, Santa, whose role in field operations now is largely symbolic, returns to give a congratulatory speech to the elves. Much to Steve's frustration, who has long anticipated succeeding his father, Santa announces he intends to continue for the foreseeable future.
During their family Christmas dinner, Arthur's suggestion for the family to play a board game degenerates into a petty quarrel with Santa and Steve proxy arguing about their right to be Santa while Grandsanta, who is bored by retirement, resentfully criticizes his successors' modernization of their calling. Distraught, the various family members leave the dinner table, though Arthur stops Steve with a small gesture to reassure him that he will be a great Santa Claus. However, Steve rejects Arthur's overture, while at the same time their father shares his doubts with his wife about his self-identity if he retires.
Meanwhile, an elf named Bryony finds a wrapped bicycle that has not yet been delivered. She alerts Steve and his elf-assistant to the problem. Overhearing, Arthur is alarmed to recognize the present as a gift for a little girl named Gwen, who had written Santa about her wish. Arthur alerts his father Santa, obviously past his prime, who doesn't know how to handle the situation. Steve argues that one missed present out of the billions of deliveries that night is a minimal error and since sunrise is in two hours with the high-tech sled needing an overhaul, correcting that oversight will have to wait a few days.
The distraught Arthur is stopped by his grandfather, who proposes delivering the gift with his old wooden sleigh named Evie, and the great-grandchildren of his old reindeer. Together, Grandsanta, Arthur, the reindeer, and Bryony who stows away, embark on a journey to deliver the present. They get lost and land in danger including they are mistaken for aliens, thus causing an international military incident and losing reindeer in the various mishaps. Through the group's struggles, Arthur is profoundly disillusioned to learn that Grandasanta is doing this merely to satisfy his ego, Steve refuses to help them out of a petty resentment of perceiving that Arthur is threatening his succession and his own father has gone to bed, apparently content to neglect his duty to that girl.
Finally, while stranded in Cuba after losing the sleigh, Arthur gets an renewal of purpose that the girl needs him and the field team manages regain control of the sleigh. Meanwhile, the Elf staff are collectively alarmed at learning of this neglected delivery and Santa's befuddled excuses sends them into a panic that their organization's ideals have been violated, threatening their whole existence. In response, Mr. and Mrs. Clause, and belatedly Steve, take the high tech sleigh to deliver the present. Unfortunately, they are seriously delayed by a basic mistake by Santa with the craft's navigation system which causes a embarrassing incident that reveals Steve's lack of empathy and compassion with his poor handling of the mistaken child while the elder son, humiliated at the misunderstanding, loses his temper at his father's aged incompetence.
After much difficulty with Mrs. Claus and Bryony's help, all the male Clauses arrive at Gwen's house before she awakens, only to have all but Arthur quarrel about who finally places the gift. Noticing that only Arthur truly cares about the girl's feelings in the Christmas spirit in this situation, the elder Clauses realize that he is the sole true worthy successor. As a result, Santa gives Arthur the honor and Steve forfeits his birthright to his brother.
Ultimately, the problem of who will be the next Santa Claus is settled to everyone's satisfaction: Santa goes into a happy retirement with Mrs. Claus while Grandsanta's desire for some traditionalism is satisfied with the compromise of the high tech sleigh being pulled by a 5000 reindeer team lead by the original eight reindeer, who all managed to return home after that difficult run. As for their sons, Steve finds he is content being CEO, overseeing the operation's technical matters with Vice President Bryony's help while Arthur happily guides the enterprise in the proper spirit as the new Santa

Surely there are more movies awaiting to be seen. Missed a few but I'll be looking out for its DVD.
1. Reel Steel - Got DVD.
2. Abuya - a controversial movie. Missed it but a must find.
3. Aku bukan tomboy - Going soon as FKToo wants to watch this.
4. Ombak Rindu - Going soon with housemate.
5. Tintin - one of my favorite toons when I was younger.
6. Immortals - wanted to but a friend commented that its not so good so 50/50.
7. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
8. Muppets - My favorite puppet show when I was younger, love Kermit the Frog.
9. Songlap
10. Alvin and the Chipmunks 3
11. StarWars Ep 1 on 3D

So many movies to see and will keep us busy. Not to mention the trips to waterworld, zoo, aquaria, skating rink, karaoke, amusement park, Genting Highlands, Taman Negara, Perak ... all planned for our holidays. But first!! Mummy have to heal her ankle and clear her exams. Hmmm....

"D" day!!

.
The day has finally arrived. The feel of excitement since the day I bought the voucher lead up to light sleep. Having working late the past few nights without much rest, I have to admit the body was rebelling. I prepared my gear the night before, got a friend to wake me up at 6 am this morning.

And my day began. Woke up at 6 am. Had a bowl of cornflakes with my usual coffee and chlorophyll. Was out from the house at 6.30 heading to Stadium Mini Setiawangsa. Registered and waited a while for Team Alpha to warm down. Finally at 7 am sharp, my team, Bravo, got called up to the field.

Roll call was done. The trainers, Sjn Nawal and Corp Wan were at hand giving out instructions. And we started off with a 100 meter high leg jog. The field was wet from last night rain and muddy as it has been trampled on by Alpha since an hour before. I managed to complete the first round of jog and we turned directions on order.

Towards the end of second leg of the jog, as order was given to turn direction, some of my fellow team mates turn so fast I barely was able to stop myself. As I tried to turn around, I slipped and fell. I tried to get up and continue on but my right leg was so painful I had to wobble to the side of the field.To my disappointment, I had twisted my ankle and it had started swelling. The throbbing pain was horrendous. I could not remember when last I had this kind of pain. I felt dizzy, sweating profusely, hanging on and willed myself so that I don't pass out.

Sjn Nawal came to my aide, along with the Commander. She assessed my condition and sprayed on the ankle to make it numb. She and the Commander decided I cannot continue, that I will have to go back and put ice on my ankle. I tried to move my leg but I couldn't. I sat there fuming to myself, frustrated that I almost cried. Not so much due to the pain but I was really angry at what had happened.
The Commander stayed with me, comforting me and made me do something that I do not understand at first. He tapped the side of my right palm, asking me to follow him in a chant, and moved on tapping my forehead side of both eyes, under the nose, on the chin, on the collar bone then taking a beep breath and letting it go. As I followed him, the throbbing pain lessened and by the end of the chant, I was able to move my ankle with less pain. We repeated the process and I was able to stand up and step on my right foot without so much pain. 

What was that, I wondered. I did not have time to ask about it. I hobbled to my car, stepping on the gas & brake pedals with tears in my eye, I drove home. 2 minutes... after a month of wait, 2 minutes and that was the end of it. Even though, I'm welcomed to come back for the next session on Wednesday, I don't know whether it will heal by then. Perhaps I can go, try to appeal for my voucher back and sign up for a different team on a later date, after my ankle have healed completely.

My "D" day turn out to be Doomsday. And here I am, nursing my bad ankle. Wishing there is someone I can lean on to take care of my needs at the moment...

Another thought...

Nikah Mut'ah... have you heard of it?

A question that was post to me tonight. Made me think that I need to do some research on it. This is an excerpt from what I've found on Wiki (my constant source of info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikah_mut'ah)


Nikāḥ al-Mutʿah (Arabic: نكاح المتعة‎ "pleasure marriage"), is a fixed-term marriage in Shi'a Islam. The duration of this type of marriage is fixed at its inception and is then automatically dissolved upon completion of its term. The marriage is contractual and is subject to renewal. Financial payments may be made between the couple, usually with the male paying the female known as mahr or dower.


But why Mut'ah?


The Nikah al-Mut‘ah is used various ways:
1. It is used in modern times when people move from one place to another, such as from one country to another. Thus students, workers, scholars may enter into a contractual marriage under the verse of the Qur'an which allows ones emotional needs and human needs to be fulfilled if they are in another country. It may lead to permanent marriage afterwards.
2. It may be used to become mahram (unmarriable) with somebody with whom they do not intend to cohabit or have a married relationship, but with whom they spend a lot of time (for example, share a house). In order to ease the hijab "modest dress" rules, they engage in a nikah al-Mut‘ah, specifying in the marriage contract that no physical contact is allowed.
3. Two people who live under the same roof but are not mahram (unmarriable) and must observe hijab may engage in a symbolic nikah al-mut‘ah with the others' offspring for a minimal amount of time (two minutes or less). The Nikahu’l-Mut‘ah does not need to have any practical consequence, but it will make the parent and the offspring's husband or wife permanently mahram to each other, and thus no longer obliged to observe hijab rules.
4. Young unmarried couples may decide to use nikahu l-Mut‘ah as a permissible alternative to entering into a relationship on the premise of future permanent marriage.
5. It might also be seen as a cover for legalized prostitution, as the nikahu l-Mut'ah can last as short as half an hour, and the woman receives financial compensation but in accordance with the Quran must still wait three months (iddah) before the next contract.


Reality check : I am not under any of the 5 points above.






Differences from permanent marriage

Nikah Mut'a is a marriage with a pre-set time. It is important to note that different Marja (authorities) may give different fatwa (legal rulings) on some issues. Many of the following rules may be changed in the Islamic marriage contract.
  • The marriage is agreed to be voided after a pre-set time. This permits the couple to expect and prepare emotionally for the end of the marriage.
  • No divorce is necessary. In Shi‘a fiqh, divorce is viewed as a complex process and a period aimed at giving the couple the chance to reconcile. This is not necessary in Nikahu’l-Mut‘ah, since the marriage does not end due to disharmony but due to the preset time being reached.
  • The husband may void the Nikahu l-Mut‘ah earlier than agreed. If he does and they have had sexual intercourse, he must give her full mahr "bride gift". If they have not had intercourse, he must give her half that amount, though the recommended precaution is that he should give her full mahr. A distinction between a talaq (divorce) in a nikah and voiding a nikahu l-mut‘ah is made in a conversation reported in a hadith collection.
  • The couple do not inherit from each other. Since the marriage is not permanent, the couple is not considered a single, merged unit.
  • The husband is financially responsible for any children resulting from the marriage. As it is believed that a woman should not be burdened with the responsibility of providing for a family, she is allowed to work and spend her money as she chooses.
  • The wife may leave her house against her husband's will.
  • The husband need not pay for the wife's expenses. This complements the above point.
  • It is permitted to marry a woman from Ahl al-Kitab "People of the Book" (followers of monotheistic religions). The difference in jurisprudence between different religions is overcome by this rule. It is understood that the Muslim Nikah does not have an equivalent form among the People of the Book. Therefore, women who are of the People of the Book are unaccustomed to the special rules of Nikah, for example, the husband's responsibility for the wife's expenses or the wife's not leaving her house against the husband's wishes. These difference in religious laws make it desirable to wait with the higher level of commitment that Nikah requires until they are overcome, in order to minimize potential friction in family life.
  • The wives are not counted toward the maximum of four. Since the husband is not required to support the wife, and the marriage is not permanent, the circumstances leading to the restriction of having no more than four wives does not apply. However, many Shi‘a scholars have ruled that one cannot take more than four temporary wives.

Similarities

  • The woman might require the consent of her wali ("Legal Guardian") if she is a virgin. However, there is no consensus among the Grand Ayatollahs on this issue. Most Marjas like Ali Sistani require the father's permission, to prevent someone taking advantage of her inexperience; while there are few others who do not require guardian's permission.
  • A contract is engaged when entering the marriage. Shi‘a believe that the marriage contract does not require having witnesses, a written contract or permission from authorities.
  • The woman observes iddah at the end of the marriage. That is, she must wait before remarrying - but only if she had sexual intercourse.
  • Men are not allowed to marry women of non-monotheistic religions, and women can only marry Muslims.


But all in all, Nikah Mut'ah was a custom of pre-islamic Arabs. It has been abolished as per the views below:-








Sunni view




The hadith, or prophetic statements and traditions, can be analyzed to fortify this position.
In the hadith collection of TirmithyAbdullah Ibn Abbas narrates:
"Temporary marriage was at the beginning of Islam. A man comes by a town where he has no acquaintances, so he marries for a fixed time depending on his stay in the town, the woman looks after his provisions and prepares his food, until the verse was revealed: 'Except to your wives or what your right hands possess.'"
A majority of Sunnis believe that Muhammad later abolished this type of marriage at several different large events, the most accepted being at Khaybar in 7 AH (629 CE) Bukhari 059.527 and at the Victory of Mecca in 8 AH (630 CE). Most Sunnis believe that Umar later was merely enforcing a prohibition that was established during Muhammad's time.

Shia view

Shi'a believe that Umar ibn al-Khattab abolished it, not the prophet of Islam.
  • He did it during the third year of his reign, 15 ah (637 CE), 6 year after the revelation of verse 4:24, in the Hadith of Umar's speech of forbidding Mut'ah, but since he, according to them had no authority to do so, Umar's prohibition seems to be temporary and place specific, hence may be ignored (Muslim 2801 12).


Reality check: We're nearing the end of the century, and Islam have long been established.


I need to go back to my teacher, my ustaz to discuss about this further.


SubhanAllah... there is so much to think, research about when it comes to this. But to me, it does sound like a legalized prostitution as my argument will be why get married in the first place? Why do you get married? I had a discussion with my son about this when he broached the subject of marrying in a early age. One of the reason to be married is to have children. But in a contractual marriage like Nikah Mut'ah, it is not advisable for you to have children. Although husbands are financially responsible for any children resulting from the marriage, it would mean the wife is willing to be a single parent once the contract is over or willing to leave the child with the father since he is financially responsible towards the child. Would it be of the best interest for the child? Is this the path I would want to take / consider? I myself would rather be dead than having my children taken away from me unless they return to Allah s.w.t.


I am a creature of emotion. I admit that I'm greedy for love, affection and attention. I don't quite agree to polygamy for whatever reason there is. But if it is already fated by Allah s.w.t, I will accept for Him, as He only knows what He has in store for me. But it must be a consensual polygamy by all parties involved. There must be a better way to live a life and I don't see Nikah Mut'ah as a solution to my life. I just salute the others who think it is. But I encourage my readers to also read this E-book on Marriage as a form of Ibadah. Perhaps it will help you readers as it had help me in understanding marriage in its simplest form.


Reality conclusion: I can see my family screaming on top of their lungs... YOU ARE CRAZY!!