Perseverance Unlimited

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. What is YOUR plan for tomorrow?

What I know it is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat. A day of obligation. The start of Lenten season. Some people do 40-day fast in this season of preparation for Easter. What about YOU?

As for ME, I do plan to only have one full meal a day. Will it be heavy lunch but no dinner? Or should it be heavy breakfast, no lunch and moderate/light dinner? Perhaps the latter. I still have a day to consider my fasting/abstinence plan. Maybe I should follow my puppies' diet of rice and fish only. They seem happy eating that day-in day-out. I know that the road to happiness is to be contented with what we have. Enough is good and sufficient is grace from God.

Planning is great, as always. But will I be persevering in this 40-day plan of fasting/abstinence? How many times we plan great things, with full of desire and passion, but end up limping because of lack of perseverance? Today when I opened my copy of The Light (daily readings), it struck me that the Church is preparing God's people for the season of Lent which will start tomorrow.

"Blessed is anyone who perseveres when trials come. Such a person is of proven worth and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
~ James 1:12 ~

Indeed, it is also written some down the chapter that,

"Everyone is put to the test by being attracted and seduced by that person's own wrong desire."
~ James 1:14 ~

During Lenten season, we're still living our normal lives. The difference is this season is with the knowledge that we must remember the road that Jesus took in order to redeem us from our sins; in order to save us, He died the scandalous death. Are we going to just sit here and do nothing about it? Or instead, are we going to wait for His resurrection at Easter by dying daily to our sins and carry our daily crosses, yet remain joyful with trials and cling onto the Rock when tempted to go astray? We can be easily tempted because of our own desire. Sometimes, passion and desire can blind us.

James wrote that "by His own choice He gave birth to us by the message of truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all His creations" (James 1:18) as the end of today's reading. God has given us, by His choice, His message of truth. As we are all children of the Father of all light, we receive His truth and hence should be the salt of the earth, light of the world (cf. Matthew 5:13, 14).

You can decide how you want to lead your life. Pray more? Pray less? Your decision.

May the grace and love of God be with you all on the 3rd day of CNY. May perseverance in prayers be your strength when in darkness and may the light of Jesus be the direction of your lives.

God bless!

Puppies vs. Fireworks

This picture is pretty self-explanatory, but I'd like to add an anecdote to it.

Instead of A puppy, currently I am dealing with FOUR puppies (Panda, Betsy, Baby Gal and Toodoo). Though born of stray mother, we had been looking after them in terms of food and play and shelter since last month. And I finally gotten the sole responsibility of ensuring they get enough of the minimum three criteria this week. Thank God they all are somehow toilet-trained naturally. Only poop and pee on soil/grassy ground.

In conjunction with Chinese New Year celebration, fireworks have been colouring the night sky since the day my housemates left for their respective hometowns. The puppies, I believe, had been enduring the crazily loud (as defined in the puppy's world) firecrackers and fireworks since CNY eve. I've been observing their behaviour since then, and noticed that they displayed fear and disorientation regularly when there is a release of fireworks into the night air.

As the current co-owner of the puppies, I'm highly concerned of their well-being. A search on Google brought me to a website about fear aggression in dog or puppy. Now, this part of the article explained why they all disappeared after breakfast this morning, causing me to fret over it the whole day as I had to go out for the whole day. When I arrived home just now, only Panda was at home, in some sort of fear though. I finally found the other three and their mother a few houses from mine.

Some puppy dogs react and get extremely frightened and panic at the sound of lightening, thunder, or fireworks and there is no real reason they should. Some cases will cause fear aggression in the dog. These types of fears have caused many dogs to even run away from their homes in panic and disoriented, and unfortunately in some cases some have even been hit by a car due to running out into the road, and others have had difficulty finding their way home etc.

Whereas this part of the article explains why I find my puppies retreating to under the car, and not responsive when I called after them at times, to the extend of backing off when I went near one of them, and running from home.

When a puppy is scared it becomes very evident in the way he begins to behave and the way he looks. Some puppies start walking form one side of the room to the other, looking for somewhere to hide and if there is an open door, some will run out without giving any warning to the owner.

Pray that either the firecrackers and fireworks will stop soon, or that my puppies will grow out of the fear.

P/S: I have no idea why I'm naming them what I named them (especially Baby Gal and Toodoo), except for Panda, which has two black patches over his eyes. Basically they are rarely responsive towards the name given though. By next week, all will leave home to their foster families. Shall snap some pics and upload them soon!

Weird Kiki's Look

Latest info, my puppy Kiki is a mix bred of Jack Russell Terrier and Miniature Pinscher instead of a Chihuahua / Miniature Pinscher mix. Haha... So Kiki is a Minnie Jack instead of a Chipin... Sounds nicer definitely... and more girlish~~ LOL! Anyway, this is a pic of his "pig" look~ Hahahaha!! That's what my mom said... Like a pig head attached to a dog body~~

I just can't help but to share with you all~~

Kiki, The Chipin

KIKI the Chipin

I just found out that high chances the cutie at home in Johor is a Chipin (chihuahua/miniature pinscher hybrid). Apparently this hybrid is a type of recognized mutt and rather popular, but many things remain unknown, until I find more info online...

This is Kiki and myself on 13 Dec before I left for Senai Airport. One of his "still" moments, since he was sleepy already when I played with him...

Kiki is one of the most adorable creature I've ever met... He's 3-month old, born somewhere in September 2008 and brought back to my house on my birthday... My parents told me he was the size of a palm when he first arrived. Now, he's about 30 cm long, with a cute waggy tail. Being so small, he has pride the size of an elephant (in his "territory"). But out of his territory, he shivers and trembles so much that he's like a massager on my hand. He knows where to pee and poo most of the time, but when he's too excited, he has problem controlling his bladder. He loves drinking water from the tub in the toilet, and apparently my dad had the belief that Kiki doesn't drink water, until the day I arrived and found that Kiki has this thing for the water from the tub. Toilet water drinker. LOL!

My lovely mom and Kiki... Now they are best friends~~

Kiki loves to cuddle and nibble our fingers... And knows when my mom is back. If he happens to be outside of his "box" or "basket" he would be waiting at the staircase from the living room to the kitchen. My mom who wasn't a dog lover herself is now mesmerized by Kiki. He loves climbing onto my lap if I sit on the floor. However, I'm suspecting he has "attention deficit disorder" because he would never be able to be still and until now he could not learn to "sit", "stay", "roll", etc... I guess it takes time~~~ Well, I've tried taking him out for a walk, but he trembled so much that he wouldn't move when I put him on the floor. All he did was to stay there with legs apart and shivered like crazy. I wonder where was his elephant-size pride at that moment.

Kiki and his chewing bone at dad's rocking chair on his favourite spot of the green floor mat...

O ya, not forgetting, he will hide under my dad's rocking chair (Kiki's refuge) whenever my mom slaps him with a rolled one-piece-of-newspaper. Besides that, anything to play or to eat, he has this thing to carry it under the chair, or minimum to the green carpet at the rocking chair. Haha! Indeed, that is Kiki's refuge!!

I've uploaded a video of Kiki drinking from the bath with my dad. LOL! He's so small and my dad seemed so huge with him. I wonder what is there with the water that Kiki loves it so much... Hehe! I've also uploaded a video on Youtube.

I shall upload more about Kiki when I'm free... Still have so much to talk about... I wonder how big Kiki will grow?? I guess only time will tell... They said Chipin can live about 12-15 years~ Wow!

Till then... God bless!

I'm Back! =)

After two weeks of break from everything in KK, I'm back once again on 13th evening via Airasia. Surprisingly the flight was ok, nothing special except the announcement by the pilot somewhere an hour prior to landing woke me up from my neck-aching sleep! The outcome: Inability to sleep early after a huge supper at my favourite "mee bab*" shop in Lintas with Felix, Von Teo and Ah Boon. Smooth landing, I'd say - Thumbs up for the Captain!

So what have I been doing since 1 Dec 2008?

01/12/08

• Checked all my mails, clearing everything and packing in the morning.
• Had dinner with Mel in airport (thanks for the treat, gal!^__^)
  
• In the air for 2.25 hours and touched down safely around 11.30pm, went for supper with parents.

02/12/08

• Arrived home at 2 something in the morning. Introduction to Kiki and played with him for a moment. Realized he's not-so-chihuahua. (Update: I just checked online and 80% confirmed that he's a min pin/chi mix (miniature pinscher + chihuahua mix).
• Slept late and woke up to the sound of my aunty from Kuantan with her grandchildren (age 8, 10 and 14).

03/12/08

• Visited Batu Pahat (Including the Pantai Minyak Beku and Perigi Batu Pahat).
• Petted humongous "dragon fish" in some temple in BP.

04/12/08

• Visited organic farm (near entrance only) nearby my hometown.
• Went to Pontian to visit my uncle then headed to Kukup for a wonderful seafood meal after strolling on the tiny "roads" in between houses on water. Saw magrove swamp... and wonder why people just don't like to take good care of the ocean environment~

05/12/08

• Met up with my ex-classmate (form 1-6) who was to be married on 07/12/08 to get my invitation card. Had a chat with her and visited our ex-classmate's parents to enquire something. I was rather freaked out by the time we wanted to leave... but thank God everything was alright.
• Stayed at home at night... Just lazing around... and lots of GOOD FOOD!

06/12/08

• Met up with some form 6 ex-classmates at Heidi's to crap a while... Then left for Kluang Parade to lepak for about 45 minutes before sending everybody home and attended mass in St. Louis.
• Was rather panic when found out it was a BM Mass... Kinda weird because I rarely attend BM mass and it was once of those times when I didn't have my daily readings (The Light) with me... When I realized I do know some of the mass parts sung I was really happy... Thanks for my KBHK friends... :P
• Right after mass I went over to Bee Yean's house for a night of crapping and catching up with ex-classmates. One of them I didn't meet since 1999 after SPM (that was like 9 years ago)
• Arrived home with "white-attire" crisis because Byean wanted us to wear white attire in the morning of her wedding... Managed to solve the crisis, thanks for Mommy dear! :D
  

07/12/08

• Woke up about 6.30am... Practically dragged myself off the comfy tilam because I was totally exhausted the night before...
• Was ready and arrived at Byean's house about 7.30am. Had breakfast with bride and others...
• The groom and his team of "brothers" arrived at 9.50am (approx.), 20 mins later than the agreed time of 9.30am...
• We, the "sisters", had some fun before allowing the groom to enter the house, including the request of shouting "I love you" to Byean (she was at 1st floor), pole dancing, singing the 1st song he sang to her and some "tips" for us.
• Then we went over to groom's house, continued feasting and crapping. LOL!
• Evening came and we went for dinner reception... The food was great... Catching up was fun. I met one of my ex-classmate who shifted away after form 2. Wow! My age is catching up I guess!

08/12/08

• My aunty and her family left for Seremban after lunch. So left us at home with Kiki... Kinda bored but was acclimatizing fast with Kiki running everywhere at home. He's just too adorable!

08-11/12/08

• Life is good - just at home, waking up late, eating, watching tv, playing with puppy. I even bathed Kiki (without prior knowledge of bathing a puppy)!
• We even brought Kiki for a walk (I was holding him like a baby though) around my neighbourhood. Duhz! He trembles whenever he leaves his "comfort zone" lah!

12/12/08

• Finally decided to get out of my nutshell and meet up with Byean and Tyan Huey for a drink. I had so many types of food in a day... including super spicy thai tom yam, takoyaki, pau, fried kueh tiau, etc... Not forgetting the ice-cream in the morning!
• Tyan Huey brought her adorable baby daughter out with her when she met us up. She's so beautiful... just slightly loud... as babies are always! LOL! :D
• Arrived home in time to watch "The Little Nyonya" on Channel 8 (Mediacorp, SG) then continued on and on... LOL.
• Slept late again...

13/12/08

• Woke up late, still managed to give Kiki a bath before I bathed.
• Dickson came over at 3pm and off we went to airport. Arrived there about 4plus, had a drink and entered departure hall at 5.20pm.
• Everything went smoothly and touched down at 11plus.

14/12/08

• Woke up 10plus, washed bed sheets and blankets. Was informed by dance classmate of additional dance practice so decided to attend it, after informing my dance partner (thank God he said yes!).
• Had my most "challenging" two hours in dance school because of my poor memory on the steps (thank you, Samantha and Phoebe for revising with me and being so patient with me...)
  
• Went back for a shower and headed for mass in St. Simon, then to SHC for choir practice... Oh gosh! Christmas is coming... How would my Christmas be this year? Last year I spent it with a much-cherished companion and some other friends... I think we went to Bishop's Open House after Christmas morning mass. After that I forgot what we did, maybe just crapping at home... I pondered about that on my way back from SHC... I wonder why. Oh well, reconciliation will not come that easily because of the deep hurts we've inflicted on each other. At least for me at this moment, whatever said and done hurt me and I'm still recuperating from it. To him everything might come easily, cheerful and happy-go-lucky now... Haha! Good for him sincerely! Hope he still remembers our happy times instead of condemning me in his own ways because of ............................ Even if he doesn't, I can only wait for God's timing for His will to unfold. I just know His way is the best way... No explanation required on this statement. Just believe He'll make it right. Haha! I'm learning not to doubt... Seriously. I got serious warning during my quiet time on the mountain...
  
• Painted my nails with Elianto's Party Nail Color (Champagne Gold) after removing the "shimmering purple". For the first time in history I'm keeping long nails, painting them and having fun trying to type with long nails (got stuck in between keys a few times and kept having the accident of pressing caps lock when i pressed shift).
  

15/12/08

• Updating blog...
• Schedule including meeting up my principal in school, Dot Leong in her office for lunch, Von Teo at her house for afternoon exercise. LOL! I gotta spend time with the Lord before anything! :D

I'll upload pics later on la... My schedule is packed with activities and pre-school reopening work to do and I've to find time to compress them...

Till then... Pax et Bonum.