[edited by joel]
Tony: Was there suppose to be anything in this post or was it an accidental blank post? hehe
[/edited]

THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE IT TO MY PARTY - YOU GUYS ROCK!

Hi guys - just wanted to thank all those bloggers from here who attended my party. I had fun and I hope you did too! Those who couldn't make it - I forgive you *LOL* nah it's really okay I understand - June is a particularly busy time - which is why I usually don't have b'day parties - it's like once in every 3-4 years that I have one hehehe. Anyways COME TO GROOVE if you can hehehe.. www.hoopdreamz.com.au come and see Western Sydney's Youth Culture! Groove kicks off at 1pm-4pm (day session) and 6pm-late (night session). If you're interested please msg or email me wdragon@powerup.com.au so I can put u on my guest list!

Charity Belly Dancing Workshop

Ok guys, just a reminder that my belly dancing performance is next Sunday.
Dave posted a flyer up for me before with all the details. But since there have been so many essays, I think the flyer got flooded off the page :) So here are the details again:

Sunday 6th July, 1pm - 3:30 (It looks like there will be a big turn out, come late = no seats :P )
price is $15 and includes live bands by the best drummer in australia and also live belly dancing by amateurs like me and also the most famous belly dancer in sydney

The live band will be playing near the end of the show so everyone can get up and dance along. You might even get lucky and get a few tips from my teacher. Rumour also has it that the queen of belly dancing will also be coming to watch ~>_<~

All proceeds go towards charity

Raffle tickets on the day. (Prizes include a private belly dancing class with me teacher. Btw, if you guys win, the prize is MINE!! MAUahaAUHaAUah)

There is parking right next to the hall otherwise there is plenty of off street parking. If you wanna catch the train, the train station is about 5 mins walk away. (Ask me for more directions)

And just a reminder, NO CAMERAS ALLOWED! Ok...still cameras but no video cameras as we are having a professional video guy there -_-" And all money raised from the video also goes towards charity.

Crusty Wafflechunks

Okay, I know you guys get bored at work or at home or whenever.. so do this ;)

---

Children laugh 146 times a day, adults laugh only 4 times a day.....no wonder we're so unhappy... Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. Here is your dose...

Follow the instructions to find your new name. The following is an excerpt from a children's book, "Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants" by Dave Pilkey. The evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...

Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:
a = poopsie
b = lumpy
c = buttercup
d = gidget
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = fluffy
h = cheeseball
i = chim-chim
j = stinky
k = flunky
l = boobie
m = pinky
n = zippy
o = goober
p = doofus
q = slimy
r = loopy
s = snotty
t = tulefel
u = dorkey
v = squeezit
w = oprah
x = skipper
y = dinky
z = zsa-zsa

Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
a = apple
b = toilet
c = giggle
d = burger
e = girdle
f = barf
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = cootie
j = monkey
k = potty
l = liver
m = banana
n = rhino
o = bubble
p = hamster
q = toad
r = gizzard
s = pizza
t = gerbil
u = chicken
v = pickle
w = chuckle
x = tofu
y = gorilla
z = stinker

Use the fourth letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
a = head
b = mouth
c = face
d = nose
e = tush
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = butt
l = brain
m = tushie
n = chunks
o = hiney
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = buns
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = kisser
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = brains

For example, John Howard's new name is Cheeseball Bubblehead.

Now when you SEND THIS ON .... use your new name as the subject. And remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day.

Put more laughter in your life!!!

a deep and profound thought for y'all to think about:

i have six 20 cent pieces sitting on mah computer, if i take one away, how much money would i have left on mah computer?

[edit]

har har! actually that wasn't that deep and profound.

burt rito?! yeah i know 'im.

just wondering...
it's funny how...
isn't it interesting that...


[edit]

actually, it wasn't either or

Okay Shameless Plugin for Sydney Groove Dance Challenge 2003. Some of you may or may not know but I've been involved in organising this competition for kids to showcase their talents on stage and compete with their peers. There are two genres - Break Dancing and RnB/Pop. Throughout the day there will be also other performers such as singers, dancers (champions of Groove from Melbourne) as well as our very own Groove Models to show off our Sponser (Champion) new line of clothing. Tickets will be $15 for those on my guest list. Not too sure if any of you maybe interested because it's not really aimed at our age. There will be media there www.inthemix.com.au is sending out a camera crew (not sure who else). So if you have nothing better to do on July 5th and want to see some youth culture give me a yell about putting your name on the guest list. For more info: www.hoopdreamz.com.au We are also looking to organise talent shows OR singing competitions later on in the year - if anyone here is interested in such a comp please also talk to me.

Thanks guys!

I'm not sure if any of you have noticed...but i have been going thru my "Quarter Life Crisis"...or something very similar...(established from Mey's email about the Quarter Life Crisis - seems like im suffering the same symptoms). Which is sorta why i have distanced myself from the net and doing more things irl...i mean im on a computer for 7 hours of my work day, not like i really need anymore time online. But that aside...

So, if you're not interested in reading a whole heap of ramblings about my dire straits...then this is my warning, and advice to not read this long entry from me. My apologies to anyone who does continue to read and yet find it utterly boring...i didnt mean to write heaps...it just ended up being so. =(

# # # # # # # #

I saw something today that really brought me back down to earth and i have noticed some things here and there, that brought my faith in humanity back.

In the morning today, as i was on my train heading off to work, at the Granville stop i saw a young man helping a mother with her child and their pram. If anyone has ever seen Granville Train Station, they would know that there are only stairs as access to the platforms. To get out of the platforms, the mother would have had to slowly trudge along and try to lift the child in the pram with the pram, in a very dangerous manner among all the morning traffic of people coming in and out of the station. But this young man, who i am sure made the offer to help, (instead of the woman asking for help) did something that was selfless and quite frankly could have made him miss his train or made him late for where ever he was heading.

When i saw this i smiled, a genuine smile that i have long forgotten to do.
Very little people would have offered to help her, that guy was one in the >100 people on the platform.

I'm really glad that Mey brought up the volunteering and 30 hour Famine. And for Tony cutting and pasting that entry written by Alex.
When i was in high school, i volunteered left, right and centre. For my efforts, the lovely people at the various charities gave me certificates saying "Thank You" for my help. When i was looking for work in my 3 month break after 1st year of uni, i said to myself that if i couldnt find a paying job, i would go out and volunteer my time to people who would appreciate and need someone's help and time.

Alas, i actually found a job.

I went to visit AlexTheGirl's website, and she had other links...there was a link to a youth group website: ChicksPlayHard, which is for girls aged 9-13 y/o. That is the type of thing that i think i would enjoy dedicating my free time to. Helping girls build confidence and showing them that they can be intellingent, creative, sporty, musical, strong, risk takers, and absolutely happy about themselves. But i dont think that there is something like it in Sydney...i guess i have to keep searching for something similar to it, among the other things im searching for.

Yesterday, I woke up and got ready like i always do for work...as i left the house and walked to my car, i noticed a lone dandelion with its fluffy white flower on the grass right next to my car door...i picked it up and made a wish, blew all the petals away and released a sigh, i dont know exactly why but i continued to smile for nostalgia...

Do you remember when you were young and making wishes were close to your livelihood...it came second to none, like crying out B.A.R when you played chasing games in primary school, just so that you were untouchable and no one could tip you and make you "it"...?

I want life to go back to when i was about 7...waking up in the morning at 7am...brushing my teeth, washing my face, getting my coco pops/fruit loops/frosties/corn flakes/weetbix/etc and turning the tv on so that i could catch the cartoons. Get dressed at 8am and continue watching the cartoons. Either channel 7 or 10 or 2...depending on what season it was and what was on...sometimes it was Wizard of Oz on ABC...the Lost City of Gold...Transformers...Smurfs...Scooby Doo...ahh childhood...

I would then walk 15 mins to go to school...work, play(recess), work, play(lunch), work + games in the afternoon or sport...then it was home time.

Go home and grab afternoon tea...being asian, my afternoon tea would be cereal or rice with whatever was left over from the nite before. Do my homework while i ate...and then go out to play elastics or skipping with my skipping rope...maybe run around with my next door neighbour, riding my bike, etc...if there was a cartoon to watch in the afternoon, i would probably watch that too before going out to play. hehehe...too much tv!
*^_^*

After playing, i would go have a bath...usually a bubble bath...then have dinner...and watch more tv comedy in the 7:30pm slot...and then brush teeth, wash face and then off to bed at 8:30pm.

In my opinion, that was the life...

No money was really in my life, except my 20c or 50c for the canteen...
No worries really either...except when playing games and the fear of losing...
You did exams and u tried your best...and it was enough. You didn't have to try your hardest and still have that nagging fear of not getting a Pass mark lingering in the back of your mind. >_<
So long as you weren't obese as a child, you weren't fat. It was okay to be a variety of shapes and sizes.
You had to do exercise but it was more dancing around, doing the pride of Erin, the cha cha, the nutbush, and choreographed moves...
You were encouraged to sing...even if the Australian Anthem was one of the main songs (and your own school anthem)...but come Easter or Christmas...all those festive songs were the best! *^_^*
Cake days, mufti days, colonial day, national culture day, sports day, carnivals, discos, school fetes, etc...

Art...i was always encouraged to do art...first i was encouraged by Miss Rothery, my kindergarten teacher. Next my Year 3 teacher...she was the best...Miss Benson always said I was talented - i guess its because she brought the talent out of me. She was also a teacher who knew how to help kids with Asthma...she was my inspiration to do so well in school. She was not only beautiful but very smart, caring and creative. Everyday her makeup was meticulous and what she wore always looked fabulous. When I was sick, she would comfort me. She was the one who introduced me to Van Gogh: his tragedy, his life, his love. It was Miss Benson who motivated me to try my best and in the end i came first in the class. I even got a medal on Presentation Day because of her. Then she left.

I can still picture her face. I think to me, when my life was quite tough as a child...she was my guardian angel.
As i mentioned, i came first in the class that year. That occured even though i missed half of the time i should have been at school. I was either away when i was sick or in hospital because i had severe attacks...i still managed to get top marks in all my subjects...basically the reports i got were filled with straight A's, even though i had my tonsilectomy and through all my asthma attacks, i come out on top.

Now i'm 22...where are my Miss Bensons' ?

I may not be physically ill...and although im not absent half the time from my full time commitment, (ie work - when it was school back then)...im in need of a guardian angel right now...someone to tell me i will do okay, to try my best, to hang on and to show me that i will come out on top. Where are the Miss Bensons' when i need inspiration and motivation? The Miss Bensons' who gave me confidence and the belief that everything i did was the best i could do. The Miss Bensons' who showed me the various "true" paths that i could take on a multi-forked road...

Where are they?

# # # # # # # #

I'll leave my post at that...i should have really put that on my own blog...i was just going to mention about that young man at Granville that helped the woman with her child and pram...not about my yearning to return to childhood!

Sorry.

Hi guys... I was really bored at work yesterday. Actually come to think of it I've been bored of work ever since I've been reallocated to this project because they've only gave me documents to read (bleah!). Anyways that aside, I was surfing the World Wide Web, listening to chuggy mp3 music on this stupid P3 Dell, when I came across a really cool blogger (well I think she's cool anyways). I find her entry on May the 20th extremely enlightening and I thought I'd share it with you. Her website is www.alexthegirl.com Oh by the way if you didn't already know a 'tramp' in New Zealand means a 'bushwalk' or 'hike'.

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 Many years ago during a tramp in New Zealand, I learned the importance of hearing. High in the mountains it was quiet except for one lone bird who called out loudly and continuously. Its call was the most tragic, saddest sound I had heard. I asked my friend why it kept making the noise that it did and my friend told me that it was waiting to be heard. After a few minutes, another bird replied with one long loud sound which silenced the tragic sounding bird; it had been heard and didn’t need to call out anymore. This past weekend, I was visiting with my four year old niece who is always terribly excited when I come around. We don’t see each other often and always have much to catch up on. For this reason, she repeats “Auntie” over and over again, vying for my attention. When I saw her and she started with her “Auntie, Auntie” and desperately trying to get everything out to me while she could, I slowly kneeled down beside her, put her little hands in mine, looked at her and calmly said, “I hear you. I will hear you until you have told me everything you need to say.” With that, you could literally see her little body relax. There wasn’t the worry that I would only pay half attention or walk away. She could relax and slowly tell me everything that was important to her – whether it be how we could cut and paste a card together or what she learned in school. There are so many things as people that we have to pay attention to and with the internet and television we are used to scanning, flipping, and catching only “bits.” The art of listening, of hearing the other person fully, is slipping away. We tend to assume we already know what they’ll say, the answer to the question or that it’s not as important as what might come next. Hearing doesn’t seem to be important anymore. I very seldom offer advice (how can I presume to know what is best for someone else and their situation?) but what I always offer is to hear a person. Sometimes people don’t want a solution, they just want to be heard. Sometimes people don’t want things; they just want to be heard. Sometimes people don’t want to be patronised, they just want to be heard. Often I wonder if we really stopped to be fully in the moment of someone telling us their woes, their fears, or their excitements, how much that would really change things. Perhaps that sounds too easy but often the answers to the most complicated questions are the simplest words. Words such as, “I hear you.”

Ok, maybe sponsoring a child is too much. How about volunteer work in your community? This is an excellent site that provides a huge range of volunteer work and training. Just choose organisation and position type, plus NSW as a keyword or something, have a browse~@!#


-Mey

I have an idea to suggest to you guys, but before I go on, let me tell you a story I heard a long time ago.

-The Starfish Story-
One time there was a really huge storm which washed all the starfish in the sea onto the beach. Hundreds, thousands, MILLIONS of starfish lay helpless on the sand as they slowly suffocated and died. Among the dying starfish was a man. He was throwing the starfish one by one, back into the water. A passer-byer saw this man and he goes up to him and asks, "There are sooooo many starfish, what difference can you make?!?!!?". The man bent down and picked up a starfish. He showed the passer-byer the starfish and said, "I can make a difference to this one" before he threw it into the sea.

I probably changed how the story goes, but the moral is still there. Sometimes a problem may be overwhelmingly huge and hopeless, but our efforts can make a difference.

I read that story at the back of a 40 hour famine receipt book back in high school. It really struck a chord.

I've tried suggesting this a couple times on IRC before, but i'll mention it one more time here. What do you guys think about collectively sponsoring a child through world vision? $1 a day divided by how ever many that's interested.

An alternative would be the 30 hour famine. It used to be 40 hours but maybe too many people were collapsing off the streets, they had to reduce it.

-Mey

Hey Guys...

I was talking to Mey yesterday about a story of some guy (also was a gigolo) who claimed to be a Vampire and got killed by "slayers". Anyways I guess the guy probably wasn't a vampire and was killed for retribution. It's interesting though...it makes you think what if he was a vampire and that those guys were really just slayers see the story here

*end of babbling*

Fanx guys... and thanks alan for that loud sms when I was just about to slip into la la land hehehe... scared the crap outta me... Just to let you all know I smiled and then went back to sleep knowing that I have thoughtful friends. Although I had a rather freaky dream this morning. I dreamt I woke up and went to the bathroom with my eyes closed coz they were hurting really bad. I made my way to the mirror and opened my eyes and they were bleeding heaps of blood - I could smell it... it was very very vivid and scary. So much for 'sweet dreams' hehehe.

Anyways have you guys seen 'Spirited Away' (japanese anime) - I saw it yesterday on DVD it's really really good.... go rent it sometime if you have not already seen it! I might even buy the DVD.

Happy Birthday Tony Dragon! :)

Welp, it's that time of the year again. Queensland vs New South Wales STATE OF ORIGIN! GO THE BLUES!
It's always on during my stuvac :( Game one tomorrow night. Don't you just love the ads leading towards the game?! Hehehe this year they even have Arnie Shwartzaenghahagahr psyching up the supporters for the NSW side. Not bad!

Everyone, slap on ya blue gear and come over my place to watch the game :) (while I lock myself in my room and study)


Past game results


-Mey

Hi Guys,
Been busy with assignments lately, I miss isketch. Anyway!! I'm getting a puppy :) A friend (congie) is giving a few puppies away to people he knows will take good care of them. He has a couple more he asked me to ask any of you guys that might want to adopt one. He is getting a pictures achives ready to monitor the progress of all the puppies growing up. Let me know if you're interested :)




-Mey

Helloooooooooooooooooooooo!

As everyone should know and are looking forward to this long weekend...it is also the weekend for the Jazz Festival.

I have been absolutely hankering and waiting for the day this would arrive...I would really love it if you guys would join me in catching Barbara Morrison.

Ino Mey and Billy are busy on Saturday nite, and Tony might be doing his Birthday then too...so I was wondering if u guys wouldnt mind going on Sunday nite at the Wood Fire Pizza Company @ Double Bay and considering that its a public holiday weekend...

Good food and great music, it would be perfect to say that it was all done in fabulous company too! ^_^