My sis wanted to bake a cheesecake for her bf's birthday, and suggested that we bake one for dad too, since it's Father's Day. And so I agreed. Actually.. I was just standing around being useless at first when she told me to bake dad's cake while she baked the other cake.. and so I did. I chose a simple recipe.. butter durian cake. It didn't take as long as I thought it would, I didn't mess up as much as I thought I would.. and it actually looked like a cake in the end. Hah! I guess it's a good start..... and the best thing? My dad actually liked it :) And so did my dog (well, she likes almost anything!).
I messed up again. And this time, it was the preset of the tv channels. I was trying to receive a new channel, and so I fine tuned the tv, only to realize that once I do that, all the channels will go haywire! Obviously I began to panic and wonder how my parents were going to react. But then I calmed down and say hey.. since it's already messed up, might as well play around with it for awhile! And so I did.. I explored and found out how to preset the channels (something I won'tever learn if I hadn't messed up in the first place) and so now.. all the channels are back in their original slot. Yay for Grace! Now I wonder if I should even tell them about it.. hmmm.
Anyway, this goes to show that we've got to mess up every once in awhile to learn stuff. It's kinda like falling face first into the mud only to find out that mud is actually good for your skin.. hahahaha, not a good analogy, but I hope you get what I mean.
I suddenly have nothing to do. Well, not really.. but with Dr. Ummul's permission, I'm able to enjoy myself before going back to work. But it's a different kind of work this time.. just reading some articles, and making a summary.. stuff like that. Intellectual, but it's not something I have to wreck my brains for..
Honestly, I didn't expect to do so well for the conference presentation. And honestly, I didn't expect many people to come to my presentation either. Just before the presentation, I was giving out the handouts and then I mentally counted the people that were in the room.. 13. I was so happy, I wasn't even expecting 10; I also imagined talking to myself in a big empty hall.. HAHAHA. Talk about low expectations. Anyway, after awhile, this really nice moderator named Darshini came in and explained what was going to happen and she introduced me before I officially started presenting.. I requested that she gave the rest of the handouts to those who walked in.. and so I started. It went really well.. extremely well. I was surprised at the words that came out of my mouth (must have been Lord Jesus helping me) .. I wasn't even thinking very much and I didn't even refer to the script I brought (it's word for word for the times when my mind goes blank...). At the end of the presentation, there were a few questions thrown at me, most I managed to answer accordingly, except one... but I don't want to think about it anymore.. HAHA. Good first experience if you ask me...
Anyway, 2 ladies came up front after I was finished with all the Q&A's to request for the handout, and that is when I realized.. all the handouts were given out! I made 30 copies!! There were more than 30 people in the room and I didn't even realize it! Phew.. good thing I wasn't conscious of it during my presentation, or else I would have panicked. In the words of Dr. Ummul while giving me feedback on my handouts...
" Make about 25-30 copies only. If you get more than 25 ppl in your session, you are a star!"
To think I was expecting to bring home copies of the handouts home and use them for rough use. Hah. Anyway, I'm so relieved that it's over!!! Now I gotta concentrate on my other task. The "slave master" (that's what Dr. Ummul calls herself) told me I have to start reading if I want to do another paper come April 2010...
Looks like I'm really destined to have that kind of mundane life (as though my life is not mundane enough as it is...).
It's officially here. The MELTA conference. After months of writing and preparing.. it's here. I almost don't want it to be here, but it is.. and it's time to face the music. But it's a good thing that I sent my proposal in pretty late, so my slot is on the last day of the conference.. so more time to prepare and more time to panic. It's my first time.. and I wonder which one is pressurizing, to fear that my mind goes blank in front of the crowd of people (or maybe no one wants to come to my presentation anyway...), or to cause my supervisor to lose face (since her name is in the paper too).... wait, maybe it's the combination of both. At least if it was just Grace doing this whole thing, it doesn't matter if she screws it up... I'm a nobody after all.. but noooo, Dr. Ummul is my co-author, and even if I don't do this for my reputation (which I have none), I have to do it for hers. But at least if I do screw up, she won't be wringing my neck immediately.. she's gazillion miles away at the moment.. Hah! Sigh... it's me being all pessimistic and nervous again... I better stop mopping and start practicing..... at least come Saturday, I'll be free from the conference at last!
I was in some office while my mom was paying taxes, when I noticed a huge (allow me to reiterate... HUGE!) sign with a picture of a mobile phone and a big X on it.. and if that isn't enough, it was written in block letters NO HANDPHONE. And what do you know.. I see this lady standing right beside that great big sign, talking loudly on her mobile phone. I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. But when I noticed my mom doing the same thing as well (just that she wasn't standing next to the sign)... it was like a slap on the face. Don't people actually read signs anymore?! Oh I'm sorry.. it's not JUST reading it, but UNDERSTANDING it.
Gone were the days when people actually follow rules. Wait a minute, actually I never experienced such a day either. The thing is, people do not follow rules. And I actually get laughed at when I do follow rules closely. My own mom will tell me "You don't have to do that, they don't care". But I do! It's not that I'm goody two shoes (which I probably am, but whatever....) but I find it easier to have a rule to follow. Maybe I'm too rigid? Sigh, whatever..
Anyway, I wonder which is easier... to follow rules that are set or to not follow the rules and complicate the whole thing.. And hey, I do not really follow rules... I drive right pass and beat the amber light anyway.. hahaha! Ok, I'm such a loser..
