Always* - Bon Jovi

Me: So EH said that bla bla bla...
tGiF: EH????
Me: Tan EH! He said bla bla bla...
tGiF: So DK actually said bla bla bla...
Me: NOOOO!!!!! I said it was EH!!! Are you even listening to me????

Much later:-

tGiF: You ALWAYS criticise me...

Merriam-Webster Online defines "always" as "at all times", "forever", "perpetually". What about those times i commend you, praise you, thank you, encourage you, appreciate you????

*Their biggest selling single.

I know him so well* - Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson

Here's a conversation i had with my students the other day:-

Me: U guys going to the AG's chambers on thursday?
Students: Yes. You coming with us, sir?
Me: Depends. If i finish marking by then.
Student: Oh that means u won't be coming with us!

They know so well!!!! I's rather alarming... :-P

*The song was featured in the musical Chess and this version was the single released in the UK in 1985

I wanna hold your hand* - TV Carpio

There was this strange incident once when i had to walk hand in hand - with another guy!!!!!!

You can read all about it here.

Well, i was chatting with a student recently. She's from Tanzania - and i remembered that incident. So i asked her if she knew of any African culture where a man holds another man's hand.

She replied confidently, No!

Ah well... so he wanted to hold my hand. I still think it was an innocent gesture. And an amusing memory!

*This was the version found on the soundtrack of Across the Universe.

Under the sea* - Samuel E. Wright

The moot problem this year concerns International Law in Cultural and Heritage protection as well as the International law of the Seas. Yes, it is concerning matters which are basically underwater!!!

With the finals going on currently, the moot is taking as far a back seat as possible. But yesterday, we had to attend a workshop on arbitration as well as visit the Center for Arbitration - so the books were set aside albeit just for the evening (but notes were smuggled along surreptitiously) while we traveled down town for the said workshop.

It was fun. IMHO a total waste of time for myself, tho - altho i was pleasantly reminded that i had done some arbitration matters before during practice!!! When we were arguing that the matter should be adjourned and referred to arbitration as provided for in the agreement between the parties.

The center was lovely - even the cafeteria had wood paneling all over. We observed - well, at least i did and i shared it with others - that the cafeteria was much more impressive than the actual rooms used for arbitration! The library was small but cosy with a curved window from ceiling to the floor on one side.

But what i enjoyed the most was the banter among my mooters and meself. There were a lot of laughing and kidding around. A lot of noise. ;-P Yes, we were the noisiest and perhaps the ones who were the least serious!!!!

One mooter observed this and noted that it seemed to be like that during last year's competition!!! Hehehe. True, true. Wonder why. They concluded that the common denominator is the coach!!! But i pointed that that the time when we sent a team to Hong Kong, we were just as boisterous and noisy but i was not part of the team!!!!

I also couldn't help laughing at them - they have absolutely no idea what they got themselves into! Muahahahaha. No, no, no - i have not candy coated it. I told them to expect a grueling and tough time, expect to be pushed beyond their limits.

If yesterday's outing was a measure of what is to come, then i'm sure gonna have a lot of fun! We are gonna have a lot of fun! And hopefully, we'll go to Vietnam this November for the finals - and have even more fun there, talking about the law of the seas!!!!

I suddenly missed my old mooters...

Jessup 2008

LawAsia 2008

*The song sang by 'Sebastian' in the Disney animated movie, 'The Little Mermaid'.

The circle game* - Joni Mitchell

You guys know the famous pork noodle place near Taylor's Business School? Well, i'm gonna boycott the the man there who sells chee cheong fun!!!!

I ate there yesterday. After paying paying, he returned with my change - a stack of 5 notes of RM1. I put them into my wallet without thinking. Later in the night, when i pulled out my wallet to pay for something. i noticed that one of the notes were damaged!!! One side of it is almost 'erased' off. I checked it closely, wondering if it was a fake. It din seem so. It's just that the colour and printing on one side has faded off!!!!

I suspect that he knew it and stacked it carefully in the pile he was returning to me. Now why would he wanna do that??? Just to 'get rid' of a defective note? Save him the trouble? Earn one measly Ringgit???

Well, maybe i'm too hasty in judging him but i'll never eat there again. Anyways, the food wasn't too great and it was expensive!!!! More expensive than my usual small bowl of delish pork noodles!!!

What goes around comes around. If you wanna do something like that, surely you must expect some repercussion.

Thankfully, this (circle) principle works both ways. If you do good, there's a good chance that u'll reap good too. In today's world, dun expect it - but when it happens, it leaves a real warm fuzzy feeling in you.

Like recently, a brother in Christ sent me a very encouraging text message which helped me very much. I shared this with him and with the members of my BSF group. At that very time, he was feeling very discouraged and the reminder of his own encouragement encouraged him!!!

I could go on and on with more examples - but the conclusion is the same. One particular incident involved a sister in Christ whom i have not met face to face - and it was regarding something i shared with her years ago. So long that i had forgot all about it! But she shared with me about it recently and i was encouraged by it!

*One of her classics which i first heard as a small little kid and loved it back then. See, i had good music taste even when i was young! lol!

Brahms Lullaby* - Jewel

This sounds soooooooooooooo good. I so must get it!!!!!!!



*The final track of the album.

To Sir, with love* - Lulu

So it was Teachers' Day last week. As usual, most of the students are busy with exams. But this time round, Cohort 2 took the trouble to celebrate it with us (with some gentle reminders... :-P).

Unlike other colleges, we did not have a no-gifts policy. Anyways, we din receive too extravagant gifts. May i add too that we do not look forward to gifts of any kind - just score for yr exams and that'll be the best gift for me!

I dowan to seem biased but i liked the following gift best! Why? Because, it's sooooo.... ME! Lol!!!!

It's so me, ain't it? And the fat specky teacher in a green shirt!!! Lol!

*The theme song for the British movie of the same and sung by British singer - but while it was a hit in the US, it was never released as a single in the UK.

You're my best friend* - Queen

Brief outline of today's sermon by elder (Dr.?) Gerald:-

Jonathan's friendship to David

1. His friendship was uncommon
2. His friendship was uncomplicated
3. His friendship was unconditional

Which leads us all to conclude that this was a wonderful illustration of Jesus' love to all of us.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15v13 NIV)

*Written by their bass guitarist for his wife.

Don't be cruel* - Cheap Trick

Moi: Yeah, she is like one of those people with nothing 'upstairs'!

The rest break out in laughter!!!

Colleague: 'Upstairs'???!!! Is there even an 'upstairs' for some of them? I think some of them don't even have an 'upstairs'!!!

Hmmm... single storey students! Lol!!!

Yes, lecturers can be cruel when they talk about their students. But hey, we need to vent out our frsutrations. We are after all, only humans.

And come on, i'm sure students are worse when they sit around and talk about us!!!!

*Their successful cover of one of Elvis' classic.

Wake up and smell the coffee* - The Cranberries

Friend's status on FB yesterday:-

It's a gorgeous sunny day and I'm gonna be stuck in meetings from now until late afternoon.

I was like "Hello??????" We are in Malaysia and in the middle of a heat wave. Humidity is crazy! And u're complaining that u can't get outside??

I'm confident all those poor construction workers outside would gladly swap with you and sit indoors while you go and frolic in the blazing heat and scorching sun!!!!

Why would someone say a thing like that?

Well, it's the kind of things people in the Western countries would say. I know we would all say that when i was in the UK. Altho during the heatwave in the summer, we were glad to be in the aircond Blues Cafe!!!

So perhaps these kinda people have heard it being said in the Western TV series and movies - or perhaps read about such things being said - and so feel the urge to be like them!!!! Why ape the Westerners for no apparent reason? Do you wanna sound cool? I'm sori to say this - as she is my fren - but it sounds pathetic!

It is just as pathetic as the student i saw yesterday - he was busy fanning himself with a piece of paper, obviously feeling very hot. But he was wearing a beanie, covering his entire head and both ears. Completely. Is it any wonder he was feeling hot??? Take off the beanie!!! People wear that in cold countries to keep warm. Is this another case of wanting to ape the West?

Wake up people! You are in Malaysia!!!!!!

*Track no. 7 from their album of the same title.

Give me a reason* - The Corrs

House, Season 5, Episode 18:-

Courtney: There's a reason i got sick. There's a reason for all the bad things that have happened to me. I don't know what that reason is... but i know that if there isn't one, if there's no greater purpose in the world, then it's not a world i wanna live in.

*The 3rd single from their album, 'In Blue'.

Immortality* - Celine Dion

This was shared during the Mission Conference last week:-

We are immortals until we have completed the task that God has set out for us to do.

It got me thinking. How true!!! So i should not fear death. No wonder missionaries in the field serve fearlessly. I had the privilege of listening to a few stories of how God miraculously protected his servants!!! There was this sister in Indonesia who had a hole shot into her face - but lived to tell the tale and sing of his praises! Truly, when we walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil!

*Composed by the members of the Bee Gees who sang backing vocals for this song.

If you wanna be happy* - Jimmy Soul

House, Season 5 Episode 6:-

Dr. Lawrence Kutner: House decided to humor these parents.

Dr. James Wilson: Maybe he had a great cup of coffee, or a tremendous bowel movement. Bottom line is your boss is in a good mood. Stop analyzing it and just enjoy it.

Now, i would like to have that kind of coffee!!! Or that kind of toilet activity! Lol!

*I would not have heard - nor cared about - this song if it was not found on the soundtrack for 'My Best Friend's Wedding'.