Coffee And Cigarettes

Michelle Featherstone - Coffee And Cigarettes

Coffee and cigarettes are a good combination. When you are having a coffee and a cigarette to tag along, it feels good. A lot of things get discussed over coffee and cigarettes :) These are the simple habits or addictions of life.

Things that feel good are not necessarily good or healthy for one's being. As good combinations go, it is also a very hard habit to break.

I don't smoke now but i did try many years ago. My dad used to be a heavy smoker. And he was a very agitated man. I swore to myself never to smoke when i grew up. i dodge friends that keep trying to get me to be like them and smoke with them. Over at discos and parties, i was always offered a smoke and i always declined. They respected that. One day, when i was going through a very tough time, i grabbed two cigarettes from my friend's table and went to the loo. I sat thinking for a long time... lighted both up and put both in my mouth. After a few puffs, i threw both in the toilet and flushed them away. Rule of the thumb, never try to smoke two cigarettes at once :D

Smoking was quite like Mills and Boons story books. You smoke one, they are all alike. You read one Mills and Boons book, they are all alike too. I never did smoke again after those two in the toilet. It didn't solve my problem and i didn't find the need for them anymore.

Coffee on the other hand is the most hard habit to break. In my family, we have coffee even when we were kids. Black coffee. I remember grandma and her really tall glass of black coffee. It used to make me smile when i see her with her tall glass of coffee.

The longest i went without any coffee was one month after i went for a detox programme. After the detox regime, i forgot about coffee completely. Until a month later, coffee came back in full glory. Slowly but happily, i welcomed it back to my life :) It has been a habit ever since to have one each morning to send a wake up call to all my organs.

Coffee on the other hand are not quite like Mills and Boons story books *LOL*

And why am i talking about coffee and cigarettes?

I took on a new project. Its called the Sketchbook Project. I took it on after i read about it on Emila's side.  She is taking on the challenge too. It would be fun to do it together.

Its been quite a long while since i drew or sketch anything. I got grey hair to prove that its been very long. I probably won't remember how to hold a pencil correctly.. and sometimes, i can't even read what i scribbled *LOL* But i could use with some excitement to keep me busy for 3 months.

We are actually quite busy now at work till our Christmas break. What have i got myself into *LOL* Worse come to worse, i'll just keep the sketchbook if i don't finish it by December. What a loser to think such thoughts.. hahahahahahaa

Anybody else wanna join us in this? I choose the theme coffee and cigarettes. It would be fun.

Be Back Home Again

Back Home Again ~ John Denver

This is one of my many favourites of John Denver's songs. Yep.. i am from the John Denver era :) whoops! kinda makes me old :D He was very much a part of my life as he kept singing in the background no matter in the house or in the car :) He was everywhere.

The last of family member left this morning. Boy was the last to leave. A very sad face again. *LOL* Poor kid is always with a sad face each time he has to go back to college. And the countdown to sadness starts from yesterday. We told him.. cheer up. Its only 6 weeks and you'll get to come back home again for a holiday. No amount of cheering up did crack a bit of a smile on that face. Maybe it was the ulcer in his mouth that was giving him grief.

Boy saw most of his friends this time he came home for his break. They were all back since it was the Hari Raya holidays and a lot of the colleges and universities were having a longer break too. He went out with some friends and compared notes about living life on their own. Most of them suffered. Most of them are not very happy. Most of them have to struggle real hard.

He's in one of the top classes in his school. They are a very competitive bunch. Very brilliant bunch of kids. Most of them are on government scholarships and doing heavy degrees. When you are on government scholarships, you have to struggle hard to get a good place in the public university next year.

He told me, none of his friends are happy living out on their own and away from family. I asked him why? He told me... it is because we have to struggle and study real hard all the time. There's really no time for play because 2 years of work is cramped into 1 year to prepare them for university. I wonder if this is education gone wrong. Our country is developing a bunch of robots.

I remember my time in college was the happiest. But i did art. We didn't do much studying. All we did was have fun and went everywhere. We didn't have much grieve. It was just late nights doing the projects before the presentations but most of the time we were singing happily and doing the projects into the wee hours of the morning. But i am not a professional and i don't earn a lot of money. That's probably why i should have probably studied harder last time :)

We have had a lot of family at home these past few days. Dad was happy for the extra company. Dommy was delighted. So many people giving him tummy rubs and so many people taking him out to the garden to run wild.. hahhahahaa And so many people feeding him under the table. Each and every person in the house seems to be feeding him secretly and he's not telling me who. He's just happily bobbing here and there with a perpetual smile plastered on his face.

His head is ruffled each time he walks into each and every room in the house. Everywhere he walks he gets a Dommieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... and he was almost not beside me most of the days. He was kinda parked at the dining table because that was where he had his most handouts :)

This holiday alone... just these few days.. i think he has kinda gained a bit of weight. His tummy seems to sway left and right bobbing happily away when he walks. And i thought that i have successful controlled his weight lately. I am going to get a shelling from Dom's groomer again next i see her because she will tell me that i am overfeeding my dog... again. But its really not my fault. Really.

Well... guess we do have to trim down his food again. His thin long legs will not be able to support his weight when he gets older... and he's very much a senior dog. Its really something to watch out for. Overfeeding is not love. My father always say that Dom doesn't look like a poodle. He says Dom's too fat to be a poodle. He looks like the roundest poodle. He'll probably have to join the Biggest Loser soon to lose some weight.

It has been a good holiday this time. We didn't go on any roadtrip and got stuck in some other state or on the highway. We were just at home bumming around. Cooking.. we even made a lasagna that don't quite taste like cardboard this time (yes! we are getting there) kids making cupcakes.. and just tons and tons of laundry :) Our laundry keeps piling up each day even though we did about 3 rounds each day. I could even hear the washing machine groaning away and finally heaving a sigh of relief yesterday.

I met up with some friends who came back too. It was nice catching up with them. We were laughing so loud in the coffee shop we kinda forgotten our manners. We were rolling on them cushions and thought that we were at home. These were my college friends. They still remain my closest buddies.

Well... this kinda sums up our long weekend of the Eid holidays. Hope everyone had a good break back home with family or with friends. Its been a while since this home was filled with life again. Both Dom and i are waiting for the next time that they will be back home again.

Very tired well fed rounded creature. He don't quite know how to cover his bits.

You Don't Know Me

You don't know me ~ Ray Charles & Diana Krall

Something on a lighter note for wednesday :)

We have been busy looking at some weird codes the whole day. Them codes makes no sense at all *LOL* Just pains the eyes and makes your hair grey.

We did have a pretty salty disaster in the kitchen today. When will i ever learn to follow instructions *LOL* We'll tell you more about this tomorrow. The bed seems more inviting now. Its been raining for hours and them doggies have not gone out for a leak yet. Both of them have been snoozing since 9pm.

Guess they do know better. Goodnight peeps and furry friends. Enjoy the song.

Always On Your Side

Always On Your Side ~ Sheryl Crow & Sting

This is a very beautiful song. I've always love Sting.. and Sheryl Crow. In that particular order.

We are getting quite busy over here. Our summer break's almost over and the lull is gone. Everyone's gearing up for September (ops! we forgot about August) but we have to be at November. That might sound a bit too confusing.. hehehe.. but we have to work few months ahead of time.

After our short roadtrip to see Anne and to stuff ourselves silly, we came back to a small mountain of laundry and a whole lot of work in the mail.

We'll post later about our roadtrip. We have many stories to tell you :)

The weather's been extremely temperamental. One minute i see dark clouds... next minute its all bright and sunny again. Its like someone is playing with the switches up there. We shall be patient and just enjoy it come rain or shine.

Till then.. do enjoy this song. It is a heat-breaker :)

Building Playgrounds

I Love How You Love Me - Bobby Vinton 

Soppy Love Song Day. Its been a while since i last posted a soppy love song :) I do love to start posts with a song. It sets the mood for the day or hour and lets you get carried away while you hummed to the song :) Gotcha there ya?

We have been busy playing at another playground and building some new playgrounds :p We'll probably open up another playground for you to come over to play soon. Or maybe in a few more weeks when the grass grows better and the rides are painted. Yes yes.. we are quite a crazy bunch here.

My nephew was home last weekend for a short visit from college. Its not the term break yet. But i guess he misses home a lot. He's looking forward to term break in two weeks time to scoot on home again. Grandpa was extremely happy that his favourite grandson is home. He even went to the store to get all his favourite drinks and snacks to line them up in the fridge. Yes.. he is a pampered one. He's 18 already but we do pamper him quite a lot around here. But a kid has to be loved and pampered and spoiled sometimes. And only a grandpa usually loves to do that.

When we picked him up from the station, he grinned and grinned and never stop talking for quite a while. Both grandpa and grandson had so much to tell each other. I kinda felt like the taxi driver eavesdropping into their conversation. I guess both of them misses each other quite a lot.

Two days and many meals later, we have to send him off at the train station bright and early on a Sunday. I have never seen a sadder face than the one looking back at me through the window. Reminds me of the time when i was about 20 and going off to the city to work. The journey back to the other side is dreadful. You cling on to the food that is packed for you from home and savour it all even though its cold. You cling on to whatever that is home and hang in there till the next trip home.

He's has grown up quite a lot in these two months. He rather spend time with his grandpa now than to go out with his cousins and friends when he is home. When he is not home, the house feels so empty. Even Dommy is yawning louder to fill up the air.

We are going on a short roadtrip again this weekend. Hopefully... we'll catch some memories in the memory keeper to share with you. Am looking forward to a break again :) Now we got to head off back to the other playground to get some work done. Goodnite folks. Hope you enjoy our soppy love song.

The Old Songs

The Old Songs ~ David Pomeranz

This old song is not from my past but i do love old songs. We listen to a lot of oldies when we were kids and the oldies got even older when we grew up but it never left us. Evergreen numbers. It just stays in your head and your memory bank and somehow pops up once in a while.

Some current songs are not my cup of tea but its still catchy when they keep asking you to go to rehab. *LOL* My type are kinda old skool. I love acoustics or unplugged.

Songs are wonderful to bring back memories of a yesteryear. Songs remind people of happy times.. or sometimes a soppy sad song could remind of a lost love. But music/songs are very much part of us.

If you like a more natural musical orchestra, pluck your ears.. be still and listen. In a garden, you'll hear the high and low notes of some happy birds or insects. At the beach, the waves spins their own musical score. In a desert, the haunting winds sound like music too if you stay still and listen sometimes.

For an elderly person, music is good for them. Music is therapy. Dogs.. pets are too. For people who suffered a stroke, a song from his/her past could help the person in recovery.

Are music/songs very much part of your life too? Mine is :)

I love this Old Song... if you want to sing along to it.. here's the lyrics below.

Lyrics to The Old Songs :
Candle's burnin', glasses are chilled
And soon she'll be by
Hope and pray she'll say that she's willing
To give us another try
And if all those plans I made
Don't melt the lady's heart
I'll put on the old forty-fives
And maybe the old songs
Will bring back the old times
Maybe the old lines will sound new
Maybe she'll lay her head on my shoulder
And maybe old feelings will come through
Maybe we'll start to cry
And wonder why we ever walked away
Maybe the old songs
Will bring back the old times
And make her wanna stay

It's been too long without seeing her face light up
When I come home
Been too many hours I've waited
Staring at the phone
Sweet old songs, I'm countin' on you
Bring her back to me
I'm tired of listening alone

Maybe the old songs
Will bring back the old times
Maybe the old lines will sound new
Maybe she'll lay her head on my shoulder
And maybe old feelings will come through
Maybe we'll start to cry
And wonder why we ever walked away
Maybe the old songs
Will bring back the old times
And make her wanna stay

And make her wanna stay
And make her wanna stay

Faithfully

Faithfully ~ Journey

Faithfully is by Journey and one of their songs on the Frontiers album. I personally love ballads.. and singing along to these power ballads just makes my day *LOL*

I can't sing very well but to sing off key when you have your headphones on is quite fun :) My neighbours have not complained about the noise around here yet but i guess soon :p

How do we remain faithful to one when both are miles and miles away? Of being faithful is very much a personal preference. Sometimes we do get swayed when the going gets tough. But faithful i am. Even to my shoes.. hehehehe. I am just too dumb to move on. Or probably lazy.

Anyways.. do enjoy the song. Its a wonderful ballad about two people.. away from each other but finding joy in rediscovering each other each time they meet again. Wonderfully soppy love song :) Happy happy Wednesday folks!

Comfortable

Comfortable ~ John Mayer

This is one of my favourites from John Mayer. I love songs that are simple. I love things to be simple. I get comfortable easily. My love is comfortable ;)

Life is sometimes quite simple. Some people will rock your boats and make life tough for you and even for themselves. I am not quite impressed with people like that. I will stay far far away from them.

People sometimes assume that i am distant and hard to reach. My closest friends know better :) Difficult people are just so exhausting. A simple thing can be blown out of proportion. A minute matter can be a major problem.

Sometimes we should assume less and just go outside to take a good look inside :) Everything will fall into places then.

Just collecting my thoughts :)

The End Of A Rainbow

The End Of A Rainbow ~ Earl Grant

Its been a while since i last posted a song. Its is extremely warm here in the afternoon and people are falling sick all over because of the heat.

Kinda stumbled on this song. It is calming and nice to listen to on a very warm day. Like any soppy love song. Here's the lyrics below if you wanna sing along to it :) Happy Tuesday to all :)

At the end of a rainbow
You'll find a pot of gold
At the end of a story
You'll find it's all been told
But our love has a treasure
Our hearts can always spend
And it has a story
Without any end

At the end of a river
The water stops its flow
At the end of a highway
There's no place you can go

But just tell me you love me
And you are only mine
And our love will go on
Till the end of time

At the end of a river
The water stops its flow
At the end of a highway
There's no place you can go

But just tell me you love me
And you are only mine
And our love will go on
Till the end of time
Till the end of time

Calico Skies

Calico Skies ~ Paul McCartney

I was reading something about Calico cats at Nessa's side and this song came into my mind :)

You and I Both

You and I Both - Jason Mraz

One of my favourites... and well... i am finally out of words ^0^

Once In A Very Blue Moon

Once In A Very Blue Moon ~ Emi Fujita

Once In A Very Blue Moon was originally sung by Nanci Griffith in the 80s. This version by Emi Fujita is slower but wonderful.

This song is written by Patrick Alger. You can hear him sing his version here. Two very different versions :D

Sepi

Sepi ~ Yuni Shara

This song seems apt at this hour of the night :) This is a soundtrack from an old movie from 2008. I kinda like this movie. I can watch it over and over again and never get bored... :) I love soppy love stories and tearjerkers.

This movie is about three people and how their lives intervene in a strange way. Its a simple movie but it touches the heart.

Sepi means Loneliness.

At some point in our lives, we will sometimes feel lonely. You can be with a whole lot of people and feel lonely. But there are some who are alone but never feel lonely.

Somebody

Somebody ~ Depeche Mode

Song for someone in love and someone looking for love too :) Hope you all enjoy this song as much as i do :) Have a great day ahead.

Feelings

Feelings ~ Morris Albert

A wonderful old song which brings back many many wonderful memories of yesteryears :) I love the monotone images of the animals in this compilation that i found on youtube a while ago. Such lovey dovey images.. Enjoy!

Gravity

Gravity ~ Sara Bareilles

Most would be quite familiar with her song Love Song. I kind of like that song too. But Gravity in raw is pretty neat. Do check out her website at www.sarabmusic.com

Dou Shi Ni/It's All You

Its been a while since i berblog. Blame it on the lazy bones. Laziness begets nothing but failures and lost opportunities ~ Rig Veda.

Rachel is joining some Talentime in school soon. She's gonna sing solo.. hehehehe. I've never heard her sing solo. Her brother the Bola sings pretty well but Rachel.. urmm... i've never heard her sing. But she has a nice voice. And a whole lot of spunk! Don't worry about talent :) I would never dare sing solo in primary school. Never attempted any singing for that matter.

Below is the song that she's gonna sing. I don't do chinese songs very well. I don't really know what the song means.. but that's how i sing chinese songs when i was little. My sisters and i will just write out the direct translation of the chinese words :D We are such a disgrace to our own race. But then again, we were all english educated. Please don't mind us.

I kinda like the song that she's gonna sing. With the supa google, i even manage to get the direct translation of the song :) hehehehhee.. tat's mighty cool with the advance of technology. My sisters and i used to rewind and playback and rewind and playback just to get the translation.

*phew* Enjoy the song. Kinda sums up what i am feeling right now.



都是你
Dou Shi Ni
It's All You
(Michael Wong)

谁改变了我的世界
Shei gai bian le wo de shi jie
Who has changed my world

没有方向没有日夜
Mei you fang xiang mei you ri ye
No directions, no day and night

我看着天这一刻在想你
Wo kan zhe tian zhe yi ke zai xiang ni
As I look at the sky, at this moment, I think of you

是否会对我一样思念
Shi fou hui dui wo yi yang
Wonder if you have the same longing for me as I do for you

你曾说我们有一个梦
Ni ceng shuo wo men you yi ge meng
You once said that we have a dream

等到那天我们来实现
Deng dao na tian wo men lai shi xian
Waiting for that day when we make that dream come true

我望着天在心中默默念
Wo wang zhe tian zai xin zhong mo mo nian
I gazed at the sky, reading outloud in my heart silently

下一秒你出现在眼前
Xia yi miao ni chu xian zai yan qian
Wishing that the next second you'll appear before my eyes

想念的心装满的都是你
Xiang nian de xin zhuang man de dou shi ni
You are the one who fills up the longing in my heart

我的钢琴弹奏的都是你
Wo de gang qin tan zou dou shi ni
You are the one whom my piano plays tribute to

我的日记写满的都是你的名
Wo de ri ji xia man de dou shi ni de ming
Your name fills up my diary

才发现又另一个黎明
Cai fa xian you ling yi ge li ming
To finally find out that there is another dawn

你曾说我们有一个梦
Ni ceng shuo wo men you yi ge meng
You once said that we have a dream

等到那天我们来实现
Deng dao na tian wo men lai shi xian
Waiting for that day when we make that dream come true

我望着天在心中默默念
Wo wang zhe tian zai xin zhong mo mo nian
I gazed at the sky, reading outloud in my heart silently

下一秒你出现在眼前
Xia yi miao ni chu xian zai yan qian
Wishing that the next second you'll appear before my eyes

想念的心装满的都是你
Xiang nian de xin zhuang man de dou shi ni
You are the one who fills up the longing in my heart

我的钢琴弹奏的都是你
Wo de gang qin tan zou dou shi ni
You are the one whom my piano plays tribute to

我的日记写满的都是你的名
Wo de ri ji xia man de dou shi ni de ming
Your name fills up my diary

才发现又另一个黎明
Cai fa xian you ling yi ge li ming
To finally find out that there is another dawn

我的日记写满的都是你的名
Wo de ri ji xia man de dou shi ni de ming
Your name fills up my diary

才发现又另一个黎明
Cai fa xian you ling yi ge li ming
To finally find out that there is another dawn

这是我对你爱的累积
Zhe shi wo dui ni ai de lei ji
This is the accumulation of my love for you

Chinese Lyric: Credit to http://mp3.baidu.com

I Love You

I Love You ~ Amy Belle

Today is the first time i heard about Amy Belle and her songs. Love her voice... soothing. Guess who introduced her to me?

Papa... he has been listening to this other song... for a few weeks now. Keeps humming this song every single day. Today he told me about Rod Stewart and Amy Belle. So here is the song that my papa's been listening to constantly. Enjoy :)



I Don't Wanna Talk About It - Rod Stewart & Amy Belle

Play The Game

Play The Game ~ Queen

Cool song eh? I don't know when my Wednesdays turned into Soppy Love Song Days.. *LOL* Anyways hope you love this song. I am going thru a Queen+y phase.

The intro to this song is supa super cool. Its like a star trek moment *LOL*

Ok ok.. i better get back to work else the yellow blinking faces would be red instead of sweet cute yellows.

I Wanna Grow Old With You

I Wanna Grow Old With You ~ Westlife