The Right Combination by Seiko Matsuda and Donnie Wahlberg

I heard this song over the radio the other day. If pop music was your cuppa in the 80s and 90s, chances are, you would have heard of this song.

Doggy Adoption Mission Successful!

Hooray! It’s another doggy out of the shelter. Dad successfully adopted a puppy from the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA). Hubby and I had suggested that Dad adopt from the shelter instead of buying from the pet shops. After all, an animal adopted is a life saved. Dad couldn't agree more and hubby and I had the privilege of bringing Dad to the shelter.

There were only four puppies at the shelter, so choosing was easy – or so I thought. Dad was spoilt for choice. “This one looks cute”; “This one has nice fur coat”; “This one looks fierce”; “This one barks a lot”, he commented. After observing the pups for a while, Dad finally chose the one that met his criterion – the barking pup – or should I call her the yapping pup for she yapped at anything and everything. Haha. Such a darling!

Of course, we were barred from taking the pup home immediately. The ISPCA adheres strictly to its policy of conducting a thorough inspection of the soon-to-be owner’s home and living condition before giving the thumbs up – an effort which I second. It just goes to show that the shelter puts its residents’ welfare above everything else instead of merely just wanting to get rid of them. A true guardian of the furries! The whole adoption process took a little more than a week – 9 days to be precise. She was finally delivered to Dad today by the ISPCA.

It’s such joy knowing that animals are given a second shot at life in the animal sanctuaries. It’s even more joyful giving these animals a third chance at finding happiness in our homes. However, it’s perpetual bliss knowing that we have played a part in making that happen.

Karma awaits us in every corner. Do good and we will receive goodness. Do bad and we reap what we sow.

Let's all help in getting more animals out of the streets and shelters and into good homes with loving people. Let's give them a shot at happiness. That feeling itself is nirvana.

To Sir, With Love

I love oldies. I have been having this oldies-music syndrome lately, listening to songs of yesteryears and allowing my soul to saunter down memory lane to those good ol’ childhood years long gone by which I’d give anything to relive. Sadly, bygones will always be bygones and all I’m left with are nostalgias.

I remember vividly Dad had this brown gramophone player and a three-piece radio, cassette player-recorder-equalizer to his ownership in which he would put to play the tons of vinyl records and cassettes that he and Mom owned in the likes of Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cliff Richard, Andy Williams, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, ABBA… you name it, they had got it. Mom would then sing along whenever familiarity seeped in. She taught me “Annie’s Song”, sis taught me “All Kinds of Everything” and Godfather taught me “Seven Lonely Days”. That was how my love for music was sown; and that, too, was what got sis and me to piano lessons - well, only partly, as Mom also could not put up with my round-the-clock banging on my toy piano.

However much most songs remind me of my childhood and family, there are also songs which I associate with, among others, some friends and teachers. One particular song that I could relate to the latter is Lulu’s “To Sir, With Love”.

I had, on April 16 2011, learnt of a retired high school science teacher who had lost his battle with cancer. My heart sank. My mouth tasted bitter. For that fraction of a minute, I had wanted to cry but I held back tears.

I might not have known him as well as I wished I had, but for that good one year that he was my science teacher in Form 3 and good two years as my choir and tennis teacher were all it took for me to realize that he was indeed a very comical person. After all, he was the one from whom I picked up the phrase “Bell sudah loceng”.

Sis remembers him as a teacher fondly known as “Ninja Turtle”. Dad remembers him as an acquaintance in some tennis club they both were in. For me, he will always be remembered as a teacher who exuded an aura of warmth and who never failed to bring contagious laughter to his classes.

May the Lord grant eternal peace unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. R.I.P Mr. Vincent Soo.

To Sir, With Love

Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone,
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,

But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy, but I'll try,

If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Sir, with Love

The time has come,
For closing books and long last looks must end,

And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend,
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong,
That's a lot to learn,
What, what can I give you in return?

If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start,
But I, would rather you let me give my heart,
To Sir, with Love

Glory To The USA!

Once again, The United States of America has done it! Osama has been defeated in the hands of the Americans. I have always believed the US will always triumph over the rest of the world. It’s VICTORY, with a capital V to the Americans. Glory to the USA!

USA! USA! USA!

Here’s a little tribute to the sweet American victory!

Star Spangled Banner
 

By: Francis Scott Key 1814

Tune: Anacreon in Heaven
 

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream.

'Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation,

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto, "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

Obama, we love you. Thank you, Mr President!

Please Adopt And Never Buy

I love this simple advertisement by PETA which I saw in one of the local dailies some time ago. It's Kellan Lutz affectionately hugging Kola, his rescued mutt-friend. No, it not Kellan Lutz that I fancy here - it's the straightforward and simple awareness that PETA is trying to create and make aware to to the public - a message which I heartily support. Buying a dog or cat from the pet store or breeder is equivalent to robbing the life of an animal at the shelters or streets. It means one less home to go to, thus increases the risk of being put to sleep or end up as roadkill.

I have never been a fan of celebrities appearing charitable as I always think they are merely boosting their own publicity in the name of charity. However, I must say that when it comes to animals, anything goes with me. What's wrong with selfishly satisfying the insatiable as long as an animal's life can be saved. After all, a celebrity's word or action is worth more than that of a plain Jane and Joe.

So there you have it, folks. A crystal clear message coming from the hunk himself - "Buying animals is killing animals. Save a homeless dog or cat - always adopt and NEVER buy." 

Now people, follow!