30 Days Meme: Summary

(This post is just for archiving)
I did a 30 day blogging challenge that started from 1st April. Here's the details of what kind of stuff I wrote about.

30 days challenge details.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20

Day 21 Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25 Day 26 Day 28 Day 29 Day 30

(This post is just for archiving)

30_A Photograph of You Today and what have you learned in the past month

This would be the end of the long 30 days meme. Phew! I think I passed with a B+, sebab ada skip beberapa hari. Kalau tak skip, sure habis right on 30th April, but what the hey, this last post is... wait for it.... legendary! by itself, because it will be the last post before I'm going off for a short break.

But before telling you where I'm heading off to, let's get back to business; things I've learned in the past month.

• It's easier to blog when you have topics set for you. This help with preparation. I normally, will blog the night before or whenever I'm free and set it to update the very next day. If I feel like it, I'd create 2-3 posts and have the rest of the days off from blogging. (Time management!)
• It is fun anticipating the comments from the readers. Like a guessing game. Replying to your comments are the best part of my day. When people comment on your post, it's like an acknowledgement that there IS someone out there reading your blog and picked up the "two cents" that you posted online. A discussion is always welcomed. It's ok to disagree, just need to point out why. I'm a very reasonable person.
• Writing everyday increases the blog counter number. My counter increased by 900 (from Day 1 to Day 29) from the day I first started. So for you guys who wants to sell make money from blogs, you better update daily. (No, I didn't earn a penny from my blog, I consider this blog a 'service to society'. Hehe. )

Keeping it short, these are just a few of many things I've learned. Surely you readers have learned a lot about me too. I appreciate the comments of the regular visitors like Dieya, Nazimah, Lucky, Jamil, Pirate, Messy Mummy, Didi and Kak Halima (sorry if I missed anyone out). At the same time I suspect there are a lot more people than these 8-9 people checking-in regularly. Yo, silent readers, give a hoot! Let me know I have your love (or hate).

So, I hope I'll see you again. Sorry to say I can't blog daily like I used to. But drop in once every couple of days, maybe I'll post an entry or two since I'm now portable (read: Ipad 2!). Now, if only I could find a free Wi-Fi access.

29_A letter to your parents

To my amazing parents,

Abah and Mama.
I think you both are the best parents in the world (at least in MY world). You provided me and your other 5 children with everything that you could ever give, a comfortable house above our heads, enough food for us to eat but not too much that makes us fat, enough toys to make our childhood memorable but not too much that makes us spoilt, sending us to good schools so that we will be competitive in the real world but thankfully you're not like other kiasu parents that forces their children to do things they don't like. Thank you for the love and support you showed us, not too much that you make other siblings jealous of each other, and not too little that we feel neglected. Thank you for having faith in me and letting me go anywhere I wanted to go, eventhough I know deep down inside you're really worried about me (i know that's you dad). Thank you also for not making a big fuss out of me when you heard I waited in line for 4 solid hours for the Ipad2. These are just a few out of the many things you gave and shared with us.

Abah,
I looked up to you for guidance when I am unsure of my decisions. You shared your opinions but was not too pushy to impose any of them on me. I enjoyed listening to all the stories about your childhood everytime we go back to the village, even though it's the same old story about how long it took you to ride the bull cart from Padang Pak Amat to Kota Bharu with your grand dad (even for the umpteenth time). I remember how you took the time to send and fetch me from school when I was in Form 3 following the months to PMR everyday. I enjoyed that 30 mins journey to school and it really did chase the butterflies from my stomach away. We could talk about everything from music, to computers, politics, history and even about aliens and UFOs.

Mama,
You are the pillar strength in the family. You are the coolest mum ever. If there was something bad that I did, and I wanted to confide in, you'd be the first one I'd tell. I admire your patience, you wisdom and your artistic skills. I love the way how you show interest in the stories that we tell to you eventhough we know you don't even care about gadgets, movies, politics, UFO's and conspiracy theories. lol. You're very patient indeed. I loved listening to the stories about your childhood too and about the time you went on a road trip across America. Know what? I think I got the travel bug from you ;) We have a lot in common, people even say I look like you when you were younger. You can count on that based on the number of relatives commenting this to my face:- Weyyy lohhh... Ni supo mace Dah zame mudo!! I take that as a complement =)

Thank you for bringing me up the way that you did. I am grateful that both of you are happy with what I am doing with my life. I know I have your blessings. I know both of you are the best parent anyone like me could ever have!

I love you both immensely!

Your darling daughter ;)

28_Something that you could never get tired of doing

Blogging. Most definitely. I've been doing this since 2003. My therapeutic stress reliever has always been writing.. erm, to myself. Well, if i'm not writing in here, i'm writing in my journal. That's for my more 'private thoughts'.

And then, there's being 'awed by technology and gadgets'. I could never get tired of finding out the new technology. It's amazing how i could type this from my ipad, while i'm lying on my bed getting ready to sleep :)

Or maybe, looking at these camera bags... I don't get tired of looking at them, yet. They are to die for (metaphorically speaking). There are actually other bags that are to die for twice! Which is the Epiphan!e bags, but the price range is out of the budget. I'd choose these over Coach or LV anyday (unless they start making pretty and practical camera bags like these).

I'm going with the Rose series... but I'm undecided on the colour. The practical person in me says go for black or bronze colour, but there's a small voice that keeps shouting go for the funky colours! Like Teal or Moss or Yellow! Which one would you choose?

Rasa bersalah nak beli pasal I've been on a spending spree lately. But I do wish to replace my bulky and boring camera bag.

I think that's enough for now.

27_A picture of you last year and how have you changed since then?

You know what? I actually have a picture of myself roughly around this time of year (give or take a few days). Let's me find it in one of my folders.

Kejap ye..

That was me last year:    All focused, determined, ruthless, equipped with a weapon and well protected. I kicked ass.

How have I changed? You take all the things above and invert it. That's what a full fledged 'Research' do to you. Now I get my ass kicked.

26_10 Things I am Thankful For

Let's continue back with the 30-day meme:

1. I am thankful to Allah for my family. I wouldn't change anything or anyone in my immediate family and my extended family. They're perfect as they can get.
2. I am thankful to Allah for His protection and mercy over my safety and my life. Thinking back of all the crazy things I did and places that I went to absent mindedly, I'm just glad I'm still safe in one piece.
3. I am thankful to Allah for the rezeki that He has given me. With that I am able to pursue my interests.
4. I am thankful to Allah for the friends that I have (IRL and online). They make my life colourful and interesting.
5. I am thankful that I live in Malaysia. Although sometimes I wish things could be better.
6. I am thankful that I am living in this millenium/century. I couldn't imagine what or how it'll be if I was born in the 18th century or pre-merdeka days. I wonder what a girl-geek would do to pass her days in that time.. maybe singing by the river while washing garments?
7. I am thankful for all the inventions and scientific discoveries that Allah has willed and humankind has created. They make our lives easier. It makes me realise how small, weak and insignificant we are.
8. I am thankful that there are still good and kindness in humanity.
9. I am thankful to Allah for giving me strength and patience when He tests me. I pray He continues to do so.
10. Lastly, but not least, I am thankful to Allah that I am given another day to be able to ask for His forgiveness and serve Him.

25_Your 5 favorite books

dekat2 nak habis meme ni jadi semakin malas nk post.
or.. maybe because...
it's finally Friday! Friday! I'm getting down on Friday. Friday! Friday!

I'm going to do this in a quick flurry.
5 books (read, and also including Audio book heard)

1. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre - I'm currently listening to it, chapter 25 already. So far I'm very intrigued by this Jane character. She's independent, strong willed, have a mind and opinion of her own. Mind you, this story is about someone living in the 1850's --> 160 yrs ago.
   
2. Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers - This is one book that I liked very much. It's my explanatory book. You have to read the book to appreciate the idea that genius or billionaires just doesn't happen overnight. It's all a mixture of the perfect timing, doing the right thing and passion for something. The perfect storm. Saying that, I actually liked other Gladwell's books.
   
3. Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie - I liked this book at first because it's a story of looking at life in a positive way and doing things that's good for you and everyone else.
   
4. Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Flyer - a very touching fiction about friendship and redemption. It is set during the revolution/ power transfer to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Two boys from different level of society forged a strong friendship, but misfortunes happened to one of them.
   
5. Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist - This was the first book that I actually liked after a veeerryy loonngg time of not reading literatures. It was also the one that made me said to myself, OK let's go to India. (At first I didn't wanted to go because of many things). How's that related? I can't remember anymore.

OK, done. 

Now by the time you're reading this I'm either on my way or already waiting in line for The Shiny. Wish me luck fellas!

24_What you would find in my bag?

Oi, what are you doing looking in my bag lah?
just kidding.

anyway, i have traded in my handbags for a backpack. sigh... last time i get to choose what handbag to carry to work every week, now it's just the one bag and it was from my uni time 5 yrs ago. Coach or LV will just have to wait :P

You will find a scientific calculator, lot of notes, loose papers, a pencil box, file holder, a planner-diary, a notebook or two, a book or two, telephone charger, ipod, usb stick, lab keys, paracetamol (for emergency).

I hope after Friday I'll have ONE ADDITIONAL shiny in my bag =))

- i know you readers might be tired of this crazy ipad2 obsession that i have, but you have to forgive me because I have been waiting for this thing way before it was announced by Mr Jobs. *slowly puts on hipsters spectacles*


(there's 2 posts for today)

23_Something You Crave For A Lot

A Delicious Cake and A Cup of Good Coffee.

*Which reminds me, I think I owe a friend blogger a meet up because she went to Penang and I wasn't there. Dieya, if you are free and not on a diet, let's go for tea. CT, mu boleh join la kalu free. Dari hari tu lagi dok ajak Dieya keluar. lol. Yes, everyone else are invited too! There's always enough coffee and cakes to go around among friends =) Especially if you join me this Friday, Friday. Gotta get down on Friday. I'm looking forward for Friday, Friday. Gettin' down this Friday, Friday.

** hai... kalau bukan this friday, tak tahu la apa jadi. over hype syok sendiri tak pasal2. The online forum on ipad2 is driving readers nuts! Some say only 15 units for sale per day, so just grab what you can. Some say if didn't book will not get even if you queue. Some say it's just baseless hype. Even Singapore has no news its coming out this Friday, how come Msia already announce? Of course can, we are Boleh-land for sure.

*** Starbucks is having Happy Hour  from 26th - 29th April & 2nd - 6th May from 5pm to 7pm. Enjoy a half price Frappuccino® blended beverages

22_What makes you different from everyone else?

I am just as 'normal' as everyone else.
I'm almost like you... perhaps...

Except with less salt, sugar and fat.

And no preservatives or artificial colourings.
I might taste funny too.

An acquired taste* most definitely.

*(like Dr Pepper)

21_A Picture of Something That Makes You Happy (and some rant about the new Ipad)

This is the toughest entry so far...

I don't know what picture to put... there's so many or there's none.

I wanted to put a picture of my family. Of course I feel happy looking at their faces, but sometimes it makes me feel sad, especially when I'm home sick.

I refuse to put a picture of any gadget here because these things only brings happiness (and an ego boost) for 6 months tops before the rumors of the next spanking new and improved version surfaces in the web.

*u can skip this rant part and scroll to picture.

Oh, by the by, rumor has it ipad2 is launching in stores officially this Friday. They're so mean for making me wait for so many Fridays! I feel like Rebecca Black is laughing at me everytime Friday comes and there's no news of the Ipad2 launch in Asia. Disappointment. But this is the last Friday in April, and Apple has mentioned '..coming to Asia countries in April' but they never say what date! People are predicting most likely on a Friday. 4 Fridays has passed and one more left. This April has the most Fridays ever! This must be it. If it's not THIS Friday, then they're soooo mean. I've been waiting like hell. Everytime a Friday passes without news my heart felt like it's being wrunged to the max like a wet laundry being wrung before putting them on the drying line. Macam diperah-perah! It's true when they say 'penantian itu satu penyiksaan'. *drama gile.*

But if it is really this Friday, I'm torn between waiting in line for one or watch Will and Kate's wedding ceremony while the crowd disperses . Should I line up or should I sit down? I already put down my name and booked one for me, but I don't trust that guy will keep if for me, since I haven't given any down payment. And I also signed up for email notification when Apple releases them into the wild in Msia. I also can book online. But where's the fun in that?? Waiting for hours with hundreds of people is the best part (this must be the crazy talk). The anticipation and excitement that grows with every step you take closing the gap between you and the shiny.

Just talking about it makes me feel so excited!!! I'm bouncing off the walls. Funny how one can be so 'high' without taking any drugs.

I might have mentioned Fridays so many times... Rebecca Black, didn't mean to take your spot!

Sorry, I have averted from the main subject.

*land here

Let me see... I'm trying to find a picture that puts a smile on my face every time I look at it.

Mmm.. maybe this is it =)

When I noticed there's new green shoots coming out from your plant, there's a sense of accomplishment and a silent but firm approval from Mother Nature that you're doing something right, even if everything else around you is wrong. And in that few silent seconds, you smile without realising it =))

Grow my little plant and be well!

20_Someone you see yourself marrying in the future

This is a good question. This is "nothing" like those random 'Oh, when's your turn?' that I get.

Since you had to ask, there is a guy actually... who doesn't know I exist despite all songs of praises I've given him, the "Like" button clickings, loads of good wishes conveyed and even dozens of entries I've mentioned my admiration of him. But he's still oblivious of my cheesy advances.

I can't blame him though, he's busy touring the world with his tennis racquet. He is king. Graceful on court and  also a very nice person off court. I can't find any (obvious) faults other than last year's fall out on a favorite lawn.

Wait, what's that you said?
Roger Federer is already married?!! And has 2 twin daughters?!

Aww! *weeps *(T_T)*

Ok, I hope it's not too much to ask, anyone having Federer-esque qualities at least.

19_Nicknames you have

This is like asking a child how many games you like to play?
I had quite a few nicknames given to me by my family and friends.

family:
as mentioned before i'm the eldest of 6, so automatically it's kaklong.

friends:
now here's the 'colourful' part. People could make all sorts of variety from the name Dyanna.
I was a Nana, Yana, Di, Dyna, Dyanna bach (this is my favorite, my lecturer Vernon, used to call me this, which means 'Dyanna dear' in Welsh). Miss Di (work colleagues called me this).

But there's another one. It's solely used by high school and close university friends. You know, those years we like the 'trying to define yourself age' where you get nick named by your mates. The variation of names gets more 'creative' in boarding schools. Some people got nicks like Ayam, Betik, Acid, Dot, Bucik or whatever name that does not have your actual name rooted in it. And it stuck with you as long as you're in contact with these friends, which you still do.

Mine was Che Yah. I had it since Form 4. People often asks me how I got that nickname, I rather not tell them because it's really a dull story, or maybe I didn't tell the story well enough. But today, I will tell you lucky readers this boring story.

I joined the Rangers Club (which is actually another version of the Girl Guides Club) and we went on a 1 week Jamboree in a camping site. During that week, we had to do everything from scratch, you know, like making a fire, cook food from scratch in a big pot for 20 people, set up a tent and sleep in it, read a map,  etc. We felt so in touch with this very basic and low tech way of life (by the way there weren't any cell phones at that time and yet we felt so low tech!), so our group decided to change our names to classic village names like Che Kiah, Che Yam, Che Puteh, etc... and guess what, mine was Che Yah.

The Jamboree ended, we packed our things and went home. Everybody left their 'village name' back at the camping site, but my 'village name' followed me back and stuck with me from there on. As time goes by, in college the name evolved into CK, a short form of the first one.
But please for the love of God, don't ever call me Yah.

So what do you think? Lame isn't it? I bet your nickname has a better story behind it than mine =)

18_Plans/Goals/Dreams you have

I have been reminded always to keep your plans and goals *SMART. And your dreams limitless.


*SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely


Plans: Focus and get on with this project already. Solve the mysteries of The Missing Coefficient, The Mismatched Input Impedance and also Mysteries of the Frequency Tuning and Q factor Improvements.

Goals: To write a complete thesis, pass the viva and graduate by 2012. (By then I'm par with Howard Wolowitz.)

Dreams: I've had dreams (that are bordering to nightmares) about my research two nights in a row these past few days, I don't really want to talk about dream interpretations of such.

17_Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day

29th of April is looming, I bet many girls would give about anything to be in Kate Middleton wedding shoes. But I just want to be in Ivanka Trump's shoes.

Just wanted to see how life is being an American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, a fashion model and a daughter to Donald Trump. Would love to know how she operates. Her motivations. Her goals.

When you're a daughter of a millionaire tycoon you can be either like Paris Hilton or Ivanka.

Ok, can't blog much, I'm going off. There's a jet waiting for me to NY, I have a meeting there and later dinner in LA with business partners. Bye.

Back to real life tomorrow as Dyanna.

16_Another Picture of Yourself

I have large head. 
Which sits perfectly on my shoulders. 
It may not be as big as a boulder. 
But it's quite large to consider. 


On my head, 
I don't wear a hat. 
But instead I wear a hijab. 


Even if it is rather large, 
It is no burden to carry, 
Because inside I carry 
A brain, oh so handy,
 which is the the envy 
of the typical monkey.


(dyanna -18042011) 

Lol. That's a poem I just candidly wrote from the top of my head (it's so large that I could use it as a writing pad!). * Que in the sound of silence*

Jokes aside, this is a picture of me and my friend in the House of Mirrors at a fun fair circa 2005.

15_Your favourite song

Have you heard Queen's Love of My Life? It's the most played song on my music players.


Love of My Life live at Wembley 1986

I have a strong and peculiar penchant for sad, melodious and melancholic love songs. And this particular one awfully good and depressingly beautiful.

There's a sad story behind this song (obviously).
It's about a person who was so broken hearted because was left by his/her lover. But that person still yearns for the lover to return back because he still loves her so much and willing to put everything aside once she comes back (everything's all by the way..) even if it means he has to wait many years (when I'll grow older, I will be there by your side..).

Sometimes I think that this song is written by Freddie from the perspective of his former girlfriend at the time when he, you know, 'came out from the closet'. How hurt she must've been to know about the news (who doesn't, right?), but nevertheless she still loves him and will be there by his side all the time longing for him to 'return' back.
Well, it's just my interpretation anyway.

Freddie sang it very earnestly and you can feel the anguish, despair and the heart hurting in this song.

I sometimes feel it could be a sensitive issue to discuss about Freddie Mercury and his sexuality here. But we are talking about talent and good music that needs to be shared with readers. However, negative behaviours need not be followed and it has nothing to do with talent.
And Brian May's super awesome guitar skills makes the song perfect.
Such talents.

14_Your favorite musician

Banyak sangat penyanyi zaman ni. Tambahan lagi ada banyak 'kilang' membuat penyanyi seperti rancangan2 realiti (AI, AF, XF, etc), saluran internet seperti Youtube dan Myspace (yang tak pandai nyanyi pun boleh ada video klip). Macam2 genre. Macam2 orang. Macam2 ragam.

Berbanding dengan zaman P Ramlee, ahli muzik ketika itu kurang mendapat 'good rep' dikalangan golongan elit (kenyataan hanya berdasarkan cerita Ibu Mertuaku sahaja, ingat tak "Lawyer? Doktor? Apa? Ahli muzik?! Pantang keluarga aku...). Tapi zaman sekarang mungkin 50-50. Layankan je la. Kita sebagai pendengar perlulah bijak memilih yang mana baik dan yang mana buruk.

Satu lagi, saya perasan la artis2 sekarang (terutama sekali wanita) macam perlu pakai seksi-meksi dan buat gaya2 ghairah  untuk jadi artis. Kononnya satu pakej. Baru boleh popular (untuk sekejap saje). Bila saya tengok balik video2 klip yg datang dari tahun 90-an (macam 20 tahun dulu) ini tak selalunya benar. Contohnya Alanis Morrisette. Dia selamba je buat concert pakai baju kemeja. Atau Whitney Houston dengan baju dan rambut yang kembang. Atau Tracy Chapman (T-shirt sempoi). Popular je. Mungkin mereka yang kurang terserlah bakat muzik ni terpaksa menyeksikan untuk "menyerlahkan" diri demi sesuap nasi. Kesian. Kat depa. Kesian kat kita jugak yang terseksa telinga dan mata.

But I digress. Berbalik kepada soalan, ahli muzik yang saya minati?

Banyak sangat. Especially those yang singer/songwriter type. Tapi kalau nak narrow down to a few, mungkin Freddy Mercury, Micheal Jackson, Alanis Morrisette, P Ramlee, Damien Rice, Lata Mageshkar, Pink, Sudirman, Udit Narayan, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, adik beradik Carpenters... kan dah kata banyak.

Pilih satu. Ok, Freddy Mercury.
Apokobondo? Pasai pa?
Pasai dia eccentric (tak caya? cuba tengok video klip Bohemian Rhapsody kat Youtube, Lady Gaga doesn't stand a chance). penuh perasaan bila menyanyi. (I have a thing for theatrics).

Hang tau dak dia 'tut'?
Saya tau. Bahagian ni mungkin anda tak setuju, bagi saya, itu tak penting kerana lagu2 dia (the greatest hits, at least) tak menyuruh orang ber'tut'. Memang dia tak patut jadi 'tut' kalau tak dia takkan mati sebab AIDS at the first place dan kita mesti ada banyak lagi lagu dari Queens. Hanya itu sahaja yang saya kesal.

Anyways, what is your thoughts about this? Who is your favorite musician?

13_An animal you'd love to keep as a pet

A-sleeping cat is a-sleep.

Would you expect me to say "I'd like to have a cat as my pet"? A normal house cat is amiable as a pet, but it's a pretty lame answer because what I REALLY want to have as a pet is something else. (If there is any of its kind.)

What could be better than a cute lil kitteh??!

This...
...
...
 ( i learn this 'dot dot dot' suspense drama from Dieya).
...
...
...

...

A Yoda cat.

"Humility endless is."

it would be pretty damn cool because Yoda cat could  offer good advice when I'm seeking council to solve issues pertaining to the harnessing my Jedi powers. Unless Yoda cat uses The Force to take over the world, like most cats are.. then I'd have to ditch that idea and settle for..

..an Ewok Cat!

But honestly, what are Ewok cats useful for??

12_How you found out about Blogger and why you made one

My blogging activities started way back when you want to get on the internet, you have to 'Dial-Up' the internet first. Blogging back then had the basic skeleton of WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get) and you had to know HTML codes to create a web content like add pictures, sounds, link, etc. Which consequently mean, a blogger is a computer nerd back then.

Why so, did I took the pains of self-learning HTML? Didn't I have better things to do?

This is my 'grandmother story' (cerita panjang melalut) version:

It was during the summer of 2003. I decided to stay in Cardiff instead of following the masses of Malaysian friends returning back home for 3-4 months. The days are long. VERY long. Sun rises at 4am and sets at 9pm. Once could only do so much of wandering around and window shopping after work before one gets bored. Somehow I ended up in the Engineering School computer lab (I might deny this, but the computer lab is subconsciously my favorite place to hang out), which already had broadband that time and while surfing sites, I decided creating a website is a more useful evening activity,rather than counting passers-by from Starbucks window or watch idiots on Big Brother, which makes the viewers even bigger idiots.


At first it serves to alleviate my boredom and put my thoughts in writing. Then it became a way to communicate with families back home. Showing pictures, telling them what I did, where I went or what happened, trivial things.

I used angelfire at first. then i tried multiple blogging clients at the same time now most of them  are now lost in cyberspace, except for Blogger. I had to say from 2003, the internet evolved very quickly. I only need to use HTML for like 2-4 months and then WYSIWYG editors are available. This is when I started to believe it's useless to learn computer coding because it'll become obsolete sooner or later.

Started out at first as 'try-try saje'. Then slowly evolving into 'suka-suka' and now it has become a habit for me to blog.

Here's a link to my first post on Blogger. Please take note that the contents are mostly juvenile.

*Oh!! And I just checked my first website  is still ALIVE. Like OMG! Though some links are broken, but nevertheless... lol.