boon's log 5209.07: Blessed Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas 2009 - from boonspot.blogspot.com

Has it really been a year already?! It was just like yesterday that we were stuck in OR during the 2008 US NW snow storm and were driving around in the snow in our neighborhood enjoying the Christmas lights and decorations. Anyways, Christmas this year is truly different - IL, Ab and I truly enjoyed ourselves. With an extended holiday (thanks to our babysitter... ;)), we really spent loads of time together this Christmas. We also managed to fulfil our "family tradition" of watching Home Alone (I) during Christmas - last year, we watched it at the Embassy Suites, Tigard.

We also got to spend some time with our cell group at the Roadhouse Grill. Too bad we did not get to stay throughout the entire time (I've heard reports that they partied on till about 2AM... them party animals!!!).

Also, this year, Ab's been asking a lot about Christmas, about Jesus and God too - she's at the "why" age, and we've been having loads of fun (and challenge) explaining the concept of God to her. We=IL, our cellgroup and I. But one thing that soothed her inquisitive mind were the bible stories... :) Thank God!


Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus... in Ab's bible.

Well, it's been a wonderful Christmas for all of us. We hope that you have had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your family and friends, and love ones - remembering that without Him, all this would not have been possible. May the peace, love, joy and hope of the Lord be unto you as we celebrate Christ-mas, and as we usher in the new year, 2010. Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year... Keong Hee, Keong Hee...


Christmas Party and the Lim's Residence


Christmas Party-cum-Birthday Celebration for Elliot and Robin
- Happy Birthday, guys!


Ab's gift to us... a sticker-stacker on the wall :)


boon out...

boon's log 5209.03: Dark Knight at Queens

We're taking over the fulltime babysitting job for the week because our babysitter's (a.k.a. Aunt) taking in all the Sun at Bali. :)

Today, we promised Ab that we'd bring her to see Batman at Queensbay. The Dark Knight is Queensbay Mall's Christmas theme this year. At first we were wondering what's all the hype about - with all the Batman and Joker posters all over the mall. IL was even asking if there was a new Batman movie in town.

Anyway, as part of the whole Batman theme/promo, there is also a stage show that that runs at the center court of the mall. That was what we promised Ab, that we'll bring her. The entire show was quite impressive - with the costumes, choreography and all - if only it was a little bit longer...

here are some photos...


Ab enjoying the Batman show... you can see that she is quite excited - her left hand stayed like that for at least 5 minutes


Batman-Joker in action...


"I'm not a hero..."

I was telling IL that they could also make it a little more interactive, with Batman or the Joker make surprise visits / walks in the mall and take pictures with the folks - just like in the themeparks. I'm sure people would like to have their pictures taken with them. :)

boon out...

boon's log 5109.07: What on earth is "Meat Bone Tea"?

I saw this full-page advertisement by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia (http://www.motour.gov.my/), in the Star paper today and, honestly, was quite ticked off by it.


"Meat Bone Tea?!"

On one hand those "1Malaysia-guys" are preaching about new plans on Government Transformation and plans on improving unity and all that... stuffs. But on the other hand, they come up with some screwed-up advertisement such as this?! How can they expect us to fully trust this "1Malaysia" plan to fly or even mean anything other than just another empty promise, when they can't even convince the people that they really mean business?!

"If you appreciate your
Nasi Lemak, Laksa and
Meat Bone Tea, share it us."

Am I the only one noticing this? Why can't they just call it Bak Kut Teh - just like how they call Nasi Lemak, Nasi Lemak?! Is it because the Hokkien term "Bak Kut" closely relates to PORK? Well, Mr 1Malaysia, here's some news for you, in case you might have missed out - majority of the Malaysian Chinese eat pork.

I mean, let's be fair. If you want to call Bak Kut Teh, Meat Bone Tea, then you should call Nasi Lemak, Fat Rice or Fatty Rice; and Laksa should be called Spicy Vermicelli Soup, or Spicy Sand according to some theory. But calling Bak Kut Teh as Meat Bone Tea really degrades the dish itself. And it really shows us how much the "1Malaysia-guys" really mean business.

We may have Bak Kut Teh variants such as Chick Kut Teh so that our non-Pork-eating friends can also taste the great food creation. But the fact of it is that Bak Kut Teh is Bak Kut Teh... so don't kill it, guys.

C'mon show us you mean business. Call it as it is. As you mention in the advertisement's final words,

"...Be proud of our food heritage and share with others the joy of eating delicious food."

boon out...

boon's log 5109.06: Randoms...

Brush with celebrity...
We had the honor to attend one of the ceramahs by the Menteri Besar of Perak, YB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin at the Penang Kompleks Penyayang recently. He really has a gift of the gap - he was able to capture our attention through his ~2hr ceramah. YB Sim was the facilitator and I believe this must have been one of the first (of many more) ceramahs he's conducted since the Perak fiasco started. He touched on behind the scenes of the entire Perak saga - most of which were not covered or revealed by the media. He also touched on how Mr 1Malaysia and his deputy (Deputy Mr 1Malaysia) had a hand in the conspiracies. It was a truly informative evening and it rejuvenated most (if not all) of all who attended.


Fullhouse


YB Dato' Nizar Jamaluddin


Press Conference

Ab's Birthday bash(es)...
We decided to go ahead with Ab's birthday plans despite our recent loss. We thought that it would be a good idea to lighten up the mood a little and lighten up, it deed. The birthday bash started with started the 1st in Penang, followed by Part II in Ipoh and then we wrapped it up at the Hard Rock... Ab totally enjoyed herself, with presents and birthday cakes... Thanks to all who made it possible.


Bash #1 in Penang


Bash #2 in Ipoh


Bash #3 at the Hard Rock, Penang... Snake Charmer.

Learning her ABC's...
We started Ab on some more serious writing skills, and started with Annie Apple. Previously, we did get her to recognize and write some alphabets here and there, but never really got down to more serious business. We are glad that she enjoys it and it's a great encouragement to see her liking it. Time really flies - it feels like almost yesterday when IL and I were in the delivery room and now she's learning to write her ABC's...


Ab learning to write...


boon out...

boon's log 5109: Remembering Popo

Popo [1919-2009]

It took me a while before I could bring myself to blog about this.

On the dawn of Wednesday, November 11th 2009, Popo, passed on peacefully. Her leaving, though not something entirely unexpected, but it still came as an unwelcomed surprise and it created an empty vacuum within all of us - the lives who have been so deeply touched by her love.

Perhaps it's the thought that she will always be with us, or at least for a longer period of time - perhaps another Chinese New Year, perhaps another birthday, perhaps another family gathering, perhaps another celebration of the welcoming of another great-grandchild... perhaps... another hour.

She had led a truly fruitful and blessed life. As far as I know Popo, she has always been a giver. Her abundance in love and compassion seemed unending and overflowing - the epitome of selflessness.

I still remember the times when she would take bus trips up to Kangar and down to KL and Ipoh, in between - either because someone was through exams (i.e. her grandchildren) or someone was down with chicken pox - with 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, I'm sure she's seen a lot of poxes... S

he would stay up in the middle of the night, making sure that we are feeling alright - soothing our pains and aches and also making sure that we are well nourished with her ever-ready and ever-handy herbal conconctions. All she needed was a trip down to your local Chinese medical hall.

Many who stayed through out the wake, were with her a few days before, attested that she looked fine and that there was no signs of anything all.

"We must have chatted for over an hour"

"She even asked me help bring some groceries over to her on Monday"

"I just talked to her over the phone just the night before she was admitted"

"She was in Penang just a few weeks ago".

But she was admitted into ISC on Monday due to difficulty of breathing...

She has also been truly blessed with caring and loving children and grandchildren. But we are just a mere faint reflection of what she had been to all of us. Things will definitely not be the same again.

...

Most of us made it back to see her one last time, at the hospital. It is not easy letting her go (it never is), and I guess we are not created or made to handle departures. We will miss her, love her and remember her always...

boon out...