PLANTS MAKE ME HAPPY ... update 4 minit

photo from Pinterest

 

IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS ... there is peace and serenity

 Salam and good day,

Here I am again, ready to begin another semester. Seems like just yesterday I finished teaching the third semester. 

This semester, instead of online teaching, (which I have sort of gotten used to by now), the university wants us to do hybrid lesson. Hybrid, meaning, a combination of online and face to face lesson., ie: 50% of each. Sounds simple enough. Well, it is anything but simple. 

The 50% face to face and online only applies to students' learning time, 

For the lecturers, its actually 100% face to face, but in the face to face class, only 50% of the students will be physically present and the remaining will have it as an online lesson. That's one scenario. I know. It's complicated.

Anyway, the hybrid lesson consists of six different scenarios based to the actual number of students who are physically on campus and those who are not. Therefore, if I have six sections to teach, and unluckily, have six different scenarios, well... chaos would be an understatement. I'm literally heading into a storm. 

The bright side is this coming semester would be my second last before I'm off to my retirement. Sooo looking forward to it. I'm  just too old for this mode of teaching.

Speaking of storm, it's October now, and we can expect a visit from our dear friend, the North East monsoon in a few weeks. Yes, Mr Monsoon will come with abundance of rain, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. That gives me an idea for a November poem. Hopefully, I will have the time to think about it, you know, with all the chaos.

But, for now, I need something soothing... here it is...

Despite, the title, My Melancholy Blues, This song is not at all depressing. It is the most peaceful and serene song ever.

related post : death-on-two-legs-dedicated-to.

ON A RAINY JANUARY MORNING

 

UNDER PRESSURE ... update 4 minit

I am ...

 

IF THINGS GO WRONG ...update 4 minit

 

 https://www.google.com/search?q=if+things+go+wrong

BEYOND HELP - update 4 minit

Song: Mediate
Artist: INXS

a physical manifestation of what's inside my mind right now.

HallucinateDesegregateMediateAlleviateTry not to hateLove your mateDon't suffocate on your own hateDesignate your love as fateA one world stateAs human freightThe number eightA white black stateA gentle traitThe broken crateA heavy weightOr just too lateNow devastateAppreciateDepreciateFabricateEmulateThe truth dilateSpecial dateThe animal we ateGuilt debateThe edge serrateA better rateThe youth irateDeliberateFascinateDeviateReinstateLiberateTo moderateRecreateOr detonateAnnihiliateAtomic fateMediateClear the stateActivateNow radiateA perfect stateFood on plateGravitateThe Earth's own weightDesignateyour love as fateAt ninety-eightwe all rotateLiberate

 

the patung says... BRING IT ON

Salam and good day,

We are fast approaching the end of June,  which means we are now halfway into 2019. In 6 months, it will be 2020, a whole new decade.

So far, 2019 has been an eventful and challenging year for me, physically, mentally and emotionally. How so? Well, that's for me to know, but not for you to find out...lol

Here's a quote for motivation:

So true, Mr Gibran.

I have 3 things to say before venturing into the last 6 months of this decade

If I made you happy ... I'm glad 
If I made you cry ... so sorry
If I made no difference to you ... tough luck

and for the rest of this decade... 3 words... BRING  IT  ON!!!!!!!

there's just too much that time cannot erase
ps: still feeling crappy

Have a nice day.

SEMANGAT YANG HILANG

Salam and good day,

Ya, semangat saya hilang, Kenapa? Malas nak cerita panjang, tak ada semangat untuk menulis. Anggap saja saya demotivated tahap dewa...hehe

Kata XPDC ... ' usahlah diragukan, keupayaan diri...' betul lah itu. 

Yang pasti, semangat itu akan kembali, yang tak pastinya... bila? Tunggu saja . Jom dengar lagu.

HUJAN BULAN JUNI

Tak ada yang lebih tabah dari hujan bulan Juni
 Dirahasiakannya rintik rindunya
Kepada pohon berbunga itu

Tak ada yang lebih bijak dari hujan bulan Juni
Dihapuskannya jejak-jejak kakinya  
Yang ragu-ragu di jalan itu

Tak ada yang lebih arif dari hujan bulan Juni  
Dibiarkannya yang tak terucapkan 

Diserap akar pohon bunga itu

Sapardi Djoko Damono.

3MT - SLIDE ... dos and don'ts

 

We had a workshop for our 3 minute thesis participants yesterday. My slot was on how to come up with a single static slide for the presentation. I'm putting my notes here for safekeeping... LOL 

DO NOT ...

1. use text and complicated graphics
2. rely 100% on your slide to convey your message
3. use bullet points

DO ...

1. use a single readable sentence that the audience can refer to if they get a bit lost
2. choose one 'hero' image or diagram
3. add some personal touches
4. use visuals that appeal to our senses 

•  The title can be in the form of a question or the actual title of your research.
• Try to use a metaphor or an analogy that can help explain your research
• your slide should create a deeper understanding of what you are talking about.
• keep it simple - your slide should be CLEAR, LEGIBLE, CONCISE.  in other words ... 

LESS IS MORE 

blast from the past - LEVEL 42

Salam and good day,

I was browsing for songs to use in my critical thinking class when I stumbled across Level 42 - Something About You.... needless to say, I was immediately transported back to the 80s. I have forgotten how much I love this song...
No matter what others might say, I love the 80s... for me, it is the best decade for music with Level 42, Culture Club, George Michael, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, the Pet Shop Boys, Wham, Cindy Lauper, Maddonna, Johnny Hates Jazz, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Tina Turner, and rock bands like Van Halen who actually had an album titled 1984, and Bon Jovi's Slipperry When Wet, Def Leppard's Hysteria and Prince's Purple Rain ,to name a few.

and, this particular song is deeply moving and mellow and nostalgic. it magically transported me back to the 80s, rummaging record shops looking for the single, running to the common room to watch Top Of The Pops... and it still sounds so good.  Enjoy.

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnumkm

HAPPY NEW YEAR ... do not go gentle

Well, here we are again, at the beginning of yet another year. I have to say though, 2017 has been sheer hell ...so i guess this year would be... oh, i dont know... plain hell maybe. These last few months  I've been juggling between trying to stay sane and trying to sustain  my  willpower to keep going. With the amount of juggling I'm doing, I might as well be in a circus, maybe i could meet pennywise...beep, beep, hey... you wanna balloon? oh yeah, while you're at it... please eat me.  

Then i heard the soothing voice of Dylan Thomas saying DO NOT GO GENTLE... yeah... and sometimes Mr Thomas would do an Elvis impersonation .... DO NOT GO GENTLE  INTO THE GOOD NIGHT BAYBEH... haha... that always makes me laugh.

Right now, though, I feel as if I'm falling from a high building, hoping there's a safety net somewhere below...preferably being held by spongebob... errr... i mean friendly faces. But, if it turns out I have to hit the ground, then I would... but not without a fight...nope...I WILL NOT GO GENTLE  INTO THE GOOD NIGHT!!!  Thank you Dylan Thomas and Elvis.

And now, I shall embrace 2018, and whatever shit it has to offer. If I have to fall, I'll make bloody sure I'll land on a bloody safety net...or I wouldn't let myself fall in the first place. Winston Churchill once said... "If you're going through hell, keep going" 
and i will... with these two blokes behind me.... hehehe

The superheroes remind me of something. I will tell you about it sometime in the near future. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. 
may 2018 be a great year for all.

KEKAL

Dalam kekelaman malam yang panas

tanpa bulan dan bintang

Diselubungi kelembapan

Diselimuti kegelapan

Dunia terasa lebih siuman

Tanpa kekeliruan waktu siang

Malam ibarat cahaya rumah api

menyuluh laluan pelayar

Ibarat cahaya lilin 

yang hampir padam ditiup angin 

namun terus menyala

Merangsang akal dan jiwa

Membuat aku berfikir

Membuat aku tersenyum

Bolehkah ku simpan cahaya itu

LANGIT DINIHARI

Langit dinihari

suram dan dingin tanpa cahaya

Setia menanti hangat sang suria

Agar terlihat warna pada seri bunga

Langit dinihari

Surammu membuat aku sayu

Dinginmu membuat aku pilu

sudilah kau sepi bersamaku.

THE FLIP SIDE

Salam and good day.                                 Saya bukan tiap hari masuk ke fb. Kali terakhir saya menjengok fb saya... dua hari lepas... Ada beberapa orang yang post berita ini... http://www.kedahnews.com/2016/09/gadis-kedah-bakal-doktor-dihina-kerja.html?m=1.                                       Kerana sudah beberapa kali saya terserempak dengan berita ini... Saya akhirnya membaca berita itu.                         Kisah seorang graduan bakal doktor bekerja di kedai buku sementara menunggu posting, dihina boleh seorang pelanggan. Memang tidak patut berlaku.                                           Cuma... Saya terfikir... Andainya yang dihina itu bukan graduan bakal doktor. Andainya yang dihina itu cuma seorang pemegang sijil SPM atau lebih rendah dari itu, apakah ada yang akan peduli?                                  

the patung says... YO.. HO... LET'S GO......

Salam and good day.                             

 We had a workshop yesterday to introduce us to the MOOC which stands for Massive Online Open Course. Basically, it is a platform for online learning community instead of just an online course... Community being the operative word here.  So... Yes... We have to come out with a module to fit into the MOOC framework.                                                

 Anyway... I got as far as creating a profile page ... Well... Its a start... 

               

     and this is my slightly exaggerated initial reaction... LOL

 Feels like I'm walking the plank on a pirate ship.  Diving into the dark and turbulent water.Think I will survive? Depends on how I hit the water doesn't it? 

 

 But... For now... I shall say...  

 YO HO... LET'S GO.... 

                          

Sing all together now.... Captain Jake and the Neverland pirates...  ...                        

I will write more about this MOOC thing when I feel a bit more sane... :-D

EVER BEAT ANYBODY WITH YOUR BARE HANDS?

Salam and good day.                                          

 EVER BEAT ANYBODY WITH YOUR BARE HANDS? 

 many times.... I wish.                                        
 I say... I wish because I view myself as being evolved and civilized. As someone who is able to put her primal reaction under control and put into action her reflective reaction.                                                                
 But... Sometimes I find my reflective reactions quite unsatisfactory. I would like to think that it is because... Deep inside me lies a warrior... A warrior who craves the physical satisfaction of a primal reaction.     

To quote Candice Bergen in ' Boston Legal'    ' I certainly believe in evolution.                        Who here among us while watching the presidential debate could deny that we all come from monkeys.' Haha... Spoken like a true lawyer.                  

 Today... I shall try to satisfy the warrior inside me.... Without any pain.          

KELABU

Masih adakah luka itu…tidak…luka sudah hilang…setakat sakit fizikal, sekejap saja akan hilang...tapi, mood saya yang tercalar sepanjang minggu masih lagi tidak hilang…

saya hilang inisiatif untuk buat apa2 yang productive...
kerja banyak tapi  malas nak buat...nak beri alasan sebab malas nak buat kerja pun saya malas…nampak tak betapa malasnya saya minggu ni…

saya boink...rasa 'high' sepanjang minggu, semua kabur dan mengelirukan... menimbulkan berbagai perasaan...marah, sedih, kecewa, sakit hati, keliru..

Rasa mahu bunuh orang ada, rasa mahu terjun bangunan pun ada...

rasa 'demotivated' serta hilang fokus. I felt victimized.

Warna kehidupanku sepanjang minggu ini adalah warna kelabu...tiada apa yang jelas, tiada apa yang pasti...semuanya kabur ibarat berjalan disubuh yang penuh kabus...menunggu terbitnya matahari agar hari kembali cerah dan semua kembali jelas.

Hopefully next week will be much better...hopefully next week will bring the sun to me.Ini puisi yang saya tulis untuk diri sendiri...yang pernah  dipost dalam blog lama ...saya ambil semula sebab malas nak fikir...ahaha...layan saja la ok...

SEPI

SEPI itu teman karib
yang setia menemaniku setiap hari
dari saat aku terjaga
hingga ke saat aku di buai mimpi

SEPI itu musuh
yang sering menceroboh kubu emosi
dan meruntuhkan semangatku

SEPI itu guru
yang mengajar aku
erti ketabahan dan kesabaran

SEPI itu pengalaman
walaupun perit
berani aku tempuhi

SEPI itu pengorbanan
yang perlu aku lakukan
demi mereka yang aku sayang

SEPI itu cinta
yang tak mungkin akan berlaku
walau aku cinta padamu

SEPI itu rindu
yang perlu ku jadikan sempadan
antara kau dan aku

SEPI itu takdir
yang perlu aku terima
dengan hati terbuka

SEPI itu hakikat
yang tak mungkin dapat ku ubah
walau sekuat mana aku mencuba

SEPI ITU HIDUPKU
SEPI ITU HATIKU
SEPI ITU KAMU
SEPI ITU AKU
SEPI ITU SELAMANYA....

have a nice week :-)

PS... salahkan ketidakseimbangan hormone...

RINDU

Dinginnya malam ini. Tiba-tiba aku teringat kepada arwah ayah. sudah lebih 20 tahun ayah pergi... rindunya aku pada dia. Teringat waktu aku kecil, berdiri di bahagian hadapan vespa bersama arwah ayah, sambil menunggang keliling kampung. Those were the days. 

Namun kini aku sendirian... lelaki-lelaki penting dalam hidup aku semuanya telah lama pergi... ayah, abang, suami... hidupku ibarat bahtera tanpa nakhoda... tapi itu tidak benar... Akulah nakhoda... akulah juragan... andai karam bahtera ini... aku juga lah yang gagal...

Masih teringatkan arwah ayah. Aku sebak. Tak mahu menulis lagi. 
Al fatihah untuk arwah ayahku, Samsudin Bin Long - 1929 - 1993,  arwah suamiku, Affendi bin Zainal Abidin - 1968 - 1995,  arwah abangku, Roslan Bin Samsudin - 1961 - 1997... semoga roh mereka dicucuri rahmat. 

Salam Maal Hijrah untuk semua.

SANGKAR

rela aku didalam sangkar

bersama sang burung

dari mengimpikan agar aku dikurniakan sayap.