about me
I have a certified license in driving people up walls. And when I'm not busy trying (not) to do that, I blog. read more>>
-
5. 20. 9
posted December 5, 2011 1:26 am
December.
Five and twenty in nine.
Not quite looking forward to it.
Tagged:
-
the thing about stalking people
posted August 7, 2011 11:44 am
is that sometimes, you end up getting creeped out rather than be the creepy one to begin with.
#justsaying
Tagged:
-
remembering you.
posted February 2, 2011 1:54 am
Exactly a year ago, on this day, I stood at the side of the road, watching cars zoom past me.
A red Saga blared its unforgiving horns at a careless motorcycle crossing into its path. Two middle aged ladies, clad in oversized working clothes, strolled across the road – chattering endlessly, exchanging cockamamie stories about their day.
The world went about with their business. The sun crawled its way down the skies. The motorists rush to where their hearts bring them. Shops closed. Plants wither. People aged.
Except one thing. The world which I lived in had come to a silent standstill.
Exactly a year ago, on this day, I stood at the side of the road, and cried my eyes out.
My grandmother died this day last year.
*
Mom had buzzed me on MSN moments earlier.
“Ly, Popo passed away alr. I’m going over now. Can’t pick u, sorry.”
I froze, and almost instantaneously, I went on autopilot. I packed. I called. I packed some more, and I stood up to go. I scrambled on my way out of the office, and I found myself at the side of the road.
I had no car. I was turned down by a relative who was too busy to pick me up to rush to her side. There were no taxis. Buses were a mile away, and if any of them were heading towards where Popo’s house was, I sworn I would’ve walked.
My bestfriend came to my rescue. He rushed from across the city, picked me up, detoured to college to pick my brother up, and dropped both of us where my grandmother lived.
Something I will forever be grateful for.
Upon arriving at her bedside, brother and I fell by her bedside, and remained inconsolable for the rest of the week.
*
One year later, I sit in my room, reading tweets about traffic jams on highways heading out of KL. I exchange words of mush with my favorite person on earth. John Mayer sings. The drizzle outside is kinder than it was two days ago.
CNY will never been the same without you. No more massive family gatherings. No more triple food helpings forced upon my plate, because you were worried your grandchildren were malnourished like other kids were during your time. No more angpaus with special handwritten messages in Chinese.
No more you.
*
I will always, always hold fond memories of Popo.
And one day, when I go Home, I’ll sit down with her and hopefully, in a language we both understand, we’ll talk again.
Tagged:
-
coldplay
posted January 31, 2011 5:08 pm
My castles stand upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand.
Be my mirror, my sword and shield, my missionaries in a foreign field.
-Coldplay
Tagged:
-
Hello. I’m Joanne, and I work for Groupon Malaysia.
posted January 27, 2011 10:33 pm
Couple of years ago I blogged about my amazing journey with Youth Asia; how it’s been like since Day 1, and moving into the Youth Engagement Summit 2009 era. I wrote, too, about the legendary YOUTH’10 which brought 88,366 people under one roof – a mega event we organized, which eventually proceeded to win the Best Promotional Activity of the Year at the Malaysia PR Awards 2010. Truly, a humbling experience like no other.
When the Youth Festival chapter closed (at least for me), I moved on to another new venture. After 1.5 months of hardcore coding, preparation, experimenting with stuff… we launched GroupsMore – Youth Asia’s group buying platform. In just 4 months+, we grew from zero to 50,000 members. The adrenaline rush seeing the numbers hike on a daily basis is incomparable to no other.
Yesterday, the GroupsMore journey took on a sudden change. Groupon Inc, the much coveted fastest growing company in the world… announced its entrance into the Malaysian market via the acquisition of GroupsMore. We were barely even 5 months old.
This would mean many things, and one amongst those would be this: we are now part of the amazing Groupon family.
*
I will be heading to Chicago, Illinois on 12th Feb 2011 for a one week learning session at the Groupon Inc headquarters.
When my gut feeling told me 2011 is going to be bursting at the seams with excitement, it told no lies.
Here’s to more little adventures amidst mega achievements for the months to come.
Tagged: , work
-
daddy
posted January 12, 2011 12:23 am
I came home to my dad and brother giggling about something on TV.
“Hi dad,” I said, wearily. There is a washing machine in my stomach, and someone turned it to Turbo.
“You look very tired la,” said my brother, in Cantonese. I gave a nod of agreement.
My dad turned around.
“Ah, I finally get to see my daughter after so many days,” he said.
What?
“You know, for the past few days, each time I am ready for work you’re still sleeping; and when you get home, I’ve gone to bed. I made it a point to stay up today just to see you once before I sleep,” he continued.
“But why must you stay up?” I asked. “There’s always the weekend.”
“You see, because my days left here on earth are numbered… I’d like to see my daughter a bit more before I go.”
*
My dad is 56, and atop his shoulders is the heavy burden of illnesses.
There are only a few things in the world capable of breaking me completely. My grandmother’s death. Failing terribly at something at work. Seeing my mom disappointed.
Above all of that, right at the heart of it – is the thought of losing my dad, or hearing him speak of it.
I left the conversation laughing, only to come back to my room and break into a sea of tears.
I love my dad more than anything I have ever loved in the world. He has given me not only the life I have today, but has also shaped who I am inside. The incredible emotional strength; the strong, resounding rationality inbuilt within me; the ego-fueled resilience that has brought me back on my two feet after uncountable setbacks; the generally positive outlook on life – I got it mostly from him.
Who I am today, I owe it all to him.
And in the midst of all these, I lie in my bed, in complete remorse at myself. I was given the best dad anyone could ever ask for, and I have left him waiting, and longing just to have another moment with me.
*
At this juncture, overwhelmed by this sense of guilt and brokenness, I made myself a vow: I want to see Daddy happy.
Only because the best father in the world deserves nothing lesser than that.
Tagged: , family
-
two minutes to two dozen
posted December 15, 2010 11:55 pm
Today is the last day I spend as a 23 year old.
- I experienced family warmth like never before when my grandmother passed away in February this year. While I’ve heard countless dramatic stories of how children of their late parents fight over the inheritance money, mine united like bits and pieces of little metal balls would at the pull of an invisible magnet. Not to say that it was entirely perfect (there were some really, really bad apples) but observing how tight my mom and her siblings are, made me feel all warm inside. On top of that, I witnessed the amazing maturity of some of my younger cousins – the way everyone just held each other in their frailty, and not only mourned the loss of a close member of the family – but rejoiced in the life my late grandmother once lived, and the immense contribution and sacrifices she made that brought us to where we are today.
- I sold my soul to Steve Jobs by acquiring 2 gadgets. And I am about to make my third Apple purchase.
- I started driving full time, and owned my very first car.
- I was one part of the team which pulled together the legendary YOUTH’10, which brought together 88,366 young people together within one roof for 3 days to participate in over 100 activities, generated RM6.5mil worth of PR value, and subsequently proceeded to win the Malaysia PR Awards 2010 for Promotional Campaign of the Year. Amazing, amazing experience which I would never trade for anything in the world.
- I hopped into a stranger’s car. Time of my life.
- I watched a musical, live. It was West Side Story.
- I had my paintball virginity popped.
- I had my first police raid experience in Zouk. One of the rare times I actually enjoyed the clubbing experience, the police came along and changed the course. It was very, very interesting.
- I had many, many, many memorable adventures with my bestfriend Aron; some of which include an impromptu transvestite hunt, random trip up mountains, dinners at odd-assed places – amongst many other stuff.
- More family outings + trips happened this year than any other year I’ve experienced. I have learned much about my parental units lately – one of which is how they behave when they’re in the backseat. They’re like little children (and I meant that in a very good way!)
On my 23rd birthday a year ago, I had some distant relatives and pious friends tell me that according to all forms of horoscopes, my forthcoming year would be the worst I’d ever get. I would get sick, I would get hurt, I would get depressed, I would have my career broken, I would be landed with all things malignant possible.
I went on to have one of the best years of my life (thus far).
(Universe, if you’re still serious about that horoscopic disaster you promised, you still have 2 more minutes. I’m still waiting.)
Thank you, all, for being such an integral part of my 23rd year. It’s been an amazing one, and I daresay it was because of all of you.
Here’s to yet another year’s worth of adventures together.
Closing time. Every new beginning is some other beginning’s end.
- Semisonic
Tagged: , appreciation, birthday, friends, grace in small things, happiness, life, silly things I do, work
