Kalinka, Balalaika and Keroro

Nothing about stamp today. Hihi.

My mind has long been intrigued by the rhythm of Kalinka, eversince I heard it first time as nokia 3310 ringtone...Few years ago i googled it and I realized that it sounds familiar. It's Russian folk song. Meanwhile, if we're friends in Facebook, you may noticed that this two three days (haha) i was youtubing (haha) Keroro and one of the episode's ending song has a related video to Balalaika. Balalaika? It sounds cute. :) Of course it reminds me to "elephant trunk" or "belalai" in Malay. Kukukuku.

Balalaika. Balalaika. Balalaika. The word's echoing at the back of my mind.

I was so entertained by the dance performed by Keroro and his platoon. I even try to follow their dance step, while sitting in front of the computer. Ahahaha...they're cute, and funny.

Ok, Balalaika is actually a stringed instrument; just like mandoline or guitar.

Here's a beautiful arrangement of Kalinka song played with a Balalaika.

And, what is Keroro I talked about just now? Just watch these videos...kukukuku..

Ahahahaha...I don't know what's happening with me or my hormones but suddenly I see things as cute and my brain makes me think that I'm craving for any food that came across my mind. Even when I saw people write c.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e in their FB status, it makes me feel, "Oh! I want to eat chocolate!". So please, don't mention about food okay. Baju-baju dah tak muat ni kang terpelanting pulak butang. Ahahahaha.

Time

is flying so fast. I found a couple strands of white hair on top of my head and wondering whether it is already time for them to be there.

June is almost here isn't it? No matter how much I keep myself busy, there are still lots of things waiting to be done. Some of them already months old.

I was cleaning up the memory card by deleting unwanted photos one by one. Looking at these pictures of last year's ATCs and drawing makes me MISS drawing SO MUCH. I have not even produce a single ATC or drawing this year.

I really miss drawing.

SO SO MUCH.

House

Back to my parents' house recently, I found this house-shaped-display-shelf. Made it few years ago during semester break, back when I was still a university student. My brother had already placed it in the attic, to house the spider webs where it doubled as dust collector.

I remember wanting it white, but since not enough white paint left to cover the whole surface, I continue using my brother's watercolor and planned to spray it with clear varnish, like what did to this rock... I'm pretty sure that I stopped after realizing that it looked terrible!

I clean it up with soapy water, and leave it under the hot sun to dry. I already took it home, and looking forward to continue working on it.

I also took a picture of the surviving section of our old house where I was brought up. My father plan to completely demolish it. It was built by my grandfather, maybe 50-60 years ago. This house reminds me to our poor life when I was a kid, but it also gave me lots of good memories. I remember when I was 10, I use palm oil to substitute butter, banana to replace mixed-dried fruit, milk powder to replace fresh milk, and use my mom's large wok to steam cake because we can't afford to buy an oven. Butter, mixed-dried fruit and fresh milk are expensive and we need to go to the town to get them. I wanted to make fruit cake, instead, I got sticky, steamed banana pudding.

Now I realize, I got my early introduction to creativity from Hard Life. An inspiring teacher of all times.

Any Day

We had a gloomy weekend. My husband had lost a beloved cousin in a crash on recent Friday. We were unable to give a visit, only prayers and condolence from afar.

It made me think a lot, how life can be snatched away from us without warning. I think of how many things I want in this world, things I want to do and achieve. I think of my dislikes, things that give me lack of confidence, things that make me angry and bad memories. One day, none of them will matter. It is wrong to relate death with age and sickness only, as any day could be our last day.

For the Hole in My Pocket

I won a bid in eBay yesterday, and I can't wait to receive my winning Colorbox Cat's Eye ink pads. The shipping alone costs me about MYR 45.00! I'm still wondering why I choose to buy ink pads instead of getting myself a good quality lino cutter. Winning the auction feels good but it burnt a big hole in my pocket! I am BROKE this Mother's Day...(ehem...this month too!).

My sister called yesterday asking for some sponsorship for Mother's Day. So if I manage to sell any rubberstamp this week, it would be for Mom. Another reason why I am broke this month is I booked air tickets and will be sponsoring my parents for holiday in August. They never board a plane their whole life and my dad is suffering from Rheumatism and Gout. I afraid if I wait another year, his walking difficulties would get worse. Actually I plan to buy a new pc or laptop, and a wacom tablet...but, I can wait.

Meanwhile, I know I have to get my ass from this chair and clear off my job list but then I was digging through last year's folder and found these!

Believe it or not, all above graphics are made using Microsoft Publisher and my click-click mouse. I receive quite a number of orders for home-bakery last year but none of these designs has been proposed to my customers. I stopped taking orders for business cards and stickers now...but i think the designs would turn out nice as rubberstamps!

Interested? Just email me!

Susan Boyle

I can't believe that I was all teary to listen to her singing!

Unfortunately, embedding has been unable so you have to click here to know what I mean.

Beautiful song and lyric too.

I Dreamed a Dreamed from Les Miserables

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high,
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid
When dreams were made and used,
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung,
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame.

And still I dream he'll come to me
And we will live our lives together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms We cannot weather...

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.