书法这堂课，难。

平常因为课业关系和距离问题，我甚少出席书法讲座。今天我出席了周俊杰教授的讲座因为我真的很喜欢他的书风，这种朴实、沉着、豪迈、大器的字。我好希望自己也能写这样的字。他的中国腔非常浓，所以我只能大概捉到几个重点。写字的重点是临帖，选择一种书体中最有代表性的传统碑帖来临摹至很熟练了才加入其他家的碑帖和自己的领悟才来创作。传统真的很重要。今天的讲座会真的获益良多因为他还当场为我的作品做出了点评，一位中国书法家排名10大的大师为小女子的作品点评真的是很难得的机会。他很讶异我这个清秀的女孩写这么大器的字，但线条较薄弱，应该注意章法的排列，应该把力量更集中在手腕，注意用笔。*如果我没听错？*

周俊杰教授现场挥毫的作品。我超喜欢这种字体的！！

和周教授合影。=)

谢谢他对我的字做出点评。

此外，符永刚博士还特地把我叫到一旁给我指点，我也很荣幸有这个机会！听他指点的时候，我一直强忍着泪水。他是我很敬佩的人，由于他太厉害了，是书法界的大阿哥，在厉害的人面前我显得非常渺小所以我很容易手足无措，脸都青了。像听到开示这般，我就很容易会哭。*没用+不勇敢的我，呵呵* 很荣幸他愿意花时间讲解我的弱点给我听，但其实听了指点蛮难过的。我难过不是因为批评，我明白有批评才有进步，我难过是因为自己总是做不好，瓶颈一直一直都没闯过去，这么多年了，我知道自己都在原地打转，我未必是最努力的那个但我真的有付出过，可是...... 他告诉我不要再学这样的字形了，再这样下去只是浪费时间*直中红心，我知道一直都在浪费时间*，应该学会传统的碑帖如乙瑛碑、张迁碑、曹全碑等等，待基础更扎实了才步入这种创作阶段，否则只是转牛角尖。

这些碑我小时候都写过，但我想小时候的印象不深、领悟不强所以应该重新临过。小时候一写石门颂、好大王，大家都会惊叹，或许小时候有的是童真吧，这样的字还蛮吃香的，也拿了不少的大奖，但随着年龄的增进，脑袋越来越理性，不知怎的有一天这样的写法就被批评了。因此，每次我都很迷惘，继续写又会机械化，不写手感又不见了，写得太专注线条又僵硬，随便写又太随便。经过一番“开示”，我的迷惘似乎看见了出路，我终于知道下一步要怎么走了。为了比赛而玩这种大小不一、看似刺激的字，是时候搁在一旁了吧。这，不是我这年纪应该做的。我要抱着初心，从新学过，为了能走更长远的路。万丈高楼平地起就是这样吧。我在想，如果还是写不好下次符博士会不会对我感到失望？会不会就不指点我了？他一直叫我不要放弃，要继续学习，慢慢写，好好写，接下来再告诉我下一步路该怎么走。我很感动。他，一位这么了不起的大家愿意指导我。我不想令他失望，也不想让老师失望，更不想对不起自己。我一定要好好练，更扎实地打好基本功，我希望也相信总有一天他会说“总算有点进步了”。加油加油！书法这条路，决不能放弃！=D

回家，谢谢爸爸载我往返马六甲到这么夜。星巴克让我重拾笑容。

明天继续加油！

=)

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

Worth reading: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)

Reason: The twist at the end - astonishing!

It was like finally I had finished reading this novel. I get attracted when I first read through the synopsis last year and decided to buy it using my book voucher this year. I started reading it during my June holidays? I couldn't really remember. I couldn't stop reading as I want to know more about it but too bad I stopped when a new semester started over. Pause for a long while and finally I continued it this holidays. I was a bit disconnected and feel bored in reading coz I forgot some details and character in the beginning but somehow the words used by the author are simple and brought me back to the story itself. 

"The only way to save your daughter is to sacrifice her sister. What would you do?"

Is this sentence strong enough to arouse your curiosity? It did for my case! This story is about Fitzgerald family designed baby Anna to save their elder daughter Kate who is diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia by taking her marrow each time when Kate get relapsed. And Anna decided to file a lawsuit to sue her parents for the rights to her own body when she is asked to donate her kidney when she is thirteen.

The story is very attractive coz you keep desperate to know how the story develops. Anna loves her sister and how could she be so cruel by refusing to help her sister and what is her reason behind? Anna is Fitzgerald's daughter too but how come her parents always take care of Kate only and never think of Anna's will? What happened to the family's relationship when the daughter sues her parents? How the author ends this story - will Anna donate her kidney?

I personally love the last part of the novel about the scene in the court. The scene is so clear like you're watching a drama as you can imagine how the lawyer and the mama protest their view vividly. This story is touched because you will get to know how everyone thinks over the same incident as the author uses the first person view for several characters. It is really touched in the end when I know that Anna refused to donate her kidney is not because of her selfishness, but her love towards her sister. She wants to stop her sister from living such terrible life by going to hospital often to undergo medical treatments. 'Ten years from now, I'd like to be Kate's sister.', this sentence nearly makes me cry.

When you're doubtful how this story gonna end when the lawsuit is done and Anna is declared to be medically emancipated from her parents, she died. I was really shocked by this twist! I re-read 3 times to make sure I am not misunderstanding the story. She died in an accident when she back from the court and without further thinking, you know her kidney will be donated to save her sister Kate. Although the ending is out of expectation, it is really a suitable ending. I cant think of any other suitable ending because if she donates her kidney at last what for she fights so hard throughout the whole story? And if she doesn't, it is cruel and sad to see her own sister dies isn't it?. So, I really respect the brilliance of the author for giving this story such an astonishing ending. 

In this book, you will see the care between parents and children. the love between sisters. the responsible and trust between lawyer and client, the courage and independence of a thirteen-year-ole. And the most important thing is the life and death and morality. Grab this book because it is thoughtful and worth reading. =)

The meaningful event 2013 大马好 Marvellous Malaysia

我承认，不像别人那么伟大一心想当一个志工，我是为了私心而参加这个活动。我参加这项活动的为主要目的是为了见星云大师一面！对他的事迹没有特别的了解，但我知道他是一位了不起的人物，对佛教的贡献很大。对他的印象不只是在佛教上，更有他每一年为新春写下的寄语，也让学习书法的我留下了印象。在这个时代，伟大的人物慢慢陨落，我希望自己能在有机会的时候一睹他们的风采。他老了，这次离我那么近，我又怎能错过呢？我真的很想听他说道理和给我们的启示。一开始，我害怕犹豫，因为没有伴，因为要考试没时间练舞，因为闷骚的我不喜欢参加活动，但是想见到星云大师的心愿胜过了一切！其次，我也很希望能让自己更活跃，见识大场面，更有信心与陌生人做朋友。

于是，我报名了。

Well, 7点启程，11点多到Shah Alam Indoor Stadium，我好累。没有熟悉的朋友已经很闷了，睡眠不足让我更闷了，整个提不起劲。之后像傀儡似地被工作人员带来带去，好晕。我没有被筛选到在arena part跳韵律舞，说真的有小小失望，是自己做得不够好吗？但我相信菩萨给我的永远是最好的安排。最后，我被安置在2B1的区域。我不需要像arena的表演者跑来跑去地练习，还能正对舞台看表演，我更珍惜自己的所在位置，绝不是吃不到葡萄说葡萄酸心理。

 舞台留给有准备的人
彩排彩排再彩排
“下巴再高点，笑容灿烂点，动作有力点”，严格的要求都是为了这场盛事。

虽然觉得彩排很闷很无聊，但当观众开始入席我就越来越投入越来越HIGH了，真的是置身一场音乐会一场飨宴。每一个表演都让我很感动很感动，几度小落泪。

观众入席，好多人好HIGH!!

我是青年律动舞义工。

新朋友：慧芯和琦慧。

还好有他们，要不然一整天下来我可能一句话都没说。

新朋友：Vivian小妹妹

整组人的抱怨：为什么我们拿白衣？为什么跟观众一样白衣？colour T很美，我也要colour T!!! ><

Get ready to kick off the show!

音乐会开场歌曲《呼唤爱》和《希望》很好听，歌词很有意思。

抵挡不需要拳头
言语不需要战火
朋友不需要明说
微笑和眼神就足够
站在高处往下看
其实我们都一样
we are one
世界就是一个家
大声呼唤大声唱起来
让所有人知道我们有多爱
手中握紧自己的未来
不让别人主宰生命的精彩
衷心祝福我们这时代
沿途再多障碍 我们一样爱
心是小孩最真诚的期待
相信明天的光更缠烂地盛开  ----------《呼唤爱》

希望可以寄托于明日

心动必定是潜于今日

在嗔恨之处 散播慈悲的种子

在仇视之处 施与宽恕的谅解

在怀疑之处 培养信心的力量

在黑暗之处点燃 般若的火花

在失意之处 提出未来的希望

在忧伤之处 赠与喜乐的安慰

只要根不坏 荒地也能开花

只要心不死 绝处也能逢生 ----------《希望》

另一首歌曲《青春幼苗》我觉得很耳熟，后来想起那时我小时候参加佛学班时学会的歌曲。听着歌词“佛陀就像阳光，给我生机助我长...”，想到自己在每次失意烦躁没信心时都有佛菩萨指引我就不自觉地眼眶湿了。

我们跳了5只律动舞，全场都好HIGH! 我觉得好开心自己能参与这么棒的活动！喊得很大声，拍掌也很大声，整个人超HIGH！一个人也可以很high很兴奋，但如果有朋友就更棒了，下次一定要拉更多朋友一起来玩。=D

 很漂亮的灯光效果

一跳完律动舞，马上从2楼冲下arena区，准备排莲花。
Too bad the photo was not taken coz I was part of the members, but it was really pretty through the screen. The figure of the lotus flower was formed when every of us cooperated to arrange these lights on the floor according to the markings.

 虔诚听梵呗

 座无虚席，全场一起喊Encore !!
佛教不是那么严肃的，佛教也能很潮很年轻。

星云大师出现了！我哭了！当我看到一个87岁的老人家奔波劳碌只为了宣扬佛法，那是一种精神象征，那种精神很值得我们学习，我哭了。T_T 他说自己没读什么书，但只要我们设定目标，了解自己的自身条件，多听多看，我们一定能达至目标！虽然距离他本尊有一段距离，但仍然是在眼前，我好雀跃。我一定要向他学习，那份好学的心。

音乐会在大师的开示后圆满落幕。*感动满满*

晚上是三皈五戒的仪式。人潮比下午的音乐会更多了。我跟着念经，求忏悔，祈求明天会更好。大师为我们解释何谓五戒等等。整个法会很庄严。

最感动的时刻是当灯一暗，所有人点亮了那盏灯，那盏莲花灯，那盏心灯。向佛之心被点亮，四周犹如星星在空中一样，很亮很漂亮。*我的相机拍不出那种美，但那画面在我脑海中，闭上眼就能看得到* 

 心灯亮了，人生也亮了。

结束了，活动圆满地结束了。心中满满的激动、澎湃、感动、感恩。很庆幸自己有这个机会参与这个活动~

和健壹妹妹——典为。

 新朋友：玲玲。

每天都在找的25号小队辅——枢诚。

结束了，原本以为就这么结束了。没想到早上还能见到星云大师多一面，而且是超级近距离的一面！*谢谢菩萨*原本还能和他来张大合照，但他开示后马上离开了，留下很愕然的我们，我们可是排队型排了好久好久*半个钟多吧？*  哈哈

#题外：一开始，我觉得这次虽然鼓起了很大的勇气独自参与活动，但仍是有好多遗憾。

第一：我很开心和matric的朋友Lily重逢！我在KMPP第一次的outing是和她一起出去的呢~原本还很担心没话聊，但却一见如故。很喜欢她在台上的hip hop表演，很棒很厉害呢！遗憾是没能和她拍照她就回了。真希望我们还能再见，拍张照。^__^

第二：很惊讶很兴奋见到了我那两年半的“网友”？虽然说也是matric的朋友但我们却不曾真正见过对方，只是隔着电脑聊着聊着就聊了好久好久。真的没想过会在这里遇见，我还迟疑了一会儿，对看了一会儿才打招呼，画面真的很搞笑。遗憾的是没敢过去聊两句，挺尴尬的吧？希望我们有缘还能再见。:)

第三：《呼唤爱》超好听，我一直在疑惑歌手到底是谁。直到看报纸才发现是符琼音！啊，我超喜欢她的说~见识到她的现场演唱魅力，那把声音很有power，高音好听得没话说！遗憾没能早点认出是她，要不我可能会冲去后台找她，好在我在不知道是她的情况下也很用心听。=P 

第四：我没有更用心地交朋友，我还是改不掉自己那闷骚的性格，心里明明很想认识更多人，但是脸上依然淡定。我要学习一位师父说的要时常微笑，久而久之就会自然了。“投入才能深入，付出才会杰出，磨练才能熟练，耐烦才能超凡” #

一切遗憾都在这一刻化为无憾了，这么靠近地看见他，拍了他，我这次参与大马好的心愿算是达成了，其他的遗憾做成也只是一个生命的bonus，我想做人不能事事如愿，根本的那个心愿达成就应该知足了吧。

 大师说自己健康状况不是很好，戴墨镜因为眼睛畏光，他脱下墨镜，一片淤青在眼袋那，我看了很是心疼。菩萨一定要保佑这伟人福寿安康，平安喜乐！大师说马来西亚是世界上出产人才第一的国家，我觉得很光荣自己是马来西亚人！

我不能保证佛光的活动我都会参与，因为有些事不是人人苟同，活动也不是人人都方便参与。什么方式为佛教服务或修行都是好的吧，只要有一颗向佛的心。仍然谢谢佛光组织了这么有意义的活动，看得出他们真的很辛苦，继续加油吧大家，佛教靠我~~~们！
~ END ~

I am so into this: Overnight Oatmeal =P

This is another new recipe for my dinner!!
OVERNIGHT OATMEAL
The only disadvantage of this meal is it is supposed to be served cold and you know having cold food from fridge everyday is BAD especially for girls! I experienced the worst period pain last week 'coz I drank cold soya with cereal everyday at home. :(
But it is still considered clean diet that you may try it once in a while when life is dull.

1. Pour 250ml milk into a jar. (I choose V-soy.)
2. Add in 10g/ 2 tablespoons of Chia Seeds. (This is what make one thinner, I guess.)
3. Add in oats as much as you like. (I choose Quaker oats and I add a lot because I like sticky things.)
4. Add in half cup of yogurt to make it thicker.
5. A: Add protein powder if you want your oatmeal to be thick and sticky. (250ml soya makes everything thin and I dont like) / B: Add in milk if you like watery things?
6. Mix well, shake well in the sealed jar and left it in the fridge overnight.
7. Serve with any fruits that you like the next morning. Sweet and soft fruits recommended so that the oatmeal wont be tasteless. (I tried mango and banana these few days and it tasted like heaven.)

5 more days to freedom! 

Hope every paper goes smooth and holidays come faster. :)

Escape to Cafe 1988 :)

Well, I always envy those who could dine in some nice cafe and having nice photo of nice foodie. I like to read foodporn blog post. They gave me the chance to eat yummylicious food through my eyes. Seriously I need some escape from those piles of notes coz they are simply too bored and heavy. I want to digest food but not notes, please! I need to have fresh air fresh breath from outside. I am stuck at home and green spot grown around. To be exact, I am rotten. So, today, I had my little escape with my bestie and her sister in Cafe 1988.

It is a new cafe in Muar town. It is actually a small little inconspicuous shop by the roadside, in between two old dilapidated shops. My favourite Wanton noodles was being sold here before it was renovated and turned into this lovely cafe now. I heard my friends commented that the food here is quiet expensive but still I would like to have a try here.

I would immediately think of her everytime I want to have nice food and I dont know why. 

:)

 Too bad the seats inside were too limited and we were asked to sit outside.

Luckily it was a cloudy day.

The comfy site.

Some simple retro decorations inside.

 Fiona and Joey.
*Spot the seats and the bicycle deco*

 My Cappuccino @Rm10.
I am not a real coffee lover. What I could describe overall is it is smooth and I hope it could make me stay alert.

Fiona's Viennese Coffee @Rm11.

It tastes similar like my cappuccino, just the milk above makes it sweeter. 

Joey's Mint Chocolate with marshmallow @Rm11.

Fiona's Chicken Alfredo @Rm18.

A bit too dry.

 Joey's Squid and Chicken @Rm19.
This is also quite dry but actually not bad with the chilli powder.

 My Creamy Squid @Rm19.
 It is stated as House Special on the menu so I ordered it. It is heavenly delicious as you know I am a Carbonara lover! Every carbonara makes me feel blessed. Ya, it is actually carbonara with squid juice, salty a bit, less cheesy abit. The squid nearly made my choke!

 And it makes my lips DIRTY even though I ate very carefully already.

 Selca when we finished.

It's time to back to reality and face the book!
*But I'm still blogging. :P*