The Hunger Games

I'm think New Zealand and I don't agree. Or rather, New Zealand and my wallet don't agree. Ever since I've been here my money keeps vanishing! I'd have notes morphing into coins in the matter of seconds. What kind of evil/demented/twisted trick is this?

Of course, the real culprit could be my self-discipline-- but I'm never going to own up to that. It's never my fault, but you bet I'll keep my wallet under lock and key from now on. I'm not allowed to spend any more NZD.

On another note, one of the things I did spend on was books (does this surprise anyone?). I bought THE HUNGER GAMES, because it came highly recommended by a soon-to-be-published community of writers and was rated highly on Amazon (yes, I'm a sucker for ratings). I broke into the book at 1 a.m. and stayed up all the way till 5, finishing the entire book. The last time I had such an Unputdownable Book must've been near a decade ago (it was Harry Potter 3, and I remember reading by torchlight because we, the kids, were supposed to be in bed, rested and ready for more exploring/touristing of the fabulously romantic town of Firenze). So let me jump on THE HUNGER GAMES groupie bandwagon and just scream out: THE HUNGER GAMES IS AAAAAAWWWEEESOOOOOMEEEE! WOOHOOOOOO!

Because it is. I realise it is YA (Young Adult), and it may not be as 'deep' for those of you more sophisticated people, but it truly is an amazing concept executed in almost flawlessly gripping storytelling.

If I could have just one birthday wish this year, it would be to have just a gallon, nay, a quart, of Suzanne Collins' writing talent. Did I just jinx my wish? Darnittt!

Seriously though, if I could just package her capacity to capture readers' attention and successfully immerse them into the world I created, I would do it in pills, and take it once daily for the rest of my life. Also, I wouldn't share it with the rest of the world, coz I'm kiasu like that. Ha!

I think I'm having withdrawal symptoms from THG. I want to dive back into Katniss' world (Panem) and find out more about them. I miss Katniss' narrative voice, her thoughts and everybody she loved/befriended. Unfortunately, I will have to wait till September the 1st for the second book to come out. Aiahsighaishgiahsh!

So maybe I'll break into another book.

The 2-4 (and the Hair-scapade)

So it was my birthday yesterday. 24. Sounds...old. And boring. 24. Other than reminding me of multiplications (2 x 12 and 8 x 3 are cool ones) and the number of hours in a day, 24 is a pretty boring number. It sounds so somber and...adult. Meanwhile, I think 25 is an awesome number! I imagine huuuuge blowouts and balloons and confetti! Jubileeee!

I've been pretty much a dork on my 24th. The day of the 22nd I had a FULL day, so I retired early that night, but not without a few rounds of ice-cream (bought by my random backpacker flatmate-- thanks Holly!). On the 23rd of April, D-Day (...I turned 24), I went with a friend of mine to the factory outlet "mall"-- 1) because I needed shoes, and 2) because I felt like I needed to spend on my birthday. I walked away with shoes (they had one my size!! I was soooo stoked!) and the awesomest dress I've ever beheld! After a whole day of walking, I was ready to retire early again, only I went into super-dork mode and decided to do some writing on my birthday. Eheh. Not my fault Lady Muse attacked me with Plot Bunnies on my Birthday.

So no, I didn't have a big birthday bash. And no, I didn't get super wasted or get buried under a pile of presents-- but I still think this has been one of my fondest birthdays, only because I shared it with some of my closest, most genuine buddies, and was allowed to be the Superdork that I am on my birthday (week). *grin*

On another note, I got a haircut today. Let me just preface this by saying: 1) I don't have anything against Asians (I am one myself), and 2) I don't have anything against Asian Hair. But just because you're Asian (i.e. Chinese/Korean) doesn't mean you have to make EVERYONE ELSE's hair look like the rest of the Chinese/Korean hairstyle, especially when I DON'T have the typical poker-straight shiny Asian locks, and also when I specifically showed you pictures of Kate Moss and Brigitte Bardot's hair as reference.


Let me just say it didn't turn out like how I wanted it. This should teach me to go against my instincts (which was to pop into the hair salon I loved) and follow other people's recommendations. The last hair-raising experience I had when someone recommended my a place was that I ended up feeling like my hair was getting burned off my scalp (I had a reaction to the dye). This time around, I end up with a hairdo which is a cross between the hairstyle I had when I was 5 (I know I have that picture somewhere) and the retard-bangs I sported in the first year of uni (who remembers this???). In short, I hate it. I HATE IT!!!! FML.

My haircut looks something like this-- only less cute. The fringe is shorter.

I'm just hoping in these 2 weeks leading up to my graduation my hair will have lengthened sufficiently for me to go fix it at MY salon, in time for my graduation ceremony on the evening of the 6th of May (so I won't be stuck with stupid hair on the day I'll be conferred my degree). If they can't fix it permanently, I want them to make it look temporarily elegant. Sigh. Why do I get myself into these silly predicaments?

Weapons of Mass Consumption

If people are products of their environment, then surely all of us are somewhat influenced by our consumerist culture.

So here's a link that might make you think twice about buying those new pair of shoes, or that shiny new laptop. Watch it! It's cute, informational (even if a little preachy), and ultimately, optimistic! Watch The Story of Stuff.

There is some truth to what this Annie's saying. I do think people are less happy today. After all, keeping up with them Joneses is kinda stressful. If I'm honest, the only path to my happiness is to have accomplished my goals and be worry-free. But you know...when you can't accomplish your goals, you sometimes look elsewhere for a temporary high. Shopping is that fix for me. No more. No more.

(Classics don't count right? Or vintage? It's RECYCLING!)

p/s: Brownie points for those who can identify where I paraphrased my title from!

Because I Love the Alphabet

Or perhaps because I am a sadist...Muahahaha! It's more likely though, that I am a masochist-- I've been working pretty much non-stop for 12 hours. Darn fever isn't helping. Also, my mum just fed me some very dubious beef. If I get a stomach ache because of that, I'm gonna be hella pissed! But enough of that. Here's how I'm distracting myself...(Read on if you, too, love the torture of going through a wall of words. Wooooordsssss!)

<sub>A
- Available: No

- Age: Almost 24. Darnit!

- Annoyance: Oh soooo many! Main pet peeve(s): people who love to argue in order to appear more intelligent, ignorant people who don't seek to be enlightened

- Allergies: shellfish, fur...

- Animal: Yes! Rowrrr! Oh. Favourite animal? I love so many tho! Ok, let's see, cats, horses (shetland ponies and arabians, yum!), snow leopards, panthers, tigers, dolphins, the Resplendent Quetzal

- Actor: Is this a unisex word now? I'm always so out of it. Female: Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Liz Taylor, Audrey Hepburn. Male: Daniel Craig, Heath Ledger, Jude Law, Clive Owen

B
- Beer: Nope.

- Birthday/Birthplace: 23rd April 1985, K.L

- Best Friends: My beta and future bonkbuddy. Yup. I said it.

- Body Part on opposite sex: Abs! Strong jawline! That V-shaped swimmer body! And maybe...muscular calves?

- Best feeling in the world: Feeling accomplished

- Blind or Deaf: Selective hearing

- Best weather: Tropical countries - torrential downpour (if you're inside the house); Seasonal climates - late spring/early summer

- Been in Love: Ya-hah

- Been bitched out?: Yep.

- Been on stage?: Yep.

- Believe in yourself?: HELLS YEAH!

- Believe in life on other planets: Yes. No. Maybe? Yes! I don't know...

- Believe in miracles: Would love to

- Believe in Magic: I want to

- Believe in God: Yes

- Believe in Satan: Yep

- Believe in Santa: No. Darn Santa never gave me presents anyway. *pouts*

- Believe in Ghosts/spirits: Yeah. Especially horny djinns impregnating female humans while they're sleeping. Creeepy...

- Believe in Evolution: They make a pretty compelling argument.

C
- Car: I'd have to say...Mini Cooper S.

- Candy: No! Chocolateeee!

- Colour: I love all colours! Current fave: Yellow!

- Cried in school: Yeah...

- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate of course!!

- Chinese/Mexican: Oh darn...I'd say Mexican, only coz I haven't had any in a while

- Cake or pie: Cake. Cake! Mmm...Did someone say BIRTHDAY???

- Countries to visit: Soooo maaaany! Current wanderlusts: Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo, some idyllic villages), India (Rajasthan), Italy, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Holland, US (New York!!!)

D
- Day or Night: Used to be nocturnal, but nowadays, I'm loving the sunlight :)

- Dream vehicle: Oooh oooh! The personal plane with foldable wings, or the Air Jelly (which they should TOTALLY make into cabs!)

- Danced: HELLS YEA!! Imma put my ballet shoes on when I arrive in NZ!

- Dance in the rain?: Lol, yea. But not as good as this guy!

- Dance in the middle of the street?: Danced, played, laid...childhood. Good times.

- Do the splits?: Yeah...not anymore tho...will work on it.

E
- Eggs: Yum! Scrambled, omelettes and bulls-eye

- Eyes: Dark brown

- Everyone has: a talent?

- Ever failed a class?: Never

F
- First crush: Hmmm...Prince Philip in Sleeping Beauty. He STILL makes my knees wobbly!

- Full name: Aiiihhh...Wan Noor Diyana Bt. Wan Mohammad Alam. Yeah. I have to write THAT in exams.

- First thoughts waking up: 5 more minutes...just....5 more..minutes...zzzzzzz

- Food: You can't ask this to Malaysians. Seriously. I HEART ALL.

G
- Greatest Fear: Failure

- Giver or taker: Taker...working on the giving. Really, I am.

- Goals: I'd rather keep this private. For now.

- Gum: Bubba Yum! Wait, was that what it's called?

- Get along with your parents?: Sure! Most days :D

- Good luck charms: None.

H
- Hair Colour: Dark brown/Black?

- Height: grrr...this question is height-ist.

- Happy: Delighted! Jubilant! Oh, this isn't 'find-the-synonyms'?

- Holidays: HAAARI RAAAAAYAAAAAA!!!! *sings Raya tunes*

- How do you want to die: Swiftly. Painlessly. Happily. Accomplished.

- Health freak?: Unfortunately, no...I'm trying to be more healthy tho! Promise!

- Hate: Physical, emotional or mental abuse. Human cruelty confounds me.

I
(In guys if you're a girl/In girls if you're a guy)
- Eye colour: Green...mmm...

- Hair Colour: Doesn't really matter. I have yet to see a guy who can pull off red hair tho.

- Height: Since I'm short, I'd prefer men to be *much* taller than me, but hey, life isn't a plan.

- Clothing Style: Stylishly disheveled or classically clean-cut

- Characteristics: Witty, intelligent, companionable, compassionate, reliable

- Ice Cream: Is this still about guys?? Em...I'm gonna say choc mint or...hokey pokey. Wait. I forgot that very Kiwi flavour. Hokey cokey? Darnit.

- Instrument: still not about guys right? Piano. Some guitar. Would love to try the violin.

J
- Jewelry: classic or statement pieces...oooh...*has magpie complex*

K
- Kids: Two? Three?

- Kickboxing or karate: I think my guy would like me to say karate...

- Keep a journal?: Nope. Tried (as in attempted, and failed).

L
- Longest Car Ride: 11 hours?

- Love: People in my social network :)

- Letter: I <3>M
- Milk flavour: Fresh milk. And chocolate.

- Movie: Oh nooo...soooo maaaany!!! Eternal Sunshine, Gattaca, Memento, Marie Antoinette, Juno, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, etc etc...

- Mooned anyone?: No. My life is incomplete.

- Marriage: December. And June ('10).

- Motion sickness?: Fortunately, not yet. Hopefully not ever.

- McD's or BK: BK

N
- Number of Siblings: 2

- Number of Piercings: 2

- Number: 1, 3, 9, 23

O
- Overused Phrases: Omg, lol, hi, dunno

- One wish: To be published. To finish a novel and have it not suck. Oh wait, is that two? Oops..

- One phobia: Roach-phobia *heebeejeebies*

P
- Place you'd like to live: So many! Italy, France or Spain...or a Greek island...

- Pepsi/Coke: Neither.

Q
- Quail: Bird

- Questionnaires: Question

R
- Reason to cry: It's too much to hold inside

- Reality T.V.: Guilty pleasure, esp. those game shows (Project Runway, Stylista, ANTM). Oh. And The Hills. Yea yea, I like it ok!

- Radio Station: Not really a radio person.

- Roll your tongue in a circle?: Had to practise it, but yes!

S
- Song: Too many! And it changes depending on mood/occasion

- Sushi: OMG, yummmm

- Skipped school: Fo sho (even got warning letter! I feel so...wild!)

- Slept outside: Camping counts?

- Seen a dead body?: Yes. Funerals. News.

- Smoked?: Once. To try.

- Skinny dipped?: Not yet...

- Shower daily?: Definitely.

- Sing well?: Probably not, but do I caaaaare?

- In the shower?: Sleep. Sing. Dance.

- Swear?: Only when I'm fucking pissed off.

- Stuffed Animals?: Nope. Does a stuffed rugby ball pillow count?

- Single/Group dates: Group dates are weird...aren't they? I'd rather PDA in front of friends. Hahaha!

- Strawberries/Blueberries: Oooh..never had fresh blueberries, so I'll say strawberries. Favourites are black cherries tho. Mmmm..

- Scientists need to invent: Ok. Scientists. You listing this down? 1) Time machine, 2) Wormhole pathway thingamabob, 3) Rayguns, 4) Cyborgs (that won't kill us), 5) the Fountain of Youth, 6) Faster-than-Light travel, 7)...

T
- Time for bed: when I have work: 11-12; when not working 3-4 am

- Thunderstorms: Loooove

- Touch your tongue to your nose?: No...

U
- Unpredictable: I suppose so...

- Under the influence?: Of Awesomenessss? Or my fever? Then I'd have to say yes. To both!

- Understanding?: Sometimes...

V
- Vegetable you hate: PEAS!! They're not even veges..they're like..green poop pellets.

- Vegetable you love: Lots! Including, but not limited to, carrots, spinach, pucuk paku, cauliflower, onions, tomatos (it's a vege!! and a fruit!!), chillis...

- Vacation spot: Places on my wanderlust list

W
- Weakness: Ice Queen-ness

- When you grow up: I hope to be contented and happy (jubilant! ebullient!)

- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: Em...none really...

- Who makes you laugh the most: My beta

- Worst feeling: Betrayal...being ostracised...failing...

- Wanted to be a model?: Yeah...is there a petite modelling agency somewhere? :P

- Where do we go when we die: I'm not sure. Our body returns to earth. And that's all I'm certain of.

- Worst weather: Rain in winter.

- Walk with a book on your head?: No...

X
- X-Rays: For medical examinations?

Y
-Year it is now: 2009

-Yellow: Bright and beautiful!

Z
- Zoo animal: Love 'em. Tho the ones here in Malaysia are a little scrawny...poor things...

- Zodiac sign: Chinese - Ox, Western - Taurus (double bulls yeah. No wonder I'm stubborn.)


Wowwww! I finished it! This was a good procrastination technique! Will be doing it again. Till next meme!
xoxo~</sub>