Back in the loop

I've just realised that I haven't done much writing on here this year. So if you're still checking in hoping to see something new, you must probably feel a little out of the loop. Sorry!

I'm gonna update you right now. (I don't even know who this 'you' is. Probably that imaginary friend I have). This might get a little long and it'll definitely be wordy.

So this year I finished uni. I'm done. I have technically graduated! The graduation ceremony is only in April, though.

In terms of results, I didn't do as well as I had hoped for my thesis. I know where I went wrong though and I know it's from a lack of effort so I'm going to forgive myself for that. My CGPA is not as low as I thought so that's good. It's the minimum that I set for myself which is not exactly what I aimed for but it'll do.

Uni ended for me in August. Since then, I've been working. I got myself a part time job as a transcriber. I actually quite enjoy it. I get to work from home and I get to choose my work load. It's quite a good job to have while I spend time exploring my options.

What have I explored? I went for art classes for two months. I learned about drawing and sketching with pens and calligraphy brushes and I learned about proportions and lighting, which I was pretty bad at previously. Now I'm not as bad :) I did stop going though. The class was moving a little too slow for me and the lack of a structured lesson plan was not for me. I didn't like not moving progressively forward. It was dull. I do still enjoy painting and drawing. I just don't want to go for this particular class.

After that, I just focused more on knitting and crochet. I now have a sizable yarn collection. I've made a top for myself, a tank top for Nadiah, a scarf for my Simple Plan secret santa, one side of a sock, about 4 beanies, a small basket and many granny squares. I've been having a lot of fun with this. Right now I'm working on a tank top for mama and I'm going to start on a scarf for Malek.

There is one downside to all this knitting and crochet, though. I gave myself tendinitis. All that knitting and crocheting and typing for work started to take a toll on the tendon on my left wrist. I couldn't move my thumb for a week. It's better now. I've got myself a little laptop cushion to support my wrist and I've adjusted my knitting style so that I don't stretch my thumb too much. But it does still ache every morning. I'm doing the recommended wrist exercises whenever I remember to do it. Hopefully my wrist will start feeling better eventually.

What next? Oh yes, job hunting!

So I've been job hunting! I signed up for Jobstreet and to date, I've applied for a handful of jobs already. Today I got my first invite for an interview. I'm super nervous. I've never been to an interview before and I've never worked with complete strangers. I mean, this transcribing job is new too but I don't see them at all, I just work from home, complete connected online. Whereas a permanent job like this would be totally new territory. I'm stoked. I hope it goes well.

(It's not that I haven't been writing at all. I've just been writing a lot of really personal reflections so I never posted them here. I will make a point to write more on here though. I do miss it.)

Human Nature Can Sometimes Be Nauseating

Let's start with human nature. As I've said before (or have I?), it takes all kinds of people to make the world go round. However, certain types of people, in my humble and angered opinion, do not deserve to be part of this world. We are all part of this world, made by God to live in it, to grow, evolve and cherish everything in and around it. But some beings, sentient beings, with brains and the works, must have missed that part of humanity class. A couple of days ago I saw a cat. This particular cat is a regular part of our daily lives. It sleeps under the big crate in our veranda, it's dining table is our back alley and it is even historically connected to this house. It's mother was the cat that used to climb in stealthily through the windows at night, sleep in the hall and climb back out before any of us wake up.So let me ask you this, how could any normal human being do such a terrible thing to an innocent animal who is trying to survive just as we are. When I was outside, I saw that the right eye if the cat was blood red and pooping out (not hanging out just popping out as big as a marble form its sockets). The fur around its head and front body was wet and it was purring sadly. Some one had poured hot water on the cat. This cat who has done nothing but eat the scraps of the road behind our house, the cat who keeps the children occupied while you cook, the cat that has no fleas and such an adorable face, the cat who has harmed you in no way has suffered in you hands for absolutely no reason. I fail to see the logic in that. I understand that some people detest the feline presence but pouring scalding hot water over them to chase them away is not right. The most you should do is wave a broom at them and keep your door shut. How would you feel if I poured hot water on you when you come to visit me?

This cat has a life, just like you and I. We define 'surviving' as having financial stability, emotional stability, a happy family, a steady career and so on. Well, for an animal, 'surviving' means finding enough scraps to eat, finding shelter when it rains, reproducing to ensure the survival of their species. Their plight may seem as insignificant to us adults as a child's plight to colour in the lines. But it is not. Can you remember, that as a child, the most important thing in the world wasn't paying the loans on time or getting food for the kids, it was making sure we coloured in the lines and our teddy bears were well protected against any night time monsters? As a child, those were the biggest problems we faced. Not important to an adult but very much important to a child. Paying your share of the class funds was just as a big a commitment to a teen as paying the car loan is to an adult. Do you get me by now? What I'm trying to say is, every living creature be it human or animal is trying to survive in different ways that are important to each in a different way and it is our responsibility to help each other. Cruelty to animal has to stop. When will we realise that animals are alive too. They each have a central nervous system just like any human being and therefore are able to feel pain, as real to any human being.

I'm not saying I'm perfect. Far from it. I can't be a vegetarian even if wanted to. I like to eat meat and I haven't been able to explain my unusually strong feelings against animal cruelty and yet still be able to consume meat. I haven't worked that out yet but I do know this; Cruelty towards animals is just as bad as cruelty towards human beings. It has to stop.

Moving on from depressing matters, I have exciting news.Today, on the way to work, I was stopped by a policeman. Just as I turned into the highway, a police cruiser signalled me to stop by the side of the road. At first I panicked. What had I done wrong? I was within the speed limit, I had my seat belt on, I wasn't drinking, eating, or on the phone while driving. So what was it? I sat there listening to my heart beat a violent tattoo against my chest while the police officer got down form his car and headed towards mine. I rolled down the window and gave him a small, nervous smile. Has asked to see my licence and ID which I handed to him with fumbling hands. He crossed checked it, made sure the road tax was still valid and then said, "You look really small to be driving". I could have laughed out loud! So then, my nervous smile became calm and I released a sigh of relief. He asked where I was headed and I told him I was on my way to work. Then he repeated that I looked too small to be driving as he handed my back my licence and ID. He let me go and I drove of towards the 'Sun' thinking; 'Finally!'.

Ever since I obtained my driver's licence, I was hoping a policeman would stop me so I could show off that, according to Malaysian law, I am not only old enough but also competent enough to be a driver. One dream came true today!

Oh and, even after our little shopping spree on Saturday, I still want to buy more things!