Rumour has it, the weather was really hot and stifling the day I was born. Go figure, it was August. Summer weather. Temperature in the high 30's (Degrees Celsius, people, not Fahrenheit). When it came to naming me, my parents had a spot of trouble. Chinese name, no problem! My grandpa had it all set up. But Christian name? Uh-oh! Nothing in the lists! At last, after much deliberation, the folks settled on a variation of Catherine. That's a saint, by the way. Means "pure". I still laugh over it until today. Why? Because my buddies can tell you - I am the exact opposite of pure. Still, it's a nice name. Bit pretentious, but nice, nonetheless. So, hence I was christened, and then brought to a Catholic Church to be baptised. And yes, I am a Catholic. Proud of it. True, I don't always follow true to its teachings, but I am a Catholic. Well, technically, I'm what people call a "non-denominational Christian" (NDC). But I'll stick with Catholic. Easier than to explain why I'm a NDC. MUCH easier. So anyway, I was baptised exactly one month after I was born. At age nine, I took my first Holy Communion, St Ignatius Church, batch of 1994. Then, seven years later, I was confirmed as a practising Roman Catholic. Same church, same batch, different year, of course. In addition to having another godmother (I love you, Auntie Flo! *muacks*), I also received a middle name (original - no one else has it! *smug grin*). Now, I stand at barely five feet tall and possess a weight that yo-yos like a roller coaster. I'm 3 weeks shy of legalising my participation in local politics, though the day I hit the big 2-1 is the day I plan to thoroughly get wasted. I'm a second-year Communications major in Monash University, Malaysian campus, and rounded up my first year with a Distinction average. Man, am I a geek or what? Anyway, I'm done with my stint at the bookshop. As of 19th February 2006, I was a free agent again. However, as of 19th February 2006, I also officially became a freelance writer. I was given my first writing assignment from the editor-in-chief of a legitimate children's magazine, to review children's books, and - to my knowledge - it has been published. Kudos to me. ^_^ Love ya, Karen! *hugs* You gave me the opportunity of a lifetime! It's going to help sooooooo much when I apply for journalistic jobs in the future. * ~ * I enjoy literature of all varieties, any kind of art, movies that don't suck, television series that aren't lame and music that doesn't deafen me. I have a Grade A certificate in the Art of Eating, but sadly I have a Grade D certificate in the Art of Cooking. I unfailingly score distinctions in Sleeping 101, though my results tend to fluctuate in Creative Dreaming. When it comes to Whimsical Imagination, however, I pride myself in holding a steady place on the Dean's List, and I rank high in the honour roll for Absolute Randomness. I idolise James Blunt, Josh Groban, The Killers and Greenday. I fantasise about Hugh Jackman, Tom Felton, Seth Green, Sean Biggerstaff, Rodrigo Santuro, James Denton and all four singers of Il Divo. It shames me to say this, but I also harbour a crush on Daniel Radcliffe, Skandar Keynes - and Freddie Highmore is just so cute, it's hard NOT to like him. I'm a regular follower of Desperate Housewives, CSI: NY and House, and Dead Poets' Society remains, until today, the BEST - MOVIE - EVER in my book. And I'm a self-proclaimed supporter of animal rights, environmentalist movements, women's liberation front, liberalism in society and politics, and Harry Potter for Triwizard Tournament Champion. *huge grin* I collect stuffed animals, DVD's, books - and the dust that goes with it. I have a deep fondness for cute and cuddly animals, fresh flowers, the weather just before it's about to storm, rainy days, the Internet on a broadband connection, a comfy pair of jeans, T-shirts with weird sayings, funky and unusual silver rings, long and dangly earrings, a good argument and an intelligent debate. I'm also an amateur writer and an apprentice graphic designer, but here's hoping that with practice, I can promote myself to professional and master respectively. * ~ * The general consensus on me is that I'm sarcastic and cynical, with a dark sense of humour, a warped view of reality and in possession of a highly pessimistic opinion on life. A fair few tend to view me as temperamental and complicated, with a tendency to veer rapidly between the downright practical to the overly unrealistic. However, there are the occasional eternal optimists who adamantly believe that once you know which button to set me off, I can be as chatty and perky and wired as a head cheerleader on Ecstasy. God bless their lovable, but greatly disillusioned hearts. The truth is, none of them are really off the tangent. They're right and they're wrong. I'm all of that and a little more; simultaneously, I'm also none of that and everything less. Confused? Yeah, me too. If the authorities had their way, they'd be checking me into a mental institution for combination insanity and schizophrenia. *snickers* One thing that can be certain, though - I dislike people who try to fob their opinion on others, and force them to think the way they do. Word of the wise - don't ever try it on me. It's annoying, ridiculous and a baby step towards becoming a dictator. And frankly, I don't like dictators. I'm not a total racist, sexist or bigot, and I consider myself fairly open-minded, but I'll admit that I have certain prejudices. And dictatorship is among them. * ~ * A few of the (many) other things I don't like, falling under the category of safe and general, would include: advanced science subjects, certain types of food, shopping for clothes and shoes, the WWE, Malaysian drivers, lack of sleep, my dad's taste in music, not having the Internet, Malaysian movie and TV censorship, and studying (although that is unfortunately an unavoidable issue). Smoking irritates me, drug addiction disgusts me, murder disturbs me, rape saddens me, death of loved ones sends me into spasms of long-term depression and animal cruelty infuriates me. I have a particular loathing for corrupt politics, unaccounted prejudices, deep-set bigotry, human inequality and basic human rights restrainment. So there you have it, the lowdown - or something to that event - on my life. Scrape off the surface meanness, and what you wind up with is pretty much your average weirded-out-teenager-growing-into-not-so-mature-yet-adult. Welcome to my world. You - have - been - warned. * ~ * ** Blogging Buddies **
of Juha Harju. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Graphics by: Deanna
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Sunday, August 20, 2006
And I thought we were lenient ... Mood: Pensive ... Music: "Have a Nice Day" - by Bon Jovi Spent lots of money today. And on manga, no less! Seriously ... cannot give me a paycheck! I'll spend it all within a week! But to be fair - it was Detective Conan! And I lurvvvvvvvve the adorable chibi-Shinichi to bits! And I've never once missed a single volume! And it was on sale. =P So ... with the gushing on bishi manga guys aside ... Went to SIC today for evening Mass. First time in seriously God knows how long since I last stepped inside. Sure ... passed by plenty. Sat outside ... plenty. Just didn't step in. I don't like SIC anymore. So many reasons why there's just nothing inside my heart that connects me back to (ironically) the church I grew up in. Some obvious. Some not so obvious. But I can get into that another day. So anyway, apart from the fact that SIC's change A LOT since I last took a good look at it, Mass was pretty much same ol same ol. The usual liturgy, eucharist, thanksgiving ... Don't have to go through the whole process now, do I? Surprisingly good sermon, though. Usually priests - *ahemahemOCLimahem* - like to talk a lot. Spend at least 20-odd minutes digressing on a single point and very often not even making sense in the process. Which, of course, results in me getting the pants bored off me. Yes. I don't like sermons. Add that to the loooooooooooooong list of things I already don't like. But today's was good. The priest - dammit, didn't get a name! - was short, sweet and to the point. Bless him. And he was funny, too. Don't get too many funny priests nowadays, 'cept maybe Rev. Simon Yong. Who, in a scarrrrrrrrrry way, reminds me of Dr Tang. *shudddddders* But I digress too. Damn it. So. Short, funny and meaningful sermon. Just the way it should be. Made me want to stand up and yell out, "BRAVO!" 'Course I didn't. There's only so much humiliation old fogey like me can take. The thing that made me write this entry, though? It was time for Communion. And as usual, the lector was going on about how the Eucharist was a cherished moment, yada yada yada. Then - THEN - she says: "Please be reminded that Holy Communion is only for Baptised and Practising Catholics who are prepared." ..... Dude! They added another prerequisite for Communion now?!!! It's just so sad to see how they're limiting Communion. I thought that when Jesus meant for His Body and Blood to be for everyone. And not just a limited few. The elitist class - high culture, as Ann (who's so influenced by Yeoh's class it's scary!) might put it. Seriously ... what's going on?! First Communion was limited to baptised Catholics. Fine, fair enough. Then, when they decided that wasn't enough, they changed it to baptised AND practising Catholics. Practising ... just what exactly is THAT supposed to mean? No, you Catholics who visit here ... don't answer that. I know what it means. It was just a rheotorical question. So fine. 2 prerequisites ... what else do they need? Oh yeah I forgot ... a third one. Du-oh! So now apparently it's baptised, practising AND prepared. Wow ... what next? Baptised, practising, prepared AND sin-free (i.e. just went for Confession)? Soon there'll be more - baptised, practising, prepared, sin-free and celibate. Baptised, practising, prepared, sin-free, celibate and boring. Baptised, practising, prepared, sin-free, celibate, boring and lifeless. My gawd ... the list goes on and on and on ... Yes, I'm mocking my religion. I'm mocking the fact that there are conditions to receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I'm mocking the fact that before Communion, I have to go through a whole spiritual interrogation first. And I'm mocking the fact that THE CHURCH IS BECOMING ELITIST! What happened to welcoming people with open arms? Someone forget that part? What about we're all brothers and sisters in Christ? Someone deleted that little bit without me knowing? Geez ... and they say the Protestants are bad ... *sighs heavily* Never mind me. I'm just being thoroughly pissed off. As always. Laterz! ~ Kat ~ Quote of the Day:
"Everyone ought to worship God according to his own inclinations, and not to be constrained by force." ~ Flavius Josephus (37 AD to 100 AD) ~ Posted at 10:16 pm by kat_tan
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