What invasion?

Did a back to back Body Pump and Body Combat "GX Invasion Night" theme classes. What was so special? Actually nothing la, except the instructors were all GXMs (Group Exercise Managers). Not the kinda theme classes where one has to dress up.

Surprisingly, I had all the energy in the world, sorta like a mini energizer bunny unleashed. I do back to back Pump/Combat on Saturdays and usually by the 2nd class, I already was dead tired, but that was not the case last nite. Not sure where all those energy came from, prolly from the roti canai I had earlier before class....ahaks. I don't usually make it a habit to eat an hour before class but I was attending 2 classes on a weeknite PLUS Adrienne was craving for naan anyway.

Tracks for Body Pump were mainly old tracks except for Shoulder Track, which was from the current release. Love Summer Rain for Chest Track. The class was full but not packed, just nice. Crowd was quiet, very typical, despite the instructors trying to pump it up for motivation. Saw a couple "not so newbies" carrying heavier than me for warmups. I should be ashamed but I chose not to be.

Tracks for Body Combat were also mostly old tracks. Was very happy that the warm up was Angels (BC25), hadn't done that in a while. Had an older guy standing next to me who was very confused in the class so he left, barely into mid class. Good for me cos I was less distracted. I was already distracted enough, what with other instructors snapping pictures of the on-stage instructors, both in Pump and Combat. How come they didn't snap pictures of us members??

It was interesting to see middle aged women dishing out cash to purchase Polar watches at the promo table in the gym. One lady spent RM533! I think out of so many promo booths the gym had in the past, this one sold like hotcakes. I would be tempted to get one too, if only those watches weren't so damn big for my skinny wrist.

I have officially been poked

I braved myself to visit an acupuncturist a week ago at Da Cheng Chinese Physician & Acupuncturist, Puchong Jaya. The sinsei (chinese physician) is a Taiwanese. After explaining to him the reason for my visit (cannot sleep well at nite), he proceeded to ask some questions and pressed certain parts of my body to assess pain. Since my problem was not a physical problem, the sinsei seemed to have slight difficulty assessing me. Ended up I required 3 needles..2 near my armpits and the other on my neck. All on the left side of my body. Needles used are new, rest assured. The sinsei opened them right in front of me. After inserting the needles, I was told to rest or sleep for 30 mins. Easier said than done, in my case.

I was prescribed some chinese medicine to be consumed for 3 days; in powder and capsule form. All in all, it cost me RM83; RM12 (for consultation), RM20 (for acupuncture), RM36 (6 powder packs) and RM15 (3 capsules). Very expensive, IMO. Next time will settle for one that do not require medication. Anyone who wishes to try out acupuncture must ensure that they go to a certified acupuncturist.

Can't really tell what is the effect of this on my insomnia. Sleep has improved though not smooth yet. Cheers!

Da Cheng Chinese Physician and Acupuncturist Sdn Bhd

159, Jalan Kenari 23A

Bandar Puchong Jaya

47100 Puchong Jaya

Tel: 8075 8579

The ban on yoga

Pics courtesy www.theyogainstructordiaries.com

I think that this ruling is ridiculous and I pity all those muslims who practice or teach yoga, either part time or as a profession. If I am a muslim, I would be extremely disappointed and pissed. However, since I am not, this ruling has no affect on me. As tempted as I am to join in to condemn this ruling, I realise that it is not for the me, a non muslim, to be so busybody in this matter. It will surely inadvertently lead to commenting on one's religion.

TARA 3 - And the Winner Is...

Managed to catch the last 5 minutes of TARA 3 Finale last nite. Saw Team Honkies and Team Pinoys digging sand. My Team Bolehland was nowhere to be found. Not only that, the ladies who were behind, were having their usual fun doing the Detour task. At that point, I knew Team Bolehland could not possibly be the winner. So, scrapped my intention to catch the repeat show at midnite. Both Honkies and Pinoys were neck in neck discovering the chest buried deep in the sand but Team Honkies managed to came in first to the pitstop where the other ousted teams were waiting for them.

Winners of TARA 3

Somehow, the final run to the pitstop (for all final 3 teams) didn't seem as happening as in previous TARA 2 where the contestants then were more spirited in their celebration of the winner and runners up.

The race started and ended in Bangkok. So predictable and boring. And yes, my early season prediction was right on the money. I had Sam & Vince as the winners and I was right! Woot! Overall, TARA 3 was alright but I like TARA 2 so much better.

When singing is not singing

When one is sleep deprived, one easily gets angry and feels irritated but worse still, one can easily gets a headache. I walked out of Giant Hypermarket yesterday with a headache, thanks in large part to the karaoke promoters who thought they could sell the products better by happily karaoke-ing their lungs out. No one could escape the out of tunes, out of notes screaming singing of the duo, who obviously gave themselves too much credit. I told myself to quickly grab the stuff I needed and get the hell out. I don't know what gives but I just couldn't find lemons anywhere. Not in Giant, not in Tesco.....just cannot find. Fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice....just cannot find. WTF!

At the checkout counter, I was approached by a credit card promoter who obviously was immune to the word NO. I can fully understand that he was just doing his job but when I replied NO with a thank you, not once, not twice, but THREE times, I really meant NO! That's your cue to get the hell out of my face,you silly man. Don't make me use the F word. Needless to say, my drive back home was full of silent cursings, mostly targeted at the traffic.

This morning I find myself having a headache still. Unbelievable.

Income Tax comes calling

I cleared my credit card payment last week..woot!....then I realised I actually overpaid. Silly...

Then, today I received a mail from the Income Tax telling me that I owe them money. Sigh.....

TARA 3 Countdown begins (Leg 10)

My Team Bolehland

This is a do or die leg for Team Kiasu, having came in last in the previous leg. Teams travelled to Bhaja Cave where the operation hours applied. After getting the clue, teams must now take the train and locate a statue of Mahatma Gandhi where some crucial info lies. It remains to be seen whether the teams know what they are looking for.

Team Bolehland were the first to arrived while the rest of the teams had difficulty locating the statue. They then made their way to Standard Chartered Bank where they have to key in the birth year of Gandhi to retrieve their clue. Though Team Bolehland took notes earlier, they realised that they had missed out the most crucial info. Luckily for them, the locals knew the answer. Team Honkies and Team Kiasu too asked for the locals help. Team Pinoys, on the other hand, failed 3 times and were penalised 10 mins.

Despite this, all 4 teams caught up at the airport on their way to their next destination, Muscat, Oman. My predictions on the next country was wrong again. Damn! I suck at predictions. Anyway, once in Muscat, teams had to drive themselves to Al Alam Palace, where the next clue required them to drive to Nizwah Fort. Teams ran round to locate the clue box, upon which, they must then go to Mutrah Souq where they faced their first Detour. Team Bolehland was first to arrive and settled for "Count It", in which they must count the numbers of dried limes in a sack. All 4 teams could not get it right the first time. A frustrated Team Pinoys alternated between this and the other task of matching the right picture to the right carpet, which ultimately cost them time. Again, despite this, all 4 teams caught up at Wadi Tanuf where they faced Roadblock. Crossing the canyon gap on a traverse.

Sam (Team Honkies) started off first but found himself physically exhausted halfway. Ida (Team Bolehland), on the other hand finished the task first with absolutely no problem. As if being beaten by a girl and getting zoomed past by Team Pinoys wasn't bad enuff,Team Honkies ended up taking the 4hours penalty because they failed to complete the task. But, for their consolation, they found out Team Kiasu too failed to complete the task. The self-proclaimed "Fuzzie don't do physical" elected to do the task instead of her more "fit but height phobia" partner. They came in last and were eliminated. Too bad, I really like them. Team Bolehland who ran a flawless race was crowned winner of Leg 10. Woot!

Memorable Quote of the Week - "Please make way for the old lady" - AD (Team Kiasu), referring to her achy body, as she got into a cab.

Next country Teams race in - Thailand.

Next team to be eliminated The Winner - I want Team Bolehland. I know I predicted S&V in the early season but having watched the mums' spirits & wits throughout the race, I favor them.

Why or why...

am I having difficulty sleeping and/or staying asleep for a good nite's rest every nite? WHY am I having dreams every nite?

TARA 3 - Countdown begins (Leg 8 & 9)

LEG 8

Missed last week's episode (Leg 8) and only managed to catch half of the repeat show 2 days ago. I was wrong in my prediction. The teams flew to Cochin, India instead of Cambodia. Missing flight connection caused Team Honkies and the siblings from Team Bolehland to fall behind the other teams. My other Team Bolehland, I&T, who were last in Leg 7, had lady luck on their side when they were ahead of all the other teams due to their efficient taxi driver and managed to finish their Roadblock and Detour tasks quickly. They had to arrive first at the pitspot to avoid a 30-minute penalty. However, Team Pinoys beat them to the pitspot, causing the moms to end up on the 3rd spot. Meanwhile, the siblings H&B were racing neck to neck with Team Honkies but ended up being eliminated instead...ahuhuhu.. IMO, they wasted too much time perfecting their Detour task....bleh!

LEG 9

4 teams remained. Who gets to go home? Teams travelled to Pune, India where they have to play a game of cricket with the locals. Team Bolehland of I&T surged ahead on subsequent tasks with a good taxi driver while Team Honkies, Team Kiasu & Team Pinoys got lost with theirs. However, I&T were slowed down by their rickshaw driver on their way to Equity Tower where they have to convince a passerby to tell a joke, which were judged by a panel of judges. Team Honkies did well and managed to surpass Team Bolehland. In the final Detour task, teams either crush & sell 40 glasses of sugarcane or navigate a cart loaded with pots to deliver 70 unbroken ones. Both not easy feats. However, Team Honkies, with their physical strength, again surged ahead and came in first at the pitstop. Team Bolehland really needs to step up their sense of URGENCY, if they want to be in the Top 3. This is the 2nd time back to back that they had lost their leads at the last second.

Meanwhile a frustrated Team Pinoys got lost with directions and fell behind. Woot! Before heading for the pitstop, teams encountered U-TURN, whereby a team which are U-Turned, will have to go back and complete the other Detour task. See.....this is just plain STUPID! Why place U-TURN just before a pitstop? Shouldn't it be earlier in the leg so that a team that was U-Turned at least have a possible chance to catch up, thus making it more exciting?? Hello...Producers!...Your creative team sucks! Team Bolehland intended to U-Turn Team Pinoys but realised they didn't have their picture with them. Shucks! A neck to neck race between Team Kiasu and Team Pinoys saw the latter U-Turning the former instead and causing them to be last in the pitstop.

So, now Team Pinoys have already exercised their YIELD AND U-TURN options....and I'm pretty sure this will only add on to existing tensions between them and the remaining teams. It will be interesting to watch.

Memorable Quote of the Week - Sorry, cannot remember anything memorable being said.

Next country Teams race in - I'm sticking to Cambodia (simply because it's closer to Thailand, the finishing country)

Next team to be eliminated - I'm tempted to say AD&F simply because of the 30-minutes penalty but if I&T can do it, so can Team Kiasu. Team Pinoys....OUT you go!

Exercising my brain

Bought this today at Popular Bookstore, IQ - Grow Your Mind. Such a cute title, almost like it's hinting to me to not just exercise my body but to include my brain as well.

It consists of 6 sections:
Section 1 - Word Power

Section 2 - Thinking Numerically

Section 3 - Visual

Section 4 - Memory

Section 5 - Personality

Section 6 - Advanced Logic

The exercises are a lot harder than I expected. An hour has passed by and I have only managed to answer 4 out of 12 questions. Still cracking my head solving the rest...still on page 2. This is bad....

I'm being mean today and I don't care

I guess it is strange when I consider someone I don't even know as my public enemy #1. I don't care though. I have my reasons. I was in Body Combat class this afternoon and the crowd was a little lesser than the usual Saturday crowd. Prolly due to Master Combat being absent. PLENTY of spaces in the studio. I repeat, PLENTY. I decided to stick to my comfort zone...ie. at the back of the studio.

Midway thru the start of the class, I realised someone standing behind me. Remember...I was already at the back of the studio..so the gap between me and that other person was real close. Oh no, not another joker, I thought. I turned and there she was...my arch rival...public enemy #1. Just when I thought I had seen the last of her, she reappeared!. I decided to stand pat even though I could move forward a little. Hell, I wasn't the one late to the class ok! I wasn't the one who was so blind to notice other available spaces. I stood firm, not giving out any of my space. I was very glad none of the members near me gave way either. Thank you ladies. Ya ya...I know I talked about tolerance earlier but today I didn't care. I wasn't gonna be nice today.

In Track 6, my enemy realised that there was no way she could do back kick in the space that she was in and moved to the empty space in front of me. Where was her brain earlier? After going thru 5 tracks, equivalent to approx 25-30 minutes of class, now onlyshe came to her senses?? Had she had remained at the back, I would have kicked her all over...with full force and without any guilt. So there!

Hiak!