Hazel Ceej

Sepia Saturday A message in my Outlook inbox on Friday directed Business Administration instructors to head over to the stadium. I thought it was just like having to watch state-run television to record credits for members of the cheer leading squad.  We did it a couple times in the past. But this week's activity turned out different.  At least to me. As I walked out the faculty office door, someone hollered, "it's a three-hour pageant!" Great. How much coursework is going to be wasted on this non-cur? Without anything I could do I idly took a snap of Snow White -- -- admired Goldilocks' curvaceous body, half expecting Little Red Riding Hood next. Where could my students be....  These are normal school pageant girls. We should all be worrying about swine flu. These contestants should wear masks. After all isn't walking around Bangkok wearing a mask now considered fashion? Cinderella... Thumbelina... Anastasia...  I vow

"I'd like to be a kid again but only because naps were insisted, twirling in circles was acceptable, and the only password I had to remember was open sesame." - Adan Burks True. It was unabashed fun posing with some childhood TV idols at Universal Studios. At first I was hesitant thinking I was too old, but reckoned what the heck. 'Today I will grin and giggle like that third grader with pigtails that I was, and be quietly thrilled as when I won that little multiplication contest in class. Period.' Touring Lion City was also officially starting a walking regimen. That's two at a time. Or three: exercising, touring, enjoying the sights. Though highly urban, the country girl in me had no complaints at a Lamborghini whisking by as we explored Marina Bay Sands. No deadlines, no meetings, no homework, just holiday bliss. Doing something unplanned and then finding out it feels wonderful should make it to my faves this week - Like walking b

There is something about finishing a book that I find lovely, in the case of a Maeve Binchy bestseller at least. It's like getting acquainted with the characters off the pages, and then saying goodbye to them in your head. As a university instructor I relate with this quote from Nights of Rain and Stars: "Teachers of every kind needed a chance to go out and talk to people of other countries, otherwise they could get caught up in the internal politics of their own university." "Internal politcs." Lord knows how tricky the thing is in my playground. It makes an upcoming trip seem opportune. Arranging the trip even turned out well. At the vice president's office to file a leave - VP: What's this, Hazel? Where are you going? Me: Out of town, boss. Give me three days. He approved it immediately, but then still holding the paper, asked: "CJ alright?" "Yes, boss. My little guy is doing fine." "No. I mean have you

Sepia Saturday    "Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity. " ~ George Carlin Photo Courtesy: LMCF This week's Sepia theme takes me back to those afternoons when I was putting together a research proposal (Re: Department of Media, Cognition and Communication, University of Copenhagen). The project focuses on integrative complexity (IC) defined as a measure of intellectual style used by individuals or groups in processing information, problem solving, and decision making . The IC construct is used to measure complexity levels of government leaders during periods of crises.   Cognitive studies in communication examine changes in leaders' IC levels, i.e. world leaders in the war against terrorism, Middles Eastern leaders during the 9/11 crisis, German parliamentarians on the Gulf War.  The theory is that IC complexity levels decline during conflicts and increase during resolutions of conflicts. A notable finding from a previous s

Life is full of promise There is so much it has to give, so much joy and wonder yet to be explored. You can always meet the challenge every single day you live, when you walk in faith together with the Lord Amanda Bradley's words cheered me up 15 summers ago. I was going through some tough time and a thoughtful friend gave this card to me. I kept it and never saw it again until recently while rummaging through my drawer in the office. Family over for lunch . Space is limited in my nook but I'm glad they came. Old family tales were retold. I rang overseas for Mama to join in some of the conversation. Ouch phone bill, but familiar voices are worth it. Book shopping makes me happy.  World Book's Young Scientist and The Questionary for CJ and a coffee table book for me. Pictures inside Mary Ford's Cake Decorating book are a stunning eye candy. A pretty little thing to wear to an occasion I do not yet know, is I think okay sometimes. I do l

~ Sepia Saturday ~ Does anyone remember those doilies? This doily is one of the oldest things we have at home; kept among pins, spools of thread, lace and other little old things around my mother's equally old Singer sewing machine. I needed to take a photo of my recent bookstore loot with Lady Anastasia before I was to fly back to Thailand. Something was necessary between her ceramic ladyship and Mama's glass table to prevent clashes or scratches. This doily served that purpose perfectly. ae Nak, a native of Phra Khanong, marries the handsome Mak. When war breaks out, Mak is conscripted for military service and leaves his pregnant wife behind. In the war, Mak is severely wounded. Meanwhile, Mae Nak dies during childbirth with her unborn child and is buried by the neighbors. This is unusual as Buddhist custom calls for the cremation of their dead. When Mak recovers from his injuries, he returns home to an emotional reunion with his loving wife and

I doubt whether the world holds for anyone a more soul stirring surprise than the first adventure with ice-cream . ~ Heywood Broun I don't think this is the kiddo's first ice cream. But I remember I bought this for him because its blue color was very attractive and I thought it would match his blue shirt and blue watch. It would also please his Grandma whose favorite color is blue. The other reason was he wanted to stay in the mall to check out the latest Ultraman dolls. I wanted to go home so I bribed him with ice cream. History repeats itself . When I was little my father would buy me ice cream and I would forget that I wanted something else which I knew he didn't want to give. When a massive coronary felled him, I made sure there were loads of ice cream on top of a catered lunch I hosted for approximately 300 family and friends. The sweet, cold, creamy dessert must have worked wonders on the sombre mood. At the reception hall I heard this exchange b