Winter wonderland...

Just reached home... had to slowly trudged through the icy walkways, pavements and road to my car. Warmed up car, scrapped ice crystals off and drove home. Again, had to slowly waddle my way through icy pavements to my door step... arrived home safely. My weatherbug's been chirping.. and here's what it has to say...

Now through 07:00 PM EST December 15, 2005
The short term forecast for western New York. A mixed bag of precipitation will continue across the region into the evening hours. You may experience freezing rain, sleet, snow, and or rain, or a mix thereof. The precipitation may even change back and forth from one form to another. Snowfall at times may reduce visibility to 1/2 of a mile or less. Southerly winds of 15 to 25 mph, may cause some of the ice laden branches and wires to come down, so be on the alert. Any untreated surfaces are likely to be very slippery, so use extreme caution if you are out and about this evening and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Tonight
Freezing rain and sleet this evening changing to all snow after 8pm. Snow and sleet accumulation 3 to 5 inches. Not as cold with lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph...becoming south 10 mph or less.

* * * * *

I'm not complaining here am I?!? Just stating the facts for you curios ones on what it's like living here in the northeast. I love the snow... really I do... just not the wind chill or ice. Other than that... grab those skiis & snowboarding boards and let's hit the slopes!!

Current updates...

One more paper to complete... chilly winds... icy roads... airport taxi service I shall be, Christmas cards to send out... just officially started Christmas shopping - rather late this year, yikes! :P This time of the year... I am constantly running from place to place... running errands and trying to remember what else that needs to be done. All I need now is a big looong break!! And it is coming up soon!! Thank goodness... Happy shopping everyone, have a wonderful break and season's greetings!!

p/s: I have pictures from last week's snow snovelling sessions, Christmas Jingle Jangle Jam and friends over at our place! Will be posted in due time... :D

Last week of classes....

I am officially done with classes!! Attended my last class for the semester last evening. Two and 1/2 presentations - over with... one paper due later today. Final big presentation... tomorrow morning. Three other final papers... due next week!

Library, carrels and cybrary work stations - current friend in need!! Typing away I am...

After tomorrow's presentation... I can at least have a bit of a breathing room.. will take a mini/short break and start writing again... *sigh... the life of a grad student in the final weeks of the semester!

Austen Classic...

Was in school over the entire weekend preparing for presentations this week... but I managed to tag along Chele & Sharon for a 10:00 p.m. showing of Pride & Prejudice.

This has got to be one of my favorite version of this Jane Austen classic. Number one on my list is still the Pride and Prejudice mini series (1995)starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Matthew MacFayden played Mr. Darcy's role very well... although the consensus among us girls was that his physical traits - not as dashing as Colin Firth - it has to grow on you. Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett - delightful.

Mindi's day...

Happy Birthday "mama" Mindi!~!~

We miss you lots.... hope all is well with you and Andy in Okinawa.
lotsa love,
Sher & Pete

Christmas lights a cRaZy!~

Nancy sent this to me earlier...
"Too Cool!", she said. "Can we do this to our house?" EErr... I am so not volunteering to put up all the lights... check the video clip out!! :oP
*make sure you STOP the music on the blog first to get the full effect!!

In the news...

Got volunteered and did an interview the week before Thanksgiving break for Buffalo's Business First newpapers. They were doing a write-up on UB's ranking in the US with regards to international student enrollment. I thought the interview process was over when I hung up the phone interview, but they wanted pictures! Ick!! Managed to coaxed my dearest friends to get in the picture with me.

Thanks Mary, Philipp, Young Sang & Wojtek!!

Read on... (click on picture to make it bigger)

Happy Eatings pictures...

Here are the pictures from Pete's birthday and Thanksgiving....

Pete with his bright M&Ms ice cream cake...

Sharon & Chele... Nancy & Kozy with our main entrée... turkey-lurkey

Who's at the dinner table?? From left: Philipp, Wnyz, Sherene, Kozy, Michele, Sharon, Han Wei and Grandma Gauger... Philipp getting chummy with Pinky-Flamingo!~

Then, there's Pete and Sher... glad he caught me at the bottom of the staircase! *Phew... Nancy & Han Wei doing the D.D.R. - let the dance-off begin!!

Chele & Nancy.... The girls and Wnyx...

Gingerbread-house decorating.... we ate a lot of the decorations!!

Han Wei and Philipp tubing on the little slope around the backyard...

Holiday shopping...

The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day ever in the US and the official start day of Christmas shopping and sales. Also known as Black Friday (I have no idea what the logic or history behind the term!), the stores open as early as 5:00 a.m. for a mad rush of people - kiasu bargain hunters to get their hands on anything that has been tagged as a SALE item.

I never ever made it out for Black Friday morning - the day after Thanksgiving for me is the day to relax after a previous day of full cooking, Macy's parade watching and eating. On Black Fridays, I usually have the tv channel turned on to college football games - Longhorns vs. Aggies. Longhorns win ofcourse!!:P !

This year was an exception, I actually woke the gang up at 6:00 a.m., and we all managed to get out of the door by 7.20 a.m. where the sales have already been busy in progress. Philipp wanted to get a couple of electronic stuff and we all decided to go see what the big fuss on shopping was. I guess lucky for me and Michele, we both got each other Christmas presents. So, cross her out of my shopping list! Everyone got a bit of shopping done - though there were some extreme shoppers trying to redeem their $10 coupon from selected stores before it ends at noon. They were making a bit of a ruckus at the cashier and Peter and I were next in line. People and holiday shopping craze!~

Thanksgiving break...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving... we had 23 people this year at thanksgiving lunch/dinner (we started early :P)

It was great to see all of Pete's cousins, aunts and uncle together will all our friends around the dinner tables.

Haven't yet uploaded all the pictures from Sharon's camera.. gotta go chase her down! *wink...

Happy Birthday Love...

It's a special day today, it's lovey's birthday...

Wished I could have been to see you earlier like you want me to but..

you will get to see me and the gang in a couple of hours!

Happy Birthday Pete!~!~

Love you lots!!!

XoXoX

Matt's Day...

Happy Birthday Matt!!

Many happy returns of the day and we miss you so much!!

Can't wait 'till you are home for Christmas!

XoXoX

Oh, Canada...

University of Toronto... Katia and the color wheel...


Philipp, Katia, Sher & Carl - Canadian Falls...


Philipp & Sher... Falls at Night...

Shaq in Toronto...

Saturday night, downtown Toronto - entertainment district... club Vegas on Richmond and Duncan - saw Shaquille O'Neal. More updates to come...

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Right before Thanksgiving break... snow showers, movie #4 - Goblet of Fire, 2 hours and 30 minutes run time... enough said!

In the library...

It's 5:00 p.m. on a rainy Tuesday, I'm in the library and have been trying to read this article for class tonight. I'm stuck on the third page and after the fourth attempt of re-reading... I give up and decided to write a posting :P

Almost the end of yet another semester, which can only mean one thing... final research papers and presentation. Not looking forward to any of them!! Just checked the student calendar and last day of classes is December 9th.. that's like less than a month away. Talk about crunch time!!

I looked to my right and there sits Yan, on the next computer with her thinking cap on - typing away. She must know what our class readings are all about. She is definitely more ready for tonight's class than I am. La di da di da.... better get back to my readings. Two hours till class begins... 2 hours and 40 minutes till class is over... 15 minutes till I reach home... can't wait!!

Sabres game...

Just got some pictures from Boris from last week's Sabres game.. unfortunately, they lost to the Canadiens 2-1. Allez allez Canadiens!~!
-

Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens at HSBC Arena.


Sher, Wojtek and Louis at the game...

Traeasures in the basement...

I was down in the basement looking through some of my yet-to-go-through boxes - things treasures that I accumulated over the years. In particular, I was looking for my secret stash of black pilot gel-pens. Found the pens... in addition to that, I also found some other sentimental keep-sakes from living away from home (Penang & Buffalo) and travels.

I found this cassette which Minah and I tracked down and purchased back when we were living in Hawaii. Many of the local radio stations and in particular, KRTR (Krater)-FM constantly played this catchy Hawaiian reggae tune which Minah and I was hooked on. Funny thing was that we had no idea who sang it and what the title of the track was. All we knew was the chorus line which we managed to sing it to the music cd/cassette seller on Dukes Lane by Waikiki. Our singing pulled through and we got the song we wanted - This Good Thing by Reality. Check them out!

Raya wishes...

Wishing all my Muslim friends back in Malaysia and abroad a Selamat Hari Raya!~!

Salam Aidilfitri!

Celebration of Lights...

Wishing all my Indian friends back home and around the world a Happy Deepavali!~