I also changed the template for the blog after using the last one for many years, I just revisited the blog this morning and realise that the width and border of the blog are all out of place. I dont really bother to customize it like the previous one and just adopt the nicest template blogger can provide me at the moment. :)
Friday, December 07, 2012
It's December.. I'm back...
I realised the past few posts were all made in December, when I get really bored inspired during the hols. Anyway, I'm back again. This may be my one and only post for this year but nevertheless, I'll just write something as I'm in the mood right now. This is the first day I'm in the Philippines (yesterday was just taking the flight and exploring K's place) so I'm thinking of recording the stuff I'll see around here. Therefore you see, last year I had a motivational blog in mind and this year I intend to transform it into a travel journal. We'll see if that will happen..
I also changed the template for the blog after using the last one for many years, I just revisited the blog this morning and realise that the width and border of the blog are all out of place. I dont really bother to customize it like the previous one and just adopt the nicest template blogger can provide me at the moment. :)
I also changed the template for the blog after using the last one for many years, I just revisited the blog this morning and realise that the width and border of the blog are all out of place. I dont really bother to customize it like the previous one and just adopt the nicest template blogger can provide me at the moment. :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Oh my goodness
Blogging is kind of outdated I guess and I've not been here for two years at least. Obviously I'm not 20-something anymore as this blog was created ten years ago, nevertheless its still my personal space and record of my past doings. I'm back again as I saw some interesting articles which I wish to keep and use as reminders for myself, so I'll just dump them into this space. :)
1.Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2.Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3.Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4.Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5.Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6.Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7.Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8.Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9.Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10.Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11.Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12.Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13.Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14.Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15.Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16.Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17.Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18.Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19.Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20.Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21.Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22.Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23.Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
24.Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25.Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26.Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27.Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
28.Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29.Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30.Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.
Everything came from this superb blog.
1.Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2.Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3.Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4.Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5.Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6.Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7.Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8.Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9.Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10.Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11.Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12.Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13.Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14.Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15.Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16.Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17.Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18.Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19.Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20.Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21.Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22.Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23.Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
24.Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25.Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26.Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27.Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
28.Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29.Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30.Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.
Everything came from this superb blog.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Inspirations
Anyway, after having some inspiration for blogging in the middle of the night, I created the previous post. But I guess I'm still not done yet.
I could have left the post on its own, but after reading through my blog, most of my posts were accompanied by a picture, so I took some time to choose a suitable theme to accompany my last post. Initially, I wanted to find a photo of the sunset as the title of my blog was "End of 2009". However, I decided to post a photo of the sunrise instead (even though to some people it look the same). Why not make it as a new starting point instead of a ending point?
I could have left the post on its own, but after reading through my blog, most of my posts were accompanied by a picture, so I took some time to choose a suitable theme to accompany my last post. Initially, I wanted to find a photo of the sunset as the title of my blog was "End of 2009". However, I decided to post a photo of the sunrise instead (even though to some people it look the same). Why not make it as a new starting point instead of a ending point?
The end of 2009
I'm so used to sleeping late, I can't fall asleep at this time and its 3.30am! I don't know what inspired me to blog after leaving this space in dust for more than 2 years. Anyway, I'm in the midst of the Dec hols 2009. Time flew so fast during the precious hols and its another two more weeks or less before we're due to report back to school. I didn't travel that much this hols (although I went on a trip to Bangkok with the kids), I feel that I'm having some time on hand for myself after completing a module for the Masters course.
The course was interesting, it taught us about what we're lacking as creative individuals. I had always known that I'm not artistic or creative, I lack the creative juices to do anything spontaneous. I wish for a change. This sort of change is not just doing something creative or fun but I feel that I need to do something different for myself after staying stagnant at my current stage all these years.
The course helped me in making the elements of my weaknesses clearer for myself. For e.g, I'm too agreeable to things, I'm too lazy to take the initiative even when I had good ideas. What's good about myself? I'm quite opened to new experiences even though I might be too lazy to work on things after the initial stage. I like new experiences to a certain extent, as long as its within my comfort zone.
After the course had ended, we're expected to write an essay about how we wish to make changes for ourselves to become creative individuals. And of course with the industrious side of me lacking, I haven't really started on the essay. As I'm brain-storming, I've started to pick up some invisible whip and reminded myself to be more PROACTIVE in life. I'm hoping that 2010 will be something different for me. I guess I don't even mind if its a turning point for my life.
Friday, January 12, 2007
2007 so far..
Woah.. its been a month since I've last blogged! Was busy with a few things, namely:-
-Went on the trip as mentioned in previous posts (hopefully can put up some pics soon)
-Slacked around after I was back, enjoyed Xmas with the gang and more slacking
-Went back to school for CCA, and a staff retreat at P.Ubin
-Spent New Year's Day with severe school-reopen-blues!!
And thus far, it's Week 2 of term 1, and I've been busy, busy, busy in school. Some updates about my school year.. Despite anticipation of being a floating (half AM half PM) staff, I was finally slotted into the morning session. Now I know, last year was a real honey-moon year(how I miss those days)!! I'm now adapting to a new department, new CCA and first time experience as a form teacher of a P5 class.
Frankly speaking, I was quite stressed when school was about to start, as there was quite a bit of last minute deployment and I really felt the burden of the workload. It was the first time in many many years when I spent the New Year's eve and day itself at home!
Anyway, mum had went off with my elder sister to visit younger sis at San Francisco. Due to time and financial constraints, I couldn't join them for our yearly family trip. Saw some pics of my family having fun on sis's friendster, hopefully I can join them the next hols..
Seems so fun..
Meanwhile, I've spent a lot of 'home alone' time during the past one month, and even started to clean up the house at times when I felt that it's getting too messy/unkempt. Before the school days started, I was too lazy to go out for meals and had many many cup noodles for my lunch/dinner. It was quite unhealthy. But mum should be back in a few days' time.. Yeah! Finally I'll have hot dinner waiting for me at home after work. *smile*
-Went on the trip as mentioned in previous posts (hopefully can put up some pics soon)
-Slacked around after I was back, enjoyed Xmas with the gang and more slacking
-Went back to school for CCA, and a staff retreat at P.Ubin
-Spent New Year's Day with severe school-reopen-blues!!
And thus far, it's Week 2 of term 1, and I've been busy, busy, busy in school. Some updates about my school year.. Despite anticipation of being a floating (half AM half PM) staff, I was finally slotted into the morning session. Now I know, last year was a real honey-moon year(how I miss those days)!! I'm now adapting to a new department, new CCA and first time experience as a form teacher of a P5 class.
Frankly speaking, I was quite stressed when school was about to start, as there was quite a bit of last minute deployment and I really felt the burden of the workload. It was the first time in many many years when I spent the New Year's eve and day itself at home!
Anyway, mum had went off with my elder sister to visit younger sis at San Francisco. Due to time and financial constraints, I couldn't join them for our yearly family trip. Saw some pics of my family having fun on sis's friendster, hopefully I can join them the next hols..
Seems so fun..
Meanwhile, I've spent a lot of 'home alone' time during the past one month, and even started to clean up the house at times when I felt that it's getting too messy/unkempt. Before the school days started, I was too lazy to go out for meals and had many many cup noodles for my lunch/dinner. It was quite unhealthy. But mum should be back in a few days' time.. Yeah! Finally I'll have hot dinner waiting for me at home after work. *smile*
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Why no pics?
I always try to put in some pictures for my blog entries, as many pple prefer to read blogs that have lots of pics and photos. After scrolling down my blog, I realised that I haven't posted any of my own photos this year.
What happened? First of all, I've taken very few photos this year, even though I've been to places like China, Bali and even Batam (yeah, your eyes are not playing tricks), but I was just quite tired of snapping photos everywhere I go. It might be a good thing though, all of you are getting less nightmares? =D
Anyway, my Panasonic Lumix FX-1 is no longer with me, so without a camera means lesser chance of taking photos too. Three months back, my baby sister decided to migrate to the US to join her bf there, and as a very very nice older sister, I passed some of my unwanted (zen micro mp3 player) and not-so-unwanted stuff (camera) to her.
Upon reaching there, she had had her ROM 1.5 months ago, on the same day as my colleague PL. As she always been the baby of the family, I still find it very amusing that she's already married, even when we received her wedding photos. Just want to wish both couples a very blissful marriage here. =)
I went through some of the old photos and found this one taken when we went Perth two years back, many people feel that we are more alike in terms of looks, as compared to my elder sis.
Anyway, for memory sake, I still feel that I'll need a camera for all those scenery and group photos when I'm in Perth. Therefore, I went to my elder sister.
"Eh, jie.. can lend me your camera? I'm going to Australia."
"Huh? Cannot, I'm flying to London."
"You've been to these places so many times still need to take photos?"
"......"
Even though she boh-chup me after that, I didn't give up. I've decided to use the most well-practiced and effective method.
"Mum? I'm going to Australia but jie don't want to lend me her camera!!"
The next day, after I reached home, my elder sis was already gone but I saw her camera left on my desk. Hehehe.. evil? Sometimes, complaining to the authority does helps.
What happened? First of all, I've taken very few photos this year, even though I've been to places like China, Bali and even Batam (yeah, your eyes are not playing tricks), but I was just quite tired of snapping photos everywhere I go. It might be a good thing though, all of you are getting less nightmares? =D
Anyway, my Panasonic Lumix FX-1 is no longer with me, so without a camera means lesser chance of taking photos too. Three months back, my baby sister decided to migrate to the US to join her bf there, and as a very very nice older sister, I passed some of my unwanted (zen micro mp3 player) and not-so-unwanted stuff (camera) to her.
Upon reaching there, she had had her ROM 1.5 months ago, on the same day as my colleague PL. As she always been the baby of the family, I still find it very amusing that she's already married, even when we received her wedding photos. Just want to wish both couples a very blissful marriage here. =)
I went through some of the old photos and found this one taken when we went Perth two years back, many people feel that we are more alike in terms of looks, as compared to my elder sis.
Anyway, for memory sake, I still feel that I'll need a camera for all those scenery and group photos when I'm in Perth. Therefore, I went to my elder sister.
"Eh, jie.. can lend me your camera? I'm going to Australia."
"Huh? Cannot, I'm flying to London."
"You've been to these places so many times still need to take photos?"
"......"
Even though she boh-chup me after that, I didn't give up. I've decided to use the most well-practiced and effective method.
"Mum? I'm going to Australia but jie don't want to lend me her camera!!"
The next day, after I reached home, my elder sis was already gone but I saw her camera left on my desk. Hehehe.. evil? Sometimes, complaining to the authority does helps.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Just when the hols finally started..
Ah Choo!!! I'm down with flu. Sad huh? I'm hoping to fully recover before I depart for my trip, as it's really terrible to be sick when I'm overseas. I'll feel too sleepy and sickly to enjoy it.
Many of my colleagues had been taking turns to fall sick eversince we started to clear out our mess of papers and books last week, it was super dusty and we were in the air-con staff room doing paperwork most of the times. The virus is super powerful and I thought I'm quite strong as I was feeling quite alright despite sleeping so little everyday (just can't get used to early morning hours).
It started with a bit of headache yesterday, after I rushed back from my medical screening to take a nap. I then decided to give my colleague's wedding dinner a miss as I was too tired to get up. This morning I started to feel a bit of soreness in my throat, so I went to school to get my supplies of lozenges and anti-swelling medicine. I always keep my own stock of all these things as I'm very wary of getting sick with sore throat (just see the picture above, so kiasu right? =P). Then I just kept sneezing and sneezing the whole day..
I came back home feeling so sick and went to sleep right after drinking the chinese herbal tea mum made for me. While I was sleeping, she went out to get the panadol cold relief tablets and sachets of hot remedy for me. So I'm fully armed to combat the flu if it doesn't get any better!