Walio's The Frog Pond Cafe

Located at 1601 Providence Ave., Chester, PA.
Just found out that they demolished this joint! A place I associated with this song:
Mary Hopkin's Those Were The Days My Friends

Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours,
Think of all the great things we would do
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
La La La La La La

Then, the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If, by chance, I'd see you in the tavern,
We'd smile at one another and we'd say
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La La La La La La

Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me?
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La La La La La La

Through the door, there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
La La La La La
La La La La La La

The Starry Night

The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh, 1889
Oil on canvas
73 × 92 cm, 28¾ × 36¼ in
Museum of Modern Art, New York City

The Starry Night (Dutch: De sterrennacht) is a painting by Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. The painting depicts the view outside his sanitarium room window at night, although it was painted from memory during the day. Since 1941 it has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Widely hailed as his magnum opus, the painting has been reproduced many times and is one of his most renowned paintings.

Vince Papale

Overview
Vince Papale was a 30-year-old high school teacher when he joined the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. Papale's story was remarkable: he had no NFL experience and had run track, not played football, at St. Joseph's University. In 1974 he caught on with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League, which folded the next year. In 1976 the Eagle's rookie coach, Dick Vermiel, held open tryouts for players. Papale tried out for Vermiel, was invited to training camp and, against all odds, made the team. Papale spent three seasons with the Eagles (1976-78) as a special teams player and wide receiver. His story was retold in the 2006 movie Invincible, with Mark Wahlberg as Papale.Papale is sometimes compared with Jim Morris, who became a major league baseball rookie at age 35. Morris's story was told in the 2002 film The Rookie... Because he's from Philadelphia, Papale is also sometimes compared with the fictional comeback kid Rocky Balboa... Dick Vermiel coached the Eagles to a Super Bowl loss in 1981 and then won the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams in 2000.

The City of Brotherly Love
There are few facts that crosses our path. I was born in 1976, the year Papale became an Eagles. The summer that he went to the camp at Widener. 20 years later, I was halfway of my sophomore year at Widener; but Eagles no longer held their training camp there. (It was in Lehigh in Bethlehem, PA).
It was the One University Place in Chester, PA that changed him, and I believed me too. It rumored that one of the hourly chimes from the Old Main was a tribute to Papale.
As most of the Philadelphians (Phillies?), the downtown at your feet from the Museum of Art (The Rocky's Steps) creates some goosebumps, the priceless sensation. The feeling of believing in yourself!
I lived to that even after quite a time away from the museum, Kelly Drive and the Fairmount park. I am missing countless nights that I spent stargazing there, and the Sundays (free entry) viewing Picassos and Van Goghs. A poster print replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night dominated my dining table, as a tribute to the good old days. Those were the days.

I saw The Invicible with Wahlberg sometime last year, and just finish reading the book by Papale and Millman. Honestly, the book is much more better. A very good inspirational piece.

There's something about Hubby …

As a lot of peoples keeps asking me about my hubby, (he's kinda lazy to put anything in his profile and I'm too lazy to write about what he's doing. Hehehe...), But I found something he wrote about himself for his MBA application few years back in our PC.

So, For his 'fans' out there (duh..... ), something about Norhisham (my hubby):

I was born Norhisham bin Abdul Mutalib on November 28, 1976 in Alor Star, Kedah. I am the eldest of four. My father teaches engineering at a polytechnic not far from our Alor Star home. My late mother was a staff at the General Hospital. Perhaps the most important influence that has shaped the person I am today is my upbringing in a small town working class family. They always been an important source of support in all of the decisions I have made, and Islam have been my guiding principles in life. Not only do I try to do good for others, but I always push myself to be the best that I can be in all aspects of my life. I saw early the doors and opportunities that a good education can open up; thus, I particularly tried hard to do well in school.

After completed six years of primary education in my neighborhood school, I pursued my secondary education at one of the prestigious school in the country, the Sultan Abdul Hamid College. The alumni comprises of country prominent figures: King, Sultans, two Prime Ministers and thousands more who's who in all disciplines. I am very proud to be part of the history of the great alma-mater. After I did well in my SRP examination, I took an offer for a place in a fully boarding prep school, the infamous MARA Junior Science College (MRSM) in the neighboring state of Perlis. I completed my high school there and obtain flying colors in my SPM examination.

Another important experience that has had a large influence on me the past few years has been college. Going from high school to college was a significant change. College totally overhauls my life and broadens my horizon. I went to an all bumiputra prep school, with the same cohort of students in all my classes. Thus, I was exposed little to people very different from myself. College in a foreign land, on the other hand, is full of diversity. I have people of all backgrounds and abilities in my classes, and I have been fortunate enough to meet quite a few of them. This precious experience has made me more tolerant of differences. Furthermore, living, studying and working in another country that totally difference in race, weather, culture, and belief systems, have liberalized my world view.

I obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Widener University in the suburb of Philadelphia back in summer of 1998. While completing my first degree, back home was hit severely by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that almost crippled our economy. This leaves me no option but to stay there and try to get a job. I was lucky to join the world best Wharton Business School as a research assistant. My task there was to assist The Family Business Corporation researchers in studying businesses in Latin America. The environment shaped me a lot and this also develops my fondness in business studies.

I left the "city that loves me back" and started the new millennium here. I then worked as the Project Engineer in charging of telecommunication in the Maju Junction project development. The pride is still there every time I pass through the building in the downtown of KL, my first monument of achievements. In 2001, I joined Affiliate Company of multinationals Nettest and Symmetricom brands, as a System Engineer, where I developed myself to become expertise in test gears and synchronization.

On the journey through my life, I've encountered twists and turns, and some detours--it is unquestionably the hardest battle I could fight. However, in the process, I've accumulated a tremendous amount of valuable experience and knowledge. Education and experience is my biggest asset. It is the perfect time for me to join the UiTM's Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. I strongly believe that this can be used to prepare myself for the promises and challenges of the future.

Aurora: This autobiography was written part of the requirement for admission to the UiTM's MBA program. Hubby was accepted and enrolled in 2006. He graduated …. (hmmm…. but I 'm not sure his pointer.... I'll ask him later.) in April 2008. In the midst of pursuing his MBA, he accepted an offer to be a partner for a boutique telecommunications solutions provider. As for now, he is still finding answer to a question: "what's next to do?"( I told him we should move first before he find more things to do....hahahaha)

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye is a novel by J. D. Salinger. First published in the United States in 1951.

Trivia: Try to count how many names/characters mentioned in the book, direct or indirect. Popular for the novel with the most characters, almost or more than 200 people. I did try once, but never finish!

Controversies/interesting facts:

1. Not allowed to be filmed. Even Spielberg did try request once but denied!

2. The guy who shot John Lennon asked for his autograph earlier in commotion in front of Lennon's apartment. On the inside cover or first page of this book!

More controversies from Wikipedia:

1. Mark David Chapman, who assassinated John Lennon, was carrying the book when he was arrested immediately after the murder and referred to it in his statement to police shortly thereafter.

2. John Hinckley, Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was also reported to have been obsessed with the book.

3. Robert John Bardo, who murdered Rebecca Schaeffer, was carrying the book when he visited Schaeffer's apartment in Hollywood on July 18, 1989. After Bardo murdered Rebecca Schaeffer, he went to an alley to throw away a paper bag, his bloodsoaked shirt and the book. The next day, he was arrested in Tucson, Arizona for the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer. Bardo later flew back to Los Angeles awaiting the murder trial. He was convicted of murder and received a life sentence in prison.

4. Winona Ryder has claimed it is her favorite book and had a copy with her when she was arrested for shoplifting in 2001.