IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Random happy things...

It hasn't been fun recovering from a very persistent, nagging cough. [It's been 2 weeks now!] The weather hasn't been agreeing with us either - mostly dark, cold and dreary. Well, times like these call for happy thoughts so here goes:

1) Bargain movie Mondays! (even though I should avoid going down the dark path. Both "Black Swan" and "Biutiful" were terribly depressing! It will definitely have to be a happy movie the next time!)
2) A round of applause - Received a compliment note from a head usher I work with at the theatre. It is always nice to have your work recognized. However small. :)
3) South Pacific - an evening of fun-filled musical
4) Tea with friends on a stormy winter day. The pastries at Presti's bakery are oh so good!
5) This polka dot dress:

Currently, way beyond my budget but I shall wait patiently for it to go on sale. :)

Our Reunion Dinner.

It was a simple fare. Just hubby, me & our little bunny - he got to eat his favourite cilantro while we ate abalone. ;) CNY has been rather quiet here but we're planning a little celebration next Saturday with a cooking competition thrown in so that should be pretty fun! I'll probably be doing a sweet and sour pork dish. Sure hope it turns out well! :)
In the meantime, here's wishing all my Chinese [& non-Chinese] friends out there a prosperous and bouncy bunny year ahead! Gong Xi Fa Cai!