Have You Heard?

Have You Heard of Robert Chai Yet?

He's seaching for the Next Malaysian Blog Idol.

Competition begins today, 31st August, 2006, in conjunction with Malaysia's 49th birthday. And I've been told, the winner of the 19in Dell LCD screen will be announced on 31st August, 2007.

How to win?

It's so easy, I'd like to participate too, and I think I CAN win if I group all my buddies and monkeys to vote for me, but I won't join in case someone cries "Cronyism!" due to my closest of close relationship with CyberPartyGal, one of the organisers of the competition.

Who will win?

Only those who win the MRY50, and there are two chances every month, will get to participate in the annual round. If you don't win the MRY50, then sorry lah, no hopes of winning the webhosting package, or the mobile phone, or the 19in DELL LCD screen.

But that's not all

Anyone who sends the best feedback, suggestions, comments, etc. to the developers by 30th September, 2006 will be awarded with a Kingston PenDrive.

I NEED A PENDRIVE TOO!

I should be the winner for all the late nights I spent with them until 3am working out the kinks of the site.

So where's my pendrive eh?

~*~ Gimme the 19in Dell LCD screen better lah ~*~

And do you want a 17in DELL LCD Screen as well?

Robert Chai needs 300 active members by the end of 30th September, 2006, before he is willing to sponsor this additional prize.

So, if you want MORE goodies in the annual prize pool, you know what to do! Just get everyone you know to register an account at www.RobertChai.com and start participating!

Everyone stands an equal chance of winning!

Happy Merdeka!

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

- John F. Kennedy 20th Jan, 1961

Yea rightttttttttt

The only thing I can thing of, and look forward to, yearly, when the country celebrates her Independence Day is that I can finally, FINALLY have a break from work.

I hope some silly idiot (double adjectives on purpose) will NOT call me up at odd hours, or give me a ring when he hears the Negaraku on the radio. Bah!

Happy holidays, everyone!

"Must Love Dogs"

Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

I don't know how many of us here in Malaysia even heard of this 2005 movie. I didn't, before laying my hands on a copy of this movie, on loan. I don't remember if local cinemas screened this movie or not. Anyway, when I saw this cover, with the Newfoundland doggie, I know I just gotta watch it, and it's rated as a comedy, so there was nothing to lose.

I don't know why, recently I watched quite a number of John Cusack movies, and also Colin Firth, not that they are handsome or particularly great actors, or anything, it's just bloody coincidence. BAH!

This movie may be rated as a comedy but it's not the type that makes one go hahahahaha. It only brought out a chuckle from me every 20 minutes or so. It's not the kinda movie that mind f****. And it's not the kinda movie that makes one go WAHHH. It does not impress and does not leave a great impression.

In short, this is the type of movie that you can watch, or can DON'T watch. UNLESS you like dogs a lot, like me.

I didn't appreciate the scene where these two forty-somethings drove around town looking for a condom. It's sooo juvenile. And makes me think of Sam Shik in My Name Is Kim Sam Soon. But Sam Shik is cute, John Cusack is not.

This movie also portrays men as looking to get laid on the 1st & 2nd dates. ARE men REALLY like that in real life, or only in Hollywood? The mind boggles!

The only things that I'll remember from this movie next month will be the dogs, the dogs and the dogs. And also something about using PE food wrapper as a substitute for condoms.

Now kids, don't try this at home!

Gone Old School

I used to think "This fella something wrong lah" when a friend told me that he loops one song on his player over and over again the whole day! And that song, Graham Gouldman's "Love's Not For Me", the soundtrack for Animalympics is not that special pun. At least I dont think so lah. Why doesn't he get bored wan??

Actually, he seached for it a looooong time ago and couldn't find it, until I came to his rescue. He was so appreciative. He says it sums up his life perfectly. Sigh ~ he is a diamond bachelor, after all.

But then, God save me, now there's something wrong WITH ME! For the past two days, I keep listening to Bay City Roller's "The Way I Feel Tonight" only. Don't know why I can't get enough of it.

The Way I Feel Tonight - Bay City Roller's

Turn the music way down low
Let me see you in the glow
In the fire light you are shining
Though it's much too soon to know
If this love I feel will grow
Let's take tonight to start out finding

I think this song makes good karaoke material but too bad I don't go to karaoke. TOO BAD, indeed.

A friend was shocked when I told him I like romantic songs like the three Korean songs that I previously looped. He says I'm not romantic enough. HELLO! I may not LOOK romantic, but I'm romantic at heart lerrrr

Related post:
3 Songs I'm Currently Looping

Which Malaysian Blogger Am I?

Congratulations Anonymous Crap Sheeter! You are...

minishorts of minishorts.net

1. You are outgoing, direct, smart, pretty, and a definite go-getter.
2. You are frank, a little too frank perhaps that sometimes you get on people's nerves and make them very upset.
3. If people attack you, you hit back with triple the force without blinking because you are the kind of person who knows exactly what you are talking about or else you wouldn't talk about it.
4. Your quick-thinking is what makes you special.
5. You are an elitist.

Which Malaysian Blogger Are You?

My take:
1. I'm an introvert, direct, not so smart, not so pretty and definitely not a go-getter.

2. Hahaha this is correct, frank & blunt, nobody wants my honest opinion :-p

3. Correct, stood up countless times for the class until teachers hate me cos I always had a good comeback line :-)

4. Quick thinking only once in a blue moon. Most of the time I'm blur thanks to my zombified state of mind.

5. Need to check up on the dictionary :-)

I Need Some Privacy!!

Nowadays, papa come into my room every night and use my PC to listen to oldies, aiyo, how can I shoo him away? I need to use the PC every night. No PC, no life!

Sumore he just bought a new headphone cos he said mine lousy quality.

I can't blog when he is here looking at my screen! Mine is a secret blog!! I can't watch my K-dramas!!! I can't reply to my e-mail!!!! I can't chat!!!!! I can't this and I can't that!

But I dowan to burn CD for him GGGGGrrrrrrrrrr

Anyway, this is just a short note. It's dinner time now. I just finished working!

Q: What is the similarity between a pizza delivery boy and a gynaecologist?
A: They can feel, touch, look, anything, except EAT!

Repaying My Sleep Debt ....

... or so I thought.

I thought with an MC, I finally have the chance to pay off some sleep debt, and so I went to take a nap at 2pm. I couldn't open my eyes if my life depended on it, anyway. The medication was sleep inducing, as it should be, to make the patient rest as much as possible.

But just when I went into dream land, my phone vibrated. A quick look at the clock showed 2.15, and for the life of me, I couldn't even make out if it was 2.15am or 2.15pm.

Anyway, I answered it:

Me: Hello?
Caller: Hello....
Caller: Sleeping ar?
Me: Yes.
Caller: Aiyooo
Me: What?
Caller: Still sick ar?
Me: Yes.
Caller: Why sick so long wan? More than one week already.
Me: Dunno.
Caller: Didn't see doctor meh?
Me: Got.
Caller: Then why take so long to recover?
Me: Dunno. What you want?
Caller: Have you heard of the new Bon Jovi song ah? Who Says We Can't something something ....
Me: &*(^&$)(*^_(^_^^#_#*^@^@%)(#_)#&^_)#
Caller: You listen to this song ah.......
Me: $%^&;*((*&^%#$#@%&*())_))_*&^%#$#$
Caller: Can hear or not?
Me: Can.
Caller: It's on the radio now and I thought of you.
Me: $#%&;^*&()(()&*%^$##@$&^*)_)^&^*&%#@#@@@$&*(*&^&&^$#%^&*()((*^#@#**^
Caller: Why didn't online last night?

Me: Slept at 10.30pm

Caller: I'm driving now. Chat with you some other time lah.

Me: %*^$*$#%&^*&;()(()&*%^$##@$^&*^$$&^*)_)^&^*&%#@#@@@$&*(*&^&&^$#%^&*()((*^#@#**^$#%&^*&()(()&*%^$##@$&^*)_)^&^*&%#@#@$&*(*&^&&^$#%^&*()*^

CyberPartyGal in D House!
My Side Project Is Launched!

BLOGGING For Fame AND Fortune ~ See to Believe!

Image courtesy of RobertChai

I've got this scoop from my best pal, Cyberpartygal, who is involved in a new project with a new concept in search of the *Next Malaysian Blog Idol*. It is basically like Malaysian Idol but chances of winning is WAY higher than in Malaysian Idol.

What are the prizes, what are the prizes??
How about MYR50 ca$h twice a month, plus webhosting, mobile phone and EAT THIS, a 19in DELL LCD screen for the top three annual winners? WOOHOOOO ~

Being a contest junkie, I'll participate even if I only stand to win a sample or a discount coupon hehehe

And that's not all! The person who submits the best feedback during beta testing period from now until 30th September, 2006, will win a goodie! What is the goodie? Aha... why don't you go and check it out?

I've got insider tips on how to win as well........... but that will be another post for another day. So stay tuned!

Let's head on over to RobertChai and BOMB him!

Don't Call Me Even If You Have My Number

......... unless you have good news for me.

This was what happened:

Phone rings, I rushed to wash my dirty hands and then rushed to answer the phone call ....

Me: HELLO??? BUSY LAHHH
Guy: ....mumbles.....mumbles....
Me: WHAT? Cannot hear you.
Guy: My father passed away last night.
Me: ........... *speechless* paused for five seconds to mentally slap & kick myself

Me: Oh, sorry to hear that.
Guy: I'm on the way back to Melaka.
Me: ............. *still kicking myself*

Normally friends know that I'll only answer their call if they let me know in advance that they are calling.

Example, we are chatting on MSN:

Friend: I wanna call you now.
Me: OK, gimme 5 minutes. I need to shut off the PC.

This is the kinda planned calls I like.

IF the above telephone call was planned, it would have gone this way:

Me: Hello, (name).
Guy: My father passed away last night.
Me: I'm so sorry to hear that. Please accept my deepest condolence.
Guy: I'm on the way back to Melaka.
Me: Drive safely, all right?

and I won't be feeling so rotten for my brusque tone.

For the past two months, all the private phone calls I ever got were either from friends asking me for help or telling me that someone has passed away.

Two friends lost their fathers
A friend lost his grandmother
A friend lost himself <-- my poor attempt at humour *sigh* :-/

REAL humour here:
Question: What are two things you should never do in bed?
Answer: Point and laugh.

Related post:
It's A Sick House

Sleep Fest ZZZZZZZ

The top three sleep-inducing movies to date for me are (in random order):

My Kung Fu Sweetheart (Cantonese)
Directed, produced and written by Wong Jing. So what?
This movie is really a waste of time to watch. Really senseless and most of the time, I didn't even know what was going on.

Good Night, and Good Luck
Directed and co-written by George Clooney.
This movie received a string of movie award nominations but DUHHH political movies really are too dry for me. Black & white did not help to keep me awake.

The Da Vinci Code
Based on Dan Brown's 2003 book of the same title, one of the most widely read books of all time.
I had the intention of watching this movie with an open mind as I did not read the novel beforehand, but alas, the 2hr and 20 minutes felt like an eternity.
I also found the accent of the actress damn irritating. Lost count how many times I nodded off to sleep.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

It's a Sick House

Sing to the tune of "She's a Brick House".

For the past few months, people and animals in my house have fallen ill one after another. Must be the virus circulating everywhere or is it bad chi?

Thought I could sleep in this morning (cos I've got MC :p) but a wanker** called me at 7.30am.

Phone rings....

Me: Hello?
Wanker: Whacha doing?
Me: Sleeping lah.
Wanker: I thought you wake up at 7am every day?
Me: Sick mah.
Wanker: Why you always sick one?
Me: Stress mah. Monkey sick, I sick lah.
Wanker: Which monkey?
Me: Fat one loh.
Wanker: He's always sick.
Me: You just came home ar?
Wanker: No la. Didn't go out last night.
Me: What you want so early?
Wanker: Can you help me to do .........................
Me: Call me so early just to help you to do things?
Wanker: I'm coming to your town soon.
Me: You want red carpet welcome ar?
Wanker: No la. Are you going back to bed now?
Me: How? Already wide awake lor.

TOOOOTTTT I put the call down. GGGrrrrrrr Geram!

**Wanker here is pet name.

I'm Mighty Pissed!

~*~ Screenshot ~*~

A jerk went to my late buddy's blog and left that message.

So damn mou liew.

He should be f-ed left, right and centre by a gorilla!

Saturday Night Fever

So, half the weekend's gone and where did Saturday go? Spent a few extra hours in bed. Running a fever and got a spliting headache. Monkey sick, I sick, same ol' story.

Anyway, was thinking to myself, I wanna go to Korea for holiday, specifically Cheju (Jeju) Island. Yeah, after watching All In, that place looks like a nice place for a holiday.

Stuff Monte Carlo.

"All In"

Image courtesy of Seoul Broadcast System

In gambling, especially poker, “All In” means to bet all the chips one has on the table on ONE game.

I watched “All In”, a 2003 Korean drama upon the recommendation of a close friend. Yes, I finally finished it, all 24 episodes. I know ntv7 showed it recently, but I don’t have a TV, and even if I did, I dislike dubbed shows.

In this Korean drama, “All In” is mostly about gambling, from dingy “houses” to high class casinos in Korea and Las Vegas.

“All In” has all the ingredients of life in the real world; from triad gangs of Seoul to policemen, from hoodlums to corporate figures, from prisoners to politicians, from the very poor to the very rich, from struggling for power to losing power, from succeeding to falling into disgrace, from brotherhood to betrayal, from victory to defeat, from friendship and romance to enmity.

What makes this drama all the more interesting is that this is a drama based on the true life story of a Mr. Cha Min-Su, who went to Las Vegas with only 18 dollars in his pocket and became a millionaire by becoming a pro-gambler and pro-Korean chess player. However, Mr. Cha had worse knocks in life that what's protrayed in "All In".

Lee Byung Hun (BH) is the main star, whose character Kim In-Ha is so unfortunate, that all the bad things just fall onto him. This is the guy my friend asked me to watch out for. She said he’s leng chai. BUT I don’t like.

I like Ji Sung who really managed to bring to life the character of Choi Jung-Won as a guy who is tortured by love, controlled by a strong-willed and unscrupulous businessman father and trapped in various circumstances not to his liking. He looks so sweet all the time that even when he is scheming, you (OK, OK I) just can’t seem to hate him.

And when he cries (most of the men in this drama cried at one time or another), I just felt like crying with him.

It’s rare for me to think of Chinese guys as leng chai but from a scale of 1 to 10, Ji Sung gets 9.5 from me. Almost perfect, wooohooo Unfortunately, most of the photos of him online do not do justice to what he showed us in the drama.

I mentioned before Hyun Bin is also leng chai, but his kind is the boyish kind of leng chai. Ji Sung is the matured kind. Hyun Bin gets 8/10 :-p

Lee Byung Hun gets 7 only for looks, and 5 for acting hahahaha He is a piece of wood, only slightly better than Lee Hyun Woo in Attic Cat. Laugh also did not look good. Cry also did not look good. The only saving grace was when he KEPT QUIET and just let the camera focus on him from afar, whilst dressed in a trench coat, a pinstripe suit or at least a button down shirt.

But then Ji Sung looks just as well as Lee Byung Hun in suit. So do Jeong Yu-Seok and Huh Joon Ho (Yu Yong-Gu). Sorry to all fans of BH muahahaha *evil laughter*

The other leng chai in “All In” is the actor Jeong Yu-Seok / Jung Yoo Suk as Yim Dae-Soo. His character is a gangster in Seoul. And he’s got scars on his face to fit his role. The scars look real enough. He also managed to carry out the role almost perfectly, especially with his twitching eye lid or lips when he was seething with anger.

And his crying scene was very power. So silent, just a drop of tear rolling down his face. The message came across very well.

Yim Dae-Soo and Yoo Jung-Ae made a matching couple but too bad Dae-Soo has a bad ending, which I shall not disclose here.

Some of the scenes in this drama were so slow it felt like watching "The Bold & The Beautiful" and although I usually feel that 24 episodes for a drama is too long, if I can watch Ji Sung in this role, the drama can go on forever!

The mother of all gambling is when Kim In-Ha bet his life (all in) on one large round of game in the corporate world, going against his childhood best friend, Choi Jung-Won, fighting for money, power, success and the woman they both love.

Will Kim In-Ha, win, lose or fold? Naturally, I’m on Jung-Won’s side!

If you want to watch some glitz on TV and can spare 24 hours of your life, then go ahead and watch “All In”, but remember, Ji Sung is MINE!

That being said, this drama did not make me cry as much as the others that I watched. Maybe I am too jaded? Maybe I have no more tears left? *shrug*

The scenes that spoilt this drama were when Song Hae Gyo (Min Soo-Yeon) were made to wear "grown-up" office attire that made her look so frumpy. She really looked out of place.

The funnies:
Every time there was a street fight scene, capoiera music will come on. Wonder why they did not play the shaolin soundtrack. But at least it made more sense than the horse’s neigh in Attic Cat.

When Kim In-Ha and Yu Yong-Gu took English Language lessons in America, the teacher tried to teach them a sentence that has the word “ROAD”, but both of them kept saying “LOAD” instead. The teacher was so frustrated, while these two guys kept whispering to each other, and used eye signals, asking each other why the teacher was so mad, when they got the word exactly as the teacher wanted it.

It went something like this (example):

Teacher: I will be on the road at noon.
In-Ha & Yong-Gu: I will be on the load at noon.

Teacher: No! Road.

These two being said simultaneously:
In-Ha: Load
Yong-Gu: No! Load!

Frustrating or not??

Trivia:
Min Soo-Yeon and Choi Jung-Won went to the teddy bear museum in Cheju (Jeju) Island, which the Queen Dowager and Bigoongmama went to as well in Goong.

During the filming of this drama, Lee Byung Hun and Song Hae Gyo (Min Soo-Yeon) were a couple but they subsequently broke off the relationship. I felt that their chemistry was revealed in the drama as well.

Ji Sung and Park Sol Mi (Suh Jin-Hee) were a couple off-screen too *GGGrrrr*

Numerous references were made to The Godfather.

A sequel is being made in 2006, but it will have no link to this 2003 drama. The cast will be new as well, too bad.

Related post:
Blank Mind, Random, Jumbled Thoughts

Is Your "Contact Me" For Decoration?

Since I started using the internet, e-mailing has been an integral part of online life, and I believe it is the same for everyone else.

However, in the course of my work, I had the unfortunate task of contacting loads of people via e-mail, be it for information or for business, and discovered that alot of people do not bother to reply.

Why the heck did they list their e-mail addresses on their websites, then? For show ah? Or for decoration?

If anyone writes to me, I deal with them in this order:

1. Business mail - reply ASAP
2. Social mail - reply only when I'm free
3. Forwarded e-mail - will forward to others only if it's extra meaningful or darn humourous
4. Junk - trashed

Anyway, being the initiator is always difficult, cos one never know what sort of person is on the other side.

However, the one that took the cake was one lady who contacted me for some non-job-related information, which I duly provided, and then she just disappeared without a courtesy reply to thank me for the information.

How rude can one get? DUH!!

Growing Old Together

When I see senior couples together, I sometimes wonder, will I be able to grow old together with a guy? I'm so detached from the real world that I cannot even see myself sharing bodily fuilds with someone, having babies and then grow old together till death do us part.

And when I see elderly couples together, I wonder, is love still in the equation? Or are they only together because of the children, because society dictates so, because they have no major cause to call for a divorce, because they have no other choice?

What if there's no more icing on the cake after 1, 2, 3 years? Does familiarity breed comtempt?

What if he grows old so ungracefully, that the meer sight of him is repulsive? And as people grow old, they become more stubborn, have their fixed ways of getting things done, which may not be how the other party wants done. And it's a well known fact that people get more and more long winded as they get older.

What if after a short while, one has seen through the other party, through and through, thoroughly and there's no more mystery at all anymore, then what is there to hold the other partner's attention?

What if the spouse falls seriously ill, and the job of a primary care giver falls on me, and then I'll hate it so much, evil thoughts cross my mind? *shudder*

7-Day Work Week

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, all roll into one big 168-hour long day.

People always ask what I am so busy with. Why always no time for them? To be frank, I also don't know what I'm so busy with. The minutes just pass like that, I feel like I don't have enough time, always playing catch up with work, and always still so many things waiting to be done.

I KNOW I am always sticking my fingers into too many pies. Always don't know how to say "NO" when friends ask for help. And sometimes, I myself pandai-pandai offer to help. And then find that I can hardly accommodate these new tasks.

Ahhh I've been told, I'm a masochist. Do I really need to complete my work day-by-day and end up retiring for the day way past 3am, and then force myself up by 7am? What an animalistic life.

Can't work wait till tomorrow? Work never ends, do they? Or am I guilty of bad time management?

I need a holiday, but what's a holiday, anyway???

Life is Cheap?

Woke up this morning, opened the papers and got the news that one of our family friends, whom we lost touch with some years back, commited suicide.

Within these two years, this man is the third family friend who chose to end life this way. And one more who attempted suicide, unsuccessfully, thank God!

Suicide is definitely NOT the way out of life's hardship but I guess for someone who is walking along a dark tunnel, he won't believe that there is light at the end.

When my recently departed friend was suffering in the last stages of his life, he thought of ending it all as well, but he said he's too cowardly to do so. I told him taking one's life is COWARDLY.

Suicide is NOT bravery at all.

Having said this, I am neither condemning those who chose this ending. One will only know the real situation if one is in those shoes.

Some people wondered how I can give a loan to my friend, because giving a loan is akin to giving someone a fish, when I should have taught him how to fish.

I was afraid that in his desperateness, he decides to take his own life. Yes, there were cases where men killed themselves and some even killed their whole family due to financial difficulties. That is indeed very scary.

Life is cheap if we lose control over it. And which person wishes this to happen to her own friend?

I'm "Sponge Bob Square Pants"

Did this quiz "What cartoon character are you?" on a hot Saturday afternoon.

And found that I'm Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Horrrors!!!!

SSSSoooo fugly.

I wanna be SNOOPY!!!

According to the quiz, the qualities of Sponge Bob Square Pants are:

You are the classic person that everyone loves.

Nah, more like everyone loves to HATE.

You are the best friend anyone could ever have and never want to lose

I am my own best friend.

You never cause harm to anyone.

I was the school bully, remember?

And nobody will ever understand you or your feelings.

How true!

You are usually used by others becasue of your good nature and loving qualities.

SPOT ON!

Those who do respect you do so in the most honest way.

Got people respect me ar?

Life is a journey, you always on an adventure

No lah, so sedentary.

funny

Sometimes

and calm

so choppy

yet full of too many ups and downs for the most part.

Like rollercoaster only

Stay away from traitors and jealous people as they are the ones that bring you down... then you will be stress free.

Yep, I'm very stressed out :-/

All Guys Can Think Of Is How To Get Free "Meals"

Recently, Sven Goran Erikson asked for a break-up with his lived-in partner. And it's kinda sad that he can discard her just like that, and by living in Europe, he can get off the hook of paying compensation to her.

If they had lived in the US, she would be considered as his common-law wife and he would have to pay her some form of compensation, and in some American States, he has to give her half his assets too.

I was talking to my friend, a guy, who is an advocate of co-habitation, having lived in the West for years and he says if a trial marriage doesn't work out then both parties can easily part ways. No need for pre-nuptial agreement and whatever sort of contracts, either.

I think in Malaysia, we adopted British law and common-law wife is also not legally recognised. Anyone wanna correct me? Hhmm I don't know much about laws, but this was what I derived from the Ivan Allen case.

Isn't it always the woman who loses out?

Another male friend keeps asking me how much monthly household allowance he should give to his wife, and he said that no way is he going to give half his pay cheque. And in the event of a split, no way is he going to share his assests 50-50% too.

But the problem is not how much; the problem is, he doesn't even have a girlfriend now.

And how would I know how much, anyway. If I were the wife, I'd say, give me your entire pay package! :p

Yet another guy, who is a diamond bachelor, has stayed single, because he complains that women will siphone off household money for ownself. He make it sound as if that's a crime. BAH!

See, guys are so bad, all they can think of is how to get free "meals".

TNB Wasted 3 Freaking Hours of My Life!

Stupid!

There was a three-hour electricity breakdown in my residential area last night from approx. 8.30pm ~ 11.30pm. That's three hours gone just like that! Imagine not being able to do anything at all, neither could I play nor work nor watch TV.

All I could do was lie in bed, under the mosquito net, to escape from the buzzing mossies in the dark. So warm, no ventilation at all.

I am a nocturnal creature and work best at night but to be in bed at 8.30pm ... geezzzz felt like a kid oni :-/

I've said it once and I'll say it again; if TNB wants to raise tariff, then by all means, do so, BUT give us the service that matches the (already high) rates, dammit!

Related post:
You Wanna Raise 12%? Well and Good!

Silly Thoughts from An Idle Mind

What would you do if you're stuck in a meeting room with a foreign business associate whom you just met a couple of hours ago, and then when the meeting is over, you find that the door is locked from the outside, and you'll have to spend the night with him?

There's no way for you to contact the management as they have closed for the day without realising that the two of you were still in meeting ....

.....and your cell phone ran out of battery ....

.....and then suddenly you feel like taking a pee and a fart and also a crap later, and there's no toilet/bathroom/wash basin or anywhere appropriate for you to do your private business.

A Letter to the Dear Departed

How are you doing, my dear friend? Heaven will look so much lovelier with you there now, with a professional farmer around.

I hope your family sent you a really advanced laptop and that you have a high speed internet connection in Heaven, so no more complaints about Streamyx, ok?

I hope that you can read this letter, since you do know my URL. If you did not have the mood to read my blog, since it was started in the worst three months of your life, now you will have the chance to read from the very beginning.

Remember the time when we talked about when you'll be meeting your Maker, and how you'll be finally free from all Earthly sufferings? God, I was so afraid that you'll do something stupid that I kept reminding you, what a source of inspiration you have been to all of us after appearing on Astro.

You touched so many hearts from across Malaysia and even Brunei, how can you let them down, right? But to hold on to you, would have been heartless of us knowing that you were suffering so much. You sensed that you won't be able to celebrate your next birthday and true enough, it's definitely not easy to pass the double months of death.

It was for the best, I guess, given the circumstances. Like you said, that was no way to live! ESP said, before his death, that the good die young. I can't agree more with him.

You saw your illness as a chance for you to prepare your own death and you said it is better than someone who dies in an accident, for instance, and not able to plan anything at all. When your obituary came out in the papers, my mom was surprised that you wrote it yourself.

I am regretful that I was not able to watch you on TV, and in your own words, you were Astro's main star, that was why they aired your episode first. And it's sad that you were not able to make me a copy of the DVD which Astro promised to give you. If only they had worked a little quicker! And I'll be waiting forever for the photos of your made-over little corner of your living room. And also your book of mottanai ideas. Time, indeed, does not wait.

You didn't know, but every time after our talk, I get so distraught that I had to pour all my pent up emotions onto a friend, someone I never told you about. I thought that he was the only one who really understood how I felt since his father has been bedridden for a few years now after a stroke. And he too is helpless, being so far away from his father, and relying heavily on just an Indonesian maid.

I pity him, that he unwittingly became my shoulder to cry on, so much so that he confessed that he feared calling me, because I always sounded so sad over the phone and he can't do anything to help me. But he let me bust his phone bills, nevertheless. That's what friends are for, I guess.

He consoled me that everyone of us has to repay our debts in our lifetime. Being Buddhist, I do agree but LIFE IS SO UNFAIR!

With experiences like this, we grew up 20 years beyond our age.

Do you still remember the first time we got to know each other? That was way back in late 2002, you were just back from Germany, physically back but your heart was still in Germany.

And I remember once you were very mad at me when you asked me what would I do when my parents grew old and if they require care? And I gave a reply that made you angry. I didn't yet know that you sacrificed your career in Germany for your folks.

And in the early days, when you found out who my Uncle was, I was so damn afraid that you'll go look him up as you intended to venture into his field of expertise. It was not that I was selfish not to let you pick my Uncle's brains, but he was sick then. In fact, he still is. What kind of sickness, he did not disclose. Maybe he felt that it wouldn't do us any good, nor will our knowledge change his condition, so it was better to keep it a secret.

Remember the SMS exchanges we had at 4am, when you couldn't sleep? And you were surprised that I replied you. Cheh, you thought only you were awake at 4am?

I also remember the funny moments when I mistakenly sent you SMS messages meant for another. And there was once I even mistakenly e-mailed you a photo of a panty. I waited and waited for a reply and was so surprised when it was you who replied to my e-mail. Oh God, how embarrassing it was but you could turn any situation into a joke.

And you kept up with your jokes right till the end, almost. Remember the FIFA World Cup joke? Hahaha that was very funny! You were as sexist, as hamsup as ever! Your spirits were so high that I became very hopeful of your recovery and thought that once you are well enough, I'd take you to pig-out on your favourite g-chap (pig spare parts) in my hometown. No, I won't be having any, thank you very much!

I knew the end was near for you when you sent me a weird sounding SMS a month ago, and you even called me by name, when you normally preferred to use my nickname. I can't bear to delete your contact off my mobile phone, cos I will be keeping your messages forever, and if I delete your number, your name won't show anymore.

One thing I really regret is that I passed you the mantra way too late. If only I had known of it when you were first diagnosed! But I guess, there's no use crying over spilt milk.

Also, I wouldn't say I'm sorry I wasn't able to pay my last respects at your funeral. You know my circumstances better than anyone else and you would have scolded me because my Sorrys always came too easily. You told me time and again to apologise ONLY when it truly matters.

Till today, I keep hoping that I'll receive an e-mail from "you" much like what you received from Ms. K's sister, after Miss K's death. It was so touching.

Our mutual friend, Care, told me that you confessed something to her, but I never did confront you. After that confession, you continued with your travels. Oh yeah, you travelled so much that I even asked you if you have a mole on the sole of your foot. And you didn't believe that a mole can actually give someone the opportunity to travel. You thought I was being silly. Yeah, well, maybe I was just looking for a reason with regards to me being stuck here.

If only I had pursued that scholarship that would take me to Country Heights, our paths would have crossed sooner. Would that have changed anything?

If we had taken that ONE step, would I now be grieving another kind of grief along with your mother and sister?

If only Iressa were a whole lot cheaper.

If only, if only...........

......................................................................................... till we meet again...

Related posts:
At Times Like These ......
Passing of a Chat Buddy
A Minute of Silence, Please

A LOVE Note

Let's walk rainbows together and write beautiful poems on the sand.

Let's listen to the songs of midnight wind serenading blue moon's smile.

Let's watch stars dancing the nights to the coolness of dawn bathed by dew drops.

Let's watch lots of sunrises and be supportive of each other's emotionally and spiritually need, for good or bad.

Let's swim the oceans of everything artistic and indulge in intellectual discourses.

Let's delve the very depth of life's philosophy and find solace to rest our tired mind.

Let our relationship be a catalyst to discover what we could do and contribute to the betterment and peace of mankind for a just tomorrow, universally.

Simply put, you could be my muse, the source of my inspirations.

Let's walk lots of rainbows, from now to our final sunset.

Is this an original composition, I dunno. If he was younger, I would have fallen for it, but unfortunately for him .... buek

Dream Diary - 04 ~ Another Disturbing Dream

Parts of it are still fresh in my mind, some are too vague to recall.

One part, I dreamt of a black dog, who was fine one minute and then suddenly, all the fur started to turn white, like instantly growing old before my eyes, and then it became so weak and couldn't even stand up.

And then in my heart, I knew that it was going to die soon. I was distraught and started to cry.

On the second part, I dreamt that I was with a guy, I was supposed to marry this guy so I think he was my boyfriend (in the dream).

Anyway, suddenly, a Siamese Buddhist monk was cruising the roads in an old Mercedes Benz, with a Buddha idol on a long stick, and this stick was poking out from the sunroof of the car.

And, it seemed that this monk was searching for my boyfriend, and so my boyfriend ran, and I had to run along as well, to hide.

We ran and ran, up and down many stairs, and it was a scary feeling as if someone was chasing us to kill us.

Then we came to our hideout, which was a small room somewhere in a building, which I did not recognise. I don't really know if it was a room upstairs or if it was underground. The stairs seemed endlessly up and down.

And then I woke up.

The werid thing is that, a few days ago, a Siamese monk, who really drives a Mercedes Benz, has moved into a house near mine.

Maybe my mind mixed up real life with dream world.

The Dream Series:
Dream Diary - 01
Dream Diary - 02
Dream Diary - 03 ~ Shit! Why Suddenly Dream of Her Wan?

A Minute of Silence, Please

I received the sad news that my buddy has succumbed to cancer this morning at 1.50am. Although I've already known of his very weak condition, it is still not easy to accept the death of a good friend, who was only 39 years old.

I've known him since the late 2002. He was travelling all over the world in the course of his work, but always made it a point to keep in touch, knowing that I'm stuck in my hometown.

I am very appreciative of that and regret not being able to keep in touch as often as I should. However, he was always in my thoughts and prayers.

I don't know, it's not easy for me to talk to someone who is suffering from illness. I never ask him, "How are you?" because what sort of reply can I expect? And he can't bring himself to say that he's fine, because that would be lying, and to tell me of all his aches and pains, would have spoilt both our moods.

Our conversations were mostly on food, the latest movies, Malaysian Idol 1 and internet business. The 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) and the environment were also topics close to his heart.

He put me to shame when even on his worst days, he could still crack jokes to cheer me up when the slightest things made me feel down. His words of encouragement shall never be forgotten.

Through Astro's programme, Ku Mohon, he managed to inspire so many people across the country and even overseas. He made us all stop in our tracks and think how lucky we are, eventhough our day may be rotten or life may seem sucky. He showed a very strong side of himself, and only people close to him know what his true thoughts and feelings were.

I was one of the very few people fortunate enough to have an insight of his most private thoughts.

Memories of him will always be cherished because he was a very special friend who has a special place in my heart.

Boon, no doubt, it was an amazing adventure for you, yet it was also a very long and tiring journey; may you rest in peace, my friend.

P/S: It even hurts to delete your contact number from my cellphone ;-(

Related post:
At Times Like These ......
Passing of a Chat Buddy

I'm SKED Cos I'm A...ehh.... Blogger!

I do not like to touch on political, religious or other world-shifting topics because this blog is meant for light-hearted silly joke posts which I do not even claim that 100% of its contents are really from my own life.

And I know those topics are better to be blogged on by the heavyweights.

But then, recently, someone wanna clamp down on the internet wor sure I must voice my opinion as well what.

Firstly, isn't it open secret that there's a certain group of people who prowl the internet all the time?

Anyway, internet and blogs in particular provide alternative reporting, since mainstream media cannot report anything "out of line". So where do we turn to for the other side of the story? Internet, of course.

And I believe, as adults, most of us are able to evaluate the situation and read between the lines after hearing both sides of the story.

But nooooo somebody still wanna treat us like kids, just like we are not supposed to watch even a kissing scene on TV. HORROR!

I wanna say, if these people are so free to catch internet users and bloggers from freedom of expression, why not spend a fraction of that time catching people who go online to con people?

There are so many online fraud cases, and so far, have any fraudsters been successfully convicted? No, I don't think so, not even with a stack of police report against him.

And why not? That's because there aren't enough laws around to protect the victims. Is it because most of the victims are "nobodies", have no title before their names, do not hold a high position in society or do not have any political connection, etc?

I dunno, man.... seems like some people have got their priorities all wrong, just to protect a handful of people, and not all citizens as a whole.

Cheers and do not let this shadow us from fair blogging!

** An Anonymous Crap Sheet ** is 3 Months Old!

Whoa time flies, man! Three months already and every day, I dig my brains trying to write something intelligible but I end up crapping and crapping, mostly. Sigh ~ must be the curse of the blog name lar... whattodo?

What I feel bad about blogging is that I don't reply to comments as often as I should and I mostly stalk my readers' blogs instead of leaving reciprocatory comments.

You know, I type so much whole day long and my fingers are so tired, all the veins also popped up oredi, that I just want to rest my fingers at the end of the day, that's why I don't reply to comments often. Please forgive me *sob* *sob*

Blogger Jolene left me a feedback on my post Losing My Objective in Blogging that I should go out and do stuff, come home and make that activity into blog material.

Well, last evening, my friend invited me for squash. I told him, I don't know how to play, don't have racquet, don't have clothes (should be "attire") but didn't want to use bombastic words on him ler.

While these are truths, I declined his invitation cos I had an urgent e-mail to reply to, and that e-mail eventually took an hour to complete. Such a looooooong mail. You say my fingers tired or not?

Sigh...I am not made out to be a blogger.

How to people celebrate Blog anniversaries? Do I get pressies? Maybe I should compile a Wish List now =)

Is this Rudeness or Arrogance?

Two days ago, Fat4 wrote about getting stressed from eating out. On the other hand, I face a different scenario.

I've been patronising a coffeeshop for a few years now. How long, I don't exactly remember, but I've seen stall vendors getting married and having babies, so that should give an idea of how long it has been.

Anyway, I can say that all the time that I have eaten from one of the tennants, a curry noddle stall, and that is about 5 days out of a week, this lady hawker has not once said "thank you" to me.

Not that I MUST have her appreciation, but I'm after all, a customer and I spend my money at her stall, I support her business, and yet, every time I pay her, she keeps quiet and take the money just like that, no smile, no thank you, no eye contact.

Her husband, the waiter, will sometimes say "thank you", sometimes make small talk, but also most of the time, keep dumb.

At least the coffeeshop boss also knows how to say "thank you" even when I order just a glass of 30 sen chinese tea.

I don't know if I should call this curry noddle lady rude or arrogant, or maybe at the end of the day, she is too tired that she has forgotten her manners.

She makes it seem as if I MUST patronise her stall, but I only go out of convenience and I don't mind if her food is not exceptionally delicious. But from her style, she seems to think that hers is the best.

Talking about manners, if you have been to Jusco when they open for daily business in the morning, all their sales personnel will be at the main door, welcoming you.

That's overdoing already. Sometimes I feel like telling them, "I'm here for the air-cond only lah."

And then, after Lion Group's Parades were taken over by another conglomerate, their staff went for retraining and now, when you just feel like browsing their merchandise, the sales people will come over and say, "Good evening."

That's so weird.

Once, I was rushing from the front door to the back door cos my ride was waiting for me at the back door. It was nearly closing time so I had to walk very fast, stopped short of running cos I just had a heavy meal.

Then out of a sudden, a short sales girl, called out from beind a pillar, "Good night." Wah that startled me. Crazy meh, stand behind the pillar for what? I wouldn't have noticed her if she didn't call out "Good nght".