Never-ending story

So i went back to Kemaman for raya haji. Ate lots of food and did some visiting. Meeting my aunties and uncles are always "interesting", especially if i have to answer their never-ending question of marriage. I've been asked this so many times today (they just won't give up asking!) that i can compile their questions here and my standard reactions. Here goes:

Question: Bila lagi nak kawin?
Reaction: Usually i just give a shrug and smile, but if they are persistant i would say "tak dok seng", but that is usually follwed by "Hish, tak kan engineer tak dok seng!"

Question: Bila lagi nak habiskan zaman bujang?
Reaction: Entah, tak habis-habis pun lagi.

Question: Bila nak kawin? - from me mom
Reaction: Mak sponsorlah. - (She would just drop the subject at this point.)

Question: Rugi tau tak kawin awal
Reaction: Smile (dalam hati: yeah, i know. And i know you're referring to the sex. Give me the money and i'd be happy to find a mail order bride so that i won't be missing what you're having)

And today, me mom again mention some girl for me to consider.

Me mom: Hari tu mak jumpa Mona. Ingat tak Mona tu?
Me: Who the hell is Mona?
Me mom: Alah, yang tumpang sekali masa mu tuisyen dulu.
Me: Huh??
Me mom: Dia dah kawin dulu, tapi laki dia mati. Anak dah dua.
Me: Huh?? WTF?

I then got up and went for a ciggy with my auntie.

Isi angin

Had a flat tyre just now. Urgh, the inconvenience was a nightmare. I guess i should blame Isham 'cause he was driving.. hehe (jangan marah)... but he did most of the tyre-changing process and i should be grateful. After we changed the tyre, the spare tyre did not have enough pressure in it! We had to make a turn to the petrol station. So people, remember to isi angin in your spare tyre also!

The question now, where can i find an open tyre shop on Hari Raya?

**update**

After safely made my way to Kemaman with the spare tyre intact, i found out that my front tyre has a gelembung on it. Showed it to my uncle and he said "Ni bahaya ni, kena tukar. Tu lah, beli tayar cap ayam".

I finally found an open tyre shop in Kemaman, decided to change all four tyres to a more branded one. Luckily they accept trade-in of the old tyres.

After driving with the new tyres, i felt like the journey was more smooth and quiet. Plus, it says that the tyres can reduce fuel consumption! Note to self: Money well spent. (or it could be just a psychological effect)

Last weekend, Ashlie and I went to watch a movie at OU. As we were waiting to go into the hall, i thought i saw a colleague of ours from UTP leaving the cinema.

"Isn't that so and so?" I asked. "OMG, he looks so thin! (He was kinda chubby in UTP)"
Ashlie's first reaction was "HIDE!!"
We were already standing behind a large banner of a cheap Malaysian movie (which i will definitely won't go see). Ashlie was facing the other way and did not see him at all.

"I can't believe he's so thin"
"Are you sure it's him?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure??"
"Yes!"

Ashlie ran towards the escalator to make sure that i am wrong. But our colleague was already gone.

"That's not him lah"
"Yes it was. He's so thin now."

We stood in silence for a few moments.

"That's not him lah"

Silence.

"Maybe not." I finally replied.

We then went into the cinema feeling better about ourselves.

Gambar Raya

I finally got gambar-gambar masa raya from my sis. Just thought i share some of them.


My cute nephew, Zayn (did I mention he's only 1?)


My cute nephew, Rifqy

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy your holidays people!

Save the cheerleader, save the world

I am now officially a fan of the TV series, Heroes. I find it a visually stunning, fast-paced story. In a nutshell, it's a story about ordinary humans with cool extraordinary powers and their connections with each other. Can't help but compare this series with Lost, because of the multiple characters, but it's different in terms that Heroes feeds you with lots of information and does not held back; while Lost does. If you're a fan or obsessed with Heroes the TV series like me, you must visit the website. You can download really cool wallpapers, online comics/graphic novels, and Hiro's blog.

New DVD This Week

1. Lost - Season 2
I'm very satisfied with this purchase. It comes in a very nice box (looks is everything for me) and 7 cool looking discs. Contains all episodes of Season 2 plus a whole disc of special features and easter eggs.

Special features includes:

1. All new Never-before-seen Flashbacks - get to see more of Shannon!

2. The Official Lost Connection - it's so cool!! - an interactive connections of main characters (shown in short video) and not so main characters. I could go on for hours checking the connections.

3. Lost on Location

4. Deleted scenes

5. Bloopers - also my favorite

What's with all the Mariah Carey haters?

From Guardian Unlimited

She attracts almost universal hatred and yet sells millions of records. Can I be the only one out there who thinks Mimi's music is really rather good?

There are certain stars in pop the public loves to hate - almost murderously, it sometimes seems. At the moment, for some people it's Pete Doherty. Others still wish to burn Phil Collins alive. Personally, I want to give Chris Martin a really thorough slapping whenever I see him doing his "look at me, I'm a hugely sensitive showman" routine on telly.

One star who attracts almost universal contempt these days seems to be Mariah Carey. Her very name is almost a cuss word, in middle-class circles at any rate. (At our office party this year, guests have been invited to run up CDs of a couple of tunes to rock the room, with just one proviso: no Mariah Carey. All I Want for Christmas is You was also named the worst Christmas song ever in yesterday's Observer Music Monthly.

And this hate will almost certainly find further fuel from the weekend's news that Mimi is to sue porn star Mary Carey (to stop her trademarking the very similar-sounding name on the grounds that customers might confuse the two, thereby defaming her own "brand"). As a legal action it does sound like a fairly classic "only in America" legal case, particularly if you look - as in the interest of research, you understand, I did - at how very unlike the two Careys look. No link there, you might have noticed - you'll just have to google for Mary yourself. This is a family blog.

But back to the better known Carey. While I do find the tales of her prima-donnish behaviour, her ridiculous demands for grand luxuries in hotels, etc amusing - I can't share the hatred so many people seem to have for her music. (And, since she's obviously emotionally vulnerable, I get a bit irritated at the public venom directed at a fragile nature.) People have actually said to me, in conversations about music when I've enthused about my taste for R'n'B, "I don't believe it, next thing you'll be telling me you like Mariah Carey!"

The thing is, actually, I really do. I'm not a fan of her work while she was the property of Tommy Mottola, the Columbia records executive who star-spotted her, then became her husband while still managing her career. It's aimed at the mass market in a shameless way that deploys Carey's astonishing singing range to fake up strong emotion, and it's often nauseating.

However, since she and Mottola separated in 1996 and Carey was able to incorporate her love for hip-hop into the songs, she has just got better and better. The single We Belong Together is plainly one of the very best pop songs recorded in the last 20 years. Yet I can remember a lot of people, after Live 8, saying it was the most appalling thing they saw all day. I saw the performance too, and I thought it was great.

Tell me: am I entirely alone in recognising how good she is? Millions and millions of people buy her records - so why does my love for these songs feel like such a lonely passion?

My Weekend with Fasha Sandha

Spend the weekend watching 2 movies with Fasha Sandha in it(and no, i did NOT watch Nana Tanjung):

Movie#1: Cicakman
Great visual effects. That was the first thought that came to mind after the movie ends. But the sad thing is, that's the only thought that came to mind. Not that it's a bad movie, (Yusry did a great job on the visual effects and directing) but it left me feeling wanting more as i feel that this movie has great potential.

The story revolves around Hairi (Apek) getting superpowers from a cicak he swallowed in his coffee and then decides to go against the evil Prof Klon. Apek, as usual is funny as well, Apek. The movie has its funny moments, but not laugh-a-minute kind of movie. It's enough to get you awake throughout the movie.

Yusry tried to incorporate a few themes (action, comedy, drama) in the movie (ala Spiderman). But the editing seems a bit choppy. I can't seem to feel the emotions they tried to display.

By the way, Fasha has the looks, but her voice irritates the hell out of me.

Overall rating: B-

Movie#2: Cinta
The movie with all the hype and great reviews. Well, sad to say it kind of bore me a little bit.

But i have to say, the editing is good as the story of a lot of people involved (i seriously can't remember how many!) intertwined nicely. Some say this movie is a malay version of Love Actually. Well, sort of. Unfortunately, some where in the middle, the storyline gets a bit dragging to me.

Great acting all around especially from Rahim Razali. Even Rita Rudaini is good. Sharifah Amani: after watching this movie, i don't think she's a versatile actress. Either she acts the same as she's in Sepet/Gubra or the character is made that way. Either way, her character bores me.

Unlike Cicakman, this movie did bring out some emotions in me; not much but i think it's enough. Did feel a bit sad for the kid in the movie after Rita Rudaini decided to leave her husband.

Again, Fasha looks good but that voice!

Overall Rating: B

Someone once asked me "When's your best day of your life?" After five or so wrong answers i gave him, he said "Everyday is the best day of your life." What an optimistic man. Right there and then i realised that he and i can't be friends.

Enjoy the Music

Yesterday i went back to Kemaman to visit my aunt who was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed a month or so and this is the first time i saw her since. She is extremely thin than i remembered and feeling very weak. It breaks my heart to see her in that condition and i wish her well.

This reminded me how short life is and how we should make full meaning of it. Ellie from OTH once said:

"Every song has a final movement, whether it fades out or crashes away. Every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music?"

Art of the Week: Untitled By Peyton Sawyer

Source: peyton-art.skyblog.com

Song of the Week: Halo by Haley James Scott

[Verse 1:]
I never promised you a ray of light,
I never promised there'd be sunshine everyday,
I give you everything I have, the good, the bad.
Why do you put me on a pedestal,
I'm so up high that I can't see the ground below,
So help me down you've got it wrong, I don't belong there.

[Chorus:]
One thing is clear,
I wear a halo,
I wear a halo when you look at me,
But standing from here, you wouldn't say so
you wouldn't say so, if you were me
And I, I just wanna love you,
Oh oh I, I just wanna love you

[Verse 2:]
I always said that I would make mistakes,
I'm only human, and that's my saving grace,
I fall as hard as I try
So don't be blinded
See me as I really am, I have flaws and sometimes I even sin,
so pull me from that pedestal,
I don't belong there.

[Chorus:]
One thing is clear,
I wear a halo,
I wear a halo when you look at me,
But standing from here, you wouldn't say so
you wouldn't say so, if you were me
And I, I just wanna love you,
Oh oh I, I just wanna love you

Why you think that you know me
But In your eyes
I am something above you
It's only in your mind
Only in your mind
I wear a
I wear a
I wear a Halo

One thing is clear,
I wear a halo,
I wear a halo when you look at me,
But standing from here, you wouldn't say so
you wouldn't say so, if you were me
And I, I just wanna love you,
Oh oh I, I just wanna love you

Haaaa ha-ha halo [x9]

5 Seasons Later

Finally, I finished all 5 seasons of Alias. Yup, it is as good as people says it is.

(Spoiler ahead!)

Of all the five seasons, i find the best seasons are the first three. The storyline unfolds fast and are unpredictable. Season 4 falls short because the first few episodes did not focus on the Rambaldi story arc. And i'm not very keen to see Sydney pregnant and in action in season 5.

The creator, J.J Abrams (also created Lost and directed MI: III) has stated that this series is a family drama set within the world of espionage. But to me, what intrigues me most is the story line of prophecy and predetermination in terms of the fictional character of Milo Rambaldi. Not to mention the fast paced story line and action sequence. I certainly will miss this show and highly recommend those who have not yet watched the show, or those only watched a few episodes before - to watch this show in sequence. Totally worth it.

Just some interesting trivia of Alias and it's connection with Lost (from Wikipedia):

• In "The Awful Truth", music from Drive Shaft (the rock band featuring Charlie Pace) can be heard during Weiss' birthday party.
• Oceanic Airlines: Sydney to Los Angeles nonstop flight is featured in an Alias episode where the flight's departure announcement can be heard over the airport loudspeakers at LAX. The plane that crashed in the pilot episode of Lost was Oceanic Airlines 815, flying non-stop from Sydney to Los Angeles.
• Terry O'Quinn (FBI Assistant Director Kendall in Alias Season 2) currently plays John Locke on Lost.
• Greg Grunberg (Eric Weiss) portrayed Flight 815's pilot in the first episode of Lost.
• Lost also features an episode in which a main character, in flashback, encounters a CIA agent played by an actress who had previously appeared in a similar role on Alias, possibly intended to be the same character.
• The actor François Chau plays Mr. Cho in the Alias episode "Crossings" (2004) and also appears in Lost as Dr. Marvin Candle/Dr. Mark Wickmun in the various Dharma orientation films.

Texas Hold ’Em

Weekend is finally here... after a looong working week.

Went to watch Casino Royale last night. Managed to get good seat after queing three times waiting for the uncollected reservations to be opened. Below are interesting excerpts heard during the movie:

"Macho lah James Bond baru ni" - Fala
"A'ah.. mata dia hijau" - Alfa

Highlights of the movie includes:
- The opening action sequence
- The fabulous car
- Chris Cornell Theme song
- Molly running to the toilet after the 2 and 1/2 hour movie

Thou shalt not speak

I'm a believer in the Dilbert Principle. Having read the books, i sincerely believe that all Top Management have read Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook.

Case point:

I recently found out that the building i'm working in will be demolished. To make matter worse, my boss said we will be working in a cabin. Being me, i expressed my "unhappiness" - in a subtle way- of that decision in the appraisal session (which has a story on its own). The next day my boss e-mailed me saying that i will be in charge of acquiring a new building for the section and prepare all the necessary documents, presentation paper, getting the budget, presenting to the management and "defending the paper if necessary". So people, remember: The management deals with whiners by getting them in charge of the things they complain about. Serves me right for not keeping my mouth shut.

See it soon?

Nice car... but a bit overpriced i think.

Long ago

I feel that i owe this blog an update before i'm off to KL in 30 minutes.

What has happened for the past month:
1. Change this blog design
2. Raya is a bore (then again, i was called the Scrooge of Raya)
3. Bonus was in (then again, it's all gone)
4. Fit is having a secret scandalous affair
5. Ifa transferred to KL
6. Isham made sure people know he's married with a prominent lovebite
7. I put on weight (mainly due to Raya... one of the reasons i'm not into Raya)
8. Zainol is transferring to Vietnam

Recent purchases:
1. New mp3 player for car
2. Some clothes
3. Portable hard disc (80GB)

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

New DVDs This Week

1. Poseidon
2. Half Nelson
3. Friends With Money
4. X3: X-Men United
5. Just My Luck
6. Take The Lead

More PD Pics

Itu Susahkan Orang

Got a mail recently requesting me to prepare to do an ISO9001 audit for the one of the departments in the company. Everytime i come across any ISO-related mail, i am reminded by an ederly man said to me once: 'ISO tu sebenarnya "Itu Susahkan Orang"'. And this guy actually teaches Quality in one of the courses i attended. I don't know what he has against ISO, but seems so passionately against it. He also said that ISO certification is only for companies to put on banners or display it in the lobby. Something to think about...

New DVDs This Week

1. Grey's Anatomy - Season 1
2. Alias - Season 2

PD Trip (Treasure Hunt)

Joined Company's Treasure Hunt two weekends ago with my housemates... and we got 5th place (not too shabby). To Hema, Ifa, Molly and Kevin - you guys have to beat us next year then... hehe. More pictures later. Malas nak upload.

KK Trip

Went to KK (31/8 - 3/9) and had a great time. Many thanks to Wira, Lina and Liana for being my tour guides!

Kinabalu



Nexus Karambunai Resort

Bangunan Yayasan Sabah


Baby Lobster with Buttercream!!

Happy Birthday to Fit!! He's as old as me now... hehe

Perak & Penang Trip

Isham Wedding photos

28

I am officially 28. Birthdays are depressing.

Song of the Week: Cinta - Misha & Jac

My beloved grandfather passed away last Friday night. Semoga rohnya di cucuri rahmat. Al-Fatihah.

of weddings and buses

Isham is getting married on the 22nd (yup, on a Tuesday. I still don't get why it's held on a Tuesday, even though I pretend i do). The kenduri will be at Parit Buntar. Me, Fuad and Fit will be going. So far, the plan is to take the bus on Monday night (cue Aweng screaming: "Saya benci naik bas!!") and meet Fala there who will be there earlier. My cuti and Fit's cuti dah approve. The only thing is, Fala have to present some technical shit on the 22nd. Hopefully he can get out of it.

It is now "official" that Isham will be the first one in our house to lose his virginity. Hope his surgery wound heals fast enough. I'm sure he's drinking the Gamat drink by the lot. Wish him the best and semoga berkekalan hingga ke anak cucu.

Speaking of buses, I was resorted to take the bus from KL to Kuantan last weekend. Not that I don't like to take the bus or i feel that it's beneath me, it's just that i find it too much of a trouble. One, someone has to send me to Pudu and go through the jam; Two, i hate to sweat at Pudu and then go inside the bus sweating; Three, I’ve been taking the bus for 5 years straight during my studies at UTP - you name it - Transnasional, Plusliner, Restu, General, Perak Roadways, I’ve taken them all. You see, I'm not one of those fortunate one with their own vehicle at UTP. I've taken macam-macam jenis bas. The good ones and bad ones. The most memorable express bus is the one where masa bas jalan, the whole window bergegar.

I can still also remember vividly the bus rides from UTP to Ipoh on the "General" bus. General buses are the ones that go through the 'rural' areas around Ipoh. The buses are in a condition that redefines "hidup segan mati tak mahu". Surprisingly though, it can go very fast. Since the suspension was non-existence, the whole bus ride feels like you're on a roller coaster. During most of the rides, I will holding on to dear life, bumping up and down my seat with wind gushing on my face. I was at one point almost thrown out of my seat.

My point is, i feel like I’ve done the whole bus thingy and will only take them when i have absolutely no other choice.

Why Can't We All Just Be Nice To Each Other?

There's Got To Be A Way

A broken man without a home
Desperate and so alone
A victim of society
No one really wants to see
Some of us don't even wonder
Some of us don't even care
Couldn't we just help each other
Isn't there enough to share

There's got to be a way
To connect this world today
Come together to relieve the pain
There's got to be a way
To unite this human race
And together we'll bring on a change

In another land they still believe
Color grants supremacy
I don't understand
How there can be
Regulated bigotry
Some of us don't even wonder
Some of us don't even care
Couldn't we accept each other
Can't we make ourselves aware

There's got to be a way
To connect this world today
Come together to relieve the pain
There's got to be a way
To unite this human race
And together we'll bring on a change

And maybe then the future will be a time
Without war, destitution and sorrow
And hungry children
Won't have to die
If we work together today
We'll save tomorrow
Some of us don't even wonder
Some of us don't even care
Couldn't we just love each other
Isn't there enough to share

Lyrics by MC

Recap

1. An apple a day: Isham was hospitalised last Thursday night after a few consecutive nights of "gastric". The doctor at the clinic referred him to Kuantan Specialist. After a gastroscope and an ultrasound scan, the doctor found out that he had "batu dalam hempedu" and scheduled for immediate surgery on Monday. They totally removed his gall bladder with two 1.5cm 'stones'. He is now recovering. Get well soon!!
2. Money matters: Last year's performance appraisal results came in. I, in the eyes of the management, "meet expectation". The result came with a tiny increment in pay. What's most dissapointing, and i speak for many people in the company is that the rumor of salary adjustment did not materialise. After all the hoo-ha of what i hear up to 40% increase in pay! Let us pray for a huge bonus next month!
3. Speaking of work: Work has been hectic for the past two weeks. I was in a bad mood and did not realise it. My officemates have been saying that i'm very garang lately. I think i've been unfairly releasing my frustration of work to them. Sorry geng! I'll try to control my emotions.

New DVDs This Week

1. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
2. She's The Man
3. Rumor Has It...
4. Failure to Launch
5. American Dreamz

Where are the slutty nurses?

I got hospitalised last week due to dehydration resulted from diarrhea.
That morning i went to a clinic and the doctor who look like he's 12, actually implied that i lied when i mintak MC. He said, "ni MC sakit ke, MC tengok bola semalam?". So happened that the night before was the semi final of the World Cup. Rasa macam nak maki jer doktor tu, but i didn't want to waste my energy. I'm definitely not going back to that bloody clinic.
That night i actually fainted in the bathroom. Was out for about 40 seconds, then i woke up. There i was, sprawling naked in the bathroom floor. Hit my head on the door. Sweating profusely. Luckily Fala and Fuad was around and brought me to KMC. Was hospitalised for two nights.

My first experience being warded was not that bad. My only complaint is that how bad the food is. On Friday, I was served with the Friday 'special' (yup, the lady actually said it was a 'special': lucky me!) of mee hailam: which is basically boiled stuff - mee, chicken, prawns and sayur -topped with some kicap. Didn't touch it 'cos it looked disgusting. Patut ler people coming out of hospitals lose weight. Other than that, it was a pleasant experience. Even the nurses are nice (well, except that particular one who inflicted pain masa nak tukar my IV) - but my only question is: where are the slutty nurses?
p.s: To all who came to visit: Thanks.

Song of The Week: Kenangan Terindah (Samsons)

New DVD this week

1. Alias - Season 1

Sugar High

Was feeling sugar-deprived last night and decided to go to Starbucks. Of the limited choices of food at Kuantan's Starbucks, i ordered the Apple Crumble with whipped cream and (hold your breath) glazed with caramel. Dunno whether i was hungry or what, it was sinfully delicious! (Never mind it costs me sepuluh ringgit!)

Movie Marathon

Tonight i watched 3 movies; 1 at the cinema and 2 on DVDs.

Cars

As always, Pixar did not dissapoint me. Good storyline and superb CGI. Hailed as the best movie so far this summer by critics. Kinda agree with that, but i still prefer The Incredibles to this.

Rating: A-

Date Movie

Suprisingly short (clocked at 1 hour plus), this movie also fell short on my expectations. There are a few really funny scenes taking parody on romantic movies, but it did not match the 'classic' Scary Movie.

Rating: C+

Match Point

A disturbingly good movie which made me glued to the screen, starring Scarlett Johannsen (!) and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. You can say this movie combines sex, mystery, thriller, good writing and great performances.

Rating: A