Come what may

OMG. Sooo looking forward to the long weekend. It has been a shitty day so far. Urgh.

The Wild

Watched The Wild last night. It is the latest Disney 3D animation movie featuring voices of Kiefer Sutherland, James Belushi and Janeane Garafalo. The story's about a group of animals in NY Zoo, headed by Samson the Lion (Kiefer) going out to an adventure, through New York City and ended up somewhere in Africa trying to save Samson's son. Wait... sounds like a plot of another cartoon: Madagascar! However, it was reported that Disney had been working on this movie for 9 years. I feel that The Wild is better than Dreamwork's Madagascar in terms of plot, jokes and character likeability.

The first 20 minutes of the movie did not grab my attention. But it progresses and the jokes gets better. Favourite character goes to Nigel the Koala as he delivers the best lines in the movie. The CGI is superb - you can actually see the details (the fur and such) and the lip-synching is almost perfect.

An overall enjoyable movie especially for kids, but i've seen better Disney movies (The Incredibles, Finding Nemo).

Just Like A Pill

"...where i can run, just as fast as i can, to middle of nowhere, to middle of my frustrated fears.."

New DVDs This Week

1. Underworld: Evolution
2. Jarhead
3. Casanova
4. Stay
5. The New World
6. Munich (Fala's)

You Drive Me Crazy!!

Was reading Reader's Digest (at work), and saw a survey in Asia on what irritate us most. Below are the findings on Asia's Top Irritations:

Bad Drivers: 86%
Queue-jumpers: 86%
Spitting in public (gross!): 84%
Poor services in shops/restaurants: 82%
People who drop litter: 79%
Poor personal hygiene(yuck!): 77%
Dog mess in street/park: 75%
People who swear: 74%
Noisy neighbours: 69%
Smoking in public places: 69%
Unpuctuality: 68%
Computer crashes: 66%
People talking loudly on mobile phones:66%
Crowded public transport: 60%
Telemarketers: 58%
Internet pop-up ads: 56%
Road works: 55%
People who don't say please/thanks: 49%
Automated telephone switchboards: 43%
Plastic wrapping you can't open: 40%

I kinda agree with the list. Other things that make me go nuts these days:
1. The question "bila nak kawin?" - enough already ppl!
2. The statement "you look fat"
3. The thought "i can't afford that" (sob, sob)

Gubra

Just finished watching Gubra with Fala, Fuad, Suren and Sani. It's a sort of a sequal to Sepet. We all agree that it's a good movie. Indeed, it's not a 'perfect' movie - you're somewhat left feeling wanting, but it's a brave effort by a Malaysian film maker. We especially like all the underlying messages on our current society. You have to watch to understand what i mean.

The five of us laughed the loudest in the cinema. There are plenty of funny moments - Pak Atan and Mak Inom doing macarena on the bed, Yam's comment on the ambulan service - however, my favourite part and i find the funniest is not even spoken in Malay. The part where the nurses spoke Tamil and made a small remark in the hospital after attending to Pak Atan. Nasib baik Suren was there to translate! Next time if i decide to watch again, i need to bring a Chinese friend to translate the Chinese dialogues.

To Fit: yes, it's true, you can see a guy's bare ass in the movie. I'm sure you will appreciate that.

p.s: Make sure you stay until the end of the credits.

Contra

Was really bored at the office today. After breakfast, i decided to go to the bank and pay my income tax. It was certainly sad to see my iPod dream going into flames; but you gotta do what you gotta do. My friend said it was 'patriotik' of me to go and pay the tax so early. When i think about it - paying your income tax is a patriotic thing to do. I mean, the money does go to the goverment, but the goverment will (should?) use the money to help other needy Malaysians and improve our way of life in terms of facilities and stuff. Isham keeps telling (lecturing?) me on how he understands the whole system works and we should not hesitate to pay our taxes. But then again, his income tax form always shows 'cukai terlebih bayar' and need not to pay anything upon submitting...

One Tree Hill

Since today is a public holiday, i finally got the chance and the mood to watch DVDs. Decided to watch Season 1 of One Tree Hill. The DVD has been sitting on the player for quite some time now. My verdict: loved it. For those who like The O.C, i pretty sure you will enjoy this series. It's somewhat a more toned-down and more 'real' version of the over-the-top OC. Not that i don't like the OC (gotta love Summer), i find OTH more subtle and has more emotions attached to it.

I did watch OTH before this on Star World, but did not manage to follow it because i can never seem to remember what day it was on. However, i find watching it on DVD back-to-back and advert-free is far more entertaining.

So for those who missed this series on T.V, i do recommend buying the DVD.

This Week's Best Quote

"Should i go and get a ruler?" KATE (EVANGELINE LILLY), WITNESSING A MACHO-MAN STANDOFF BETWEEN JACK (MATTHEW FOX) AND SAWYER (JOSH HOLLOWAY), ON LOST

(credit to EW.com)

Income Tax

Finished calculating my income tax for last year. And i have to pay more than a thousand ringgit for it!! Serves me right for not deducting my salary for PCB or zakat. Starting this year, i have made a point to deduct my pay for zakat pendapatan. Hopefully it can dramatically reduce my tax for next year. There goes my plan for a new iPod. Sob.

Close My Eyes

I was wayward child
With the weight of the world
That I held deep inside
Life was a winding road
And I learned many things
Little ones shouldn't know

But I closed my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raised my head to the sky
And though time's rolled by
Still I feel like that child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up A little too soon

Funny how one can learn
To grow numb to the madness
And block it away
I left the worst unsaid
Let it all dissipate
And I try to forget

As I closed my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raised my head to the sky
And the time rolled by
Still I feel like a child
As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up
A little too soon

Nearing the edge
Oblivious I almost
Fell right over
A part of me
Will never be quite able
To feel stable
That woman-child falling inside
Was on the verge of fading
Thankfully I
Woke up in time

Guardian angel I
Sail away on an ocean
With you by my side
Orange clouds roll by
They burn into your image
And you're still alive (You're always alive)

As I close my eyes
Steadied my feet on the ground
Raise my head to the sky
And though time rolls by
Still I feel like a child

As I look at the moon
Maybe I grew up
A little too soon

Lyrics by M. Carey

Gossip

Hari ni i had a course or "workshop" at Vistana Hotel. I admit i hardly pay attention to the course. It was basically an awareness course jer (read: excuse). Plus i was busy listening to office gossips from a friend sitting next to me. He has so many stories up his sleeves that can put Mama Juwie to shame. It was such a guilty pleasure listening to them.

Came back home with a splitting headache... probably trying to digest too much information (from the gossip, not the course material.. but you already knew that).

Gifts

Must be gifts week 'cos i received gifts and tokens - and it's not even my birthday! Today, got a new digital camera from the company i'm working with (performance token), a pen (for registering for pemotongan Zakat pendapatan) and yesterday i got a manicure set for 'attending' an AGM. Cool.

Happy 7th Birthday, Almaz!!

My niece celebrated her 7th birthday last Saturday with a party.
Themed football.





The football cake

Kak Muni ala Rebecca Apprentice...

..at Sports Barn to be exact



My 1st nephew, Rifqy

Zayn in his Liverpool t-shirt

Almaz in her jersey