The life of a driver…

Is very boring. If I ever (haha; very much doubt it) get one, I’ll make sure there’s a library in the car for him to read while waiting for me. Our car resembles a library now. Hahaha. Or at least, the trunk is.

Why am I being a driver? Because my mother’s orthopedic has told her not to drive. Well, she hasn’t been driving apart from going to work anyway. However, since she twisted her knee one day, she totally hasn’t. And going to the orthopedic… Someone else’s doctor telling me not to work just yet. Huh.

There hasn’t been much. The internet has been wonky, so I haven’t even putting up the pictures from Syria and Jordan. I have been addicted to downloading stuff, and it is mostly for the sake of downloading instead of wanting the files already. Sigh. And for the past few days, there hasn’t been any successful download of a file. Yesterday, it was less than 1MB left to be downloaded when it stopped. Urgh!! So bloody annoying!!

Nonetheless, now I am at my mother’s office, and I might be the only joker who’s using the wireless… So the internet connection is awesome!! Download time babeh!!

When will I be cured from this, seriously? Sigh…

Off to read Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. No mood to finish Memoirs of a Geisha.

I know someone who needs such a kitteh

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XD

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Happy New Year!!

Off to my mother’s hometown for my cousin’s engagement!!

Welcoming New Year in our car!! Toodles!!

Hiatus

What the hell???

I was gone for quite some time before this and I never said anything. I haven’t posted something for a few days, and now I am saying I’m taking a hiatus. Right…

Anyway, I’m going to be concentrating on putting together a blog of my trip to Syria and Jordan. The pictures can be horrendous at times. And I need to shrink it since I used 12MP size. Hehehe. Shrink it to 35% for the blog. Wahaha. Can’t be bothered to watermark it though. Would drive me insane then. And I wouldn’t get anything done!!

Soo…. Faliq, hope you enjoyed all the shopping you did yesterday and will be doing tomorrow!!!

I know I haven’t inserted the links of the last post. Shhhh. Will do it soon enough!!

Right now, to be honest, I’m just loading the pictures and putting them in draft form. Not blogging anything on the pictures yet. The internet’s been wonky, and since it is letting me load the pictures…

But, it’s probably a WP problem, before this. And maybe now people are too busy with shopping and Christmas still that they haven’t had time to jam the server? Who knows?

Tata for now!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

The odd people who reads my blog anyway; not much loyal readers apart from Faliq. Ah well. So what, eh?

Though he doesn’t celebrate Christmas…

Oh well!!

Who cares?

First Christmas the family didn’t call us up for Christmas dinner. Yeay!! No uncomfortable chit chat with the ooooold cousins (I’m the youngest in that generation) and the questioning of how come I haven’t had a job and the looks of disappointment of how can she be in the family when she’s so stupid? Sigh. What a way to celebrate Christmas, eh? Oh, I know when I’m there I try to look at the bright side, but, when I get back, I just get so pissed. Blah.

Oh!! This is what Faliq would definitely be celebrating!!

HAPPY BOXING DAY!!!!! ENJOY SHOPPING TOMORROW AT YOUR HOLY TRINITY!!!

Gosh, yesterday was such a tiring day!! Didn’t sleep the night before because some things cropped up when I was just about to go to bed. So I didn’t sleep before I accompanied my mother to go to check on her EPF, and then off to have lunch with Amni (at her pantry!! Hahaha. Like I am willing to fight for the seats at KLCC. I think it was much more enjoyable eating at the pantry. True that it didn’t have a view, but OMG!! It was level 70-something!! Didn’t bring a camera so couldn’t kepoh-kepoh. Probably would do that the next time I’m there. Nyahaha!!), and then to drop off some Christmas cards. Though I was “stuck” in Kinokuniya for about 2 hours. Hahahaha. Quite surprised they brought some of the Japanese section down. Now I’m curious as to what is upstairs. Maybe my next trip there (since, really, there’s nothing in KLCC that is special except for Kinokuniya) I’ll go check it out. I don’t know why it is soooo much easier to find books in Kinokuniya than in MPH. Must be some Japanese feng shui. Though now I usually just choose the books there; I’ll still get it in MPH since I have the MPH card. But, yes, I would go all the way to KLCC just to pick the books. Am I insane? I think I am.

Though the odd, weird books, it is still better to try get them at Kinokuniya. I wonder why. Hmmm…

At least now their pricing is more consistent with the rest of the bookstores in Malaysia. I used to think that maybe they use the pricing in Japan for the books they sell in their shop. Seriously!! Some reaaalllyyyy weird prices. Can’t remember what, exactly, but it was XX.18. How the hell did they come up with 18 sens???

Went back, and went to find what was supposed to be the “best cake ever” according to my mother. For the life of me, right now, I can’t remember what it is. I’ll check with her later. But it is like layers upon layers upon layers of crêpe with cream in between. I don’t know why my mother likes it. She says it is less rich for her, but I found it is quite rich. I’m afraid I prefer old fashion cakes. Still, it was something different, so yeah. Oh, it costs RM8 for the vanilla ones and RM9 for the chocolate ones. However, looking at the layers and the thinnest of the crêpe, it’s worth it!! The taste… Well… to me it is okay. Maybe part of the reason is because of my mother over-hyped it to me? Who knows?

Had pizza for dinner. The one with the corn flakes at the crust (if you could call it a crust). Super cheesy and muak-ing but nice nonetheless. After that, rushed to Subang to meet up with Ku, Fatin, and Fatin’s friend, Sureen, and laughed quite a bit. Hahaha. Fatin insisted that I shouldn’t spend my birthday night alone. Sigh. Ah well.

Came back, scrubbed my face and put my Kiehl’s Rare Earth masque topically (thank goodness!!) and immediately fell asleep due to fatigued. And, actually, I somewhat just woke up. Hahaha. I would be asleep still if it wasn’t for the many texts. I thought someone was too stingy to call me but wanting to contact me. However, they came from different people. Sigh…

Such a descriptive account of my day. Oh well. I’m bored and I haven’t blogged much. So, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

And Faliq, hope you wouldn’t bust your bank account tomorrow!!!

Misc updates

I typed this out on a Words file because my internet got cut. Ladida. I’ll add the URL later. Going out now!!

20^th Dec 2009 @ 19:20

OMG!!!! I got a new phone!!!!!!!!!!!

Was so excited yesterday that I could hardly sleep!! Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Got the LG KF350 a.k.a. Ice Cream Got the baby blue-green/ pistachio color. Shooooooooo cuuuuuuute!!!!!

Been eyeing the phone the moment I saw Jolene Lai reviewed it on her blog. However, I just got back and was fuming with my choice of getting the Sony Ericsson K850i. I got the phone because of the camera. Yeah, what a choice. And then, few months after that I got my Nikon P5100. Hahaha. Just couldn’t stand such mediocre cameras. Ironically, I hate Sony cameras. Sorry, Dee!! Still, the snow pictures you took were wonderful

I used my Samsung E-900 most of the time. Only time I used the Sony again was when I was in the UK, since I was using the Samsung for my Malaysian number. People were still texting me using my Maxis number; much cheaper for them. Came back and my mother complained that she wanted a new phone. Ranged from my Samsung to an iPhone. Funny that she didn’t once mention the Sony. However, I said, why should I give up a phone that I am comfortable with that is older than a phone that I am so-so with? Gave her the phone and she kept it in her underwear drawer!!!! What the hell, right? I didn’t know she was still using her oooooooooooold Nokia, till one day, my battery died and I needed to make a call pronto (funny I didn’t think of calling from the house phone. Hahaha). Asked for her phone and she gave me that old gray one. Got so angry and started yelling at her. Added anger because I could have given the phone to one of my cousin who is in dire need of a new phone!! Plus, he wanted a Sony-Ericsson camera phone and was once eyeing my phone. Even more so when I told him I don’t really like it. I was slow on the uptake that he wanted the phone. Only when his sister—who lives with me—said that he wants a new phone for his birthday did I actually get all the hints he’s been dropping. Hahaha. Told my mother, and she panicked and said, fine, she’ll use the phone.

She went somewhere and when she came back, she lost her camera. Absolutely no idea how. She lost her 14MP Lumix camera!!!!!! I knooooowww!!! Breaks my heart!! Gosh!! Such a superb camera!! Funny thing is that it got lost at home. (Edit: the maid has found it! Yeay!!)  Hmmmm… So, she started learning how to use the camera on the Sony phone properly, and now she’s loving the phone.

So, there’s absolutely no way will I get that phone back even if I wanted it. She’s so in love with the phone that she made me use her old Nokia in the mean time.

Sniff sniff.

Bless the aunties and uncles who said that I should actually get a new phone. They say that it is admirable for a young adult to have been using the same phone for three and a half years. I really hardly ever did use the Sony when I was still in the UK. I only used it when my mother used my Samsung when she was there because I gave her a number just in case.

Actually, I was going to buy it with my own money. However, she gave me the cash… So… yeah. Hehehe.

Gosh. Yesterday my chest got so tight as I spent soooooooooooooooooo much money. I paid RM640 for the phone; got a 2GB microSD card with it. And then… and then… I bought my stock for the year of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (which is currently failing me since my face is feeling dry and I’m having so much acne. What the hell???); two bottles, and their eye gel so that I could qualify to get the Cleansing Oil (funny that I find their facial wash too drying. My skin is destined for cheapo cleansers, me thinks. Every time I nick someone’s expensive cleanser, I find it too drying too). Spent about 1k there. Die. And bought make-up base, which I use for facial sun-block nowadays. Thank goodness it was half price. All in all, I spent almost 2k yesterday. Aaaaakkkkk!!!!! Die.

I actually need a new eye lash curler…

Anyway, I know I’ve been quite quiet on this blog. That is because the internet connection has been crap. I think I’ve blabbed about this already and told people not to change to P1. However, I don’t know how Streamyx is now. When I was using it 4 or 5 years ago (pre-degree period), it was good. However, for my friends in Shah Alam, they said it was crap. I guess it really depends on your area. Best way to keep up to date with me is through twitter. You don’t have to even have a twitter account; you can see my twitter page, here. Find it sooooo much easier saying things on twitter since you just type it and hit share or post or whatever it is; I can’t remember. I’m actually typing this on a Words file because P1 cut the internet connection (that’s another thing; they just tell you that your bill is due, and at the day of your bill, they just cut it without any warning. What happens if you went overseas for about two weeks, and when you return on a weekend, you need to use it immediately? If you click the self pay online, it will take 3 days for them to process it, i.e. 3 days before you could use the internet again. Seriously, P1 suck quite bad. I’m definitely complaining even though the account is my cousin’s. I’m still a user!! *puts on tough lawyer cap*). Unlike wordpress, where you would have to click “New Post” and then click “post” when you’re done; you need to click twice!! And you have to wait for the “new post” page to load before you could start typing. You might have lost your flow by the time it finish loading.

Still, I would come here from time to time. When I came back, the internet was quite good. Except for the cutting part. Well, the speed was good anyway.

Oh, I just got back—about 4 days ago now—from a trip to Syria and Jordan. Was initially frustrating but fun after got to know people whose age and professional ranking (i.e. their job description) is nearer than me, i.e. people leading towards/ in the middle of their career instead of those ending or ended their career, which was the biggest bunch amongst all. After all, the group that I knew was going was mostly my mother’s friends. I don’t know why I subjected myself to it. Must be my being fed up with my mother asking me God knows how many times “are you sure you don’t want to join me to Syria and Jordan? It might end up like the trip to Japan; you regret it till today, and all because of a first term exam that you mostly failed.” Yes, what a mouthful, but she said it almost consistently. Amazing. I absolutely hate it when she mentions that Japan trip which I said I didn’t want to go, and didn’t tell her why. Yes, it was because it was held on my first term exam. I didn’t tell my mother when my exams were held then. And yes, I failed most of it. Urgh. Annoying.

Didn’t help that the amount she paid for the trip… I could add all my savings and could have gotten a 17 inch MacBook Pro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Explains why I resented it so much, eh?

However, I did enjoy myself. Got three new sisters and a father that I decide to leave in Syria. Hahaha. I also met an Aladdin who lost his Jasmine; how very careless. Came back with 6GB worth of pictures, and have started a blog dedicated to the trip and the pictures. Will be like my Norway trip.

I regret not doing for my UK trip, so I might do it anyway even though it is late.

Though from the amount I deleted for the first two days, it might not be THAT many. Quite crap, some of it. What the hell was I thinking? Oh, yeah, I couldn’t control the driver and tell them to drive slower or stop or what not. Hehehe. Also, there were 30 of us. Yes, thirty of us. I tried to be in front most of the time, but sometimes… Well…

And there were times when I forgot to change the function of my camera even though it was just to turn the knob. Seriously. Blah. I know I’ve been neglecting my camera since I came back. And I want to get an SLR. Yeah right!!

Amagad I love my new phoooooone!!!! Akkk!!!

I’m actually having flu. Had fever for two days, but it went away after I ordered the phone. HAHAHA. My mother is still set on my missing Syria too much. However, if it was Syria, I would have fallen sick in Jordan already. Funny that it was Syria that she thought of. No surprise since most of the oldies disliked Jordan because of the guide. In my opinion, it was probably partly the guide’s fault for being angry for a bit. However, the main culprit was one of us; if he didn’t ask sooooo many question and to interrupt the guide. To be expecting all guides to be the same is just silly. And after he got angry, everyone just ignored him and just talked amongst themselves when he was explaining on the bus. True that he was horrid in Petra, but at the Dead Sea… he actually did point out the Pillar of Salt. I saw him pointing out, but most people were more interested at the fact that on the other side was the West Bank. I’m not even sure if it is true even, but I just humored them when they asked me to take a picture of them against the background of West Bank. Ah well…

Kept these quiet, of course, from them, since they think I’m this desperate female whose biological clock is ticking (hello??? I’m only 22. I could understand if I was 32, but twenty two???) who didn’t care if the guy was double or triple my age or even that he’s living halfway across the world and already have a wife. Seriously, man!! 60 year olds acting like 16; one track mind with only sex is the reason people act the way they do. No wonder Freud’s theories became so popular.

And to not believe when the tour leader said she’s happily married with four kids and think she’s after the Syrian guide too… Oh my God!!

I was thinking, am I with a bunch of high schoolers instead of majority high government officers?

OMG. The high government officers… Really the reason I broke down the second day. Funny that the more educated ones—even though they were the older ones—treated me like equals, and I had no problems respecting them, and teasing them. They took it as it is—jokingly—instead of an insult. The amount of times I criticize their camera… Hehehe. They did become my best models. And so loving!!!! Amazing!!

Hopefully I’ll be alright soon. I can’t stand this itchy throat. However, I haven’t been taking pholcodine consistently. Yikes!! My fault, I know. Oh well…

I love my new phone!!!!

And it is my kind of phone. When it is fully charged, it will have a sign saying “Battery full. Please unplug power supply to save energy”.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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Your LAST RM50

The November issue of CLEO wrote an article… or more like published a “survey”, where the writer went around asking people what would they do with their last RM50.

The description included at the beginning of the articles says:

“The ATM says your account has RM50 left and for imagination’s sake, you don’t know when your next pay check will come in. What will you do? Elsa Samuel talks to 27 ladies and six guys on their hypothetical last RM50 days.” (emphasis added)

I wonder if the people whom she asked didn’t understand her question or just deluded or we Malaysians have became so dependent on our parents to bail us out that we don’t really care on saving our own money.

20 odd of them would actually splurge their last RM50 on nonsensical things instead of the essentials; food and petrol. There’s a guy who would use it for petrol so that he could get to his parents or girlfriend’s for food. Fair enough, you’re a guy, and it is quite practical but not too much, in my opinion. But, getting mood rings and binging on Krispy Kreme and having a posh dinner? You’re going to have a last good meal and not bother about food at all until you get your pay, which, could come only in 2 weeks time? After all, hypothetically, you don’t know when your pay would come in!

I wonder if they realize it is their last RM50, not that “you are given RM50; what would you do with it?” kinda thing. I strongly believe that the lady who plans to change it to 5 sen coins and go around donating it think so, but I might be wrong. Still, like I said, I believe strongly that she misheard the writer’s question.

I find it horrifying that only one person thought of investing it, and that less than 10 would think of survival, i.e. getting enough food to make sure you’re tied till your next pay.

Or maybe they think that, oh, after I spend this RM50, I would die, so I don’t have to deal with the mess of having to survive.

After all, it is your last RM50.

But, get real. Would you think people would ask you such thing?

This article made me think of two things; do we depend too much on our parents to bail us out and not start saving from the first day we start earning? And do we Malaysians have a big problem of listening things through and answering a question properly?

The ISP’s being a pain in the arse.

The extensive advertising done by P1 doesn’t correspond with what they promise in their advertisements; their service has gone down the drain.

If this is the best, I don’t want to know what is the worst.

However, I’ve tried their rival ISP, and, in my opinion, P1 is not the best.

So, if you’re around the Damansara area, please consider not “cutting”.

Seriously.

Blah.

Haven’t been able to check my email for over a month. Sigh.

Was a celebrity just now at the dental clinic.

And since I am not bound by Hippocratic oath and no one will be suing me on ethics (since I should be the one suing), I’ll blab later.

Now I suddenly feel sleepy.

Probably because the LA is finally receding, and I am in pain, and I woke up at 4.30 this morning.

Toodles.

Oh, had a student extract my teeth.

And guess what? SHE DID A BETTER JOB THAN MY SURGEON DID!!

Hah!!

I love students. Just not when they’re tailing their consultants; those are bloody annoying.

Wisdom tooth

I’m getting a tooth extracted tomorrow.

My last wisdom tooth.

They couldn’t get it out when I had the operation that took out the rest because it was quite complicated to get it out and I was out for waaayyy too long, as it were.

So, they let it be.

And I’ve been suffering ever since.

Gosh, it’s been, what, 4 years, since it first made an appearance? I remember it was my last dental appointment in first year that the dentist realized it started growing.

That was early 2006.

Gosh.

And it still hasn’t come out fully, would you believe it?

Still, there has been too many ulcer incidence that they decided to get it out. Thank God!!

Anyway, I’ve been freaking out over it. After all, I haven’t had any of my teeth extracted while I’m conscious for over 10 years. Admittedly, even when the one while I was unconscious was bloody painful afterwards!!

Before I had the operation, my mother actually brought me to some cake shop. The last time those teeth could actually feel sugar or anything else that might ruin it.

Hahaha.

Today, she left me a note, telling me to “make sure [I] buy something sweet to give [my] teeth a last treat, even if it is just a peanut butter sandwich”

Suh-weeeettt.

Oh, the peanut butter sandwich thing is mainly because I’ve been wanting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich since forever but I’ve been too lazy to get a loaf of white bread for myself.

Never ever eat peanut butter sandwiches on brown bread. Ewwww!!!!

Got myself 2 slices of cakes from Secret Recipe. Theoretically one for tonight, one for tomorrow. However, I know I wouldn’t be able to finish a whole slice at one sitting, so I would try a bit of each now, and keep it in the fridge. Have some for breakfast (and make sure I brush my teeth quickly again before leaving) and again when I get back.

Gosh… Need to wake up at 6.15 because I’m going with my friend (who is no longer my dentist ).

*yawn*

What will I be doing till 9.30? Oh dear. Sigh…

Dictionaries and books

I finally got a roll of scotch tape to repair my very much battered dictionary.

I usually use surgical tape for it nowadays. I used to use the actual Scotch Tape, or the Magic Tape by 3M previously, but since it is an imported product, my mother thought the price charged were obscene.

I preferred using Magic Tape; you could write over it. Especially when you were younger and accidentally tore parts of your homework. Rather than rewriting it all over again.

Regardless what brand of tape we use, I would still call the tape used to repair torn books or paper “scotch tape”.

Even the surgical tape. Which caused confusion when I asked my cousin to buy me a roll when she went to the pharmacy.

“Shouldn’t you get it from a stationary instead?” she asked.

I actually only started using surgical tape to repair torn paper when I was in uni. I couldn’t find any scotch tape, and had too many things to do to rewrite the notes, so I searched into my “first aid kit” (which was actually a drug store, to be honest) for the tape.

Since then, I associate that tape with paper instead of gauze.

It’s just the perfect tape. If you make mistakes, you could take it off easily without tearing the paper. And once you seal it properly, it is so strong, it wouldn’t come off.

AND you could write over it!!

However, the price rivals Scotch Tape, though I’m not going to convert back to 3M’s product. However, for “normal” day to day repairs, it is alright, since I don’t deal with paper that much anymore, and I am not as I was before.

Oh yes, I do wrap my presents with surgical tape quite often. Hahaha. So, if you’re a friend and you see surgical tape being used to wrap your presents, you know it’s from me. My personal card. Haha.

So, I decided, fine, I’ll buy a roll of scotch tape to repair my dictionary. Not that I would need to write over the tape anyway.

I finished the whole damn roll!!

It was so battered… It is about 10 years old; bought it in 2000. I wanted an Advance Learner’s Dictionary, so it is paperback, which might explain the battered state more.

The last time I repaired it was before I left for England for the first time. I actually wanted to bring that copy, but my mother said I was being ridiculous and told me to get a copy there.

I can’t imagine not having a hard copy of a dictionary and a thesaurus with me, ever. So, it scares and boggles my mind that I know people who’ve never opened a dictionary ever in their 20+ years living.

And, my mother has her own copy and I have mine. We just can’t share the dictionary. I use it while I’m reading–which is all the time–and she uses it while she’s writing her papers–which is also all the time. We do share a thesaurus; I don’t really write as often as she does. And she has a tendency to depend on Words’s thesaurus; faster, she claims.

It is funny that people that love–or even feel that they need to write–don’t really use a dictionary or a thesaurus. It’s just really sad. And even more people don’t know the existence of a thesaurus and what it is for.

Oh, and that project of reading 5 new words from the dictionary every day? Failed. Urgh!! I can’t remember where I stopped. Sigh.

Anyway, so, I went about repairing my pathetic excuse of a dictionary. I am quite reluctant to purchase a new copy because I grew fond of this copy. Sometimes I get intimidated of using a new copy of a dictionary. Part of the reason why I don’t really use my mother’s; she buys a new copy almost every other year. Her many research assistants “borrow” them till they can’t find it anymore. My copy’s an antique compared to hers. Hahaha.

It’s funny that my dictionary tend to need repairs towards the end. Most notoriously the letters R and S. I’ve absolutely no idea why.

And, this time, I went about repairing the cover; not just the pages that are hanging by just an mm of glue.

It looks much better, I have to say, but still quite pathetic. The roll of scotch tape doesn’t resemble the thing I bought 2 days ago; there’s no cellophane left. Only paper.

So, I asked my friends, what do they think I should get. My mother told me why don’t I get a pocket electronic dictionary; that way, I can bring it everywhere I go, since I bring a book with me every where I go (which is affecting the way I pick my handbags now. Oh why did I use to pick tiny handbags? Oh yeah; to prevent my bringing a lot of things. Wooppsss!!), but I am not so keen on it. I still feel like dictionaries should be books; a thick bunch of paper that one could flip through and make a lot of noise with. I’ve asked quite a number of my friends, and all of them voted for getting a hard covered copy to replace my current one. Admittedly, it’ll be quite some time before I get a new one, I’m thinking.

I may prefer paperbacks in general, but there are some books that I would want hard copies of. Books that I will be using or looking at often. A good example is Bulfinch’s Mythology; when it entered my “must buy book” list, it has always been the hard cover one. Now I want hard cover copies of the Odyssey and the Iliad. I got a hard copy version of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Oh, yeah! In general, I prefer hard covers for poetry. Not so much for prose. And if my mother didn’t have a hard copy version of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, I would have gotten one myself.

I hate thin books that are hard covers. There’s nothing sillier to me.

Hard cover dictionary, of course, has always been the preferred one.

However, due to the Advance Learner’s not having a hard cover version, I got a paperback. But yeah, now that I am beyond that, I will get a hard cover one.

Our thesaurus is hard covered. Mainly because it was paid by a research grant. Haha. And it is wrapped in plastic. Mainly because I have a tendency to throw away the paper that covers the hard cover.

Ahhh!!!! My list of books I wanna own is getting longer.

Nowadays, I find, to appreciate contemporary art–the wider sense of the word; I can’t stop saying enough how much I dislike modern art, as in drawings and such–especially books, you need to have to know and appreciate the classics. I see a lot of mention of the classics, or poking fun of the classic ideas… Retellings (though they’re common in any era)… There are also mentions of it in songs (though the songs I listen to tend to be more political than a retelling of stories. I think liking both Muse and Franz Ferdinand gives me a balanced political view. HAHAHA. Like they’re my politics teacher. I imagine my actual tutors slapping me for making them equivalent to a bunch of artists. Kekeke).

All in the name of recycling and not wasting.

Hahahaha.

Are we at the end of creativity?

Unlikely, since there are still quite a lot of new ideas coming out, but they do seem recycled a tad bit.

Though one would only realize if one is very very well read anyway.

Sadly, I’m not one of them

Oh, not only am I a prose person, I also prefer fiction. I don’t really fancy reading non-fiction, though nowadays I sometimes do read memoirs. I don’t know; I find lessons from fiction are better learnt than from non-fiction books. You can see how the lessons are applied in life, rather than in hypothetical situations like non-fictions are. Of course, not all non-fictions are like this. But, oh, I don’t know. Not much facts, I suppose. And the presentation… Ah well.

On e-books… Regardless how extreme my “enviro-Nazism” becomes, I doubt I’ll ever get an e-book. There is no way I will stop buying hard copies of books. They can always plant more trees to replenish them. I guess I’ll just have to be more alert on choosing the books I buy; making sure that they use sustainable paper instead of the likes of Ramses Paper Company.

I’m in love with Lenka. Her songs are just too cute!!

Sounds like a tweet but what the heck. Hahaha.

My twitter’s abused a wee bit too much.

And I finally got hold of the actual The Resistance. OMG I am in love with I Belong To You.

They’re just amazing. I love Muse!!

Communal pens

Nowadays I would carry either my Celtic cross pen or my Wacky Woolies pen in my handbag every single time I decide to go out, even when I am off to the night market. Sometimes I feel like bringing my leprechaun pen, but it is just too bulky.

Which pen I bring depends on which island I miss more. And since I spend much more time in Britain than Ireland… The Celtic cross pen is always in my handbag.

Also, it makes me look more serious than the the Wacky Woolies one. What with being made with pewter instead of plastic, and having the elegant Celtic decor instead of cartoon sheep…

Of course, sheep are just ridiculously cute, but, image is important, right?

Especially to snobbish sales assistance, which are in abundance in Malaysia.

I don’t get why they’re so snobbish; c’mon!! You’re just a SA, alright!! I can make more money than what you’re doing right now!! Plus, you’re at my mercy; if I decide not to buy, you might not get your commission.

Anyway, apparently, my using my own pens have awarded me with frowns from them. Like, “oh, fine, use that posh pen of yours instead.”

I have lost my Celtic bookmark, which I brought everywhere (since I always have a book with me in case I need to wait for anything; I hate wasting time that I could spend reading), and I very much doubt those that I got when I went back to Scotland last April ever (not that I blame Amni for it; it wasn’t her fault. And that is another topic I would like to talk about later), I feel the need to bring something with me that reminds me of Scotland. Sometimes I think I just like it because I didn’t study there. If I ever decide to study there, I might suddenly love Wales; who knows.

2 reasons now why I bring my Celtic cross pen.

Another because I hate using communal pens now.

Maybe it is because of the H1N1 scare (and my mother only finally getting over the fact that I still went to Glasgow even though they had one (much much emphasis here) confirmed case of swine flu. You would think the guy went around Glasgow spreading it instead of being strapped into some hospital bed. Admittedly, it was just starting; but still!!!).

Maybe it was the 10 week period where I had to battle acne on my face because I stupidly thought, hey, my face has been clear for over 2 months; it should be alright leaving my POM topical cream back home. I was sooooo wrong!! Got it first week I was there thanks to some very special pillow cases. Which means, now, I change my pillow case every single day. Even though I have 4 pillows on my bed, I actually only use one when I’m asleep. I change that pillow case when I wake up. Obsessive, I know. I no longer can stand them. And I set myself a relatively strict skincare regime. Relatively.

Maybe it is because of my new hair style; with the bangs and the short hair. There was this period where I had horrible acne because of my hair; it resembled a beard. Clear for a day (thanks to the awesome topical cream), but it’ll come back again the next day. Whaaaaatttttt!!!!

Or maybe it is because, regardless of my skin care regime, I have this habit of putting my hands at the lower sides of my face when exclaiming things; whether in shock, or seeing something ridiculously cute or adorable, or any other relatively strong emotion, apart from anger. I find it easier to start a new habit that trying to shed a new one. And now that I am addicted to Lenka (so bloody cute!!) and watching Muse’s clips on youtube (I find them cute and adorable; it is beyond me how people see them as sex objects. Maybe because they seem small (with the exception of Chris, of course); so skinny. And add to Matt Bellamy’s height… Hahaha. So cute!!).

Communal whatever are riddled with bacteria. It’s like a history archive of what the people that have been using the pen did before they held the pen. And those things will be transfered to my hands when I pick up and use the pen provided.

And then, when I see something I would squeal over, I bring those bacteria ridden hands to my face???

Ewwwww!!!!

Not to say that my pens would be less bacteria ridden, but at least it is just mine, you know?

Nowadays, I feel like I’m quite paranoid. I would swipe a cotton soaked with antiseptic germicide onto my mobile, wallet and the pen in question once I get back. Can’t do much with money, but you could do something about your hands.

I do hold onto railings when I walk down the stairs or take the escalator. I could be clumsy sometimes, so prevention is vital.

So, the best thing to do is to lug around a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer. Of course, with my blabbing about the prevention of H1N1’s responsibility is everyone’s… Of course I would bring my own! And it is beyond H1N1. I started more because of being eeeeked over the amount of sweat and weird people on the tube. Get out of the  tube station, first thing I do is use some hand sanitizers. Actually, some times I do that before I get my Oyster card out, even. So, those 2 weeks in London did help me cultivate this hand sanitizing habit.

After using a communal pen, I would use a hand sanitizer. It’s a must. There was once I forgot to bring both pen and hand sanitizer… I freaked out, like, totally. Gosh.

I know it might look crazy and paranoid, but, really, it is not so much as the H1N1. I am skeptical about quite a number of things about H1N1. It is more about vanity; about being absolutely fed up with acne. Maybe it is an urban myth that dirt causes acne, maybe it is not. However, how could you be sure that the person who used to pen didn’t just pick his/her pimple before using it?

Gahh.

And to look at me when I fumble in my bag for a pen to sign that credit card slip even though there’s a pen right beside it?

Sheesh!!

Oh, and never ever lend your pen to someone else, especially strangers!!

Ew ew ew ew ew!!!

Musical taste and Twilight saga

The most amazing band ever (God, I couldn’t resist adding that. Hahaha), Muse, just posted on their official website the announcement of one of their songs will be appearing on the New Moon soundtrack, albeit a remix version. Yes, the remix version is inferior to the original one; I can’t help but notice it. I wouldn’t go far down as to say it sucks; nothing that comes from Muse could suck.

The comments of the Muse fans… Even though understandable, is so silly and ridiculous. That Muse has sunk so low because they’re in such a crappy movie’s OST… Yes, it is annoying when you hear people only knowing Muse because of Twilight, and saying you’re just like them, but really, shouldn’t it be up to them to decide?

Wouldn’t true fans support their decision instead of bashing it, even if it was extremely horrid?

Okay, that would be friends. Strike that.

Shouldn’t you just keep quiet and let Muse decide how they want to go about with their careers?

Most of the time, the most difficult thing for a musician to do is to reach an audience. And the Twilight phenomenon (it is a phenomenon; the saga, not the ones that happens twice a day  ), I think, is a good platform to use. Oh, I know, the Twilight fans are insane, but their insanity has triggered quite a lot of attention and people–including me–got curious and went and checked it out. Although I do know Muse before the Twilight hoo haa. But really, being in a highly advertised, high anticipated, highly blablabla movie is like free publicity; it is not just the target audience that would be going to the movie; busy bodies would, too. And the curious. Basic economics; increase advertising equals to increase in demand.

Admittedly, I got curious over the hype over the book. I didn’t know anything about the movie before I decided to buy the book, even though I only got around buying the book after I knew the movie was coming out. I like rushing that way. And after I finished the book, I wondered how bad the movie would be, since the book was so bleh. However, if I had to pick one of the books in the series, I think the first book might be the best. Bella’s not too annoying yet. In New Moon, she’s so pathetic!!! As it is, she’s so weak, but New Moon… OMG!! And I so can’t stand Jacob Black.

What made me continue buying all 4 books–apart from reading the reviews of Breaking Dawn and getting horrified over the anti-abortion agenda put forward by the book there–was the fact that Meyer writes quite a long acknowledgement page. In comparison to the other fiction books I’ve read so far, then. Now I’m getting more and more. Oh, I’m the type of person who judges a textbook according to the preface included. Yeah; crazy, I know. It works, though. Haha.

The Twilight saga is not the only series or book (those I have tonnes) that I’ve purchased the book solely for the reason of the hype it generated and not because I’m a fan; Harry Potter is another. Oh yes; I find Harry Potter overrated. Oh, her imagination is amazing, bladiblabla, but, as a piece of literature? Nahh… Doubt it. I would be quite horrified if they start building something like the Scott Monument for JK Rowling. I like hating something I know about. It’s so stupid to hate something because of what you’ve heard about it; go to the original source and hate the original source!! Probably the only thing I hate passionately that I don’t really know about it Doctor Who. Though, to be honest with myself, I hate the branding/ advertising/ marketing team of Doctor Who more than anything else about the franchise. Imagine arriving to the UK for the first time ever, and having the 10th Doctor’s posters plastered everywhere, like Big Brother from 1984. Was torn between hating David Tennant or the whole Doctor Who thingy. Took a while to realize that those two are not the ones to blame but actually those who project the image; the marketing team. The show doesn’t really bother me; heck, I’m actually indifferent to it; not me genre (I do hate the genre though; can’t stand sci-fi).  Though, having lived in the UK for 3 years, I know bits and pieces of it. Like that girl I met in Glasgow said, you must be rather ignorant and live in your own hole to not know about it after a month of being in the UK. Admittedly, I know someone who didn’t know anything about it even after 2 years of living in the UK.

Hate the hype given to the Twilight thingy (can’t really call it phenomenon, because the phenomenon happens because of the hype), hate the fans’ reaction… but really, don’t hate the book if you haven’t read it. Reading the plot and summary of wikipedia is not enough to give you the whole picture. Maybe hate Meyer’s brand of vampires, but really, do not hate something you don’t know. It is stupid and you’re just showing how ignorant and lazy you are. Ironically, ignorant hate is the most powerful hate of all. You would think that the saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” is true. I mean, really, how are you going to convince people that you’re right–that people should hate/like what you hate/like–if you don’t know anything about it? “Because the fans are insane” is just so stupid; look at the fans of Twilight; they’re mostly female teenagers. I think you’re the craziest and most unreasonable when you’re a teenager And not forgetting, peer pressure and influences affects you most then.

I very much doubt these “true” Muse fans know much about the storyline in the Twilight saga. Some of them point out that Meyer writes about a vampire love story instead of some conspiratorial theory or some political thingy or whatever else that Muse’s lyrics is all about. Yes, it is not the main topic, but if you do listen to the words of the lyrics carefully, and read the book, you will see, scattered here and there are ideas or stories of some songs. And it’s not just Muse that inspired or helped with her writing the series. On her website, Meyer provides a playlist–a soundtrack of sorts–that, I suppose, inspired her to write the way she did. Muse may appear on every list (I think; I’m too lazy to check), but it does not dominate the whole playlist. And c’mon!! Wouldn’t it be boring if someone just decided to write a book/ story based on the songs that a band has written? Remember Mamma Mia? It might be a hit, but plot wise… What the hell?

Not to say that Twilight’s plot is so great. It’s okay, but it is a lot like a work of fanfiction, and the characters are heavily idealized (no surprise why teenagers are crazy over it; we’re often most unsatisfied with ourselves then), and Bella is such a Mary Sue (super obvious in Breaking Dawn). To get everything she wants is just ridiculous. People might say you’re just jealous, but really, it is just unrealistic!! And to suddenly change 180 degrees (I don’t get the changing 360 degrees thing; don’t you realize if you turn 360 degrees, you get back to square one?) when she turns into a vampire?

And I can’t quite shed the feeling that Edward is into Bella because of her looks, and the mystery and allure due to not being able to read her mind (on that note, I realize that quite a number of other vampire themed stories seem to have mind readers, whether it is the vampire or not. What’s up with that?). Reading the partial draft of Midnight Sun (oh yeah, I went all out; I want to know how far should I take this hatred of mine. Haha), it is a lot to do with the mystery, I think. Since Bella is actually just as bad and smitten over Edward as the rest of her high school is, and Edward doesn’t seem to fancy anyone because he knows they’re crazy over him, ladida. And the obsession over looks!! And how Bella thinks that if she turns into a vampire, she’ll be prettier and Edward would like him even more.

What the hell? What a wonderful thing to be telling your teenage audience. Oh, Bella’s just a horny virgin wanting to pop a cherry, in my opinion; never having a boyfriend and all.

Anyway!!! Stop criticizing Twilight now. This bashings seem to be rather seasonal. When the movie’s around the corner or in theaters… Hahaha. Oh well.

Fans would always be the same, just the different things they would go crazy over. You’re just as unreasonable/crazy as the fans of something you dislike. Those people would think you’re the crazy ones for liking what you like.

The “side effects” of being in the Twilight saga’s OSTs might be that those crazy Twitards go crazy over them for all the wrong reason, but it has helped them break into the US market. KT Tunstall broke into the US market through American Idol, and she hates those kind of reality TV. Like she said, it is crazy to turn down such an offer, especially if you don’t have the exposure there. You shouldn’t cut your nose just to spite your face just because the target audience of a movie is a bunch of crazy and horny girls.

When you see the Twilight OSTs songs, I don’t really imagine Twitards would listen to those songs if it wasn’t for the fact that it was in the OST; you’re reaching a new audience. Maybe they’re not as “true” as you are, and they’re pretentious (though you are that as well), but with an amazing band like Muse, they’re just too dumb to realize Muse’s awesomeness. But in that bunch, it is very possible that they would be interested and fascinated by them and get their album, and probably make it possible for Muse to come to your place to perform, since they would have a wide enough audience to make it worth performing there. All is not baaaddd, though it will be bad if the actual fans don’t actually get the ticket. But would you bother going to a band’s concert if you only knew two of their songs? Wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to get their albums first before deciding to go to their concert?

And also, most of the times, those crazy girls drag their boyfriends to watch the movie. I don’t know why the boyfriends would subject themselves to seeing their girlfriends ogling someone else. Those boyfriends would probably like Supermassive Black Hole, try finding out which band that performed it, and tada!! New fan!! Just because you were there from the start doesn’t make you a better or more superior fan!! Yes, Johnny-come-latelies are annoying, but better late than never?

Shouldn’t you be supportive of your favorite band having reached a wider audience? Or do you think that Muse should be kept a secret that only a selected few with “superior” musical taste would listen to? Sheesh!!

And did you read the NME article on why they’re letting “I Belong to You” appear on the soundtrack? The frontman, Matt Bellamy, says “[It's] one of the ‘can’t believe we got away with it’ kind of tracks. I think it might be worth giving it a go because it’s a track that might not get played live very often… one of the obscure tracks off the album so it might give that track some life that it wouldn’t have otherwise.” Full article could be found here.

Though, reading through all the comments, one of them said that the fact that Bellamy thought that Twilight was going to be an indie film makes him/her feel better… White person!!

Maybe explains why they’re so pissed off that Muse is using some “big corporation” to break into a market.

On a somewhat related note… On the topic of Muse and Twilight as well…

On Sept 11th, I tweeted “How DARE you say that I only liked Muse after Twilight. Excuse me; I only bothered downloading the OST BECAUSE OF THEM!!! Will bitch on blog” but I didn’t due to time constrains (the cookies to bake and the things to shop for Eid) and the insinuation that I would do it once I get back from my kampung… Syawal is almost over and I still have yet to bitch over it. Hahaha. And since I am talking about those topics already… what the hell. I am still pissed off about it.

I am quite sensitive when people accuse me of liking Muse only because of Twilight. I don’t mind people liking them because of the movie, but to accuse me of doing the same? Urgh!!!

I don’t really announce to the whole world that I like Muse before that. I tell the whole world about new discoveries, not so much the old stuff. I don’t go around telling the whole world about Travis, or Taylor Swift, or Rascal Flatts, or Lucie Silvas, or just whoever, after some time I’ve discovered them, until there’s something else to trigger it. A new album, maybe.

Like, for me to mention and go about Muse was because of the Twilight OST. When I discovered that Muse was going to be in the OST, I knew I just have to get the OST!! I even went as far as saying that I love the OST just because there’s one Muse song. And after listening to it, I didn’t bother gushing over Muse’s song–I knew the song already, so rather gone case that I would like it. Still, I like all the songs in the OST; well picked. Oh, wait, I’m ambivalent over both Rob Pattinson’s songs.

I “discovered” Muse while I was doing my A-levels; 2004. I went to college with these guys… Went as in literally get from my house to college. Fine fine; hitched a ride with these guys; sons of my mother’s friends. They played Absolution, the album, over and over and over again. It remains my favorite album from the band.

Initially, I hated them. I hated them with a passion. But typical me, I wondered why the heck do I hate them; I haven’t been listening to their lyrics, or their songs, properly. I was just refusing to listen to it. I was always sitting at the back seat, and they blasted the songs sooooo loud!! Truth be told, I basically hated the fact that those boys didn’t bother being considerate in playing less loudly. Maybe they wanted to turn me deaf. They always said that I can never go to a gig. Hrmph. So it remains my dearest ambition to actually attend a Muse gig, just to shock the hell out of them.

After about 2 months of constantly playing that album (like it’s the only album they have), I decided, fine, if you can’t beat them, join them. I might as well try to enjoy the music… and the end result? I love them. Hahaha. That was also about the time when I started sometimes sitting in the front seat and realized, and didn’t have the heart to tell them, that the front speakers were not doing too well. Explains why they play the song so loudly and not realize it was hurting my eardrums.

I tried to download as many of their songs as possible, but it was not easy; the internet connection was shite (still is, actually. Hahaha). Only when I went to England did I manage to get all of their songs. Yes, all. And I love them all. Though, admittedly, sometimes I keep it quiet that I like certain bands, because it used to be that I listen to mostly country and pop music, with the exception of Travis and sometimes U2. And I became a closeted (now out of it) T in the Park watcher; TV of course. I still can’t imagine subjecting myself to 3 days of not showering and be surrounded by those who might have came without showering for more than a day. In the summer at that!! I was starting to dabble with indie and the various rock genres. Hahaha. I don’t really like Glastonbury; too diverse for me. Hahaha.

So I would consider myself a Muse fan about 2005? End of 2005 though.

Funny, the same year Twilight was published. However, I was still blissfully unaware about it. Hahaha.

By the end of my degree, I was firmly a rock music fan. Hahaha. Though, of course, to like every single rock band is crazy. Could you keep track, anyway?

Anyway, so, when the Twilight OST came out, I was raving over it. When I watched the movie, I loved the score, and raved about it when I finally got it. You have to give credit when credit is due. Kinda dumb to be enjoying something secretly but publicly hate that thing. So hypocritical.

Muse performed during the VMAs. And the next day, their latest album, The Resistance came out. Went a wee bit crazy over trying to get the album and the performance at the VMA. And this idiot just started blabbing as if I’m such a Johnny-come-lately who only liked Muse because of Twilight but pretends to like them before.

Excuse me!!!

I almost lost my hearing senses because of them!!! It was worth it, to drum into me that they are the best band ever.

And to be arguing with me why is it so… God!!

And to think that you are a Johnny-come-lately yourself!! Not over Muse, obviously, but to a lot of things.

The list is just too bloody long to list out.

With you, it is either you discover the band/singer/actor/show/musical/etc or like it. If not, you’ll use that ridiculously condescending tone, asking, oh, you like that band/singer/actor/show/musical/etc eh? How could you like it? I don’t, or I have never heard of it. Are you sure you’ve heard of that band? Maybe you’re imagining things.

God!!

Seriously, if everyone would have the same taste as you, life would be extremely boring and dull and we would never advance because we’re so content with what we like, because that is what people will produce.

Initially, after reading the book, I wasn’t going to go watch the movie; it’ll be horrid, I thought. However, I found out about Muse being in the OST so I downloaded it. I listened to the OST and thought, I can see how the songs would fall into place, though it turned out quite different from how I imagined it, but it was good nonetheless, except for some spaces where it was so silent, you could hear a pin drop.

Basically, it was more because of Muse I watched Twilight, not the other way round!!

Stupid git!! Urgh!!

PS: Hahahaha. I’m browsing through my old entries, and I said that I wanna watch New Moon to see how the actor playing Aro laughs the comma-ed laugh. Hahahahahaha. Maybe I will go watch it. Hahahahahaha.

Crying while reading

Because I am not really writing a review of the Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

I shut down my computer a few minutes ago, promising myself I would go to sleep after I finish reading the book, but on the last page, I cried and felt the need to blog.

A rather crazy thing to want to do considering my laptop’s been refusing to let me upload anything. So this post might just be typed out but not posted up, ever. Who knows?

To be honest, I’ve no idea what to write. After finishing the book, I cried for some time. I still find it funny that I get so emotional when I read books nowadays. I didn’t before I started reading Nicholas Sparks’s works.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is a beautiful book. Pushing some of the logic and the ideas about fate aside, it is an enjoyable read. It is a story to get lost into; it has its own world and ideas. Might differ from yours (it did with mine), but what the hey; if everyone thinks like the same as the next person… Life would be boring and static, don’t you think?

Like I said, I don’t really know what to say; I just felt like blogging. I don’t feel like summarizing the book; you can get it from wikipedia or whatever else anyway. Not that I usually summarize the books I’ve read anyway.

Apparently, some of my mother’s friends are saying that I sound more and more well read. Funny, considering that I haven’t been reading any classics lately; most are contemporary fiction, which are not always read by people in my mother’s circle.

However, I do realize that quite a number of the novels I’m currently reading have political and historical undertones in it, even though they’re not exactly historical fiction novels. A number of them have time frames during the Second World War, though I haven’t actually stumbled upon anything from the First (probably explains why the only thing I know about the WWI is the death of Archduke Ferdinand was what started it… Why, the time frame, aftermath, etc etc; absolutely no idea. Of course, this coming from someone whose only memory of what came out from her history teacher’s mouth was that she liked Pierce Brosnan. How very historical). Maybe the Second was more interesting? The aftermath had more impact, since it didn’t cause a Third?

And I do feel like I want to read books that would make me cry to the point I would fall sick like I did when I was 15. Okay, so I was already ill then, and also it’s really not the time to be falling sick right now. Maybe I should stop reading books that are heavy. Hmmm…

I wonder where’s my copy of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Ah… the book’s really the kind of book that you’ll either love or hate, for the same reason. For me, I have moods for it… There are times I hate it… and some that I quite like it (love might be too strong since there are times that I hate it). I need to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy the humor of the book; it is kind of annoying. And the main character sounds just so bloody paranoid, though with very good reasons. However, it does feel like he doesn’t want to admit that he is in a war. I don’t really know how to explain it… Oh well.

The book does feel a bit like the Catcher in the Rye, but not in the I-want-to-be-like-it as I felt in Ash Wednesday by Ethan Hawke. I could read it, but I do get bored of it quite easily. Yes, it is a book that I would read a lot of other books in between. I’m just not sure what right now. Currently, I’m reading the Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Catch-22(since I now “officially” have finished reading the Time Traveler’s Wife). I wanted to read My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk or one of Khaled Hosseini’s book, but it might be a wee bit too heavy. Maybe I should read a fantasy book instead of a general fiction. And to be reading several books at one time with similar thickness (I thought of starting again A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving; read a bit and forgot about it) would be a bit too frustrating; I don’t quite like finishing books at the same time.

Or maybe I should start reading classics again.

Or poetry. Dante’s Divine Comedy is looking at me. Though it takes me forever to read poetry. I would need to scribble and make notes to fully understand it. I don’t know why. Explains why my copy of The Odyssey and The Iliad is in prose form. Or maybe it is actually poem just laid out it prose form. Still, it did help me read it faster. Oh, wait, no–I did read the poem version; I just own a prose version. Oh yeah; I practically knew the story anyway, so that’s why it was easy. Hahaha.

Maybe I should read Milton’s Paradise Lost instead. Looks less intimidating that Divine Comedy.

Maybe I should read Shakespeare!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I hate that guy!!

Re K on Translation of Tweets

Yes, I was very bored. Hahaha. But it was quite fun to translate it too!! And realized, heyy!!! my Malay’s not so bad!! Hahaha.

Well, “salam ayah dan ibu” wasn’t there mainly because when I wake up, I’ll be the only one at home still… And there’s only 8 verses; I already had 8!!

Hangat-hangat tahi ayam is the “heating up chicken shit”. Hahaha. Hangat actually means hot… But with complicated Malay grammar that I am not able to explain, saying it twice (there are a lot of instances where we repeat the words; usually makes it plural but not always) gives it another meaning. Tahi means shit. Ayam is chicken. By the way, we actually have a flower called bunga (flower) tahi ayam. Can’t remember the English name. I’m not joking!!

And I see your mind is still as dirty as it was when we were doing our LL.B. Sigh. America didn’t change you? Hahaha.

Like I tweeted you, it is not my current background!! It was this pinky and flowery background that I can’t stand even after a day. Hahaha. The ice cream is so cool la. Want to get one like that, but I’m sure gravity will not allow it.

And yes, all the games I mention are on facebook. Hahaha.

Err… but it is not in English…

My mother decided that I should read more poems.

Regardless my saying “but Maaa!!! I’m a prose person!!”

And I’ve read Iliad and Odyssey doesn’t change her opinion either.

So what did she decide to give me?

A book of selected poems by Robert Burns.

Majority of it in Scots, by the way.

I looked at her and asked “how the heck will I understand it, anyway?”

She just said “you’ll figure it out. It’s close enough to English anyway.”

Hmph. But Scots to English is like Indonesian to Malay!! Though I admit I have better luck figuring out the meaning of a sentence in Scots than I do a sentence in Indonesian. Their use of the words… I don’t know. It’s easier to try fill in the blanks than trying to figure out the other meaning of a word.

Now, Rabbie Burns’s work is next to Dante’s Divine Comedy, which is in English. Translated, of course. Looks so tiny next to that book.

I also decided to put John Milton’s Paradise Lost & Paradise Regained on the other side of it.

Mocking it, in a way.

Maybe it’s because it is the 250th anniversary of his birth this year, but I had a bit too many people quoting him when I was in Scotland that I doubt I’ll bother reading it.

Oh, the actual actual reason why it was Burns’s poems that I got?

Because it is just lying around in her room; her friend who owned it didn’t want it anymore.

So now, it is for show.

Pity that it is a paperback; not a grand hardcover copy. Sigh…

Head scarves and fashion

As much as I bitch over leggings (though my bitching is more on indecency due to the fact that it is underwear, not pants/ trousers. Or if you want to insist that it is pants, well… it is the British pants, which means underwear anyway), I do believe there is no right or wrong in fashion. More the differing of tastes. I would still bitch and use phrases such as “oh, that is so wrong!!”, but really… Apart from what the fashion magazine editor’s view on what should be in her magazine, is there anyone else that will give you grades? And even if there are people, would it matter?

However, regardless of that view, I absolutely don’t understand people who wear head scarves but still wear tight fitting clothing or still expose a lot of skin on their arms or with very low neckline. I know plenty of them; I don’t tell them that I disagree. Like I said before, I consider it their choice and there is no right or wrong in fashion. Wait, let me emphasize that: there is no right or wrong in FASHION.

Seriously, I would frown and bitch over the fact that you wear plaid (I usually think of more sane and pastel-y colors when I think of plaid) tartan pants with a paisley shirt (omg what an eyesore!! And so much pattern!!), but really… short of purchasing saner clothes and stripping that fugly outfit off you and forcing you wear what I think should be worn, I really can’t do much, can I?

Fashion, to me, is about expressing yourself. For one big on freedom of expression (define as widely as possible but not absolute), it’s okay with me. Do continue wearing those tight fitting clothes with the scarves. Wear the mini skirts (yeah, believe it or not), and those shirts with just tights with those really long and elaborate twirling of the scarf around your face.

Fashion-wise, I wouldn’t judge.

However, I would judge your lack of understanding of the reason for wearing a headscarf, which is modesty.

Fashion is the anti-thesis of modesty; it is the art of showing off, may it be your creativity, your taste, your money… Whatever.

Funny how we’re not supposed to judge, but judge we do. And I would admit freely that I do judge. There are a lot of things that we’re not supposed to do that we do, and to not admit it is just being a hypocrite. Or in denial. Why bother mincing your words?

Yes, I judge. However, I’ll keep my judgment/opinion (basically the same thing anyway) away from the person it is aimed. Because, weirdly, those people actually know they’re not covering their aurah or being modest. Some of them even go out of the way avoiding places where people they know frequent when they’re wearing such outfits. Funny…

Religion, to me, is a private thing, which is why I keep to myself. Which is why my “human right” persona would usually be the one shown to the world, though sometimes I might not be able to control some of my facial expression.

But seriously, whose name are you slandering by your wearing hot pants (which is short enough you could see bits of their cheekbones) and tights and a headscarf?

You mock people who don’t wear head scarves, yet you’re less modest with your whole attire than most people that go without. Don’t feel too superior just because your head is covered.

Not to mention that you have no qualms suddenly exposing it; you’re not exactly a full-timer either.

So, don’t mock people who choose not to wear the headscarf at all because they’re not ready, as you yourself are not ready as well.

Yes, I know it is horrible to choose not to cover your aurah even when knowing the consequences, but it is my choice. God gave you brains to make choices; I’ve made a lot of them. Please do not just follow blindly.

And do try to make an informed a choice as possible.

Hate only things that you know. It is silly to hate things you do not know; you should just ignore it. Indifference is the actual opposite of love.

Best/Worst/etc ever

Hahahaha. Inspired by this clip from the Best Flash Video Character ever:

Though some of the “category” would be very ridiculous and silly. Hahaha. And it is best/worst/whatever ever is as of today, 25th September 2009, and to me…

Best Flash Video Character ever: Foamy the Squirrel from iLL WiLL PrEss

Best band ever: Muse

Best moisturizer ever: Garnier Pure

Cutest animal ever: Sheep (hahahaha. What do you expect? )

Best drummer ever: Matt Bellamy (who is actually the lead singer and guitarist) from Muse in this clip:

Isn’t he awesome? Haha. So enthusiastic. And can’t believe the host didn’t realize it. Hahahahahaha.

Best mascara ever: Maybelline’s Full and Soft. So sad that I can’t get it anymore

Most abused website ever: www.twitter.com (@nanisalleh)

Best story ever: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Best film adaptation ever: Stardust; love both the movie and the book even though they’re rather different

Most faithful movie adaptation ever: Twilight from the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer. Really was like the book was brought to life (and those of you who think I’m a fan… No; I can’t make it more clear that I am not a Twilight fan [I'm ambivalent about the author; I don't like the ideas she put forward in the series, but there are some things I like about her--the things she put on her website, etc. Heck, I would like her if she was just a Muse fan and didn't write that over enthused series]. I read the book, didn’t like it. So, having a book that I didn’t like come to life… Well… Didn’t really make a difference to my liking it. Though it was kinda refreshing, considering people usually try to edit the plot to fit a screen and the time limit. Have to say that most of the script writer’s pay should go to the author; the lines were unoriginal!! Seriously!! C’mon!!)

Best stereotype ever: White people by stuffwhitepeoplelike.com. Hahahaha

Best place to live ever (hahahahaha): Galway, Co Galway, Ireland

Best nephew ever: Afiq Danial b Adi Shamzari. Hahaha. Afiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiqqqq!!! Such a good boy!! I miss him!!

Best foundation ever: ZA two-way foundation cake

Best Original Soundtrack ever: Twilight OST. Hahahahaha

Best retelling of fairy tales ever: The 10th Kingdom, both the book by Kathryn Wesley and TV miniseries

Favorite website ever: icanhascheezburger.com

Best album ever: This is the Life by Amy Macdonald

Best chic lit author ever: Cecelia Ahern

Best song with New York as the location ever: Sometime Soon by Lynn Hilary

Best Musical Ever: The Drowsy Chaperone

Most disturbing love story ever: Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer

Funniest incident ever: Boycott Scotland hoohaa. Hahaha. It was the most educational ever too!!

Best subplot in the Harry Potter series: in the 4th book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where Hermione starts SPEW. Hahahahaha. Sounds like a lot of the Western human rights activists who come to the third world where people just don’t care about human rights just yet; providing food on the table’s much more important

Best TV series ever: Coupling

Best seafood chowder ever: Okay, I can’t remember the name of the place, but it is in Doolin, Co Clare. The shop faces the sea.

Best travel book ever: Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

Best language ever: lolspeak

Best talk show ever: The Graham Norton Show

Best introduction to a cover ever: Travis when doing I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry in this clip:

Funniest song to be set in New York ever: It Sucks to be Me in Avenue Q by the whole cast

Best use of teddy bears: Muse in marketing their latest single, Uprising

Name with the wackiest pronunciation: Caoimhe

Best cartoon ever: Tom and Jerry

Worst music genre ever: Hip hop

Best dance “troop” ever: Stavros Flatley (Britain’s Got Talent) Hahahahahahahahahaha

Worst job ever: being a driver

Most amazing solo performer ever: KT Tunstall. Have you ever seen her perform Black Horse and the Cherry Tree solo? Absolutely mind blowing!! Everything on her own!!

Okay, I can’t think of anything else. Will add on later. Haha. Might even turn it into a page instead. Hehehehehe.

Best connection to why you have a crush on someone ever: Because the person’s somewhat connected to where the cheese you like comes from. I am still waiting patiently for the one from Wexford. Fatin!!!!

Eid Mubarak!!

Pfft. Was supposed to bitch over some idiot’s comments about my music taste, but was too feckin busy to do something about it.

And now I am leaving for my mother’s home town. It is 1.42 in the morning, btw. Hahaha. Anything to avoid paying someone else more money. (KL-Karak Highway and East Coast Expressway decided to make 12am-5am today a toll free period. Weee!! Even though we actually only save RM8; still, every little counts, right? [whose tagline was that, eh? Forgot. Tesco, was it?])

So, I will bitch about it when I return on Wednesday. Nyahaha. But for now…

Eid Mubarak to all the Muslims!! Especially to my friends, and those that are jet lagged that just got back… Or those that will be driving back like I am because our parents no longer want to… Or those still overseas and would be celebrating it while going to lectures… There’s some weird pleasure in that, you know. I miss that. Neways, wherever you are, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

*braces myself for whatever that might come on the road*

Personal Hygiene

I find that the article written by Tan Sri Lee Lan Thye in the New Straits Times on the 9th of September quite a typically Malaysian thing to do; depending on others to provide for them.

The Tan Sri tells you of how Malaysian public toilets have no soaps or have their soap-dispensers refilled, and says that it is difficult for the public to comply with the Health Ministry’s urges to wash their hands with soaps and handwash and maintaining their hygiene. He also urges “all those responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of public toilets, either in government or private sector buildings and those in all public facilities, to ensure that soap or hand wash are placed and frequently checked for public use,” as providing “soap and handwash does not cost much” and that it goes a long way in preventing the spread of swine flu.

Yes, I do believe that providing soaps and handwash would help preventing the spread of H1N1. However, why must it be the responsible of “those involved”?

Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of everyone to prevent the spread of this pandemic; not just the government or those providing toilet fascilities? Why is the urge for personal hygiene aimed to those people?

Shouldn’t it be for everyone? Why didn’t he, instead, ask people to bring around  anti-bacterial hand sanitizers, which could kill bacterias without water?

And why not we bring around soaps in our bags? I do that; I have a small bottle of liquid soap with me in my bag, because more often than not, like the Tan Sri has shown, that the public toilet fascilities doesn’t provide soap or handwash. Bring your own soaps, everyone; it is not heavy or too troublesome. Even those men who doesn’t bring around a bag should do so; put it in your pocket. If it is too big, cut it into half.

I wouldn’t recommend people putting soap bars in toilets though. There’s something utterly disgusting about sharing bar soaps. And letting it just stay there, and passing hands that has touched God-knows-what… Might help it spread faster instead.

Having your own personal small bottle of hand sanitisiers/ liquid soaps or bar of soaps should be what people should prize above all nowadays to prevent to spread of H1N1.

Don’t depend on other people to provide things for you.

Like the Tan Sri said, soaps don’t cost much. Buy a bar or a bottle and lug it with you at all times.

The bonus? You could actually pick one that has a scent that you like, or you could get one that is ultra-moisturizing and suit your hands better… We have different types of skin and needs and preferences; who would know better than yourself?

Translation of tweets

I decided to tweet in Malay for two days.

Started because of something so stupid as wondering whether to shower/bath or go to sleep immediately. It was 10am (yeah, tell me about it; my clock is insane), but I just showered about 9 hours earlier. Still, somehow I felt that I should, but I was dead sleepy.

Wondered if I should… wanted to tweet Dee, since she’s the “expert” on showering before sleeping…

Then *someone* tweeted about going to swim.

It is very unlikely that this *someone* would ever follow me anyway… but I felt that I should make sure it wasn’t obvious that I was tweeting something because of his tweet.

I don’t know why… maybe because “his people” don’t really shower everyday??? *shrugs*

And then after that I decided to tweet in Malay. Hahaha.

Amongst the people that follow me… Like I care about those strangers anyway–why do they follow weird people anyway?–only the girl who is the expert of showering late at night will be the one that wouldn’t understand what I say; or the gist of it. And I won’t be giving a direct translation, because there are some words where I doubt they really have a definition. Hahaha. Like sengal. Could anyone translate it anyway? You just know the meaning, yeah? Oh well.

So, Dee, for you (and because I have absolutely no life whatsoever; be grateful you have a thesis to write!!), I am translating my tweets of the last 3 days…

Cis. Orang British utara mandi. Terasa busuk sangat pasal tak mandi ni. Sial. Ye, walaupun tadi mandi pukul 2 pagi. Sengal sungguh.9:54 AM Sep 5th from webTranslation: Damn!! A northern British (Scottish; no Malay word after all…)  guy bathed [ok; not strictly...]. Feel smelly suddenly since I haven’t bathed. Damn! Yes, even though just now showered at 2 in the morning.

Tak pe la. Dia separuh Yunani. Nak jugak tido. Saya sungguh sengal, saya tahu. Best jugak berbahasa ye.9:56 AM Sep 5th from webTranslation: It’s alright. He’s half Greek. Going to sleep regardless. I am being (shit, I’m not sure how to translate this…) bimbotic, I know. It is fun using Malay, eh.

Bangun petang, gosok gigi, jangan mandi, pegi masak, buka puasa, cuci pinggan, naik balik, main flash games…6:44 PM Sep 5th from webIt is basically  based on a poem/nursery rhyme we used to sing when we were in kindergarten or something… Goes like, “Bangun pagi, gosok gigi, cuci muka, terus mandi, pakai baju, minum susu, salam ayah dan ibu” which roughly translates to “wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, wash your face, straight away shower, wear clothes, drink milk, kiss your parents’ hands”. Mine is basically my day nowadays…
Translation: Wake up in the afternoon, brush teeth, don’t shower, go cook, break fast, wash the dishes, come back up (to my room), and play flash games.
I shower some time after playing the flash games; I can’t stand showering immediately after eating. Oh, and I wake up with barely enough time to cook before my mother arrives, which explains why I say don’t shower. Hahaha.

Bagus… bagus… Bertweet dalam bahasa, dan orang bangang2 tidak akan mahu ikut anda. Yess!!!6:57 PM Sep 5th from webTranslation: Good… Good… Tweet in Malay (direct translation for “bahasa” is actually “language”; of course one would be tweeting in a language, right? Oh well…), and idiots wouldn’t wanna follow you. Yesss!!!

Akan bertwitter dalam bahasa untuk beberapa hari. Tengok berapa lama boleh bertahan. Kamus dewan di sebelah saya ini. Hahaha.6:57 PM Sep 5th from webTranslation: Will be tweeting in Malay for a few days. Will see how long I would last. “Hall Dictionary” (direct translation; main dictionary in Malay) is next to me. Hahaha.

Sungaaaaiiiii!!!! Wahahaha9:29 PM Sep 5th from webSungai means river. I was getting excited over being able to add a river in my farm in Farm Town. Yes, I do not have a life; be grateful you’re writing your thesis.

Saya suka Tesco Value punya biskut Marie. Nipis; seperti makan biskut jejari teh kaya. Rindu akan biskut itu. Sayang Tesco tak mengimportnya11:59 PM Sep 5th from webTranslation: I like Tesco Value’s Marie biscuits (don’t ask me why we call them that). Thin (or at least thinner than the usual ones); like rich tea fingers. Miss those biscuits. Pity that Tesco are not importing them.

Begitu cemburu saya akan Yahya Lelakikereta-sorong, saya tertweet dalam bahasa Inggeris. Adoi. Tetapi kasutnya sungguh lawa. Aihh…1:47 AM Sep 6th from webTranslation: So jealous I was of John Barrowman (it was so ridiculously funny trying to translate his name. Wonder what would happen if it was some untranslateable name [it is what Malaysian textbooks love doing; translating people’s names. I don’t get why they do that; those are proper names!! Their parents thought long before they gave their sons/daughers those names!!) that I accidentally tweeted in English. Damn. But his shoes were gorgeous!! (He was wearing this OMG white stilettos. Sigh…)

Baru tersedar yang sepatutnya semasa di London patutnya cari kedai kek yang paling bagus. Hmmm…7:14 AM Sep 6th from web
Just realized that, supposedly, when I was in London, I was supposed to find the best bakery. Hmmm…

Tetapi sudah buat yang hangat2 tahi ayam masa di Edinburgh, dan sekadar melihat di Glasgow. Boleh la tu kot. Sayang; salah negara.7:15 AM Sep 6th from webBut I’ve done the half baked (it is a saying I used, just like half baked. Which basically translates to “heating up chicken’s shit. Haha) thing when I was in Edinburgh, and window shoped while in Glasgow. That’s not too bad. Pity; wrong country.

Tidak boleh berputus asa. Saya perlu lebih fasih berbahasa Melayu. Tidak termasuk loghat yg sungguh pelik itu yg bertukar mengikut geografi3:17 PM Sep 6th from webTranslation: Must not give up!! I must be more fluent in the Malay language. Not including the extremely weird accent/dialect that changes geographically (though it is somewhat partly true in English already; or was, at least).

Mengedit tatabahasa bahasa Inggeris dua prof yang kedua-duanya ada PhD. Bangga sungguh. Boleh letak di dalam CV ke?1:07 AM Sep 7th from webTranslation: Editing English grammar of two professors, both with PhD. So proud. Could I put it on my CV?

Langkah pertama: cari “track changes” di Microsoft Words 2007. Sungguh sial dan menyusahkan. Benci benci benci!!1:14 AM Sep 7th from webTranslation: First step: find “track changes” in Microsoft Words 2007. So ridiculous and troublesome. Hate hate hate!!

Kenapa ada bau wangi yang saya tidak kenal di bilik saya ini? Adakah ada pontianak di sini? Kenapa saya tidak nampak akan dia? Mahu halaunya7:01 AM Sep 7th from webTranslation: Why is there a fragrant smell that I can’t detect in my room? Is there a vampire here? Why can’t I see her? Want to shoo her.
“Pontianak” are females… Well, if I’m not mistaken, all Malay vampires seem to be females. And to all you Twitards, no, I do not have an Edward Cullen in my room. Would be spooky if I did. How could anyone be flattered and fall in love with your crazy ass stalker who lusts for your blood???
Nonetheless, I have beings that seem to be lusting for my blood; mosquitos. Loads and loads of them. Since I stopped taking medication everyday, they seem to be attacking me so often. These past few days, it’s been so bad that I have to take anti-histamines!! Seriously!!!! Urgh!!

Hahaha. Perempuan gila background baru saya. Hahahahahahaha.7:11 AM Sep 7th from web
Translation: Hahaha. My new background is so feminine. Hahahahahahaha.
Though to translate it word for word but grammatically correct… “My background is crazy woman”. Okay, it can’t be grammatically correct… but what I used for “so feminine”… perempuan=woman/female/lady; gila=crazy. Hehehe.

Terjaga di siang hari dan tidak tahu apa mahu buat. Sedih gila hidup. Adoi…11:22 AM Sep 7th from web
Translation: Awake during the day and don’t know what to do. What a sad life. Sigh…

Walaupun baru dua hari bertwitter dalam BM, terasa macam dah sebulan. Mungkin kerana tiba2 rajin bertwitter kot…12:48 PM Sep 7th from web
Translation: Even though only two days have I been twittering in Malay, it feels like it’s been a month. Maybe because I’ve been twittering a bit too much.

Saya suka kuiz makanan di “permainan kilat” di “muka buku” bertajuk “bandar restoran“. =D12:53 PM Sep 7th from web
Translation: I like the food quiz in the “flash game” on “facebook” titled “restaurant city”. =D
Hehehehe

Saya suka menterjemahkan benda, terutamanya nama. Sedarkah anda, bahawa “Yahya Lelakikereta-sorong” ialah John Barrowman? Hahaha.12:53 PM Sep 7th from webTranslation: I like translating things, especially names. Did you realize that “John Barrowman” is Yahya Lelakikereta-sorong”? Hahaha.
Okay, why John Barrowman is Yahya Lelakikereta-sorong:
John= Yahya; Barrow= kereta sorong; Man=lelaki. Could have used jejaka, I suppose… And didn’t want it to be a direct translation… So I made it grammatically correct somewhat.

Dengan itu, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Iskandar Kapranos yang telah memberitahu pengikutnya di Twitter bahawa dia bermain air sampai keletihan semasa saya tengah memutuskan fikiran sama ada untuk mandi dan tidur untuk sedar bahawa Bahasa Melayu saya bukannya teruk sangat. Hahaha.

Funny how in the end I went to bed anyway, but came out more confident in my ability to speak Malay. Even though it was a struggle, it can be done.

And like my mother said, it is just as bad as when I was in school anyway. Surprising that I actually got an A2 for my SPM Malay.

And what an insincere thanks; not saying it in the language that the guy would understand. And I went and translate his first name (if I could translate the surname, believe me I would) regardless of my crusade in school of refusing to call Alexander the Great Iskandar Zulkarnain, which resulted to my teacher minusing my marks. Stupid education system. Hrmph!! Imagine if I wrote the name in Greek letters instead. Hah!! Of course, this is totally hypothetical since I had problems even figuring which formula is which for my maths and science subjects because I couldn’t differentiate certain letters. Confusing Ps and rhos… Ahh… And asking my physics teacher “why does their R (rho ρ) look like P, and their P(pi π) look like R? Such a pain in the arse student I was…

Why their Ds look like a triangle and their Gs look like upside down L?

Man, I miss being in school. Hahahahahahahaha.

No, I am not translating. Nina, you can do the honors. If you don’t know who I am talking about (WTH!! I gave such a big hint up there!!), you can check who I follow. Not difficult.

Following him feels like going to the exams, except without the consequence of failing because I choose not to study the topic I had a feeling will come out. Not gonna elaborate.

Ye, Amni, saya boleh baca fikiran “kawan baik” saya. Sungguh menakutkan.

Go Green!!

I soooooooooooooo love Foamy the Squirrel!! Hahahaha.

This is a must watch if you are an environmentalist!!

And if you’re not, it is highly recommended!!

If you hate environmentalist, you will LOVE this video.