Random Rarebits 2

This is what we call a sore loser ….

2006-12-24T00:24:00.000+08:00

1. BMW places an ad...

2. Audi answers...

3. The Japanese also want to say something...

4. Bentley's CEO also answers via an ad...

Hahaha...This is what we call a sore loser...

Urghhh...women drivers!!!

2006-12-12T00:12:00.001+08:00

I read an article in The Star yesterday about Malaysians being bad drivers, and almost 70% of accidents on Malaysian roads are caused by human errors.

Since I started driving 15 years ago, I've been hearing chauvinistic comments from male friends, saying that majority of bad drivers in our country are women. I don't know how it really was back in those days, perhaps there was some truth. I was a bad driver myself when I was in my early 20s. I was involved in a number of very silly accidents. Like, hitting into the wall when I was parking rear end first. I felt soooo stupid.

Once I was parking, and I went over a block of stone which is an indicator that you've exceeded the barrier. The car registration plate came off as a result. I was kinda scared The Ex-Hubby would be really mad at me so I glued the damn thang back to the car. He didn't notice at all, thank God! Then a few days after, he did exactly the same thing I did, and it came off. Of course, I didn't tell him that the damn thang had come off before, hehehe....

After four silly accidents, The Ex-Hubby forbade me from driving for years, and convinced me that I was such a hopeless driver. I developed a phobia of driving, and a car felt like a mean machine to me. I started driving again four or five years ago, when he left me. It was a do or die situation for me, as nobody's going to drive me around. I picked up the courage to go out on the road again. Only this time, not only am I a much better driver, I'm a good driver. I'm now in tuned with the machine when I drive, thanks to go-kart racing. Even my car has a name :)

Today, I beg to differ with my male chauvinist friends and The Ex-Hubby. Today, the playing field has indeed leveled, there are as many bad male drivers around, and as many good women drivers too!

After reading this hilarious e-mail from another male friend, I'm sure you would agree with me why I said that. Hehehe, here's what he wrote:

Fellas,

I'm writing this because I think drivers should be more careful.

This morning on my way to work, I looked over to my left and could you believe it. There was a woman in a brand new Camry doing 90km/h with her face up next to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner!

I looked away for a couple seconds and when I looked back she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup.

Now, as a man I don't scare easily.

But this woman and her reckless driving scared me so much; I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the roti chanai out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my cellphone away from my ear which fell into the teh tarik between my legs, splashed and burned Big Jim and the Twins, ruined the damn phone, soaked my trousers, and disconnected an important call.

Urghhh... women drivers!!!

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

His Diary vs Her Diary

2006-12-06T18:12:00.000+08:00

1 - HER DIARY

Saturday night I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment.

Conversation wasn't flowing so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk, he agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong he said nothing. I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not to worry. On the way home I told him that I loved him, he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior; I don't know why he didn't say I love you too.

When we got home I felt as if had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched T.V. He seemed distant and absent. Finally I decided to go to bed, about 10 minutes later he came to bed and to my surprise he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else.

I decided that I could not take it anymore so I decided to confront him with the situation but he had fallen asleep. I started crying and cried until I too fell asleep I don't know what to do I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

2 - HIS DIARY

Today Italy lost, but at least I got laid.

Neh, owh, heh, eair, eh...

2006-11-21T23:21:00.000+08:00

One bundle of joy in my life is Luth, a handsome face with the sweetest smile, big bright eyes that explore your soul, a beautiful mind with a great deal of intelligence in his grey matters and the excited noises he makes when I play with him. Yes, it was love at first sight indeed, with this new man in my life :)

Hehehe...he is Luth, my cute little nephew, who is named after a prophet.

But the only thing that frustrates me is that I don't understand a thing of what he is saying...for some months, all he said was neh, owh, heh, eair, eh...

So you can imagine my excitement when I come across an amazing story on Oprah.com, about a gifted woman who teaches us how to listen to the secret language of babies.

Now I can try to communicate with Luth and look a tad bit more intelligent to my little precious one. He looks a little perplexed at my attempt to talk to him. Hehehe he must think his aunt is nuts making those funny faces at him :)

Listen to the secret language of babies!

For millions of sleep-deprived mothers around the world, this woman's findings could be a miracle! Priscilla Dunstan, a mom from Australia with a special gift, says she's unlocked the secret language of babies.

After testing her baby language theory on more than 1,000 infants around the world, Priscilla says there are five words that all babies 0–3 months old say—regardless of race and culture:

Neh="I'm hungry"
Owh="I'm sleepy"
Heh="I'm experiencing discomfort"
Eair="I have lower gas"
Eh="I need to burp"

To read the full article, click here.

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

The ultimate sex diet?

2006-11-18T04:50:00.002+08:00

I read in Oprah.com about Kristie Alley's phenomenal weight loss. She claims that having great sex makes her shed off the fat and keeps her in good shape. I mean like, wow! Hehe it's no wonder she calls it her "ultimate sex diet".

After many months of sweat and tears (ah-ha! I'm pretty sure), Kirstie Alley is ready to take the stage in a sexy swimsuit on the Oprah Winfrey Show for the whole world to see!

Although Fly.fm guys were making fun of her still looking fat in those bikini, especially those enormous thighs, I think she looks good. Relatively good. A little too voluptious still, but georgeous nevertheless.

Hmmm but there's no way I'm gonna be able to use Kristie's secret weight loss weapon without breaking my vow of celibacy. I'm not breaking my promise to myself to remain celibate until I remarry. Not getting married anytime soon. Arrrgghhh!

But I guess I am on a "sex diet" of sort too. It's not called the "ultimate sex diet" though. It's called "the ultimately NO SEX diet" muahaha...gotcha!

Haha and you won't see me parading in a bikini either :)

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Go away, cholestrol!

2006-11-17T12:48:00.000+08:00

I was reading beliefnet.com about aging and high cholestrol level today. The article says the best "treatment" to reducing our cholestrol level is to change our lifestyle to a healthier one. I surely don't want to end up like this lady in the picture...

In my last quarterly cholestrol test at the hospital, I think mine was 6.0, it busted the optimum healthy level of 5.4. That was scary, I thought only old people, or really obese people have high cholestrol. But it was better than early this year where it reached 8.0 and the specialist doctor put me on Victoryn, a cholestrol reducing medication. It must have worked because my cholestrol level improved to a more manageable level. But I still have a lot of work to do before I can be very fit and healthy, back to the fitness level of my mountain climbing and extreme sports days.

Anyways...

I thought of sharing with you these tips I read, on changing our lifestyle to reduce our chance of having high cholesterol. Gaya hidup sihat, seperti yang disarankan oleh Kerajaan Malaysia. I need these, hehe :)

Lifestyle Changes

* Maintain a healthy weight
* If you are overweight, lose weight (mua?)
* Limit the amount of fat and cholesterol you eat (no lamb chops?)
* Eat a healthful diet (*)
* Eat a diet high in fiber (rabbit food....)
* Begin a safe exercise program recommended by your doctor
* Increase physical activity in your daily life, as recommended by your doctor
* Exercise regularly (darn!)
* Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit (fortunately, I'm an environmentalist)
* Limit the amount of alcohol you drink (**) (fortunately, I'm a teetotaler)

(*) one that is low in saturated fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

(**) Moderate alcohol intake is no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.

Resources & References

American Heart Association

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Primary Care Medicine, 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000

At this age...

2006-11-13T13:11:00.000+08:00

One author and poet in her wishful thinking wrote, "Age is all imagination. Ignore the years and they'll ignore you."

How nice eh! I would very much like to subscribe to the wishful thinking. But you know what, inside every older person there must be a younger person wondering, "what happened?" I don't know about you but I think life passes very quickly and before I know it, I am 36. Soon I will be 40 before I even realise it!

What have I been doing with my life...

I'm thinking, let's us just ponder for a few minutes on what life is all about, why we are living, and what we really want in life. Other than what we're doing now, is there anything else you wish you were doing at this age?

Defer, defy, deny, detest...

2006-11-07T07:11:00.000+08:00

Marilyn Monroe was afraid of getting old, so she committed suicide so that people would never see her getting old.

I know a lot of women are afraid of getting old. They defer, defy and deny age. Sometimes, I do too. Nonetheless, personally, I have never come across someone (outside Hollywood, Bollywood, celebrities and showbiz circles) who not only defer, defy and deny age, but is also terribly defiant about age that she will detest God's fitrah as this one friend of mine, Virtual Reality.

Virtual Reality is like a 5 year old trapped in the body of a 45+ year old. Like some, if not most, of our mutuals friends described her, "mengada-ngada dan tak sedar diri". Well, that didn't come from me. Thus, I rest my case. I've always been very civil and politically correct of my description of Virtual Reality.

But even then, sometimes I feel that Virtual Reality shouldn't have been acting the way she does, it's very unbecoming for her age. Not a pretty sight and sometimes Virtual Reality embarrased me, big time. Especially with her hysterical hyena like laugh where she snorts at the end. I tried to share her joy but that sound disturbs me all the time. To be kind to us both, I would never introduce Virtual Reality into any of my politically correct and polite society circles. I don't think Virtual Reality would be comfortable to be in such circles or would want to be there either. Most part of Virtual Reality's world is the chatroom if not at work, and friends from work, and the chatroom. That's where I met Virtual Reality.

As my best friend Belle of the Party always teased me from ever since I can remember, I just have to be politically correct all the time. Especially in describing people I tend to be nicer. Hehe I can't help it...

Anyways, Virtual Reality is at an age that is not old, but not young either. But if she were to call my mom "makcik", that is a bit melampau, because my mom is just a tad bit more than ten years older than Virtual Reality. She probably called my mom "makcik" because I was her friend. But then again, to be politically correct, we cannot be too linear in our thinking as the world itself is not linear. For example, even some of my mom's friends who my age or younger, would call my mom "kakak" and not "makcik".

My mom voiced out to me she's not happy being called "makcik" by someone who's not much younger than her. I tried to tell Virtual Reality but she got the wrong message. She thinks I'm telling her she's old. I don't mean it that way. But as she was adamant I just let her stick to her belief and agree with her that she is old.

No point changing Virtual Reality's belief. Waste of my time, really. Perhaps, sometimes you have to cruel to be kind, especially when she in turn described my mom as "ego, tak terima hakikat, tak sedar diri dah tua". I feel like Virtual Reality is actually describing her very self when she said those very words...

I will not try to be politically correct, this time. Dear God, give me courage to change the things that I can, give me patience to tolerate the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amin!

I do understand my mom's feelings when Virtual Reality calls her "makcik". Virtual Reality is just ten years older than I am. What if I were to call Virtual Reality "makcik" too? Hehe...

I guess, that's where our social system and upbringing went wrong. We didn't teach our kids to not call women who is less than 25-30 years older than them "makcik" or "auntie". What is wrong with calling them "kakak"? Wait till you get into their shoes and see how you feel being untimely called "makcik" or "auntie".

Sometimes those people at McDonald's and KFC who hired school leavers have this habit of calling customers like me "makcik" or "auntie". Even "kakak" doesn't sound THAT bad. Like, "kak boleh saya ambil pesanan?" What is wrong with calling customers "cik", "puan" or even "maam" or "miss"? Sounds more professional.

You don't have to be a fine dining restaurant to extend your courtesy to customers.

"Boleh saya ambil pesanan cik?"

"Can I take your order, miss?"

"What would you like to order, maam?"

I turned 36 yesterday. Alhamdulillah I welcome age with the same pleasure that equals to an achievement. I believe that every year that I live a relatively healthy, happy and wealthy life is a great blessing from Allah.

Yeah, I'm 36 now, and I do have one or two fine lines at the corner of my eyes, and mouth. Crow's feet and laugh lines, that's what they call it, I think. I cannot say it doesn't bother at all, but it doesn't bother me too much. Not enough for me not to have a good night's sleep.

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Birthday Resolutions

2006-11-06T06:11:00.002+08:00

I turn 36 today. I should have a birthday resolution, instead of a new year resolution. It would be more meaningful because today is my day.

My favorite playwright, Oscar Wilde wrote: "Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account."

Nonetheless, it's good to have some resolutions in life to check if your mind is still working and whether hope is still alive in our hearts.

Perhaps I shall heed this inspirational piece of advice from writer and academician William Purkey:

Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like no one is listening,
Live like it's heaven on earth.

To sum of it all is: live my life to the fullest, give without expecting anything in return, appreciate life as God's greatest gift, do your best in everything and make the best out of whatever you have in life. Sounds like a good resolution.

An issue of mind over matter

2006-11-02T13:12:00.000+08:00

They say, age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter, as Mark Twain claimed. I will turn 36 on Monday. Yeah, yeah I'm a makcik already! Proof? The other day, a senior high school kid called me makcik!

I guess aging is inevitable. Errr, save for some people who manage to look younger as they age. Hehe what's your secret eh, Khir Toyo?

Thank God, having turned the BIG 3-0, turning 36 is not as scary. But I admit tho, it's scary to see my first fine line under my eyes this morning. Yeah, yeah, they say growing old is mandatory while growing up is optional. Hehe being young and foolish is forgiveable. Being an old fool is not!

It is mind over matter indeed, as I cannot help myself getting old, but I can help myself from being foolish :)

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Jenis Jenis Hantu

2006-10-31T10:31:00.000+08:00

Baru-baru ini, saya asyik terbaca mengenai makhluk jenglot yang diawetkan dan menjadi bahan pameran. Ternyata jenglot tersebut mendapat perhatian ramai sehingga rata-rata semua tabloid menyiarkan cerita dan perkembangan terkini jenglot tersebut.

Setujukah anda jika saya katakan bahawa Masyarakat Melayu memang agak tertarik dengan kepercayaan karut seperti hantu, penunggu dan sebagainya. Oleh yang demikian tidak hairanlah sekiranya pameran hantu dan jin mendapat sambutan yang sangat menggalakkan dari orang ramai.

Tahukah anda bahawa hari ini adalah Hari Halloween, satu tradisi pagan yang berasal dari masyarakat Celt di Ireland dan disambut pada waktu pada malam 31 Oktober tiap tahun. Menurut tradisi, dunia ghaib boleh berhubung dengan dunia fizikal pada malam Halloween kerana pada malam ini lah kuasa sihir paling kuat.

Walaupun sambutan ini tak relevan dengan masyarakat kita, saya sahaja ingin berkongsi cerita tentang beberapa hantu yang masih lagi wujud di masyarakat kita pada masa ini.

Toyol

Jika dulu toyol hanya mencuri wang secara diam diam di waktu malam, toyol pada zaman sekarang agak berani melakukan perbuatan jenayah ini secara terang terangan.

Mangsa toyol toyol ini selalunya adalah wanita yang suka berjalan lenggang kangkong sorang sorang di tempat yang sunyi dan membawa beg tangan yang mudah diragut.

Toyol ini juga kadang kadang bergerak secara duet, iaitu seorang akan meragut dan seorang lagi menunggang motor. Toyol toyol yang ditangkap oleh manusia biasanya akan menerima nasib yang malang apabila dibelasah dengan kejam.

Hantu Kopek

Hantu kopek perempuan ialah mereka yang suka menayangkan kopek kepada umum.

Hantu kopek lelaki ialah mereka yang suka melihat, merenung dengan tajam meraba dan meramas kopek perempuan tidak kira samada perempuan itu ialah manusia biasa atau pun juga merupakan hantu kopek. Hantu kopek lelaki sangatlah kurang ajar.

Langsuir

Langsuir adalah merupakan hantu jahat yang suka mencekik dan menghisap darah mangsanya hingga mati. Secara umumnya, mangsa mangsa langsuir ini adalah mereka yang kekurangan wang ataupun berada dalam terdesak.

Langsuir ini akan bertindakbalas terhadap keluarga mangsa dengan memusnahkan harta benda dan mengganggu ketenteraman mereka sekiranya mangsa gagal membuat persembahan ataupun korban kepada mereka tiap tiap bulan.

Kebanyakan mangsa yang berhadapan dengan langsuir ini tidak melaporkan masalah mereka kepada pihak berkuasa kerana malu dan takut. Di sesetengah tempat langsuir dikenali sebagai peminjam wang berlesen ataupun nama glamour, along. Daripada aktiviti mereka jugalah munculnya perkataan cekik darah.

Hantu Raya

Hantu raya merupakan hantu yang hanya muncul setahun sekali sahaja. Hantu raya ini akan berkeliaran di pusat pusat membeli belah, Jalan TAR ataupun Chow Kit walaupun ketika bulan puasa untuk membuat persiapan hari raya yang melampau. Kebanyakan hantu raya akan berlumba lumba dengan kaum mereka untuk menunjukkan siapakah yang lebih hebat dalam membuat persiapan dan menyambut hari raya. Hantu raya ini akan meminta pertolongan langsuir untuk membantu menreliasasikan impian mereka.

Pelesit

Pelesit bergerak secara berkumpulan di malam malam minggu dan menjadikan pengguna jalanraya sebagai mangsa mereka. Pelesit tidak lagi bergantung kepada belalang untuk mencari mangsa sebaliknya mereka menggunakan motosikal, samada yang dicuri atau yang dimenangi selepas meminum power root. Pelesit terkenal dengan kepantasan pergerakan dan aksi aksi merbahaya. Dari perbuatan mereka yang menunggang motorsikal dengan laju dah melulu inilah munculnya perumpamaan "laju macam pelesit."

Hantu Kubur

Hantu kubur merupakah hantu yang bercita cita untuk menjadi kaya dalam sekelip mata tetapi malas untuk berusaha. Hantu kubur yang bergerak secara berkumpulan ini akan mengunjungi mana mana kubur lama untuk mendapatkan nombor ekor.

Hantu Kum Kum

Sejenis hantu yang popular pada zaman dahulu. Hantu yang dikatakan terjadi hasil dari kesilapan ilmu hitam ini memakai jibab untuk menutup muka mereka yang hodoh dan mencari mangsa untuk menjadikan mereka lawa semula. Hantu kum kum ini telah muncul kembali sejak kebelakangan ini. Walaubagaimanapun, hantu kum kum ini tidak lagi memakai jibab sebaliknya hanya mengenakan tudung biasa sahaja.

Kemunculan semula hantu kum kum ini adalah dengan tujuan untuk merendahkan martabat wanita bertudung dengan cara cara seperti memakai baju ketat dan kain terbelah, menunjukkan buah dada kepada rakan chatting menggunakan webcam dan melakukan hubungan seks di tempat tempat sunyi atau taman taman. (Apa yang menghairankan ialah aksi aksi terlampau hantu kum kum ini selalu terlepas di internet)

Hantu Tinggi

Hantu tinggi yang suatu masa dahulu sudah pupus muncul kembali sejak akhir akhir ini. Hantu tinggi ini biasanya muncul secara berpasangan. Hantu tinggi lelaki biasanya agak berumur jika dibangdingkan dengan pasangannya. Hantu ini boleh dikenali dengan angka 444,444,.44, 22, 222.22, BMW, kereta kuda dan sebagainya. Trend hantu tinggi ini sudah mendapat perhatian dari pihak berkuasa agama kerana mereka dikatakan selalu berlumba lumba untuk membuktikan hantaran kahwin siapakah yang lebih tinggi.

Hang Tua!

Dua patah perkataan yang terpacul secara tidak sengaja dari mulut Encik Taruddin apabila Datuk Khalid menyatakan hasrat untuk mengahwini Siti Nurhaliza kepada beliau.

Hehehe...Happy Haloween!

I believe...

2006-10-23T22:23:00.000+08:00

I thot I'd share with you what I got in my mailbox today...

I believe...
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and, you must forgive them for that.

I believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe...
That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe...
That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe...
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe...
That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe...
That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays have passed .

I believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe...
That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other, And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe...
That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Selamat Hari Raya!

2006-10-19T07:10:00.000+08:00

To all my Muslimin and Muslimat friends, bloggers, browsers and surfers in Malaysia, abroad and all over the world...

Sempena hari yang mulia ini...

Salam Dunia

Suara tangis yang kau dengar
Memecah hari kudus ini
Adalah aku
Mengenang pemilikmu

Kita pohon kemenangan
Meroboh kota keakuan
Ini saatnya
Yang kunanti-nanti

Mereka yang dilanda derita
Redhalah harimu kan tiba
Cahaya kekasih yang benar
Menghapus segala api kemarahan

Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya
Salam dunia
Salam semua
Salam Hari Raya
Bersinar akhirnya

Inilah hari kita
Tiada lagi rasa ketakutan

Inilah hari kita oh

M Nasir

May this eidul fitri be a meaningful journey for us.

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Bila Rumi Menari

2006-10-14T22:14:00.001+08:00

Kita menari bukan sebarang tarian
Asalnya dari tanah orang-orang pilihan
Bila terdengar masnawi ciptaan maulana
Ku bunuh nafsu lebur rantainya dari badan

Hingga hilang bangga diri
Berani hidup berani mati
Bagai musafir bertemu janji
Ini Darwis sudah gila berahi

Kita tak rindu pada siasah dunia
Perangkapnya membuat manusia hampa
Untuk bertemu impian bukan percuma
Mengorbankan yang tersangat kita cinta

Bagai Yunus dimakan paus
Ibrahim tak makan api
Bertemu kekasih di malam kudus
Luka di badan tak terasa lagi
Pukullah rebana jantungku bersyairlah maulana
Aku mabuk hakiki mendengar suaramu

Sayang... pada mereka yang tak mengerti
Sayang... pada hati tertutup mati
Bagai sangkar tanpa penghuni
Burung berharga terlepas lari

Rindu (ya maulana)
Kembali bertemu (ya maulana)
Hatiku merindukan pemiliknya (ya maulana)
Rindu (ya maulana)
Kembali bersatu (ya maulana)
Kembali bersatu dengan yang dikasihi

Rindu (ya maulana)
Kembali bertemu (ya maulana)
Hatiku merindukan pemiliknya (ya maulana)
Rindu (ya maulana)
Kembali bersatu (ya maulana)
Kembali bersatu dengan kekasih

M Nasir

Mustika

2006-10-14T22:14:00.000+08:00

Kau yang berselindung
Di balik sutra
Warnamu pelangi
Engkau mustika hati
Pesona cinta
Mahligai rindu
Malam dingin yang kejam
Aku tiada gentar
Kerna cintamu
Misteri alam yang terbongkar
Lena jadi sedar
Kerna kasihmu

Yang dulu ku cari
Rupa-rupanya ada di sini
Dan yang bermain di mimpi
Menjelmalah engkau dalam realiti

Dulu lalu depan mata
Tapi ku tak hirau
Ku Tak peduli
Tapi setelah ku tahu
Hanya engkau teman
Kau tak ku lepaskan

Mustika, oh... mustika
Mestikah aku menjadi penanti
Pelukan sakti cinta sucimu
Aku tak sabar menantikan esok hari
Bawalah daku bersamamu
Oh, mustika hatiku
Mustika, oh... mustika

M Nasir

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Anywhere in the world

2006-10-10T22:10:00.000+08:00

I really don't know why but I asked one of the candidates this hypothetical question in a job interview this morning...

"There is no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?"

Probably that's because it was a hypothetical question that I've been asking myself repeatedly in my subconscious thoughts.

Perhaps...where I want to be right now is cuddling with my husband in bed. I wish I have one right now, so that I can no longer be celibate! Haha...sounds good for me. Well, well, now let's get serious. Afterall, this is my life we're talking about, and we live only once lah.

The truth is, all I want to be right now is to be in the best state of mind, body, spirit and environment. That is my vision in life!

"I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare;
and I dare a little the more as I grow older." Montaigne

Come to think of it, that was the reason why I have stopped partying over a year ago. The partying started out as an escapism and a denial mechanism to forget my pain after being dumped by my ex-husband (for a Filipina ex-Karaoke GRO nonetheless).

It's a lot easier to accept if he dumped me for a beauty queen or an heiress, I think. Well, perhaps he wanted to rescue a damsel in distress and be a hero to her. I know he always like being a hero. Omigod, why am I talking about him, again! Really, I have to get him out of my system.

Anyways....after I stopped partying, I stopped thinking like a victim. I started to take a responsible point of view in whatever I do. I began taking my life seriously. I began my journey to get closer to Allah. I never want to go back to my "Dark Age" or "Zaman Jahiliyah". My life's main purpose now is to seek Allah's fogiveness and blessings.

Like the lyrics to a song by M. Nasir which says, "KepadaMu Kekasih, aku bertanya, apakah Kau akan menerimaku kembali, atau harus menghitung lagi, segala jasa dan bakti, atau harus mencampakku ke sisi, tanpa harga diri. KepadaMu Kekasih, aku serahkan, jiwa dan raga, jua segalanya. Apakah Kau akan menerima penyerahan ini. Apakah Kau akan menerimaku dalam keadaan begini."

Well, something like that...

As Star Wars executive producer George Lucas would put it, I've crossed over from the dark side. May the force be with me forever, until the end of time. Move over, Darth Vader!

I believe that my personal hijrah or crossing over in seeking the truth was one of my best decisions in life.

To all Muslimin and Muslimat bloggers, browsers, surfers and friends anywhere in the world, I wish you a really blessed Nuzul Al-Quran.

If you haven't, may you find the truth that I had found. Perhaps then you will understand what I mean and how I feel right now...

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Insan Dan Manikam

2006-10-06T06:10:00.000+08:00

Ya insan yang hadir
Dengarkan semua
Ku isytiharkan dengan hati terbuka
Ya insan yang daif
Insaflah semua
Manikam yang di sangkakan
Bukan yang asli
Hanya seiras dan serupa
Ya insan yang hagas
Awasilah semua
Maya yang indah
Ada kudisnya
Jangan terpedaya

Angin yang membawa berita
Pancaindera yang memang lemah
Mudah terkeliru

Pak tua menangis sendiri
Mengenangkan nasib diri
Walaupun puas mencari
Namun belum ketemui
Cik Buyung riang selalu
Damai dan senang hati
Walaupun tak berusaha
Dia ketemui

Dia ketemui
Apa dicari
Dia ketemui
Yang abadi
Dia ketemui

Alam yang membawa cerita
Pancaindera yang memang lemah
Mudah terkeliru

M Nasir

Til the fat lady sings

2006-09-29T17:29:00.000+08:00

Ever heard that popular adage, "it's never over til the fat lady sings"? Coined by a sportswriter and broadcaster Dan Cook, it was a form of self-assurance (or in denial) in the face of long odd, often muttered when things look grim.

Things did look a little grim today. It shouldn't be, but I couldn't help my tears when I heard that my ex-husband had recently remarried.

I heard he went to Manila in the Phillippines to elope with The Other Woman. From what I know, they've been having an affair since the year before he left me four years ago. He must be in love with her for remaining with her for these many years. His two other extra-marital affairs only lasted a month or two.

Jogging down the memory lane, four years ago I was terribly devastated and deeply hurt by his betrayal. It was my fault that my entire universe revolved around him. When he deserted me without a word, except for a short sms to tell me that our marriage was over, I thought I would die of a broken heart. I didn't. Nonetheless, I still am a little hurt after all these years. Perhaps because he is still very much a part of me. I know that because I cried myself to sleep after hearing the news.

As Sheryl Crow sang, "first love is the deepest, first cut is the deepest..." He was afterall my first love, my first hurt.

I guess I haven't really let go of him. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why I couldn't fully commit to a relationship with another man. I have to let him go.

I thinks things would have been a lot easier for me, if he had given me a proper closure in ending our relationship. He never once told me in person he was sorry for what he did to me. Just saying sorry to me in my face would make a big difference to me. I guess his ego is thicker than The Great Wall of China.

But hey, then again, I don't want to be a sore loser. I may lose in this game, but I did learn great lessons.

Guess what, "it's never over til the fat lady sings"...

Nonetheless, because we were together for a good 14 years and half of that time I was married to him, my love for him has become somewhat unconditional, it cannot be undone. So much so that I am happy that he is happy with his choice.

Like energy, love cannot dissolve, it just evolves...

He wrote in his break-up e-mail to me that his ideal had changed. Suddenly he realised I'm no longer his ideal. Whatever lah!

Nonetheless, I'm happy that he has found his ideal, whatever that means. Honestly, I really am.

Congratulations, Tahir!

Salam Ramadhan!

2006-09-22T21:22:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum wbt!

Dear bloggers, browsers and surfers,

A blessed month is casting its shadow upon us
A night of this month is better than a thousand months
Bear with patience for the sake of Ar-Rahman
It’s a continuous training to strengthen our Imaan.

Glory be to Allah who sent Ramadan as a mercy to mankind
Its a purification of our soul, our heart, and our mind
With the most sincere devotion and love we fast
To be cleansed and free from sins of the past.

Salam Ramadhan to you, my friends and your family.

Copyright © Random Rarebits 2. All rights reserved.

Stay hungry, stay foolish

2006-09-20T08:09:00.000+08:00

As my best friend Belle of the Party corrected me in my previous blog post, it was Steve Jobs who said, life is about connecting the dots. Not Bill Gates as I thought. So this blog post is an errata to that error.

Steve Jobs also said, "Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

I totally agree with him. Makes me wonder, is that why our long term memory gets better as we grow older? So that it will facilitate our minds in connecting the dots. Hehehe, just exploring that possibility...

If you want to read, here's Steve Jobs'speech from whence that phrase came, shared by Belle of the Party today.

"You've got to find what you love," Steve Jobs says.

This is the text of the Commencement Address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on 12 June 2005.

* * *

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation.

Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl.

So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course."

My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition.

After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it.

And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography.

If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it is likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do.

Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents’ garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees.

We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started?

Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley.

But something slowly began to dawn on me - I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world.

In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I retuned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful-tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it.

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."

It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it is the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions. Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age.

On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Connecting the dots...

2006-09-14T14:09:00.000+08:00

Was it Bill Gates who said, life is about connecting the dots?

Ooopss Belle of the Party said it was Steve Jobs. Eeeps sorry I got my facts wrong there. So, correction, it's Steve Jobs, not Bill Gates.

Irregardless of who said that, I believe he's right about that. When I look back at everything that happened in my life, my experiences were actually to prepare me for things that will come later in life, that would help me overcome.

When I was a student at San Jose State University in California, USA, I worked 40 hours a week, doing three part-time jobs to supplement my measly scholarship and to have some money for my travels. When I was a lot younger, I was a bundle of energy, passion and resilience. Although I'm not as young as I once were, I still am a bundle of energy, passion and resilience. My battery is still ever ready :)

Imagine this. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I would work at the faculty coffee house, which helped me got to know my lecturers better. I would say that was strategic job. Although I was just a cashier on Mondays and making sandwiches on Wednesdays, I developed good rapport with people who determined my grades in class :)

My classes were mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I would study and did my research in between classes and jobs. I would have a quick bite of sandwich or chips, read San Jose Mercury News and Spartan Daily and then study during my lunch breaks. That was a tight schedule, but somehow I managed it well, graduating with a CGPA of over 3.1!

On Friday evenings after my classes, I would work at the campus pub serving pizza, pasta and beer to both the faculty and the students. I would spend 6-8 hours waitressing - running around taking orders, serving food, clearing tables and cleaning the pub before closing. From my job, I made some friends and developed social skills. After finishing work, I walked two miles to get back to my apartment. I was fortunate that my campus provides police escort to walk me home safely. By the time I got home, it was already way past midnight and time for bed.

Most mornings I would spring out of bed, raring to go for the day. Some mornings I woke up thinking, omigod, do I have to work again today? Hehe...I still do that sometimes :) But when I thought about how hard work it was being a waitress and how I've come a long way to what I am today, I would get up and be raring to go again!

Some weekends were spent recuperating, sleeping in half the day. Some weekends were spent studying and doing research. Some weekends were spent socialising with the nine other Malaysians and a number of foreign friends whom i got to know from campus and at the pub. Some weekends were spent working at the campus stadium serving hotdogs, nachos, chips and beer to people watching football or fans watching rock concerts. Some weekends were spent working as a catering staff, serving faculty's guests, politicians and corporate figures. Some weekends were spent bumming around in my apartment watching cable TV.

I remember thinking how nice it would have been to be in the customer's shoes instead of being in a waitress' shoes. Omigod, my feet was killing me! Well, somedays. Now that I am in the customer's shoes, doing a lot of entertaining for my job, it's more like, "omigod, those good food are killing me!"

You know what I hated about being a waitress?

1...Those damned table numbers. I never did remember all of them. It took me weeks on the job to figure out how the numbering system works. In the first month, I managed to screw up one order because of it.

2...That stupid light blue t-shirt, navy blue baseball cap and navy blue apron my supervisors at the stadium made me wear. Memang tak cun langsung lah! Darn! Opportunities lost because there were many cute guys at the stadium...

3...Because I had tan from swimming almost everyday at the campus aquatic centre on my way home from class during spring and summer, I was being repeatedly mistaken for a Mexican by some customers. However, now that I'm back home in Malaysia, and I'm so fair skinned due to the lack of sunlight having worked in the ofice from sun up to sun down everyday, I've always been told I look Chinese or sometimes a Chinese Eurasian (hahaha they must be fooled by my blue contact lenses and blonde highlights that I used to have on me!).

But because I weren't in their shoes, I have learned a great lesson in humility that have stayed with me in life. Ah well, you can say these aren't strategic jobs, but I certainly did learn some good lessons and achieved a thing or two.

1...My biggest achievement of all: not dropping a single plate or drinking glass or piping-hot pizza or pasta on an angry customer or anywhere near.

2...I realised that a tip of a few dollars won't make you rich but it's still something to be happy about. Biggest tip I got was 20 bucks!

3...A hungry man is an angry man indeed. If an order is late or wrong, a customer can become an irritated curse-tomer. You're dealing with hungry people after all.

4...A sincere "thank you" from your customer or your boss makes your day!

5...I learned some Spanish words because some customers keep speaking Spanish to me.

6...I learned from the cook how to make good pasta!

7...I learned how to set a table for a formal dinner and what fork to use for what dish and in which order

8...No greater satisfaction than earning your own hard earned money!

Life is coffee

2006-09-12T21:12:00.000+08:00

Was it John Lennon who sang, "life is what happens while you're busy doing other things." Anyways, have you ever sit down and think, how many times have we gotten carried away in life and forgotten the primary purpose of our existence?

Let me just share with you this story that relates to some of things I learned over the last weekend during my premier leadership program:

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the Professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass; some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the hot coffee.

When all the old students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups."

"Now imagine, if Life is Coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, but Quality of Life doesn't change.

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

So friends, don't be a charlie (silly fool) and let the cups drive you... enjoy the coffee instead.

Why Did the Chicken Cross The Road?

2006-09-01T09:01:00.000+08:00

What The Experts Had To Say...

Kindergarten teacher: "Because it wanted to get to the other side."

Aristotle: "It is the nature of chickens to cross roads."

Ronald Reagan: "I forget."

Arthur Andersen (consultant): "Deregulation of the chicken's side of the road was threatening its dominant market position. The chicken was faced with significant challenges to create and develop the competences required for the newly competitive market. Andersen, in a partnering relationship with the client, helped the chicken by rethinking its physical distribution strategy and implementation processes. Using the Poultry Integration Model (PIM), Andersen helped the chicken use its skills, methodologies, knowledge, capital and experiences to align the chicken people, processes and technology in support of its overall strategy within a Program Management framework."

Richard M. Nixon: "The chicken did not cross the road. I repeat, the chicken did NOT cross the road."

Computer Programmer: "In order for the chicken to cross the road safely they would need more than one driver to access the server farm, if not they will hang in the middle of the road."

Jerry Seinfeld: "Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn't anyone ever think to ask "What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place anyway?""

Bill Gates: "I have just released the new Chicken Office 2000, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook."

Dr M: "You know, I am tired of all this...'apa-namaaaa' chicken-chicken bisnes. The foreign powers should stop intervening in our domestic affairs and just leave our chickens alone. If they want to 'apa namaaaa' cross the road, they should be allowed to cross the road. Malaysia is a democratic country; we let our chickens do whatever they want to do, as long as they don't threaten the Malay unity and try to topple the government, and if they plan to do so, we won't hesitate to use the ISA."

Pak Lah: "Ini semua adalah khabar angin sahaja. Jangan percaya khabar-khabar angin ini semua. Biasalah ini adalah taktik pembangkang untuk memecah belahkan perpaduan ayam-ayam semua. Jangan percaya. Jangan percaya."

Sammy Vellu: "Ayyooyoo! Belakang cerita lain kali, kita sude bikin banyak jembatan, itu ayam musti guna jembatan untuk lintas itu jalan lagi pun kalu itu ayam mau pigi jalan-jalan, beritau sama saya juga, saya bolley buat lebbey banyak toll."

Karam Singh Walia: "Seperti yang saudara dapat lihat, kelihatan ayam-ayam itu sedang melintas jalan. Mereka bukan sahaja melintas jalan, malah membuang najis di atas jalan dan ini adalah pencemaran yang paling hebat di maya ini. Bapa-bapa dan ibu-ibu ayam haruslah mengambil inisiatif untuk melatih ayam-ayam agar menahan najis sewaktu melintas jalan, sekian saya sudahi dengan. Ayam di jalan di lintaskan; ayam di reban mati tak makan."

Colonel Sanders: "I missed one?"

Bill Clinton: "I've had so many chicks, I can't remember."

Wan Kamarudin: "Ape kejadahnyer ini semua, KL dah jadik reban ayam, mak bapak ayam asyik menganga saje."

Zainal Ariffin Ismail: "Ada saksi menyatakan yang mereka dapat melihat ayam-ayam ini melintasi jalan-jalan di kampung ini pada waktu malam. Ada yang menyatakan ayam-ayam ini merupakan penyamaran jin. Dan ada juga mengaitkan ia berkaitan dengan peristiwa silam di kampung ini. Apakah sebenarnya maksud tersirat ayam-ayam ini melintas jalan? Oleh itu saya akhiri, "Jangan biarkan hidup anda diselubungi misteri."

Zainal Alam Kadir: "Ayam siapa kalau bukan ayam kita."

Brand recognition :)

2006-08-25T08:25:00.000+08:00

Ever heard of this saying, if you want something done, give it to a busy person?

That always happened to me. My boss kept giving me more and more, work seems endless that I'm not sure if I have time for personal commitments until year end. Oh shucks! I can't get married this year, I guess. Oh whatever lah! Nevertheless, I'm not complaining about getting more work landing on my lap. I'm a workaholic, d'oh!

Hahaha! Really, I'm not complaining. Simply because my new project is an exciting one. I'm developing a communications and branding framework that will govern our group of companies and we're one of the largest conglomerate in the country with over 45 companies, mind you! That's many people to win over if I want a buy-in from every communication head in the group to agree and subscribe to the framework!

Irregardless, I'm 100% committed to this project - hey I even worked up past midnight preparing this morning's project brief for our communications fraternity - and still enjoying it despite the tears! I'm glad we got everybody's buy-in this morning! Phew! First hurdle is out of the way :)

I'm passionate about this project because once this framework is completed, approved and implemented, our communications fraternity in the group will break new exciting grounds in bringing our professional roles in corporate communications to a new height as a management function.

Public relations are not for bimbos and airheads you know. I'm saying this because you really have to be intelligent to make people pay you top Ringgit for something that is not tangible and not easily measureable - image, brand, reputation. Yet, this is something you cannot do without. Losing money is a lot easier to recover than losing your reputation and credibility.

Hehehe are you yawning yet? If you are, let me make communications and branding more digestible by putting it in a more humorous perspective.

How is communication important in branding? Perhaps...the following analogies will help us define the word...

You're at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, "May I," and reach up to straighten his tie brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say, "By the way, I'm fantastic in bed." That's Public Relations.

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says,"She's fantastic in bed." That's Advertising.

You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, "I'm fantastic in bed." That's Direct Marketing.

You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call and say, "Hi, I'm fantastic in bed." That's Telemarketing.

You're on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you're passing. So you climb out the sunroof of the car and shout at the top of your lungs, "I'm fantastic in bed!" That's Spam.

You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says, "I hear you're fantastic in bed." That's Brand Recognition.

I haven't got a thing to wear!

2006-08-24T08:24:00.000+08:00

Oprah Winfrey was right when she said, "Young or old, rich or poor, country girl or city slicker --- it doesn't matter: At some point, every one of us gets out of bed, grabs a hot shower, downs a cup of coffee, goes to the closet, and decides that we haven't got a thing to wear."

Hahaha it seems this is true lately for me - I find my clothes are getting tight. Hehehe I wanted to believe that but the fact is I'm getting a lil too big for my clothes to be fitting me as nicely as they did before. I weighed myself for the first time in months this morning. Holy Cow! I gained 5 kgs since I moved in with my mom sometime end of May.

Perhaps it's true they say that you gained 3mg of fat each year without doing anything. Sometimes I can feel myself growing by the milimimeter!

I guess I have to go on a weight reducing diet. I know, I know, DIE-T is Die with a T...but I don't think I have any other choice. If I were to economically unaffected, that is, because it's expensive to be doing a wardrobe makeover.

So, I guess diet and exercise, it is!

Common and un-common sense

2006-08-21T18:20:00.000+08:00

According to Which Sense Is Strongest in You? quiz I did at Tickle.com, my strongest sense is Common Sense. Probably that's why Belle of the Party and some close old friends call me the "voice of reason". Probably that's why often times, I find myself a beacon for those seeking advice. Either that or I must have a great head on my shoulders huh? Hahaha, perfect!

The quiz results said, "With Nel's practical approach, her instincts are sure to guide her down a logical path. Nel's gotten her sensible smarts along the way from the school of life. Forecast calls for rain? Take an umbrella. Hitting the hiking trail? Don't wear flip-flops. You probably consider these no-brainers, but don't underestimate yourself — common sense isn't always as common as you'd think. Way to go!"

Hey, did you know that common sense is an intelligence most of us take for granted that everyone would have? But guess what I discovered - apparently, not everybody has it. But you know what? It's the most important intelligence that will ensure our survival in this ever dynamic changing world.

You know what? I think two things have always kept me afloat in times of difficulty, in my trials and tribulations in life - my common sense and my sense of humor, which is my un-common sense.

As William A. Ward once said, "A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life."

You break, you pay

2006-08-05T23:55:00.000+08:00

Today, I learned about giving 100% commitment the hard way. I was two minutes late for my personal effectiveness training this morning and I was grilled by the group leader. That was so shitty!

I learned to acknowledge that I was late and that I had broken an agreement I made to myself and others. I learned that it is my personal responsibility to keep to my agreement because my word is my worth.

Omigod! I felt so not worthy and so small as I reflected on all of the agreements I've broken, promises not kept - to God, to myself, to my loved one and to others.

Before starting our three-day training yesterday, we had agree to adhere to all of the ground rules. One of them is to honour my agreements. Being punctual is one of my agreements. To participate 100% in the training I must attend the training 100% of the time. Whether I am a minute or 5 minutes late, it doesn't matter. It is a broken agreement. I realise making up excuses are only attempts to make myself feel better, not to make the waiting party or wronged party feel better. By making excuses, I'm not taking personal responsibility, and instead, I'm shifting the blame to other factors like traffic jams, I overslept and other things for example. I should tell myself every night, if I want to realise my dreams, I must not oversleep :)

After more reflections of my personal habits, I acknowledge that I do have a major problem in keeping time. From this moment on, I will make it my top priority to be 100% committed, to keep my promises and to honour my agreements. That includes managing my time well, and respecting my time as well as other people's time.

Wow! Thats really deep. Well I'd rather be deep than be in a deep shit!

It's like those petite cardboard you see on the shelves of the fragile section of a department strore or a gift shop which says, "you break it, you pay". So, in more than one way, you'll pay for breaking an agreement. Ever thought of that?

What's your true colour?

2006-07-24T07:00:00.000+08:00

You know what, I think my true color is partly why some mean people take advantage of me sometimes. Fortunately, only less than 20% of people take advantage of me and the other 80% of people values and appreciate me for what I am or what I've done for them. At the end of the day, things even out. We win some, we lose some, so to speak.

According to Tickle.com, Nel's true color is Green!

Nel's color is green, the color of growth and vigor. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. Hehehe...wow! I hope some people agrees to that.

Just to share with you some of qualities of the green people are:

Good-hearted and giving

Nel is only kedekut to jantan2 kabaret :)

Have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people

Nel loves to help people grow :) Ask Nel to teach someone something and she'll do it willingly if it makes a difference to another person's life.

Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on the green people to be around in times of need, since their concern for people is genuine and sincere.

Oh dear, Nel has friends calling her in the wee hours of the morning asking for help or just wanting me to lend an ear sometimes. The problem is when people misconstrue Nel's good intention as something else and he expects more that what Nel is willing to give.

Takes pride in being a good friend.

Yes, yes, yes! Nel loves all her friends :)

For the green people, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position.

Right, Nel is not materialistic. You don't need to be rich, or beautiful or smart to be Nel's friend. However, a good intention and sincerity are prerequisites.

What's your true colour?

A series of unfortunate events

2006-07-21T19:21:00.000+08:00

People may fail many times, but they become failures only when they begin to blame someone else. I'm not blaming the jerks I've been out with in the past. I got conned because I was quite gullible at times. Memang pantang kena ayat lebih-lebih sikit!

But hey, you know what, I think there are silver linings behind the series of unfortunate events in my life in the last couple of years. I failed many times in my love relationships.

But I don't consider myself a failure, nor do I blame the men or the other women. I call it "teething pains" that were necessary as a pivotal part of my growing up and wisening up. C'est la vie! as the French says it.

As one of my favorite poets, Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it, "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

I share the sentiments of a holocaust camp prisoner Anne Frank who wrote in her diary, "Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy."

In restropect, my failures make me learn about life and love the hard way and make me wiser in my future choices. Because I failed in my love relationships, I know what I don't want in a man.

As a result, better decision on my part. Some people do it right the first time around, but not everybody does - that is why there are such things as second chances.

What every woman should

2006-07-15T07:15:00.000+08:00

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...one old love she can imagine going back to...and one who reminds her how far she has come...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored..

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE..something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE..a youth she's content to leave behind...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips,or the nature of her parents...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE..one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder...and when to walk away...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

Contemplation time...

2006-07-12T07:12:00.000+08:00

Contemplation time, intuition time, evolution time, resolution time, sings Beastie Boys, creating a love vibe in that hip song, “Stand Together”.

I don't see things quite the same as I used to, as I live my life I've got just me to be true to, and when I find that I don't know about just what to do, I turn and look within to see what I should do, now I'm not sure what it takes to be hip

Singing along the same note, I suppose when we expose ourself to a higher level of thinking and awareness, it is impossible for us to be happy with where we were before we come to be.

Free your mind it's time for good times, and let yourself move it's a time to shine, spread your wings in the sky, feelin' good inside, breaking fool with no need to hide, I got the music cuttin' throught me, takin' control of my soul, I can't hold back I've got to let go

That is why I love to go for training workshops. I learn new things almost every time I join one. Right now, I’m going through a management enhancement program that aims to make me a transformative leader – an agent of change for excellence. Hahaha a transformer, like what one of the blog browsers calls me in his comment.

Oh don’t I just love changes! It opens my mind to infinite possibilities.

This modular program covers heavy mental stuff like fourth wave intelligence, 3D customer relationship management, breakthrough leadership and breakthrough results over half a year.

Not that I mind if it goes on for an entire year or years, for that matter. Thank God, I have just one more module to go to complete my program.

Learning is, after all, a life long journey from the cradle to the grave.

It’s just that new things excites me, turns me on.

I guess challenges in life work like a potent aphrodisiac for me.

Oh seduce me with what you know, baby! Yes, brain is a sex organ, honey… Enlighten me, darling, switch off that light. Let me learn your body as you study mine.

Hehehe…just a notty thought.

With World Cup 2006 still fresh in our minds, let me indulge you with a brief analogy on the game.

Most people just like you and me are comfortable being the goalkeepers rather than strikers. Rather than treading on the path less taken – like venturing into new territories and trying out new ideas, most of us take the safe route and concentrate on not making mistakes.

We plod on day in day out on thinking we will be safe as long as we stay on the trodden path.

Surely an educated person must take calculated risks and if not sure, take an educated guess, not taram saja lah labu.

What I learned from the program is that in the future, this mindset will not work anymore. Goalkeepers, important as they are, hardly score goals. Unless we score goals, we cannot win against the competition. If we fail to rise above our competitors, we will find ourselves with no team left to keep goal for.

As the earth spins into brand new day, I see the light on the horizons's not fading away, gonna shine from within like a bright white sun

We must think and play like strikers - be brave and willing to take the shots at scoring goals. Continuously adding value to our lives should be the ultimate game plan.

Got the vibrations of the music
Bringing light to your mind

Sense the power in the air as it starts to move, you get a real good feeling that you just can't lose...stand together people come together now, it's about time we've got to get together y'all

Just sharing with you this thought as it passes through my mind, hoping to spread some good vibes to you :)

Roman invasion!

2006-07-10T07:10:00.000+08:00

This morning, the Italians defeated the French and won the battle, and claimed the Champion title to the World Cup 2006!

Thank God! At least I broke even in my friendly bets because Portugal lost to Germany in the third and fourth placing game yesterday morning. Or else I'd be buying dinners for some friends. Hehehe not that I mind doing that actually. My bets are child's play compared to the hundreds or thousands of ringgit some friends are betting for. Some friends in Qatar are calling it "investments"!

Hahaha sleepless nights watching World Cup 2006? Aren't you glad that World Cup 2006 is finally over? Time for a commercial break and time to break away from World Cup Fever. If you're a guy, these pictures would refresh your tired eyes with some eye candy. As a finale and farewell to World Cup 2006, here are pictures of some World Cup Babes dressed up in themes to support their favorite teams for the love of the game.

Italy...can now sing that song, we are the Champions, my friends...

Ole Ole Portugal...

Viva Brazil...

Holland....

ABBAcadabra Sweden...

Paraguay...

Trinidad & Tobago...

Poland...

And finally...England!

Hahaha...Omigod! God Save the Queen!

Beautiful game, beautiful men

2006-07-07T19:07:00.000+08:00

It's football to some, soccer to some, bolasepak to some. Whatever you call it, it's often called 'the beautiful game' - probably because of the skills and talents demonstrated by players in the field.

The beauty of this game is that you don't have to understand the game like an expert to really enjoy it. During World Cup 2006, you will see all mamak restaurants and stalls and cafes that offer big screen TVs filled to the brim with fans from all walks of life. Even non-football fans like me join football fan friends in watching the game. So, in a way, football enhances bonding among friends.

For the non-football fans, the good news is, even if you don't know a midfielder from a forward, World Cup 2006 is a unique opportunity for you to admire some of the most stunning sportsmen the world has to offer. Hehehe physically especially.

I'm not a diehard football fan so don't ask me about the game. I'm more interested in the players. Here are some eye candies for who shares my "passion" for the game, but not in any particular order.

* * *

To facilitate the rigorous and exhausting task of scrutinising the 32 teams taking part, let me present to you, with the help of a friend, some of the most beautiful men (gulp!) of World Cup 2006.

The sexiest team accolade must go to the searingly intense Italians, who boast four entries on our list. Portugal and England also get an honourable mention for their sexy squad. Sadly, with only five teams in the running, Africa's men didn't quite make the grade.

* * *

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

Gasp! Possibly the most beautiful man in football today. Born on 13 September 1973, Italy's skipper and the most capped player among the current Italian squad, Fabio Cannavaro is a stalwart of the Azzurri side.

What he lacks in height (175 cm), this Defender for Juventus makes up for with great anticipation, aggression and power - and of course a stunning body (72 kg), complete with a face Michelangelo would have killed to sculpt.

* * *

David Beckham (England)

What more can be said about David Beckham. David Beckham, born on 2 May 1975, is one of England's true ambassadors for the game of football. Midfielder for Real Madrid (ESP), he is renowned for his spectacular goals and his celebrity lifestyle, he is an idol and hero to many.

Beckham is undeniably one of the world's most gorgeous men - at 182 cm in height and 64kg in weight - a feature that's often overshadowed his sporting prowess. More than anything, however, Beckham is a dedicated professional, who takes immense pride in his role as England captain. His talent with a football was evident from an early age, and it has earned him unprecedented fame and wealth.

* * *

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

You don't get much hotter than Cristiano Ronaldo Santos Aveiro, Forward for Manchester United (ENG) Born on 5 February 1985, this 21 year old is one of the sexiest young talents in world football.

With his surging runs and dazzling skills performed at blistering pace, comparisons with his Brazilian namesake have been inevitable. Born on the island of Madeira, he began his footballing career at the age of 17. His rise to stardom since then has been nothing short of meteoric.

* * *

Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)

Former A.C. Milan striker, Andriy Shevchenko, who transferred to Chelsea in the 2006 close season, was born in Dvirkivshchyna, Kyev in the Ukraine on 29 September 1976. In 1999, Shevchenko joined Milan from Dynamo Kiev, where he had spent 5 succesful seasons.

He became the first non-Italian to be top scorer in a debut season in Italy with 24 goals in 32 matches. On 31 May 2006, Shevchenko was transferred to Chelsea for around £30 million.

Andriy Shevchenko has faced the seemingly impossible task of hauling his country along the path to Germany practically single-handed. Shevchenko has an excellent scoring record with his national team, Ukraine with nearly a goal every two games.

* * *

Dejan Stankovic (Serbia & Montenegro)

He was born on September 11, 1978) in Zemun, a suburb of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Both of his parents, Borislav and Dragica, had strong soccer (football) backgrounds. Stanković currently plays as a midfielder for Internazionale in Milan.

Previous club teams included Red Star Belgrade and Lazio of Rome. "Deki" made his international debut, for FR Yugoslavia, against South Korea on April 22, 1998. He occasionally captains the Serbia and Montenegro national football team. You may not quite know where exactly Serbia and Montenegro is, but Dejan Stankovic's good looks will inspire you to visit.

This cheeky midfielder has versatility and the ability to perform wherever he is needed. This Midfielder for Inter (ITA) is technically-gifted and an instinctive finisher, with an excellent sense of positioning and he has recently managed to bring his hair-trigger temper under control (ooh)..

***

Landon Donovan (United States)

Widely considered to be the best U.S. born talent the country has ever produced. This Midfielder led the Los Angeles Galaxy (USA ) to the MLS Cup and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles in 2005, his first season with the club.

I could think of no better man tasked with popularising soccer in the US than the very desirable Landon Donovan. Blessed with an ability to press forward and get goals, he's described as the most talented and technically gifted American player of his generation. Born on 4 March 1982, this 24 year old three-time American Footballer of the Year is a player worth watching on and off the soccer field.

***

Luiz Figo (Portugal)

Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo was born on 4 November 1972 in in the working-class neighbourhood of Almada Lisbon, Portugal. Figo is a Portuguese international footballer, who plays as a midfielder and winger, currently for Inter Milan. Figo was the 2000 European Footballer of the Year, the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was named amongst the FIFA 100.

Known for his exceptional trickery and dribbling skills on either wing (though he predominantly plays on the right), Figo is one of the few footballers to have played for both the Spanish rival clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Figo is one of the best-known faces in world football, and indisputably one of the most talented players to grace the game in recent years. Masterful with the ball at his feet, Figo's skills and leadership qualities have seen him ranked among the greatest Portuguese footballers of all time. Rugged, handsome and very much all man.

***

Nelson Haedo Valdez (Paraguay)

Nelson Antonio Haedo-Valdez, born 28 November 1983 in Caaguazú, is a Paraguayan football player. An attacker, he has played 6 matches for the Paraguay national football team. He currently plays as a Forward for Werder Bremen (Germany), a club he joined in 2001 just days after celebrating his 18th birthday, from Atletico Tembetary in Paraguay.

The spunky looking has represented his country at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2004 Copa America. He also scored the vital qualifying goal against Venezuela which took Paraguay to the 2006 World Cup. While he still has some way to go to make his mark, we'd be happy to help with his ball handling skills.

***

Michael Ballack (Germany)

Michael Ballack, born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, then GDR is a German football player. He is contracted to Chelsea in the English Premier League from 2006 to 2009.

Michael Ballack, the 30 year old midfield maestro of Bayern Munich and Germany, is one of the few German players that the experts unanimously believe to be "world class". Germany's hopes rest largely on his shoulders if they are to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with the Chemnitz-born star coming under extreme scrutiny every time he takes to the field. Watch out for those killer blue eyes; they'll break your heart in two.

***

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

Boasting a searing Italian sensuality, Gianluigi Buffon was born in Carrara, Italy on 28 January 1978 into a Sporting family - his mother, Maria Stella was a disks thrower, his father Adriano was a weight lifter, his two sisters, Veronica and Guendalina, play volleyball and his uncle, Angelo Masocco, played basketball. He is also a nephew of former Milan and Italy goalkeeper Lorenzo Buffon.

As a young boy growing up in Italy, Gigi played as a midfielder. However he decided to change his position to goalkeeper after he lost the will to run, this proved to be a great decision as Gigi is now one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world.

The goalkeeper made his Serie A debut at the age of 17 years and was first-choice goalkeeper at Parma for six seasons before his world-record transfer to Juventus in 2001. It was here that he won his first Serie A title, a habit he's become used to.

***

Luca Toni (Italy)

Luca Toni (born May 26, 1977 in Pavullo nel Frignano, Modena) is an Italian football player. He plays as a striker for ACF Fiorentina and the Italian national team. He started his professional career at Modena in 1994.

After a Serie B season with Treviso in 1999, he moved to Vicenza Calcio, playing in Serie A for the first time. He then moved to Brescia Calcio and played for two seasons along-side Roberto Baggio. He joined Palermo in 2003 and aided the team to win Serie B by scoring thirty goals during the season, consequently gaining his first cap for the national team. In the following season, he scored twenty goals. In July 2005, he was transferred by Palermo owner, Maurizio Zamparini, to Fiorentina for €10m.

After nine seasons on Italy 's footballing periphery, the sultry Luca Toni has rocketed to the centre of attention with great goalscoring form. Tall, with great control on the ball and excellent finishing skills (ahem...) Toni has become Italy's number one striker in Serie A and the national team. We bet he's pretty much number one at whatever he does. On 30 June 2006, Toni scored two goals in the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals against Ukraine.

***

Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)

Alessandro Del Piero (born November 9, 1974 in Conegliano) is an Italian football player. He is currently the captain of Juventus and a member of the Italian national side.

Usually, Del Piero plays as a support-striker and occasionally between the midfield and the strikers (in the hole), known in Italy as the "Trequartista" position. He is not the tallest of forwards, but is certainly one of the most creative forwards in the world, rather than being a "goal poacher."

Del Piero is renowned for his deadly finishing, and the ease in which he dribbles past defenders. He is an expert in dead-ball situations as he is among the world's best in taking freekicks and penalty kicks. Particularly famous for inside-curling, dipping shot that he takes in the area that is up to 10 yards outside the penalty box, which is known as "La Zona Del Piero" meaning "The Del Piero Zone.

When the young Alessandro Del Piero joined Juventus, he was a physically slight man; he had to work hard to build muscle strength and speed. A combination of these new found attributes, outstanding technique and an eye for goal, soon earned him the nickname Pinturicchio - after the renaissance painter. Actually, I think he'd be much better suited as a painter's subject..

***

Michael Owen (England)

Michael James Owen (born December 14, 1979 in Chester, Cheshire) is an English football player. Currently with Newcastle United. He has also played for Liverpool and Real Madrid. He plays as a striker, and is noted particularly for his speed, acceleration and clinical finishing. He has enjoyed a hugely successful and high-profile career at both club and international level and was the European Footballer of the Year in 2001.

Michael Owen was just 18 when he etched his name on to the minds of football fans around the world with one of the goals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He became an instant global soccer star. At thirty his wholesome boy next door good looks remain a football fantasy come to life.

Lelaki, jantan dan ...

2006-07-06T06:07:00.000+08:00

If you take Pareto's Law as a guide, only 20% of men over 35 in Malaysia are single. Out of this 20%, only 20% are lelaki and 80% are either jantan or gays. So you see, there are so many jantan and not many lelaki in the singles market.

Bluetooth, my friend aptly described, "Lelaki akan jaga perempuan dan betina. Jantan pelingkup perempuan dan betina."

Similarly, "Perempuan akan jaga lelaki dan jantan. Betina pelingkup lelaki dan jantan." Simply translated, lelaki is a man, jantan is a dog. Perempuan is a lady, betina is a bitch.

Lelaki, a dying breed, is a gentleman in a true sense, who is responsible for his own actions and highly respects women, ladies or not. When he woos a woman, he is respectful of her. When courting a woman, he is respectful of her. When in a relationship, he is committed. When the relationship cannot work out for whatever reasons, he is still respectful of her and lets her go very gently.

Impossible to find such a man? Not really, I've known some lelaki who actually made sure that his ex-wife and children are well provided for after divorce. They understand that the ex-wife was afterall the mother of their children. Only wise men with foresight and forward planning would understand the need to preserve their life's legacy by having children who respect their father and remember him in their prayers as their bekalan akhirat. You can't have your children do that for you if you abandon them and not respect their mother.

Jantan will show his good sides when trying to woo a woman. Once he gets her he shows his true colours. After he loses interest in her especially in having sex with her, he will soon dump her like dirt. This is especially true if he made her pregnant.

A spawn of the jantan species is a more lethal species called Jantan Kabaret.

Jantan Kabaret is a jantan whose pursuit in life is purely hedonistic. They have no conscience for they know no remorse or guilt. They play dirty emotional games with both perempuan and betina ruthlessly. When a female species falls for him, he would manipulate and use her - her body and sometimes her money. They are very slick and good in mengayat - using incredible pick-up lines most females would melt over.

Similarly, there are so many betina and not many perempuan too...

In a man's lens, perempuan is a woman you are likely to ask her hand in marriage, and make her the mother of your children. Betina is a woman whom you just want to have fun with and not think of marriage. In fact, to have a betina as a mother to your children would be a nightmare. I gotta say I saw lots of true betina when I used to go out clubbing. I think that was one of the reasons why I stopped clubbing - sometimes I felt out of place because I don't think I belong to the betina species. Not that all females who go clubbing are betina, as sometimes you need to let off steam and have a bit of fun. But what I'm saying is, there's more betina hanging in clubs than in decent places.

A spin off from betina species is Perempuan Kabaret whose pursuit is purely materialistic. Perempuan Kabaret, however, is better than Jantan Kabaret at seducing her victim and made him give her whatever she wants from him. She only goes for a man who can give her luxury in life. He may or not marry her, but does she care? Once the man is no longer able to give her what she wants, she will move on to another victim.

Hehehe only you know if you are a lelaki, jantan, perempuan or betina...

Dagang hamba terbuang lalu

2006-07-05T19:05:00.001+08:00

Sejak kecil lagi aku biasa membaca dan menulis dalam bahasa penjajah iaitu Bahasa Inggeris. Maka tidak hairan lah jika aku berfikir pun dalam bahasa penjajah. Apatah lagi aku belajar di sekolah orang putih yang dipanggil missionary school. Jangan pula disalahertikan dengan missionary position. Eh eh melalut pula topik aku sampai ke topik seks. Memang betul lah otak aku ini blue, minda biru...hahaha!

Walaubagaimanapun sejak akhir-akhir ini aku sudah mula menjinakkan diri untuk mendalami jiwa separuh Melayu aku. Separuh memandangkan aku cuma separuh Melayu saja, itu pun bukan Melayu asli sebab keturunan aku Peranakan Jawa-Cina.

Sambung cerita tentang diri aku...

Setelah menamatkan pendikian sekolah menengah aku mendapat biasiswa penuh daripada Kerajaan Malaysia untuk meneruskan pelajaran di San Jose, California di Amerika Syarikat selama lima tahun di jurusan pentadbiran perniagaan dan mengkhusus pula di bidang pengurusan dan ekonomi.

Emak memang tidak setuju aku belajar di Amerika Syarikat sebab aku anak perempuan tunggalnya. Dia sanggup nak jual tanah nak hantar aku belajar di Australia kerana ibu saudara aku ketika itu bermastautin di sana. Jadi tidak lah aku bersendirian di perantauan. Tapi sifat aku memang degil. Sebenarnya, aku pun tidak mahu menyusahkan emak aku sampak nak jual tanah pula nak tanggung aku belajar. Aku fikir, sudah dapat biasiswa penuh, aku ambil saja lah peluang yang terbuka. Inilah peluang aku untuk belajar hidup sendiri dan berdikari. Sampai bila nak duduk di bawah ketiak emak!

Maka aku pun berangkat ke Amerika Syarikat akhirnya pada umur 18 tahun. Aku akui aku memang masih mentah dan naive. Aku pergi hanya berbekalkan semangat yang tebal di dada dan cita-cita yang tinggi menggunung untuk mendapatkan segulung ijazah...

Cik Mahat menahan bubu
Bubu dijemur di tengah halaman
Tingallah ayah tinggallah ibu
Anakanda merantau timba pengalaman

Telur cicak dalam dulang
Entah bertulang entahkan tidak
Sudah sampai negeri orang
Entah pulang entahkan tidak

Anna Abadi mengasah parang
Parang disimpan di atas para
Dagang seorang di negeri orang
Tiada teman tiada saudara

Selepas mengharungi perjalanan jauh merentangi lautan luas selama 21 jam penerbangan, aku pun sampai ke California. Aku menuntut ilmu di San Jose State University iaitu universiti negeri yang termahal di Amerika Syarikat dan antara 100 yang terbaik di antara lebih 20,000 buah universiti di negara tersebut.

Kerana yuran yang sangat mahal, Kerajaan tidak menaja ramai pelajar Malaysia di San Jose. Jadi, pelajar Melayu tidak ramai di San Jose, boleh dikira dengan sepuluh jari saja. Sudah lah bilangan tidak ramai, yang ada pun yang extremist terutamanya kakak-kakak senior yang sudah berkahwin. Mereka selalu bising kerana aku berkawan dengan abang-abang senior yang bujang. Aku bukan nak menggatal, cuma minta tolong tunjuk ajar dalam pelajaran dan menyesuaikan diri di negara orang. Aduh! Itu pun aku disuruh menikah. Aku fikir bukankah kerja gila, takkanlah aku nak menikah kerana berkawan saja agaknya? Senang sangatkah nak menikah?

Tiap kali usrah aku saja yang kena sindir. Buat sakit telinga aku saja. Pada pendapat aku kalau nak berdakwah pun biarlah kena caranya untuk menarik minat orang. Jadi aku pun menjauhkan diri daripada kelompok extremist ini dan membawa diri aku.

Pantun Melayu ini membayangkan perasaan aku pada masa itu...

Kajang tuan kajang berlipat
Kajang hamba mengkuang layu
Dagang tuan dagang bertempat
Dagang hamba terbuang lalu

Bengis sungguh orang pangkalan
Lalu-lalang perahu dihalang
Menangis dagang sepanjang jalan
Mengenang nasib di negeri orang

Aku pun tinggal lah dengan bangsa-bangsa asing seperti Inggeris, Panama, Vietnam, Argentina, Venezuela dan Jepun. Rumah aku bagai melting pot sebab kawan-kawan aku yang berkunjung terdiri daripada pelbagai bangsa daripada merata dunia. Semestinya bahasa pengantara adalah Bahasa Inggeris. Lama-kelamaan aku hanya berfikir di dalam Bahasa Inggeris dan bila bercakap dalam Bahasa Melayu pun aku berfikir di dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Otak aku menterjemahkan fikiran aku ke dalam Bahasa Melayu.

Aku rasa ada juga hikmahnya bila aku membawa diri jauh daripada pelajar Melayu. Boleh juga ku meluaskan minda bila bergaul dengan berbagai-bagai bangsa dan mendapat pendedahan kepada budaya lain. Misalnya, aku boleh memasak macam-macam masakan selain daripada masakan Melayu - aku belajar juga serba sedikit masakan Amerika Selatan daripada rakan-rakan serumah aku yang daripada Argentina dan Venezuela, masakan Vietnam daripada rakan serumah yang berbangsa Vietnam, dan masakan Inggeris daripada rakan serumah yang berbangsa Inggeris. Aku juga belajar buat sushi daripada rakan serumah yang berbangsa Jepun.

Namun, aku rasa sedih juga sebab kena pulau oleh bangsa aku sendiri kerana bagi mereka aku sudah kafir kerana aku tinggal bersama orang-orang bukan Islam. Alangkah sempitnya minda mereka walaupun ramai daripada mereka merupakan pelajar yang cemerlang. Tapi aku terima saja lah, sudah nasib badan begini. Cekalkan saja hati, jangan terlalu memperdulikan apa orang kata. We cannot make everybody happy!

Jadi sejak itu kawan-kawan terdiri daripada bangsa asing saja, termasuk kawan baik perempuan aku, seorang art therapist yang berbangsa Jepun-Amerika dan seorang lagi teman rapat aku, seorang doktor berbangsa Spanish-Perancis. Dengan mereka aku cakap Bahasa Inggeris lah. Dan selama lima tahun aku di Amerika Syarikat, aku cuma berbahasa Melayu bila berbual dengan keluarga aku apabila aku menelefon Malaysia saja, dan bila terserempak dengan pelajar Melayu yang lain.

Hehehe ini lah cerita nya bagaimana aku mula berfikir dalam Bahasa Inggeris.

Cerdik nan jangan dilagakkan

2006-07-04T19:04:00.000+08:00

Serangkai Pantun Melayu telah membuahkan ilham dan inspirasi untuk aku mencuba untuk menulis blog dalam bahasa ibundaku.

Jika penghulu berkemanakan,
Itu menganjung meninggikannya;
Cerdik nan jangan dilagakkan,
Mungkin bingung kesudahannya.
Mengeluarkan kata fikir dahulu,
Ingat nan sebelum kena,
Mentang-mentang kitalah tahu,
Ilmu pasti nan akan dipakai.

Pantun ini membawa maksud, kalau kita ada ilmu pengetahuan, jangan meninggikan diri pula. Lebih baik kita berkongsi ilmu pengetahuan kita dengan orang lain yang boleh mendapat manfaat daripada apa yang kita kongsi.

Bukan itu sahaja. Apabila kita berkongsi ilmu pengetahuan dan bertukar-tukar fikiran dan pendapat, lebih banyak ilmu pengetahuan yang akan dapat diilhamkan.

Kita juga memahami subjek tersebut dengan lebih mendalam lagi. Seperti kata orang putih, "teach and you will learn". Dengan itu, aku harap para pembaca blog aku ini sedikit sebanyak dapat belajar daripada kesilapan aku dan daripada apa yang aku pelajari daripada kesilapan aku.

Bak kata Raja Rock Malaysia, Ramli Sarip, "aku menulis bukan kerana nama. Kerana sifat kasih pada sesama insan, dan menyatakan kasih sayang ku. Kita sama, semuanya sama. Apa yg ada hanyalah kehidupan..."

My kindergarten teacher lied

2006-07-04T01:04:00.001+08:00

With too many break-ups, divorces and my own failings in relationships, my faith in marriage is beginning to erode. Am trying hard to keep my faith.

What happens to happy ever after endings after promising "I do". Is there such thing as a happy ever after ending afterall?

My kindergarten teachers must have lied to me during the three months I went to kindergarten.

Did you know that I refused to continue kindergarten because I was tired of being the only pupil who knew the right answers? My mom had something to do with it but I won't blame her. Bukan salah ibu mengandung. Bukan silap ibu mendidik. She was enthusiastic with me being her first born, and started to teach me how to read and write when I was just three. I began reading and writing when I was just four.

I finished reading children's books before I was seven and moved on to Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Thomas Hardy's Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series until I was nine. Thereafter I started reading novels. Not before long, I moved into Mills & Boons and discovered romance. I began writing short stories when I was twelve. My literature teacher was beyond belief that I wrote them myself. She said what I wrote about was beyond my age - hehehe I wrote about love, romances and relationships. Being called to the headmistress' office for a long lecture kinda plugged my explorations into story writing. Thereafter, I moved on to Shakespeare and classic literature...

And then I discovered my dad's adult novels and magazines which he hid well and thought I would never find :)

I remember how horrified my mom was - she almost fell off her chair - when I asked her what "mati pucuk" or "erectile dysfucntion" means. I was only seven or eight. Haha that hilarious! And that was the end of my adult readings! Bummer!

We see things as we are

2006-07-03T07:03:00.000+08:00

Happy Monday! Monday is not my favorite day but Monday morning traffic is better than Friday evening going through two hours of heavy traffic at Jalan Sg Besi just to get home to Ampang. Besides, I don't believe in Monday Blues - it's in your mind!

I think whole of last week was very eventful. World Cup 2006: England lost it and Beckham stepped down as captain. That's not too bad because I'm not a fan of England. I'm disappointed that Brasil lost. I think they play good game and with lots of passion and art to it. England is like commercial break - "Brand It Like Beckham". Germany on the other hand, won. Much to my disappointment. Many people think it's fixed - they gotta look good as a host. I'd like to bet for Portugal for the finals, if not Italy or France. But I think Germany will win. Hehehe enough of World Cup. Better have a cuppa instead!

One shocking news was Mawi unceremoniously breaking up his engagement to his fiancee Diana Naim through the phone. What the heck! I'm no longer a fan of Mawi anyways. Popularity has changed him and I don't like his new image. What's wrong with men nowadays. Too many Jantan and not many Lelaki, I guess. I thought Mawi is different. Hmmm kinda reminds me of my ex-hubby who only sms me to tell me it was over between us. Well, at least Mawi spoke to Diana. That still doesn't make it right though, Mawi.

Whatever it is there are three sides to every story.

We don't see things as they are,
we see them as we are.

- Anais Nin

However, this scenario is all too familiar. When a man wants a woman, he would go all out to woo her. Sometimes he even begs her. Promised the world to her. When he no longer wants her, he becomes indifferent to her. Shove her aside like dirt. The least he could do is be a man and break it gently to her. Give her that last shred of dignity and give her proper closure.

Mawi, please be a MAN and meet Diana!

I feel sad too that Erra and Yusri got divorced. Not that I'm a fan of either celebrity but I'm not a fan of break-ups either.

Closer to earth, a close friend is also going through divorce. That doesn't help me. I was full of admiration, sometimes envy, for them as a couple. My perception of them as a strong couple was wrong. They had separated and lived apart for the last six years and the happy couple image was just a front cover. Kinda took me by surprise.

With too many break-ups, divorces and my own relationship failings, my faith in marriage is beginning to erode. Is there such thing as a happy ever after ending?

Anger Management 101

2006-06-29T06:29:00.000+08:00

There more to life than love relationships. I would rather work toward my personal development so that I can be a better person and happier too with or without a love life. Whitney Houston sang, "learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all..." Well, let me correct that, loving yourself would be the second greatest love of all, because loving God would always have to come first and foremost. Hehe am trying to be a good Muslim here.

German political scientist Karl Wolfgang Deutsch once said, "The single greatest power in the world today is the power to change. The most recklessly irresponsible things we could do in the future would be to go on exactly as we have in the past ten or twenty years?"

My first step in changing my life is to change what I don't like about myself. Then I'd like myself better because eventually I would be the person I desire to become.

A Chinese Epigram I recently came across said, "If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow."

So, the first thing I want to change about myself is my tendency to be impulsive espcially with what I said to people who angered me. It's created some frictions in some of my relationships. No doubt I hardly show my anger, but when I do I tend to make my subject very very small. It's terrible of me, I know, but sometimes I just can't help it. If you only knew what kind of animals I'm dealing with to be angered as such. But still, that's a lame excuse. No matter how angry, I gotta keep my cool. If I can keep my cool at work, I should be able to take the same approach for my personal life.

Hehehe I remember when I was younger and life was slower than it is now, I used to have more patience and tact with everyone, and my thoughts and emotions were very aligned. My friends and colleagues used to describe me as Ms Calm, Cool & Collected because nothing actually angered me even with The Ex-Hubby's strings of extra marital affairs.

I dunno what happened there, but I think I changed after my divorce. Sometimes, I think I am still in trauma, shock, denial, whatever! Because The Ex Hubby abandoned me so suddenly, a closure from The Ex Hubby would help a lot. The strings of trials and errors did not help much. Now I'm determined not to have another relationship until I align my thoughts and emotions like the mechanisms in a clockwork.

So yes, better management of my emotions is my main agenda right now. Hehe back to school for "Anger Management 101" it is for me. Hehe it reminds me of a movie Adam Sandler starred in, "Anger Management". If I can overcome my anger and manage it better and turn it around into something positive, I would be calmer and would keep my cool in any situation in future. That would be my resolve for the next hundred days.

Fools fall in love?

2006-06-27T13:27:00.000+08:00

Despite going through many bitter sweet experiences in my trials and errors in love relationships, I'm not going to be bitter and withdraw into a corner and wallow in grief so to speak. Rather, I'm going to take my errors with a dash of humour, learn from them and move on in life.

Giving up is not in my vocabulary. Call me foolhardy, call me foolish, but I still believe in love. I don't think love is a foolery - and love certainly is not a fool's errands. Not only fools fall in love.

I know that love is not going to be a fool's mate. Because nothing in life is fully foolproof, maybe there'll be more trials and errors. But I would no longer live in fool's paradise. After much trials and errors, I'm sure the right solution will come along in good time and place.

Three's not a crowd?

2006-06-23T19:21:00.001+08:00

A good friend once told me when a man marries a second wife it does not mean his love for his first wife will be less. Love just multiplies as the more you give love, the more you will receive. While I agree on the love multiplication thing, I still won't agree to polygamy. Not everyone's cup of tea, and not mine either.

I was amused when I read about this Thai man who married a pair of twins at one go. Hehehe talk about demonstrating love multiplication. Here's the story...

After Wichai, 24, an old goods dealer from Samut Songkram Province married gorgeous twins Sirintara and Thipawan, 22, he vouched sincere equal love for both of them!

Wichai on March 23 got married in a pompous ceremony to both twins simultaneously.

On being interviewed by Thai Rath reporters, Wichai declared wholeheartedly that he didn't see much problem in having to perform tiresome marital duties with two wives. In the engagement ceremony before the wedding, Wichai successfully offered a dowry of 8 baht of gold and 80,000 baht EACH for his lovely darlings.

Both families celebrated the marriage with joy and were said to be delighted for the threesome. Wichai told the press he had been best of friends with his neighbouring twins since they were children.

"When I grew older I would walk past their house each morning and try to decide for myself which one I fancied more, but it was darned impossible - I adored BOTH of them - I just couldn't decide, which one of them....!"

He went on to say, 'For three continuous years all three of us would go on dates together until there was one day when I couldn't stand the frustration any longer and told them, "I love you and want to marry you BOTH!"

The fortunate Wichai, instead of getting a slap in the face, was overjoyed when both girls admitted to having sworn all along, that they wished to marry the same man!

"It wasn't easy at first what with the neighbours gossiping but our family sympathized, understood, and fully supported our mutual love for the one man," the twins said.

Wichai arranged for his brides to live with him in his family house after the wedding. His mother has already proudly prepared TWO rooms for the newly-weds.

Our reporters were just gagging to hear the response to this mouth-watering question: "And...what are the sleeping arrangements?"

To which he replied modestly with a beaming smile, "Absolutely no problems! For the first three nights of the week, I will sleep with Thipawan and the next three will be spent with Sirintara. As for every Saturday, the three of us will sleep together"

Sirintara finally told the press, "When my twin and I worked as assistant nurses, we promised each other that we would never leave each other's side, and that our future husband would have to either take us both, or leave us.

Hahaha thank God it's Friday for the lucky man! Tomorrow is Saturday, talk about performing tiresome marital duties, I'm imagining they must be having threesome :)

Once the game is over

2006-06-22T18:49:00.000+08:00

An Italian Proverb says, "once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back into the same box". Likewise, in a chess game, as in other games, like soccer, someone has to win, someone has to lose. Checkmate! Goal! Stalemate. Draw.

Losing is no doubt very painful - be it in a sports game, on the chess board or in love. The pain is there but at varying degrees.

Good news is, while pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. We can choose to suffer or to be happy. Thank God! It's a lot better to bounce back than to become a sore loser.

Love hurts, just like life's growing pains - you crawl, you walk, you run, you fall, sometimes flat on your face. But you know what, you get up and you go at it again.

I believe everything that happens to us in life is part of a grander scheme of things. Makes us stronger and wiser...

I think I'll survive this heartbreak.

Adakah cinta memerlukan sebab?

2006-06-20T18:20:00.000+08:00

This story will illustrate to you why unconditional love is important....

Dalam satu kisah percintaan yang menarik. Sepasang suami isteri berjalan di tepi sebuah tasik yang indah. Kemudian mereka berhenti di sebuah bangku yang disediakan di tepi tasik. Kemudian si isteri bertanya kepada si suami. Ini dialog mereka:

Isteri : Mengapa abang menyukai saya? Mengapa abang cintakan saya?

Suami : Abang tidak boleh menerangkan sebabnya, namun begitu abang memang menyayangi dan mencintai Sayang!

Isteri : Abang tak boleh terangkan sebabnya? Bagaimana abang boleh katakan abang sayang dan cintakan saya sedangkan abang tidak boleh menerangkannya.

Suami : Betul! Abang tak tahu sebabnya tetapi abang boleh buktikan bahawa abang memang cintakan Sayang!

Isteri : Tak boleh beri bukti! Tidak! Saya hendak abang terangkan kepada saya sebabnya. Kawan-kawan saya yang lain yang mempunyai suami dan teman lelaki, semuanya tahu menerangkan mengapa mereka mencintai. Dalam bentuk puisi dan syair lagi. Namun begitu abang tidak boleh terangkan sebabnya.

Si suami menarik nafas panjang dan dia berkata "Baiklah! Abang mencintai Sayang sebab sayang cantik, mempunyai suara yang merdu, penyayang dan mengingati abang selalu. Abang juga sukakan senyuman manis dan setiap tapak Sayang melangkah, di situlah cinta Abang bersama Sayang!"

Si isteri tersenyum dan berpuas hati dengan penerangan suaminya tadi. Namun begitu selang beberapa hari si isteri mengalami kemalangan dan koma. Si suami amat bersedih dan menulis sepucuk surat kepada isterinya yang disayangi. Surat itu diletakkan di sebelah katil isterinya di hospital.

Surat tersebut berbunyi begini : "Sayang!Jika disebabkan suara aku mencintai mu... sekarang bolehkah engkau bersuara? Tidak! Oleh itu aku tidak boleh mencintai mu. Jika disebabkan kasih sayang dan ingatan aku mencintai mu...sekarang bolehkah engkau menunjukkannya? Tidak! Oleh itu aku tidak boleh mencintai mu.Jika disebabkan senyuman aku mencintai mu... sekarang bolehkah engkau tersenyum? Tidak! Oleh itu aku tidak boleh mencintai mu.Jika disebabkan setiap langkah aku mencintai mu.... sekarang bolehkah engkau melangkah? Tidak! Oleh itu aku tidak boleh mencintai mu. Jika cinta memerlukan sebabnya, seperti sekarang. Aku tidak mempunyai sebab mencintai mu lagi. Adakah cinta memerlukan sebab? Tidak! Aku masih mencintai mu dulu, kini, selamanya dan cinta tidak perlu ada sebab. Kadangkala perkara tercantik dan terbaik di dunia tidak boleh dilihat, dipegang. Namun begitu... ia boleh dirasai dalam hati."

The importance of love

2006-06-18T04:18:00.000+08:00

After reading my previous post on men, a friend thought I'm on a man hating crusade. Haha that's not true, I still love men and am open to marrying one in the future - those who are worthy of love and respect of course. Those who are not worthy, I hope one day they will find it in their hearts to realise the wrong they have done and know that what goes around comes around. Women is NOT the hunting game they should be preying upon, but instead, to protect and love.

I don't think men as a "player" should think of love as a commodity they must fight for and conquer with conniving tricks and strategic dating tactics.

To women who are vulnerable just like me, let us put our hands together and realize that love is evident in how we see the world. We can liken love as a seed in all of us. The more we see love in the people around us, even in the heart of the stranger on the street,the more we will be blessed with its radiant light on us.

Let today serve as a reminder for all of us, of the importance of love.

On that note, a conversation I had with an old friend from my university days had left a profound mark on my thoughts.

Exactly one year ago I was having an sms text marathon with Graveyard Shift. We were talking about a mutual friend who was getting married, and as love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. The topic had digressed to a more interesting subject than marriage - love, that is.

Graveyard Shift thought that love just rolled down at our mutual friend's feet, unlike for him, it's an uphill task - he felt he's not good enough. I disagreed.

We sometimes say, "stop looking and love will find you". But another school of thought says, everyone have to look for their other half, because love, like a good fortune doesn't just roll down at our feet.

Another friend once told me, "There's no such thing as Mr. Right". To which I agree, because there is only the right chemistry between two people, who will just have to make things go right. We must never look for Mr. Right. Instead, look for someone who feels right for us, makes us feel alright, and makes us feel that being with him is the right thing to do.

From this "right" relationship, what should evolve is "selfless unconditional love" for each other. I believe this is what you call true love - very rare indeed and I do envy those who found it. I thought I found it 15 years ago, but The Ex-Hubby's perpetual unfaithfulness, betrayal and simply the everyday struggles and reality of marriage just spoiled it all. Love is blind, marriage is an eye opener.

I think selfless unconditional love can only be achieved if you have emotional maturity and emotional independence where you don't need someone to make you happy or unhappy. So, that way, when you love someone, it is only to make your other half happy - not the other way around. You see, most people find her other half hoping he can make her happy. That is the problem!

To which Graveyard Shift replied: "Damn! Well said. Hit me straight to the heart. I guess I should really learn how to actually give first before I can receive."

Selfless unconditional love may sound idealistic because people are selfish and has no sincerity in love. They expect to be loved before they can fully give love.

It's like, if she loves me, then I'll love her back. Otherwise forget it.

I think if one falls in love, then one just falls in love. There is no "IF" for love is an absolute sum game. It takes great strength to give selfless unconditional love.

Most people fear their love will not be returned, so they would rather not give at all. But they forget to give Shakespeare some credit - better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all. I think if your love is returned, you're most fortunate - it will be the greatest gift to be shared between two people. But if you're unlucky, then consider it "sedekah" or goodwill.

You don't lose anything by giving love. You gained by having a bigger heart.

Crash, Boom, Bang!

2006-06-09T06:09:00.001+08:00

I think I've over-reacted to my circumstances lately. Perhaps, just perhaps, I'm quite allergic to this thing called love. Just like what my close friends pointed out to me, I'm such a hopeless romantic. When I'm in love, I tend to lose my focus on other things in life and other people. I gave all my heart and soul to love. I gave too much. Hehehe what can I say...I must have a big heart eh?

I think I should now learn from my lessons in love.

Just like that Crash! Boom! Bang! song that Roxette sang...

My Papa told me to stay out of trouble
When you've found your man, make sure he's for real
I've learnt that nothing really lasts for ever
I sleep the scars I wear that won't heal
They won't heal

Cos' every time I seem to fall in love
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
I find the heart but then I hit the wall
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
That's the call, that's the game
and the pain stays the same

I spent last night thinking hard after watching an opera called Bangsawan Naga Chini at Istana Budaya with Belle of the Party. We got complimetary tickets from Tony Eusoff, who played Aria Chakra a peace envoy from Kemboja Sari in serach of Kota Gelanggi but was stranded in Paya Chini. That was my first experience watching a bangsawan, a traditional Malay opera that was once called wayang parsi.

It's a story of how love for one woman, Puteri Mayang Sari, brought about war between two men, Arus Putra and Gempita Sakti who are twin brothers. The opera subtly reflects the reality of today's life intertwined in myth and legend.

My question is, if love is pure and beautiful, how can it bring about so much hatred, pride and prejudice? Love should bring peace - not war.

After re-evaluating my life as a whole, perhaps my friends were right about me. When it rains, it pours and it was raining cats and dogs inside my heart last night.

Emotionally flooding, I wrote an impromptu verse on love I wrote, if you can call it a poem lah. I'll just call it "For Love..."

Love is my strength and my weakness
For love I thrive to great heights
For love I fall down on my knees
For love I'm fueled by its fire
For love I drowned in its river
For love I shouted joyful tears
For love I cried silent tears of despair
Love is my tonic and my poison

At the moment, there is only one thing left that I could do to change my situation - change my attitude towards love. As they say, better attitudes lead to better choices in life. Hence, better choices lead to better results, especially when it comes to love. Errr....and being a capitalist, I must say...and money...hehehe...

"A happy person is not a person
in a certain set of circumstances,
but rather a person
with a certain set of attitudes."

- Hugh Downs

I shall from this moment on, focus on gratitude - to God and to people who matters. For all I know, could it be that I am already wealthy and beloved in all the ways that truly count?

No man, no cry...

2006-06-06T06:06:00.000+08:00

After hearing a PROMUDA talk by Tun Mahathir Mohamad titled "Where are we heading as a nation?" last night, I got a little worried about the future of our country and of course, my economic future too, because he said we're going from bad to worse.

I couldn't sleep so I revisited my favorite book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

The Little Prince said, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is most important is invisible to the eye.

Probably that's why I am such a bad judge of character when it comes to men.

Being visually oriented, I've a tendency to be attracted to aesthetics values - when I should be looking objectively at realistic values. That is so wrong now that I think of it - leads to many, many bad decisions in choosing men.

I think for now I will just take a break from men. I'll focus on my economic future.

It's true, no man is worth a woman's tears. A man who is, won't make a woman cry.

No man, no cry...

Many splendoured thing

2006-06-04T06:04:00.001+08:00

If love is a many splendoured thing, then I'm just not as fortunate enough to capture those many splendours and make them mine.

If love is taking a walk in the park, I must have missed that gazebo. If love is like a maze, then I am lost somewhere. If love is a capitalist economy, there's obviously a terrible mismatch in the demand and supply. If love is a double edged sword. I've been on both edges of the sword - it hurts when someone you love doesn't feel the same way about you. It hurts too when you know someone loves you and you're not able to feel the same way. If love is a jetplane, mine is still circling in mid air waiting for permission to land.

Somehow love seems to elude me - something is always missing from the equations...

I don't wanna think about love anymore. It's a remote possibility. Feel like giving up on love - the roads I've traveled on had left me with too many heartaches. It's too painful to walk on love's path. I feel like dying inside.

I want to quit this game before I am defeated, fall apart and break into pieces like glass.

My heart is singing this song called Dealova, sung by Once (pronounced as on-che) of this Indonesian group called Dewa. To who? I dunno...

Dealova - by Once (OST Dealova)

Aku ingin menjadi
Mimpi indah dalam tidurmu
Aku ingin menjadi
Sesuatu yang mungkin bisa kau rindu

Karena langkah merapuh
Tanpa dirimu
Oh
Karena hati telah letih

Aku ingin menjadi
Sesuatu yang selalu bisa kau sentuh
Aku ingin kau tau
Bahwa aku selalu memujamu

Tanpamu sepinya waktu
Merantai hati
Oh
Bayangmu seakan-akan..

Kau seperti nyanyian dalam hatiku
Yang memanggil rinduku padamu
Seperti udara yang kuhela
Kau selalu ada

Oh..

Hanya dirimu
Yang bisa membuatku tenang
Tanpa dirimu
Aku merasa hilang
Dan sepi..
Dan sepi...

Kau seperti nyanyian dalam hatiku
Yang memanggil rinduku padamu
Seperti udara yang kuhela
Kau selalu ada

Kau seperti nyanyian dalam hatiku
Yang memanggil rinduku padamu
Seperti udara yang kuhela
Kau selalu ada

Selalu ada...
Kau selalu ada..
Selalu ada..
Kau selalu ada...

I was feeling sad I cried myself to sleep last night...that was really very painful. If you had been where I am right now, you'd know how I feel.

If love is a many splendoured thing, why does it hurt so terribly?

To understand a mom's love

2006-05-29T05:30:00.000+08:00

Sit back and think. When was the last time you took your mom out on a date and spent a whole day with her?

Youth fades, love droops,
the leaves of friendship fall
but a mother's secret hope
outlives them all.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

I thought spending some quality time with Emak would be the least I could do for a very belated mother's day treat. I did that yesterday and dedicated a whole day for Emak - beginning from breakfast. Not Breakfast at Tiffany's but Brady Brunch instead.

I let Emak choose wherever she wants to go because it was her day. My time was hers.

Emak chose Dim Sum and Durian Mousse Pancake at her favorite chinese retaurant, Lai Po Heen located at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.

Good choice, that Durian Mousse Pancake was par excellent!

The more I talk with my mom, the more I discovered about her - many leaves unfolded. My mom was the first Malay girl in the entire district of Kuang, Selangor to go to an English missionary secondary school on scholarship during her time - that was in the 50's when only a fraction of Malay girls actually went to secondary school. Convent Bukit Nanas was in Kuala Lumpur, still is. So Emak stayed with my great granma's friend, who happened to be my dad's father, and my grandfather too. That's how my parents met - they were childhood sweethearts.

I guess moving in with Emak would be a journey of self discovery for me afterall. She can't be any more happier that I have decided to move in with her.

Over lunch I gave her a lil present - a pink velvet heart-shaped pillow which says "World's Greatest Mom" in purple. Then I told her to explore inside the paper bag for another gift - a white and gold money envelope with a thousand bucks in it. Her shopping money, I said. A thousand bucks is not much for all that my mom is worth - considering she's running her own business and not financially dependent on her children - but right now it's what I can afford to give her without feeling the pinch. I have mortgage, car financing and bills to think about before I slurge on things, you know.

Whatever it it, it's the thought that counts most. Emak was so surprised and deliriously happy like a child getting a candy. She didn't expect it.

Oooohh....the look on her face, let me put it this way...

Dim Sum Brunch for two..............RM120
"World's Greatest Mom" pillow.....RM30
Shopping money for mom............RM1,000
The look on Emak's face...........Priceless

Emak said, "You know I've always prayed that you will be very successful and very happy in your life. You always make me feel proud."

A mother's prayer and blessing is important to me. I remember all my mother's prayers and they have always followed me wherever I go - they clung to me all my life. Everytime I achieved something or escaped a misfortune, I think it's Emak's prayers that was sent to God to help me succeed or overcome.

She was in tears and said to me, "I love you, you're my favorite daughter!"

To which I said, "I love you too, Emak. Tapi kan Emak, how can I be your favorite daughter. I'm your only daughter!"

Her only daughter who is alive, that is. I have two younger brothers. Sometimes I forgot that I do have an eldest sister and youngest sister both of whom died of premature births. I was born ten days late - and after 18 hours of excruciating labor, to which my mom reminded me of every now and then.

Emak always said to me, to understand a mother's love, bear your own children.

I don't really like very mellow and sentimental moments such as this because it makes me feel terribly vulnerable inside, so I took my mom to Suria KLCC for some shoe and handbag shopping. We had Thai Crunch Salad and BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad for dinner at California Pizza Kitchen at the shopping mall.

Finishing touch - as we drove home I turned on my CD player and dedicated to her a song by Josh Groban, "You Raised Me Up".

I stole a quick glance at her as I drove and I saw tears welling up in her eyes over a contented smile on her face, as she listened attentively to the song's lyrics...

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

I think I had made her day. It was a fruitful day for both of us.

I think now that I'm older, getting along with Emak is a lot easier compared to my younger days.

Hmmm I wonder why I couldn't get along with Emak when I was much younger?

So it is true then when they say, everything has its own time and place.

Tell me what you think...

In good times, in bed times?

2006-05-25T18:30:00.001+08:00

If you're a single or divorced woman who has a successful career or business and is financially independent or even rich, and do not need a man to support you, would you consider getting yourself into nikah misyar with a man who can't afford to support you financially?

Well, if you have been reading the local papers lately you'd know what it means. But if you haven't, let me enlighten you a lil bit on the subject matter.

Nikah Misyar is marriage concept where a man, usually with much lesser financial means or a lower social status, enters into the marriage with a woman who is financially better off or of a higher social status. There are no financial commitments just nocturnal obligations.

Unlike a normal marriage, there would be no pre-nuptial contract that demands the man to provide financial support for the woman, but he has to provide for the woman's physical and emotional needs, as well as be the father to her children and protect her and the family.

Nikah Misyar, however, doesn't have a contractual time frame like Nikah Mutaah. So it's like a normal marriage - till death do us part - with sex and all but minus financial responsibility for the husband.

The concept was proposed in view of the many unmarried who are financially well off, and many unmarried men who are too broke to afford a wife.

I don't know why there's so much debate going on over the possibility of making it an acceptable practice here in Malaysia, because I think whether we realise it or not, in more than half of marriages here are now already practicing such a concept. Perhaps, with the exception that it is not agreed upon before the marriage vow was taken. The fact is, a lot of wives, wealthy or not, are currently supporting their husbands and children. I say this I've talked to many of them - too many in fact.

Hmmm we are making it too easy for men here, aren't we?

I think, while the concept is unfair to women, it is fine under some circumstances. However, spelling out the part about financial non-commitment sounds like we are supressing our women's rights in some ways.

Do we have to spell it out on paper? Isn't marriage a life partnership where we share - not just a give and take where one party is always giving and the other always taking.

Consider this, what happens after they get married and the man's rezeki increased tremendously and he becomes wealthy? The woman would be on the losing end because he is not obligated to provide for her nafkah or livelihood. If he leaves her for another woman, she loses all her rights as a wife.

I think it is alright if the wife agrees that the husband doesn't have to contribute financially if he really can't afford it and the wife is really well off and able to support the family. But the husband has to be financially able to at least support himself and also contribute in other ways and share non-financial repsonsibilities with his wife - like taking care of children, sharing household chores for example.

When the husband finally has the financial means to support his wife and family, then he should start doing that and not let the wife continue to support him and the family. That would be taking advantage. I may be old fashioned, but a man has to be financially independent in order for me to respect him. A man cannot be riding on his partner financially.

But all that aside, why in the first place we have to spell it out that the man will not provide financial support - it makes a marriage lose its romance and novelty. When you marry someone, you should be willing to go through good times and bad times together - not just BED time. For better or for worse husbands and wives should stick together. That's what I think...

Tell me, what is your take on Nikah Misyar?

Return to the nest?

2006-05-18T18:05:00.000+08:00

I freaked out last night when a giant beetle ambushed me like a kamikaze fighter. I had to duck on the floor for cover and then sprinted to my bedroom and waited anxiously for the bug to go away. That bug had to be male on heat. Hehehe. This is one of the downsides of living alone - apart form being lonely and scared sometimes.

I had been thinking about returning to the nest - moving back to my mom's place - for quite some time. I think it would help my mom let go of some of her worries too. Worry is a misuse of the imagination, and my mom does have very strong imagination!

It was a sheer coincidence when a close friend who's looking for a place recently proposed to rent my apartment for about six months while he is looking for a permanent place of his own. Not only that, he offered to pay more than the market rental as he wants the apartment to be furnished. Means I don't have to move my furniture and worry where to store them while my apartment is being rented out.

I am tempted...moving back to my mom's place is not such a bad idea. Afterall, it's only for six months. I can move back later if living with my mom doesn't quite work out, in view of both of us being strong characters.

I think in view of recent robbery at my mom's place and the fact that there's only my mom, my brother and our maid living at the huge six bedroom house, it would be good for me to return to the nest. Because my brother is always traveling overseas (sometimes he went missing in action for a week or two - and then we received a postcard from some country from him) or out with his new girlfriend, my mom would be alone with our maid.

Having me stay at my mom's place would increase the total household count and therefore, theoretically, increases a perceived degree of safety in numbers. Am I making sense here?

I'm seriously contemplating this move....

Emotional benefits

...My mom would have peace of mind
...I won't come home to an empty house
...I could spend more time with my mom - female bonding hahaha!
...I could get to know my mom better
...Everytime I spent time talking to my mom I discover new things
...I don't have to deal with terrifying bugs alone
...I have two cats to play with

Financial benefits

...The rent would pay for my housing loan, that's a huge savings
...I could save more money for my future travels
...I could invest the savings for rainy days
...I could use the savings to reduce my credit card debts
...I save fuel because my mom's place is closer to my office

Fringe benefits

...I get homecooked meals everyday
...I can do experimental cook and have a ready audience (hehehe)
...I get air-conditioned bedroom, and get back my old room
...I don't have to clean my bathroom (no more allergies to detergent)
...I don't have to make my bed if I wdon't want to
...I don't have to do laundry and ironing
...I get internet access 24 hours a day

I thought I would be losing my privacy when I move back to my mom's place, but when I think about it, what privacy do I have now? My mom comes over to my place like everyday - what's the difference anyways, I'm not enjoying any privacy right now anyways. BTW my mom is managing the convenience store business at my condo building, so she comes up to my apartment to rest and pray. Thank God, my mom doesn't mind my friends lepak at the house or even stay over, as long as they respect her and no hanky panky, of course.

So, what I would be really giving up are...

...Beer, sex and drugs! (Not into those!)
...Wild parties (I quit partying...)
...Having orgies (hahaha I wish!)
...Cuddling and snuggling
...My solitude (whenever I need it)
...Clubbing (hmmm not that I missed it)
...Greenery as I drive into Bukit Indah
...Crispy breeze from the hilly forest
...Great view of the city skyline from my balcony
...Walking around buck naked in my apartment
...Sleeping in whole day (sometimes)
...Staying out late at night

What I can make peace with...
...I would remain celibate... (not having sex anyways)
...I may disagree with my mom but...
...I have only one mom - she's irreplaceable

So help me here. What do you think? Tell me...

Move back to my mom's place? Or stay put at my apartment?

Part of the statistics

2006-05-15T05:15:00.000+08:00

Robbery, burglary, theft and rape.

We read about it in the newspapers, watched it on TV and heard about on radio almost everyday. We sympathised for a while and then we will forget about it and went about our business without giving it another thought. Once in while a case gets a lot of media publicity and gets our attention longer. When the steam cools off, we will then forget about it and went about our business without giving it another thought.

What we read, watch and hear would be part of the statistics and we remained very much unaffected by it. Not until it happened to us or people we love or care about.

It happened to me and my family yesterday.

My mom's house was robbed and our maid was tied up and her life hung at the edge of a robber's knife while his two accomplices ransacked the entire house for valuables. Finding nothing (thank God we don't keep the expensive jewelry at home) they took our maid's money and jewelry, and threatened to rape her. Thank God the neighbor's maid came knocking at the door at the right time and the robbers fled.

I can imagine our maid's terrifying ordeal after we found her with her limbs all tied up with electrical cords. She was scared shit. It could have been my mom, or me in her place.

I guess we are now part of the statistics....

The risk it took to blossom

2006-05-13T17:13:00.000+08:00

As French author Anais Nin known for her erotic writings, wrote in The Diary of Anais Nin, there came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

If my blog were a rose, Random Rarebits must be a bud, whilst Random Rarebits 2 is a blossom :)

My blog migration symbolises the passing of a new phase in my life - a more mature and wiser person, I hope! So farewell to Random Rarebits and welcome to Random Rarebits 2!

Notes:

If you would like to to read my earlier postings, please to go to my original blog site Random Rarebits.

My latest posting in Random Rarebits was "I'm migrating!!!".

My earliest posting in Random Rarebits was "The Invisible Wife".