"Hey I Know That Guy!"

Datuk S sayang Fasha

Oleh NOR AKMAR SAMUDIN

PETALING JAYA: Kehadiran pelakon Nur Fasha Sandha Hassan, ke majlis barbeku di kediaman Pengerusi Eksekutif Kumpulan SNC Associates Sdn Bhd, Datuk Shafik Rizaal Saaban atau dikenali sebagai Datuk S, di Mutiara Homes, Damansara, Rabu lalu, bagaikan mengiakan hubungan mesra yang digembar-gemburkan sebelum ini.Namun, Fasha, 24, menafikan hubungan cinta bersama duda muda itu. Sebaliknya, memberitahu mereka sekadar berkawan dan tidak lebih daripada itu.Pada awalnya, kehadiran wartawan Metro Ahad di majlis itu sedikit mengejutkan Fasha. Dia yang ketika itu menikmati hidangan, segera memalingkan muka ke sisi. Riak wajahnya yang biasanya ceria apabila bertemu rakan wartawan bertukar cuak dan kemesraan yang biasa dipamerkannya juga hampir lenyap.

Apakah ada sesuatu yang cuba disembunyikan Fasha di atas kehadirannya ke kediaman duda itu? Jika tiada apa-apa, masakan sikapnya berubah begitu sekali. Apakah benar Shafik lelaki yang mula bertakhta di hatinya sekarang?

Hold it! You can read the rest of the article here.

Elsewhere, while the world’s top scientists devote their lives to solving cosmic conundrums such as how life began and what happened before the Big Bag, here we’d still stuck in a universe where which Datuk ‘wannabes’ our local celebrities are seeing is a much bigger crisis than national rice price hikes.

Do I see myself complaining? No.

Not if that ‘wannabes’ is the one I know.

At least now I can hold up today’s newspaper and said ‘Hey I know this guys, I used to pinch his cheeks’.

Yeah I know it’s pathetic, but I am not the one who dates him right now, am I?

Damn it!

Holiday Enigma

Clearly I wasn’t winning the battle of the bulge and my new scale betrayed me, so I decided to pack my bag and escape from it all, so to speak.

Lately my life took a dramatic U-turn and I found myself sprawling merciless at the bottomless pit of self-pity and after shock (this is sooooo not THAT kind of post) so I desperately needed a break, but there was no way I could squeeze in a breather without me breaking somebody’s neck.

So one day I told my boss I needed a long, uninterrupted break or I’ll have to check myself into rehab so fast Amy Winehouse’s dad would be so proud (no, no, no). You see I was ready to hear a custom ‘we must work as team’ and ‘time’s not right’ speech but instead, without missing a beat, she said ‘yes’. No condition.

Yes!

I burst into laughter. The timing was priceless. She actually said yes! If I needed proof that a break was overdue, this had to be it. Talk about divine intervention.

So where have I been to? And more importantly - with whom I went with?

Na’ah. I won’t tell.

Yes, I have been somewhere, but I wasn’t allowed to tell about it – due to personal and security reasons.

But do not fret guys, I brought something from this hush hush holiday - a clue, a riddle, a mystery for you guys to decipher. After all what am I if not an enigma, am I not?

A mystery well kept...err secret.

Ha! This should be fun eh!

I am beginning to get hang of this. I think photography would be my next calling. Until I get a proper camera, that is!



Not sure whether it was the camera phone or the ‘technique’ but the sunset was simply gorgeous. Doesn’t it?

Think you know where this is? Enlighten me.

Azril And His Party

What’s with that cheap T-shirt? For goodness sake! You are the birthday boy and you are supposed to be camera ready, like all the time.

Sometimes you think you know a person and then BAM! they reveal something totally incredible that you don’t know what to believe anymore. Like when wrinkled face Azril told me he was turning 24 this month. I know it’s hard to believe (Just look at the photo on the top) but shockingly it’s true.

Gasp!! He’s two years younger than me and I was completely clueless all this while. (Gosh, I really should hang out with my friends more often)

Anyway, lie or no lie, he was kind enough to invite me to his supposedly 24th birthday at his new apartment last Friday night. Honestly at first, I expected nothing less than black ties and glitzy gowns kinda party and boy, was I sorely short-charged!

Instead, to my eventual surprise, the party was thoroughly low-key. I think there were only around 13 of us. (I trust, he got way more friends than that but maybe due to ‘space constraint’ most of them might have ‘missed’ the invitation)

I shall not divulge on the details on itinerary of the event because you see, there were almost, err..none. No games. No stripper. Only us having a few hours of rowdy good times. I tell you we were so loud sometimes someone might have called the police for public disturbance. But how can anyone blame us? Azril was a joy to torment.

It was really a nice little friendly get together after all. The ambiance was right. Mariah Carey’s best-loved hits filled the air in harmony with our boisterous laugh throughout the night, which I like. Cable was out but thank God (questionable) movie was in the house. And the company was simply amazing.

But the real star of the night got to be the food - glorious food, prepared mostly by our in-house Chef Hafez. I simply adore his famous Mee Bandung. Scrumptious. (Pass me the recipe, will ya!)

If chocolate is sinful, this is blasphemy!

I had a whale of time and what a night that was. (For more sensational, true-Hollywood-story type of photos, do visit Azril's blog http://hazriezthehumble.blogspost.com)

I only left after five hours of great fun but never really got the chance to say thank you (or sorry, whichever most appropriate) to the host and birthday boy. Then my hand phone throbbed. The message read:

Hi guys. Thanks for coming. It was a great moment and I will never forget every second I had just now. I do really thank to Allah for giving me the chance to meet and have u guys as my fwens. Seriously I do really appreciate and value this relationship. I love u guys so much!

Aaaaaww….. No, Azrill, thank YOU!

Family Affair

Remember about the gratitude jar I told you about a few months back? You know, the one where I keep all those little notes on things I should be thankful for? O sure you do.

Well, anyway, yesterday, I opened the lid and picked up something from the jar. And what do you know, it says “I have a wonderful parent who never stop loving me’. They do. They really do now that I finally realized it.

O no, this is not like some kind of personal blabbering or anything like that but it’s about things we take for granted. Things we have that, more often than not, fail to appreciate, until they are really gone.

My father arrived unexpectedly in KL on Saturday afternoon. I must admit I, at first, felt a little hesitant. Don’t blame me. He never visited us (me and brother) unannounced before. So I was a little bit suspicious. Plus, I had already made plan elsewhere.

“Apa mimpi datang tiba-tiba ni?” I asked half innocently.

“Takde apa....just want to visit 2 of my most favorite sons. You don’t like me here?”

“Of course, yes. Err.. I mean No”

You know what, I was still not convinced.

Apparently, he also had other plans in mind.

Right after I picked him up at Puduraya, he said he wanted to visit his mother’s grave (my arwah grandma), then, his cousin’s and brother-in-law’s, which I obliged.

Then, I sent him to my aunt’s house for him to freshen up and we went straight to visit his other sister (also my aunt) at University Hospital. She was warded for a week now due to some kidney’s complications, which I also obliged.

The next morning, we visited my cousin (his niece) who had just delivered a beautiful baby boy a couple weeks ago in Cyberjaya. We spent half a day there.

Man, it was tiring – this family affair. But it was all worth it. At the end of it, my dad ‘surprise’ visit was really a nice one. I have never been felt so close, so connected with him, or the entire clan for that matter, than it is now. He seemed soo pleased that I wanted to accompany him over the weekend- he said so.

He planned it all along. I knew it. He thought we should connect. We did things together. We went shopping together. We talked about a lot of things, which we rarely do (which mostly about my most embarrassing baby’s moment). My brother had a blast of time hearing all those ‘funny’ stories, but sure he had his moment too.

Boy, am I really glad that he came.

Few hours that I spent with him throughout the weekend really makes me appreciate more of what I have been blessed for all of my life. But sometimes, in the heat of it all, I tend to forget that fact. So I ‘collect’ all my blessings and ‘jar’ it. It should be kept in an easy-to-reach place so that anytime I need some ‘sane-checking’ I know where to go.

I looked again and the note still says “I have a wonderful parent who never stop loving me”. Yeah, of course they do, but I think I love them more.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I folded that little note and put it right back in the jar. I feel blessed.

Thanks.....i Think!

It is not unusual for me to receive gifts. Heck, I am a sucker for free things! So my day was a little bit lighten up when I received this gift from my baby sister, Achik.

Wow, how thoughtful of her. I mean of all things in the world she could buy for gift?!

Oh no, it’s not my birthday. No reason she said. No occasion. She probably bought the book in a wink and later probably regretted it. Or maybe some poor guy bought the book to break up with her.

Or maybe she really wanted to help me to lose weight. Right.

But being a sport and grateful person, I am quite alright with it. After all, I am a little on heavy side (she probably couldn't stress it any better), and probably could use some help. And what a ‘help’ that is.

Well, sister, I Thank you for this ‘little’ gift. I wish you well too. Hope this would work for me, and by that I mean, it better be, otherwise you are still gonna pay for my car tires that you punctured the other day.

So on to page 1,

Part I: Why Atkins works (Oh No!)

Lose weight! Increase energy! Look great! This book will show you how it’s done.

Not only that, it will show you to change your life once and for all.

You hold in your hands a book that has sold more than ten millions copies since 1992. Probably two to three times that number of people say it’s the most effective weight loss plan they’ve tried. It is!..........................

Sigh, here we go again.

The Sweetness Of Victory

I was not exactly over the moon on this year New Year's celebration. I do not know why. Probably the age thing, I don’t know. For me it felt exactly like any other day. It didn’t feel special. I didn’t feel the connection. The fireworks over KL skyline didn’t even excite me anymore.

So my New Year’s Eve was limited to filling up my car tank, in fear of another possible gas hike and waiting for 30 minutes in McDonald’s drive thru.

Now if you think that I am gonna whine about my non existence celebration happenings or that I am being cursed with non-stop, losing streak boredom, you’d be in for a major surprise my dear friend. I finally won something. No, not the lottery (though it might be nice as well!)

Whaddaya know!!. I was the first winner of Graha Residenku’s Guest of the Year. Wuhooo!!



For those of you who think that I may make the whole things up, please visit:

http://graharesidenku.blogspot.com/

Doesn’t matter the motive behind the award, so long that I won and you didn’t, it feels nice. It was such a great way to start my new year and it has done wonders to my ego and self esteem. I know it’s not like that I was chosen as Time’s Person of the Year or Nobel Prize Peace Winner but it feels more or less the same nonetheless. This could well be some sort of the start of an awesome year for me.

I won’t discuss the criteria and merits of my winning cause it will sure trigger a heated debate (and eventual hatred) amongst our friends but not a single second that I thought I didn’t deserve this. (Ha! Talk about inflated ego!), though probably I don’t have the answer as well!

Anyway, thanks Miron for the recognition. You know I can’t possibly put you to compete with any other people for any award cause it wouldn’t be fair. You are exotic–ly, uniquely Hasmiron, you know that?

You see, winning is much sweeter if you can share it with your friends, what’s more if the recognition is bestowed by your own friend.

Now that beats any fireworks in the sky on the New Year Eve!

He Who Hates Plastic Bags

I was on leave on Monday, a forced one. I still have 14 days to be taken and my boss has been actually pestering (threatening) me to clear all those leave before year end. And boy, was I bored out of my skull

Then like the rain unto the sea, the savior came in a shape of a friend. Awie called and asked whether I was free for a picnic at Sungai Gabai with few of his friends. (Actually only two of them)

Well, I hate to disappoint my friends, and since I was all up for some spontaneous Monday action, I guess I was kinda doing him a favor and said yes.

“You want me to bring anything?”

“Nah, just your sunny disposition and be nice”

“What if I got stumbled in the drain once again, and suddenly in no mood for being nice?”

“In that case just bring some magazines and newspapers, will ya”



I have always drawn to waterfalls. I think they are powerful, mysterious but majestic all at the same time, so I was exited about the whole trip. It has been awhile I have been, like to anywhere, so this was a real treat for me.




“…..and another thing, if you insisted on bringing anything, lay off the plastic bag ok?

Huh?

“Discarded plastics bags litter our cities, kill wildlife, block drains and hang around for decades”

HUH? Is he for real?

Maybe because he just knew me but take a look in my kitchen and he’ll find a dirty environmental secret. Lurking under the sink is a strangely inexhaustible stash of plastic bags - hundreds of them. Suddenly, I feel like a super villain in the environmentalist movie.

Maybe I should be thinking about adopting a dolphin from the World Wildlife Fund and a lemur from my local zoo. Or maybe not

Don’t tell Awie I told you this.

Making Choices

I hate making choices. I hate limiting my options and as far as horrifying the-world-is-mine greedy goes, I want it all. But I know I can’t have it all.

In life we just have to live with those choices we made and what a cruel cruel world we live in, now that we know there are people who are bound to be disappointed with our picks. So overdramatic doesn’t even begin to describe my weekend.

I was made to choose between two good friends. One invited to me to her daughter’s birthday in Kajang while another has a free ticket to Harith Iskander and Douglas Lim‘s show (a stand up comedy show) in Bangsar. I was (literally) torn. I felt soo torn that at one point I thought I’d rather die than disappointing either of my friends (you see this is the ’overdramatic’ part I was referring to!)

And being a complete moron, I ‘kinda’ promised to be in both events! Talking about no balls, self-important, lying idiot!

So after much trials and tribulations….and some divine intervention, I finally decided that my own instant gratification has to be put forward, so I went for Bangsar’s show, knowing that later I have to endure the sub-zero treatment from my other friends.

So was it worth it?

The show was super crazy fun. I haven’t been laughing this hard since Jessica Simpson thought tuna sandwich was made from chicken. Douglas Lim was particularly a riot. The jokes were refreshing, smart and downright hilarious. It was a humorous takes on our Malaysia life without being pretentious at all.

I was thoroughly enjoyed the show and I cannot thank enough to the one man that make it all happened for me.

Herman, you know I owe one big supper next time, right?

At the end of the day, I still can’t decide whether it was the right choice for me and for everybody, but I know I have to live with it by now. For those friends who might be affected with the choices I made (or lack of it), I pray for your undivided love and understanding. I am only human and I hope you never failed to see that.

Now, would I still send the birthday gift to her or should I just keep it for the next year?

A Letter That Never Meant To Be

Friend,

I received your email this morning. Unexpectedly.

It was the least thing I would expect to receive from you in my otherwise glorious Tuesday morning. Not now, not tomorrow and definitely not after what we have gone through for the past couple of months. I can’t lie. Usually I get jittery whenever I received your emails. But somehow I knew this was not like any of those emails you sent to me before – you know, those with un-mistakenly-you opening ‘Semarak Salam. This one was different. I simply knew it.

So I was stunned. I opened it and read it slowly, word by word and found it amusing about the time you chose to do this.

Anyway I didn’t wait a second – not to reply but to explain myself. People have got to see my side of story once again. You know, now that this has become about winning a clout. You probably wouldn’t understand it.

I am sorry we haven’t spoken for a while, but it’s ok, we are better off this way anyway. I don’t know what future may hold for us but I am guessing we can never past that ‘hi’ and ‘how are you doing?’ anymore.

I am sorry about those nasty lies and mean things I said about you.

I am sorry if my actions put you in irrecoverably pain or hurt you in anyway.

I am sorry about those unnecessary times I spent to explain to our friends how innocent I was, although nobody could have cared less about it.

I am sorry about those countless stupid fights we had before that dated back to our school years but I am supposed you know me by now.

I am sorry for that two-words ‘minta maaf’ I sms-ed to you that didn’t really mean anything, so much so I failed to remember it now nor your reply to it.

I am sorry that things couldn’t possibly be exactly the same and I am sorry this has to end this way but they are things that never meant to be.

But I have longed forgiven you and way over it by now. You’ll be glad I have moved on and I hope you have too.

We will be in each other life that’s for sure. We will definitely cross each other path soon and O yes I read your blog everyday. We are not gonna stop checking on each other.

I am sorry that this story will not have a happy ending soon, but I am still glad we were once friends.

Thanks you for the email and most importantly thank you for recognizing the pain we caused to each other.

This is liberating, isn't it?

Your friend.

What Kind Of Moron Would Get On A Suicide Machine? Guess

Friends argue sometimes. OK maybe not - friends argue all the times and yesterday wasn’t any exception.

I witnessed how two of my friends got tangled in nasty emails exchange and seemingly on each other neck over trivial issues (isn’t it always?). And since this unfortunate incident happened in the world of cyber chatting (or rather mailing list), so everyone else couldn’t help tangling themselves – which includes me.

I know it might me inappropriate of me to discuss their behavior on my own blog, and by the look of it I am pretty much booking my one-way ticket to electric chair but let me assure you, I am not interested in the details, and you probably wouldn't too.

I didn’t say a word nor did I ask ‘why?’ In fact I assess the situation and reflect it on my own self. So what if two of your friends are not talking anymore? Too bad, it happens every day.

Sometimes, a friend’s hardest job is learning to take a step back and let them work it out themselves. Just refuse to get between pricky situations like that so you won’t be that little fire in the heat wave season. When you thought enough water had flowed under the bridge, somebody will poke the dam.

Fortunately this isn’t the whole story.

Researchers from US found out that people who bottles up feelings when arguing with their friends were four times likelier to die early. And people who got involved in between were twice as likely to get heart disease.

This suggests friends who row a lot may not be subjecting themselves to harmful stress, unlike those who don’t argue because obviously they don’t know how to resolve resentments.

Great news.

And for those who might be concerned with the fate of my friends I told you about, they are doing fine. By the time you are reading this post they are probably exchanging ‘I am sorry’ e-cards or rubbing each other feet. I even heard they are planning a trip together to the neighboring country next month.

Good for them.

I concur they have a very long lives ahead of them… hopefully together.

I Want To Sing!!

I was watching MTV alone last night when I had a stunning revelation: “I have to get out of this house! I need to sing!”

Ever since Hasmiron’s Farewell Party couple months back, I had become housebound and I have been itching for karaoke nights out with my friends. My angelic voice needs audience. My fan has become restless. This gift from God needs to be shared with the world over.

The question is: When?

Until someone calls me, I am going to be on the top of a table gyrating to this tune….

Memacu Pembangunan Negara

Sinar mentari bak penyuluh diri
Menyusuri onak dan duri
Sama seiring ikhlas berbakti
Demi ibu pertiwi

Kita terbitkan semangat juang
Demi usahawan gemilang
Melaksanakan agenda kita
Membangunkan negara



Chorus:
Ini permulaan
Ayuhlah kita semua
Memacu pembangunan
Negara Malaysia



Ikrar dan janji penuh setia
Gigihkan usaha hingga jaya
Memacu pembangunan negara
Itu agenda kita

Repeat Chorus



Written by: Dato’ Wah Idris and Sheikh Faisal Sheikh Mansor
Produced by: Jermaine Dupri for So So Def Productions, Inc.
On: Blackout (Jive)/Mus’ Greatest Hits

*This damn song keeps playing in my head …somebody please shot me…

…..or the table will!

I Am OK

Revelation is good. Open up is great and letting go is the way to go. I know this first hand cause I did just that last night.

Sorry that I have been quiet of late. Last few days have been crazy. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t eat, well maybe not as much before. I couldn’t think about anything else but my problems. You see, they are very important to me cause you know, they are mine.

And before you cast me down and pass this as ‘another whiny post’, let me drop a bombshell here: they were times I had been thinking that I might as well be in the news – that bad.

I learned in a hard way that in order to fan away negativities around me and maintain an acceptable level of my sanity, I must learn to let go; the feeling that I am not worthy or deserved anything good in my life.

All my life I have been a Shakespearan actor (pardon the uncanny comparison), putting a front to what people expect of me just to fit in. But this has been eating me a lot lately and I have come to realize that there’s certain limitation to my dignity and self-belief.

So what I did yesterday, marked another milestone for me, I finally told a friend what and how her actions so far hurts me and why my feelings should matter to her.

It was shaky and unsure at first, but once I planted my feet firm on the ground, gathered as much Zen energy from my surroundings (I guess), I gradually felt empowered and much calmer.

Then the moment of truth……..

Boy, am I glad I have gone through with that. It’s an adrenalin rush of not knowing what the consequences are and the sensational feelings of relief and gladness - all rolled into one. I feel a truckload lighter.

Had I chose any other way I guess I won’t be able to know and experience the power of revelation and joyfulness of standing up for what I believe in.

And as you are reading this post now you know I am OK.

Of Love And Togetherness

Raya is also about togetherness, among other things. So I am glad that I was being able to see that in my family.



We are crazy about each other, al right, in metaphorically or literally speaking but Raya always brings us together. That’s why it is a little special day for me cause I know I can see loves abundantly in our home.



I guess when we are together it is much easier to love and to forgive and Raya is merely an excuse for us to be just that.

Togetherness is the essence of love and miracles are things you made up to describe it.

To each member of my family and friends I know and love dearly; I seek forgiveness for the wrongs I have done and I pray for miracles to brings us together forever.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI AND MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN

Sincerely from the one you called;

Your Son/Brother/Uncle/Friend/Lover

Day Of Many Special Things

Some days are better than the other. So much better that they are so many reasons for you go out and celebrate. Like today. Who would imagine that today would be such an eventful day. Seriously guys. I am not kidding.

October 10, 2007 is the day of many celebrations. The day of many special things. So what's so special about today?

1. Happy Birthday Herman

Today is one of my close friends' birthday. Don't ask how old he is now. He likes it to be a secret, part of himself to be remained a mystery. Riiiiight!!! Anyway this 'star of the moment' earns 'close friend' status by simply being unwaveringly true to himself.....always. He always be there for his friends – whether they welcome it or not. He overanalyzes things and yet to find a balance between heart and brain. (Oops, that didn't come out the way I intended to be), and all of these make me love him more. Have a fantabulous Birthday, Dear and keep counting the blessings you have.

2. First Malaysian-To-Blast-Off-Into-Space Day

Things couldn't get more patriotic than this. Definitely bigger than buying RM2 mini Jalur Gemilang. I mean, when was the last time you felt paying taxes every year worth every single cent? How does the First Malaysian-Muslim-Male cosmonaut ever landed on International Space Station sound to you? I'd say it's a out-of-this-world ly good. So set your alarm today as our little 'Neil Amstrong' blast off into space with our canned, vacuum-packed and freeze-dried, Nasi Lemak and The Tarik. I just hope they don't litter.

3. World Mental Health Day.

That little strange things I do, wouldn't qualify me for a dedicated day in World Health Organization (WHO)'s calendar. We all do. We are all human, flawed and colorful in our own way and when I say that, I mean, there's no such thing as "normal". And today is about the day we celebrate the awareness of the "abnormalities" we have –so that we can 'distinguish between unusual behaviors we can tolerate and troublesome patterns we should try to fix'. So bring out the Gollum, Catwoman, Wilhemina or even Castello in you and let them fly. Sounds like a Halloween party for nuts eh? I'd say!

4. It's-Almost-Hari-Raya Day

The biggest celebration of all is coming on our doorstep. And I couldn't be more prepared than ever! Baju Melayu, check!, Songkok, Check!, Kasut, Check!, Instant Nasi Himpit, Check! Kuih Raya, Check!, Duit Raya, nanti-Check!,

And of course any special things that happened to you (that get you excited in the first place) wouldn't be completed with a bummer or two, right? In my case it is one big giant bummer, a huge dent in shield of hope, a giant puddle on a road of life......

5. My-Car-Road-Tax/Insurance-Up-For-Renewal Day

OOO..this is just great. Wonderful! Couldn't pick up a much better day. Must it be three day before Raya? Must it be on the day of WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY!!!??? (Please excuse my choppy sentences now that I can't breath*).

*Had problems controlling anger and impulsivity. Suffered from stress-related paranoia and had a pattern of unstable and intense personal relationships. In the end, turned to the dark side and transformed into the dark lord, calling myself............

DARTH VADER

Suddenly I don't feel like celebrating anymore.

No. 5 On My List

I have a list of things to do to make this Raya happier than the last year and I am gonna start now.

5. Send Raya cards to at least 5 people who I haven’t spoken with for more than 1 year.

Today I received a bundle of free Raya cards from HR. 30 of them. I think they are meant for our clients but heck, I am gonna use the card for self-serving purposes. I am gonna send them to my friends!

OK, now that I have the cards, the next thing I need is “at least 5 people who I haven’t spoken with for more than 1 year”. Well I have names. Make no mistake about that.

So I started listed down all those people that I ‘abandoned’ all this while. And to my horror, I used more paper than I thought I needed! Wow ‘I can’t be this cold-hearted’. I mean ‘hey, was it hate or we were simply drifted apart?’ I put my pen down and started to realize that this probably a bad idea after all. It’s really depressing to know that I have this so many people who hates me.

Then, I decided, instead of dwelling on the past mistakes I am gonna arrest my current friends. They deserve my cards more than others.

Well, who’s gonna be on the list? No No. I won’t categorize my friends into any sort of category. It’s offensive. Anyone who knows and considers me as his/her friend deserves the card and I will buy more if I failed to steal more free cards from HR vault. (Trust me, I’ve done that before)

I still remember when I was in high school there was some sort of competition among us on who got the most Raya cards and I always ended up as the big loser who received the least. Not that it bothered me a bit. It’s just hurtful sometime that how a stupid card can determine your worth. I don’t need to have more cards to validate my existence. But now I try to take this thing seriously and be the first one who sends the card instead of waiting for one.

It may mean nothing much to you but surely means a lot to me. It’s a way for me to say ‘hey I am here and I remember you’. So keep it, or better yet, send me a reply card and make my Raya this year a happy and special one.

I crossed out list no. 5 and hoped that next year I won’t have put this on my list anymore.

Getting To Know You

My friends never ceased to surprise me. Everyday I learn one or two new things about them. Exiting new things. It gives me a new fresh perspective on our friendship and I have always ended up like a big-eyed little boy.

Come on, how could I ever knew that Hafez do paint or Reena isn’t a materialistic (!) type? (she said she wanted to become a businesswoman) or Zack has other moniker other than Reena’s weekend boyfriend? (Call me and I spill).

This is the best part of making new friends - you get to be fascinated about what and who they really are – good, shocking and some you might not even like it.

Along the way, you’ll learn bit by bit, layer by layer, which exactly what we did on our recently concluded weekend.

It started innocently enough. We talked about nothing and it got deeper.



I learned Zack knows a lot about cars.

I learned Hafez can cook, a painter, like to teach and write poems

I learned Azrill likes poetry.

We learned things about others we never thought we knew, or at least I didn't. We learned and shared our inner thoughts, dreams, ambitions, aspirations and even secrets. To open up, share and listen is a long, painful process throughout the period in friendship but I believe it’s healthy and you’ll find it rewarding.

Your friends are for you to discover in order for you to rediscover yourself. That’s why I have always welcomed Get-Together or Talk-Over sessions and I have always tried to make myself available to listen for my friends.

I have learned from my past experiences - never be too sure that you know your friends well even if you have known them for more 20 years. It’s a known fact that people always capable of surprises. And when they do, you’ll find yourself push to the corner as though don’t even know them at all that to start over would be impossible.

So instead of punishing ourselves for failing to be a good friend, what do we do? We lighten up.

Anyone into musical? How about this one from Rodgers & Hammersteins' much-acclaimed ‘The King And I’? Think you know this one?

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you,
Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me,
Haven’t you noticed, suddenly I am bright and breezy,
Because of all the beautiful and new,
Things I am learning about you,
Day by day.

Guess no poem after all huh? Sorry Azrill

If You Know Myself Well

If I know myself well, I am not a jealous-type of guy. I don’t get upset with other people’s shot at happiness, especially when it comes to family and friends. I believe everyone is entitled to their highs and ups and I am just drawn to joyfulness or any celebrations attach to it.

But today I saw a different side of me. I thought I finally saw the (green) monster in me and I hate myself for that.

Hasmiron if you read this, yes, last night I did get jealous with you. No, it wasn’t the opportunity you got to further your studies, it wasn’t about the Business Class they upgraded for you and it wasn’t even about the new hairdo you spotted.

But when I saw there were so many loves at the airport last night, I wish I would have that many friends when I am gone or away.

Just look at them….


Aren't you glad now that you've made this many friends?


Man of the hour


Zack is trying to talk Miron out of getting his house's key


U-oohh...looks like someone seriously needs to lose weight


Smiles do fly a million miles, just not Azrill's


Faizal, Hasanah and Din arrived early just to make sure they won't miss the action


Miron and friends sharing the light moments.

How could you not know or see how many people were there for you in your better times like this. These people are the very same people you knew before and we are definitely not going anyway.

So don’t worry about your house, your car, your furniture or us (especially us) cause we’ll manage. Just focus on your studies, don’t forget to send us email, update your blog and don’t marry a mat salleh.

We are all very proud and happy for you and always pray the best for you. Jealous and envious we might, but it’s not about hate and destroy.

Time flies really fast these days and before you know it, it has been a year and you're gonna see us back, same as before except may be …err…your LCD TV.

And if you know myself well, I will always be happy and support you in whatever you do cause you never failed to do the same to me.

Music Man

Music is always my savior. Whenever I am down and out I'd find solace in music. Anytime I feel happy and bouncy I'd dance to music. Even when I am in love I'd embrace music. I have song for every moment and occasion in my life that I don't think I could ever live without my music.

That is why good people, it is a little mystery I know zilch about music - I can't play or read a note in music. Maybe it isn't a mystery at all if I say I was raised by parents with music-is-evil doctrine and not by Osmond's or Jackson's family.

But this post isn't about self-pity; if there's one thing I can take comfort to know is that I can sing.

Yes people, I can sing. Arguably, there's a really thin line between 'can' and well, 'good at', but I can hold and bend note, any note the shortest time like some kind of world record. I also give 'pitchy', 'in tune', 'tone' and 'falsetto' a whole new meaning, altogether.

Last Thursday night me and my other nine no-talent friends tried to 'temper the law of physics' by re-defining the science of sonic at a karaoke joint. We gathered at Green Box, Jusco Cheras Selatan as a toast to our Friends, Miron: who's gonna further his studies in Master in something next week. All members of the pack were there except Herman and Zack.

Reena and Amir

Ju, Faizal And Nazrol

Miron and Azrill

Azrill and Hafez

Yours truly and Udin

We had a fun fun fun time together by 'flapping our esophagus' out. I never felt this much fun in a long time though I must say it worried me a bit that the sound we produced that night might attract 'contact' from other dimension or even worse - a pack of wolves. But everything went super well.

However, since everyone tried to hog the microphone like a bunch of 'hyenas' I only managed to sing a paltry six songs. But it was a worthy six-songs moment;

Loving You – Minie Riperton

I Just Called (To Say I Love You) - Stevie Wonder
Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
Saving My Love For You – Whitney Houston
What's Going On – Marvin Gaye
Me and Mrs Jones – Billy Paul

It was such a joyous night for everyone especially me since I was able to share my divine voice with all my delusional I-can-sing-better-than-you friends. I thank you guys for your companion and patience throughout the three hours ordeal with me and I salute your sheer understanding and support. And having a pair of a very thick, bionic ears helps too!

You guys made me feel like a Superstar!

A Painted Weekend

So how bad was it?

A disaster.

Really?



Really.

It can't be that bad.



U-oh

You think I should thrash this?

Don't. It's for charity right?

Yeah.

So keep it. It was for fun anyway.

YES.For what it worth it was all...



Note: "Disaster" in this made-up, talk-to-self script was actually referring to 'the painting'- 'my painting', NOT my weekend as some might have speculated!....I had a 'FANTABULOUS' weekend just so you know!.

Beauty's Skin Deep

Your colleagues made cruel remarks about you. Your date failed to turn up (yet again!). Looking to the mirror is a torture business every morning that you’d rather be stoned dead.

Life’s full of stress and heartbreaks. And that’s not counting the feeling of getting old everyday and still unmarried. So what can you do?

You can take a leaf out of Ginger’s book.



“The hell with everyone!”

Ginger is a friend of mine, a professional who works miles away from home. She works with a giant conglomerate in automotive industry in northern part of the country. I have known her since my college days and like many friends I’ve known, she’s got a spitfire-acid tongue personality that makes even Simon Cowell blushes. (God have mercy on us!)

Ginger is quite an attractive woman, to say the least but I think she cares a little too much about her looks that to say ‘vain’ would be such underrated, unfavorable word. But I figured it wasn’t really a bad thing.

Years that I have known her before, she used to had a big, giant self-esteem issue.

But I wouldn’t blame her.

For the longest times, she has this ‘bushy’ issue that won’t go away. You know, those unwanted hairs in certain places in her body that grow a little bit longer than necessary. You get the idea.

But she’s simply refused to back down and wallow in self-pity. She took her shortcoming with stride and became more confident than ever. She’s completely clear and independent on her direction, feelings and decision and not easily being led. And now, she’s very much comfortable in her own skin and has emerged as a confident and sophisticated middle-age woman she is inspired to be.

I was once attended to one of the beauty contest that she happened to win. She was asked by the jury ‘what beauty means to her’ and in an act of self-delusion she gave an elaborate, passionate speech about ‘beauty’s skin deep’ crap that for a few seconds the hall was awed in silence. I was on tears! ( Though I didn’t believe she meant it)

From that moment on I realized she has achieved much on what she wanted to achieve and I couldn’t help but to cheer her on.

She’s an old friend of mine with considerable number of my dark, embarrassing secrets. She’s also a woman who wants to look and feel her best. In both roles, she awarded Mus’
"Most beautiful people that need shaving”

Now, anytime you feel down and out and ugly: remember what Ginger said.

“There are uglier people out there, they just haven’t come out from your mirror”