My niece and Me Vol. 1

My niece will be 5 years old this year. She's smart, adorable, funny and sarcastic, all at the same time. She calls me maman, which is her slang for paman, a javanese term for uncle.

Yes folks, I have no qualms about admitting my ethnicity. I'm Javanese.

But that's not the point. I don't know why but I have this weird feeling that my sister has been secretly teaching my niece on how to make me feel miserable.

Case in point: Telephone conversation ( 5th March 2008)


Maman tengah buat apa?

Maman tengah minum.

Maman minum dengan sapa?

Maman gi minum sorang-sorang lah.

Kenapa maman suka pegi minum sorang-sorang?

Saja je. Kenapa?

Tak best lah minum sorang-sorang.

Kenapa pulak tak best?

Sebab kalau duduk sorang-sorang, nanti orang cakap kita macam orang gila.


Is it just me, or am I right about my sister?

If this doesnt make any sense, then maybe I need help after all....

Sometimes I wonder, are we really free to make decisions in our lives without thinking about the implications of that decision to the people around us?

A lot of us have this notion that the best way to approach this kind of dilemma is by going with your gut.

Maybe for some people, that could work. Perhaps by following our instincts could be the key in finding what you want in life. That is when our actions are totally pure from all the pretentious causes and motives that lingers within our mind like wiggly earth worms under the ground.

But as I have learned through all the years of my whole existence, maybe that same approach can't be applied by me. Wishful thinking aside, I honestly don't think I have the emotional capacity to do that, knowing the fact that the consequences of my actions will affect others related to the matter in hand.

Because, truthfully, if my guts have a mind of its own, frankly it have shit for brains. Even if I really believe in what I've decided to do, close companions will tell me that I'm on the verge of making a big mistake. And in the end, they were right about it.

So maybe, I need a second to collect my thoughts before I decide on anything that is going to happen in my lfe in the near future.


Or maybe I should just shut up and do something about it.

A delicate matter to answer...

Exactly a week ago, when millions of people were celebrating love that day, a friend of mine called me and asked one simple question.


Ko rasa, lagu apa yang the ultimate love song?

Susah nak jawab tu. Kenapa?

Aku nak dedicate kat awek aku.

Lagu omputih ke, lagu Melayu?

Tak kisah lah. Ko rasa apa yg best ek?


I couldn't give him an answer at the time. Maybe I was spoilt for choices.

Or maybe I'm not qualified to answer that question.

But, between you and me, I'll definitely put this one on top of my list.




Say what you want about the man. But this joint is hot,yo!

Is is just me...or is this really happening...?

I was on my way to work the other day, and as usual, traffic was like hell on earth. Cars were piling up on the road like there's no tomorrow. Not to mention the antics of our 'typical' Malaysian drivers. It was chaos.

Suddenly, I heard a loud crash. It was an old man on a motorcycle, being hit by a car. A Volvo to be exact. There were all sorts of things scattered on the road. Maybe it was the old man's belongings.

Me and a couple of other guys quickly rushed to this old main aid. We picked him up and guided him to the side. A few other guys helped pick his motorcyle and things up from the road. It's obvious the old man was in a state of shock. And with a few cuts and bruises on his hands and knees.

While we were attending to the injured man, the car that hit him drove by and the driver rolled down his window.


Lain kali, tengok jalan lah. Kalau rempit tu, rempit jugak. Menyusahkan orang je korang yang naik motor ni.


Then, just like that, he vanished from our sights. We were dumbfounded from what had just transpired.

Later when I got to the office, it got me thinking. What has happen to some of us...?

Some people have the luxury of driving in fancy cars without worrying about the weather.But does that give them the right to degrade and insult everybody else? even an old man who is old enough to be your granddad?


Do me favour....Wake me up when this nightmare ends.

Conversations with Mom Vol. 2

I love talking to my mom. Every time we talk on the phone, it will make my day. We talked, we laugh about all sorts of things. And today was no exception. After my sister was done talking, she was next.


Kamu cakap apa dengan kakak tadi?

Takde apa-apa. Kenapa?

Berabuk je cakap omputih. Mesti ada apa-apa ni...

Takde lah mak. Ngape? mak nak cakap orang putih?

Kamu ingat mak tak tau cakap English? I'm your mother, you know....

Yes, I know. Ok, what are you cooking today mother?

Oh, I am going to cook...err...err...ikan bilis apa dalam omputih....

Err...ntah mak.

Jap...haa... I want to cook shambal aikan bailish....


That's why I love my mom.

Rationalization with Kakak Vol. 2

I talked to my sister just now. Sometimes I think, she called just to see, how long can I be patient with her. Just to test my nerves


Pukul berapa balik keje?

Don't know yet.

Have plans after that?

No. kenapa tanya yang bukan-bukan ni?

I'm worried about you.

About me? why?

Because you're a 27 year old man who looks 10 years older and you like to be alone. You tell me, why shouldn't I be worried..


My sister and her brutal jokes.

My Dad and I Vol. 1

I still remember that day.

I was 10. My dad just brought home his new car. An old 2nd hand Peugeot that he traded with his Toyota. My mom was really bugging out at that time because his Toyota was still in good condition. To compare that car with this Peugeot is like night and day. But he just smiled. From the look in his eyes, I knew at that moment, he's the happiest guy in the world.

He looked at me and smiled.


Nak ikut bapak jalan-jalan?

Nak.

Pegi cakap kat mak kita keluar kejap.


I ran back into the house and told my mom. I ran back as fast as I can to my dad and jumped in his new car.

We drove around Ipoh town that evening. My dad was wearing the biggest smile I've ever seen.

Then, he turned on the radio.

The sound was so foreign to me. But in a unique way, I kinda enjoyed it and at the same time confused. My dad noticed the weird look on my face.


Sedap tak lagu ni?

Ni lagu apa pak?

Sadao Watanabe.

Sapa tu?

Orang Jepun. Dia main lagu jazz.

Jazz tu muzik apa? Bunyi dia pelik ye?

One day, bila kamu dah besar nanti, you'll understand what jazz is. And bila kamu dah matured nanti, you'll appreciate it more. I have a feeling that you will.

Ye ke? macam mana bapak tau?

Sebab kamu anak bapak. And I know my son will grow up be one smart, matured man. Sebab sekarang, he already is.


That was the proudest moment in my entire life. Until today, nothing can ever top that.


I hope I didn't let him down.

Quote,Unquote....

I love to watch movies. Except I don't go to the cinema to watch them. Instead, I buy DVD's and watch them at home.

If you're like me, you'll have those favourite movie lines that'll stick in your head, fully or just some part of it.

A few ago, AFI (The American Film Institute) has come up with its list of 100 memorable quotes in Cinema. I kinda agree with its their choice of top quotes, but I have my favourites of my own. Here is my list of top / favourite movie lines / quotes, in no particular order.

1. No, Shit does not happen. Shit takes time. Shit takes effort.
- Elmo McElroy (Samuel L. Jackson) in The 51st State, 2002.

2. Don't be a guy, be a man. The world is full of guys.
- Corey Flood (Lily Taylor) in Say Anything, 1989.

3. No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
- John Keating ( Robin Williams) in Dead Poets Society, 1989.

4. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
- Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey) in The Usual Suspects, 1995.

5. Cigarettes and coffee, man, that's a combination.
- Iggy Pop (as Himself) in Coffee and Cigarettes, 2003.

6. Life does not start and stop at your convenience, you miserable piece of shit!
- Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) in The Big Lebowski, 1998.

7. I'm tired of the fantasy, because it doesn't really exist. And there are never really any surprises.
- Rob Gordon (John Cusack) in High Fidelity, 2000.

8. The only constant is change.
- Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) in Half Nelson, 2006.

9. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?
- Rob Gordon (John Cusack) in High Fidelity, 2000.

10. You say 'I love you.' What do you want?written instructions?
- Joe Reaves (Anthony LaPaglia) in Empire Records, 1995.

11. This... is Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Stockholm. 1963... two masters of freedom, playing in a time before their art was corrupted by a zillion cocktail lounge performers who destroyed the legacy of the only American artform - JAZZ
- Chad (Todd Louiso) in Jerry Maguire, 1996.

12. It's the one that says bad motherfucker.
- Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction, 1994.

13. I'm gonna punch you in the ovary, that's what I'm gonna do. A straight shot. Right in the babymaker.
- Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) in Anchorman:The Legend of Rob Burgundy, 2004.

14. I may be a bastard, but I'm not a fuckin' bastard.
- Seth Gecko (George Clooney) in From Dusk Till Dawn, 1996.

15. After all, we're not fucking stupid. At least, we're not that fucking stupid.
- Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) in Trainspotting, 1996.

16. Of course. What kind of mental patient kills herself? That's just crazy.
- John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) in Constantine, 2005.

17. The only thing worse than a favor is a favor involving money
- Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) in Garden State, 2004.

18. I'm constitutionally incapable of making eye-contact with a woman I don't know.
- Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004.

19. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.
- Bob Harris (Bill Murray) in Lost in Translation, 2003.

20. You see, the guy I am now is not the guy I was then. If the guy I was then met the guy I am now he'd beat the shit out of me. Those are the facts.
- Stevo (Mathew Lillard) in SLC Punk!, 1998.

I know that some of the movies mentioned above are not everyone's cup of tea. But hey, it's my list isn't it?

At least, these are the ones that stick in my head.

Better something than nothing.

It's better to stay on the ground...

I think, of all the values and qualities that a person have or might have, the most underrated trait is humility.

Why?

Because there's a lot of people out there who thinks that being humble is a sign of not having enough self confidence..or a sign of weakness.

Most of us have something that we can boast or brag about to our friends, relatives or even someone that we just met 5 minutes ago. Believe me, I've met a lot of them.

I'm just not good at bragging. Maybe I've nothing to brag about. I'm not rich, I'm not a genius or an intellectual, I work with a meagre amount of salary, Hell, I can't even drive a car. So, what's there to brag about, right?

But, by being humble and moderate, doesn't mean you're not confident of yourself. Because what's the point of bragging if you can't even honestly prove to yourself about anything that's going on in your life. I always believe that by combining humility and rationality, You can make more sense of your life and anything that revolves around it.

I get a lot of flak from a lot of people because of my "excessive humbleness", as perceived by a lot of my mates.

"Ko ni, merendah diri sangatlah. Konfiden lah sket."

"Ko ni mcm pak angguk. Asyik angguk je."

Yup, I get that a lot.


I'm ok with that. I guess I'm cool with being underrated.


It's better than being overrated.

Conversations with Mom Vol. 1

I was having my nescafe the other day when my mum called. As usual, we talked, and talked, until she asked a very favourite question of hers;


Kenapa kamu tak keluar? Kan hari minggu ni?

Nak keluar pun tak tau nak pegi mana.

Keluarlah. Orang bujang tak keluar hari minggu...pelik...

Apa yang pelik....? Biasalah ni mak. Lagipun kalau keluar, takde aktiviti pun...

Ha'ah ye...Lupa pulak mak. Kamu nak mengorat pun tak reti, ye tak...?


Now I remember where my sister got that cruel sense of humour from...

Rationalization with Kakak Vol. 1

It's kinda late to talk about the new year. We're already at the start of the 2nd month of 2008.

So, I guess we could skip that part.


Yesterday was my sister's birthday. So as always, I gave her a call.


Kak, Happy birthday.

thanks dut. where are you?

Opis...

Oh, are you busy? I wanna ask your opinion...

What about....?

Life...

Me? advice you on life....? kak, im your younger brother. you should know better about that than me....

Oh, yeah. I always forgot about that..Maybe it's the face thing..you know. you have the wrinkles and all....

That's not nice...

Well then, it's 8 pm and you're all alone at the office. maybe you should start being younger, don't you think....?


Yes Folks, my sister always have a strange sense of humour.

What in the blue hell is this...??

My God...

I write Malay like some 10 year old kid.

Oh, that's bad....

Really Bad...

What on earth are you trying to pull here PakMet?

Shit....more work to be done...



And more caffeine...


Certainly more caffeine.

Aku nak try...aku nak try....

Macam mana nak start ye...?

Oh, kenapa nak blog dalam BM?

Ntahlah. Mungkin aku taknak rasa terkongkong kot dalam blog ni. Aku nak bebas.

BEBAS....

Bebas?

Ye, bebas. Selama ni, berputar kepala aku nak cari perkataan English.

Sebab apa, aku pun tak tau. Padahal, English aku pun bukan bagus sangat. Saja gatal nak memeningkan kepala sendiri. Kalau macam ni senang sikit, apa aku nak blog, aku hentam sajalah.

Tapi kalau ikutkan, BM aku pun taklah bagus sangat. Tapi lantaklah. Aku pun bukan nak blog dalam BM sepenuhnya dan vice-versa. Aku cuma nak blog ikut aku punya sedap. Bahasa Rojak ke, Masalodeh ke, asalkan aku blog.

Lagipun, aku dah tak inspired untuk menulis kebelakangan ni. Journal biru aku yang dah kusam tu pun dah bersawang sebab lama aku tak conteng-conteng dalam tu. Kena pulak, sekarang ni kerja aku pulak memerlukan skill penulisan yang separa tinggi.

Mati.

At least, kalau sekali sekala aku blog dalam BM, ada lah trigger sikit idea aku ni.

Haa...

Tengok...

Kan dan mentol kecik naik atas kepala aku.

Dah. aku nak buat keje.

Oh, Selamat Pagi Untuk Semua.

Have a Wonderful Day.

Some changes just needed to be made...

Yup...

I'm revamping the site....

Because I'm wanna inspire myself to write more....

Urghh...

I sound like a motivational freak...

But that's just what I'm trying to do here....

Maybe, once in a while I'll be blogging in Malay too...

Just to see if I still can hack it...

Yeah....

I'm excited....

Let's get to it...



If This doesnt work, I'll kick myself in the ass....LITERALLY...

Amused by our own kind....

My usual routine after work is a stop at a mamak stall which I have been constantly visited since the past 5 years. A glass of nescafe ais, a newspaper and that's it. Whether I finish work at 5pm or 3 am, I'll make sure that I have my daily dose of caffeine there.

And if you're been frequenting a restaurant for 5 years like me, it wouldn't be strange if you have a friendly relationship with the workers. For me, those Indian nationals who serve me drinks everyday is a lot more courteous and intelligent than most people I know. There's one guy, Sithik, who even have a Masters in IT. But still, he works here in Malaysia, serving food and drinks, 12 hours a day, with no day off. Whn I ask him why, he scratched his head,

"Banyak susah la met. Kerja sana gaji tada cukup. Sini kerja, saya boleh kasi saya punya mak sama ayah macam-macam", said the guy with a distinct Indian slang.

Speechless, I just smiled and nodded, as if I understand what he's going through.

These past few months, a new guy arrived at the restaurant. His name is Hameed. He was still struggling with his BM, so, I gave him a few pointers on how to communicate in our language. Still, everytime I try to teach him, he'll just shake his head in amusement and ask for his 'senior' friend to help him understand what I was saying.

"Ini orang, dia susah mau faham abang", said Nagoor, the 'senior' guy laughing at his naive new friend.

"Takpe. slow-slow.nanti oklah. macam you jugak", I said referring to the time when Nagoor was new. But now, he's improved a lot.

And surely enough, Hameed improved. He now understands the basic things in BM. At least I can share a laugh with him now.

One day, while I was having my daily drink, a group of students from the university nearby sat at a table next to mine. Everything was ok at first, but then of the guy from the group started cursing Hameed in BM for being inefficient etc.

"Tak baik ko cakap macam tu. kesian dia", said one of the girls in the group. (At this point, I'm just not sure how sincere she is because she was laughing hard while she said that.)

"Lantaklah. bukannya dia paham. tu sebab diorang keje macam ni", said the guy.

What the f%$k?!!!!!

Just who the f%$k do you think you are??!!

I was so mad, I started clenching my fists real hard without realizing it.

After a while, I just ignored the gang. The fact that I had just sat next to a dumbass whose brains may be smaller than the size of his "you know what" made me think that I should stick my middle finger to his face and gave him a good beating.

Later, as the gang were leaving the reastaurant, Hameed walked to my table. He smiles to me and shake his head.

"Abang, itu orang ingat saya tatau dia apa cakap. Kenapa dia cakap itu pun saya tatau. Apa pasal dia tada cakap macam abang?cakap baik-baik?," he scratched his head.

I was speechless. Again.

Hope is the key word here....

I have a confession to make.

My favourite football team is Tottenham Hotspur.

Nope, not Manchester United...not Liverpool...not even Real Madrid.

It's Spurs and it has been since I was 9 years old.

I don't know why I was attracted to cheer for them actually. As far as my memory goes, they were not among the more "exciting and happening" teams in the league.

They were not as exciting as Arsenal, not as flamboyant as Manchester United and not as legendary as Liverpool. Hell, even Queens Park Rangers were better than them at some time.

But, they have something incredibly unique about them that I just don't know how to describe it in words. They remind me about the kind of guy who have high hopes of reaching the top and making a change, but will never get there because deep down inside, he knows there's a lot more to go and there are lots of other guys who are better than him.

Honestly, they remind me of ME.

I know I have a lot to learn. As I go along, I learn something new every single day. And hopefully, I'll keep on learning until I stop breathing.

One of the most precious thing that I've learnt is never assume anything. If you don't know, just ask. Assuming, for me is so overrated. Because, let's face it. We're not that smart. As intelligent you can be, you still might not know a thing or two.

I have no idea when will Spurs reach the top. Until then, I'll just hope that someday, that moment will come.

Maybe that guy will reach the top too.

That is not stupidity....

How many times in a day that we utter the words "stupid" or "bodoh" to people, some of which we dont even know...??

You see a guy speeding on the road....

"Bodoh..."

Then a guy shouts at the waiter rudely in your local eateries....

"Bodoh..."

A resident at your apartment building throws off a cigarette butt from the 3rd floor while you're down below....

"Bodoh..."

These words come out naturally.

But the truth is, people who we call "bodoh" is actually not "bodoh".

Most of them are actually well educated or in Malay we call "berpelajaran tinggi".

They drive around in big cars. They wear fancy clothes. Hell, they look good too.

Like it or not, they are not stupid. Stupidity is not the issue here.

And it's just not right to say or call people "stupid". That's just mean.

But, the problem is just one thing.

It's plain old ignorance.

It's not the same as stupid.

In Malay, we call it "BUAT bodoh".

See, it's different.

There's a saying, "Ignorance is bliss."

But, as Zack de la Rocha once said, "If ignorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face."

what was i thinking....

Let me see....

what can i write about....?

Hmm....

I know....

Let's talk about relationships and marriage...

Err....

Erm..



Maybe not.

Confessions of a Mild Madman....

A lot has happened since my last entry. I won't be nagging about it because it's already in the past. Furthermore, you guys must have known or read about most of it already. So why waste time right?

I posted my last entry about 7 weeks ago. For a while, I thought I was in a roll. I was writing again. But after a while, I've got tied up by my work and my fascinating procratination-self being.

Yes, I am a PROCRASTINATOR...

But, I think it's about time I got back into this blogging game. At least, there's something for me to do than whining how bored my life has been these past few years.

Hopefully, I'll be on a roll again.

I really hope I do.

You have got to be kidding me.....

I used to be very good in the 'pass-the-blame' game.

For example, when I was in school, I used to blame the teachers if I failed in my exam.

When I was a kid, I used to blame the other kids for the bruises and cuts that I got while playing at the playground.

And it goes on...

and on...

and on...

But now...

I feel I'm too old to play the blaming game anymore.

You must be thinking that maybe I've had a lil' bit too much coffee than I should have.


You see, if you read yesterday's newspaper, you'll come across a report about CSI, the tv programme.

You'll be suprised to see that the show even got the Deputy Inspector-General of Police himself, Datuk Seri Musa Hassan talking.

You'll be more suprised to read about what he had to say about the show.


"CSI and a few other series teach how to remove traces of crime," he said after the launch of a Zero Crime Campaign by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting here.

What??

Does that mean we can't watch Gil Grissom, Horatio Caine, Mac Taylor and the rest of the gang anymore??

I mean, are they the ones who should be blamed for all the unsolved cases in our country??

Does that mean,we have to switch to TV1 and watch Gerak Khas & Tragedi instead?

Oh no.....

This can't be true....


I need some more coffee.