The one where I got tagged

Got tagged by Peeps, and just as I was into Football Manager. So as I post this, I'm taking a managerial break. So here goes.

1. Ten things about the one who tagged me
- an artistic creative genius
- a big Spurs fan
- loves his kicks
- plays futsal (that's how I know him)
- uses the 'F' word in almost every sentence
- loves his music
- usually finishes my assists to him
- enjoys photography
- movie buff
- a guys who enjoys life

2. My favourite novel
Recently finished the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, but my favourite would be between Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist (I know its overrated) and Neil Gaiman's Stardust.

3. Five things I love (not people)
- my ipod
- my psp
- my kicks
- my computer which was once dubbed the ultimate gaming machine (now the specs are obsolete, need to build a new one)
- the watch my mum gave me on my graduation day

4. Who I want to tag
Anyone who feels like doing this tag.

The one with the fun christmas

Merry Christmas to all. Had great fun today. Even though it left me tired, breathless and with no voice to work tomorrow.
First of all, went to Kaleon's housewarming bash in Kemuning Utama. Well these events are suppose to be simple. But the highlight of the event was his 'fan boys' room. A room dedicated for his comics and action figures. He has a massive collection of them and even set themes for them. Among my favourites was his Batman and Ironman themes. His 'batcave' even had the t-rex and joker card. All that was missing from his batcave was the giant coin. Also on display in the room was his Star Wars helmets. Among them was Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Jango Fett and various stormtrooper helmets. I spent quite some time in that room, trying to take it all in. I would have love to take photos and share with my fellow readers, but I didn't out of respect to the owner.
Next up was Christmas lunch at Mark's (finally). Since he changed his nation of employment we have been missing his mum's Christmas cooking. But before I had the chance to eat, I had to somehow 'earn' my lunch. Well, Mark owns a PS3, and he recently purchased the game Singstar. Simple explanation for the game, its karaoke PS3 style. Started the gig off with the Abba collection and then the compilation cds. Oh well, did my best to entertain even though I wasn't much of the high scorers. Never karaoked with a score before. Had great fun with the game, and was still at it after all the guests left. Good thing he didn't have Guitar Hero or Rock Band, or not we will still be at it.
A fun filled day and I really need to get me a PS3.

The one with the futsal tournament

Been a while since my last post. Things as usual haven't been all good. But nothing new there.
Anyways, yesterday I played in the Kelab Ambank Group (KAG) futsal tournament at Sports Planet Subang Grand. Been a while since my last tournament. Last I think was a couple of years back, when I played in the inter-Clark Hatch tournament.
This year around, I joined my friends in the internal audit department to form a team. For the men's open category, there were 32 teams divided into 8 groups of 4. Being our first tournament and first time playing together, we were happy if we made it out of the group phase.
I for one, was asked to play a defensive role. Not a role I fancied, but for the sake of the team, we all had to do our part. And I felt I did quite well especially in the first game, where nothing went past me.
I don't recall our opponents names, but for our first game, we won 2-0. And i had the honour of blasting our first goal in the tourney with a half-court blockbuster. That sent the team and crowd nuts.
Our second game, was a total collapse. Our star player was taken out with and ankle injury. And the whole team structure fell after that. We lost 1-6. We were outplayed in that game, and my lack of defensive instincts were exposed.
Our third and final group game was a do-or-die game. If we win, we advance, if we lost, we can pack our gear and head home. We won the game 3-2, and we could have won by a higher margin, but we hit the woodwork a lot. With that wine we advanced to the sweet sixteen (round of 16).
Our last game, was played at my familiar court. The court where my Wednesday group plays. But even that didn't help much as we lost 2-7. I scored another blockbuster to make the scores 1-2 to give hope to the team. But we were outgunned again. We won some fans during the tournament, probably due to our nice kit.
A good effort overall for first timers. Finished the tournament with 2 goals and some valuable experience.

back (l-r) - reza, farrish, wira, fatta, shahril, chris
front (l-r) - aizat, faisal
* picture courtesy of reza's facebook

The one with another loss in the family

Recently had to endure another loss in the family. This time, was my uncle from my dad's side. That makes two deaths in the span of eight days.
I'm still at times lost as I've yet to recover from my grandfather's death. And now with another passing, not sure how soon will I recover. Its seems as if i froze still, and yet the world is still moving on around me.
Thanks to all who offered their words of support and prayers. I really do appreciate it and so does my family.

The one where my grandfather passed away

Just came back from my hometown, Kajang. My grandfather passed away earlier today at the age of 79. A sad day for the whole family.
I received a call from my sister informing that my grandfather just passed away. I took a cab to the hospital after that. I arrived in time before they wanted to bring the body for mandi jenazah. I was crying a river then, and had to be consoled by my mum and uncle. My mum told me he died peacefully in his sleep. And I was just there on his bedside the day before.
I along with my uncles assisted with the mandi jenazah ritual. After the solat jenazah, his body was brought back to Kajang. The weather itself was gloomy, but the rain stopped as we went to the cemetery for the burial. I helped out with the burial, but since it was after the rain, extra effort had to be put to lay the earth into the burial site. It did rain again after the burial was done.
Its weird when you lose something forever, random images come into mind. I remembered some moments with my grandfather when I was a kid growing up.

Haji Hashim
26 March 1929 - 20 November 2008

The one with the long day at the hospital

Another long day for me. The whole daylight hours was spent at HUKM. Received a call from my mum as I was about to reach the office. My grandfather was in critical condition. So informed my colleagues and hitch a ride with my sister, as she drives to work these days (she just bought a new car).
Upon reaching the hospital, from the look of most of my relatives, they were all fearing the worse. My grandfather needs the aid of an oxygen machine to help him breathe. Even with that, you can sense the struggle for every breathe. My grandfather has Parkinson's, and from the doctor's x-rays, he has viral infection in his lungs and its spreading to his kidney. I for one, despite following a number of medical television series, (House MD) I'm no medical expert and wouldn't be able to explain further fearing of getting my facts wrong.
A lot of relatives came to visit. And I have to admit, we do have a large family due to my grandfather's "branches". And I also do not know most of them. The only way I knew they were family as we all have the same features.
Spent the whole afternoon at my grandfather's bedside, keeping him calm whenever his hands started to shake. Since he was on the breathing apparatus, he wasn't able to communicate. But I hope he manage to rest while I was at his bedside.
As of my time of leaving the hospital, my grandfather's condition stabilized, but still needs the oxygen support to breathe. As for what happens next, I have no idea.
Manage to join the futsal Wednesday session for a bit. Needed to just run out a bit. And for once, I didn't celebrate any of my goals. And in the last game, I banged in a hat-trick and dedicated it to my grandfather.
As for tomorrow, I do hope and pray for a clearer picture on my grandfather.

The one with the eventful Monday morning and Monday night and nothing else in between

Been a while since I came up with a title that didn't make any sense. And despite my busy schedule in management, I'm taking the time to write this post.
First of all, my brother-in-law's car was stolen this morning. The car was parked outside the house. Along with most of my neighbor's wheels. Kind of a shock for the family as it was still the early hours of the day (I leave home at 6.30AM). The look on my brother-in-law's face pictured his disbelief and shock. I'm not going into detail on the car theft. As not much can be done at the moment, and telling it would only bore you with what most people know. Malaysia is no longer safe and their thieves are no longer honorable to the code.
I for one believe that there is no honor among thieves these days. There was a time when you would steal from those who deserve to be robbed, mainly the corrupt. People who earn their living on our hard earn money. You don't steal from the common folk who are also struggling to make ends meet without robbing someone. That is the part that really pissed me off. What have my brother-in-law or my family done for that matter done to whoever stole the car?
Furthermore, to complicate matters, my sister was suppose to drive back to Penang this morning. Only for her to take the bus back. It also complicated things for my brother-in-law, as he had to go do the necessary paperwork and report. And we all know how helpful the people upholding the law and insurance companies can be when it comes to this. Especially the insurance companies. They will probably go all out to sell you whatever policy they can, and promising the claims will be done swiftly. Only for them to make us go from A to B to C and A again just to submit the claims. And after that who knows when we will get our claims.
A very frustrated me today. I for one having played the thief knows still abide by the code.
As for the Monday night. When I reached home, my mum told me that my grandfather is sick. Everyone is going to visit him at my uncle's place in Bukit Antarabangsa. Lately, my grandfather is not well, due to old age. But today he condition worsen. His condition stabilized later, and he was sent to the hospital for further observation.
I pray that he will be okay.

The one with the reason why I won't be online much these days

As most of friends know, I'm usually online most of the time. Usually my G-Talk and Facebook. But now, I will not be as active. Reason being, I'll be busy managing a football team. Leading them to glory. And what on earth am I yapping about? Well, Football Manager 2009 is out baby. The return of sleeples nights, planning tactics in my head, player management, training schedules, etc.....


Okay, time to go back to management.

The one with unrelated info

Just thought I just post something meaningless and irrelevant.
So my Spurs are finally picking this season. Ten league points from our last 4 league games and a UEFA Cup group match win. And finally we get to see free-flowing-inventive football. Its a joy to watch especially new boy Luka Modric. The kid is a playmaking genius. He has great vision, poise, flair and balance. He probably sees the game a few moves before everyone else. Finally something for the Spurs fans to cheer about after the very dismal start to the season.
Well random unrelated karaoke point. I've met quiet a number of people who all share the joy of karaoke-ing. Seems like its the new 'IN' thing. Can't blame them really, it is a whole lot of fan. And since Mamma Mia hit the cinemas, ABBA songs are suddenly the 'must-sing' songs. Also, we tapped into a genre, more like a group's song to our repertoire. We can now do Boyz to Men and Black Eyed Peas. Proof that we are more versatile than ever.
Futsal wise, way off form at the moment. After the 8 games in 2 weeks run, I only played twice last week. Now that I'm well rested, I raring to go.
And the point of all this.....I have no idea.

The one with the 200th

Well what do you know. Post 200 already. Should have been earlier, as time constraints is the main reason why. So what will it be about.
How about a double feature movie review. I manage to watch Quantum of Solace and Madagascar 2 these past couple of days.
The last movie that I was looking forward to for 2008. Being a Bond fan, this was highly anticipated after the success of Casino Royale. After all the hate Danial Craig received prior to Casino Royale, he convinced everyone that he was the Bond for the new age. Sadly, yes sadly the QoS didn't live up to expectations. I left the cinema saying to myself "what the hell was that?". First up, it wasn't even a Bond film. The stripped the essence of Bond movies and made it more into a Jason Bourne movie. Even the opening credits sequence was crap as well as the song by Jack White and Alicia Keys. Not one of their memorable works despite their accolades.
I was disappointed that Bond was less witty and didn't even have one of those one-liners which we all love. Gadgets wise there was nothing except a Sony Ericsson mobile phone which served as an advertisement. But gadgets wasn't really an issue as Q has yet to be introduced. Even Bond doesn't seem to say much. Just a lot of action sequences.
Even the villain wasn't villainous enough. I do know they want to do away with cheesy villains from Bond past. But at least have him commit a villainous act. And no, drowning Gemma Arterton's character in oil doesn't count, because we didn't see it. Even the villainous plot wasn't well developed. I think the whole idea was about water.
And one final complaint, Olga Kurylenko's character doesn't take her clothes off!
So to offset the 007 disappointment, I went for a movie which is fun. I went for Madagascar 2. It was a good laugh and enjoyable to watch. I guess I do really enjoy cartoons.
Oh well, that's about it I guess. Here's to the next 100.

The one where I could use a break...from futsal

Again I apologize for another disappearance. Things have been chaotic at work and home. And what do I do to clear my head, even for a while. Run around like a headless chicken on the futsal court.
As of last Saturday, I've played 8 games in the space of 12 days. Two straight weeks of playing on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. And since I do have issues, I went all out on those games. Was beginning to suffer loss of form by last Friday and last Saturday totally off-form. Also was beginning to have back problems since last Wednesday.
So for the first time in a while, I will give futsal Tuesday a miss (much to the shock of my fellow teammates). Ending a run of God knows how many consecutive appearances. Not that I don't want to play, but could use a different social activity. But I will keep my gear in the car in case the event is canceled.
So I probably sit out for one game and be back hopefully for Wednesday's session. In case you are wondering, all these sessions are with different groups. So I'm the only one without a social life free enough to join all the sessions.
Also, can't wait for Quantum of Solace to come out. Been a while since we had a blockbuster.

The one with a bad start to the week

Been some time since a crappy Monday post. A "great" way to start the week.
This morning my car couldn't start. So in my head I saw ringgit notes with wings flying away from me. First thing that came to mind was my car battery. But felt it was unlikely as its only one year and a bit since I last changed it. So I thought it was the starter. But still it was way too early to do anything since it was only 6.30am (yes, I leave my house at that time).
And so I went online and checked out the football results from last night. And Spurs LOST AGAIN. I for one wouldn't be surprised if we end up playing first division (or whatever they call it these days) football next season.
So with the mechanic open at ten, me and my dad went to pick up the mechanic as well as the new battery. So there goes my RM 250.00. And my boss still insists that I come to work. I took emergency half day and came in after lunch. I drove the car to work as the station parking would already be full.
Work was hectic and this was only half day. But the worse was yet to come. Its been raining cats and dogs lately. Every afternoon, it will pour. And when it pours in the city centre, we all know the outcome. Jams everywhere until every road in KL becomes a parking lot. So I decided to chill for teh tarik till the jam clears. Looking at the jam I know this is why I don't drive to work.
I guess this is going to be a loooooong week.

The one where I haven't posted anything in a while

Guess its been a while since I last posted something. Roughly around half a month. And in that period a lot has happened. Which sadly will remain unreadable by the general public. Mainly due to a lot of details which I don't want to kill my brain cells trying to recall.
In brief, in the 2-3 week hiatus, there's been karaoke stories, buka puasa stories, eid stories, work issues (as usual) and personal issues which leads me to being very emotionally imbalanced.
Anyways, hope this will kick start the blog again.

The one where I feel there is nothing left

Actually I couldn't think of a cooler title. Or find words the describe the title I had in mind. Been feeling way down as of late. Not sure if its due to the fasting month or lack of oxygen and vitamins. Down as in I want to isolate myself from society. Down as in I have no idea what is left for me. Think I'm running on empty. For me everyday is winding road to no where.
Well as of late I feel I'm beginning to lose my colour. Been like that since I moved to my new unit. I've changed into a different being. A very moody and grim version of a once colourful kid. And to make things worse, my one-liners couldn't save me or even help lift the gloom. But work is a whole different story.
Haven't been out and about much as of late. Just the odd buka puasa with clients here and there and futsal sessions. Other than that, pretty much anti-social. Even I couldn't organize a buka puasa and karaoke session with the entourage (sorry guys, my bad).
At the moment, I have nothing to look forward too. Nothing to live for. Even if there was, it would probably be short term and make me feel better for a while.
With raya celebrations around the corner, think I will play the raya equivalent of Ebenezer Scrooge.

The one where I got tagged

Four jobs I had in my life

• dealer
• waiter
• rockstar wannabe
• basketballer wannabe

Four movies I would watch over and over

• The Godfather trilogy
• Star Wars movies
• The Batman movies (the Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman movies)
• That Thing You Do
  

Four places I have lived

• Taman Tun Dr Ismail
  
• London
• Los Angeles
• Shah Alam
  

Four TV shows that I watch

• Friends
• Smallville
• Prison Break
• Entourage
  

Four places I have been

• Makkah
• Paris
• Amsterdam
• Singapore
  

Four people who email me the most

• Farrish
• Liz
• the futsal gang (for playing status updates for the upcoming session)
• my clients
  

Four favourite things to eat

• burgers
• pasta
• sandwiches
• muffins
  

Four places I would rather be now

• Athens
• some beach in Florida
• Cayman Islands
• away from here
  

Four things I'm looking forward to this year (2008)

• score more wonder goals for fun
• take more videos of us karaoke-ing
• find an exit
• fake my death and start over with a new identity
  

The one where I need a new beginning

I guess fasting month has really been a quiet month. Not much activity. Except there were two karaoke posts which I should have posted. And also pending one session next week, hopefully.
Work as of late, no signs of improvement. Improvement here refers to the environment. It really took a lot of colour away from me. No longer the smiling one. No more witty one-liners. Even if there was, no one seems to get it. And I have been warned by the person who I replaced at that unit to be careful. Everyone there is capable of backstabbing. As you know the only way for me to overcome this is by taking to heart the line "keep your friends close and your enemies dead".
Anyways, I've decided my future lies away from where I am. Besides the 'work sucks', another reason to leave is due to frustration. I've seen friends who started the same time as me has made it to the big leagues. Market-wide recognition and stardom. You can say I'm jealous of my friends achievements. And yet, not given the opportunity to get there. This is where office politics come into play.
Anyways, as I once told a friend which I now have to remind myself. What does not kill you makes you stronger.
So if any of you know any alternative opportunities for me to venture in, please let me know.

Main Hati by Andra and The Backbone

The one where I'm really slacking at work

I have no idea how to begin this post. No introduction I can think off.
Straight to the point. I've been really slacking at work. In futsal I know when I'm having an off-game. Same thing at work. I haven't been doing a good job lately. Heck, I'm ridiculusly bored. There are things I should be doing, but I don't. I don't even have a sense of urgency. I'm still very laid-back.
I know I can do better. Question is, "do I want to?". I'm not happy with work anymore. Work related issues have been well documented. So I don't want to ellaborate further.
Time to hunt for a fresh start I guess. And after the horrific karaoke video, I guess being a rockstar is out of the question.

The one with futsal Ramadhan

An overdue post here. Since now two futsal Ramadhan Fridays have passed. Two interesting and fun games for me. Really in the groove, especially last Friday's session.
For the first Friday kick-off, we had a large group - 14 players. We played seven-a-side, as we only had one hour so splitting into three times would mean some players would not get their playing time. Managed a goal via some sexy-futsal link-up.
On another note, I suffered cramps on both my calves towards the end of the game. First to go was my left leg. Felt it after making a clearance. Manage to shake it off. As for my right leg, it happened as I was about to shoot for goal after dribbling pass 3 players.
Last Friday's game was a goal-fest. I banged in 4 goals. And all was like one after the other. Just started scoring on a roll. And this game I suffered no cramps. Normal service was resumed.
Sadly one thing from both games. All my passes were totally off. I kept passing to the opponents. Sometimes my passes are miles away from my intended target.
At least I'm getting some exercise.

The one with the email

Earlier today, I received and email from my ex-colleague. The email reads as follows :

hey!...i think u need to revamp ur image in the market...ppl thought that u r MARRIED!!!...
penat laaa i nak salvage ur image......"u r most welcome"!

I'm married???? What??? When did that happen??? If I did get married I would recall reciting the akad and such. First of all, do I even look like a married man? In fact what does a married man look like? Which part of me looks married???
Anyways, It probably explains a lot of things. Maybe explains the lack of interest from girls. Maybe I am so 2004 (or any other year). I wonder who thought that and I also wonder how it got to that.
So that's a surprise I got today. Now I have to revamp my image. And for my friend who help salvage whatever hint of 'bachelorism' I have, thank you very much for clarifying.

The one with my KK trip

I guess most of you have viewed our 7 minutes of youtube fame. God save us.

Anyways, I just came back from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah last night. Was there for 2 days 1 night, on a business and marketing trip. Had to pull off 5 meetings in one and a half days. I went with my senior Jacqueline, Poh a local Sabahan working in KL and Emily our representive from the KK branch. I will spare you the details of the meetings.
It's my first trip to KK, in fact first trip to East Malaysia. And I fell in love with the place when I arrived. I knew I had to come back again one day and probably on a non-fasting month. I've heard so much about the food and didn't have the chance to sample it all. Besides the food, the sights were beautiful and this was the time I forgot to bring my camera. There were a lot of pictures waiting to be taken.
So my first taste of KK food was during buka puasa. Poh brought us to a seafood restaurant. And it must have been the tastiest seafood dinner I had since Melaka last year. Being a KK boy he sure knows where to go for food. The restaurant allowed us to pick our meat. There was aquariums of fish, crabs, lobsters, etc. Manage to take some pictures with my camera phone. But I have no idea what you call it. If you know, kindly let me know.
We were joined for dinner by a friend Poh made on his flight back (he went back early due to the long weekend). Our new friend is Nicole from the US Virgin Islands. And from her Facebook, she has been around the world. I still haven't browsed through her photos. There is too many. Sadly her trip to KK hasn't been a pleasant one. Mainly due to being overcharged for everything. Guess that's why she enjoyed dinner that night. Able to enjoy food we Malaysians enjoy food.
Also, in our last meeting, we had a great view. I view I can get use to. I'm a fan of sun, surf and sea. No idea what I'm doing in an concrete jungle. Manage a couple of shots from my camera phone.
So now I leave you with some shots from KK.

The one with the karaoke video

Amryl finally finish editing the footage from the last karaoke session. He posted it on his blog here. Enjoy.

The one with a great futsal game

Last game for the Saturday group before the fasting month. And I'm happy to say I picked up where I left off from Tuesday. Signs of returning to form, or at least at a level where I'm having fun.
My side played a very energetic performance. We played and the manner that we've always envisioned. Fluid movement and passing. And we could have scored more had our finishing been better. I myself had a couple of goals and some assists. Sadly I was denied by the woodwork twice and had both attempts went in, it would definitely made ESPN's Top Ten Plays of the Day. My teammates all played their roles well. It was a joy to play with that team.
Next game, next Friday as futsal Ramadhan kicks off.

The one with two karaoke sessions in one day

Managed to pull of another landmark for myself. Think once I pulled off more sessions than footballers play in a week. This time was two in the same day.
First session was during lunch with my office colleagues. It was an impromptu session. So when I came in I thought of performing at a minimal and voice conserving level. Knowing me, I still rocked out as usual. In my mind I was wondering how to rock later that night.
The night session was the main event for the entourage. One last session before the fasting month kicks off. Then again, as if we wouldn't be going then. I believe they do have buka puasa packages as they did last year. So attendees include the newly weds Farrish-Ida, Shah-Faizah, Amry-Mimi, Elina, Suraya and yours truly. We were missing one member Shahreza. I believe it was due to the fact that it was his mum's birthday and we probably were not invited for this year. Refer to last year's merdeka post here.
The session had a different twist in it. First we were given a room right in front of the waiting area. So we were visible to those waiting outside. But for us, audience or not, we will still rock on. Also, Amryl-Mimi bought along their new hobby to the fore, photography. They had a nice camera too, Nikon D40 (if I'm not mistaken). I had a hand in taking some shots. Felt like Peter Parker for once. Amryl also bought along his camcorder which surprisingly enough no one knew about it except me. I do hope we get to see the pictures on Facebook soon. As for the videos, I do hope we get to see the final cut.
As for the karaoke session, well lets just say we had a great time. Probably had more fun than going to Avril's concert which was held at the Merdeka Stadium. We sang almost every genre of music. I even had my hand at rapping due to the absence of Shahreza, the house Timbaland. I had to pull of both Justin and T.I. for the song My Love. Also we now have a new song to add to the list of 'must sing' which is Here In My Home.
After another sounding performance, I have no voice.

The one with a great game of futsal

Finally had a great game. A game which I really need. I had my wonder goals, super assists, almost precise passing and good field command. And also I sent off one of my teammates for dissent.
First the player I sent off. Well he was causing friction within the team and the game was total chaos. As me, mis-using my organizer privileges asked him to leave the field. I was on a roll and I didn't mind playing one player short as like I said, I was on a roll. After he left, the game turn out for the better. He hogged the ball a lot. So after his exit, we played a whole lot better. Pass the ball better. Had great rhythm. It was a joy to play and a joy for those watching.
As for my wonder goals. Had two of them today. First was a solo effort against a player as tall as me. So we matched each other in terms of pace and build. We were challenging each other on my favourite left wing. Manage to get a shot off and the end of it which went it. The celebration, a cross between arrogance and genius. Second goal, a scissors kick which I set up from a pass with one flick. Celebrated that goal in the same manner as the first.
The group will still play during the fasting month, but start at a later time. And as previous years show, I play my best during the fasting month. Maybe because I'm lighter.

The one with the long overdue karaoke

Finally managed to pull off another rock concert. With the usual suspects minus the newly weds who are on their honeymoon. For us within the Klang Valley radius, we decided to have a session, simply due to the fact everyone wanted it.
I think it's been around a month and a half since we last rocked. So last nights session was mainly to get it out of our system. All-out rocking. As well as the boyband and bubblegum-pop princess's songs. We even went through a Black Eyed Peas medley.
However, not a lot of new songs. Only one which we all really enjoyed (we sang it twice) and one I believe all karaoke-ers should sing. The song Malaysian Artists For Unity's Here In My Home.
Also, encore performance scheduled for next week.

The one where I left my shooting boots at home

My off-form games in futsal still continues. And tonight was pretty bad. For once I couldn't find the back of the net. And I thought since I rested last Saturday (Farrish's wedding) I should be recharged. Sadly that was not the case, but still I tried.
What went wrong today? Well finishing was totally off. Seems I lost my bearings to goal. Still managed a couple of assists. I had my chances to score though. Chances which I usually put away in my sleep. Also did manage to pull of some tricks and flicks but after creating the space, my shot was miles off target.
Guess I really have to keep trying.

The one with my debut as kipas boy

The final leg of the Farrish-Ida wedding has been completed. It went smoothly and well without any glitches. Congrats again to the bride and groom. As for me, I made my debut as kipas boy.
Well we all had an early start to the event. Early start meaning rehearsals. We did two takes. The first was probably just to see how the flow went, which is probably why the first take was long. Second take was a breeze. After the rehearsals, I went home, since it was nearby to get ready and shave. I didn't wear the suit from home though. Wore it at the hotel in Farrish's honeymoon suite. While I was there I helped myself to some grapes. While Ida was getting ready and waiting for the others to arrive we watch some TV. They were showing the making of Star Wars Episode 2.5. Looks cool as it was action packed.
Before heading down, we (bride & groom and best man & bridesmaid) waited for our cue to go down. And when we were down, we waited near the hall for the entrance que. Killed some time by taking some photos. Then Shah arrived as he saw us waiting outside. I passed my camera to him, since I wouldn't be able to take pictures while kipas-ing the groom.
My friends later mention that I was kipas-ing Farrish as if I was kipas-ing satay. Guess my Kajang roots had a role in that. Or maybe I do move at a different speed.
Finally it was showtime and in my mind I had the Joker's quote "and here we go". The hardest part for me was pacing myself, as I had to move slower than usual by taking smaller strides. On stage, did my part, kipas-ing the groom, cleaning his hands from the merenjis part and smile. After that was pretty much straight forward. Escorting the bride and groom to the main table and later after that to the cake.
Amryl gave the speech for the groom's side. Nicely done may I add. And he manage to keep politics out of the speech.
So finally the event was done. All the guests left except family members and close friends. Once the guests left, we took the opportunity to ask the live band to play some rock numbers. We just needed to rock and dance. Well Amryl and Shah were all out for it. And it was pretty much contagious as others began rocking. It is a sign that we are way overdue a karaoke session.
Oh, in case you are wondering, the bridesmaid's name is Arfah. I just followed her lead most of the time. She is a doctor based in Seremban. She was stunning that night and not forgetting to mention she has a great sense of humour. Chemistry wise, we did click. And yes, I did get her number.
It was opening day for the English Premier League, and my Spurs lost. But I had a great night, so I didn't really care about that. Last of all, my resemblance to Clark Kent / Superman didn't escape most people. So much for keeping it a secret.

The one where Facebook really makes the world smaller

I guess the title really explains all. Should I explain further?
These days almost everyone seems to be on facebook. Previously most of my friends list are former schoolmates. Then somehow your family members are in it. Then you have work colleagues. Then now I have clients on my facebook. Amazing. And some of these clients are friends of my friends. Also when you mix around you tend to cross circles with most of your friends circles. You can probably do one of those six degrees of separation's experiments.
Guess that's it for now.

The one with the triple-8 events

An overdue post. Being 3 days late. But triple-8 was a great day for two of my friends. Congratulations to Farrish-Ida who are now husband and wife. Also congratulations to Kaleon on the birth of your baby girl.
Will Kaleon's daughter was born 8 minutes into triple-8. So time of birth 0008 on 080808. First girl for him after he was blessed with 3 boys. Guess it was a relief for his wife also. So the girl was named Eisya Sueraya. And I thought he was going for a comic based named after he named his third son Kalel. Anyways the birth was subject for media coverage and think made the front page of a local daily publication. Congrats again.
Next up, my best friend Farrish got married. Triple-8 was the night of the akad nikah. On the night of the opening ceremony of the Olympics which resulted in a massive jam around Klang Valley. We were all actually late due to the traffic. Myself and some friends arrived first to ensure Ida's family that all is okay. So the proceedings went quickly, as it was a long day for the Tok Kadi, where Farrish-Ida's nikah was the 12th he had to perform for the day. Well Farrish got it right in one shot. And then after that was photo session. Except that the guys (Shah, Reza, Eddy, Sadique, Affandi and myself) were very hungry. Also I had to send the groom back home later that night. And I thought he'll be sleeping over at Ida's place.
Also last night was the wedding reception for Ida's side. I was invited for that dinner also. Very casual laid back dinner. They even had a karaoke session (okay not really but there was singing and dancing). Ida wanted me to go up on stage and sing, but Farrish gave the "for-the-love-of-God-please-don't" look. Was very tempted to sing though as part of the karaoke stars (Amryl and Shah-Faizah) were there to back me up.
Farrish's sides wedding reception dinner will be next week. And for that one I has been appointed best man which in this part of the world means kipas boy.

The one with the futsal friendly

After what has been years, my Tuesday team finally played a friendly match. It was a warm-up game for one of my teammates office team. They are participating in a tournament this weekend and could use some match practice.
Well I'm happy to say we won the game, 13-6 (I think, was keeping track but that's what one friend said). Honestly it wasn't a game we deserved to win. The other team played in a more strategically and smart manner. They passed the ball around, move to open spaces and knew what the other was doing. For us, we somehow didn't start off right, everybody wanted to be Cristiano Ronaldo. We had no ball movement and such. Think the only reason we won was because we had depth in our squad. So we could rotate players where as the other team didn't' have that luxury.
As for my game, managed two goals. One was a long range blockbuster and the other was a simple tap in. Made some assists and also some nice passes. But still my game is pretty much off, save for some moments of genius.
Anyways, at least the Tuesday group kept its unbeaten record in friendlies (we don't play a lot of friendlies though).

The one with my sub-par game

Been a while since I wrote about futsal (I think). Mainly because I haven't done anything spectacular lately. My games as of late has been very, very, very poor.
As to why, I have no idea. My passes are so not accurate anymore. And my finishing is probably minimal at best. My in-game execution is totally off.
Hopefully with the football season starting soon, I can pick up my game again.

The one where I felt out of my league

Can't believe that's my title today. And amazingly it has nothing to do with girls.
So before my official move, I spend my afternoon trying to learn the trade at my new desk. Theoretically I think I can pull it off. But practically I have no bloody idea what I'm doing. Really felt out of my league there. Anyways, all this I will have to learn and pick up as I go along. Its like I said in the earlier post, I'm a rookie again.
As for fitting in, I think I will just have to adapt. Here I know my witty one-liners and jokes would not be appreciated. Would probably fall on deaf ears. As my current colleagues pointed out earlier, this will be the last days you get to tell your jokes to people who actually listen. Yes, its a totally different group of people. Just hope I won't go nuts to bonkers, but I guess weekly karaoke sessions are in order to de-stress.
One thing I learn about my new team, I can't trust anyone. Currently market is not really moving, so they are nice and teaching me what I need to know. But once market moves, it will be a mad gold rush just to reach profit targets. So I need to let loose a ruthless killer instinct which I know is in me, somewhere. But as a friend once said, "keep your friends close, but your enemies dead".
I think soon I really have to keep my head up with a whole lot of positive motivations.

The one with the Monday

Another Monday, another excuse to be the tabby fat cat.
Anyways, a continuation from my last post, I've decided to take the offer to move to another desk. I tried to look at the positives. Try to make the best of it. It would be a definite boost in my career. in terms of value. I would learn something new. I'm playing a whole different ball game now. Suddenly I feel like a rookie trying to make a name for myself. I know I will struggle in the beginning, but I've been through it before. I think I turned out alright. If not, well maybe I can test if man can truly fly.
And tomorrow is another day.

The one with what next?

Thank Go its Flyday. Another crazy week has gone by.Glad to see the end of it. Even though its just for a couple of days before it starts again.
First of all, just want to mention, I've watched the Dark Knight three times already.
So back to the topic at hand. Went for a mini-informal-interview a couple of days ago. Same job, same market except it's a new place and have to build up from scratch. Meaning establishing lines, networks and client base. A former colleague also went for the same interview earlier and we both agreed that we need each other on this. Because there is no way we can pull this off on our own. So far nothing has develop since.
Yesterday, I was offered an opportunity to move to another desk. It wasn't where I originally wanted to go. Had a discussion with my current boss about this. He said it would be a good move for me. To learn something new. To be rid of the external issues that hunt me at where I am now. I agree it will be a good change for me. And provide me with a new challenge.
So why am I not jumping for joy? They are not forcing me to move, but technically I am FORCED to move. Its one of those things. By moving, I know I have to give up what ever means I have of a social life. I might not be actively involved in futsal and gym. The hours will take me away from MY time. I for one don't work like them. I am not about work-first and work-last. There is more to life than work. I want to enjoy playing and hanging with my friends. Unlike them I have friends outside the office walls.
As I know I have no choice (unless the other offer comes along) I know I will regret moving. I probably shot myself in the foot then.
And next Monday will be one Monday I dread most.

The one with the Dark Knight

Finally the movie everyone been waiting for. Might I add the anticipation and hype was justified. The movie ran for around two and a half hours. And after the week I had, it was the best two and a half hours for me this week.
So where do I begin. Let's begin with the actor which made the movie what it is. The late Heath Ledger. His performance as the Joker was simply out of this world. I can't really think of any superlatives for his performance. His chilling display was reminisce to Anthony Hopkins performance as Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs. And in my book, Ledger's rendition of the Joker is the best villainous performance of all time. When the Joker first appeared on screen it sent chills down my spine. And judging from his references for the role (Clockwork Orange and The Killing Joke to name a couple), he really played the part to heart. A lot has been said about a posthumous Oscar for Heath. And seriously I wonder who can really top what he did as the Joker.
As for Christian Bale, his Bruce Wayne/Batman role was an internal struggle. He didn't want to be Batman forever, and longs to be just Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy. With the character introduced in Batman Begins, this movie sees Batman delve into the detective role. Even had a scene which was very CSI-like. He had great chemistry with all the the other co-stars and played the Batman/Bruce Wayne voice very convincingly.
As for Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart, they both want the same thing, but they have different ideas. The Batman-Gordan-Dent team-up see Gordan play a bigger role in this movie than the previous one. And Eckhart's Dent too like Batman/Wayne was an inner conflict. Only after having half his face burnt did he play the Two-Face role to perfection. Even like Bale, he had a different voice.
Maggie Gyllenhall played the role as the love interest for both Wayne and Dent. And the end she had to break someones heart. With the help of Alfred, that someone didn't have to find out.
Morgan Freeman and Micheal Caine's role as the eyes and ears for Batman was one of the show stealers. Both had a array of witty one-liners.
Also William Fitcher of PrisonBreak had a small cameo early in the film.
As for the film itself, it was just bigger, better and longer. The storyline was well thought of and only in the end did we know the Joker's true motives. And the last showdown between Batman-Two-Face-Gordan defined the Batman role Bruce had to face.
Now I wonder how they are going to top this one for the third movie.

The one with something pointless but lame attempt to take up space

Another day and things still haven't been on the up.
Actually the morning was good, woke up earlier to buy Dark Knight tickets online. So now I'm looking forward to Friday. I was more of myself, with those witty one-liners. Felt a positive change in me.
However it all turned around after lunch. And these is one of those days where you just want to tell people "do I look like I give a damn". Also weather I'll be charge for homicide. It is also a good time to see if man can really fly (I work on the 23rd floor).
I myself had good exercise today. Lifts were messed up after lunch. In the end took the stairs to the 23rd floor.
In this time of madness and unpredictability, I'm glad I have one colleague who can back me up work wise. She understands what is required of our main tasks. Its not easy when everyone thinks there is an 'I' in teamwork. At least with two players running the ship, we get things done. If not, killing someone would be too easy.
Once I had a colleague from my Affin Discount days, where we just clicked. We knew what we had to do, we always had each others back. Now we are in different organizations (she's my client now), and we both miss the days where our job was fun.
Nowadays I wouldn't mind getting hit by a bus to get out of work.

The one with nothing

Haven't been active on the blogs of late. Actually there is a lot to tell. Loads to tell and bore you with.
As to why I haven't been active. Well lets just say I'm in a place right now where life really sucks and lately I've kept to myself. I prefer to be on my own lost in my own world.
So in short that's why.

The one where I feel I do way too much at work

A lousy day at work post. Actually there's been a lot of these, but think I should let you be the judge. Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn a living. But lately, I feel I do way too much. May I add, waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy tooooooooooooo much.
Okay, maybe its due to the fact that we are very shorthanded. One is on honeymoon, one on a week's MC, one extending his mandatory leave and another is the bank's superstar for tennis. Due to the absence of these colleagues, the ones left behind have to deal with the daily positions. We still get it done (somehow).
But then, due to one fellow on leave, system testing is now my gig. And I don't understand the test scripts left behind for me from my colleague. Today, the second cycle of phase two kicked off, and it took me a while to get started. Add that to a stupid progress report which is no longer relevant, but since finance department what to act busy, I have to get that done. Both of the above due tomorrow. Add that to the fact that (somehow) I'm in charge of the stupid loans rollovers which does not impact our daily positions. But reasons for the credit department to waste paper and destroy the environment. Also the fact that I'm the fall guy for everything that goes wrong by the operations. The way they call me out is via e-mail (at least save paper) and cc-ing it to all my bosses. And somehow clients look for me. Clients who have weird and funny instructions and with long maturity listings. Seriously, why me?
I'm grateful that in the time of shorthanded-ness I at least have one colleague who can act in the same wavelength. Unlike one, who complains and whines and complains and whines and kiss-ass. He picks his spots, picks his clients, picks his work for the day. Even when I ask him to help out, he complains and whines.
By the way, I've fallen sick.

The one with a title I can't think of

Been some time since I posted something. Within the period since my last post a lot has happened. Things and events which I should have posted there and then. And not now as its already so last week.
In brief, Malaysian politics took centre stage again for all the wrong reasons. Spain were the champions of Europe. Roger Federer lost to Rafael Nadal (again). Work really sucks big time and should really plot an exit soon. Also work really sucks big time. Hmmm, deja vu. I attended a colleague's wedding in Muar, hence breaking the rule that I don't attend weddings outside the Klang Valley radius. Also work really sucks big time (didn't I already mention that?). Almost unleashed the villainous rage at work today. Only held back because the one who would be on the receiving end is the favourite among all the bosses. And also since he is the star player for bank, he's enjoying some sort of diplomatic immunity. Like I said, if I really played tennis since I was a kid, I think I would thrash his ass because I'm a different breed of athlete.
Lastly, I have no idea what I wrote. Guess it's just for the sake of posting something.

The one where I turn 29 on the 29th

Happy birthday to me!!! Well yesterday officially was my birthday. And as pointed out, I turn 29 on the 29th. Only happens once in a lifetime.
Anyways I didn't do anything. Mainly due to the weather where it rained the whole day. Just chilled at home surfing, PSP-ing, reading and sleeping.
Anyways, had dinner with Farrish the night before. We tried out one of my colleagues mum's restaurant in 32 Square in PJ opposite the Toyota showroom. The restaurant is named Tram Car and the food was quite good.
So Farrish explained to me how they planned it. Which was well thought off and really needed some element of luck. And also how to make me go to the Curve post-movie, especially when all the shops are closed. Besides I was dead beat and wanted to get my beauty sleep.
First of all they all, they wanted to change the venue to watching the movie at Cinepleasure. But since I'm more comfortable with GSC they had to think of plan B. I didn't suspect anything even after Friday prayers when I asked where to meet up for dinner pre-movie and all came up with 'something up' lines. So that meant I can kill time at the gym and get a shower at the same time. Apparently at that time they were buying cupcakes at the Curve.
Next up was after the movie, which was trying to get me to go to the Curve. That's where they suggested to meet at the teh tarik place. Now that they got me to go there, next was to get there before me. Knowing that I probably be there first, they needed to speed there first. They were lucky as I parked my car, I was held up for a while. I was sms-ing a friend who thought she saw me at the gym. So we were exchanging sms-es for a while. The rest is as the previous post. Again, thanks.
Now I'm definitely on the wrong side on 20.

The one with the suprise birthday karaoke

Another long week. Another tiring week. Another week where I want to go on killing rampage. As the Fraternity code says "kill one, save a thousand".
Well as the first paragraph suggests, I watched Wanted last night with the entourage. May I say it was an action packed film, with hints of the Matrix. I believe those who read the comics would be disappointed as a lot has been changed in order to make it Hollywood. Among them was the costumes, as the characters were all portrayed in daily attire. Would have love to see Angelina Jolie in the cat-suit like costume her character dons in the comics. Also the movie really defies the law of physics. Unless someone can prove to me 'curving the bullet' is possible.
After the movie, it was suggested we head to the teh tarik place for post-movie drinks. Upon arriving, we were all "invited" to karaoke by a friend was was already there. Opening the door "SURPRISE!!!" by everyone. Even my birthday cup-cakes were lit. Well my birthday isn't until Sunday, but they wanted to do an early bash. So to Farrish-Ida, Shah-Faizah, Shahreza and Suraya thank you very much. I didn't see that one coming. Well planned.
As for the karaoke, well it was us being us. Rocking the night (or is that morning) away.

The one with Beauty and the Beast

Went for the Beauty and the Beast musical last night. It was a great show full of song and dance. Based on the Disney cartoon from a few (???) years back. So most of the songs were familiar. Even wanted to sing-a-long but my colleagues warned me of I did, they wouldn't know me.
Before I go into the play, its very, very sad that my fellow countryman have poor theater etiquette. Mainly on punctuality. Then again its not just plays, but almost everything which regards time. The show was suppose to start at 8pm, but only to start at 8.30pm. I am one of those who prides myself with punctuality. I try my utmost best to be where I need to be earlier than expected. It was very annoying to see people take their own sweet time coming in. If I received a dollar for every person that came late, I would be rich.
Anyways, back to the play. Great show overall. The music, the dances and the colours. It was a joy to watch. The familiar tunes from the movie were in my mind. Just sang-a-long to it in my mind, while trying to keep still. Even the characters resembled the characters from the movie.
One song I enjoyed was 'Be Our Guest'. That was well done and lively. That was one song I was humming to before the play and after. Even carried on to this morning also.
Now, I'm going to youtube to watch that scene again.

The one with the 'lost' and 'found' handphone

A very funny thing happened to me today. Seriously you be thinking whether I'm a genius worthy of the Noble prize or not.
This happened after work. As I got into my car when I reached Kelana Jaya station. When I got in my car I know I have my wallet and iPod with me. But didn't check my mobile as I keep in a small pouch on my bag.
As I exited the car park, I decided to check for me phone. It was not in the pouch!!! So I parked my car at the side and began searching. Looked everywhere, under the seats and all. First thing that came to mind was that it fell out as I was getting into the car. So i drove back to the car park and found nothing. Figured someone must have taken it. I searched again but to no avail.
Then made my way to Maxis Centre in TTDI. It was closed but they had a phone for customer service. Made the call to suspend the line. Then I was advised to get my new sim card at Maxis Centre in Sunway Pyramid, since they close at 10.00pm. Got my new sim card and they will bill me in my next statement.
So I was with a sim card without the phone. In my mind I was thinking of checking out the new models on the net. See what I can buy. Probably one of the latest toys. As for iPhone, I'm giving it a miss. It's a piece of crap. The iPod touch is way better.
So when I got home I decided to look one more time. Guess what? I found it under the carpet at the co-pilot side. And since I've already suspended the sim card, I lost all my contacts which are saved on the sim card.
You probably are wondering why on earth didn't I call my phone. Well as usual I was alone and didn't occur to me at that time. Come to think of it, a lot of things didn't come to mind.
At least now, it gives me a chance to spring clean my contacts list.

The one with another quiet weekend

I feel I must be on some losing streak here. Then again thats nothing new. So after my Lakers were defeated in the quest for the NBA title, my Dutch team bowed out of the Euros.
Guess the team faltered after all the hype, especially the way they dominated the group stages. Guess it just was not meant to be. Despite going a goal down, we pulled back to even the score with four minutes left. Then late in extra-time we conceded two goals and were sent packing. Not to mention the numerous sms-es I received especially from the Italian fans.
Before the game futsal Saturday was one of the great games. I wore my new Holland jersey and scored some great goals. Most of which are uncharacteristically me. Most of them were long range efforts. But since I couldn't find an open teammate due to good defending my the opposition I made use of the space given. And the guys are agreed they had a great game.
Managed a double feature at the cinemas this week. Get Smart and Made of Honor. Both were great entertainment and good for a barrel of laughs. Especially Made of Honor. Didn't expect to enjoy since to me it was My Best Friend's Wedding in reverse. It was also the typical, the right one is always right in front of you except you just don't know it until its too late story. As for Get Smart, they captured the essence of the TV series without trying to be the TV series. They made it fresh while staying true the what made the series a joy to watch. They even had those classic one liners.
Besides movies and futsal, my weekend was pretty much quiet.

The one where my Lakers lost

The NBA Finals is now said and done. The NBA season is now over. Next dose of basketballing action would be in the Olympics. The US of A will be favourites but defending champions Argentina are always dangerous as well as Euro powers Spain and Russia. Not forgetting the hosts China.
I didn't have the opportunity to watch the games, but managed to catch the highlights on youtube. So Lakers lost to the Celtics 4-2. I believe the collapse in game 4 where we were leading by double digits at halftime was the factor. If we had swept the home series, we would just need one win in Boston. But after starving off defeat in the last home game in LA in game 5, trying to win 2-in-a-row in Boston is no easy task.
What have we learned from the finals. Well Kevin Garnett finally wins a ring. He really deserves one after years and years of trying. One of the most exciting big men to play, for him to win is something fans want (even at the expense of the Lakers).
Also Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant. His killer instinct, will to win is still one of the best. If only his teammates could have contributed. Especially on defense where the Celtics had many wide open looks. Anyways I'm backing Kobe to lead the team again next season. Then again, he will lead team USA in the Olympics first.
So with the NBA said and done, next up for sports fans will be the knockout phase of Euro 08 and the upcoming Wimbledon.

The one with the Dutch like futsal

With the final group games of the Euros around the corner, some teams have confirmed their berth in the quarter finals (or Elite 8 as the Americans would call it). One team has captured the imagination with their brand of football. I'm talking about Holland.
They dismantled the Italians and French in breathtaking fashion. Their goals, teamwork and style has been a joy to watch. With everyone embodied in the 'total-football' concept you can see everyone doing their part.
So its no surprise I drew inspiration from the Dutch in our futsal session yesterday. Didn't have the usual large numbers, but we had sufficient numbers.You can see everyone was in the groove. We played with flair and finesse. Goals were scored by great team play build-up. We all moved in a fluidity no seen for some time in the group. Even our passing was so imaginative. Overall it was a great game.
Hopefully the Dutch can go all the way. I picked them in the office pool.

The one with the incredible movie

It's a great time to be at the pictures again. After the Kung-Fu Panda flick last week, we are treated to another movie of incredible proportions. Yes, finally The Incredible Hulk is here. One way, way better than the Ang Lee crap a few years ago.
This movie is another one of those reboots. Similar to what Batman Begins was doing. Making you forget about the previous film. Eric Banner as Bruce Banner was good, but with a script that sucked, he couldn't save the movie. So enter Louis Leterrier and Edward Norton in attempt to reboot the franchise. And may I say they did one hell of a job. Ed Norton always seems to bring in something extra to all the roles he has played. So when I heard he was casted as Bruce Banner, it seem like a perfect fit for me. Liv Tyler makes a return after I last saw her in the Lord of The Rings trilogy. Now it seems like being in comics film adaptation is the 'in-thing' dude to the relatively large fan-base.
Go catch the Incredible Hulk and you will finally enjoy an overdue Hulk movie. And also, there is also a special cameo appearance. No, not Stan Lee, you know he is always in these Marvel movies. And no its not Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury either. Go find it out for yourself.
Next up for the month of June, Get Smart next week and Wanted the following week. And another month before the one we have been waiting for (I know I am), The Dark Knight.

The one with the induction

After a year plus with AM they finally decided to send me for an induction course. Which to me is probably a waste of my wasted time. Besides I wasn't too thrilled about it. Makes you feel back at school or college.
It was 3 day event with the first 2 days in Ilham Resort, Port Dickson. The third day (which is tomorrow will be at my building). Its suppose to be one of those 'team-building' activities. And most of the time in my head I was saying "do I look like I give a damn". Seriously most of the events really bored me.
However there were moments which I enjoyed. Mainly the last event where the team had to act out a scene involving names or occupations we picked. My group had a really diverse group of selections and putting it together was a headache. Even I couldn't think of a script. But my role was easy and all I had to do was play my part. Getting the other parts to connect with my character was not easy. Despite the setbacks, we somehow won the best performance. And my part, was to play a local politician. My act, sleep while standing, announce fuel price hike and get the reporters to revert questions to my son-in-law. Think you can figure that one out.
Also made a number of new friends. Which was practically the whole idea for me. Me and my roommates had great fun. Especially while we were watching the Holland-Italy game. The whole room were rooting for the Dutch and only one guy supporting the Italians. And it was a good game overall, very end-to-end stuff.
So tomorrow will be back in my building. Back to work as usual.

The one with the karaoke

I'm beginning to run out superlatives for karaoke-based titles. So just figure I'll leave it as plain karaoke title. And yes, no more fuel-related posts.
So a dinner-karaoke-birthday bash for Suraya. Which was with her sisters, close friends, Farrish-Ida and somehow I was dragged along. We had dinner at the restaurant in town, Bubba Gump. Well you figure with the hype and all the food would be good. For me, it totally sucked! Didn't really enjoy the food. Or maybe I was just more excited about karaoke I didn't really bother about food.
Next up, another rocking out session. With this being a totally new group one would figure I will try to behave. Haha, sadly that did not happen and with Farrish leading the way, we both rocked out the crowd to a karaoke performance for the ages. We practically killed ourselves early by starting the night with two Bon Jovi numbers (You Give Love A Bad Name and Born To Be My Baby) and a Backstreet Boys number (Drowning). Knowing us, we still kept going. And really killed off the night with a more and more hit performances. With so many hits I totally forgot what we sang. And with my rocking it out, I was sweating till my shirt was wet. Mental note to self, bring small towel for next karaoke.
Besides the rockstars, the others got in on the act. We had songs which requires group participation where everyone had to get up and dance and sing. That was well choreographed. There were some photos taken, not sure if it will make Facebook, but we should have put in on video. We could be youtube sensations overnight.
Now for me to drink lots of water and get back my voice.

The one with another short fuel post

I was suppose to post something else last night, but decided to go with the fuel post. And I was hoping of posting that today. But I'll save that for some other time.
Anyways, barely a day has gone and there are Facebook groups regarding the matter. Some even suggested how to save costs. Even had stories where some of my friends lined up for God knows how long just because they really needed to refuel. I had one friend who took pictures while waiting and posted it on his Facebook. Yes, he did have a lot of free time.
So what can we do to save costs? Well I guess its how we readjust our lifestyle. For me, I will still take the train to work. I you can tell when there are new faces to the train. As for flying to work, surprisingly I can't fly.
As for my futsal and karaoke. Well I think I still be actively involved in both, just depends whether my friends are still keen. And my gym membership, well don't have to worry about that, as I bought the gym for life.
What I believe I need to change (or cut down) is the money I spend on food. I admit I do enjoy my food and seem to not mind spending on it (which probably explains the sudden mass increase). So that means cutting down on dining in posh places and try to find economical places. Even though the local mamak restaurant will probably have increased their prices already.
Another thing I plan to do, is try to get things done in one place. Meaning if I do have to go out on weekends, just make sure I can a lot of things in one place. For example, if I do visit One Utama I can go to the gym, cinema, bookstore, eat and have coffee there. That should cover my weekend activities. Except futsal and karaoke we might need to start car pooling. And on workdays, just make sure I get everything done before going back.
Okay, time to get some sleep. Not sure if what I've been posting makes any sense.

The one with the short fuel post

Just got home and saw a common sight. A petrol stations were packed and jammed heading to it. So with fuel prices going up, guess there will be more faces on the train. Good thing I have my iPod to keep me company.
First of all, a shout out to Liz. She finally manage to leave the same building I left a year ago. Its been a long time coming, but I for one am happy that she manage to break out. All the best at your new gig. Maybe I too should start looking for a new gig myself.
So fuel prices are going up and everyone makes a dash to petrol stations and refuel. Honestly I don't see the point as we still have to refuel anyways with the new price. I for one did my refueling last night as my tank was almost empty.
A chain-reaction will soon begin from this price hike. One, I think trains will be packed again. Probably see a lot of new faces. Two, maybe people will quit smoking in order to save money. Also prices everywhere will start to skyrocket. I probably might have to change my rock-god lifestyle.
Anyways, I do believe there should be a give-and-take between the people and the people running the nation. But all I've seen so far is take, take and more taking. You want to reduce fuel subsidy is fine. But why does everything have to keep going up. The only thing going down is salary increments. There is no indication of trying to help the burden on our shoulders. And having a better public transportation system would be an added bonus.
A large number of people will be hit badly including yours truly. But judging from past experiences, we just have to deal with it. As if anyone gives a damn, right.
Guess its time for me to just use my superpowers and fly to work. So much for trying to fit in and be normal.

The one where everything was due

What was due you should ask? Well just realized that my road tax was due today and my driver's license has been expired since last week.
I only realized this morning. I thought my road tax was due at the end of the week. So I can plan the renewal process and not rush it. Good thing it was still valid for today and I had time to settle it. Well with the help of my insurance agent. Could have been settled earlier in the day if not for the downpour during lunch.
As for my driver's license I remember it was due come my mum's birthday (24th May). I guess it totally slipped my mind. At least everything was settled today.
What a Monday to start the week.

The one with the Kobe and the Lakers

Well the NBA Finals is just around the corner. As I write this, the (L)eastern Conference Finals is still going on (game 6, with Celtics leading the series 3-2 against the Pistons). In the meantime, the LA Lakers have made the finals, dispatching the defending champions Spurs 4-1. So now Kobe and the gang have ample time to rest till the finals kick off on 5th June.
A lot has been said at the beginning of the season. With Kobe making trade demands, no decent talent around him, the fans calling for Mitch Kupchack's head. Well they all decided to stick it out and with the mid-season addition of the Spaniard Pau Gasol, it was looking very bright and sunny in LA again. And Kobe gave a season performance for the ages. He had to stave off young talents in Chris Paul and Lebron James for his first MVP award at the age of 30. Amazing considering the MVP-numbers seasons he had.
The Lakers made their march to the finals by beating the Nuggets, Jazz and Spurs. Now they await the winner of the Celtics-Pistons series. Most fans want a Lakers-Celtics series, as it will be a throwback to the 80s when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird lead their Lakers and Celtics teams respectively.
However I believe Lakers would love to face the Pistons, to get revenge over the 2004 Finals loss. Which lead to the break-up of Kobe, Shaq and coach Phil Jackson. Now that Shaq got his 4th ring with the Heat a couple seasons ago, Kobe wants to prove he too can win without Shaq. And Phil Jackson would love another ring to add to his collection (which I've lost count).
So here's to the Lakers and the NBA, where amazing happens.

The one with a packed week

A long gruesome week. Full of exercise tho. In my attempt to get some discipline now that I've joined a gym. Yes, old habits do die hard. Glimpses of laziness was there, but have to keep motivated. At least I have music pumped in via my iPod.
I'm still playing futsal. However the last Saturday and Tuesday sessions were a letdown. Due to the numbers (we had 9 players). At least Wednesday was great. Think we had like 4 teams. Some pictures were taken also by Hood. He tagged me on Facebook.
As for my weekend plans? Well rest is in order. And hope to catch up on some reading (comics, mags and blogs, haven't bought a new book yet).

The one with the bowling

Tournament day finally came. The PPKM annual bowling tourney. Wasn't really high on confidence after last week's dismal training session and also with my arms still in some amount (minimal at best) pain.
The poor form continued and couldn't find any rhythm. The flow wasn't there at all. And my first two games averaged a measly 110. Manage to find the flow by the third game, but it was too late. Even smashed a turkey but had too many 9s. Couldn't convert the spares. My aunt was also in the tourney and I lost out to her also.
Oh well, hope for a better showing next year.

Here In My Home by Malaysian Artists For Unity

The one with the Smallville season 7 review

Finally Smallville season 7 has ended. After a lot of uncertainty faced due to the writer's strike, I'm glad it came to a close.
My initial review of the season. Very, very disappointing. After the excitement from the last two seasons, they messed this one up. Especially the way season 6 ended with the surprise introduction of Bizzarro. And season 7 did start with great promise. But it kind of faded as the season wore on and the writer's strike probably effected the story.
Season 7 also saw the introduction of some familiar faces in the DC universe. Mainly Supergirl and also Black Canary. And one villain made his return, Braniac.
The one thing I enjoyed was the evolution of Lex Luthor. Every season we see the darkness creep into him. And probably this season was the final stage of the development of Lex. You can say this is the season Lex finally becomes the Lex we all know from the comics.
To cap the season off, Lex finally knows Clark's secret in the final showdown in the Fortress of Solitude.
Short post, due to my disappointment with the series.

The one with a lot to cramp in one post

Well a lot to write here. Not sure if I can remember a lot from the past week. Especially the recently long (and welcome) weekend. And as I write this my whole body is aching in pain with a capital P and A and I and N. Think I should add !!! for good measure.
Well last Saturday had a bowling training session with my teammates for next this Saturday's tourney. The session was to get the feel of the game after not playing in ages. And my game was totally off. Managed a measly 100 average after 3 games. There were moments of sheer brilliance, but like I said, moments.
Also last Saturday had an impromptu karaoke with Farrish. He needed to kill time while waiting for the fiancee who was stuck at work. So we totally rocked the house. We even did a Micheal Jackson medley but couldn't pull off Billie Jean, David Cook style as the music wouldn't allow it. Also rocked out a whole lot of rock tunes so our voice wasn't there after the session.
After picking up Farrish's fiancee Ida, we went for drinks in Subang. Somehow we talked about our childhood and how strict our parents were.
Sunday night had a corporate dinner. Our client EON had their charity dinner and long-service award ceremony. The only great thing from the dinner was Noryn Aziz. Totally fell in love again. She has a great voice (unlike me) but like me we can pull off a variety of tunes. My colleagues and guest were all introduced to Noryn Aziz and were blown away.
Right now to why my whole body is in pain. Recently I enrolled to a fitness centre in Subang Parade. Felt it was high time I did something before I balloon into the Marshmallow Man. My personal trainer pointed out that my heart rate and blood pressure is good. Sadly that cannot be said about my BMI. I 'scored' a 27. And my weight has shot up to 95 kilos. He also put me through some weight exercises. My weakness was pretty much obvious. I'm weak, and really have trouble with weight exercises which require pushing. However the pulling exercises was a breeze for me. And also my abs are damn weak.
After the 2 day (Sunday and Monday) weight training my arms and chest are in severe pain. I hope that means its working. I can't even lift my arms higher than my shoulder. Which results in some difficulty when I pray.
Also a fun note, my iPod has been 'jailbreaked'. Had the assistance of my colleagues brother. So now I can do more fun things with my iPod.
Lastly, the reason I'm in a flow (blogging wise) is due to the fact that futsal Tuesday was canceled due to insufficient numbers. In the end I went home early and hopefully will get to rest my aching body.