Indah semula

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

- Adele’s “Chasing Pavements” -

When life gives you lemons or limes, you make lemonade. Or limeade. Even if it stings like crazy when the juice accidently gets squirted in your eyes.

Last Saturday I went for a facial with my long time, shall we say it, faciallist. Hehe. Of course there’s no such word. Pfft.

The last time I went to her, I got scolded for coming in late. Totally my fault tho, because I’ve forgotten the way to her new place. My bad. This time, I got scolded again.

For using cheap products. Which resulted in millions of teeny, weeny ugly spots sprouting all over my face! Eeks!

The thing is, I’ve been trying to, err, curb my extravagant spending. So, that means, skincare of a slightly inferior quality and *sigh* not that many dinners outside anymore.

So I told her that my mommy *how convenient eh, blame it all on the mommy..whee!* told me to go and take a good, long, clear look into my wallet and to sedar diri sikit when it comes to spending. My facialist harumpphed and went:

“Your mother is stingy like the Chinese. We are also stingy *my facialist is Chinese btw*, but not when it comes to these things. Your face is your Fortune! Go home and tell your mother that I told you to continue using *brand of pricey skincare bleeped out*. “

Weehoo! Guess who went for a quick shopping trip during lunchtime? ;)

Yesterday was productive as I helped my mommy *yeah, the stingy one* make Raya cookies. Whee again! It’s sooo easy to please me, I tell you.

So we now have choc chip cookies, Nestum cookies, and a small container of Biskut Makmur. The Biskut Makmur did not turn out as well, because, well, I don’t think it’s supposed to dissolve as soon as you pick it up right? Yeah, I think I must’ve copied the recipe wrongly, haha.

But the choc chip cookies is super duper yummy, y’all! Can we all say masuk bakul… haha!

Skyping in the kitchen is also a fun experience. Especially when you wave the balang filled with those choc chip cookies in front of your brother’s eyes, as he salivates, a thousand miles away.

But nothing beats my mommy la when we were shopping for the raw material for those cookies. She picked up the cute Blue Key self-raising flour in the hypermarket, in its pink container, and exclaimed for the world; “Kan cantik kotak nie, macam nie barulaa semangat orang nak buat kuih!”

Guess who was cringing, and trying to hide behind her shopping trolley?

And today, I met one of the nicest, friendliest, most eloquent taxi cab driver ever. Mr Ravi, a single parent, who drives a purple taxi cab, jumped straight into his tales of his first, long overseas trip that he took to Madras a few weeks back. I learnt about Madras drivers, Singaporeans, Indian sarees and Madras lunchtime crowd, all during that 10 minutes drive. It was *almost* worth the recently-doubled cab fare.

The world is big and beautiful again.

Lost.

Pride can stand a thousand trials
The strong will never fall
But watching stars without you
My soul cries

- Des’ree’s “Kissing You” OST Romeo and Juliet -

I’m drained and exhausted.

This clear liquid doesn’t seem to stop flowing.

Will this ever end?

Signs of things to come.

Tell me all your thoughts on God, cause I'd really like to meet her.
And asked her where and who we are.
Tell me all your thoughts on God, cause I'm on my way to see her.
So tell me am I very faaar... Am I very far now?

- Dishwalla’s “Tell Me All Your Thoughts on God” -

I had a really vivid dream last night. Well, technically, it was after I woke up for sahur, then slept right back. Teehee.

I dreamt that I was asked to emcee a wedding of this bigshot’s daughter with my emcee buddy. Apparently, as I am the Master of All Procrastination, I have not prepared the script, and was counting on meeting up with my emcee buddy just before the wedding to craft something up. Believe me, something equivalent to this has happened before.

So I arrived at the wedding venue, which looked like a posh dewan in Pertama Kompleks. Hmm. I was already dressed up in this gold baju kurung, but somehow when I met up with my emcee buddy (who was dressed up in his baju melayu, siap songkok lagi), I looked down, and saw myself in casual clothes. Apparently, I changed into them in some room, and I remembered laying out my clothes on the bed, so that I can change into them just before the ceremony.

I was all anxious about getting the VIP names correctly, because there was going to be a long list of them. But I couldn’t sit down with my emcee buddy, as he seemed to be busy helping the bigshot with the wedding preparations. The bigshot himself (don’t ask me who, but strangely he looks like our new Chairman, haha), was in his purple baju melayu, and was looking harried. So I was crossing my fingers, hoping that my emcee buddy had gotten the VIP list and will be reading them out instead of me.

Tup tup je, the ceremony suddenly started and the wedding procession started to berarak into the hall. Of course la I panicked! I was backstage (well, sorta like belakang the pelamin), in my t-shirt and jeans, and my emcee buddy was nowhere to be seen! I slipped out through the side door, watched the procession make its way to the pelamin, siap ada penari tradisional latar lagi, hoping that my emcee buddy is already at the rostrum, and will start emceeing without me.

Then I realised something. The penari latar themselves were not properly dressed! They had on their headgears and some accessories, but they were also in their t-shirt and jeans! And when they left the hall through the side doors, they rushed to me (they were my dancers rupa-rupanya), and cried out, “Kitorang tak sempat tukar baju!!”.

“I pun!!” I nearly screamed.

“Takpe, takpe, I tau baju you kat mana”. One of the dancers took my hand, lead me through some bazaar arked Mara (told you it was like Pertama Kompleks), and brought me to the room where I saw my pretty baju kurung all laid out on the bed.

Then I woke up. Well, technically, I was yelled at to be woken up.

Gee, no pressure for the upcoming emcee jobs in the Raya month huh?

Which reminds me, I have yet to get an outfit, a purple one because that’s the theme colour this year, and I have yet to discuss with my emcee buddy on the script. For the other job, I have to find out what’s the dress code, also, emcee script.

Yikes. And all the pretty, pretty bajus are impressively expensive.

Btw, my handphone is comatose. So I’ve had 5 blissfull days of ringing-tone-less existence. Best. Even the mommy can’t find me. Muahaha.

Unfortunately, I’ve missed out on listening to the radio every morning. Did I tell you that my poor car’s radio has also gone kaput-ed on me since God knows when? And the only entertainment I get is by listening to the radio via my handphone?

Oh, and I’ve missed out on calls from friends. Nonzies was especially resourceful though, resorting to calling my mother up haha.

Sad kan?

*sigh* it’s prolly time to get a new one.

This much I know

This could be the very minute
I'm aware I'm alive
All these places feel like home

- Snow Patrol’s “Chocolate’ –

Curlylocks, More-Often-Than-Not Optimist, Vengt-neuf, KL with partial heart left in London

1. At the end of the day, the people that matters to you, will always be with you. They may have been gone for some time at any point of your life, but they will always resurface. Always.

2. You can look, learn and help your mommy as much as you want in the kitchen, but you are only aware of your culinary capabilities when you’re away from her, in a faraway land.

3. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Be it raw fish, yoga or kissing passionately.

4. Distinguished, mature Chinese men may be candy for the eyes, but rubbish when they hit the dance floor.

5. Siblings are like anchors. They weigh you down, but without them, you’ll float aimlessly.

6. If I don’t start my day with the Subuh prayer, I might as well stay in bed because the day will turn out BAADD.

7. My curly hair cannot be tamed. It has a life of its own. After almost 5 years of colouring and styling, with countless of hair accessories, I think it’s finally time to just let it be.

8. Looks can sometimes be too overrated. Most times, people can be enchanted just by your smile and the words that pour out of your mouth.

9. It’s always best to stick to what you’re good at. Being a Jane of all trades can be very tiring, plus, there’s always gonna be somebody that can do the job better than you. Remember: No one is indispensable.

10. I've learnt that I am rather good at dance co-ordination. However, it does not extend to my tennis playing ability or my day job.

11. You can cry and cry every night. You will not turn into Kassim Selamat if you don’t prolong it.

12. People can change. However, it’s best if they do it out of their own free will. I’m still grasping with the fact that some very nice older people out there were perfect monsters when they were younger.

13. Clearing your credit card bill WILL make you sleep better at night *mantra*.

14. There will always be a silver lining and a pleasant surprise. The trick is to not look for it.

For more, go here: The Guardian’s This Much I Know Series

You win, I also win la.

Do you know what's worth fighting for?
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?

- Green Day’s “21 Guns” -

I am not one for confrontation. As I discover today after taking yet another personality test, I’m a person who is into win-win situations. I am not one for standing my ground, and stamping my feet till I get my own way. The best way is for everyone to get a little bit of their own way, or perhaps, someone should mengalah. If it’s not too much of a bother.

The other day, a friend of mine made reservations at Marche. Unfortunately, when we arrive and queried for it, the lady behind the counter (with that kitschy apron), couldn’t find her name. And this is after the restaurant made a call confirming her reservations earlier!

Of course my friend was pissed. So she demanded a comment form there and then. On the other hand, me and another friend, kinda walked away sheepishly and started to look for another place to have dinner in.

Tonight, my mother made a small fuss in the neighbourhood pharmacy, when she couldn’t return a medicine that we bought a few days back. Granted, we didn’t have the receipt with us, but she was of the opinion that these things are minor setbacks that could be overcome, because, hey, customer is king (in her case, Queen Mother). Memangla tak boleh kan. Sibuk la dia grumble, saying kat UK, semua boleh.

Memangla kat UK semua boleh. Ibu, ibu.

Maybe that means I’m a pushover. I guess so. It prolly means that I’m a bit of a lalang, not having a firm enough opinion, preferring to agree to many opinions all at once.

Salah ke?

I once thought that I would love to have complete control over where my career is going. I envisioned a high-flying position, the swanky office, the entertainment account, hob-nobbing with the movers and shakers.

Now, I realize: I’m not that hardworking nor responsible enough of people and of my own capabilities. I’m pretty lazy and love to just while away my time. Plus, i hate confrontations (which i envision being a person of authority would be encountering on a daily basis), and getting my own way all the time, just seems too bratty for me.

Camne nak jadi boss camni?! Haha.

But I do know that I can make people feel comfortable. I’m okay with talking to people and telling them about something I know or am passionate about. I don’t have severe stage fright, hence, don’t have much trouble speaking out in public (but in a non-confrontational way la haha).

Surely, there’s a place for me somewhere among the high flyers?

On a fluffier note, check out my new perfume:



I luurrrveeee it!

Having a good time.

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world it's turning inside out Yeah!
I'm floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time

- Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” -

So my grandiose plans?

All went down the drain. Pfft.

Blueberry muffins konon. Hmmph.

Karipap konon. Double Hmmph.

Let me tell you how uninspiring my long weekend was. Gee, what a way to welcome your readers huh? Haha.

Friday night’s earlier plans to berbuka with some of the Enam Jahanams did not materialise. Plus my cough was not getting any better. So there goes Friday.

Woke up kinda late on Saturday morning (got an earful from the Mother), took off to her shop, proceeded to get to work, but got sidelined by all things Internet. Ngee. Took off at around 2pm to Intan’s , all psyched up to kelepet some karipap, only to be greeted with a doleful Intan, “Rumah kitorang takde air!”.

Scrap karipap then.

Chatted for a bit, zoomed off to Midvalley. Spent half an hour stalking cars in the basement, then about another unsuccessful hour sampling perfume (I have an RM 50 voucher to use up, and my current perfume has dried up). True to my fickle nature, with both arms reeking of goodness knows what, I shook my head sadly at Intan while she screamed, “But we’re already here!!”.

“But I cannot decide!” I whined.

Fine. Got some Krispy Kremes and some buns for berbuka, and drove home.

Sunday was slightly better. Got up even later, schmooze some more around the house (what blueberry muffins?), took off to the shop, read the latest Shape magazine, and reread PS I Love You (I totally forgot what the book was like), then zoomed off the Curve to meet up with Aishah and the rest of the group.

Sampled more perfume. Almost convinced now. I think this is it.

Tapi….”kitorang gi berbuka dulu la eh, nanti kitorang datang balik.”

Scaredycat.

Had a decadent, cheese and cream laden spread, under the stars. Screw you cough, as I indulgently sipped my icy strawberry colada and took a bite of those fried calamaris.

Yummeh.

Chatted over coffee and hot chocolates till near midnight. Didn’t realise it was Merdeka eve, and come to think of it, when was the last time I went out on Merdeka eve?

Gee, I’m old.

The next day was plain unproductive siot. Please do not give me anymore public holidays, the mundaneness of it all will just kill me!

Spa amende nyer. But don’t worry Tina, I’ll definitely drag you the next time I go :)

Nak belajar piano chords for the song above pun, the tutorial was too fast for me.

And, all too soon, it was already time to go to bed. I tried stretching out the holiday just a little while longer by sleeping in this morning, but we all know we’re fooling no one.

Demmit.

I need a new life!

P/s: Oklaa, one achievement: I now know which perfume to get! *skips off*