Rain

Lately it has been raining like mad. And I do mean mad as in loony. It absolutely pours here where my office is until I can't see anything beyond my window (which normally oversees the Dataran), but it would be bone dry just a few kilometres away. Funny thing is, it almost always rain when it's about time for me to go home. Loony, mischievous rain.

But I love rain. No not the 'nama saya Rain' variety, but the actual wet kind that comes from the skies. It refreshes the air, especially here where the air is made up of 10% oxygen, 50% nitrogen and 40% exhaust fumes. Not kidding.

Back in college, when I was walking everywhere, I was caught in the rain in more than one occassion. If I was on the way to class, I would make a dash for it but if I was on the opposite journey I would just savour the liquid clouds falling onto me. If it was later in the day, when less people is around, I would actually took my shirt off and enjoy the feel of water on my skin. Though when random people pass by in their cars, all dry and air-conditioned, I do get weird looks. But hey, rain obscures the view too! So I don't think anyone ever had an idea who was the sod walking shirtless in the rain. Ahh, zaman2 kurus...

Sometimes now, if it drizzles I would sit at the balcony. Rain can go for ages if it drizzles, and it's safe to sit out there since it falls almost vertical too. I would make myself a cup of hot chocolate or tea and sit though it, enjoying the calm breeze that sometimes lapped at my face. But then, would I really be annoyed if it suddenly turned heavy and the wind picked up and I go from dry and contented to wet and happy? Loony rain are for loony people, just like me =)

Changes?

As promised, I've deleted the list of new Kabinet ministers. Since the list is widely available elsewhere now, It's no longer needed here.

I was talking to Zairus the other day and we soon talked about how much our lives have changed in a few years. Indeed it has.

I'm sure most of you can still remember your college days, when money was scarce and often had to make do with whatever was available. Although this does not apply to everyone, some people were fortunate enough to have monthly allowances enough to depress a working man. Having rich parents have its' perks huh?

Anyway, I'm not one of them. I relied almost exclusively on my study loan, which does not amount to much at all when you minus all the necessary expenses. But I was never used to have much money anyway. My parents were strict with me and Pija when we were younger, we really had to work hard to get anything we want. Nothing comes easy. I guess that helped in conditioning me, plus the fact that I spent 5 years in a boarding school with even less money, for penny-pinching college life.

My lowest point? When I bought my electric guitar. I was only a newbie then, still learning the basic chords yet I had the guts to go out and buy an electric plus an amp to go with it. Yeap, with PTPTN money. That cost me quite a bit, and since I don't want my parents (my mom, specifically) to know what I did with my money (she'll go nag-tastic on me, I'm sure!) I adjusted my finances. That meant instant noodles twice a day for a few weeks, then once a week for maybe another 2 weeks. Then when it ran out and I can't find any more pennies to buy more, I only drank water. First day of that, I'm still okay. Second day, by dinner time I'm already on the phone for emergency funds. All that for the freaking guitar.

Thing is, I don't like borrowing money about as much as I hate lending people money. I hate asking for help too. I know that's not good, but that's me. Everytime I ask dad for money, he would always ask how much do I have left. I would always lie (sorry!), and say enough to last a few days. In reality, I never asked until I can't even afford a meal.

Apart from that, I usually did OK. No car, so I walked to the classes, to the cafe, to the library, to everywhere. I never asked for a ride unless if it's raining, again my flaw as I said before. I know most of my friends won't even mind, but I hate to burden people. Anyway, rainy days meant an excuse for me to skip classes sometimes. Okay, maybe not just sometimes =P Sometimes I would still have to scrounge for coins from under the bed and in my laundry bin to buy my meals, but nothing as drastic as that time.

Wasn't sleeping properly too. Stayed up most nights and missing classes in the morning because I can't wake up. My record is 3 straight days awake, after that I slept for maybe 40 hours. My housemates thought I must've died in my room, so they knocked like mad. They actually woke me up, and I can tell you now that it felt more like waking up from a coma that sleep. I wonder if they didn't, how long I would have slept.

I wasn't a model student, skipping classes, studying only when I absolutely have to and only to pass exams, having fun more that I should basically. But I had a great time. I know I'm very lucky to get where I am now, which I don't think was even remotely possible in those days.

So that was what we talked about. Me - from no car, mostly no money and very much a slacker to who I am now - err, old beat up car, still mostly no money and still mostly a slacker. Aiseh, not much difference lah pulak...

Here Kitty Kitty

Can someone tell me that Nitrus' Kamu is not a plagiarization of Collective Souls' Run? The first few bars and at least the first line of the verse sounds the same to me. How about Ebiet G Ade's (and later Sweet Charity's rock version) Kamelia, is it a copy note by note of DeeDee Bridgewater's Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word cover intro, or is it just me? Are there other examples that have so far escaped my ears?

Enough of (possible) copycats, Natasha Hudson is one too many already...

Homework

Some friends who have not yet been to my place have bene asking me to put up pics of it. I want to, but I can't. Why, because I don't think it's the finished article yet. It's liveable and complete in terms of appliances and furnitures, but it's not yet done. The walls are mostly empty, the paintwork is still the boring offwhite (and a horrible light pink for the bedroom) colour.

I've collecting frames and pictures to mount, still looking for artworks to jazz up the walls too. Have been mulling about colour to liven up the hallway and some of the walls, still looking for decals to make the walls much more interesting.

Let's go room by room. I want a dried twigs and leaves' wreath for my door, and maybe paint the foyer deep red. For the dining area, I would like vinelike decals to frame some of the mirrors. On the opposing wall is where I would like to put pictures and lots of them. Over to the living area, I would like to paint the wall behind the TV mocha or deep chocolate and autumnlike decals. Move over to the hallway, I'd like to paint it olive green and hang pictures in untreated wooden frames on the walls. For guest bedroom, I'm not doing anything to it as I haven't any idea yet. For utility room (where the PC, guitars, extra closet and ironing board is), I just want a roman blind, single panel in dark blue. Paintjob would be in the same hue, but that can come later. On to the master bedroom, the only two things missing are a new fresh white paint (instead of the horrible horrible light pink I mentioned earlier) and a black/dark wood TV cabinet. Ohh make that three things, since I also need a thingy to fill in the bay windows.

I have been reading decor8 for ages looking for inspiration, and indeed I found lots. Sadly most of them are not available here. I need local leads, please tell me where can I find interesting stuff to put in my house. And yes, I already know Ikea, tell me something new.

Select Seventeen

The election just ended, but I'm not gonna be an instant political analyst like lotsa people will be in the aftermath of this 'tsunami'. I am blogging today actually just to congratulate these people:

Wan Abdul Hakim Wan Mokhtar (BN) Air Putih ( C'85)
Dr Nik Mazian Nik Mohamed (PAS) Gaal (C'75)
Dr Mohd Hatta Mat Ramli (PAS) Kuala Krai (C'73)
Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS) Tumpat (C'68)
Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN) Gua Musang (C'52)
Dato' Seri Mohamad Nazri Aziz (BN) Padang Rengas (C'71)
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah(BN) Temerloh (C'78)
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR) Seri Setia (C'99)
Iskandar Samad (PAS) Chempaka (C'78)
Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein (BN) Sembrong (C'78)
Dato' Kamarul Baharin Abbas (PKR) Teluk Kemang (C'64)
Dr Mohd Taslim (PAS) Maharani (C'68)
Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib (BN) Rantau Abang (C'71)
Datuk Sharir Samad (BN) Johor Bahru (C'65)
Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (BN) Kamunting (C'85)
Dato' Rashid Din (PKR) Merbok (C'64)
Abdul Aziz Kadir (PAS) Jelawat (C'66)

Yes indeed, these are my fellow old boys. A few more names competed yet lost. I'm sure they will give it another go next time around, that's the spirit. Again, congratulations to all. A special round of applause to Budu who won his Seri Setia seat thus making him the youngest MCOB (ever?) of this round to be a YB. The time to promise has come and gone, now it is time to deliver. Your voters have put their faith in you, don't let them down.

Ohh by the way, MCOBA is apolitical. Brotherhood exceeds parties and factions.

Fiat Sapientia Virtus.

footnote: This list could become Select Eighteen should Wan Azizah actually stepped down and gave hubby Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR) (C'64) the reigns to Permatang Pauh.

edited: a new has cropped up, which is Abdul Aziz Kadir of DUN Jelawat, hence the change of title.

Not Funny Lah

I read in the papers that Zaibo (you know, the bald comedian fella) was slighted that a participant on Raja Lawak cracked a joke on him being bald. He insisted that jokes shouldn't touch on physical traits, and there's a line to be drawn. No wonder we don't have that many noteworthy comedians around, if this is the kind of mentality they have. Actually I struggle to even think of one, Harith Iskander?

I mean, come on. You're a comedian (or comic, I dunno which is the correct term), lighten up for goodness sakes! Have you watched Comedy Central (on Youtube of course) lately? Are there any notable comedian whose set involves being very polite and touching only on generalistic and neutral issues? Take Russell Peters, he must've slighted 90% of his audiences with his racial topics. But I don't think anyone take it to the heart, because he pokes fun on his own heritage too. He does not slander, he does not accuse. He put it in a matter-of-fact way, that you have to agree with it. So why is it that Zaibo is feeling slighted over bald jokes referring to him? Denial ke bang? Next time wear a toupee if you hate it so much that you are bald.

Of course, we can't touch on religion or race here in Boleh-land. Too sensitive, fireworks might fly from an innocent remark. But I'm sure there's a helluva lot more to poke fun at. The politicians maybe? Or would that land them in a certain detention area in Kamunting? Poke fun at yourself if worse comes to worse, self depreciating can be very funny if done in the right way. Trust me, I've been watching Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing almost religiously.

We've had a long string of bad comedians that we've had to endure. Badul? Mr Os? Saleh Yaakob? Jalil Hamid? Goodness gracious me. Then it's Senario dominating the scene. They all say they're not here to serve cheap slapstick humor, but they all do in the end. Though cliched, I still find the jokes from P. Ramlee movies of old funny even though I've watched them dozens of time and even memorized some of it. Those jokes are very tongue in cheek, sarcastic, pokes fun at each other and most importantly funny.

If you are too sensitive, don't be a comedian. Lighten up, or get the hell out. I enjoy sitcoms and comedies a lot, but yet to find a good local equivalent. I have seen glimmers of hope in Afdlin's and Mamat Khalid's works, but they still have some way to go. Perhaps someday Ho Yufang might come out with a full fledged comedy, since his TV ads are hilarious. He can be the Yasmin Ahmad of comedy you know, maybe with less Sharifahs on the bandwagon. Maybe.