Tag Archives: Friends

The One Where I Remember Making Presents

Random notes before I cerita about something that made me sigh this evening.

.

1. How do you decide who to delete from your Facebook list? Even if you

were ‘friends’ before but haven’t spoken in 10 years, do you still want them

privy to things in your life? Who are just contacts and who are friendlier contacts

you don’t mind sharing some things with? I grapple with this every month,

and end up putting more & more people in ‘Limited Profiles’ and so on.

And then eventually, I delete them.

Who do you actually not know but because

of certain friends, or certain recent introductions, have added them out of

politeness? And when do you remove them? How do you handle this?

How about the ones you want to stab in the head don’t like anymore?

I’m still learning.

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2. I think from now on, I’ll be travelling more for love. For people that mean

something to me. Destinations may be less … about what I want.

It’d be to be with people I need to be with.

Times are a-changing, but that could be a good thing. :)

But you know what, this year sure is expensive. I am near drowning and need

to strike lottery to work harder.

.

3.   Dear Government,

Perhaps if you would be more transparent about how you manage your

finances and expenditure, just as you are so detailed and clear over

how we need to reduce subsidies etcetera, perhaps you wouldn’t be getting

so much hatemail over increases just like the fuel increase that took place

a few hours ago.

Hey, we know math, we get it. Don’t roll your eyes like we don’t

get the subsidy argument etc. It’s just that when we know our millions are flying

around everywhere, without a word, without a trace, you can’t expect

us to go ‘Oh well, they do need it lah. Kesian diaorang. Oklah I will tighten my

purse strings especially for yoOOoo <3 <3 <3 …’

PS-  Don’t you dare point the finger at Idris Jala & say ‘HeDaOneWhoSayWanAh!’

and try to make us hate on him! It won’t work!

Bleh to you, Sincerely,

An Idris Jala Fan.

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4. Can’t say it enough. I love Glee. It makes me so happy. People who just don’t

enjoy Glee probably won’t get along with me or something cause it means they

don’t have joy in their hearts get it musically or whatever. Fine, less people

to rebut the mic with me during karaoke.

.

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And on to the title subject.

I was cleaning my room just now, when I found certain presents that

brought a sigh and smile to my face. As I have mentioned previously,

I used to frequent Gibraltar quite a lot because my ex was from there and

I had many friends from the Rock. A really good friend of mine, Chris,

who is very artistic, used to draw and make things all the time. On

my 20th birthday, he would give me something that took my breath away.

This huge drawing … in colour pencil, no less. After so long, I still look

at this present with deep gratitude and admiration. Chris is also the one who first

introduced me to Gibraltar, before I got together with my first love there.

For that, I will always be thankful.


Yes, I am known to many friends as Kay overseas. Lebih senang.

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I used to make similar drawings, collages and even oil paintings for friends.

(The last was for lovers VERY SPECIAL FRIENDS THOUGH! Oil paints are expensive!)

It brought me joy, it saved me money, and I knew that it was as special to them

as it was for me. How I wish I still had the time to do that now, but work just

sucks balls remains all important.

And near this drawing, which I keep close in my room, is a tinier piece of paper

I also hold dear. It is also from Gibraltar. Chris’ younger brother Patrick was just

about 7 or so when he drew this for me. He was such a cutie & we played

together quite a bit during those summers.

I remember when Chris’ mom used to make us frittatas and other delicious

fare. I also bonded with his cousins, met his grandparents. I remember

Chris showing me the delightful art of driving in Gib (tiny ass roads, mad skills)

and parking (never seen such precision in my life), and I remember when we used to

hang out at all the beaches and stare at the shooting stars. Thankfully

I was a maniac with the camera in those days, and I have pictures of them all, everything.


Patrick is probably all grown up and a hot stud in Gib now … but I will always

remember him as that little boy who took the trouble to make me this present.

Just to show you, boys and girls, that presents don’t need to cost very much

at all.

I have fallen in deep, great love, with presents that were from the heart.

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I’m a hoarder, yes.

But certain things … I will never, ever throw away.

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Oh, psst. The password (case sensitive) for the post below, is the word of the day on my facebook

status.

If by some folly we aren’t friends yet or you aren’t on FB and would like

to read the post, email me at im@laych.com. Don’t worry, I’m just trying to

ward off some powers-that-be.

Happy Friday folks

xo

The One Where I Met NatNat


This is when I met Kat’s new baby boy.

I think the pictures are self-explanatory.


Does he look like someone when she was a wee lil cutie?


I love you dear girl.

We’ll have him honking at random cab drivers, listening to heavy duty rock muzak

and smoking kretek in no time. Just kidding Kenny.

 

April Joys, April Angst

She wrote furiously to him, explaining why she felt so strongly

about something so seemingly trivial.

“Imagine this. Imagine you know someone so intimately,

for so long, and you knew what he thought and felt about

everyone around him.”

She explained how much he had injured her. And how she would

probably never get over it.

It was no coincidence, she said, that he was the only ex in her life

that she did not get on with. Nay, that she could not even bear to look at.

“Now imagine he comes back into your life uninvited. Via your friends.

Who don’t know even half of it. Who have no idea.”

And she took a deep breath. And admitted.

“Okay. I know I have unresolved issues. I am quite aware all this

frustration stems from unresolved frustration and anger.”

“I just think – What right have you, to be around these people who

I love so dearly?

What right have you, to be here and enjoy their company, their laughs,

their smiles? When I know what you thought of them before?

What right have you to enjoy their trust, their partnership?

And what right have you to think that I could possibly

be okay with all of this?”

And then she took another breath.

“Okay, so nobody forced anyone to do anything. I know.

And people can change. This I know too.

And I know we are all adults, and I will try to be calm and cool about

everything.

But I reserve the right not to feel okay with this.

I reserve the right to feel uncomfortable.

The right to go ‘Urgh’ when I want to.

That much, at least I deserve.”

And then he said : “It’s official. You’re the most emotional

rational person I know.”

….

.

.

The month of April has been pretty interesting.

Mostly highs, just slightly pockmarked by some

irritants.

Work, work, work. And catching up.

It’s been fun.

Just some pictures from here and there.


My DIY notebook to make ambushing approaching MPs

easier. I arranged it in order of er … hair/specs/moles

facial differences. Quite successful, quite a relief.

A new girl's in town

My godsons (below) have a new sister. It’s quite interesting because

they seem to be doing things that are considered ‘regressing’ , ie. putting

a lot of things into their mouths, getting into the baby seat etc. Apparently

this is what some children do when a new baby gets attention from the

parents. Wow. Just like what some politicians do when they speak

out of their a… nevermind.

The tornados

Mr & Mrs Reeves

His BFF and the lovely wife at Ecoba. When I sent him this picture

he went … “Oh my God you’re so lucky, you get to hang out with Ben!”

True Bromance, if ever I knew one. By the way, it’s Ecoba‘s soft

launch of Tues, May 4 & Wednesday, May 5. Free flow (while stocks last) begins at 5pm.

Come on down.


The boy is back in town. Coolest guy in a suit you’ll ever meet.

My bro, my New York host. If it weren’t for him, many things

in my life would not have happened this year.

Moe, Larry, Cur.. Oops,sorry it's Larry, Adam, Bono & The Edge

At the Converse/Dave Corio do at ZincArt. To be very, very honest.

Nothing really stood out. Got a kick out of the old U2 pictures though, when

Bono didn’t look quite so IKNOWEVERYTHING-like.

Debbie 'Blondie' Harry

But I quite liked this photo. Although I think she looks mesmerising in

any shot, Miss Debbie Harry.

The Girls providing the sound

The Bunga and the Ribut of TAG. When I’m not distracted on Fridays, I try to catch

them at Barsonic. Though Bunga says I’m pretty hopeless at that.

With cutegiler

Lil Miss Joy To Be Around. Even cuter when slightly incoherent.


Mr Reza Kudapuff Salleh doing his thang at Havana, Changkat.

Yo Havana, but your sound system sucks balls needs improvement.

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.

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I wonder what May holds in store.

I’m wondering if Mother Nature will kasi kita chan sikit the next

few months.

xo

Flow sweetly, hang heavy

I realised I accidently drafted the last post, and so it may seem a little outdated.

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The update is: The weather is gorgeous again.

From the Hoboken waterfront, overlooking Manhattan :)

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The update is:  I have been spending a little more time on the grassy areas

of Hoboken, because I have winded down to write more.

c'est moi. le bonheur.

.

The update is:  I am feeling this strong bond with my good friend MK, who

has been utterly wonderful. Such a kind, decent, caring human being, and he

is coming back to Malaysia. I am glad he will be close by.

Miao & MK, hanging at Union Square

.

The update is: I spent a glorious two days with a good girl friend, Khim. If

it is possible to love your friend more and more with each passing conversation,

it is definitely so for me when it comes to her. I think you form a very special

friendship with people you connect with at a later time, at a certain age, during

specific times in your life.

Chaborcinta, for reals yo

.

The update is : A man is coming to me in 4 days. He makes me feel like spring.

He makes me want to say all the things that cannot be said. Yet.

He makes me close my eyes, clench my fist on my chest and smile.

The heart expands.

hello there

Sekian update untuk kali ini.

xox

I’m a-skippin’

So the weather has gone bad in NYC.

It’s been drizzling, and the weather now reminds me of London.

But there is still a great deal of warmth around – my good mate Khim

is here for the week. Last night we all (her friends and my dear MK) went

out to Momofuku for dinner, we had wanted to head to Ippudo but

the wait was 2 hours and we weren’t about to wait that long in the cold!

The thing is the moment you put Khim and I in a room somehow we

end up chatting like our lives depend on it and others seem to fade somewhat

in the background. I said later to MK when we were in the car heading back:

“Her friends are so nice and friendly.” And he said to me, slightly bewildered:

“But…. you were talking to Khim the whole time!”

Er… Oooops?

But just a little summary of the week, because the day is now dreary outside

and I’m waiting for MK to rise and shine – we have a day of walking about

and drinking to do today. It’s St Patrick’s Day! A huge deal over here, so

I can imagine no one’s gonna be sulking about the drizzle.

.

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This week I think I completed most of what the leftover things I wanted

to do or see in NY. Since this is my third time, I ticked off the remaining

‘Must Sees’ on my list, and took a deep, happy breath.

Now I can really, really walk the streets without a care in the world.

I usually walk aimlessly anyway, but before I had to look at the watch and

go “Oh darn, I have to go to here and here now before it closes or

this and there in case I can’t do it next week..”

It’s also been a week of me reuniting with some good old friends.

Met darling Ana again on Tuesday, she was one of my best buddies

in London during our undergrad days. Now she is getting married

and moving back to Serbia & Montenegro, another European wedding

to attend soon, how wonderful.

Ana & I reunited again in NYC

I met her hubby-to-be, an architect, and we got on so well at one

point I think Ana just watched two of us going on and on and on

about the house he is going to build for two of them – the inspiration,

style, materials, and so on. I visit their abode in Brooklyn next week.

On Wednesday I went walking about in a slight daze, and then ended up

at the New York Public Library .

.

It was so absolutely stunning I ended up

walking around with my mouth agape most of the time. I took NO pictures

inside because I was so awestruck – figured I would come another time for the pictures

and just truly menghayati the building this first time. I would end up

on a marble seat inside, facing this incredibly beautiful lobby and ceiling,

writing on my notepad. I think my notepad has seen more action than

my laptop these weeks – which is very welcome indeed.

Also went grocery shopping for the house and bought a new kettle for the

boys because I *ahem* pretty much destroyed theirs. How do I destroy

a kettle? Nevermind!

The wonderful Lan - my model for the day :)

On Thursday I caught up with Lan, who was my flatmate when we were doing

out masters in LSE. She’s from China but now living in Manhattan, near Columbia

U. I asked her if she’d be willing to accompany me to Ellis Island because I wanted

to visit the Immigration Museum there, and so the next day she met me at

Battery Park. There we were, at Clinton Castle, in disbelief that we were meeting

again. We proceeded to bitch about a certain Greek friend of ours who is absolutely

HOPELESS at keeping in touch, and sighed loudly about how we love her

so much despite the fact. The Immigration Museum was everything I hoped for

and more – it carried so much memory, pain and hope in its walls, floors and ceilings.

I was very touched by the whole experience and left with so much to think about.

It makes New York and America’s history all the more complex, sweeter, and rich -

this tapestry of different cultures all colliding, intertwining,

because they want to be live new lives in the land of the free.

I love these old shots

The sun was shining brightly when we stepped out of the museum. Ellis Island

gets a Must recommendation from me, I’ll say. For history buffs – no two ways

about it, you have to go.

Today is somebody’s birthday  - it was so good to speak to him on the phone :)

Ooops, I have to go soon – it’s close to lunch time.

It was quite lovely chatting with Khim last night. She reminded me

about something that she said I had told her in the past. She

was just in that stage at the time – having some butterflies inside the tummy

about a certain someone. I think women at our age are at a half-and-half

phase, it’s a little weird. We are so independent, used to a certain

lifestyle …. have been through enough pain to be wary, still enough

hope and faith to be joyous, & we want so much (and probably worry just

as much sometimes!)  We have had it with the debilitating mindgames

we played or were in when we were in our early twenties, the drama-filled

years that may have left us a bit scarred. [I'm sorry I don't mean to generalise,

perhaps it is just my own single female friends & I who have had these experiences]

And now as we find ourselves stronger than we have ever been, of course it is

scary to find yourself meandering back to anything that could mean you

slightly losing your senses again.

So inevitably when good things come, people like us (or

well, people like me anyway) tend to go “Is this for real?” …. or “Is this too good

to be true?” or… “Something’s bound to go wrong..”

Well anyway it takes friends like Khim to issue me a little gentle

reminder.

“You remember what you told me at the time? You said ‘Skip a little, Khim,

just skip a little. I think now it’s your turn to listen to that … Skip a little, Laych.”

I guess my answer to that would be….

“Well .. okay then”

:)

Love*

How Did I Bump Into You?

Yes, how did I meet you?

Were we destined to meet?

Were we meant to talk about the things we talked about, and bond about

the things that got us excited?

Did I screw things up, or did you not make enough effort?

It is a small world. You do not have to live in it particularly long to learn that for yourself. There is a theory that, in the whole world, there are only five hundred people (the cast, as it where; all the rest of the people in the world, the theory suggests, are extras) and what is more, they all know each other.

And it’s true, or true as far as it goes. In reality the world is made of thousands upon thousands of groups of about five hundred people, all of whom will spend their lives bumping into each other, trying to avoid each other; and discovering each other in the same unlikely teashop in Vancouver.

There is an unavoidability to this process. It’s not even coincidence. It’s just the way the world works, with no regard for individuals or for propriety.

- Neil Gaiman ~ Anansi Boys, 2005

If we were meant to cross paths, and if we were meant to

do great things together … work, projects, art, creations …

then what are we waiting for?

Is somebody up there banging His/Her head on a heavenly table, going

“OH MY DAZE, JUST WORK TOGETHER ALREADY, BOTH OF YOU!

And you say I never come through for you!”

come to me, serendipity

Were all the chances there … and we just didn’t take it up?

Is it that in our self-obsessed, frantic world, we failed to look at each other

properly? I don’t mean to go all keju & jagung (cheesy and corny) again but …

perhaps that was one of the strongest lines from Avatar … “I see you.”

I’m afraid of answering all the questions above, thinking about some of the people

I have connected with over the years.

Perhaps because I did not take the right opportunities, or follow up on the

inspirations that were sparked.

Perhaps I did not see? I did not see you. I was not paying attention.

We did not pay attention.

This year I hope to change that. This year I hope to keep my eyes

and ears wide open, friends. Do keep me on my toes, I humbly ask of you.

xo

.

-Ps- Okay, so a lot of you shuddered when I quoted Avatar. LOL

Have a heart y’all. It’s okay, you don’t have to be cool all the time y’know =)

Real Women, Silly Boys

This is just a short little one from me. I watched this today and

beamed a great big beam. It’s a quick clip of the recent Annual Critics’

Choice Movie Awards in Hollywood. On Friday, Sandra Bullock and

Meryl Streep shared a win for Best Actress – Bullock, for the Blind Side,

and Streep, for Julia and Julia.

I can’t wait to see the Blind Side, cause I really admire Bullock, I think

she is so full of sunshine, and I thought many great things about Julia

and Julia. (which I watched with Kat in Penang – we both got really

inspired with the ‘doing something you really love’ message)

As for the incomparable Streep … well, what can one say? She is a

freaking genius!

.

What I love about this clip is that while everyone would probably focus

on the kissing part (it’s SO Britney and Madonna, no?) I actually give

it a few repeats because of the wonderfully charming interplay between

the two actresses.

I’d love to think they just basically showed in that one little minute

what I think what real, strong women are.

Both are instinctively funny, smart … naturally gracious …

and supportive of each other. I think both women have a wicked

sense of humour (and not just based on this brief encounter), indeed

I think I admire women who have an innate confidence that allows

them to be sunny funny. Not in-your-face, showy, pretentious kind of funny,

like they have to put on a comedic show in order to be liked.

The radiant, easy breezy type of funny – the kind your favourite uncle or aunty has,

the kind that makes you roar with laughter and want to hug the person at the same time.

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.

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And just because we are on the subject of laughs, I go off track a bit

and tell you why one of my bestest friends Pin is such a soothing

presence in my life. He is hilarious, sometimes in the most awful,

keju and jagung way ever! (Boy, I haven’t used that term in a while,

have I?)

Yesterday, in very spontaneous fashion, he called me close to midnight

to ask if I’d like to follow him to the night club Rootz. I wouldn’t have

gone on such short notice normally, plus I’d gone out the night before

to the dance extravaganza that is the Heineken Green Room party.

But it’s Pin, and I had not hung out with him like that in a while.

So we go. In the car it’s me, Pin and our friend Munchies.

(Sometimes these full-blooded males pretend to be lovers -but

let’s not get into that, shall we?)

They are talking about some weird, silly, TOKOK kind of subject and

somewhere along the line I tell Munchies “Eh, you never look after your

wife properly lah”, referring to his ‘relationship’ with Pin.

After 3 whole minutes of replying to my comment, there is a little lull before

someone’s mental light bulb comes on.

Pin goes.. “Hey wait a minute. I’M NOT the WIFE, okay?!!”

He’s so touchy, that Wei Pin. As if there’s

anything wrong with being the wife in the relationship.   :P

Nice.

And then later in the car, and still on another stupid subject or the other …

I tell them both: “Oh my God, honestly both of you are like Dumb & Dumber okay?“

And Pin says, without missing a beat: “I CHOPE DUMB!”

………

……

……….     ….       ……

AHAHAHAHAHHAHA

I swear, these boys.

It never gets old.

xo

Epiphany

Well not really something as grand as an epiphany.

Perhaps a little *pop* in the brain synapses.


It stands to reason that when talented people get too cocky and full of

themselves …. they turn .. shit.

I don’t mean they physically turn into manure of course,

I mean, their talents have generally peaked and then they go down a sorry spiral of

byebyebrilliantness?

I can name several personalities and people I have generally

admired who have gone down this path, whether friends, whether in the line of

politics, entertainment or the arts, and the next thing you know …

you’re wondering “Oh but he/she was so … awesome. What happened?”

:(


Unfortunately the answer is: Your ego happened, bitch. Go spend some time in the

woods without your mirror and money is what you need to do. Could you do that?

Swing your balls as high without your money and mirror?  Sure about that?


And you can always tell when a person has started to get too cocky.

Always. So unfortunate.

Please remember extreme cockiness leads to general

suckiness, a loss in general profit margins, general lose-face-ness .. it will lead to

mediocrity landing its big fat rump squarely on your former awesomeness. Like, generally.

And stuff.


I always start off liking some people tremendously and then they take said trajectory

and turn into poo.

And then I become sad. But whyyyyyyyyyy?????, I ask myself, with drool and

tears streaming down my forlorn face.

Et tuuuuuuu??!!!!!? I howl, like a rabid wolf on acid.

And then I make like a tree and leaf.

.

.


Okay back to work. Hey, that was just my first 2010 mini roar. Haha.

;)

This was me as a kid. This was my mom--> -_-

Here’s to 2010! Let’s make it fun mis cariños!

The original Anthony Robbins?

I just discovered this quote today,

and it was so wonderful I was intrigued by

the man who said it.

Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real calibre is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others.

~  William J. H. Boetcker

Nice.
And then… I found more things he had said.
Like…

If your business keeps you so busy that you have no time for anything else, there must be something wrong, either with you or with your business.
and

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.
and
If you want to know how rich you really are, find out what would be left of you tomorrow if you should lose every dollar you own tonight.
and
What a different world this would be if people would listen to those who know more and not merely try to get something from those who have more.
Of course by this time I was curious beyond belief, so as I am wont
to do …. I spent just a bit of time finding out more about him.
.
.
.
William J. H. Boetcker was an American religious leader
born in Germany, 1873 and became an influential public speaker
in the United States.
He would be such a motivational speaker, eloquent and inspirational,
that many people regarded him as the forerunner of the more
successful life coaches you have today.
The original Tony Robbins, as it were.
He even had his own ‘Rules’ which was incorrectly attributed
to Abraham Lincoln at first!
Below is ‘The Ten Cannots’, written in 1916,
and something which would not be out of place in
our world today. Yes, 93 years later. All of them.

Required reading for all.

The Ten Cannots


You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.

You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the

wage payer.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting

class hatred.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

You cannot build character and courage by destroying

men’s initiative and independence.

And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them

what they can and should do for themselves

Most excellent indeed. Simple and so elegant.

There are some Ayn Rand-ish arguments there,

but I especially like the last one, which is a different

kind of way

to think about welfare and helping the

poor, downtrodden and groups like the indigenous peoples.

I think it encourages us to explore our opinions

and thoughts a bit more, to think out-of-the-box.

.

.

.

Thank you Mr Boetcker, you would have

the equivalent of your own huge shelf at bookstores

today, I reckon.

.

.

.

And just  a little shout out to some special & unique presents

I got for my recent birthday. I appreciate all that

I got, of course, but these three were so cute and lain dari yang lain

I had to just note them here.

One is this:

I laughed out loud reading this so many times … I reckon

it’s a perfect way to encourage you to read more books

so you “get” the twitterised version of the book.

What they do is basically sum up a book in around 20 tweets…

and the result is a healthy dose of cheeky and hilarity!

Check out one of the ‘tweets’ from Hamlet, for example…

I had a knife to that fat asshole but bitched out. Now he’s alive and still

taking to bed with that beautiful wo-…er, my mother.

LOL!

Or from Beowulf:

@Grendellocks: Bah. That was way too easy. You’re so dead that you

can’t even read this tweet. Fairy.

So cute.

And another present I loved was this little creation:

So cool kan? I like my chocolate milk tan :)

Yipppeee!

And the last one:

A ‘pantun’…

when day is gray and food is dull,

and big migraine is hitting skull,

when need big love & hugs so tight,

when feeling like flimsy kite,

all I need to feel better,

very easy no need courier,

I just call your phone quick and fast,

confirm times 10 will have a blast!

Lol! So cute. I love my presents. I like that as we grow older

and we can afford things ourselves, we like the more

personalised presents, the quirky ones that are kind of tailored

to you.

Thank you to piku, shoelace and kuda, you all made me smile

long time. :)

xo