Kusut dan Jiwang, Inc.

She’s a bit different nowadays. She eats and eats and eats, and then she lies, and then she eats again. And then she lies on my chest. Or back. Or on any part of my body that she feels comfortable. And her belly looks a bit full; and the worst thing is, I don’t know whether it’s the result of all the Friskies that I’ve been feeding her, or tape-worms, or that she’s actually pregnant.

When I came home Monday from the weekend in KL, my housemate reported to me:

‘Kak, hari tu ada kucing kejar Katy…’

Huh?

‘Kesian Katy kak….’kena’ dengan kucing tu.’

Aiyooo…

‘ Ada banyak kucing kejar dia. Ada yang bulu panjang tu…Ada yang buruk tu pun nak kenakan dia…’

Oh my God, I don’t need to hear this…

I guess I’ll have to wait till I see the kittens before know who the culprit@father is…

I spent my Sunday having the lights fitted in my house. JI’s friend did the fitting. Sadly (for me), JI had a wedding to attend to, and therefore couldn’t be there (at my house, I mean).

So there I was, 10 in the morning, rushing to meet my first ever personal light-fitter/electrician/wireman. I wasn’t late - we did agree to meet at 10 a.m. - but he texted me at 9 saying that he’ll be arriving in a few minutes’ time. I speed-showered, speed-dressed, skipped breakfast and sped to B****.

After showing him and his two friends which light goes where, I went out again. I was short of one lamp. Went to the nearest block of shoplots. Realised that the weekend wake-up time average for Lembah Kelang people had increased: at 10.20 a.m. only one lighting shop was open. Most of the shops were still closed.

So I went to have a look at the lamps offered by that shop. My, were they expensive! Decided that I’d wait till the other shops are open. So I went to have breakfast at the kedai mamak nearby. Then JI SMSed…

"Everything OK with the light-fitter?"

I replied, "I hope  everything’s OK. I’m outside having my breakfast."

We continued chit-chatting for a bit, until…

"What’s your opinion on ‘kahwin misyar’*?"

WHAT? I hadn’t read the Sunday paper yet; I had no updated literature review/researched information whatsoever… So I replied:

"If both parties agree to it, then I don’t think there’ll be problems. But then, it is the husband’s responsibility to provide for the family, and the wife’s to help the husband however she can. Both parties should contribute; no question of escaping the obligation on one side or the other."

Whoo-hoo….Phew. There it was, my ‘political stand’-sounding statement. Sent to JI. Then I panicked again. Did I sound too serious? Perhaps he was only joking? Perhaps he expected some off-the-wall reply???

Then he replied - "Is it? So many opinions out there…OK then, you take care."

WHAAAAAATT??  IS THAT IT?? ARRRRRGGH!!

*Kahwin misyar is one of the hottest topics in Malaysian media now. Kahwin misyar is a marriage concept where the husband is only responsible in providing spiritual support (nafkah batin), and not obliged to give financial or material support (nafkah zahir) to the wife (not so sure about the husband’s responsibility to the children, though). A professor from a local university recommended the concept as a solution to the issue of so many unmarried (career-)women in the country, as these women, allegedly, partly contribute to the social problems faced here (e.g. extramarital affairs, pre-marital sex etc..). The (more financially viable) wife can provide the nafkah zahir, while the husband can provide ‘companionship’ and ‘partnership’ to the wife.

What do you think? Should  I consider practicing it? Should I start looking for anak ikan? Or should I just continue doing things by myself?

Kalau aku dapat jadi pengarah videoclip lagu ni, mesti videoclip dia jadi yang terjiwang sekali…

Iklim

Suci Dalam Debu

Engkau bagai air yang jernih
Di dalam bekas yang berdebu
Zahirnya kotoran itu terlihat
Kesucian terlindung jua

Cinta bukan hanya di mata
Cinta hadir di dalam jiwa
Biarlah salah di mata mereka
Biar perbezaan terlihat antara kita

Kuharapkan kau kan terima
Walau dipandang hina
Namun hakikat cinta kita
Kita yang rasa

Suatu hari nanti
Pastikan bercahaya
Pintu akan terbuka
Kita langkah bersama

Di situ kita lihat
Bersinarlah hakikat
Debu jadi permata
Hina jadi mulia

Bukan khayalan yang aku berikan
Tapi keyakinan yang nyata
Kerana cinta lautan berapi
Pasti akan kurenang jua

Lautan berapi…(sanggup ke berenang tu?)

Your True Love Is an Aquarius

Why you’ll love an Aquarius:

Independent yet devoted, you’ll appreciate the unique approach to love Aquarius takes.
You both see love as a bit of a game, and Aquarius will challenge you until you’re completely hooked.

Why an Aquarius will love you:

You’re secure enough to give Aquarius tons of space - even if it means separate interests and friends.
You have the brains to keep Aquarius engaged and curious. And the passion to change the world together!

Looking from a window above
It’s like a story of love
Can you hear me
Came back only yesterday
We’re moving farther away
Want you near me
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you

Am listening to Flying Pickets’ Only You, one of the most melodious (and saddest) songs on earth. It’s almost 12.30 am. Can’t sleep, so I guess I’d better update the blog, or else I’ll be spending the whole day tomorrow blogging instead of doing work.

Went to see The Da Vinci Code with JI, our mutual friend, H, and the H’s sisters.  H’s parents and brothers  also joined in later. So suffice to say that I’m a bit jiwang right now haha… Anyway, Da Vinci was good. A reminder for those who haven’t read the book, though - DON’T READ THE BOOK YET! Go watch the movie first, or the book will rob you of the excitement and suspense. There will be some details from the book missing in the movie, and if you’re like me, you’ll be spending quite a significant time wondering whether they’ve really excluded those parts for the movie, or the Censorship Board have cut them (although you’ll get to see Paul Bettany’s pale butt), or you’ve mixed up Dan Brown’s books.

During lunch, I told JI and friend about me getting a call and SMSes from an ex-schoolmate. The last time we met was 12 years ago. Now he’s married and has 2 kids. His work involves him being away most of the time. He got my number from another schoolmate. We caught up on the basics - are you married, how many kids do you have, where do you work/stay, have you met A, B or C recently, etc.. What was interesting were the comments he gave. His statements seemed to contain underlying meanings. Not exactly double entendres, but I felt like he was trying to say something. At first I thought I was reading too much into it. But then, during lunch today, he sent a flirty SMS (which I replied noncommitally, of course ).

So I got the party into discussing my friend’s motives and underlying story. Problems at home? Adulterous wife? Cheating husband? By the way, is there a guideline on how you SMS a married friend? Where’s the limit, really? Does it include bar room jokes, with the four-letter word and all? And how should I reply to that? Should I share another joke? Should I just send ‘Haha funny’; or should I just ignore them? Anyway, we (my ex-schoolmate and I) plan to meet on the 4th of June. Suddenly JI said ‘Oh no, I’m going back to my hometown that weekend’. Very endearing, but also made me go ‘HUH?’. And thus rising more questions, albeit only in my heart….Kusutlah!

Anyway, I should give it a rest, and have a rest myself. And this song by Flying Pickets will be my lullaby tonight….

Sometimes when I think of your name
When it’s only a game
And I need you
Listening to the words that you say
It’s getting harder to stay
When I see you
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you

All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you

Sempena Hari Ibu, aku nak kongsi dengan korang lirik satu lagu. Lagu ni antara lagu yang paling awal mak aku pernah ajar kat aku. Selain lagu inggeris (Twinkle twinkle little star) dan Melayu (Lompat Si Katak Lompat), mak aku juga ajar satu lagu Minang - Ayam Den Lapeh. Tak tau la kenapa dia ajar lagu ni, bukannya kitaorang orang Minang pun. Mungkin sebab keluarga mak ada akar umbinya di Sumatera (Teluk Kuantan), dan nenek dan arwah datuk pun cakap lebih kurang macam Minang jugak, jadi bolehlah aku alihbahasa sedikit, mana-mana yang boleh…

Ayam Den Lapeh (A Hadi)
- ayamku terlepas

Luruihlah jalan payakumbuah - luruslah jalan paya kumbu
Babelok jalan kayu jati - berbelok jalan kayu jati
Dima ati indak karusuah - hmm…..??
Ayam den lapeh ai ai - ayam ku lepas
Ayam den lapeh

Mendaki jalan padangsikek - mendaki jalan padangsikek
Basimpang jalan ka biaro - bersimpang jalan ke biara
Di ma ati indak kamaupek - heheh…
Awak takicuah ai ai - engkau kecoh
Ayam den lapeh

Sikucapang sikucapeh - seekor capang seekor penat kot…hmm…
Saikua tabang saikua lapeh - seekor terbang seekor lepas
Tabanglah juo nan karimbo - terbanglah jua ke rimba
Oilah malang juo - malanglah jua

Pagaruyuang batusangka - pagaruyung batusangka
Tampek bajalan urang baso - tempat berjalan orang besar (kot)
Duduak tamanuang tiok sabanta - duduk termenung tidur (kot..) sebentar
Oi takana juo ai ai - terkenang? terkena?
Ayam den lapeh - ayam ku lepas 

Please do visit this one whenever you have time: www.petaijering.blogspot.com. Thanks.

How You Are In Love

You take a while to fall in love with someone. Trust takes time.

You tend to give more than take in relationships.

You tend to get very attached when you’re with someone. You want to see your love all the time.

You love your partner unconditionally and don’t try to make them change.

You stay in love for a long time, even if you aren’t loved back. When you fall, you fall hard.

Marina, YOUR song is Every Breath You Take

         
       

Romantic
and soulful, it’s no surprise your signature song is just as sweet as
you are. When it comes to a night on the town, we’d guess you’d rather
enjoy a candlelit dinner for two or a low-key night hanging out with
friends than a wild party or chaotic club.

And while your signature song may not bring the house down, it never
fails to inspire that loving feelin’ in everyone. That’s why it’s so
perfect for you a big-hearted person like you who’s always thinking of
others. So, keep it up. It’s nothing short of breathtaking!

I’ve updated my Friendster profile. Added ‘burger-tasting’ as an interest.

Somehow I always end up ordering burger whenever I go to western food restaurants. Apart from being the cheapest option, burgers, to me, are fail-proof. I don’t like to be disappointed by food - steaks that are too dry (or sometimes too rare you wonder whether or not it’s safe to eat them), salads that don’t live up to their name, soggy grilled fish…Ugh…and the thought that you still have to pay RM 34.95 for a piece of charred meat. Might as well you go to Tesco (or any other supermarkets or butchery; I’m not trying to endorse any hypermarkets here), get a piece of tenderloin/sirloin/chuckwagon/what-have-you and throw it on a heated pan. Of all the places I’ve gone for ‘gourmet’ burgers, I think TGIFs at The Curve and One Utama are among the best. I don’t know whether I was first time lucky, but I ordered Mushroom Swiss burger and it was veeeeeeeerrrrrrrry nice. And the chips were veeeeeeeeeerrrryyy crispy. Tried the Barbeque burger at TGIF a few days ago, but it was not as nice as the Mushroom-Swiss. Chili’s burger has portion bigger than TGIF’s, but were a bit dry. The burgers at hotel restaurants tend to be almost the same, though.

Whatever it is, burgers that you get at the roadside stall are still the ones that satisfy you the most. Best gerai burger that I’ve had was at Tanjung Aru Beach 2, when I was about 10. Ramly burger hadn’t reached KK then, so I guess they made their own patties. The kick was from the baked beans on top of the patties, in exchange for tomato ketchup. Tried making that version at home, but I just couldn’t get it right….

I’ve changed the blog design to a more anemic one. Don’t feel so dark anymore, but am not ready to embrace the colourful yet.

Was reading the writings of Pok Ku, the blogger of the famous Di Bawah Rang Ikang Kering. His essays amused and delighted me over and over again. I really loved the Terengganuspeak entries, and also his childhood stories. Having lived in Kuantan for nearly two years (and being exposed to Kelantan-speak by Nenek Mek Som, my grandmother’s sister-in-law, for nearly 30 years) , I’ve become quite familiar with the phonetics of the East Coast and sort of able to relate to their dialects.

Anyway, it was the depictions of kampung life that engaged me to read more and more of Pok Ku’s entries. They make me realise why I like kampung boys more than cityboys. I think kampung boys have more depth. Most of the kampung boys nowadays are exposed to both rural and urban life,  at least through a visit to the city.  To me they have a wider view of the world, thus are able to see things from many perspective, and maybe, just maybe, able to judge things a little bit more fairly. (To the cityboys reading this, I am sorry, but this is only an opinion.)

Which brings me to the word ubersexual (there’s supposed to be two dots above the ‘u’ but I don’t know how to do that). A friend, who is a kampung boy, by the way, asked me what it meant, and I tembak-tembak answered that it is something superior to metrosexual. A gayah friend later confirmed my answer. For a complete definition of ubersexual, click here.

Having read the description for ubersexuality, I think a ubersexual man is too much for me. I don’t deserve them. He’s ‘an evolved species of man—he is so perfect as to leave little margin for error and fallacy‘, to quote the definition given by Wikipedia. How can I have a fair relationship, then? He’s nearly perfect, therefore he’s (nearly) always right. Hey, they don’t deserve me, with zits on the nose, grey faded combats, touristy t-shirts (those with words such as ‘Cairns, Australia’ or ‘My sister went to ROME and all she got me is this T-shirt’ splashed across them) and all….Surely a perfect man looks for a perfect woman for a partner. Me, perfect? I can’t even keep my eyebrows tidy…

That said, I used to tell my friends that I have certain criteria for boyfriend/husband candidacy (I do set a standard; you wouldn’t want a homeless, jobless person to be your husband, would you?) - he must at least know how to sembelih (slaughter according to Islamic codes) chickens; he must know how to change car tyres and jumpstart car batteries;  and he must be ready and willing to go hunting, as the men from my Sabah family side likes to go memburu payau (Sambar deer) and kijang (spotted dear @ Bambi) in their free time. I can’t imagine a ubersexual guy donning a Pagoda t-shirt and decade-old khakis, getting ready to spend a night looking for game animals in the middle of an oil-palm estate. Fox-hunting in Scotland maybe, but as my mom said succinctly, ‘dah tak cukup lelaki Melayu ke kat dunia ni?‘ Furthermore, I’ve been teased enough for not being a 100% Sabahan, I don’t want my future husband to be teased as well…

Payau @ Rusa @ Sambar deer: makes tasty rendang and masak kicap

Bambi: very cute

So, that’s my argument for choosing kampung boys over cityboys. And
when they speak in their native dialect, be it from the east coast or
East Malaysia…ooooh, you had me at hello, baby…