Written by lainie at 05:49 AM on August 2, 2007 in Daily Life, Friends, Home.

Happy birthday to Fireangel

Woke up at 7pm today, it's been easy to sleep late because I'm sick and it makes me tired (and frankly, I shouldn't have had those last few doses of any whiskey) - also, my phone records have been reset cause I loaned it to Zheng a few times, so I don't know who called me while I was knocked out, BUT.

But, but but, but, if I said anything stupid, as I tend to when mostly talking through my subconscious, yknow.

My subconscious apologises too. At least I think so.

======

I've had better, as far as weeks go. But I've pretty much blanked out by now.

Met up with Tei yesterday for lunch, bummed around her area. Went to her home and raided her bookshelf, while she was on the phone with Smile.

Tei: I'm gonna watch tv, and Lainie's reading a book.

[ Pause ]

Tei: (looks at me) Smile says we ought to do lesbian things.
Lainie: Which is why I'm reading a book, and you're watching tv.
Tei: (back to phone) Lains is gonna read a book while I watch tv.

It's part of the insidious lesbian plan to co-opt everything. Next thing you know, ordering McDonalds delivery will be a wholly lesbian action, just as the gay men have completely pwned drinking orange juice, and the indigenous people have claimed the act of exhaling carbon dioxide.

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Jerng: It's already August
Lainie: Really? Wow, before we know it it'll be...

[ Pause for counting months ]

Lainie: ....it'll be September!
Jemufo: WHAT?
Lainie: !! ??

Jemufo: Lainie, September doesn't come after August!
Lainie: DAMMIT! Wait wait, I know this don'ttellme! June...JULY! NoitwasJuly. Octo-
Jerng: .....September does come after August.
Jemufo: Yeah I know. I just wanted to get her.
Jerng: That was a good one.
Lainie: .......damn you...

Remembering the sequence for the months after June (the month, not the girl ) requires way too much effort. I have some long, roundabout way of remembering, but I'm gonna blame my being sick on this one.

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Was thinking of either going out for chicken wings with Lola and her friend, or to Attic - but decided was too poor in wallet and health to truly entertain both notions.

Instead, Meesh and Winnie dropped over for a surprise, but very much welcome, visit over at our place. Meesh has dropped me home a few times, so it was a bit of a surprise that she had not been inside before. I gave them whiskey from a really old bottle - but it tastes good, so heck.

One of the Hwa cousins, Yue Yi, also came over. I added her on Facebook, saying that it would be totally awkward if she didn't approve me because we were sitting across the table from each other. She's going off to Williams to study in two weeks, so there goes one of our more frequent houseguests.

Went out for mamak stall dinner / supper. The food was oily, old and I think my unhealth situation was further exarcerbated because now I feel positively crappy, and I'm out of orange juice at home - clearly I need a gayman housemate.

This doesn't feel good at all..

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I'm applying to Mindvalley, which would be an interesting addition to the geektails if it happens.

Written by lainie at 05:51 PM on August 2, 2007 in Holidays / Road Trip.

Taking the tube to where my aunt's hotel is. They have mosaic art on the walls. All the stations in central London seem to have an arts theme of sorts. The newspapers are going on about how the companies are nearing bankruptcy from overspending on refurbishments.


Giant statue of rocker for musical "We Will Rock You". Each musical has their own theatre around London, and lots of promos outside. This one is the most bling.


I've been told I can't just go to art galleries and theatre, I have to shop too (I landed there during the sales season). So we go to Harrods, and my aunt takes a pic to prove I did go shopping. It's that brown building with lots of flags sticking out. Harrods doesn't look that posh, bar a few places where they display individual shoes on pedestals with spotlights, that kinda thing.


Fish lunch, with some Harrods house white wine that was wayyyy too strong for me. Being allergic to alcohol can suck.


Princess Diana and Al-Fayed (?) memorial in Harrods.


Cousin and I, waiting for Dancing In The Streets musical to begin. Night of motown music.


National Museum courtyard the next day. They covered it up with a huge dome, and sell overpriced sandwiches and postcards.


Statues are scattered around the museum.


A lot of sculptures. And Rosetta Stone. And some life-death section. And Egyptian tombs / hieroglyphics / whatevers, and Asian stuff.


I leave the museum for Billy Elliot, the musical. I can see the ochestra under the stage if I lean over.


Went for late lunch after musical, in restaurant called Garfunkels. Comfy feel inside.


I was craving spinach but ended up with mushrooms side dish. Had my meal, then took a tube and went to watch Phantom of the Opera.


Walking home (or so I think) after Phantom of the Opera. I am lost, but I don't mind. It's kinda cold.

Then I got home, met up with cousin and her flatmate, dressed (well, kinda) in 5 minutes, and went for a private party at Clermont Club in Berkeley Square.

London pics, 1st - 3rd day

Written by lainie at 02:50 AM on August 3, 2007 in Daily Life.

Happy birthday to CJ and Anne

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I like that there are things I can see about to happen.

Went with Annie and Jemufo for dinner and Scrabble. The three of us jammed up the board, and I already can't think tonight so bahhhhhhhhh! Booo board jammers!

There's a certain humourous displeasure when looking at my tiles, and seeing FIVE "O"s staring back. In other situations this might be a good thing, in Scrabble it's like...doom. And room. And logo. I got all the "O"s in the first game.

I put down "booty" (cmon, pirate's booty!) which is still more plausible than Jemufo's "quant". If I didn't get a bingo my arse would have gotten doubly trounced.

After that, headed down to Laundry to meet Tei, ended up chilling out with her. Zheng was there as well, with his model friends. Met some of my classmates, I think I'm the last one to get an internship.

Zheng's friend dropped us off home, and. Well, some interesting things that do not pass the censorship board happened. But fun, is fun.

Cooked some food. Zedeck came out to scout and refused to eat after ascertaining I was the cook. Flipped each other off.

I probably shouldn't have gone out today, my head isn't doing too well. I've just started breaking out in cold sweat. And I'm typing but I cannot get online.

I've been so dreadfully bored lately. Even when I'm surrounded by activity, I require entertainment. Cmon people, what ya got?

Written by lainie at 05:44 PM on August 3, 2007 in Daily Life.

Fever. Feels like crap. My thoughts come in short bursts. Lightheaded. Haven't eaten cause the cooker's out of gas. Waiting for a friend to pick me up and go makans with me.

Started chatting with Risha online and the woman makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. She could be talking about babies dying in her arms, I think, I'd still laugh.

While googling stuff about London theatre, I stumbled upon the website of a cousin who's a playwright there. Frickin small world. Pity I didn't find the site before going, would have tried to catch a show if anything was onstage.

Written by lainie at 10:12 PM on August 4, 2007 in Daily Life.

Using this leprechaun hat usericon reminds me of Kate. And leprechauns.

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So last night blablablablablablabla, blablablablablablablablablablabla
blablablablablablablablablablabla, blablablablablablablablablablabla, beepblablablablablablablablablablablablablabla blablablablablabla, blabla, bla, blablablablablablablablablablablaaa, blabla. Much fun.

Then Blablabla and I blablablaed. And blablabla blablablablabla blablablablablablablabla blablablablabla blablablablabla. Wheee!

And then I drank. Watched Pi again. Drank. And then I watched Run Lola Run (Lola came online just as I put in the disc, though I told her she shouldn't take that as some cosmic warning). Drank.

And then I blablablablablablablablablablabla blablablablablabla blablablablablablablablablablablablabla blablablablablablablablabla blablablablablablablablablablablablabla blablablablablablablabla blablablablablablablablablabla. Blablabla, blabla, blabbity bla meep meep, meep bla bla bla.

So, yeah, that was last night. Obviously, it was awesome.

=====

Nessa called me this morning, way too early - about two hours after I went to sleep.

She was in KL for the day. I let her into the house, she went around as usual, probably going through my dirty laundry and searching for stray pubic hairs on the floor, whatever her fascination is with other people's private stuff.

We hung out, makaned, talked over coffee and extremely crappy brownie dessert in La Bodega, came back, drank, watched Shortbus, dangled our legs over the balcony and talked some more. Thailand and London, girls and boys, people and friends, work and play. Got a few subjects outta the way. Eventually it was night, and her mom drove by to pick her up.

I wanted to get back to bed, then Jerng and Jemufo said they were walking out for dinner, so I joined them. Just got home now, and contemplating sleep.

Written by lainie at 07:19 PM on August 5, 2007 in Daily Life, Links / Email.

I know I've said I'm so gay, so this is gonna do some damage to the gaycred - I don't really watch L Word, so I'm not too sure who Jennifer Beals / Bette is (but she looks really pretty!).

Never really noticed her in the clips of L Word I watched. And my, how she pwns this interview on Youtube.

Jennifer Beals interviewed by homophobe on MSNBC. Boooo MSNBC.

And at least Beals cites where she gets her statistics from, unlike the interviewer who states that "the gay community is 1-3% of society, depending on which survey you pick". Yeah, exactly. Which survey? The Survey of Lainie's Ass says the gay community is 98% of society and people who live alone in caves on mountaintops because of scary idiots like you. The Survey of 100% Accuracy says 98% of heterosexual people are 98% bisexual.

Jemufo and I were sitting side by side watching this video, and to answer Jemufo's question on "Who is this idiot?", the interviewer is Deborah Norville. Towards the end, you might want to smack Norville (or agree with her, who am I to impose my gay-as-heck opinions on you, though who are you to disagree with a Survey of 100% Accuracy?).

Jerng says it's probably scripted. But yeah, great smile on Beals.

=====

Woke up with a headache. Grocery shopping. Want to do domesticy stuff like...floss. Or something. Wore a tight tshirt because I ran out of tshirts, this one makes my boobs look so big even I think they look like someone else's.

I stayed home last night and tonight (still not feeling well), listening to Ryan Adams' Easy Tiger Album, and the Bossa N' Marley album (bossa nova remixes of Bob Marley songs)......and I've been fielding calls and messages from people assuming I have a weekend nightlife, asking me where I am and if they can hang out with me too.

Dammit, why doesn't this happen when I'm actually out? But hey, I almost feel like I'm actually popular and have heaps of friends around.

Written by lainie at 08:21 PM on August 5, 2007.

I never had a "coming out" party.

Dude, what the fuck. Where's my party?

Oh, and it's my reverse birthday today. Feel free to send me gifts bad for my health. Like alcohol. Or fried chicken.

Written by lainie at 05:33 AM on August 7, 2007 in Daily Life.

Right, mini up up!

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Not sick anymore, though the way my nose and cough sound I don't think people who hear me would be able to tell. Started work again.

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Met Sharanya for dinner, she's going to Indonesia soon for a litfest.
She came over to my place after and had some whiskey that wasn't to her taste (but well suited for mine). She talked about some elaborate mythologies, explaining them to me, and about ananku too - interesting stuff, if unfamiliar territoryy.

My contribution to her was "Oh, Facebook is addictive!", the end.

Walked Sharanya back to the station, then had coffee with Rach. I'd been in a shite mood the week before and walked out on her within a minute of meeting, so it was good to see her again and iron over that. Made plans to have a lil dine in together, will be interesting to see how we work together in a kitchen .

Came home. Faffed about online (to be fair, in conjunction with arranging interviews and getting files I need). Chatted with some friends. Hah, when I appear too happy, some of them get downright suspicious and concerned . Shites, I'm not usually that bad, cmonnn.

Much later, Lola came online and started talking about nissin tomyam, I almost ruined the idea of tofu for her forever and got her to crave duck rice, then we both eventually left go make supper. Considering how much we were talking about food, what I cooked seems alright enough.

I just read a bit of my blog. I sound so random. How do I make sense to you guys? Do I? Should I bother (cause really, I'm not going to, but just thought I'd ask)?

Now, sleep.

Written by lainie at 04:20 AM on August 8, 2007 in Daily Life, Friends.

Who can tell me where the Otai burgers stalls are near Bangsar / LRT stations, because their map is fucking useless. Paultan...Paging Paultan.....

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Went for dinner with KA and Lola earlier.

Actually, dinner only concerned KA and I, Lola stuck to beers. They both came from work ("let's not even ask you" was Lola's observation on me since I wasn't in working attire). Lola's had her remaining privacy impinged upon recently, which was good laugh for me, since usually it's my fault and I had better not can't find humour in it.

Don't you love it when someone else's past catches up with them?

We had fried rice, it was strange to be eating rice again. I probably have rice about once or twice a fortnight, IF Jemufo cooks.

Was supposed to go get doughnuts together with KA, because I wanted a sugar high, but we forgot. The Curve has a lot of new shops now. KA bought a book from Borders by picking one randomly from the shelves - it was about lesbians*, so she took it as a sign that she was meant to own it. So if the next time I shout out "OKAY, DONWANNA BE SINGLE NEMORE" and some girl trips beside me (we shall assume, not from shock), we were, like, totally meant to be, yo.

Speaking of yo, KA said she'd remind me of my children's names next time should my memory fail me.
Their names are Bobo Yo, Momo Yo, and Homo Yo (actually, I'm pretty sure I didn't coin the last one). I still think Yoyo Yo is like...a good name. Of course, it'd be a hassle to register my name and drop two letters from Yeoh to Yo, but it'll be totally worth it, just for the trauma it'd inflict upon the little ones.

Wanted to have a coffee but KA suggested a beer instead, so had a beer. After that beer, wanted to have a coffee but Lola suggested a beer instead, so had a beer. Spine, what spine? Hah, not like I have anything against beers.

I've not had coffee or tea today.....But I'm quite mellowed out so it's alright. I guess I just won't drink more alcohol at home tonight.

KA's birthday is coming up soon, and she invited me to throw my coming out party during her birthday. So I don't know who'll get the public announcement that I'm gay on that day, but hey. There will be people, and alcohol. What more does one need for a coming out party?

I asked Lola what to get KA for her birthday, and made the observation she's a faffing useless one, because even I could be more helpful. Heck, at least I know where to get dildos and vibrators here.

Telling Lola about plans for the party (she's been more enthusiastic about it than I). It was pointed out that it might be redundant, that people might already know I'm gay.

Lainie: Does it matter? I'm sure Elton John's coming out party would have been totally irrelevant.
Lola: That's true. You could come out as....straight!
Lainie: I could. But I've already done the straight thing..... I could come out as.... a mammal!
Lola: ....Or a horse.
Lainie: ......

I'm running out of things to come out as. I'll secretly be a straight man. Or a bisexual gay man. Fooled y'all. But don't tell anyone, I'm only coming out later!

=====

*Sputnik Sweethearts, which is one of my preferred Murakami novels. Maybe I just identify with the mood of the book.

Identifying with the feelings in a Murakami novel is about as good as identifying with a Kundera book - best not to know what either of them are talking about, but the creepy bastards have their ways with words, and it would take a whole lot of effort avoiding life to be that ignorant.

Unless I'm mistaken, I've had a pretty shitty personal experience happen during each book I've read by both authors. Maybe the aura from the books kinda swallow me up like one of those giant anime paus or something, and I become the .....filling.

Yo, yo yo. Homo. Yo.

Did I mention I'm really groggy, so I don't really know what I'm saying? Or I do know, but it's not coming out the way I want it to, exactly. If you could see the hand gestures and facial expressions in my mind that accompany the words, I'm sure it'd totally make sense.

You know how like Discworld has storage space for things that WILL exist^? If there's such a space for Bobo Momo and Homo Yo, I bet they're praying so hard they'll never happen, that now I'm a lesbian. But ahah, little do they know! Because they're unreal children! Just cause I can't be a straight woman doesn't mean I can't...er...Have babies. Hang on, I don't even like babies. In case it wasn't evident, yknow. What they doing making me gay and shite? Pricks.

Now's like the best time to hand me a phone so I can confuse people with the power of my crazy talk! Why encourage fate. Good nites!

^Quoting Discworld concepts may make you sound like a geek. Getting them just wrong means the non-geeks never realise this, but all the geeks will, and in the end, you're categorised in that giant, less shiny, fandom-like gray area that people like you without the requisite geektails inhabit.

Written by lainie at 06:09 PM on August 8, 2007 in Links / Email.

A scrabble mate with somewhat dubious intentions sent me a link to the 50 Greatest Sex Scenes in Cinema in Film Lounge, while we were in the middle of a game. Nevertheless, why complain about entertainment, especially the kind that involves naked people?

I like that they list at #11, Ecstasy, because I think the actress in it, Hedy Lamarr is cool. Co-inventor for spread spectrum broadcast tech. I mean, an early techgeek on film, what's not to like?

Also, this "time displacement experimental video" is the coolest video ever:

Written by lainie at 03:55 AM on August 10, 2007 in Arty stuff.

Dear pelukismelukis. It has been a few days now (though I still see your comments around). I don't know who else to draw katakburgers for. I'll get Malaysian Politicians Say The Darndest Things that you and Amir did together when

1) it's out and
2) I have money.

See you at the next reading / event, kay?

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Events I went for, events you can go for, photos and talkies for Butoh performance right at the end:

Wednesday night

Take Me or Leave Me ("A Musical Theatre Journey with Stephanie Van Den Driesen & Llew Marsh").

A night of Broadway songs in The Attic, Bangsar, so of course I went! . Llew on the piano, Stephanie on vocals (occasionally accompanied by her sister). Told Zal that Stephanie reminds me strongly of Juliet and Zal told me she'd just said that, before I came in.

Zal asked if I broke up with Jemufo -____-". I can't date Jemufo, she doesn't like being scratched . Chomped Zal's arm and she yelped so loudly that I was startled.

Songs performed from Rent, Les Miserables, Wicked, Footloose, Puteri Gunung Ledang and all that, some song she wrote / composed, if I'm not mistaken. Medley. Performed Impossible (Cinderella) again as her encore. Youtube search function, you DIY okay?

Yknow. What is This Feeling (from Wicked) is such a gay song. I know it's about the "good" and "wicked" witch loathing each other, but the latent homosexuality is just.....so.....like. WOAH.

When I was watching it, and they got to this song, I thought it was foreshadowing, and genuinely expected the two witches to get shagging later in the show (what with them so conveniently being roomies with ...magic... wands and all).
Zedeck is complaining that I play Wicked songs at home too frequently (got some MP3s off Debbie).

No cover charge that night - alcoholic drinks are expensive in Attic though. Luckily I didn't feel like drinking alcohol. I don't know. Wanted to head home after the show. But Jemufo suggested nasi lemak for supper.

Damn that woman, I've been asking for nasi lemak for so long and when I'm not all gung-ho, we go for it. Celaka. So Zal and her very happy (not gay, but cheerful) friend dropped us off so we could have a very unhealthy supper.

Zal damn layans . I lovies Zal . Ended up hanging out with Jemufo a while.

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Thursday night, went with Jemufo again for an event:

PINK: The Annexe @Central Market


Moving a Barbie doll with their toes. Really.

It's been 10 long years, but Queen of Butoh Lena Ang and Taro Dance Theatre, are hitting the Malaysian stage once again with PINK, a Butoh-dance theatre performance that explores some of our current gender stereotypes.


Performers coming out onstage slo-o-o-o-wly....

The work presents snapshots of familiar aspects of our contemporary lives, twisted and contorted through Ang’s unique style of choreography..
Photos of performance available in CM website

My Seven Word Summary: Worth your time, worth the price. Go. It's only showing till Sunday.




Bloggers freebie alert: The producer, Julian, is actually looking for blog publicity for this show, so if you're going and have a blog, you could try informing Front of House (also known as Dudes Selling Tickets at the Entrance) and see if they'll let you in as media. He's friendly, I'm sure FOH won't bite either, just ask.


Kinda reminded me of how Team America (the movie) got away with a lot of scenes cause they didn't use humans and therefore the characters didn't actually have genitals.

I got in for free (couldn't have afforded it otherwise) because tonight is full dress rehearsal, where the performance is like any other night, except they allow photography.


Groin area groping.

Met Chi Too, Effa and Tim there. Chi Too has shiny new object of desire - a medium format camera. I was clicking away when he picked it up to take a photo and I....gawked. In a "motherfucker, since when did you have that?" kinda way. So decked out in techie gadgets. SO FAMOUS. ZOMG, I AM NOT WORTHY. .

TV Smith was there, with his big camera, clicking away. Who knows, may or may not see photos on his site. Had dinner at Bau Bau cafe. Fried mushrooms and noodles.

Insult Banter, #1038510385

Jemufo: Emo lesbian.
Lainie: Feminist.
Jemufo: You're a feminist.
Lainie: Am not. You're emo lesbian. Emolesbian. Emolesbian. Emolesbian.
Jemufo: Feminist.
Lainie: Lesbian.

Can you even tell if we're correcting each other or hurling labels anymore? Jemufo proceeds to inform me she is gay, as if I don't know it. Woman, am I not calling you a feminist lesbian?

If you're viewing this from the main page, there are more photos end of the post, after the break. Or, just click this link.

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Coming up, Friday / Saturday, SHOULD be worth your time, and cheap (info from Kakiseni:

Title: Madu II
Venue: Stor Teater DBP
Bangunan Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka
Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5pm, Sat: 8.30am-1pm
Date & Time: Fri 10 - Sat 11 Aug 2007 (8.30pm, with additional 3.30pm show on Sat)
Tickets: RM25/ RM18 (students)

Madu II is a well-crafted light-hearted yet poignant look at the sensitive and difficult issue of polygamy in modern Malay marriage. The play details the struggle of two women who not only share a husband, but who also live under the same roof.

While their husband is away, both women exchange remarks and curses; and find themselves lost in a game where the instructions need a complete revision.

First staged on 27th November 1998 and later toured to Kuala Lumpur in Jun 2001, Madu II was then presented as part of the double-bill Bulan Madu with Anak Bulan di Kampung Wa’ Hassan.

I must admit seeing that "Alfian Sa'at" is the playwright is the main reason I'm going, and it's a pretty good reason to. I also enjoyed the Kg Wa'Hassan play the last time, so this looks promising enough.

There is a good read in Kakiseni The 60 Second Plug: Teater Ekamatra’s “Madu II” by Zedeck Siew, and it ends with a video of Madu II's rehearsal, which I shall watch soon.

So, I don't know how your week went, but really, there's quite a lot of artsy stuff going on yah.

Right, so have I plagiarised off Kakiseni enough yet? Also, am I getting broker, or are tickets getting pricier? Maybe I just miss the RM5 ticket prices I used to get at Stor.

But yes, I think you ought to go watch Butoh in the Annexe. And, I think you should go watch Madu II in Stor.

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Was supposed to go for a Katagender event tomorrow, but I forgot that I'd already promised my Friday to another friend two weeks before (and yknow, most of my friends have better sense than to make appointments with me that far ahead). Wonder what'll happen tomorrow for KG. Chi Too wants to incorporate the Butoh performance from PINK into whatever it is Katagender is doing.

Right, photos of PINK photos coming up!

(More PINK performance photos here)
I'm procrastinating because I don't want to stop but I don't know what work to do. I owe The Sun an article.

This turned out a bit more mega a time waster than I expected . It's 4.30am and all the housemates except Jerng are awake. And, we have two guests over.

Don't people sleep by 2am anymore?

Written by lainie at 01:31 PM on August 11, 2007 in Music, Links / Email.

The sand animation campaign for "Training" (5th vide in the list) is pretty awesome. After watching the padawan version of drawing Ronald Mcdonald with ketchup and fries on Youtube, this is like, woah. Sand drawings.

A 60 second video done for the Development Bank of Southern Africa by The Agency.



Definitely a lot more stylish than the Nedbank solar powered billboard designed by NETWORK BBDO.

-----

I love Jesse Malin & Bruce Springsteen's duet, Broken Radio.



Right, going out for Madu II soon.

Written by lainie at 03:52 AM on August 13, 2007 in Daily Life, Friends, Arty stuff.

It's almost 3am, and yet again everyone at home seems wide awake. We have a guest here asking why we're all awake. Jerng is claiming to be a college kid who doesn't sleep, Yixing doesn't have a job, and Zedeck has declared that no one sleeps in this house.

--

And yes, dear visitor. The walls are that thin.

--

A good weekend for me implies two things: A late blog update, and the kind of memories that melt from one good time to another. After a while it's difficult to tell which happened first, and I couldn't care.

--

Went to watch a futsal game with some friends, three girls fed on fast food and watching sporty people run after a ball.

As a result of that excursion, I now owe my friend two months of being very very nice to her, in exchange for a favour. Gum on my shoe, and frightening loos, where every girl I saw leaving her cubicle didn't wash her hands after.

We played poker on a pack of cards that has different cocktail recipes on each card, using a makeshift table of palms and thighs.

Got home late.

---

Watched Madu II. Was supposed to meet Tim there but for once it's not my fault I was late. Meesh, Winnie and I left half an hour before the play started, from an appam lunch, took some wrong turnings, and were leaving Bangsar yet again in half an hour. Winnie and Meesh are such close friends there's the kinda good vibe you get from when two people who get along are yelling at each other in a tiny car.


We actually took pics with the cast after the show...It's so geeky, I know.

On the surface, Madu II was about a polygamous marriage - two bereaved wives are awaiting the return of their husband. There's also a few sly remarks about Malaysia-Singapore relationships there (I wonder if they'll ever get along?).

--

Hung out in Bau Bau Cafe in Annexe. Watched some kids on stilts totally upstage the buskers in Central Market (they were part of Jumping Jellybeans).

Met Antares, talked about tea, succulent nymphs, and hanging out at his place in KKB. Grilled him on his past, I doubt we got the full story. Then, the conversation diverted towards topics concerning mysticisms.

Why wait for the body to die to have your spirit explore, right? Might as well do it now.

--

Spent the night at Meesh's with Winnie, watching Pan's Labyrinth, drinking JD, and making another Malaysian blogger in London (at least, I presume it was her) very jealous of our stash of Super Rings and instant noodles. Trust a wandering Malaysian to drool over the use of a webcam video lingering on...select snacks....

If I had a 6 inch fairy that could...yknow. Morph shapes the way the one does in the movie...Well, never mind what I would do, but Winnie would camwhore on Facebook with the fairy!

Had an intense discussion on what Fairy (not the kinky blue one) would do on Facebook. Tag herself in photos. Pout. One fine day, many camera clicks later, Fairy is tired of camwhoring.

There is much humour to find in obscure, hypothetical situations.

--

Distracted Meesh from work today, for which I take partial responsibility. I conked out in her room heaps ages, though I did communicate by talking in my sleep to her. I have no idea what I said, as per all conversations and messages read that do not stick in my memory when I do. They fade away like dreams.
I know it sounds like I'm building up a lot of excuses to say stupid things in my sleep, but I'm not, because I don't remember doing anything that required excusing from anyone. And I'm usually incoherent anyway (or so I've been told).

Had a looooong talk with her over some really yummy Malay food near her place. Had soup tulang, which literally translates into bone soup, but unfortunately becomes "boner soup" in my mind. But that's soup torpedo isn't it?

Meesh is le perceptive of things, and made some guesses through my blog that made me really surprised . I missed the days when no one knew what I was thinking, and all my best friends complain. Then I started the blog and apparently the writing just gives everything away, dammit.

Now the complaints are that people know too much .

--

Some girls owe me a dinner, kinda, because I sold them my permission to ogle a boy in return.

--

I have some things to consider, some new things I want, some old (and not so old) things I am going to discard. All these seem to take more energy than I really wanna spend.

--

Went for a walk in the drizzling rain, which I like - I actually like the rain when I'm not holding expensively printed assignments, or when it soaks right through my clothes and I know I have to walk by a bunch of pervy dudes.

Met Jemufo in a restaurant called HSBC for her dinner. Hot and Spicy Bangsar Cuisine. Pointed out to Jemufo that, heck, the name would work for a strip joint.

Written by lainie at 07:24 PM on August 13, 2007 in Links / Email.

Personally, I think this dude sounds like a total brat, except he's a politician, which makes more like a jerk that gets his views published.

That being said, it was a pleasant surprise to read this non-homophobic article on The Star: Gay pastor leads service, his partner watches with pride.

You know. I believe that if the politicians would stop kinda yelling "RACIST!" everytime some constructive criticism / good points / attempts to create discourse are made, there wouldn't be much of that "inciting racial tensions" crap they are so against anyway.

It just looks like they're trying to scare and bully everybody into taking their side, and it's not impressive at all.

That being said, I literally laughed out loud when I read this on The Star. I should be worried that my first reaction is to giggle when I read quotes from our Prime Minister about the wonderful job everyone (ie: on his political side) is doing.

I mean, we certainly don't have enough billboards around now that Merdeka is coming to let us know that the country is doing a fabulous job.

This is the kinda comments that I know alienates some of you readers. Trust me, I know. But I have a huge cynical side, and to be fair, it's not that hard to see why I say some of the stuff I do..

Written by lainie at 08:15 AM on August 16, 2007.

The Friend. (click for larger image).

Just did a quick colour sketch of this. A lot of pulling beziers to make blocks of colour to make up this pic. Brush for hair.

I'd been at this girl's house earlier on, waiting for our friend who was about to pick us up for dinner. Out of boredom, I sketched her out on Illustrator while she was sitting on a stool. Something about awkward touchpad-mouse drawings that makes it easier for me to do gesture sketches.

I needed to relax, and between another round of Spider Solitaire, and playing around with some vector art, I decided to go for the latter. So I opened up the file and coloured it in. Changed the hairstyle.

It's not actually done, but I prefer it that way. Was a bit of fun and now I...need to sleep.

[update]
--dammit....I just noticed this version has different tonal range for pants and back. I must have accidentally deleted the other layers with those. Oh well. Have replaced the pants part, but I don't have time to do skin too. Ciao.

Written by lainie at 02:45 PM on August 17, 2007.

Briefly read the Kakiseni editorial by Veronica (pang's comment about this issue --bottom of the page-- made me smile). Apparently, someone released a song that caused him and his family to be on the receiving end of threats, of both the physical and legal kind, from the public and government. The dude's public apology has been rejected, investigations into sedition are on the way.

Was wondering what bloody controversial song is this that's getting one dude into so much trouble over the lyrics? Succumbed to the Streisand Effect, and a few nifty clicks later ended up on a relevant page in Youtube.

It's Negarakuku, by "Namewee" or "Meng Chee", whichever.



NIAMAFULAT THIS SONG????? Dude, cmon. I've seen this video before, and what the hell. From what I'd been reading, I had no frickin idea it would be this song.

Talked briefly with Zedeck about it. Apparently the newspapers have mentioned this song, but did not provide translations. So everyone knows some dude out there made a "racist" song, but no one knows what it's about.

Negarakuku (translated by a friend).

Yo yo yo check it out yo (bla bla bla hip hop intro shit)

Negaraku, Negarakuku,

I love my country,
If no country got no family (what? I didn’t say this wasn’t going to be a Manglish translation)
If no family there won’t be me, standing right here
Singing loudly to you,
Don’t be scared,
Even though I keep swearing,
My song is just like a durian,
A little awkward at first,
See if you dare to open it,
And check out the contents (truth) inside,
It could be smelly, it could be fragrant,
Really depends on your nostrils (er, taste? judgment?)

Our police, are called mata,
Because their eyes are so bright,
During Chinese New Year,
they’re very hardworking,
Diligently stopping you, but hardly ever write you a saman,
Because their mouths are dry,
Have to drink tea,
And black coffee, want sweeter or not,
If sweeter, their mouths will be sweeter too,
And as they wave you goodbye they’ll smile and say tata,

Negaraku,
Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku,
Rakyat Hidup (Negaraku, Negarakuku repeat throughout)
Bersatu Dan Maju.

This kind of situation,
Don’t need to be changed,
Don’t need to be enforced,
Police and citizens can work together,
One cup of coffee helps keeps the relationship interesting,
I sibeh (really) like,
At least I won’t go home and find a saman waiting for me,
My dad sure will tulan (angry),
I sure will get in trouble,
No more car for me to drive!

How??
This time sibeh kau lat (deep shit)
No car, how to go out and have fun??
No car, how to attract girls??
No car, how to spot ah kuas (trannies)?

This country, I really like,
Morning 5 o’clock,
Got morning call somemore to wake me up,
Sometimes a few of them sing at the same time,
When listen, sounds like a duet of sorts,
Voice bend here bend there like singing R&B,
Although sometimes sing until out of tune,
Even though sometimes they can sing until voice crack,
Some of their voices sound like cockerels,

Like that only we can wake up,
To go school or go work,
Don’t blame them,
Government will only take care of the bumis,
Don’t blame them,
just because we never receive fair treatment,
Like that only can prove we Chinese are not afraid of hardship,
Like that only can train us to find every possible way out,
Don’t think that their standards are very strange,
Because like that show how great we are,
Children that are not spoilt, are the ones who will not be dependent,
If not you look at some people, until now still need to be breastfed.

Rahmat bahagia,
Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita,
selamat bertakhta. (x2)

People hiding in the government, even greater,
They do what also can take their own sweet time,
Then when outside people lining up until want to scold CCB,
Their moods will still be very carefree,
Sometimes they even take out their kuih,
Then they eat their nyonya kuih,
You people in the queue can carry on lining up,
Until outside people really scold CCB also nevermind,
Because the security guard at the side is daydreaming,
Won’t bite you wan lah.
They go and wrap their heads,
Slowly walk, Slowly cross the road,

You driving, pass by them, still must smile and let them go,
Most importantly, must live happily,
Most importantly, must live comfortably,
Don’t go and learn from the Chinese,
Everyday so busy, sibeh hard life,

This kind of spirit, we really cannot don’t admire, (oo I just realized Mandarin has double negatives as well)
Because that spirit, is their attitude towards life.

This song, I also sing good things only,
I believe those of you who tulan me now must be very happy,
The world is very peaceful, very hopeful,
Nobody is hurt, and there are no riots,
You happy, you high class,
Your shit very nice smell,
You won’t ever swear,
You all most high class, everyday also about romance,
like Michael and Victor
but people also ran off to Taiwan already.

Chinese Independent High School students graduate already,
Want to enter local unis sibeh hard,
Actually in this case all the more we no need to tulan,
This is just one of the government’s many self-sacrificial plans,
They want us to go overseas and fly everywhere,
Try and find our own lifeline,
Then learn many things and come back to our country to repay them for the huge favor,

This plan is really,
Good until I am speechless,
Every country also can see Malaysia’s kina (kids),
Just like refugees, sibeh suang (fun),
2007, Malaysia want to play tourism,
Ask us to bring out all our Chinese culture,
Help with promoting the country,

Chinese Independent High School students? Government don’t care wan,
Can throw the cert in the drain, just like I did,
Graduate from Zhong Hwa then had to go Taiwan,
Learn things already, supposed to come back and repay the country,
I stand on a street here in Taipei holding a guitar,

But when I open my mouth,
I still will sing,

Rahmat bahagia,
Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita,
selamat bertakhta.

This translation was done by a friend when the video first started making its rounds on the internet. Oi, if you want to be cited let me know la yah. You're not online I can't ask you.

What do I think? Not my kinda song (definitely not my choice kinda government either, come to think of it). His views are not unique in this country, which is unfortunate, and especially so when you look at the cause and effects. It gets so damned ethnocentric here sometimes, and the ones I think I hear complaining most about racism, are the ones who reap benefits from it.
Them, and taxi drivers, unless we presume that cabbies are more inclined to share their opinions with random strangers sitting behind them.

So what if he said Negarakuku (kuku = dick, ie: Country Penis, or Country Cuckoo), Merdeka (independence day) is coming. You know there are gonna be a lot of stupid jokes about merdeka soon. Or, Negarakuku can be read as...Negaraku, ku. My Negaraku.

I haven't read the newspaper articles on this, but I will take some guesses on what has happened. I'm gonna guess people are posturing now. Merdeka is coming. What fantastic opportunity to let people know how patriotic, nationalistic, and fiercely defensive you are of all intangible values of a country's honour.

Now use this song as some swaggering platform to proclaim your own flag waving (or if in UMNO, keris brandishing) politics.

[ The Star ] Cabinet rejects apology from Negaraku rapper.

[ Kenny Sia ] Reason Behind The Recent Condemnation Against Bloggers.

Written by lainie at 09:17 PM on August 19, 2007.

Hi. I am looking for a room (not the entire place) for rent, by next month (Sept). If I already know you, and you're looking for a place too, then bell me and we'll see what we can work out?

Preferences: near a train station, KL, PJ, Brickfields area, about RM300.

If you know of anything, hit back here, or at lainieyeoh@gmail.com

Thanks yeah!

--

Sticky entry, newer posts below.

Written by lainie at 12:15 PM on August 20, 2007 in Daily Life.

Met up with some people from Katagender over the weekend - we had some interesting plans, but it turns out the "problem" or "situation" we wanted to fix only largely existed.....in our heads.

Don't you hate when you go out to make a statement and you find the platform never existed? You totally know what I'm talking about, right?

Was asked if I knew what was happening at the meeting, and accused of not reading the emails sent out, as usual (because obviously I had no idea what was going on).

Lainie: To be fair it was in Malay and I don't really understand the language.

Was informed that not only should I understand, as a Malaysian, the Malay language....but that the email was in English. Er.....

...Okay, fine, I have the attention span of a gnat on coke.

I asked Chi if I looked sleepy, because I had been run ragged the past few days, with extremely little sleep. He laughed. I never know if people can tell I'm sleepy, because my natural expression is quite drowsy looking anyway.

So instead I had a caffeinated drink and bought a movie with lesbian characters in them (I'd heard about it before, nothing great, but decided to give it a go anyway).

=====

Went to an all-womens' foam party in Liquid. Skin on skin, with some foam, is a nice feeling. But the foam itself is dodgy looking. My skin itched after that, too sensitive for the harsh chemicals, I suppose. And god knows where the foam has been. Some girls took their tops off and danced around, always welcome. Mostly, the dim lighting helps make everyone look prettier, and the foam comes up to the chest so you can't tell who's a bad dancer.

An announcement came over the P.A. that someone had lost their spectacles.

Skeptical friend: Oh no! There's a blind lesbian somewhere out there!

What fantastic inspiration it must be to suddenly fake lack of eyesight and totally accidentally grab a few boobs here and there. Most of the pretty girls who were there (actually, what pretty girls?) were either models dancing with colleagues, or girls being shown off by their short, pointy haired girlfriends. KA wanted to be showered with attention, since it's her birthday, so wokaaaay, she was .

I stomped the foam off my pants at the top of the staircase, and it hit some spiky, blue-haired baby dyke downstairs. Then went for my favourite post-clubbing supper in KL. Noodles and chicken rice in Petaling Street. Best.

=====

Went for a hotel room party, again KA's birthday party (along with another girl's post-birthday celebrations and my coming out party). A lot of booze, drama, straight men, lesbians, non-lesbians, drinking games and.....er. Worship songs. *shrug*. I never knew how much Assuntarians like to sing songs about Jesus and Christmas till that night. The party was divided into two rooms - on one side, a huge group of us were seated with drinks, playing "I Never Ever". On the other, a group was reminding us of the flames of hell with their joyous renditions of praise songs.

Lola came decked out in what we call her "dyke" clothes, in honour of KA's birthday. The dyke-y shoes she pretends she doesn't own, the dyke-y belt (don't ask me to explain), her rainbow coloured accessories. You know, stuff we see her wear on other days anyway.

We played Never Ever and Lola says she learned way too much about me. I hate that game. Whatever, I bet a bunch of them cheated. Told Jiax that alcohol can turn any straight girl gay. Or at least, at a high enough concentration, turn her blind, which ought to help a lot. Met Fip's girlfriend. Nyehehhhh.

Lola, KA, Clay and I nipped out of the party midway to get some A&W, because Lola wanted a coney dog. We discovered a versatile new word there - ketkap - it works for all situations. Came home to find the partypeople had left the place, so I had a lil coming out party with the three of them. Came out to them, "zomg, I am gay, like you guys had no idea right?".

I mean, the stalkee, the ex's best friend, and the ex's current girlfriend. I'm sure it could not but come as a total surprise.

Got a ride home from Lola, left an extra-gay accessory on her, since it looks better there.

=====

I've been really really tired lately. Period coming, and everytime that happens I turn sluggish and no matter how many hours of continuous sleep I get it feels like one hour short of complete. So I'll sleep another few.

Written by lainie at 02:41 AM on August 22, 2007 in Daily Life.

Was supposed to meet someone for a work presentation today, but that got cancelled because she had an emergency - one of her employees had to be sent to the hospital. So tomorrow is lunch (maybe) and work.

I just realised I don't have much "break" time where I don't do anything, and I'm starting to miss it. I have "break" time where I'm doing stuff, like learning new things or meeting my friends. Or cooking my meals, which I suppose isn't really "break" time per se.

And then I wonder why I never seem to have time to stop.

Tonight was good though. I'd been expecting a night of mundanities unless Lola comes online, when I got a call from Smile past midnight, and was informed that I would be whisked away from home in a few minutes. Always welcome, such enthusiastic company .

She'd come from the Gwen Stefani concert- it'd slipped my mind that it's today. Smile and Tei tell me that No Doubt is cutting a new album together, AND they're gonna be on tour. Heck, I so gotta go if that concert happens here. Cmon, No Doubt. I love em!

Between the two of them I scored good company, free beer and a peppery Ramly burger, so no complaints there. Stopped our car in front of Waterfront park, listened to the radio, chatted, Smile braided Tei's hair and dressed her in a purdy pink ribbon. I told Smile some jokes, but I'm so bad at them that Smile actually corrected me on how they were supposed to go. So not cool of me, I know.

=====

I'm trying to sell my fridge to the landlord, because most of the places I know of, available for rent, already have a fridge. Shall see how that goes.

I walked out of the house today to find our garden has been trimmed again. Our landlord thinks we're breaking his house - a lot of the fixtures here are so old they stopped working when we put them to use. Toilet flushes broke, shower heater went on the blink, lights fused, fans stopped. I mean, does he think we have a screwdriver and we're taking everything apart? Zheng said maybe his contractors had been ripping him off and putting old stuff in everywhere, because how would our landlord know? Technically, the way our contract works, all these wear and tear stuff to do with the house is covered by the landlord, but Zheng mentioned that he was thinking of charging us for...fusing the fan upstairs, outside our room. The one that's not worked for months, anyway.

Anyhow, Jerng decided to end the tenancy a few months early, on the condition that we get our full deposit back. Zedeck is gonna stay with a friend in Brickfields (I think), and the Hwas will be staying in an apartment in Kelana Jaya. I'd found KJ too far away for me (last stop on the LRT line), and it's ironic because now, some of the places I'm looking at are in that area as long as they're near a train station. I have such a soft spot for Williams' food, anyway.

We can barely wait for our landlord to get his "ideal tenants" in. A passive aggressive way to prove our point, I suppose. That we're not doing anything to the house, it's just....his house is old. And acting up the way old homes do.

I have a few options to stay, but yes, I still need a room somewhere.

It's so strange to think that we'll be leaving soon. I've gotten used to having Jemufo as a sounding board -- though she probably thinks I'm somewhat off my rocker by now .

=====

Birthday party tomorrow, followed by dinner with an old friend the next day, and a housecooling party on Friday. It's almost like I have a social life!

We never got round to having our housewarming, so we're gonna have a housecooling instead, a day before the Hwas move out. Friday night. So friends free on a Friday, bring some booze and friends and come on over if you will .

=====

I've been transferring files over to the hard disk I recently acquired second hand off Jerng. Fuckdammit, I deleted a few music albums thinking I had backed them up elsewhere but I was mistaken.

S'okay, I've looked up the torrents again and the rest is a matter of patience.

There's some "new" song I hear every so often, and despite every half-hearted effort to pay it no attention, it's stuck in my mind. Hip hoppish, it's a guy singing nasally about being suicidal over a beautiful girl. My dear, pop-culture-connected readers, save the music heathen. Someone please identify the song / artist so I can download it (better yet, email me the song at lainieyeoh@gmail.com got it, thanks John!).

Written by lainie at 05:02 PM on August 23, 2007 in Daily Life.

Amongst all the Merdeka-themed blogs I've seen, Their Stories: Fifty Refugees is the only one I really like.

I'd gone there expecting some guilt-tripping attempt (and they usually to some extent work on me).

What I got instead were some beautiful photographs, and short stories that gave me a glimpse into their lives, leaving me wondering how I could help. So here's a little start, a plug to the blog, so you can read the collected anecdotes too.

=====

Happy birthday Bernice!
and
Happy birthday Aizat!

If Aizat even knows of this blog . But yeah, two people I met through Cenfad have their birthdays today. I hope it's a celebration.

=====

I'm most likely going to go for the opening of Bebas Lah Malaysia tonight with Zedeck and Annie.

=====

Had freelance deadline yesterday in KLCC, so I presented my work. It was completely shitastic. I don't even want to talk about it. But I do want to work on the solutions (and I have been). The solving problems part is fun. The part where you get presented a problem is less so.

=====

Last night was a small barbeque dinner for Bernice's birthday, at her friend's home. I'd not realised it would be such a small gathering, thought it was some house party at her place. Turned out to be a casual, sit down dinner thing. Bernice made a pretty nice salad, her friends cooked, we almost had a toast pass around the table till Bernice stopped us, and her friend Yati made a toast to her that about said it all.

Met Bernice's friends from her college days, Anton, Ally, Martin (probably spelling all the names wrong here). Bernard was there too, talking about his coming trip to UK. Kam Raslan was talking about exercise and his next book (he's like everywhere now, including OTE, thanks to his book). It sounds funky, what he's up to.

I think Bernard knows more about my family background than I do (I don't know anything about my great-grandfather, but now I know he had some part in tin mining). Wine, talking about people, old Malaya, new art, music, film. Good way to spend the night. Bernice and Bernard can't make it for our housecooling party (in WOMAD music fest Singapore, and Kelantan over the weekend, respectively), pity.

Zedeck was there too, and the youngest in the party. I think the two of us were the only ones still in our twenties. I laughed cause some of Bernice's friends started talking about how they could have a son his age, if they were really young mothers. Ally asked why we were moving out, Zedeck said it was because we hated each other's guts, I said something had to happen before homicide did .

She noticed we both turned red from the wine and asked if we were siblings. I shudder at the thought of a set of parents out there with the ability to create both Zedeck and I. God knows what else might pop out of them?

Eventually a chocolate cake was brought out. We sang her the worst birthday song I've ever heard, it was the kind of terrible (though we eventually picked up on it) that can only be good . Turns out I've had Bernice's age off by a few years all along, and I'll stop there .

Before we went home, Anton put on some music by his band, the album is going to be released in New Zealand soon. I liked the feel of the music. Got a ride home from Bernice. It's interesting how her friends have turned out the way they have - when I look at them I can imagine them back in their college days. Not so different, but so so different, yknow? I wonder about my friends too, how we'll turn out. I don't know what it's like, to decide on a home, a life partner, have children and responsibilities. And I can't imagine it.

Bernice is wonderful. Most encouraging person in the world, she keeps telling me I'll make it someday and have all the things I cannot imagine. And she's gonna watch Youssou N'Dour in Singapore over the weekend

=====

Got home. Chatted online with Lola, played a game of Scrabble as she put together her presentation for a talk she's giving, and I nudged some things around on Illustrator. She bingoed, very appropriately, with the word "Triumphs". And ate up about every triple word score she could.

At 5am, she said it was late, and suggested we both head to bed. A few seconds after that, she clarified that it would be different beds, in different houses, in different part of town, so obviously I had to go cancel the cab I called.

=====

My phone has been acting up lately, which results in Jemufo taking over the role of my alarm clock (complete with snooze button, poor thing), and me not using it much. This in turn means that my phone credit has died because lack of use means I don't have much reason to top up credit.

I needs a new phone. Either that or I need to figure out how to use my alarm clock. Damn thing makes no sense.

=====

Am also applying for internships.
And looking for a room to rent.
And I have a fridge to sell.

And I'm going to start blackmailing Josie if she doesn't make time to hang out with me SOON.....Aiyo woman, I miss you la, clearly an unrequited feeling

..and...whew.

=====

I downloaded Mika's album, and Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits. w00000000000t. I don't care, I like Mika.

Written by lainie at 05:55 PM on August 24, 2007.

Was talking with a friend of mine working for Red. She'd been designing a website for the tv series, KAMI.

KAMI. The TV Series
Check it out!

Was just telling her I find the website funky, and the opening sequence for the video too. Then I bugged her about the typeface used, and the masking tape all over to make the style.

Thought you might wanna check it out too

Party starting soon
House to clean up.
Bring booze if you will.
Ciaos

Written by lainie at 05:49 AM on August 26, 2007.

Watch me pretend to write this post like I'm not having the mother of all hangovers.

=====

Thursday night: The cabbie told me "Let's go, baby", and I actually got in. He got us lost.

My weekly Scrabble night, so my friend and I headed over to the usual cafe where they have a deluxe classic board for dinner. I wasn't allowed to put "Hewn" because Annie said the word didn't exist, and when we called Ding (who was in front of her computer) to check, the dodgy dictionary she was using didn't list that as a word either.

Another person Annie and I resorted to when there was a disagreement over the validity of words was Jemufo. The second time I called her she said one thing upon picking up the phone:

Jemufo: This had better not be about a Scrabble word...

Girl knows me well.

Lainie: Errr.................So. How was your day?
Jemufo: Haha..What is it?

=====

Went for Bebas Lah - Malaysia @ 50 exhibition in Pasar Seni after that. Most of the people there had either just come from, or were going to Ivan Lam's exhibition at Weiling Gallery in Brickfields, but I decided to give that a miss because transportation can be a bitch.

Met Bernice there again, just after her birthday party. Asked her about some work stuff I'd forgotten to. A friend got me some free beer, which I thought was pretty cool of him, even though it meant meeting and greeting people with a bright red face. Quite a lot of conversation pieces in the exhibition. Hishamuddin Rais had a series of portraits like what would happen if Rafidah was Beyonce, Samy Vellu a monk, Mahathir a judge. I liked Liew Kung Yu's work the most there, though I suppose it was easy to since they were the most visually striking.

Was introduced to someone nice who said my name was familiar before he labelled me as an "uber blogger", which I sometimes think sounds like an euphemism for "attention whore", and at other times just for a slew of other descriptions. I think I have blogger hangups. Also saw Snow there. From a few years back, when she interviewed me about graphic design, for some video thing I never saw, till now - her working in Valentine Willie's.
.
Bernice wanted to get me a beer too, but I decided on some pop instead because I didn't want to look drunk on the way home later, taking a train and all that.

=====

Hung out with Lola when I got home slightly before midnight.

She didn't answer my text for a while. I knew she was at karaoke and bet that she was singing to "Leaving on a Jetplane", but it turns out she was doing a rendition of "American Pie".

Ah, corporate life and singing into a big mic with your colleagues - the purpose behind such rituals may be obscure, but hey, sometimes one must do what one's paycheque does not explicitly demand, for the sake of career and free booze.

Went to the mamak for some food and coffee since she hadn't had dinner - she drove down the wrong side of the road so she could get parking. Lola's always good, snarky, company. She seemed pretty relaxed considering she had to give a talk based on her thesis the next afternoon.

She suggested later on that roadsigns come with expiry dates, so clearly all the no entry signs I've seen her ignore were past their use-by dates. I find the fact that she owns a driving license a somewhat dubious example of the efficacy of our driving exams.

====

There's this application on Facebook called "Socialmoth", which is kind of like PostSecret, it allows you to anonymously post secrets on it. She read through a whole string of comments - almost twenty, and immediately picked out the one I had written. Which is of course, le scary. Who needs a stalkee that can do shit like that? Maybe I should start leaving anonymous graffiti all along her route to work or something.

She came back to our place to chat for a lil while with me and Jemufo. She actually told her mom she was going back to the home of "Lainie Yeoh, from Ipoh", even as I was vigorously making "NO NO NO" gestures. Let's just say I occasionally perve on the woman and I'm pretty sure that some of her family members know this. Turns out I was more paranoid than she was about such lil details.

She counted that night as "attendance" for my farewell house party on the next night, which makes her the first person in the party! Or the pre-party.

=====

Worked.

Watched Jane Campion's Sweetie. She's more than competent (and for a film student, very easy to write about since her films are kinda heavy on the film theories), but her penchant for building up tension with irritating characters is something I am not willing to put up with in her films, feature or short.

Worked.

Worked.

=====

Moving out means exchanging music with the housemates. Got some stuff off Jemufo and Zedeck. Put my MP3s in Jemufo's external hard disk. I don't even know where I'm gonna find the time to go through all this music.

=====

Shamshahrin's firework photos makes me consider going to Putrajaya (not that it'll actually happen unless someone puts me in their car and drives in that direction).

======

Friday. Woke up, probably did something but I can't remember what. Work related, no doubt. Ah yes. I went to Valentine Willie's Selamat Datang Ke Malaysia exhibition, which I liked. I also followed Vincent Leong's video thing which showed people running around the room. I shuffled along accordingly, and then spun round the room following the image till I got a bit dizzy.

Met Jemufo and Jerng in the supermarket and bought a whole load of mixers for alcoholic drinks.

Had the house farewell party later - though before that, Annie came over to listen to some music and hang out at my place. Scored the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack off her. We went for dinner and met Annu and CS. I know quite a lot of Annu's juniors in school, and CS and I talked about poker. Turns out the poker games I've been playing have different names.

Got seriously held up over dinner, almost an hour more than I'd planned to. Ran off to get alcohol, but the stores were closed. Guests on the way to my house party actually drove by me as I was crossing the road. Yes, I was late for my own house party - to be fair, I'm not so good at this organising shite.,

Tei and Smile ended up buying beers from 7-11 instead, Grace and Winnie picked us up and dropped us off home, before I sent the dear two people with a car out as my party minions to go get alcohol from Brickfields. As they drove off, I walked up the slope to my house apologising to my friends who were there early - some by an hour, at the party I invited them to. I felt kinda bad about that.

Fip was there with her girlfriend. I'd had a kinda "conversation" with her girlfriend the last time we met, about how I kinda did a Bobbitt to Fip. Heh heh heh. There was no alcohol at our place until the drinks started being brought in by darlings.

Winnie got some alcohol, one of which included a bottle of whiskey where she asked the salesman if it'd kill anyone to drink it, he said that the worst thing that could happen is you'd probably wake up two days after, and she thought it was a fantastic deal and purchased it.

Farid came over and I was so glad to see him. I miss the boy when I don't see him for a while. Some of the other people there were (the list so I can remember if I ever look this up again, I didn't have any photos from that night): Pelukismelukis, Tim, Amir Muhammad, Ding + Amri, Rahmat Haron, Maria a+ Ch, Kat, Shanon Shah, Ben McKay, Danny, KA, Sonia Randhawa, Toni Kassim, Am, Lou, Edouardo, etc.

I don't know Lou much, and there was an awkward moment when Ding asked if I remembered her and a few people were staring at me, and I thought I was in trouble for forgetting someone I shouldn't have. Turns out Lou also pointed a video camera at me at some point (you know, I've never seen any of the film stuff I've been in).

I'd been asked to talk about...something.... for some documentary she did, and my face is being screened in.......Er. Pakistan? Baghdad? Mexico? Er. Clearly I have no idea. Somewhere that isn't Malaysia *gestures vaguely*. Clearly I don't even remember what the documentary was about, much less what I said. To be fair, I'd been drinking quite a bit by then.

I just remember feeling really shy and nearly running away before she'd stopped filming me. And suddenly, she turns up at my house party! Wonder who invited her...Must be Jemufo. Didn't know they knew each other. She says she'll pass on a copy of the documentary to me. I don't know, so I can relive the horror through video . Pretty nice of her though, considering she didn't have to.

My immediate circle of friends left pretty early - they all live in the same area. Pity, cause more people came over after that, and the drinks went around, the drinking games began. Zedeck made some stupid rule where everytime someone had to drink, the person on the left had to as well. Except we were sitting in a circle, and had by then drank the logic out of our minds, so it was like a Mexican wave of alcohol drinking. Not everyone played though, particularly the Muslims, since it's non halal and all that, so I think they watched in amusement.

I had a lot to drink cause at one point Tim's colleague kept getting these cards where he could make people drink and he was targetting me. Eventually the party dispersed. I accidentally got a burn on my middle right finger (it's blistering today, owowow), Toni will probably have a similiar one on her foot from cinders on the ground. I realised that with Sonia's farewell is coming up next week, I'd see a lot of the people in my house, at her place, soon.

Thanks to all the people who came, it was a fun night

=====

At close to dawn, I was already back in front of my computer, blearily staring at the screen as I nudged typographic elements into place and kerned titles. Zedeck was doing something on his computer too. Working high is alright, working drunk kinda sucks, and I was by then bridging the spot between "Wasted" and "Waking Hungover". Ben (of Ben's Bitches) was online at that hour writing punk songs, and he sent me some of them.

I read the shortest one (to match the span of my attention for emails). It has like....5 words in them, and is mostly cussing. Shortest song, evarrrrrr. Then I got too sleepy and had a crappy dream where I heard all the traffic outside, and dreamt that I had a headache. Woke up in the morning and worked some more. Woke up in two hours. Bleh.

Walked downstairs to find a dude passed out on our couch. And the few stragglers who didn't make it home at night. Had a laugh cause my friend was thanking her Christian upbringing that she kept straightedge (to severely strain the term) for the night. We told her we jumped her unconscious body.

Made the guests in the house some coffee, had a cup myself. Then did more work. By afternoon, I headed down to KLCC, and found myself peeling avocadoes (which I did not appreciate having to do) as a part of doing the creative direction for food photography session. One leg kick, man. I'm really too impatient to do something like this, I think a large part of me expects people I work with to do certain things, like automagically develop telepathy skills.

I was PMSing, tired, groggy, hungover, and aggravated by a few factors. Also, I was standing on my feet for almost 5 hours, doing tedious shot after reshot after reshot.
Was offered a free dinner, but declined, would rather get home to rest.


=====

Cabbie thinks I'm an idiot because I told him to take the "next turning on the right", and he interpreted that as "turn into oncoming traffic from the other lane on the same road".A moment of panic later, my thoughts were that he should consider other job options.

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Got some OTAI burgers, which I had been whining for for too long. Zheng and his mother had been having a heated discussion on religious institutions, but I think I kinda distracted him because he looked at me and started laughing - I'd been caressing the burger. Dude, I've been looking for it for months.

Sat around eating OTAI burgers with Jemufo, Zheng and their mom, talking / debating / comparing Plato, Nietzsche, Foucault, ideals, crutches, predeterminism, fallacies of appealing to authority, and the party last night.

Lainie: If you want change, sometimes the best way is to start the effort yourself.

[ Pause ]

Lainie: *gasps and point at Jemufo* OMG THAT SOUNDED SO ACTIVIST! YOU'VE BRAINWASHED ME!

Bloody civil activist feminist lesbian whatnot housemate.

Lola popped over midway to say hi, ended up going out with her to the nearest fast food joint to get her some dinner before she headed off to another two parties. Told her how the rest of the houseparty went. She said people were actually interested enough to ask questions about her thesis (heheheh poor girl).

I told her about the cheap liquor at the party, she told me about 95% proof alcohol she got in Italy that came with "Caution: flammable" labels. I think she's been drinking floor paint over there, she just didn't know.

=====

Lola dropped me off at BSC after her dinner, where I took a cab to Plaza Mont Kiara to meet Nessa. As the cab passes the traffic lights, I read her message telling me she's in BSC, having dinner. Fuckdammit.

Went early instead, and met Anne (another Scrabble mate), Ding, Ta and their friends - there were some performances there tonight as part of a jazz festival. Open air, free, ASEANA percussions. I think my favourite part of that night was watching the girl perform.

At one point, Alb thought it okay to come over to where I was sitting with a bunch of people, stand in front of me, act all awkward averting his eyes, and proceeded to loudly question

Alb: Lainie, HOW can you wear THAT?

Well, hello to you too.

It was a black tshirt, and apparently because it has a doodle of a stickman with hand splayed splashed across the front, and is tight, I have no business wearing anything like because it lets people know I have boobs. Right.

Come over and tell me what I can or cannot wear because my boobs being obvious and big suddenly means you cannot look at my face when you talk, because you have to look elsewhere? How about you just don't come over and talk to me then?

.......Because of all the fucking ...OBNOXIOUS...fucking ego.

I must admit my patience was severely strained. After he kept continuing on about my clothes, I told him to stop talking before I got too pissed at him, because he just kept going on and on about how my top was inappropriate, beating around the bush about why I shouldn't wear it, even though I think it was kinda obvious I was getting pissed off.

I may have been ...somewhat....smiling, but not all my smiling faces are friendly, and I doubt the one I had at that moment would have further encouraged anyone.

Finally, at one point,

Alb: Lainie, please don't suffocate me!

[ Implying, with my boobs ]

Lainie: Oh trust me Alb. So. BLOODY. UNLIKELY.. To EVER happen. ESPECIALLY right now.

I swear if it wasn't because I've been subject to other weird conversations with you, Alb, and because it seems like I'd be bullying you, I would have physically assaulted you for all that harassment.

He left after rubbing his chest over my friend's face, probably making some remarks about my boobs I couldn't hear (though I can guess because I heard my friend's reply).
.
I don't need conversations about what you think anyone should or should not wear, and I definitely don't need any of your opinoins on what you think I should do, about anything. What am I, a fricking Gwen Stefani concert and you fricking PAS?

Until you're inclined to talk to me like we're both regular people, don't. Yknow. I wasn't even going to write about this because I understand that the majority of people who read my blog are more inclined to take my side, which tends to make it unfair when I write about things I dislike or make public some scenarios, but this? Pfft.

I don't even want to hear the explanation, if you're so inclined, or if there is even one. I don't care if it was real, if there were 200 candid cameras about, if you were drunk, or I'm oversensitive, whatever. No.

Nessa joined me eventually, and met my friends. She was telling us about work. And she always assumes I know everything, even when I say I don't. I think I have this skeptical look on my face - I don't mean so much to be skeptical, just bracing myself for the sheer magnitude of how overwhelming the things she and Daph says can be. Her hair is so long now.

Ding said she'd seen Nessa's photos on my blog (cause I asked her how she knew Nessa and Daph were sisters).

Nessa: Does that mean you've seen my ass?

Ah well, such is life. Nessa filled me in on stories from work. She's been finding trippy bugs, picking up poisonous snakes from cave floors (no survival instincts, this one), saving drowning kids, climbing, paddleing, and whatnot.

I almost got her to dance the funky chicken by pretending not to know what it was about, but she cottoned on. Ah, but a few years of training, and she now knows better. We talked about Daph, and how she cracks us up because she has no idea how to attach files on email or burn cds properly - so I have emails from Daph telling me about some awesome new song she loves, commanding me to download the file she attached (there will be no file....).

Ben eventually joined us. He seems quieter nowadays. After the show Nessa and I went over to the production crew for the event, and volunteered to pop the balloons on display for them instead. Lots of very full balloons, one blade between us, POPPOPPOPPOP. Twas fun.

We went for mamak after that and talked a bit, then Ben dropped us off home and here I am blogging. Meeting Nessa again tomorrow, after her mom's race, and her treasure hunt thing.

Ooooh my head.. The party was really fun, but the alcohol after effects, combined with lack of sleep, are doing my head in.

Written by lainie at 07:01 PM on August 27, 2007 in Daily Life, Friends.

Nessa and I met KA for dinner last night:

Lainie: Hey, yknow, this afternoon I bumped into a friend of mine, Josie. Have you seen Josie before?
KA: Lains. I was there when you met Josie. Remember?
Lainie: Oh.

[ Pause ]

Lainie: I have a really bad memory sometimes.
KA: Yeah?

I'd gone for lunch with KA, whoops. She wanted to meet at " our usual banana leaf place", but since I had no idea what the hell she was talking about, she had to come pick me up. After that, we had ice cream.

Later on we bummed at her place because I got a copy of this Mandarin language movie, Spider Lilies, about the relationship between a tattoo artist and a webcam girl, and the dismal male characters that surround them. Watching movies with tattoos makes me want to get tattoos.

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Also met Suanie and a bunch of other bloggers at a meetup (photo of me there looking cross-eyed), because Kenny Ng is leaving for Dubai soon.

I was the youngest one there, and asides from Suan, surrounded by guys checking out girls . My kungfu not as advanced as them, they'd spot the girl and by the time I turn around, she'd have moved out of sight.

Then Suan took me to see KY Speaks' house because there's a room available for rent there.

Me, live with another blogger?

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Nessa stayed over. I have a single mattress on the floor (never got around to moving my bed from KL over). Every so often we'd disappoint each other by waking up and I'd realise she's not some pillow / shag buddy, and she'll realise I'm not some hot man holding her.

Ah well. Such is life.

Walked around Brickfields today with her, looking for places to stay. I found some, but I don't think I can live in that area after all. It's so sleazy I'm not sure my girl friends will be comfortable there. Got perved on and hassled pretty much every 20 seconds, on every road we walked on.

Went to Weiling Gallery for After all these years exhibition, cause I also wanted to show Nessa the place. It looks a lot like my old house.

Then we came home and bummed out listening to indie music, and talked with Jemufo about the people we know. Convinced Sa to stay over another night.

Written by lainie at 11:33 PM on August 28, 2007.

People and those who barely qualify for the species;

My internet connection, starting today, has been cut off. Was not expecting this, so apologies in advance to those who need to reach me.

Call if you want to contact me

I will be back when I have accomodation, and internet access.