Alphabets

mac brigade

I have done it; I bit the bullet; I went out and got myself a Macbook woohoo.

For some mad days I seriously contemplated going for the air but then sanity prevailed when I was at the shop. Given that I need the machine for home use and will have to lug my office laptop for work trips and unlikely to be moving around for the next 3 months at least - it did not make sense to get something so thin, light and mobile AND so $$$. Never mind the stylish factor nor the fact that I had planned to walk round with it in an internal office envelope. Heh.

Still, I am LOVING my macbook and like Tonto am now a true member of the Mac Brigade.

haiku from ganching

Ganching aka Haiku maestro has written a haiku for me - how thrilling!

Keep the Change(s)

Been spending 12 hrs daily at work trying to find my feet and prove my worth;  some days are harder than others. yesterday in a concall of more than a dozen, a veteran lunged for my jugular. I jumped back and tried to maintain my position, then surreptitiously tried to gain steps whilst the vet lashed around.  Then someone breathed heavily into the call and the vet tottered. Whilst everyone got distracted by the sudden wobble, I took the chance and peed all corners, marking my place: this is my territory buddy.  I am not sure if it worked, but at least I felt better afterwards.  today I find out who the heavy breather was and why they did it. They didnt think it was 'nice' nor appropriate that i was picked on and thought that the attack should be carried out (if at all) offline.  Somehow, it makes me happy to know that i have an ally in a strange new place - I cannot help but smile.

I also could not help but smile when i saw 2 polar bears mooching in the snow on the bbc.  Never mind that its shown at the back of a report on the impact of global warming. Shame. Still, there is just something about those bears that just make me go ha-ha sweet. Rather than the  oh theyre cute but they make me feel oh so sad panda bears.

I dyed my hair dark 3 weeks ago. After 10 years(?) of mostly colour,  I felt like going back to my roots. its black, black now.  i have tried this 4 years ago, but it didnt last. within 2 weeks i was back to being blue+black, then red+black, then red, then auburn and slowly a rich brown, with blonde highlights, later highlights AND lowlights. I am not sure if I like this black black hair but have given myself at least 6 months to stick with it .

Also got my hair cut short. not short short. but short enough that can and will be described as 'that woman with shortish hair' from now on. Again I am not sure if I like it.  However, unlike my hair colour I have no choice. I have to stick to it for at least 6 months until/if it grows .

SFM returns on sunday morning.  He's been away for a month and a bit.  It'll be strange to be able to speak to him face to face after all these weeks of mostly texting  (he has not been anywhere near a landline past 2 weeks and he has had erratic signals on his moby where he has been).  I fear my words will come out out all staccato-ed and abbreviated:

" Gr8 2cu babes. trip n flite back ok? Mum sttled in alrite? hav missd u xx"

style doyenne's six words

Remember the six memoir contest that i blogged about in a post called succint stories?

Well this morning, the eponymous Style Doyenne received an email from SMITH magazine informing her that her entry has been chosen as one of their favourites. Further that her entry will be included in their soon to be published QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: And Other Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure.

Woohoo.  How exciting! Style Doyenne is not a Doyenne of Style for nofink!

In case anyone missed it, entries submitted by Style Doyenne are printed below:

• Swimmers ... sunglasses ... sunblock ... snorkel ... sudoku. Check.
• Oh to have just one puff!

succint stories

found a cool competition through freakanomics blog. 

the six word memoir contest  has already got some great entries by writers of note, including margaret atwood - "longed for him. got him. shit."

it also showcases hemingway's famous short story - "for sale: baby shoes, never used".

there are some hilarious ones in the collection. just makes you think how powerful six words can be.

i posted my entry this morning   

At six, Sven ate nine tents. 

had  fun crafting it.

give it a go and dont forget to leave a note here once you have done it.

blogs are funny like that

there is a certain comfort about being anonymous in cyberspace.  virtually unknown (in the true sense of the word), one is able to write raw,  spill one's guts out and spew as much as one desired.

religion, politics and matters of the heart (and body). without fear of being uncovered.

the (s)hits arrive;

as words increase, the mystery unravels.

and as the pix gets posted (on linked blogs first and then as resistance fades, ones own) identity is revealed.

emails zap through from near and far. aaaaah we know you.

from those old school days.  college years. uni time (werent you the one who lay drunk as a skunk under the rose bush for days?)

work place (eeks dont dooce me!) .

mixed feelings:

pleased that the blog is being read by many, concerned that judged by a plenty.

self censorship creeps in. yikesa.

and as familiarity grows, so does the desire to delete and run, to another blog. with another name.  a different design. a revamped identity. just like that gawky teenager whos just had her oppressive braces removed - teeth straightened, a haircut the next day, change of outfit and a brand new persona to follow afterwards.

however even in the new gear, the tic and mannerims follow. the accents and nuances.  his(and her)story remains the same. baggage is as it was before.

not much point in deletion and starting a new.

for better for worst, alphabets it remains.

being independent

The country celebrates its 48th year of being in a state of merdeka  ( independent) today.   People are positive and happy about it, not just because it means that the country's worker bees get a day off from work and toil, but also because everyone is generally pleased that Malaysia- the country is independent and free from the colonial powers that ruled from afar.

Oh how long it took to wrestle control and gain autonomy for ourselves. 446 years to be exact.

Those who have lived at least half a decade, reminisce amongst themselves about the G&T swilling gwai-lohs and the invading japanese who ruled the roost back in those days;  sometimes  the conversation turns also onto those communists and their subterfuging ways.  How hard the country folks fought for its independence; how  unappreciated it is by the young ones who take the free state for granted. 

The older the folks, the harder the nods.

The young ones shake their head in disagreement -

No, we say, we feel strongly for 'merdeka' too. We may not have been there when the annoucement was made in the square (which is now marked to be demolished)  but we care.

Honest.

Its not just the fireworks; nor the heartfelt speeches on the radio/tele; nor the columns of words in the printed/electronic press that make us feel patriotic and celebratory.

it is the idea that the country is indeed free, to self govern and decide on its fate.

we cherish what was obtained in 1957 and will ensure that the freedom, the independence remains with us for a long, long, loooooooooooong time.

xxx

We do this by ensuring  that there is fair and equitable governance system.  we think with our heads and minds, independently; unprejudiced; and uninfluenced by self interest and greed.

We do not rely on external forces to dictate on how and why we should run ourselves.  Like brown envelopes.  Or pink forms.

We know that money and power are not our masters to be obeyed at whim.

We recognise that palatial palaces and phallic buildings are not our measurement of success, nor are are they our fora for having challenging/constructive Q&A sessions and rationalised debates.

xxx

We are independent:  we assume accountability over the stewardship of this nation and thus take on the responsbility of running the country on to ourselves in a clear and transparent manner;

We whistle blow on  law enforcers who live on bribes and takes;

We pressure the governing authority to amply reward those who carry out public duties. so that they can afford to live decently and not rely on side incomes derived from traffic rules transgressors and other offenders.

We provide all school  children with  a sound, broad-based education system. sciences, humanities and the arts. so they grow up to appreciate amongst others - the discipline of nature; the history of gravity; and the beauty of formulas. We emphasise on civic and community living skills so that everyone learns how to share and respect each other's property, ideology, time and space.

xxx

We  divest these chips on our shoulders, relating to the ruling interlopers of the past, on the wayside - (the baggage  slows us down).

We stride forward,  using history lessons as aiding equipments to sidestep potholes and forge ahead without turning back;

We learn to embrace changes; by recognising the developments that have taken place and diversity in culture and using that to our advantage as a nation;

We engage the disenfranchised;  we  lead those marginalised onto centre stage. 

We channel our resources towards eradicating poverty and intravenously feed those  malnourished.

We ensure our health care covers everyone deserving of it.  everyone. deserves. it

All that while, we keep our eyes peeled on the edict addicts.

To ensure there are no insidious insiders in power, operating the system for their own deep pockets. 

To stop those who climb to the top of the pyramid by stamping on  the masses below and  or those wo get there by providing handouts and sweetmeats to those unable and unwilling to say no.

xxx

We do all of this because we care and because independence is not an intangible idea.

BEcause we know and rcognise that independence is not vague concept to be taken out, bandied about and exhibited annually on 31st August, just like the  yearly fireworks display over KLCC.

It is  much more than that.

It is  central to our existence.

Independence is continous and  is a constant state of being.

Not just to be treasured but nurtured, so that it continues to be.

Happy Merdeka Malaysia

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a thought

This came with yesterday's a-word-a-day subscription:

The less justified a man is in claiming excellence for his own self, the more ready he is to claim all excellence for his nation, his religion, his race or his holy cause. A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business.

-Eric Hoffer, philosopher and author (1902-1983)

I really like it.

happy birthday S

I had planned to write a special entry for my good friend S but somehow have not found a quiet moment to do so - its been another manic monday and i am again drowning in documents. So instead of typing new words, i have decided to cut and paste an old email trailings between me, L and S in May 2005 (as S was about to embark in her trip to NYC and the Dominican Republic)and add on some comments afterwards.

These trailings never fail to make me chuckle.

--- Rara Avis wrote: ____________________________________

> Hello Dearest L

> Follow up to my previous emails re: my good mate S's

> upcoming trip to NYC. she leaves KL next tuesday and will arrive there on Wednesday the 8th.

Would be SUPER if you are able to help out as per our emails. I reckon that the best would be if she was able to stay in manhattan for 2 days and spend the rest of the time in brooklyn. Would appreciate it if you ould put things in motion ! Thanks sweetie.

> Am c.cing her in this email so that you would be able to get in touch

> with her directly too >

> Muchos gracias for the help amigo

> > besos > > _____________________________________________________________________ -----

Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

Von: L

Gesendet: Freitag, 3. Juni 2005 14:47

An: Rara Avis

Cc: S

Betreff: Re: My friend S

Hello ladies, I just got to san francisco 2 hours ago...dead tired, will call some of my friends in NY tomorrow and should be able to set something up!

S- can you pls drop me an email with a little self introduction, I'd like to tell my friends more about you!

ciao L

_________________________________________________________________ -----

Original Message-----

From: S

Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 3:35 PM

To: L, Rara Avis

Subject: AW: My friend S

Hi L, thank you very much for your reply. Your help is highly appreciated!!! Ok, who am I: I'm German, 30 years old. I live in Malaysia since 5 years, working as Commercial Manager for South East Asia for a company closely connected to xxxx. Through my travels I have a lot of bonus miles, some of them will expire soon. Therefore I took some days off to fly to New York.

Even though my job requires me to travel a lot, I have never been to America before, therefore I wanted to use these bonus miles to visit this exciting city. Don't know, what more could be interesting for your friends to know about me...no clue...but you can tell them that I'm a totally independent traveller, I will not need any babysitting, permanent recommendations, etc. I would arrive on the 8th of June and I will leave New York on the 13th in the morning. Thanks again for your help!

S _____________________________________________________________________________

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

Von: Rara Avis

Gesendet: Freitag, 3. Juni 2005 18:12

An: L Cc: S Betreff:

RE: My friend S

L doll

I must add to that description S is a delightful creature with flaming red kinks for her hair.

twinkling eyes and a very *dreadful dead pan sense of humour - we love!

she is as independent as she is adventurous and crazy. she climbed gunung tahan with a gaggle of men to accompany the only other woman in the week long trek in the wilds of nature. although she had had enough of it after 3 days she continued the journey as she knew turning back would mean that the others would have to as well - and that would have been a disaster and the rest had saved for a year to do the climb.

Mad for board games, she indulges in taboo and a card game called ligretto with some her friends like rara avis, azuredec, tonto till the hours of the morning.

S has lived in Malaysia for the last 5 years and about 2 of those she spent in thailand where half her work is. she knows the flight attendants on sight now and they probably already know that she is a coca cola addict who doesnt take meat.

apart from working on commercial management projects, S is also very interested in arts and literature. she knows as much about malaysian painters as she does german writers. having grown up in a little town on the border of germany and france, her french is impeccable.

her malay is good (boleh tahan) and her english, we put up with. (hee hee)

her rucksack is feeling the stirring of another bout of wanderlust after being inert for 2 weeks post the trip around europe. recently it whispered to her that the time is ripe for a trip to the big apple.

tell them she's a riot

love

RA __________________________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----

From: S

Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 6:25 PM

To: RA

Subject: AW:  My friend S

I thought you are busy working my friend? :)

Well, obviously enough time to fill in other people about who I really am. Tried to cover it as good as possible, but you spoiled the game ;)

Thank you for the email.

Thank you for making me laugh.

Thank you for being my friend.

Thank you for being such a lovely and wonderful person.

Love

S _________________________________________________________________________

No my dear S,

Thank you for your company, your friendship, the wicked sense of humour and not to forget your eccentric and neurotic behaviour - hehe you make me feel not alone.

Thank you for your support, confidence in me , generousity and love.

Thank you for making me laugh in hysterics and for laughing at (not with) me and my antics. I am glad that although I take myself seriously, not everyone does ; )

I dont think I could have covered your wonderful personality even if I tried. and trust me sometimes i do try (so that dont have to share you and the saturday salad with other friends!)

Happy Birthday, love I hope you have a lovely time celebrating the special day. Thinking of you and wishing you all the happiness, joy and sunshine (no haze) the world has to offer.

Lots of Love

Your friend, R.A

words buzzing around

...locomotive in world growth

burden sharing...

moving towards the conclusion of...

...actions as a global community

goes in a more flexible ...

...contribution to a world solution

impact on mortality and economic sense..

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Today Alphabet celebrate it's first birthday!

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