E: Happy Leapy Day!

Today I had dinner with the twelve of the current SUAC members at Sushi Zanmai. There was so much going on, and at one point in time, there came a short reminiscence of the past; the first Animangaki crew members at the same place and table, laughing their hearts out and talking loudly with no care for others. I missed that bit of moment so much and I realized HibikiT shared the same sentiments as I do. He took my hands and lightly pressed on it. But time swallowed that memory and severed that connection as we all slowly walked on separate paths to find our own perfect ending.

Still,
Vonnie S.

Q: He tries to play with fire without knowing the consequences.

I came back home exhausted and my eyes were pulsating with mad skills for fifteen minutes upon my arrival. KrugerL had just dropped me off with his Myvi (in which I noticed a twin of Kuro) and already my neighborhood has dimmed to sleep. This cloudy night at three in the morning was peaceful and a listless stray dog was seen piqued with curiosity at the wandering car invading her territory. She hustled about, staying two meters away from the vehicle, avoiding attention but I managed a glance as she disappeared underneath JasonL’s car again.

A good portion of the day today was spent at two malls; Pavilion and IOI, and with two WMU alumni companies, Ika and Kruger (actually he only joined in at IOI). It was a nice day because I need not drive at all. Mom dropped me off at the lagoon club early in the morning. By lunch, Ika came to collect me in her maroon Proton Inspira to Pavilion. And you dedicated readers may have been aware that Kruger brought me home. Yup, this is what I deem to be “getting around like a boss.”

So, Ika saw this advert in the newspaper about a Japanese fair at Pavilion and she was all excited to get me going together to see this event. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much to get all hype over because the booths readily available at the center court merely looked like an inferior copy of Tokyo Street. We had more stuffs to awe at TS itself, and that saved the journey for us. We had Godiva for tea (Ika’s beloved time of the day) with chocolate cake and whatdya know, tea. Somberly patting myself on the back as a reminder, while I indulge the richness of sugary goodness, to add more swimming laps the next day.

Then we jammed a good deal of time from KL to Puchong; with Ika freaking out on water works (bladder term you know what I mean) and we stopped at Shell station. Everyone on that road was heading home for dinner and we were doing the same, except we’re heading to IOI to meet K-man for Kiku Zakura. We had our pockets eased too because Kruger bought our dinner and mamak (yes, we hung out at Pelita because KZ was closing). Thank you, uncle! And we had a great time, talking. That’s mainly K-man’s hobby anyway.

Gotta find me a strawberry rainbow.
Vonnie S.

Q: What if he spills water on you?

It got a little frustrating knowing that we have a box stuck with the custom today. This day was just riddled with thoughts about potential tax, handling fees, and losing the stocks. What I don’t quite understand is why in South China Sea did our EMS package had to be delayed. Moreover, the items aren’t much to shout about, at least something that shouldn’t have caught their attention due to the nature of its target consumers and quantity. So I did what one would deem necessary in this scenario – rang up Pos Malaysia to inquire about this matter. Look, they wanted a surcharge of 50 ringgit to ship the package from LCCT custom to a post office near my home on top of the taxes. That’s fine, but what’s not helping was the difficulty in reaching for assistance. We needed answers fast. I was required to leave a voice mail. The heck!

Anyway, I gave them a call in the morning and it seems that the package is on its way. What an upset, I would have to pay a whopping 160 ringgit in total. *sigh* For now, I'm going to be fine with everything just as long as I see the batang hidung of my packages by the end of next week.

It's all the GE's fault...
Vonnie S.

Q: Are you afraid she will scold you?

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

-Plato
Credits to sanguisGelidus (c) Can I sleep IN your bed tonight?

Q: Dolphin, please?

Draw me a lover's bridge. You'd like that. Color it over with Buncho paints like a real Picasso artist. Transform it into a living connection. Barter it for a white machine and then, let me know who you choose to hang on to. I hope they taste of summer strawberries and honey bees.

Are you always busy?
Vonnie S.

Q: Eh, I really don't like this ciku lah...

The sun rays are not so merciful
in this vacant space of the dry kitchen.
They stood hovering above your thoughts like
how you stood below mine as my shadow
lingers on those words. Who knocks on
your door today? No one comes galloping
to your side. Mine
ran away as I slept countless dreams because
its instinct is right and its legs are strong.
Breathe the rain on your face
and you'll be reminded of whimsical
old times, perhaps my name as
the earth dries from the wet.

Clean-shaven garden,
Vonnie S.

Q: And I was like, woah he's not hot.

I betcha Ah Boo misses Ah Bee who's in the US right now chilling in the midst of the snows. If dinosaurs exist today, I wonder which would mom let me keep as a pet? I'd have a Triceratops any day!


I heard that Jesus had a pet dinosaur. Evolution must be a myth then.


- John Bacon

Rwarrr,
Vonnie S.
Credits to Apofiss (c) mini dino

Q: You liar! Eeee shame shame!

By golly, a stray dog was tailing mom and I during our morning walk today. Strangely, I had met the poor creature once yesterday at a hawker stall down the street and even recalled my lunch kaki, ClarisseF said he's eating the chicken bone, kesian leh. No no Clarisse, you were sadly mistaken. Sure, he's kesian because he was abandoned by some feckless owner but he wasn't eating chicken bone. He was helping me finish the one piece of chicken breast I fail to gnaw through and so, his puppy eyes told me to have a heart and share, which I did and it resulted to a good deed done and me (well, now you too) knowing about Clarisse's blindness to details. I keed, she's awesome.

The black-white spotted canine followed us from our house entrance all the way to the little hill that we climb, occasionally running ahead of us to stop and look back, as though we were his sheep. I beg your pardon, did I just said I am a sheep? Ah, never mind. Besides, mom made a mistake of greeting the dog, her usual playful tone as she speaks to all creatures great and small, and he became a fan. Possibly thinking we may take him in, or he may simply wanted a meal and a bath. Perhaps it wasn't my mother's fault, for he may have recognized me from yesterday, oh the horror.

But then again, I don't mind the extra company. It made a pretty eye-catching show too because other joggers thought he was ours. Alas, we had to split because his tummy guided him to the mamak restaurant nearby.

Oh yes, I think he looked like this:

I keed!
Vonnie S.

Q: Ooo...lidat now la!

Mom is bobbing her head to Taylor Swift’s Mean. I’ve recently removed the Jay Chou CD my brother carelessly left inside my Myvi’s music player, and to my mother’s delight, I cleaned Kuro too for the first time in two years. I’d been procrastinating about giving the car his (yes, it’s a male) bath, but the weather was pleasantly warm and I wanted him spotless if we’re driving to have ulam for lunch later. Don’t want to give those carwash people a reason to hassle me for Kuro. Besides, mom is bringing him out after that for a yamcha session with her friend. What better timing for more compliments.

This song is very nice to hear, she said not knowing what the content of Mean really is about, but mom finds it catchy and that matters above the rest. It is official, mom likes Taylor Swift. My friends especially find it cute that my mom is updated, commenting that auntie is very the “in”, particularly with the K-wave she’s riding. By K-wave, I really mean Korean drama. You should see how she discusses them with the rest of the aunties. Nonono, this one more lengzhai lah. He got baby face ma. I for once, feel like I am the real budak kampung within that group. Not a problem, the ais kacang was melting on me anyway, better finish that.

I really should pop Adele in next. I need a break from country music.

What's a d-bag?
Vonnie S.

Q: Hilarity ensues...

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.

-Franklin D. Roosevelt
Credits to arbebuk (c) something in the way

Q: I pick the ball more than I hit it.

So yea, you caught me; your head shaking in dismay as I watched the videos on replay. It is evident that I am growing older, for what interests me this week is the political debate between CSL and LGE. (Not the Canadian Soccer League and LG Electronics, mind you; I don’t really see how those two could ever debate on a similar topic.) It is a proud moment to be a Malaysian, knowing that your country has changed the ways of educating the public at large and it is without a doubt, more transparent than before, readily accessible for the whole world to see.

Our ex-PM is not so sure about that, quoted "This is not America but, even in the US, debates only serve to expose how stupid the candidates are.” You know, I do agree with that. But isn’t that one of the purpose of having a debate? You learn more about the candidates you’re voting for, and if they mess up, they have to fess up. Are you saying that we shouldn’t debate because it will expose how incapable some of our candidates are? Now that’s just plain weird. If so, they shouldn’t be a candidate, let alone be debating. Save face while they can. To lead the country, I am convinced that the candidate representing the people should be smart (so we wouldn’t have to bear the brunt of his/her silly mistakes, should the candidate be otherwise) and yes, put Malaysians’ best interests at heart. Not because of the stature of authority the package comes with and certainly not because there is a chance to upset the growth of our nation.

He said Malaysians were also "not yet that mature" to deal with political debates, adding that the public still had a tendency to allow emotions to take over from rational discussion.

Very true again. But realize this, it is just the beginning. And like every beginnings, it is rough but give the tumbleweed more rounds to roll, and we’re on to something greater (and bigger like the tumbleweed). Let Jessie Ooi be a lesson to those who are ready to commit such atrocity on national television and the debating world. I have absolute faith in the human race that we always learn to be better. Please Youtube search her name if you don’t understand a word I said. (Or just stay in school, people.)

I digress. It is still early for me to judge which party I would support this GE. These days, everyone can make promises, then the question lies on who can actually keep them? But as how I pray the candidates should be elected, that is how I would be as I vote; have in mind that the person I choose would be for Malaysia’s future, nothing more, nothing less.

No ikan bakar?
Vonnie S.

Q: I don't think Pokemons like it that we're always trying to catch them all.

Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?

-Douglas Adams

Credits to candymax (c) how I see things

Q: Are we there yet?

Once upon a time, I was a clueless KL city girl. If you want to know how clueless some Malaysian city girl can be, I can give you an example. A friend brought me home to her place (Happy Garden) to celebrate Deepavali in 1998. She says she is happy to have me staying over and I say I am too. When I met her mother, auntie was dressed in saree and smelt heavily of spices. Then voila! My friend came out from her room dressed the same. Her dad suggested that we helped him out and with that I had a chance to make a flower kolam with the rest of the family.

Later in the evening, as people filed into the house, I guess I earned a whole lot of stares, everyone knows I'm different, too. Friend spoke in Tamil to these relatives because it is her mother tongue. But in the end, she always find the time to translate questions into English, and that simple gesture is very important to me. When everyone sat on the floor with a piece of banana leaf in their hands, I was confused. I asked, "Are we eating this for dinner?" Sensing my bewilderment, my friend reassured me that dinner will be served soon. 

That experience when I was nine left me appreciating cultures and honestly, I am grateful that my parents cultivated my curiosity and love for the unknown.

So when ClarisseF saw me purchasing these at pasar malam today, imagine the puzzling look on her face. "What's that?"

Sensing her bewilderment, I said, "Why, it's just my Friday tea time snack!"



Am chao chee,
Vonnie S.