T'was the day before Ramadan...

Location: Unitar workstation, pc-with-the-damn-fast-typing-gal
Mood-of-the-day: Hurry, hurry, workstation close early on Fridays!

This was how I spent my last free-eating day before Ramadan. I woke up after a bout of cat snapping at my toes. I dunno how he got into the room last night but I was pushing lil’ guy off when the phone alarm rang echoes in my head. Oh man. It’s a Free Day Thursday (which means that there’s no class to listen lectures to) but laundry ain’t going to wash by themselves.

Okay, I revise that statement. Laundry of people living in this semi-D that aren’t mine or lil’ bro’s or sis’ & bro-in-law’s do wash by themselves. Unfortunately, the laundry doesn’t seem to have a sense of hang out to dry on the clothesline by themselves though. And there was a second clean set too. So what could I do before breakfast. Hang them dry, but I had to be extra careful. The owner of these football shorts and jerseys and pants and shirts have an unhappy face toward mishandling. Heck, no wonder bro’s clothes wash by themselves.

I spent the rest of the morning hunting for limited hangers, thinking thoughtfully about the extra more hangers needed for parents’ laundry. Yup, that’s it. My parents are coming home Thursday night, just in time before fasting month. They’ve SMS-ed me while waiting for their flight in Istanbul airport. Apparently, they’ve SMS-ed each of their offspring with a cell phone because soon after, my bro called on me for two favours.

One was to place the Compaq laptop back in its old place and the other was to put one of dad’s good shirts back into his cupboard. It turns out that my bro had gone for an interview and used one of dad’s super executive shirts to look, well... executive-like! Problem was that he couldn’t remember which good shirt, but that was easy.

Dad’s retired but he still kept his shirts in creepy-clean condition. I say creepy because when I was careful to make it look as if the purple-blue had never left. Dad colour-coordinated all his business shirts from light to dark and all had neat turned collars and front must face to the left. The only mistake I did was hanger head-hook position, but dad didn’t seemed to have noticed that. Phew! Wow, listen to me talking about my dad’s shirts :P...

Parents got home by taxi. Most of what they’re brought were airplane food like buns and butter-jam packets and the After-Eight chocolates. Lil’ bro was in fits for After Eight chocolates ;). Dad also got this small branch cutting of some flower plant native to Turkey and was excited on potting it (have I mentioned he had a green thumb?). He had it wrapped in blue plastic and was going on about plant care and shelter. What went through my mind was that he smuggled a plant in his suitcase. Still, if it grew, we’ll have the only real Turkey flower in the neighbourhood.

Signed: *Ophie, who thanks her sis and her bro-in-law for the KFC dinner thay brought which made Ophie bloated at the last minute before Ramadan :D

Liza-101@Ophie.edu

1. I was born Norliza Aini, which means Light of Mine/Eyes. Malay translation was cahaya mata, thus I was my parent's kid. Liza was from an actress, Liza Minnelli.

2. But I preferred to be dubbed Bright Eyes, not because of my staring baby photos but because I cried a lot of tears at nights.

3. I was the 3rd kid, born a good 6 years after my parent's first duo batch. Much of my childhood was spent being a spoiled brat.

4. When my lil' baby bro came, I learn to fight for attention, or just learn how to fight. Damn, I guess I owed him an apology for all those troubled years.

5. Once, I threw a metal padlock at lil' bro's head and made him bleed. Come to think of it, that was also the year I noticed my mom's white hairs. And also discovered that bathrooms aren't good hiding places.

6. I wanted to be a guy, like big bro, cos guys are strong. I wanted to keep up with everybody older than me.

7. When I couldn't keep up, I cried. It slowed them down all right. Heck, I was the joke of Crying Baby stories.

8. My earliest memory of food was mashed potatoes from KFC. S'matter of fact, it's still one of my favourites.

9. Bro and sis teased me forever. I tried to apply the same on lil' bro except he was too young to actually get the joke. Thus I was branded a spoiled bully.

10. Most of my earliest memories were about being alone, just lying down at the front grille, looking and breathing in the sun, sky, cement and scrubs, waiting for anybody to come home.

11. I love storybooks. My very first story was the Cat, Mouse and the Pat of Butter told from my dad.

12. I soon progressed to Ladybirds' Stone Soup, which I suppose would account to my current liking for any wholesome fluids.

13. There were so much Ladybird books scattered everywhere that my dad kept them hidden inside his cupboard. Of course, that didn't stop me during his working hours. That's when I learn how to be careful... and sneaky.

14. I learn to read through these Read-Along Books with casseste tapes. My first one was Alf goes Wild.

15. I collected so much of these that Dad would narrate the Crying Baby story and I always tried to stop him. He never did finish that story though.

16. Big, big fan of Enid Blytons. Heck I tried to write to her once before I realize that she's already dead.

17. I was given RM2 every weekday for recess. I starve myself so I could get an Enid Blyton book from Kancilmas (gone now) at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (KL).

18. Technique was good. S'matter of fact, I still starve myself so I could get a fiction novel from Popular Books Store at Ikano Power Centre.

19. In those younger days, I hadn't thought of reading anything other than Enid Blyton, maybe because I didn't quite notice any other.

20. My last Enid Blyton book was The Faraway Tree. I've never tried Folk of the Faraway Tree. Now I'm starting miss it.

21. I don't ever remember being really scared of school, maybe since growing up with 30+ relatives doesn't seem to make much difference.

22. My first friend there was my neighbour named Amalina. She left for Seremban years ago, but we broke off even sooner than that.

23. My second friend was Tun Sorina Ashikin. She was showing off her long hair. We were good friends despite being in different classes (even more so as we grew older).

24. We were close friends for over 10 years but broke off soon after secondary school. Hadn't contacted each other ever since.

25. I attended religious school in the afternoons. I think I repeated a year but I can't remember how or why.

26. Looking at primary school's class photos through each year, anyone can tell I was becoming more miserable.

27. Woe the day I met my Standard Two teacher. I can't fully recall her name other than Cik Haslinda or Haslina. She was the cause of my introvert nature today.

28. She a new teacher and an aunt to one of my best friends. Wasn't bad as a teacher but she oppresses any spoilt and carefree nature strictly and continues to fault me for mine. I knew only to rebel and fight hard but I was only a kid.

29. Once, a girl named Sazimatini made a mistake with an electric socket and Cik Haslinda pulled on her headscarf. She commented that Sazimatini was stupid and shouldn't be wearing a headscarf for being stupid.

30. Others followed in the teacher's strife and took me out relentlessly. They were just primary school students and Cik Haslinda was a pillar of strength and perfection. I guess I was just sulky in the first days.

31. Cik Haslinda was again my teacher at Standard Three. Our class won Best Class trophy almost every week of that year.

32. 1993 was the year I've learn pain, humiliation and isolation. And I'm not exaggerating. I was convinced that I was lazy and for being lazy, I was stupid. The belief was enforced when I ended up in the poor class the next year.

33. More so, I was alone, for being a teacher's target in the best class, other saw me as beneath them. I convince myself of that too. I stopped making close friends after 1994.

34. Maybe Cik Haslinda did have favourites or maybe she only liked certain carefree students, especially those who liked her. During Standard 4, she sent one boy, Ramli, an Aidilfitri card with a 50 cents coin taped to it.

35. If I were to meet Cik Haslinda today, I won't. It's been over 10 years since but I just can't. I can't. I won't. Please don't make me.

36. It took a teacher to take me down. It also took a teacher to pick me up. She might have not known it, but she was my saving grace. Her name's Pn. Sai... Su... er, Aza Fyreen's mom.

37. Aza Fyreen and me were just acquaintances. I guess she was quite friendly with me though I was sulky with everybody. I met her mom in my last year at primary school.

38. All her mom, that Teacher, did was just being my Malay language teacher. The best was when she taught essay writing. I realized that I liked to write. I also realized that I've still got some of that lost carefree nature I loved best.

39. And she liked what I wrote. She gave me a 23/25 with a Good remark. Any teacher could have done that. Except that I like to do what I did and that Teacher liked what I like to do.

40. I've never stopped writing ever since, though my medium is English now. I still see that Teacher though, she being a member of my mom's Old Ladies Club of Something. Maybe I'll get her name next time.

41. My first burger was McDonald's Double Cheese. I was five years old and had an early favour towards ketchup. Maybe ketchup reminded me of blood that I suck out from my scratches and bruises of playground days.

42. Liking Pizza was easy, not just that it rhymes with Liza. S'matter of fact, Pizza Hut's old TV commercial theme song was second one I've ever memorized (the first was Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star).

43. The first snack I've ever (microwave) cooked for myself was Campbell's Mushroom Soup. Placed into bowl and just add water.

44. I like cheese. I would take one and eat it straight from the plastic wrapping. Still do actually.

45. The first non-milk drink I remember drinking was Ribena. I also remember the extreme sugar rush.

46. I used to have an imaginary friend named Diamond. You know, I think she's still here. Hey Diamond, say hi to everybody.

47. My first piece of personal jewelery was an 'L' shaped pendant with 3 gems. The last time I saw it was in between the very narrow bars of a metal grate on a road drain.

48. I had a soft toy that mom won from Genting Highland. I called it Snow White Cute Puff. I dunno what happened to it now, other than it's no longer white or puffy.

49. My first real outdoorsy sport was rock climbing and kayaking. I planned to return to do both once I earn an income.

50. The first book (which was incredibly ridiculous to think that I ever wrote it) was called Mystery Wilderness Four.

51. The first boy I've ever had a crush on was a primary school prefect named Harith. The last time I had a crush on any guy was a diploma holder in IT named Azrul, back in 2002.

52. Nope, never had either as a boyfriend. S'matter of fact, never had a boyfriend, much less a real guy friend.

53. There are days when I would endlessly wish my school would catch on fire so that everybody would go home early. It came true only twice.

54. I had wanted to be a nurse because they wear white. Then a stewardess because they were pretty. Then a doctor or lawyer because they were rich. Heck, I even wondered on being an astronaut.

55. My sis tried to teach me the guitar but I wasn't interested. I tried to learn the piano, but the teacher wasn't interested. What I really wanted was to be a drummer but my parents wanted none of it. Now I listen to music and write poetry.

56. I'm a writer, but I never really got into poetry before I liked music. So if I want to write poetry, I'll have to hum a tune first.

57. I love scenery pics, but the ones sold were expansive so I collected them from the Internet. They're like windows to a hidden world, frozen in time.

58. Perth, Australia was the furthest place I've ever gone to. Now I hadn't left homeland since 1996 (which accounts for my love of Scenery pics).

59. I'm scared of heights, I really, really am. I can't stand too close to a fourth-storey balcony with thinking of tipping over and falling off.

60. On the other hand, I like the dark, especially under yellow candlelight. I purposely kept my room dark at nights and used only the night lamp.

61. I was never really a stylish gal, a bit blind for fashion. I grew up wearing over-fancy dresses and second-hand/third-hand teen clothing so I still have that 'It's still good' attitude about clothes.

62. I stopped worrying about being overweight when I started worrying about being oversized. Now I hate myself for being big boned.

63. Childhood hairstyle was very, very short, the kind where you put a mixing bowl on my head and cut from there. I looked awful in dresses with that hairstyle. Probably the reason why I prompted into wearing headscraves today.

64. I used to dress up my old Barbie doll in tiny clothes I made myself using scraps of rags. Even in rags, the doll looked better than I ever did.

65. I hate make-up. I look like a clown when I tried to apply some on myself. Nowdays I hardly wear any more make-up than a touch of face powder.

66. I used to draw stylish medieval european gowns during free time on excerise books. I would colour them and pass them along to friends.

67. My first drawing was a square-shaped house with a window to every room and I drew many, many windows. Sis taught me how to draw properly.

68. I got into drawing a lot of art using watercolours. For some reason, I always draw rainbows, waterfalls and winged unicorns.

69. My dad still kept some of my art-works, the last ones where I used magic markers and pencil colours.

70. The last thing I've ever drawn were my own creation of mystic-like symbols and emblems. I used square coloured cards and glitter. I've made five and only two sets.

71. I never really had a strong sense of religion. I've started praying properly two years later than I was supposed to.

72. I do believe in God and a Creator of all Things. I just don't quite get the Heaven and Hell concept of eternal bliss or damnation. Maybe I'm just scared for my sins.

73. The first time I’ve heard the Creation story was also the first time I’ve read Malay storybooks. I still got them, for inspiration needs.

74. I suppose I’ve perceived all religious histories like I do with storybooks, great to read once in a while but never really got in it.

75. My very first great fear was death. I didn’t want to grow up because I didn’t want to die. I dunno how I figured out about death but I do know it’s something I won’t like.

76. There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think of my own mortality, even when not reading newspaper or watching CNN.

77. During the age of 9 and 14, I couldn’t remember whether I was just moody and sulky or deeply depressed. But I knew that I was depressed around 16 or 17.

78. I’ll be lying if I said I’ve never thought of suicide but I had a few close encounters. Once, I looked up on the Internet on how to cut your wrist effectively. I still remember how.

79. There are many times I was angry but only once that I became really outrage. I retreated for 2 hours in a toilet to get it all out.

80. Looking back, I guess there was just a part of me that still wants to hang on to that carefree and spoiled brat that still had not been oppressed. It’s all the life I’ve ever known and growing up to lose that was just hard.

81. I’m still very thankful that I’ve discovered a love for writing. I’ve wanted to write so that others can read and be happy about it. Now I write so I can be happy for me.

82. I thought about writing a journal for myself as young as ten years old. I’ve tried notebooks, thick writing pads, even cassette tapes.

83. I used codes to write my thoughts down, just in cases. I drew tiny pictures, each to pass for an alphabet. I took it everywhere with me, even with eating dinner. I guess my family thought me as eccentric.

84. I still do write codes, for my fantasy ideas. I plan to create a complete set of some make-up alphabets of languages for Suvon Reality.

85. But all my younger journals don’t last long. I got tired of writing them as soon as my attention wavered elsewhere.

86. I cannot survive without the Internet. The longest time I’ve ever been away from it was two weeks. Any longer I would have gone insane. Two-thirds of what I know and have are on the Internet.

87. I’ve heard about open journals when some websites came out in the newspapers. I was a bit appalled actually, to think of people sharing their most secretive thoughts.

88. I was entirely enthused when my favourite web community hosted a free weblog service (Xfresh Blogs). But I noticed that many were.

89. I started writing my own voices when they started a competition on blogging. I was more motivated by a new idea rather than the prizes (I was unfairly uncounted when the competition ended).

90. It was not the first time I’ve made a website (the first was an Anime fansite) but it was the first about myself. I found that I had a knack for it.

91. I’ve tied in blogging with my dreams of becoming a fantasy novelist. Thus I’ve named my blog Suvon Reality.

92. Enid Blyton started my fantasy streak, but it took Lord of the Rings to finally get me into the seriousness of such an idea.

93. Most of what I’ve learned about fantasy was from serious novels and PC-RPG games like Diablo and Might and Magic. I also have a library where I keep hardcover books about the paranormal and unexplained.

94. Ophiuchus, my current nick, was a reminder of a first story that never took off. I had planned to use a magical advisor of sorts called Ophiuchus to five orphan children, or as they would affectionately termed, Ophie.

95. My current and only project would be a single novel, perhaps as a benchmark for sequels if successful. I hope. It is much more fantasy with its own magic concept.

96. A tiny part of the reason was that I didn’t have enough money since all these fantasy novels I read were from overseas and they’re all expansive. No wonder the fantasy fiction market’s small.

97. One of my biggest fears is plagiarism. I was afraid my life’s work would be counted as somebody else’s. I’ve lost a couple of diskettes that had important plots and sometimes I fear someone might use them.

98. There are times when I do feel really, really alone. There’s this void feeling that gets painful when I’m depressed. I tried to sleep it off but screaming softly works best. I do it most often while driving alone.

99. Sometimes, I would whisper to myself that I wanted to go home, when in reality, I’m already home. I guess for some reason, it just doesn’t feel like home anymore. Maybe it’s just stress.

100. I dunno what’s the future for me and I don’t mean that in a happy, carefree way. My habit was just to hang-on as much of myself as I can, as I grow older. I guess my last foothold is Suvon.

101. Suvon is what I call my imaginative world. I got it from spelling the Latin word Novus backwards.

5-Minutes Panic

Location: At school, somewhere without soap, laundry or spin-cycles.
Mood-of-the-day: Madness Quickie

I’ll start my journal entry with a worthy tale to tell. Well, actually, it isn’t too worthy but for the first 5 minutes after I woke up, I thought my world was crashing down but hell, I’m a drama queen to the extreme. Well, enough hints :P. Yesterday night I collected laundry so that I’ll just hang them dry instead of leaving for school at 8.15am. Aaah, life without mom. I scooped up every available clothes on the floor and dumped them into the washing machine.

This morning, I woke up before my phone alarm went off. Man, I’m getting too used to waking early (I’m hardly a morning person). First order of business was the laundry, which should have cleaned overnight. Well, I didn’t have to wait for the ‘ding’ to tell the clothes were done. But as I rummaged through the stuff, a lil’ blue plastic fell out. It was my thumb drive. The KingMax 256MB had just popped out from the washing machine, half-dry and speckled paint.

And I thought the horror was enough when my old Proton died last Friday. I had accidentally dropped in one of my most needed items into a combination of two spin cycles and Tesco detergent worth of overflows and left it there to sink overnight. Eeeeekkk!! No panic, no panic. There’s only my blog entries, a Laxius program I hadn’t installed and um, er, two Telecomunications chapters and a B. Ethics mid-term sample, the new CC entry. If anybody even mentions ‘all eggs in one basket’ I’m gonna scream.

I plugged it into my PC as I was trying to remember where I placed the receipt and how I was going to claim the warranty from the Low Yat Plaza guys without sounding too stupid. ‘That’s right. Your thumb drive wasn’t water-proof and it had stated any condition other than UV-light.’ ‘I have the warranty right here, less than a month ago I’ve brought it from you.’ ‘Look, here’s the warranty and I want this replaced, no questions. Got it?’

And oh joy, the tiny red light signalled life! My Windows 2000 confirmed that KingMax was detected and can be accessed. I checked each of my files (even WinZipped ones) and found that miracles do happened. For some strange reason I’ve expected my Texts and Jpegs to be wet and speckled pixels. ‘Mabuk pagi’ must still be in me (it’s a digital for goodness’ sake!). The fact still is that my documents are still accessible.

I’m not paid to advertise KingMax thumb drives but if they do need a real-life product quality tester, I might just apply. But I’ll always keep mine in check since a good lot of my favourites are in it (Haven’t printed and framed my Jpegs Scenes yet!). And if I ever needed a good warning or an old reminder, I can just smell the nice, fresh laundry soap smell every time I wear the rope string around my neck.

Signed: *Ophie, a Near-Madness Experience early in the morning. Works better than Nescafe.

CC Character Sheet #2

Location: Being part 2 means just right next to part 1.
Mood-of-the-day: Divided attention

Don’t be surprised. I recommend that you check the previous blog entry if you are. This is part 2 of my fiction’s Character Sheet. Again, this one I blanked out the most because these characters are very important. By now, you might have figured out how to un-blank them. If you have any questions about this, there’s always the tag-board and the e-mail.

The King Mages are those who perform duties under the King and for the King. In the past, all certified magic users were trained in Inuqtland during the height of the nation’s power. As nations and kingdoms separated, so too does the magic users divide, to each by their own religion and culture.

1. Chris Anasteq is a lowlander and secretly a descendant of Green Cliffs refugees during the Uvounuq invasion. His rank is not high but he is greatly respected by his juniors for his studies in ‘younger touches’. He seeks the lost art of ‘spiriting’, an extremely powerful magic, if it still exists. He also has a calling name from his old culture, though very seldom used it (Christopher). Bright, sun-gold hair and beard, a healthy built and medium height.

2. Mariel Hivyniqiv’s birth origins are unknown as much as his true age. He formerly held the highest title for a mage in Nauqa-Aro nation before he was impeached and spent his retirement in many secret travels. During Asuqaro’s war for independance, he was called for to build and aid the King’s Mages. Many say that the King and Mariel held quiet discontent for each other. Tall but stooped, paper-pale wrinkled skin but deep black eyes and little hair.

3. Karina Anasteq is Chris’s wife, who grew up around the Skyland provinces. Unlike most mages, she pursued knowledge in worldly secrets and existing orders, thus held the title ‘Sage’. Her maiden name is Irulan Greenstone. She is much sought after in her skills in medicine, though like her husband, she desires to study Chaos at the most basic stages. Dark skinned but unusually blue eyes, shapely face and short curly hair.

4. Gerald Usuquinota is, in fact, a young commanding officer in the military division of the King’s Mages. His blood was a mixed of Onus sea-folk and Uvounuq lost nobility. He prefers working alone and often have secret meetings with the King himself. Fine boned and strong built, very short, almost spiky black hair with striking gold-brown eyes.

Signed: *Ophie, will add more characters when needed. Any ideas accepted.

CC Character Sheet #1

Location: In over 6 different areas in Petaling Jaya, we move this blog.
Mood-of-the-day: Radiohead-ache

Recently a blogger friend of mine commented on the non-existence of my fiction’s Character Sheet. Well, I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to give too much away unknowingly and then the story would get boring. But through the weekend, I managed to sort out the main characters and their origins. However, I also included some hints that are vital to the story and so I blanked them out.

In Green Cliffs, birth names are the first names in full. Calling names are shortened birth names, possibly an adaptation to country life from their nobility past. Calling names are used until the person is married. A sign of civility, non-clansmen and outsiders are prohibited from addressing using calling names.

1. Jaque Jaymeson is a young lad who yearns for the Outside. He knew little about his mother’s family, the Varns. He believes that the Forest Men might help him. He was Lya’s husband-to-be. His birth name is Garjaquerin. Tall and lanky with pointed face messy dark brown hair he tied back.

2. Lya Samueldottir is a young girl with a curiosity as strong as her magic gift. She did not know anything about her adoption. She knew had stumbled upon her clan’s secret and deciphered all but one manuscript. She was Jaque’s wife-to-be. Her birth name is Aellyanette. Small, elfin-like figure with curly hair on a short braid.

3. Handred Samuelson is the Head Villager of Enatuh and Father of Green Cliffs Valley. This schoolteacher is an old but determined man and had kept a clan secret. He has an old grudge against the King and his Mages. His calling name was Hrad. Medium height with dark wrinkled skin, bearded face and thick white hair.

4. Finnigan Jaymeson is the Head of the Jaymes clan. Opposed to Green Cliff inclusion to neither Asuqaro’s nor Uvounuq’s sovereign, he is strong-willed and tactical as well as arrogant. He suspects Jaque of magic capabilities. His calling name was Finn. Broad and muscular, crooked nose, strong chin and yellow hair.

5. Terrance Jaymeson is Jaque’s father and Finnigan’s younger brother. He was once a cheerful man not only patient. He is the chief farmer and maintains the fields and the sheep of the clan. His first wife and two daughters died in an Uvounuq’s massacre. He believes Jaque and Lya were already married. His calling name was Tren. In appearances, he is similar to Finnigan save his eyes were green instead of blue, his nose straight.

6. Rosa Samueldottir is Lya’s dreamy second aunt who spoke in riddles. She lives as a maid/helper in her cousin’s house after she lost her own family in an Uvounuq’s massacre. She also keeps secrets for Lya, some Lya does not know. Her birth name is Pyrosaette. Her very long hair is dirty grey in colour with freckled skin and bony stature.

7. Channeler Harrietta is Enatuh’s magic user and advisor to the Head Villager. She had often secretly argued with Handred for his clan secrets. She is vigorous and active but took only one apprentice. Her calling name was Riet (Mailotdottir). Thick and broad with sun-bleached freckled face and hair short and straight.

Signed: *Ophie, counting the black spots and making sure that they’re really hidden ;).

I'll Pray Mine with Extra Cheese...

Location: Oh I dunno really. The sights, the sounds, the smells... the smells...
Mood-of-the-day: Aromatherapy

Today is the first day of October’s second week and it’s time to go on a family gathering! My aunt, Cik Siti, is hosting a doa selamat in her house, about a bike ride away from ours. I won’t amuse you guys with pictures because the extended family have these types of get-together so often that it never felt as if they’ve ever left. Ooo, what a scary thought. My parents had cautioned me about it and must help my aunt in anyway possible just before themselves left for a Turkish Delightment.

Today’s also the day that the old Proton gets a jumpstart. Last Friday I was supposed to get my lil’ bro to his tuition class (and was running late) when I turned on the ignition only to be greeted with a dead click-click instead of the usual vrom-vroom to life. Dead silence on a car is enough to make any driver scream. Before I could do such a useless thing to fruitlessly ease my woe, bro and sis pitched in with a pair of cables and gave it a battery-to-battery resuscitation with the MBenz.

The trick worked and cause of effect found. It turned out that the alarm lights had been blinking the electricity away. Nobody realized it because my mom de-alarmed the old Proton’s voice box years ago, when it got to old to be worth stealing by any crook. But the important part was that the trick worked (thought I had thought of driving the Kenari proudly around the school compound). But just to be sure, sis allowed me to use her Wira to send the carpets to my aunt.

Cik Siti called some time in the morning for a favour to ask. She had hoped that I fetch some pizzas from Atria’s Dominoes. I was a bit blur, because this was a kenduri doa selamat in a Big, Fat, Malay Family. Still, maybe Cik Siti didn’t had enough time to cook extra and so I thought what’s a couple of pizzas? Gives me more reason not to spend time greeting guests. So decked in full blue kebaya, I realized that I was picking up eight pizzas!

She passed me the money and the Dominoes Gold Card (regular customer apparently) and wished me quick delivery. I supposed I can’t keep the change if I arrived longer than 30 minutes. There were a handful of guys (only guys) in red-white-blue uniform at Dominoes DJ and they had expected somebody in for a party. Me in kebaya, I told them they’ll be doa selamat and guests over 40 years of age. I think they’re still laughing after they placed the pizzas in the Wira’s back seat.

It was great seeing cousins again. Shaza’s baby (my second nephew) is a walking dude in khakis and was doing so back and forth between his parents in the middle of the prayers. Most of the little kids are on the second floor watching movies on HBO or pirated VCDs. Shaza’s sister came with a bandage. She was helping another sis to cut something at 2am when she misfired and attacked her own finger. And the doctor was suggesting plastic surgery (for a finger? Puh-lease!).

In between orders of Aidilfitri cookies and munchies, the pizzas were a hit, all commentin how ‘mordern’ my aunt was (Much of the Laksa Johor was hardly touched). And on a side note, my sis’s Wira had smelled like saltwater fish, tandoori chicken, jogging shoes and now Dominoes pizzas in just one week. She aught to park at a circus and charge admission; Aromatherapy of the City. Heck, it might even be a hit :P.

Signed: *Ophie, packed home 3 slices for bro ;)

Saturday Night Musings!

Location: In the root of all dreamers
Mood-of-the-day: 30 thoughts in a sleepy gal’s head, yo ho ho and a bottle of Sprite!

It’s not New Year’s Eve (indeed, it’s Saturday in the middle of October), but I planned a resolution anyway. I find that it’s better to start a resolution and sticking to it in the middle of the year because then you have little reason to put it off. So my resolution was to download all the Scenes I’ve had and the ones I’ve been contemplating for a Scene to print them all out and post them on my bedroom wall. My room’s walls are pretty blank actually. The only colour on the vertical plane was my yellow curtains.

1. There’s the mystery of my dad’s laptop. Gone every night from the dining room table.
2. And reappeared every morning in the same spot. Hm-mmm...
3. My cats have a spot to nap in every room except the store room.
4. The downstairs ceiling fan cranks noises like hell when turned on.
5. Tomorrow’s family kenduri would be the first I’ve ever gone to without my parents.
6. Apparently, bro-in-law’s family also have a kenduri on the same day.
7. I used the same title for every Saturday Night Musings.
8. I’ve finished reading the Assassin’s Apprentice!
9. And I loved it! :D
10. I can’t wait to buy the second book!

11. I’ve reduced my Musings from 35 to just 30.
12. Fits the pages easier.\ :P.
13. Accckkk, I got pimple!
14. Not really, I just like to muse that on no. 13.
15. Mom cooked and froze at least 5 dishes of chicken before she left.
16. I had a history of starving my lil’ bro.
17. I think the Apprentice reality TV is a bit weird.
18. The old Proton’s still busted.
19. I’ll have to move that wind chime on a different spot sooner or later.
20. Jac won! Jac won! Jac won! Jac won! Jac won!

21. Here’s to hoping that my printer can print all my Scenes.
22. It’s night! I should be playing an RPG :P.
23. I’m playing a Laxius game right now and a level 33.
24. Now will I manage to get across his mountainous region?
25. I dunno wanna go to school! I wanna play games!!
26. Don’t we all? ;)
27. It takes me about 40 minutes to write this easy entry.
28. A regular one would take between an hour or more.
29. Chaos Circles fiction uses 3 page minimum on MSWord.
30. Sex in the City? Not tonight. Must defeat 15-headed Hydras!

Signed: *Ophie, died three times before giving up and decided to do arm-wrestling instead.

N.S. Namelist and other Stuff

Location: I can’t tell you because the Government won’t let me
Mood-of-the-day: Scrambled thoughts

Recently posted in the New NST were the names of 1987-born guys and gals chosen to serve Malaysians in a torture training program. Lil’ bro was born in 1987 so both him and I checked at every state starting with the letter ‘M’ for his name (me doing it too so I could do my favourite ‘evil sister laugh’). But the odds were slim because only one in four 17-year-olds were picked (or we’ll be paying higher taxes for more facilities and maintenance).

Nope, his name wasn’t in any list. I’ve planned to check the Internet just to be sure (and to use my ‘evil sister laugh’!). Him on the other hand, looked like he was experiencing some sort of moon-walk that M’Jackson would be shamed of. I really, really want him to get into the National Service. There’s a sense of family tradition actually. Bro, sis and myself were former Outward Bound entrees and each had a quite a story made within sight of Pangkor Island.

But lil’bro’s time to pack his jungle trekking shoes and his clean underwear were postponed since Ramadan overlapped the end-of-year special. Fasting sun-up till sun-down while getting lost in a jungle doesn’t sound too appealing to a skinny kid, unless he preferred military camp. So by the time Aidilfitri passed, lil’ bro was too big for the juniors week-long program. Damn, but I made sure he wasn’t slacking his teen-days. Forced him into school’s Red Crescent Society I did, made him do noon-hour foot drills until it kills me (*sigh* missed those old school dayz...).

Now that parents are gallivanting, I’ll have to be the one that waters the plants. Our house is a semi-D, just enough pocket of dirt to do this phenomenon called ‘gardening’. Dad’s a country guy, the kind that what Dato’ Lat’s comics represent (river swimming, stilted homes, roasted grasshoppers... okay, the last one was just Dad). So he’s adding a piece of his old home in the middle of Kt. D’sara. However, long trips require a babysitter but I’m no green thumb. Was never too hard actually, just water, water, water. One plant drowned though (oopsie...).

One of my cats is into a weird phase. For some reason, Patchy does not want to do an attribute what cats are famous for; solitary. Like clockwork, he’ll pounce on anyone at the TV room and meow so loudly and continuously as if Timmy’s stuck in a well. If anyone tried to go downstairs or duck into a room to avoid the meowing in their ear, the source would tag behind closer than a shadow and go on and on mowing. It’s getting pretty annoying.

Didja people check the newspaper? Jac from Kepong won the first Malaysian Idol! Yay! Okay, to the truth, I’ve hardly been a sucker for the reality TV singing sensational show but I’m no steadfast to being frong-in-coconut-shell either. Saw the last half-an-hour. It’s great that she won, and with 3/4 advantage in her favour.

When I saw her Berjaya Times Square audition episode and she mentioned writing her own songs for marketing, I thought, yup that’s her. Now Malaysians are going to kill 8TV if she doesn’t make it through. But I liked best was when one of the 8TV directors mentioned in a newspaper that ‘someone from Kepong might go to World Idol,’ Jac’s mom said it was a sign and encouraged the night club singer to a KL trip. Signs, heck, how about that? :D I’m looking at one now and it says 12.30pm.

Signed: *Ophie, time to pick-up the NS not-so-hopeful-and-didn’t-make-it :P

A Day in A Life...

Location: Welcome to the Hotel California
Mood-of-the-day: You shouldn’t be reading this until Monday

Looks like Dusty the lil’ grey kitty still loves to on car rides. Wednesday morning I was leaving for school when the idiot jumped right on the hood with 5 kg of metallic landing (just what I need at 7.30am, a bang). Since where I was going was no neighbourhood boulevard, I pulled him off and set him on a higher place on the MBenz. He must have recognized this new power in height for he rewarded my efforts with a swipe of his paw on my hand. The small cut kept bleeding every time I type and it’s gonna leave a scar. Damn fat cat.

Pretty much my daily routine is simple. Get up mornings, get ready my stuff (hadn’t lost any file ever since I got my thumb drive :D), bring the laundry downstairs, grab a bite, drive out, pass through six traffic lights, get stuck in two traffic jams, sign into school lab (stop only for classes), check school/class bulletin, go blogging (an entry or two or add a fiction paragraph), then get to old Proton, in one traffic jam, pass through five traffic lights, get home, watch tv, eat something, play some PC games until I fall asleep.

There’s always 3 PCs I could go to write blogging (the most common would be the place I’m writing this right now :P), but only one which I can post them online (again, the most common place). I seldom write entries in my own PC since its new hard drive was plugged, mainly because MSWord just hadn’t been installed yet. I’m still pretty bad at my grammar (IMHO) and I often needed a spellchecking and a synonym change or two. But if I really need to write, I do a WordPad on my PC and grammar/spelling/synonym would be done at school’s MSWord.

I used to blog at night, summarizing the end of the day. Now nights are reserved for my Laxius and AP and various other RPG I’ve got free from online. I got the RPG Maker but it’d need a good long holiday before I could properly write the Event programming. Go a storyline coming up, somewhat based on my Chaos Circles. Hm-mmm, Chaos Circles the RPG... For reason, it just didn’t sound so right. Maybe I’ll extend the fiction a bit longer before I’ll think about it :P.

My parents had just left for their Turkey holiday. Dad got home from his Perhentian Island trip with a scuba dive participation certificate and had coated my sis’s Wira with a very strong smell of fish. Even the cats came out to the driveway to investigate. At least he’s home, or else Mom would go on with her fits. I got out later that night for a delivery of 3 tandoori chicken sets for dinner. Yummy! But now her car smelled like saltwater fish and tandoori chicken (not too good a mix I tell ya :P).

Signed: *Ophie, with more stories to come after this break ;)