Letter For A Friend

Dear Melissa,

Remember those days when we briefly co-blogged? I honestly can't remember much about it apart from the fact it was red in colour, but it used to make me smile when you'd reply my posts with one of your own and I know you`ll smile now, cause I'm very sure you know that there's hardly any persons out there i'd specially dedicate a blog post to.

On my part, I'm fine and i'm still in the country. Contrary to popular belief, I wont be going anywhere anytime soon. Life's changed since the glory days of yesteryear and I too have changed, even if only a little. For better or worse, I am undecided but typically unapologetic should it be the latter. Despite that, I still think I am the person who said he'd dance with you to Echo.

And so how have you been? Over the years i've tried my best to keep up with your nomadic nature. Whether its gone from racingstripes to whoaamello or pinkvodkacrayolacrushsky , I honestly lost track a very long time ago. Although ive bugged you for years to just stick to one, I know you wont and I'm ever peachy with it. As you said, I'm still here and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I don't think ill ever leave.

Just to let you know, Im on holiday now so what we need is a cozy place with comfy chairs and food & coffee but if you have a better idea, then I'm all ears. I hate to say it but I don't have your number anymore, but to be fair you've always misplaced mine over the years, haven't you? Hit me up, 012-3260011.

And so I shall end this here. Hear from you soon, yes? You can be sure you'd be more likely to find this in your mailbox rather than your inbox, but I only have the virtual version of your address. Actually wait forgive me, I don't think I have both!

Meet me in outer space,

Riz.

A Forgotten Conversation, Remembered

Some 7 months ago, I was riding shotgun in Dee May's car ; she, having her sociology finals; me, studying for comm theory the next day ; us, having some coffee beforehand.

So on the way to college, she turns to me and asks me (somewhere along these lines) :

"Why do we always put off something that we need to do? We always say we wont repeat that and that the next time, we`ll do as we should. After all we should, should`t we? Every time it happens we regret doing it, and promise not to do it again cause the consequences are always lousy, but yet we still do it! Why?"

So I tell her (once again along these lines) :

"We're creatures of habit, and that its embedded somewhere in our minds that we naturally put off what we don't want to do. Resist as we may, it`ll still happen. The only thing we can do is to learn to just be cool with ourselves when we screw up..of course this is another story.."

The irony is that 7 months on, I am about to sit for my own sociology finals. I doubt ill have anyone to turn to and ask this question, as I drive to college. So with this, I turn to you, the reader and ask this question.

And what will you answer me?

So My Favourite Tea Biscuit Makers Wont Go Bust?

I for all the times I read the previous article, I missed out one thing :

"The company plans to use the court's protection to renegotiate leases with reluctant landlords in its effort to restructure and emerge from bankruptcy. The filing does not include operations outside the U.S. "

If I missed such a simple line, then how in the world am I going to study (properly) for my finals, of which starts tomorrow at 8am (Pr Methods), with Sociology at 12pm the following day??

Oh-uh..

I digress. You know what they say..one thing leads to another and while I hope they dont go bust, perhaps there's still a glimmer of hope for a sale? Or am I being too hopeful..again..?

My Favourite Tea Biscuit Makers To Go Bust?

According to this article on Yahoo:

Crabtree & Evelyn files for Chapter 11 protection

By VINNEE TONG, AP Business Writer – Wed Jul 1, 11:37 am ET

NEW YORK – Soap and lotion seller Crabtree & Evelyn Ltd. says it filed for Chapter 11 protection on Wednesday, a victim of the recession and management missteps.

The pressure of repaying debt forced the company to file for bankruptcy, Acting President Stephen Bestwick said in a court filing. He said management changes had resulted in several shifts in strategy, hurting its wholesale business.

The company plans to use the court's protection to renegotiate leases with reluctant landlords in its effort to restructure and emerge from bankruptcy. The filing does not include operations outside the U.S.

The Woodstock, Conn.-based company reported in a court filing that it owed $46.2 million in debt and had $31.7 million in assets as of March 31. The privately held company runs 126 retail stores that sell bathroom products and gift basket items at Copley Place in Boston, Watertower Place in Chicago, The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey, Embarcadero Center in San Francisco and Century City Mall in Los Angeles, among others.

It also sells Vera Bradley bags and wallets as well as LaSource, India Hicks Island Living and Naturals products.

The company first sold products under the Crabtree & Evelyn name in 1972 and its first retail store was opened in 1977. The store's name is derived from a short form of Crabapple Tree and the last name of John Evelyn, a Brit who wrote about conservation.

Parent company Crabtree & Evelyn Holdings Ltd. is a London-based holding company, which is in turn owned by investment holding company CE Holdings in the British Virgin Islands. CE Holdings is owned by KLKOI, another investment vehicle based in the Virgin Islands. KLKOI operates rubber plantations and manufactures oleochemicals, which are chemicals derived from oils and fats.

Other major retailers that have filed for bankruptcy during the current downturn include Steve & Barry's, Eddie Bauer, Filene's Basement, Linens 'N Things, Mervyn's and Circuit City Stores Inc.

Bestwick said he hoped the reorganization would help Crabtree & Evelyn continue its "tradition of English-style elegance."

It filed its case in the Southern District of New York.

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I hope they don't go bankrupt cause well..they make my favourite English Breakfast tea and lemon crunch tea biscuits. You have not had tea biscuits until you've had them. In fact every tea party should have them! But sudden sale? Oh yes please!

How I Crack Myself Up

So Zainul tells me to follow him to Penang (he was there the week before and after but not the week I was in Penang, last month!) the next time he goes, to eat durians.

My reply?

"If your boot's cool then i'm cool"

Get it get it?? HAHAHAHAHAHA

I crack myself up.

No Strings Attached

I spent last week without the use of my regular phone number..

And it was pretty liberating. Maybe ill do it again someday, this time on purpose.

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In other news, sociology is fine. Kinda fun at times, interesting at others but down right frightening most of the time.

In fact this semester ive spent more time dating sociology than proper persons. In fact ive never had a subject thats shadowed me like a dark cloud as much as this. Even maths & stats didnt alter my life. Now the thought of socio is enough to put me off from going out, specially on nights where I have it the next day..

Sure the events and nights out during the past few weekends have been fun, but nothing beats dyadic intimacy. Oh how I miss it and the memorable nights that it brings. Someone free some time for me; for i'm severely lacking intimate moments..

Spoken Silence

Endless are the emotions suffered

Destine actions and words, they do

Wallow away in self pity is one

If silence is all that is said

Nothing is what a reply will be

Why must such a tragic fate occur

And worse it just seems to recur

Keep hiding away

Empty is how things will stay

Unless something is spoken

Profound will that heart remain broken

Write Idea

I feel like writing a little kid story and I need ideas/inspirations. I blame this on helping Jon with his social Psych assignment. And I quite like rhyming couplets. For example :

Little Prince Clive

He was only five

One day he decided to go for a dive

And well

He's no longer alive..

Amuse me with your muses.

Verbal Discourse, Of Course

Recent Sounds :

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How to have fun with sociology, the lame way :

Question: What is a nuclear family?

Me : A family of which the parents are nuclear scientists, have kids named Alpha, Beta & Gamma as well as a dog named Uranium..?

Calvin : What about delta etc etc?

Me : Ok that sounds more squad names now..

-----

Youth, underlife stages and generation :

-stage of transition before adulthood

-youth cultures based on the consumption 

Me : Youth cultures based on the consumption of food. Hey we young people eat alot..right??

-------

Me : Hey check it out! There's someone named Kenneth in this article!

Calvin : As long as its not Ponnu its ok..

Me : Weih! There's a Nash inside now! You think we can find Sathya or Tinesh??

Calvin : If you find I think we better burn the book..

-------

In Bangkung, Last Saturday night (theres more..not suitable to be mentioned heheh) :

Jon C : Eh what happened to her la? 

Xing : Yea la..she damn tramp now wei...

Xing : Shes like a bicycle..anyone can ride

Me, Jon Ti, Jon C, Xing  : HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA GOT SUCH THING???

Me : What is this? Now everyone can fly becomes anyone can ride now??

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On helping Jon with his Social Psych assignment on writing a kids book :

Jon : Alright hows about he comes downstairs and sees something..a sight?

Me  : I know!

Little Prince Ben went downstairs and saw a fight

He then went to show his might

However he wasn't very bright

And lost his eyesight

Jon : HAHAHAHAHA

------

Me : Eh hows about this..since your talking about aroma's in the air

He smelt a scent in the air and went to have a whiff

However in the end he fell off the cliff

Jon : Stupid fella. Imagine if this was your assignment. Sure dunno what nonsense will be inside!

-------

Meeting the true chinaman Gary in Devi's on Monday evening

Me : Eh Chinaman!! Long time no see bitch

Gary : Weih what happen wei you look damn big now..gym ah workout

Me : No la where got..

Gary : Dont lie..last time you damn thin..like one drug addict only

Me : Eh fuck you la so your saying I was a drug addict last time??? Motherfucker..

Me : Remember the time at Tinesh's house when Mel was talking about drugs and we said to look at your arm for marks?

Me : And then when we asked about a big huge scar you said it was a mosquito bite? Stupid slut!

Kenneth : HAHAHA

(To sum this up in college the next day :)

Aaron C : HAHAHHA Gary calling you a drug addict? Hahahaha Coming from Gary ouch wei what rubbish talk wei hahaha

Me : Sigh..

(Back to the previous night..)

Gary : So whos in Help now la?

Me : Uhhh 3 of us la ( Me, Kenneth, Prashan)

Kenneth : HAHAHAHA

Me : So why you in Bangsar? Paying rent ah? Collecting your stuff?

Kenneth : hahahaha

Gary : No la collected already..all my housemates kena kick out already

Me : Eh why??

Gary : Dunno ask the house owner

Me : Aiyo why la..btw I saw your old hse no. 91 change gate wei...how la 24/7 open gate??

Kenneth : How la??

Me : Eh why you went Segi..what happened to Glasgow?? London??

Gary : Oh they wanted 70k in a week my dad said bank only allow him to take out 70k in 2 weeks

Me : Then?

Gary : He told them go to hell la!

Me : Eh why la you went Segi..better stay right

Gary : Yea la I wanna change to B Psych but they told me start do foundation again

Me : But why? All the cores same as Adp it should count? I had a friend switch from Adp to B Comm no prob

Gary : Yea la thats why that can but this cant..stupid la

Me : So how?

Gary : My mom told them to go to hell la!

Me : Eh your parents damn chun wei everything oso go to hell!

Me : Still watching AF ah?

Gary : Yea la my mom la watching so I oso watch she nicely vote somemore the fella from Sarawak or Sabah won you watched ah

Kenneth : Wtf Gary your mom watch doesnt mean you need to right

Me : How your best friends at Low Yat? Eh fixed your phone?

Prashan : Dont bother if hes sleeping 

Gary : Yeah

Me : Omg its the pink Se flip open mirror ish phone...what happened to you??

Gary : No la friend borrow me

Me : Then you`ll soon keep it as yours right..

Me : Eh you left Help your english still sucks ass wei fucker what you talking on the phone I dunno

Gary : Eh fuck you la where got

Kenneth : Stupid chinaman slut!

Gary : Eh I got car already!

Me : Really? Where

Gary : See the yellow Ferrari there?

Me : Huh??

Prashan : There the Mini Cooper there

Me : Oh cheh Kelissa..fuyo leather seats and eh Kenneth we're outside Kk Mart what you doing!

Kenneth : Oh yeah (stands straight and salutes)

Prashan : Wtf are you doing man??

Kenneth : See Kk Mart must salute wei

Prashan : Why?

Kenneth : Come on wei look at all the cheap booze wei

Prashan : Oh shit man does anyone actually buy that??

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Thats all for now. Hope the stupidity above is enough to keep everyone entertained. Worse, thats not even half of whats happened lately!

Thou Falling Star

A trail of smoke in the sky,

Gone in a blink of an eye,

Whether it came too late,

I will soon learn my fate.

 

Pointless Service Announcement

I would like to announce something important. 

Something which means alot to me.

At 11:36 am today,

I ,

WON MY FIRST ROUND OF CDD FOR THE SEMESTER!!

Eat that all you in-denial-detractors who said id go through the whole semester without a victory. 

Out Of The City, And Into Another

Todays been a good/bad day. Got all my sociology stuff for the week done (quiz and presentation). Speaking of the latter my article was 15 pages while most are 4. ARGH. I spent the whole of last night at Starbucks having a horrifically unproductive date with my sociology work. Its like the relationship I never wanted. And its another 6 weeks til I metaphorically break up. Another ARGH. 

A whole afternoon dedicated to running errands with 4 of those hours in the car. ARGH.

Barcelona 2 Manu 0. ARGH. 

I have alot of reasons to ARGH but forget because its going to be a good weekend because, remember this post and this post?

Well guess back im returning the scene of it all, Penang!

But this time I dont think there will be anyone around to be jobless with. Sigh. The gang's like me, not on a real holiday. The Penang Girl wont be around either. Hopefully I can pull a friend out of the blue like I usually do. Not much hopes though. Anyway ill be in Penang to go for a friends wedding. Hes like I cant remember somewhere from 26-30. 28 I think. And I didnt even know he was engaged or even had a girlfriend and now wife to be..some friend I am.

Speaking of that I unintentionally completed the circle by forgetting my brother's birthday. ARGH.

Enough of that after this hellacious week im looking forward to a weekend free of sociology and work. I`ll spend my time lazing on some chair overlooking the sea reading a book and hopefully listening to nothing but happy music, which I think everyone should listen to as well. 

Frou Frou's the name but if you love Imogen Heap its her but under a different guise along with Guy Sigsworth. Which track to listen to? All! Its that good...and happy! Only Got One is the which kept me sane throughout exam week last semester. But Let Go, Breathe In, Its Good To Be In Love (alot of my friends should check this one) and Shh are my other personal favourites.

To my regular comrades in randomly going around Kl at night, please be forewarned that I am dying to hit the city I love at night, so when I get back we shall have the nights lights in our sights!

And so off to Penang I am. I`ll be staying in Tanjung Bungah but of course I want to hang in Gurney. If your around, call me and jobless we shall be :D!

The Magpies Fly Away

Im watching what appears to be the last of Newcastle in England's top flight of football for what could be some time..

And its painful. And I dont even support them.

Its already stoppage time..and they cant even get the ball in the penalty area..

And theres the final whistle..

Even Shearer couldn't save them. Oh well.

Happiness, In Book Form

So ive started a new semester..and its not been the type of short semester ive dreamed about ( I was hoping for a replica of last year's). From having to drop a subject to day ruining tummy aches, rain at the wrong time, subjects that cause headaches and more, the past one week hasnt been too fun.

But enough about the unhappy rantings of myself for that shall be something for another day. For now is something and probably the only things that make me happy..books!

As you know back in March I picked up some books at an Mph warehouse sale..well before I went to Australia (this reminds me of an uncompleted post dated before I left), the Penang Girl and I went for another and I think I quite enjoyed the 2nd one even more..even though it was blistering hot..more on this later..so I got for myself :

Guess what? It Rm13.90 at normal price..I got it for Rm 2!!

Seeing my interest in all things french, spurred by my french lessons last year and reading of French Revolution era related literature, I couldnt resist. And it was only Rm15! Its by the same guy who wrote Merde Happens, Dial M For Merde etc which can be seen at Mph with snails on them and the word Merde in the colours of the french flags. I`ll read those if I can ever get them for less than Rm36! Anyway back to this book it is absolutely hilarious. Its got sections on things like getting served by waiters, mispronouncing words, being polite/rude and so on. Its the only book thats keeping me sane right now. Im almost done with it though :(

I was eying Les Miserable but they only sold volume 1 and I wanted both together although that makes for one super thick book..

A few days later at Mph Mid Valley at Grace's recommendation (thank you) :

Good heavens! It I must say is likely one of the most absurd stories I have ever read and also the funniest. If I ever need a laugh I look the Bunburying parts. Seriously everyone should read this! It took me time to read it cause I stopped to laugh after every other line. Yes its that good..read it!

And in Melbourne at Dymocks (this super beyond awesome bookstore) I got for myself :

I have yet to start though. Maybe this weekend. Im kinda disappointed theres no political science this semester or this would have made it even more fun. Ive always wanted to read it since I heard of it back in high school and you dont know the amount of relief I experience when I learned that it is nowhere and I mean nowhere as thick as book like Faust (I nearly nearly bought this), Dante's Divine Comedy (its no comedy btw) or those Russian lit books by Dotoevsky. Cant wait to get started!

And Grace again showed this nifty little website called dailylit.com . The have a selection of books and you can have bits of it emailed to you everyday or certain days etc at whatever time you want. It specifies how many installments itll take til you finally have the whole book. So of course the long books take longer. Some of the books I want to read are available so im thinking of just subscribing, let it accumulate and then start reading whenever I want. Some may even take a year..so far ive subscribed to Andrew Lang's  Essays In Little, which is this literary criticism bit on Victorian life through literature, people and so on. I havent started reading yet..should be good.

And ive also decided I shall hang around at bookstores and free read whenever I have time. Ive been doing that for Jekyll & Hyde. Finished around a third of it the other day. Sadly the only Mph that has it so far is Mid Valley so it might take time since I rarely go there..hopefully Times at Bsc has it!

I really just wish I could just read and read and not have to care for the world because id be too busy being in some other world which as flawed as it may be in its own way, would be a different world, and free of the pains of this world. I`ll just have to read about this sadly though..

Grudgingly Home

Greetings, beings of the land opposite to which I have been foraging upon for the past 10 days. Fear me, for I am full of intentions involving nothing but wreaking havoc upon the masses whom which ironically adore me. Such misplaced faith in the right place is what I call it.

That aside, I am back if you are unwilling to read the above or have interpreted it some strange manner. And I, like everyone else has during my absence, am wallowing, minus the fun, in the heat. Not that I cant take it, but an increase of around 20 degrees c of my regular air temperature is no laughing matter.

I will slowly unravel the threads of my trip over time, particularly when I feel like it. Ive been back for a few days and I havent even unpacked or uploaded the pictures I took with my camera. Ive had a bit of a homecoming, if you will. Forgive me, but I havent been away from home this long in around 5  years which is quite some time by my usual standards. I am hatching a plan to ensure this doesnt reoccur..

So so far ive : had a unwelcoming re-welcoming to Malaysian heat, the pleasant sound of my car's engine and the sight of uncivil road manners, 2 roti's from Nirwana which are clearly not enough, the sadness of a lack of non commercialized coffee which is nicer than Starbucks or Mamak and priced in between, had a 4 hour drive around Pj running errands, eating Wendy's for the first time in 5 years (apart from the week before I left), finished reading another book, be dismayed at the lack of anything to do, be puzzled why I refuse to sleep when I can, read a quarter of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde in Mph because im too cheap to buy the book (at least I choose to read shorter books than Catch-22 hint hint), make calls and sms which will be of normal price (I dont want to see my phone bill), experience an increase in appetite due to the portions of food id been accustomed to as of late, learn how painful 1 hour of workout can be after not a single minute of it for the past 2 weeks, find people not around when I want them to be, as well as how dreadful this semester's schedule is and the joys of Bunburying (to be explained).

Id love to say more but I need to go now. Led, Clement, Calv and who knows who else, are to be my accomplices later tonight at Devi's.

Btw, ive been reading everyone's touching things done, gifts gotten, expression of love, related to Mother's Day. And I realise, I dont think I wished my mom at all. I think I did but it was rather half-hearted..but its not my fault really.

In fact today is my sisters birthday. She 10 years older than me now I believe. Worryingly however is that my other brother's birthday is some time this month. I know the date is near the end of the month..I also have no clue how old he's turning. Evidently it must be older than my sister cause he's older than her and in between my eldest brother. Speaking of him, if I remember properly, he's the only one who wished me happy birthday! I think. My memory fails me on this topic. Another thing I cant remember is how long was it after my birthday he wished me. It was either 1 week, 10 days or 2 weeks after it. Impressive. It used to always be a day late.

 Is my family swell or what?

I never thought Id say this, but I miss Melbourne. More than Sydney in fact. Good heavens, whats come over me! I fear this will be used as firewood for those attempting to lure me there on a more permanent basis..