a very chee-fee-bai-fai day, but saved by a wonderful karaoke session

Yesterday was a betch.

I got in the office at 8:15 am and usual browsed the morning dailies. Didn't plan to splurge on any sinful mamak offerings for breakfast, so I had a Nestle yogurt, plain. But 15 minutes later, I had this stupid craving for paper thosai from the mamak at the food court. So I finally gave in to my epicurean affection for mamak breakfast. As soon as I finished my second breakfast with Ita and Cake, I bumped into my boss at the lift lobby. Alamak. Mesti dia ingat saya suka melepak kat mamak pagi2 sampai tak sedar diri.

As soon as I got to my "concubine", my boss buzzed me. Standard lah, dah nampak orang gi breakfast tadi, startlah dumping all sorts of shitty crap on me. (oh god, i said dump, shit and crap in one sentence). Then the tough questions came, anxiety, anxiety, anxiety.... A big event is coming up on the 1st of April and a lot of things still need to be ironed out. But as my boss, he sure as hell knows that there's no use in making me more anxious about things that are not done. Boleh tolong jangan bagi saya panic boleh tak? Nangis ni tau.

At 9:45 am I was still in my boss' room, having a discussion on a media release. I had a 10am at KLCC, so I was like ... "err.. can I go now.. cuz I have a meeting in like, 15 minutes?"

Boss: What time are you coming back to the office?

Me: Huh? When the meeting ends lah.

Boss: Ya, like what time?

Me: I wouldn't know, I'm not the one chairing the meeting!

Boss: So you're NOT planning to come back to the office? *smirking*

Me: Of course I'll come back la! Ok lah, I come back at noon. Sheesh.

Persetan. What kind of statement is that, "You're not planning to come back to the office?" Am I perceived as someone who likes to skive off work? I know I'm guilty of long lunches but hey what about the long hours that I've put in? I'm online 24/7 for him and I don't even have a BlackBerry. I will even reply his emails at midnite. In bed. Thank god I don't have a husband. Damn. Don't tell me any of that went unnoticed?

Oh the above was a non-event la actually. What happened after almost cost me my life! Well maybe not life la, but would've cost me a few hundred bucks at least.

After that, I happily drove like a law-abiding citizen to KLCC, as I got into Jalan Ampang (I was in the middle lane), right in front of Wisma MCA, a brown bus swerved into my lane, without even signalling, missing the front part of my car by a few inches. It was such a fcking close call ok. I swear to god if I had gone any faster. BAMMM!!

Kimax! Saya ingat itu adalah Metrobus driven by an Indon bastard, because that kind of psycho driving is so typical of Metrobus kan... Tapi rupa-rupanya.... OH.... tidak....

Right in front of me, in black letters at the back of the bus was "Fiat Sapientia Virtus".

This almost killed me.

Bladihell!

Are they out to get me? Suddenly I remembered this post that I had written about graduates of our so-called Eton of the East (barf barf, puke puke).

I got at the KL Convention Centre car park safe as sound, thank god. The open car park was full, as expected. So I drove to the side entrance to get to the basement car park and as soon as I got there this young chap was putting up the orange cones and a sign that says "Car Park Full". He said, "Akak kena parking kat Suria kak!"

To cut a long story short, I had a field day walking around KL Convention Centre and Suria in my 3-inch heels. And it wasn't Manolos, so my poor feet was just tortured to the max.

In a nutshell - sakit hati, almost mati, sakit kaki...

I thought the day couldn't be saved, but at night we had a fun karaoke session at where else until 3 in the morning. Me likey.

Thank you for saving my day.

my medina

I can still remember the day she was born, four years ago. The air-conditioner in the labour room went bust, and a thunderstorm was brewing outside. I was soaked in sweat and two nurses had to use old newspaper to kipas me, while another massaged my back to ease the labour pains. Medina came out right after 4 pm, after a duel with death. At least that's what it seemed to me at that time. Out of the three deliveries (all without epidural, ladies), Medina's was the hardest.

And ironically, growing up, she was the easiest one to take care of. She's an old soul, she's a nurturer - she'll make sure everything is in order, very Monicaesque, very independent, and you can take her just about anywhere. As long as you've got food and drinks in tow.

We celebrated Medina's birthday on election day, although her actual birthday was on the 4th of March, because that's the ONLY time that her busy mom is available. I'd like to thank Medina's Auntie Nazra for these beautiful shots:

She absolutely adores fried chicken. Or any other food for that matter lah. Just like her Mama.


She is the ULTIMATE Drama Queen, blessed with a flexible rubber face like Jim Carrey.

Unfortunaly, her younger brother, Yunus Aynaoui is such a terror typhoon. We had to sing two birthday songs, one for Yunus la, obviously. He believes that every birthday party he attends must be his. Egomaniac. Any baby shrinks out there?

Happy birthday, Madge!

i'm no politician but...

Please bear with me, since these are delusional, random notes and I'm under the influence of antihistamines, albeit in legal doses.

Today, we celebrate the political diversity in Malaysia, as BN suffered from its fall from grace.

I am, like the majority of the people in Malaysia, a victim of the skyrocketing prices of everything from petrol to flour to my favourite ice cream, Ben & Jerry's. (It was RM26 before, and now it's RM31.80 at Cold Storage)! Oh, oh, oh... and my favourite snack, Arnotts' Shapes used to sell for RM5.29 and now is more than 7 effing ringgit. And they say we should voted for the Opposition, because the current government is to be blamed for all this.

Well, I didn't vote, because I didn't register. But if I had, I would've voted for BN. Still. Why?

Well firstly, it's because I don't bite the hands that feed me. 5 years of scholarship in the States from a BN-led government meant a lot to me. And they didn't even force me to serve the country. I'm indebted, for life.

Number two is that, I'm a sucker for history and political legacy. Umno fought for the Malays, and I am a Malay. That's it. I feel the need to cling to something that preaches the unifying factor of being a Malay and the meaning of Malayness. And no, I am not a racist for saying this.

Number three is because I am a Johorean. This ties back to number two, but I feel that having lived and grow up in this state I feel blessed. I think the state is politically sophisticated and we have a balanced view of religion and secularism. Iyer, Aiz cakap orang Johor memang kerek. Where else can a politician whose sex video became public can walk around without having to fear of being judged by his vice? We embraced him for his strengths, and not his weakness (not literally, though. Did you guys see the video??? Dang!!).

But I must say that I'm truly dissapointed at how BN handled the whole campaigning process - putting iffy candidates in Selangor and KL (what were you thinking Sleepy???), complacency and sheer overconfidence (someone told me Budak Jawa was not even campaigning at Shah Alam), and just the lack of an ass-whooper in the party is truly sad.

Lepas tu, bila BN dah kalah in certain states, ada orang tu cakap, "Dah kalah, kalah la.. nak buat macam mana... (dengan loghat utara)"

The person who said that out to resign and be cast into oblivion.

Ouch.

recently, life's little pleasures

This slice of heaven at New World Hotel.

For the first time, soaking up the view from SkyBar on a rainy Sunday nite. With great company to match.

Trying on a Gap top at Pavilion on a working day lunch.

Donning a luxurious hotel bathrobe and putting my feet up on the sofa while watching Oprah.

CamWhoring 101

The reason for me to have my Fendi sunnies on all day - conjunctivitis. Or so the doctor says.

Test-driving this. Heheh.

inaugural leg of lamb nite

The lamb after 15 minutes in the oven.

Last Saturday, for the first time we devirginized Hana's oven in her new apartment... Heheh.. And it's also the first time that we made roast lamb for our Saturday dinner.

This post is dedicated to Aiz who couldn't come over for dinner. We're definitely going to have another round of lamb nite cuz Spena missed this one too.

Roasted leg of lamb with a medley of roasted leeks, mushrooms, potatoes and carrots!

I have very low self-confidence when talking about the dishes that I create but this lamb leg was sooooooo out-of-this-world good... As soon as I took it out of the oven I sliced a tiny piece and that it just tasted sooooooo gorgeous! And the gravy was just super - I used the pan drippings so it's all lamb juice. OK that sounded kinda gross, but believe me, the gravy was just as heavenly. It's a collaboration with Hana, though. I'm not taking all the credit here, okay.

We also had honey chicken wings (kena tipu dengan Giant sebab mixed with chicken wings ayam pencen). And we also made Konnyaku jelly for dessert - filled with chunks of dragon fruit, grapes and golden kiwi (kiwi yang berwarna gold gitewww).

Not many piccies taken cuz I forgot the cam. But just enough to make Aiz green with envy.

And yes, I will post the recipe on my recipe site very soon. After elections. Heheh. Oh Guile, will also do the tag very soon ya.

mummy meltdown

One evening, I came home to Yunus rummaging my undies drawer...

And Ali came back from school with a bruised lip...

Mummy meltdown.

MORE dinner with friends

As y'all know, my humble abode has been the venue for numerous dinners with the gang. I love having them, they love my food (I dunno why) and we'll just kick it and betch and betch and betch all nite. And sometimes Dalin4 will have her spa nites - egg white facials, free hair wash, etc. The past couple of weeks I've hosted two dinners - earlier was a Japanese-themed nite. And last weekend was my very own Curry Mee (or Curry Spaghettini, I should say) with gravy that's a hybrid of Nyonya laksa and Sarawak Laksa (back to my roots, ya?) and The Burger.

LAST WEEKEND AT CURRY SPAGHETTINI AND BURGER NITE...

Kmr our guest of honour got excited over The Burger...

Aiz, our other guest of honour can't take her eyes off The Burger... "Aiz! Aiz! Look at the camera, woman!"

Siap peace sign lagi pompuan nih.

They look so happy...

Must be something in the food...

Aiz stuffing her pretty li'l face.. NGAPPPP!!!

Thank you Aiz for the lovely pressies! Me likey this Victoria Secret My Desire body mist and lotion. It just smells so heavenly!!! Jasmine, grapefruit and (cant remember what). It just screams... EAT ME!!! And to the rest of the gang, please lah follow Aiz's dinner etiquette ok, come with pressies!!! Pressies!!!!!! Comprende? Not ice, not drinks, not desserts but ACTUAL GIFTS... er... RM50 and above please. Heheh.

TWO WEEKS BACK AT THE JAPANESE NITE

No kimono-clad geishas here ok. Give it a rest. On the menu were sushis, veggie tempura, chicken teriyaki, and mango-infused fruit konnyaku jelly. *drool*

Aznan my yo bro from South Bend, Indiana. Thanks dude, for fixing the table. But I think it still needs fixing so next time come fully equipped with your toolbox, ok!

These tiny morsels were tres delicieux!!!

We had a variety of rolls - spicy tuna, crabstick, omelette, cucumber, even chicken teriyaki!

Spena rollin' it... Err... it's harder than it looks this sushi-making thingy. I restricted myself to making the chicken teriyaki and helping out the new bibik (jgn marah Ojarre) with the tempura-frying.

I have a feeling the Grilla's gonna get fired up again this weekend. Cheers amigos!!!!