rechallenged the addiction

Easy as it be, a blog, but not when constantly someone (often close friends) has something to crticise about.

“The text too small”, “Why more picture than writing?”, “Boring layout”, “Boring writing”, “Boring, boring, boring”… Just what do reader want from a blogger. And why do a blogger even bother about what others say. It’s supposedly to be critically personalized that has a go-f*ck-yourself-if-you-don’t-like-what-you-read label.

Carol recently suggested that I should start up a food blog, seeing that I bitch more about the exquisiteness of extra waistline, but I shouldn’t do so in my existing blog, as ChasingCharlie sounds too plaintive. I am not so convince with the idea of managing another blog when I hardly have time for just one. Maybe that will happen when I am jobless. But then I will be bitching about being unemployed rather than how does the cheese cake taste.

Q&Q Cafe, Klang

It features some unique dishes, like the one I had - Almond Chicken. And they also serve escargot! Although they also have fries ice-cream; not entirely sure it is fries with ice-cream or fried ice-cream.

Arrio’s Coffee Bar, Sunway Pyramid

The picture doesn’t quite add up to the real taste of the food. The turkey sandwich actually tasted better thanhow it was presented. Refreshing banana chocolate freeze for a long & warm day.

Robert Harris Cafe, 1 Utama (New Wing)

Sometimes beautiful packaging isn’t necessary worth it.

Charms Cafe, 1 Utama (New Wing)

A weird combination of tom yam and spaghetti.

Om Cafe, Pusat Bandar Damansara

I guess at times hunger does affect one’s selection. I didn’t even bother to look further into the menu as it was lunch at three in the afternoon.

Pizza Uno Restaurant & Bistro, Ampang

Always promisingly uplifting…

There’s no more good service in Malaysia and I couldn’t agree more. However Arrio’s and Q&Q Cafe did gave me unexpected service comparable to their more expensive counterparts, with friendly and attentive staff. While Robert Harris couldn’t even offer me serviette and with staff who behaves as if I just turned her boyfriend gay, or could well be that she had terrible period and simply took the angst out on others. I could truly tolerate with Om Cafe for not offering serviette as it was clearly stated from the begining that no service charge is taken out of their customers’ pocket, ordering is done at the counter and what-not is self-service. Pizza Uno does have impressive staff who simply knew when to approach their customer with order and later with the bill without having their customers pulling off their hands and necks. And Charms has to be less-charming with foreign staff who doesn’t even speak the common languages of Malaysia (Malay, English).

While services in food industries gone downward, I for once am responding to my feedback, at least in accomodating those who love eating but on a freezy diet and those who don’t even know how to adjust the text size on their browser.

This morning I got a call from a friend. He has moved to UK for work/study last year. I’ve always admired people who have the guts and drives to just get out of the country and do what they want. Actually he didn’t call me first. I contacted him about my recent project out of sheer urgency, but he didn’t answer. Then he called back today thinking and his first word was “Happy Birthday”.

I had my birthday last month and he is so nyanyuk (lost). As punishment for trying to remember my birthday and failed miserably but still going to the belated wishes, that just ultimately going to cost him something. He’ll be returning to M’sia in November and has promised to bring me something.

Three things I don’t want for present: 1. Photo frame (mine are digitally stored and exhibited) 2. T-shirt (don’t bother, you will never get my size right) 3. Coin box (I know I am bad with savings, but you don’t have to be so obvious)

Three things I don’t mind getting*: 1. Food/Snack (as meaningless as some people think of perishable stuff, i actually remember them more than the photo frame collecting dust in the drawer) 2. Book (since I am neither physically nor financially attractive enough, then I might else well boost my intelligence) 3. Watch (i’d be punctual most time, but that’s not the reason I want another watch for my ankles)

*hint for Chong in UK…

Clearly it was my fault. An irreversible mistake, like cooked can never be uncooked, as simple as that. Even if the source is identified and removed, it has an indirect link to remind its existence.

I believe I’ve loved a person so much that it hurts to love myself.

A relationship. An endurance. A challenge. Or a few challenges. will the distance be extended? Is there a pit-stop? Is the an end point? Is there a winner?

Am I afraid of losing? As little as I wanted to admit, insecure to stay and handicap to move. Be it rewarding, I did the opposite. Be it confining, I did the unanticipated.

I hate to do this. I hate to say it to your face. You have unresolved issue. With your identity. With yourself. Deal with it or seal this start. Physically I am developing. Mentally I am exhausting.

Maybe the found has lost. Or maybe the lost has never been found.

I need a compass!

Recap of what was up over the weekend…

Early dinner and drinking at TSB on Friday…

Not another kopitiam? I believe we have enough already.

Dinner cum supper, while doing a last minute presentation. It has been awhile since I had instant noodle, probably 2 or 3 years back.

Lunch at the little Japanese restaurant at Sentul West…

Some shots of KLPAC…

Food and giveaway (I’m just holding it for someone, and I don’t use make-up)…

Dinner and movie (still couldn’t believe myself watching it after commenting about it last week; not very exciting indeed). 

Happy Mother’s Day

Unlike others’ moms / You knew me well enough to get ready for school / That I like making my own sandwiches / The compact ride would help to develop my social circle / That I would have time management / Unlike others’ moms / You trusted my intelligence and maturity / Never doubted my independence / Not expecting too much from me / Is the support and freedom you gave / And somehow it helped my growth  / Unlike others’ moms / You gave me space to explore my own disciplinary / And I did learnt

……

No trade will I do / Mom does not come in perfect packaging, labeling, and pricing / But unlike other’s moms / I am glad you are my mom

……

I realized that listing down the bad traits of you is tougher compare to the good ones / Will it be the same when you list down the traits of your sons?

……

Every second week of the month May / It should be rosy and cozy for mothers / But think about the envious dads / They have to wait a whole month until theirs / And even then they are not getting the same attention / Hence I am making it special for both of you

……

Unlike others’ dads / You worked distance away when I was younger / I counted one or two of my birthdays you were not around / Only a card with your scribbles / Never around to teach me shaving or play hockey or driving / Unlike others’ dads / You never have heart-to-heart talk with me / Almost never… / Expressing how I felt about the man who expressed so little could be difficult / And word is not what I lost / But a father I wanted to get familiarized with / Unlike others’ dads / You don’t have a business to pass down / For me to fall back on if I don’t make the cut in life

Happy Father’s Day

Unlike others’ dads / You knew how a book could made my day / Or how the card I’ve kept all these years would do / And how much a little boy loves traveling / To see his father after so long / An electric shaver for me / Than having bleed myself from doing so / Or getting hurt with the rough game / You’ve already pictured / And you did cared / Unlike others’ dads / You being at home has been more of a blessing for me / Even though I know how much you like your work / Seeing you doing the crossword in the papers / Hearing you vacuuming high and low the living room / Tasting the tapioca you’ve planted over the months / Smelling the tom yam that didn’t turned out right / Touching the walls in my bedroom that we’ve painted before I left / I knew your expression is through action more than words / Unlike others’ dads / You recognized I would succeed in life no matter what / And gave me the opportunity to venture what I like doing

Happy Parent’ Day…

Love

Son, the breed of Mom and Dad

Nasi lemak - some like to mix the gravy (sambal) with the rice before taking their first spoon, while some like it spoon by spoon without mixing.

Burger - some like to eat the pattie and bread separately, while some do so in unison, and some throw away the bread and only eat the pattie.

A protein-only diet… WTF…

Apparently my friend decided to be on protein diet for a week, by separating the turkey ham from the pizza. It just proves how far poeple go to simply lose a couple of pounds.

Ketosis, is refers to as a metabolic advantage to weight loss. Often it was observed as a control panel for diabetes and hypoglycemia. In simplified term, by increasing the level of ketosis above the normal (80-110), it gives the body greater opportunity to burn sugar (glucose) and breakdown the fatty tissue (or stubborn fats).

Warning: With liquid protein diet (The Last Chance Diet, 1976), in which at least 50 people died due to heart failure through fibrillation. By inducing low-carb-low-fat diet, a person loses muscle mass in every body parts, including the heart which eventually gives up.

The first impression of it was, ‘not another HongKong Cha Can Ting’, with a dodgy promotional discount on ice lemon tea with every set meal. Usually I am not easily impressed with such concept of Kim Gary and the like. Yet this was somehow similar in many aspects, and different in some. Wrice features rice as its specialty. I know, it’s very banal to begin with.

After sitting through for like twn minutes, i felt claustrophobic… by the items in the restaurant. From furnitures to decor to the glass my ice lemon tea was served in - stapled with the four letter word. Nothing close to F*** or S***. Does IKEA sounds familiar? I swear to you that I was about to search for a catalogue under the table!

Even with the over-exposed single-brand itemization, it was nonetheless as soothing atmosphere to sit in, with enough lighting for a cam whore and a head-to-toe critic. Sadly, with the knowledge of malaysia’s weather, they tend to forget how slippery it can get with tiles when it rains. Maybe the tiles is there for a reason - so that at least if you can’t sue the quality of food, you can sue for physical injury.

A pleasant service with unexpected recommendation - the lady who took our order was at least enthusiastic about her work (which is very rare here). We managed to get through the complex menu (which reminded me of a tough exam paper) and gotten our dishes quite soon after.

Food came. Pictures taken (just in case of food poisoning, for documenting purposes). And stomach working extra hard (to digest down the not-so-well-cooked rice). Yes, they can’t even get their specialty right, hence i rather not go on with the rest of the dishes.

I knew the tiles come in handy. Just too bad it didn’t rain that evening.

With that, the next probably would rate much weight in terms of quality (and i must say so in quantity too), but not so with consistency in standard (food and services). Madam Kwan’s prepares nyonya style with an affirmative class.

And then MI:3… a multiple orgasm, intense yet passionate, unbelievable stunts yet not too exaggerating. At least the ending was not like what I thought would be - a white wedding for Tom and Keri. Or maybe it was supposed to be that, but surely the real Mrs Cruise wouldn’t have any of it.

And what is up with Poseidon? GSC Midvalley was having tight security check for its premier, with guards and scanning devices, and what more a counter to temporary confisticate any recording devices (handphones, video or camera). It appeared to be more of a marketing scheme rather than worrying about the special preview being sold at Petaling Street the next day. And since I was watching MI:3, I not only got to keep my camera, but got a shot of the pre-drama of Poseidon.

It’s a wrap!

Mom called the other day, asking me the usual “apa macam?”, “when coming back?”, and “enough M* or not?”

As a good son, “good”, “not sure lah, have to see when can take leave”, and “still boleh makan”.

Chorus: Blah, blah, blah.

Dad came on the line, repeating the questions.

(Kindly refer to line two)

Chorus

End.

*M - money, not men!

~~~~~~~~~~ roughly >5000 minutes ~~~~~~~~~~

Dad called today.

(Repeat line one and two from above)

Chorus

Mom took over.

With the TV on, while talking to me on the phone, she would often be distracted by the awesome cooking of Jamie Oliver, or the glamor talkshow of Oprah Winfrey, or the exotic traveling of Ian Wright. And leaving me collecting my thoughts and trying to guess whether she was replying me or expressing her diverted interest.

It is impressive how patience I’ve developed over the years of being a recording machine. But only that plays a song-like rhythm.

End.

Distance. Financial. Accessibility. Time. Are these reasons?

Miles can be shortened. Money can be earned. Mode can be located. Minute can be extracted. These are excuses.

These can be replenished. But parent can’t.

Yes, they are on my speed-dail list. At least I got the advantage of making the call before they do the next round.

Yesterday while cleaning my place, broke my new glasses AGAIN… seriously, why God has to make me wear them when he knows that all I do is break them.

It is only one-month old. I can already hear my optometrist says: “told you so, to have a plastic one instead of glass”.