20051231

He Managed

The trip last night took a mere 6 hours and 20 minutes, excluding one brief stop. No toll was involved, thus it's full-fledged challenging. Nothing uneventful happened, I'm utmost pleased to say. The ride was basically well flowing.

I was worried something might break, but STELLAR managed well. We had a small break after 300km of non-stop driving at a Petronas just before Club Med Cherating, for prayers and drink.

Arrived at around 8.30pm or something and finally had my full meal called luncher (lunch dinner). Had only a kebab before the trip, just after my Friday prayers, so there.

20051230

Colour Confusion

When you read this, I will probably have reached Kuantan or something.

I will head to Terengganu after today's Friday prayers.

The painting of STELLAR will probably commence next week. To be done by dearest Pak Su. I will pick him up three weeks later. That's my budgeted time anyway.

Will be back on Wednesday, although I'll might already arrived to Putrajaya by flight on Tuesday.

I'm actually feeling quite nervous looking forward to this trip. It's been a while since STELLAR went for a long distance run.

He still looks stunning in black. But the stickers are somewhat off-putting. Hehe.

But I realised, eventually he will need his coat of paint anyway.


PS: Believe it or not, I'm still open to options on the colour. But I guess blue is good.

20051228

Anuar Zain - Sesucinya Cintamu

Dapat ku membayangkan
Dari senyum bibirmu itu
Terlindung dari nyata
Aku tahu semua
Terucap kata-kata
Bisikan seluhur hatimu
Ku percaya jua
Sesucinya cintamu

Kukagumi sinar
Matamu yang ayu
Bundarnya... Cantiknya...
Wajahmu sayang penyejuk rasa
Selembut hatimu
Menjadi ku bertambah sayang

Senangnya hati kini
Sejak bersamamu
Bertemu dan bermesra
Sering menghibur duka
Biar masa berlalu
Kasih sayang dipahatkan
Ku percaya suci cintamu


PS: Muzaffar's crazy with this song, especially when he saw the glamorous 3 year old girl tries to imitate Anuar Zain.

20051226

Malaysian Times Square

Took Muzaffar and his mom to Berjaya Times Square today, finally.

It's supposed to be my promise to her, when the building finally opens to public.

Since I am very comfortable with some of the public transport around the metropolis, I might as well use them, while Muzaffar can adapt as well.

In fact, Muzaffar adapt too well, that he refuses our request to disembark the Monorail by shouting on top of his lung "Tanaaaak!"

Most of the time at Times Square, he wants either of us to carry him, rather than him walking on his own. It quickly tires the better of us.

We watched Baik Punya Cilok, starring Afdlin Shauki. Halfway through the movie, Muzaffar was already doing a runaround in the cinema hall and touching stuffs. I was so embarrassed, but his mom told me, it's better that way than being held up and screaming. After countless negotiations, he retreated and receives his treat, and slept. That 15 minutes before the film ended seemed so peaceful.

After the movie, we went runaround ourselves. Then it's time to eat, and we chose the very expensive Rasa Utara. Felt so not worth the price. And the food is way better elsewhere.

After the prayers, we saw some roller coaster action. Me and Muzaffar's mom intend to ride it someday, without Muzaffar around. Hehe.

Close to 4pm, we retreated back home, stopping first at Alamanda to buy households.

That ends another tiring day for all three of us.

20051221

A Day With Son

Muzaffar is not well. He have a very bad sore throat.

Took leave today to take care of him. He's very unpredictable. But I think he's doing ok.

Gave him a quarter spoon of Manuka Honey two times, and I guess it made the throat a little easier.

One funny thing was, after our lunch of chicken rice, I planned to walk him at the vicinity of Masjid Putrajaya. But as soon as we arrive, he's already napped. So we went back home to ease his sleep. That was around 12.40pm.

At 4.15pm, 2 hours after he woke up, he felt the need to do outing again. So again we went out, this time at the park nearby. And for an hour, I waited.

While taking photos of him with my new "sports camera", he fell down the swing. Lucky he broke the fall with his hands. I think he's ok, hopefully. Maybe his hands got tired. Or so I think. I guess it's time to quit the park. But not for him. He nagged to sit back on the swing.

He screamed and I thought I was an artist already from the shortlived attention we get. I was hoping his mother was already home, which was a loud 10 minutes later. And we went to Alamanda to buy him a cheap new television. Phew, he's tuned down.

What a day! The illness surely made him more grumbly.

20051220

Almost A Sports Camera

Finally got the famous Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. Found it at Fotoflash in Berjaya Times Square today. Thanks to Citibank customer service for helping me here and there.

It costs me a bit more than I assumed, but I guess it's a small increase. And I got a camera bag, a tiny tripod, and bits and pieces of small gifts too.

One thing about this camera, the shots are fast! It's flawless, and seemed SLRish. And I love the 12x optical zoom range.

I should really enjoy using it. Especially so since Muzaffar can't stand still at all. The fast autofocusing might snap most of him in action.

Journey - Open

Girl, oh you came to me,
Touched my life
Girl, how you sheltered me,
Touched my life

It's the joy, you gave to me,
when I was on my own, alone

Girl, your lips touching mine,
Ooh so fine
Girl, softly touching me,
Ooh so fine

She's the smile in my heart that sings,
It's a song for you again

Ooh, she opened up the door,
She made my life once more,
Yes she opened

Yeah, she opened up the door,
Made my life once more,
Yeah you opened


PS: Very touching classic circa 1978. Genius band.

20051218

Total Confusion

One thing about shopping complexes such as Sungei Wang Plaza is, you tend to get confused easily.

Add lots of crowd to that crampy place, and it becomes even more confusing.

Add another connected building to it (the BB Plaza), and it's becomes an endless confusion.

I do not intend to enter KL with STELLAR, so I look around near Tun Sambanthan for the supposed monorail station, which I found. And it was a breeze.

At first, I intend to disembark at Berjaya Times Square (my first time). But instead, I felt better thinking about Sungei Wang Plaza. So I delayed one stop.

Guess what!? I found the camera I wanted, the Panasonic FZ5, at around 1600rm at Boeing Electronics. The larger FZ20 is offered at around 1900rm. I guess the smaller one IS THE ONE.

But I guess I can find it at a Citibank friendly outlet. I should try KLCC next week.

20051217

Outing

Today's a tiring outing day for us three.

Apart from Pekan Meru, we went to about 4 shopping complexes in Klang area.

First was Klang Parade.

Then it was Bukit Raja Mall.

Then it was Centrepoint.

The last one I can't really tell, was it Plaza MPK, the one across Centrepoint.

I guess it's too tiring I can't continue writing.


PS: Muzaffar seems heavy today. Or was I holding him too much? My back hurts.

20051215

Toto - How Does It Feel

Morning's here
I feel so far away
It seems like I felt this before

All alone
Sun burns my skin
I can't live with pain anymore

And with you on my mind
Thinking of all that we've said
Were they just words
We'll live to regret
Why won't you stay?

How does it feel
To make me fall apart
Could this be love
Or just a broken heart

How do you feel
When you see me cryin' again

Times have changed
Is love at an end?
What makes us wonder why?

Rearranged
Just pretend
I can't stand the thought of goodbyes

And with you on my mind
Thinking of all that we've said
Were they just words
We'll live to regret
Why won't you stay?


PS: Accidentally sung this number after my MP3 player died of battery exhaustion this morning.

20051212

This Morning

Mini engines are heavy. They need all the oil they can get. And the carburettor needs warming up too. So before moving off, I usually will prime the engine a bit with oil, and the carburettor with fuel, for a minute or two.

I usually use my MWalker MP3 player in the car. Since the engine are way noisy, I need more than just a radio and speaker in my car. And rather than spending so much on audio, it's better having a small but audible small unit with earphone.

The drive today was pleasant, albeit surprising. I was expecting to be late, as I had to stop at BP for 20 dollars of fuel. And I really wonder where are all the traffic, especially at the usually jam-packed Pandan Indah stretch was? I was driving at 105kph at that stretch today, where I usually crawl at 5kph. And I managed to spent only 40 minutes on the road. And I arrive before time.

Logged in and out, and then went to Projet to get my free copy of The Sun, and two nasi lemak. Felt hungrier today I guess.

20051210

Was Our Home

Went to a small family get-together at my brother Safwan's apartment today.

Since it is our previous home, I feel so familiar with it.

The smell of the cupboard, the KL sight, the kitchen dimness, all comes back to me.

Muzaffar got two new toys. My non-operating radio-controlled Subaru Imprezas are his now. To throw, push, shove and play, at his expense.

But I feel he wants my model Ford Escort Cosworth more than the two bigger cars.

Then we head to Seremban. We will attend to two weddings tomorrow, one at Jasin, another at Kuala Pilah.

20051208

Def Leppard - Everyday

I gave in when you gave out
You showed me the way to love, there ain't no doubt
Always together and never apart
Disappeared, didn't say a word
I slept right through, guess I never heard
Now I'm awake but I wish I was dreamin'

Everyday, without you in my heart
Everyday, I'm falling apart
And I know you know I think about you everyday

I woke up and you were gone
Just one night without you, it's too long
Sleepin' with the ghost of you
Dyin' with or without you
Don't wanna feel this way tomorrow

Everyday, without you in my heart
Everyday, I'm falling apart
And I know you know I think about you everyday

Don't know what you got until it's gone

Everyday, everyday, without you in my heart
Everyday, I'm falling apart
And I know you know I think about you
Everyday, till I see you again
Everyday, I'll try to pretend
But I know you know I think about you
Everyday, out of my head, I've been dazed and confused
Everyday, I'm lost but it's you that I don't want to lose
Everyday, we're torn to giving ourselves to each other


PS: Announcement to all Cruwy members! This is to be included in our staple song.

20051206

Sweat And Blood.

Went to Alamanda today, expecting to see Tamiya heaven. To no avail. I guess the Toycity at Mines will be my next attempt. Can't wait to at least see the Tamiya Mini.

By the way, I was hypersweating before I even entered Toycity. I feel like helping somebody change the flat tyre of their BMW. Only thing was, one of the nuts makin' me nuts!

It's too tight, all I did failed. Other three nuts was easy enough. In case you are asking about the fifth nut (7 series BMW have 5 nuts each wheel), I haven't tried. They keys to the 'locknut' are not found yet.

I really hoped any wheel nuts that I might encounter in the future was tightened just nice, so that in an emergency, anyone as old as the 'uncle' who owned this particular BMW, can do the wheel change without assistance.

20051205

Nyum Nyum

Since I cannot further my drumming hobby at home, I might as well look elsewhere for an alternative hobby.

R/C, short for radio-control, which have long been a hidden favorite of mine, should be a good alternative to start.

I plan to grab a Tamiya radio-controlled Mini Cooper.

It looks yummy, and I guess me and Muzaffar might fight over the controls of this car soon enough.


20051203

More Than A Car

STELLAR is more than just a daily-driver. It is also my hobby, diner, studio and racer. And a Mini being a daily-driver is really a rare occurence.

Him as a hobby is when it comes to driving and maintaining. I don't usually maintain all aspects of it. Mostly basic stuffs like checking and simple repairs. But most of the time, I treat it as a hobby when I drive it. The cornering, the acceleration, the stunts. As a hobby, it tends to be an expensive one. Maintenance by a third party is one of the things that matters to make this a prolonged hobby. It's an old car, so I would expect to give more TLC. And even more if I drive it to the limits.

As a diner, I regularly eat food in it. And it's not just about any bite-sized tidbits. It includes rice and other staple food, usually in the poisonous styrofoam container (it's still easier than plastic all the time). And the spoon will move while I'm on the straights, or at a traffic light. And he witnessed me eating chocolates everytime.

STELLAR is also a recording/vocal studio. Sort of. I always sing in it. And sometimes, you can see me playing air drums, air bass, or even air guitar, not to mention air singing (singing while holding an invisible mic and stand). And it's always full-fledged singing, falsetto or real voice, and trying very hard to do everything they do.

Current sing-along favorites:
L.A. Guns - Never Enough
Mariah Carey - Someday

It's a quick racer too, though I doubt I will outrun most cars. Usually I love tailing people, instead of outrunning them. At least I won't get embarrassed my mind said I lost. First gear and second gears are good enough, though at third and fourth, I can only get moderate pick-up.

I plan to race it someday. When expenses permits, and more go-faster mods are done. Drag race, motorkhana, hill climb and rally are some of the options.

I guess STELLAR will stay in my life for quite a while.

20051201

Love vs Care

While sending my boss to KLIA today, we talked about something confusing yet intriguing.

Which is better, to love or to care?

He said, most people recognize love. But those that do, rarely recognize care as well.

He also said, being in love doesn't mean you care. But it's different when it comes to being caring. This means, to care is better than to love, as when you care, you treat your cared-ones better. This differs to being in love, which sometimes means to take your loved-ones for granted.

It's an unfamiliar place for me, talking about care, when all I have heard about, is regarding love. But for me, love itself has a loose or vague meaning to it.

And what's the case for me? Do I usually love someone, or do I care for someone? I don't know. I haven't reached that far in myself just yet. I just spend my time day to day doing the routines.

But deep inside me, I think I have not cared enough, especially to my wife and son. Of course I think I loved them, but I don't think I cared enough. It's simply a feeling inside me that said so.