Random Thoughts of a Lioness

The reward of conformity was that everyone liked you, except yourself.

This is me. Like it or not. 'I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions' - Dorothy Day, 1952

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Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

No, I am not going to Sesame Street Live *although I would love to - Hint! Hint!* but I am going to pull an Oscar to grouch on a few things:

1) This is the third time I am putting up this post. First time - the computer hanged. Then, I accidentally kicked the on/off button. Hope there won't be a Strike Three *crossing fingers*.

2) My butt got molested on the LRT.

It was Friday, not-so-early-in-the-a.m. The train was full, but not packed. So, when it came into the station, I managed to squeeze in and got myself a rather comfortable spot in front of the door. It was kinda close to the Indian/Bangladeshi guy nest to me, but not THAT close that he could encroach into my personal space. Train moved, I felt something grazing my ..err..behind. Looked back and saw the guy had this muka sposeng as if nothing happened. Riiight..maybe it was by accident. Continued reading my paper. Train stopped and moved again. And oops, there goes the hand again, finding its way to 'accidentally' brush my rear end. It happened once more before I turned back to confront him. Unfortunately, he too realise he had been 'caught' and moved further away. I got a seat by then, and continued glaring at him from afar until he alighted in Dang Wangi. Of all nerves! Not that he cared though. He was already eyeing the lady in short skirt walking in front of him. Ladies beware - our LRT are now filled with perves.

3) No Strudels for me for a month.

Still Friday - lunch time. As most people in the City Centre are aware, Friday afternoon usually means long lunch hours and rushing to the most relaxing establishment to get good tables. Craving for grilled fish, Leez dragged me to Strudels. In my attempt to not have carbo *not that it's working!*, I ordered the grilled lamb minus the potatoes. The order was placed at 1257 hours. We sat down and talked.

1315 hours: The ladies who were behind me at the counter got their grilled fish. We called the waitress and she said our food was on the way. Oookaaay.

1330 hours: The girl who just sat in front of our table got her pasta. Not good. Called the waiter and complained. He said he'd check up on our order. A good five minutes later, he came out and mumbled something about the lamb not being fresh and I could order something else. And you tell me this after 35 minutes?! Told him off and demanded for a refund. He had to cheek to refund only my meal, and asked us to wait another five bl***y minutes for Leez's fish. Told him to get the full amount and eat the fish himself.

Lunch on Friday: Junior Whopper and Salmon Burger, and a couple of mozzarella Sticks. To hell with the diet.

4)Don't you just hate when people try to cram into the train even when they see it is already packed like s can of sardines?

It was half past five, on a Monday. Train was almost full, but Mr. Smiley and I managed to get some space - him by the door, and me at the corner near him. Kampung Baru, more people came in and no one went out. Mr. Smiley looked as though he was pinned to the door. Second stop, more people came in. Including this rather horizontally challenged lady with a humongous bouquet of roses. I was pushed further into my corner.

Masjid Jamek, a flux of bodies were stuck at the door. Some coming in, some going out. By this time, the train was already overflowing with people. A millisecond before the door closed, a couple were pushing their way into the train. They managed to step on more than a couple of toes. Grumbles were heard, but the boyfriend (I assume, since I saw no rings)just held tight to his other half and glared at everyone in the train who dared say anything. Where was I during all these? Squashed like a dung beetle at the corner. I guess if I was a bunch of grapes, you could already get half a jug of wine! We could FINALLY breathe after reaching Central.

I am not even gonna start on the encounters with the Crazy One. And it is only Tuesday *BIG SIGH*.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

A Walk Down Memory Lane - Takdok Api

The house had a blackout last night. Lucky for me though, since I was out visiting Mak Ngah. By the time I got home, Jiji was outside pushing Nanum on the stroller to put her to sleep. Fat chance! She was as hyper as a bumble bee, sleep being the last thing on her list. Inside, the house was filled with candles and battery-operated spotlights. The little one had a blast blowing the candles when the lights came back at half past eleven!

It reminded me of 'takdok api' (no lights) nights we had back home when we were little. Mama would lit the candles only for the living room and kitchen, since all of us will camp there. If the blackout happens before 8 o'clock, we would have a candlelight dinner *even if it is only nasi butter kicap and ikan celup tepung!* After dinner, we would all proceed to the living room for the hand-puppet show. Abang and I would try to outdo each other with the best hand puppets. Since yours truly only knows how to do a bird, a monster and a dog, he usually won hands down. T was normally our main audience, although Mama and Aboh did join sometimes.

At times, the blackout would last for hours. Bored of our hand puppets and telling ghost stories, we would go out to play at the yard. It was always cooler outside. Although not for long, as we would soon start playing tol patung or tol duduk. In these tol games, one will chase others until they are tired. Once the 'chaser' caught up with them, the person being touched must either freeze like a patung (statue or mannequin) or duduk cokoh (sit or squad down). They have to stay this way until one of the other 'chasees' touch you back to unfreeze you. Either that, or when all have been frozen, the first one to be frozen will turn to become the next chaser. The more people playing, the merrier. There are other rules to this game, but maybe in some other posts. Tol nusut (hide and seek) however, is a no no at night for the fear of being hid by ghosts and ghauls or other makhluk halus lurking about.

Usually the electricity would be back by the time we got tired of tols too. But the few times it didn't, we would all sleep in the living room. After a looong bath to stay cool throughout the night, and of course - a ridsect spray handy to get rid of the mosquitoes.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Raya's over, bring on the New Year!

Here I am..back at being a corporate slave. Good thing is - bosses are still on leave. Not so good news is - am down with a killer migrane since yesterday. Was very close to getting an MC when I remembered I had a meeting at 0930 hours. And guess what - meeting was postponed. *sheesh*

Since am already planning to take a few days off next month, guess I better save my not-so-many annual leaves. *double sheesh*

Aaaanyway, enough whining. Raya was ..well.. interesting. Had my first raya with buster's family which started on Raya eve itself. Went to Daddy's kampung to visit his parents' grave and had iftar in the old family house. Took back several kinds of Javanese-style food for raya morning. First time I had ketupat with ayam masak kicap and kekel masak lemak (and chicken feet in some yellow gravy). Back in Bangsar, BW was already cooking Nasi Tomato and brought back some Ayam Kuzi from her mother's. Nyum.. My task : to clear the fridge to put all the scrumptious food in. Managed to do well after finishing Jiji's jelly and some leftover chocolate cake. *lion3ss hangs head in shame*

Raya morning saw me going for prayers in the mosque nearby. Apart from the Mak Datins dressed to the nines, there are also loads of foreign workers also in their colourful raya garbs. The only thing was that I barely knew anyone. It was quite a sad moment for me as I remember the sembahyang raya in the small surau back in Terengganu. Everyone knew everyone, and new faces are welcomed as family. Probably if Mummy Dah was around it would be slightly different.*sigh*

Went back to kampung again after prayers, where I had my first experience of his family's salam raya. It was fun and different, as they have a huge family. Everyone was in line from the eldest to the youngest..just like in TV! More food, and that evening we stopped by to see Wan. Mak Chik had Nasi Dagang and ketupat palas!! *lion3ss feels her tummy expanding!*

Second day of raya saw us driving to Johor to visit Mummy Dah's side of the family. Saw her old house..and got myself RM9 sandals. The drive to KLIA after that was an adventure. Although we started early, the jam from Alor Gajah all the way back to KL had us racing against the clock. Since the flight was for 1635 hours, we had only four hours. Buster took the emergency lane almost half of the journey (we are still waiting in anticipation for the summons) and made it to the airport at 1620 hours. Talk about cutting it close! And the buying the sandal was the best decision I made since I don't think I could've made it with my heels!

Raya in Terengganu was as relaxing and festive as ever. Less friends coming this year though, since most of them are away at their in-laws. Had different food everyday - Nasi Telur, Nasi Dagang, Nasi Kapit, Nasi Carrot, etc, etc. Went back to Besut on the 4th day to visit Ki's grave and a few aunts there. The house looks a bit rundown since the last time we were there though *sigh*. Managed to 'tan' myself cleaning the fish pond on our last day in KT *rolls eyes*.

Coming back to work is a drag. Office is still quite empty, but the post-raya momentum is really slow. Hope it picks up soon. Time being, shall distract myself by home decorating. With hints from almost everyone, guess I WILL be having the house warming soon..probably in stages. Don't think I can fit in everybody in one sitting! Any takers? *Err..Gemini - you don't have to gate crash!*

Btw, thanks for the warm wishes for raya. To all six (or is it five?) readers I have - hope you had an equally wonderful raya! *Yes, Bro - it includes you too!*

*Note to self: Start jogging and dieting (huh, what?!) this week. Aim: To fit into that lilac kebaya for Ash's wedding.*

Friday, November 12, 2004

To err is human, to forgive divine..

It is the time of the year again when we celebrate after a month of devoting ourselves to Him.
*That plus to celebrate with more and more food - yummy!*

Also the time we seek (and give) forgiveness. So, for those I have wronged in my life - please accept my sincere apologies from the bottom of my heart. Sometimes, things happen and before you can even think - you end up hurting the people you care about most.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

May everyone have a blessed Syawal and a terrific time with your loved ones.

Love: lion3ss

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

If not for NSL's disco music, you can almost hear a pin drop in here.

Looks like I'll be looking after the office on Friday since everyone else is already on leave. They say when the cats are away.. *evil laugh*

But since Friday is another workng day, shall be updating then before I go for my leave. Hopefully..since the crazy one has been drawing up endless lists of things-to-do while she is gone. *Which is only next week - the same as most of us too! Pfft!*

Wishing all those who are celebrating the Festival of Lights a Happy Deepavali!!

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

A Walk Down Memory Lane - Malam Tujuh Likur

Before you know it, next week is already hari raya. The slightly sad news is that this is my first raya with Buster's family - in KL. *sob* That and the fact that Wan will also be in KL..hence non of the aunts/uncles/cousins are going back to good ol' KT. The good news is we got the super-saver tickets to go home on the second day of raya *lion3ss doing a small victory dance*.

I remember the week before raya back home years ago. Family coming back one car after another to celebrate it with Wan. The house would feel so festive, and lively. Mercuns (firecrackers?) and bunga api (sparkler) were in abundance then. On the first Malam Tujuh Likur, we would light the fence with pelita seposeng se, which can be bought in a bundle of ten at Pasor Chabang Tiga. That's where we usually get our supplies of mrecung kattok (frog), mrecung tebuang (bumblebees), mrecung ayang (chickens), mrecung bunga (lotus) and of course, the ever famous King Cat bunga api. The more advanced one were usually supplied by the cousins, all the way from the west coast. As the house used to have a chainlink fence, we had pelita on almost every inch of it! I can even remember the smell of the gasoline soaked sumbu being lighted.

After terawikh was the time when all us kids will line up in front of the supervising adult (usually Aboh or Pok Ngoh) to get our ration of bunga api. We used to write our names on air and try to come up with the nicest creations. Some of the boys would plant the used sparkler on the ground, much to the dismay of the aunties in sarong. Yup, many of them ended up with sarongs with holes.

When the time came for the mercuns, the elder cousins would have the honours to light them up. I hated the mrecung tebuang as it lived up to its name. It would fly a la bumble bees and if you are not careful, it could end up in your hair. *Thank goodness non of us had Alleycats hair!* The finale was usually those stick-like cannon balls fireworks or what we used to call mrecung batang.I don't know what it is actually called though. It is like a cannon and once lighted, there would be around 10, 12 or 18 fireworks. Plant them or stick them into any visible holes in the ground and light them up. The fireworks are not as fantastic as the ones you see on Guy Fawkes Day or KLCC's Merdeka Concert but to me then, it was the most amazing thing.

I remembered it was during this time of the year that T got his nickname. Being allowed to play bunga api for the first time, one can imagine his excitement. In order for him to get the next sparkler, he had to rid the used ones first. Worried that everyone will finish them, he put a used one near the box, not realising that the sparkler still had some err...well..sparks on it. Needless to say what happened next. We had all the mrecungs going off at the same time while us kids ran like headless chickens to avoid those tebuangs and kattoks! At that time, *I think he was four or five* he blamed some ghosts did that. Pok Chik, who saw the whole ordeal called him Hantu Kecik (Small Ghost). Until now, T claims that he was innocent and it wasn't him who put the sparkler in there. *Yeah, right T!*

Now, we have Hantu Kecik Jr 1 and 2 playing sparkler on Malam Tujuh Likur in honour of their uncle. Maybe us veterans AND the legendary, original Hantu Kecik will join them one of these nights, just for old time's sakes.

Monday, November 08, 2004

I'm just a small fish in an ocean

Cruella came to see me (with Crazy Woman in tow) and asked me why I wanted out even when I've only been here for a year. Can't actually say why when the other woman is there can I? So I gave the reason of the 'job fit'of me being here. Well, sad to say that it didn't work. Even with SEM backing me up (he has offered me a position in his outfit), the two evils had their minds set. So, no..it doesn't look like I am moving anywhere anytime soon. *big sigh*

Crazy Woman has been playing her cards with the big guns. A tear or two in front of that consultant, a few sighs with this CEO, and the normal I-am-new-in-this-line-I-need-people-who-are-familiar-to-assist-me sob story to Cruella. And looks like she's playing it well enough to get her way. Who is doing most of her so-called unfamiliar work? Yours truly. Who goes into meetings that she feels not important enough? Me. Who gets scolded by the big boss when things go wrong? Yup, you guessed right - me again. And the bonus question is : Who gets the big fat paycheck? *sticks tongue towards Crazy Woman's room*

I've tried abih reng to get out of here, but guess it is not time yet..

By the way, Cruella 'promised' that I wouldn't have to do the clerical-like job the kakas are subjected to. Let's see and pray she keeps her promise.

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Time flies, doesn't it?

You close your eyes for a while and it's almost the end of the month! By next week the office will slowly lose its occupancy due to Deepavali. And the week after it's raya! The thing about these long holidays is that you lose your momentum. Coming to work after that will be a drag. But the bonus point is - Crazy Woman and Cruella will be on leave for a week for raya and another two for new years! Aahh, the peace, the harmony. *bliss*.

Life goes on at the office. I might just get that transfer *crossing fingers* and be away from Crazy Woman. True, I might lose my cubicle with a view but I get to save my sanity!

Buster managed to finish his assignment earlier and was back in the house when I arrived. So I get more than just a week of fasting with him around! First thing we did yesterday? Go look for roti john special and kebab melawati. He looked as if he was gonna buy the whole stall. Don't blame him though, after 2 1/2 weeks of seafood fried rice and veggie noodle the sight of anything else is tempting! He also went wild buying stuff for the newly renovated home, although he hasn't said anything on when we're moving there (or if we ever are? *sigh*). Hmmm..maybe I should devise a plan to make him WANT to stay there..MUAHAHAHA!

Anyway, I've been reading people's writing lately instead of updating. One thing that struck me is the fact so many people relate their entries with Sex & the City - the show that is. Don't get me wrong,I love it too. The show is such a hit with ladies and men alike. While some write literally about certain episodes, most reflect real life based on it. It is kinda funny to read some making conclusions on the matters of the heart using bits of SaTC. *Some of these are from guys, mind you!* HBO should be VERY proud.

Ooh, ooh, it's almost time to leave. Definitely NOT gonna stay around with Crazy Woman when the two kakaks are gone. Plus, why should I stay here when Buster's back? *evil grin* Would be in the office longer tomorrow since I have that buka puasa date with the tennis gang anyway. Sooo - Over and out.