Posts from ‘August, 2008’

Hey hey you you, hubby’s an Avril fan

Aug 31st, 2008
by soph.
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They said she was too sexy and a bad influence. But they eventually gave in and the show went on. The spoilsports had their own fun, giving out flyers at the entrance of the stadium. See, now everybody is happy.

We were late. So late, in fact, that nobody bothered to check our tickets so we simply sat wherever we liked. We got okay seats, even though we had to watch Avril Lavigne on the big screens. I like that it wasn’t crowded and that the sound was good. I don’t complain about free tickets.

Y hadn’t wanted to come at first. But Avril really was pretty entertaining. So much so that we both got over our annoyances (he was upset that we got lost en route to the stadium, I was upset that he was upset) and enjoyed ourselves. I like her voice and I thought she was/is cute. She was dressed in jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. At one point she even wore a long-sleeved hoodie (it was very cute). Too sexy, my posterior.

Our only gripe had to be the concert wasn’t punk-rock enough. Almost half of it was unplugged. We wondered if it had to do with the ban. But the unplugged stuff sounded great so we didn’t mind. In fact, Y and I really liked it. He said she has a unique voice. I still think she’s cute. I don’t think she’d like me saying that. Oh, I like her voice too.

Later that night, Y googled Avril and YouTube videos of her performances. The next day he learnt the guitar chords and chorus lyrics to ‘Girlfriend’. He sang it a dozen times. My hubby has become an Avril Lavigne fan. Hey hey you you, I don’t like your girlfriend.

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Posted in: Movies Music TV.

The long-weekend feeling

Aug 31st, 2008
by soph.
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We were supposed to go diving in Tioman. I haven’t struggled into my wetsuit in a while. But it didn’t work out. Supposed bad weather which actually turned out to be good weather but by then it was too late and nobody was psyched about it anymore. Besides, I think a long weekend of resting at home is much needed for Y.

Then I was supposed to go to Bangkok. Well, not really supposed. Nothing had been booked yet but I was pretty set on it. That didn’t work out either. Just when I’d decided to lift my self-imposed shopping ban in the name of a bargain (or a dozen).

So I guess I won’t be going anywhere after all.

So far this Merdeka weekend, I’ve watched Wall-E at 1.55am with the boys (loved it despite the funky hour), half guilted Y into going for the Avril Lavigne concert with me (more on that later but we enjoyed ourselves), and wept buckets over Marley & Me, the bestselling novel which will soon appear on the big screen starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. And a clumsy but lovable Lab retriever, presumably.

With over a day to go before it’s back to work, I’m determined to bask in this great long-weekend feeling and am lazily contemplating a session on the treadmill to either High School Musical or Hairspray. It has to be a movie that keeps me entertained well enough that I forget I’m slogging away, and one that I can appreciate above the loud whirring of the treadmill – no headphones in this ‘home gym’ for me.

I am also wanting to give this 10km run a go, so the workout will serve both as the beginning of training for the year-end run, and some serious cardio activity for this couch potato who hasn’t really moved her butt since the Olympics began almost a month ago. After fantasising about doing a run for so long, it’s time I put my words, and my body, to the test. Stay tuned for progress.

Happy 51st birthday, Malaysia. Here’s to hoping the powers-that-be don’t screw up too badly in the years to come.

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Posted in: Daily Events.

Green Shopping

Aug 26th, 2008
by soph.
1 comment


After months of intending to bring my own reusable bag for groceries, I finally remembered yesterday. Okay, technically I didn’t remember – it happened to be in my tote because I’d used it as an umbrella of sorts during a particularly rainy morning.

I must have received at least three of these bags from various events in the last six months, two of which I seem to have misplaced. This one, the Origins Organic Cotton Canvas Reusable Shopping Bag, seems to be the only one I have left.

“I don’t need a plastic bag,” I told the woman at the supermarket checkout. The guy queueing behind me watched me take out my bag. Curiosity got the better of him.

“Excuse me, did you bring that from home?” he asked in Cantonese.

Because my Cantonese supremely sucks, I only managed a “yes” and a smile.

“That’s so environmentally-friendly,” he said. (Even though my spoken Cantonese sucks, I understand what people say because I mentally translate everything into Mandarin.)

“Thank you”. Smile. Couldn’t think of anything to say in Cantonese.

“Did you want to put those in the bag too?”

And before I knew it, he had helped me pack my groceries into the bag. He even asked for a plastic bag to separate my drinks from my washing detergent.

“Good day,” he said when I – or should I say he – was done.

“You too.” Smile, of course.

And just like that, I’m reminded that for all the crime, dishonesty and incompetency that surround me, there are still genuinely nice people out there. God, grant me the wisdom to tell the difference between the good guys and the jerks.

Later on, I wondered why I care about not using plastic bags. I definitely don’t have any grand delusions about changing the world, but it’s always been a habit to decline a plastic bag whenever I buy something that fits into my tote.

Part of it has to do with my new determination to reduce my material possessions – if there’s one thing moving five times in three years has taught me, it’s that I really don’t need that many things to live comfortably and happily.

And the other part? I guess I just want to do what feels right by me even though I can’t control how everyone else around me behaves. I am concerned about the environment and climate change and the fact that we, as humans, have screwed up so bad we might never be able to halt the damage, after all.

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Posted in: Daily Events.

Which part of ‘wrong number’ don’t you understand?

Aug 25th, 2008
by soph.
6 comments

Someone rang me on my mobile today. When I said ‘Hello’, he said ‘Siapa ini? (Who are you?)’

Now why would you call someone if you didn’t know who they were?

I answered, ‘Siapa ini?’ And he hung up.

Thirty seconds later, my phone rang again. When I said ‘Hello’, he said again ‘Siapa ini?’

I said ‘Cari siapa? (Who do you want to speak to?)’

Pause.

He handed the phone to someone else. I repeated my question. He said something I didn’t catch; a name, presumably.

‘You have the wrong number,’ I told him.

‘What?’

‘You have the wrong number.’

Pause.

‘Really? Come on lah.’

??!????!!!

I didn’t even know what to say to that. He said it again. I told him he had the wrong number again. He finally hung up, just as I was about to myself. I hope he was rather embarrassed.

Come on lah?! Hmmph.

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Posted in: Daily Events.

If Zac Efron were Spanish

Aug 24th, 2008
by soph.
1 comment

Meet Ricky Rubio, a 17-year-old basketball prodigy and member of the Spanish Olympic basketball team. The Spaniards put up a good fight, but the NBA stars (finally) showed why they are the best in the world. Well, there’s definitely no shame in this silver medal. In fact, going with Malaysia’s logic, they should all be made Datuks.

I think Ricky looks like Zac Efron. In fact, if a Spanish adaptation of High School Musical should ever be made, I reckon he should play Troy Bolton. He’s the right age, has the right looks and is actually really good at basketball. Someone give this boy a singing and dancing audition.

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Posted in: Sports.

Is the show back on?

Aug 22nd, 2008
by soph.
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According to some latest reports and a radio DJ, Avril Lavigne’s concert is now back on. I’m waiting for an official newspaper announcement, but more importantly, I’m most curious to see what excuse will be given for the sudden about-turn.

Edit August 23, 2008: The newspaper confirmation. And the official line is… there isn’t an official line, only a denial that the earlier decision to cancel was in response to PAS Youth’s demands. Yeah, right.

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Posted in: Movies Music TV.

Avril concert cancelled

Aug 20th, 2008
by soph.
4 comments

I am so angry right now I can’t even adequately express it in words. News has gone out that Malaysia has cancelled the 29 August Avril Lavigne concert because “it is not timely. It’s not in the good spirit of our National Day,” according to an official from the Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry.

For the second year running, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (more commonly known as PAS) has demanded a Western female artiste be banned from performing here, citing the artiste’s sexiness as an avenue of moral corruption. Or whatever it is that they manage to make up.

“We don’t want our people, our teenagers, influenced by their performance. We want clean artists, artists that are good role models,” a party youth official has been quoted as saying. Apparently, Avril is “considered too sexy for us”.

I am literally speechless. When the correct strings were pulled, the Pussycat Dolls performed on our shores, but not Avril? Exactly what is it about Avril that is “too sexy”? Her long blonde hair? The fact that she’s 23? She doesn’t dress even half as sexily as the Dolls do. Or dance seductively and so much as grind her hips. Damn you, perverts.

I honestly don’t know which is more insulting -  the fact that immature people such as these are allowed to dictate the country behind a mask of pseudo-patriotism and religiousity; or that the citizens of this country has been regarded as so stupid that an Avril Lavigne concert will drive us down the path of moral depravity. As if porn is not easily accessible elsewhere, as if the entire country lives in a protected cocoon of righteousness. Ha ha. Don’t you guys have more important things to worry about? Crime? Rape? Corruption?

Perhaps you don’t want girls to adopt that feisty rocker chick attitude that Avril embodies. You don’t want girls to learn to form opinions and stand up for themselves. In fact, you don’t want girls to do anything other than stay at home because if they so much as wear a school uniform and venture out the door, men will feel compelled to rape them.

I know I’m mixing up my religious groups here, but I’m just so sick and tired of all this bullshit. Everyone and everything is blamed for their own weaknesses and shortcomings; don’t you guys ever take any responsibility for your own actions?

As for the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, you guys clearly need more variety in your club activities. Last year it was Gwen Stefani and Beyonce Knowles – Gwen eventually promised to cover up and came, Beyonce canceled her show; this year it’s Avril. What is it to you guys, an annual activity on your club’s to-do list?

Of course, the political and social scene is very different today as compared to last year. And I can’t help but wonder if the move to cancel Avril’s concert is more about sucking up to relevant parties for political gain and less (if anything at all) about “protecting teenagers”. I wouldn’t be surprised, really, and judging from the general response I’ve seen and heard, lots of other people are feeling the same way. Shame on you guys.

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Posted in: Movies Music TV.

My inner rockstar

Aug 19th, 2008
by soph.
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Continuing on the subject of things I was born to do, I may have found one of them: play Guitar Hero.

The boss has most benevolently lent the office his kids’ Guitar Hero III and we’ve been playing it since last Thursday. I love it! I first played it in a Dick Smith store in Melbourne and got the hang of it almost instantly. Y keeps telling people I was bullying the small kids by not letting them play but I didn’t fail my level! And I eventually stopped and let someone else play even though I was still winning.

Too bad playing Guitar Hero isn’t a profit-making pastime, although I must add that I’d probably get bored of it pretty quick if I had to actually practice it every single day. I’ve been bugging Y to buy it for me but everytime we finally show up at the store to get it, it’s either out of stock or we hear word that a new version is coming out and we should wait another couple of months. Some people would say it’s a sign.

No matter. I’m happy enough as it is with a Guitar Hero in the office. As of this evening, I’d worked my way through three “expert” songs (that’s a milestone, yes it is) and I am one very gleeful camper indeed.

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Posted in: Daily Events.

Making a splash

Aug 19th, 2008
by soph.
3 comments

So much has been said about Michael Phelps that I really won’t add to it. All you need to know is the man has become the greatest swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time with a bunch of world records under his Speedos. And that he’s just 23 years old.

Like most everyone else, I rooted for the guy. And now that he’s succeeded, I wonder what it’s like to conquer the world and achieve your wildest dreams at just 23 years old. His maturity is stunning; his talent a potent combination of natural-born ability and unswerving dedication and perseverance. If I, the spectator, watch history being written in jawdropping disbelief and admiration, what does the view look like from the top of the world where Michael currently stands?

I believe everyone has something they’re born to do – an innate ability and passion that, if discovered and nurtured, can lead to great things in that chosen field. Michael Phelps found his. Not for the first time, I wonder if I’ve found mine.

Some people say our 20s are the years of self-discovery, where we sort of figure out what we’re about and what we want to do for the rest of our lives. Never has this rung so true for me than in the past six months or so. I have been giving ‘me’ a lot of thought, and while my early 20s were about making decisions with more gut instinct and less thought, I’m now ready to start consciously mapping my decisions and maybe start planning paths into the future. All while still listening to my instincts, of course; I’ve become a believer in them.

Years from now, when people talk about Michael Phelps and his historic Beijing Olympics outing, I will remind baby Reuben that he watched Michael receive his eighth gold medal, and that his mummy had pointed Michael out to him on television.

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Posted in: Sports.

Love this site: The Best Article Every day

Aug 12th, 2008
by soph.
1 comment

Keeping with the spirit of Beijing:

The 5 Most Chill-Inducing Olympic Moments

And in pictures:

2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony

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Posted in: Sports.

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