Lion dance anyone?

I am not sure if it is the mass commercialism, the tacky oriental decorations or the nerve wrecking Chinese New Year songs but I think I went a little overboard with my newfound enthusiasm.

My hair stylist has given me red highlights. Purely for Chinese New Year, I admit. So Cina, right? Thank goodness I am returning to my clanhouse for the holidays. I can fit in with the ah lians of Air Itam. I hope I didn't just insult the people of Air Itam.

My highlights are supposed to turn a striking reddish hue within a few weeks. In the sun, I already look like I have lantern tassels as hair extensions. I pray to my ancestors that it will turn into a sexy deeper red but knowing my luck, I may end up like Cindy Lauper or worse, the host of one of those awful RTM 2 Pesta AngPow variety programs.
Si liao la!

Of Lo Sang and Breast Pumps

The Sofa has been enjoying some quiet time by itself lately as I have had absolutely no time to bestow it any love (or for that matter cookie crumbs, bits of writing paper and specks of salted potato chips).

These past weekends, I have been occupied with what seems like a kazillion things to do, to buy, to procrastinate and to forget. Not to mention backbreaking but fun days out. I think I covered every major mall in the past week. Not to shop mind you, but to eat!

This is really the best part of:
1. having friends
2. being Chinese (quasi anyway)
3. staying in Malaysia

because all roads lead to food.

The highlight was certainly the reunion of ex-colleagues at the Ming Room at Bangsar Shopping Village. In typical fashion, it was crowded for Sunday brunch but thanks to the wisdom and foresight of one (which obviously was not your truly), the rest of us enjoyed the comfort and smugness of having a reserved table. First Lo Sang of the festive season!

Say what you want but even in this day and age, it is not conventional being unmarried when one is already in her 30s (yes, I am able to say that now without my mom having to reach for smelling salts).

Almost all my girlfriends are now already with kids, having kids or planning to have kids. I am still having the time of my life being a kid so after discussing breast milk, placenta and body clocks, I am surprised that I have not been reduced to rocking in a foetal position, at the corner of the room.

Being perpetually surrounded by all these pregnant women, its effects on me has been a little mind boggling if not completely wierd. Ashamedly I caught myself checking out strollers and baby carriers of all things! When I am on the street, at Baskin Robins and yes, I was stealing admiring glances as WWK's baby carrier at the reunion. All this when I should be checking out men!

I doubt I am developing nesting instincts. It is important to note that I am not interested in the child, just the accessories. It’s like, so cute, you know. My future kid will get so many gadgets she/he will be the first geek in pre-school, I swear. Then it’s on to world domination.

Taiping mali

The brother and I made a trip home and it was sure nice to be back. Here are some pictures of our familiar haunts. The Taiping wet market, night market, cashier market.

You can still get a piece of kuih for 30 cents here. The bottom right photo is of See San, our famous ice kacang stall. It has been years since I attempted their Black Mountain ice kacang. Black because black gula melaka is the syrup of choice and mountain because its packed into this tall pinnacle that if eaten without skill would result in a wet mess all over the table. I made an ex-boyfriend go through a baptism by ice kacang once. He made it. Too bad the relationship didn't.

Melancholy

It is one thing to be depressed but to be melancholic, it is another ballgame all together.

Melancholia is a witch's stew of grief, helplessness and despondency. While to cure depression one only needs to take prozac, melancholy can be banished with chocolate, Ben and Jerry's or a friend who is hell bent on making you feel better regardless of the snarls. Hence while it does not induce suicidal tendencies, it still can wreck havoc with ones daily routine.

Sesame street dreams

This song has been riding on the coattails of my mind for the longest time.

To the point that all I remember is the word celery and I have been calling it "se-lerry" for over 15 years. THIS is the reason why. Three cheers for Captain Vegetable.

Merry Christmas

I wish you peace in your household and in your heart. I wish you joy. I wish you good tidings. May you revel in beauty, love and magic today and everyday. Realise that you are loved more than you will ever know. XOXO

Congratulations!

Cheers to the happy couple! Sorry we went to the wrong wedding. Jalan HS Lee is home to many many buildings. Lucky thing we checked to see if we were at the right temple. We nearly died because when we steped into the temple, the maplai was not as handsome. Heck it was not even the correct maplai. Lucky we didn't just help ourself to the mutton yet. We went out back, through the alleyway, past through some back doors, in and out, roundabout and just when we thought we found the correct location, we almost died the second time when we saw the same maplai! His guests must be wondering why he invited a bunch of hysterical idiots.

We made it eventually to the right wedding and here is proof! You both look gorgeous!

dead terrorist

If you are sensitive, go away. Sense of humour compulsory.

Moirai

It's December again. The seasons have come and gone.

Time for reminiscing about the year that was. I think I did rather well this year. Far fewer personal tragedies to bury in the backyard and certainly more laugh lines. God, I have such deep laugh lines spearing my eyes I looked like my granny. Not a bad thing. A testimony that the world has been kind to me, kan?

Have been quite ill for a couple of weeks and even now the wheezing still does make frequent cameo appearances. Especially after the occasional cigarette. If you are thinking of emailing me a lecture, don't. Silent rolling of eye, can. All calls to repent have been met with asinine obstinacy.

In any case, I have absolutely nothing to report because office grievances have come to be so convoluted that it is easier to discuss Dante with a clotheshorse than to explain the ecosystem that is workplace politics. Sigh.

Of course, if you have been reading the news, you would know that we have been having some exciting going-ons in the city with people demonstrating in the streets. This is overdue if you ask me. Rejection of status quo is bound to happen sooner or later and civil disobedience has always been the catalyst of change. I just hope there is no escalation of violence. Regardless of which side initiates or instigates. Wishful thinking I know.

I'd love to be traveling again.
London.
Definitely. Whole heartedly. To go collect my heart back. Its been so long. Damn you, poverty!

Facebook has also been seeing quite a bit of me lately. Amongst my other addictions this year. And I have been hooked to plenty. Some tacky, some downright dumb and some that will take a long time to get over. I think we as humans have a propensity for seeking out trouble and in the process, the journeys bestow us that depth that defines us as individuals. I think I am heading for heartbreak.

And Civilization Commeth

So guess what the big buzz in Taiping is now.
Hypermarts!
No, I am not kidding.

For all you non-Taiping people, this tiny town has resisted change for the most part of my growing up.

Like when McDonalds opened, it was soft serve salvation from heaven. Finally somewhere decent to date.

Fast forward 10 years and you can just imagine the frenzy Tesco caused when it opened its doors. Located at Jalan Kamunting, apparently it caused a traffic jam (!) on the first day.

So when Giant opened on Deepavali day, we stayed far far away. Yet the allure of fresh plastic bags and long aisles of fast moving consumer goods was too strong. Resistance was futile. Especially if you have a mom like mine.

Ok we kids were homesick for KL. The shameless consumerism soothed the soul.

In any case, it was a good break. In between the hypermart hopping, we did complete our pilgrimage to the usual places of gastronomic worship i.e. the goreng pisang stall, Kuala Sepetang seafood, Green House, Prima et cetera, et cetera.

And it was all good!