irwancyberblog

A Bag Day

2012-01-29T18:06:00.014+08:00

Yesterday, we spent the entire day at The Curve. It has been so long, I can't even recall the last time we went out that long.

The intentions of going out were initially to take the car for a wash, to buy a new bedside table lamp at IKEA, and to look for a present for my dad as his birthday is coming up.

We got the car washed. (Yay!) We couldn't find a lamp that we both like at IKEA, so we had lunch at the restaurant instead. (The Swedish meatballs taste so good!) And unfortunately, even after browsing through the entire mall, we couldn't find anything that dad would like either. (Or they don't have anything in his size anymore.)

Weird enough, despite not finding what we were looking for, we still managed to spent over RM1,000 that day! All thanks to a "glimpse" of the suitcases that were on sale at Leather Avenue. We ended up buying three different sizes of hard-case Valentino Creations suitcases and an Esfolar leather handbag. Lin also got herself a neat little gladiator sandal at Vincci.

Actually, hard-case suitcases have been in our shopping list for awhile now and it kinda makes sense to get it now since I'm traveling almost every month. I think we got a great deal on them too. Guess what the retail price of the 20" (the smallest out of the three) suitcase is? RM739! Crazy expensive!

2nd Anniversary

2012-01-01T01:17:00.003+08:00

Exactly 2 years ago, I got married to my college sweetheart and it was one of the happiest days of my life. Today, I am very thankful as all of the feelings I felt on that one fine day never aged a bit.

I made the following video and it was showed at our wedding dinner in KL. It's typical, I know. Some of you may have not seen this before. So, I figured it'd be appropriate for me to share it today.

Sayang, if you're reading this, I used to believe that it is impossible for one to love another this much. Now, I know that everything is possible. I love you with all my heart, my wife, my friend, my strength.

To my sincere readers, Happy New Year 2012!

Perth. Again!

2011-12-04T16:34:00.003+08:00

We had such a wonderful time in Perth last week. It was the end of Spring and the weather was just amazing. We stayed at The Peninsula in South Perth, which is located across the Swan River. So, you can imagine how magnificent the view was. Read my first experience in South Perth.

We didn't get to do a whole lot of sightseeing because I had to work from 8 to 5 everyday. The company didn't fly my whole family to Perth for nothing! However, we managed to visit the Perth Zoo, which was only a 10-minute walk from our apartment, and did some shopping.

We spent almost every afternoon at the Sir James Mitchell Park, which stretches along the Swan River foreshore. Daanish enjoyed running around playing with his ball, chasing seagulls, and climbing at the playground. Papa and Mama got to do some exercise too!

It was also nice to get to meet Lin's cousin and his wonderful family. Surprisingly, they're staying at the neighboring suburb, which had made things a lot less complicated when we were trying to look for a nanny to babysit Daanish while we're off to a dinner reception that Friday. After leaving him for almost 4 hours, we were surprised to find that he was actually having fun playing with their 2-year-old daughter. Lega.

Our first family trip overseas, a truly unforgettable experience!

27 On The 27th

2011-11-27T00:45:00.007+08:00

I am in beautiful Perth celebrating my birthday with my lovely wife and son. What more can I ask for?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

In Ho Chi Minh

2011-11-15T11:33:00.003+08:00

This is my second trip to a foreign country after leaving my old job. I'm not complaining, I'm just informing.

I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday late afternoon. I'm here for meetings in the CBD and Vung Tau. This is my first time in Vietnam and I am quite thrilled to be here. I am at Bong Sen Hotel, but will be checking-out shortly to catch a ferry to Vung Tau.

Sitting in the cab from the airport to the hotel, I was thankful that I wasn't the one in the driver's seat. Motorcyclists here are just crazy! Literally. They will come to as close to your vehicle as possible and turn whenever and whichever way they want. They seem fearless and aren't afraid to get hit.

Honking is a regular thing here. I think the driver honked like 50 times when I was in the cab. There are lots of women on scooters too. The city is busy, but no traffic jams and traffic lights are very rare here.

Very different, definitely. Very exciting.

Daanish's First Photobook

2011-11-07T23:07:00.014+08:00

After nearly a month, I finally finished designing Daanish's photobook. It was submitted an hour ago and will be ready for pickup in 6 days. I can't wait to see the end product!

What I failed to blog earlier was that about a month ago, I bought a voucher from Groupon for a personalized photo album from Photobook Malaysia. The original price was RM208, but I got it for RM54. What a deal! And browsing thru their website, Photobook actually has excellent reputations in terms of their products as well as customer service.

This was my first time designing a photobook. At first, I wanted to use their Readybooks, where the layouts and design images were provided. But then I thought, "Where's the feel in that?" as I would just be dragging and dropping photos in the boxes. So, after looking at their Bookshelf, where they constantly upload selected book designs, I decided to start from scratch and give my own personal touches to it. That's how I ended up spending an entire month on it.

The whole designing process was actually very fun and their software was very easy to use (though it did crash a few times). If the photobook turns out as I hope it would, then I'll definitely do it again.

If you're interested, Photobook Malaysia is having another promotion; 30% off on all books + free shipping until November 30. Why not give them a visit?

A Short Vacation

2011-10-28T15:24:00.022+08:00

We just got back from a very short vacation in Kota Kinabalu. We flew there on Monday and spent 3 days just lazying around the hotel and enjoying fresh seafood everyday. It was also Daanish's first time going on a plane and he was very excited and surprisingly, very well behaved too.

We stayed at Le Meridian, which was conveniently located across the famous KK Night Market. On our first night there, we had dinner at Ocean Seafood Village, one of the largest seafood restaurants and also said to be one of the best in town. They have what's called "walk-in menu" where you get to pick what you wanna eat right from the aquariums. Super fresh, super tasty, super affordable!

Second night was far less extravagant. We packed our dinner from the KK Night Market; steamed rice, sotong bakar, and lobster bakar, all for RM60. Very cheap, but very yummy!

We didn't do much aside from taking Daanish for a swim, taking a stroll around town, and shop for local tidbits such as keropok cincin. It rained almost everyday, so there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity for outdoor activities anyway.

It was a very relaxing week indeed. We need to make time for more vacations like this!

Daanish's 1st Birthday Party

2011-10-23T13:39:00.007+08:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Daanish's first birthday at McDonald's Kota Damansara. We booked the party room for 1.5 hours and invited a bunch of family members and close friends. The guest list was close to 70 invitees, but thank God, only about half showed up. The room was already crammed!

We thought people wouldn't be eating a whole lot because it was tea time (started at about 4 PM) and everyone would've already had their lunch. We couldn't be more wrong! Multiple times, we had to ask for the fried chickens and nuggets to be topped up. People kept on coming and we couldn't stay put in one place. Daanish, on the other hand was having so much fun in the indoor playground next door, he yelled furiously whenever we pulled him out to meet people.

We were chased out of the room at 5:30 PM because our time was up and they had to prepare for the next party at 6 PM. This is the only reason why we will not hold any party at McDonald's ever again. On the bright side, Daanish received a lot of presents, mainly toys. Some of them aren't even for a 1-year-old!

For those who came, thank you so much. It was fun having everyone we love in the same room. We look forward to Daanish's next birthday party. Let us know if you'd like to be on the guest list next time, if you're not already on it.

We Love You, Mama!

2011-10-16T17:47:00.004+08:00

Another year has passed for you, Mama,
It's time to cut the cake and celebrate,
And once again, Mama, we start to think
Of things about you we appreciate.

It means so much to have you in our lives,
Your loving care fills up our days with pleasure,
Your warm and giving nature helps create
Close, special times together that we treasure.

We live within a safe and steady world,
Because you love us unconditionally.
Your easygoing ways mean that we're blessed
With peace and joy and blissful harmony.

To us, your birthday is a precious day,
We hope it brings you joy in every way.

Happy Birthday, Mama!
Papa and Daanish

Happy 1st Birthday, Daanish!

2011-10-07T01:34:00.012+08:00

We still remember the first time telling the world about you and the time we shared your first photo. It is still fresh in our mind how we felt the first time we saw your cute, innocent face and held you in our arms. After what felt like the blink of an eye, you now are turning 1.

You have Mama's chin and Papa's hair. You are, by far, the cutest little human being we've ever seen. For your first birthday, we wish you all the happiness in the world. May you grow up to be a pious and responsible man, a faithful servant to the Almighty, and an obedient son.

Our love will remain with you forever. Happy 1st Birthday, son!

Papa and Mama

Daanish Went Swimming

2011-10-02T22:21:00.002+08:00

Today, Daanish went swimming for the first time. We bought his swimming gears more than a month ago, but didn't take him for a swim at the pool downstairs because we wanna wait for his eczema to recover thoroughly. Yes, we were that paranoid!

We took him to the grown-up's pool because the kiddy pool was too crowded. So, we put on his arm floats and after a while, he didn't seem to be having much fun. We thought he just didn't like it. So, we took him out of the water, but as soon as we took the floats off, he wanted to jump back in. Guess he's not a big fan of the floats. Plus, they were too big for him anyway.

I had loads of fun swimming with the little guy and this would be one of the moments I'd remember forever. See how happy he was! Precious.

In South Perth

2011-09-27T20:15:00.012+08:00

I'm in South Perth and staying at Assured Waterside Apartments. South Perth is across the Swan River and overlook Perth City. I went for a jog last Sunday and the view is just breathtaking. How I wish I have my DSLR with me right now.

I also went for a walk in the city last weekend. It was okay, nothing special about it. I left the apartment in the afternoon and was surprised to find that by 5 PM, all the shops and malls were already closed. You think that's weird? Some malls in the suburbs even close on Sunday.

It's spring over here now, but the weather has been quite cold since the time I arrived and it's been raining a lot. I keep my jacket on even when I'm indoors.

The company provides me with some cash for my daily expenses. I like going to the grocery store and buy stuff with the company's money. I feel like a kid again, spending the parents' money. Lol. There are two halal restaurants near my place and they both serve great food.

Work has been great. A bit slow, but it will pickup when I get back to KL. I am learning a lot and can't wait to get started. The company provides me with a car for me to commute daily. Unlike KL, driving in Perth is a breeze even during rush hours. A lot of traffic lights along the highway, but still no traffic jams. Amazing!

Obviously, I miss my family. This is the first time we are apart this long. I can't wait to go home and see them this Friday.

New Employer

2011-09-19T17:01:00.022+08:00

Everyone has been asking about this, so here it is.

I'm now an employee of an Australian company called Peak Well Systems. I'm the Technical Sales Engineer. As the title suggests, I'll be doing both technical and sales for the company, which will focus mainly on the Malaysian market and partly on the South East Asia's.

Peak doesn't have an office in Malaysia yet. So, my first task is to find an office in Kuala Lumpur. In the meantime, I will do a lot of traveling to Perth and across South East Asia, but whenever I'm not, I'll be at home. In other words, I am home-based.

Working from home is awesome because I get to see Daanish every single second and watch him grow. But on the other hand, it breaks my heart to leave my family behind whenever I've to travel. So, I'm planning to bring them along whenever I can.

Today is my first day as an employee at Peak's office in Perth, WA and it is really relaxing. Perth is such a beautiful and peaceful place.

The grass is indeed greener on the other side :)

Catching Up

2011-09-15T23:57:00.008+08:00

When I left Exxon about a month ago, I always knew that I'll be seeing my friends again. My premonition came through!

Yesterday, I had ayam kampung goreng for lunch with some of my closest friends in Exxon at our favorite place, Restoran A. Hassan. It was so nice getting to catch up with all of them. I captured a lot of photos and I've shared some nice ones here.

I wish I could do what I'm doing now and still be able to hangout with them often. But who am I kidding, right? Anyway, I had fun and it was a memorable afternoon, no doubt.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2011-09-14T23:55:00.006+08:00

My favorite cupcake is the red velvet. Yesterday, I finally gained the courage to make one. The recipe, which I got from Joy of Baking was a little complicated than what I'm used to.

The cupcake part was easy. The cream cheese frosting, however, was a little runny than what I've intended and I had trouble piping it. Although the frosting swirls may not look very attractive, they still work and the cupcakes taste wonderful.

When I finally finished, the kitchen was a shipwreck. There were frostings everywhere!

Would I do it again? Hell yes!

Learning To Walk

2011-09-12T13:59:00.013+08:00

Daanish is slowly learning to walk. His achievement so far is 4 steps all by himself. He also loves to pull and push the dining chair.

So, seeing this, we went to Toys "R" Us yesterday and got him a toy that he can push (and ride too). He's enjoying it so much and seems to be having fun pushing it.

I'll try to share some pictures or a video soon.

Oreo Cheesecake

2011-09-08T12:34:00.003+08:00

I saw a picture of an Oreo Cheesecake last week and I've been craving for one ever since. So, yesterday I made one and it turned out great. It didn't take long to make and it tastes nice and rich, just the way I like it.

And no, I've never baked a cheesecake before. That was my first time. I googled for the recipe and arrived at a blog called Home Sweet Home. The recipe is super easy. Try it!

Daanish Is 11 Months

2011-09-07T14:34:00.007+08:00

Daanish turns 11 months today. How time flies!

There's a red patch on his right cheek and it's not going away even after applying tons of moisturizers. We consulted Dr. Musa, our pediatrician and he confirmed that Daanish has a rather bad skin condition called baby eczema. It breaks our hearts to see him struggling with the itchiness, but we just went to the pediatric dermatologist this morning and the prescribed medicated cream should cure the eczema soon, insyaAllah.

I wanna share with you a video of our little boy laughing, which was shot last week. His laugh is so infectious! Oh, and the lady carrying Daanish is my mom. We were at my parents' for hari raya.

Raya Update

2011-09-02T23:43:00.013+08:00

How did you spend your first hari raya week?

It is Daanish's first hari raya. So, we decided to introduce him to the extended family members. We spent the first two days in Penang. On the first day, we visited Tok Chaq, Mak Ngah, Tok Cik Ban, Tok Su, Mak Teh, and Pak Cik Bu. On the second day, we visited Pak Cik Li and Cik Ani. Luckily, both days were very sunny, but extremely hot.

On the third day, we drove down to Melaka. We left my parents' house at about 10 AM and arrived around 5 PM. Alhamdulillah, it was a pleasant drive. We stopped to have lunch at Tapah R&R for about an hour.

In Melaka, we met Pak Chaq and his family, who traveled all the way from Alor Star to visit Lin's parents. After dinner, they left for Kuala Lumpur. Today, we just hang at home and went out only for dinner at Johnny's Restaurant. We also played with some fireworks and showed Daanish the sparklers.

Tomorrow, we will be driving back to Kuala Lumpur for my cousin's wedding.

Although there were lots of long-distance travelings, we all had fun. We thank Allah for protecting us through our journey. InsyaAllah, we will do this again next year.

Salam Aidilfitri 2011

2011-08-30T11:05:00.011+08:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you Selamat Hari Raya Eidul-Fitri and to apologise for any of my wrongdoings. I wish you all a prosperous celebration during this blessed festive month.

This year, I am celebrating hari raya as a son, a brother, a husband, and a father. I couldn't ask for more :)

(Image is a courtesy of AWANGPURBA.)

Penang Hill

2011-08-29T22:39:00.008+08:00

It has been ages since the last time I set foot on Penang Hill. When I heard that they've fixed the funicular trains, I decided to take my family there.

It was raining since morning, but it stopped towards mid afternoon. So, we were already lined-up at the ticket counter at about 3 PM. I think we were the only Malays there today since it is a day before hari raya.

Going on the funicular train was fun, but it was way too crowded! When we reached the top, we were surprised to find that there were really nothing to see up there. The drizzles took the fun out of the trip; It was foggy and difficult to take good pictures with the umbrellas. Daanish didn't want to sit in his stroller, so we had to carry him all the time. It was tiring. We hitched a ride back down after about 30 minutes of walking aimlessly.

So, here's my advise to you; Think twice before visiting Penang Hill.

Unexpected

2011-08-28T16:56:00.013+08:00

Today is 'balik kampung' day. We will spend the next 3 days at my parents' house in Gelugor for hari raya.

We left the apartment at about 7:40 AM this morning, had one bathroom stop for about 30 minutes, and reached Penang at about 12 PM. Alhamdulillah.

It was an uneventful drive, except that Daanish refused to sit in his carseat the whole way. The traffic on the North-South Expressway was extremely normal and this was very unexpected because we thought people would've been rushing back to their hometown by now. Slow moving traffic here and there, but very insignificant.

Pic on the right is tired little Daanish after the long drive, enjoying BabyTV at Opa and Oma's house.

Daanish's New Shoes

2011-08-27T22:35:00.006+08:00

The car needed washing so bad that we had to take it to CARs International at Empire Shopping Gallery because it's the only branch that didn't need any reservations. You know, it's the weekend before Hari Raya. So, everyone waited to the last minute to send their cars for washing before heading back to their hometown.

There, we bought Daanish his first pair of shoes. In fact, because they're just too adorable to resist, we bought him two pairs! He put them on and was so excited to get to walk around in the mall.

We then buka puasa at Madam Kwan's and headed back home because we've an early morning tomorrow.

Apple Cakes

2011-08-24T23:29:00.011+08:00

Today, I attempted another recipe from Something Sweet and it is called Apple Cakes. I don't know why they're called 'cakes' because they actually look like muffins. Anyway, they taste very good and moist. Another success :)

I wanted to try this particular recipe because it doesn't require a lot of ingredients and is very easy to make. You can ask me for the recipe, if you wanna try it.

Hosting Iftar

2011-08-22T17:17:00.040+08:00

Yesterday, I entertained some close friends for buka puasa at my place. My wife and I cooked four main dishes. We made a great team in the kitchen, I must say! I had a chance to try a recipe from a book we bought a while back, Something Sweet. It's a dessert called 'hazelnut and chocolate cake' and it turned out well.

The guests arrived after athan and we had dinner after everyone performed their Maghrib prayer. After dinner, we hangout in the living room and played with the kids. The TV had a problem as it wasn't responding to the remote control. So, we switched it off.

The guests left around 10 PM. Before they left, we took a group photo as a memento. It was a great night! We got good feedbacks on the food. So, we will definitely host more buka puasa in the future, insyaAllah.

New Home

2011-08-20T01:31:00.005+08:00

My wife and I bought a property last May in Seksyen 16, Shah Alam. It's a 2-storey end-lot link house with built up areas of 2,060sq ft. The project is called Alam d'16 and is being developed by Magna Prima Berhad. The construction is expected to finish towards the end of 2013.

By 2013, we reckon our family would be expanding. So, as of now, we are planning to stay in our new home when it's ready. Unless something better comes up.

I know Shah Alam is a little bit far from KL, about 31.5km, but I've never heard of any bad reviews from Shah Alam folks. I think it's a good place to raise a family.

Currently Listening To...

2011-08-19T16:17:00.020+08:00

Tracklist
1. Grenade
2. Just the Way You Are
3. Our First Time
4. Runaway Baby*
5. The Lazy Song
6. Marry You
7. Talking To The Moon*
8. Liquor Store Blues (feat. Damian Marley)
9. Count on Me
10. The Other Side* (feat. Cee Lo & B.o.B)

*Current favs. Can listen to them over and over.

The Glee Project

2011-08-17T23:49:00.021+08:00

I'm currently following the new show on Star World called The Glee Project. They started to air the first episode last Monday and apparently it's on for three nights a week. The objective is to replace the current cast who will be graduating from William McKinley High soon.

If you know me well, you'd know that talent search reality shows like this, American Idol, and The Voice excite me. I always imagine myself being part of these shows, but who am I kidding, right? For now, I can only watch and predict the winner.

Anyway, if you're like me and have been following The Glee Project, you'd know all the contenders' name by now. I wanted Cameron to win; he's a geek, terrible at dancing (but in a way looked very cool in music videos), and have an extremely nice voice. But when I checked the official website, only four contenders are left and Cameron isn't one of them. So, my next best bet would be Damian.

Damian is Irish and talks funny. He's a rebel sometimes, but very genuine. He was in the bottom three a few times. His singing is just okay; I was not impressed a whole lot. He's currently the fans' favorite.

The only girl out of the four is Lindsay. She's the best singer among others from the beginning. I've to admit, she's got the pipes. She would probably be replacing Rachel as New Directions' powerhouse. But I don't like her because she's a huge bragger, fake, and annoying.

So, who's your favorite?

Locked Out

2011-08-16T01:35:00.014+08:00

Yesterday morning, I locked myself out of the bedroom when I left the house to send my wife to work. When I got back, I googled 'ways to open locked doors'. I gave a shot at removing the knob, but that was an epic failure. Before I ruin the entire door, I decided to call a professional. Googled for a number and he arrived ten minutes later. He sticked a couple of small screw drivers in the hole and voilà!

Here's the best part; He then charged me RM50 for that. My jaw just dropped! I can't believe it! Am I being scammed? It's like you require a degree to be a locksmith? I'm changing profession after this to become a locksmith, I swear!

P/S: Didn't know the word 'google' is an official noun now? The editor didn't underline the words 'googling' and 'googled'.

Last Minute

2011-08-15T22:32:00.001+08:00

For the first (and probably the last) time ever, I actually went to the PKNS Complex at Shah Alam yesterday to continue the last minute search for Daanish's and my red baju melayu. The experience was not pleasant. The building was very hot and packed with humans, we can barely walk. Luckily, we didn't bring the stroller along, but my arms were tired from carrying Daanish. We also tried SACC Mall, but it was hopeless.

So, the search was futile. It looks like my family will be dressed in white this raya because that's the only matching outfit that we have not worn. Next year, one of my resolutions will be to tailor-made our baju raya early.

Delicious

2011-08-14T13:11:00.010+08:00

Last night, my wife and I (and Daanish, of course) went to see some friends for buka puasa at 1Utama. We went there early to avoid the traffic and to look for baju melayu for Daanish and myself at Jusco. It turned out Jusco has been closed for the past month for renovations and will reopen some time before Hari Raya. So, we ended up buying nothing. My wife, on the other hand, managed to find herself some nice shoes at Charles & Keith.

It was nice getting to see some of our close college friends again. Buka puasa together has always been an annual ritual for us. We were at Delicious and got the biggest table in the house. Daia made the reservation for 10 pax and that's the only suitable table they have for 10 pax. With all the noises, we had to literally shout in order to converse with the people across. It was BIG.

My wife had the green curry chicken and I had the Nyonya assam sea bass. The food was just okay. We then had the chocolate fudge birthday cake (bought at Sun Moulin Bakery) for dessert. The night went on with the usual gossips and candids.

All in all, it was a fun night. Wish we could do it more often. See pics here. Oh, and Ziana Zain was there too buka puasa with her family.

KFC

2011-08-12T19:14:00.000+08:00

What's for buka puasa and moreh today?

The Performance

2011-08-09T22:49:00.005+08:00

I know this is long overdue, but as promised in my previous post, here's the video my wife recorded when Nazia and I performed our winning song, The Prayer at the company's last year's annual dinner. Feel free to comment.

P/S: Pardon the quality. We didn't figure out how to use the 'focus' function on our new DSLR at the time this was shot.

Daanish Is 10 Months

2011-08-07T22:05:00.009+08:00

Daanish turns 10 months today. He can now sit, crawl very, very fast, pull himself up to stand, walk along perimeters while holding on to them, say "mam-ma", "pa-pa", and "ba-ba", clap his hands, play peek-a-boo, watch TV and Sesame Street on YouTube, and dance. He also has two teeny tiny bottom teeth which make his smile even more adorable!

He started eating solids when he turned 6 months. His favorites now are congee with chicken and fruits like apples, oranges, pears, and watermelons. He has not taken any formulas yet; still fully breastfeeding. He has been sick with the flu, had a runny nose, and a chesty cough for the past two weeks. Alhamdulillah, he is better now and enjoying every moment being a baby.

Papa and Mama love you very much, Daanish! Please don't grow up too fast.

Sadaqah

2011-08-02T00:05:00.000+08:00

For the past two nights, I performed my solat sunat tarawih at the surau in the condo's compound; 3 minutes walk from door to door. Very convenient.

Everyday after the 8th rakaat, before the solat sunat witir, a short tazkirah will be given by the imam. Today, he talked about sadaqah. At any time, for every sadaqah you give, the deed will be multiplied by 700 times. Just imagine giving sadaqah in this holy month!

The imam then went on to promote a program called Ramadhan Di Bumi Palestin, which I think is an excellent avenue to start your sadaqah deed this Ramadhan. You can choose from either of the followings:
- RM60 to sponsor a person for sahur and iftar
- RM60 to sponsor a person for sahur and iftar at Masjid Aqsa
- RM200 to sponsor food for a family
- RM200 to sponsor a person for clothing and gifts for Aidil Fitri
- General contribution of RM5, RM10, RM50, or other amount

You can use online banking to transmit your contribution. Very easy. After that, you can fill in this form here.

Let's do our part for al-Aqsa.

Ramadhan Kareem

2011-08-01T00:03:00.002+08:00

"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa." [Surah al-Baqarah (2):183]

May we make the best of this blessed month. Ramadhan Kareem to all.

Last Day

2011-07-31T00:12:00.012+08:00

My last day with Exxon was last Friday. I got a card and a GPS worth RM400 from the group as mementos. That was really sweet! I'll definitely miss working with them.

I regretted for putting my packing at the very last minute. I didn't get a chance to make my final rounds to the lower floors to say my goodbyes to other colleagues and bosses. I'll be sure to put that in mind the next time I leave for a new job.

Before I leave the office for the very last time, I treated few of my closest colleagues, who also helped to carry my boxes to the car, to some Starbucks coffee drinks at KLCC. That was my last company-bitching session. I'll definitely miss that.

Resigned

2011-07-09T11:47:00.004+08:00

Yes, you read it right. The rumors are true!

I handed in my resignation letter yesterday. My last day with Exxon will be July 29. I won't reveal the name of my future employer yet, but will in due time. If you haven't noticed, I like playing the 'guessing' game.

I spent the last five years of my career with the world's biggest oil and gas company. They paid for my scholarship, I gave them a million bucks back by working my ass off restoring those oil and gas wells. So, I'm off the hook!

I had my shares of tears and laughters, but mostly tears. I appreciate all the knowledge and experience I have gained during my time in Exxon. I will definitely miss all my colleagues; they are a bunch of super smart, super fun, super diligent people. Meetings at Exxon were never quiet! Tell you what I'm not gonna miss; nine times of memo revisions just to get one person happy because he refuses to use tables!

So, I say 'Adios' to Exxon and 'Hello' to new career. InsyaAllah, with His blessings, this will be a good move for me.

Acik Is Engaged

2011-06-26T13:27:00.005+08:00

My sister-in-law, Lina (I call her Acik) is engaged to her boyfriend, Fariq last night. The ceremony, which was held at my in-laws' place in Melaka was small and simple. The date for nikah has not been set yet, but it will be some time late this year.

Daanish was excited to see his cousins. We bought him a green baju melayu solely for this occasion and he wore it for the first time last night. He's one handsome baby! My wife and I were also dressed in green.

Congratulations to Acik and Fariq!

A New Mac

2011-06-05T22:58:00.003+08:00

Once you go Mac, you'll never go back!

I've been very patient with my iBook G4 for the past month. It froze for more than 2 hours daily, at minimum, and finally gave up on me last Friday. I was devastated. It has been with me since my student years in the US.

So, without thinking twice, I got myself a new 13" MacBook Pro. It's not that I've lots of cash to spend, but I recently got unifi installed at home and I'm determined to use it to the fullest. No laptop ain't gonna get me there.

The MacBook Pro is shiny and I'm amazed at how fast the processor is. I absolutely love it! I'll stick with this one for now. And for the next 6 to 7 years to come.

Coffee or Cup?

2011-02-15T20:49:00.007+08:00

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.

A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups---porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite---telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said:

"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... Then you began eyeing each other's cups."

"Now consider this," said the professor, "Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!"

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Four things to take note of in life:
1. Live simply
2. Love generously
3. Care deeply
4. Speak kindly

Daanish Is 3 Months

2011-01-07T10:59:00.000+08:00

Twenty Double One

2011-01-01T22:46:00.002+08:00

2010 achievements:
1. Got married to my college sweetheart.
2. Daanish was born.
3. Won the 'So You Think You Can Sing' competition.
4. Did all of the above by the time I turned 26.
5. My boss got transferred.

2011 resolutions:
1. Regain a flat stomach and shaped biceps.
2. Buy a new car.
3. Get a new job.

Happy New Year 2011.

Daanish Is 2 Months

2010-12-07T02:41:00.000+08:00

Gala Royale

2010-12-05T23:21:00.004+08:00

I swear, that was my last time attending the annual dinner! See pics here.

Actually, I said the same thing after attending last year's event. But this year, I was invited to perform. So, my ticket was free and I got to spend RM100 to 'beautify' myself. So, I got nothing to loose.

The performances were distasteful. Well, except my own lah. They appeared cheap and very, very amateurish. The food was terrible and again, appeared cheap. EM is really bringing the standard down. I am not criticizing the committee because I know they worked within their means. Plus, the entire committee are my friends.

The only thing I liked about it were the lucky draws. The prizes were interesting, but my fate has been written; I will never win any lucky draws.

I wish I could share my performance video with you, but the size is too big and I haven't figured out a way to convert it to an easier format yet. Will try to upload it soon.

26

2010-11-27T01:49:00.006+08:00

This was me when I turned 3. 23 years later, here I am, celebrating my birthday as a husband and a father. I thank Allah for giving me the life, the health, these hands and feet, and the gift of Islam for me to continue living my life with a firm direction.

At 26, I'd like to think that I've accomplished a lot in life. Though I admit that I need to be a better servant to Him. I sailed through schools and now leading my own career. I have lots of dreams and hopes, but ultimately I wanna be able to make my family happy.

Happy Birthday to me.

Salam Aidiladha 2010

2010-11-16T23:17:00.015+08:00

I'm spending Aidiladha in KL this year. A one-day off isn't enough for anyone to go anywhere! It's nothing major, really. I just planned not to take any leave this week. I wanna finish a bunch of work by the end of the week so that I can take 2 days off next week. Yeah, I'm a man with a plan!

My parents were supposed to drive over to KL for Aidiladha. Unfortunately, Dad came down with a cold since last weekend. So, I told them not to come and rest at home instead. Hopefully he's feeling better now.

Salam Aidiladha to all Muslim readers.
10 Zulhijjah 1431H

Sweet, Sweet Victory

2010-11-14T13:23:00.037+08:00

I did not blog about this earlier, but I entered myself in a singing competition hosted by my company. I decided to go for a duet instead because I'm still learning to overcome my stage fright when performing solo.

The audition was about a month ago and we performed I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You by Marc Anthony and Tina Arena. A special thanks to my wife for suggesting the song and for being our "Simon" during our practice sessions.

The final took place yesterday at Red Box Plus @ Pavilion KL from noon to about 5 PM. We picked to sing an English/Italian song called The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. It's a very beautiful song with a great melody and according to Dayang Nurfaizah, our voices blend-in very well with each other and the song.

To our surprise, we were announced as the overall winner. We beat 13 other contestants; 10 soloists and 3 groups. We got RM250 worth of shopping vouchers and a challenge trophy, which will have our names engraved on it as the first winner of the competition. We will also be performing a song at the company's annual dinner event on the 4th of December, alongside Mizz Nina. How cool is that?

I'd like to thank Nazia for being a great partner and for lending her voice to a great final performance. Now, what we need to do is to figure out a song to sing at the annual dinner event, which is only like 3 weeks away!

I am so proud of myself right now. I got loads of compliments and people told me that they've never heard the song before, but loving it now. Some of them even wished that they could listen to more of my singing. Plus, Ally's manager (who is a lady, by the way) thinks I'm charming and Ally himself said our performance was "Best gile!" It was a great day.

I'll try to share the video of the final performance soon.

Daanish Is 1 Month

2010-11-07T12:33:00.011+08:00

Happy Birthday, Mama!

2010-10-16T00:38:00.011+08:00

Just to know each day
That you are here
To listen and love,
To laugh and care,
Makes each new day
Seem bright and new.
Make each moment become
a treasured memory.
We love you more with each new day.

Happy Birthday, Mama!
Papa and Daanish

It's A Boy!

2010-10-08T19:23:00.007+08:00

Introducing Muhammad Daanish, the second man of the house, our new bundle of joy, weighing at 3.63kg. Born on October 7, 2010 at 2:20 PM at Damansara Specialist, Selangor.

Lin was admitted at 2 AM on the same day and was already 1cm dilated. We spent the night there, but at about 6 AM, there were no progress in the dilation. We were then transferred to the labor room at about 7 AM. Seven hours after that, it was time to push.

Alhamdulillah, everything went extremely well. Mama and baby are doing fine and healthy. Taking care of a baby is very challenging, but there's nothing sweeter than watching your baby all swaddled and sound asleep.

For those who would like to come visit, do call us for directions to our apartment.

Raya In Melaka

2010-09-12T15:51:00.009+08:00

I haven't had the chance to upload the pictures. I apologize for not being able to share any of them with you yet.

Anyway, this year is my first raya as a husband and my first raya at a house other than my parents'. It was definitely different. The morning of the first day was raining lightly and the entire family just spent the day chilling at home, eating lemang, ketupat and rendang.

We visited Lin's uncles and aunts in Sungai Siput the next day. Other than the mosquitoes, it was all good. The kampung scene was amazing. I felt like I was in a raya ad.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin.

Shampoo & Hair Gel

2010-08-18T21:42:00.003+08:00

I can use a 23.7 fl oz Head & Shoulders shampoo for more than a year! I use a small amount everyday in the evening, about the size of a 20 cents coin. I find it amazing. But I'm not sure if it's fixing my dandruff problem. Or is it the hair gel I use is working against it?

Selamat Berpuasa!

Baby Update

2010-06-04T16:37:00.005+08:00

There has been a tremendous growth in the size of my wife's belly. A lot of things are going on in there. Lin is now in her 21st week and is very happy that she can now feel the movements of the baby.

We went for the routine checkup last Wednesday and were happy and surprised at the same time to find out that we're having a boy. Why surprised, you asked? Well, a month before that, the doctor told us that it could possibly be a girl. So, we trusted him fully and from there on out, we set our minds around it. I even imagined about my plan to send my little girl to a ballet class, piano class, etc. But initially, I've always wanted our first child to be a boy. So, it's all good. And by the way, we already got a name for him.

The doctor did a thorough measurement of every single organs and limbs on the baby and Alhamdulillah, he is growing normally. And handsome too. Check this out.

We just can't wait to see him!

Expecting

2010-04-10T19:05:00.006+08:00

Yes, the title says it all. We are expecting!

Lin is now 12 weeks pregnant and she's looking healthier than ever. Glowing. Well, except when she's having her morning sickness. She's one tough cookie. Lucky she has such a good husband. Lol.

The picture above was taken during the 6th week. The white pea-shape in the black circle is the baby. It was 0.9cm long. Now, it is 5cm long and already taking a baby shape.

I'll be a dad very soon :)

Accomplishments & Frustrations

2010-02-20T18:08:00.011+08:00

Accomplistments
1. Woke up really early today.
2. Renewed my ruined MyKad at JPN @ Pusat Bandar Damansara.
3. Resized my wedding band at DeGem @ The Gardens Mall.
4. Installed the new modem with Wi-Fi at home.
5. Updated my iPhone's firmware.

Frustrations
1. Too many people at the immigration office and such terrible service.
2. Ugly picture taken for my new MyKad.

Year of The Tiger

2010-02-19T20:37:00.015+08:00

As usual, I spent the week over at my parents' in Penang. This time, I brought along a sidekick, which is also the love of my life, my wife.

We spent a great deal of time with my parents and ate a lot of good food. We didn't have the chance to go eat nasi kandar though, but there will be plenty more chances in the future, insyaAllah. We also learn to appreciate long, cold showers as Penang was so hot.

Baby Steps

2010-02-15T13:50:00.008+08:00

No, we're not having a baby yet!

We're taking baby steps to cooking at home. It has been a while since the last time we cooked. We started off few days back with a simple dish; spaghetti bolognese with minced beef and mushroom. Yum!

Two nights after that, we used the rice cooker for the first time. We--well, more like she--cooked sayur lemak and sambal ikan bilis with white rice. Tasteyh! I was in charged of amputating the head off the anchovies. Fun. Lol.

We're looking forward to cooking more complicated, tastier dishes in the near future. Married and having your own place kick ass!

Oh, and that's our new--and improved--phone in the office. It's kinda fun. Personalized voice mailbox greetings? Now, you tell me that's not fun!

I'm Hitched!

2010-01-31T14:07:00.006+08:00

Marriage equals excitement. No kidding. No more going to bed and waking up alone. Lol.

This is the first post after I got hitched, about a month ago. The wife and I have been busy keeping the apartment furnished and tidy. We're halfway to fully furnishing it.

Anyway, I'm taking this opportunity to thank everyone who was there to celebrate the important day with us. My wife and I are very grateful for having you as our family and friends.

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! I just realized that this is also my first post for 2010.

Hall of Fame

2009-12-08T22:00:00.026+08:00

It was the theme for last Saturday night's 2009 D&D, which made it to the top in the "Worst D&D" list so far. Here's why:

Impersonating a celebrity? I say: Surgery!

Not many people dressed up, unlike previous years. Guess people just got confused between hall-of-famers and characters from movies.

The performances were not up to par. The band was good, but wasn't very entertaining.

I didn't win anything, not even a RM100 Jusco voucher.

However, the company was great. I sat with the usual suspects and had loads of fun goofing around in front of the camera. I was dragged to the dance floor and was forced to bust some moves. I'm sure Sean Kingston would agree with me when I say I was the "fire burnin' on the dance floor," BABY!

In case you're wondering, I wasn't trying to impersonate anyone, but people said I'm Jason Mraz. Guess the hat played its part well. What do you think?

Smells Like Enchilada

2009-12-01T22:20:00.004+08:00

I came across this video some time back and forgot to share it with you guys. Don't mean to offend anybody, but fart jokes are the best. Enjoy!

I'm Seeing Two Taylor

2009-11-30T20:52:00.027+08:00

Have you seen New Moon? I haven't, but I heard it sucks. Here's what Rotten Tomatoes has gotta say:

The Twilight Saga's second installment may satisfy hardcore fans of the series, but outsiders are likely to be turned off by its slow pace, relentlessly downcast tone, and excessive length.

Putting ratings aside, I wanna talk about the phenomena (really?) of two Hollywood celebs with the same (first) name dating. Paris and Paris did it before, but that didn't last and we all know why.

Now, Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift are giving it a shot. They've been seen many times kissing and canoodling in public. Swift's innocent girl-next-door face and Lautner's hunky new bod may look perfect for now, but how long can this last?

P/S: This would be my script if I were to audition for Ryan's position in E!. Lol.

25

2009-11-27T00:12:00.003+08:00

Today, a boy turns into a man. Responsibilities just got bigger, stress level is at its peak and hormones are running all over the place. Hence, the breakouts on my face. Damn it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!

Oh, and Happy Eid ul-Adha to all muslims.

Watched

2009-11-21T16:47:00.016+08:00

These are the movies I recently watched and would like to share my opinions with you. Feel free to disagree. See if I care. Lol.

Jennifer's Body
Guys (only), if you like Megan Fox in Transformers, then this movie is definitely for you. Just ignore what your girlfriend has to say about how crappy and ridiculous the movie is. They just don't want you to witness how hot Megan Fox can be. Just go watch it by yourself, it is totally normal.

Watch out for the scene where she went swimming after she killed the fat football player. You won't be disappointed.

2012
Awesome special effects, but utterly disappointing storyline. I trust in luck, but how lucky can a guy--and his entire family--get? The earth was shaking and its belly was blasting firey rocks, but John Cusack escaped without a scratch. Unbelievable!

I'm sorry, but the storyline didn't do justice to the special effects. Try harder.

Phobia 2 (Thai)
There are 5 different stories in the movie. The first story was the scariest, the second was a bit dumb, but was awesomely startling, the third was an absolute junky copy of Hollywood zombies, the fourth was quite scary, but could be scarier, and the fifth was the ultimate surprise that almost got me fell off my seat.

When you've gathered enough courage, go see it.

I Moved... Again

2009-11-08T11:51:00.014+08:00

I've moved to a new apartment, which is only one floor below the old one, 2 weeks ago. This time it's gonna be permanent. Sorta. Well, at least for a year. This is where I'll be staying after I get married. It's a partly furnished unit with kitchen counters and stove, air conditioners, water heaters and fancy lightings all over.

So, weeks before that, Lin and I spent a whole day cleaning up the apartment. Sweeping, mopping, wiping, scrubbing, you name it. It was a whole lot of fun.

We can't wait to furnish our first rented new home!

25th Birthday

2009-10-16T16:16:00.008+08:00

I’m sitting here thinking
Of a gift I ought to be buying
Something that would leave you feeling
That you are special without saying
Many ideas I was considering
But nothing came close than giving
A promise of my love to you with no ending
And this promise I shall be renewing
With each birthday you’ll be celebrating

Happy Birthday!
My fiancé, my girlfriend, my best friend.

The Husband Store

2009-10-11T18:40:00.005+08:00

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates.

You may visit the store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however, a catch. You may choose any man from a particular floor or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building.

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

"Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord."

She figures she can do better, so she goes up the next flight.

"Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids."

Not bad, she decides, but what about companionship? She moves on.

"Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids and are extremely good looking."

"Wow!" she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor.

"Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead
good looking and help with the housework."

"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!" Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

"Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop-dead gorgeous, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak."

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:

"Floor 6 - You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!"

Aidilfitri '09

2009-09-19T23:27:00.006+08:00

My last raya as a bachelor. It'll definitely be different next year.

As usual, SELAMAT HARI RAYA MAAF ZAHIR BATIN. Have a blessed Syawal!

Pencil Power

2009-09-15T18:14:00.005+08:00

I literally lost contact with the outside world last Sunday coz my simcard was damaged. I cannot make or receive any calls or text messages. So there I was, alone in my apartment. I locked myself in my room and started to draw.

It was my second attempt at drawing this female character. She's a colleague of mine. The smile was the hardest to draw. After all that, it still looks crooked. Oh well. I think I'm better at drawing faces that aren't smiling.

I know tak jadi sangat, but you can comment anyway.

Reunited

2009-09-13T13:49:00.007+08:00

Before I go on and take my shower (just finished cleaning up my room for raya *lol*), I just wanna say that I hate going to a buffet for buka puasa. Too damn many hungry people lah!

Yesterday, a bunch of us Vandy peeps got together for buka puasa at KGPA, Damansara. It's sorta like an informal annual meet-up that we do every Ramadhan. There were tons of food, but I didn't really enjoy them. However, the company was great. Had lots of fun, lots of laughter. Those with kids brought theirs to be introduced to the gang. Amazing how time just flies.

It's ashamed that I didn't get to take any pictures with my iPhone to be shared with you guys. I'm pretty sure some of them folks will post some on Facebook. I'll just wait.

Perfect

2009-09-11T23:52:00.002+08:00

Sometimes it is exhausting to be a perfectionist. For once, I'd like to know how does it feel to not care about details that are too small for others to notice or care.

On second thought, maybe not.

The Number 9

2009-09-09T09:09:00.004+08:00

I haven't been able to blog a whole lot during Ramadhan. Too much food after buka puasa and too sleepy to blog after terawih. And the day just repeats itself all over.

But I just have to capture this day in here. Notice the time this was posted.

09.09.09 @ 0909.

*I am such a geek*

1957-2009

2009-08-31T00:04:00.003+08:00

Bad Traffic

2009-08-24T22:10:00.003+08:00

The traffic on the way home from the office today was so bad that I can't help but to fall asleep at the wheel and accidentally--gently--hit the car in front of me. How dope was that? Thank God it wasn't a Bimmer or anything like that.

We did not stop coz if we do, thousands of people would be cursing and yelling at us. Fortunately, no visible scratch marks. It was nothing, really. I'm fine. Was startled a bit when it happened, but fine. It was a crash at a mere 2 km/h.

I swore to myself not to fall asleep at the wheel again.

Passion on YouTube

2009-08-23T17:13:00.005+08:00

I got nothing going on today. Was downloading some new songs to be uploaded into my iPod. Got about 10 of them and called it quit. The connection was too damn slow coz the bandwidth is exhausted with the 2.73 GB download of the latest season of Family Guy.

So, then I decided to checkout what's hot on YouTube. Found this video right here and decided to share it with you guys. I just like how it flows.

The first time I saw the video, I thought to myself, "Damn, that Passion guy can sing! That some mad talents, right there." So, I checked out his other videos and instantly subscribed after I heard "Well Done", an original by him.

Wish I own a recording company so that I can sign this kid up and make big money out of him. He's what we call "A star overnight".

Ramadhan al-Mubarak

2009-08-22T13:24:00.003+08:00

Housewarming Party

2009-08-16T11:51:00.013+08:00

For the past 2 Saturdays, I gathered 2 groups of friends over at my new apartment to just hangout, eat and have fun. We had a potluck and ended up having a whole lot of food. And I do mean a lot!

Thanks for warming up my new place, guys! That was so much fun.

Overdue Update

2009-08-10T22:58:00.021+08:00

Since this is my first post after about a month of isolation from the world wide web, I figure I'd write a little bit more than usual. I'm sure you guys are eager to know what's been going on with my life lately.

New Apartment

I moved in this new apartment in Sri Hartamas a month ago and just got my internet installed. I'm liking this new place. It has got everything; tennis court, badminton court, recreational pool, gym, mini mart, tight securities, multi-level carparks, etc. So, it'd explain why it costs a little bit more than my previous place. My apartment is still on the 13th floor.

Lifestyle

I've been coming home late these past few months coz I've been religiously going to the gym after work. I gained 4KG of muscles from the 8-month workout and I'm liking the new physique.

I do a lot of sports lately and I'm enjoying this kinda lifestyle. I haven't got a chance to take a dip in the pool yet. However, I am planning to make swimming as my new weekly activity. I love the fact that I get to play soccer and futsal every week. You know what? If I ever leave the company, these are the two things that I'd miss the most.

Wedding Preparations

The wedding is 5 months away. I've already got a place for the wedding in KL and bought the wedding favors last weekend in Nilai 3. I work quick coz I've my dad breathing down my neck every hour of every day. I'm glad he's there.

Now, I need to decide on the wedding card. Should I design one or should I just walk into a card store and point out to the one I like? The latter sounds so much easier, but where's the fun in that, right?

I also need to figure out the theme and what I'm gonna wear for the wedding, find a tailor and a photographer, design and print a "Thank You" card for the wedding favors, buy the rings, etc, etc, etc. The list is just endless!

Before & After Marriage

2009-06-20T17:08:00.003+08:00

Before Marriage
He: Yes. At last. It was so hard to wait.
She: Do you want me to leave?
He: No! Don't even think about it.
She: Do you love me?
He: Of course! Over and over!
She: Have you ever cheated on me?
He: No! Why are you even asking?
She: Will you kiss me?
He: Every chance I get.
She: Will you hit me?
He: Are you crazy! I'm not that kind of person.
She: Can I trust you?
He: Yes.
She: Darling!

After Marriage
Simply read the above from bottom to top.

The Next iPhone

2009-06-10T23:17:00.009+08:00

My iPhone 3G is not even a year old and already they're introducing new ones. I still remember how excited I was when I got it. Now, I feel like I should get one of these new iPhone 3G, but what if next year they come up with a newer iPhone 3G; faster and more powerful than this one?

Hun, do you think we can get one from Maxis?

What's On Your Mind?

2009-06-07T00:38:00.013+08:00

This is a story of how my name was made famous by a boy. It was a month ago, but it's just too funny not to share.

I'm sure everyone's familiar with this box in Facebook?

So, this boy I was talking about wanted to find my profile, for some reason. He typed in "irwan" in that box and hit "Enter". The results:

I'm Engaged!

2009-05-31T18:18:00.006+08:00

I can't believe I'm actually making my next big step!

Yes, it's the real deal. I got engaged yesterday. It was a traditionally small ceremony, mostly family members and a few close friends. Apologize for not letting you guys know before. I actually wanted to surprise everyone. You know how I am with surprises... Now, are you surprised?

The big day will come, but the date has yet to be revealed. I will definitely let you guys know soon. So, hold on to your questions until you actually receive the invitation.

Now, let the head scratchings begin...

Kris Allen Is The New American Idol

2009-05-24T09:28:00.006+08:00

"It feels good, man, but Adam deserves this. I'm sorry." -Kris Allen

Such a humble kid. The fact that he's 23 pisses me off a little. I mean, he's only 23 and already achieving great things. Made me thinking, "What am I doing with my life?" Anyway, I'm glad he won. In your face, Adam's fans! *Lol*

AI Season 8 Finale

2009-05-20T23:08:00.009+08:00

Early in the season, I posted an entry on my top 3 picks. I got one right. Allison and Danny were both very close to making the finale.

I only noticed Kris after his beautiful rendition of Ain't No Sunshine. It was the solid vocal performance he showcased that night that forced me to download the MP3 version of his rendition. I also love his version of Heartless. Only a true artist can manipulate a Kanye song and its melody into that. I really want him to win, but Adam isn't exactly an easy competition.

Although he's gay, he got tons and tons of fans. Adam is a singer. He's born to sing. He sounds good on stage (live) as he does in the studio. He hits those notes other contestants can't even come close to. He always makes me wonder what he's gonna come up with every week.

I hate to say this, but I think Adam is gonna win. But Kris is gonna sell more records than him.

Pencil Meets Beckham

2009-05-08T18:20:00.008+08:00

I love public holidays! They're even more rewarding when you know others have to work and you don't. Yeah, I can be a prick sometimes.

It was really a short week for me. I arrived at KLIA on Monday afternoon and took the Tuesday off to recover from the jet-lag. Wednesday and Thursday were filled with 8-to-5 training. So, the situation had forced me to bring work home. Darn it!

I decided to spend a quiet day at home today. Since I figure I can get on the work thing tonight, I spent the afternoon drawing. I've put a stop to drawing female portraits for now coz I literally suffer myself drawing their hair. Yeah, I still got a lot to learn. So, that's how I ended up drawing David Beckham.

How does it look?

Random Lounging

2009-05-03T15:36:00.003+08:00

I'm in LAX International Lounge. A whole lot of Asian people in here with face masks on. They are health cautious, but they still eat pork. What a concept.

It's been 2 hours. I'm about to board the plane. I wasted my time on Facebook and saw a couple of invitations to quizzes that are in Malay. They despised me.

I need to pee.

Welcome To Houston

2009-04-26T22:05:00.006+08:00

Some of you may not know, but I'm in Houston now and will be here for the next 6 days. I arrived this morning after midnight. Checked into JW Marriott and slept for 4 hours. Woke up to a hungry stomach and ordered a 3-egg omelet in-bed breakfast. Not too shabby.

My class doesn't start until tomorrow morning. So, for today I'm planning to do some shopping. Made a friend at the airport last night and he'll be joining me to wherever I'm taking him. Nice guy; working with Shell and in Houston for business too.

Yoga

2009-04-15T22:22:00.004+08:00

No, it's not a female version of Yogi Bear.

As explained in Wikipedia, Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. Today, I got a chance to stretch and bend to some Yogic postures. I gotta tell you, it's not as easy as it seems.

To my surprise, I actually sweated quite a bit. That was a good thing as I was only in my office attire. Breathing is the most important part of Yoga (I think!?) coz the instructor kept stressing to inhale and exhale and to feel the belly growing and shrinking as we breathe.

It was a fun experience, but I'd rather run than be doing Yoga. You guys should give it a try. See how you like it. Don't worry, there aren't any chanting or worshiping involved.

Breakfast, Soccer & Sex

2009-04-12T11:31:00.010+08:00

It had been ages since the last time I had a decent breakfast at home on a weekend. It's only natural -- weekend is the only time you can catch-up on your sleep. So, you tend to wake up after noon most of the time.

But yesterday I had my breakfast; 2 sunny side up eggs, a sausage and few slices of white bread. I like it that way. It's filling. After all, they did say to have breakfast like a king. I don't know who "they" are, but I thank them for saying that.

How come I got up early yesterday, you asked? Well, the day before was really exhausting. Besides having tons of things to do in the office and having to put up with my stupid American boss, I had a soccer match that evening after work. Half way through, it started to rain. Being the caliber winger I am, I had to play to ensure the team's victory. I didn't realize playing in the rain would wore me down like a tired guy after sex. I dozed off early that night.

The result: We won 2-1.

2009's First Portrait

2009-04-05T19:31:00.015+08:00

It's one of those weekends where I only went out of the house to go get food. I stayed home most of the time. Catch-up on American Idol Season 8, some good old movies, and few episodes of Family Guy.

I also spent the last 2 hours drawing a portrait of this guy. I know he kinda looks like a criminal in this drawing, but whatever it is he's still my best friend. Known him for more than 2 years now. Great guy.

Tell me, what do you think of the portrait? Does it worth my 2 hours?

Movie Reviews

2009-04-04T15:15:00.019+08:00

This is the first time I'm posting movie reviews in here. I used to post them in Friendster, but somehow got lazy along the way.

Knowing
The concept of the movie was excellent, although a bit cliché. The special effects were amazing. Got me at the edge of my seat -- literally. However, the ending was utterly disappointing and spoiled the entire movie. Aliens. Aliens? Even I could have thought of a better ending for the movie.

Pop quiz: How the hell do they always manage to make Nicolas Cage look young?

Confessions of A Shopaholic
It was OK. Not my favorite chick flick. (I didn't just say that out loud, did I?) Of all the recent chick flicks that my girlfriend dragged me to go watch, this one fell short. It has its moment though. I thought the dancing with the fan scene was funny. Isla Fisher was adorable.

I like Bride Wars and The Devil Wears Prada better than this one. But then again, what do I know, right?

Buying Greeting Cards Online

2009-03-29T12:54:00.009+08:00

During one of my many blog rolls, I came across a blog called diYadEaRY's, one that actually sells handmade customizable greeting cards.

Here's how some of the greeting cards look like. Pretty sleek, huh?

So, if you're celebrating a special occasion and don't like what you see in the mall, then this is an excellent alternative. If you ask me, I sure would buy one or two from diYadEaRY's.

No, I don't get money out of this. It's just a mere good sharing effort. Seriously.

Pissed

2009-03-23T22:35:00.005+08:00

Sometimes, you are destined to have a stupid, selfish Mormon (read: bastard) as your boss. One who doesn't deserve your respect. One who can rot to death and burn in hell for all I care.

And a certain someone whom I've known for nearly 9 years, whom I thought was my friend, who always think that he's smarter than me can suck it! Went behind my back and screw me over like that just for his selfish need. Effing arrogant S.O.B.! With a face like that and an attitude of a 7-year-old, no girl would wanna be your girlfriend.

Futsal Fun

2009-03-18T22:49:00.005+08:00

My left ankle is swollen because yesterday, I defended my honor. *Lol*

We had a 2-hour friendly game of futsal with Surface Technical Department yesterday. I, representing the Subsurface Technical Department, managed to score 3 goals out of 11 altogether. The game ended with a tie; 11-11.

Despite having a strong feeling that we scored more and should have been declared the winner, we all had fun. After all, it's not about winning. It's about getting together and enjoy the common activity that we all love.

This definitely won't be the last game. Look out for the next one soon.

Road To Muar

2009-03-15T12:53:00.021+08:00

A group of friends and I went on a road trip to Muar yesterday to attend Daia's sister's wedding. It was altogether fun and tiring.

Along the way, we saw a lot of weird road signs announcing the places we're passing by. One that caught our attention had a very unique name; Parit Ponorogo. It instantly became the main topic of the day.

After treating ourselves to the kenduri dishes, we all turned our attentions to the newspapers that were on the table. Few were found worth discussing about.

A little boy in India fell from his house balcony and landed on a steel pole that went right through his body.

What a toughie! In the pictures, he wasn't even crying or looked terrified. Luckily no vital organs were injured. He survived the freak accident.

5 were arrested for dissing the Sultan of Perak in an online guestbook.

Ghee, I better watch what I say in my blog. On second thought, politics are L-A-M-E. I'd never write anything about it here.

A guy in Indonesia got his balls bit off by a horse.

I'm relieved that they did not associate any picture to this story. Poor guy, though. What was he thinking?

Unpleasant Mental State Equation

2009-03-10T22:50:00.002+08:00

Idol Fever

2009-03-09T12:12:00.028+08:00

Like everyone else, I too am catching the "Idol Fever". I'm talking about the American Idol Season 8. The Top 13 (yes, 13!) have been chosen and will battle it out each week for their lives, hopes and dreams.

Who are your favorites?

My Top 3 picks are:

Adam Lambert
This guy has mad skills, incredible range and excellent control over his voice. Moreover, the camera loves him. What’s gonna throw him off is his personality. He’s not the likable type America usually votes for.

Allison Iraheta
Don’t you guys think she has a hint of Miley Cyrus? I think so. But she’s a waaayyy better singer than Miley, by a mile. I love the tone and huskiness in her voice. A very talented 16-year-old and I agree with the judges; She’s someone to watch.

Danny Gokey
Nothing much I can say about Danny. His talent and personality already say so much. I like him. He knows how to pick the right songs and put his own twist to them. I think we'll be seeing a lot more of him after this. He's here to stay.

"Ken Lee"

2009-03-07T14:06:00.009+08:00

I think it's a perfect time to share this video now since American Idol Season 8 is just about to kick-off its first elimination round next week.

This clip was from one of the Bulgarian's Music Idol's seasons audition -- not sure which season was it. I don't know how much English they speak over there, but that was an utter gibberish, if you ask me. However, her confidence was amazing.

I had great laughs watching it.

Filthy Swimming Pool

2009-02-28T17:48:00.007+08:00

This is the reason why for the past 2.5 years I have not even once dipped my foot into the swimming pool downstairs.

It's not a pretty picture. Filthy.

Female Drivers

2009-02-22T12:45:00.006+08:00

I came across this video and it made me laugh so hard. It showcases how terrible -- and funny at the same time -- female drivers are.

If it doesn't make you laugh, then don't leave a comment. If it does, I sure wanna know what you think.

I apologize for the quality. That's the best it can do.