It’s been long, hasn’t it? Between work and work, I’ve been too drained to even think of writing anything stimulating on this blog. I’m loving the job though sometimes you get totally “d’oh” moments. This week itself there was a whiff of a not-so-secret almost-scandal and a beat up. Boy am I glad it’s the weekend.

Anyway it’s already mid-way through November. I seriously can’t believe it’s the end of the year. Where has 2009 gone? And more scarily, I’ll be twenty-freaking-six in 2 months time … grrr …

Sales season is almost upon us. Christmas shopping, definitely! Also, not really looking forward to my sixteen days of independence in December when the folks and SmartDode are headed to sunny ol’ Melbourne for a visit.

Yeah a little bummed out about it but that’s life! I definitely won’t be alone during Christmas though. Will be in Ipoh, visiting my Kong Kong.

So I guess this year looks like it’s going to wrap up really nicely. Thank God!

I’ve been kicking myself for missing the first Big Bad Book Sales organised by Big Bad Wolf Books. Well, good news for book lovers all over Malaysia. The second edition is back and promises to be badder!

Details of the book sale are:

Dates : 26th November to 2nd December
Time : 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Level 3, Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya

If you’re not sure if you should go for this book sale, SIX words for you:
70% to 90% discount on ALL BOOKS!!

Tempted much? SmartDode and I will be there on 27th November. See you there!

is awesome I am loving Mika more than ever.

Not everyone in my family does, however. My brother, for one, doesn’t find that Mika is his cup of tea.

Me : I love Mika!
Him : Why?
Me : His songs are cool! And cute!
Him : He’s Lebanese.
Me : So?
Him : He’s Lebanese but sounds British.
Me : So? You’re Malaysian but you don’t sound Malaysian.
Him : Really? What do I sound like?
Me : A donkey!!

Must admit he walked into that!

* * *

But I digress. Mika’s music might be pop to the core, but who’s complaining? His brand of bubblegum pop is certainly infectious and invigorating.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much might not have any one song which stands out but that’s not to say it’s no good. Just plug it in your Ipod and dance your heart out!

Don’t mind the title, it just came into my head and I’m too lazy and tired to think of anything amusing so that will just have to do

Been doing a lot of random reading (I’m between 3 books at the moment – Stephen King, Harper Lee And Charles Dickens – but Harper Lee seems to be winning … re-reading means I don’t have to concentrate too much), random tv/movie watching (Skins, Final Destination, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in my head to start on Dexter Season 2 and am going to watch Poltergeist after this boo yah!), random everything basically. Have some pictures to post up but again too erratic to do so.

Helped out at the Hotel last night – there was a Chinese wedding going on and you know how irritating it is with its multitude of dishes (only 7 last night thank God … the prawns were lovely though). Thankfully my F&B Manager spared me a lot of pain and designated me to help in the Kitchen – so I was alternating between mixing drinks, popping the decorations on the dishes and clearing the left overs.

Anyway what pissed me off was how some cow left behind her kid’s spoiled pampers. Disgusting, much? It’s like these people come through the main entrance and leave their brains behind. Urgh. Humans just kill me sometimes.

Bad news that got me really depressed last week. My PR app will probably only be finalised in 2012. 3 more freaking years Guess I’ll be stuck here for longer than I thought.

And yeah, spare me the “grass is always greener” bullshit. I dunno why but I’ve just been feeling disengaged from it all lately. It’s as if the old me is floating somewhere above the clouds in some freakish out of body way. Creepy, no?

It’s just that I suddenly feel that there is nothing to be attached to here anymore. I did think of starting something but I’m not bloody interested anymore. I just want my own life – and it’s sad cause it looks like it’s going to happen later rather than sooner.

Oh well. QueenB says that everything happens for a reason and just for consoling myself, I will adhere to that. No point getting pissed off over something that I can’t change, right?

So onwards and forwards I say. I’m now going to enjoy the last few hours of my measly weekend! Adios, muchachos.

I nearly gave Skins a miss cause I was thrown off by the first episode where the characters main mission was to get one of their friend’s de-flowered. And in that 43-odd minutes episode, there was some nudity, drugs, heavy partying and an almost overdose. I kid you not.

Anyway, not to take a moral high ground but I found it slightly depressing cause a) the characters are all teenagers in college, surely I’m a little old to be watching this; and b) this question HAS to be asked: is it about sex all the time now??

I was at least intrigued enough to read some reviews on the Internet, and I admit I was drawn towards one of the characters – Sidney Jenkins played by Mike Bailey. And yep, if you do know me by now, he is the sidekick

The thing is, you will be drawn to the characters cause each and every one of them are fleshed out nicely and you’ll get the background and goss and the inside scoop on what makes them tick. They might be *junkies*, but that doesn’t necessarily make them bad kids. They might not always come across as the best of pals – especially where Sid is concerned – but they’re still okay.

Another reason I absolutely love this show is cause it’s real. These people don’t look too perfect to be true (read: American tv shows). They have spots and little lumps and imperfections and they are not afraid to show it. Go, them! There are no happy endings, no episode being wrapped up with the learning process or wrapped up in general. The adults are almost as – in some areas more – screwed up than their children.

But most of all it’s believable. The camaraderie between the cast are really good. It’s like a younger, more crass version of Friends but with British accents

I’ve just finished Season 1 (and you have to watch that if only for the amazing rendition of Cat Stevens’ Wild World at the end of the last episode) and while I don’t have a favourite episode, one of my favourite scenes is in Episode 6 when the whole gang – minus Cassie – are packed off to Russia by their History teacher.

Sid is hiding in bed because he has just helped Anwar and this Russian babe escape from her husband, and this is what he says: Every time. Every fucking time. Buy 3 ounces of weed, Sidney. Oh yes sir! Shove a bag of pills up your arse, Sidney. Oh right away. Come help me save some random bin. Oh could I! What have we learnt, Sidney? Your friends are shitheads!

Hilarious, no?

So yeah. Do give Skins a go if you’re looking out for a tv series to watch – like me, you definitely will not regret it.

Nothing much changes, I suppose. Decades later and we could almost be singing the same song.

Is it true that humans will always be humans and we never really learn from past mistakes?

* * *

The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Don’t you understand what I’m tryin’ to say
Can’t you feel the fears I’m feelin’ today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no runnin’ away
There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave
[Take a look around ya boy, it's bound to scare ya boy]

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Yeah, my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation.
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
You may leave here for 4 days in space
But when you return, it’s the same old place
The poundin’ of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace
And… tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don’t believe
We’re on the eve
Of destruction
Mm, no no, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve
of destruction.

Y’know, I’m not much of a Sean King-Michelle Maxwell fan when it comes to David Baldacci books. Sure, I enjoy them, but the characters that I love the most are all in the Camel Club series

First Family, however, was a pleasant read. (Well, it is a little disturbing but that’s only later towards the end!). I started reading it on Monday evening and finished the book on Tuesday night – would have settled it earlier if sleep and work hadn’t intervened.

Do you absolutely have to read the previous Sean-Michelle books in order to enjoy this? No, you don’t cause it’s a standalone. However, to fully appreciate some of the chapters – especially when it involves Michelle’s past – knowing some of the background info on the characters really add a zing to the story.

In summary: the First Lady’s niece is kidnapped and she enlists the help of former Secret Service agents and current private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell to find the little girl. In the process, decades old secrets are brought to the fore and potential scandals are averted.

Now on to the disturbing parts (no spoilers though – do read the book if you want to find out). I found this book incredibly poignant and sad, and it really struck a chord in me. What would you do if someone hurt the person you love most in the world? Would you risk everything for vengeance?

If you’re a fan of flowy chapters and quick witted conversation, then do pick this one up. You definitely won’t regret it.

After watching this movie, I still don’t really get it. It started off promisingly enough – a peek into police files where we are brought back to the summer of 1973 where a horrible and gory crime was committed.

Then the film goes back to the tale of 5 young Americans who are on their way to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and that’s when the gore and flying innards begin.

I’m all for spilled blood and guts if the movie warrants it but this 2003 remake seems all about terrorising viewers with tasteless and tacky scenes … one thing’s for sure, it’s not subtle in the least.

What ultimately makes this a not-too-scary horror movie is the fact that you really don’t fall for the characters who are about to die. Stoned, sexed up, sweaty looking teenagers who do a good deed (pick up a hitchhiker) only to be hacked to death? Errr … okay, I suppose.

Jessica Biel did a pretty good job but other than that, I wouldn’t recommend this movie to anyone.

Move over, 007 – there’s another super spy in town. Meet Agent Charles Carmichael

Seriously, Chuck has to be one of the funniest, most creative tv shows to be created in recent years. Season 2 is long gone and they haven’t even started shooting Season 3 yet but it’s something that I’m eagerly anticipating.

One huge reason I LOVE this show is cause of the chemistry between the cast. Zachary Levi brings heart to the central character – it’s like you’re along on the ride to get rid of the supercomputer in his head. And who can forget the ludicrous yet lovable weirdos that Chuck works with at the Buy More.

BUT the character I enjoy watching the most is Colonel (formerly Major) John Casey. You gotta hand it to Adam Baldwin for bringing the Colonel to life.

If you thought that Season 1 was fun, Season 2 will totally blow you away. I loved every episode which is something rare in itself cause I have the attention span of a fly! And the finale?? Cracked me up so much I nearly fell of my chair.

If there is a show you should watch ever, please make it Chuck, Season 2.

ps. And at the risk of alienating all Chuck fans, I would love to see what they do with Season 3, but the cliff hanger at the end of Season 2 scares me. Please don’t make it cheesy!!

… or help to, anyways

My cousin and a group of other people are doing something really cool as they aim to help reduce illiteracy in Pakistan. You don’t have to do anything as wild as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, but if you want to lend a hand, then read on!

* * *

The Friends of the Citizens Foundation is dedicated to ending illiteracy in Pakistan. They do this through the building of schools, giving out scholarships and training teachers.

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.thecitizensfoundation.org/

I believe that education is the one true gift you can give anybody. It is the only gift that keeps giving as it allows an individual to rise above circumstance. Every cent you give goes towards helping a kid learn and grow and this will cause a ripple effect on his life and the people he touches. Be a part of this. Donate what you can towards this organization as I climb Kili in support of it.

My team and I will be climbing Kilimanjaro on the 16th of October. The trek will take over a week to complete with 6 to 7 hours of trekking each day with a final 12 hour non-stop ascend to the summit. There is no guarantee that my team will make it to the top as Kilimanjaro has a history of disappointing climbers due to altitude sickness and bad weather.

For me, the climb is for the kids and helping and unsafe part of the world stand on its own feet. Please help me make something happen.

Please help spread the link and word around to by posting it on facebook or just word of mouth.

* * *

While we’re taking things like school and studying for granted, some people do not even get the chance at all. So do your bit now. It’s as simple as clicking on the link above!