The English Language

A friend of my mom’s sent this to her and I thought it makes a lot of sense and so I’d like to share it here.

Reasons Why The English Language Is So Hard To Learn:

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12. There was a row among the oarsman about how to row.
13. They were too close to the door to close it.
14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into  a sewer line.
16. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18. After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Let’s face it ~ English is a crazy language.  There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.  In what language do people recite at a play or play a recital?  Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?  Have noses that run and feet that smell?  How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?  You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.

~ author unknown

 

 

Just The Way You Are…

Last Saturday I went to yet another get together and this time it was with my schoolmates from my primary school days.  We parted ways 30 years ago and I haven’t been in touch with anyone of them ever since so when one of them found me in Facebook and tagged me, many others soon followed.  I wasn’t even aware there was an SSP alumni before this.  Anyway, our batch rep suggested a get together and that’s how we got together last Saturday.

I was a product of Sekolah Sri Petaling, located in PJ, and noted as one of the top schools.  I was a prefect in primary school…my first shot at becoming a leader of some sort.

Can’t spot me?  I’m standing in the middle row, fifth from the left.  Even back then I took to my responsibilities as a school prefect very seriously…I was stern, strict and had that no nonsense attitude.  Looking back now I guess that was probably the reason why I never really had that many close friends ever since I was made a prefect…I took my ‘job’ seriously and sacrificed any play time with the other kids.  I guess the one person that I was really close to was a boy from my class, who was also a prefect – Mr.X, as I call him…

 … he was also the boy who had the biggest crush on me back then

He’s now married with two kids and living in Singapore.  When the get together was suggested, I wrote to him to ask him if he’d consider flying to KL for the meet up.  I was wishing hard that he’d agree and he didn’t let me down.  He flew in Saturday morning.  We made arrangements to meet up for lunch, a private catch up between us before we meet the rest of the gang later that evening.

Meeting Mr.X again after 30 years was indeed amazing.  He hasn’t changed much…still the same hairstyle, the same sweet guy, still the same Mr.X that I knew and loved 30 years ago.  The only thing that’s changed is the fact that he’s now taller than me…not much, maybe about an inch or so but he’s just thrilled at the fact that he’s now taller than me

We had lunch at a cosy restaurant near my place called ’Kozee Cafe’ and we talked like there was no tomorrow.  We had so much to catch up on – 30 years worth, and catch up we did.  Even as a kid he had always been one of those ‘got it together’ ones…the ones who had already planned out what he’s gonna do or what he wants to become when he grows up and he was also one of those studious kids, with glasses and looking like an absentminded professor.  I, on the other hand, had always been the playful kid, with my head in the clouds most of the time dreaming away day dreams.  The only times I was ever serious was when I was doing my prefect duties and exams season.  Mr.X and I are so different in that sense but yet we bonded so close and tight.  He’s done extremely well for himself and he’s right where he wants to be in his life.  I’m very happy for him and also proud of him.

After lunch we still had some time to kill before we meet the rest of the gang and so we decided to cross the road to Shalome, a restaurant cum pub, for some happy hours chillin’.  Over cheese nachos, spicy anchovies and wine, we continued our ‘rekindling’.  We talked, we laughed…it felt like old times, like we never parted…it felt so natural. 

We were later joined by Rahimi, another old schoolmate of ours, who had also contacted Saiful, another dude whom for the life of me I’m still trying to remember from those days.   But I had a great time with the guys at Shalome that late afternoon and Saiful turned out to be a really awesome dude.

We left Shalome at 6:30pm to join the gang at Muhibbah Restaurant, which is also near my place.  I was both nervous and excited at meeting all of them again after all these years…excited coz I was curious to see how everyone look like and what they’ve been up to, and nervous coz I wasn’t really close to most of them while we were in school.  The nervousness didn’t last long for me as I stepped into the restaurant, I greeted the ladies with my usual hug, and did my usual ‘wussup’ with the guys. 

Dinner went well, lots of different topics went round the table as everyone reconnected with one another.  It was nice.   After dinner, we took one last group photo which didn’t turn out very good and then we parted ways – some went back to their families and personal engagements, some decided to move to another location to continue the rekindling, while Mr. X and I chose to go back to Shalome and enjoy Saturday night in each other’s company. 

It was really great meeting Mr. X again after all these years.  It’s amazing that the bond we built 30 years ago is still as strong as it was and that to me only goes to show that  Mr. X truly is a true friend indeed.  A friend for a lifetime.  I am blessed.

 

Do You Qualify?

Do you qualify to be the man I need you to be?

Will you be able to recognize the things you need to see?

Will you be able to understand, that I am a good woman

and in my life I need a good man?

Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to fertilize my unproduced seeds?

Can you fulfill, as I can, all of our needs?

Can you put me in my place if you see I am slippin’?

Can you talk to me whole heartedly,

not constantly trippin’?

Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be called all mine?

Can you leave the other women and temptations behind?

Can you come to me with your problems

and not wait until it’s too late?

Can you stand up and admit if you make a mistake?

Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be the honest man I would want you to be?

Would you be able to look me in the eyes and admit your feelings to me?

Could you take me in your arms and make love to me all night long?

Can you be sensitive and still be strong?

Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be my friend as well as my lover?

Can you put our love before any other?

Can you cherish me as if I were Diamonds and Golds?

Can you make me feel like I’m the last woman you’ll ever hold?

Do you qualify?

Do you qualify to be called a good man?

If I have doubts will you reassure me and understand?

Can your love intoxicate me as if I were High?

To be in my life, I need to know…

Do you qualify?

You ask, do I qualify.

Can I fulfill your needs and become the man you need me to be?

Are you prepared for what you asked for?

Can you handle the responsibility?

Can you accept that, by GOD, I am the chosen one,

the authority, the comforter, and the head?

Will you submit and willingly follow my path?

Or will you fight with me instead?

If I am your King, will you treat me as such?

Will I get the best of your beauty and poise?

Or will I be subjected to an appearance neglected,

and checked with some serious noise?

When I talk, will you listen?

I mean whole heartedly and feel me?

Or will you rush me just to make your point too?

Can I be the man all times?  Even when it hurts?

Or is it just when it’s convenient for you?

Can you love me for me, and not who you wish I could be?

Will you see the strong man within?

Or will you always remind me of all the past brothers

behind me and make me pay for their sins?

If I don’t send you flowers the day your co-worker received some,

will you know that I love you still?

Or will my good name be uttered along with those other doggish brothers?

Will you question if my commitment is real?

Will you be patient and teach me to understand you,

and allow my knowledge of your needs to grow?

Or will you shut me out when I ask, “Baby what’s wrong?”

Or will you respond with, “Well, a REAL man would know!”

When we first met, what was it that caught your eye?

Was it my mind, my heart, my personality?

Or was it my suit, or my job,

or do you love what I drive, instead of what’s driving me?

Yes I can, and I will make love to you from midnight to the dawning of the sun.

But, if I tell you I’m tired, will you trust I’m sincere

or believe that there must be another one?

I love you and my heart can be yours.  No woman could leave me astray.

But like you, I have needs so I beg of you, please,

in this love thang meet me half way.

In life’s tough times I’ll hold you, in the rough times I’ll mold you;

your simplest wish will be my command.

My life is yours if need be.

Yes you can fully bleed me, and when hell comes,

in your place, I’ll stand.

A good relationship is a powerful institution

that must be built on a foundation of two.

So to answer your question,

YES, I do qualify.

Now, more importantly…

Do you?

A Night To Remember… (Part #2)

I’m back again with Part #2 of The Family gathering.  MAG booked us a private room at Baywatch, a cosy lil restaurant/bar/fun pub place at Dataran Prima.  There was none of those formal and fancy stuff, no organised plans or agenda planned for the night.  It was a ‘go with the flow’ kinda of a deal which suited everyone fine.

There was a long table set up for our party, and me and my gang…

took fort at the far end of the table, where we were joined by…

Mubarak, Marie, Martin and Arthur.  As you can see from the photo, there are beer glasses on the table, basically the vibe and momentum that we had at the Sunway Resort lounge, we took that with us to Baywatch.

Dinner… oh my God, there wasn’t any formality at all at the table!  Cash was picking from my plate and from Mandy’s, I was picking from Cash’s plate and from Mandy’s… it felt like having dinner with MY own family, it was awesome.  Not only that, we were talking with our mouth full, laughing really loud, argue with each other at the table… we were one helluva noisy bunch, I loved it.

After dinner, as what we were all aware of, it was time to record our Family website’s 10th webisode…

… which will be uploaded to The Family website , and also on YouTube.   The lil feature was the brainwave of…

Steve…

… aka Steve the Beef aka The Hubby, who is also MAG’s hubby.

Lots were captured that night, be it by camera or by heartfelt moments…

… no shy or awkward moments, everybody chatted away like long lost friends.  It’s hard to believe that most of us were meeting up for the very first time.  There was so much love in that room that night, you could feel the thickness of it in the air.  Hugs were aplenty…

… it was great.  There was brotherhood…

… sisterhood…

… there was unity.

At the end of the day, like “Heroes”…

… that’s how we roll.

Keep the peace and spread the love…

A Night To Remember… (Part #1)

This is something which I had discovered recently.  In a few of my past posts I had written special tributes about a few remarkable individuals whom I had come across in my life, folks who had cross paths with me in the most unusual way, folks that I’ve become friends with.  And today I’d like to sit and look back on the journey that we had travelled so far.  It all started with…

… Pat and his partner in crime…

… MAG.  Together, they had creatively produced a radio show which had attracted a lot of active listeners who would participate in the contests, games, whatnots that they spring on the show every Monday to Friday afternoon.  The chemistry between MAG and Pat was hot and that helped to make the show a lot more exciting.  They both brought out their heart and soul when they’re on air, they kept it real by being true to themselves… no put on impressions or fake persona, just who they truly are.  That was the thing that drew me and so many others towards the show.  A bunch of strangers from all walks of life, scattered all over the country AND the UK, cross paths with one another on one common ground – a radio show.  From there we got to know each other and we grew so big, so close, so tight, that we started calling ourselves ‘The Family’…

"The Family"

We all decided to meet up and have a family gathering and since Martin and his wife, Marie…

 

… were planning their trip here, we agreed to squeeze in the meet up during that time.  I was excited about meeting up with the family. 

On Friday, May 15th, Cash…

… (fondly known as ‘the friendly cabbie’ among The Family) and I went to KLIA to pick up one of the most respected member of The Family… Arthur…

 

…aka Cikgu Arthur aka Sir Arthur, take your pick.  That was the first time I met Arthur after give and take two years of knowing each other.  Was I disappointed?  Not one bit.  He was exactly like how I pictured him… big, warm and friendly.  The three of us had late lunch at a chicken rice shop along Jalan Bukit Bintang, chatted like long lost friends and finally walked Arthur back to his hotel around 5:00pm. 

My excitement exscalated to a maximum high when Cash arrived to pick me up for the gathering the next evening.  From my place we went into the city centre to pick Arthur at his hotel and from there shot straight to Sunway Lagoon Resort as the location of our meeting check point.   We went straight to the lounge located at the end of the hotel lobby and found the early birds there.  And so the party started with beer, light conversations, hugs, beer, laugh, beer, more conversations, more beer… and so it went until Pat got a call from MAG to inform us of the actual location where the party was to take place.

Stay tuned for more… Part #2 coming up shortly.

Brand new day, brand new hope…

The time’s 3.15am on the first day of 2009. Looking outside my window I can see that the traffic is still slow moving on the highway, a slight improvement from earlier where the traffic was on a standstill – on a highway! Imagine that!

I didn’t go anywhere to celebrate. I opted to stay home rather than to get all dolled up to the nines and then finding myself in a sardine packed, smoky joint with blaring music, with smell of alcohol mixed with stale human sweat filling the air. No, thank you. I think I made the right choice to stay in. And I don’t think I missed much. I saw the fireworks display done at One Utama just like everybody else who were celebrating there… only I did it in the comfort of my own front yard and watched it from there. I still see the same glitters in the sky like everybody else and once it’s over, I can just go back inside the house and do whatever that comes to mind or that I’m in the mood for.

I’m celebrating the New Year later today, a family barbecue at my uncle’s house. It’s been a long time since we had the family New Year party where the attendance consisted of my mom’s parents, her siblings and their immediate families. We’d eat, drink, catch up, dance and had fun, quality family time… but that was all done while my late grandfather was still alive. After he passed, we never really made it an annual thing anymore. I guess everyone felt that it just won’t be the same without him around. So this barbecue party that we’ll be having later today is a big thing for us as a family. And I’m sure it’ll turn out good.

And then on the 3rd, I’ll be attending another New Year barbecue party. My cousin, his wife and two girls have just moved to their new home and have not had a house warming do yet so they’re taking opportunity of the holiday season to throw a house warming bash/New Year party. Surprisingly enough, they too have opted to have a barbecue party. Whatever it is, I’m not complaining. Where’s there’s food, count me in. Lol. And of course it’s nice to be able to catch up with my aunts, uncles and cousins too.

Reflecting back on the different journeys I had last year… I’d say that there are certain things that are best left behind and at the same time there are also certain things that’s good to carry on to see where it will take you in the future. Call it intuition, call it whatever but all I can say is, I have a good feeling about 2009.

Well, Happy New Year to one and all, and may 2009 be kind to us all. Peace.

Me Being Me…

Who would’ve thought that writing a post would be so difficult?  Who would’ve thought that expressing oneself would be tough?  Well, I’ve been cracking my brain for the past couple of days trying to find the best way to start my first ever post in my first ever blog and… zilch.  Nothing came to mind.  Some may say I’m trying just a wee bit too hard and maybe in a teeny way I am but hey, first impression counts, right?

I was once told that when you’re meeting someone for the very first time, you have to hold yourself back, don’t say too much, let the other person monopolise the conversation while you just smile and nod your head whenever it’s appropriate.  That way, you would seem demure and not pushy or too friendly.  Huh??  But why?  I am who I am.  I can’t help it if I was born a chatterbox, or that I am friendly by nature, or that I’m not shy but a curious person, or that I like to participate in interesting conversations and share my thoughts and opinions… that’s just who I am.

In my line of work where the male population overshadows the female, I come across alot of ‘characters’ every day.  Most of them would try their best to intimidate you in which ever way they can, hoping that they would break you so that they can treat you like a doormat.  Being a woman, this happens to me a lot.  But I’m no weakling.  I’m smart, I’m tough and I deserve to be where I am today because I worked hard for it.  This doesn’t sit too well with a lot of guys who feel that a woman is not fit to lead… who cares what they think.  I definitely don’t.  But this intimidation doesn’t just happen in my working life, no.  It happens everywhere.  Somehow, someway, someone would try to pull a fast one on me.

So back to what I was told once upon a time ago about not being too ‘out there’ and about holding myself back… I have decided that I’m just gonna be me because the way I see it, the best that I can be is to be ME to myself and to those around me.  People are still gonna talk, they are still gonna find things to criticise about, and let’s face it, I can’t please everybody.  So if you happen to meet me for the very first time please don’t criticise me if I start talking to you like as though we’ve been friends for years, or if you crack a joke and I laugh really loud, or even when I listen to you attentively and start asking lots of questions.  I’m just being me.