THE JEDI INCORPORATED: February 2008

Friday, February 29, 2008

My Brother's Birthday

Date : February 28, 2008, 2100 Hrs

Venue : The White House at SV3

Present : The DCs, DF and Wave.

Missing : DZ - on his way back from KL, Meadowsoprano - on her way back from TR, Moox - tied up with a discussion and Youngest Bro - still at NS Camp

Not all photos are included, as I am saving them for the Jedi Youngling's place. And the photos are not that clear, but will do lah..

As I entered the dining area that night, with a camera in my hand, I heard a little voice calling out "Mak Long, Mak Long!" And it was this little lady...

And then she quickly posed for the camera - she's more expert now. (Mind you, she has watched several shows of A Model Life With Petra and is learning fast, no joke.)

Birthday Cake for Mr. DC ~ many thanks to Mrs.DC

The menu for that night ~ siapa yang tengah control diet, "settle" lah jawabnya... :D

Precious Moment..

time ni diaorang tak sedar pun kena snap, tengok tu sepesen je gaya dari bapak ke mak sampailah ke anak... sehati sejiwa gitu..

Mr. and Mrs. DC

"... I Love You, You Love Me, We Are Happy Family..."

Thursday evening, my main focus was on baking an apple crumble - my very first try. Yalah, malam tu kan birthday celebration for my brother - DC. Kononnya kalau okay nak jadikan salah satu hidangan untuk malam tu.

Dapat inspiration nak buat Apple Crumble ni lepas baca blog Cik Mimi Glasgow kita. Resipi memang ikut resipi Mimi, cuma kata Mimi, kena pandai-pandai adjust dan alter.

Results : Boleh kata 90% menjadi la Apple Crumble I ni. Cuma dia tak berkawan. According to Mimi, lebih sedap kalau makan dengan Custard Cream.

Sebelum masuk oven...

Bila dah siap....

Hmm, gambar-gambar ni tak berapa clear, sebab camera tak ok dan lampu dapur pun agak malap time tu. Tapi diaorang kata rasa dia okay (tatau la kot nak jaga hati je hehehe). Rasa dia masam-masam manis. My Auntie pula kata, sama dengan Mimi, apple crumble ni tak perlu dipotong, hidangkan saja dalam pyrex. The problem is, masa bakar dalam oven, I guna acuan bulat macam dalam first photo tu, jadi kenalah potong dan hidangkan dalam pinggan. Tak suitable lah hidang dalam acuan tu. :)

To Mimi, thank you so much sis, for the recipe and guidance. Credit goes to Mimi for this. Nanti kalau ada recipe lain bolehlah ajar, kay? *wink*

Dance : Another Passion Of Mine

Yes, it is - another passion of mine.

Memang suka sangat. Sometimes my niece pun I ajak layan dancing. And I must say, she has a very good sense where dancing is concerned. Plus the fact that her body is really that of a dancer. And quite a fast learner where dancing steps are concerned.

Entah macam mana, terjumpa plak this song, Flashdance. Dulu-dulu suka juga tengok this movie, and I really love this song. Tapi tak la suka sangat dengan the kind of dance dalam movie ni. Suka tengok je. My fav kind of dance? Hehehe Slow Dance (right, Hon?) and cha-cha-cha. Hehehehe.

So, what's yours? *wink*

What A Feeling (Flashdance) by Irene Cara

First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

*What a feeling, bein's believin'
I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life
Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life

Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart

*( "now I'm dancing through my life")

What a feeling

What a feeling (I am music now), bein's believin' (I am rhythm now)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (Pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)
Have it all (Pictures come alive when I call)
(call, call, call, call, what a feeling) I can have it all
(Bein's believin') bein's believin'
(Take your passion, make it happen) make it happen
(What a feeling) what a feeling... (to fade)

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Happy Birthday To My Brother

Here's a birthday wish to my brother (who, by the way, secretly reads this blog on a regular basis and thought I didn't know heheh), born 29 years ago in Johor, Malaysia. Married and a father of one, he is a Surveyor by profession.

This is no ordinary birthday wish, for I am going to share with all of you...

5 things my brother likes

1. Requesting Nescafe to drink in the evening, made by Kokti.

2. Playing with his daughter, Nayniss.

3. Caring (obsessively) for his car.

4. McLaren Mercedes team, in Formula 1.

5. Watching Discovery and Sports Channels.

5 things my brother hates

1. Vegetables.

2. Wet surface of the dining table.

3. When it rains immediately after he washed his cars.

4. Ferrari team in Formula 1 (coz Ferrari's the best, McLaren's not and of course I love Ferrari).

5. Reading labels.

To my brother, Have A Wonderful 29th Birthday...

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough (Patty Smyth & Don Henley)

I don't wanna lose you,

I don't wanna use you

just to have somebody by my side

And I don't wanna hate you
I don't wanna take you
But I don't wanna be the one to cry

That don't really matter to anyone, anymore
But like a fool I keep losing my place
And I keep seeing you walk through that door

But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

Now I could never change you
I don't wanna blame you
Baby you don't have to take the fall

Yes I may have hurt you
But I did not desert you
Maybe I just want to have it all

It makes a sound like thunder
It makes me feel like rain
And like a fool who will never see the truth
I keep thinking something's gonna change

But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

And there's no way home
When it's late at night and you're all alone
Are there things that you wanted to say
Do you feel me beside you in your bed
There beside you where I used to lay

And there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch
There's a reason why people don't stay who they are
Cause baby sometimes love just ain't enough
Baby sometimes love just ain't enough

Note : One of the most meaningful songs for me, where he is concerned.

Monday, February 25, 2008

From Me To Me...

Yay! I love this thing.. so cute and lovely.. from me to me! It's obvious, isn't it? That I just discovered this glittery thing! Hahahahahahhahaha...

Ayat-Ayat Cinta

It all began with this book. One day, Mimi told me about this book. She said she's gonna buy it when she's coming back for the holiday. And just before she left Scotland for Egypt, she told me she bought the book in its original Indonesian version. Me, being an avid reader, immediately asked my Mom to look for the book in one of her trips to KL last year. And yes, I got it.

(WARNING : This is not some kind of ordinary lovey-dovey, romance novel)

I had to issue this warning due to the reactions I received when some people see me reading this book - people whom you could classify as judging-the-book-by-the-cover-type.

As a personal note, I find this book really great. For one, it reminds us of the fact that we are servants to God. And it portrays the beauty of practising our life as Muslims and Muslimahs. Also, when you love someone or something, that love should not be greater than your love to Him, The Almighty. The story takes place in Egypt, as the main character is a student in the Al-Azhar University, Cairo. That's all I can say of the book now. Am going to write some more in my other blog (the book review blog) later.

And last month, Mimi told me about this song by Rossa, and the upcoming movie Ayat-Ayat Cinta (now playing in Indonesia).

Rossa - Ayat-Ayat Cinta

desir pasir di padang tandus
segersang pemikiran hati
terkisah ku di antara cinta yang rumit

bila keyakinanku datang
kasih bukan sekadar cinta
pengorbanan cinta yang agung
ku pertaruhkan

*maafkan bila ku tak sempurna
cinta ini tak mungkin ku cegah
ayat-ayat cinta bercerita
cintaku padamu

bila bahagia mulai menyentuh
seakan ku bisa hidup lebih lama
namun harus ku tinggalkan cinta
ketika ku bersujud

bila keyakinanku datang
kasih bukan sekadar cinta
pengorbanan cinta yang agung
ku pertaruhkan

repeat *

And yes, I am waiting for this movie to arrive in Malaysia.. (or at least the DVD :D).

Thank you endlessly to Mimi, for introducing Ayat-Ayat Cinta, to me. Psst, Mimi.. Kang Fahri ku entah di mana :D

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not..

he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves HER not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he lovers her not, he loves me, he loves her not, he loves me, he loves her not.... :D

No One Else Comes Close

I was asleep just now and he was in my dream.

He came all the way from P***** to JB in his powerboat. When I woke up, I was laughing :D

Like I have said many times before, no, Darling no one else comes close. Never ever, okay.

It's always been you. Because...

There you go... I sincerely hope you are happy. And... powerboat? Yeah, it's really, really funny :D

Friday, February 22, 2008

I didn't know...

yeah, I didn't know until today that we do have pokok cermai in our garden.... seeing this brought back the memories of my primary school years where we used to hang out under the cermai tree at the back of our school and eat this buah cermai....

but I know that we have this belimbing buluh... campur dengan lauk masak lemak cili api sedap tau tak! This or bacang muda....pengsan!

Mom's Birthday

My mom's birthday was on Feb 18, but we celebrated it on the 19th, as she was in KL the day before... everybody was here except my youngest bro who's still in NS camp..

Many thanks to the sponsor of the celebration.. The Surveyor and The Builder...

for this yummylicious Royal Chocolate birthday cake...

and this highly addictive lychee punch....

Okay, enough! The rest of the choco cake is mine! :p

Pokok Ketam

nak semua sekali ni, tau.. semua-semua ni..and more.. Pokok Ketam & Evelyn hehehehehe.... ;)

Monday, February 18, 2008

The 2008 General Election Wave

Locality : 161 / 46 / 09 / 005 - TMN STRAITS VIEW
Polling District : 161 / 46 / 09 - BUKIT SERENE
State Assemblies : 161 / 46 - PENGKALAN RINTING
Parliamentary : 161 - PULAI
State : JOHOR
Polling Centre : SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN TASEK UTARA
Polling Stream : 3
Voting Time : 08.00 AM - 05.00 PM

The above is the excerpt of my details taken from the Electoral Roll, as gazetted on February 5th, 2008. Look at my polling centre. Tasek Utara! Boy, do I have some sort of chemistry with schools at that area or what! Oh, just so you know, all my previous SPA exams were conducted at that area too. The exact geographical area . We are meant to be together, huh?

Anyway, to all Malaysians, do remember your citizenly responsibilities on March 8. Happy Voting, everyone!

Friday, February 15, 2008

4 Things Meme

This is the reply to the 4 Things Meme, by Tana. Thanks, Tana :).

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Cashier (while waiting for SPM result)
2. Executive, Project Finance
3. Executive, Corporate Services
4. Jedi Knight :)

Four places I lived:

1. England, United Kingdom
2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
4. Coruscant

Four movies I’ve watched over and over:

1. Armageddon
2. James Bond - The Living Daylights
3. Star Wars - Revenge Of The Sith
4. Pretty Woman

Four shows I watch:

1. A Model Life With Petra Nemcova
2. Yes, Dear
3. Friends (even now)
4. Kampung Boy

Four places I’ve been:

1. England
2. Indonesia
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Germany

Four people who e-mail me regularly:

1. My friend Jan
2. My friend Celia
3. Jobstreet :D
4. Spammers

Four favorite things to eat:

1. Spaghetti
2. Lasagne
3. Soto Ayam
4. Laksam

Four places I’d rather be:

1. Right next to him.
2. England
3. New York
4. Any beautiful island.

Four things I look forward to this new year:

1. My Mega Project.
2. Acquiring my professional qualification.
3. Trying to do Blog Advertising :).
4. A trip to the Bahamas.

Four people to tag :

Nia Azalea
Mimi Amilia
Kak Lily Haslina
Red Devil

Thursday, February 14, 2008

You Have My Heart Award

I received this heartwarming award from Tana. I first knew Tana at the end of 2006. I admire her blog greatly since then. And I also admire her gorgeous, beautiful Bonnie. Thank you, Tana, for the award, and for being such a wonderful blogging friend.

And, I am passing this award to:

Mimi ~ My blogging friend, from whom I learned a lot, and whose optimism inspires me.

Yatie ~ My super artistic blogging friend, whose work of art amazes me everytime.

Strawberry ~ Another good blogging friend, whose passion and attitude towards life never fail to impress me.

Red Devil ~ My demonic Johorean online friend who is actually quite angelic.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

A Visit By The Inlaws

During the CNY break, my brother's inlaws from Pahang visited us here. They arrived on Monday and stayed till Friday.

lovely ladies from left : Nieda, Sue and Kokti (my SIL)
~ they do look alike and of the same age, right?

Nieda is the elder sister of Kokti while Sue is her younger. On Tuesday evening, Kokti (and Co.) took her sisters, my mother, two of my siblings and me to Kota Tinggi for a dinner treat at the famous Hassan Ong's Seafood Restaurant. To Kokti, thank you endlessly again, for the treat.

Kokti & Co. also took her sisters to Desaru and Pengerang, and around the City. The little one was the happiest and she stayed close to them all the time. And, in this particular photo, I specifically told them when they were having a late lunch, that I just wanted to take the photo of the Ladies In Red (on a teasing note to my niece). And suddenly, the ever-so-smart little lady in yellow stood on the chair from her sitting position, and posed, obviously refusing to be excluded from the photo. Everybody laughed out loud. Yes, she is that intelligent at one year plus!

Friday, February 08, 2008

A View Of The Istana Garden

Didn't I promise to take photos of the Istana Garden and share it with you? Well, yesterday and today, I went for brisk-walking there. Three rounds for 30 minutes each day, as per my consultant's recommendation.

The Istana, or palace, as seen from the Garden (back shot)

this is part of the palace...

this is where I start to brisk-walk.... ignore everybody in these photos, because i came here alone. they are total strangers to me. got that? i don't know anyone, so if you see anyone you like, do NOT ask me. okay? *wink*

there's a pond there.. don't really know what it's for in the old times, but i will find out. And if you're wondering what's inside, go, dive and see for yourself. and DO NOT tell me about it.

this is actually the top of steps .....

leading towards what looks like a place to hang out with friends.. well do you notice the benches?
Anyway, I wouldn't really want to 'hang out' there, alone or with friends. I just wanna brisk-walk.

great for shooting horror and mystical movies, ain't it?

Our friend from the Middle East. Yeah, in actual fact, the Istana Garden is adjacent to the Johor Zoo, and is only separated by that fence - yes, the one in the photo above. Which is why I could secretly take this photo.

the thing I love so much about Istana Garden is that it is so green and refreshing... just how many shades of green can you see in the above photos? It is so lovely and beautiful..

i took this photo from the top of the hill. the big building is the Tabung Haji Building, and on the right is the famous Sultan Ibrahim building - where most of the state government offices are situated at. In the not so distant future they will all move to Nusajaya to the Johor State New Administrative Centre (JSNAC). This is part of the Iskandar Development Region plan.