Friday, June 29, 2007

kata nasihat / mort plans


I heart you ols for ur nasihats. Like tiger balm, ok.



[Above pix only serves to make this post seems longer than it actually is]

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I think last night I may have freaked out Biah a bit by telling her how I would break the news to our big boss IF I got a terminal illness and there's only, say, 6-8 months for me to live. And I was contemplating whether that would be enough time for me to settle everything at the office so it wouldn't be too much trouble for whomever that's going to take my place (think so) . Also whether my existing financial commitments would be a burden later to the family (nope, all will be taken care of).

"Everybody's gonna die one day. It's a fact. I'm just being practical"

"Yeah, but people don't go around planning how to break the news to their boss like that!"
"It's just a what-if la. At least I'll be prepared IF it does happen like that"
"I hate what-if situations"
"You're gonna be so freaked out kan if I die tomorrow"
"Heck I'm freaked out already"
"Ala, like I said, I'm just being practical about it"
"You definitely need a new life"

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I love long conversations. Period.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

suka ke? / al-Nafourah threesome

1. Suka ke?

Malam semalam, lepas sesi threesome dinner* kitorang, J tanya aku dgn Biah :

"Cuba cakap, honestly, korang suka ke kerja korang?"


Kerja aku turut melibatkan perkara-perkara ni :



Well mestilah banyak lagi benda lain dalam kerja aku tu kan, takdela berjalannnnnnnn je... Macam-macam benda yang perlu dibuat. Kadang-kadang beban kerja tu buat aku rasa macam nak gila pun ada. Balik pukul ntah berapa, dah tak macam orang normal. Paperwork banyak taktau nak cakap cemana dah. Tapi bila stress or whatever, aku akan fokus dan fikir pada benda-benda yang positif seperti di atas. Haha.

Kalau diperhati antara nama-nama fail projek XXXX dalam bilik aku.

Projek Pulau Tuba, Langkawi
Projek Pulau Banggi, Sabah
Projek Kg Org Asli RPS Dala, Perak
Projek Pulau Ketam
Projek Kg Org Asli Negeri Pahang (Fasa I)
Projek Fasa I & Fasa II Sabah
Projek Pulau Kapas
Projek Pulau Perhentian

Itu yang dalam bilik. Dalam bilik fail, ada lagi.

So berbalik kepada pertanyaan di atas, dah tentu la aku boleh jawab dengan tulus ikhlas dan jujur :

"Hell of course!!"

Biah? Jawapan sama dengan aku. Kitorang sama-sama suka kerja kitorang. Setakat ni lah. Dalam ada perkara-perkara yang mungkin tak berapa best, perkara-perkara yang best masih ada dan masih cukup untuk mengekalkan kitorang sebagai anak-anak buah En. Lan.

Kalau saya tada suka ini kerja saya buat, suda lama saya ca-alif-but pigi itu offer lain department tau. Well, that and also several other reasons as well.

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*2a. pra al-Nafourah threesome

Khamis petang :


Tiba-tiba Biah teringat, voucher untuk semi-buffet di al-Nafourah, Le Meridien yang dia menang masa cabutan bertuah the Sun Corporate Hunt tiga bulan lepas tak guna lagi. Sekali check, dah nak expired lagi tiga hari!

"Jom pegi nak?"
"Bila?"
"Tinggal hari Jumaat dengan Sabtu ni je"
"Demm, gi esok lah camtu, lepas keje"
"Ok karang aku buat reservations"


Jumaat :

Waktu rehat makan tengahari yang panjang. A.k.a waktu untuk kaum Hawa berlalalala mengikut rentak hati. Aku dengan Biah tiba-tiba rasa nak cari air kelapa tengahari tu. Sampai Kelana Jaya kitorang berlalalala. Ada, gerai air kelapa. Sebelah minivan Daud Kuih. Tapi last-last kitorang dua-dua minum air tebu jadinya. Biasalah, ubah fikiran last minute.

"Eh, malam karang nak pegi pukul berapa?"

(typical orang Malaysia, waktu tengahari dah pikir pasal makan malam)
"Aku reserve pukul lapan setengah. Gerak kul lapan lah kut?"
"Ok"

Makan karipap.

"Eh, pekata ajak J join? Ok tak?"
"Tapi voucher tu untuk dua orang je"
"Dia kena bayar la. Eh kita kena bayar lagi ke completely free?"
"Ntah. Aku pun confused voucher ni, macam ada kena bayar lagi kut?"
"Demm. Kalau mahal sangat cemana?"
"Tu la, kalau mahal sangat malas aa"
"Ala kita pegi je laa"
"Haha ye la"

Sambung minum air tebu.

"J apahal ekk minggu ni?"
"Tu la, sampai En. Lan pun kata dia bad mood."
"Oh yeh"
"Aku nak tanya dia pasal event tu tak berani, suruh En. Lan yang tanya"

"Period kut haha. Takpela nanti ko cuba tanya kalau dia nak join"
"Ok. Karang lah"

Balik ofis. Sambung kerja. Biah pegi discussion. Aku check email, baru terima info dari Klang untuk report Pulau Ketam. Buat amendment macam En. Zul suruh. Ralit.

Teringat. Hantar SMS kat Biah.

[4.52 pm - Eh ko dah tanya mamat esmo tu tak to join us tonite?]

[4.53 pm - Ko tanya lah. Aku bz]

Sambung buat report dulu. Ralit lagi.

5.15 petang. Naik tingkat 19 nak mengadap En. Zul, bayar 'hutang'. Dia tak ada dalam biliknya. Aku letak report tu atas meja, tulis nota di Post-It-Notes kuning untuk explain beberapa perkara.

Toleh kiri. Balik dinding kaca bilik En. Zul - eh, si J. Aisey, belum tanya lagi!
Aku lambai-lambai dari dalam. Cuma pandangan dari sisi yang aku dapat, dengan muka tension.
Aku keluar dari bilik En. Zul.

"What are you doing tonite?"
"Kenapa?"
"Kitorang nak dinner kat Le Meridien. Jom?"
"Ada apa?"
"Biah nak tunaikan voucher buffet yang dia menang haritu"
"Kalau voucher, mesti dua orang je.."
"Ala voucher untuk semi-buffet. Main course kitorang kena bayar jugak rasanya. Jom la"
"Ajak, lima minit sebelum bertolak, baik tak payah"

"La.. kitorang nak pegi malam la... bukan sekarang"
"Takpela tak payah"
"Hm. Ok then"

Feh. Time orang tengah moody gitu, takyah la cakap lebih-lebih.

6.20 petang. Biah baru habis discussion kat atas.

"Nak pegi pukul berapa ni? J nak join tak?"
"Dia kata, aku quote, lima minit lagi nak bertolak baik tak payah ajak"
"Apsal lak tu?"
"Ntah, aku tak berani tanya lebih"
"Oh... kalau dia biasa dah nak turun makan baru call bagitau kita takpe"
"Tu la pasal"
"Meh aku call dia"
"Ko call la, haha, cuba"

Biah angkat gagang telefon, dail extension internal 4 angka.
Ajak lagi. Explain : Dah nak expired, terlupa pun, jom la, it's Friday.

"Ok, jadi. Dia suruh tunggu dia siap kerja"
"Ok? Haha ye ke tu?"
"Ye la kut. Eh aku reserve untuk dua orang, kena call balik"

Dail lagi. Settle.

7.55 malam. Call mamat esmo.

"Jom turun. Kitorang tunggu dalam kereta, kat lobby, entrance tepi"
"Ok, give me 10 minutes to freshen-up".

Aku dengan Biah bantai gelak gila-gila. Freshen-up?

8.15 malam. Mamat esmo muncul, lengan baju berlipat ke siku. Muka masih separa tension.

"Out. I'm driving"
"Sure? Ler, kata letih kerja, relax la kat belakang"
"No. I'm driving"
"Ooookayyy"

Time macam tu, aku malas nak cakap banyak. Bagi aje la.


*2b. the dinner

Kata official site :

"The opulent Al Nafourah is a contemporary Arabian oasis with all the mystique of the Middle East at its most exotic. Private silken dinner tents, Moorish arches, ornate paintings, and richly woven carpets lend an enchanting ambience, scented with spices. After a feast of Lebanese cuisine, diners can enjoy intriguing belly dancing performances or draw flavoured tobacco from bubbling hookahs on the terrace by the pool."

Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Hours: Lunch 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM; Dinner 6:30 PM - 11:00 PM
Atmosphere: Contemporary

Al-Nafourah@ Le Meridien - Ala Arab-style restaurant, obviuosly (duh!). Duduk je terus dapat jus kurma dalam gelas comel. Lagu padang pasir berkumandang, ada satu lagu ni dia ulang berapa kali ucapan "assalamualaikum", penat aku dengan Biah nak menjawabnya. Siap ada belly dancer ok! Perut flat macam padang pasir, pergh, jeles aku tengok.

Konsep semi-buffet rupanya macam ni, appetizer dan dessert dihidang style buffet, ambik la apa yang kita nak, tapi untuk main course kita kena order salah satu dari pilihan yang ada dalam menu. Harga semi-buffet dinner di al-Nafourah - RM108++. Mak ai. Nasib baik la voucher tu memang untuk makan percuma sepenuhnya.

Ada sup lentil dengan roti Arab, tabbouleh (salad tradisional Arab), cheesecake, umm amr (puding roti dengan kacang dalam susu), chocolate panacotta, kambing bakar, baklava, meatlof gulung, macam-macam lagi appetizer dan dessert selection dia. Boleh la. Ada aku ambik satu dish ni, description dia 'crumbled bread with almond', sekali rasa, masin dan penuh rasa minyak zaitun, tak jadi nak makan semua. Untuk main course pulak pilih antara hidangan ayam, daging, seafood, kambing. Masa tu dah nak kenyang makan buffet, semua tak habis makan main course masing-masing. Sayang pulak.

Highlight utama dah tentu sembang-sembang dan gossip session. Apa lagi. Pasal orang-orang dan peristiwa kat tempat kerja.

"Nasib baik la korang tak masuk final list untuk transfer"
"Apsal?"
"Nama korang naik mula-mula tu"

Aku dengan Biah bulatkan biji mata. Iye ke.

"Nama aku pulak kena struck off awal-awal lagi"
"Tapi kau teringin nak masuk sana kan?"
"Memang la. Tapi nak buat cemana, sah-sah bos tak nak lepaskan"

Hoh. Camtu ceritanya. Patut la member bad mood seminggu.

"Ooo itu ke yang kau tension sangat tu" Biah.
"Lebih kurang la... pastu ada la lagi benda-benda lain jugak."
"Ye ke" Aku.
"Hell week. Nak makan pun tak sempat"
"Kitorang pun macam-macam hal gak, tapi sempat lagi nak makan" Biah.
"Cuba teka lunch kitorang makan apa. You'll never guess" Aku.
"Nanti aku tunjuk kat korang my lunch today"
"Ala...jgn la camtu" Biah.
"My lunch, which is still sitting there, in my room, UNEATEN"

Patut la makan macam... err macam agak lapar.

Sambung lagi pasal hal-hal berkaitan.

"Kalau retire nanti, kita semua dapat retirement benefit trust fund tak?" Aku.
"Semua dapat la kan. Macam mana kira eh?"
"Ada formula. Sapa kerja dari zaman dulu, lagi untung. Kaya la" Aku.
"Kitorang yang baru masuk ni, dia kira lain sikit. Tolak EPF" Biah.
"Lain pulak"
"Bos-bos besar tu, umur 56 nanti, mau dapat 2 juta seh" Biah.
"Pergh, jadi OKT" Aku.
"OKT tu apa?"
"Orang Kaya Tua haha" Aku & Biah (serentak).

Agenda cerita hal-hal lain.

"So tau tak 'uvula' tu apa. Body part" Aku.
"Hahaahahah. Apa?"
"Benda yang 'dangling' (tergantung)" Biah.
"Hahahah. Aku tau"
"Hah apa dia?" Aku.
"Hahaahhahaahahhahahaah" (gelak yang boleh diprasangka)
"Eii ingat apa tu? It's pronounceable lah" Aku.
"Dia dalam mulut" Biah.
"Hahahahaah. Mulut sapa, mulut kau ke Biah?"
"Uvula tu anak tekak la dol" Aku.

Crew restoran dah mula kemas meja, tukar alas. Jeling keliling, dah tak ada pelanggan lain.

Tanya waitress.

"Cik, kitorang dah nak kena balik ke?"
"Eh takdelah"
"Restoran tutup pukul berapa?"
"Err 11 malam"

Tengok jam. Dah 11.30. Aiks, boleh dia kata tak payah balik lagi? Memang tip-top nak jaga hati pelanggan.

"I really appreciate you guys for inviting me to dinner. I needed this"
"No prob. We think so too."
"Ingatkan dah taknak join. Sampai kitorang kena jemput dua kali la"
"Takdela"
"Hekleh, ntah apa-apa tah"
"Lain kali jangan esmo dengan kitorang"

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Aku selalu count my blessings that I have friends like the ones I have.
And that I have the job that I have.
I may not get everything that I want, but still, what I have is already a lot.

Alhamdulillah.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

salvaging the pieces

People do the most unexpected things, in the name of friendship.

I'm rather amazed at our efforts to make things become 'like normal' again.
It's so bull to say that we both weren't affected at all by that particular episode, but I think we're doing our best to move on.

I think we're okay now.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

muallaf's on the way

SMS beep!

Salaam. Shoot over. Nani's head shaved bald. The scene was so moving, the crew and some reporters cried. Allah is great.

Sender :
Yasmin +601XXXXXXXX
Sent : 12-June-2007

18:00:57

I almost kicked myself the other day for forgetting they were just starting the shoot in Ipoh at the end of May and I was around for two nights there on a work trip!

Can't wait for another of Yasmin Ahmad's work to be completed for everybody's viewing pleasure.

Monday, June 11, 2007

ah, be still

..my beating heart.

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What am I gonna do next? Be civil, of course. And try to salvage the pieces left behind, form a friendship, if that's possible. And by the way I'm not one who would usually run away scared from things like this, 'cause I know perfectly well I can handle it.

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A big thanks to my friends who had been there when I needed you guys the most. *Big hugs*

This is dedicated to YOU :
What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not o sing out of key

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away
Does it worry you to be alone?
How do I feel by the end of the day
Are you sad because you're on your own

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

- With A Little Help From My Friends, The Beatles, 1967