Transitory States
Edward:
David S Leyman:
Hisham:
Luke:
James Kight:
king:
Hisham and Sila has been writing stuff down on this weblog since 2005. Sometimes they post photos of family, sometimes they talk about film, books and music, sometimes there is artwork and stuff about tabletop gaming.
And I say it again...WTF?? This creature has been wandering the backyards of our neighborhood in the last few weeks. Where did it come from? Why is it here? Why hasn't it been caught and made into dinner????? It's pooping on our driveway, big old tahi ayam crap! Whose up for a good chase? Grrrrrr...
As a consequence, we had to stop putting out birdseed for the birds and squirrels since this chicken was taking advantage of it. Grrrrrr
On the way back from the Sungai Merab area, where the PLUS highway intersects with the ELITE highway right by the exit to Universiti Putra Malaysia, the traffic slowed down considerably. This was strange because I've never experienced a traffic jam of this magnitude before at this particular location.
Which leads me to believe something's up front.
The road curves downward before climbing back up, and I lost sight of the road before me.
Then finally, TA-DAAHH!
But don't worry. The drivers were fine although they looked a bit dazed crouching on the far side of the wreck, waiting for assistance to arrive.
Young Aisyah has a new brother! Abdul Qayyum bin Mohd Zawawi was born to Hanim and Awie at 0715 hours on the 22nd of April. We went a-visiting the newborn and his family and took a photo. Irfan tried to wink at the camera and he's almost got the wink down pat.
Almost.
So here we have a crate. There's a fedora and a whip hanging on its top corners. And it's apparently the property of one Dr. Jones. Suitcase looks like it's been to places like Cairo, Berlin and Venice. Will adventure have that name again this May 22nd?
I really, really hope so.
February 1st, the day that Wilayah Persekutuan gets off, Hisham graced us with his presence thirty-five years ago. (Well, I wasn't there at the time)
Happy Birthday, bro! May you be happy and healthy always. You've been the best brother anyone could ever ask for, and thanks for being there for us. Love yas.
*p.s. - I know the entry says February 2nd, but it is STILL February 1st over here, k? 
Happy Birthday Missus Renstrom. You've made it this far, now keep swimming another 33 years and more to get your prize at the end. Which according to Sree is a pair of Eastern European leather shoes on sale.
Also, Happy 36th Anniversary Atok and Opah Irfan! Ain, Irfan and I thank you for your love and support all these years.
... I saw my phone was when I powered it down before getting on the flight at Gate 316, Stuttgart Airport. So long, faithful communication device. That ought to teach me to bring my mobile phone with me everywhere.
What?
After the second day of training, we were all brought on a bus through the cold but sunny afternoon weather from our training centre out near Hausen to the city of Stuttgart where we came upon this futuristic looking building: The Mercedes-Benz Museum.
And no, I can't speak, read or write in German. The title came about after a quick visit to an free online translator website.
Here is a blog entry in two parts. The first is a review of a book. The second relates a tale that happens the day after the book had been finished.
But first, I will complain that my car's transmission, when engaged, will squeal like a dog but only for a second.
Now on with the blog entry.
Long have I read in books where the author describes of the scent of fresh blood, especially in crime novels where a gruesome murder had taken place, or a horror novel where some unfortunate soul gets his or her skin flayed for whatever reason. Long have I also thought (each time I read such thins) that I know not the scent of fresh blood. Perhaps it was because I rarely visit places where gruesome murders, or supernatural flayings, or accidents in blood banks occur.
Recently, during Aidiladha (Happy belated Aidiladha everyone) we went back to Pasir Mas where as it was normal during the celebration, many bulls and cows were slaughtered for food to be given to family, friends and the less fortunate.
So there I was at the yard of Ain's uncle's home in the neighbouring village of Lati. We were there a couple of hours late, so we missed the slaughtering of the cow. When we got there, Ain went up into the house to greet her relatives while I wandered onto the yard where many family members and volunteers were cleaving flesh from bone. Here was where all the internal organs were piled. Here was a person carrying the cow's stomach which had been cleaned thoroughly by water, ready to be made into tripe. It looked and had the texture of a small rug.
Two days before I got back from Langkawi, I was feeling a slight pain at my upper inner thigh. There was a small growth chilling out there, minding its own business thus far until my excessive brisk walks during the exhibition caused it to be chafed. There was also a slight bleeding to it probably because the thighs sliding as I walk caused a bit of a tear where the not-so-little growth attached to the skin.
Several days after returning, on the advise of my colleague, I went to see the doctor to treat the pain. Perhaps the doctor would have some sort of salve or lotion to ease the pain. Or perhaps he would put an adhesive patch over it to avoid further physical trauma to the growth as it (maybe, I thought) heals itself.
No such luck. What happened next was... well, you can read the transcript of the chat between Sila and I as soon as I got back from the clinic:
Let's take advantage of the free wifi some more and post new pictures of work.
Just like other entries of business trip photos on this blog, there are lots of exhibition booths and models of aircrafts. There are real full-sized aircrafts in the premises but I didn't take any photos of them. Also, there is an aerobatic display outside which is quite loud and makes it hard for us to work inside the hall.
I must be working at exhibitions too long already. Everywhere I turn I meet people I know.
The booth below is ours. The 5-sided display stand with the spotlights in front was Shide's idea. The graphic design on each of the five sides were done by me in .ai format. In the space of about 7 hours, then emailed to the booth construction people to be turned into stickers.
Too bad the didn't put it on clear perspex surfaces lit up from within.
The best thing ever that could happen is the discovery that this hotel I've staying at has a free wi-fi connection. This discovery is nothing less than imbuing me with the ability to post a couple of photos which I took earlier today, from Kuala Kedah to Kuah.
We had to leave the car with a shipping company that conveyed our mode of conveyance to Langkawi by ship. Unlike the ferry to Penang, we had to travel separately upon a passenger ferry.
The ferry played Resident Evil Apocalypse en route. I fell asleep soon after the movie began. I woke up 20 minutes before it ended. When the end credits played. the ferry was about to begin docking operations at the Kuah Jetty.
Here was the muddy banks of Kuala Kedah at low tide. As the water began to rise, mudskippers and crabs plied their trade under the pier.
I go tomorrow not for vacation, but for work. I can't wait for it to be over.
Ain and Irfan aren't here with me now. They're at Taiping attending Cik Eda's wedding. I miss them. (No doubt Sila will be posting an entries with pictures of the event.)
Ain and Irfan will be back on the 2nd, which means I wont be seeing them before I leave for Langkawi.
I will be back on the 9th. I wont be seeing Vin and Sila again before they leave for home.
It's going to be a long week.
It's been a busy month, even since before Aidilfitri. The reason of it all will now be shown as a series of photographs for the event that took place at Shangri-La Hotel on the 24th and 25th of October.
Sorry, no photos of me cause I didn't get anyone to snap one at any time.
Here's the forementioned series of photographs with no comment written except for its mouseover titles:
It's been seven years since Ain and I were married, more than eleven years since we met. Through all that time, there's been a lot of ups and a lot of downs. And I'm glad I went through it all with Ain giving me strength at my side and I'm looking forward to more years like that.
Tomorrow is the last day of the month of Ramadhan.
Tomorrow we head back to Sitiawan for Aidilfitri. We will try to beat the crazy traffic (an evil, sentient gestalt entity which appears every holiday season) by leaving Kuala Lumpur at 0200 hours.
Also, this year is the first time Irfan happily chants, "Yay! Yay! Balik Raya!" which after a full Ramadhan of solid exhausting work, brings a smile to my face and takes my enthusiasm for the festive season up a notch or so.
I still have a bunch of stuff to do before the end of the year which is weighing down on me like cinder blocks on my shoulders.
Which just translates to... I'll be back Tuesday night. I'll also try to take and upload some Aidilfitri photos in the meantime.
SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI TO ALL
Yes, and even to Cindy O. Bear in the back there.
Addendum: The car seems to have learnt leetspeak which is kind of cool and creepy at the same time. So I guess we're all good to go.
