So before Jen and Mike set off for their awesome vacation (one of the legs included dinner with Hisham’s family), we had a warm up makan session at the newly discovered Penang restaurant in Edison, NJ. We ordered so much food that they had to move us from a table suited to seat 3-4 people, to a table for 8. Jen got to try a bunch of Malaysian dishes including assam laksa, pasembur, mee kari, kangkung belacan, roti canai, and all kinds more. The person who took our order was trying to warn me that perhaps some of my choices were not something that would be enjoyed by Jen and Vin but oh, he didn’t know them as well as I did. 🙂 We all had an excellent meal. Sila makan, everyone. Here is a picture from our first makan-makan at Penang: [[image:jen01.jpg:After we were stuffed to the gills:center:0]] Tonight, […]
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Paper Mini Fringers of Asok Yeesrim
Back in October 2009, I wrote about Asok the SWAGger who turned me into a Rodian Carbineer. I thought Asok’s artwork was clean and concise enough to be turned into paper minis. So I went down to his deviantArt gallery where many fantastic pieces reside to pick 12 artwork to be turned into paper minis. Most of the ones I collected could be considered fringers. There was a spacer, a pirate, some smugglers, pilots and gearheads. I gathered them up and put them into a printable paper mini PDF set. I sent a copy to Asok, and a few hours later – from the other side of the planet – this photo appeared: Download the pdf for free here: Download Asok’s fringers from Google Drive here!
Continue readingSatay Kajang with Jen and Mike
After 10 years of being friends with Sila – and working with her even now – Jen Laaback visits Malaysia for the first time after vacationing for almost two weeks on a boat up in Thailand. Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur, Jen, Mike and the rest of the company were accosted by Hisham and family who shanghaied them into having dinner at Samuri’s Satay Kajang which was located in Kajang, away from the throngs of other vacationeers and tourists, foreign and domestic. [[image:satay-with-jen-mike01.jpg:The gang at Samuri’s satay place:center:0]] Three points: They loved the load of tripe that was served, so more tripeloads next time; Irfan was shy and spoke little though he played with his Ultraman and dragon toy with the gang; and Jen figured out the old family joke with the signposts that begin with “Sila”, like “Sila beratur!” and “Sila diam!” [[image:satay-with-jen-mike02.jpg:Mike took this picture:center:0]] We hope you […]
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Khairul The Rodian Carbineer
I’m finally a Rodian. Not really. But props to Asok Yeesrim the Gran, another Agent of SWAG, for illustrating a Rodian carbineer by the name of Khairul. Khairul was named in honour of myself. The artwork looks badass, with fantastic costume and prop design. Also of note is the Rodian’s lack of flexible spines on his scalp, which coincidentally I have doodled before to draw a “bald” Rodian. Click here to view a larger image on DeviantArt. Thanks, man. I really dig your Mike Allred-esque style. Here’s hoping Khairul the Rodian has more luck bringing in the credits than I do.
Continue readingA Visitor!
During the time of the big hu-ha (laptop dying + snowfall + sad miserable cold Sila), we had a welcome visitor here in Southwestern Ohio! Unfortunately, the weather being what it was, we were unable to take our visitor out to sight-see very much. We decided instead to relax indoors. Allie got along well with Flat Cavebaby: [[image:cavebaby1.jpg:Allie posing with Kakak Flat Cavebaby:center:0]] Allie enjoys “tummy-time” with Flat Cavebaby: [[image:cavebaby2.jpg:Allie demonstrates being on her tummy for Kakak Flat Cavebaby:center:0]] [[image:cavebaby5.jpg:Kakak Flat Cavebaby, Allie and Lulu hold hands and sing Kumbaya:center:0]] Cavebaby is very excited that snow is falling: [[image:cavebaby4.jpg:Snow falling on the back deck:center:0]] Too bad Auntie Sila is grumpy and hates the cold. By the way, it was way below freezing and the snow just keeps falling and falling. Grumpity grump! This is not really normal weather for Southwestern Ohio. We get some snow, yes, but the weather does […]
Continue reading25 Random Songs
Gary writes on Facebook: This is another one of those Facebook memes. You turn your music player to random and write down the first 25 songs it spits out. I’m not a big tagger, but if you want to do it, go for it. [[popup:amarok-feb2009.jpg:(thumbnail):AmaroK!:right:1]]Okay, Gary. I will go for it. There’s The Girl – Heart Central America – Bear McCreary Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon The Weaver’s Answer – Family Kissing You – Des’ree Atomic Al’s Merry Melody – Bear McCreary Lovefool – Cardigans Two Boomers – Bear McCreary Softly Whispering I Love You – The Congregation Streets of London – Ralph McTell Cold As Ice – Foreigner Me and You and a Dog Named Boo – Lobo Us and Them – Pink Floyd Small World (Part One) – Huey Lewis and the News Got to Get You Into My Life – The Beatles Private Army – […]
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25 Random Facts
So, Gary tagged me on Facebook, therefore: Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose up to 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag up to 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.) 1. One of my old hobbies is fishing for antlion larvae out of their sand pit traps using live ants. 2. At 9, I was shushed by a guy behind me when watching Raiders of the Lost Ark. 3. I last GMed a Star Wars The […]
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Classic Conversation
When Shane and I start chatting, we mostly chat geeky. But sometimes it goes way up to epic. It’s about time I blogged about my usual chats with Shane This didn’t really escalate to epic level, but it’s a taste of how our conversations usually go: Hisham: Hey… what would have happened if there were no clouds at night in Gotham City? And Gordon needed to shine the batsignal? Shane: Wouldn’t it hit the atmosphere anyways? Hisham: Still needs something flat for it to project onto. Shane: Good thing Gotham is a dark, fictional city Hisham: With a flat, fictional piece of plexiglass across the sky. Shane: POLLUTION! HA! There! Axis Chemicals has been pumpin shit into the atmosphere for decades Hisham: Well, never let it be said pollution was good for nothing. Shane: This is classic Shane/Hisham convo right here. That last line? Amen. Note: Edited for clarity.
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SWAG Request: Rhen Sannin
Shane’s about to start a Star Wars RPG campaign and requested his major – NPC Rhen Sannin, the freighter captain – from the Star Wars Artists’ Guild. After giving some time for any other guild members to pick it up, I decided to claim the request earlier today… so I got to practice with the tablet and Painter Classic again, which is always good. After some hours, here’s Captain Rhen Sannin all made up and prettied, complete with blue milk on the side, cyborged limb and a datapad. Click here for its SWAG entry page. Hope this artwork gets some mileage in your campaign, buddy.
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Only You Can Save The World
I was tagged with a meme by Lil at iFantabulous some time ago and I finally got around to writing (and illustrating) it today. What I have to do is to fill out the form with 5 lines below to reveal my secret superhero identity and come up with an image of my alter ego. So, a superhero, eh? Here goes nothing. I’m called : Sink I will save the world by : looking for and beating up crooks, and sending them to jail whenever and wherever I find them. However, it’s not this crimefighting act which will directly save the world. I have to do this because if I don’t my real superpower will activate, and would be disastrous to put it mildly. (See item 5) My mode of transport is : walking around, or maybe the train, because I can’t afford anything more than that. My archnemesis is […]
Continue readingZarin and Lily
In case anyone was wondering how Lily took to having Zarin around for a few days, she was totally comfortable with him. (These are pictures that Zarin took – guna sikit ya, Zarin?). First night, already that kitkat made herself comfortable right in the middle of Zarin’s bed: [[image:lily19.jpg:Right in the center of the guest bed:center:0]] [[image:lily20.jpg:What’s going on over there?:center:0]] [[image:lily18.jpg:Sooo tired:center:0]] Lily was sleeping on the bed with Zarin from the first night! Truly a shameless cat. Apparently she begged to be let in if the door was closed. We told Zarin to be heartless and not let her in, but he was nice enough so Lily got her way. So comfortable until – [[image:lily21.jpg:Zarin’s shirt is nice to sleep on:center:0]] [[image:lily22.jpg:What? What’s wrong with sleeping on this shirt? It’s ready for the laundry, right?:center:0]] Ish ish ishhhhh. Kucing ni! And finally, the day that Zarin was leaving, […]
Continue readingZarin’s Visit
So Zarin (atukku!) spent a few days with us (May 16-22) during which time, I regret to say that even though I brought my camera everywhere, I didn’t take as many pictures as I should have. Too busy chatting and hanging out and eating. What to do? I haven’t had this kind of time to hang out with Zarin since our college days (and since Zarin came for the 10th Year reunion, that’s as many years since we’ve had the luxury of hanging out like this). We did plan some activities to do (other than hanging out!). On Saturday, we went to watch the Cincinnati Reds play against the Cleveland Indians (Interleague Play). Sorry Zarin, I borrowed a few of your pictures for this entry… [[image:zarin02.jpg:Zarin and Vin:center:0]] [[image:zarin03.jpg:Zarin in front of Great American Ballpark:center:0]] Alamak! See? Our camera is dying or something. Got red tinge to the pics! 🙁 […]
Continue readingThirty Two Weeks
Time seems to be flying on by! We are now at 32 weeks, as of this past Monday. 80% of the way there now! Feeling big and getting bigger… [[image:32week1.jpg:The traditional shot:center:0]] Here’s a different angle of me, where you can really see that the belly is getting rather large… [[image:32week3.jpg:I’m feeling big:center:0]] And the treat of the week, Zarin came for a visit!! He’s the special guest star of the 32-week milestone! 🙂 [[image:32week2.jpg:Sila and Zarin:center:0]] I’ll do more of Zarin’s visit here later. Baby is moving around pretty constantly, and I can totally feel the liveliness. A favorite is to elbow my bladder at the most inopportune time. But for the most part, we are both doing well. I’m feeling pretty good still. Hopefully I will remain feeling good while baby gains the most weight in the next few weeks… 😉
Continue readingFabulous ‘Friday’ Five Meme
So Athena tagged us and since I’ve been so bad about blogging lately, I decided I would take it on! :-). Plus, conveniently, it IS Friday! So here goes: DO YOU PREFER… 1. To watch or participate?Participate, preferably. I hate sitting around while other people do stuff. 🙂 2. Malls, catalog shopping, or the Internet?NEVER Catalog shopping. Malls for clothes (must…try…stuff…on… woi, gua not kurus like last time, ok??), and Internet for other things (Maggi mee, Spices, sometimes books, etc.) 3. A bath or shower?Shower. I tend to take a shower anyway after a bath – I don’t feel clean sitting in the water after a while. And I’m too hyper to be able to enjoy and relax in a hot bath. Sometimes I even work in the shower, that’s how hyper I am. 4. To talk to people by telephone, in person or by e-mail?Depends on who lah! 😉 […]
Continue readingPerth – Part 4
It’s now our third day in Perth, and it is one day before EJ and Indra’s wedding. We start off the day when EJ came to pick us up in a rental van. We then drive down to Cottesloe where Hsu and David are staying. [[image:oz45.jpg:EJ and Vin by the van:center:0]] [[image:oz46.jpg:View from the street:center:0]] [[image:oz50.jpg:Beautiful beach:center:0]] [[image:oz47.jpg:Pete, David and Hsu admiring the view:center:0]] [[image:oz48.jpg:EJ and Vin by the beach:center:0]] [[image:oz49.jpg:Group photo:center:0]] We did have to walk on the beach and feel the water (which was a little cold). [[image:oz51.jpg:Walking on the beach:center:0]] We decide to have lunch by the beach. Can you blame us? [[image:oz54.jpg:EJ and Hsu:center:0]] [[image:oz55.jpg:Pete and David:center:0]] [[image:oz56.jpg:Vin, EJ, David and Hsu relaxing after lunch:center:0]] [[image:oz53.jpg:Unexpected and rowdy guests:center:0]] I guess, Down Under, pine needles grow upwards for a reason? [[image:oz52.jpg:Pine tree:center:0]] This one is for Abah: [[image:oz57.jpg:Some kind of MG?:center:0]] After we hung out for […]
Continue readingPerth – Part 3
After our nice outing, we hung out some more with EJ until he dropped us off at Mei’s place – he was off to the airport to pick up some more people. Can you guess who they might be? 😉 In the evening, Mei, Colin, Vin and I piled into the mini and drove to EJ’s for dinner. BTW, when trying to fit Vin and 3 other people in the mini, always place Vin either in the front passenger seat in front of Mei, or behind the driver’s seat if Mei is driving. Everyone has plenty of room with this arrangement! 🙂 Here are the pictures at EJ and Indra’s place (please mouse over the pictures for captions): [[image:oz29.jpg:Vin and Colin:center:0]] [[image:oz28.jpg:Peter and a bit of Hsu-Yi:center:0]] [[image:oz44.jpg:Mei manning the barbecue:center:0]] [[image:oz30.jpg:Hsu doing the dishes:center:0]] [[image:oz31.jpg:EJ and Mei:center:0]] [[image:oz32.jpg:EJ gawking at the tomatoes:center:0]] [[image:oz33.jpg:Sasha and Boris:center:0]] [[image:oz34.jpg:Indra on tippy-toe and […]
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