Care-Ree-O-Kee

Ever since my parents bought me a microphone for Christmas over a decade ago, i've loved the thought of holding onto a microphone and belting my heart out. Somehow, singing without one doesn't feel 'complete'. Luckily i have friends who love the microphone just as much as i do.





Friends + private room = license to be silly. Can you guess what addictive number made it into our sing-a-long list? (hint: something doesn't quite belong in the pic)



Wait for it...

Wait for it...

Wait for it....

Rihanna's Umbrella!



PS, hope you like the bday gift! Think of us every time a girl strips em off of you! =P

A Reader's Digest

Dropped by the MPH warehouse last Saturday for their annual sale. I can't remember when i was last there, but things have certainly went downhill.

For starters, the sale was not in an air-conditioned venue. It was literally in the warehouse and boy was it humid! They no longer have my favourite section: the RM2 table where books (the selection changes hourly) go on sale for merely two bucks. Well, they did have the happy-hour deals but the selection was VERY limited (read: only two books per hour). Boo!

Luckily, i managed to find 6 books, and only for a little over RM100. Definitely a steal compared to the exorbitant price of books at the book stores. Why must books be so expensive anyway? No wonder the reading culture has not really caught on in Malaysia...



Call me a sucker for books but my book collection is expanding and i'm loving it! And yes, i arrange my books according to the author and the chronological order of their publications, then to the height of each book. What can i say? I like my things organised. Even my music albums are in alphabetical order...

Piece Of Trash

Go on bitch, stick that knife deeper inside my wound. Go on and make me bleed harder.

Now i know why people don't go for lunch with you. It's because you are a pain in the ass. One minute with you is like spending an eternity in a room filled with nagging parents. Yes, you are that hard to be with.

If you are so good at poking fun at people's flaws, wait till you see yourself in the mirror and discover your own imperfectness.

I wish i can be like Oprah, say that you are what you are because of your own unsolved problems, and concentrate on your better qualities. But i am sorry to disappoint you because all i can see is a walking, talking slut.

When Tears Don't Come

For the past few days, i've been really moody. I feel like crying but i don't feel like crying, you get what i mean? It's like someone rounded up a ball of negativity and all things sorrow and just shoved it down my throat. And now it's stuck there.

I don't know what triggered this sudden emo-ness. Sure, certain things got on my nerves but I don't think anything major happened and i'm still far away from my monthly episodes. Since Friday, i've been thinking about a whole load of shit.

I feel used. I don't think i'm good enough. I hate how i look. I feel unloved. I'm scared.

I would love to express everything that's bottled inside of me but i cannot do that without hurting the people i care about. And that is something i don't want to do.

Yesterday was a little better. Spent the day shopping with dear Karen (Ren, you don't know how much that few hours of diversion helped me!) and then spent quality time with God at the church. Many of my non-Christian friends would think, "Ergh, mass - boring!" and i don't blame them. When i was young, i didn't really like going for mass too. But now, i appreciate that one hour. After mass, i always feel happier, lighter as though He opened my heart and took all the bad things away. I almost never wear eyeliner/mascara to mass because 8 out of 10 times i cry when i kneel down to speak to Him after communion.



Wouldn't it be fantastic if there's a heaven express, where i can catch a ride upstairs for a one-on-one with God and my deceased family members whenever i feel horrible? They would understand me and best of all, they would not be hurt by what i want to say. Then after unloading my emo-ness, i can count on them for a comforting pick-me-up hug or two.

Sigh. I sure hope this feeling doesn't decide to stick around any longer. I hate it. I keep having to fight it and tell myself that things are not that bad. And i'm crossing my fingers and praying that things really aren't that bad...

Still In La-La Land

Now, i'm not really a morning person. Especially on weekdays. There are many times when i've accidentally brushed my teeth twice and applied facial cleanser on the toothbrush rather than on my face. I guess my brain needs a longer warm-up time to get in full motion.

Today, mom's brain has been sleeping on the job too.

She appeared out of the kitchen with a plate and soup ladle in hand, and walked towards the dining room where bread and jam are sitting on the table.



Me: Eh, since when did you boil soup?
Mom: *Gives me a what-are-you-talking-about face*
Me: Why are you holding the ladle?
Mom: *Looks at the ladle* Eh, i thought this was the knife for the butter!

One must be really drunk on sleep to NOT realise that that big-ass ladle shares no resemblance to a butter knife!

Look Who's 22

Last month darling Karen turned 22. Since we were already going out for dinner, Joyce and i thought we might as well surprise her with a birthday get together at TGI Fridays.

Now, call me unexposed but i have not tried the food at Fridays until that night and boy, what a let down. I've been hearing tons of good reviews about the place and seeing that a TV series was once hosted there, i thought the food will be bombastic. Maybe i expected too much? But eventually, the great company made up for the so-so food...



After dinner, i experienced another first - my first night clubbing in Malaysia. Since Euphoria is nearby, and that it practises an awesome smoke-free policy, we decided to see what the rage about this club is all about. Verdict - except for the house music playing that night, it was
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even the boys are finger-licking good...

Me: Can i get a mojito please?
Waiter: I don't know how to make that. Why don't you order something else?
Me: Okay, then what do you know how to make?
Waiter: Anything else on the menu except that.
Me: Hmm, can i have *points to another cocktail which name i cannot remember* then?
Waiter: (laughs) I don't know how to make that too.
Me: To make things easier, why don't you just tell me what you can serve me?
Waiter: I know how to make long island and margarita.
Me: *what the fuck?*

Luckily, his 'special' long island made up for everything. No idea what he added into it but it was the best-est i've ever had. Period. So good that it led me to do this...



...without even me remembering what the heck i was doing/thinking at the moment! What a fugly shot of me!

Of course, no night is complete without PS getting his high on. You lucky lucky man!

As if that's not enough, this pimp daddy wanted to get dear Joyce all crazy and wild by forcing alcohol down her throat. Okay, so sayang PS would never do that that but the picture sure looks like it:



The night was packed with fun. I enjoyed myself and I hope you did too. Here's to a more kick-ass 23 my old friend!

Unwelcomed Pest

Can you remember the scene in Mr. Bean where his picnic gets interrupted by a fly that refuses to leave him in peace?

Have you experienced a moment when an insect keeps flying near you and despite efforts to fan it away, it keeps coming back?

If you say yes, then you know exactly how i feel.

Some time ago, a "fly" that shall remain unnamed flew into my life and i don't like its presence one bit. Unlucky for me, this pest is one that gives out the annoying buzzing sound. It is also the kind that no matter how hard you try to zap it with the electric racquet-like mosquito killer, it always escapes only to return later to torment you.


Picture courtesy of flickr

Honestly, i don't think anyone would want to be around this pain in the ass. Okay, maybe nobody is that bad.

I guess i do have to thank this fly for making an improvement in me - it taught me how to suppress my anger in public (warning: an angry Lea is not a pretty sight to behold). But of course, that also means that my dear friends and family would have to put up with all my bitching later on.

And She Cooks Too!

(On my cooking skills)
Me: Hey, i'm not that bad lah. I can cook maggi mee and fry eggs!
Square face: Oh, i pity your husband. He will have to eat instant noodles and fried eggs for the rest of his life.

Dear future husband *secretly hoping that he will be Jared Leto*, I decided to venture into the kitchen today and i can proudly say that you now have another item to add onto your menu.

Tada! Marinaded chicken & mango salad.



Okay, so i didn't really cook but hey, it's an effort well done!

Almost Neverending

More than two weeks ago, i was caught in a 14-day week that centered on the stressful four-letter word : W.O.R.K

Deadline was just around the corner and i had to rush my butt off to complete the articles. In that two weeks, my weekday routine would basically see me slaving away for nine hours at work, enjoying one hour of comfort at home at night before plopping myself in front of my computer to finish whatever work that was left.

Then, as people chill on the weekends, i had to do MORE work. What a pain! In that hectic schedule, i had to slot in time for family and friends too. Despite being busy, i am glad to have taken time out to be with my loved ones for they are the reason that i am still sane.

On one Friday i met up with an old friend. We go all the way back to Standard One and i'm very glad to still be able to call her a friend. We've been through ups and downs including an argument - weirdly none of us can recall what it was about - that led us to not talk to each other for two fucking years!



The next day, Karen and I popped over to KLPac to review Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah!. Okay, i must admit that i have never been a supporter of local theater acts but surprisingly, it was pretty wicked! For those who don't know, this musical features popular Broadway hits but with a twist - all the lyrics have been altered to poke fun at the idiosyncrasies of us fellow Malaysians. A must see!



So it's already Sunday. And yet i'm still stuck at home doing work. Luckily, a nice breakaway came in the form of a family dim sum brunch.



The last hours of my Sunday freedom was occupied with completing whatever writing that was left undone. What a yucky way to spend the weekend huh? Just like that and suddenly it was Monday again.