I'm not a very New Year-ish kind of person. Really. One thing I absolutely hate to do is to celebrate the going-out of the old year and the coming-in of the new year. The only thing New Year celebrations serve to remind me of is that I just got a year older (ditto for birthdays!).
Mostly I'm reminded that I'm one more step on the road of my life, a little bit closer to adulthood, reaching the end of my childhood and schooldays (especially this year!) and following the same line of reasoning, a little bit closer to death. Each New Year, I feel OLDER. It doesn't help that my birthday is in mid-January.
So... all the more reason to live life to the freakin' MAX, BABY!
2008 was a pretty successful year for me. Early in the year I climbed both Bukit Nuang and Gunung Tahan, which was a very life-changing experience. I then plunged headfirst into the unique world of Form 4, and throughout the year I watched as my friends and I grew up, matured, changed slowly into different people than what we were the previous years.
A few weeks' worth of VERY rudimentary taekwondo and a whole lot of swimming did me good, I think, and the English Language Society taught me a lot about winning political battles (more on this later!). Entering the Chess competition was fun and I learned why pro chess is really unhealthy (yuck!). Some public speaking and joining the school's Debate Team was another life-changer, sharpening my mental and verbal skills to a degree I've never seen before. Oh, and I really enjoyed (in a good way) our tit-for-tat, Josie!
In July I got a dog named Honey, a highly-intelligent German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix who loves me to bits. Later in the year, taekwondo gave way to some stuff I needed to do, as well as tuition, but the trade-off was really worth it.
In the middle of the year, I was very depressed and emotional, but since starting a blog for the sole purpose of relieving inner tension (like right now!) I feel rejuvenated! Where previously my writing was at a minimum, now I can't stop the flow!
At the end of the year, I and my cousins JCow and Lyd hit the roads of Singapore by coach, bus and MRT and all on our lonesome, and we toured approximately 30% of the island's sights and attractions in just 4 days! During those 4 days we walked a lot, played a lot, ate a lot (love that Orchard Road ice-cream!) but most definitely didn't sleep a lot!
At the end of December I went for my Undang-Undang lecture (bore!), polished my DotA skillz (heh!) with close buddies from Johor, fixed up a roomful of shelves (wall to wall and floor to ceiling!), ripped apart a bunch of PCs, got to see a metalworks foundry up close and personal, and banged the KL nightlife 10 days running (due to a series of fortunate circumstances).
So 2008, for me, was great. Despite conflict, setbacks, many personal problems, backstabbery, politics, rivalry, etc. etc. ad nauseam, I made it through, and thoroughly enjoyed taking on all comers in the process. 2009? Bring it on, baby. Bring it on.
Geek In The Pink
Christmas Christmas Time is Here...
Yeah, Christmas. Sigh...
Call me a romantic, call me sentimental, but Christmas brings memories to mind.
Not too long ago Christmas was a fun occasion. On Christmas Eve my extended family on my mother's side would gather at Grandmother's (mum's side) house to celebrate. There would be one big 'makan' and a lot of good-natured chatting and horsing around followed by prayer and a spot of Christmas carol-singing.
I remember playing with different colour schemes on the Christmas tree, which some of my less adventurous cousins didn't approve of. Once we even tried a 'snowy' tree design, with shredded bits of cotton all over the place.
Come stroke of midnight (and not before!) the kids would hit the tree and crack open the presents. I don't know, but in those days we really were surprised by some of the stuff we got.
Some years (3, I think) the three groups of kids (my siblings and I, Lydia and her brother, my cousin Michelle and her sisters) were asked to present short sketches. While we had some rather insipid presentations, others were quite well-received.
Some sketches I remember include a very Christmasey charity theme from Michelle and her sisters, and a Sound of Music 'Goodbye'-style "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by myself and my siblings that received several encores.
These days? Hah. I think I could repeat Marvin the paranoid android's line from Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: "Life? Don't talk to me about life." It all started after Grandma died.
A full month before Christmas, my aunt wants me to think up and submit a list of ten items she can choose from as a gift. Sure, this system retains part of the fun of not knowing what exactly you're gonna get, but it just takes away part of the game we had poking and prodding the presents and guessing what gift who got.
Then the five branches of the family bicker among themselves about who's going to contribute what for the potluck dinner. After that they decide whose house they're going to use. On the day itself, we show up, have a big 'makan', sing a bit, then its presents at about 10pm and off to bed, because it's an early day tomorrow.
Bah. What a bore. Tell you the truth, early bedtimes and holidays DO NOT MIX!
Sigh. There's a lot more bickering nowadays. Grandma held us all together. Without her, well, on my side we're still willing to put in the effort, but some other relatives just don't want to have to bother with the family.
This Christmas season, I'll download a few dozen Christmas songs, play them on my MP3, listen to them and dream about Christmas pasts before going to sleep. I'm going to get the hymns, not the stupid insipid little 'Santa Clausey' crap they listen to nowadays. I hate the blatant commercialism surrounding what is essentially a religious festival nowadays. Just one more reason to get away from it all.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all. If any of you feel like you want to come to church and see what the heck this Christianity jazz is all about, just give me a ring, 'kay.
The Geek In The Pink
Call me a romantic, call me sentimental, but Christmas brings memories to mind.
Not too long ago Christmas was a fun occasion. On Christmas Eve my extended family on my mother's side would gather at Grandmother's (mum's side) house to celebrate. There would be one big 'makan' and a lot of good-natured chatting and horsing around followed by prayer and a spot of Christmas carol-singing.
I remember playing with different colour schemes on the Christmas tree, which some of my less adventurous cousins didn't approve of. Once we even tried a 'snowy' tree design, with shredded bits of cotton all over the place.
Come stroke of midnight (and not before!) the kids would hit the tree and crack open the presents. I don't know, but in those days we really were surprised by some of the stuff we got.
Some years (3, I think) the three groups of kids (my siblings and I, Lydia and her brother, my cousin Michelle and her sisters) were asked to present short sketches. While we had some rather insipid presentations, others were quite well-received.
Some sketches I remember include a very Christmasey charity theme from Michelle and her sisters, and a Sound of Music 'Goodbye'-style "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" by myself and my siblings that received several encores.
These days? Hah. I think I could repeat Marvin the paranoid android's line from Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: "Life? Don't talk to me about life." It all started after Grandma died.
A full month before Christmas, my aunt wants me to think up and submit a list of ten items she can choose from as a gift. Sure, this system retains part of the fun of not knowing what exactly you're gonna get, but it just takes away part of the game we had poking and prodding the presents and guessing what gift who got.
Then the five branches of the family bicker among themselves about who's going to contribute what for the potluck dinner. After that they decide whose house they're going to use. On the day itself, we show up, have a big 'makan', sing a bit, then its presents at about 10pm and off to bed, because it's an early day tomorrow.
Bah. What a bore. Tell you the truth, early bedtimes and holidays DO NOT MIX!
Sigh. There's a lot more bickering nowadays. Grandma held us all together. Without her, well, on my side we're still willing to put in the effort, but some other relatives just don't want to have to bother with the family.
This Christmas season, I'll download a few dozen Christmas songs, play them on my MP3, listen to them and dream about Christmas pasts before going to sleep. I'm going to get the hymns, not the stupid insipid little 'Santa Clausey' crap they listen to nowadays. I hate the blatant commercialism surrounding what is essentially a religious festival nowadays. Just one more reason to get away from it all.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all. If any of you feel like you want to come to church and see what the heck this Christianity jazz is all about, just give me a ring, 'kay.
The Geek In The Pink
Back and Beautiful, Baby!
Hi guys! I’m back from Singapore! Hang on while I get the photographs, but in the meantime here’s Blog Post 1 from my backlog. It’s a Tag from Jo from way back, and I’ve been putting it off for ages!
Ahem. Anyway, here goes... my first ever tag!
1) Do you think you're hot?
Nah. Being hot is for girls. I prefer ‘suave’ and ‘debonair’…
2) Upload a picture of yourself.
Cowa-freakin'-bunga, yo!
3) Why do you like the picture?
The sheer exuberant spontaneity of it sums up my philosophy of life perfectly… plus it was taken while I was with my best friends.
4) When is the last time you ate pizza?
What kind of question is that? Yesterday.
5) What is the last song you listened to?
I’m Yours by Jason Mraz, ‘cause I’m on holiday and it's a holiday song!
6) What are you doing now besides this?
Working on a story and getting ready to go shopping.
7) What name do you prefer besides your name?
I don’t. My name is who I am. People call me either ‘Ian’ or ‘Choy’, and I’m happy with both.
People I tag:
1. Sharkboy
2. Josie
3. KC
4. Numb
5. Nick-O
8) Who is number 1?
A brother ‘goat’ on the Chinese Zodiac and one of the few people I’d trust to cover my backside.
9) Number 3 is having a relationship with?
Not telling! But she (the girl, not KC) should work at Zoo Negara, she managed to tame KC the ‘lady-killer’.
10) Say something about number 5?
Lego maniac and THE best artist I’ve met so far. Being the prefects' ACA gives him the power to eat prefects (my mortal enemies!) for breakfast, so we get along GREAT! :D
11) How about number 4?
He is an idiosyncratic irritating innocent lil' infant. How's that for ASSonance?
12) Who is number 2?
In order of increasing awesomeness; girl, dancer, Royal Ranger, Tahan climber, my personal muse, poet, writer, survivor, friend.
Ahem. Anyway, here goes... my first ever tag!
1) Do you think you're hot?
Nah. Being hot is for girls. I prefer ‘suave’ and ‘debonair’…
2) Upload a picture of yourself.
Cowa-freakin'-bunga, yo!3) Why do you like the picture?
The sheer exuberant spontaneity of it sums up my philosophy of life perfectly… plus it was taken while I was with my best friends.
4) When is the last time you ate pizza?
What kind of question is that? Yesterday.
5) What is the last song you listened to?
I’m Yours by Jason Mraz, ‘cause I’m on holiday and it's a holiday song!
6) What are you doing now besides this?
Working on a story and getting ready to go shopping.
7) What name do you prefer besides your name?
I don’t. My name is who I am. People call me either ‘Ian’ or ‘Choy’, and I’m happy with both.
People I tag:
1. Sharkboy
2. Josie
3. KC
4. Numb
5. Nick-O
8) Who is number 1?
A brother ‘goat’ on the Chinese Zodiac and one of the few people I’d trust to cover my backside.
9) Number 3 is having a relationship with?
Not telling! But she (the girl, not KC) should work at Zoo Negara, she managed to tame KC the ‘lady-killer’.
10) Say something about number 5?
Lego maniac and THE best artist I’ve met so far. Being the prefects' ACA gives him the power to eat prefects (my mortal enemies!) for breakfast, so we get along GREAT! :D
11) How about number 4?
He is an idiosyncratic irritating innocent lil' infant. How's that for ASSonance?
12) Who is number 2?
In order of increasing awesomeness; girl, dancer, Royal Ranger, Tahan climber, my personal muse, poet, writer, survivor, friend.
Off to Singapore!
Hi guys!
I'm sorry I haven't had time to post, but I'm off to Singapore from today to the 14th (Sunday) for a bit of a well-deserved holiday with my cousins, going down and back up by Aeroline bus. Upon my return I promise you a Kenny Sia-esque post about the Lion City!
Wow, I'm really running up a backlog of posts! In order,
1. Special post dedicated to Nick-O and a pet peeve of mine,
2. Tag by Lynn, (do tell me whether Wordpress is good or not)
3. Tag by Josie, (finish your fics... or else!)
4. A new novela I've been working on... The Rivals! Approximately 10,000 words of Malaysian-flavoured, Josie-inspired (thanks girl!), Jeffrey Archer-esque narrative romance!
Here's a preview of the novela:
The Rivals
It was a kindergarten class party, and the latest batch of six year-olds celebrated their last day of ‘kindy’ the only way they could - with a class party carefully planned by their teacher and involving lots of balloons, juice, crackers, biscuits, jelly and ice cream. As was the norm in those days, girls and boys were separated by some unwritten rule that demanded that girls play with girls and boys with boys, and never shall twain meet.
Young Kevin Chua was the class clown, never seeming to take anything seriously and yet performing exceptionally well for a six year old; he was at once the bane and pride of his despairing teachers. At the moment he and his friends were loudly declaring their superiority as scary Tyrannosaurus Rexes, pretending to stalk the hapless herd of ‘Stegosaurus’ jellies quivering in fear on a pastel-coloured plate on the table.
“Poor Stegosaurus,” commented Julie Wong, watching with disapproving eye as Kevin proceeded to chomp down on a jelly Stego.
Kevin made an offhand remark about stupid girls and their silly sensitivities.
In a rage, Julie strode over, tripped up the boy before she knew what she was doing and straddled him, pinning him down with her weight.
“Not so scary now, are you?” she sneered.
Stunned by the unexpected assault, Kevin could hardly do more than glare at the girl sitting triumphantly on him. Then he reached out for the first thing to come to hand and dashed a cup of orange juice in her face. Rather more shocked than hurt, Julie slid off him and began to cry.
Kevin was caned.
Julie escaped with a stern telling-off.
Both stuck out tongues at one another as their parents arrived to fetch them back to their homes barely a few blocks away.
It could hardly have been a worse beginning to what would be a long and um, interesting relationship.
I'm sorry I haven't had time to post, but I'm off to Singapore from today to the 14th (Sunday) for a bit of a well-deserved holiday with my cousins, going down and back up by Aeroline bus. Upon my return I promise you a Kenny Sia-esque post about the Lion City!
Wow, I'm really running up a backlog of posts! In order,
1. Special post dedicated to Nick-O and a pet peeve of mine,
2. Tag by Lynn, (do tell me whether Wordpress is good or not)
3. Tag by Josie, (finish your fics... or else!)
4. A new novela I've been working on... The Rivals! Approximately 10,000 words of Malaysian-flavoured, Josie-inspired (thanks girl!), Jeffrey Archer-esque narrative romance!
Here's a preview of the novela:
* * *
It was a kindergarten class party, and the latest batch of six year-olds celebrated their last day of ‘kindy’ the only way they could - with a class party carefully planned by their teacher and involving lots of balloons, juice, crackers, biscuits, jelly and ice cream. As was the norm in those days, girls and boys were separated by some unwritten rule that demanded that girls play with girls and boys with boys, and never shall twain meet.
Young Kevin Chua was the class clown, never seeming to take anything seriously and yet performing exceptionally well for a six year old; he was at once the bane and pride of his despairing teachers. At the moment he and his friends were loudly declaring their superiority as scary Tyrannosaurus Rexes, pretending to stalk the hapless herd of ‘Stegosaurus’ jellies quivering in fear on a pastel-coloured plate on the table.
“Poor Stegosaurus,” commented Julie Wong, watching with disapproving eye as Kevin proceeded to chomp down on a jelly Stego.
Kevin made an offhand remark about stupid girls and their silly sensitivities.
In a rage, Julie strode over, tripped up the boy before she knew what she was doing and straddled him, pinning him down with her weight.
“Not so scary now, are you?” she sneered.
Stunned by the unexpected assault, Kevin could hardly do more than glare at the girl sitting triumphantly on him. Then he reached out for the first thing to come to hand and dashed a cup of orange juice in her face. Rather more shocked than hurt, Julie slid off him and began to cry.
Kevin was caned.
Julie escaped with a stern telling-off.
Both stuck out tongues at one another as their parents arrived to fetch them back to their homes barely a few blocks away.
It could hardly have been a worse beginning to what would be a long and um, interesting relationship.
- Copyright © CHOY JI IAN 2008 -
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