Busy-ness can be an excuse sometimes. What have I been doing? I should have blogged about BC3 and “Readings” ages ago (at least it seems that way in the blogosphere) but never got around it. This is almost sacrilege, but let me tell you why it isn’t.
Many of you have asked me WHY I blog; others have asked me HOW to get started and attract readers; some just get frustrated daily on WHAT to blog about. I’ll attempt to respond to these questions today, after my own selamba* fashion.
(*Closest I’ve come to explaining this term is “laid-back & carefree” or more brusquely, “don’t give a damn”.)
But first, I must get the task of reporting these little events out of the way: Saturday, April 28th — the 3rd Breakfast Club with an expanded line-up of writers: Dina Zaman, fresh off her successful launch of I Am Muslim; Dr. Farish A. Noor, not-so-fresh off the plane, the poor jet-lagged author of The Other Malaysia and From Putrajaya to Majapahit; Larry Parr who wrote the biography, Tan Chin Nam: Never Say I Assume! — and I had the good fortune of moderating the whole session.
Dina Zaman, Dr. Farish A. Noor & Larry Parr (photos by Sharon Bakar)
This edition was by far the most intellectually-stimulating of all the Breakfast Clubs thus far, what with discussions on religion, social responsibilities, the New Malaysian, the lessons from history, sex-crazed stalkers of local writers (well, this last one mostly off the record) … so it was a great pity that I was still somewhat hungover from the previous night’s Martell drink-along with the floggers.
I did manage to meet a few more bloggers in person — Enar Arshad (whom we discovered was somewhat related to Sharon Bakar of Bibliobibuli, much to both ladies’ excitement), the classy lady behind Eliza’s Haberdashery (though we did exchange a few words at Dina’s I Am Muslim launch), and a couple of gentlemen asking thought-provoking questions (one of whom was Nizam Zakaria, yes?) — hangover notwithstanding.
All three featured writers blog, of course, and clearly this is one of the many reasons to blog, but really, any reason that gets you writing, and writing with passion, is a good reason. I recall the refrain from Sufjan Stevens’ Come On! Feel The Illinoise! (Part I: The World’s Columbian Exposition; Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream): “Are you writing from the heart? Are you writing from the heart?”
And that’s all that really matters. If you are writing from the heart, whatever you choose to blog about is the right subject matter… for you.
Nisa meets Kam Raslan; Kam meets his #1 Fan
Same Saturday, later in the afternoon: I’ve decided I’d do good business as a pimp, my wares vary from free-flow brandy to cloistered gentlemen novelists. Most of my clients, not surprisingly, are ferocious and fearsome females I adore… from a distance.
Case-in-point: my dear friend Nisa, who has been following Kam Raslan’s columns in The Edge and Off the Edge for what seems like an eternity now. How does one resolve a literary love affair as this? By bringing the two main characters together, naturally. Imagine Ms. #1 Fan meeting her Favourite Writer of All Time. Now imagine the copious amounts of gush that ensued.
I can only hope Kam forgives me for unleashing the infamous Malaysian Catwoman on him, but I did make Nisa one happy girl that day… 
Fierce!
I didn’t get the last laugh though, for a few minutes later, I was up as the first reader to take the stage for this month’s “Readings” and I’ll be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Jitters aside, Sharon did a lovely job of introducing me, with a coy mention of my so-called ‘fan club’ (otherwise known as friends coerced into coming plus a busload of foodbloggers dropping by while in the middle of their food crawl).
No, no pressure at all. Ga.
The audience, well, no writer could have asked for a better one. They actually looked interested and listened to my mad ramblings, and I grew more confident with each sentence. I read “I Am Woman” and two pieces from Broken Mornings — “Is This Missing You?” and “Only the Greatest Gets to Go”.
The things I learned: which lines made the audience perk up, which ones moved the ladies, which one made the men uncomfortable, which passages were boring, and when to end it all! After the ordeal, er, reading, some of them were nice enough to come up to me and offer feedback & congratulations, and suddenly I realised what a big thing this was for me. Somehow I’d blinded myself to it somehow during the madcap week before.
This. Was. My. FIRST. Ever. Reading.
It’s all downhill from here, babes. So forgive me if I enjoy it while it lasts.
Henny @ Little Penang Cafe, The Curve
Later, as I mingled and consumed more alcohol (bless La Bodega for sponsoring the wines!), a sense of ease came upon me. This was how life was supposed to be. Not carefree, but joyous and fulfilling, with just enough stress to keep me on my toes. No expectations, not really. Quiet time and friends flowing in and out like grains of sand washed over by the tides. Go on. Go on.
And so this is how I blog. Whenever something strikes my fancy. When I have the time. When I feel like it. I think most of us who blog will come to a point in their journey when the pressure to post entries regularly and reply comments faithfully becomes overwhelming. Quality control. Readership. Blog statistics. How many hits did you get yesterday?
Sounds silly? Try telling that to a blogger.
So when Henny asked me to help her set up a blog over dinner (a celebration of sorts, since I survived my maiden reading), how was I to tell her that it’s very simple but she didn’t have a clue what the whole beast involves? I have lost count of the number of times people have asked me “So, how do I become a popular blogger?”
That’s like asking me how to become a popular singer or a popular politician (of which the latter probably doesn’t exist anyway); I know nothing about it. Truth is most of us do want to be popular, whether in blogging or any other aspect of our lives. I just don’t believe it’s something you can go about methodically; it’s not a mathematical formula.
Squeeze it good…
This what I can tell you. If you want to blog, don’t do it for someone else. Don’t do it to make money, though you can, and there’s nothing wrong with this, just that I feel it’s starting on the wrong foot altogether. (Heck, I’d like to get some spare change from this blog if I can.) Don’t do it to impress your friends or to become popular with a certain group of people. Don’t do it because you think you have to. Don’t do it because you have nothing else better to do.
You’d be amazed how fast you can run out of steam if you do it for these reasons.
No, if you’re gonna blog, do it for yourself. Do it cos you want to. Do it so you can share your passions and beliefs and ideas with the rest of the world. (Simply do not expect everyone to agree or feel the same way.) Blog cos you’re happy; blog when you’re sad, when you’re utterly pissed off. (Be careful not to get addicted.)
Blog because when someone finally leaves a comment one day, you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s day: you’ve made him rethink his stand, you’ve made her feel less alone. You’ve become part of a world by giving yourself, as much as you can, as honestly as you can, on your own terms and not a single letter more, and damn if that doesn’t feel good.
N.B. Sorta pseudo-plagiarised the last line of another piece of my own writing for the title of this entry. I’m self-referential like that, you know, dangerous. Heh.
69 Comments
Next time pls introduce me to Kam Raslan oso. TQ.
haha how come sound like me 1??..yes thats wat they all say..blog for yourself..but deep inside u that evil thing is telling go blog n b famous..seat dwn n shake leg muahahah
Lyrical Lemongrass,
Aiyo, you just went and proved my point about me being a pimp to the ladies, hahaha… Kam is so gonna kill me. (And we first met only hours before I introduced him to Nisa. This is how bad I get…)
lotsofcravings,
Yes, true that. But like I said, putus stim pun cepat. We’re talking about sustainability here. Surely you want to, uhm, last? To ruin a famous catchphrase, “I blog you long time…”
Oso can pls tell #1 fan to pls set up fanclub for Kam Raslan. I want to join. TQ.
And you, my dear boy, can add “pimp” to your long list of accomplishments. Something to tell da grandchildren.
Lyrical Lemongrass,
Hahaha… it’d be the first fan club where the subject of adoration tries to hide from the members, or maybe not?
Pimp. Check. Added di.
Reading first is a bit nerve-wrecking, but I’d rather go first and I have been going first in the readings I’ve done here. But then again, I organised the thing, so I can say, “Me first!” and nobody will argue because very few people I know would want to go first anyway. HEE!
Gette,
My sentiments exactly. Sharon had already listed me first anyway, but she told me later as a newbie I had the pick of which turn I wanted. I thought it over and decided to stick with being the first to go.
Reason? So I wouldn’t have to live up to the brilliance of the five writers who followed me, hahaha. But seriously, I was in real good company that day. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Hey Kenny, I donch care, you had better take me out for some serious chow-down one of these days. All the talk about food making me hungryyyy
My dear Ms. Storm,
I have already expressed my intentions toward a dinner date; shall I take this as a Yes? Now, the only question is whether to go fine dining and get down-and-dirty at some really good roadside eatery…
Okay, just kiddin’ about the roadside eatery bit. Well, mostly.
its good reading this - I feel i have nothing to blog about in spite of dinner and very interesting discussion with Yang-May and Tan Twan Eng, inspite of the fact that today is hubby’s birthday, and many other things but I’ve got blogger’s block. If i write now, i am not writing from the heart…so may be tomorrow,eh!
Wow. I kinda enjoy looking at yr ’sour” face while u squeezing the lime! The reason of food blogger sometime can be very simple — Passion towards FOOD!
Kak Teh,
You are one of the bloggers I respect the most, actually a complete human being I admire, and while I have met you in person and felt for myself your warmth and generosity of spirit, a lot of this comes from your writing.
Call it writer’s block or call it tak de mood, either way I know you will write when it feels right to you, and when you do, you will write from the heart.
I used to leave comments on blogs when the bloggers haven’t updated in awhile. Now I may do the same, but it’s more out of concern — what’s up, everything okay? I’d never pressure another person to hurry with their posts any more no matter how eager I am.
Everyone does what they want, when they are ready. In the meantime? Keep reading blogs lah…
So do you hv ur own fan club?
Wah really fierce on the stage!
And is that tom yum (looks like it, somemore needs lime juice)? Very yummy it seems!
Jackson,
Sourface meh me? Okay lah, I terpaksa do one for the photographer, upcoming food blogger Ms. Henny Haryaty!
Passion for Food? Amen to that. (Though I have been eating way too much rich food of late, and I know I am repeating myself, but seriously. I need to stop. And consume naught but congee for weeks onward. Yeah.)
And keep those tantalising S’pore food posts comin’!
kyh,
No, it’s just Sharon’s idea of a joke. What it did was made me even more nervous before I got on stage, well, walked to the front to start reading. (No stage, more like an art gallery than anything else. Seksan’s is cool.)
Yeah, Nyza Nyza took one of me just as I was reading a particularly garang passage. Why couldn’t she take one of me all sweet and tender I don’t know.
P.S. Not tom yam, but close. Siamese Lemak Laksa, only available Fri, Sat & Sun. So I order that everytime I visit during the weekends. What to do, kiasu ma…
Nice lime-squeezing photo, Kenny. ^_^
Makes my mouth water and now I crave all kinds of spicy M’sian soup noodles - not fair! I’m 10,000km away (that’s how I get free p&h with the deutsch amazie, neighbouring country).
Off topic, I must copy and send you a half-English, half-Deutsch poem about a German short-haired pointer from ‘Unleashed: Poems by Writers’ Dogs’. Hilarious.
Argus,
Just be glad it’s only the lime I’m squeezing. I always seem to patronise Little Penang Cafe with the cutest young things imaginable… Is it any wonder it’s a favourite haunt of mine?
O do send me that poem! Haven’t had a chance to read anything remotely German in ages. Half-English, half-Deutsch, you say? With my grasp of the language, I’d probably only understand three quarters of it, hahaha.
On topic, anyone else just realise this blog is 50% lit, 50% foodie? (And ALL ME, says the silly ol’ blogger boy.)
All the reasons you mentioned, I did start this blog for myself, i did it coz i want to, i did it coz im passion!
but how come my blog is worth $0 ?
I started my blog to keep in touch with with sis and friends who are overseas. I then realised my camera takes pretty decent food shots and since I love to eat, I decided to blog about food. And since we eat meals everyday, there’s always some sort of food to blog about! Ha ha ha…Oh, I blog so that I can leave something of me behind when I’m gone!
Actually I took one of your photo during the reading session but I forgot to publish that…
I never think about blog at first (in fact, I don’t really know what is “blog” that time!). My friends and I who are a bunch of Ipoh gluttons, always have our own comments on every eateries we been to and they suggest that we create a web, some sort like Rasa Rasa Malaysia to introduce the best local delicacies… but it never worked out, though.
So, while they still doing the same thing everyday (makan, comment, makan, comment), I took a step ahead to blog… and I’m glad that I did!
sulee,
Good for you then! Those are fine reasons to start the blog. However, I never did promise $$$ to fall on your lap, did I? If you want that, then you probably need to rethink your reasons for blogging somewhat…
But I know what you mean. Money would be nice. But if you are getting some sort of satisfaction from the sheer act of blogging, then that’s something. Yes?
wmw,
I never thought of it that way before but how true. So long as the Internet (and my host WordPress) continues to exist after I’m gone, so will this blog. A sorta digital memoir?
Ipohwav3,
Considering how most photos of me turned out, you’d be forgiven for not publishing it, haha.
And I’m glad you took action when your friends didn’t! I’ve never wanted so much to visit Ipoh as I do now, after reading your blog and hungrily devouring all those pretty pictures!
Do let me know when you come down to Klang Valley in the future; I’ll update you too if I ever travel up north to your town.
hahah of course i want to last..errmmm haha
anyway interested in creating a fictional blog about ‘online romance’?
btw, Kenny, when will we finally get to read your book entitled “journey of a fitness trainer”?
It’s great that you had the courage to do the reading. By the way, you looked damn serious and fired up in that photo. Kudos.
lotsofcravings,
Ho ho ho, more innuendos?
Henry,
‘Online romance’ isn’t fictional no more, a real adventure in cyberspace these days… and bro, one blog already is more than I can handle, much less another one. Actually, I’m also an editor for the I Am Muslim Too blog, so I’d probably won’t have time for it. But the #1 reason? Romance, what, me? You gotta be kiddin’… I’m probably better at the suicidal-poems-sorta-line, heh.
But I’d be interested to see what you come up with though. So, go ahead. Work it.
As for any books forthcoming from me, let me first get some free time for myself…
pelukismelukis,
Looks can be deceiving la… Most of the times I was making flirty eyes at the audience, haha…
no im just saying that program that will tell you much ur blog worth? I once tried to put in mine for fun, just to see how much it worth, the calculation method is a mystery but mine is worth $0 which made me feel really bad, i put in some fren’s blog who nobody really leave any comment and hers worth much more than mine?
im not saying thats the reason i blog, but it kinda bothered me u knw…
Ahhh so dis is Lyrical Lemongrass” “hot sweaty stud”, now I am officially green with envy that she got to have breakfast with you.
sulee,
Pardon my wrong assumptions then, dear. Still, we mustn’t put too much faith in these sorta programs — it’s like asking a robot to tell us how much we are worth! Don’t let it bum you out too much, okay?
FireHorse,
Hey, come over anytime and we’ll do breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. Supper pun boleh. And… I do eat at least SIX meals a day, you know.
reading your post reminds me of the time when i first started blogging. why should i blog? then again, i survived, and i scraped through one year of blogging :).in fact, i had loads of fun, my friends now introduces more new food to me (hurray!) and blogging allows me to get to know cool people like you! ;p.. keep on blogging mate!
I blog because I do. I was originally told that it could help me with my writing… and it did! I’m not saying I’m a better writer now but I feel as if I can write with more confidence.
I know that I’m not a popular blogger and I don’t care. It’s true that you blog for yourself. I have more satisfaction that way.
Blogging is also a great way to keep in touch with friends. They get to see what I’m up to and vice versa.
Blogging is not a popularity contest for me. Lord knows I’m never popular. Hahaha!
wowzers~! didn’t realise that u were such a HIT~!
cool writings, keep it up~!
~meowz~
Kenny,
You have made a difference in so many people’s lives, including mine.
THANKS!
I started blogging after the hoo-ha over bloggers being liars. Got me curious enough to check out blogosphere. An article in StarTwo of The Star today quoted a Blogging Asia report that said “at 20%, political blogs are among the more popular ones visited by Malaysians.” As for me, I instinctively gravitated towards litbloggers and was impressed with the cool writings and abundance of creativity floating around in cyberspace. So, something good did come out of that hullabaloo over blogging. Got me initiated into the blogging community.
Hey, Kenny, u have a weird list to share? Have you been tagged? If not, don’t mind me tagging u?
*giggles*
like the pic on squeezing lime in ur noodle… btw u frequents The Curve?
I was there last sat on a massive shopping spree w my gal pal.. broke my back and broke my purse… must stop dis compulsive shopping streak i have…
Blogging… hmm… yea.. tru bout running outta steam if the reason ain’t right… for me, well it’s a way my frens keep updated on my life wen i’m too bz to meet up w dem…
but i always hv short term memory loss.. (guess it’s bcos i dun hv a pc ready @ hom to start blogging d minute d juices flow)… i tend to forget wat i wanna write.. i have to write something the minute it gets in my head if not i run out of that initial passion i had earlier.. cheerios…
your take on blogging was inspirational.
you inspire!
and the picture of you with the lime was fabulous
wow…this post makes up for the delay! Thanks for the write-up. I too found the writers session stimulating, though I wish Larry Parr focused more on memoirs and their relation to history rather than go off on a completely political tangent. But given the direction of the previous conversations, I don’t blame him, and some of his references were interesting.
I liked your I Am Woman piece so do tell which parts made the men uncomfortable?
vege days ending tomm… we can come out for lunch some time now….
Enjoyed your post and pics, especially Nisa’s really starstruck look and your serious reading face.Don’t frighten me like that when I come over OK? :d
Hi Kenny, it sounds like you had a fabulous day! I wish I could have been there - all the discussions and readings sounded very inspirational. What you say about blogging is so true - to write for yourself and to enjoy it and not worry about all the secondary things like getting well-known (which will all follow if what you write is compelling anyway). Also, it’s so true what you experienced with reading your writing in front of others - knowing your audience is a key to great writing: it helps you edit, cut the boring bits, add more of the bits that are effective. Congratulations on a successful public appearance!
I started my blog so that i could load all my travelling photos for my sis in Melbourne to see. Somehow, I dunno how it ended with food, food and food, and now my precious pea and pumpkin. From a post a month, now am so committed, i try to do at least 4 a week and weekend is a time i drag hubby to go food hunting so that i have enuff collection to blog about for the coming week. Is that called blogging addiction? or Commitment?
Dr. Farish looks lovely
:p~~“““`
Wah, so philosphical one… My head a bit pusing oredi.
okay got the mew omakase menu from iketeru, how do i send you a copy?
Hie Kenny. Remember me? haha. Well 95% is inviting Dina Zaman for a talk titled “About Writing in Malaysia”, this coming Monday which is the 14th of May 07 from 8pm to 10pm at 95% in Bangsar. So if ur interested just call me to book a place at 03-22876095/7095 or email me at hex@95percent.com.my. Do spread the word and invite anyone who is interested too. Hope to see you!
I blog because, well just because. Must one have a reason for one’s action? We like to do, we do lah.
Anyway, good thing Nyza took a photo of you garang at the reading. If we want to blackmail you, we can also put a photo of you shimmying away ala Jarvis Crocker (Cocker? Crocker?) from some mixer photos heh heh heh.
Hmmm, now that’s an idea!
oh yeah which gym to u go 2??..hey klue rvsp dis month..coming?
sc,
Happy One-Year-of-Blogging! It’s a huge achievement when most blogs fizzle out after mere months or even weeks… Yours was one of the early food blogs I stumbled upon, so count this greedy little piggy here one grateful little piggy.
dieselfire,
I do think blogging does help with one’s writing. For one thing, it’s like exercise: we do it regularly enough, we simply get better at it. It’s practice. And a blog allows us to write about whatever we fancy so the sky’s the limit, really.
“Popularity” comes with a price — I’ve noticed quite a bit of backlash towards certain flash-and-dash bloggers. It’s weird when people tell which blogs they refuse to read, rather than the ones they do read. Politics, it’s everywhere!
So, yeah, at the end of the day, if we’re gonna do it, we best do it for ourselves. But hey, in the “real” world, you’re one popular chick what. Anytime also can guys to ferry you round, hunks fall at your feet, women witter and chitter around you like a “Big Sister”, and I don’t think I’ve met anyone who can talk dirtier than me… till I met you.
You sure are popular with the right sort of people, hahaha…
Tailz,
Hit? You mean always kena hit, issit? My upper arms, I swear, are black-and-blue from all the whacking. Why do women find violence towards me irresistible? Tell me, why?
But then again, when you get hit, you also get hit on, so… Not too bad lah…
mrshbt,
Well, I hope it’s a good sort of difference then.
Shucks, it just makes me happy seeing more people expressing themselves. It’s not a right, as history has often shown us. I see it as a privillege that we have to make use of, lest it be taken away from us.
So go forth and EXPRESS YOURSELF. Like, you know, Madonna said. In the 80’s or something…
k.kim,
Wah, you are a very young blogger then. And this you said:
As for me, I instinctively gravitated towards litbloggers and was impressed with the cool writings and abundance of creativity floating around in cyberspace.
If like that, then how come you end up here instead? Lost, issit? Hahahaha…
P.S. Yes, been tagged, and will do it, if I ever find the time. Which, knowing me, Mr. Procrastinator, is Never. Hehe.
Asstha,
Major The Curve freak I am. Was visiting the place back when it first opened and was a ghost town. Now with Borders, two Starbucks, tons of makan places, and a Fitness First, aiya, don’t have to go anywhere else lah…
Are you good at picking out men’s clothes? I haven’t bought new stuff in ages, and I am so fashion-handicapped. Need some officewear and some casual stuff too. Can volunteer make me over?
Pat,
Ah so. Lime makes Kenny fabulous. Noted. How does this help me in shopping for new clothes? Isn’t there something I can wear that can make me, like, sexy?
Hahaha…
Eliza D,
Was Larry Parr being very political? Maybe, but at least he got his facts right, unlike a certain persistent, ever-present audience member. And to think I’ll be moderating future Breakfast Clubs too! Alack is me!
And I’m glad you liked “I Am Woman” — I guess some of the menfolk found it a tad too close to the truth for their liking. Heck, some of it unnerved me, and I wrote the darn thing!
But who cares about us men; I wrote it for the ladies, after all…
Zewt,
O cool. Lunch sounds great some weekend. You must be so sick of vegetables by now, but don’t worry, in addition to being a rather unnatural lover of the greens, I happen to be an infamous carnivore as well.
I know, I know. Always opposites one; that’s just me. Can’t help it.
Msiagirl,
O ho ho, you haven’t seen her really starstruck look. I saved her some face by not publishing the more embarrassing ones. And there was one where Kam just look… struck. Both nervous lah, which was deliciously fun for the photographer: me.
Very serious meh, my face? Most of the times, I must have just looked confused. (”Er, they’re still listening to me. Haven’t ran away yet or thrown rotten fruits at me… Is there a shortage of squishy tomatos I’m unaware of?”)
But no, I won’t frighten you when you visit. I’ll leave that to Nisa.
Yang-May,
Thank you.
And yes, the best bit was learning which parts were boring the audience to tears and which ones made them come to life — I could actually see the twinkle in the eyes of some. That made my day, for sure.
P.S. You do realise the first proper reading I attended was yours and Sharanya’s? My first “Readings” also. We’ve come full circle, sorta.
PreciousPea,
Addiction, maybe. Commitment? Judging by the effort and sincerity and love that goes into your blog entries, most definitely. Hey, it’s an excuse to drag your hubby around town to cari-cari makan, right? Food brings out the romantic in us, I say.
Or just gas. Whichever comes first la…
G,
Ah, wish you were there, do you? *winks*
Lydia,
Pusing got ubat Panadol ma. Me no talk philosophy one. Oh Lydia you bring out the Manglish in me!
Henry,
Emailed you, so you tell me. Wonder what an “omakase menu from iketeru” looks like. Got spikes or not?
Leen,
Jarvis Cocker. Crocker is that Betty babe. How you mix them up one?
And. Don’t. You. Even. Dare.
Seriously.
lotsofcravings,
Fitness First, Uptown mostly. And I already RSVP’ed with RSVP. So, this round, don’t forget to come over and introduce yourself. I’ll be the one with the mad, drunken woman stuck to my side. And this time it might not even be Nisa. Hahaha….
Hey there - sounds like lotsa people wanna know where you work out - they gonna come and watch?
Seems like Leen has an AWESOME blackmail picture, should all your readers encourage her?! yes, Leen, yes, yes! And I’ve just been reading a certain Nasi Lemak post…wheew! Must fan oneself…good luck on your projects.
about your latest post… dont get yourself killed with work…
Now i hurt-ed. U don like the pictures I took for you?? *pout*
U garang or not garang, same face oso what! Not much I could do about it!
Me ? Popular in real life ??
Hahahahahahaha! Oh yeah.. with the “right” crowd I might be. Lol!
Take care dude! Hope to see you end of this month!
I love picking up men’s clothes too. in fact was shopping for some stuff for the bf a while back (never got the chance to get officewear for him tho cos he don use officewear)
sure no probs, i love giving people makeover (don worry nothing too OTT), anytime u jz drop me a mail man.
no worries bout the bf (harmless n besides i’m more dominant
), he’s ok with me goin out n about with other people. as long as i don stray… 
If you want to blog, don’t do it for someone else. Don’t do it to make money, though you can, and there’s nothing wrong with this, just that I feel it’s starting on the wrong foot altogether. (Heck, I’d like to get some spare change from this blog if I can.) Don’t do it to impress your friends or to become popular with a certain group of people. Don’t do it because you think you have to. Don’t do it because you have nothing else better to do.
Thanks for keeping my perspective in check!
Hi Kenny,
Good luck with your projects. Come back soon. Take care.
Sorry, I’m late in commenting. Like what you wrote about blogging. Yeah, work comes first and blogging should be a pleasure and not a task.
Msiagirl,
Ho, ho, ho — I certainly hope not; they’re really gonna be very disappointed with what they see! Hahaha…
And no, Leen has NO blackmail pictures, absolutely NONE. Uh huh. None, I tell you, NONE.
As for the nasi lemak post, I had NOTHING to do with it, absolutely NOTHING. Nothing, I tell you, NOTHING.
(Oh dear, that’s a lot of denials, innit?)
Zewt,
Will do, sir, will do! Thanks for your text message too! Lunch one day soon, once these projects are over and done with.
Nyza Nyza,
Now I hurted. Who say same face? When I smile, look very different one… *barfs, pukes, barfs*
dieselfire,
Well, am I the “right” crowd?
asstha,
Ya, ya, make over me lah. I’ll email you once I’m free. Woohoo, ada fashion consultant…
And when we go out… looking for clothes that is, what your bf doesn’t know won’t kill him… Heh…
Theta,
You’re welcome.
Ruby Ahmad,
Thanks and hope to be back soon too!
Alice,
Definitely a pleasure and not a task.
Me thinks this man protesteth too much *straight face*
I believe this insightful and truthful post of yours reflects the majority sentiments of most bloggers out there. Though some does gets side tracked after awhile and lost track of the meaning (purpose) of doing it in the first place. Which is when “Potong Steam” really comes in full force.
Hence, my believe is, one should adopt the characteristic of water and not fire if one were to last. For fire will only burn brilliantly and passionately in the beginning but it will diminish the moment it finished consuming its fuel. And diminish fast it will. Unlike water, though it appears to be less passionate and forceful, it will continue to flow and built up its momentum and force along the way.
When I first attempted to blog, it was because I wanted to know if I could, as I am someone who does not even keep a diary or did any form of real writing before. I was curious and was also very much inspired by my buddy’s blog and also by a popular blogger.
Also partly because I was lonely and very much in need of a place where I could let loose my mind and to rediscover myself again. By writing down my thoughts and feeling, I found that I actually get to know myself better this way and regaining some sense of self which I had lost long time ago. Best of all, by blogging and commenting I am delighted to have made some interesting and meaningful acquaintances from all walks of life… which are something I would not be able to do in real life – due to my situation enforced servitude. It’s like opening up a window to the outside world… breathing fresh air again. How exhilarating and wonderful.
Another reason is that blogging serves as a good practice ground for learning and gaining confident over the usage of the English language. It has in a way boasted my overall confidence and I had taken up more initiative to pick up more vocabularies along the way. Although I had to acknowledged that I am still weak in my grammar and punctuations of which I hope to overcome soon.
By the way, congrats on your first reading. I bet there would be many more to come your way. Keep up your passion and drive.
Kenny,
I have been praying for you. I prayed for you to have wisdom and strength to complete your projects.
God Bless…
Lee Ping
Msiagirl,
Me thinks you are right! Hahaha…
Can’t wait to meet you in person in KL and paint the town red together!
P.S. When breakfasting with the food bloggers yesterday, met a lady who claims she is your cousin… how small this world of our revolves…
Kleio da Muse,
Thank you for a really well-thought-out comment; I was especially affected by your fire vs. water metaphor. It’s true for me as well — I love challenges and most my life have been directed at meeting them, one after another, sometimes quite unnecessarily. Then I lose interest just as quickly as I fell into the challenge in the first place, and it all fizzles out.
May we all blog like water, slow and sure and steady, with changing currents and a good flow always!
Looking forward to interacting more with ya once I’m back to full-blown blogging again!
mrshbt,
Your prayers mean a lot to me. Thank you very much, dear. Things are getting busier, but in a very good way.
This would be a weird place for you to find a comment today, but here I am, instead of at my drawing board.
I remember reading this post before, but none of the names you mentioned, clicked at that time. Now they’re clicking all over the place.
And that bit about blogging for myself, well, a timely reminder for moi, I would say as much.
And if I may give you the biggest, most platonic bear hug history has ever known..
*HUGZ*
» Michelle
There are no odd places or odd moments either. Just places, and moments, that sometimes mean more than we think they could.
*HUGZ*
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