1.
Busy, busy, busy. Still alive. I joke to my friends that I have my work life and my social life and nothing in between. No time alone, not when there’s always one more client to talk to, one more party to go to. Not that I’m complainin’ — I could be out of work and out of friends, for instance.
But I guess I have been whining. Till this past Sunday, when I found myself finally having an entire day (almost) to myself. A day when I could do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Which was exactly what I did.
Drove me nuts.
Imagine my ecstasy when I had drag my ass out of bed in the evening for a meeting and later, a dinner party with home-cooked seafood from Sabah.
Lesson? Too much of a good thing is loads better than too much of nothing. Amen to that.
2.
Surprisingly, I don’t miss writing blogs all that much. Real Life has a way of keeping me occupied. What I miss is reading all the blogs I used to read, perhaps obsessively so, every day, and the silly, irreverent comments I used to leave behind, a signpost that “Kenny was here.”
Now it’s just “Kenny used come here.” I feel a little guilty and disappointed, but there you go. Life and all the excuses you can give.
3.
Pride is when your Honeymooner friends from Italy/Poland keep telling you at every point how delicious the local fare is. Or as Gosia keeps putting it, “Kenny, this is SO good…”
It’s almost as if I invented roti canai and nasi lemak and char kway teow. Ah, it’s good being Malaysian and getting to eat this all year round!
(More on the Honeymooners and their fun-filled weeks in Malaysia later, when I get more photos in. Plus: a guest-blogger! Suspense!)
4.
Life for Beginners. Now at LifeforBeginners.com (or rather a neato domain name to point at my blog; easier to spell out to folks, see?) and I find the truth in that: I’ll always be a beginner in Life. So much to learn.
Like: Maybe part of Happiness is letting go of your notions on what it means to be happy, what we need to be happy.
And this song that runs through my head right now, originally sung by Billy Joel, covered so amazingly by Maggie Gyllenhaal in the film “Happy Endings” — it’s everything I need to know…
Just The Way You Are
Don’t go changing to try and please me,
You never let me down before,
Don’t imagine you’re too familiar,
And I don’t see you anymore.I would not leave you in times of trouble,
We never could have come this far,
I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times,
I’ll take you just the way you are.Don’t go trying some new fashion,
Don’t change the colour of your hair,
You always have my unspoken passion,
Although I might not seem to care.I don’t want clever conversation,
I never want to work that hard,
I just want someone that I can talk to,
I want you just the way you are.I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew,
What will it take till you believe in me,
The way that I believe in you?I said I love you, and that’s forever,
And this I promise from the heart,
I couldn’t love you any better,
I love you just the way you are.I don’t want clever conversation,
I never want to work that hard,
I just want someone that I can talk to,
I want you just the way you are.
72 Comments
Hi there! Got a new domain eh? I have been visiting every other week to check your blog out and was rather disappointed you didn’t update. Heh! Yeah. Life can be fulfilling when you are busy. But sometimes, we would need sometime alone to recollect our thoughts.
I prefer to stay home with a good book or sleep the afternoon away on weekends now. Must be sign of old age.
hey you!!
good combination eh?
you like it oily, and i like it wet
slurrp!
missmynx
anigma
A thousand apologies for not updating sooner! Heh heh. Life does have a way of distracting me.
I was supposed to stay at home with a good book and while the afternoon away last Sunday but it didn’t happen quite that way. I guess my system was still uppity and nervous and wanting to go and do something still.
But yeah, I’m so carving out some time this Saturday to recollect my thoughts, as you put it so well. Trouble with being busy and happy and sated, is that you never ever want to sit yourself down and think about where you are and where you are heading.
Gonna do just that. If something doesn’t turn up and distract me again…
missmynx
O you were the highlight of last Sat night’s pool party for me… Now if only we both came at the same time… to the party, I mean, and had us a dip in the pool together… We’ll be so good, wet together…
But har, you go get your face oily oily from all the roast chicken you wallop one, so messy only… I like it oily but not that oily…
You’re all the girl a guy could ask for, babe.
*slurps back*
Like: Maybe part of Happiness is letting go of your notions on what it means to be happy, what we need to be happy.
I absolutely subscribe to that thought, Kenny. It’s a liberating feeling to not constantly think of how one should be happy and the ways of going about it…seems too mechanical and forced.
Haha.
Hey Kenny, I’m glad you still have time for us.
Despite everything.
Lyrical Lemongrass
I’ll always find time for you guys, just that it’s getting less frequent these days, is all. Despite everything? O it’s thanks to everything that we see how precious our few moments are with the ones we love… that we find time no matter how little to carve some out for ourselves doing the things we enjoy.
Alas, I’m very analytical as you’ve told me recently, and I do tend to overthink things… to death sometimes. Sometimes I can still be mechanical and forced. But I like to think that I’ve gone beyond my normal knee-jerk reactions and have the ability now to take a step back and take a deep breath first and deal with a situation without unnecessary drama. Not always successful but getting there…
Learning to see and appreciate all the beauty and love around me… there are dull and dreary days, but all it takes is a call from out of the blue or a cheeky text message… anything to put the smile back on my face.
I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t know what it takes to make me happy anymore. I’ll just enjoy it when I am happy. It’s all good.
(( hugs ))
You were busy I know, so you missed my reading. Its ok, maybe one day when we aren’t so busy we can meet up for drinks, yes
?
Welcome back on track! Look much energetic now.
maybe you are just an extrovert who needs the buzz of constant activities…..
awaiting more juicy details….
G
Sorry about missing your reading (hope it went well) but yeah, Busy doesn’t even begin to describe things with me. But alive still, yes.
Drinks sound fine, though I still owe The Quiet Storm a cuppa joe, one of them Book Clubs that just started, a couple of food bloggers, etc. etc. a yum cha session too. Maybe I should just gather everyone and do one massive round of minum, eh?
And cheer up, dewd!
Jason
Energetic? Really? I do? Not sure if I agree but I always take a compliment when given one!
Thanks!
Henry
I assure you I’m a very reluctant extrovert. Used to spend most of my time holed up in my room doing nothing but reading books and comics over and over again… Ah, those were the days…
Juicy details? Well, how juicy do you want them, sir? Heh. Heh. Heh.
The chickern was too oily? *takes note*
Leen
No lar, the chicken was perfect. And the tacos with beef. And the six/seven different types of brownies that I had to try one of each…
Gosh, you and yer mom sure can cook up a storm!
The oily/wet comments, well, that’s just me and MissMynx. We’re naughty that way… Dah le she calls herself my part-time girlfriend… more like no-time girlfriend since I never see much of her…
Wet? More like dry… kering, you know?:lol:
I want them to be very very saucy, juicy and moisture.
make sure they are still wet when i read about them. *maniacal laugh*
Glad to see that you’re back! And yes, you’re so lucky that you have all the Malaysian goodies and food on your doorstep! I have to make it myself and it’s never quite the same.
Henry
Oh dear. Between you and MissMynx, people are gonna wonder what in the world I’m up to these days! Scandalous!
(Just the way most of you like it! LOL)
wokandspoon
Yes, I think we do tend to take our wonderful array of foods from different cultures for granted… I’ve lived abroad before and I can assure you I know exactly what you mean.
Suddenly I have a craving for the nasi briyani the Honeymooners and I had in Melaka… *tummy growls*
Hahaha…till your recent comment in my CCF post, I was going to say “Kenny Mah used to come here…” Till then…Eat Life, Drink Life, Breathe Life!
wmw
That’s exactly what I mean, time passes faster than we think it does. I’ll be thinking it’s only a day or two since I read this blog, then days turn to weeks, and before you know it…
But on the other hand, I’m trying not to be too broken up about it and just go with the flow. And I’ll do my best to Eat Life, Drink Life and Breathe Life, as you put it… Hope I don’t get a tummyache though…
at a risk of sounding like the inklings of an amatuer stalker … i love your smile
*swoooonnnnn*
hhaha i loved how u compared to “kenny was here” to “kenny used to come here”
oh come on lets get real, dont feel bad coz you are fully occupied with your life, that means you are content perhaps?
(and I DID NOT mean all you bloggers out there does nto have a life)
glad to see you are updating and thanks for dropping a line.
Sounds like it is going just as it should be, enjoy enjoy! A busy but happy week for me - the rain here can really get ya down in the dumps - but its looking up! Gonna see some blogger kaki this weekend
Big hugs to ya and have some good quiet time too.
G
Wow. This may be the first time anyone’s ever swooned. What next, tear off your bras and panties and throw them on stage? Oh wait, I’m not a rock star in concert. Darn.
sulee
Ah one could never be completely content, but right now, with my job and my apartment and my friends and my workouts and all the love in my life? Yeah, I’m pretty content.
Msiagirl
It’s raining here too, but I see it as a respite, cleaning up the air and the streets in a dusty July. This weekend will be special for me too. Sat = quiet time, and Sunday = happy time.
Actually, being surrounded by friends like you, everyday = happy time. *hugs*
Hey, nice hairstyle change, Kenny. Or did it just grow into it?!
Gosia? Did you tell them about the concept of ‘bosia’? But then again, they might not be amused…
Argus
No, I didn’t grow into it — just had a haircut and had it done real short. But that was a couple weeks back so my hair is a bit longer now.
And no, I didn’t explain the concept of ‘bosia’ cos:
1. It never came across my mind, and
2. They probably won’t be amused, as you said.
They were the best guests one could ask for since they were very open and keen to try everything, at least once. I’ll post about their experience with durians in coming entries, I promise…
Someone’s been busy and has gotten a haircut!
Going back to school soon…
It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re having fun! …Or just being busy even. I have only a few more days left of my 7 weeks holiday!
You are lucky to have roti canai, nasi lemak and char kway teow etc sooooo easily available, round the clock. I don’t think there is any need for cravings, is there?
To food, time, friends etc…treasure what you have at present.
Vern
Hee hee. By the number of comments I’ve had about my “new” haircut, I’m getting the feeling my old one was really bad lah. That bad meh?
*makes note to go get hair cut more regularly*
Enjoy the last days of your holiday. Seven weeks? Gosh, I can’t remember the last time I had more than 3 days of a break…
I so need to plan a vacation for the end of this year, but to plan it now else it’s never gonna happen. No more backpacking (save that for the next round), definitely nothing touristy, just plain of rest & relaxation… something involving white sands and clear blue seawater would be nice…
Anyone wants to sponsor me? I give real good massages in return…
Tigerfish
Yeah, I was just telling another good friend of mine that I am truly blessed. In fact I think I was (or rather, all of us) very blessed from the very beginning; I just never saw it that way before.
Maybe it’s got to do with having to endure life’s trials and tribulations (don’t laugh, even at 28, I’ve gone through some, no joke one) that makes our eyes see more clearly. Or at least with a deeper degree of patience and understanding.
So yeah, good-food-round-the-clock and good-friends-for-good-times-and-bad? I’m a very lucky guy.
You have a good day, dear!
glad to see you alive haha.. was wondering where u were until u popped a “irrelevant” comment..
lotsofcravings
Me? Missing in action lar. Weekdays got work, weekends got, uh, events? Parties? But will always return one, don’t worry. Like Ahnuld in Terminator: “Ahll bee bark.”
My comments are both “irreverent” and “irrelevant” lah. (This for Silent Reader who called me up one night to point out an assumed typo in my entry. Nope. Not this one. But the other one? That’s definitely a typo. No one’s spotted it yet but you and LL though…)
Got your comment! Thank you so much and I look forward to some (hopefully) positive results on our secret project. We need to think of a code name!!!
Rasa Malaysia
Hehe, maybe we can call it the “Rasa Malaysia Top-Secret Project”? Code names remind of superheroes; I wonder which one we’d be if we could be one for a day…
don’t worry, just remember to swipe lemongrass and her card when you do go to Iketeru…
it’s good to hear that your honeymooner friends enjoyed our local food here!
Henry
But which do I swipe first — the card or the lemongrass?
MeiyeN
Yes, they did, very much so! A lot of credit goes to them and their adventurous spirit, i.e. their willingness to try everything, at least once! Manuel shared this tidbit about his sister when she went to Thailand years ago for her honeymoon — all that couple ate were American fastfood!
They should have tried Malaysia — truly Asia ma…
Did someone want to swipe me? I not for sale la. Then again, depends on the price hor?
Lyrical Lemongrass
Swipe must pay one meh? Worth the price or not, swipe first then see lor…
P.S. Not satisfied got refund or not?
Glad that you have been enjoying life. It’s good that way. Blog should not take the front seat at anytime.
Congrats on getting your very own domain.
Nice to hear that both your friends had enjoyed their stay and our local fares.
P/S: I have TAGGED you. Hope you don’t mind. I am doing this just because I would love to know more about you. No obligation ok.
Kleio da Muse
I’ll be writing more about Manuel & Gosia’s most excellent trip to Malaysia soon, plus I’ll be featuring a guest blogger for one of the posts (of which they’ll be three in total, methinks).
So more to come, for sure!
P.S. I don’t mind tags at all, just that I hardly get round doing them (I’ve more than a couple of tags I haven’t answered yet, inc. one about Weird Things No One Knows About Me).
May be I’ll just gather them all up one day and answer them all in one Mega-Post?
doesnt miss blogging… cannot be… cannot be!
looks like we both have been out from the blog frequency radar. but good to know you haven’t been in hiding because you’ve suddenly grown an extra limb/robbed an old lady.
i have a free day tomorrow after a week of not being free. i foresee myself doing nothing. i’ll let you know if i survive.
<3
Zewt
Can be… can be!
Seriously, I’ve come to this place where I enjoy it and it does bring me much satisfaction, but I no longer feel the need to do it just for the sake of updating or what not. So when I do blog, it’s for the right reasons, i.e. I want to and I feel like it, rather than the urge to keep to a certain schedule or frequency.
(Not that that isn’t a good thing; it’s discipline which may very well be what I lack, so there.)
Having said that, I’m looking forward to writing the next couple of entries once I find the time to do so. Already have the pikchers ready some more… Can’t wait!
You Royal Pat-ness,
Delighted to be graced by your luminous presence.
*checks self*
Nope, no extra limbs. And I’d never rob an old lady. They hit you far too ferociously and can they chase! Never underestimate an old lady. Her bite is far worse than her bark…
A day of doing nothing? *shudders*
Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
*hugs*
A very well-written thought!
ok, i shall now do the deed and inform you of my day of nothing-ness:
i fell under the weather, overslept and watched ‘life aquatic with steve zissou’. i couldn’t have done anything anyway so there was nothing to survive :-/
the movie rescued me.
Kenny, Kenny,
One of procastinated work is making rounds on your blogger friends’ blogs, eh? Thanks for saying hello.
“Your comment is awaitng moderation.” Hmmm… how did this get into my comment?
tankiasu
Thanks for dropping by! I just went over to your blog and realised we both share a love of very good Mee Mamak. Yums…
pat-ness
That film surprised me. I thought it’d be silly (which it was, in a way, in a good way). It ended up making me feel rather emo (?). I’m at a loss for words now but yeah. It was bittersad, the way films should be when it’s done right.
Did warn you about such days. We need activity, people like us do.
alice
Yes, it is. Reading blogs is definitely much more fun than just writing them!
really?
I thought life aquatic was …. uplifting
wheeeeeeeeee
Hi kenny! i agree w thought #3
mite add that pride is also when ur non-msian frens always look forward to your edible surprises that you never fail to bring back from home whenever you return to aus :> nice blog of urs i’ve stumbled upon ! *waves hi*
wow, my life pales in comparison with yours…..sigh…….
G
A movie underwater uplifting? Hmm…
Jun
Hi there back! “Edible surprises” — I sure like the sound of that!
cutebanana
My life? Are you kiddin’, bro? I’m boring as anything… Anway, we all have to find a little bit of magic in the everyday, don’t we?
Kenny - I still play that Billy Joel song together with his other greatest hits. Especially when I’m cooking. Isn’t it all about balance, some blogging, some socialising, some (well, a lot) of work! Cheers!
Its a balance thing perhaps.
When I go down, things go up
See - harmony 
(muahaha’s evil laughter ensues)
Tunku and G
You should catch Maggie Gyllenhaal’s performance in “Happy Endings” then — not just her singing this song, but her entire story which is bittersweet. Her character isn’t a perfect person, not by a longshot, but it’s the one you fall in love with at the end of the movie (even though we don’t know if she ever got her “happy ending”).
Balance, balance, balance… sometimes I wonder if there is truly such a thing as balance. Maybe we just live our lives the way we best can, and that is something to be thankful for already.
Sometimes balance or trying to balance/juggle too many things may not be the right thing to do either. I know for sure I’m trying to remove as many unnecessary things from my life now so I can focus and spend time on the most important things and people. Maybe that’s the real balance there?
Have a good week, people!
kenny, kenny! busy, busy! ;p
I was a lil bz too, hence i didnt even notice that you’ve posted something new!
*shifts around guiltily*
when i’m back at my hometown, i can just laze around doing nothing and is still ok. but somehow, when i’m here staying on my own, i need to do something, anything.. else, will drive me nuts too!
sc
Better to busy than not, eh?
I’m like that when I’m back home in Malacca too. But here in KL/PJ, no lah. Must find something to do. Or more accurately, something will find me to do it. This weekend, for example, got the next Breakfast Club to moderate and some meetings to attend to. But I’ve done the “do nothing” weekend (actually just the first two-thirds of a Sunday) and I don’t think I’m gonna try that again anytime soon…
Have a good busy week, dear!
youre right,
Balance are for egg-carters on a rope trick mile high-wire act.
Me ? I’ll just have to deal with clumsy ol’ 2 left feet me.
this post has made me hungry. been some time since i’ve had some quality malaysian food.
Kenny,
You don’t miss blogging? I thought you’ll miss it.
G
Two left feet don’t make a right?
Ah, I’m in a silly mood, I am.
Xill-e-llahi
This post made you hungry? Oh then watch out for the coming entries — the three-parter on “The Honeymooners” are coming soon and much good eating will be documented! Makan, makan, makan… *slurps*
Kok
Maybe just a little. But not enough for me to miss out on the real world out there.
I reli love this Billy Joel song, can sing the whole thing by heart, had the wordings memorized o_0
Firehorse
You can sing the whole thing by heart? That’s great! I wish I could carry a tune, but I am truly, honestly, absolutely devoid of talent in this area.
Maybe someone would like to sing this to me?
looking 4wd to download dat song too!
Found this song, am playing it on my blog come over and listen n la. Was at 1 Utama yesterday are you somewhere nearby that area?
Kenny if you don’t mind, I borrowed your lyrics too and posted it so when you come over you can karaoke at the kopitiam, hehe.
moja
Don’t just download it but try and watch “Happy Endings” too — you won’t be disappointed; comes with my stamp of approval!
Firehorse
Yes, I live near IKEA actually, so not that far from 1U. I’m actually heading over to 1U later for dinner. If only we met a day earlier… Heh.
Oh, am so going over now to your Kopitiam to karaoke sama-sama…
Kenny when you were in my comment box, I was wondering if you saw someone called Penang Boy leaving me a comment. He is my cousin (around your age oso) and I’ve recommended that he visit you as he also writes well and I am quite sure he will enjoy your blog, if he does visit would you mind welcoming him? Thank you, muacks.
woohoo! new site address!
why the dotnet though? was dotcom taken?
Firehorse
No worries, I’ll be sure to give Penang Boy a big welcome when he drops by. Penang Boy, meet Melaka Boy.
I love how you’ve put the song on your blog playlist — now more people get to enjoy it, and the sentiments that goes with it. I’m in a very mushy mood of late, I know.
Yuri
Dotcom was taken; years ago and still unavailable. Worst part is, nothing there but a placeholder. What a waste! Anyway, dotnet works fine, perhaps even better, since this is a network of bloggers, friends and new faces…
Hehe me too la, seems to gravitate toward love songs. One more that I am currently liking is Because of You.
Firehorse
You know what you should do? A blog entry on your favourite love songs… it’d be a list I’d want to read and see how many of them are favs of mine too!
And as for your email on “27 Love Songs”, ah well, I’ll address it soon. Heh.
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