You’ve got to look good.
That’s what they tell us anyway. Society. (Useful as it may be to blame them for everything we can muster under the sun, some fine day we’d just have to realize we’re a hundred and one percent responsible for our own little personal disasters and victories. Still, it’s fun to say “I blame society.” No?)
Bigger bosoms. Or smaller ones if you’re too well-endowed. Tiny waistlines, for both the ladies and the gents. No thunder thighs here, please. Tighten that bum till you can bounce a nickel off of it. And maybe a facial or two while you’re at it. Schedule a whole year’s worth. A lil nip at the chin there, a lil tummy tuck there; let’s rub them crow’s feet away. What other flaws can we hide? There’s so many, we won’t run out in a hurry, why not make a game of this? I’ll tell you yours, if you tell me mine.
Beauty is hard work, don’t let them tell you no different.
Two heads are better than one (they also say), and maybe we have a slim chance of making the cut. Co-operation is the name of the game. We can do this if we work together, my dear. I won’t whine at you when you take half an hour (or more sometimes) to ready your hair in the morning. Before we go out for dinner. Before bed even, if you’re in the mood. You never know who might turn up in your dreams, right?
And you won’t nag me about putting on weight, pound after pound, as the bliss of being in love also incites in me a great hunger; I’m famished for more, more, more. You don’t remind me I’ve not been going into the gym. You won’t tease me about my love handles, not much anyway. These sweet layers of flab around my belly, why them reasons to adore me more, no? You rub them, telling me it might help. My appetite certainly won’t. This sure is one way of handling love.
We can be such beasts, but with these eyes, we see only beauty.
.
{ This is Part Three in the “A Day in Our Life…” series. Read Part One here and Part Two here. }
{ Credits: “Workout” by Stefan Krilla. “Lips and Rose” by Lola Rodriguez. Design by Kenny Mah. }
Oo yea, baybeh.. feel that burn. Speaking purely as an adrenaline junkie… i work out for ‘the rush’ and … i work out so I can put away as many BABI GULING later as i want.. no sweat
haha beauty is in the inner self rite as they say..but sooner or later..one would say your inner beauty is getting hard to reach as the layers of fat n meat is proving to be a bigger task then anticipated to get through..but yes..love = love handles
cumi&ciki: You sound like a BodyCombat/BodyAttack addict, you do… Wonder if we’ve met at the gym before. I need to head in more often for workouts, it’s true. Been slacking off lately.
O but you had to go and mention BABI GULING… *drools*
lotsofcravings: LOL! Hilarious… but true in a way too. Seriously, brader, you need to switch gyms so we can workout together and rid ourselves of these love handles. Our better halves would most certainly approve.
ahem…
i love (my) marbled meat. LOL… best cuts for babi guling!
(i can be babi or khinzir whatever you like it, coz my sis always says you pig! how can you be so lazy, eat eat eat only)
next monday, getting into the new body combat classes. yeah. can’t wait to ‘hit air’!
keropokman: Another babi guling fan in da house, yo!
Ya lor, why do folks call us pigs just cos we love to laze and eat and sleep and frolic? Ain’t it simply common sense to avail ourselves to the best resources around us? I’d call this being very sensible indeed.
New BodyCombat classes? You mean the new release? I’ve tried it and it’s not really spectacular. I guess I’m really becoming an oldie when I prefer the older stuff… Hahaha…
Oh.. new i mean a new class that’s starting.
Our company has a Wellness Department that takes care of us. They get people in to conduct classes during lunch time. Those who skip lunch can go and exercise. (btw, I am too hungry to skip lunch. I eat after exercise.. hehe.)
So next Monday, I am joining the new class. I was previously joining the CardioFusion class. A bit of this, a bit of that, very fusion.
keropokman: “… the CardioFusion class. A bit of this, a bit of that, very fusion.”
For some reason, that line just cracked me up. No idea why, hehe.
And dude, it’s very good that you eat after exercise. That’s a must. Them doctors tell us never to skip meals. For some reason though, I doubt either of us would have problems following this piece of advice, heh. Makan time is the best time of the day after all…
Hmmm they said “To be beautiful is painful”.. And I think everybody is responsible for their own body. Unless they are special case that needs nurse for them to look after their body.
Honestly, I like chubby guys, makes them more huggable for me.
aiyoh..but the curve is too far away..anyway of sneaking me into fitness first on weekends to burn those handles ar..there are becoming abit of a permanent fixture here..
equilibrium2008: I’m sure all the chubby guys around the world are happy to hear that, dear.
Beauty is but in the eye of the beholder, after all…
lotsofcravings: Any way? Well, they seem to be having Open Days nearly every other weekend this year, so they are always welcoming guests to drop by. Or so it seems. I’ll let you know about the next Open Day, okay?
You have to be a bit of a sadist when it comes to working out…Hahaha…
Yeah Babee!
Beauty is but in the eye of the beholder, after all…
the beauty is to judge the quality of the marbling of the wagyu. (that’s if you are a cow)
for the rest of us (who are used to be called pigs), we are the kurobuta breed, our fat composition’s white, soft and flavoursome. our meat are tender, texture good and of course juicy.
unkaleong: Sadist? Maybe. I’m just that much of a masochist yet, brother. But you’re certainly my Fitness Idol. Will listen. And torture Self. Till ABS appear.
keropokman: Oh you sure know how to turn a guy on, dude… through my salivating taste buds, of course. Hahaha.
The Baker Boy would get a kick of reading this, won’t he? Heh. (Where is Nigel, anyway?)
Me, I probably can’t tell the difference between my Kobe and my Wagyu…
It’s gotta be proportional lah! Wat big bosoms and tiny waistlines..it seems to me…something is losing balance and can fall to the ground with just a push of a finger…buahahahhah!
You just reminded me that I have not gone to the gym as often as I would like to
Me, I probably can’t tell the difference between my Kobe and my Wagyu…
YOUR kobe and wagyu?
ok lah. let’s give it a nickname… belly = wagyu. posterior = kobe
this is madness. imagine your other half, hey darling, can i lie on your wagyu? LOL.
tigerfish: Exactly my point! Propotional! I feel “Society” has such weird expectations of us normal human beans. I mean, we can’t all look like Pamela Anderson and the Gubernator Schwarzenegger can we? (Nor would we want to. Gigantor muscles = yucky, very yucky.)
But we do need to be fit though. I’m not much better than you. Just checked my schedule and I’ve not been doing much weight-training at the gym for the past two months. Perhaps my next post should be a fitness plan for myself… putting it up in public might just force me to do something about it, no? And if I don’t at least there’s the fun-filled embarrassment for everyone to enjoy.
Oh the drama…
keropokman: Oh I think I’d spend more time on my darling’s kobe…
love me .… love me all…it comes in a package
i love this post, kenny!
rokh: Yes, yes, love me, love me all… esp. them love handles of mine! Hahaha…
carrot: Thanks, dear. It’s reassuring to know I’m not shooting blanks here.
I totally agree with you that love will make one famish all the time. There’s no surprise that after married, both my hubby and I are putting on more weight. I always tease him about his tummy but I still love it nonetheless. You are right, in our eyes, we only see beauty in each other. That’s love. Hehe!
Jennifer: That’s true, isn’t it? A little more weight just means that little more to hug and love!
Beauty lies within, or so I say.
Fitness, staying fit, and all that has to do with the gym is what’s the most difficult.
food tastes better when it’s shared with your beloved. yes, even super greasy hokkien mee wtf –__–
Aiyo. Susahnya. Is there an easier way?
Michelle: Beauty within and without. How’s that for a balanced compromise?
Jun: Ooh, yes… super greasy local fare… Can’t substitute that with a energy bar, that’s for sure. (Just as we can’t substitute a loved one’s company at dinner… esp. if they help you mop up the super greasy gravy! Hehe.)
Paul: Liposuction?
beauty is overrated. so are brains.
brains+beauty = lagi overrated…
unleash the beasts!
*nic shiok sendiri again!*
Nic (KHKL): Unleash the beasts? And which beasts might be these be, Nic? And where from?
Why is it that we always “balance” two different things, and yet we “balance on one foot”? How come we don’t call “balancing on both feet”? Hmm…
Michelle: Well, one can balance on both feet, such as raising one’s weight on the toes only (both feet involved) or balancing on a type rope… But that’s me being pedantic; I do know what you mean. Perhaps it’s because balancing on one foot always has this measure of imbalance, a chance of falling or stumbling inherent in it… Life’s like that sometimes; one misstep and everything comes tumbling down.
A house of cards.
Wah.. Kenny, so deep…so..em.. philosophical. I think..
But you know what? Life as a Libran means life’s always about balance. For me anyway.
Michelle: I don’t think that’s just limited to those born under the Sign of the Scales, my dear.
That’s absolutely true. But then aren’t you supposed to be at work? You seem to be replying my comments at lightning speed. Well, I’m on holiday, are you too? Self-proclaimed, maybe?
Michelle: Work is relative. Hahahaha…
I’m actually wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, or more specifically, what to purchase from the grocer’s. Inside the refrigerator in my kitchen lies:
- 4 ripe tomatoes
– 6 baby corns
– 1 small bag of local anchovies (ikan bilis)
– a little leftover Chinese cabbage
– half a packet of ginkgo nuts (shelled)
– half a dozen quail eggs
What will dinner be, me wonders?
You’re definitely going to need that trip to the grocer’s!
Cooking for two? For starters, I’d boil the anchovies, make some soup. Or as a base for some other vege.. But who am I to talk.. I hardly go into the kitchen.
Michelle: Hmm, a soup is prolly part of what I’d make and them anchovies would definitely be helpful as substantial seasoning but not the base alone. Perhaps some chicken bones from a couple of drumsticks, with the flesh added in later to preserve their tender bite?
A slice of fish pan-fried with slivers of ginger and dashes of soy sauce could accompany this simple soup (with the corn and tomatoes and cabbage strengthening the flavour of the broth). Some steamed rice, and a meal is born!
I’ve just ate my dinner, and here you are making me hungry all over again…
Ah..the joy of eating..
Michelle: The Joy of Eating? Reminds me of some book which also begins with “The Joy of…”
Seems like I have a tendency to remind you of books! First 1984, then now The Joy of XXX.
If I were to tell you that I also write another blog (albeit on politics) entitled “I Am Malaysian”, it would probably remind you of this other book too, no?
Michelle: “I Am Malaysian”? I thought of writing a post with that title once, after Dina Zaman’s “I Am Muslim” but ended up writing one called “I Am Woman” instead (which caused a fair bit of controversy in itself, heh).
So, yes. It does remind me of another book too.
(Then again, it could just be because I have books on my brains…)
I’ve read that one, your post I mean, not your brain. Enjoyed it a fair bit. Wouldn’t mind hijacking it for next year’s International Women’s Day, if you don’t mind me hijacking your material, that is.
But how do you know which books to read and which books not to? How to decide? And where to find the time? (Ah..petty excuses..)
Michelle: Ah, it’d be a mite strange if you had read my cranial innards… Likely you’d be screaming your jeepers out by now if you did. My mind is not a safe place to be, much less to go round peering and such. Glad you meant my post instead.
Which books to read, and which not to? Well, to start with, I don’t think there’s really any book one shouldn’t read… just that some we’d end up finding boring and some, not so. I have a short list of my comfort reads up on my Facebook profile if you’re curious (which I’m pretty certain you’re not, sensible person that you are).
As for where to find the time, two words: Commute and Toilet.
Commute and Toilet? Do you mean while commuting to the toilet? Or while Toilet-ing on the Commute?
I’m sure you mean both, no?
Michelle: Haha, yeah I meant either/both… though the mere thought of having to commute to locate a toilet is frightening enough for me to give up reading altogether!
Whatever works, works — that be my motto. What other areas can we still time from to finish a page or two?
I do well reading in between television programmes, and during commercials. Although I have to say that the tv ads are becoming rather much too interesting to look away from.
But days of tv have since left me. Now I read while walking the corridors of a 140-year old building in between classes.
Michelle: Gone are the days of TV for me too… Mostly because I don’t have the patience for it; I’d rather watch seasons of decent shows on DVDs so I can devour all of it at once, sans the commercial product placements.
By the way, which 140-year old building are we speaking of here?
Oh, it’s my uni building down here in the City of Sails. The school of architecture building of my uni, in fact. Although it houses more than just the archi faculty.
This building used to be a mental hospital too. Until only about a couple of decades back. I’m guessing that’s the reason why they decided to house us students of archi and design in this building. We are sort of mental in a way too.
Michelle: “This building used to be a mental hospital too. I’m guessing that’s the reason why they decided to house us students of archi and design… We are sort of mental in a way too.”
Mental, and with a sharp sense of humour, might I add.
Well, we all need that bit of humour every once in a while. Keeps us at “sort-of-mental” level, rather than going deeper into the black abyss and never return…
Michelle: Yes, well. Have been to the Black Abyss, nothing pretty and all I got upon my return was a lousy T-shirt that said “I Don’t Like Mondays” …
(And for some reason, I have her entire Strange Little Girls album running through my head now. Tori Amos cannot be denied, even when she’s doing covers.)
“I Don’t Like Mondays”?
I think a T-shirt with “Bad Hair Day” on the front with “Keep Away” on the back would be of more use.
(And yes, Tori Amos cannot be denied. And nor can Famous Amos for that matter)
What does beauty and the beast get up to? Hehe.
Michelle: Hah! I’d like one of those T-shirts too! And don’t get me started on Famous Amos… *drools*
Neil: If their alarm clock doesn’t go off? Not much, really.
And don’t get me started on Famous Amos… *drools*
Ah… I don’t want to get you started, but I started it..and I’m starting to miss those little bites already. I don’t see no reason why they don’t sell them here in NZ. Such a pity for me..
Michelle: I’m guessing you can probably find freshly baked cookies in New Zealand that are just as good if not better! Speaking of NZ, you’re making me wonder if I should holiday there next or head off to Edinburgh and the Lake District instead. Decisions, decisions… *sighs*
You shouldn’t sigh over the need to make decisions like that.
Anyway, a holiday for how many? NZ is a good place for rather quiet holidays. Though I wouldn’t recommend you come now, so SO cold…Unless you’re planning to go to places like Christchurch where there’s endless snow. Otherwise, like Auckland and the most of North Island, everywhere is pretty much just cold and wet.
ps: Indeed there are freshly baked cookies that are heavenly, but they’re always the size of my palm!
Michelle: What’s a good time to visit, though? Hmm… the best times are usually peak seasons for tourists…
P.S. Cookies the size of your palm? Bring ‘em on!
the beast, you asked?
it’s me-lah, of course…especially when food is on the table!
hahaha! (i sooo need to see a doctor..hehe)
in love, guess all we can see is beauty.….but once the love is gone, think we’ll be called fugly?? hehe..
i’m trying to exercise few times a week now…to rebuild my health. of course it’s a bonus if i can look good too. health first, vanity second.…
cookies the size of your palm sounds delicious. slap me with it. LOL.
i am imagining the smell of freshly baked cookies now… oooooo.…
oh ya, with those ingredients, you can makan a nice simple nasi lemak ala kenny
1) ikan bilis, you tumis it with cili boh, 1 tomato can be added into the cili to give it a nice twang.
2) quail eggs, just hard boil it and peel it, then halve it to expose the egg yokes. lagi best if the yokes are semi liquidy. (got such a word?)
3) chinese cabbage, just stir fry it with 1 or 2 tomato, dun add water, cook in its own juice, with generous amount of garlic and tiny bit of abalone/oyster sauce.
4) if feel like it, baby corn soup, add 1 or 2 chicken eggs to make it the flowery kind og soup, and ginkgo nuts too if you want.
LOL…
nic(KHKL), did you turn into a beast that night?
after the trip to *hxxters* LOL
Nic (KHKL): I think at the dinner table, NO ONE is a beauty, hehe. “First come, first serve”? Try “May the best beast feast…” Hahaha…
sc: Once the love is gone, everything’s gone, really, but memories. But if love remains, fugliness is normally neglected. Or nagged at, depending on one’s partner, haha.
Here’s to all of us exercising regularly… AGAIN.
keropokman: That just sounds so kinky, slapping you with freshly-baked cookies. What’s your flavour? Hehe.
Wah, got full recipe some more… but so much work leh… I ended up making a wholesome soup after adding them chicken drumsticks, a sided dish of fried eggs and saba fish, served with whit rice… and done!
… and yes, Nic, did you turn into a beast that night? LOL
I have no intention of slapping no one with no cookies. They’re all going straight into my mouth, thank you very much!
Oh, and about visiting. If you have all the time in the world without needing to follow the “tourist peak seasons”, I would suggest sometime like September or October. That’s spring for you, not too many people, and absolutely beautiful.
Michelle: Darn, no chance of them cookies getting used in righteous punishment first before riotous consumption? No? Slap before swallow? No? Alrighty then, if you say so. Keropokman doesn’t know what he’s missing, hehe.
Ooh September is just about right. Spring sans tourists? Sounds ideal.
Yup yup!
*nods head furiously*
September’s beginning of spring, so it would still be a little chilly, depending on where you are. Bring jackets, lots of them if you’re into wearing a different one everyday. Can’t be in NZ without a jacket.
Michelle: Oh jackets I have, and jackets I will be wearing… won’t wanna freeze my tender bits off, would I?
No, I don’t think you would. I imagine you to be “not-that-mental” enough to be wearing just enough layers.
Or maybe I could coerce you to coming in November? That’s when the flowers bloom to their fullest. And that’s also when the Flower Festival is on. There are Rose Gardens and parks and carnivals, and The International Ellerslie Flower Festival too.
(I am doing this on purpose. Giving you more choices to choose from. Hehe..)
Michelle: gAAAAaaa.… Too. Many. Choices. And at the same time, Edinburgh and the Lake District still calls out to me. Hmm… The Scots or the Kiwis? What a conundrum…
Conundrum?
Well, I’m not even going to THINK of taking the fun of choosing and making decisions away from you. Maybe some time tonight, some other place on the planet will be calling your name? The more the merrier, no?
It’s true that society has a huge role in determining how we look. Think of all the types of eating disorders out there!
But a pound or 2 wont hurt..or will it?
Michelle: The more the merrier, yes. The more money I have for my vacation, even more so, haha. I am a reluctant practitioner of this notorious activity commonly known as budget travel.
daphne: A pound or two wouldn’t hurt at all. In the right places, it might even improve how one feels.
oh, h##ters…haha!
well, i was tricked into performing the hula hoop in front of everyone! gosh!
took lotsa pics of them pretty staff and walloped the chicken wings like mad…
does that make me the beast? haha!
Nic (KHKL): *blinks eyes*
Did I read that right? Pakcik Nic performing at H@@ters? Do we have a video of this? Anyone?
haha Pak Nik performing? wooo.… we want a video of it!
hmmm layers and layers of jackets?
is it necessary for people with layers and layers of adipose tissue / marbled meat. LOL..
keropokman: “Pak Nic Pole Dances”? Or “Pak Nic Goes Wild!”, maybe? Hehe. It’d sell a million pirated copies and then some.
I dunno about you, but even with my layers upon layers of adipose tissue and/or marbled meat, I’m going with them jackets. Can’t go wrong with extra jackets. Trust me on that.
About the layers upon layers of adipose tissue and/or marbled meat. It pretty much depends on whereabouts the tissue/meat is, and where it came from. Trust me, coming from where the sun always shines (albeit through layers and layers of dust), NZ has no sympathy for any of them tissues.
Michelle: Hehe, I kinda knew that, if only from my mom’s complaints when she last visited NZ with my grandma and from my intense study of The Lord of the Ring: Extended Edition’s documentary features… (What can I say, I’m a humongous geek fanboy, heh.)
And is anyone else as geeked out about the upcoming Nolan-Bale-Ledger masterpiece “The Dark Knight” as I am? Anyone?
Oh Nic’s performance at H@@ters is right there on his FB, but apparently, he couldn’t get it up wor. *blink*
Lyrical Lemongrass: Maybe it was just performance anxiety? *blink blink*
to quote a spectator: “3 ups in 5 minutes“
that’s all i have to say…hahaha!
Nic (KHKL): *speechless*