I still remember the day you arrived at our home. 6 weeks old – tiny, adorable and timid, you wandered over to the nearest flowerpot and hid your little self behind it. 12 years later, you’re gone. I’m still finding it hard to believe. It feels lonely not hearing you bark.
You grew up to be the most excitable little thing ever, capable of being both lovable and annoying at the same time. I’ll miss the way you’d run circles around the house for no apparent reason and how your little stub of a tail would wag excitedly whenever you saw us. I’ll miss how you’d come and keep us company and follow us around the garden even though we did not call you, and how you’d stick your head through our grille door to look at us whenever we were in the lounge. I’ll even miss the way you’d go mental whenever we tried to feed you. Most of all, I’ll miss the way you’d put your paws on my hands and lap whenever you wanted my attention.
Goodbye my dear Monty. It was a good 12 years. Thank you so much for being our best friend, for loving us unconditionally and for growing up with us. I’m not used to being so emotional, but you’ll always have a special place in our hearts. Rest in peace little one. We’ll miss you so damn much.
Ah, how does one even begin to write about the end of their childhood? Because after watching the final Harry Potter film, that’s almost what it feels like.
I read the first Harry Potter book when i was twelve. Back then, the favourite books of every 12 year old girl were likely from Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley series, Carolyn Keene’s teenage sleuth Nancy Drew books or Enid Blyton books. It was during the school holidays before i entered secondary school. I’d been given the book to keep me occupied for a few days while visiting my maternal grandmother in Kedah with my mum and two younger brothers. The train ride was extremely long and tedious for a bored twelve year old, so i picked up the book thinking to just read a few chapters to pass the time quickly.
The cover was funny. This bespectacled awkward-looking kid was flying a broomstick attempting to catch a tiny ball with wings. I opened the book and was hooked instantly. Reading about Harry’s train ride to Hogwarts while i was riding one myself was enough to send a twelve year old’s imagination wild. I rode that train to Hogwarts with Harry that day. Hogwarts sounded like the most amazing place to be. Disneyland? pfft. I wanted an acceptance letter to Hogwarts! I wanted owls to deliver mail to me while eating bacon and eggs in the Great Hall. I wanted a broomstick and a motherfucking invisibility cloak.
Well, nearly 12 years, 7 books and 8 movies later, here i am, still a fan. That’s half my life! My original book has been replaced – it was the American Scholastic publication and the cover was getting rather tattered, the spine full of lines, and some pages were beginning to look a bit loose. My whole collection consists of the British Bloomsbury publications now, but that tattered first copy is still on my bookshelf
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
I’d been both dreading and anticipating the release of the last film in the series. I could not wait to see the conclusion – it would of course be epic. However, it is also the end of an era. When the books ended, there were always the films to look forward to. The films, to me, have always been somewhat of a treat. After being captivated and imagining all the wonderful things that JK Rowling wrote about, we actually get to see them on screen. The sets and props are incredible – everything looks so… real. The thing about the earlier films being released before some of the later books just made reading the books an even better experience. Characters now had clear faces and locations in the books seemed like real places! Expecto Patronum, Locomotor Mortis, Wingardium Leviosa do not sound like gibberish, and words like ‘Muggle’ and ‘Quidditch’ make perfect sense.
So it was with both feelings of anticipation and fear that i watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I’m glad that i watched it with my besties. We hadn’t watched a Harry Potter film together for a long time and it felt somewhat apt and meaningful to watch with them. Haha. Perhaps i’m being overly emotional here, but that’s how i felt
if there’s one thing that makes the feminist in me rage, it’s this.
I walk around alone a lot during my lunch break. I often walk across the road from Bangsar Baru over to Lucky Garden in search of food. it is over there that i experience extremely bad manners. as I’ve mentioned several times before, I’m frequently annoyed by men who wolf-whistle, catcall, make kissy sounds and make rude remarks at me, often laughing gleefully with buddies at the same time. sound familiar?
now I hate to be discriminatory, but it is always the same type of people. and people wonder why there is discrimination. sometimes, there are perfectly valid reasons.
I think it’s extremely degrading for women to be treated as if they were a piece of meat in the marketplace or a pageant contestant parading around for these louts’ evaluation and their crude remarks. no one is asking for your opinion, assholes.
what is it about a group of men picking on a single girl that gives them such a kick? its perverted, predatory and disturbing.
I must point out that I do not dress provocatively. when I’m at work, I prefer jeans and tshirts. sometimes long sleeve tshirts. I am by no means dressed ‘invitingly’, yet I still manage to be bothered by these morons. it’s infuriating that I can’t even go our for lunch without being bothered.
now, you could say that I may be taking this too seriously. sure, they get their kicks and I’m not physically harassed. but i did not ask for their attention, nor do I like it. therefore, I still consider it harassment. and yes, it happens all the time everywhere but it still doesn’t make it okay. heck, go ahead and get your kicks from masturbating to porn or something, just leave us unwilling women alone.
After months of hype and anticipation, the premiere episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones has finally arrived! As i’ve mentioned previously, I’ve been excited to see how George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series would translate on screen. I’m SO glad they went with a tv series. The books are so rich and brimming with plots and wonderful characters, i’d hate to see them try to condense it for the big screen.
I’m stoked to say that i loved the first episode. You can see that they’ve tried really hard to make it as close to the books as possible. The grim opening scene beyond the Wall, the discovery of the Direwolf pups, Winterfell, Kings Landing, THE IRON THRONE… damn, everything is gorgeous. It’s interesting watching everyone’s storylines simultaneously – in the books each chapter is seen from the POV of alternating single characters.
I have to commend the casting directors on their choices. Everyone so far looks perfect, though slightly older than portrayed in the books. There are valid reasons for this of course. sex and nudity involving a minor is featured in the books, and when has HBO ever shied away from sex?
The casting of the Starks looks good. Sean Bean (aka BOROMIR!!!) is the perfect choice for Eddard Stark. Arya and Bran are adorable. i can’t wait to see more of the Stark children (especially Arya, she kicks butt). and oh, did i mention the direwolf pups (which are really Northern Inuits)? cutest things ever!
I think the Lannisters in particular are spot on. The Lannister brothers are probably my favourite characters in the books, so i’m pretty relieved that they seem to have cast the right guys. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime ‘Kingslayer’ Lannister ♥ hahaha.
and Harry Lloyd! like most others, I’d seen him in Doctor Who. His role was unforgettably… well, odd. He’s great as Viserys. You know, when i first read Game of Thrones, i thought Viserys was absolutely despicable. But watching Harry Lloyd in character, i cant help thinking that he is endearingly despicable. Does that even make sense? hahaha.
I have to say though, when we got that quick glimpse of the White Walkers, i thought they looked rather Uruk-Hai-ish. LOL. I always imagined them looking taller and skinny and well, pale.
And I HAVE to mention the opening credits. What a pleasant surprise. I dont think i’ve ever seen such gorgeous opening credits for any tv show, or film, for that matter. Apparently it changes every episode. EVERY FUCKING EPISODE. How brilliant is that? The camera apparently pans to whichever part of the map is featured in each episode. the music is equally gorgeous. Man, i hope a soundtrack becomes available or something cos i’m seriously geeking out over it. It’s composed by Ramin Djawadi, the guy behind Iron Man’s awesome score. Check out the opening titles:
The details! Honestly, the different credits every week will be enough for me to look forward to every new episode. LOL
As someone who is familiar with the books, i had no problem following the story. However, I think viewers who have not read the books will probably find it all a little much to process at first. Hopefully, that won’t be enough to put people off, as it is a wonderfully written story. I saw that it’s just been picked up for a 2nd season, yay.
I’m looking forward to see more! and oh, as if things couldnt get better, Doctor Who will be back end of this week! WOOT.
I was walking around Bangsar during my lunch break yesterday when I noticed all these people running up and down the street. I found out why a couple of meters later. the parking warden was writing out summons. they were running to the parking meters to pay, while the parking warden actually stood there waiting patiently for them with a slightly amused expression on his face. I wonder if parking wardens get a kick from this behavior? their mere presence makes everyone go running to the nearest parking meter hahaha.
you know what’s not funny though? the double-parking mentality in Bangsar. working here, I quickly became accustomed to hearing the sounds of people angrily honking their car horns because they were blocked in by some moron double-parking. im not kidding when i say that sometimes these sounds go on for over an hour.
what is incredible is that some actually double-park and then happily go off to shop! i heard of one incident where this guy had been blocked in for an hour (honking continuously, I must add) only to discover that the fellow who blocked him in had gone shopping in the shopping centre. he was so angry by the time the culprit appeared (shopping bags in hand) that he gave the fellow a solid punch. a bit dramatic perhaps, but you can’t really feel sorry for the guy who got punched either.
another incident worth mentioning happened to my boss. she honked her car for a while before someone noticed that the culprit had left her contact number on the dashboard. sounds fair enough right? so my boss dialed the culprit’s number… only to be told that the perpetrator was getting her nails done and is not able to come down immediately, so could she wait for her to be done? can you imagine the cheek? first, you’ve inconvenienced someone by blocking in her car. next, you make her spend money to call your phone. finally, you tell her that you are unable to move your car immediately and expect her to wait for you to beautify yourself. how bloody rude is that?
it never ceases to amaze me how inconsiderate and self-centered some people can be. I’d pay to be able to listen to these people’s thoughts. the things they do and the logic they display is truly baffling. who raises these people anyway?
and really, if you can afford to shop and eat and beautify yourself in Bangsar Baru, what is a couple of extra Ringgit to pay for the underground parking! you won’t piss anybody off – it eliminates chances of aggravation and hostility, you won’t be bothered by worries of getting parking summons and theres no risk of getting your car (or body) harmed! we get healthier and happier citizens, what’s so bad about that eh?
When i think of Hole, i think of Courtney Love. and when most people think of Courtney, they think of her antics and Kurt Cobain. It must suck when every video of you on youtube has nasty conspiracy theories about you. But putting that aside, i think Hole made awesome music and Courtney rocked as their frontwoman. I still listen to new Hole (even if it’s just Courtney now) and Melissa auf der Maur.
I’m not very familiar with Patty Schemel or Eric Erlandson but i fully intend to watch this! the 90s ruled.
and celebrity skin is still one of my favorite songs.
