As Suanie Sees It

While doing some massive self-Googling (because I’m keen on erasing my web presence circa-’99 to ‘03), I came across my old Tripod Guest Book. If you’ve been around for a bit, you’d know that the only way your website visitors could interact with you is via your contact details (which you may choose not to put on your website) or the ever popular (then) guest book. Of course I had one of those because it was an in-thing to have.

To answer the question of why I want to delete everything prior to 2003, well if you’d see the larger version of the image on the side, I called myself Suanie Mulanie. Suanie Mulanie? What the fuck was I thinking? Nothing left on Wayback Machine either, because I took care of that a long time ago.

Before I deleted the guest book, I went through all the entries and memories came flooding back. Took a screen shot of one of the pages, sent it to Ah Seng, he had a good laugh as well. Time, eh.

Anyway here it is, the remaining piece of my tragic HTML past for all to see. Click here to view the image in its original uploaded size.

Have you heard of a media launch for a blog before? Well, neither have I until I went to one last Thursday at Modesto’s Tao Lounge Bar at Plaza TTDI.

The enterprising Deep loves his poison enough to have a blog dedicated to alcohol. Somewhere along the lines, he thought why not launch his blog officially? As in media, sponsors, guests, etc? I have no idea how he managed to pull it off, what with a couple of sponsors (I think Riche Monde is one of them) but I’m glad he did as I had an absolutely great time at the party.

With Fireangel, Li Ling and Deep. Spot Michael

Where else got party that allows you to mix your own drinks? Bottles of whiskey, vodka, absinthe abundant on the bar, you just go there and mix it with whatever you want yourself. Often Deep would take the microphone and yelled out words of encouragement, i.e. “We’ve just opened another bottle of absinthe, so get yourselves fucked up.” Hah!

Go visit ThirstyBlogger.my for enthralling alcoholic tales. Do read ‘The Man from Mars‘ about his Afghani friend’s visit in KL.

p/s: Absinthe is legal in Malaysia, does not make you hallucinate, tastes like melted-down Hacks
p/s/s: Michael says we can link his name to his blog already.

I loved Michael Jackson. His music, his lyrics, his dance moves, his persona. I watched his beautifully choreographed music videos on endless repeat. I decorated my wall with his poster and the words, “Michael Jackson is the King of Pop” with a green felt-tip pen. In 1999 when I made my first web site, I had a Michael Jackson shrine complete with biographies, photos, discography and lyrics. I have a copy of J. Randy Taraborrelli’s Michael Jackson: The Magic and The Madness that I read more than a dozen times, which made me feel closer to the star himself.

It was also why I never believed in all the accusations and charges hurled at him. Can’t be arsed to explain it here, I’ll lend you the book if you want to read it and if I can locate it.

For all his faults and all his eccentricities, there is no other. RIP Michael.

Earlier this month was the launch of the Nokia N97, a much-awaited replacement model for the N95/96. I’d heard pretty good stuff about the phone from people who managed to get their grubby hands on review units — pretty much THE phone to pwn all phones for this year, until the next model that is. I’m a bit lagging behind in mobile phone technology.

Since I didn’t try out/ test the phone or anything, I’m unable to provide a fair perspective on the Nokia N97. If you want to know more about it, feel free to ask @lavuarne and @MyHorng because my two friends bought it a week after the launch. I’m sure they would have wanted their phones earlier, unfortunately the stockists had to wait for new shipments. You can also check out Colin Charles’ quick impressions on the Nokia N97. As you may have noticed, this entry is filed under Events etc, so it’s going to be about how much fun I had at the launch.

Me with a Nokia N97 on display. David camwhoring with the same unit

Arrived way on time because Horng does not believe in being late for anything. I mean, we all know that events never start on time — 7.30 pm means 8.00 pm or for Chinese wedding dinners, 8.30 pm. But nooooo…

“You see Suan, that’s the problem. One person thinks it’s okay to be late. Translate that to 100 people!”
“But I’ve been to many events already, I know they won’t start on time one!”
“Doesn’t matter! 7.30 pm means 7.30 pm. Don’t care about other people, care about ourselves being on time!”
“I totally understand and I agree that we must be on time. But I’m just telling you that it never happens!”
“I know they won’t start on time one. But we still must be there on time!”
“YOU ARE SO NOT MALAYSIAN AT ALL!”

Me with Colin, Kellster, Kerol and Horng, Su Ann

Saw lots of familiar faces. Went up to say hi to @NikiCheong. Couldn’t see/ recognise a couple of people whom I knew were there. Got my face painted at one of the booths. OoOo free Wi-Fi so we could tweet. Had fun with the couple of screens showing Twitter updates tagged with #n97kl. Gravity owns you.

Twitter updates at the #n97kl launch!

Bambos Kaisharis, Nokia Malaysia & Singapore’s Head of Marketing let us play with his Nokia N97. Considered running off with his phone but common sense prevailed. Wah.. camera pretty awesome. Hmmm.. touch screen and QWERTY keyboard, not my forte. I switched back to using my Nokia N82 because as much as I love my Nokia 5800 (really brilliant speakers, longer battery life), I can’t stand touch screen any more. Typing speed was severely limited and I hated it every time I had to reply to a text message. My fingers are too fat for QWERTY on mobile phones. Then again, it’s a personal thing. I’m sure you can get more info on the Nokia N97 at the Nokia website.

Mell, KY, ShaolinTiger, Kimberlycun and Horng with Erna and Michael

There was a Guitar Hero contest, where KY, Mell, Kim and ST went on stage to display their prowess. Failed miserably, bwahahah! I’m sure they can tell you why they only got 11%.

Team Nokia

Thanks for having me

I forgot how, I forgot why but we were sitting at the dining table and talking about stories when I excitedly told Ryan, “When you grow up, you are going to read Enid Blyton’s books!”

Ryan: “Har, what is Enid Blyton?”
My mom: “No, he is not going to read Enid Blyton.”
Ryan: “No, I am not going to read Enid Blyton!”
Me: *aghast* “Huh why??”
My mom: “Haiyah, their generation where got read Enid Blyton one!”
Ryan: “I DON’T WANT ENID BLYTON AH YI I DON’T WANT!”
Me: “You are just parroting your grandmother. You don’t know what you want yet.”
Ryan: “NO! I TELL YOU I DON’T WANT!”
Me: “Then what will they read?”
My mom: “Harry Potter lor…”
Me: “What?!?! That piece of shit compared to Enid Blyton?!?!? NO I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!”
Ryan: “I DON’T WANT ENID BLYTON!!!!”

As you can probably see, my frustration was not with the respective authors but with my mom’s uncanny ability to effortlessly tweak Ryan’s needs and wants to her heart’s desire. I guess I should have gotten used to it, seeing how Ryan worships his grandmother since the day he was born. But it irritated me because this whole ‘exploring new things’ is best introduced at his age. As my close friends know, I tend to shut and slag off things and places I’ve never tried. But I’m 28 years old, I’m allowed to be jaded and cynical. Ryan’s only 4, there are plenty of years ahead for him to do that.

Enid Blyton’s works was a huge part of my childhood. I don’t remember how I got into it, probably I borrowed it from the school library or something. I think a few of my friends had certain titles as well and I devoured them like Starbucks iced latte. Oh I can’t begin to explain what and how I felt for those magical stories! They were most likely the reason why I love reading and day-dreaming. I wanted to be part of the Famous Five and the Secret Seven. I wished I had a wishing chair or that I lived in a caravan traveling with a circus. I imagined things I’d say to Mr. Pink-Whistle, Mr. Twiddle and Mr. Meddle. I wanted to smack Amelia Jane for being so mean and earnestly promised myself that I’d never be as cruel. I was pretty much in a world of my own, still am actually.

I glared at my mother with a ‘hmmphhh!’ and turned to Ryan.

“I am going to tell you the story of the Magic Faraway Tree.”
“Har what is the Magic Faraway Tree? Is it scary?”
“No it is not scary. It is a story by Enid Blyton and it is so magical and amazing and I promise you that you will love it!”

And so I began. It was only a summary of the story, for it has been well over 14 years since I read it. As I predicted, the boy was hooked.

“I want Enid Blyton.”

Yay.

This past week whenever I offered to tell him a story, he would ask for the Magic Faraway Tree. I told him that I would get him the book so we could read it together. Last night at Tropicana City Mall before watching Transformers 2, I dropped by Borders to purchase the Faraway Tree series. It is a hard cover compilation of 3 books, costs RM39.90 and has the same illustrations as the books I read so many years ago. It will be my present for the boy’s upcoming birthday in early August, and in it I shall write,

“To Ryan, Happy 4th Birthday and may you have many great adventures to come. Love, Ah Yi.”

Of course I am going to read it first.