By The Power Vested In Thee..

In the space of a little more than a week, I have managed to get Anwar to:

- lose the floppy jacket
- not ever wear the tinted glasses again
- not ever wear the leather jacket again, quelle horreur
- not smoke around me (he did this entirely on his own, actually)
- actually go for Friday prayers
- get his shirt off (okay, he needed to take a shower, but still)
- perform miscellanous acts of boyfriend-ly deeds, without actually being a boyfriend; including calling me various terms of endearment, holding my hand, making plans to take me to dinner (Chilli's, no less) and many more

I am duly impressed by thyself. And yes, Li, smokers do smell gorgeous.


"Ich heisse super fantastiche, Ich Trinke champers mit lachsfisch!" - Franz Ferdinand, 'Darts Of Pleasure'

Kindred

Hafeez has equalled the previous list and impressed me so much that I'm pasting his list from the comments box here:

Sigur Ros - ( )
Because everyone needs to be alone and cry sometimes.

Magnet - On Your Side
Because this one should beat your Kings of Convenience and Turin Brakes for his immensely beautiful music.

BRMC - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Because the noise they make are nothing like My Bloody Valentine.

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace
Because they make Radiohead sounds suspiciously fake.

Blur - Think Tank
Because this one is somewhere near Kid A but more accessible.

Beck - Sea Change
Because the music this time is fucking honest to the bone.

Tori Amos - Strange Little Girls
Because she puts the SHAME on every other male artists out there.

Pink Floyd - Echoes
Because I love the band.



We are so going to Music Magic together, my friend. To the others, feel free to impress me further ;)

Because I'm Bored

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Because I should be shot dead if I don't buy it soon.

Howie Day - Stop All The World Now
Because I love the raw emotion that comes off this man.

Turin Brakes - Ether Song
Because I should actually buy an album to repent my copying The Optimist, which was a heinous act and I have since been sober.

OST 8 Femmes
Because it's wicked, unshaved fun.

Starsailor - Silence Is Easy
Because these blokes are brilliantly bleak and gorgeous.

...Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes
Because everyone needs a good dose of noise.

Anthony Stewart Head - Music For Elevators
Because I've heard him sing, enough said.

Black Keys - Thickfreakness
Because they're classic without trying.

Remy Zero - Villa Elaine
Because I need my American rock.

The Streets - A Grand Don't Come For Free
Because Mathers has nothing on Skinner.

Death Cab For Cutie
Because we all secretly love emo.

Kings Of Convenience - Riot On An Empty Street
Because quiet really is loud.

Asian Dub Foundation
Because it's about time I get something by them.

The Doors - The Doors
Because Morrison was cool. And still is.

Ramones - Ramones
Because this list needs some punk.


Now all I need is at least RM600 and I'm good to go. Any donors? Anyone?

Just So You Know

Well, I've caught my breath, and I have a couple of things to tell. (Both have nothing to do with the previous entry, but I'm still in no state to relate about it. Yet.)

Number 1: Download Mozilla Firefox now and do your poor PC a favor. It's pretty, it's fast, it works. Only 14+ MBs of space needed, bookmarks and such can imported in a jiff.

Number 2: Free Love has a gig at Kit Kat Club, 5th September. More details when I know of them. And damn you Farhan for not being able to come back!!!

"You Said Don't Hesitate, Right?"

I had this grand plan of composing a piece of prose to sum up what happened today, full of literati lines and fancy turns of phrases, but the truth is, I can't sum up today. It was a day I've never experienced before. I think I felt every single emotion known to man within the space of eight hours. From confusion to ecstasy to disgust to contentment. Everything. My hands are literally shaking because I'm feeling too many emotions at one go. I want to skip, I want to cry, I want to just close my eyes and digest the day that I had today but my stomach is in incredibly huge and complicated knots and my head is spinning and unfocused. Unexplainable. Unbelievable. Undeniable.

This is so overwhelming I need to stop functioning, so this crazy rush can settle and finally allow me to pick up the shards and piece them together so I can figure today out.

One day I'll tell you about today. Right now I need to breath.

Cool.

What Planet Are You From?


this quiz was made by The Autist Formerly Known As Tim

Brahma: Heaven, Earth & Hell

Doing the Kama Sutra with Dato' Yap as his sexy-tary is majorly fun. And snogging a smoker isn't too bad either. I have a feeling many visits to the AmCorp cinema will ensue.


*Why the short entries recently? Blame the distractions. The voice on this man..

Yeah, And That Too

The date was successful! It had just the right proportions of awkwardness and comfort amounts for a first date, complete with embarrassing bimbo moments (malu!) and plans for future dates. Drilling began today as well, with us asking each other miscellanous questions about past conquests (haha) a la Truth or Truth. The date ended with a hug, not before I held his hand for a brief five seconds (the surprise and disappointment was hilarious) and we are hanging out, again, tomorrow. Schedules were compared and even though we were mostly free at the same times, we decided that after tomorrow we should space out the outings so we don't get so sick of each other so soon. Highly possible.

But hot damn, this is fun.

And The Madness Begins!

Earwax: Black Lab - Your Body Above Me (this is a surprisingly excellent album; PJ Harvey actually laid a track with them)

Anwar (yes, that's his name, I'm finally saying it since he's no longer just 'the potential) and I are going out for brunch tomorrow! He is very well aware of the fact that it is a date and is very willing indeed to wait with me while I get my car washed in exchange for me dropping him off at work. He is also well aware of the fact that I think he's cute (that's another story) and that five gay men are more interesting than I (damn the Queers). He's getting up early just so we can hang out for a considerable amount of time instead of just a quick hi-bye, and this is a guy who used to fall asleep after subuh.

I can't stop grinning. And my room's too tiny to skip around in. But who the fuck cares, because I've got a date tomorrow!

Lalala. (Screw you, Li :P) And yeah, thanks to everyone who crossed their fingers for me (Pa'an!)

Out With Cheese

Earwax: A Mantle The Sea's Catch-22 (Good job, boys)

I had a great day out with Low today. The main reason was for my case studies, but it ended up as a cool hangout session. We met up at Jaya, then dropped Adlina off before we headed to Music Exchange. Took lotsa photos (will put em up ASAP), and of course snapped one of Osama (there were these alligator snapper things too, forgot to take a photo of those). Got Black Lab for RM18, although I also really really wanted a rare poster of DMB (Nizman: Sorry, I won't sell my posters; Me: Damn you!). Did not plan on buying anything at all, but found it by a complete fluke and decided to splurge.

Me: (At the counter) Qiaoxin!
Qiaoxin: You remembered my name! No one remembers my name!
Me: I want this CD. (I show him the Black Lab cover)
Qiaoxin: Okay, okay, I'll look for it.
Me: RM20 okay? (The CD's marked at RM22)
Qiaoxin: I'll give it to you for RM18.
Me: Yay! Thank you.
Qiaoxin: (Giggles)

That's right, folks. He giggled. And right at that moment I realized that I'm on play-flirting terms with the men who run the coolest music stores in KL; Andrew from Music Magic (Still asking me out for dinner. Points for persistence) and apparently giggling Qiaoxin. Low pointed out that I could really use this to my advantage and advised me to just go out with them occasionally, at which I mock-puked. Not that they're gross (well, Andrew maybe) but nah, no way. So we went to the MPH in Bangsar, Low filled in another checklist (thanks Christopher!!), and I managed to twist Low's arm to go with me to Bangsar Village to see the potential. So he readily agrees (without acting like a gay man, unfortunately), only to discover that the potential can't get out of work because it was just him and his manager running the show. Low and I then decide to get some dinner in Laksa Shack downstairs for Laksa Sarawak (and the makan-makan tour begins!) which he loved so much, he lifted up the bowl and started slurping, hilariously enough. He then decides to get himself lost so I could drop by the potential's store again. I ask him whether there's anything in my teeth then head upstairs. (The Macs in the store are constantly playing John Mayer. Sign?)

Potential: So where's Low?
Me: Oh, he's a little lost.. looking for the toilet.
Potential: He doesn't know where the toilet is? There's one back there. (points)
Me: Well.. he got lost on purpose.. told me to come up here and talk with you.
Potential: Oh. Okay. (Grins)

(Small talk ensues.)

Me: We should hang out.
Potential: Yeah.. well I get off work tomorrow at 7.
Me: That sounds good actually.. my parents are off to Johor tomorrow.
Potential: Really? (Hope springs eternal.. I wish)
Me: Balik hari, though. I'll try to get out of the house.
Potential: You're not gonna sneak out of the house, are you? Jump out the window or something? Doesn't it have a grill over it?
Me: Actually, my window is a fire escape. I can just turn a key and literally jump out.
Potential: (Laughs) Cool.
Me: Haven't done it before though. Unless you give me a reason to..
Potential: (Gives me a surprisingly cute half-smirk)
Me: (Tries not to notice aforementioned cute smirk)

(Some people enter the store)

Me: Well, I should leave you alone now.
Potential: ..My manager's got it under control.
Me: No, I should go. Give me a call. We'll hang out soon.
Potential: Sure, yeah.
Me: Bye A___r.
Potential: I'll see you.

And I skip out of the store (not literally, of course) and the minute I see Low I grab his arm in a hug, thanking him the entire time for being such a great sport. He then reminds me that if he ever needed someone to help him out when he's trying to get with a girl, he'll give me a buzz. I gleefully agree, reminding him in turn that I owe him nasi kandar too.

A good day, all in all, and after proclaiming my love for Low and adopting him as my brother (drag queens, BSB, GI Jane and air guitars can't keep us apart) he drops me off at Section 14. Along with my being impressed with the brilliance that is Vanessa and the apparent good things happening with the potential, I think these days are turning out to be a lovely moment in time.

Finally.


p/s - Does anyone know how much a full-page ad in NST cost? I want to order one that says 'VANESSA IS BRILLIANT' in big huge capital letters. Props to her for being the lovely friend that she is. Must find way to return favor. Any hot, tall, chocolate-colored men out there want to date a hot, tall chocolate-colored woman? Drop a comment, I'll get you in touch with her :P

Things I Discovered Today

- The potential is either seriously blur, playing hard to get, or simply disinterested. I cannot read him at all. The 'maybe' part of 'potential' is starting to rear its evil face at me.

- A little blogging is a dangerous thing. Especially ones that you weren't meant to read.

- I can finally eat after two days of not being able to. Must have been anxiety, after all.

- Apparently I ate Farhan's ego. And no, the forementioned eating was a Japanese buffet, I don't think his ego could have made me this full.


There. Short list, this.

The Missing Sock

I cannot believe that the first SMS I sent to the potential was to ask whether or not he thought the principal in Buffy was evil. And even more so, I cannot believe that the first phone call I get from him is to tell me that he wouldn't know because he's still at work.

On the plus side, I cannot believe how lovely his phone voice is.

I cannot believe myself.

Fields Of Daisies And Padlocked Chastity Belts

I have been awakened by good news! The potential a) thinks I'm cute, b) wants to ask me out, c) has only made out once in his entire romantic life, and all in all, d) is looking very berpotential. We are hanging out on Friday while Vanessa and his friend go off to the gym, so we can trade one-liners and sitcom quotes over teh o ais and cigarettes. Although, I must say, that I sincerely hope that that will not be the extent of our conversations. Added to the fact that I may not have to snog EG anymore now, things are looking way, way up.

(Oh, and if you're wondering about the relevance of the title, drop a comment. Ah, bliss..)

D'oh!

I've just read over yesterday's entry and I misspelled 'Bangsar'. I am going positively delirious. Going to go to sleep now and hopefully be woken up by good news. If it's bad, I might snog EG. I need some form of illegal substances to calm down or I might Duracell-bunny my emotions right out the window. Later.

Annoying Raging Estrogens

Cannot... control... self. No matter what Vanessa says, I cannot stop. I'm heading to Bansar tomorrow to seize control of my uncontrollable hormones. Implosion is probable if I do not. Cross your fingers..

Untitled

Today I said goodbye to one of the most amazing friends I've ever had the privilege of being in the company of. Nurul Ai'yn boarded a plane towards USA today, and left behind a entire legion of loved ones in tears. I have never seen so many people show up to bid one farewell, and it just goes to show how brilliant this girl is. Every single person that showed up regarded her as one of their best friends. Her family was sobbing. From her grandmother to her brother, every one didn't want her to leave. Even I, who thought I could control my crying, fell apart when I saw one of the guys tear up. Zaza was a mess. Dalia was a mess. Farahana was a mess. And I even overheard Hashley calling an ex boyfriend of Nurul's, demanding him to, at the very least, call and apologise to her before she left the country. An army of dear ones parted, albeit temporarily, with a girl so beautiful, she almost literally took the sun away today when she left. Four long years until she returns home.

I love you Nurul. I'll see you soon.

I Have Options Now

Earwax: Muddy Waters - Chicago Blues (RM10 at Music Exchange! Scratchy, but good)

Okay, I technically have one option because the other's a little wierd for my liking, but for the sake of not sounding pathetic, I'll say I have options. What am I talking about? Heh. Figure it out.

Lalala.

Full Circle-ing

Earwax: Free Love's Indie Rock Darling

They have a site! Plus a gig and an EP next month. Yummm...

Finally went to a Rotaract meeting earlier today (thank you Clara) and it was gloriously full-circle-turning. Minus the part where I had to charade Scooby-Doo (someone tell me how to mime that), it was kinda fun. Clara and I were the youngest ones there, some of these people are married with kids! But they're all really nice people, so it's all cool.

I realized that I'm in a nicely balanced state right now. School (requisite), music (everybody needs a creative outlet), taekwondo (for my huge ass) and now Rotaract (for personal fulfilment purposes). Got my professional goals on track, plus I've got the Star Student award for last term.

(Sighs contentedly) Good times, these.

A Day Needing Preserving

It's been one of those days again, when you could keep it in a bottle, let it sit on a shelf for it to age, so you can one day open it and have all those wonderful memories spill out and wash all over you. I'm just gonna ramble to fill the bottle now because too many thought are going on in my head, I can't structure them at all.

(deep breath)

Today is Melissa's birthday, so Elaine and I brought her to TGIF, which I paid for (unbelievable, but yes, considering I'm a cheapskate and I didn't get Elaine anything for her birthday last week either). It was great, and we relished watching Elaine almost puke from so much food and Melissa making a speech with a pepper grinder microphone for free cake. We then traipsed to AmCorp Mall to get a Livin' Large expansion for Elaine and some silly reading for Melissa (plus two new books for me! The Great Gatsby and The Oedipus Cycle, yay!). After that we headed to Taylor's to enquire about ADP for Elaine, dropped Melissa off at home then hung out at Elaine's playing Singles until seven (insanely fun game!). Scooted off to training, then for half an hour afterwards (at least), stood around and chatted with Low about borrowing his camera and him joining my 'focus group', then were joined by Raffique and Ching Yee, then by Bo-bonnie (or Philbright, whichever name makes you secretly snicker less). We talked about almost everything from being Raffique's groupies for free entry into Zouk for his gig (actually, just for the free entry), other bands like Zero7 (Explosions In The Sky, for example), Bonnie's meager sale of his Prelude (RM 43,000? Sniff), Low's denial of Yin (yes, you do know what we're talking about) and just so much more that 5 people who couldn't possibly be any more different could talk about in half an hour. I don't know whether to be disappointed or relieved that Donovan didn't join us, though. I then head home to a lovely shower, my now-in-brief-possession Franz Ferdinand CD, Six Degrees Havana (Toby Amies completely understands the attraction of escaping into South America and never returning) and nasi beriyani.

(pauses to read over above passage)

I'm stuffing a cork in it. Good night indeed.

The Celebrity Exes

1997 Jonathan Jackson (now gay)
1998-2000 Clint Moffatt (now obscure)
1998 Jonathan Taylor Thomas (now missing)
1999 Keanu Reeves (still dumb)
2001-2002 John Mayer (still precious), Takuya Kimura (now married)
2002 Kaka (pretty boy), Milo Ventimiglia (still gorgeous), Kelly Jones (still short)
2003 Adam Brody (now phenomenal), Jessica Alba (pretty babe)
2004 Zach Hanson (now hot), Ben O'Donoghue (still mine), Diego Luna (still sexy)


Ah, the power of imagination.

Epiphany Number Two

Earwax: Switchfoot's 'You'

I find peace when I'm confused
I find hope when I'm let down
It's all I know

A comfort zone is not necessarily where one feels happiest. I remember reading somewhere about this person asking one of her girlfriends about her comfort zone, and she said that it was her depression. She said that it was the place she felt most familiar, and that she felt strange and unsettled when happy. A few years back, Melissa once said that happiness is overrated. And I agree. I'm not depressed, I love myself way too much. But I've realized that I'm most comfortable when the sinusoidal curve of my mood is below zero. It's not that I can never be happy. I laugh with friends and enjoy splashing in the waves as much as the next person, but it feels.. uncomfortable. Like I'm out of my element. I feel the safest, most secure, when I'm unsure. When everything's a mess and the bits in my life are sparsely dotted in the negative zone. I relish the bittersweet bits in books, and the openly gut-wrenching songs, feeling that in melancholy, there is magic. I do believe that everyone deserves happiness, but I don't think that being sad is such a bad thing. After all, if life was a constant fruit bowl, your head would smash if worms decided to crawl out. I think that there is glorious wonder in feeling a little blue. Either that, or I'm just setting everything up to die anyway, so I won't be disappointed. Who knows?

I'm off to listen to a little Grandaddy now. Later.



p/s - I stole the melancholy to magic line from Couple. Gorgeous, innit?

Epiphany Number One

Earwax: Various Medeski Martin and Wood albums.

I relized something at about 1 am this morning, aside from me having bad speling. All jokes aside. I've discovered, that the type of music you listen to governs the wavelengths of your thoughts and also, in my case, dictates even the friendships (and all relationships) that I have. You and I know those people, the ones who when you ask 'What kind of music do you like?' and they go 'Oh anything la.' Like they didn't even put any thought into it. They jive to what's on the radio, the top 40-ness of mindless pop-hop saturation and decide that that's good enough. Or even worse, the ones who don't listen to music at all thinking it's noise, or a waste of time and money to go out and get a CD. These are the people who grow up to be the kind who their biggest dream in life is to earn a whole shitload of money and not really care how they do it. Not in the criminal sense, I mean, but I'll get to the point of this later. And then there are people who answer 'Oh anything really. Mostly rock, like Muse and Radiohead. Don't really like too much hip hop.' Or 'Jay-Z is cool, but I can't stand Beyonce.' For now, I'll comment that the fact that you made a choice, even though I don't agree with it, shows that you care enough to make a concious choice. But delve a little further in. The hip-hop fans? They wave their bling-bling and flaunt around in baggy pants thinking that having a phat pad is da ish. The rock fans? They wave cigarette butts and slouch around in faded tees thinking that having a guitar is way cool. The pop fans? They wave glossy posters and prance around in bubblegum colored outfits thinking that having the latest issue of Cosmo is like, fetch. Nothing's wrong with any picture. But notice how you almost never see a clique made up of all of the above. They may not notice it, and it's not as if that all they talk about is the music they like, indeed, they can go for entire conversations without, but the fact is, they can agree on the same music. It doesn't matter whether you both think that chemistry is cool or that you both can run two miles without breaking a sweat; if you can't decide which music to play on a road trip together, you're toast. And in relation to a point I wanted to clarify above, notice the lifestyles of these people. Notice how people who are pop fans are the ones who dutifully scrape their way through A-Levels so they can make it in Business School or Accountancy. Or the rock fans who half the time, are the people who delve into specific diploma programs, one half sticking it through because they love it even though it's Law and the other half that flit through different programs, not able to decide whether to take Photography or Hospitality School. The ones who say 'I listen to anything la' usually takes the easiest path to making that aforementioned shitload of money, not really caring about what profession they choose; the ones who complain about the yuppie life yet continue on because it's the easiest, relatively high paying lifestyle. They're the ones who wish that they chose to do what they really loved but think that it's too late because they're too scared to do it.

Specifically though, is how music holds my relationships with other people together. Let's look at my parents first. My dad loves Frank Sinatra, John Denver, Paul Anka and the Eagles. My mom? 'Anything really', but remember that her 'anything' is what was pop during the early 1960s, otherwise known as Light n Easy FM. I have nothing against oldies but there are good oldies and annoying ones, and I love Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka too. My mom thinks that CDs are a waste of money, that it's less of an intellectual pursuit than reading, not that she reads anyway. But who do I get along better with? No question. I've always been Daddy's girl. How about my friends? I was best friends with Eleanor from Form 1 to Form 5 and when she went to a different class in the last two years, I remember heading downstairs to see Maryam and Melissa a lot more than to meet Eleanor. And when school let out? It was as if that if we didn't have to meet each other every day anyway, we probably wouldn't have been fast friends in school. Eleanor did have a favorite type of music, but not one that I could agree with on the whole. Maryam, Melissa, Rashdan, my three best-est friends; we can talk for hours without mentioning music but Maryam and I both love Incubus, Melissa and I John Mayer, Rashdan and I, well, Rashdan. So you see? It had so much of an effect even though I didn't even realize it. My friendships with Liyana, Aidil, Andrew, Keith, Clara, so many other people, they wouldn't have existed in the first place if we didn't gab about music from the beginning. I must say at this point that elitist music critics who can't bear anything commercial are as daft as the 'anything la' people too, because think about it, no sane person can admit to not bopping to a single crap pop tune. (Point in case, the Blue and Boyzone tapes in my mountain of recordings)

So in conclusion, it does matter what music you listen to. More than you think. It's not a matter of being shallow or picky. Music is a force than you can't push aside, and if you do, you risk not having a life at all. And the choices that you make while in the aisles of a record store are quietly deciding the choice of people you bring along with you in your life. So think about that the next time you turn on the radio.

The Overwhelming Sadness Of Breaking Up

Earwax: The Hives' 'Walk Idiot Walk'

Ever heard that tiny little shred at the back of your brain stubbornly telling you that you've possibly given up on the love of your life? Annoyingly annoying. I want to move on, and I have, but it's as if there's this invisible leash that's holding back a part of me, not allowing me to go forward whole and intact. I guess this is the perils of letting go. I keep telling myself all the reasons why I needed to do it, but it still won't shut up. But I suppose it will in time. It'd better. Because I can't go back to being in empty placebos of relationships that are doomed right from the beginning, staying just for staying's sake. He deserves better, and frankly, so do I.

"We were meant to live for so much more, but we lost ourselves." - Switchfoot

Everything Changes. Everything Stays The Same.

- Loaned brand new CD to Mr Feisol, then to Low, without skipping a beat, literally.


- Major experimental phase in kitchen. From banging pots to chopping carrots, Cuisine a la Alia is born. And rest assured that carrots is not all that I can cook.


- Mom won't let me drive at night, even back from birthday dinner.


- I am back at taekwondo permanently and loving it, though it hurts like hell.


- RM 500 needs to be saved up so I can pay Leonard to kick my ass or kill me, either way works.


- Jazz piano is freakishly hard, but worth it.


- Gone from Surfer Chef to Latino heartthrob in a sautee and two shakes of me bon-bons.


- Currently am on a lookout for a rebound skank for a good roll in scratchy hay.


- Faruq is separated from Faezah, which goes to prove even further how strangely incredibly alike we are. A bond that stretches miles and we react to the same things the exact same way.


- EG wants to lick my ass.


- Am on a personal mission to become an under-acclaimed musician. There is much in that lifestyle that still entrances me, even after almost ten years of dreaming.


- Schoolwork is being neglected and a rush job is underway for Friday's presentation.


- The house is in an incredible mess because I haven't cleaned it and no one else will.


- The house stinks because I'm tired of cleaning the cat's crap and no one else will.


- Wai Luen thinks I have recorded a pornographic home video.


- Donovan is bad at receiving compliments, especially ones noting his sexy points.



I've never experienced life so exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. This is an incredible moment. Epiphanies abound. Stay tuned.

Gritty Glitter

Earwax: Zero 7 - Simple Things

My God. I have never seen so much beauty possessed by one man.

This Is A Requisite

Celebrating new-found single status with a gorgeous link to Diego Luna. Couldn't help it. Skip around to the Photo Shoot section. Perfectly acceptable freezes indeed.

Survey!

Thank you Li

1. Your favorite song with the name of a city in the title/text.
That 'Dari somewhere Hingga Jakarta' song by Sheila Majid.

2. A song you've listened to repeatedly when you were depressed at some point.
'Jed The Humanoid' - Grandaddy. Actually, the entire Sophtware Slump album.

3. Ever bought an entire album just for one song and disliked everything but that song?
The opposite has happened: bought Hybrid Theory for Crawling and ended up loving every song but Crawling.

4. A song whose lyrics you thought you knew in the past, but you later learned were incorrect.
'Penny & Me' - Hanson, but I think no one still knows what they're actually saying.

5. Your least favorite song on one of your favorite albums of all time.
'Warning' - Incubus, from Morning View. Waste of perfectly good disc space.

6. A song you like by someone you find physically unattractive/repellent.
Love this question. 'Easy Tonight' - Five For Fighting

7. Your favorite song that has expletives in it but not by Liz Phair.
Anything by The Streets, and several Eamon songs.

8. A song that sounds as if it's by someone British but isn't.
Hrm. The opposite, again. The intro to Coldplay's 'See You Soon' is pretty American, until Chris's warble comes on.

9. A song you like (possibly from your past) that took you forever to finally locate a copy of.
'No Such Thing' - John Mayer. I remember staying up late for almost two months waiting for it to come on TV because the album wasn't out here yet.

10. A song that reminds you of spring but doesn't mention spring at all.
Our house, is a very very very fine house.. with two cats in the yard.. life used to be so hard... now everything is easy cos of you..

11. A song that sounds to you like being happy feels.
'Bubble Toes' - Jack Johnson

12. Your favorite song from a non-soundtrack compilation album.
Q's Best of 2003 Compilation... I think it was The Polyphonic Spree.

13. A song from your past that would be considered politically incorrect now (and possibly was then).
'Sleep Now In The Fire' - Rage Against The Machine. An obvious choice.

14. A song sung by an overweight person.
Heh. Any Jimmy Eat World tune.

15. A song you actually like by an artist you otherwise hate.
'Get Ur Freak On' - Missy Elliot. I mean, what the heck does 'I'm Really Hot' supposed to convey? Because she ain't.

16. A song by a band (whose members actually play instruments) that features at least 3 female members.
Ooh, ooh, the Kitty Kat song by Intoxicated, where the cat gets splattered all over SS3. Hilariousness.

17. One of the earliest songs that you can remember listening to.
'Don't Cry For Me Argentina'. Can't remember who the original singer is at the moment.

18. A song you've been mocked by friends for liking.
Anything by Hanson. I stand by them!!

19. A really good cover version you think no one else has heard.
The whole world probably has, actually, but it has gotta be 'Baby One More Time' - Travis

20. A song that cheered you up/ empowered you somehow after a breakup/tough situation.
I can only think of songs that would depress me further. But cruelly enough, 'Fuck what I said/It don't mean shit now' comes to mind. Eep..

21. A non-English song, preferably a foreign-language version of an English hit.
'Terbang' - Gigi. By far.

22. A song you find incredibly sexy.
'Colorblind' - Counting Crows

Dirty Dancing: Sungai Buloh Nights

You have to have chemistry, but that doesn't man you can have nothing in common. You can have everything common and not have chemistry at all. But sometime during watching Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, of all things, I realized what I need in a man. I need a man who has great passion for something that I too love. He doesn't need to be rock star. He doesn't need to be a celebrity chef. Or a Latin dancer, for that matter, even though those would be incredible pluses. But what he needs to know the difference between Miles and Coltrane. The ability to cook a decent meal and know what ingredients go together. To feel the beat and look sexy while at it, not hilarious. And most of all, I want him to love every minute of it. There is a quote I read a while back, and I forget who said it, but it pretty much sums up what I'm trying to say. although it's probably not what the quotee meant: 'Love consists not of gazing into each other eyes, but looking out in the same direction.' Because sometimes, baby, love just really ain't enough. And that, is something that is beyond frustrating, because you really do love each other, you want to build a life with each other, but you don't love the same things. It shouldn't matter, but it does more than you can imagine. I don't know how to explain it well enough for you to understand. Perhaps I never will. But I do know that if I can never feel even the slightest twinge of excitement over what he loves, and vice versa, I know I could never sacrifice enough to make it work, to love him as he deserves. I'm selfish, I know. But I don't think it's too much to ask for a passionate man, passionate about the same things that I am.

(Pauses to collect thoughts)

I have said all I can, and this is where I rest my case.