random and impulsive

Upon receiving an email from a (former) student about the hazards of eating (canned) sardines, I suddenly took up an interest in canned fish. Researchwise, I mean. Apparently there are credible findings relating canned fish to various misfortunes to humankind (credible to me at least, and the panellists for some scientific journals as it turned out). Although this research will very well be UNrelated to my master's, I sense some fun in it. Some.. purpose. Random researches/interests are way cool. Human beings should be like that I think; random and impulsive. Although my zodiac sign is taurus -the supposed boring, unimpulsive one- if anyone believed in those astrological stuffs.

The asasians have come! Yesterday some 500+ asasi students registered at the 12th college. As it so happened, yesterday was also the start of my weeklong fellows-on-duty stint. Aiyoh! Lotsa problems; kunci patah pun ada!! Slept at 3.00 a.m last night. Thank God for Epul, the keymaker (cool gila kan? 'Epul the keymaker'). Mamat ni memang baik gila!

Construction near the Bulatan Universiti is almost complete. I can't escape the uncomfortable feeling of using a jalan besar; I so dislike these kind of roads. They're, like, not tolerant towards motorcyclists with perangai kampung (not unlike myself). Oh well. No more random, impulsive driving here (menyongsang dan U-turn sesuka hati tidak dibenarkan!!).

And Manchester United is not coming. I hate the business part of things; the making money part. I love Manchester United's brand of football. But I so hate it when they (or anyone else, for that matter) do things/make statements which say; "it's only business. We're doing it for the money." It seems money is everything nowadays. And people just got better and better in naming them other things; love, passion, empathy, family values, quality time...

May is a good month to fall in love

On my birthday I made pasta arabiatta (with chicken, as I thought the sauce was a bit bland) and pizza. For whatever reasons, the pizza dough seemed a bit uncooked (there's a slightly 'damp' feel to it). Still, three pizzas of mine were all gobbled up. Umi ate lots despite being diabetic. I went easy on salt and anything sugary for the pasta sauce as she also has a mild high blood, but I overdid the parmesan and so that defeated my purpose :p ..upon my return to KL I discovered that my pizza dough actually lacked one important ingredient: time (I managed to prepare another dough before I departed for KL -this particular dough was left alone for much longer- and Helmee said that that one turned OK; sedap). Italian food are way cool. Especially when you know how to make them ;p

I am looking for funds to go to Portugal. That my paper got accepted was a bit hard to believe. I basically wrote it part-time! (a large part of the paper I wrote while I was in Langkawi, as Yat would testify). But that is in the past now. If I don't come up with the funds I won't be able to go. Jasim suggested I asked for zakat money, which is not a bad idea at all (my original idea was to ask for a working holiday visa and work part time in Portugal until I get enough money to return to Malaysia! Haha). Helping out Dr Rozi the other day, she said I'm good at writing and presentation so hopefully I get to go to Portugal and have a blast there presenting my paper! Writing scientific articles can be cool sometimes, especially when you get to go places ;)

I got called up for the cricket team again. This year I managed to get three Bangladeshis and two Pakistanis into the team. I reckon this year's team is a pretty good one, for the fact that I worked much harder this year and still not know whether or not I'll be in the first team (last year, after not touching a cricket ball for roughly nine years and then going for training for less than a week, I still managed to get in the first team). Amongst the sports teams, this team might be the best in terms of academic achievements as we boast six post-grad and two medic students! So far I've learnt the off-spin, the leg-spin and the googley. Not bad for a first-time spinner. Our unofficial coach actually said I've a good spin. I'm still very much inconsistent though so I guess I won't be one of the regular bowlers. Except if spinners are badly needed, in which case our team have only two! But it's great to be playing and learning. I'm really enjoying myself.

I got called up to teach yet again at the PERKIM foster homes. Previously I taught science and maths there. This time around I'll be teaching English (which I never thought I'd enjoy teaching but surprisingly did!). Pian is taller now, and Effa is a bit thinner I think. Aisyah talks more nowadays, I'm so happy for her. Zico is his usual rowdy self, and admittedly the others are basically their old self. I also get to teach the younger students; standard six up to form two. These are remarkable people, these younger students. They're previously from the foster homes in TTDI before they moved to Damansara Utama. I guess they have a slightly different discipline regime there in TTDI as I think that these kids are much more polite and shy then their elder brothers and sisters. I'm having the time of my life, although I am, admittedly, usually a bit tired by the time I get to the foster homes on class nights after a long day in UM. But I guess teaching have a way of perking me up or whatever; after classes i usually feel much more umm..well, perked up :p Maybe everyone should try teaching every once in a while.

devil may care

Reading soccernet, I realized I was actually calmer than Fergie (and most probably lots of other Red Devils) when watching the Arsenal-Chelsea supposed title decider. I've always maintained that I'm a football fan first, Man United fan second. And last night I felt a bit guilty for actually not minding if Chelsea won. I mean, how great a significance can the next game at Stamford Bridge be had Chelsea did that (win against Arsenal)? Yes, it will undoubtedly break my heart if we did not win the title this season after working so hard and doing so well for such a long time, but hey, we're talking about Manchester United here, the team that actually enjoys doing it the hard way. That's what makes the Devils so exciting anyway; all the adrenaline rush and whatnot. For beautiful football, see Arsenal. For clinical, efficient -albeit boring, boring- football, see Chelsea. For both, see the Devils play. Not the best at either people would argue, but suits me mighty fine.

Oh and come onnnn!! Man United will win against Chelsea anyhow!!

Anyway, good news! I was accepted to teach at the PERKIM foster home again. Way cool! I thought I did a lousy job last time they didn't want me anymore. Apparently, they were short on funds and were waiting for sponsors. So here's a short commercial; for those with extra money, you can give some to these people and make their lives better. For example, if you hate me and think I'm a lousy teacher, you can give funds for the kelas bimbingan and insist on them not calling me to teach. Just the best for the kids, OK? :p

Today's been a busy, busy day. My spine hurts for sitting in front of the computer for so long. Like, for real. And I believe this is just a start of a very busy week for me. Well, lots of luck then!! :)

words just confuse me sometimes

Manchester City manager, Stuart Pearce had this to say, claiming that there is nothing malicious about the decision to not move the game against Manchester United; "On that occasion (Manchester City v Everton, last season, where the game was moved a day later), we received letter after letter, from both our fans and Everton's, with respect to travelling plans that had been made on the basis of the game being played a day earlier." (source: Soccernet)

OK let me ask this; if this problem of receiving so much complaint letters is a very serious one, why don't Mr Pearce provide all of us curious people the number of complaint letters Manchester City received last year..? I mean, 'letter after letter' sounded very vague.

And by any chance, what travel plans do fans of two Manchester clubs make to watch a game in Manchester, I wonder..?