ugly. period

the last time i blogged was about a movie. a movie dat i liked. although i've been quiet these past few weeks online, i was leading a hectic life. say hectic, say work. i succumb my sin, my pride, my body and soul to work. pessimists quote that what a low-life i lead. others, say i'm heading somewhere. i prefer the latter of course.

my question this evening is, WHAT SHOULD I BLOG ABOUT?
should i blog about these below?

relationships? ... people do break up and make up.
politics? ... bunch of dato' seris fighting over the bigger half of the star front page.
sex? ... not getting any.
parties? ... i miss them.
fuel price reduction? ... alhamdulillah.
bukit antarabangsa landslide? ... expected yet surprised.
movies? ... australia was quite refreshing.
losing your car in pavillion for a good half an hour before the premier of australia? ... tak cool doe.
naga's x'mas party? ... ho ho ho, it was hot. sasha came. so it was hotter.
parental guidance? ... not a parent.
work? ... all 4 accounts are suddenly alive. not funny my friend.
my work? ... uber-hectic. thanks to ddb s'pore and sydney. thanks. and the same goes to the other 3 accounts.
your work? ... what do you do?

here i am .. still in the office half past 11. pm that is. hungry, tired, restless, and feeling like the ugliest person to walk earth. next to macy gray for sure.


peace,
A.

do you want to know how i got this scar?

batman: the dark knight met my expectations.

it was simply superb. stellar performances. unexpected twist in storyline. over the top gadgets. the bike. well-written scripts. the chase. memorable and witty catch phrases, one as titled above.

it was a tiring yet pleasant 2 1/2 hours experience in GSC.

ps: ledger, u rocked the house. u played the part. u lived Joker. may u rest in peace. we will remember that smile of yours, and how u got them.

one for the road

Wai Yee & I at Kam Fatt's farewell party @ Kianti

if one asks me, why did i ever pursue advertising as a career .. the answer would simply be passion. passion to generate ideas. ideas for campaigns. any campaign. ideas that lead to successful campaigns. talkable campaigns. memorable campaigns. bankable campaigns. award-worthy campaigns. cost-effective campaigns. bread & butter campaigns.

if one asks me, why do i ever stay in naga ddb .. the answer would be the people. 5 brand accounts, 4 pitches and 16 months later, i am still here.

if one asks me, who restored my faith back to advertising after all the problems cum drama and such .. the answer would be Lim Wai Yee. my former BUH. Rapp Collin's current GM. my boss. my friend. my supporter. my acting-mother.

my gratitude goes to her. thank u. thank u & thank u.

love,
A.

perfect

we were late. partially the fault was on me and the jam infront of Sri Aman school. S had already left with R (yes, yes they are dating and already talking 'bout babies) and i had to follow the brother and the gf instead. nice folks but too young for uncle A. in the interest of time, Hafiz had to drive like the wind -not the katrina, but mum's hairdryer ... vol.1

. . .

i was a fan to few of the local acts let alone lending my support - naming 7 collar tshirt and sheila majid in my list. little i knew, i would be doing few add-ons onto the barren list after last Saturday's Urbanscapes.

if there's one word to describe the fest, it would be perfect goes with an expression to match -just what the doctor ordered.

the hosting venue was perfect. where one could mistaken the luscious landscape as a courting yard back in the heydays. spacious, green garden playing grounds for the lovers, dotting coy individuals to voice sheer love vows slash pre-intercourse-lines to their significant other. who would've thought that sentul park could give one the melancholic feeling and even melancholic for the vulnerable souls. sentul park gave me the sydney mcquarry's chair feel. surreal, yet eagerly alive.

the performances were perfect. i was awed, impressed, over-the-top estatic to most performances i caught. kokokaina and yuna had me asking for more. Postcard From Italy was cleverly covered (extra points for the Lada Hitam Sarawak), Poppy got me to thinking that Winehouse and Holiday pulled a duet, Yuna's Dan Sebenarnya was a pleaser to the ears, and of course there's the last song by kokokaina, the much cliche number - strongly relatable and weirdly familiar.

the fest was like a reunion. i met those who once played significant roles in my life. my neighbour and then partner-in-crime Fanna, who now owns her own clothing lines (i'm proud of u pumbaa). Faliq, who is Faliq (what else can i say?). and of course, Azlan. yes, i said it. perfect.

and then there was 7 collar tshirt. no need for intro and without further ado - perfect.

a soft sigh of relief

all in all, i was all smiles. it was a perfect venue to collate everyone together. perfect music, perfect company, perfect atmosphere, perfect venue, varying clothing lines at the bazaar which is perfect and yeah, it was the perfect urbanscape getaway i was looking for. any getaway in the city is perfect when u have Advertising stamped onto ur forehead. even if it is Sentul.

. . .

we tuned to Jason Mraz's We Sing.We Dance.We Steal Things album driving on the way back. it was perfect.

awed still,

A.

a one liner that sparks thoughts

Jai guru de va om.

Praise the teacher. Respect those who gave u guidance. Respect the educators. Respect the people who instill inspirations without noticing. Respect those who taught the good and the bad. Respect the little things that broaden ur mind. Respect mediocrity. Respect urself.

Jai guru de va om.

reunited

i was writing a creative req when it happened. the phone rang. mr chin hooi caught me off guard. chin hooi?! what did i do lah? did i forget to pay him money i borrowed? did i even borrow him cash? or did i take his thumbdrive unnoticed? questions. fyi, chin hooi was my classmate backthen in iact. 3 years to be exact. the joker of the class. everyone's favorite guy - the joe.

. . .

15 mins later

ouh ok, he wanted to meet up. kengkai. aku rindu kau la botak. kau pon mesti rindu aku kan. ok ok, i get the gist. on friday the 13th i drove to Fidel at TTDI Plaza to meet him over a couple of beer.

. . .

omg. couldn't help noticing, CH put on weight. sihat, like a glimmering pomfret. erik was there too. no more big visible holes on his earlobes. or lobe? can't recall. he put on weight too. omfg. everybody changed, except for me. botak and skinny (i heart u joe) just like how they saw me on the last day.

so we began talking. CH has his own business. helping his dad. it's a 7 to 4 gig. i do envy him. E quits his job. bumming at the mo'. G just bought a unit at damansara perdana for his office/studio. he was complaining of boredom then and there at Fidel. i said "thank u, i really felt that my presence truthfully appreciated".

talked about myself. my job. my client. my car. my house. my niece. my gig in Australia. but what interest them the most ... my eyebags. they resembled a type of mushroom. sweet. thanks advertising. it's gothic (kungfu panda more like it).

caught theo on the mobile. he was checking few FAs. busy man. career-oriented man. officially married to his job. he's happy. why do we even bother disturbing kan? as a friend, we support. regardless what the person chose to be. we heart u joe. take it easy k.

called adrian moments after asking his whereabouts. he's on his way. oh adrian, my kembar siam in college. oh shoot, S is about to reach Tmn Bahagia.

ciaos to the guys. rushed to my car at B1. caught adrian walking against the traffic to the staircase. i hollered. "oi adrian!!!". hahaha, he turned his back looking shocked and of course just like the other guys - "u haven't changed a bit Aref!". oh well, i may haven't, but i've went through alot. my mushroom slash kungfu panda slash gothic eyebags are pure testament to that.

fcuk there's a car at the back. stop tailing too near u son of a gun. i missed u joe. i drove off. exchanged our byes and a c u later joe.

i drove back half awake, tipsy and happy.

. . .

it was funny. the moment i saw those people, i started having all the flashbacks, the fond ones of course when i was at college. the laughters. futsals. crazy ass assignments at theo's. the bitchings. and the likes. down to memory lane. i was pleased to meet them again, altho' it was only for 45 mins. memories do haut us kan?

and they make u smile. like a child with a room filled with candies.

dear god, please don't take this away from me.

reunited,

A.

saturday the 14th

1. woke up at 9 am. tad too early to stretch. intended to snooze for 5 min.

2. woke up at 11 am. cursed. didn't go to gym.

3. took a long shower. complete facial and all. heard the phone rang, twice.

4. it was S. she was hungry. likewise. invited for brunch. i seconded the idea.

5. had a quick grub downstairs. mum cooked asam pedas. nice. what about brunch?

6. i was already full. S was mad that i FFK brunch idea. drove to curvein S's bluey.

7. was contemplating for dessert at the apartment. urs truly was still full.

8. headed to starbucks. had the new dark mocha frap. due to the fuel hike, i had a tall one. damn ons. S had her muffin and caramel frap .. time to hit the gym S.

9. observed few people. smoked few sticks. made plans for the night, while sharing a muffin.

10. went to the bazaar, looking for a bracelet. none was available. sigh.

11. S suggested to go CM. sounds like a plan for next week. by lrt. sweet.

12. accompanied S to Maxis Centre in Taman Tun, payed her mum's bill.

13. tried calling Ling countless times. going to watch Hulk. joy.

14. dropped at Curve by S while she goes to watch her significant other R, performs. but she likes the brother H more tho'. drama.

15. waited for Ling at starbucks. saw rudy. smoked few sticks with him. helped him with his billboard concept for Panasonic. i was good.

16. Ling called. walked to Cineleisure. greeted her with a hug and a how are u.

17. intro-ed to few colleagues of hers. hi hi nice to meet u. nice piercings by the way.

18. went in for the premier. saw few ads. digi's taiko was there too. laughed. saw few trailers. nice, but trailers are meant to deceive. sceptical. put on a straight face.

19. oohs ... ahhhs ... whoas .. yikes ...

20. love the movie. texted S. was she jealous? .. she better be.

21. headed to the apartment for coolers. cooling indeed. Ling had mocha, a slight conservative choice.

22. kengkai session took place. all was bare.

23. rudy, rueben and danny joined moments after. smoked few thai cigarettes. disgusted. took the pack anyhow.

24. went home. gave Ling a g'bye hug and a c u when i c u.

25. watched TV. they were having Gene Simmons Family Jewels marathon. i was hooked.

26. wanted to go out. but all had plans. sigh. the hulk curse, indeed.

27. continued watching TV.

28. eyes getting tired.

29. slept at 12 am. drifted to lala land. i blame my comfy dunas.

30. woke up at 3 am to pee. went back to sleep to my comfy dunas.


that's all.

A.

gossip

i have been hearing stuffs. some are good. some are, well, let's put it - unpleasant to hear. let's not deny it. we have this love-hate rapport to gossips. it dismantles us away from our current errands or stagnant routines for awhile. for that sweet short time, we indulge ourselves fully, with our cigarettes lit, with our ears listening tentatively to every word uttered, and with our mind picturing the most contentious and vivid details.

as mentioned earlier, gossip's rapport vary to individuals - depending who is exposed to the story. it is as simple as this .. we love, those that dishes out the person that we dislike and we hate gossips 'bout our ownself and our loved ones.

my question to u is ... which is more hurtful ... gossip on our significant others or u ur ownself? r we entitled to be selfish this time around for the sake of saving our pride? or we rather see the other person whose head on our shoulder sobbing from the bruise caused?

sigh. to whom it may concern ... words can destroy u. but our action and faith can assist us to oppose the powerful but mindless words as mentioned.

oh '08

the year has not even strike to June, yet i'm calling 2008 off.

ups and downs, an inadequete mix, an obvious one favoring the latter.

not in the mood to preach nor to reconcile.

i won't be questioning Him this time. things happen for a reason. always. and this is no exception.

oh well .. life still goes on kan? am left with few scars, but there's always cocoa butter to mend. it's a definite the healing process will take time. i have faith and good hope alongside to prop me.

could use some cocoa butter right now as i type.

oh 08, gue capek banget.

Glory Glory Man United!

Man U against Liverpool. Classic.

Watching footie at Sanctuary while it pours cats and dogs. Hujan rahmat.

3 nil. Told ya it's rahmat. 

:)

useless

remember when is say perserverance is much needed than egoistical expertist?

i was wrong. yours truly thought he loved the ad game, but he is not up for it. he's not up to the pace. he's not street-smart enough. that what he was told. he loves the game, but now he could only be a spectator whose chant was too faint to be heard by others.

ladies and gents. aref khalid, is going to quit the ad game and look for other sports to participate in.

useless,
A.

Babel

To whom it may concern,

It has been quite a journey for us. In your car, confined by traffic with your iPod tuning to Fiona Apple and the likes.In the hallway where we exchange hellos and hey babes. Through our smses where we depict smiley face icons, which is often followed with u take care babe and more. Gosh, those SMSes... 
 
You led me all this while to thinking things which i long for such. You made me believe that chivalry has never left the building. You gave me a new and fresh perspective of the capability of a "friend" on another. I was sold to the idea of the perfect and untainted friend. Quote: Yasmin Ahmad, imperfections in a 
man makes him perfect. I think that apply to friendship as well... fair?

But i was wrong and naive. You were just saying those for the sake of feeding my vulnerability, but not out of your purest honesty. I will never forget the things you have told me which won my likings. Citrus, tangerines and mandarin hues and the likes. Constant, sweet and mesmerizingly-awed. I applaud to your tunes. I sang foolishly to your lyrics. But i am disrupted with the sudden genre you are playing. Just like a boy, following through a trail of white savoury marshmallows in the woods and found no hut made out of chocolate at the end of the trail - False 
hope.

Indra Sinha, the greatest copywriter ever lived once quote that words are daggers which can either kill or ressurect man to live. But i still prefer the old layman's saying, action speaks louder than words. Your silence kept me numb and questionable. Your ignorance made my mind linger with 1001 ways to fault myself. And your constant laughters near my cubicle which can be overheard by almost everyone, provokes me to loathe either you or me furthermore. You may think i'm writing this entry in spite- Enlighten is more like it.  I am wiser. Confident. And most of all, i am able to stand on my own. Am no longer Rinko Kikuchi in Babel, pending on one to live- which includes to stand tall and move on. 


Thank you.