Running Waters

A Cool Guide To Photography Ad

2009-10-19T14:27:00.002+08:00

If you like photography, you mustn't miss this funny and creative Samsung ad.

Drifting

2009-10-05T08:48:00.003+08:00

Thought of the Day: Some people live, some people drift, I guess I just drift.

Do you ever wonder what goes on inside another person's mind? What are those inner mechanisms or gears that make them tick?

Perhaps if we can spend a day in the minds of those we look up to, maybe we might gain some insights in that quest to become that better person we yearn to be.

I've been busy lately. Not as in "I have a lot of plans and goals" busy, but more like 'headless chicken running around' busy. My days are no longer mine to squander as I fancy.

Maybe I've become too much of a doormat, catering to other people's demands. Maybe I've always been a doormat. But even doormats become worn out with use.

Life is so tiring for people like me.

Sigh.

Many Updates, Many Firsts and Many Civet Cats

2009-09-16T15:06:00.003+08:00

Too many things have happened and too little time to blog them.

September 11
Saw my first live civet cat. Later saw two of the babies 'hanging around' and making noises during vocal lesson. But they were too high up to be rescued.

September 12
Got an sms from boss saying the babi civet cats have been apprehended. Did my first wedding dinner photoshoot today. The bride is a friend I've known many years online but this wedding marks our first meeting in person. Enjoyed the photoshoot thoroughly.

September 13
Church as usual. Watched "Gamer" movie starring Gerard Butler. Great idea, lousy movie.

September 14
Made my first call to Jabatan Perhilitan which is the department responsible for wildlife protection. Oh, did I forget to mention that two baby civets were caught? Anyway, the wildlife people took them to safer grounds.
Watched a Japanese movie called 'Okuribito' or 'Departures'. Revolves around an ex-celloist who became an encoffiner. Sounds morbid but an excellent story. It garnered 13 awards in Japan.

September 15
Another baby civet captured. Had to call the wildlife protection folk again. Babysitted the little fellow until lunch. Quite fierce initially but mellowed down after Jonzz stuffed it with some bananas and some water.

September 16
Another civet cat caught. OMG! This is getting boring. Decided to do our own release in nearby jungle.

Kinda lazy to put pics yet. Will probably do them later. (Hopefully)

The Elusive Civet Cat: Part 2

2009-09-11T09:55:00.005+08:00

Thoughts of the Day: Sometimes, people's attitudes towards animals really sicken me. Okay, I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say I'm a 100% pure vegetarian. I eat chicken and cow just like the next guy, just that I don't cage and torture them for my own entertainment. Some people just kill them NOT out of self defence but for sport. Disgusting! I mean, God created this planet not just for people alone but also for other creatures but look at what it's becoming...

Firstly, you should know, the civet cat is a protected species in Malaysia so for those of you who've been munching 'ko chee lei' in some exotic restaurants, you've been having an endangered animal for lunch.

Anyway, that's not what this post is about. This civet cat at my workplace has been occupying the higher places in our hall. Of course, this would not have been any issue if the little fellow had not been leaving maggot producing carcasses there as well.

Imagine, you are in the hall, listening to the speaker and suddenly *plop* *plop* *plop*, you are hit by a shower of disgusting stinky maggots from above. Trust me, if you smelled those maggots, you'd have thrown up.

So they finally baited and trapped it with bananas. No, they aren't gonna kill it. They are just going to release it in the jungle on the outskirts of Seremban where it will be safe from humans (and us humans will safe from it and the rain of maggots, he he he)

Anyway, below is a pic of the adult civet cat before it was released.

Cute, eh? Well, don't entertain any illusions about keeping one as a pet. They are fierce fellows and still wild animals, so they might take off your finger if you're not careful.

The Elusive Civet Cat

2009-09-10T10:40:00.004+08:00

From my past posts, some people must assume I work at a jungle or some zoo.

Well, I hate to disappoint you but there are no tigers, elephants or wild boars here. Probably just the common snakes, monkeys, crazy birds and the elusive civet cat.

Last Sunday, I took a photo of my first baby civet cat. Yesterday I finally caught sight of the elusive adult civet cat. First I heard some screechy noise from above. When I looked up, I saw this long, graceful and slim animal which looked like half cat half fox. It was carrying a baby in its mouth as it gracefully made its way across the beams of the hall.

Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared to capture any pictures so I can only show your a sketch from memory.

A Most Eventful Birthday Weekend (and many deaths...)

2009-09-08T08:43:00.005+08:00

Thoughts for the day: There is a time for plowing and a time for harvesting. (FarmTowners and Farmvillers learn that every day) There is a time for life and a time for death. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Praise His Name!

Well, I just celebrated my birthday last Saturday. I've grown one year younger again. (Ha ha, I'm so thick skinned... I also discovered a blogger has the same birthday as I do)

It has really been an eventful past few days.

The sky was clear and a majestic blue that day. Thank you, God. Actually, I didn't party or paint the town red. Old Jonzzy just had Hakka mee and cendol for lunch with some of his good buddies, and then a chinese dinner at a new place. (5 dishes for 4 people.. well, gluttony was in the air.

Then I had a birthday cake from a good friend CK and his gang. My first precut birthday cake, ha ha ha... so convenient. And one candle too... see I'm growing younger everyday. OK, enough boring crap about my birthday.

On Sunday after church, I spotted my first musang (civet cat). It's a baby and seriously cute. But be thankful, you're only looking at this and not smelling it. Trust me, it stinks. My friend can attest to that. Ever since he touched it, several rounds of washing with soap couldn't remove the scent from his hand.

At this month of many birthday celebrations for Jonzz and his friends, there were a few deaths too. On Friday, somebody's grandmother passed on. On Sunday, it was a church member's wife. Then yesterday, it was a colleague's mum. Sigh!

Well, that's it for now. Belated birthday wishes are still accepted! (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)

To Blog or Not To Blog (Unedited version)

2009-08-31T11:20:00.004+08:00

I'm still here, and still very much alive, as can be attested to by my blogging Facebook buddies. (Hmm, should I coin the term BFB, nahhh.... too many acronyms)

I still love blogging and to be able to dump all my thoughts here. I mean one day I would like to read through it again and soak in all the memories of the good and bad old days, and share it with others.

I guess I've been kind of holding back.

Personally, I believe your private and precious sharings should be reserved for people who you care about and have a genuine concern for you; not THOSE STALKERS AND LURKERS who think to read it to gain an insight and use the advantage over you. Well, to that type of people, it works both ways, you are playing with a double edged sword.

I realize how much over the past my style has changed:

Initially, I just created this little blog to rant and rave to my heart's content, and dwelling in my own foolish fantasies of anonymity while doing it.
Then I discovered the other aspect to blogging: Commentators. Aiks! Poor Jonzz has discovered life out there. You know la, Jonzz is very shy... HE HE... not!
Then it became fun. Suddenly blogging became a hit gaining activity. Let's play with numbers and links! Woo hoo... I think a lot of people went through this same phase at the same time. Then it died out. Many of my familiar bloggers links ceased blogging altogether due to whatever reason.
Oh, and I remember the time I switched my blog look to black to reflect my dark, brooding and melancholic personality. Dang, we all do silly things at some time. Anyway, it stuck. White on black is easier on the eyes, I think.
Which just about brings it to the present. I've been trying to keep things light. Posting my silly photos and light-hearted stories, bla bla bla. Boring huh. Well, you gotta know, melancholic temperament people have their highs and lows. It's seasonal and even annual.

I have to admit, at times, I use my blog for bashing. I'm not that dumb. I know those people who know who I am. Well, try as we might, sometimes people just don't listen to reason and the only way to get them to hear you out, is to make them read a full post of no-holds barred scathing remarks without interruption. Don't worry, I don't make personal posts like that all the time. It makes me feel disgusted with myself too having to do it.

Anyway, I'm still here. I think I'm moving on to another blogging phase. To all my dear blogging buddies out there, here's hoping we'll be blogging and exchanging comments for another 50 years and enjoying it.

Birds and Windows

2009-07-16T09:13:00.004+08:00

James 1: 23-25 (NIV Bible) - Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what is says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like

From my office cubicle, I have observed and come to the conclusion that one of man's creations that is most harmful to birds are windows. Tinted windows, dirty windows, shiny windows, clean windows, reflective windows, somehow they just throw a bird's senses out of whack.

Ever since I started work here, I have observed two birds crashing into the window. One died of a broken neck but the other survived, albeit a bit stunned for a full ten minutes.

Another almost daily affair is a pair of bulbuls who attack and taunt their reflection, fully unaware of that person on the other side, busy snapping their antics with his handphone.

My latest daily visitor for the past three days has been the oriole (I think) in the above picture who has come to make squawks at me during different times of the day. Of course , it's not squawking at me.. it's attracted to its reflection. When it happens, one colleague loves to repeat this statement "Your lovebird has come again". I have no idea why people love to repeat the same lame remark day after day. It might be perceived as cute but repetitions just make the speaker look lame and annoying. Extremely annoying.

Anyway, as usual, Jonzz will draw some parallels, then try to say something clever and philosophical about this.

In life, we will observe many things happening around us. I think most people are born with that busybody gene in their bodies. They just like to interfere in things that have absolutely nothing to do with them. Of course, this may sometimes go badly with them since nobody likes a busybody. They end up like the birds that just go crashing through the window. Me? After much broken glass, I'd rather stay on my side of the window.

At other times, we are like the other bird who interacts with its reflection in the window. We judge others and argue with others, not realizing that, we are judging ourselves because we behave the same way. But then, it would take a very humble and reflective person to realize that.

OK, enough philosophical crap. I'm stopping here before I turn into a complete bird brain.

After the Rain

2009-07-14T02:26:00.004+08:00

Thought of the Day: It did rain after that evening after that last post. Quite abundantly, I may add. Praise God! The haze did clear up substantially. Not my mental haze though.

This colorful bug likes to reside on the pod plant in my garden. The droplets of rain doesn't seem to bug this bug at all. In fact it seemed to be soaking its feet in a large droplet while sucking sap or whatever from the pod.

Such a contented creature.

I wish I could be the same but I have yet to find my peace and rest. When will I find my answers?

Sunset (July 9, 2009)

2009-07-10T09:42:00.007+08:00

Thought of the Day: I love sunsets. The thing about sunsets is they are so fleeting. If you're not having your camera, you will most likely fail to capture that moment. I guess the same goes for most of the other important moments in life.

It's always easier to tell other people to do the right thing. But not so with yourself. I've been so lethargic lately. My mind is as hazy as the one enveloping Seremban right now.

Where oh where, is the rain that will come and wash away this shroud of laziness?
Yawn.

Nature's Packages

2009-07-07T09:45:00.004+08:00

Lessons from Life: Never just stick to one way of doing things. If you do, you'll never find out if there's a better way.

Bananas must be one of nature's best fruits. So convenient. So tasty. And comes with its own packaging. Well, I only just discovered that the dragon fruit can be peeled too. (*Blush)

Are you a Learner or a Whiner?

2009-07-06T00:09:00.009+08:00

Thoughts for today: I'm very, very happy in church on Sunday. I'm trying to teach guitar to this huge group of people in church. Although we have communication difficulties due to language barriers but a majority of them have improved by leaps and bounds due to their enthusiasm plus their willingness to listen and learn. It's such a joy to teach them. Which brings me to today's post:

Honestly, I don't think I'm such a great teacher.

Although I'm not particularly fond of teaching but when I have decided to do it, I will give my all BUT I expect equal effort in return. Hence, I have little patience with whiners.

Who are whiners, you may ask?

They don't listen but they try to dictate how you should teach them
They don't practice but they come well prepared to feed you with a list of excuses
They hardly focusing on learning, improving and working around their weaknesses. Instead they focus on the pain, the hardship and their self imposed weakness like age, lack of talent, bla bla bla. (You name it!)
They always take correction the wrong way: defensively and as a personal attack. How do you grow like that?

Usually in my experience, people who are well to do and blessed with plenty are good whiners.

Basically, whiners whine and learners learn.

Passion for Passion Fruit

2009-07-02T00:01:00.002+08:00

Thoughts to Ponder: Children will take after their parents whether they are or aren't aware of it.

I never did think that I would be a person to take an interest in anything remotely related to gardening. In fact I once nearly let the whole garden dry up. Laziness... I know...

But sometime last year, I decided to discipline myself to at least water the garden regularly. Why the change of heart? Does it have anything to do with old age? I hope not.

Strangely in the course of this mundane and mosquito-feeding exercise, I find myself excited when plants bloom and bear fruit. I began to take an interest in specific plants in the garden: chili, mint, dragon fruits and the focus of this post: the passion fruit.

Originally, there were two young stunted plants in the garden. My friend gave me a seedling from Cameron Highlands as well, but that plant didn't last long. After months of staring at this ridiculous plant which didn't show any sign of progress, I actually got fed up.

Then as if to say, "Don't give up on me yet", the smaller plant bloomed one flower. It was the most interesting flower I have ever seen.

That rekindled my interest in caring for this plant. Today the two plants have flourished and taken over the entire clothesline.

It has become the envy of one of my neighbors, who chopped down his tree when it didn't bear fruit. But I have to restrain myself from getting too proud.

After all, I only gave it H20.

Aftermath: Accident

2009-07-01T00:46:00.009+08:00

Thoughts to Ponder: Found this dead bird in my garden today. Such a morbid picture yet I find myself relating to it. I mean, no matter how high you fly or how low you stand, you might just die a lonely and meaningless death. On another note, I find myself worrying about avian flu.

It's been 2 days since I had that stupid accident.

Actually I've been having a pretty hectic schedule lately. Church stuff. Work stuff. Planning for travel. Planning for meetings with friends. Worrying about this and that. Running around. I think my 'RAM' is almost full.

I guess this is what they call pushing your limits. Guess it made me tired and careless. But I'm thankful though. I mean, it could have been worse. I could have hit something or someone. *Shudder*

But I've been feeling kinda empty and dispirited since then. My damaged car still sits unrepaired. Still runs though. I have little mood to drive other than for work and to eat.

Suddenly, I feel very detached from this world and nothing seems to make sense anymore. For the first time, my mind resonates with my heart, "Life is meaningless". I've been trying quite hard to prep myself up. At times, it seems I'm demanding for attention but then I'm not so sure.

I hope I snap out of this stupor soon.

Car Accident Again

2009-06-28T17:39:00.009+08:00

My car had an accident again
Maybe it was tiredness
Definitely it was carelessness
But what I know is the next minute I was in the drain again

I'm tempted to think a lot of silly things
Of how the day started on a high note
And then this happens
So embarrassing.
Tempted to think of buying a new car
Tempted to think of how an accident marked beginnings and endings of friendships
Tempted to think how unlucky I can be
Of how unfair things can be
But then these are just my brooding thoughts

After all to escape unscathed
And to have the concern of friends
To just have property and wallet damages
Is a blessing in itself

I wish time would come to a standstill
For my thoughts and feelings to collect themselves
To be whole again
For now I am like my car
In need of repairs
My pride dented like the body of the car
With fear and disgust from a repeat of carelessness

Sigh.

Round 2!!!! BURP!

2009-06-24T09:45:00.007+08:00

OK! OK! I promise there won't be a durian post immediately after this one (Heh heh).

Anyway, the day after the previous durian feast (sigh), I went to the store again and procured bigger and more expensive versions of the Udang Merah (Red Prawn) durians. Well, if you must know they were RM5 per kilo. (Ya, sue me for being such a glutton)

On that same night, while I was eating and packing my durians, my Chinese Class teacher texted me on the phone, "I have durians tonight" in hanyipinyin (Chinese phonetics) of course. I texted her back "I am already having durians for dinner" in hanyipinyin. She replied "Don't eat so much, eat here". Well, never one to disobey a teacher, I ate durians at Chinese class (Ha ha!)

But that was not the end of it. After class, I went to see a friend and guess what? He had durians for me too. This friend is a self professed durian connoisseur and scoffed at my choice of durians. He showed me his Mau San Wong durian (translates literally to King of Cat Mountain) which retails for RM 20 per kg. Well, who was I to resist free expensive durians?

Three rounds of durians in a night. Any rational human being should have stopped but no....

Doing some work into the wee hours of the night, Jonzz became hungry but there was no food in the fridge but my packed durians. Drool... Oops, I ate it again!

But you know what, I'm not sick of it yet. I bought more the next day. HA HA HA HA HA HA...

OK enough talk, here's some pics.

Bua ha ha!!! My lovely purchase!!!

Peekaboo!

Shelled Durians!

Durianized Again!

2009-06-18T12:54:00.004+08:00

It was a boring Wednesday night.... so when Jonzz got this sms from a passionate Durian Lover pal (and part time pastor, ha ha) to get some Udang Merah durians, well, who could resist?

Certainly not Jonzz...

Well, Jonzz was thinking, what's one or two durians?

So we arrived at the stall which had a number of customers queued there.

When it reach Jonzzy's turn to pick the salesman took the words out of Jonzz's mouth, "How about I sell you 5 kg for RM20?"

SOLD!

Mua ha ha ha ha... that night, Jonzz sampled some of his newly procured goods and packed the rest away in a tupperware to be eaten over the next few days.

And promptly finished the lot for breakfast the next morning.

Sigh... the durian glut has turned Jonzz into a durian glutton.

Anybody for Round 2?

The Week Gone By...

2009-06-14T22:41:00.004+08:00

Just got back from church camp... glad to be able to spend time with a buddy before he goes back to Deutschland... pros: excellent food, meaningful talks, plenty of swimming, fun card sessions and learned the 'Saboteur' card game... cons: lots of church buddies not around, smelly air from surrounding oil palm plantation, the very hazy air compared to Seremban, some lame group games and having to bump into one or two people I don't want to see.

Oh, mustn't forget the lovely durians I got from a fellow blogger in Seremban. At least I got to share them with buddy at camp. Thanks!

Came back earlier at midnight and decided to help out with the 'leftover church' in Seremban. Sad to hear that someone got robbed of her handphone by a group of ten people. This world is full of shitty people.

Sunday turned out to be quite a DIY day (Do-It-Yourself) day. Another church buddy returned my guitar but the electric battery pack clip was broken (Argh!!!!!). Did a McGyver with some package foam wrapping and it worked for now. Will spend that lame replacement money later.

Was planning to go shoe shopping with the surfer who wars. Unfortunately, pipe burst after my watering session and had help from relatives to fix it. You know what they say. When things go wrong, you can always depend on family. Thanks!

Oh well... one more hour and Monday will hit us in the face again... sigh...

Call Me Lucky

2009-06-08T14:07:00.002+08:00

Today I went to renew my AAM and ...

Discovered there are two other people with the same birthday as me ...

And was told my membership number was sooo.... very lucky...

And then I went for lunch.... bumped into a student (not literally) and got soup spilled on my shoes and pants....

Lucky? What crap.

What the? Literal Version of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'?

2009-06-05T00:07:00.002+08:00

LOL, I wonder if you're familiar with the song 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler. If you are, I think you'll be able to appreciate this parody of that MTV.

ROFLMAO!

Bengbeng Thought I Copied My Post From Somewhere

2009-06-01T22:18:00.008+08:00

I was chatting with Bengbeng on MSN and I asked him whether he read my previous post and he said "I didnt read. At first i thought u copy n paste from elsewhere i jus skip it"

Ouch.... all my effort and he thinks I've plagiarized it from somewhere.... Why? Why? Why?

On the other hand, it's actually kind of flattering. Oooh... now I feel like one of those authors whose writings get spammed all over everyone else's email. Thanks, Bengbeng!

Jonzz is a bit siao sometimes. Did I just say 'a bit'?

A Busy Sunday With The Sick

2009-06-01T08:49:00.006+08:00

It's strange how other people's lives get intertwined with our lives. As kids, I bet you never would have imagined that you would know the people that you know today.

On this unusual Sunday, I spent it with a few special friends who unfortunately fell sick. The first chap had a bad toothache which got infected. He even got a bit delirious and was shivering while waiting for the dentist. Since he was in so much pain, the dentist gave him some medication to bring down the infection before he is able to proceed with the extraction.

In the evening, another chap asked me to give him a lift to visit a friend in the hospital. The poor lady just went through an operation for a ruptured appendix and had to be placed in intensive care.

Going through this incident, many thoughts rushed through my head:

I guess you cannot take the people around you for granted. Cold as it seems, after many different experiences, I have mentally prepped myself to accept the consequences of people I come to care about dropping in and out of my life. Maybe it makes things easier for this sentimental fool.
I don't know why but suddenly I imagined myself to be in the role of a parent or caregiver. Just reflected upon the difficulty of taking care of a sick person. Especially when they are close to you. Will I be up to the task or will I end up depending on others to do the dirty job?
I also realize that being detached and apathetic, to a certain degree, enables you to be a more dependable person in a crisis. I mean, would you rather have a weeping wailing mess or Mr Cool rushing you to a hospital? Take your pick.

Indeed it was a very somber Sunday.

Chains

2009-05-30T08:03:00.015+08:00

Is anyone truly free?
The World pounds these Rules into your head
What you should eat and how much you should eat
What looks good and what you should wear
What you can see and why you should understand
What you can hear and what you can never question
What you should say and when you should say it
How you should act and where it is appropriate
Who should be your friends and who you should not associate with
What you should achieve and what you should not become
Who you can love and what you cannot give your heart to
We are just like caged birds
Within these bars of Dos and Don'ts

Break the rules
And you will be judged and punished
An Outcast
Banished by those
You foolishly thought
You could Trust
Hah! You silly Man!

In the end you will realize
Those who told you the Rules
Almost always
Conveniently
Never apply the same Rules
To
Themselves

Freedom
What a Ridiculous notion
The only place
Where it truly exists
Is within the four corners of your Mind

Welcome to the Land of Hypocrites

- Jonzz in the dark -

Lost Patience, Simmering Anger and A Broken Handbrake

2009-05-28T23:53:00.008+08:00

Update: Car back left brake cable worn out and snapped. Damages RM80, phew. (My mechanic is the best person in the whole wide world, ROFL!)

Today I did something absolutely fantastic. I snapped my car handbrake.

Was my car old?
Yup.
Did I expect the handbrake to snap?
Never in this lifetime.

This person asked me to pick her up at a particular time. Before I left to pick her, I sent her an sms informing her I was going. So there I was, on time and waiting... and waiting... and waiting. And the person never shows up.

So I do the next logical thing. I call the person. After another eternity, that person picks up in a half sleepy voice and say she's coming. WTF!!!

After what seems to be another eternity, that person plod nonchalantly into sight. And drops two lame excuses like, "Oh I wore my shirt backwards so I went back to the house" and "Then I forgot to bring something so I went back". And adds more lame excuses to the already infuriating set, 'Oh I didn't hear your sms'. And has the gall the smile and not apologize.

Old Jonzz was so not in the mood and said, "Next time call if you going to do something like that". Some people just don't deserve handphones.

As you can guess, Jonzz is simmering now. So off we went, Jonzz sullen and quiet. When we arrived, Jonzz pulls the handbrake and *Crack*

WTF again!

~~Second~~ person just casually walks off. Jonzz feels like he just expended a ton of energy. Checking the handbrake, it feels like a flimsy joystick and can be pulled up and down almost 90 degrees without effort.

WTF... Jonzz calls the mechanic, decides to skip class and just head off home.

This is so sickening. Damn!

Webs of Deceit

2009-05-25T09:02:00.006+08:00

Jonzz got scammed. By some cheap flicker gift code thing promo thing on photokaki forum. Then Flickr emailed me to say you can't buy flickr gift codes from third parties. Oh no! My account has become normal again!

Argh!!!!!!

Cruel world!!!!!

Sigh... a fool and his RM50 are soon parted.

Ah well at least I had 3 months of pro-ness.