23, 24, ..

Last year (on the 1st of May to be exact), I wrote a post about why I love the month of May so much and it was really a trip down memory lane, recapping my childhood and what-not…But little did I know that it would be the post with the most views up to a year later! To date, it has been viewed 2,705 times and counting!!! Gosh! Thankyou WordPress for keeping track of the stats…

Anyways, so if you guys have already read that post (if not, please do! ), you would know WHY I love May….

Looking back, it is kinda like a tradition in my family that everytime there is a birthday (mine or my siblings), the family would have a special dinner night with cake and presents. Sometimes, friends of the birthday girl/boy would be invited…but most of the time it was only those whose parents were friends with ours, so their whole family would come. Heh. No complains though cos we had lotsa presents!

As we got bigger (older), the “party” got smaller…usually, it was just a family dinner - just Mom, Dad and us siblings - but it was still special (with Mom’s special recipes) and cake, but no more presents. But then, during those tween years, friends were everything! I remembered I was envious when my classmates celebrated their birthday in school during recess complete with cake and party hats and yummy catered food!

And I remember telling my Mom I wanted to celebrate my birthday at school too…which I never got to have… *sulks*

As I grew up and left home, there wasn’t any fixed ritual like those birthday dinners anymore (except when I managed to make it home during my birthday) so most of the time my birthday was a once-a-year planned thingy and I don’t remember much about how I celebrated them. I guess they were pretty plain and just like any other day (no celebrating)…thus I had no recollection…But that all changed 2 years ago when I turned 23…

At that time, I was studying in Shah Alam and renting with friends and it was kinda my final year in Uni so I simply had to “go out” with a bang! right? And so I did…

It was what I’d like to think of as 3-day celebration!!!

On 11th May 2006, the eve of my birthday, my two “twins” (the three of us were born on 12th May) and our “older bro” (who was born on 11th May) chipped in to organize a BBQ session with friends…It was a blast! It was my 1st time “celebrating” with friends instead of family….but they were pretty much like my family away from home anyways…

The next day, 12th May, me, one of my twin and my older bro rented 3 cars (5 persons in each car) and I felt like we were going to Vegas that night! With our star-studded looks and make-up etc, we headed to the glam Bukit Bintang…to Planet Hollywood to be exact…That was my 1st time in a club.

And as they say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.

And on the 13th May, the same bunch of people went to watch the Lamai Keamatan at Hotel Flamingo in Ampang…more partying, this time to sumazau music, free tapai and the Kinabalu Kings and whose that Sabahan hip-hop rapper dude??? I think his name starts with A—…Memory fails me…haha…Melbie? (Updated 9/5: I remember now! It’s Atama. Haha…)

And what do you know? I went digging and I apparently have written a post (in Iban some more! so I guess my previous post wasn’t the 1st in Iban afterall! LOL!!!) regarding my 23rd birthday in one of my old blogs which I re-posted in this blog last year…

And then LAST YEAR, it wasn’t a 3-day celebration but it had three parts (You can read it all here) plus how could I forget that HE sang for me… which now reminds me that HE has yet to give me a birthday present for last year!!! And I’m claiming this year’s too!!!!

Yup, so my big day is around the corner…the big 2-5. That’s a quarter century dy dude!!! *shivers*

And I guess I’m pretty lucky to have fond memories of my birthday for the past two years…but what I had always wanted but never quite got is simply ONE thing

- a SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY…

Last year’s pseudo-surprise was fun, but it wasn’t really a SURPRISE Surprise, get what I mean? I always imagined that one of these (birth)days, I would walk into somewhere and suddenly have people scream “SURPRISE!!!” and “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” and sing “Happy Birthday to you…” and I blow out the candles and wipe the tears of joy from my eyes - now THAT is a SURPRISE… *sigh*

P.S. I know this is a vain post, but thanks for reading anyways…shows you care.

Ethnic Transmissions feat. Hevance

Updated: Additional contents have been inserted below to acknowledge contributions of artistes under the Borneo Headhunters Music Production label to the Iban music industry.

***

Music has not only been a part of my life, music is practically the air I breathe. Really. I can’t go by a day without listening to at least ONE song…
However, I have never been much of a fan of the local music acts (and by that I mean MOST local acts) although I am well aware of the existence of SOME and am interested in a FEW. Ironically, among those local music acts, I find it hardest to support that of my own race – Iban.
Now, before you start condemning me for NOT supporting our local music industry, especially that of my own people, let me say that it’s NOT because I am not proud of my roots!!! I am proud to be Malaysian, specifically Sarawakian and even prouder to be IBAN…The thing is, apart from the traditional music like the Taboh etc., our Iban music industry is dissapointingly bland. With the exception of certain acts like Jerry Kamit, international sape-singer and maybe some others under Borneo Headhunters Music Production, all the songs practically sound the same. And if it’s not an original composition, its most likely to be a translated and/or remixed version of any famous song from any other language!!! I mean, come on fellas…how is a music industry gonna survive if it doesn’t EVOLVE and GROW???
Fortunately NOW, I can say that there IS a future for our Iban music industry. EVOLUTION is here and we can finally GROW…and being so proud of our Iban music industry, I am gonna continue the rest of this post in my mother tongue (with the main points highlighted in English). Laban tu keterubah ia aku nulis ngena jako Iban, enti bisi sekeda leka jako ke ukai kebatang ia Iban tauke enda entu ngena, minta ampun meh…

Aku bisi bekesempatan meda band anembiak bangsa kitai empu merindang ke ati bala mensia ke ngabas pengawa ba Waterfront Kuching lemai tu tadi. Taja pen enda maioh bala datai nyukong, aku asai amat gaga meda bala nembiak bangsa kitai cuba ngemaju ke agi industri muzik Iban kitai…Sida ia dikangau Ethnic Transmissions.

Ethnic Transmissions tauke E.T. tu band ti mai perubahan ngagai industri muzik kitai. Bisi bala madah yang kebenarnya industri muzik kitai sigi udah bisi perubahan di bai bala ari label Borneo Headhunters Music Production (bala sida Jerry Kamit) tang mungkin E.T. enda ulih dibanding ke enggau sida ia laban E.T. ngemai lagu Iban dalam versi pop/alternative - tang engka sida ke bukai bisi dulu mai lagu Iban dalam versi nya ti enda ditemu aku jadi aku dulu minta ampun meh. - ti ulih diterima ulih bala raban anembiak moden diatu. Lagu sida ke paling dikerindu bala peninga dikangau “Engka” enggau “Ngarap” bisi ditebah ke sida lemai tadi serta enggau lagu-lagu sida ke pemadu baru “Berpantup Kening” (Betul kah?), “Tasik Aku Enggau Nuan” enggau “Pemulai Pemadu” ti deka di keluar ke sida dalam ujung taun tu legi.

Ethnic Transmissions aka E.T. is a local Iban band that brings Iban music to a whole new level. Others may disagree that Iban music has already evolved with the artistes under the Borneo Headhunters Music Production label like Jerry Kamit, but I don’t think we can compare E.T. with them as E.T. presents Iban songs in a pop/alternative genre - unless they too have artistes in that genre that I am unaware of. If that’s the case, then I apologize. So anyways, I had the opportunity to hear them perform their famous song “Engka” (Maybe/Perhaps) and “Ngarap”(Hope) live at the Kuching Waterfront this afternoon. If you’ve listened to any Iban song before this, now listen to them and you’ll know why I am excited about them…

E.T. not only brings Iban songs to a whole new level – their new-age sounds are also opening it up to allow other people to enjoy the songs as well. Ati ku paling gaga maia ukai semina bala kitai Iban aja ti teperindang ninga sida tang bala bukai pen bisi gak. Belakang aku bisi duduk bala Cina anak-menyanak ti turut terperindang ati. Sida anak-menyanak pun meli album sida E.T. gak!

Ethnic Transmissions 1st CD and poster…

My autographed CD

E.T. ukai semina ngemai pemansang ke industri muzik kitai, tang ngemuka agi lagu kitai ngambi ke ulih diterima bangsa lain enggau engka menoa lain gak ila.

Ethnic Transmissions: Macmillan Jua (vocals, guitar), Daniel Ading (lead guitar), Dennis Jonathan (bass), Susanna Juan (keyboard), David Jacques (drums).

Band ke bukai bisi gak main lemai tadi. One of the other bands thay performed this afternoon was Hevance.

Hevance tu dikira ke anak buah sida E.T. enggau sida pen bisi manah peluang deka ngemaju ke industri muzik kitai taja pen lagu sida ukai semina lagu Iban aja.

Hevance: Aldrich (vocals, lead guitar), Lucas (bass), Thomas (2nd guitar), Gideon (drums).

And although Hevance is actually my *BFF’s **BF’s band (thus the 1st name basis and no prizes for guessing which one is him ) and they are E.T.’s protege and it was them that actually “introduced” me to E.T., I am not being biased when I say that with more practice, they are the up and coming stars.

My copy of Hevance’s demo CD.

Nah guys, if you ever need another person to join your band I humbly offer my services!!!

Note: Ethnic Transmissions (and soon Hevance) are signed under the Fish*Farm Records label.

*BFF - Best Friend Forever

**BF - Boyfriend

Destiny Hope

Music has been very much a part of my life since I don’t know when…

I love listening to music, I love singing and ocassionally, putting the grooves on the dance-floor…

And music is, I feel, a common interest me and my siblings share…

When we were young, my brothers and I (I am the only girl) used to dream that we had our own band…a sibling band…you know, like those The Moffatts, Hanson, The Corrs…well, you get the picture…

It would be even better if Mom and Dad were in the picture too!!!

Alas, a dream is left but a dream…

My older brother specialises in computers and the internet etc…

I am in the financial line…

And my two younger brothers are still in high school…

But is it wrong for me to still have that dream that one day we siblings would still have our own band???

We don’t even have to be famous or make albums (though that would be super awesome!!!)…I just wanna be in a band with my brothers…

They can play all the music instruments…I don’t mind…

I just sing…and maybe play the tambourine???

Is that just wishful thinking? Will it ever be? Hmmm…

Reminds me of “Sound of Music” - a family of musicians…SWEET!!!

Well, if I had my own way and I was born 10 years later than I was, this would most probably be the life I am living now…

Don’t you just love this song???

“Ready, Set, Don’t Go”

She’s gotta do what she’s gotta do
And I’ve gotta like it or not
She’s got dreams too big for this town
And she needs to give ‘em a shot
Whatever they are

Looks like she’s all ready to leave
Nothing left to pack
There ain’t no room for me in that car
Even if she asked me to tag along
God I gotta be strong

She’s at the startin’ line of the rest of her life
As ready as she’s ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in her eyes
The prize is hers to win
She’s waitin’ on my blessings before she hits that
open road
Baby get ready
Get set
Don’t go

She says things are fallen into place
Feels like they’re fallen apart
I painted this big ol’ smile on my face
To hide my broken heart
If only she knew
This is where I don’t say what I want so bad to say
This is where I want to but I won’t get in the way
Of her and her dreams
And spreadin’ her wings

She’s at the startin’ line of the rest of her life
As ready as she’s ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in her eyes
The prize is hers to win
She’s waitin’ on my blessings before she hits that
open road
Baby get ready
Get set
Don’t go

She’s at the startin’ line of the rest of her life
As ready as she’s ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in her eyes
The prize is hers to win
She’s waitin’ on my blessings before she hits that
open road
Baby get ready
Get set
Please don’t go

Don’t go
Don’t go
She’s gotta do what she’s gotta do
She’s gotta do what she’s gotta do

Hey…you can’t blame me for wishing I was her - To be close to my dad whose an awesome and handsome star??!!!

Also, Miley Cyrus and I have something even more in common…

We share the same initials - M.C.!!!

(Yeah yeah, I know her name used to be Destiny Hope…doesn’t matter…LOL!!!)

Yes, we also share the same initials as the diva Mariah Carey…

A lil laugh…

Things are getting a little stuffy in here from all the emotions…or maybe that’s just me…
So anyways, just take a breather and at least smile yea?

WEDDING CEREMONY

Everyone in the wedding ceremony was watching the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle to give away to the groom. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. Everyone in the room was wondering what was given to the father by the bride. The father could feel the suspense in the air and all eyes were on him to divulge the secret and say something. So he announced “Ladies and Gentlemen today is the luckiest day of my life.”  Then he raises his hands with what his daughter gave him and continued, “My daughter finally, finally returned my credit card to me.”  The whole audience (including priest) started laughing………….

……….but not the poor groom.

DIAGNOSIS
One day, a fellow complained to his friend.“My elbow really hurts. I guess I should see a doctor.”
His friend offered, “Don’t do that! There’s a computer at the drug store that can diagnose anything, quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put in a sample of your urine and the computer will diagnose your problem and tell you what you can do about it. It only costs $10.” He figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with a urine sample and went to the drug store.

Finding the computer, he poured in the sample and deposited the $10. The computer started making some noises and various lights started flashing. After a brief pause, out popped a small slip of paper on which was printed: “You have tennis elbow. Soak your arm in warm water. Avoid heavy labour. It will be better in two weeks.”

Later that evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was and how it would change medical science forever, he began to wonder if this machine could be fooled. He decided to give it a try. He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it off, he masturbated into the concoction. He went back to the drug store, located the machine, poured in the sample and deposited the $10. The machine again made the usual noise and printed out the following analysis:

“Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener. Your dog has worms. Give him vitamins. Your daughter’s using cocaine. Put her in a rehabilitation clinic. Your wife’s pregnant - twin girls. They aren’t yours. Get a lawyer. And, if you don’t stop jerking off, your tennis elbow will never get better.”

And here’s one I actually read in a bookstore very recently that triggered my funny bone…

When God created the world, he created the donkey.

God said to the donkey, “You will be a donkey. You will work un-tringly from sunrise to sunset carrying burdens on your back. You will eat grass, You will have no intelligence and you will live 50 years.”

The donkey answered: “What? You want me to spend 50 years living such a difficult life?! I will be a donkey, but to live 50 years is too much. Give me only 20 years and the 30 years I give back to you.” God granted his wish.

Then God created the dog and said to him. “You will guard the house of man. You will be his best friend. You will bark at anything that approaches the house and you will eat the scraps that he gives you and you will live 30 years.”

The dog answered: “Sir, to live 30 years is to much, give me only 15 years.” God granted his wish.

Then God created the monkey and said to him. “You will be a monkey. You will swing from branch to branch doing tricks to entertain and you will be amusing and you will live 20 years.”

The monkey answered: “To live 20 years is too mush, give me only 10 years.” God granted his wish.

Finally God created man and said to him. “You will be man and become master over all the animals. You will enjoy your life and just relax and you will live 20 years.” Man responded: “Sir, I will be a man but to live 20 years such a wonderful life is very little! Give me the 30 years that the donkey refused, the 15 years that the dog did not want and the 10 years the monkey refused.” God granted man’s wish.

And since then, man lives 20 years as a man, marries and spend 30 years like a donkey, working and carrying all the burdens on his back. Then when his children is grown, he lives 15 years like a dog taking care of the house and eating whatever is given to him, so that when he is old, he can retire and live 10 years like a monkey, going from house to house and from one son or daughter and do tricks to amuse his grandchildren.

HAPPY LABOUR DAY y’all…

The Road Not Taken

That’s the title of this post and you may/may not have come across a poem of the same name by Robert Frost. I don’t remember where and when I first learnt of that poem, most probably when I was still in school and English was a name of a subject I took and not just a language I used…

Anyways, it has been a while since I thought about that poem. I don’t memorise it or anything but once in a while that poem comes to mind especially when I find myself at life’s crossroads…

The first of many was Secondary 3. That was a big year. It was my final year that I would be living with my family. I was leaving the nest. Looking back, I don’t recall being afraid. Albeit I was sad to leave home, I was excited. The whole world awaited me! But that meant some harsh realities as well. My leaving home after Form 3 was something we had been prepared for since I started school so by right, there shouldn’t have been any problem. It had always been planned that I would go to a certain school and stay with certain people…but when the time came, certain people were unwilling to take me in for reasons that remain unknown to us…Rejection was a lot to handle at that time. That was when the family realised that we could only rely on ourselves. And so I was floating adrift, searching for where I was to be…Some schools would not take me in. “Our classes are full”, “It’s too late”, “She’s transferring from a different country, our schooling-system is uncompatible to accept her”, were some of the “reasons” they gave…

Finally, one school accepted me and it wasn’t just any school either. It was one of the highly looked-upon schools at that time. It was a challenge. From staying at home to staying in a hostel…From studying in an all-girl’s English-medium school to studying in a mix Bahasa-medium school…and I registered almost 3 months later than my peers! I knew I had a lot to prove. To prove to those who rejected me that I CAN stand on my own…I guess that was indeed the right path, I really belonged in that school…My teenage years there were filled with new discoveries…about life…about love…about friendships…And I got flying colours for my SPM…I do not wonder about the road not taken…

But after that, came a major fork in my life - choosing what to do next. My hopes were dashed when I wasn’t selected to continue my Secondary 6. Was that the end? The Principal advised my to take up TESL (Teaching English as Second Language) as my command of the English language was legendarily one of the best in the school at that time *blush*…but I didn’t fancy teaching…at least I didn’t feel I did, although when I was young I used to pretend I was a teacher…

Honestly, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life then. I knew I wanted to go to University, but I didn’t know what discipline I wanted to major in. In high school, I was in the Social Science stream (I had all the Science subjects except Physics) - ironically, my Science subjects sucked!, so I knew that disciplines like Engineering were out of my league. I contemplated and discussed with my family and chose to go with Accounting since I was good in Bookeeping and Commerce during my Secondary 3, I took Basic Economics in high school and my Maths was pretty good…I didn’t even apply for TESL…Fate has it that that was the way to go. I was accepted to do my diploma in accountancy in one of the local universities…but sometimes I do wonder how I would have fared if I had taken TESL instead…

3 years later, after I completed my diploma, I came unto another fork in the road. My next target was to get a Bachelor’s Degree. So I contemplated again the same questions… I didn’t know what discipline I wanted to major in. In the end, I decided to continue in accounting since I seemed to be good at it…and I was accepted to continue in that discipline in the same university, but this time at the main campus…My bachelor days were not as easy as my diploma days but I still managed to fly through it *Thank God!*…yet again, I do wonder how would I have fared if I had taken up something else for my bachelor’s degree…

Another 3 years and I successfully completed my bachelor degree. Came another decision to make - what was next? To continue studying? That was an option, but it was not financially feasible…so the realistic thing to do was to step into the working world, earn some money and if later, should I still be interested to continue my studies, I would be financially able to do so…And that was the decision…Eversince then, I’ve left student-life for 2 years and have been in the working world for a year already…Though money was not as easy to accumulate as I thought, I was still doing pretty well, of course sticking to my discipline which really did seem to be something I was good at since I decided to take it up some 7 years ago…Does being good at it means I was destined to do it???

But NOW, soon after my first year in the working world, I find myself at another crossroad…This one seemingly bigger than any of the crossroads I’ve encountered in the past - I am given 2 very separate choices. One is to remain in the working-world. Another is to continue my studies. And the latter is fully-funded and comes with the possibility of a career at the end of my studies - to become a lecturer…Again, the option to enter the teaching world came knocking at my door…was this a sign?

Which road should I choose now? This is why the poem comes to mind…

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost

I’ve been mulling over the 2 options and I’ve yet to make up my mind. Of course, to be able to get my Master Degree without needing to put out a penny and maybe become a lecturer after that is tempting…and I’ve no doubt that if I do choose to go back to school, I would do fairly well…but at this moment in time, I really don’t feel like going back to being a student…Haven’t I spent enough of my life being a student already?! Truth be told, I’m actually afraid that if I continue my studies, that would take me at least 3 to 5 more years - I would be 30 years old by the time I finish!!! I don’t wanna grow old studying!!!…It’s even more scarrier if I’m still single then - honestly, and this question I’m asking the guys, honestly, would you guys even dare to get involved with a 30 year-old lady with a Masters qualification? Seriously!!! If I were a little younger, I’d have hopped at the chance to continue my Masters…but now? I really can’t say…But whichever road I choose, I know I will look back upon this time and wonder about that road not taken…

I just hope I don’t regret the road I chose…

P.S. - Thanks for reading this till the end. I need all the opinions I can get regarding which road to take…

P.P.S. - You may also answer any of the questions scattered throughout this post, especially those in bold.