Booker Blogs

I’ve created a new blog at blogspot.

Am on google pretty much the whole time I’m sitting in front of a computer, so I thought "Why Not"?

Here’s the link to the other Booker Blogs …http://bookerpee.blogspot.com/

See you guys on blogspot!!!!

We used to watch the sunsets together. I’d prop myself up onto my mother’s car boot, and he’d climb up next to me, cuddle up close and in silence, lend his unconditional support to me.

He used to be able to give me looks. Looks that would silently put me in place, looks that would wrench the very heart out of me, looks that will flood me with shame. Always silent, he didn’t need words to convey these emotions, his looks were enough.

Silently defiant as always, he was never one who complained. Even as a little thing, the first night we brought him home, separated from the comfort of his familiar surroundings, he didn’t let out a peep. He grew up strong and silent, even when he came back with the most horrible battle wounds, gored, skin ripped apart , these nasty open wounds were all silently endured. He never squirmed or complained when we dressed his wounds, even in the unfamiliar hands of the vet, he merely plopped himself down, turned his body to make access to the wounded bits of him easier, with nary a wince. The trust he had is us was complete and unquestioning.

He had his flaws. Not born to be a show dog (perhaps, the fault for that was ours to share, we never really trained him to be one… I’m sure he would have done great, when the mood struck him). He ran out, terrorized the neighbours and many a postman.

He was special. The best watch dog anyone could ask for. He’s the only dog we had (and we’ve had dogs since I can recall), which could climb on top cars and keep watch from there. Trust me, it IS very intimidating to have him bark at you from ground level, it’s something else to have him bark at you from on top of the car, as if he could leap off the top of the car, fly above the gate and come lunging directly at your jugular. Scary indeed.

But he was a sweetheart. As standoffish and unaffectionate as he may seem, he really was a big devoted furball inside. He’d nuzzle up for a quick pet every chance he got. He’s walk regally up to me the moment I got home and stand next to me, looking quietly at me, until I reach down and give him a “Hey boy, I’m home” pet. Then he’d walk protectively behind me, until I let myself in the house.

His devotion knew no end. He’d plonk himself on his belly right at our doorstep, and silently watch us from his panda marked eyes for hours on end. Watching us watching tv was his favourite past time. And we knew he was watching us, cause you only need to nod in his direction, and that tail will start wagging…. Look at him and smile, and he’d smile back (I swear, he could smile…) wagging his tail happily. Get up to get a glass of water, and he’d get up too. By the time you reach the kitchen and reach for a glass, he’s already at the back door, watching out for you.

I’m gonna miss you Patchee ole’ boy. 14 years of being together and suddenly you’re gone. I’ll miss your slow and steady regal walk. I’ll miss hearing you take your running start, and the clickity clack of your paws on the windshield, I’ll miss your silent nuzzles and most of all, my dear dear friend, I’ll miss our sunsets together.

I still glance by your usual hang out spot near the custard apple tree every morning. I still listen out at night for the sounds of you scrambling up my car. And then I see the wilted flowers in the garden, marking your resting place, and it hits me. You’re gone. Rest in peace Patchee, I’ll miss you.

We used to watch the sunsets together. I’d prop myself up onto my mother’s car boot, and he’d climb up next to me, cuddle up close and in silence, lend his unconditional support to me.

He used to be able to give me looks. Looks that would silently put me in place, looks that would wrench the very heart out of me, looks that will flood me with shame. Always silent, he didn’t need words to convey these emotions, his looks were enough.

Silently defiant as always, he was never one who complained. Even as a little thing, the first night we brought him home, separated from the comfort of his familiar surroundings, he didn’t let out a peep. He grew up strong and silent, even when he came back with the most horrible battle wounds, gored, skin ripped apart , these nasty open wounds were all silently endured. He never squirmed or complained when we dressed his wounds, even in the unfamiliar hands of the vet, he merely plopped himself down, turned his body to make access to the wounded bits of him easier, with nary a wince. The trust he had is us was complete and unquestioning.

He had his flaws. Not born to be a show dog (perhaps, the fault for that was ours to share, we never really trained him to be one… I’m sure he would have done great, when the mood struck him). He ran out, terrorized the neighbours and many a postman.

He was special. The best watch dog anyone could ask for. He’s the only dog we had (and we’ve had dogs since I can recall), which could climb on top cars and keep watch from there. Trust me, it IS very intimidating to have him bark at you from ground level, it’s something else to have him bark at you from on top of the car, as if he could leap off the top of the car, fly above the gate and come lunging directly at your jugular. Scary indeed.

But he was a sweetheart. As standoffish and unaffectionate as he may seem, he really was a big devoted furball inside. He’d nuzzle up for a quick pet every chance he got. He’s walk regally up to me the moment I got home and stand next to me, looking quietly at me, until I reach down and give him a “Hey boy, I’m home” pet. Then he’d walk protectively behind me, until I let myself in the house.

His devotion knew no end. He’d plonk himself on his belly right at our doorstep, and silently watch us from his panda marked eyes for hours on end. Watching us watching tv was his favourite past time. And we knew he was watching us, cause you only need to nod in his direction, and that tail will start wagging…. Look at him and smile, and he’d smile back (I swear, he could smile…) wagging his tail happily. Get up to get a glass of water, and he’d get up too. By the time you reach the kitchen and reach for a glass, he’s already at the back door, watching out for you.

I’m gonna miss you Patchee ole’ boy. 14 years of being together and suddenly you’re gone. I’ll miss your slow and steady regal walk. I’ll miss hearing you take your running start, and the clickity clack of your paws on the windshield, I’ll miss your silent nuzzles and most of all, my dear dear friend, I’ll miss our sunsets together.

I still glance by your usual hang out spot near the custard apple tree every morning. I still listen out at night for the sounds of you scrambling up my car. And then I see the wilted flowers in the garden, marking your resting place, and it hits me. You’re gone. Rest in peace Patchee, I’ll miss you.

Well not quite…. It was more of a smoke gets in your eyes… hair…. clothes….pores of skin  affair…

But smoke there was….

We were on our way back to his place, after dinner and we smelt smoke… it didn’t raise any alarm bells then cause it was more like an “Oh dear… someone left the chicken on the stove a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit too long” kind smell…..

We reach the door and notice that things were kind blur….. hazy blur….. we peeped into the neighbour’s (yes, we’re nosy) and WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA smoke billowing out from the kitchen….. we leaned over the railing into the airwell to get a better view of the neighbour’s kitchen and spy a pot of something which was once boiling merrily away, was now burning red hot and spewing smoke like krakatao….

We sprang into action… *mission impossible theme song playing in mind*

We knocked, hollered, yelled.

The only one who answered was the neighbour’s dog…. And it kept barking… alternating between the kitchen then at us… the poor thing knew something was amiss but could do nothing.

He tried calling the neighbour…. No answer.

I kept yelling…. No answer.

So what were we to do? Smoke filling our lungs… (it was lotus root and spare ribs soup flavoured… of course, very very well done), he made to get the security guard, and I, acting on instinct, reached in through the grilles and started blind feeling the wall next to the door. I molested the wall a little bit and just as I was about to give up, the tips of my fingers touched metal… it chinked and rattled at my touch. I lean forward some more (my poor boobs) and Lo! And Behold! I felt the unmistakable touch of a bunch of keys!!!

Heart racing and adrenalin pumping I turn to him and say “Wait…I think I can reach the keys.”

Without hesitation (or any thought to the criminal sentence which carries a jail term for breaking and entering and how NICE it would look on both of our records (we’re both lawyers….) he answered “Grab them!”

So grab them I did (for the record, I was acting ENTIRELY on his instruction, and my judgement was clouded by lotus root smoke).

And they WERE the keys to the house. I opened the grille and we jumped into action.

“Grab the dog” he told me.

(Sure, sure…. Leave it to the girl to wrestle the agitated dog, with sharp teeth and all….)

So I opened the grille cautiously, by this time, the smoke had made everything slightly cloudy, and the other neighbour had come out to see what the commotion was all about… and I slowly but firmly carry the dog in my arms….ok… so Bubbles is a chocolate coloured little toy poodle with oodles and oodles of baby soft poofy fur… BUT IT STILL HAD TEETH!!!!

And the moment I had Bubbles in my arms, he flashed right by me and dog directly to the kitchen…

By the time I got there, still carrying Bubbles, he had already turned off the flames and was taking the super heated pot of charcoaled lotus root to the sink.

Lots of sizzling and hissing and more smoke later, we stood there… kinda amazed at what just happened, my mind filled with thoughts of the penal code, breaking and entering….prison…the criminal and civil suits that may follow, and I could tell he thought it too… second only to the boyish excitement plastered all over his face!!! And just as we were about to make a break for it….. (I was wondering if I’d have enough reach to be able to hook them keys back, when Ms Neighbour came bounding into her unit.

She was all flummoxed and flustered.

“I left the fire on!!!”

“I’ve been calling my *^$%*%*& brother but he didn’t answer the phone!!!”

“Thanks, you guys!!! I rushed back as soon as I could!!!”

To this, a wash of relief flooded over me… Good…. She’s not gonna bring an action against us….

I give her dog back to her and explain to her that we tired calling her and yelling for someone to open the door…

She nodded gratefully and thanked us profusely again..

Good, I thought. She suspects nothing. We were making our way out, hoping to hell we wouldn’t have to explain how the hell we managed to get in… when she asked “So how did you guys get in? You forced the grilled open?”

We looked guiltily at each other, and in an act of pure chivalry, he pointed to me and said “She did it”.

Thanks man.

I had to explain to her what I did…. And lest she thought I was some criminal minded habitual house breaker, I had to explain to her that we hung the keys in similar fashion at home (well not quite… we kinda have a key basket….) and that I used to do the same stretch and feel thing to let myself in to the house when I get locked out….

She smiled and nodded. I could tell she wasn’t quite buying it…

Crap. That’s it.

If she avoids me on the street next time I see her….. I’ll know if I have the “bad ass criminal look” about me…. Sigh….

But trepidation, adrenalin rush, breaking and entering and dog wrestling aside, I must admit, IT WAS FUN!!!!!!!!!!! And I can only say this because no one got hurt, except maybe some blackened lotus roots… sure we smelt smoky after that…. And I’m sure Bubbles and it’s owner will never see me in the same light again… but there IS this special chest-proudly-out, walking on sunshine feeling that comes with being self professed heroes…. Even if it’s only for 5 minutes, and even if the only thing you manage to rescue were some lotus roots from becoming charcoal…. It was FUN!!!!

Plus, it’s something to blog about..

He’s lost another kilo since my last entry.

He swears by it.

Move over Emily, a more effective way of losing weight has hit Malaysian shores…… dieters, I give you…. The Eric Diet!!!!

You get sick, you leak, you puke, and you faint from utter exhaustion every 10 steps you take.

Sounds unpleasant???

Repeat after me….. 1 kg a day, 1 kg a day, 1 kg a day!

Eric’s lost 3 kgs!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what if he had to literally burn the calories through a fever… and so what if he had to lose most of his fluids through his nose….. HE LOST WEIGHT!!!!!!! He wasn’t even Emily-ing AND he gets 2 days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty sweet huh? I mean… in a morbidly sadistic kinda way…. But hey, if you’re gonna be sick, may as well enjoy the kickbacks rite?!??!

I’m ok with his losing all that weight without lifting a finger… I’m not overly jealous or anything….

Cause Eric’s a pal. And how can you tell if someone’s your real pal???

He offers to save some of his used tissues in the freezer, for the next wedding you have to attend.

Thanks, you big leaky lug you!

He tagged me 5 minutes ago.

Because I was bored to tears and didn’t want to wait for his post tomorrow.

He’s usually evil and let’s me hang by my fingernails on the cliff, full gale blowing, waves crashing… but today, he obliged. And I suspect, for one reason, and one reason only……

*sigh*

See Q1.

See response to Q1.

Questions (c&p job from MSN)

Eric says :

Q1 : RIGHT NOW, whats the top of the list on your iTunes top25?

Eric says:

Q2:

Eric says:

RIGHT NOW, other than replyin to this meme, what’s the first thing on your to do list for the day?

Eric says:

Q3: RIGHT NOW, what are you thinking of havin for lunch?

Eric says:

Q4: Right now, what else is running on your PC as you do this MEME?

Eric says:

Q5 : Name 5 people most likely to reply if you

Response to Questions (anor c&p jobs from MSN)

Eric says:

I think you’re gonna have problems with some of these Q’s though

Booker says:

what’s an iTune?

Eric says:

see? Need I say more?

At least it brought some joy and laughter to his life…..

Ok…. Memes…. And I’ve been tagged…. On a day I am SO DAMN BORED, I’m playing scrabble, on facebook, with MYSELF!!!!!!

So here’s my reply….

Q1 : RIGHT NOW, whats the top of the list on your iTunes top25?

I don’t know what an iTUne is. I assume it’s the music things people send to you over email or msn and when it’s done doing the % count up to 100, you click “Open” and your music player programme thing opens and a song plays.

Assuming that’s correct, my answer is “Wonderboy – Tenacious D”, which incidentally I got over email this morning (thank you andrewk), and once the downloading % count thing reached 100, I clicked “Open” and Jack Black was serenading me :D:D:D

Q2:

RIGHT NOW, other than replyin to this meme, what’s the first thing on your to do list for the day?

I know Eric, I’ve told you time and again about sharing information…. Where the line is and sometimes going overboard with WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION…. But I can’t bring myself to fake the first thing I’m gonna do after this….. so sorry people, but after this, I need to go visit the ladies.

Q3: RIGHT NOW, what are you thinking of havin for lunch?

Seeing as it’s already

3.59pm

and I’ve already had my lunch (a green apple – guess who’s Emily-ing?) I shall reply with what I’m thinking of having for dinner.

I’m THINKING of having KWAY TEOW TAR (PANG CHI N’NG) with OH CHIEN and SWEET & SOUR FISH and FISH MAW and CRAFISH….. but I’m also Emily-ing.

Sigh

So in reality, I’m only gonna have a bowl of mee hoon kueh.

Q4: Right now, what else is running on your PC as you do this MEME?

An ant, but it ran away 3 mins ago. Does that count?

Q5 : Name 5 people most likely to reply if you

Trick question. Only 2 people read my blog :-

(i)                   Eric, cause knowing him, he’ll CHECK to see if I’ve REALLY updated my blog; and

(ii)                 Me, just in case Eric needed company.

Ta-Daaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!

I’ve replied the Meme, and in doing so, updated my blog!!!! And it isn’t even the year 2011 yet!!!!

*twirly dance of joy*

Oh no….

I’ve been bitten by a crippling desire to immobilize myself in the office. It’s like in the old kung-fu shows there they hit “vital” spots in your body (relax, it’s usually around the shoulder blade area) and you’re suddenly become a statue……

All I wanna do right now is hide in a darkened concert hall, full orchestra playing (doesn’t matter what they play, just as long as they play), close my eyes, and let the music carry me off to some far away place… where no phone calls, computers or deadlines exist.

*eyes closed………….deep breath*

DAMN! It didn’t work! I’m still here…. Crap.

“Are you coming home for dinner today?” Mummy-dearest asked.

“Yes Mummy”, said I.

Nevermind that she had ALREADY asked me 13 times when I was in the shower, and another 5 times, AFTER I got into the car, and was backing out the driveway….

That was at something o’clock in the morning.

Just an hour ago, at about 6pm, she calls me ..

“Are you coming home for dinner today?”

“Yes Mummy”

“Oh….” Slightly disappointed. For my not coming home for dinner meant that she had an excuse not to cook….. which really explains why she asks me so many times a day…. (and this only happens when I answer in the affirmative…..) I guess she just hopes that if she asked me often enough, I’d change my mind after the 36^th time….

I stuck to my guns today….so she continued….

“Ok then. You want your asparagus (like I stuck a Booker flag on them and claimed them earlier…. Which I didn’t, by the way)… with pacific clams or anything else?”

“hmm… what else do you have to cook with MY asparagus?”

“…….nothing……..”

You gotta grin.

I really, really love my Mummy sometimes.

The internet’s down this morning.

Which only means one thing.

I have no purpose to be in the office today. *WAIL*

And so, searching deep within the depths of this fluffy Wednesday, for that silver lining, it hit me *ting-ting* with profoundest clarity. Today, I, Booker, shall blog!!!!!

And as with all of my many many blog entries, I sift through the 3 thoughts in my head and take the necessary half hour per thought it takes to actually make any sense of any of them.

Food?!!?!

Shoes?!!!??!

Food?!!!?!?!!

Tough choice, for ANYONE I know…..

Okay, so here it is. Today’s blog entry.

It shall be about….. my favouritest food in the whole wide world!!!!!! Note : Does buffet in general count???!?! Anyways, back to the mains….

My favourtiest food in the whole wide world, is actually a pretty simple dish ….. “Kway Teow Tar – pang chee n’ng” (Hokkien speak for “Dry Kway Teow – with raw egg”. Whilst yes, you can find it in ANY Chinese makan place, only in my Favouritest Restaurant in the Whole Wide World does the Chef (not cook, nay, for anyone who whips up a dish so perfect deserves the reverence of being called “Chef”) FLOOD them kway teows in enough oil to power a small country, and only in my Favouritest Restaurant in the Whole Wide World does the Chef get each and every strand of them oily kway teows COATED with the flavour of lard………. Yummmmmmm *eyes closed in bliss*… that’s right… it’s not just any oil that makes up the oily soup, the Chef uses pork lard oil…. Where chunks and chunks of pork lard are left to simmer over a low heat, cajoling the flavoury yummy oily juices from it, leaving only crispy crunchy nuggets of porky goodness my family folk refer to as “Krock-Krick” – for the sound it makes when you bite into them (we are inventive, I know….)

And dear dear friends, salmo-what the-nell-are you talking about???? The raw egg that gets cracked into the well created from the piping hot oily krock-krick laden kway teow, freshly dished from the wok gives the kway teow dish an overall healthy glow once everyone at the table, waiting anxiously chopsticks at ready, digs in and buries the raw egg into the smooth porky flavoury kway teow.

This dish, eaten with generous amounts of fresh garlic and cili padi, is absolutely and without a doubt, the BESTEST, MY FAVOURITEST FOOD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm…… I wonder if I can swap Kway Teow Tar – Pang Chi N’ng for cheese when dieting the Emily way……..*ponders*