We were at Fun Size's place playing Siam Blackjack.
She wasn't playing. Just flipping through the channels on Astro. She then stopped at Animal Planet. It was airing a program that showcased an animal testing lab back in the early 20th century. Particularly on primates.
The lab is haunted. Wait... (it got us to stop playing). What is a haunted place doing in Animal Planet? Salah slot kah? It was haunted not by human spirit, but monkeys'. Seriously? Monkeys?
Since Primary Two then wondered:
"When human have encounters with ghosts, they call the psychics. If animal spirits, who do they call?"
"The zoo keeper lor..."
Yeah, I know. It was so random. We were all in tears. Almost cramped ourselves laughing.
There were human spirits. Now, animal spirits. Human. The weirdest living creature that has all the things going on in his mind. I won't be surprise hearing what's next.
Insect spirits bugging you. Pun intended.
14.11.10
10.11.10
Many, many Sundaes ago
What is so special about this sundae?
It was my winning bet...
Strawberry for me, chocolate for Diam-Diam
... back when everyone was having the World Cup fever!
It was that many Sundaes ago.
I'm not a football fan. I don't really know who's who, and which team is playing. Diam-Diam came to me one day, ajak to bet lah. She already chose hers, left me with no other choice. But since everyone was betting, and ours does not involve money, so why not.
I didn't watch the match. Only to find out the next morning. And best of all, I can't even remember which team I bet on. I even asked her to remind me! But a bet is still a bet. I understand her jeling-ing at me. For a person who know nothing about football to win a bet even without watching is demoralizing, right?
Beginner's luck.
After months of bugging her, from "I feels like strawberry today." to "Don't you think my shirt look like a strawberry?", from randomly pointing a deco on her desk blurting "Strawberry!" to "They should garnish this with strawberries" to my meal, and other similar variance posted in our Facebook walls, and my MSN statuses, I finally got it.
But it comes with a catch. She don't do deliveries.
The title was my MSN status.
It was my winning bet...
Strawberry for me, chocolate for Diam-Diam
... back when everyone was having the World Cup fever!
It was that many Sundaes ago.
I'm not a football fan. I don't really know who's who, and which team is playing. Diam-Diam came to me one day, ajak to bet lah. She already chose hers, left me with no other choice. But since everyone was betting, and ours does not involve money, so why not.
I didn't watch the match. Only to find out the next morning. And best of all, I can't even remember which team I bet on. I even asked her to remind me! But a bet is still a bet. I understand her jeling-ing at me. For a person who know nothing about football to win a bet even without watching is demoralizing, right?
Beginner's luck.
After months of bugging her, from "I feels like strawberry today." to "Don't you think my shirt look like a strawberry?", from randomly pointing a deco on her desk blurting "Strawberry!" to "They should garnish this with strawberries" to my meal, and other similar variance posted in our Facebook walls, and my MSN statuses, I finally got it.
But it comes with a catch. She don't do deliveries.
The title was my MSN status.
7.11.10
Twice a fool
In Since Primary Two's car.
At an open road. Ten odd street lamps to the traffic light. It was green.
He clutched in, dropped gear, and floored the accel. Boost kicked in. Needles jumped. The car torque steered. We were glued to the seats, as the wastegate screamed. Adrenaline started pumping. Orgasmic!
The light turned yellow! He braked hard... *potong steam*
At the red, we had a small talk.
"Even a Ferrari or Lambo can't beat that..."
"Yea lah wei..."
"Unless we can teleport in front lah."
"...(Stared at me, short pause)... If we can teleport, we teleport home lah! Still wanna teleport in front the traffic light meh!?"
Why didn't I think of that!? We had this exact conversation twice! At the exact same spot! On different occasions!
"Two bloody times you said that wei!"
"I know lah!... You don't let the teleport not enough power ar!? (cover malu)... You still layan the first part what!"
"HAhAhAhAHAHHAAHAH!"
"Let's make it 3. Third time's a charm. Or lucky number 7!"
"HAhAhAhAhAHHAA! (Long pause)... Don't wei!"
We cried all the way home.
At an open road. Ten odd street lamps to the traffic light. It was green.
He clutched in, dropped gear, and floored the accel. Boost kicked in. Needles jumped. The car torque steered. We were glued to the seats, as the wastegate screamed. Adrenaline started pumping. Orgasmic!
The light turned yellow! He braked hard... *potong steam*
At the red, we had a small talk.
"Even a Ferrari or Lambo can't beat that..."
"Yea lah wei..."
"Unless we can teleport in front lah."
"...(Stared at me, short pause)... If we can teleport, we teleport home lah! Still wanna teleport in front the traffic light meh!?"
Why didn't I think of that!? We had this exact conversation twice! At the exact same spot! On different occasions!
"Two bloody times you said that wei!"
"I know lah!... You don't let the teleport not enough power ar!? (cover malu)... You still layan the first part what!"
"HAhAhAhAHAHHAAHAH!"
"Let's make it 3. Third time's a charm. Or lucky number 7!"
"HAhAhAhAhAHHAA! (Long pause)... Don't wei!"
We cried all the way home.
5.11.10
Whose idea was that?
Came a brief for The Shower Foam.
The message was simple - to own a category where other brands have not. But what the client wanted to own, is too similar to 89,168,605,321.73 brands out there in the market. Did I mention it was for a capped TV spot? A budget so low that any production house would pretend they didn't know us.
We were working on it for 3 nights. Nothing solid. Shades came to me one night. We spoke a little about the brand essence itself. He gave the green light to look away from the brief. Take whatever that was in it as secondaries. Try a different angle. Look at a bigger picture.
The big idea, that is.
Had a chat with More Than a Cycle the next day. He was more than glad that we can ignore the brief. At least for now. One thing led to another. One idea sparked the other. We quickly gathered as much when we're satisfied with what we have after hours of bouncing off.
Showed them to Shades. "Almost there." It is still lack of that idea. Rethink. Well, the rejection wasn't brutal, really. But damn. Thought we have nailed it. Back to the drawing board. So, we decided to split. And work on it separately. I came up with 3 different scripts based on that one strong idea. A la Yasmin Ahmad style.
Shades compiled everything for the internal review day to the suits. Towards the end, one of my script was mentioned. It was selected among a couple more for the client presentation.
The thing about advertising is, you rarely work alone during the ideation stage. You will be working in a team. The initial first thought will eventually evolve. An idea will overlap another. A thought will generate newer, better thoughts. Up to a point, no one knows who is doing what anymore.
Up to this day, I still hear creatives ask why named an art director in a copy-based ad. Or why is the copywriter in a visual driven ad.
We are not in the golden age of advertising in the 60s anymore. Though your tools of trade weighs more to either side, art directors are not layout artist, and copywriters don't just write. Learn to accept this fact... no, changing trend of the industry.
If you insist, "What triggers that idea?", may sound more appropriate.
• • • • •
On an extra note...
We got the news that all 3 storyboards got shot down. All. Three. Boards. Triple sighs. Client decided to go for their own idea.
They should have just liaise with the production house of their choice directly in the first place. Call us in to supervise the shoot. Rather than asking for a solution when they already had something in mind.
Well, at least I can face myself and loudly say I tried my best.
The message was simple - to own a category where other brands have not. But what the client wanted to own, is too similar to 89,168,605,321.73 brands out there in the market. Did I mention it was for a capped TV spot? A budget so low that any production house would pretend they didn't know us.
We were working on it for 3 nights. Nothing solid. Shades came to me one night. We spoke a little about the brand essence itself. He gave the green light to look away from the brief. Take whatever that was in it as secondaries. Try a different angle. Look at a bigger picture.
The big idea, that is.
Had a chat with More Than a Cycle the next day. He was more than glad that we can ignore the brief. At least for now. One thing led to another. One idea sparked the other. We quickly gathered as much when we're satisfied with what we have after hours of bouncing off.
Showed them to Shades. "Almost there." It is still lack of that idea. Rethink. Well, the rejection wasn't brutal, really. But damn. Thought we have nailed it. Back to the drawing board. So, we decided to split. And work on it separately. I came up with 3 different scripts based on that one strong idea. A la Yasmin Ahmad style.
Shades compiled everything for the internal review day to the suits. Towards the end, one of my script was mentioned. It was selected among a couple more for the client presentation.
The thing about advertising is, you rarely work alone during the ideation stage. You will be working in a team. The initial first thought will eventually evolve. An idea will overlap another. A thought will generate newer, better thoughts. Up to a point, no one knows who is doing what anymore.
Up to this day, I still hear creatives ask why named an art director in a copy-based ad. Or why is the copywriter in a visual driven ad.
We are not in the golden age of advertising in the 60s anymore. Though your tools of trade weighs more to either side, art directors are not layout artist, and copywriters don't just write. Learn to accept this fact... no, changing trend of the industry.
If you insist, "What triggers that idea?", may sound more appropriate.
• • • • •
On an extra note...
We got the news that all 3 storyboards got shot down. All. Three. Boards. Triple sighs. Client decided to go for their own idea.
They should have just liaise with the production house of their choice directly in the first place. Call us in to supervise the shoot. Rather than asking for a solution when they already had something in mind.
Well, at least I can face myself and loudly say I tried my best.
2.11.10
The "should have" moment
Just as I about to swerve in the entrance ramp to the parking today, a black mini MPV in front of me stopped. A well-dressed woman in lilac got down. What? Wait. You planning to dock just right here?
I gave her a polite honk. She then walked towards me. She gave me that disgusted look you only see in certain kind/type of people.
"Awak block parking... (before I could continue)"
"Lah, sabar lah, aduh!"
Then her car moved!
Oh! Okay... the passenger switched place from the inside. The fuck I know ar!? Your car was almost illegally tinted. You got down from the driver's side. There was about 20 feet to my car. The time it took you to come over to blurted out the "sabar" thingy, would have taken you enough time to indicate someone is in there, and was about to leave. Signal lights don't come optional with the purchase of the car.
I understand that sabar is separuh dari iman. Or whatever you wanna put it. The look on your pathetic face isn't sabar as well.
I should have screw the fuck out of her then.
Yeah. That moment.
Good start of the day.
I gave her a polite honk. She then walked towards me. She gave me that disgusted look you only see in certain kind/type of people.
"Awak block parking... (before I could continue)"
"Lah, sabar lah, aduh!"
Then her car moved!
Oh! Okay... the passenger switched place from the inside. The fuck I know ar!? Your car was almost illegally tinted. You got down from the driver's side. There was about 20 feet to my car. The time it took you to come over to blurted out the "sabar" thingy, would have taken you enough time to indicate someone is in there, and was about to leave. Signal lights don't come optional with the purchase of the car.
I understand that sabar is separuh dari iman. Or whatever you wanna put it. The look on your pathetic face isn't sabar as well.
I should have screw the fuck out of her then.
Yeah. That moment.
Good start of the day.
1.11.10
This is what we go through everyday
Dubbed in Cantonese. Couldn't find one with English subtitle. Sorry.
Sad, but true.
24.10.10
"It's Me!"
When you got a call from an apparent friend, who never contacted you in years, it could only be one of the variation below:
1. To sell.
2. To borrow.
3. (Just) to catch up.
To sell - Most of these apparent friends are in this group. They come in a form of a sales(wo)man, agent, a member of the said-company-that-produced-the-item-that-s/he's-about-to-sell-you, and the like. The products are usually MLM-related, insurance or fund, and financial-related.
To borrow - Relatives dominated this group. You may or may not heard, or seen them before. Never visit your home, let alone stepping an inch at your front door. The only thing that these group of people borrow is money.
(Just) to catch up - An urban legend.
By now, you should have guessed I got a call from one of these friends.
"Hey, Birthmark!"
"Yes?"
"It's [Me]."
"[Me] who?"
"[Me Myself] lah, from Old School Art College."
"[Me Myself]?... (I thought for a while) Oh!... Hey, what's up?"
"Make yourself free on [date]. Having my wedding dinner reception then."
"I'm not sure if I can attend."
Can't commit. I'm an adman. Remember?
"Are you free next week?"
"Not on weekdays. Weekends should be fine."
"We'll meet up then. I'll pass you the invitation. But anyway, if you can't make it next week it's okay. But on my day, you must come! Try your best, okay?"
"Well, I'll try."
"No more friendship if you didn't show up!"
He's joking. Just to make the conversation warmer and friendlier. Some quick seconds before we hang up.
The last I seen him was back at my college day. That was almost ten years ago. We briefly met up after that for some drinks along with other friends. How many times was that? Not even a handful. Fingerful, if this term exist. And that was it. We never met or call each other after that. Not even chatting online. Only recently he found me in The Social Network.
Since when he got an English name ar? Look at how distant are we.
We refer the wedding invitation as The Red Bomb. It comes in a red envelope mah. Even if it's a no-show, we are to pay a discounted rate. Half from the market price. If you decide to bring a partner (strongly not recommended), doubled.
The Red Bomb are given to (all) relatives of both side of the bride and groom. Compulsory. The handful of friends who you hang out with. Colleagues who you work directly with. "Friends" here I refer to as those you see almost every other day - the bros and sis, the close ones. Colleagues are optional.
Which one I'm in again?
After years of silence, called me in the middle of my brain juicing moment and expect me to nod?
Would putting him into the To Sell group appropriate?
And I'm not going.
1. To sell.
2. To borrow.
3. (Just) to catch up.
To sell - Most of these apparent friends are in this group. They come in a form of a sales(wo)man, agent, a member of the said-company-that-produced-the-item-that-s/he's-about-to-sell-you, and the like. The products are usually MLM-related, insurance or fund, and financial-related.
To borrow - Relatives dominated this group. You may or may not heard, or seen them before. Never visit your home, let alone stepping an inch at your front door. The only thing that these group of people borrow is money.
(Just) to catch up - An urban legend.
By now, you should have guessed I got a call from one of these friends.
"Hey, Birthmark!"
"Yes?"
"It's [Me]."
"[Me] who?"
"[Me Myself] lah, from Old School Art College."
"[Me Myself]?... (I thought for a while) Oh!... Hey, what's up?"
"Make yourself free on [date]. Having my wedding dinner reception then."
"I'm not sure if I can attend."
Can't commit. I'm an adman. Remember?
"Are you free next week?"
"Not on weekdays. Weekends should be fine."
"We'll meet up then. I'll pass you the invitation. But anyway, if you can't make it next week it's okay. But on my day, you must come! Try your best, okay?"
"Well, I'll try."
"No more friendship if you didn't show up!"
He's joking. Just to make the conversation warmer and friendlier. Some quick seconds before we hang up.
The last I seen him was back at my college day. That was almost ten years ago. We briefly met up after that for some drinks along with other friends. How many times was that? Not even a handful. Fingerful, if this term exist. And that was it. We never met or call each other after that. Not even chatting online. Only recently he found me in The Social Network.
Since when he got an English name ar? Look at how distant are we.
We refer the wedding invitation as The Red Bomb. It comes in a red envelope mah. Even if it's a no-show, we are to pay a discounted rate. Half from the market price. If you decide to bring a partner (strongly not recommended), doubled.
The Red Bomb are given to (all) relatives of both side of the bride and groom. Compulsory. The handful of friends who you hang out with. Colleagues who you work directly with. "Friends" here I refer to as those you see almost every other day - the bros and sis, the close ones. Colleagues are optional.
Which one I'm in again?
After years of silence, called me in the middle of my brain juicing moment and expect me to nod?
Would putting him into the To Sell group appropriate?
And I'm not going.
23.10.10
When it's still pink
Half of our topics are food related.
Diam-Diam is not fat. Not even close. She's the kind with a well built frame. Athletic curves - she's into kickboxing. Tall, for a girl. Big bones. And has a huge pair of ti... hands. They were as big as mine! Measuring it against the manhood, I thought, it really questions the ego. And I wonder, how big his boy's was to compensate.
The Pink Ice-cream is having a promo. Every Wednesday, if you wear or bring anything pink to any of the outlet, you'll get a discount or some sort. Excitedly, she was selling this to me the whole day. So, I did a body search. Looking around my desk for anything pink. And I thought I have something in that hue. Where are they lah?
Thought I was desperately looking for one, she slide her chair near me and put her nail polish on my table. Volunteered to give a manicure session for me. I thought for a while.
I told her why not I storm to the counter. Lift my shirt. Unbuckle. Pull my pants. Slide my underwear. And shout...
"Quick, quick! Before it turns hard and red!"
We had a good laugh.
Not a fan of it though.
Diam-Diam is not fat. Not even close. She's the kind with a well built frame. Athletic curves - she's into kickboxing. Tall, for a girl. Big bones. And has a huge pair of ti... hands. They were as big as mine! Measuring it against the manhood, I thought, it really questions the ego. And I wonder, how big his boy's was to compensate.
The Pink Ice-cream is having a promo. Every Wednesday, if you wear or bring anything pink to any of the outlet, you'll get a discount or some sort. Excitedly, she was selling this to me the whole day. So, I did a body search. Looking around my desk for anything pink. And I thought I have something in that hue. Where are they lah?
Thought I was desperately looking for one, she slide her chair near me and put her nail polish on my table. Volunteered to give a manicure session for me. I thought for a while.
I told her why not I storm to the counter. Lift my shirt. Unbuckle. Pull my pants. Slide my underwear. And shout...
"Quick, quick! Before it turns hard and red!"
We had a good laugh.
Not a fan of it though.
12.10.10
Shots of Vitamin C
One of the many last minute plan. For being too bored on a Saturday night. Forked out 5 bucks each for that couple of hours spent in the parking being an amateur photographer. At least it's something... productive?
8.10.10
Milk poisoning, petrol intoxication
It's always been you two.
What about The Bank? What about The Credit Card? Not to forget The Soft Drink. Juice. Ice-cream. Yogurt. Have I left out The Toothbrush? The Toothpaste? The Shower Foam? And The Hair Gel?
Oh? The Cosmetic? The Car? The Cinema? The Apartment? The Trade Agency? How I had wished...
Milk. Petrol. Milk... petrol... you've been occupying most of my time.
Don't I wish to queue in a bank too? Or online banking like everyone else? I swipe cards. I wouldn't mind having diabetic soft drinks every now and then. Or engulf in the artificial freshness of a juice. Oh, that rich and creamy ice-cream. That taste buds stimulating yogurt. You only live once. I sleep with minty breath. And wake up still smelling like a baby. I do my hair if I'm out.
I wouldn't mind a little lip balm. I like cars. I love cars. Look at what I did to Slow White Poke. I enjoy watching movies on a big screen. If I'm with someone I'm fond of. I dream of resting my feet on a coffee table in studio suite. On a non working day. Trading? That would come in handy one day.
So, get out of the way. Don't jammed me up.
It's time to milk the petrol dry. And loose guard patrolling the dairy.
Yeah. Just back from work. At least I managed to sneak out for dinner and a couple of beers with Zoky earlier.
Good night, and good morning, people.
Whichever deem fits.
What about The Bank? What about The Credit Card? Not to forget The Soft Drink. Juice. Ice-cream. Yogurt. Have I left out The Toothbrush? The Toothpaste? The Shower Foam? And The Hair Gel?
Oh? The Cosmetic? The Car? The Cinema? The Apartment? The Trade Agency? How I had wished...
Milk. Petrol. Milk... petrol... you've been occupying most of my time.
Don't I wish to queue in a bank too? Or online banking like everyone else? I swipe cards. I wouldn't mind having diabetic soft drinks every now and then. Or engulf in the artificial freshness of a juice. Oh, that rich and creamy ice-cream. That taste buds stimulating yogurt. You only live once. I sleep with minty breath. And wake up still smelling like a baby. I do my hair if I'm out.
I wouldn't mind a little lip balm. I like cars. I love cars. Look at what I did to Slow White Poke. I enjoy watching movies on a big screen. If I'm with someone I'm fond of. I dream of resting my feet on a coffee table in studio suite. On a non working day. Trading? That would come in handy one day.
So, get out of the way. Don't jammed me up.
It's time to milk the petrol dry. And loose guard patrolling the dairy.
Yeah. Just back from work. At least I managed to sneak out for dinner and a couple of beers with Zoky earlier.
Good night, and good morning, people.
Whichever deem fits.
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