Git Gig Geek

I enjoy concerts tremendously. When I listen to a record, I tend to imagine how the song would sound live. And I've been incredibly lucky to have attended gigs and live performances by many a favourite. I actually had to save up for some of these.

Peppers & Incubus twice, sublime everytime. Radiohead might just be the best ever. Foo Fighters with 40,000 ppl. Giant yellow bouncing balls while Chris croons "your skin..." Chino Moreno walking past me outside of Manchester Academy. Tiny Collective Soul gig was super-solid. Recently múm with their multitude of instruments and lousy Singapore fans. Still don't know why was it fated that I fell sick and missed Sigur Rós. Was screaming like mad when Mayday played at Bukit Bintang. Genting Arena is a sucky location, but I did catch Joey, Vincy, and 3-man Beyond there. Pretty much seen all my heroes live except those that I could never see again, like Smashing Labu-Labu, Led Zep, and definitely wouldn't mind Floyd or Beatles too.

Amazingly enough, also found this ticket stub in my collection.
Things one would do for the opposite sex..

Jumaat Bagus

It's abit surreal recounting the Way of the Cross in the middle of the sea.

As Pontius Pilate dipped his hand into the bowl, the clear water turned black. I watched the Man-God dragging his feet on the ground, carrying that heavy wooden execution device. I wanted to make His load lighter, I wanted to carry a heavier burden. A subtle joy appeared in my heart. I saw a mother share her son's grief, the astounding understanding and trust she has in Him. Back in St. Peter's Basilica, I see Veronica holding the cloth with His face imprinted on it. The sky was dark, but it was not as dark as the cross. It was like a magnet, attracting all that is sinful, dark, and uncertain. And it was on His shoulder. The surroundings were noisy with meaningless cries and jeers, weeping women and shouting men, all jostling to see the fall of their celebrity.

The painting was wide and many figures were depicted vividly in the scene. However, the painting was in grey, except for Him and his mother. His disfigured and bruised body was on the ground. She was only a tiny bit in the picture. A veiled head was all I could see, but her eyes were painted with such compassion that it became the focus of the painting. I prayed for her, and she acknoledged thanks for my belief, by giving me a firm press on my shoulders. It was a blur after that. As if the scenes were numbing along with His heart, I hear the queasy hammering sound of nails in flesh. The Passion was the last movie I should think of, but I recalled the part where the soldiers couldn't lift the cross proper. A destitute and hopeless voice rang out "Eli Eli Lama Sabachtani". It was a human voice.

People were dispersing, and Calvary seemed like the loneliest place on Earth.

Raphael's Deposition (The Entombment), 1508,

184 x 176 cm, Oil on wood, Galleria Borghese.

First Year Stories

Yesterday was my one year annivesary in MNC A. What a year.

I've learned much in theory and in practice. I've made friends. And I've been living on/off Miri for a year.

I've learned that to be a consultant, one must believe and uphold the perfect process, although what goes on around you is far from perfect. I've learned that projects must have well-defined objectives & goals, or else your hard work amounts to nothing. I've learned that the most important part of managing change is accountability & sustainability. I've learned that staying together with colleagues in service apartments are more fun than housemates during uni days, because you don't have to argue about chores and cooking. I've also learned that working away from home has a subtle but deep impact onto my social life, because friends will always assume I'm not around.

I sat a Fokker to Labuan. I drove a Wira, Waja, Persona & Myvi. I presented regularly in front of 30 people. I jumped off an 8m platform. I traversed the South China Sea in various helicopters. I experienced life aboard gas-production platforms, complete with 6 meals a day. I jogged on a helideck. I laughed at cold jokes. I had the best sashimi in Brunei. I got upgraded to Enrich Silver. I sang & snooker-ed in dark pubs. I lost a part of myself.

4 months down the road is supposed to be the ending, a new beginning. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for now.