Stay-Gavin DeGraw

This and That

Gosh a lot of things happened.

my sis and the kids came back for their holidays. i had fun,...went back and forth to putrajaya. it was a great 6 weeks busy this and that span. saying goodbye was hard but i learn to enjoy the moment and to put sadness at bay.

hari raya...selamat hari raya to all. i went back to Kuantan, then terengganu, then back to kuantan, and next to Kuala Lipis and then back to KL. busy bee. but despite everything, its a kinda moderate and low key raya for me this year, just the way i like it. spent some time with my grandma, she is so old, so fragile, i think she can collapse any minute of the day. but u can see the love from her face. though i have to actually shout in order to talk to her as she is near deaf, but she still wants to know about you and ask a lot of questions, how you live, what you eat, do you have a car to go to work and so on...she still asks the questions...makes me sad to see how old she is, thats all. i remember the memories when she was younger, when i was like 6 or 7 years old, cant wait to go back for hari raya to trengganu. cant wait to play the bunga api with cousins! and to all the duit raya!!! baju baru, putting on the kasut baru! oh man, those were the days.

went to the first ATP Malaysian Open 2009 in Stadium putra bukit jalil, though Rafa didnt play, i still went. met some old friends and some new ones. i guess its never too late for anything. had fun. it was exciting for me to see the players playing live right in front of my eyes instead through the tele. its a wondrous experience, one that i shall look forward to experience next year again,god willing ;-)

finished another 2 korean drama. Cinderella man was exciting story and idea at first but overall i rate it 6/10. the plot didnt get more exciting, it just stays there for some reason. however, on shining inheritance, i recommend this to anyone who wants to watch it!! totally entertaining till the end! self rating on shining inheritance 7.5/10!

aja aja!

Anuar Zain Concert Istana Budaya, 1 July 2009

Went to the concert last wednesday with MBA, Kelo, Mr. M and Mr.F. had great fun and met some old friends here and there. Anuar Zain was flawless and sang more than 20 songs from his album and some rendition of famous old songs.

one word to describe it all: STUPENDOUS!

Anuar, you are the best!!! looking forward to the next concert!

Flavour of Life-Again....

Man in The Mirror

One of my fav song of all time from the King of Pop!

MICHAEL JACKSON DIES TODAY AT 50

ABOVE IS THE TRIBUTE TO MJ DONE YEARS BACK BY THE KOREAN ARTIST WHICH ONE OF THEM IS RAIN!

MICHAEL JACKSON IN MY EYES IS THE 'KING OF POP'. HE IS ARTISTIC, ONE OF A KIND. I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT AS A STAR THAT HAS TASTED FAME EARLY IN HIS CHILDHOOD, IT SOMEHOW MAKES LIFE FOR HIM A LITTLE BIT ABNORMAL THAN OTHERS, AND PERHAPS IN HIS CASE, A LIFE FULL OF DRAMA AND ALL.

BUT HIS PASSING SHALL BE MOURNED BY THE WORLD, I AM DEFINITELY A BIG FAN OF THE LEGEND MJ. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE!

Recap on Last Year Wimbledon

Articles
Sublime Spaniard stretches the imagination


Sunday, 6 July 2008
Written by Kate Battersby


So now we know. For 65 matches spanning six years we have wondered who could possibly be the man to stop Roger Federer on grass, and at Wimbledon. Did such a player exist, or was Federer's elegant supremacy such that the mere idea was the stuff of ridiculous imagination?
On Centre Court on Sunday, imagination took flight. The sporting world trembled on its axis, and mother nature sent out thunderclaps and lightning around the All England Club to herald the extraordinary moment. So remember the date, July 6 2008, the time, 9.15pm, and then shout the name out loud: Rafael Nadal.

Little wonder the Spanish national motto is Plus Ultra – literally, further beyond. If the translation is clumsily ungrammatical, then the legend itself spells out in neon what Nadal achieved. Four weeks to the day since he permitted the Swiss a confidence-mincing total of four games in his clay court kingdom of Roland Garros, Nadal robbed Federer of his most treasured possession, the title that defined him: his Wimbledon crown.

The 22-year-old Majorcan already has four successive French Open victories, but this is his most glittering prize. Three weeks ago at Queen’s he became the first Spaniard to take a grass court title in 36 years. But it is 42 years since a player from his nation conquered the lawns of SW19.

The moment when at last he touched victory hit him like a bullet in the chest. It left him flattened on the turf, eyes squeezed shut, face crumpled. Tears came, and he rolled over into a near-foetal position, before staggering to his feet to acknowledge Federer at the net. But the need to be with those he loves the most was paramount for Nadal, and he clambered the stands to find their embrace, before taking a startling walk over an adjoining roof to receive a handshake from the Spanish crown prince in the royal box.

Little wonder he felt such need for release. All through the match he had contained his confidence, with none of the lavish celebration so habitual to his game. Dozens of times in any given match he can be seen extravagantly rejoicing in some extraordinary shot by swerving away with his left fist clenched, arm pumping, shouting: “Vamos!” But today there was no investment of energy in such wastefulness until late in the final set. Face set in concentration, he permitted himself just an occasional fist-clench of affirmation, until almost the moment he smote the legend.

Who could blame him? Every second of this match was cloaked in spine-tingling tension, and that was just for those who watched. What must it have been like inside Nadal’s skin, to wake on Sunday morning in the knowledge that this was the most important day of his professional life?

Twelve months ago here, he became the only person to have taken Federer to five sets since his grass court streak began in the ancient days of 2003. This year so many voices publicly proclaimed him champion before a ball was struck. But he was facing a man who was bidding to make history, by becoming the first player in 122 years to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon six times in succession. Federer was decreed to be at his most vulnerable, yet no one else here had been able unburden Federer of so much as a set in the whole fortnight. The only outcome no one could envisage was an anti-climax.

On a cool and blustery afternoon, the Centre Court crowd were all but gibbering with anticipation. Arriving on court Nadal looked tense and purposeful; Federer strolled in behind him with a graceful wave to acknowledge the ovation. When umpire Pascal Maria called time, Federer strode at once to the baseline, but Nadal lingered for 10 seconds in his chair, pondering his destiny.

He grasped the first point of the match with a powerful forehand, and it prompted not only long applause but a great murmuring ripple through the crowd, as if some sensational piece of news was being passed among them. Even the sun peered out from the dark skies above, unable to resist the lure of the action.

Moments later the ripple was a roar of astonishment. The match was three games old, but already the Spaniard had a break, and Federer never got it back. It felt as if the mental burden of that Roland Garros evisceration was casting a shadow.

The shadow grew longer when Nadal came back from 1-4 down to take the second 6-4. Federer, the grass court king, was two sets down. If that seemed unreal, it was positively eerie when at 3-3 in the third, Nadal galloped to 0-40.

They felt very much like match points – but all went by. On such chances great matches might hinge. An 80-minute break for rain saw Federer renewed, as if he had remembered that all he had to fear was fear itself. From being dangerously near defeat, he took the set on the tie-break.

The fourth set tie-break was a thing of heart-stopping beauty – heart-stopping in its tension, beautiful in its quality. Twice Nadal held Championship point, and twice heaven passed him by on the other side. Federer took it to a fifth, and here at last Nadal’s destiny lay waiting.

There is no sound like the roar of the Centre Court crowd as it tumbles on to the turf. The great wave of it crashed over Nadal. Was there ever such a final as this? The king is dead; long live the king.

*I hope that Rafa can play this year....

RAFA NADAL

Rafael Nadal puts success down to home comforts and a quiet life
Rafael Nadal’s current dominance of tennis is such that his defeat at the French Open last month was greeted with shock and disbelief. Now, as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon title, the legend who’s never left home opens up about rankings, racket abuse and new rival Andy Murray

Simon Kinnersley


There is a scene that says more about Rafael Nadal than 1,000 documentaries. It is Paris, four years ago almost to the day. He has just won the French Open for the first time and is walking down the street; Uncle Toni, his coach, is on one side, and former professional player Carlos Costa on the other. Toni whispers to his nephew that he should afford Costa the respect and status he deserves by walking on the outside. The newly crowned champion obliges and quickly swaps places, and the three of them carry on into the night.

Today, Nadal has 30 titles and 6 grand slams to his name, including Wimbledon, and has banked around £17 million in winnings, with total earnings estimated at nearly £50 million. Despite that, those around him insist nothing has changed; the only difference being he wouldn’t need to be told to walk on the outside, he would already be there.

Arguably it is this surprising humility, conspicuous by its absence in so many sporting megastars, that has kept the tennis critics’ faith in Nadal even after he crashed out of the French Open this year. “It was a shocking, unprecedented, utterly unforeseen defeat,” says Times Tennis Correspondent Neil Harman. “But in the press conference afterwards, Nadal proved his mental strength, calmly pointing out how one needs defeat to give value to your victories. He still has three or four years until he reaches his peak, but already he is in the top five tennis players of all time.”

In fact, it is a measure of Nadal’s dominance that his defeat sent such massive reverberations through the sport. After all, up until then, he had been busy rewriting the tennis record books. Last year, he finally topped the rankings after 160 weeks at number two, and won the Davis Cup for Spain, gold at the Beijing Olympics and seven other titles. This year he has gone on to win in both Monte Carlo and Barcelona for a fifth successive time, as well as the Italian Open for a fourth time, all at 22 (he’s just had his 23rd birthday). But, while his trophy cabinet and number of screaming fans have swelled proportionately, life for the boy from Majorca remains very much the same.

He still lives at home with his mother, father and sister at their flat in Manacor, still carries his own bags, looks after his own kit (his mother washes and irons his clothes), hangs out with his old friends, dates a local girl, 21-year-old Francisca “Xisca” Perello, goes fishing with friends in a boat out of Porto Cristo harbour, and still has the threat from his Uncle Toni that, if he starts acting up, he can look for a new coach or find a new sport.

“He told me when I was very young that if I ever started throwing my rackets around, smashing them or hitting balls out of the park, then he would send me out of the park,” recalls Nadal. “He used to say that there were many children and grown-ups who have never had the chance to play, so a racket should be loved. I have never thrown a racket in my life. It taught me that it doesn’t matter how badly you are playing, it is not the racket’s fault; you should always show respect.”

We are sitting in his hotel room in Rome – perhaps the only thing that has changed is the fact that he resides in a suite rather than a standard room – which, in spite of its abundant luxury and the fact that he has spent less than an hour there, is already more than halfway towards looking like a student bedroom. A few photos Blu-Tacked to the walls and the makeover would be complete.

Clothes are strewn around, trainers and socks form footsteps on the carpet as though discarded as he walked across the room. Half-unpacked cases spill their contents across the floor; two young Spaniards are lolling on the sofa playing a computer game; the television is on; someone is chatting on their mobile; and in the middle is Nadal, dropping his jeans, tucking in his T-shirt and hitching himself up. Only his rackets seem ordered, resting neatly in their bag by the door. It is a scene utterly devoid of affectation or self-importance.

Yet it is this man, with a physique that appears to have been hewn from granite and an almost terrifying determination, who last year usurped Roger Federer to become No 1 in the world. He would have been defending his title at the AEGON Championships at the Queen’s Club, London, this week, were it not for a knee injury. “The doctors said I should rest if I want to be ready for Wimbledon. I watched my Wimbledon final from last year on TV recently. It was amazing, so amazing, and I am determined to be there again.” He identifies the principal threat to his Wimbledon crown as Britain’s Andy Murray. Murray’s own position in the rankings has gone from outside the Top 10 to No 3 in the past year. It is a mouth-watering prospect, and possibly the opening salvo of what may be a long-term rivalry. On one side of the net, there is the brutal power and never-say-die intensity of the Spaniard; on the other, the silkier, more diverse shot-making of the less demonstrative but equally determined Scot. It is a fascinating contrast in style and temperament, yet away from tennis, both seem almost untouched by their success.

“Why would I want to change anything, why should I change anything?” Nadal asks, rather disarmingly. “The atmosphere in my home is lovely. Why would I want to get somewhere of my own, and then come back to an empty apartment, and worry about whether I had any food left in the fridge and things like that? It’s much nicer to come home to my family, where everything is as it always was, my mother telling me to tidy my room, my sister, Maria Isabel, teasing me. Stability is very important to me.”

Nadal may have traded in his battered old mobile phone, but his car is not luxurious or ostentatious, just a Kia – something practical to get him around the island with his golf clubs. And he hasn’t bought his own boat to go fishing, preferring his father’s instead.

“Of course, it’s good to have money, and it’s a privilege to be in a situation where I don’t have to worry about it, but that’s not the reason why I play tennis and it’s not a motivation. I had a wonderfully happy childhood and I am just as happy today, so I know that money doesn’t change anything or bring additional happiness. I play because I love it. For me, the most important thing is practising, trying to get better and improve every aspect of my game. I assume nothing.”


Unsurprisingly in view of his dominance, the tennis world sees things differently; last spring and summer he swept through tournament after tournament, becoming the first player to win the French Open then, switching from clay to grass, Queen’s Club and Wimbledon.

This year’s defeat is widely expected to be nothing more than a blip. After all, prior to France, he had dominated the European leg of the circuit, and few would bet against him repeating his Wimbledon triumph.

Nadal smiles and waves such notions aside. “You can’t have the illusion of winning a tournament. I believe that if you start thinking like that, it is the moment that things will start going wrong, because you are not respecting how difficult it is and how focused you have to be to stand a chance of winning. You have to always remember there are a number of great players with the same idea as you. They are not thinking: ‘Oh, Rafa will win this.’ Although getting to No 1 in the world was the fulfilment of a dream for me, because it is a measure of consistency over a year, the euphoria of winning a tournament, and particularly a grand slam, is far greater. Winning Wimbledon last year, for instance, the first Spaniard for more than 40 years, was a very special moment for me; it was the realisation of all those years of practising, training and hard work.”

Nadal, as the game’s authorities are only too aware, is now the man selling tennis. His presence is critical not only for tournaments to shift seats, but also to the television rights holders. While Roger Federer makes a traditional entrance on court wearing a blazer, Nadal, with his baggy, knee-length shorts, bandana and, until recently, sleeveless T-shirts, is the modern face of the game. And his fame transcends his sport – Lanvin has signed him up as the face of its new cologne, and he is collaborating with Nike on a new clothing line. He has also established a philanthropic foundation with the aim of using sport to help “handicapped, immigrant and socially excluded people” all over the world.

There are now as many spectators watching him practise as there are attending early-round matches. Even the other players admit they love seeing him on court. “He’s definitely my favourite player to watch,” says Andy Murray. “He’s so competitive. You get this feeling he just wants to annihilate his opponent.” Andy Roddick concurs: “He’s a beast out there on court.” Nadal, meanwhile, has been impressed by the rise of Murray. “His game has improved a lot in the past year. Before, he would lose matches he should have won, but he has written that out of his game and he now wins them. The result is he goes further in tournaments. Can he win Wimbledon? Of course, why not?”

Nadal laughs when I tell him of Roddick’s comment about him. “I don’t know where my competitiveness comes from,” he says, having readily admitted in an interview last year that his bravery is confined to the court. At home, on the rare occasions he’s alone, he’ll sleep on the sofa with the TV and all the lights on. “In tennis, it’s true that I will fight until my last drop of sweat, but not my last drop of blood – I don’t want to die! It’s all about giving everything, because I want to win so badly. I would hate to lose knowing that I hadn’t given my all.”

He suspects his competitiveness is genetic. His uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, played football for Barcelona and Spain. “We are a very sporty family, we all love to compete,” he says. There’s not a player on the circuit who would argue with that. After all, it was Nadal who reduced the previously unflappable Federer to floods of tears after beating him in the final of the Australian Open earlier this year. Mental disintegration, the Aussies call it.

Nadal’s own mental strength is exemplary. Few would be as grounded and seemingly unchanged after such a meteoric rise. He pauses and thinks for several moments: “I am calmer and more tranquil in myself,” he says finally.

“I have achieved all my dreams. My desire to win and the passion is still there, so too is my wish to keep practising and improving. But I am aware that once you get to No 1 in the world, the only way is down. Whether it is tomorrow, next year or in five years’ time, it will happen.

“But that is something that doesn’t worry me, because that is the nature of sport. If you are not prepared to lose and accept defeat, then you shouldn’t be playing. I know that I’ve been very fortunate, and if it all ends now, I’ve had a fantastic career and the privilege to live a life that most people never have the chance to experience. I will get my rod and go fishing.”

Read Rafael Nadal’s exclusive Wimbledon blog.The final of the AEGON Championships takes place on Sunday, June 14.


YOU ARE THE BEST RAFA!!! VAMOS!!!!

Busy Bee

it was a busy day today, which i like. am leaving the office in a bit to go to MBA's house for din din (apa mimpipun masak i dont know la ;-. well, just wanted to insert Miley Cyrus new song, The Climb. i heard it for the first time and already liking it, though am not a fan of her. but kinda like this song, so enjoy!



on the other note, Rafa has already pulled our from the Queens Tournament. Waiting medical result in Barcelona now on WHETHER he can play at WIMBLEDON or not? Oh Man! i hope that its going to be good news, no fun without Rafa trying to defend his title and a promise of a heart stopping and exciting match should there be one between him and the Great Roger Federer!

Fingers crossed!

Lee Min Ho

This and That

Pictures from Helo, Miss


Been sick for a couple of days now. but i think am a bit better today. thank god!

its been a boring week in a sense. work is pretty same. the only fun and exciting thing was watching "Night At the Museum 2:Battle of the Smithsonian" on wednesday with Wan. the movie was great and i had fun! i recommend this for fun fun watch time!

self rating :7.5/10

i am currently reading the book Angels & Demons. very interesting. plan to finish the same over the weekend.

Finished "Helo, Miss" korean drama and i love that story. simple storyline, funny and not too heavy drama. the love story was also sweet and i simply love it. love Lee Da Hae in that, she is so beautiful. Lee Ji Hoon, this is the first time that i saw his acting, is hillarious and love him in the drama too!

self rating-8/10

A weekend of frustration...

watched the live match between Rafa and Soderling at the forth round of the French Open 2009. it was definitely excrutiating from the start. after Rafa loosing the first set, am a bit like hey, what happen here??? what happen here to the King of clay when he is playing on his own favourite court of the season due to 4 times winning the grand slam?

anyways, that is true, i really hate the French for booing Rafa and not giving him the support that he deserves as 4 times champion. i mean, the game isnt even between a french and a spaniard for crying out loud. you wont see this kind of attitude at wimbledon for sure!

but Rafa, you are still the king of sportsmans in my heart, VAMOS Rafa!!!! looking forward for Wimbledon. and yes i agree that Federer should win the French Open this season as he has been playing very well indeed!

therefore below, i insert the excerpt from Rafa's official website.


May 31, 2009


“It wasn’t a great day” for Rafa and his fans around the world…Sadly, things didn’t quite work out for our champ today, and as he said it himself a few days ago, “you can’t always win [everything].”

Robin Soderling was a man on a mission today, as he defeated Rafa in 4 sets, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 y 7-6, after more than 3 hours of play.

"I have to accept with the same calm when I win than when I lose. After four years, I lose here, and the season continues," a gracious Rafa told a news conference.

"Sure, he did well. He did very well but I didn't play my best tennis. I didn't play my tennis, and for that reason I lost. That's it," he said.

"I was not calm enough to face the important points, so I had to fight. But sometimes fighting is not enough. You have to play a good level of tennis.”

"Sometimes people think I win because I'm physically fit, but, no. When I win, it's because I play well, and that wasn't the case today."

Aside from the match itself, one of his biggest disappointments for Rafa was to see the lack of support from the Roland Garros crowd, who sadly, have never been too kind to the champion, “It’s a pity to see that in a tournament as especial as [Roland Garros] is to me, the crowd has never had a nice gesture towards me."

Moving on to the start of the grass season and his preparation for it, Rafa joked that the only preparation he will be worrying about any time soon, will be, “[the time he will spend] at the pool of his house.”

Before leaving to Mallorca, where he will be spending his birthday in the company of friends and family for the first time in many years, Rafa told the press that he would like to see Roger Federer win the title because, “It would be great [to see him win it], so that he can complete the Grand Slam. If anybody deserves it, it’s him,” concluded Rafa.

Vamos Rafa!

Hanazakari No Kimitachi e

finished watching the drama as well as the special. i found the drama really funny, i mean the competitions between the dorms are hilarious. i think Oguri is a very good actor, looking forward to his new and future doramas. i definitely recommended this to anyone ;-)

but the 2 hours special, i think its a bit boring and unnecessary. the only part that i really like was when Sano and Ashiya really talk face to face and confessed about their feelings. the rest errrr....please wake me up!

but overall, i think Hiro Mizushima and Ikuta Toma are ridiculously funny!!!!

self rating:7.5/10

Japan and Korean Addiction

I HAVE always been a fan of korean dramas and movies. always. but honestly i did started to watch the japanese dramas first, i think most of us started with the drama Oshin when we were a kid. i remember watching it with my mom. i remember how hard Oshin's life was selling fish from a cart from house to house in japan. but somehow the story sort of engraved in you. then schooling, boarding school, bla bla bla, addiction of dramas has became temorarily hiatus.

then somehow, dont remember when and how, i started to watch Winter Sonata. OMG!!! tears tears tears. scenery fantastic. script writing -wow. im glued to the tele. makes u want to go to korea on ur next holiday.

then i watched a few of takuyas drama, love them all. but i think the most i remebered is Beautiful Life. definitely a beautiful story. one struggle in life was depicted well in it. and takuya is hot as always. was crazy about takuya for awhile.

then i gradually watch a lot of korean and japanese dramas, i think that they are way creative, talented bunch of people. they are definately at a level where we malaysians are nowhere near.

i guess most people dont understand or hard to understand this addiction, its just like i think when someone likes to play video games. when u play, u are in another world. ur swept away. and that is how i feel when im in my drama mode, im in my own zone and it feels great. its weird tho ;-)

however, i think japanese and korean drama are like oranges and apples, just that way. for example, i way preferred Hana Yori Dango Jap version than the Korean's. its way much funnier and u just would love Domyoji.. in BOF, u can easily like Jiwoo better than Junpyo. i mean i finished BOF last nite and i think and i wish for Jandi to be ummmphhh a bit like Makino. and the script is a bit rigid and not personal. i mean the beach scenery episode 25, after not seeing each other for 4 years. Jandi just walk like that and Junpyo just smiling for far. thats weird and stupid. it doesnt feel that there is a gap for 4 years. i dont feel that they miss each other at all. i also think that the chemistry in HYD is way better than BOF.

i also just finished 1 Litre no Namida. i have never cried so much over a drama in my entire life. i know whats coming before i bought the dvds. read the commentary and reviews in the internet. but there are so much reviews and forum on this that i thought i do need to watch this to see what the hype was all about. and i can understand why.

this is the soundtrack from the drama,..enjoy..

Updates

Firstly, Liverpool ....arrghhhh! better luck next year my team!

Secondly, Vamos Rafa for winning Monte Carlo and Barcelona, no suprises there as both on clay. looking forward to Roma and Rolland Garros! a definite winner there too!!! aja aja fighting!

Thirdly, went to Cambodia (Siem Reap) and loving it. i shall blog futher on this on separate page once i have the chance to download the pictures.

Finished a jap drama called Mei-chan no Shitsuji. love Mizushima Hiro and yes he does look like Jun but Jun cuter of course ;-). and i think Lucia Shiori's butler looks like an angel with all white thingy. he can be hanazawa rui as well, mwhahahhahah! but i think despite the craziness of St Lucia school, the drama is entertaining and funny. i definitely recommend this!

have bot gokusen II, shall find the time to watch it soon tho i better change my nodame first. maybe i do that today. must finish CHIAKI!!!!!

was frustrated that the BOF subtitles are crap in the dvd that just came out. i better wait for the good ones in July. however, i seriously dont understand wat Jandi was saying to Junpyo right before the wedding. seriously, the script writing is a bit crap and i agree with most netizens fans. i really still think the japs did it way better, way sweet and simpler. i think in BOF, all girls would love Jiwoo more than Junpyo, which of course not the case in HYD. i would want to go out with Jiwoo, anytime man. the scene of wedding photos and the beef thingy, well, i would definately want to go out with that kind of guy! he is sooooo good to be true, so i dont think that he existed at all.

however, on that note, looking forward to watch the remaining episodes of BOF.

gosh, it would soon be May..time flies...

am going back to Kuantan this weekend, cant wait!

met Anuar Zain last Sunday at GE MAll. it made my Sunday!!! took some pictures, me happy!

watched Golden Compass on tv last nite. one word-CRAP! do not watch this, waste of time.

watched Eagle eye-ummm i think its overrated. i would just give it 5/10. boring! boring! boring!

had a great time with some acquintances last friday, play some pool some dinner....ummmm...looking forward for the next meeting!

This and That over the Weekend

Friday was a bore, woke up late and made it to work at noon. and it rains...

had unplanned dinner with Mr. Z at Thai Express...i had fun, i laughed...it was a good chilled out, meet new friends, while waiting to watch Caramel and His Not That Into You which at 9.35pm and 11pm respectively.

Caramel was okay, watched it with MBF. its very low budget movie but its okay, the storyline simple. i rate it 6.5/10.

His not that into you is funny at places but very true at most. people will certainly dig this movie as it is current and talks about real scenarios, something that people can certainly relate. i rate this 7.5/10.

went to see Ms. Sha for late lunch. had "Big Breakfast" at Bodega (yes, again) and proceeded to do a shopping tour with her till 7. i had fun.

dinner was certainly enjoyable as well, BBQ with close friends, chill out, eating, talking, watching Marley & Me which is by the way makes me cry....sob sob...a good movie for sure. love jennifer aniston in that. rating is 7.5/10.

sunday was a rainy day for sure...rain in the morning, rain in the afternoon, rain at nite! hope that the weather picks up when am in Siem Reap. cant let my suede walking shoes get wet and muddy!!! aggghhh, that reminds me to bring plastic bags!

am looking forward to siem reap trip! 72 hours to go!!! aja aja!

Hana Yori Dango OST first season-Planetarium

love this song...

in a nutshell

went back to kuantan last week.

watched talentime, a local production by yasmin ahmad, kinda like it, its way better than gubra, i think simplicity is the best. self rating 6.5/10

nadal went to quarterfinals and will meet del potro. vamos, hopefully will win this one and straight to winning the tournament.

american idol....love kris allen yesterday. i think adam is unique but hate the rendition of 'play that funky music'. allison was so so, i think that song was too big for her. i like danny, but i think at the chorus he kinda screamed it a bit. matt was okay, i like the song despite what the judges says. megan totally butchered the song and scott...oh well. anoop should go out based on that performance. lil round soooooooo boring! hate the hair hate her take of that song. vote for kris!!!

loving 'brothers and sisters' as well as 'lipstick jungle". gosh he is going to propose to Victory???? where was that come from? exciting!!!!

going to a wedding on sunday...

meeting old colleagues tomorrow nite at klcc? perhaps ;-)

gym gym gym....aja aja fighting!

loving BOF, loving gokusen! am watching 3 dramas at the same time!!!

akademi fantasia season 7 sucks!

cant wait to watch the atp miami live this weekend !!!

when is Rihanna concert? next year?

AM back to loving BOF

love love love!!!! though i still dig HYD for its simplicity and Junmatsumoto, BOF is totally at its own level and so korean! cant wait for the DVD to be out! and i have already book them at my dvd shop!

me love you lee min ho!!!

RAFA the new Indian Wells champion, VAMOS!!!!

Murray defeated as Nadal grabs Indian Wells title
22 hours ago

INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) — World number one Rafael Nadal crushed Scotland's Andy Murray 6-1, 6-2 to win the Indian Wells ATP Masters series title.

Nadal, the reigning Australian Open champion, defied difficult, windy conditions to capture the crown in the California desert for the second time, after triumphing here in 2007.

As in the women's final that preceded it, the men's championship match was played in swirling winds that had both players scrambling.

But Nadal, who started the tournament as the top seed for the first time - after Roger Federer came in as the number one the past five years - kept his focus to get the job done in one hour, 20 minutes.

"I played a really good match with those conditions," Nadal said. "Probably Andy didn't play his best because of the conditions, but I think I played a really complete match, moving very well. I never stop the legs during all the match, and I think that was the key today."

Murray, meanwhile, seemed unable to get to grips with the situation.

"I think I accpeted a little bit better than him the conditions today," Nadal said, and Murray agreed.

"Rafa dealt with it very well," Murray said. "He hit the ball cleaner and seemed to get himself in better positions than I did.

"You don't necessarily want to be doing a whole lot of defending and running," Murray added. "You want to be in the best position possible to hit each ball, and I wasn't."

Despite the defeat, world number four Murray leaves California closing in on world number three Novak Djokovic, whose title defence here ended with a quarter-final loss to American Andy Roddick.

Murray beat Federer in the semis to book his place in the championship match, giving himself a shot at a third title of 2009 to go with those he won in Doha and Rotterdam.

Since those successes Murray has been slowed by illness, withdrawing from the quarter-finals in Dubai and skipping Davis Cup.

Under the circumstances, he said, reaching the final was a good result.

"I don't feel like I'm that disappointed just now with how the week went, because I wasn't expecting to do that well," he said. "Today was not my best day, but I'll definitely get over it. I'm guessing I'm not going to play in those conditions each week."

Nadal was playing in his third final in four starts this season, including his five-set Aussie Open triumph over Federer and a loss to Murray in Rotterdam.

Nadal also lost to Murray in the semi-finals of the US Open last September, but the Spaniard said he wasn't out for revenge against the Briton.

"Andy was the only big top player I didn't win against this year, so it's an important win for me. But the most important thing for me is to win the title, not the opponent."

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who saved five match points in a fourth-round victory over Argentina's David Nalbandian to keep his title challenge alive, said adding the first Masters series title of the year to his Australian Open triumph made for a "dream start" to 2009.

He now owns 13 elite Masters titles, and 33 ATP tour trophies - tied for 16th place on the Open Era list with Arthur Ashe and Mats Wilander.

Russian fourth seed Vera Zvonareva won the women's title, denying former world number one Ana Ivanovic a second-straight Indian Wells crown with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory.

Zvonareva claimed her ninth WTA title, and the biggest of her career and was projected to overtake American Venus Williams for the world number five ranking on Monday, up one spot from her current sixth.

Ivanovic, the reigning French Open champion who was number one for 12 weeks last year, is now seventh in the world and remained in search of her first title of 2009.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

Weekend

SATURDAY, went to Mr. Z open house in Desa Petaling. one word-MERIAH uollssss... its great to finally meet up with friends, eating, laughing, sharing, talking, sharing experiences, changing ideas, gossiping, playing UNO, and etc. i had fun and am sure all the people who were present that day had fun. looking forward to the next gathering for sure.

it was a great weekend for me, besides managing to meet some friends which i hardly managed to meet, liverpool beats aston vila 5 nil. happy happy happy, and for the icing of the cake, man u lost to fulham...mwhahahhahaha, tough luck!

and on top of all that, Rafa won the Indian Wells beating Andy Murray in straight sets at the final, 6-1, 6-2! *SIGH* it was just great for me! watching Federer lost in the semis to Andy makes it all good.

finished Get KArl, Oh Su Jang, (korean drama), not bad at all....though i wish it has more drama that than but its all good!

For BOF, Jandi is starting to piss me off! i wish she can show more emotion that just standing there when Haje got hit by JunPyo at Shinwha school!!!!

love junpyo though, love the jacket! i have to watch today !

MATT GIRAUD-The next american idol?

best performance of the nite!!!!! love it! go matt! we love u!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Dato' Lee Chong Wei for the win last nite against his no.1 rivalry in badminton, Lin Dan.

BOYS OVER FLOWERS MV-DO YOU KNOW SOMEDAY....

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Port Dickson Trip

went with MBA, Kelo and Mr.Z to a last minute action trip to Port Dickson, Malaysia (thank god for that) on Sunday. Btw, just for the record, i had missed episode 7 of BOF on the Sunday at KBS 303 astro for this! sabar je....;-)

so 4 of us went to PD, the weather was fantastic and the journey was smooth. i think for the next trip one should cook nasi lemak and some sandwiches or something to make it more like picnic feeling.

however, i think that the PD majlis perbandaran should do something in regards to the beach facilities, to make it more cleaner and bearable for patrons and visitors of the beaches, i mean the state of the toilets, the place to bath are all very poor, dirty, smelly, old in bad kinda way...its sad, as i think it has lots of potential to be a tourist attraction and wat not.

oh well... i had fun...also bought a bling bling for my phone, so am happy.

looking forward to the next trip for sure.

HANA YORI DANGO SAGA

OMG!!! watched this over one week period, the HYD season 1, HYD season 2 and the Movie. at first i hate all the F4, but then, they started to grow on me, especially jun matsumoto!!! love him, what an actor! he is not as cutie as Lee Min Ho for the Korean version "Boys over Flowers" but he just got that bad boy look and it works! i love the simple storyline that it has, i think BOF has so much living up to do and am not suprised if some loves the japanese version more. as for me, to early to tell as i havent completed BOF, but so far as i can see, am not complaining!!! love lee min ho in that!

and the OST for the season second which is sang by utada is fantastic!!! i love it so much and the lyrics just perfect for the story.

i think japanese drama has certainly improved! am glad!

but to Tsukasa, you are the best!!! love you momo jun matsumoto!

rating:8/10

Vicky Christina Barcelona

watched this last weekend. love the story....love love love...
beautiful barcelona and spain.

i think Javier Bardem is hotness! Love him in "Love in the Time of Cholera" too. Penelope Cruz, as usual beautiful ...me like...Scarlett, i like her too in this movie.

so self rating:7/10

Seven Pounds

i have watched this two weeks ago, this was also highly recommended by a friend of mine.

well, it was okay, i mean i love will smith, but the movie, i think its a bit draggy and i dont know, im not really liking it that much.

so my self rating:5.5/10

This and That

Watched the 81st Oscar last nite, the repeat of course as i cant catch the 8.ooam red carpet can i? though i wish too, i went to work instead, dragging my feet hard as it was of course, the famous monday morning.

went home switched the tele. love mylie's dress, though seems a bit heavy, beautiful nevertheless. penelope cruz as always, looked divine.

seems that most that i have expected to win, WON. i mean, i think sean penn deserves the OScar though i havent seen the mickey rourke movie tho, so its not fairish..that statement i suppose ;-)

but i have always love kate winslet...so...

overall the show was entertaining, i love it though i hate the advertising and commercial interuption like came every 5 minutes. hate that!

so overall, its totally a "Slumdog Millionaire" Year!

Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical Season III

i watched this last nite for the second time, first being in 2006 which was the first season.

i have to say that last nite was amazing! better than the first season, the songs were spectacular and superb. Hang Tuah was way better than the first time that i saw it, and at the end, everyone was at their feet giving the cast the standing ovation that they fully deserves.

all i can say, im glad that i have the opportunity to watch it!!! love love love PGL. i believe that they can go international with the production. glad to contribute to the local musical industry which i think its something that we locals can be proud of.

self rating:8.5/10

Romantic Princess

I actually watched this drama in 24 hours, my brain is really tired and am going to switch off from watching dramas for awhile ;-)

its okay the story i mean, but Korean Princess Hours is way better, i mean overall korean still does it better than the taiwanese, thats my take on this.

self rating:6/10

Movies over the weekend

Self rating duchess:6.5/10

Self rating accidental husband:6/10

Iljamae

Finished watching this.

Lee Jun Ki- Superb acting.

Ending..hmmmmm, definitely not as i have expected.

Soundtrack, amazing, been listening to it everyday....

Iljimae-Flower LEtter OST

i am currently watching this korean drama, sob sob, 20 episodes and am at 13th.

sad sad story but love it...the best from Lee jun ki's performance i thin by far.

makes me sad everytime the song came out.

i think korean drama is the best! the scripwriting is fantastically made and the actors are all good. they always tend to be better than the rest.

cant wait to finish the drama.

This Article says it all, VAMOS RAFA!!!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article5644361.ece

i watched the final and it was an interesting and a nervous journey for me as always, especially when its Federer. but, going to fifth set, it was anyones's game after that, but Rafa holds on despite being tired, runs effortlessly around the court, showing superb skills of tennis.

i think the deserving winner was definitely Rafael Nadal. i mean Federer did have his game but i think at the fifth set, he kinda lost it a bit as Rafa was getting stronger and Rafa's stats on fifth sets was great than Federer.

oh well, VAMOS Rafa, looking forward for the next match. for Federer too, good luck for the season and as being said by Rafa, you are still one true champion.

RAFA and FEDERER Australia Open 2009 Final

watching the match on friday was as exciting as the Wimbledon 08 final. what a fight it was, Verdasco giving Nadal a hard time but at the end, Rafa prevails. i cant barely sit still, sitting at the edge of my seat as the match went on.

tomorrow nite, 4.30pm local time would be the final match again between the great Federer and Rafa. of course my eyes will be fixed to the telly rooting for Rafa.

Come on Rafa, you can do this!!!!

Vamos...at the meantime fingers crossed!

All Eyes Are Watching

i cant wait for the 4.30pm local time semifinal match between Rafa and Verdasco. though its going to be a Spanish affairs, my eyes will definitely be on Rafa, the No.1 player in the world.

Head to Head stacs Rafa-Verdasco is 6-0. a good one for sure but in tennis, anything could happen.

i can see that Verdasco is quick, runs like nadal on court and quick reflexes. it certainly would be an interesting match.

should Rafa wins tonite, a Sunday Final match with Federer would be a blast. can the magic in wimbledon 2008 repeats itself? i hope so it would.

and my view, if Rafa wins the Australian Open, it would create an achievement for himself to win on a hard court and with that, be a great opponent to play against federer on the court that Federes likes best.

Vamos Rafa, i will be watching!

Recent Watch

WATCHED House Bunny with MBA and Kelo on Saturday after dinner. hmmmm so so je la.

self rating:5.5/10

watched THE WOMEN starring Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Eva Mendez, me kinda like it.

self rating:6/10

watching korean drama ILJAmae. so saaaaaaaadddd...am still at the beginning of the drama. will rate when i finish all the episodes.

on the other note, Happy Birthday Sis! i love you! may god bless you, us and our family and many many happy returns to you!

2009 Golden Globe Awards

watched it last nite.

i think Robert Downey is so handsome and dangerous naughty looking, but i likeeee...

i think heath ledger winning the award is spot on for his performance in the dark knight.

i think i really want to see this movie slumdog millionaire, vicky christine barcelona, the reader, revolutionary road, the curious case of benjamin button,

and i think shah rukh khan is hot.

i think megan fox is gorgeous.

Doha -Qatar ExxonMobil Open

i watched most of Nadal and Federers' matches.

Nadal and Gael Monfils quarter finals was a torture to watch. i mean at 6-4, 6-4, well, to sum it up, Nadal certainly got butchered. i really think Nadal should practiced more on his serve and serve games though he did becomes better over the years. but to go against Monfils with his powerful serves and forehand, mmmmm, i dont know, Nadal needs more confident and stronger strategy.

maybe because its a hard court game. i have seen Nadal played way better than that in clay court, where i think the word metador suits him best, he was strong, quick and willing to take risks in clay court. but in hard court he seems a bit i dont know, he doesnt becomes one with the the court.

congrats to Murray, saw the final and i must say he is unstoppable!!!!

looking forwad to Aussie open!

VAMOS RAFA!!!!

MILK

watched this with MBA and Kelo last friday. a touching story about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official and his assasination in San Francisco.

sob sob. but truly aspiring.

self rating:-8.5/10