Dan aku lagi pandai BM daripada cikgu BM kau.

Kau kata kau Melayu hebat layak bangga sampai mati, sebab kau:
Makan belacan.
Anti tahyul.
Benci English.
Pandai mencarut.
Angau kat Tiz Z*kiah, or however you spell her name.

Kau jugak kata aku Melayu tak sedar diri baik takde kat dunia ni, sebab aku:
Tak makan belacan.
Blog in English and thus hina bangsa aku (kau nak mati sangat dah?).
Baca Harry Potter.
Sarcasm tajam kau tak faham (kau yang bodoh, salah aku pulak).
Suka tengok cerita tahyul bertajuk Merlin.

Aku kata:
Atok engkaulah, pondan. Aku makan je sambal belacan. Aku reti jugak mencarut. Tapi aku sarcastic, aku suka English, aku akan kahwin dengan Bradley James sambil terus meluat kat Tiz Z*akiah. Dan aku lagi pandai BM daripada cikgu BM kau.

Pandai BM tak ada dalam spec yang kau bagi. Padahal itu bahasa rasmi bangsa aku, bangsa kau.

So where the hell EXACTLY do I fit in your black and white definition of either Melayu? 


* * *


Ni aku nak tanya, kamu semua sedar tak yang sebenarnya ada lagi manusia judgmental sakit jiwa macam ni dalam masyarakat kita? Aku ingat habis pupus dah!

I'm thankful. Really.

Last night I had a conversation with Eric and Mr. Faisal, regarding a bunch of people (or maybe just a few), who were saying terrible things about me on a blog. Most of them were, well, baseless accusations. They simply picked up some other nameless people's comments and told each other I wrote them, and then be happy about it. Like what the hell? Public display of imbecility. That's what it is. I didn't say anything in defense of myself, though. Because I did nothing wrong.

The stupidity of the whole thing did baffle me for a while (it was almost unbelievable). But that was all. I have not much to say about the situation. Just that, people say what they want, people believe what they want. So, I'll do the same. I believe all the retarded hate comments towards me and blogger Breakeven were written by just one person, who thinks he's a little above everyone else because he's an Anonymous. Which was pitiful. And I'll say, may you live long enough for us to meet just so can apologize to me; personally, for the downright lies you told. Oh, just to keep your mind (if you have one) at rest, I have already forgiven you. I waste no space in my heart for negative feelings, unlike some people. But that's my part. Yours is not yet done. Now live with it. Happily, I hope.

Mr. Faisal was wonderfully supportive. I was a little worried having my name being used that way. But he was around to widen the perspective, revealing to me what kind of person I am and what kind of people they are. That I don't have to be shocked at how stupid people can be. That some people need to get their kicks by lying about others. Then I remembered that stupidity is contagious, so I need not care about the whole matter. Besides, none of them mad claimers have anything to do with my personal life. Insignificant, and having nothing to be proud of as a person. Thus the name Anonymous. Not a wonder at all. So thanks, Mr. Faisal. You're a great friend.

Now, Eric Constantine is a superhero I couldn't thank God enough for. One of the coolest Christian friends I have. He reminded me of patience, perseverance and honesty. Things I had almost forgotten in the midst of surprise (I mean come on, seriously, wouldn't you be surprised when you're as good in English as I am, and someone who has not a single clue on what English is tells you that your English is terrible?) But that was a good one. I had to laugh. Honestly, some people tried really hard to be funny. So I laughed. Poor guy.

And Eric reminded me of forgiveness, too. That it's OK to just forgive people and get on with your life.

'I guess I appeared at the right hour,' he said. At that, I was humbled.

You know what, Eric, you really did. Because when I saw your name last night I recalled that some years ago you once told me, 'Nani-chan, abunai desu yo!' Nani-chan, be careful! Haha. I think I'll remember that for the rest of my life. You're cool Eric. Thanks. I'm proud to be your friend.

Alright.

Speaking of being proud, I made a new friend last night. I guess something good did come out of the bad thing that happened; the blogger Breakeven. She reminds me of my Kak Imm. The way she thinks and answers my questions. And the way she reacts to some statements, too, sometimes. Hehe. I'm happy.

What happened is just a part of my past. There's a reason why some people will never make it into my future; they're sore losers. There's also a reason why some people should just stay where they are and remain Anonymous for the rest of their miserable lives: they're meaningless.

Oh. School's starting in 3 days. I can't wait to see my kids. I miss verbal vocab-juggling with them. I miss their smiling faces. I miss how youthful being around them makes me feel (not that I'm ancient, mind you). I miss the intensity of teaching. I miss my job. Hehe.

So I have a crazy wonderful life.

And I understand fully, if you are envious of it.

I am starting

on THIS and some more~!!

So I'll be off the internet for a while. 

School's starting in a few days. I need to finish at least 5 more books.

See you around!

* * *

UPDATE: On second thought, maybe I'm not gonna start reading this, yet. I don't have the first three books on Tiffany Aching; The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky an Wintersmith. Pft.

I might marry

the single, mature, pleasant-looking, proficient in English man who would buy me these. I might. Like, really might. OMG please I'm gonna die!! I want these SO badly! OK, fine I admit - Merlin (TV) did re-trigger that Round Table/Sword in the Stone madness I used to have when I was younger. But it doesn't matter.

At all. 

I simply need these. Or I'll start killing people soon.

OMG someone please help me!

EVERYTHING.

When I was 5, I kinda thought money buys everything.

Now at 25, I know it does.

But then again, so what if it does?

What will I buy when almost everything worth having in the world 

is being destroyed?

OK, fine. I did watch Glee.

And it's overrated. Could even be one of the most overrated shows in the history of TV, IMO. I don't know. I don't TV much lately. I can't say much. But it seems overrated. Very.

OK so I watched Glee. I did. The first 13 episodes. I can say only this: It's corny as hell. Corny. As. Hell. Rachel Berry must be the most annoying character (who gets all the solos) ever appeared on TV. The lip-syncing of literally EVERYONE in it just sucks. Finn could be the biggest loser ever, but two girls want him. Will is too mild - boring, but more girls want him. Terri - OK, you know what, let's not even go longer than that about 'Why Glee is not really all that'. I'm not in the mood.

But hey, if there's a reason for anyone at all to watch Glee, she's here. Jane Lynch. She plays Sue Sylvester in Glee. She's evil, and she isn't hiding it. She has this series of crazy-hilarious quotes you could just LOL over, she's crazy-fiercely competitive, and she's Jane Lynch. Haha. Sue's got to be one of the smartest characters on TV these days, you gotta give it to her. She's the best reason to watch Glee. She's my only reason for putting up with Glee. Hehe.

What about you guys? Anyone here a Glee fan?

"You'll be adding revenge to the long list of things you're no good at, right next to being married, running a high school Glee Club and finding a hairstyle that doesn't look like a lesbian." -Sue to Will (S1, ep13)


Man. LOL!

So I'm posting. So I'm posting.

OK I admit I haven't been writing much. Not that I think I'm missed or anything. I just thought this insane Bradley James sickness should take a pause. It really, really should. I've been sleeping late watching and listening to his interviews, scavenging for his pictures in DA and all over Google and Tumblr, re-watching Merlin just to look at and listen to him, re-playing both seasons soundtracks non-stop (if Pan could have sore throat, he'd die of excessive MerlinOST-ing), so yeah I think these should come to a stop (for a while). And of course (OF COURSE!) it had been several days of unproductiveness; I still have a few more books to finish, so really. THESE. SHOULD. STOP. Alright. So I'm posting. So I'm posting.

Right, although some might think this Bradley James fever could be bad, the previous post did make something good happen. I got myself a new friend! Hehe. He's called Jacob Gargus, and his blog can be accessed HERE. He's a sixteen-year-old student from Kansas. And personally I think he's cool, a good conversationalist – he really could get the conversation going, what with his being 16 and my being 25. But then again, I'm still very young at heart, so I guess I was quite good as well, hehe. 

Oh, he thought I was born in the States and moved to Malaysia to teach – huhu, compliment accepted, Jacob. Compliment accepted. And since he's also interested in learning about other religions, there was a small talk about Islam last night, which was refreshing. Good to know that some people aren't ignorant. Great to know that some people do know how to respect others' beliefs. Wonderful to know that some people can be mature beyond their age. 

Speaking of which, I felt silly for publishing the previous post (not that I'm taking it down or anything) – it was rather immature, what I wrote. But I needed to let things out, so the post is there to stay. It is there to stay. And since this fever isn't going away so easily (I can tell), I've finally started posting on my Tumblelog, venting my childish infatuation in spasms of Arthur+Gwen reblogs there; so you don't have to worry about having to read any more of my Bradley James craziness here. Hehe. 

Oh, it's been there since last year. I had just started to post in it 2 days ago.

You can call that an escapism blog, a place where I escape to from writing long ramblings, where I could just write a few lines and photospam all I want. 

You wanna see it? HERE. 

Sorry for the Arthur+Gwen post marathon – it's my current madness. I'll try to get it fixed. OK I lied. I won't. Heh. Everyone is entitled to a little kick once in a while, no?

Now.

Anyone here on Tumblr? Do invite me to yours!

Hot. And he knows it. 
(Picture courtesy of Tumblr)

Heart status: STOLEN.

And I don't think I'd want it returned. 

It's yours, Bradley James. Keep it.

Arthur: Is what I want really that insane?

Gwen: Yes, Arthur.

Arthur: Then I'm happy being insane.


HERE

* * *

OMG MY HEART. *breathes* Wait. What's breathing again?

Alright. Enough spasm. I just want everyone to know that I am destined to marry Bradley James. I am destined to marry Bradley James. I am destined to marry Bradley James. I know this sounds insanely childish, what with the crazy (but true, nevertheless) statement being written three times (I could have written it a hundred times but it would sound the same, so), but I'm in that mood now so you'd do best not saying anything nasty about it. I don't need you to. I am, after all, destined to marry Bradley James. (Yes. I. Am. Besotted. Happy?)

Anyone here a Merlin addict?

Currently,

I'm reading this. 

*keyboard basah*

Sorry. Can't help drooling.

The gorgeousness!

*faints*

Hardcover. From London. Sudah berbalut plastik.

Would you just look at the gold letterings on the spine!? The pointy tail of the letter S at the end of Bartimaeus' name? Man. That's awesomeness. Seriously.

Menurut maak, she went looking for this and my Silmarillion in six bookstores. Six! They were either sold out, or were simply not there. I was almost frustrated. Almost.

Di kedai buku kelima sebelum this book berjaya dibeli;

Maak: Excuse me, do you have The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud and The Silmarillion by Tolkien?
Madam di kaunter: Oh, sorry madam. These books can only be obtained in London. From *I forgot the name of the place*, it's a seven-minute walk to the *I forgot the name of the bookstore*.

And so that was where my mother went. This copy of mine was reserved for someone else who didn't come for it. Some luck. Maak got them, paid, and rushed for the flight home.

Kamu semua patut dengar emak I ajuk ayat perempuan sopan di kaunter terbabit. Haha. Sungguh menawan hati sekali bunyinya.

And the first chapter was already so funny it slowed my reading speed because I couldn't stop laughing. You should get to know Bartimaeus. He's one in a million, and that's an understatement.

Here's a bit for my readers. One of my favourite parts, so far:

"What brought me to your attention tonight, great Master? The ease with which I slew the giant of Mount Lebanon? The zeal with which I put the Canaanite rebels to flight? Or just my general reputation?"


The old man scratched his nose. "None of that; rather it was your behaviour last night, when the watch-imps observed you in the form of a mandrill swaggering through the undergrowth below the Sheep Gate, singing lewd songs about King Solomon and loudly extolling your own magnificence."


The maiden gave a surly shrug. "Might not have been me."


"The words 'Bartimaeus is best', repeated at tedious length, suggest otherwise."


"Well, all right. So I'd had too many mites at supper. No harm done."


"No harm? The Watch reported it to their supervisor, who reported it to me. I reported it to High Magician Hiram, and I believe it has since come to the ears of the king himself." His face became all prim and starchy. "He is not pleased."


I blew out my cheeks. "Can't he tell me so in person?"


- BARTIMAEUS: The Ring of Solomon, page 5.


I couldn't help myself. I LOLed as I rolled in bed. Oh my God, come on. I thought I was offensive. Honestly? That level of comedic insolence? A+. Man. I missed my Bartimaeus times. Insanely. Those. Were the days.

*beams* Now this book is mine. I could go back to my not-yet-gone-youth to fall in love with him all over again. And none of you could ever know how happy I am. Hehe.

Hm.


What have you been reading lately?

I am in need

of these. 

*SCREAMS HYSTERICALLY*

OK, I know. I know. I haven't even started on Bartimaeus and now I'm screaming for new titles already. What a horrible person this Nani Othman is, isn't she? But please, would you just look at them covers!

I am literally drooling. Man.

Hey, do I have a secret admirer? Can you get these for me; if you exist?

* * *

Anyway, what's everyone else's latest craze?

I am now Formspringing.

Click HERE.

And let's get connected!

Or you could just scroll to the bottom 
of the page, left-hand column.

So teaching is your LAST choice, no?

Been a while since I last scribbled here. I was occupied with things I wish to not share with my readers because they'd definitely bore you. Grammar stuff. Writing stuff. Not everyone's cup of tea. I know. We'll skip that. Don't worry.

I need to let of some steam now. Emo fags can leave. Awesome people, stay (if you want).

A few days ago I got pissed (You: Nice way to start a post). If you're a frequenter of my ramblings you'd realize this. It's not easy to piss me off, and I piss people off really easily. But there were exceptional moments in which there were exceptional issues, I get pissed. Really pissed.

'Aku kalau tak dapat kerja lain, aku apply lah jadi cikgu. Jadi cikgu ni last choice aku lah,' was the shitty statement that pissed me off some days ago. I mean really, last choice? The way some people think TOO highly of themselves amazes me sometimes. Note to self: I should stop thinking too highly of myself, too. I must have been pissing SO many people already. Ish.

So teaching is a noble profession. It accepts people with even the sick above mentality into its elite circle of educators who have always wanted to teach, to make a change. Really man, who in heaven are you to have the right to claim ANY job on earth to be your last choice? Where did that demeaning statement come from? Kepala engkau jadi besar gila tiba-tiba sebab engkau ada degree urban planning (walaupun engkau taktau pun apa benda engkau belajar selama 4 tahun tu)?

Now, I'm not apologizing for this: These people are a bunch of morons who actually believed that they're doing the education system a favor by filling in the posts as teachers – while at the same time proudly proclaiming that, 'Kalau aku dapat kerja lain, aku tak mintak jadi cikgu.' These kind of sick-minded people; idiots, DISGUST me. Big time. Gila annoying ah orang macam ini. Perasan tahap tinggi punya disgusting.

If you're one of these people, what in the burning hell actually made you think that there's even ONE of us who chose this profession as our first had EVER wanted YOU to be one of US (even if you're the last living thing on earth and the world will end if you don't become a teacher)? We teachers have witnessed enough garbage that came into schools (because their degrees aren't getting them the right jobs) bringing nothing but ruin with them. Semuanya sebab teaching was their last choice. We don't want you here. We never did.

Your degrading statement, keep it to yourself. It's ugly you know, being desperate and jobless and seeking pity from a system you so fucktardingly claimed to be your last resort when the truth is - as most of us know – it had always been your only choice ever, because it's the only forgiving one ever. It's the only profession on earth that accepts people like you – who had nothing but a degree that just won't get you any job (because well, you have your own reasons, don't you?). The only one that gives chances to people to change and become more than they thought they could. But some people just don't learn. While some just won't.

Since when did the education system become a dumpster of people who squeezed through engineering, architecture, programming, networking etc, with this huge-ass stupid way of thinking along the way; It's OK to be small as long as you have a job? Seriously, dude. If you think we're small, you shouldn't be here. You really shouldn't.

If you're not since the beginning, at all, teacher material – do something else. Don’t teach. It's frustrating seeing people who are not meant for the job struggling with it. Terrible sight. I feel the insane urge to break their noses everytime they whine about how this job isn't for them and they're doing it anyway so the kids better appreciate them. Like seriously man, you have to be freaking mentally disturbed to actually have the nerve to say something like that. And like seriously too, man, unless you haven't heard; teaching isn't really for everyone.

Pft.

I'm sorry if this came as a shock to some of you. I needed a place to vent my negative charges off, and I hate to get all emo-bapuk-ish on my FB wall. So here I am. Heh. Itu belum I mengamuk kes orang-orang yang perasan layak jadi cikgu English just because they blog in (crappy) English. I hope I won't ever have to. Haha. Gila jahat statement terbabit. Tiba-tiba pulak. XD

How's everyone by the way?

Making marks

on the students' answer scripts is hard, treacherous work. I won't be able to write anything anytime soon. But I will be back.

Yes. It's hard, treacherous work.

And I love my job.

What makes you beautiful?

A beautiful person isn't necessarily a woman. Men can be beautiful, too - 'My husband is a beautiful person. He makes me laugh at the worst of times,' said a friend. 'I'm beautiful because I love you,' was a text from a friend's boyfriend. And, 'My father is beautiful. He told me I'm the best kid anyone could ever have. I thank God for giving me the best Dad in the world,' was an ending from a student's essay about his father.

I believe that to be beautiful is a choice anyone can make. And since beauty is subjective to almost everyone – you should be able to define beauty easily. You should be able to answer anyone who asks, 'What makes you beautiful?' easily, too. Like I do. Hehe.

What makes you beautiful doesn't necessarily make others look better, nor does it go the other way round. Nobody decides whether you're beautiful or not or what being beautiful really means. It's a personal choice. And no one should make it for you.

I believe I'm beautiful because I'm always thankful that I'm a Muslim, I'm thankful that I'm given countless chances to do good, I don't try to become someone else, I'm fun (you bet I am), I love my family, I appreciate arts, I love easily, I have a terribly soft spot for animals especially cats, I don't tend to lie about how I feel about anything, I'm honest, I'm insanely dedicated to my job, I'm realistic, I'm creative, I'm able to laugh at myself and learn from my mistakes (even the painful ones), I don't fake my smiles (though I can effortlessly fake my tears), I don't fake empathy, I don't keep grudges, I apologize right away when I make mistakes, I forgive everyone and everything everyday, I don't regret the past, I love my students, I love my job, I read like I'm possessed, I write like I'm exorcizing, I draw like I've never heard of cameras, I can befriend almost anyone - and I could go on for another mile or two of what makes me beautifuls, but I don't think that'd be necessary. I think you get me already. *winks*

Now you decide. Like I said, it's a choice everyone should be able to make, easily.

* * *


So, what makes YOU beautiful?

Answers in the comment box. Come on.

A quarter-century-old me. Hehe.

My sister made this. =) Hehe. I had smiled the widest. Well, I'm still smiling the widest.

Now I'm waiting for YOUR wishes.

Laporan Khas: Banjir di rumah Cik Nani II.

Semasa Cik Nani sibuk prepare nak masak sebentar tadi, bekalan elektrik telah muncul secara tiba-tiba. Yeah, I'd been off the 'net for more than 24-hours, which amazed me. Haha. It was such a nuisance, being electricity-less. I couldn't read at night, (Aku dah kata guru bukan lilin. Ada lagi munyit-munyit yang tak percaya)! Anyway, here are the updates.

Sebenarnya dalam setengah jam selepas entry sebelum ini menjejak langkah ke internet, bekalan elektrik telah terputus ekoran sebuah backhoe somewhere yang telah membuat lintas langsung secara gelojoh sampai mencederakan salah satu kabel bekalan utama negeri ini (mengikut sumber yang mesti dipercayai).

Tidak berapa lama kemudian, paras air pula semakin naik secara menakutkan. Sumber misteri tersebut juga telah meng-confirm-kan bahawa banjir kali ini lebih besar daripada banjir legenda tahun 2005. Maka Cik Nani telah mengalami sengsara jiwa secara dahsyat kerana terpaksa berlilin keseorangan sepanjang malam dalam ketakutan (kot-kot air naik sampai ke dalam rumah). Oh, the horror! Tiba-tiba bateri mobile phone beliau turut kekeringan tenaga. Lalu bermulalah 30 jam pertama dalam hidup Cik Nani tanpa elektrik. You don't wanna hear about it. I swear.

Berita-berita dan update-update ngeri diterima dari seluruh negeri melalui mobile phone. Antara yang terawal:

1) 'Nani, you tau dak, kat Kangar dah separas pinggang! I takut lintah!'
2) 'Teacher, how? Rumah you masuk air tak? Rumah I dah sekaki. OMG.'
3) 'Babe, kat Arau dah takat dada ni. I dah gaya bebas. You?'
4) 'Nani, I rasa esok you tak boleh pegi sekolah lagi ni. Semua jalan ke Beseri dah tutup.'
5) 'Nani, hari ni saje dah sebelas sekolah tutup.'

Cik Nani pun mestilah takmau kalah. Takkanlah mereka ini saja boleh buat drama swasta dalam SMS, kan? So, I pun hantarlah reply-reply ngeri tak tercapai akal mereka semua sementara bateri mobile phone I masih bersisa nyawa. Semua reply di bawah mengikut turutan SMS yang diterima di atas ya tuan-tuan dan puan-puan.

1) 'Jalan Kaki Bukit dah paras peha ni. Backhoe lalu pun tersedak, you tau?'
2) 'Rumah Teacher tinggi. Air tak masuk la lagi. Tapi kalau keluar pagar je dah boleh swimming.'
3) 'I gaya sakit jiwa sebab tak boleh Facebook.'
4) 'OMG. Students I nak SPM!!'
5) 'Wow. Harap-harap air cepat surut. Ramai cacing dah tersadai mati kering kat porch kereta I ni.'

Baik. Floods are not fun. I repeat, not fun. Read on, PLEASE: My cats couldn't go out to play. They were spooked at the size of the pool around the house and spent the rest of the day inside being moody (you could have seen Bob! and Bubu being moody. I could have died [laughing]). Earthworms the size of Optimus Prime were trying to conquer my car porch. God I almost lost it! Rubbish from the other side of the world being swept into my lawn. Buah kelapa tua melintas jalan beramai-ramai, which was such a disturbing sight. Selipar buruk dan baru, baldi pecah, periuk hangit, kotak peti ais Panasonic bapak besar, papan tanda oren: AWAS Kawasan Banjir Di Hadapan (it was so ironic I had to laugh), dan Pampers terpakai pun turut hanyut melintas jalan. Gangguan jiwa you know, watching all that! Lagi, kambing-kambing dicampak naik ke atas bumbung rumah, by the people who live at the lower grounds. I don't like goats at the best of times. But seeing how them kids threw them up the roofs, I could almost feel sorry for them. Gila menangis semua kambing terbabit. Kesian. And then leeches the size of Megatron were swimming right outside my front gate like they f*cking OWN the pool. God, it was one of the most disgusting things I had ever seen. Worst, since I have this insane dislike towards them legless creatures. And more rubbish. Lots and lots of rubbish. Man. It was crazy.

Seriously. I don't like floods. Enough said.

As this is being typed, air sudah surut agak-agak setengah kaki. But for us stranded souls, that's more than good news already. I hope things will get better, soon! Now, pictures.

CLICK HERE.

* * *

This is my first flood experience. I don't fancy it. I pray for it to never happen again. Maak kata, 'Ini baru Allah bagi air, Nani. Belum lagi Allah bagi api.' Dalam hati Cik Nani, beliau thankful sangat-sangat.

Now, how are you people?

Laporan Khas: Banjir di rumah Cik Nani. Mari tengok gambar.

Akhirnya banjir telah tiba. Perkara yang Nani takuti sejak semalam terjadi juga pada hari ini. Hujan tak berhenti turun sejak hari Sabtu. Maka Nani telah menjadi mewah secara tiba-tiba. Kini rumah I berada di tengah-tengah tasik. See for yourselves. J. K. Rowling punya kaya pun tak nampu beli rumah di tengah tasik macam I. Anyway, jemput tengok gambar yang baru diambil pagi tadi. Sila klik gambar tersebut untuk melihatnya secara besar.

Update: I baru dapat laporan dari kawan I. Di Kangar, air sudah separas pinggang.

Nota 1: Gambar tidak mengikut apa-apa format susunan. Merambang semata-mata. Haha. Oh, semua gambar diambil tanpa keluar dari kawasan rumah. Nani takut. 

Nota 2: Semasa semua gambar ini sedang di-upload, pokok mata kucing Maak I dah tenggelam separas lutut. Kasihan beliau.

Syarikat Awanis seberang jalan dari rumah I. Kini di tepi sungai.

No comment.

I sedang berdiri di atas kerusi batu semasa gambar ini diambil.

Ni rumah jiran sebelah rumah I. Boleh bela ikan dah tepi kerusi dia.

Pokok jejawi rumah I. Dah paras lutut dia air naik.

Si cacing yang rumahnya sudah confirm ditenggelami air.

Ni depan rumah I. Air tak naik porch kereta I lagi. Alhamdulillah.

Anak-beranak melihat air bersama-sama. 

Ni lah masanya nak berdiri di tengah jalan tanpa dilanggar lori.

Enjin engkau power, bolehlah engkau buat lintas langsung 

tanpa sangkut sana-sini depan rumah aku kan?

Ha, muncul pun perkara yang selama ini cuma boleh dilihat di TV! 

(Tapi bila sampai depan Syarikat Awanis, pasukan penyelamat ni 

tersangkut pula. Jenuh orang kiri-kanan menolak. 

Rupanya mereka pun perlu diselamatkan juga, 

kadang-kadang, hehe.)

Depan rumah I. Sungai kot. Haha. Boleh kuak lentang dah.

Ni pulak rumah jiran depan I. Tayar pun dah nyawa-nyawa ikan.

Ha, ni jalan keluar dari rumah I. Nampak tembok parit yang dua tu? 

Parit tu kalau adik I yang tinggi tu turun pun dah paras leher beliau. 

Sekarang parit tersebut berada di BAWAH paras air. 

Tembok yang dua tu pun tinggal sikit saja lagi. 

You boleh bayanglah I takut macam mana, kan?

Jalan besar depan rumah I. 
More like tasik bapak besar keliling rumah I.

Sekeliling rumah jiran depan I.

Longkang keliling rumah I sebelah luar pagar. Ngeri.

No comment.

Longkang rumah I yang dah mula semput.

* * *

Banyak lagi gambar I nak kongsi. Tapi, ini pun dah cukup banyak I rasa. Hehe. Let us all pray for the best out of this flood. Let us all become better people. Tabah menghadapi segala macam ujian.

Comments?

Riordan's Lost Hero MUST wait, for

THIS HAS FINALLY HIT MALAYSIAN BOOKSTORES!!!

Thanks Mr. Kok Sen Wai for the info. I almost died. Of excitement!

OH. MY. GOD. Please. I need someone to buy this for me. I can't go to any bookstore anytime soon, and I really, really need this or I'll kill someone! I'll kill someone!!

Adinda!

TULONG!!

'Why couldn't he fix his eyesight?'

There was once, when I was Potterphreaque (I still am, I just don't use the name so much anymore these days), I was asked, 'Nani, you gila Harry Potter kan? I'm just wondering; if Harry's so powerful of a wizard, why couldn't he fix his eyesight?' I blinked at her several times before giving her the answer.

The only one I could think of.

'He didn't learn how. That's why he couldn't,' I said.

I don't think there's a subject related to eyesight-fixing in Hogwarts. Remember when Malfoy blew up Hermoine's front teeth? She went to the hospital wing to get them fixed. And she was the genius of her batch, who happened to know so much.

Knowing more than Harry does, one would think that she could have gotten them fixed herself. But she couldn't. Because she wasn't taught how. If everyone who attends Hogwarts should be able to do everything - like what is expected of Harry - there shouldn't be a need for the hospital wing in the school, right?

Harry was interested in becoming an Auror. I bet they don't teach these Aurors-in-training how to fix their eyesight; like how the people who joined Police Force aren't taught how to diagnose and cure fever. It's not part of the course. Hehe.

And some days ago I googled the question. One of them Pottheads answered like I did. With less explanation, of course. But I get what she meant.

'Sama macam kitalah, ambik TESL takkanlah boleh reti buat brain transplant pulak tiba-tiba kan?' I added.


* * *


I thought the answer was obvious.

Well, what do you think?

'Nani, you mengajar di MRSM kan?'

'A-ah, why?'

'I dengar budak-budak MRSM ni semua terpilih. Pandai-pandai.'

'What do you want?'

'Apesal yang duk dapat 20A, 22A tu bukan budak-budak you? I mean, bukan budak-budak MRSM? Semua budak-budak Kementerian. Heran jugak I. Apa yang terpilihnya?'

Dalam hati Teacher Nani, statement-statement hangit telah dilancarkan ke otak for quality control sebelum dihantar ke mulut untuk dijadikan bom. Tapi Teacher Nani sabar. Teacher Nani sabar.

'Awak, ambik pun sepuluh subjek je dibenarkan, macam mana nak score A sampai 22 ketul?'

Dia diam sekejap.

I mean seriously, kalau dah sejak MRSM pertama ditubuhkan sampai hari ini masih tidak ada walaupun seorang budak MRSM dapat 25 ketul A padahal yang lepas masuk sini semua yang baik-baik + pandai-pandai, mestilah it has something to do with the number of subjects allowed. Possible je budak-budak ini nak dapat 40A pun kalau ada 40 subjek untuk SPM - sebab mereka memang mampu. Sistem kami membenarkan sepuluh subjek sahaja diambil. 10 itu pun belum tentu 40A-scorers tempat lain mampu lawan. So, sepuluh sajalah yang budak-budak ini perlu score.

Dan Teacher Nani memang nak sangat lepaskan bom. Sebiji pun cukuplah.

'Dulu awak UPSR ambik 5 subjek, tapi result keluar 7A eh?'

Haha. Ambik kau. Tapi bom kecik je pulak.

Hm.

Tak apa. Janji bom. XD

* * *

Dude, janganlah tanya soalan-soalan macam ni. Pedih betul la nak jawab. Pedih lagi you yang dapat jawapan I tu kan?

I know I said I wouldn't write magic anymore, but

I didn't promise. I really didn't.

*

"So he carved every single memory he had of her into the block of Silverinh ice because he knew that in the blood-red, everlasting winter of his painful longing, it would last. Now, look at it, if you will. See it, if you could. It was as if the autumn itself had lent his pain the colour. And you know, that even the least learned of people knows, that a colour the Autumn bestowed upon the breaking of any person of her choice, does not drain off just because his carving of the Silverinh ice melted into the waking of the Summer," she explained in between coughs. In her voice were years and years of her own painful longing and ice-cold anger.

In her eyes were ripples of a broken heart and a lost soul, and as she stole a look through mine, she showed me the Silverinh lady whom her great-grandfather carved from the memories of his lost beloved. "A hundred Summers came, Nani. The Autumn did not leave his body, his pain, his longing. And right now as it should, his heart beats in her. Listen to it."

*

But I had also given up the state of being captivated by the world of magic I tried to create because I don't want to lose sight of the one I already have; my family.

*

One of my students said jokingly to her friends, 'Sepet sey mata aku. I should get a plastic surgery.'

But one of them totally missed it and said, 'Beb, we're going green. Nobody does plastic anymore.'

*

I happen to be Asian, so I listen to Asian music. That shouldn't be a problem. Shouldn't be your problem.

Questions answered.

Here are the answers to the questions asked by my readers in the last post (Some of the questions were corrected where necessary). The comment section for the post is now closed.

From ButirStar: What will you do when you are happily taking a shower while shampooing, suddenly you smell fogging smoke???
Hola Kak Long. Haha. I will leave the bathroom and take another bath after the fogging team left. No use proceeding with the shower since your hair is going to smell terrible anyway.

From Mimi: Salam..Kak Nani, how to improve my English? Especially grammar. Do share your experience. You're my idol. TQ.
Salam, Mimi. I'm flattered - well I'd never thought I could be an idol. Not yet at least. Thanks. I don’t know how to answer this without scaring people away, most people who asked the very same question you did would slightly cringe at my answer. I hope you won't, haha. OK, my parents are book people. They go to bookstores when they could spare some time. They brought their kids along, too. So I was exposed to books, to the habit of reading since I was two years old. When I was three, I was already reading in English.

My experiences include an amount of 95% of reading story books, and 5% of English lessons at school. In that 5% you'll find insanely dedicated teachers, hundreds of grammar exercises a year since 1992 to 2002, shameless attempts at speaking in English with teachers and friends and lots, I mean LOTS of encounters with error-making and the ability to laugh at myself as I made them.

The 95% is your effort. Your teacher couldn't be with you 24/7, so you're gonna have to work on your own 95% of the time. Start small. Your language skills will grow before you even realize it.

From Saffa:
1) How do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I could be the Head of the Language Department. InsyaAllah.

Financially; oh I have always been financially strong, alhamdulillah. Hehe. 5 years from now I should be able to buy a house, cash. InsyaAllah.

Family; I could already be married with one kid. Or a pair of twins.

2) Have you ever thought of publishing your own book?
Yeah, I have. All the time since I was 14.

3) Do you correct people's grammar mistakes when you read their blogs?
In my head, yes. I'll do it in their comment boxes if they ask me to.

From Ayaq Masak: WHY MUST ALL QUESTIONS BE IN ENGLISH?
Because I'd love to respond to them in English. I need to respond to them in English. I don't wish for my already-minute linguistic skills to deteriorate. They might if I stopped using them for a while.


From Chameleon: Someone really hates you, get the chance to stab you and you die. With God's willing, you're still alive!! What would you do/say to that particular person when you meet them?
First you said I died. Then I was suddenly alive. I can't really understand your question, Chameleon. But say if someone really stabbed me and I survived the attack, I'd ask the person what his/her problem was – after he/she is put behind bars.

From Sanzo: Any interesting questions from your own students? Example; 'Teacher, can I become a God?' If so, how do you answer them?
I don't do extra miles in my explanation unless I was talking about something that I really, really like. So for questions like, 'Teacher, can I become a God?', I'd simply give them the truth: No, you can't.

From Faisal Admar: I wanna see your face! LOL
That's not a question! Hehe. Well, I'm mysterious. For now, I choose to stay that way.

From Jiyuu: I feel you, sista. And here I thought blockage only happened to the lame writers. (Not implying you're lame in any way. I meant it happens to the best of us.)


Situation: You're stranded in a thick forest with a river running through it with the person you love and you have only a single apple to eat. You have no idea how long you are going to be stuck there and there is nothing else edible or else lack the required skills to scavenge anything. Question: What would you do when the both of you get hungry?
We'd eat the apple for energy and he'll catch fish at the river and make fire and prepare dinner and make beds out of anything that could give me comfort, well practically everything. I'll climb the tallest tree I could find to make a call out for help and we'll wait for Jiyuu's private jet to come pick us up. We'll be out in less than 24 hours. No problem at all. Hehe.

From Farah Hanani: What is your weirdest dream?
Most of my dreams are weird. I like them weird. I even have favourites (yeah I'm strange like that). So far, the weirdest would be the one in which I was on a holiday at my one of my aunts', with my mother. On the day of the arrival, she took my mother to shop. So, I was left alone in the double-storey house. Now here's the weird part; she told me to make myself at home and be careful if I were to go up to the third floor – but there couldn't be a third floor in a double-storey house, kan? That's what I said. And she told me this, in the dream, 'Tangga ke tingkat tiga tu kadang-kadang ada, kadang-kadang tak jumpa. So be careful. You might never come down once you go up.' She looked sad although she was smiling when she said that. That was when I realized that there was no single trace of her kids and her husband around the house. It was as if she had always been living there all by herself.

Is that weird enough for you?

From Avid Gunner: As a writer, do you struggle with Mary Sue?
Hehe. As far as I am concerned, I do not struggle in my writing of the character Nina. I find her to be a person I could easily relate to, but not someone I wish to be. She's someone I wish to know; to be friends with. I try to make her a believable character, with flaws and strengths of her own, nothing inhuman. So far things are going great, I haven't yet felt as if I'm struggling to not lead Nina into becoming a Mary Sue.

Done!

* * *

Feels great. I guess the blockage's gone now. I might be able to come up with something independent after this. Thanks to everyone who helped! See you soon!