We held a majlis tahlil for the victims of the tsunami disaster today. It's times like these when you fully appreciate having a community that shares the same faith as you do.
Upon returning from the majlis, I spent an hour infront of the screen reading report after report on the calamitous event. I had only been aware of the tragedy a day after it occured, and didn't truly realize the magnitude of the aftermath til yesterday. The Cornwall flood dwarfed in comparison.
Somehow it is incomprehensible to imagine that something so fluid can cause destruction to such extent. Somehow it is incomprehensible that things are fine one minute and they aren't the next.
I was watching Arnold Schwarzenegger's "The 6th Day" a couple of nights back, a story about scientists cloning humans. In one of the earlier scenes, Arnold's pet dog dies and his wife insists that they clone it to prevent their 6-year-old daughter from grievance. But Arnold objects, arguing that the child needs to learn about life and death, eventually.
In some ways, we are spared from making such choices. And that these choices are best left to God. Sitting in a comfortable bed with abundant food stored in my 'fridge, it's easy to be rational. For the thousands who have lost their loved ones and the world that they know of, it takes much more to overcome and persevere.
Hopefully, what little prayer we've uttered for the souls lost and the souls battling for life, will make a difference. Al-Fatihah.
Take care all :)
Friday, December 31, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
BEAUTIFUL 4 YEAR OLDS :)
Happy 4th Birthday (Dec 4th) Arif and Afiq!
...and Happy Hari Raya to Marsya and Nureen, since you're in the picture too :p
Marsya, Nureen and birthday twins Arif and Afiq :)
Here are my lovely nephews and nieces, collectively known as The Fantastic (Mischievous, more like :p) Four!
Hugs!
...and Happy Hari Raya to Marsya and Nureen, since you're in the picture too :p
Marsya, Nureen and birthday twins Arif and Afiq :)
Here are my lovely nephews and nieces, collectively known as The Fantastic (Mischievous, more like :p) Four!
Hugs!
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
'TIS THE SEASON TO SLACK
Ah school is out :)
And it finally decided to snow today. Oh and by the way, I had some time on my hands last night...
Wasted cartridges and a ream of paper designing this. Hoping that somehow the design can compensate for the band's performance :p
I also included a note along with this DVD I'm sending to my mum:
"Ada sumbang banyak, so next time I can't kutuk Akademi Fantasia with you guys anymore :/"
That aside, I have an english paper due on the 20th, and I have yet to decide on a topic to write about. I'm pretty sure there's a reason why it's due a week from now, but I think I will finally figure that out during one of my panic attacks, hopefully at least 3 days before the paper is due. Old habits die hard, I hear.
The good news is though, that I will have 3 weeks worth of acting the goat (for those familiar with Prof. Calculus of Tintin *wink*) and fooling around doing nothing.
Baa.
And it finally decided to snow today. Oh and by the way, I had some time on my hands last night...
Wasted cartridges and a ream of paper designing this. Hoping that somehow the design can compensate for the band's performance :p
I also included a note along with this DVD I'm sending to my mum:
"Ada sumbang banyak, so next time I can't kutuk Akademi Fantasia with you guys anymore :/"
That aside, I have an english paper due on the 20th, and I have yet to decide on a topic to write about. I'm pretty sure there's a reason why it's due a week from now, but I think I will finally figure that out during one of my panic attacks, hopefully at least 3 days before the paper is due. Old habits die hard, I hear.
The good news is though, that I will have 3 weeks worth of acting the goat (for those familiar with Prof. Calculus of Tintin *wink*) and fooling around doing nothing.
Baa.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
GEMPITAFEST!!!
I have a bad history of screwing up whenever I'm on stage, but this must've been the funnest one yet! :D
The Malaysian students over at University of Michigan hosted this year's Battle of the Bands. It was a grand event and I must say, the students here are all so very talented :) Hats off!
Anyway, we CMUans (or is it CMUites?), apart from Amir, aren't the most musically inclined. But in the spirit of joining the event (and making fools of ourselves :p) we decided to put together a band and perform. So for 3 Saturdays we would gather in Amir's room and jam away til the wee hours, much to the horror of the fourth floor residents of Fairfax Apartments.
Oh, and our band name? The Mellons! (I had nothing to do with it, I swear.)
First picture, from l-r: me (vocals, guitar), Amir (guitar, bass, drums), Apis (guitar, vocals), Samah (bass, guitar) and Lan (drums, vocals)
Pictures courtesy of Mike Ng, Usamah and Mazran.
The Mellons at Gempitafest 2004!
On the day itself we were a nervous wreck, specially since we were the first to perform. But once on stage, it was fun (even though I played all the wrong chords and sang out of tune. Suara siap pecah-pecah lagi tu :p Then again, I think, I was slightly better than Lan :p huhuhu)! And the crowd was really supportive :D
The other bands were awesome. These people are just born to be rockstars, I tell you! It was a memorable night for me and it was all so very well organized.
Yes, we had fun alright and it was nice to finally be able to get away from schoolwork and meet friends. Alhamdulillah, we got to Michigan and back safely too (thanks to the drivers, yah!). Oh, and here's an awesome picture of Samah banging away to Suicidal Dreams. Hahaha!
Kudos to all the Gempitafest crew and my highest respect to all who performed that night :)
Also to Mike Ng of UMich who took such wonderful pictures ;)
...And of course to my fellow Mellons: Amir, Apis (your goreng was awesome :D), Samah and Lan \('0')/
The Malaysian students over at University of Michigan hosted this year's Battle of the Bands. It was a grand event and I must say, the students here are all so very talented :) Hats off!
Anyway, we CMUans (or is it CMUites?), apart from Amir, aren't the most musically inclined. But in the spirit of joining the event (and making fools of ourselves :p) we decided to put together a band and perform. So for 3 Saturdays we would gather in Amir's room and jam away til the wee hours, much to the horror of the fourth floor residents of Fairfax Apartments.
Oh, and our band name? The Mellons! (I had nothing to do with it, I swear.)
First picture, from l-r: me (vocals, guitar), Amir (guitar, bass, drums), Apis (guitar, vocals), Samah (bass, guitar) and Lan (drums, vocals)
Pictures courtesy of Mike Ng, Usamah and Mazran.
The Mellons at Gempitafest 2004!On the day itself we were a nervous wreck, specially since we were the first to perform. But once on stage, it was fun (even though I played all the wrong chords and sang out of tune. Suara siap pecah-pecah lagi tu :p Then again, I think, I was slightly better than Lan :p huhuhu)! And the crowd was really supportive :DThe other bands were awesome. These people are just born to be rockstars, I tell you! It was a memorable night for me and it was all so very well organized.
Yes, we had fun alright and it was nice to finally be able to get away from schoolwork and meet friends. Alhamdulillah, we got to Michigan and back safely too (thanks to the drivers, yah!). Oh, and here's an awesome picture of Samah banging away to Suicidal Dreams. Hahaha!
Kudos to all the Gempitafest crew and my highest respect to all who performed that night :)
Also to Mike Ng of UMich who took such wonderful pictures ;)
...And of course to my fellow Mellons: Amir, Apis (your goreng was awesome :D), Samah and Lan \('0')/