The Toto’s!!

As I have introduce a couple of characters earlier on, here is an update and a new one.

Skinny! Sometimes also known as Preston is my high school buddy. He’s the guy that owned that cute little Mini Clubman. Somewhen last year or the year before, he was also been given the name Totopi. It all started with Studio Ghibli’s movie that he brought over for us to watch. Of course, we started with the movie, Totoro.

Yingpig, also known as Phoebe to some people, is given the name Totorou by Skinny at that point of time. Due to the fact that she is a little fleshy, Skinny couldn’t help it but to provoke her in calling her such names. In Mandarin to-to means many-many and rou means meat. A revenge was needed and hence, she started calling Skinny, Totopi.

As you know, to-to means many many and now…..pi means skin. Since he’s skinny afterall.

But today! But today! But today…… (3 different angles – Russian style) I have found a new member for them!! It is Totoman!!! I have this housemate by the name of Rome. To many, he would prefer to be known as Shane. Anyhow, I’ve long heard of his involvement with Sports Toto but it was never quite made known to the public. Until today when I was out running some insignificant errands (don’t even get me started) I walked pass a Sports Toto shop. And here I witness my housemate’s face. I had this twitch to my eye and to only notice that I felt this sudden shamefulness running through my entire body.

Oh well, go check out a Sports Toto branch if you get a chance. The guy in specs looking bloody ^&@#123#, that’s him!

Roadside Pasta

Ahh…..pasta! Who doesn’t like it? Few months ago, I read an article somewhere in the internet saying that Pasta’s mens favorite getaway food. Whereas chocolate is women’s favorite getaway food. Is that true? Ahh…..who bloody cares?

Last week we went to a food joint in Kelana Jaya, PJ. Notice I’m not using the word restaurant, cafe or such because this is more like a stall by the road side with some ghetto roof made up to shield the kitchen from rain. We are literally sitting by the road side having pasta. Perhaps the only place that serves pasta in such manner here in Malaysia.

Well, the pasta has been quite famous around this area now. I don’t really enjoy coming here for dinner because I hate to queue up for a sit. But this particular day was an exception. I had that crave for some cheap pasta and I throw the idea out to Pig, Chris and Skinny. They did not hesitate and off, we go to Kelana Jaya!! Known of its reasonable price and super-sized portion of pasta I was indeed salivating through the entire journey.

Here’s a quick peep of a PLATE of Bolognese Meatball Spaghetti Yingpig ordered.

Skinny and I both had Carbonara Meatball Spaghetti each. In my opinion, the meatball is heaven. Is huge and it has mozzarella cheese embedded in it. The carbonara sauce is not too cheesy and hence it was ok to finish up the entire plate of spaghetti. Is a little diluted compare to the authentic Italian recipe. But I reckon this is the perfect pasta for those who has this sudden greediness gushing out in them just before dinner. Talking about greedy……

Just a quick introduction. That girl up there is Skinny’s girlfriend. She is pretty darn tall for a Malaysian girl. Her name is Chris but I call her ‘Piao Jie’. Nope….we’re not blood related. Just a suffix. Hmmmm…..and she’s rather shy in this picture.

That particular pasta she’s having is the Seafood pasta. I must say it looks very appetizing and is extremely large in portion. There are LARGE shrimps and medium shrimps, scallops, oyster and what not. I would have name it the Seafood feasta! Here’s a warning to those we wants to try it but only possess the appetite of a human being – Share it with someone else.

Meatball Pasta – RM15
Seafood Pasta – RM25

I thought the seafood pasta was little steep in price for such environment but I do recognize the generous seafood they have included. They did increase their price over time as I remembered the Meatball pasta to be only priced at RM10. However, everything in Malaysia has increase its prices and I guess is just normal that they did as well. Since I don’t visit them often enough, I figured I could pay for the price once in half a year?

Getting there (Kelana Jaya) :
1. Traveling on LDP from Sunway.
2. Pass by a church on your left and you’ll see a row of shop houses. You’ll see Pathlab and Marco Pizza in that shoplot.
3. Keep to your left and take the first left after the shop houses.
4. Go straight and take a left on the 2nd traffic light. If I’m not mistaken, the first traffic light doesn’t got a left exit.
5. Go straight and you’ll see a black shopping mall like building on your right. That is the old Lim Kok Wing school.
6. Go around it and you’ll see a row of stalls on the street. Walk around and pay attention to pasta. Enjoy!

Morph…..If I take you to this for dinner, I don’t think you’ll be making pasta for the rest of the year anymore. Yeah?

Judy Hako Machi & The Skinny

I’m glad to be able to introduce 2 new characters into the blog with pride. To begin with, Judy’s a custom made Mini Clubman owned by the Skinny (Preston). Classic Sporty Red exterior with Old English White top gives away the mini heritage in her. The interior is a combination of Red Leather and Beige Canvas to compliment the color theme. Being a fan of Liverpool Football Club, Skinny decides that every part of the car should maintain the color of Red and White. Not forgetting having some LFC’s goodies in the car. Fortunately, Judy was well designed with interesting ideas yet maintaining the looks and the heritage of the Mini.

Unfortunately, the workshop did not do a good job. Ah Seng who used to own the Mini specialist workshop behind USJ Summit did a crappy job for Skinny. Later he sold his workshop to a guy named Stanley. Stanley’s cool but he can’t help much on the after sales of Judy since it wasn’t his job. Left undone, Skinny had to follow up with quite a bit of things. That said, the exhaust system seems to be quite an issue recently.

Earlier this year, the exhaust system once fell off the car and created quite a humorous scene at the main road right outside my house. Witnessing that was a total torment since we (Rome and I) refrained from trying to laugh too hard. At any case, Judy was being taken over to Stanley for him to get someone to fix it and bill it to Ah Seng. Good. So you thought it was the end of it. It was untill this Saturday.

I met Skinny up on Esso Gas Station before turning into Bukit Antarabangsa to see Ah Zen. Just before we all left for Jln Kuching to polish up those FTP lenses, I noticed that Judy’s muffler was a little too bouncy. But it occured to me as if Skinny knew about it and has always been like that. Apparently I was wrong. When I send Jayree back to his place, he asked Skinny about it and Skinny took a look at it immediately. Instantly, he knows that one of the hanger has broked off due to rust and crappy workmanship. And so we decided to head over to an automobile exhaust specialist in USJ to get it fixed.

Half way thru driving, the exhaust system once again fell off. This time, it was on the highway. He quickly get to the roadside, as Judy dragged the exhaust system to the roadside. At this point of time, I was already ahead of him but not too far to reach back and help. He called me and I went back. As soon as I get to him, he has found something on by the roadside to tie up the exhaust as a temporary fix. (By the way, Preston was an excellent boy-scout during high school) As I was following behind him for a short while, I notice it was sturdier than it was earlier on. I took a quick glance at the clock in my car to only notice that it was already 5ish pm. We’ve wasted too much time and will continue to waste more if we don’t hurry. I quickly raced my way to the workshop and was lucky to see them busy and wasn’t ready to shut the shop any time soon.

But Judy wasn’t here yet. Of course. I raced here first to make sure the workshop is still open. Otherwise, I would have called up Skinny and detoured him to another workshop in another area. So I took the oppotunity of these extra time to check out on the suspension I asked earlier on in the day. Conveniently, it was just across the street. 15 minutes past; no sign of Judy. So I called:

Andre: *ring, ring*
Skinny: Hello!!
Andre: Woi! The shop’s still open. Where are you!?
Skinny: I can see the whole exhaust system in my rear view mirror!! In front of Summit!
Andre: Holy SHIT! You know what? Fuck that. Just come here and get a new set.
Skinny: Well, I at least have to clear the road!
Andre: Fair enough. Go do that!!
Skinny: Ah ah ah!!
Andre: *Hangs up*

At this point of time, Rome has already joined me there at the workshop. Since he was around the corner, he wants to see the modification as well. That embarassing moment for Skinny turns out to be a great laugh for Rome and I over the weekend. Anyhow, Skinny finally arrive with Judy and the work begins.

to be continued…

Premonition

A weekend reunion it seems. This family I was born in has quite a character. The old man is fat and usually calm but never to be tested. Recently, his health has deteriorate to quite a fatal depth. Though he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it, the woman of his life seems overly jumpy over this issue. This is no surprise. My mom is famous for being jumpy, paranoid, unyieldingly demanding, commanding…..need I say more? Her nickname, ‘machine gun’ is not to be under estimated. She earned every letter in that nickname. Her talent to nag without a single pause for breathe further earns her the legendary title. She’s definitely my heroin!!  But I swear…….she can also be a nightmare. But I love you, mom!!

Moving on…..the person that represents darkness to me. She torments me mentally. Mocks me since the day I was born. Kidnap me when she’s not in good terms with the family. Please….do not deny the “Let’s go play some sand” incident. Her uncompromising commands on living objects represents her terror and evil intention. I present my one and only sister, Crystal. Her talent to turn day to night should never be doubted.

Soon enough, these special beings are gonna have a reunion over this weekend. With plenty of past experience, I am unable to escape this premonition of a huge roar. Battle between The Machine Gun and The Darkness. I would pray that would not be the case.

Happy Deepavali!!

If only you could be here, baby…..! 

5th of October

I got back to KL from Cherating after 12 intense days of work. I knew my godson was born sometime during the midnight. Since I was not in town, I couldn’t witness the moment but I’m sure the parents were happy and I was definitely glad. After about 20 hours since he came to the world, I visited him in the hospital for the first time. I even got him a set of clothes from Cherating. Well……! I must admit the t-shirt and the short is a little too big for him. That’s no problem!! He’ll grow.

For some reason, I didn’t say much when I see him. I was just speechless and thoughtless. I knew there was a new life there and that he would go through life like many of us. His dad is a wonderful man and his mom is a very lovely lady. I’m only happy for the kid and hope I would somehow be a good goddad to him. I took the first family picture for them.

Jayree and Eva…….Congratulations!!

Zen Zee….Welcome to the World!!