The lust for metal, both figurative and literal, increases. What am I to do?

Something must have gone very wrong somewhere,eh?

(And on a completely unrelated note),

But not quite, not yet at once when I can still see.

But I see that I am thrust out onto the crossroads again. Whatever I do, things won't turn out well for some. I can hardly blame anyone or anything now, can I?

That cube of an area was completely cleared of greenery. That's progress enough, I guess.

Dental surgery in another week's time. Translation work to pick up. I'll try to stay alive to finish it all.

Everything's signed up last Monday, I heard. Relief came over me, but the sense of certainty that usually came with such scenarios never did. Hn.

Our young and strapping forerunner is having some difficulties with the waterworks, what's with our neighbour building it too deep. Delays and more delays, then.

Another separate scenario I planned out also failed. Unexpected arrangement of timing and pacing had done the whole plan in. Did not expect the supposedly macho lady to balk out when confronted with a heavy amount of calculated risk. Cowardice did the rest for the three in need.

I was told that for them, it was a lost cause.

Labels: Mile 8

We met at the appointed time.

My case was documented.

Hi resolution pictures and some close-ups were taken with a camcorder, presumably for case study.

Together the doctor and I sought out the skin specialist.

The specialist said that it's hereditary.

Nothing serious.

We got out of the specialist's room in silence.

Heh.

My back looks like the fractured map of some weird country, and it's nothing serious.

"A rare case, at least I think so. Nothing quite like it."

I asked for health check.

He obliged.

Nothing wrong there.

I asked for his card.

But he didn't have one.

Government employees were not supposed to have one.

He wishes me a Happy Easter, and I bid him the same.

Respect. Gratitude.

He's a really nice guy.

I went out. I laughed at myself. Hollow.

Labels: sorrow

I held out my left arm.

The nurse stabs.

Blood flows, but only halfway through before it recedes back into my arm.

She applies pressure.

It's no use.

"Nurse, tangan kiri biasanya n'dak bulih. Tiap-tiap kali pun macam tu bah."

"Kau tak pernah buat khejekeh ngan tangan tu?"

"N'dak tau lah...."

Plaster and cotton balls were applied.

The elastic velcro strap was switched to the next arm.

I was told to clench up a tight fist.

Blood fills up the first vial real quick.

But it slowed to a drip on the second one.

I waited long, got taken, then wandered around aimlessly.

A few hours later, I saw my doctor.

The results were out, but he told me to wait a while longer.

He was flustered and sweating all over.

10-20 minutes later, I learned that there's nothing wrong with my blood sugar or cholesterol level.

"Then what is it? What's your guess? Try and make a guess, it's gotta be something right?"

"Frankly, I don't know. I'm completely clueless right now. But hey, look, come back tomorrow and meet me at nine and I'll take you to the skin specialist. The guy comes around once every Friday, and tomorrow's Friday."

"Eh? How'd I find you then?"

"Yeah, uh, take a number downstairs like usual, and let them handle everything. I don't really know where I'll end up tomorrow, so yeah...."

Both of the plasters on my hand were still there on the journey back. I got weird stares from some people, and that's about it. Nothing too uncommon, I see.

Probable biopsy it is then!

Labels: sorrow

I know that there's something odd with me for quite a few years, it's a feeling that goes alongside premonitions of a very short life coupled with bad health.

I've also been told, since last year, that the skin of my back harbors an unhealthy amount of cholesterol deposits.

I went to the hospital for a check this morning.

The doctor was fascinated.

He checked up with his buck toothed coworker next door. Together they proclaimed the emergence of something rare. Said something about stuff not matching up to common pattern.

They offered me two possibilities.

Either I have high cholesterol, coupled with the possibilities of heart problems later on, or a rare skin disease.

Further blood work, or maybe a biopsy tomorrow, good luck.

Labels: sorrow

Last year, my favourite food magazine organized a contest.  The prizes were kinda awesome, so I joined.  I filled all three forms with slogans I can't exactly remember anymore and my prize choices.

Months go by, and nothing much happened. I got a call on the evening of the 26th last month as I was on my way to a steamboat dinner; the voice was female and she told me that I won a bottle of wine. Nice.


I ate my dinner that evening contemplating on it whilst looking out at the sea. The sun inched out of view, and the sea darkened.


I was to collect my prize on the 10th of this month, and so I went. The given address was the big Star office at Shah Alam, and the journey there was awfully expensive.

A woman with a pair of striking green eyes met me at the lobby. She handed me a bag, inside was a small bottle of wine wrapped with clear plastic. She told me that it's Eiswein.

When I got back I realized that the magazine flubbed at the prize description. They mismatched the pictures of this wine with that of the Ornellaia, and they said that it was a 750 bottle instead of a 375. I called back to make sure.

And yes, it was a 375 and it had always been sold in that size. That left me embarrassed.


But all in all, I think this baby's a keeper!

Labels: alcohol

When I saw this thing on a pillar right beside the Metal Burger stall at Mile 4, it was already mid February. I was way too late.  For those who might not be able to see it that clearly, here's a better version of the event flyer, taken from the Mortuary Ancestor's Myspace page:


It seems that the local metal scene is having a revival of sorts, and I'd say that's kinda good.  It used to be quite big when I was younger, say like the 80's and the 90's.

Well, as for my hometown's band, they're quite ok, I think.

Labels: metal