emzadii's blog

new apt

2009-05-04T21:49:00.003-05:00

welcome to my new apartment...

the living room (notice the faux fireplace)

see the old-fashioned radio BUILT INTO the walls?? so cool...

our flat-screen atop the mantle, & the fake fireplace

the fake fireplace close-up, with all its fake-fiery glory

the spacious dining room (dining tables coming soon...). the door goes to the kitchen.

my piano & love of my life

now approaching the kitchen, and we see fridge + stove + overhead microwave + dishwasher
(my housemate is such a slob so i decided we NEED a place that has dishwasher.) and the back door gives way to the back porch.

ze kitchen again

plenty of cabinet space in the dapur

the back porch, where it has become my own personal private space to chillax

...or where the cat comes to chillax, too

my bedroom a.k.a. bilik pengantin

my messy desk (and yes, my Along is still with me... see him?)

as seen in Craigslist

2009-04-17T11:13:00.005-05:00

my current apartment, as seen on Craigslist:

$750 / 2br - Remodeled 2 Bedroom Apt.: In-Unit Washer and Dryer

AVAILABLE in MAY:
We're looking for RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN tenants for recently remodeled 3rd floor, 2 bedroom apartment for rent. Apartment has ceramic floors, newer windows, newer kitchen cabinets, pantry, enclosed rear porch, and appliances included. Best of all- HIGH EFFECIENCY WASHER AND DRYER IN UNIT! Located in Marshall Square area, near Little Village and Pilsen, shopping, steps from bus, four blocks to El train.

Dimensions are: Kitchen 18 x 8 ft, 1st Bedroom 12 x 8ft, 2nd Bedroom 10 x 8ft, Living Room 13 x 10ft, Extra Room 6 x 4.5 ft, Storage Closets: 4x6 and 3x8.

Utilities not included in rent. CREDIT CHECK, $750 SECURITY DEPOSIT AND REFERENCES REQUIRED!! Must sign one year lease. Reply to posting with questions or if interested. PLEASE BE FAMILIAR WITH OR TOUR THE AREA BEFORE YOU MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO VIEW THE APARTMENT. Thanks!

(hihi, so funny. i was myself on Craigslist apt-hunting when i saw this ad and i thought, "heyyy that's a cheap apartment, and wow it's nearby, too! oooh look, nice pictures! ....hey wait a sec wtf, that's MY apartment holy fuck...")

Love & Consequences

2009-02-13T23:03:00.007-06:00

happy valentine's day, everybody...

Love is a relationship with no charges of activation, free incoming, free outgoing, free roaming and 100% talktime. Where ever you go, my network will follow.

~Unknown, from Love SMS

And though it's just a line to you, for me it's true
It never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever lines to say
To make the meaning come through
But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late
And I'm alone with you
The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all, by saying something stupid
Like: "I love you"
("I love you, I love you,...")

~ Frank Sinatra, Something Stupid

A kiss, when all is said,- what is it?
An oath that's ratified,- a sealed promise,
A heart's avowal claiming confirmation,-
A rose-dot on the 'i' of 'adoration,'-
A secret that to mouth, not ear, is whispered,-
Brush of a bee's wing, that makes time eternal,-
Communion perfumed like the spring's wild flowers,-
The heart's relieving in the heart's outbreathing,
When to the lips the soul's flood rises, brimming!

~ Cyrano de Bergerac, Scene 3.IX

Marie: That's sweet.
Dan: How is that sweet?
Marie: To be that certain, to feel that much love.
Dan: Love isn't a feeling...
Marie: No?
Dan: It's an ability.
Marie: [pause] Well, if that's true, then you have one gifted daughter.

~ Dan In Real Life

i know u will say i am qute and fine but like the all other 15 girls u also should wait in line

~ unknown

One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight,
Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight:
In seas of flame my plunging soul is drown'd,
While altars blaze, and angels tremble round...

...No, fly me, fly me, far as pole from pole;
Rise Alps between us! and whole oceans roll!
Ah, come not, write not, think not once of me,
Nor share one pang of all I felt for thee.

~ Alexander Pope, Eloisa to Abelard (see note below)

"You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no gifts. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine."

~ Yvain, from Stardust

"Love is not blind — it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less."
~ Julins Gordon

"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish it's source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."

~ Anais Nin

Thou, O nymph, the while,
Prophetic of the god’s unpitying guile,
In tender scenes by love-sick fancy wrought,
By fear oft shifted, as by fancy brought,
In sweet Mondego’s ever-verdant bowers,
Languish’d away the slow and lonely hours:
While now, as terror wak’d thy boding fears,
The conscious stream receiv’d thy pearly tears;
And now, as hope reviv’d the brighter flame,
Each echo sigh’d thy princely lover’s name.
Nor less could absence from thy prince remove
The dear remembrance of his distant love:
Thy looks, thy smiles, before him ever glow,
And o’er his melting heart endearing flow:
By night his slumbers bring thee to his arms,
By day his thoughts still wander o’er thy charms:
By night, by day, each thought thy loves employ,
Each thought the memory, or the hope, of joy.
Though fairest princely dames invok’d his love,
No princely dame his constant faith could move:
For thee, alone, his constant passion burn’d,
For thee the proffer’d royal maids he scorn’d.

~ The story of Inez de Castro (see note below)
Luis de Camões, Os Luciadas, Canto III, 1572AD (from The Lusiads, Book III, translated by William Julius Mickel, 1776AD)

"The heart has reasons that reason does not understand."
~ Jacques Benigne Bossuel

notes:

1) Heloise and Abelard is a true story, set in mid 12th century France, of love doomed to a tragic end. Abelard was the girl's live-in tutor, 20 years her senior, and the romance so enraged her disapproving uncle that he had Abelard castrated shortly after they were discovered. Distraught, the lovers entered the monastery and wrote a set of now-famous letters to each other until their death, though they never met again.

2) Ines de Castro was a lady-in-waiting for Princess Constance of Portugal in 1340 and quickly stole the heart of Prince Pedro, the heir to the Portuguese throne. When Constance died in 1349, Pedro tried to make Ines his lawful queen - they already had three children together - but his father the king intervened: banishing Ines, and ultimately having her murdered when geographical distance couldn't keep Pedro away. The act sparked a civil war between father and son and, when the latter claimed victory, Pedro exhumed his lover, built her a royal tomb, and had all of Portugal swear allegiance to Ines as their queen.

xmas present

2008-12-21T22:34:00.006-06:00

i had in mind a cute & tiny plush animal, with a cute santa hat on, and a cute little something around its neck, all packaged inside a cute gift bag; you know - something nice, something simple, something that won't freak her out. so i searched and searched like crazy, and finally found the perfect present, exactly as i had pictured it.

i'm just going to show up and hand her all these cuteness. and then wait for the awkward "thanks." and then i'll flee.

i truly truly hope that she'll like her christmas gift...
*sigh*
typical syamil and his rotten luck with girls, right.. : (

puppy santa

the snowman upclose

the chain

2008-12-11T11:34:00.008-06:00

another song of ingrid michaelson's that these days i can't get enough of. this is from her album 'Be Ok,' and the song is a live performance at Webster Hall, NYC. I LOVE the way the song builds-builds-builds and then then four vocals coalesce together at the end.

[Ingrid Michaelson Official Website | Ingrid Michaelson on iLike]

the chain
by ingrid michaelson

The sky looks pissed
The wind talks back
My bones are shifting in my skin
And you my love are gone

My room seems wrong
The bed won't fit
I cannot seem to operate
And you my love are gone

So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take, then I will take
The chain from off the door

I'll never say I'll never love
But I don't say a lot of things
And you my love are gone

So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take
The chain from off the door

(four vocals)
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take
The chain from off the door

So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take, then I will take, then I will take
The chain from off
The door

please report broken link

winter song

2008-12-10T16:39:00.008-06:00

note: I chanced upon Leno's show just when he's about to introduce Ingrid Michaelson (whom I've such a crush on for so long!!!) and Sara Bareillis (her, not so much; but good singer, though). The song is quite well-written - melodies kept simple, its arrangements purposeful, lyrics that tugs the heart - and the two ladies rendered the song with such touch, that I just had to share it with you all. Enjoy!

Winter Song
by Sara Bareillis & Ingrid Michaelson

Performance on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno (12/09/08)

~ see also: music video ~

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

My voice a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love...

They say that things just cannot grow
beneath the winter snow,
or so I have been told.

They say were buried far,
just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause you're not where you belong;
inside my arms.

I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
and life will find a way.

I'll be your harvester of light
and send it out tonight
so we can start again.

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
cause you're not where you belong;
inside my arms.

This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon
it rolls in from the sea.

My love a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light
to carry you to me.

Is love alive?

(please report broken link)

soulmate

2008-12-05T21:23:00.006-06:00

From "How to Reach Soul-Mate Status With Any Man"
by Laura Gilbert (Cosmopolitan)

THE SWEETHEART

SPOT HIM

Typical interests: Music, cooking dinner for friends, reading literature
When he's stressed, he talks about it with confidants until he finds a solution.
He lights up if you say: "I never would have noticed that. You're so observant!"

HE'S RIGHT FOR YOU IF...

You want your boyfriend to be a guy who truly listens, understands your girlie side, and can talk about feelings.
You're turned on by sweet, movie-worthy romance, like slow kisses and crazy-great compliments.
You deal with problems by honestly addressing them and taking emotions into consideration. He's a philosopher at heart, and even if you two don't agree in the end, you'll learn tons about each other during your in-depth discussions.

SYNCING UP

His favorite dates: Atmosphere matters to this sensualist, so find a spot with a romantic vibe (try a botanical garden or outdoor jazz concert) for the real highlight: your ever-intensifying one-on-one bond.
Relationship requirements: This nurturer tries to know everyone he meets on a deeper level, which can be rough if you're the jealous type. Also, he's so into connecting that he'll feel dissed if you don't share your problems.
What he seeks in a soul mate: This idealist falls when he knows you value communication too. Because he tends to ruminate, you'll enhance his life by being decisive yourself.

thankxgiving 2008

2008-11-27T23:30:00.005-06:00

thanksgiving dinner at melissa's

lil' Jamila (Melissa's 4-yr old daughter)

Jamila (aka Ms Queen Diva) & me

George K., me, Ted, Melissa, George L & Jamila

George K, Melissa (& Jamila), Ted, me & George L.

little things

2008-11-25T00:33:00.001-06:00

May angels sing, and heavens bring
Joy in life's little things.

Happy birthday, Ms Pujaan Hati!

pics: me & the cats

2008-11-22T19:39:00.008-06:00

me & smokey & merlin

pics: united center

2008-11-15T23:51:00.002-06:00

me & a whole damn stadium section of melayu
united center
bulls vs pacers

election night from flickr

2008-11-09T11:12:00.003-06:00

for more pics, click here
(from Barack Obama photostream)

obama night - part II

2008-11-05T20:05:00.004-06:00

the obamaniacs greeting us near the front entrance
CNN hinted at a big announcement to come as soon as the westcoast polls closed, and then started a countdown when it was nearing 10 pm CST. Anticipating anxiously, we all yelled out "10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1.." and then the CNN screen flashed: Barack Obama Elected President.
All of us screamed and jumped and hugged and cried. ALL OF US.
Part of the delirious crowd (estimated at 250,000) celebrating Obama victory
They were standing behind me during the Obama announcement. The girl in the hoodie cried in shock, as if trying to convince herself that it was true, that Obama had won. She was still sobbing when I hugged her. The cute girl standing next to me held back joyful tears watching Obama acceptance speech. When we embraced, I said "we elected Obama! we made history!" and then she cried, too. Before we all left, I had to take pictures with them. But, sadly, I never get to know their names...

p/s: I have to say this though, because it was mentioned only passingly by the press: at the Obama victory rally, I saw around me people of all different backgrounds - whites, blacks, hispanics, asians, indians, pakistanis, europeans, muslims, young highschool kids to senior citizens - all mingling together, all chanting and hi-fiving each other, and all had proud smiles on their faces. Such was the diversity of the grass-root support that Obama had been blessed with all throughout his presidential run.

obama night: in the presence of history

2008-11-05T19:32:00.002-06:00

Election Night
Grant Park, Chicago
November 4th, 2008

somewhere in this sea of people - is me...
(more pic coming!)

handstands for you-oo-oo

2008-09-27T23:10:00.010-05:00

1) this one caught my ear when it appeared in the recent commercial for iPod nano chromatic
2) cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute songggggggggggggg!!
3) dedicated to ms wetzel, whose heart i'm trying sooo hard to woo

(also: watch the iPod commercial)

Bruises
by Chairlift
First Verse:

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Everytime I fell on you yeah everytime I fell
I tried to do handstands for you
But everytime I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue for
you

I tried to do handstands for you
I tried to do headstands for you
Everytime I fell on you yeah everytime I fell
I tried to do handstands for you but everytime I fell for you
I'm permanently black and blue, permanently blue for

Chorus:

You-ooo
For you-ooo
So black and blue-oooo
For you-ooo

Man verse:
I grabbed some frozen strawberries so I could ice your bruisy knees
But frozen things they all unfreeze and now I taste like
All those frozen strawberries I used to chill your bruisy knees,
Hot July ain't good to me
I'm pink and black and blue

2nd Verse:

I got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue

Got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue for

Chorus:

You-ooo
For you-ooo
So black and blue-ooo
For you-oooo

Do-doo-do-do-do
Do-doo-do-do-do
Do-doo-do-do-do
Do-doo-do-do-do
Do-doo-do-do-do

neurotic love

2008-09-27T21:30:00.004-05:00

more from Best of Craigslist:

Dear Boyfriend: I Love You, Please Don't Murder Me In My Sleep
Date: 2007-09-25, 2:02PM EDT

To my dear boyfriend, who is so amazingly and unendingly neurotic - I am onto you!

I like you and how you are. I'm also pretty sure that something must go wrong here, and I've decided that the issue will lie in your mental health. To be able to confirm or deny these suspicions, read on:

1) Your cleaning fixation - I get it. You feel comfortable when things are a certain way. These little tidy rituals help you sleep better at night, or whatever. Everything you own has a certain drawer, a certain order, a certain placement. This was fine and kind of cute until I woke up to you remaking the bed I WAS SLEEPING IN because I'd laid the stripes on the comforter wrong. WTF. Seek help.

2) Your friends - You seem to think that no guys really have many friends. That's just not true! Granted, you have two older brothers that you idolize and that's kind of like having friends, but not really. Your only two non-related friends are SUCH LOSERS. One is in LOVE with Redneck-Bumfuckville where you guys are all from (thank GOD you don't live there anymore). Seriously, his dogs are named "Boots" and "Boots' Friend". WTF!! The other friend lives with you, is terrified of social interaction, has some serious anger problems, and plays CounterStrike as his only hobby. Seriously. You can do so much better.

3)Your jealousy/lack of self-confidence - Darling boyfriend, you are 6'5, lean, good-looking, and hilarious. You're also a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for. When we go to bars, girls turn around and double take when you walk by. You, however, have no concept of this because you're too busy staring down any guy that so much as looks near my general vicinity. You've had a longstanding feud with my promiscuous best friend because you're afraid she'll rub off on me... even though I've known her four years longer than I've known you. You've hated my roommate's boyfriend ever since he invited me to road trip with him to New Orleans (where our families both live) over Labor Day. What's the deal?

4) Your education - You halfway goddess-worship me because I finished three years at a fancy private college. Despite that fact that you're working to get your degree too, you apparently think I am WAY too smart from you (this was suggested by the aforementioned best friend, which is another reason you secretly hate her). When I write your papers and give you synopses of books you don't want to read, you act like I am parting with my own life-blood. I don't get it, personally, but I like how I write you a paper and you get all cuddly and loving. It's manipulative, but I'll take it.

5) Your commitment issues - You've only couple of serious girlfriends. The first cheated on you with and left you for someone you both knew. The second was a Hooters girl and you got so jealous that you dumped her. Your view is that they both fucked around on you and were out to break your heart. Therefore, you are more than slightly reluctant to admit any kind of feelings. And you keep saying that you don't know how to tell if you're REALLY in love. Make up your mind! No ultimatum here, but we're been dating for six months and this should be the good, easy part of the relationship. Lucky for you I see your emotional confusion and reluctance as a challenge, and I don't care if that makes me totally nuts.

6) Sex - You're a little uptight. You're good in bed, but not very confident and pretty scared to try new things. Although you have a serious interest in anal (not going to happen), you're terrified of a little bondage. Then we tried it, you got really into it, and now you're too timid to do it again. WEIRD. Also, when you tell me about your celebrity crushes, it weirds me out. Alexis Bledel? Avril Lavigne? Your whole top five is girls with physical quirks. Does that mean you're a serial killer and you'll eventually make me into a skin jacket? Who likes someone for their weird face shape or snaggle tooth, really?

6) You like me - You like all the weird shit I do. When I peel the sesame seeds off hamburger buns, when I refuse to wear clothing when I sleep, when I forget my keys/wallet/phone/whatever and borrow yours... you apparently think these things are endearing. I don't get it. You find my antics funny where others would be pulling their hair out. AND you get my weird sense of humor. I find this suspicious. Even my best friend doesn't get all the weird celebrity references that make up my joke reperetoire.

Basically what I'm trying to say here is that I love you, and that makes me think that you are probably a total nutcase. I'd appreciate if you could just come out with whatever rabbits you've got in the proverbial hat NOW so that I can being packing and moving to another state, getting a restraining order, or filing a missing persons report on you. Whatever needs to be done.

In the case that you're not a crazy truckstop-killer, can we settle down and make babies? Or at least move near each other and get two chocolate labs and walk them in the park every day?

Love,
Your highly suspicious girlfriend

* Location: Atlanta

stoner

2008-09-27T20:55:00.000-05:00

from *again* the best of Craigslist:

To The Stoner Who Works At Cottage Inn Pizza
Date: 2007-09-18, 11:30AM EDT

You: the guy who answers the phone at cottage inn pizza
Me: Hungry and stoned out of my gourd

I called you from my cell phone but had completely forgot who I was calling by the time you answered the phone. Of course, you were also baked to bajeezus and forgot to tell me that I had called Cottage Inn.

When you answered and said, “Whatsup?” I thought about it, and after a 20 second pause I told you that was hungry. You suggested I try a pizza, and I agreed that it was probably a good idea.

Then I asked you if you sold pizza and you said that you could make me one. I said I wanted anchovies and something else on my pizza. You asked me what that something else was.

We spent five minutes listing toppings until we figured out that I was trying to remember how to say: “Sun dried Tomatoes.” When you said: “We'll bake that right up for you,” we both started laughing uncontrollably.

It was the best pizza I ever had; I just wanted to thank you for helping me out.

* Location: The One By Jimmy-Johns

Death Magnetic

2008-09-18T17:40:00.008-05:00

My fav (so far...) from Metallica's new album 'Death Magnetic':
comment: the album does have a Justice For All feel to it, but...not quite. Still, welcome back Metallica! Fuckin-A!

That Was Just Your Life

Other favorites:
Suicide & Redemption
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Cyanide
The Unforgiven III
The Day That Never Comes

please report broken link

davichi

2008-09-18T17:40:00.004-05:00

music videos feat. Lee Hyori (my gf... : P) & Lee Miyeon.
(tip: watch the videos first, then the subbed version)

Love You, Hate You
by Davichi

MV Part I:

watch: part I with eng. subs

Sad Promise
by Davichi

MV Part II:

watch: part II with eng. subs

lagu lembu

2008-09-17T19:40:00.004-05:00

don't get me wrong, ok? i LOVE this song and it's on my top playlist, but... seriously, i can't help but suppress a gelak everytime the 'lembu' lyric comes on. FUNNYYY!!! hee!

take a listen:

11 January
Gigi

in memoriam

2008-09-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

I will remember...

Zia

2008-09-09T19:51:00.003-05:00

love the lyrics...!

Saranghae, Myanhae
(I Love You, I'm Sorry)
by Zia

album version & download

chicago pics

2008-09-09T19:16:00.004-05:00

from the Chicago Tribune's Spectacular Chicago:

(i STILL love this city!!!)

Gayatri Mantra

2008-09-07T02:20:00.009-05:00

"Om bhūr bhuvah svah
tat savitur varēnyam
bhargō dēvasya dhīmahi
dhiyō yō nah pracōdayāt"

the Gayatri Mantra, from the Rig Veda
(Battlestar Galactica Theme)

"Oh all-protecting lord,
Please guide our intellects,
So that we may proceed in the right direction
Towards enlightenment"

BSG Opening Sequence

Fan-made BSG Opening Sequence
<watch>

Just Friends

2008-09-07T02:19:00.000-05:00