Fell into a deep hole…

And have just only crawled out from it. That’s the reason why I haven’t blogged for such a long long time.

Okay, that was lame.

So anyways, there wasn’t really that many things to talk about. Let’s see…

1. Jo left for Singapore to work, and is reportedly very lonely over there without any friends to hang out with yet. She is reportedly intending to return this weekend to see all of her friends and also attend Din’s Open House.

2. Duncan is still in Ghana, intending to return back somewhere in November, earlier if possible. The moment he touch down, we are tasked to bring him to the nearest Mamak so that he can polish off their 1 day food supply to satisfy his insatiable cravings for some Malaysian food.

3. Swee Won, I shall not do your tag. It is too long, and you don’t celebrate Hari Raya so I can’t do it as a present for you. But between you and me, you know how I feel about you right? Haha!

4. I officially see Alan more than I see my family, probably. For the raya week, I was out with him on Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday night, and Saturday. Can you feel the love? (Not complaining la dude, just merely mentioning. Why does life have to be so complicated, hor?)

5. MMU is about to begin their final examination for Trimester 1, 2008/2009. All the best to those who are taking it, especially the happy factor. (I wonder if you’re actually capable of still staying happy, even in situations like these?)

6. Estrella is awesome. Full stop. Support your local music!

7. I am so dreading to return back to work tomorrow. Or relishing it? It’s a race to finish stuffs by the end of the year, and it’ll be really busy very soon.

Newly updated: This is the most hilarious thing I’ve read in sometime. Go to Huzir Sulaiman’s blog, and read this post. Personally my favorite is the Best Actor award, and Lifetime Achievement one. ROFL!

It was LEGENDARY

All that taunting, all the previews, all the ‘clues’, all the effort and planning finally led to yesterday.

And it was legendary.

There’s definitely a difference when you have friends planning for your birthday. And if you have bros to chip in their ideas, knowledge, experience and a sizable chunk of the cash in their wallet. When that all comes together, the day became legendary.

And sadly, I can’t really blog about all of it. Well, let’s just pretend I have selective memory loss or something, okay?

The day started tamely enough with lunch with the family, and then I couldn’t remember what happened in the afternoon. The next thing I know, I was heading for dinner at TGIF. Thank you (in no order of importance, just the order of seating on table) Kim, Ju Shin, Alicia, Joanne, Navin, Trevor, Khek, Judith, Su Yi, David and Ah Wai for making it to the dinner.

After sending someone back home, Alan insisted that I was chauffeured driven for fear I will be made to drink till I drop that night. So we headed on to the next agenda, before I was ‘kidnapped’ by Abdul and his merry band of boys, Sanjeev, Ray and Weezer. The mastermind of the whole plan, Harry then handed me some stuff, and took me somewhere. I can’t remember what happened after that too.

The next thing I know, I was heading back, joining the rest in the club, and met Alan’s friend from Malacca, and her friends too. The effort to made the birthday boy drunk somehow backfired on some other people (if they even actually tried at all), and some puked their guts out later, and I had my second experience of tending to a semi-drunk friend.

And that, was my 24th birthday celebration.

A million thanks to those who wished through sms, calls, facebook and friendster. Unlike Alan who fell asleep even before midnight, I think I at least took the effort to stay awake to reply almost instantly those who messaged at midnight to 1 A.M. The list is a bit too long to list, but you guys and girls should know that every message, wish and gift (from Joanne, Trev/Judith and Jas/Abdul) is much appreciated and valued.

And thank you Dave, for the pictures and all. I can see it uploaded in Facebook as I type out this post. Awesome pics as usual, with you missing in most of it.

Updates: Just as I thought my birthday celebration ends in the early morning of 21st September, I was blissfully ignorant of another evil plan that was hatched that eventually made me look like a walking snowman in a playground in Cyberjaya. Prasaanth, Harry, Nicky, Din, Kah Yee, Su Yi, Jo, Teck Fann, Stella, thanks for, hmmm… showing me what’s it like to be a bread? No hard feelings, no worries, it’s the thought of you guys going through the trouble to do all that is what that counts.

Now of course, I save the best for last. I think yesterday wouldn’t be possible without awesome bros like Harry, Alan and Abdul. I’m sure Khek would’ve hopped onto the bandwagon if he wasn’t busy working, and Duncan if he’s just not so darn far away. But I can practically hear Duncan’s evil laughter thinking about what I’ve just experienced yesterday, all the way from South Africa. Anyways, these people are the people you can depend on in any situation, be it good or bad, and go all the way for you, and with you. Row the boat with you and all that, respond to your emergency situation, plan your birthday and made it legendary, all the whole five-nine yards.

And for that, I have to thank God for people like these.

I got tagged (again)

Here it goes. This one comes all the way from Iso, who’s probably having a ball of a time in Malacca now.

I Love Your Blog Rules:
1. Pass this award on to 7 people.
2. Answer the following questions using only one word. (Only 1 word? I find that highly impossible, but I’ll try.)

Q&A:
1. Where is your cell phone? Basket
2. Where is your significant other? God knows (That’s 2!)
3. Your hair color? Black. Strictly. (That’s 2 again)
4. Your mother? Lovely
5. Your father? Neutral
6. Your favorite thing? Living life
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your dream/goal? Success
9. The room you’re in? My own
10. Your hobby? N/A
11. Your fear? Cockroaches
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Successful
13. Where were you last night? Malacca (Bah!)
14. What you’re not? God knows
15. One of your wish-list items? A new PC
16. Where you grew up? Selangor
17. The last thing you did? Typed ‘Selangor’
18. What are you wearing? Home clothes
19. Your TV? Nada
20. Your pet? All dead
21. Your computer? Old
22. Your mood? Bored
23. Missing someone? I do
24. Your car? Nice
25. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup?
26. Favorite store? Nike
27. Your summer? Too darn hot
28. Love someone? Everyone
29. Your favorite color? None
30. When is the last time you laughed? Earlier today
31. Last time you cried? Long long time ago
32. Are you a bitch? I’m a bastard, sometimes.
33. Favorite Position? On my back, sleeping
34. Favorite Past Time? Sleep
35. Are you a hater or a Lover? Lover
37. Are you genuine or fake? Fakishly Genuine
38. Any Vices? Spendthrift
39. Pro Life or Wire Hanger? Not guilty.
40. McCAIN or OBAMA? Who bloody cares?
41. Pro Plastic or Natural? Don’t really care either
42. Dream Job? Ordering people around
43 where the last 11 questions PINK added on fun? Huh???

And I will tag…

1. Melissa
2. Feli
3. Alan (your blog has been dead for sometime)
4. Won Won in Korea
5. Fiza (if you actually have the time)

Err…that’s about it la.

And I wonder, if there’s actually a possibility for you and me, for us?

Life in shades of grey

1. You know how you just came back from a holiday, irregardless of how long or short it is, and have a dreadful first day back at work? Probably because your mind is still in holiday mode, and your body’s physically tired from it? Yeah, that sucks.

2. And how because of the little rest you have and all that, you will just end up falling sick?

3. It’s just the sick season now, really. Many people around me are falling sick, for all sorts of reason.

4. Speaking of which, I hope Duncan don’t contract some weird disease where he is at, and fall sick, since he’s officially 8 hours behind Malaysia time, and is in South Africa.

5. I’m not exactly sick, just having a day with runny nose, because I sat under an air-con vent.

6. And used the rough kind of tissue people use to wipe their hands after washing it, and ended up with a red nose. I tried the softer toilet paper kind, but that tore when it’s wet.

7. Monday blues hit in as usual, but worse, since I just came back from an awesome trip over the weekend at Cameron Highlands.

8. Driving up Cameron Highlands was great, with the bends and all. The bad weather was a bit of a bummer, but Cameron looks great when it rains. And I love the rain. There was plenty of soil erosion along the way though. Had a pretty challenging drive up too, although it would’ve been better if it was a manual car.

9. And as usual people say, “It doesn’t matter where you are, or what you do. It’s the company that matters.”

10. A weekend full of laughter, fun, memorable moments and awesomeness with a bunch of great people? Who could ask for more?

Now’s probably a good time

As any time, to make a tribute to a dear friend.

Today, we’re supposed to make him drunk, for the last time for sometime, and maybe he’ll just get lucky, before he’s shipped flown off to where people speak in low tones, are generally very, very dark, and dances by jumping up and down at 1 stationary position with their hands clipped to their side.

Yes, Duncan is going to South Africa. Follow his journey on his blog for more updates.

It’s not like he’s going there forever. Well, maybe, if he decides to marry an African girl and just stay there. But as he said (in a macho voice) “Malaysia will still be my home base.” Alan and I had a good laugh out of that one. Kek Teng-ness.

It’s just that THE presence of THE man, who has been around all the time will be gone, you know?

The guy who always organizes everything, and have it going like clockwork.

Who leads us on with his enthusiasm and zest for life.

Who has high soaring confidence, even more after he lost weight.

Who scores occasionally, and for that you’ll wish you have his balls guts.

Who captures the audience, be it stranger or friends alike, and have them eating out of his hand.

Who lives life by his own way and religion of Duncanism and by the motto of “Hor Ee Si” (Literally translated from Hokkien as Let It Die, more subtlety suppose to mean Do things to the end).

Who is matured beyond his young years, enough to fool almost everyone (and someone).

Who is just about as good as a friend, a bro that someone could wish for, and more.

Duncan,

As I once said, I sincerely hope that you’ll attain what you’re looking for there, achieve all you can, earn all you can, and come back safely. Till then, safe journey, and all the best.

You’ve got tagged

Been a while since I last got tagged. This one’s from Swee Won, all the way in Korea.

People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any questions that they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves. [I am so lazy to formulate new questions]

Tag 8 people to do this quiz and those who are tagged cannot refuse. [So ganas. I shall not tag anyone too] These people must state who they were tagged by and cannot tag the person whom they were tagged by. Continue this game by sending it to other people.

1 ) If your lover betrayed you, what would your reaction be?
But I don’t have a lover. How to imagine and answer this question. Lover, pft, what a word. Why not girlfriend, or boyfriend, or darling or bla bla bla…

2 ) If you have a dream to come true, what would it be?
World peace. No, a lifetime supply of chocolate. No, world peace… chocolate…world peace…choworlatepeace…..

3 ) Are u sleepy now?
I am always sleepy. I sit down on my seat in the office in the morning, and complain that I’m sleepy. I sit down on my seat in the office after lunch, and complain that I’m sleepy. In fact, a colleague once said “Gan always looks sleepy.”

4 ) Are u confused with what lies ahead of you?
Don’t cross the bridge until you’ve reached the river. Or was it cross the bridge only when you’ve reached the river. Where got bridge on top of the road. Unless if there’s a highway below maybe… Bridges confuse me.

5 ) What’s your ideal lover like?
I’ve learnt that whatever you dream of, whatever you want, the whole long list is never achievable. There is no one single ideal possible lover. It’s just the moment, and the person. And when you’ve seen her, you’ll know she’s ideal.

6 ) Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
This is stupid. Why should you love someone, if they don’t love you back. And being loved if you don’t love them back. It’s like Yin and Yang. Can’t have one without the other.

7 ) What is the one thing that pisses you off about the opposite sex?
Nothing much really. Seriously. Really! I’m not trying to score brownie points here okay?

8 ) How far will you go for the one you love the most?
You remember the song with the lyric “I will go the distance!” . How about “Love is flying to the moon and back…if you’ll be…”

9 ) Is there anything that makes you unhappy these days?
Again, nothing much really. Except when the happy factor is not available.

10 )What is your favorite fairytale of all time and why?
Shrek. It should be a fairytale, okay?

Dizzy up the girl

It’s just the name of a favorite Goo Goo Dolls album which I had in the form of cassette, okay? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not about to do anything wrong towards any certain girl.

Duncan posed an interesting question once. He asked “What would be your favorite song of all time?”

To which I answered, “Iris from Goo Goo Dolls”. The band is quite timeless. 20 + years down the road, they’re still rocking hard, alongside bands like U2 and all that, although I must say they’re less well known.

Duncan thinks that Competition Smile from Gin Blossom is his all time fav. Or is it some other Gin Blossom song?

Anyways, since I haven’t blogged for the longest time, this one is going to be a medley of different topics again.

1. People come, people go. But the best of people are hardest to let go. Some people dear to me will be leaving soon for greener pastures, but not just yet. I’ll write a special dedication with tears and all that when the time comes.

2. I am happy with my job. A bit too happy, to the part where I’m comfortable. And I’m afraid that I’ll be way too comfortable to make decisions that will lead me down a rougher path, but better for my life and career overall.

3. Just the other day, I was happy at work about 2 things. Phase 1 of my year-long project has finally been commissioned, and a collective sigh of relief can be heard from the top all the way to the bottom (that would be me). Ironic statement ensues, such as “The simulation will be held at a date after the proposal has been approved, but if we’re lucky and a double fiber cut happens, we will be able to test Mesh before that“. *Nervous laughter*.

Then, there was this question. “When you think about dinner tonight, would you smile or laugh?”. Between trying to reply, trying to concentrate in the meeting, and trying to give some input at the meeting, I think I answered, “Grin. A wide grin.” Grin sounds like a word The Joker would use, but you got the gist la, kay? *smiles widely*

4. My cousin added me in Facebook, and I can’t recognize her at all. That is bad, considering that she’s actually my dad’s brother’s daughter. I even sent her the “Who are you?” message. Oh bummer. This probably happened because she has grown up to be pretty hot, and I don’t see her that much, and in the corner of your mind you’d always remember your cousins as those little kids you play with when you were much younger. Not to mention she used the other surname too (Long story there). Oh, and she has a twin sister too.

5. I had a taste of Abdul’s family hospitality yesterday. It involved having lots and lots of food shoved onto your plate, and you eat till you’re gasping for air. But it was rather fun and spontaneous to drive down (well, Shyuan did), surprise him, eat tons of good food (the chicken was a bit over BBQed though), and then drive back to KL. Thanks for the hospitality, Abdul. Had a great time. [Sanjeev thought me a trick in dealing with the food-overload. Always keep some food left on the plate, and pretend to eat it. So if people were to offer you more, you can politely decline and say you've already had some. Same thing applies to alcoholic drink, if you don't plan to get drunk.]

6. It’s a long weekend ahead, aren’t you looking forward to it? Mum came up to me one day and said “We’re going to Penang.” “Ohkay”, I said. Then she said “But we didn’t include you. ” *Insert shocked hurt face* Well, mum’s taking 2 of my cousins up there, since they’re from Malacca and have never been to Penang. Plus my dad and bro, the car just wouldn’t fit me anymore. So, I foresee a weekend with a box of pizza, drinks, and lazy time at home. Oh heavenly.

7. Bulan Puasa’s coming soon. Selamat Berpuasa to all my Muslim friends. Puasa month is important, as it signifies the beginning of the year-end period, where workload becomes less, things becomes less hectic, and invitations after invitations to go and eat by vendors would be pouring in. It’s either I’ve gotta learn to deny some of these invitations, or go to gym more. Sigh.

8. Owning a car is expensive. (Like Duh, right?) Older cars cost a lot to maintain, and it gets a bit annoying when you bring it to the workshop, get it fixed, and other new problems surfaces. Time to go to the workshop, yet again. Double sigh.

Alcohol, is bad

Now I actually rarely drink. I don’t like beer, and have never got into a state of total knockout with alcohol. Closest I’ve gotten is being tipsy, and quickly sobered up after a while.

And I’ve never dealt with anyone who was drunk before.

Yesterday would prove to be my first time, and for 2 others.

Now whenever DiGi has parties, one of their trademarks would be the free flowing beer. And sometimes wine. And then you start seeing people having red faces. It’s actually very amusing to see how different people react differently. I saw a guy who went very quiet, a girl crying and then just fell asleep, others being extra friendly to each other, and then there were those who just vomited, and had in this case a total knockout. They were incapable of moving, taking care of themselves, saying anything close to incoherent, if at all, and the whole fiasco.

Now this friend of mine, we shall call her L from this stage onwards, had just way too much too drink. Her voice went several pitches higher, she went a bit violent when we tried to stop her, and in the end she went to a girlfriend and admitted defeat, that there was just too much alcohol in her.

The poor girlfriend had to miss the rest of the party, took care of her in the office, emptied her vomit bag several times, and all that. By the time a bunch of us went back to office to clear up our stuffs and go home, we found L sitting in as sort of a vegetative state on the chair, occasionally trying to vomit but couldn’t because everything came out already, and couldn’t do anything for herself.

A bunch of us discussed extensively on the best way to get L home, all while wheeling her to the toilet on the chair to wash herself. That was another amusing sight, two guys holding her legs up, while another one wheeled the chair along the corridor to the toilet.

During the whole time, there was seriously a lot of people who were drunk at the same time. Some had red faces, walked without realizing where they were going, and another guy passed out on the sofa in the office. Some guy had bottles of whipped cream, and sprayed some on his hair.

Being the one who knows the whereabouts of USJ (L stayed in USJ), I took the task of leading the other members of the rescue team back to her house in a DiGi 4×4. She was placed in her ride, and another guy drove while the girlfriend of L went along, just to make sure she doesn’t puke all over herself in her car. Felt like some real rescue mission, with the truck leading the way and all.

Upon reaching her house, L sobered up slightly, and got really afraid that we parked in front of her place. Apparently her parents were dead strict about things like this, as I’ve later learnt and that she could be (possibly literally or figuratively speaking) thrown out of her house for doing what she did.

Hardly sobered, L started cursing us left, right, up and down for parking in front of her house, and had to drive away to somewhere else, while we try to get the number of her brother to come get her. That lasted for about an hour, as we tried to get her to walk, talk, and sober up some more.

Since L’s phone battery was dead, we had her recite her brother’s number to us. She gave us one number after another, to which after 3 attempts we realized was some random number. Ironically though, the number was always valid, and it got through, albeit to some strangers. In the end we gave up, turned the phone up and quickly looked up the brother’s number and got the right one.

L’s 21 year old brother drove out, came and got her, and we finally heaved a sigh of relief, having turned her over to someone else. In the meantime, the guy friend who drove her back also had a bit too much to drink, was feeling uncomfortable in the tummy, and also puked at the side of the drain while waiting for the brother to come.

On the bright side, I found the whole experience totally amusing, and I was laughing all the way when she called earlier to apologize and all. Of course on the bad side, I wasted the chance to party with the rest when the dance floor was opened, since I spent the later part of my night tending to a TKO drunkard.

Having spelling out the story above word for word, I think it’s probably wise for everyone to know their limits when it comes to drinking, or just avoid them straightaway (like someone I know), if you can’t tolerate much. It’s embarrassing to be caught in a vegetative state with no control of your actions or speech, and to bother people to tend to you when they themselves are looking forward to a good time.

Have fun, and drink safely guys, whenever you’re planning to do so.

Do you know that different color of roses have different meanings, and the different stalks carries different meanings too? Of course, with the power of internet and Google nowadays, just type keywords and you’ll find out what each color + number of stalks mean.

Where was I?

This urge to blog, is rather weird. Sometimes you have thoughts about things, and you can churn 2, 3 posts a day. Or in this case, I was just actually away from the PC (or at least private time at the PC), thus not blogging for some time.

As if any of you actually miss reading the nonsensical stuffs here for 13 or so days. *grins*

Anyways, the past 2 weeks have been a flurry of events, notably the 9th (I think) MMU Convocation, in which a bunch of my closest friend received their scrolls. Now they’re officially out and about in the big big world. All I can say is, welcome to the sucky working world  *Evil grin* (So much for positive thinking huh?)

It was actually great fun gathering around, meeting old friends who are here for others too, anticipating the graduates walking from the hall, some receiving celebrity like support of flowers, claps and cheers. Having said that, I did realize I will be obligated to come back next year again for some friends, and quite possibly the year after. And after. Wow.

Fireflyz is actually amazingly convenient. It takes only 25 minutes to pick someone up from the airport, as opposed to around 1 hour or so, if that someone lands in LCCT. However, I think the fact that the airplane is propeller based still worries some people. Anyone knows if there’s any clear disadvantage of propeller based planes, as opposed to jet planes?

Has anyone realized how growing older makes your body less robust, and more prone to, well, different kinds of pain? After working at night for just 2 nights, I’ve developed this really bad pain at the forehead, on my right side. Fearing the worst of a migraine, I barged into the doctor’s room, saying “I think I’ve got a major migraine”. Really, the pain was quite unbearable. But it was a relief to find out that the pain was actually due to my sinus, and my right nostril was indeed blocked. When the pain repeated itself again today, I tried clearing my nostril, and the pain subsided, a lil.

Sigh, the trials and tribulation of growing old. 3/4 of a year ago, it was that 2 weeks gastric, and now this.

Our country will be celebrating it’s 51st Independence day in half a month or so, but there’s not much hype about, huh? The newspaper these days are just full with, well, politics, and more politics. So sad.

There’s just things in life that you feel like holding on forever, but it feels like it’s slipping right through your grip. Or am I just the one thinking about nothing at all?

A special dedication

As I took out my phone, I saw a miss call from Joanne Fong about 20 minutes ago. I returned the call, but to no avail.

Well, this is the sort of hide-and-seek type of friendship we now have, post graduation and 400+ KMs away from each other.

She would call me, and I wouldn’t pick up (due to many reasons), and when I return the call, she’ll would either not pick it up at the first time, or not at all.

But of course, this post is not to rant about her.

This post is actually dedicated to one of my closest friend throughout the uni period, and even now.

I just had a suddenly feeling of melancholy, even more now since you’re about to move into your next phase in life. Blame the lonely drive back after meeting some friends, time alone in the car is always a good time to reflect on stuffs.

I can actually still clearly remember the first time I met you around 6 years ago, with your tomboy-ish short haircut, holding your hands out and introducing yourself during a SPB ice-breaking. With you matured manner, it was easy to think that you’re a senior, when in fact we’re both freshies in our Alpha year.

I don’t quite remember when we got closer though, although it seems that in Beta onwards, we were arranging the same classes (which is good I think, because I’m quite lazy to go to class, and you’ll sign for me), and doing assignments together and all that. Then after that there was Mini Project, and finally FYP.

Somewhere in the middle, there were clubs and societies, and events here and there, where I would have the pleasure of working with you in and out of the lecture halls.

Having said all that, this post is of course to put you up on the pedestal, praise you on the good qualities you have, and hope that you don’t float too high up. *please anchor yourself down before reading further*

It’s safe to say that you have an exceptionally friendly demeanor, every ready easy sweet smile, and a great personality that is hard not to like. Then there’s the part where you’re super responsible towards whatever’s bestowed on to you, and have the drive to do what is needed to get a task completed, be it out of that deep sense of responsibility, of the fear of getting bad grades in Mini Project or FYP.

You’re sensible, and can very well deliver sound mature advices or statements to which up to today, I can still remember one of it. And then there’s the part where you really value your friendship with others, and how thoughtful and caring you are towards your friends, irregardless of how they were treating you at that time.

Of course, I am also always amused by the part where you sometimes know me so well, you know what I was/am thinking about at that moment. And how you’d still give sensible, matured advises up to today.

After all of that above, some people would get the wrong impression that I might be deeply into you. This is where I would defend myself, and tell you of how I actually enjoy, appreciate and would always value the platonic friendship we have, even more now since you’re, well…ahem, and getting ahem.

Anyways, these day she would always be the one to call me, (or miss call nowadays, since she’s on DiGi and I call for free) just to talk about nothing and everything. The only 1 time I initiated a call, she couldn’t believe I was just calling her up to say Hi. The first few minutes went on like this.

“Hi Joanne!”

“Hi. Yes, what is it?”

“No, just wanted to call to say Hi.”

“Really? *You can practically smell the suspicion in her voice*”

“Yes, really. So how are you?”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“No, really. I’m calling to say hi.”

This would go on for a few minutes, before she’d actually believe me.

Anyways, since I missed your call earlier, and you didn’t pick up mine, here’s a virtual toast to our friendship. Cheers~!. Can’t wait to see you when you come down this weekend.

Advertisement for Joanne: She’ll be coming down from the 8th-10th of August, arriving at around 8 something on the 8th of August at Subang Airport. I’m picking her up, and we’re going to meet people. Anyone who’s free and wants to meet her at that time, please do let me know! We’ll also be at the MMU Convocation the next day (9th), so meeting up there is fine too.

Out of topic: Old habits die hard. I still can’t bring myself to purchase a brand new novel from the bookshop which costs somewhere around RM 30, even with the 20% discount offer from MPH. Instead, I stopped by Selvan (Selvam?)’s book place in Cineleisure Lower Ground floor, which sells out of season/old books for half the price, and got 2 new/old books instead. Finally got a John Grisham, and a Clive Cussler. Now I can go back to my habit of reading before sleeping. *Grins*