On Top Of The World?

LFC is on top with a 3 points cushion and won against 2 of the top 4 teams. Things are certainly looking rosy right? Well, not exactly. I'd personally say it's still way too early to be thinking about being crowed as the champion. The EPL is notoriously famous for its punishing schedules in the X'mas holiday period when all other leagues in Europe are on their winter break. Imagine at mid season, you have 2 games to play in 3 days and in the cold / snow. This will definitely seperate the men from the boys.

I'd say we're in the perfect position (not certain) to push for no.19 this season as there are ample of signs that we have the full package to finally nail it down - ugly wins, lucky wins, come backs and a seemingly good team spirit & belief. There's also a difference to the way the gaffer is approaching the games this season - he is taking more risk by putting in more offensive subs. Results of this shift in mindset - to win rather than sit back for a draw, are there to see as we're are actually winning matches that we will definitely draw in the past few seasons under him. There is also a lot less rotation this season and it only happens to protect injured or jaded players.

After nearly 5 seasons, has he finally got the team right? Has the constant tinkering stopped? Well, i've got no answer to these questions as only the gaffer himself can answer them. What is clear is, we've finally got the kind of squad depth that he's been talking of since a couple of seasons ago. We definitely have a more settled side with players that look a lot more cohesive and have better understanding of their roles in the team. I'm happy to see we're not the bunch of headless chickens running around anymore like last season when we were constantly shooting ourselves in the foot with the crap footie we were playing.

How far can we go this time round? I wouldn't want to know and predict at this time. The road to no. 19 does look a lot less bumpy but knowing how fast things can go awry with trouble just round the corners, i'll be happy as long as we keep winning matches and see where it will take us. I am not looking to much into the league table and will only look at thing one game at a time. Seen my fair share of disappointments over the years to know its suicidal to over hype our good form and be over confident.

It's still too early with just 9 games played out of 38. Till then, i'll just sit back, enjoy the football and hope i don't pull out all my hair with the dramatic last minute wins by end of the season. Hopefully by then, no.19 is safely back in Anfield and locked up in the trophy room.

To all those who had lost someone you loved, cherished and held dear to your heart.

This song / video is dedicated to everyone who has lost someone close to your heart and especially to my mother and my late father.

Fix You, Coldplay:
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
COULD IT BE WORSE?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Health Ministry Warning: Supporting Liverpool Football Club Is Detrimental To You Health!

For all the excitement from the last minute come back wins that LFC have been pulling out of the rabbit's hat, they certainly aren't good for the faint-hearted supporters. I personally think, i'll bloody stop watching footie by the time i hit 50. I lost count how many times i've nearly pulled all my hair out in frustration of the crap we're dishing out only to be led into a period of gut wrenching and cardio working last few minutes of football.

We're on a roll for come back wins and have duly been tagged as the "Come Back Kings" but i'm convinced that the roll won't go on longer. Lady luck is a fickle minded and hard to understand phenomenon, soon she'll leave us in the lurch if we keep on coming back from the brink of death. We need to be wining games from the start and not do it 1o mins + injury time from the end.

I bet the cardiologist and heart specialist in Liverpool and all over the world for that matter, will have an increasing number of visits from Mighty Reds fans with cardio problems. Well, who can blame 'em? If we keep this up, please don't be surprised i'll soon join the queue.

Anyhow, Walk On and let's hope our school boy defending will stop the PES2009 / Fifa09 like free-scoring Chelsea attack, this coming Sunday nite - 9:30pm! Btw, pls take note that the MyRAWK boy will be organising a special event gathering inconjunction with this top-of-the-table clash. Check out My-RAWK.com for more details on the freebies and prizes that will be given away. See ya there!

-JonC-

15 Things You Might Not Know About Me

I got tagged by one of me blogging mates; Kerp after i had a ball of a time reading to his hilarious list. Was rather intrigued by Ms. Senorita's scandalous and naughty list too ;0) So here's my list that might bore you or scare you. Muahahahahahaha! Just to be different, i'm gonna do it backwards.

15 - Was a pretty succesful sprinter when i was in me early teens until a serious knee injury put paid to my running carrier. That was the start of my "sick-note" and injury laden sporting life.

14 - Have never lit a cigarette or "the good stuff" in my entire life but drank me first beer / stout at around 10 - thanks to me god brothers.

13 - Dislike gambling and pretty much most other vices except sex and footie ;0)

12 - Not the only child in the family as i had a younger sister who passed away in an accident when i was about 5 or 6 years old - about 25 years ago.

11 - I look up to John Fitzgerald Kennedy as my hero in life.

10 - Started being anti-establishment by about 9 or 10 thanks to me DAP supporting dad.

9 - I like like watching chick flicks and believe in happy endings. Yes i am hopelessly emo. :0P

8 - Was naive enough to think i would get married and start a family by 28 years old.

7 - Read me first porn mag at about 11 and watch me first porn by 12. Beat that!

6 - I dig chicks with shorter hair. *Hint to any future chicks i might date.

5 - I've only ever dated about 5 women and went steady with about 2 of 'em. Hehehehe, yes i am THAT choosy.

4 - Lost count of how many sexual fantasies i had, unlike you Kerp!

3 - Hate reading except maybe porn or footie mags and war stories or books about military equipments.

2 - Used to wear hand-me-down SCUM t-shirts from a cousin when i was ignorant and younger.

1 - I like boobies too!

*on request of ms. senorita..... maybe i should change no. 1 to.... i like to be teased by scantily clad woman in her lingerie or maybe in a secretary outfit complete with glasses rather than one who is totally naked. Blame the damn Jap AV porn! :0P

4 Bottles Of Johnny Walker: Black Label and 2 Buckets of Carlsberg Later, I Can't Figure Out If I'm 31 or 13.

It was an eventful weekend for me as i celebrated my 31st or was it 13th birthday. All is still a blur to me at the moment, hence the title above. I am still in a daze and having migraine due to lack of sleep and way too much alcohol consumed in the space of 2 days. So much for my intimate dinner and small gathering plans, it's was gonna be a pretty hectic and crazy weekend!

The whole thing started with a 2 hours session of futsal with the MyRAWK and LYN boys in PJ on Saturday evening. But, before that even begun, i had to endure a bad and weird traffic jam on my way towards the futsal place. If getting there was have the "fun," then, am i in for a big surprise! The rest of the boys couldn't make it in time as the traffic was bad enough and the roads were treacherous due to VERY bad visibility because of the heavy down pour. I swear i could see cats and dogs raining from up above! I could hear pipes and metal things getting flung around at the futsal place as there was a construction site next to the parking lot where i parked my car. We started playing at around 4:45 pm instead of the expected time of 3:30 pm - that really fooked up my already hectic schedule that originally gave me only 30 minutes to clean up and head back over to Klang.

Well, if ya wondering what's with the rush - i was supposed to meet up with my colleagues in Neway, Centro Klang at 6pm for karaoke and buffet dinner. I ended up showing up only at about 7:45pm after the footie ended at 6:45 pm. I also had to endure another traffic jam heading back to "Par Sang." Was bloody tired and hungry by then and was in panic mode as i feared i was not going to make it for the buffet only to realise later that the buffet ends only at 11 pm. But anyway, managed to ask one of my colleagues to keep some food for me just in case.

Not long after i arrived, the scary sight of 4 bottles of Black Label suddenly hit me. Shit! I'm in for a torrid night. There we about 15 of us and only about 12 of us that drank. Luckily, i paced myself and did not mix the booze with soft drink but only with plan water. I was not the biggest victim of the night though, as 3 of my other colleagues could hardly walk by the time the havoc was over at around 12:30 am. I was a 'lil light headed up till the near the end, until i was ask to do a chaser with a shot followed by beer. Thank goodness it kicked in only after i reach home - head was spinning but still managed to catch the 1st half of the WC Qualifiers - England vs Kazakhstan before i dozed off on me couch. Woke up next morning only to find out that i've got cake smeared all over me face, hair, shirt and jeans thanks to my colleagues.

The best surprised came when a good friend of mine showed up with a "gift" at my door step around lunch time yesterday - technically i did pay for the darn thing in the first place. It was the Onkyo TX-805 home theater amp that i had traded in my older hi-fi stuff for. I was grinning ear to ear while still in a state of blurness. Hooked up the bad-boy and had a bit of trouble setting it up before i put on Celine Dion's A New Day blu-ray ( yes i know it pretty lame, but you gotta admit her Las Vegas show was awesome!) Only had time to test out the new toy for a bit before i had to rush over to USJ for a friend's open house that was supposed to start at 5 pm.

While i was on my way there, had another big big surprised in the form of a long distance phone call from a dear friend and el-terrorista's wife in NZ (thanks ya! Really appreciate ya call all the way from down under) Met up my Friday night futsal gang there and we chatted and laughed till about 8 pm before 5 of us adjourned to Station1 in Taipan to have a few beers to celebrate my birthday. It was hard trying to down the 2 buckets of beers we ordered as all of us were stuff to the brim with the good food and countless cups of strawberry tea. Well, when guys gather and don't talk about sports, can ya guess whats the main topic was? Hehehehe, it was male bonding time. We finally left around 11:30 pm.

By the time i reached home, i was totally exhausted and extremely tired. Been a hell of a hectic weekend and it's been a while since i did so much running around. The excessive amount of alcohol still intoxicating my head and the tiredness, finally did me in this morning, as i have to call my office for a 1/2 day leave. Still suffering from migraine as i type this entry and so if ya find there's tonnes of typos, ya know the reason why. Irregardless, it was a kick-arse weekend! So thank you and hats off to all of you gals and guys who help made my 31st birthday a blast. I really appreciate all your good wishes and company.

Viva la Vida, Coldplay - Can't get the tune outta me head!

This is the tune that's been stuck to me clueless brain basically the whole freaking week. Not ya average sounding rock song i'd add. Catchy tune bordering on the pop side with great string arrangements. That single drum beat is simple and yet effective. Btw, the video above is the 2nd version directed by Anton Cobijn as homage to Depeche Mode ( remember their Enjoy The Silence video by the same director?).

Well, who needs blaring guitars and furious drum lines when Coldplay can come out with songs like this. ;0) Besides being good "copy cats" in using other people's tune for some of their songs; Fix It (based on Elbow's - Grace Under Pressure) and Talk (melodies from 80's electro band, Kraftwerk - Computer Love Melody), Chris Martin aka Mr Gwyneth Paltrow do have some flashes of a musical genius.

Being an 80's music freak, i can see so much similarity between his singing style to A-Ha's lead singer, Morten Hacket - the falsetto voice and U2's signature "Infinite Guitar" sounds. The band themselves admitted they were inspired by the two mentioned bands. I've been a fan of their music since their debut album - Parachutes, which is still their best album in my books. Favourite tracks from that album was Trouble, Shiver and of course Yellow. Their second album - A Rush Of Blood To The Head was pretty good too with notable tracks like Clock and The Scientist. Their 3rd album - X & Y, sort of see them loose their way a 'lil and too U2 sounding to my liking, but it did spawn 3 big hits for them - Speed of Sound, Fix You and Talk ( the last 2 are my favourite).

Their latest album; Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, still sound like U2 (the producer was Brian Eno, the same guy who produced U2's monumental The Joshua Tree album) but tweaked with more of their own personality. I find the use of the string arrangement to be refreshing and something new compared to their signature piano and guitar sounds. Besides the singles: Violet Hill and Viva la Vida, there's a few more tracks worth checking out like Lovers in Japan and the hidden track - China Sleep Chant.

Just my 2 cents on Coldplay, which might turn out to be too "soft" for some of ya hard rocking dudes. Well, i've never been known to go for those really hard stuff anyway. ;0) AD, just thought i expend on our comments on the band in my previous posting a 'lil through this entry.

Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Dan Batin

I wish all me Muslim friends a "Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Dan Batin." Those on the way back to their kampung or on the way home to KL please drive safe. Looking forward to hanging out at all ya open houses! Muahahahaha. ;0)

On a more personal note, its been a pretty boring Raya for me with one one single excursion outta me home for my best mate's open house do in USJ on the 1st day of Raya - his house specialty was an awesome Laksa Johor. Otherwise it has been a quiet holiday and best of the lot, a cost saying one too. Watching Champs League footie and sleeping was basically all i did. Hehehehe.

Still in a holiday mood and am blardee lazy to work. Been doing nothing but stare at me notebook; checking up on news and reading up on blogs the whole morning. Got a couple of reports to do but what the heck, still day dreaming about lemang, rendang, ketupat and kuah kacang. Thingking about 'em goodies just made me hungry again!

Geeeez! It's gonna be a loooooooonnnnnnnnggggg day before office hour finnishes at 5:30 pm!

*Editted - Found my salvation to preserve my sanity till the end of the day - Coldplay! Imagine me nodding me head to their music in front of my colleagues with my headphones on.