A Typical Jeannie And J.J. Moment

Camping with the usual gang of families in Port Dickson, 2000. I am glad that they shared this type of mother and son relationship right to the end...

J.J. Evolution

How did this

...become this?

Must have started with this:

Or is it because of Prince Cheah?

Prince The King (er...Scumbag)

J.J. endearingly calls Prince "Scumbag" and sometimes the word fits Prince to the "T". There are so many things that Prince does, the list is endless:

• he will wipe his mouth on the nearest person after drinking water
• wipes his ass on you as he pretends to be playing with you
• wakes you up in the morning by covering your nostrils with his tongue or he licks your eyelids open
• if the above failed, he would bark incessantly into your ears till you get up and take him outside to do his "business".
• piss in the house as you tell him not to and while he is doing it stares at you as if to say, "come clean it up"
• ...and on and on

The best part is, he never dared do it to Jeannie. For example, he would never have his backside at her face when he slept on the bed. Indeed he would even be in "reverse gear" when he moved away. He also did not dare wake her up in the morning and would only get up when she did...no matter how late. At about 10.30 at night when Jeannie was at her computer below the staircase Prince would climb the stairs to her eye-level and softly bark at her as if to remind her of bed time. When she was unwell we once saw him pull her blanket to cover her. Not many people will believe what we say.

Domination? Took this photo at 3.30 am yesterday.

J.J.'s Oktoberfest

We were at COBRA Club last week and JJ was in The Star newspaper, Metro Section today:

They were doing the "Chicken Dance"...like this You Tube video:

Boring Transformers 3 And Transformations.

Watched Transformers 3 at Pavilion with Krystyn while JJ was attending a colleague's wedding reception at Corus Hotel nearby. The show was boring and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is no Megan Fox; by far actually.

Anyway, while the Transformers were transforming on the big screen, JJ was having his own transformation at the dinner. Whether it was a company tradition that they get the newest/youngest staff member pissed drunk as a "Christening" or JJ's own foolhardiness, there was no excuse for him to go way beyond his limit. JJ's colleague answered when I called JJ's phone after the movie. He said that JJ had passed out at the restaurant after too much drink.

We had already warned JJ that he may be forced to drink in good fun by his colleagues but he was not supposed to be manipulated by whomever, whatever the circumstances to drink more than he can.

Concern transformed to anger when I saw JJ lying prostrate on four chairs arranged in a row…dead to the world. Which father would want to see his son in that condition? A few of his male colleagues were standing around him trying to offer me some explanation and assurance that they would have sent him home regardless. A no brainer; an unwritten rule which is a given when drinking amongst friends. Conscience following complicity perhaps? Whatever!

There were also some ladies who were generally quiet, and positioned at the fringe. Maybe they knew more than what their male counterparts were letting on?

I was quite sure JJ was just drunk and not suffering from an overdose of, or dangerous allergic reaction to alcohol. He would be ok after a good sleep but this must become a life lesson for him. He had failed to heed a lesson that he must never allow himself to be coerced or intimidated by anyone to drink more that he can drink. If he did, then whatever the consequences, the blame was his and his alone. At occasions like Chinese weddings and such, drinking upmanship is common but a line is drawn at physically forcing someone to drink. Then it may even be deemed criminal.

Anyway, JJ managed stand up and with help from some of his colleagues, got to the hotel foyer where Krystyn was parked at the driveway.

I will know from JJ what exactly happened but it is not difficult to guess from what I already know. At the time of this writing, JJ is still asleep at home on the couch downstairs. For JJ, the episode will be considered part of his rites of passage. Not being able to drink is no crime and we all have our shortcomings. How else to explain when one can transform from:

to:

Milestones

These past three weeks saw milestones for Krystyn and JJ that would have made Jeannie proud. 21st August was Krystyn's UTAR Convocation where she received her Bachelor of Communication Degree and on 6th September, JJ started work as a trainee sound editor at Addaudio, arguably the most established, largest and best audio production company in Malaysia.

Jeannie had always looked forward to being at Krystyn's graduation and on 21st August, she was. I am sure Krystyn would have preferred Jeannie's physical presence at the convocation but it marvels me to observe the mother and daughter occasion playing out on a spiritual level from the day before, till the day after. Krystyn gives a new meaning to a Degree in Communication!  

Krystyn had always been Jeannie's pride and joy, not only as a daughter that she mentored but also as great friends, especially the last two years of Jeannie's life. There was just no way Jeannie would miss Krystyn's convocation!    

Sound freak, JJ had been at ICOM doing an audio production course and joining Addaudio has been a career defining opportunity for him. All the knowledge he acquired at ICOM and the passion in his heart would not be able to take him further without hands on working experience. Addaudio is the best place for him to cut his teeth. 

Jeannie and JJ. What can I say...the two are so similar in so many ways. She encouraged his interest in music and the two were often dueting on karaoke at home and outside. Jeannie was tough on JJ yet she cared for him the most. She brought him up to be a man and she would be proud that at 20 now he has the makings of a fine man. The values she taught him are intact.   

I would expect that Krystyn and JJ will really come into their own in the next couple of years. There will be more milestones as they progress forth and I know the values Mummy has ingrained in their hearts will remain their beacon.