Valentine's Day 09 - part 2.

Went to Subang Parade with Esther, Chloe and Dylan for an impromptu Valentine Day's celebration of sort. Initially wanted to go to Friday's but the price more or less doubled up with pre-selected menu, so we decided to drop by Manhattan's Fish Market instead. Having to handle 2 precious without a maid to tag along at this stage can be quite challenging...Dylan kept movin about, excited by the surrounding whilst Chloe kept pestering Esther to lift her up and bring her to walk about around the restaurant...but it was nevertheless an interesting challenge, eventually, all parents have to deal with this sort of stuff sooner. Also, noticed that the restaurant was filled with families like us as well. More importantly, Esther and I really enjoyed ourselves, I guess the kids too...Wanted to get the replacement pitcher plants from Fauzi but he did not operate his stall on that day. Instead, got vol. 2 to 4 of the Gloden Oldies series, of which some songs contained to Vol.1 are being repeated throughout...what a waste of money.

Valentine's Day 09.

Hhmmm....the day to celebrate all things lovey and dovey are here again...more monies to the flower boutiques, highly likely some silly dolts with an over the top declaration of love (or act of love) awaiting to be published in the local press tomorrow (or billboard over one of the highways), waiting in line to get tables at one of those hip restaurants, opening up a severely bank savings busting bottle of some un-pronounceble champaign because it is from a vintage year and it was listed top 10 in one of the hundreds of hip gourmet publications...had some exotic concoction of a meal, which were usually could not be properly pronounced as well...renewal of vows to each other...those were the pre-children years...overall still enjoy Valentine but in a different way and different view. Over the years, some of these ideas did cross my mind to make it the ultimate declaration of love, among them are...

a) blood exchange transfusion...made popular by Beverly Hills 90210, I think...the girl backed down the last minute. Which in retrospective, a very logical move by her...thank you!

b) slash our palms and cupped it close together for the night...inspired by Natural Born Killer. Would not work coz, I am afraid of blood and bee, it would drip all over my freshly polished DM (those were the grunge years..). I backed down the last minute. Which in retrospective, a very logical move by me...thank me!

c) initiated a emotional fight with girl and then on the VDay, burst into her house living room declaring "You Complete ME!"...would not work either coz it is too logistically, mentally and emotionally-bending complicated. Its just too risky...I ain't Tom Cruise/Jerry McGuire.

Ooe Yofukuten & Co. Jeans.

Finally, the jean and logger pant pre-ordered from Ooe arrived today, much to Esther's chagrin about my continuing obsession with denim...Ryo and Hiro have been very helpful and communicative. These are hand made by themselves. They have a website http://www.ooe-yofukuten.com/ and are incredibly helpful and communicative. This is a first for me whereby I actually get to communicate with the pros who make the denim. What they offered are a chance to specify the denim and its spec (down right to the stitches, buttons, rivets). They made only small precious quantities a day at a time. They reminded me of the time back in mid 80s when the infamous carrot pants were all the rage with teenagers and young adults here in this country. I would pester mom to bring me to a tailor to spec the type of fabric, cut and so forth for show off during CNY.

The type of denim I requested for is un-sanforized denim, pink selvedge lot #4101XX. I specified a 01 cut/model (a 47 to mid 50 type) with fabric #41, which is the heaviest denim they have thus far, at 14.5oz. Comes with the red tag, Tailor on the front and RHR on the back. Also, off center back loop ala 55 type, with Union Made top front button and black powder coated donuts for the rest. The rivets are Universal although I was hoping they have Scovil (pre-Evis Labour days type). I requested them to add a crotch rivet too. I noticed that the back pocket rivets are non-Universal and I also forgot to ask if I could add a particular inner label I observed on their website recently. The chainstiching is also kinda thin...but I am nit-picking. Overall for the price, built, and with distinctive touch from the two denim sifus, it is incredibly rare out there for a brand that provided services such as this. I am definitely looking to order more from them in near future.
Also took the opportunity to order a logger pant 1850s cut from them, model #2005 (fabric #20 ~ heavy cotton duck with cut/model 05 ~ cinch back buckle, single back pocket, high watch pocket, suspender buttons, crushed flathead rivets). This is my first cotton doek pant, which is akin to canvas. Hhmm, I wonder if my legs can stand from the punishing heat whilst wearing them..I am also taking this opportunity to "know" more about logger pant made from canvas, cotton doek.

Esther remarked that I looked like a farmer in one of these...paying so much to look like someone working on a farm or construction yard...that's the idea right? Harking back to the eras when life is less complicated and where hard work is virtue.

Best of all, Ryo and Hiro, signed on these pairs...maybe one day when they are big like the Osaka 5, I can hawk these to other denim otakus over eBay (insert evil laugh) to finance my 2 precious education (insert more evil laugh). The package also comes with a nice little envelope containing a "ticket" and 2 samples of the fabrics.

McD and Levi's Ad...

A random check on Indigofan blog shown that awesome award winning Levi's advert for keep. Whilst searchin for that over YouTube, it spun me into checking out the famous McD's advert showing a Jimmy Dean lookalike with song by David Essex's Rock On...definitely cool. I saw it back in Perth during the mid 90s over the idiot box and it forever etched in my mind since then...

Disney x Medicom x Roen ~ Mickey Mouse Guitar and Grunge versions.

Mickey is a punk

Minnie is a runt

They both went down to Berlin, joined the Ice Capades

And oh, I don't know why

Oh, I don't know why

Perhaps they'll die, oh yeah!

Minnie is a punk

Mickey is a runt

They both went down to Frisco, joined the SLA

And oh, I don't know why

Oh, I don't know why

Perhaps they'll die, oh yeah!

~ based on The Ramones, "Judy Is A Punk".

Takara Transformers Masterpiece MP 01 ~ Optimus Prime

Name : Optimus Prime.
Affiliation : Autobot.

Function : Autobots Commander.

Technical Specifications :

Strength ~ 10 of 10.

Intelligence ~ 10 of 10.
Speed ~ 8 of 10.
Endurance ~ 10 of 10.
Rank ~ 10 of 10.
Courage ~ 10 of 10.
Firepower ~ 8 of 10.
Skill ~ 10 of 10.

" Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. "

Optimus Prime is the largest, strongest and wisest of all Autobots. Feels his role is the protection of all life, including Earth-life. Fights unceasingly to defeat the Decepticons. Splits into three autonomous modules: 1) Optimus Prime... the brain center known as the Commander; 2) Roller, the Autobot scout car... a spy who operates up to 1200 miles away; and 3) Autobot Headquarters... the combat deck equipped with a versatile mechanic/artillery robot. Injury to one module is felt by the other two.

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Got this from Sungei Wang Plaza, as it was sold out everywhere when released. Paid original retail price, this is one awesome model, which basically make my fanboy dream come true...super articulation, well balance, posebility is numero uno, with die cast parts and realistic rendering of the cheesy G1 animation Optimus Prime into a tangible product. This is version Japan, which has taller smoke stacks and not battle damage, as oppose to Hasbro US market release. Called Convoy instead of Optimus Prime. Comes with grey ion blaster, removable light-up Matrix of Leadership, a miniature gun-mode Megatron with stock, scope and silencer for Opie to hold, as well as the energy axe seen in one of the TV episodes. This first model does not come with the trailer. Instead, have an option to use the box which can be folded into a trailer. Takara has since reissue Opie with a full proper trailer but however, a Roller figure was not included. The ion blaster is also now color corrected in black.

Takara Transformers Masterpiece MP 05 ~ Megatron.

Name : Megatron.

Affiliation : Decepticon.
Function : Decepticons Leader.
Technical Specifications :
Strength = 9 of 10
Intelligence = 9 of 10
Speed = 4 of 10
Endurance = 9 of 10
Rank = 10 of 10
Courage = 7 of 10
Firepower = 10 of 10
Skill = 6 0f 10

"Peace Through Tyranny."

Megatron combines brute strength, military cunning, ruthlessness and terror. Aches to return to Cybertron to conquest after destroying all Autobots on Earth. Plans to possess all Earth resources. Incredibly powerful and intelligent. Fires nuclear-charged fusion cannon. Can link up interdimensionally to a black hole and draw antimatter from it for use as a weapon. No known weakness.

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Nine out of ten kids who grew up in the 80s would have known The Transformers. Shown over RTM (or TV3?) at 5pm, it was one of the classic cartoon series I would not miss. Looking back, it was kinda cheesy, with an equally cheesy storyline. But it is the cheesiness which endeared this series to millions of kids including me back then. This was the Ipoh years, where each time mom or dad bring me and my kid sister to the shopping malls (now defunct Super Kinta or Cresendo), I would spend my time at the toys section pouring over the Hasbro selections. Costing at between MYR20 to MYR 200, it was still expensive at that time (considering a bowl of curry noodle cost only 0.60 cents with 2 fish balls back then). Then, each Transformers would come with their own motto, and on the back of the box, there would be a tech spec, in form of a graph, of their abilities in rate of between 1 to 10. A red plastic sheet would be available for us to impose over the spec for a clearer visibility of the chart/graph. There would also be a sticker of the logo which is heat sensitive ie when rubbed, it would change color. Earlier still was the Diaclone range, and my very first Transformer was Grimlock which come with a miniature person of about an inch tall, and had a pair of actual magnets on its feet. The catalogue which came with it showed Grimlock battling some dinosaurs. The next one was the orange crane truck whose name slipped me (was it Hook?) and finally, Galvatron. All three were handed down to various younger cousins whom did not keep them anymore...thus, it is great for Takara to finally announced and issued the definitive version of Transformers with their Masterpiece line. About this Megatron model, it has me drooling when it was announced. However, unlike Optimus model, Meg seems to lack balance and articulation. The leg is also so...skinny. But I reckon the designers did their best as Meg is always top heavy. Luckily, unlike other eventual Masterpiece which shrunk in height, Meg stands about 12 inches, on par with Opie. Comes with Kremzeek the living energy imp, the energy mace, the laser sword and pistol used in The Transformers : The Movie (1986). Does not come with the barrel extension/silencer, and shoulder stock. This is also the first few which does not have the orange plug on the gun barrel due to safety concern.

Glass frame.

Received an inquiry about the brand of the eyewear, well, I could not really read Japanese so, here is the brand and a little spec for details. It is not carved out of wood though, just textured plastics, matt black in color. Got it for about MYR300 at a local eyewear retailer located in Bangsar Shopping Center. Initially I wanna get an ic berlin come to think of it, but that would set me back quite abit in terms of budget, so this will do. For the weekend, though I received much flak from Esther who thought I really looked like some creepy old man from U.N.K.L.E. instead of The Satorialist's type coolness...