CNY Shopping: The Complete Journal

Hi blog, Timmy asked me to update you. Just because he just updated his when the blue moon finally shone, now he has the right to ask people to update theirs! Hmprh..

So 1 week to go!! This are the CNY shopping trips to get us all in the (spending) mood and to feel the spirit, yeah!!

Round 1: 19 Jan
Went out of the house with family for the first time in a long time. Went to Ikea and The Curve and took these very CNY-ey pics. I used to think that taking pics at malls are very ulu, especially at the time when the only people who do so are those Banglas holding hands. But now, times have changed and people have blogs =D

Oops, digressed a little. So here goes..

See, even bro is lost in the CNY redness. You can’t find him right? Hahaha

Bought 2 tops from Nichii, 1 from Padini (already trying to hold it at Padini) and 1 shirt and 1 pants for bro at Padini as well. Total damage: Priceless =D But Timmy calls it ‘efficient shopping’. Got a tube at the flea market too. I haven’t even worn the Nichii one but got criticized by Timmy already, urgh.. Jealous!

At Ikea, got a mish-mash of items but the best ones were these..

Yes, Ikea does sell cookies! And even oranges, which my mum started grumbling that we should have bought some cos they were sweet but I already felt funny buying cookies from Ikea. But as you can see, the pineapple tarts are voluptuous! Largest tarts that I have ever seen, and cheap too. At the time of writing, there’s only 1 bottle left, which I quickly took a pic of before they are all gone. One more is already digested and another’s with Timmy. Not bad and not too tooth-achingly sweet at all, which is surprising given its size.

So, my clothes are done and 1 small bit of goodies shopping too. But could still buy more clothes. Somehow buying everything in one go doesn’t give any form of satisfying CNY clothes shopping. =D Too efficient already. Kinda itching to go for another round. Need some bottoms.

Bro getting ’44 Cemetery Road’ autographed by the author Tunku Halim

Round 2: 20 Jan

Work bag

CNY bag shopping! Ok, I added CNY to everything to redeem myself but actually bags weren’t on the itinerary and an impromptu purchase by.. Timmy. At first I said that he’s a bag person cos all the things he’s ever gotten me are bags. But I just realised that yeah, he is indeed a bag person: just look at the laptop bags he carries =D Got him to snap a pic for me so that I could use them here. And btw, I wasn't trying to do a Paris Hilton there. It's just that the bag couldn't stand iup on its own, so I put the dog in. Timmy laughed so loud when he saw it, which I like so much =D

This was all along shiny silver!! But I dunno how could it become black and Timmy insists that it has all along been black. Certainly not imagining things. But imagine it, it's silver and shiny, like a makeup kit! And he puts his laptop in it!

A toned down version but still hard and James Bond-like.

This is the bag that got ‘left behind’ in Australia. Timmy was so sad about it and I thought of asking Wei Sze to get it but turns out that he got fooled instead! So there’s the high tech Oakley bag that he paid more than RM300 for. Brr…. He himself said that it reminds him of Ninja Turtles. Cowabunga!!

Digressed again.. So I’ve got 2 cool new bags! A bag is a rare investment for me, just as with shoes and watches but suddenly I have 2! Haha. I think I just need shoes and earrings both cheap and expensive, but they’re actually not a ‘need’. Just wanna buy =)

And we got this too! Couple pups. One for me and one for Timmy. Mine is brown while his is black.

So cute right? Looking at you til you wanna melt. Hug it to sleep every night. One of its ears can't come up haha.

Since one ear can't come up, so I pushed both back and made it a round headed dog!! No ears hahaha. Haven't taken a pic with his black mate yet.

Round 3: 23 Jan

This is the accumulation of a month’s worth due to the WW3 that erupted and lasted a whole month due to either party not wanting to back off. The biggest and most expensive trolley load so far. It costs more than the whole of last month’s entire credit card bill, so what do you think?? Even I got a shock at the cashier. Double the usual grocery amount??

Anyway, it’s CNY, again. But how many items are related to CNY? 3 boxes of dates costing RM0.88 each and a 5kg bottle of cooking oil that my mum wants to pass to my ahyee when we meet later for CNY. That’s all. No oranges, no packet drinks and no popiah. Habislah this time. Already spent this much but the most important stuff have yet to be bought.

Look at this wonderful blouse? Red and gold!! Mother-in-law will give you a big angpau if you were to wear this. Looks like a CNY tree! Bwahahahaha!!

Aunties choosing ngaku

I don’t want the ngaku, I just want the chips all ready to be eaten! Who wants to stand in the kitchen and make those chips anyway? Thinking of buying them and asking my ahyee to make chips instead. That way, I get lots and lots of chips for a fraction of the price. Woo!!

Round 4: 26 Jan

Went to Giant to get the only things left: packet drinks and popiah. But the packet drinks were expensive and there was no popiah, so that’s all the entry for this round =D Giant really has the CNY atmosphere, unlike Tesco. My mum said the same too. Seems like I’ve become a supermarket commentary =P Timmy said that even going to Tesco is exciting for me. Well, CNY maa..

Got a CNY haircut. Yes, everything is related to CNY. Yeah people get a haircut and some fancy do for CNY but mine was long overdue and happens that only now was I free to get one. So, everything done in this period is called CNY-something. No pics here but bro said that the old hairstyle was better though it was sticking out in all directions. Hmmm…

Round 5: 27 Jan

Location: JJ BT. Bought 3 tops from Nichii again! Think they should really reward me with something. Asked the cashier if they have a membership programme or something but he said no. Cheh. Timmy said that I should really try something else. Some hidden meaning there? Hmm.. And I found this as well!!

Dried prawn popiah!!

Round 6: 28 January
Timmy.got.me.this.. iPod!!!! CNY-iPod =D He got it for me together with his bag from Australia. This is the surprise pressie that he kept me in suspense for so long. Finally got it! Made Shikin and James drool with jealousy hehehe. Didn’t intend to, just that I dunno how to open the packaging =D

Chanting "iPod! iPod! iPod!"

Oh, and what’s this got to do with CNY shopping again? Cos it’s CNY season, Timmy shopped for it at eBay and I love him so much hahaha! So that’s why this comes here =)

And when I got home after dating Tim at Mid Valley, there was this on the table..

Got quite a surprise, who ever sends a CNY card nowadays? And I don't have any penpals anymore but thought that it might be a long-lost friend. And check out the "Thank you postman!" Come on, we only wrote that when we were 12!!

Anyway, turns out that it was from Lee Jer. How sweet... But look at the card!!! Horrors!

I didn't even send this when I was 9, and now we are like, 24??! Shudders. Really gives me creeps seeing the envelope and card. Is this what we call Chin-ed? You tell me.

So evil right? I criticise the only CNY card I got. Oh, I got another too, but from some client who needs to fan my ass to get theirs equally fanned. So those doesn't count. But it is really thoughful of Lee Jer, didn't expect it as well, all the way from Ipoh.

Subsequent shopping trips (if any) will be posted when done. There should be more to come as packet drinks and bah kua have yet to be bought! Where to get cheap Yeo’s or Drinho in chrysanthemum and winter melon flavour…??

Collection of annoying people
This is not the Christmas season, so there is no need to be forgiving nor be forgiven =) I’ve added another annoying person to the last post “Of quotes and CNY Shopping Thoughts”. All future annoyance (if any) will be added there, I think, so check it regularly for updates or to see if you’re the latest addition there!! =D

Romantic time.. (Oh no, not again hahaha)

This actually happened a long time ago when Timmy and I weren’t even officially ‘on’ yet. I asked him to remind me on the stuffs that I need to get when we met later at Mid Valley after work. I think I would remember actually but just in case I left out something in all the excitement =)

Anyway, Timmy made a shopping list. There were ‘Mine’ (his stuff) and ‘Baby’ in that list. Seeing that gave me a nice feeling, even up to this very day. Erm..how do I say it? It’s like a sense of belonging? Shopping together with a list called ‘Mine’ and ‘Baby’ is sweet. And seeing him push the trolley with his elbows rested on the handles holding that list, is even sweeter =) So irresistible, think I molested him that day though we weren’t ‘on’ yet =)

Haiya, even pushing the trolley with a shopping list also became a romantic moment ka? Bother la, I’m in love, this is my blog what? Hahahaha!

But this Timmy getting semakin jahat. When I complained of my haircut, instead of reassuring me, he just looked at me and said “Happy Chinese New Year’. Sarcastic to the max!

Don’t care la, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR everyone!

Of Quotes and CNY Shopping Thoughts

Initially I thought of this quote while posting “The People Around Me”..

“Humans live to complement each other’s existence”
-L.Sue Ann-

But I came up with another variation, considering that not everyone complements my life..

“A human exists for 2 purposes, either to complement another’s existence or to annoy the hell out of them”
-L.Sue Ann-

Take your pick. Both are copyrights reserved. Now I have quotes to call my own, elevating myself to the likes of Virginia Woolf and Mahatma Gandhi =D

A few examples that could have inspired the idea for quote #2:

Example #1:
This bloody bitch from Singapore evokes fear and grunts whenever her name pops up in Skype or comes in the inbox. And she had to pick me to be victimized (cos I’m sweet hehe) Seeing her email first thing in the morning even before having breakfast with Timmy makes me just wanna run off with him and pretend that I haven’t clocked in at the office. What happened most recently was she emailed me asking some questions. Took great effort and was careful in replying her as she would usually ask you another 10 more questions in return. After I replied, she asked to re-confirm. Then in Skype, she asked the same thing again if it’s correct? What’s wrong with this woman?? 3 times to ask and confirm the same thing? Dunno if she’s a slow learner or has difficulty reading or comprehending. Mui Siew asked me to highlight, bold and use red fonts in all replies to her. Debi is even better, he said he doesn’t find her too smart and if she uses the gray matter between her ears, she would have gotten the answers instead. Woo, bravo bravo!

She is annoying in the sense that I hate questions, especially tough ones but her queries are actually very necessary. I mean, if I were to encounter similar discrepancies in the data, I would have brought them up to and in fact, most of the time we only realize that there is data error when she brought it to our attention. Like the most recent one, which at the time of writing is still being looked into, has already taken 2 days of looking into and needed my boss’ and big man’s attention. Usually, any queries will be settled by yours truly and Shikin, where we mess things up quietly and cover each others’ backs =D

Anyway, to the annoying fart down there, I don’t care how (un)brilliant you are but please forget that I ever existed or remove me from your Skype before I block you =D

Example #2:
I do not appreciate advice or criticm on my love life, especially when the person has no knowledge or experience whatsoever and has not even eaten as much salt as I have. If that person has had relationships, I might appreciate the advice. I am old enough to think what’s good for me, who’s good to me and what am I doing. As Tim said, every relationship is special, regardless of how it had been. For every relationship that I have had, I do not regret it and the person is special, even if it is only to me and I don’t care if it isn’t to you. So, thank you and I’d see as well how perfect your future partner is.



Example #3

This woman can also kill me. First, she sent a list of 200 spots for me to find if they were actually aired. Hello, the norm is at most 5 spots, not 40x that. This involves finding them first in Arianna to see if they were actually reported there and if they aren’t, then I’d have to look through the programme recordings. Hello, 200 programmes?? Watching tv like this is not fun, you know. God saved me in the sense that we ‘have’ this 30 day policy, anything past that will not be looked into, so I looked for approximately half that amount.

And the worse thing was, all of the spots can be obtained in Arianna, meaning that they weren’t missing and had already gone on air in the first place! No one has ever done this, not a single client who has sent similar queries. Dahlah already blind or lazy, she practically asked me to do her ‘implementations assistant’ work in ensuring her whole ad campaign went on air. Lazy!

Already gently told her once before and it happened again, this time it’s worse in fact. Probably too gentle or too fubar =D Spent 2 days working on her query and had a headache after that, squinting at reports and programme recordings. Decided to not include her in our CNY card list. No card for you, you stupid blind bozo!!!

CNY shopping: To shop or not to shop

Initially planned to not buy anything (food excluded), especially with the resolution to cut costs. After all, celebrations at my mother’s hometown as much toned down compared to my dad’s, no more kampung already in fact, and there are no ‘in-laws’ houses that requires me to pai nin.

But as soon as I got to the malls, the atmosphere and the sight of people buying changed my mind. Kiasu =) I mean, everyone’s choosing and carrying big bags and CNY songs are playing everywhere, how could I? Ok, now those are excuses, I know. So that should I feel the ‘bleed’ (quote:Timmy) later on, I could console myself that it’s CNY after all. It’s the occasion that softens the start of every new semester and makes me look forward to it, and I’d tell myself that there is still a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That’s how much I dread uni =)


CNY shopping/wish list, in yum order:

1. Dried prawns little popiah
2. Ngaku chips
3. Nice slightly burnt bah kua! The smell makes me go mad.
4. Thin crunchy kuih kapit (demoted to no.4 cos currently have 1 tin already =) but not crispy enough)
5. Sweet oranges that are best eaten cold from the fridge on a hot day
6. Packet drinks (more of a necessity; the only time of the year when I don’t drink water =) )

The kuih kapit I attacked the very night I brought them home. Til kena marah from my mum. But it’s not crispy, so the search for kuih kapit continues..

Will upload all stories, pics and purchases later, when CNY is nearer and to get more in the mood! Have some stuff already but trying to hold it…..

The People Around Me

FAMILY

My mother

My brother
A confused chap who doesn’t really intend to create all these damage around him. Studious and is actually a nice, good kid when he doesn’t swear or make vulgar gestures occasionally. Very annoying when his confused answers get me into trouble but we are both victims actually.

TIM
Love him so much. I’m his princess. The things he does are simple yet touching and thoughtful. Everything he does comes coupled with thoughts and plans. Even his words are melting, hai.. Though being no-nonsense, strict and mature, he lets me do as I wish and gets dragged into it too to keep me happy. Finally met his mum too.

MY EXTENDED FAMILY
The one that comes to mind the most is my ahyee Rita. The best person that I have ever known. Ever patient, kind, helpful and never one to bad-mouth people. I can see her doing no wrong. But life is always unkind to those who deserve good things. Just hope that better things are in store for her and happen her way.

MY FRIENDS

The MGS bunch
Best bunch of friends. On the same frequency, though lately I discovered that I’m a few Hertz lower than some of them. Nevertheless, they are still the gang that I am the most comfortable with. No need to pretend to make conversation and we can all laugh together, unlike some times when I don’t even feel like cracking jokes when with others. Truly love this gang.

The UPM bunch
Closest to May Ling who was my roommate and we even share the same birthday, and found some nice friends too in Ai Lyn, Lai Kuan and Jenny. But other than that, all human interaction in uni was just to ensure each other’s survival and sanity. (Well, there were no other beings for me to interact with but there were cute little squirrels scampering up trees and huge monitor lizards that look like Gila monsters running in drains) Solitude doesn’t work when you need to survive i.e copy each others’ assignments =D Needless to say, I have no more contact with any of them and the same comes from them too.

The ACS bunch
Had a mixture of old and new faces as some were from the same school. It was then that I realized that no one else other than from missionary schools conversed in English. Form 6 was quite enjoyable actually and I met many interesting characters, not to mention cartoon characters as well =D (we nicknamed some classmates Smurfs, zombie and some hyena character from Lion King) Interesting characters were Loo Yee (most amusing!), Jane, weird pair Bobby & Albert and Dhana who occasionally fantasized about sleeping with our class teacher =D

Memorable moments were: (in no particular order)
1. Sleeping every morning in the canteen with Suet
2. Skipping school whenever we were bored =) The walkway out of school was so bloody long!
3. Curi makan French Fries in the class and the time when Huzaimah caught us all
4. How I slept thru Mr Ong’s classes but once could still hear him pointing out those who were sleeping. After that, he’d have his half hour nap too.
5. What I overheard Mr Mong say while I was half asleep: “See that Sue Ann, so hot also can sleep”
6. Everyone had nicknames or looked like some cartoon except us hahahaha!!

Seems like I’ve been sleeping a lot, 3 out of 6 ‘memorable’ moments =P

Thinking back, it was great fun as we struggled with the exams. And both the highest awards I ever received were from the 2 years I was there =) Didn’t really expect it as I thought I was more academically-inclined in Form 5 =)

Eh, the topic is on the people in my life, not a reminiscence time. But only have the very rare yum cha with this gang, with one scheduled soon.

And the weird thing is as I write this, there seem an abundance of yum cha sessions, which I found truly coincidental but kinda untimely at the moment too.

AT WORK

My boss
Just recently heard that she used to be one hell of a tough boss. So thankful and glad that she had toned down. Heard that she used to take spy-walks to check on her CSs, and this is when they were still sitting right at the end of the office. Even now when we are the first ones in front, she doesn’t ‘visit’ us at all and I sure love for her to keep it this way. The CSs weren’t allowed to leave at 5.30pm daily, had many stop presses to write in a week and many amendments to follow and had to give training just 1 day after a new version was launched til the poor girl had to call Debi over for help midway cos she just had no idea what to do. And that was with a class of 20+ people. The most I’ve had was 14 pairs of eyes staring at me. Heard that this is the reason why Debi isn’t on best of terms with my boss as he felt she was pushing them too hard.

Hearing all that made us wonder if she’s the same person that they were talking about. Just count my blessings! We even had 1 week to just compile the new features.

I knew that the previous 3 girls lasted 3, 5 and 8 months respectively but now I truly understood why. But what I just learnt that both CSs quit simultaneously. Woo!!

Big man
Gets on my nerves as usual. I called him a nincompoop and Tim wanted him to check inside his pants if remnants from last night is still there =D

Colleagues
Shikin , James and Lily
The people I absolutely enjoy being with in the office. Shikin is the best, I truly enjoy her company. Coupled with James, they make great comedians.

Mui Siew, Lai Wah and Sherly
People to just have lunch with. I absolutely do not want to hang out with them after office hours, tears of sorrow will flow. I could have joined Shikin for lunch but I don’t tolerate Malay food at all =P

I dunno what inspired this post, just felt a bit sentimental lately probably with a few stuffs happening. Thought that I’d just think back on who means a lot in my life and who I associate with the most.

*****

This stupid lump of soil caused havoc on Monday morning. It was right before my exit on the Fed highway, so I had to endure it right to the end. Imagine this, I bypassed the Batu Tiga toll at 7.20am but reached the office at 9am!! Holy cow! That’s more than an hour and a half to get to PJ from Subang. Getting at the office at 9 is no problem but the worst thing was Timmy was waiting for me for breakfast. That poor guy had been waiting for me for at least an hour and got worried as well. I did tell him that it was jammed though. He was already having his 2nd cuppa when I got there and there was so much ash on the floor, enough to make a little anthill if scooped up. He must have finished the whole pack of cigarettes, which explains why 2 cups of tea cost RM11 that day. Hai Timmy, felt so bad. Didn’t even meet for 5 minutes that day, and then he had to zoom off already. Luckily I made up for it the next day =) And the subsequent days hehe. So happy =)

Of tkd and endless critism

Got a call from Edwin. He’s offering me back my tkd classes!! This is so spectacularly great cos I was thinking so hard if I should call him and offer my services. Dignity means so much to me. I was even willing to ‘volunteer’ in the name of passion. This really means that I am so passionate cos I don’t usually work for free =) And the best part is, since he called, he has to pay me! Hahahaha. This is super duper great! Cos I was looking for another part-time job and this is just so timely. Sort of got my dream job. There are 2 things there: dream and job. Hope all turns out well, said he will discuss it with me one day over drinks. So far the 10.30am class is confirmed already at least.

Then Timmy said that we can’t have breakfast anymore on weekends then. Now I feel so bad. I thought that my usual ‘pick-up’ time is 11, so it’s just been delayed by an hour. Not too bad. Then he said that we sometimes do meet up earlier for breakfast. Ok, so to console myself, we met only once for breakfast (I think) and as he said, it’s made up by having breakfast every weekday already =p

Change topic.

I was lying on the sofa, squashed to the inside and furthermore had a large pillow on my head. Hoping that Tim would stop squashing me, I said “I can’t breathe”. “Love you too”.

“I can’t breathe..”
“Love you too.”

Whatever gave him the idea that I was whispering sweet nothings to him? =D I think an asthma patient would have died asking him for help, or did he think that the attack could be cured with sweet words of affection? Hahaha!

Dignity

Talking about dignity, for someone who upholds dignity highly (IMHO), I was surprised at myself when I brushed it aside not once but twice. Going by my usual standards and based on past experience, it does not happen, not even once. I want to keep my ‘face’ but I just can’t. It was a clash of feelings and maintaining my hard-headedness would torture my heart. So the heart won both times in the battle of the anatomy. Still in disbelief.

Crap

Bosco, Hins, Dolphin, Oxide, Ekin. What the heck are those? Those are people’s names! Fans of TVB dramas should be familiar with them. Goodness, what were they thinking of when they decide to call themselves that? I’m sure their parents weren’t that cruel to subject their kids to such ridicule. The basis for those names are actually simple: if your Chinese name is Cheng Yee Kin, you just call yourself Ekin. The same goes with Cheung Hin (something), just call yourself Hins. I’d be Sues then. Not sure bout Dolphin and Oxide though, either they really enjoyed their biology and chemistry lessons or their names were Tou Fing and Ok Sai respectively.

To Mui Siew’s credit, at least she admitted that Hins is a stupid name though a big fan of TVB, Cantopop and Mandopop. But she did say that she hates his singing, so…

Then some people ask me what’s my English name. Firstly, isn’t my name English enough? It irritates me to the max when people ask that. It means they don’t know English names in the first place. My parents thought hard to give me a name that could double as a Chinese name as well. Secondly, I don’t believe in giving yourself an English name if you weren’t given one by your parents. Yes, stubborn again in retaining ‘me’, which is also why I don’t wear braces. Well, I guess I am just fortunate to have a nice name that I truly like. I might call myself something else if I were to be named Eat Too (my mum’s friend), Tou Fing or Ok Sai. Thirdly, there is really no point in giving yourself an English name when you can’t speak English at all!

We are not English in the first place =) Nah, not against English names, only if they are silly or weren’t ‘originally’ there. Think Ethan and Eli are nice names, as well as Jaden, Aidan and Hayden which rhyme but don’t start with the same letter. Nice names for my sons who are gonna wear little Nikes no matter how much they costs =) So damn cute that I don’t care if their dad has to wear Japanese slippers to fund them. Can’t remember though what’s the name I thought of for my daughter, cos it was too exotic that I forgot =P

English again, but horrible ones this time

Received these 2 resumes due to my company and Timmy’s looking for people. I’m the transit point la. Read these, copy and pasted:

Excerpts from Resume #1:

I am preferred to work in fairly organized environment, where performance can be measured with some degree of accuracy. I would to think that I am responsibility person doing my job, more realistic about my chances of completing a task with success. I am also can work either in team or individual.

What on earth is he trying to say, especially the first line?? To quote Eddie Tay, “Apa tahi awak cakap?” Hahahahaa!!

Excerpt from Cover Letter #2:

hi,
I wish to apply for the position above.I am a degree holder in Computer Science(System Management &Networking)from University Malaysia Sabah. In past,I gain an experience worked as an inter twice.I also have MCAD certification in vb.Net.I am also a faster learner person so;it will give me the advantages.I am a young, energetic,quality-oriented professional, and a good looking person. I can read, write and speak fluently in Malays and English. Hope to hear a good news from you.

The best part is she gave herself a 10 out of 10 for written and spoken English!! Oh no, the best-est part (haha, I’m becoming one of them too!) that she said she is good-looking. Hello, what kinda job you think you’re applying for? And started a letter with ‘hi’ and wrote her name in small letters. No wonder Timmy doesn’t even wanna interview her. She can continue ‘entertaining customers’ (by doing what, don’t ask me and I don’t wanna know either)

Ok, so I’d probably look at my resume 2 years down the road and have a good laugh as well but the main point here is, isn’t it horrible that our universities are churning these out? Talked about this before when I posted an article some time back. 11 years, even 13 years of schooling and they can’t string a decent sentence in English. The problem definitely lies in the education system, not in these various individuals. And then they squabble about teaching Maths and Science in English. Squabble la, then after that go and make DVDs.

To my fellow Mgs-ians especially my gang, I love you all soo.. much. We’re probably the only English-speaking bunch around. We rock! After form 6, uni and work life, you are truly where I belong hehe =)

More complaints bout un-speaking English people =P

Colleagues asked me to join them for some mall outing yesterday. It’s gonna be another boring thing like that day’s birthday party. Firstly, I don’t enjoy their company, we have nothing in common and most of the time, I don’t get what they say and even if I did, again I have no interest in TVB. Secondly, they are going to sing karaoke!! I shudder to think what the hell am I going to do there. Tears of sorrow will really flow down my cheeks, not exaggerating. Will be bored-der than the party. I mean, just imagine this: Quarantined in a room, listening to some weird guy with a weird name singing things I don’t comprehend and seeing Chinese words flick on the screen. Total agony. Staying home car-less wins, hands down. Did feel a bit bad cos Sherly is nice and asked twice if I was really really busy, so I pretended to have some interest but couldn’t attend. I should have told them that I wasn’t interested in the first place rather than giving them the excuse that I was going to get my car done, which is the truth anyway. Can’t escape forever with an excuse. Shucks.

It’s not that I’m arrogant or forgetting my roots or something, it’s just that I have no interest. But as you can guess it, it probably boils down to not understanding much Chinese =P Whatever, bah!

Office politics

Just gossip bout each others’ love lives, doesn’t come to the extent of back-stabbing yet. Though I might be perceived by some as a 2-headed snake cos I criticize James when with my ‘gang’ but on the other hand, I’m his ‘best friend’. Actually the only thing I do is speak to him, occasionally make small talk and make fun of him, which the others don’t do. Now imitating him is the ‘in’ thing in the office, especially the way he runs. Don’t get it why someone needs to run in the office, wanna act cute especially when he stamps his feet when he runs. Will try to get a video for your entertainment purposes =D Tried to for some time but getting caught is seriously deep trouble cos he already thinks I like him! But the risk is worth it =D

It is so fun working here, though I get gossiped about too though it’s nothing harmful, just some kay-pos who are so interested in my love life. One of the best times was when I found a woman’s pic in James’ drawer that I’m currently using. Itchy me showed my gang and the office Streamyx (who said she looks like an ah kua!!), then thought of pining it up on the partition for all including big boss to see but finally left it on his phone. When he came back, he said he didn’t know the woman and assumed it was meant to be passed to HR dept, so he gave it to the HR manager hahahaha! Listening to what’s happening over the partition is hilarious, and getting the news via Skype at that same time especially in caps is super hilarious, had tears in my eyes and Mui Siew asked me to stop laughing (which if you know me, I laugh even harder) cos he might hear it from the other side. Later, Lily and I had a round 2 of laughter when she went to Nizam’s to see the pic. He is gong-gong-ly keeping it on his desk hahaha! I asked him why is he keeping it? “Tak tau, James bagi.” Hahaha!! Still end up lol-ing on the way home and while writing this due to earlier suppressed laughter.

Earlier, Shikin a.k.a Streamyx was trying to dig a younger Chinese guy but ended up getting called ‘kak’ instead hahaha! Worse thing is, only the tea lady get called ‘kak’ here =D While it happened, all of us were stifling laughter from all sides of the partition. As soon as he was gone, from total silence to suddenly 3 people going “bwahahahaha!!” Then she said that she prefer $$$ though have ‘soft bananas’ as ‘hard bananas’ can be eaten elsewhere outside. Wah..This is the one who asks me everyday if I have a copy of Dr Chua’s DVD and if Tim has one too. Cannot tahan her, so horny wan but hilarious! I feel lonely if she’s on leave and she will ask me not to miss her too, which I usually will =)

Friendster café

Came across the review in NST on the Friendster café in Pyramid. Of course, the Friendster website comes to mind but the 3 co-owners claimed that they didn’t know of the website’s existence when they decided to name their café. Oh come on! They are all 26 years of age, not some old uncle. How ignorant could they be?? I think that’s probably just an excuse for their lameness and lack of originality. The same goes during finishing school when we had to give the rationale behind our group name and my coursemate said that her group didn’t know that there was a movie called Fantastic Four when they called their group that. Hello, all 4 or 5 people in the group live in their dorm toilets? Though she was the only person I knew at the finishing school, it didn’t stop me from standing up and lambasting her and her group =D

First post of the year: During the transition of 2007 to 2008

I wanted to write this just after the performance review as I was so relieved and when I am, just like when I had just completed a training session, I don’t feel like doing anything work-related =) But as usual, on Friday afternoon, especially at 3pm onwards, it becomes extremely busy as everyone is trying to finish up for the weekend to have a guilt-free shopping trip, I guess.

Performance review

So, the overall score says that I am ‘on target’. Ok, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought but of course it could be better. Among the comments were that I have to build rapport with the clients and break the ice during the training sessions to facilitate my visits to them soon. MS kena on this too. I agree on this but how would my boss know from only attending the very first training that I gave? I have certainly improved since then. Needless to say that on the first day, having to face the clients and the boss sitting at the back scared the shit out of me. Couldn’t even string my sentences together and was jumbling my words, how could I even train them to use the software? She has not sat in since for any of my consecutive classes (please do not), unless she sent a spy or called the clients for feedback. But clients would definitely not comment that I did not make small talk or break the ice with them, I believe they would rather comment on the quality of the training which I didn’t receive any news on. I still fear the day she decides to pop by halfway unannounced, I’m still nervous being observed by a superior sitting at the back like those trainee teachers and yeah, then the crap that I preach would be found out hahaha! Other than that, I’m fine with the clients as long as I keep thinking that I’m smarter than them and they will take in any sh*t I feed them =D

Plans made for me:
1. To attend a media planning course supposedly to commence next month in Uptown on a weekly basis (can meet Timmy for dinner there and the possibility of skipping class and ending up in 1U is rather high!)
2. To have our own set of clients for a more personalized touch (I can foresee more training and PR work)
3. Start visiting clients at their places (after that, can go dating and make claims for the mileage and parking! Hey my boss went shopping too after the meeting with Astro)

Only the course is good. Having our own set of clients is bad as there is more accountability! Besides, boss said that I’m already assigned our biggest client’s account, so I don’t need this. And visiting clients is.. hai, I’m not really a friendly person. I’d be going there and forced to smile and make small talk, which is tiring and fake but actually very good for people skills.

Big man

I’m lucky that somehow I became the contact person for this ‘biggest client’. Being this contact person has its pros and cons, like any other thing in the world. I’m important now =) but I’m at their every whim and fancy as they are the only people who have the right to call for training at any time of the year that they wish. They know this and making use of it! That is fine but being this contact person gets me into lots of trouble with ‘big man’ aka MD. He doesn’t know the shit he’s talking about. He doesn’t know what’s happening beyond the 4 walls of his room and asks for things that are non-existent in our software! Then, there’s something wrong with him. I thought that I was the dyslexic one when he talked for minutes and I couldn’t make out at all what he was saying or get any points out of it. Finally my boss said that she herself doesn’t know what’s his problem with my Excel report and my colleague said that she can’t make out what is he saying either. So, he is the dyslexic one here =D So bloody annoying. He talks as if you’re a dumb ass. His secretary can’t stand him as well. No wonder no one wants to eat lunch with him everyday.

(in complaining mood)

Dr Chua

It was shocking as no one has ever come out to admit that it was himself naked, having fun with a woman that isn’t his wife. Well, even if it was his wife, no one wanna have their whole body and skills (or the lack of it) bared for the world to see. It is embarrassing. If he had denied it, at least he would still be given the benefit of a doubt.

He thought that by coming clean, he would be the admired, heroic one. Or perhaps he was so proud of his performance that he feared someone would take credit for it. His plan backfired actually. That’s why he had to resign in the end. I pity him, he lost everything. Politicians are people too. I mean, if an engineer were to be caught in a same situation, he wouldn’t lose his job. But then, this guy earns a big salary at the end of the month, we pay you so much, so we have a right to dictate what (angelic) behaviour we want!!

I admired and pitied him until he blamed his downfall on his job that required him to travel around the country. Said that he was the first minister to visit some particular hospital in a long time and even sarcastically ‘advised’ his successor to do things slowly so to not offend people. Come on, having to travel is your excuse? So you were doing your job so well that you had a severe itch down there?? Serve you right now!

And is it just because he’s a minister, the police are so strict on clamping down on the distribution of his DVD? Til people are scared to own it and everyone wants to see it. Hot topic in the office on how and where to get it. There are many other victims in similar cases but don’t see the police halting the distribution of the recordings.

Morals of the story:
From my colleague, Kwan: Not to stay at the same hotel and same room every time! Yeah, it was that regular til people even knew of his schedule but he himself doesn’t know when it was shot.

From the Health Ministry: For safe sex, use a face mask, not a condom.

Lovey dovey time

So I’m not the only one who has a bf, looks like Jiin has one too from her blog =D So, I suppose it’s ok for me to gush =)

1. I was on the way back with Crystal from collecting my car from the workshop. Wanted to tell Tim that I got the car already but since I was driving, took some time to type out the message. As soon as I finally sent it off, he asked at the very next second
if I’ve got it.

2. I’d reached my office already in the morning but didn’t want to sms him so early. Debated whether should I go and put my stuff first, then finally decided to and took my own sweet time getting out of the car and walking into the building. Had just put down my bag and decided it’s time to ‘write new message’ to tell him that I was there already and that he need not rush, when his sms came in. Need not even start typing. No, it wasn’t the usual time or something. I was extra early that day and besides, who would expect you to arrive at the office at 7.15am?

There was at least another incident or two. It’s just weird. I mean, there are so many seconds in a day, how can 2 people possibly send sms-es to each other at that very same second? Not trying to be mushy here but it’s just plain .. magic!! =D Tim calls it ‘synchronized missing’ but to me, it’s err.. ‘magic’ haha =D

Tim wants me to meet his mum soon. It’s funny how I’m sometimes so nervous about meeting the ‘in-laws’ but at times, I had this ‘I don’t give a damn if your mother likes me’ attitude. I guess that happens when you know the person is really into you and you need not impress his family cos well, he wants you =) In fact, I think they were trying more to jaga my hati the last time, so the more I didn’t bother impressing them haha!

But I’m nervous now. His mum is as no-nonsense as he is, wherelse I'm totally.. =) I must be on my best behaviour. No swearing, no cursing and no sitting with my legs wide open hahahahaa!!

In the office

KC was standing behind James who was seated, looking at his newly-cut hair

KC : Wah, the more you cut your hair, the shorter it gets (implying that he is balding, which he truly is)
Me : Of course la, takkan the more you cut your hair, the longer it gets?
James : (laughing very happily that I’m not against him for once) Ya lor!!
KC : The more you cut your hair, the less it gets (hits the raw nerve this time) (peering at his scalp)
Me : You’re seeing whether got ‘666’ or not ah??!
KC : No, got the 9 dots
Me : The 9 dots is Shaolin right?
Shikin : What is that? Char kuey tiao ah?

Diet resolution

Breakfast-free plan has gone haywire. First, the decision between us and Nielsen to go separate ways has resulted in us having our unlimited supply of drinks and biscuits round the clock, instead of relying on the tea lady’s services. If that isn’t bad enough, Tim and I started to have breakfast together almost daily since the start of his new job. So sweet right? A nice start for the day. It doesn’t feel like a work day and don’t mind reaching the office early too. After breakfast with Tim, back to the office for round 2. Adoi. From supposedly none to 2 rounds =D

It’s nice when you can blame someone when your diet (or anything else) goes off. Well, Tim blames me too and guess you’ll soon see an obese couple walking around. Conclusion: Love makes you fat, so make love to lose it.

Road tales

A collection of pics taken on the road..

These are the same car number collection..

Cool isn’t it, to have 2 cars having the same number parked side by side. This fella comes very early to the office as well.

Madness and a miracle..

Mad jam at the Bandar Tasik Selatan traffic lights. Super duper bad and got a headache after that. However right in front of me on the left is Timmy =)

The Fed highway approaching the Berkeley roundabout last Thursday at 6.30pm! So ma piau isn’t it? Sorry but every time I see an unusually clear stretch, I’m gonna put it here.

Wanna see a fool?


So irritating. After some time, I lost my patience that this jackass isn’t going to get it, so I changed lanes to the left with the intention of letting him pass, then get right behind him and really blind him but instead there was a car stuck too close to his butt. So frustrated, I had changed lanes and already had my high lights on!!

Moral of the story: Wash my car more often. If you were wondering why are there spots in some pics especially the Tasik Selatan one, those are dust la =)

Shoes

Check out these shoes!


Have you seen such an ugly pair of shoes? Looks like it could buckle under a fatso’s weight. Those straps are actually something like safety belts but not to protect your feet. They are in case someone wants to steal your beautiful shoes and prevents him from yanking them off your feet.

At least this looks astronautical!

If I had to choose, I’d go for this. Cos got fishbones =) Love fishbone designs, look cute on pendants. But then, this really looks like a real dead ikan kembung there. I said if I had to choose. But I might as well take the safety belt ones, they could get me the attention of some Datuk in some bar or the very least I could do with them is to go ka-toing ka-toing.. then patah haha!

Anyway, those heels are so high, can die oh.. wearing them will make me look like a king-kong and those Datuks will only reach up to my breasts. And they can only reach Suet Leng’s belly button. Stare at her belly button the whole night =P =P =P

A short collection of naggings

Irritatingness runs in the family.

*****
It puts me off when people do not learn a lesson after things happen. But I fail to learn mine too. Now I must seriously learn mine, not put in anymore efforts to be nice or sweet and live in my own world.

*****
Why are people so obsessed with what others think of them? I believe as long as what you are doing is right or that you believe it is, there shouldn’t be a reason to hide the truth. Life is more than worrying what people think of you and I don’t change for people as well. Like me or leave me haha. Yes, I am that stubborn.


A teacher’s frustration

There’s this kid in my tuition class that is really lame. He does not know at all what am I talking about, has NO understanding of English whatsoever, can’t even write his own name correctly, has very poor attention span, in fact none at all and is an empty vessel. The thing that he prides himself in achieving is when he manages to sneak a peek at the others’ answers, which to his credit is actually quite a task as the others are avoiding him and covering their answers. He spends his whole time trying to glance at people’s answers rather than think of it. When the others have completed 8 fill-in-the-blank sentences, he is only still copying the first one off the board. Wait for the next hour to get the answer from him; duration depending on whether he has improved in his ‘glancing and sneaking’ skills. Yes, I have given up on him. Not just a poor student but he just can’t give you his attention, is an empty vessel and besides, if you fall off your chair while just sitting on it 3 times in a span of an hour, there is clearly something wrong with you.

Moral of the story: Find a smart partner so that you produce smart kids. If you are already smart, find an even smarter partner (yes, everybody is greedy in this world) and if you are dumb, please do your bit for the ecosystem and find a super brainy partner to balance out the stupidity in you. It is also scientifically proven that sons take after their mothers’ intelligence (or the lack of it) while daughters take after both parents. Just some info for you to start on. And if you think that a certain gender of your kids will be affected, then you should start planning your diet to get the desired sex of your kids to spare them (and yourself and partner) the agony of being ridiculed and ostracized by both their peers and teachers.

(This message is brought to you by your neighbourhood’s thoughtful blogger. Just doing her small bit for the ecosystem)