My contest wins

So I’ve had a winning streak lately. First, pics I took were published in The Star. They didn’t win me any cash but I think of them as almost there already. Heck, it’s not even easy getting them published. Believe that one of these days, I’d strike it again.

Then, there was the RM500 Cleo-Benefit hamper. I got the Cleo from ahyee and realised that it’s the current month’s issue and that the contests are still valid. So I sent them in and I got 500 bucks worth of stuff! I don't know anything about Benefit but they were saying that it’s expensive and equivalent to Bobbi Brown. That’s why there isn't much inside that RM500 hamper. I think those stuff aren’t really useful for me too; I just want the basic eye shadow, blusher etc.

1. Creaseless eye shadow/liner/eyeliner
2. Silky finish lipstick
3. Clear lipliner
4.Shiny powder
5. 3 badges

Then I got Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. I sent in the slogan on the very last day, on why Dan Brown is my fav author. I said something about him injecting dimension into religion. Heck, I used to keep a booklet of prizes and the winnings slogans so that I know what they want. There was much hype bout the release of the book; guards were stationed at the warehouse to prevent the books from leaking out prior to the release. So Dan Brown fans must be salivating at my win muahaha. That book’s worth RM99.90 and I haven’t read it, have no passion for his books. I would rather win the grand prize so that I can buy whatever I like but it’s all good enough for me, I am counting my blessings =)

Next is the RM100 Metrojaya voucher I got as a result of working on a Nokia project that my boss signed me up on. She thinks (and knows :D) that I’m free, so she signed me and some other free people up for it. Just check the data. I got pissed a few times and grumbled a lot as well. The project won a WOW award from the company, so this voucher was the prize I guess. One thing is, the F who worked on it didn’t seem to get it cos she was asking where I got it from. Well, I checked 2 countries and she one =) Wonder what the Serdang boy got since he did 3. Oh, he’s in danger of losing his job cos his project shut down after 26 years running. That’s his reward! :D Who asked him to be such a big-talker?

After that, there is the RM200 Nanowhite hamper. I submitted the entry online, clicked on a Bubbleebizz link and was amazed to find my name there! Wee hoo! It’s all like a coincidence for i found my name in The Sun for the Dan Brown after I picked up a discarded copy of paper. Usually, there’s always The Sun for me at the station and I’ve never seen discarded papers here, unlike London.

1. Eye brightener
2. Cell mosit whitenor
3. Omega day shield, SPF50 woo!
4. Whitening serum concentrate
5. Awakening snow wash
6. Clarifying cleansing milk
7. Refining treatment toner

Waiting for my next one, gonna strike it big soon! ;)

Big Bad Wolf book sale

I had anticipated a crowd based on the 5k people who thronged the place the day before although it was a working day, but I had not expected this. The queue, omg! If I was alone, I would have gone home. Ahyee said the same too.

See how long it was, from where we were standing. The entrance is on the left hand side of the pic. It went round all 4 corners of the quadrangle! We joined the queue at 10.30am.

15 mins later, we were here:

Don't get too happy yet. The queue doesn't go straight to the entrance behind the pillar. Instead, it goes right into the corridor beside that toy shop. Gosh!

Ok now, we have bypassed the shop into that corridor. Look what look, woman!

This is the view after we have made the U-turn moving out of that corridor. We were finally in the last section of that queue!

The view of the sale as we stood outside at the final segment, waiting to be let in.

Wah, I was so thrilled when we were allowed to step in. I had already vowed to buy a lot to make up for the time spent queuing :D Books at the Star Buy section were 5 bucks, even for hardcovers! I told my mum I am exhilarated!

But I managed prudence. I grabbed whatever that caught my eyes, only to have filtering sessions before paying. Not one, but 2 filtering sessions, one of them done steps away from the cashier :D Eliminated 4 books in those processes, prudence prudence and not letting get the low prices of books get into my head...

Result: 15 books!

Woot woot!!

But here are only the Lee family's, ahyees have taken theirs. Not all of this 15 are mine though, I think I would have fainted if all were mine. Only these were mine:

Mine: 6 books
Mum’s: 2 books
Bro’s: 2 books
Ahyee Rita’s: 2 books
Fat ahyee’s: 2 books

I am the winner!

Checking back Big Bad Wolf Books' site after I came back (the site couldn't be accessed yesterday due to too much traffic), I realised that Pandora's Daughter was retailing for RM69.90! And I know that the Chicken Soup for the Soul series are like RM69.90 too. Weeee!!

Actually, there weren’t many by well-known authors. Maybe they have been sold out since I saw Jeffery Archer and John Grisham on their site. Not their fan, though. The only names I recognised were Nora Roberts, Meg Cabot, James Patterson and Tami Hoag. Heck, I didn’t even know that Katie Price has started writing books! Her name was familiar, I thought she might be some author I don't recognise, and then I saw ‘Jordan’ at the bottom of the book. Gosh, that big breasted model ex-wife of Peter Andre is now a writer??

And I didn't expect the queue to move that well. 1 hour for that length is not bad, was expecting 1.5 hours. It doesn't seem so bad when you have 2 other people queuing together and talking talking. Quite frustrating thing was that when we came out at 1.15pm, the queue was only right up to the entrance. If I knew, we would have came then, saved 45 mins of queuing.

Then, in today's paper, there is this guy and his daughter who spent RM100 at a nearby bookshop thinking it was that sale. How stupid, how could they miss such a huge crowd? Memang there were 2 2nd hand bookshops nearby that sales area but aiyo, this guy spent 100 bucks for used book when I got all mine brand new for the same price!

What’s left in 2009

This coming weekend, there is the Big Bad Book Sale at Amcorp Mall, KL Property Fair at KLCC and BBQ at Sepang Gold Coast. Thinking of heading to the property fair on Friday, then to the book sale on the way home. Paperbacks going for 8 bucks from RM32.90, just too good to resist even for the cheapo me. I am talking about someone who prints e-books at the office :D I’m so proud that I’m almost done with the entire Sidney Sheldon’s Master of the Game e-book!

The last BBQ I had was for Christabel’s birthday. I think it was her 16th birthday, so it has been a good 9 years. Beach + dating + BBQ, how good can it be? It's gonna be so fun shopping for stuff with Timmy, I like shopping for groceries with him hehe. It hasn’t been so rainy lately, hope it’s gonna be good for us and hoping to catch the sunset too.

For work, there is the PMP a day after my birthday. Kinda nervous as Nick will be telecon-ing and I’ll be hearing his comments live. It’s not gonna be fun taking in criticisms to your face. Ok, it’s not really to my face but to my ear, but yeah it could have been worse. T’s been saying I’m fantastic, I’m her star yada yada but I’m not getting my hopes too high cos I don't wanna be disappointed. Tim said that I’m barely a year there, so don't expect an increment but heck, I still want it. A whole long year to wait til December 2010 is just too far! And T mentioned a promo by next year end, so don't mention things if you aren’t gonna make it come true. Yeah, of course I'll have to keep things up la..

Then, there is the annual dinner on the 17th, a day before some public holiday and the day before I leave for Penang. The theme is Superstar Pop and I’m not cracking my head yet on what to wear.

My holiday: Penang for 3 days and then I still have a whole week more off from work. Haadyai, Perak, Melaka? Most probably check out Perak on the way home, but itching to go to Haadyai as well.

On part-time work, I’m kinda mad that I’m not informed in things. I can’t blame him on everything as he is in the dark on some too, but for some classes, I only find out if I ask. Now, that gets me pissed. As of today, I might not have any classes at all for the whole of December. That’s not very good. I guess it’s time I take a break as well but not now when I am going all out to maximise my earnings in anticipation of more expenses and also when RD and travel articles are also taking a hiatus in December. Do not panic, do not panic, but how not to when ¾ of my supplementary income is taking a break, and I’m gonna be spending while on hols? Grr..

Summary:
27 Nov: Property Fair, Big Bad Book Sale
28 Nov: BBQ at the beach
3 Dec: PMP telecom with T and Nick
10 Dec: Bro’s appointment
17 Dec: Annual dinner
18-20 Dec: Penang and more to follow in the week

Classes have to be cancelled for all of the above, if any class at all. From what I’ve heard today, my Mickey Mouse classes still seem to be on. Haih.. heck, even Saturday’s Add Maths might be off, no tuition centre ever starts the syllabus in Jan!

But now, let's thank God that there are only 4 work days this week, cheers!!

Man with a small waist & more

There is this man who boards the train to MV every morning too. Everyday, he wears the same white shirt but lately I think his uniform has changed to black. He's got a super small waist, totally flat from the side, you might not even see this on a girl!!

Check out this shoulder-to-waist ratio!

And then those who tak chui me will have their pics up here too.

..like this woman who came with a huge box and stood right at the front of the queue. The train that came was packed but she was the first to get in due to her 'pole position'. Those who had been queueing didn't even manage to board that train. See her sui yong!

This is another one, came and stand at the place where passengers are supposed to come out from the train. Instead of having thick hides, I think they lack grey matter between their ears instead.

And then there is this bling-bling phone with bling stuck lovingly piece by piece all over the phone. Never seen before such a high concentration of blings on 1 gadget.

This is an old pic taken in my AGB days when I was having lunch with the gang at the coffee shop beside UOB Bank.

Dunno whether to laugh or shudder when I see this hairstyle. It sucks even on a young man.

And lastly, some highly amusing news I received through the email:

I didn't know that balls could really shrink, farts are flammable and oh, the poor couple! Got poured hot oil on, willy got bitten and head got bashed with a pan in return bwahahaha!!!

My Top 5 Treat List

The year is coming to an end and not only it is Christmas but it’s time to give myself a treat. Why? Cos I work so very hard. I rush home after work 4 days a week to teach tuition. After tuition, I go home and do some freelance work while eating dinner. In the office, I try to squeeze in some freelance work too whenever possible =P On Saturday mornings, I drag myself out of bed at 8 to give more tuition. Gosh, I already feel tired from writing all this.

So, I so darn need a treat, especially with all the money I’ve made =P I don't need long to consider what to get myself, for I have been yearning, longing and craving for these stuff for some time already.

Treat #1: A PDA
I haven’t decided on the brand nor model yet but I do know that I need and want something cool to help me keep track of classes, the number of classes taught, payment collected, books to be bought, deadline for freelance projects, requirements and payments to be issued. Busy busy busy. With this PDA, I’d have better management and yeah, better business!

Treat #2: A portable DVD player
So that while waiting for the kids to turn up, I can watch the movies that I have downloaded. I’ve never found 2 hours of time to sit and watch an entire movie, so I can put those waiting time to good use by watching bit by bit, eventually I can finish all those chick flicks that I’ve downloaded woot woot!

Treat #3: A GPS
This is priority #1. There are no words to describe how much I hate driving round and round looking for a place and getting lost. Knowing how marvellous our roads are, signs just appear out of nowhere and how do you expect me to cut all the way from the right to the left most? Actually having just Google Maps is good enough for me, I’d be contented enough. And of course, losing your way is not only annoying but also very NOT cost efficient.

Gosh, I just realised that my treats so far are all gadgets. Why don't I want an LV, a free body and face pampering or an all paid-for shopping trip? Cos I am a gadget girl, probably inspired by the geek boyfriend..

Treat #4..

Treat #4: A PS3, another gadget.
After a long hard day at work listening to shrieking colleagues (yeah, there are 2 annoying colleagues. One wails and moans while another cackles like a hyena), nothing beats the euphoria of taking out your ‘gun’ and blasting them away. Or use my ‘weapons’ and ‘bash’ those kids who have been running around the class. God, that would feel soo.. good. I think there would be nothing better than to bash people.. virtually.

Then I thought, why don't I just get Treat #5. Treat #5 and only treat #5. The Dell Inspiron 13. Cos it can do all of the above. And saves me a whole lot of money! Enough said.

Quarter-life crisis

It was like I woke up 1 day and realized that dang, I am gonna be 25 soon and have had enough of playing. Yeah, I had been making money all along but haven’t had plans, just make make and make and spend. (note that for every ‘make’, there is only 1 ‘spend haha) I’ve made goals to achieve by 25 and this is the last year to do it.

I foresee more expenses next year, more with my bro finishing school. I wanna cut down on expenses but I dunno where can I do so as I only spend when necessary. Yeah, I keep buying clothes and bags at times but I think those are still ok. Trying to cut down on meal expenses instead for I feel that there are alternatives, although of course expensive food taste better and are more fun than cheap food. So that’s the only thing that I think I can cut down on.

I’ve got my mum insurance but mine’s not decided upon yet at the time being. Deciding on that insurance kinda scared me a little; it’s a commitment. I can well afford it but the 1 lump sum was a little scary. Not a big sum at all actually if thought of it on a monthly basis. I think the ability to have this commitment was some sort of an ‘achievement’ for me. Then, I keep thinking of the new City though I do not need a car. A new car would solely be for my eyes only. I’ve never felt so strongly about a car, dang. The silver one looks ugly yet the grey one looks nice.

Side income-wise, I’ve got a lot of tuition lined up for me next year. Apt, since I wanna make more money right? 5 straight days per week, from Tues-Sat. No doubt I’m gonna be extremely tired, caused from the rushing back from work. The trains have been rescheduled, making matters worse. When people complain, they are supposed to increase the frequency, not reducing the frequency of my trains to half hourly. Utterly futterly dumb.

Career-wise, I’ve just spoken to my boss yesterday. Just a chat to find out how was I doing and to ask what’s my future and what else more can I do. I had always wanted to speak to her but had been procrastinating, but the mention of PMP next month jolted me. I want that increment, I don’t wanna wait another year for it. So well, she said I am doing fantastic, the guys in UK like working with me, I’ve picked things up fast, willing to undertake other stuff such as the Nokia project and I’m her star. Mat sallehs talk like this, I’m not sure how much truth is in there for I dunno what special thing I’ve done to make me her star.

Anyway, I told her I wanna get more involved in Heps. By doing so, I believe that I will know more about it and can progress from there. So she will speak to the guys in UK to see what can be handed over to me. I am gunning for Hep B Asia actually, cos Nick is too far to present it in Seoul, Taiwan and China and the diabetes guy is actually doing it since he is in SG. So, that’s an opportunity for me. I wanna take sole charge of Asia and I wanna go to Seoul =) I wanna see too if I’m gonna get my promotion by next year end or sooner, as T said.

I think I’ve got a lot in store for me next year. Wanna look for more side income too, though I’m not sure how much time do I have since I’m gonna be coming home at 10 everyday and not going to have as much free time at the office because I requested more responsibilities haha. Wanna allocate some time to take part in contests, for that is what I do well in and pretty cool stuff are available. But 1 thing I know for sure, I'm gonna be eating like there's no tomorrow on weekends. A treat for myself to reward myself for working my ass off the entire week and also that's because the weekend is the only time I have. And another of my quarter-life crisis goals is to trim down on food intake and reduce my waistline, dang...