Cameron Getaway! [Part 3]

3 July 2006

Sunday. 9am and the sound of morning cartoons penetrated the bedroom door. Ok, ok...get up, mill around...breakfast...guys go to get their car...couples out to walk walk...us playing Carcassonne...us cleaning apartment...all these amidst lamentations of "Are you going to take Monday em-cee ar?", "Come on la, stay one more day!" or even "Come, we go Penang! Monday only go back!"

Lunch was cursed with long waits again! While Saturday we thought the long wait could be due to our being a big group, Sunday lunch was just the 5 of us (same 5 what went trekking for 2 hours). Me, I had the Chinese option (where I'd to sendiri bawa my food from one end of the foodcourt to my table at the other end, and sendiri take back the bowls when done), but the others went for Malay fare. TST, 'Ward and Hengky had to wait (half-hour? more?) for their food. It seems that the store that they ordered from had no sauce or something, and had to ask another store to cook the food for them!

Once we were all packed up and the place nice and sparkly clean, it was time for souvenir-hunting. Here's a good place. Kea Farm.

The fried mushrooms, fried potato balls, in fact, sample everything from the stall that sells fried stuff. There was even an ice-cream machine outside it. Yum. Soft-serve strawberry ice cream.

Other must-gets include strawberries, make sure you do taste-test, honey propolis ('Welcome to Highland Apiary Farm' says their leaflet), then call home and ask if mum needs wants any greens.

After that head on to Equatorial to raid their toilets. One thing that shocked me was that Equatorial never seem to have changed throughout all these years. I don't remember the last time I went up except that it was during my primary school years (ooh the suffrance of travelling then), when Highlander started showing on RTM2.

You don't have to stay here, just park nearby and take a walk around Equatorial and enjoy the scenery.

Then, the long hard goodbye. 7pm, on our way home to KL. Could we make it back in time for a nice group dinner?

Didn't happen. Just like how we found a KFC KLG in Cameron, we'd stopped for A&W E&W at Tapah.

Cameron Getaway! [Part 2]

3 July 2006

There was a small problem (well, mebbe not so small...RM200+ problem in the end) when KE's car had a flat after it went over a pothole, flipped over 2 cars and landed hanging half over the edge. I dunno, listen to what they said only. Had to abandon the car overnight while Jun went to fetch them. Anyways everyone made it to the apartment safely and ready to greet the middle of the year! No need to say la, after unpacking the tables were out and we were already playing Carcassonne and Lost Cities.

First night itself already quite packed: football matches (TST rooting on Germany 'cos he had money involved, until he wasn't aware that his money was safe when they went into extra time), drinks (always entertaining), junk food and trash talk until 6am.

And everybody was up again by 8am! All fresh and ready for Puerto Rico, House on Haunted Hill and other board games galore.

Early morning bout of Puerto Rico.

Big group of House on Haunted Hill. The 'Traitor' player has yet to win a game.

Figuring out the rules and scoring of 3-player mahjong.

Food was a problem: Except for Friday night dinner, when it came to mealtimes eating out, there's always someone who'll be waiting for his first dish long after everyone else had seconds. During lunch 'Nic waited ages for his mixed vegetable and rice while the rest of us were sampling the local char kuey teow and roti strawberry and tandoori chicken. We'd reason that the waitress was distracted by the doctor in our group, fuiyoh the attention showered on him, if she was wearing low cut she would probably have leaned 90 degrees already. Come dinnertime TST and 'Ward were left starving. This one was worse as we only went to makan at 9.30pm! Edward had to wait 45 minutes for his tandoori chicken SANDWICH. Sandwich I tell you! 2 pieces of bread, tandoori chicken tika. Even Ivan had already gone through his fried rice, tandoori chicken, cheese naan and curry mutton.

Anything to say about the food? Oh yes, roti strawberry is seriously goodsheet. The one at Restaurant Sri Brinchang (and here we were staying at Tanah Rata). Must try. Tandoori chicken still cannot beat what you get in Klang.

Jungle trekking on Saturday afternoon was a blast. The plan was, we go trek to the watch tower, then come back and go kick some ball. I mean football. Once we'd reached the watch tower everyone was all DRENCHED and flat on the floor! View was good from the watch tower. Shame, didn't bring camera. We ended up staying quite a bit at the tower while waiting for the entire party to reach, occasionally shouting out to make sure the rest were still somewhere out there (and so that they knew we were still at the tower, hem hem).

Then came the bit where we splitted up into 2 groups: those whom backtracked and headed for football, and 5 of us ('Nic, TST, Edward, Shahnon and me) that decided to use an alternative route back. Mana tahu that route lead us to the forestry office, then onwards on Jungle Road No.6 and then Jungle Road No.5 before exiting at someone's plantation. 2 hours of trekking up down up down. Good thing weather was dry and it was still early. If we'd trekked elsewhere in the lowlands we'd probably have backtracked straightaway, who wants to sweat like crazy slipsliding in the mud.

Once out we'd headed to watch the others play football while entertaining visions of a tubfull of hot water to soak the feet. Must say was very thankful we'd kept the shoes we'd used when we went to Gua Tempurung. The shoes had this earthy smell and leaked sand from goodness knows where, but did its job well for the trek. Only thing was that since the soles were long gone our feet were a bit tender due to heavy impact going downhill.

Once back, out came the heat rubs. Wahsai a smell long forgetten since childhood days. A wee bit o' rest and out came the boardgames again until the rest came back.

After dinner we'd split up into 2 groups again: those to watch football, and those who weren't gonna. What did us who didn't watch football do?

Power Grid.

First impression? Simple and interesting. Of course la, whatwith the day's events of early morning games-marathon and trekking and food-waiting, the brens were a bit numb already. Too tired to really process but still too awake to sleep. In the end we had a second game in the bedroom that helped knock us out...at 5am.

Cameron Getaway! [Part 1]

3 July 2006

What's going on? Read here first.

So happened that end of June we'd our La Sallian's 'annual trip', the 2nd-biggest gathering of our batch (largest is still Chinese New Year at Vincent's). How large?

1 apartment. 13 people.

During the getaway week updates were going on: "Bring own pillowcases, bedsheets and sport shoes!" "Going jungle trekking!" "Eh, can you take leave on Fri itself ar? We want to leave in the afternoon!" Dilemma was wondering whether to work a coupla' hours on Friday, or head down to someone's house in Klang on Thursday night...in the end had to work becos' our lovely store manager herself was on holiday earlier in the same week so couldn't text her to give ample warning. Nevermind, guys said that they'll be reaching our place about 3.15pm, should be able to make it and pack. Oh yes, advantages of being a guy: the ability to pack a bag in 30 minutes.

When Vincent arrived was stunned to hear that we'd to leave the board game Hotel at my place due to lack of space in the car. 5 peeps in a Beemer plus provisions. Still had plenty of other board games, tho.

Hello, Parkview Apartments.

How prepped were we? Very prepped. Brought everything except for Hengky's OSIM massage chair.

Food.

Vice.

Games (football in the car boot).

Even the bedrooms prepared like on papaya trip one.

No la, last one dream la. All had to make to with sleeping bags or own bedspread. Mattresses and pillows were already provided, tho!

We Talk Here Now

15 March 2006

Hello folks. We talk here now:
http://niched.blogspot.com/

Wogs...

24 October 2005

Sniff. After dinner last night at SS2 we'd took a quick trip to the pet shop where we first bought Princess. Well...lots and lots and lotsa woggies!!! There's another Pom there, cute and fluffy and brown and fuzzy and worth RM2280. Lord. Didn't take any pictures, to busy craving to hold all them pupps from beagles to pom to terrier to shih tzu to...waaaaah! Wanna take them all home!!!

Then this lady has to come into the shop, and ask a caretaker if a dog she was looking at was a Siberian Husky. Caught my attention, that did. All I remember seeing at the booth she was looking at was a white cat of some sort. "Oh, that one miao ar?" went the nonplussed woman.

Had to 'adopt' Kamal's Nintendog.

Regarding Interviews...

18 October 2005

Some of the better advice I've been given regarding interviews:

"Don't tell the truth!"

"Tell about you achievements, your extracurricular activities e.g. joining scouts."
Well. Those will definitely work if you're a master BS-er or have led an active school life. However, BS can only take you so far. I mean, first interview's basically the department manager or some mid-level manager wanting to get the 'feel' of possible candidates. Them tend to be quite personable people who're friendly if you get off the correct footing from the start. Then...their boss comes in during the second interview. Shit. BS will make them wonder what the interviewers were thinking.

Haiiiz...I'm just getting a bit sien of working through interviews liao. I mean, looking retrospectively I made quite a number of 'interview tactical errors' that were...very stupid lar. Best example would be the most recent interview I went at Jenssen-Cilag regarding their position of 'Local Safety Officer'. As with most interviews, you got quite the number of standard interview questions to guage how dedicated you are to snagging the job.

"How would you think your colleagues would describe you?"

"Err...'weird'."

KNS. This one call don't think before speaking. Doesn't say good things, but rather sounds like liability no matter how you put it. If try to cover up by going about being sooo workaholic until considered weird means putting up high expectations that'll come back and smack you hard once you get the job.

"Where, or how do you picture yourself in 5 years' time?"

"Err...somewhere still as a Safety Officer but in a more senior position...?"

[You know, when I lose sleep becoz of thinking about job prospects, I ask myself this. And when I think 'hospital' I cannot even envision staying there for 3 years.] This job is so new that I also dunno what prospects are there for promotion. I mean, come up with safety guidelines for employees, do drug regulations plus adverse drug reporting...not unless the job scope becomes so diverse that can lagi branch off and become sub-dept head. Saying, "In a more senior position," doesn't sound ambitious, "To be honest, I have no idea where the prospects for this job will allow me to grow," probably makes me sound vague and unfocused, "Heading the safety department?" *mischevious smile*...Hey! Blardi hell should have thought of that! I hate interviews! Stupid questions that take ages to get a nice shiny answer!

"What can you say that will make me choose you over other candidates?"

"...err...ah...well..."

I'll go a bit more over this later when I tell about my PERSONALITY TEST results. Yeah, got comprehensive personality test. The short of it is that I a bit lousy at selling myself.

"What did you feel were your major accomplishments in your previous working places?"

"..."

This one...no help lar. Pharmacist lar, both retail and houseman. What to expect? Whatmore, housemanship in teaching hospital with SOPs. Surely don't expect me to go, "No! I refuse to follow these protocols which has already been set down to ensure the safety and efficiency of patients and employees!" I wasn't employed to do that what then. [Just like how Asians are brought up yar? Listen to your elders, don't think for yourself.] I mean sure you wanna ask why some protocols were set as they were lar, more ma fan, more work, more paperwork...But I digress. As I was. What kind of OMGWTFBBQ accomplishments am I suppose to achieve in my line of work?

'Effectively compiled inventory of hospital IV medications.' Er, houseman project. Also while it adds to easy references for the IPD it isn't anything major. Few years down the road someone'll update it as part of his/her project.

But then again maybe if I stayed in UH longer as a pegawai farmasi I could have accomplished something as by then would be more familiar with the place than being bewildered in different departments. How about during life in Guardian?

'Rotated employment status from full-time to contractual to part-time locum.' Er. Rolling stone gathers no moss.

'Improved employee morale via implementation of end-day incentive.' Once the interviewers find out that that sentence actually means, "Going to close store that time use own money to buy everyone McD's ice cream," even I dunno what they gonna think.

The fact that Guardian is big and corporate, they oso got they're own guidelines and will fire/taruh anyone that does otherwise. Heesh, not corrective measures until da store fails to live up to expectations.

"You're rather young yeah!"

Wish I could retort "Wait till you meet my parents!" but cannot as that is not true. Haiyoh then why bother putting up the statement, 'Fresh graduates are encouraged to apply'? Not even stated that you wanted someone with years of experience. KNN old dogs can learn new tricks as fast or not?

Ok-lar this thing's gone too blardi long liao. Will take on the issue of personality tests some other time. But experience has taught me something lor:

[Colour]
Don't immediately take the job if it's offered straightaway where they say, "Yeah, there isn't any problems, how soon can you start?"!

Hey Chuan Chen!

13 October 2005

Hey Chuan Chen! Sorry har have to specially write a blog just to return comment...something wrong with da Comments bit where I cannot, just cannot reply you there >:P

Yah-hor in all my wants I never said anything much about wanting frens to hang out wif, 'cept only one saying that I want to be able to see everyone occasionally. Why? Because I blessed enuff with frens to hang out with so it never became a want lor. See? No need to want for it since already got. Anyways my list of wants yah, some are possible, some are immature, some not feasible one I know...but it's just for me to whine about my wants mah. No need to take seriously one, if I want it I'll work to get it myself. No need me to ask for charity (well, occasionally can lar, but only if I ask for it >:P). I don't want to look like poor Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man...can cry one see that fella so hor-leen (see, yet another want).

Yeah, must thank frens for being there lor, to make sure my life isn't always boring. Actually hor, I come to suspect that before this I quite the antisocial fella one, now not so antisocial (still got lar, just not so much) becoz I enjoy their company!

Anyways long time no hear from you liao, what are you doing now leh? Remind forgetful me! Paiseh to comment then email me!

The 'I Wants'...

9 October 2005

Sigh...things have been more rocky since I left my Guardian post at Puchong leh. First off I totally screwed at sales and had to cabut, then waited waited waited sooooo long before I could begin working locum again at Guardian (once bitten twice still not shy). Some more kena buang to the branch at Jalan Tun Perak, you know, the one near the Masjid Jamek LRT station. And this locum job hor, need me only call me, I can (or want to) work only I work, and better still get paid by the hour...wahlao how am I gonna survive until the end of this year man if like that?

Yarlor, I rather stupid and immature lor...don't think ahead quit job, now stuck like that. Initially it's fun mah, becoz I had a job to look forward to (the doomed sales one) so could really enjoy bumming at home. But after that wahsey sit at home oso very stressful...while parents never say anything oso I myself stress myself.

Now almost every other night I cannot sleep. Why leh? The moment I think of the word, "WORK" I gone liao - immediate depression and my brain goes all kusut thinking of the perfect dream job that will satisfy all my wants (and needs if able). Yes, I now suffer from depression, although I try not to overcomplain to my frens becoz hor, you look at Marvin from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy lar, the super-depressed superrobot with the brain a size of a planet, he so depressed until everyone around him cannot tahan want to avoid him one.

Speaking of wants leh, I might as well rant it all out lar, mebbe just maybe it'll make me feel better. Or maybe I still won't be able to sleep at night. Like that la.

I WANT:

• A nine-to-five (or eight-to-five) Mon-to-Fri job that's near my house, preferably a retail pharmacy or with a multinational company (becoz I brand-conscious) that'll allow me to go to the gym for my regular cardio classes with the instructors I like and hang out with my frens during the weekend.
  
• My job to be something that I'll be HAPPY doing, not one that'll make me depressed and not want to talk to anyone like I did occasionally last time in University Hospital.
  
• People not to be so biased against my old medical history and be so chickenshit afraid that I might die and thus incur a hefty medical cost towards their company. If I'm the one dying I should be the one who's afraid, not you, and so far I'm not becoz I don't feel like I'm dying, so why are YOU afraid?
  
• My job to have familiar faces, and plenty of them. Having spent so much time around frens nowadays I forgot how to really be independant liao. What I need is a group of colleagues/frens so I can be the antisocial one.
  
• My dog back!
  
• To see everyone occasionally! I have not been able to keep up with a lot of people and when I don't I tend to forget about them!
  
• To stay out on my own, somewhere here in Damansara or Taman Tun because it's near everywhere and has no traffic like jampacked-crazy KL, while far enough that my mum cannot visit too often becoz she'll want to clean the place and mess up the way I keep things.
  
• Money not to ever be an issue in my life, where I can live comfortably with what I earn and still not want nor lack.
  
• To remain immature as long as I can in life without it causing disruption (like my life now).
  
• To put on some weight, but not all at the tummy.
  
• To dedicate a room when I stay on my own to be my personal library. There'll be shelves for my books plus reading sofas and stand lights from Ikea.
  
• The entire collection of Terry Pratchett in my personal library, paperback and hardback, with the UK covers displaying artwork by Josh Kirby or Paul Kidby.
  
• Soundtracks and songs I like! Got plenty one. Mostly choir-choir kind one. Also CD singles/albums of songs I like!
  
• A 40GB Ipod to carry all these songs. I checked liao, now my collection nearly reaching some 8GB liao. So 40GB can tahan longer.
  
• A Citroen, becoz in reality ppl say Citroen got no resale value so when I get my own car it has to be some other make like Honda or Toyota but I still like a Citroen. Model dunno yet.
  
• To not suffer from depression ever again.
  
• To be able to travel to anywhere in the world whenever I feel like it instead of revisiting Memory Lane.
  
• To not worry about the future and be able to put all my trust and faith in God that He will provide.
  
• That significant other.
  
• To stop being jeles of what other people have or do (you see la, everything about me is green one).

However, if you ever asked if I wanted to change my past, I'll definitely say, "No. Everything that I have ever experienced has led to my life as it is now! I love what I have now, the friends I have now and if things were different I wouldn't have ALL THIS and I'd probably be worse off!" Really. Admittedly lah got bits that I regret la in my past but considering that it got me to where I am today I'm happy la. I can be soppy enuff to say, I love you guys, thanks for all you gave me in your own special way.

Announcement! Dog Missing!

The day has died.

I should be feeling rather bummed about this, the weight of the matter hasn't hit me. The matter?

DOG MISSING

• Name: Princess
  
• Age: 2 yrs 2 mths (I guess)
  
• Description: Female pomeranian, colours mainly brown, tan and white
  
• Weight: 5kg
  
• Features: Red collor with 2 bells attached (visible in pic), the tip of her tail is felt to be hooked-shaped, spayed
  
• Last seen on 11th September (Sunday) around 9-ish or 10-ish.

What happened? Can't say for sure. Mum and I were at church, around 10-half or past dad calls to say the dog's missing. He went out for breakfast and left the dog uncaged. Our sidegate wasn't padlocked, and our Princess has this habit of sticking half her body under the gate to look out. Cannot say if she squeezed out somehow (she'd never done this when any member of the family was home) but it's also likely someone came in and took her.

Dognapping! Arrgh! Even worse than the idea of her wandering about on her own or being taken in by someone else in the neighbourhood! Even worse than the idea of her being runned over (no sign of that, thank God).

Anyways. LOST FOR THREE FRICKIN' DAYS NOW. You know where to find me if there's news.

Black Star...

4 September 2005

This weekend's been rather interesting: a black star'd plagued me and me mates. Andrew on Friday, Aaron on Saturday and me on Sunday.

Woke up as usual - somewhere in the afternoon (mornings don't count, those cases it's just up, reply texts, back to bed - darn it I really need to get back to work!) to find that our woggie has a new cage.

Never let your dog watch prison escape movies or they'll dismantle the cage overnight.

The new cage was already fixed up and I'd to dismantle the old one - super rusty to the point where even copious amounts of WD40, pliers, and Allen keys took 2 hours on what would have been a half-hour job. Better yet, somewhere 4.30pm Joo Ann called.

"Eh where are you ar?"

"Ur, at home la. Why?"

"At home. Why aren't you at the weight management training."

"Oshit! Is that today? What date is it today?"

"The 4th la. What did you think?"

"I thought it was tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow Monday la."

"Ya-lar! I thought tomorrow is the 4th! Oshit!"

"Haiyar. Nevermind la I try and look for your certificate."

Well. At least the gist of it went something like that. And I'd paid up my membership in August mainly to get into the Weight Management Training Program free. Other factors include that since I'm gonna go back to retailing I might as well be a MPS member and bum up on CME points (hah!), plus MPS charge members cheaper to renew their ARC. Grrr.

Come dinnertime decided to drop by Taman Tun's pasar malam while waiting for our take-away orders (kung pow chicken and a personal Pizza Hut Vegetarian). First impression: small as seems like only one street length, and majority of the stalls sell fruits. Where are the drinks? The food? Upon reaching the end of the street I finally come across 2 fishmongers and an Indian butcher. Upon doubling back I notice the pasar malam branching off. Remapping the pasar malam: divided into 3 sections: fruits (duku langsat in season), drinks (honey sea coconut - yum!), food (salted and buttered corn, apam baliks, char tow kuey...the list is endless). No pirated CD/VCD/DVD peddler, though.

Arg. TTDI Zaaba's Ramlee burger stall not open on Sunday. Hunger pangs. Thankfully chicken biscuits from Ipoh still available.

Tug-Of-War!

2 September 2005

AARGH! What is wrong with Guardian's Human Resources that they cannot just let me work as a locum in 1-Utama? What I wanted: morning shifts, near workplace, good shopping mall, Starbucks nearby, cheap and shaded parking, not to work on most public holidays (and weekends if able). Hey, it's just a part-time locum job!

Lesse, me writes in stating me wants 1U. They say Midvalley has more urgent need for a more 'permanent' pharmacist, so they gives me me ole' contract back: 35hrs/wk. When I asked back if I could get back a full-time position with a exclusion clause on medical coverage I was nicely told that they don't do 'special' contracts 'just for me'. What's so special about it??? I know it's not because I might die on them that causes them worries, it's the cost of the medical coverage that'll cause them grief. OK. The negotiation grounds are then set: I work on my terms, not yours. If I got a full-time placement then I won't mind so much.

Anyways, thinking about locuming at Midvalley. Good shopping mall? Check. Starbucks? Check. Parking? Check. Distance may be some issue. Work hours may be negotiatable with manager. Informed HR can try Midvalley.

Next morning, call from HR. "Oh, we have a more urgent need for a pharmacist at The Mall."

"No. I'll take Midvalley."

Next day. "As you're concerned about the distance, there's also no pharmacist at Kepong, and there is a independant pharmacy next door."

"Kepong? Is it a high-street store?"

"Yes."

"I'll check it out first, then I get back to you."

"Okay."

Having checked out Kepong and chitchatting with the store manager regarding the peak hours, have decided that it's fine: 10 minutes from home, single toll, jam going opposite direction. Probably the store will be very quiet and that will drive me nuts again. Parking may cost me a small fortune in the long run. But peak hours were some 12-2pm so I thought I could do morning shift no problem (I wanted to get off before 6pm!). And so called HR to inform I'll do Kepong for morning shifts plus I won't do most public hols.

HR has the gall to talk to me about 'give and take'. Anyways she said she'll discuss with another bigwig.

Call today. "Since you're really looking for a 'locum' locum kind of job then you could work at the branch near Masjid Jamek?" Digging uncovered: p'cist there will be going on maternity sometime later, will cover Ampang Point, prolly KLCC. May cover the nearer-to-home ones like 1U (yay!), Ikea (yay!), Centrepoint Bandar Utama (uber-boring!), Taman Tun (ok!) etc etc.

Need to find the perfect dream job!

Ipoh Trip Draft

1 September 2005

We're too buggered to actually re-edit this so we'd found the names of the asterixed bits and filled them up at the bottom. Correct us where we're wrong again!

Gawds! Good trip to Gua Tempurong and Ipoh! Lesse: otousan, lad, Puddy plus their colleagues Dmn, Kly and Aunty EK - a happy party of seven with us and Aunty EK as the drivers (by the way, entire trip was 617km!). Managed to wake up early as had to meet at otousan's at 7am so that we could reach Gua Tempurong in time for Grand Tour. That bit is described by otousan as 'sweaty, dirty and wet'. And it's true - sweaty during the early bit where it's all steps and railings, and thanks to a good guide, good fun. Once off the track there's loads climbing, sliding, tracking and crawling about! [Note to self: don't wear non-grip shoes as midway the trip there's literally places with no handholds/footholds, might as well try sandals. Sandals would also be easier to clean. Also, pack food in waterproof baggie as had sugar crash and starvation attack midjourney.]

Things to note is that since it's a cave with bats and half the time we're trekking on crumbly limestone, the earth can suddenly feel 'pasty'. Search immediately for river. Also, as there can be some 40 people in one group be sure to wash face upstream of those washing socks in same river. Torches are essential (headlights seems most convenient but lad's Maglite most effective!), or else do like us, keep up with the guide as he's literally skipping all over the place!

After a quick shower it was off to lunch, buying chicken biscuits followed by mooching on durians! Lovely. Then onwards to * - hot spring spa! otousan was crazy enough to want to race on a reflexology foot path, and we (lad and us) were crazy enough to race him. Heh, he lost both races but must credit him - he raced once with us (while we were eating an ice cream!) and once more with lad. Until now the heels of our feet are killing us so much so that we're limping badly. The VIP room that we booked had some technical problem and so we'd to settle for a Family Spa room but that was also enjoyable. First cold shower, then into the steaming jacuzzi pool, then shower, then pool...if only it was made such that one could just sleep in the pool! At one point we went back to the car, and when we came back the pool temperature must have somewhat increased. Could not, repeat, COULD NOT enter pool! Attempts to immerse self in pool led to us jumping straight out of pool with our scrapes from the spelunking session burning!

Then it was back to Ipoh to dump our stuff at ** before dinner. Fried noodles, kuey teow, crab, sotong, lala and some weird shelled thing *** that had the others sucking at.

Next morning was totally food! Breakfast was dim sum at **** (avoid/limit the lo mai kai and paus if on makan marathon) that as ab-so-lute deee-lish! This was followed by a white coffee break with some odd pork mix mince ball (wethinks the place was called OldTown somethingsomethingsomething). Meal break - trip to *****. Lunch? Aun Kheng Lim's salted chicken and ice cream soda (syrup, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and F&N's Ice Cream Soda). We skipped the rojak, not being a fan. Final Ipoh stop: soya bean curd! Then it was, "Say goodbye to Ipoh!" as we headed back home stopping at Tapah to get guavas.

* "Say what's the name of the hot springs place again ar?"
"Sungai Klah Hot Springs. Exit at Trolak/Sungkai."

** "How about the name of the budget hotel that we'd stayed in?"
"Regal Lodge Hotel."

*** "Eh you know the name of the place we had dinner ar? Near the MAN U restaurant one?"
"Don't remember woh."
"How about that shelled things?"
"Balitong?"
"Balitong? What are they ar?"
"Snails. Live in sand one."

**** "How about the name of the place we went for dim sum? With the advertisement one?"
"Fuh San. F-U-H S-A-N."

***** "Then the temple we went to was called Temple Caves ya?"
"Cave Temple."

Our Summer Villa Blogsite

23 August 2005

Thought I'd go and clean out the dust from my long-abandoned Blogspot account and get it running. Not that I've that many interesting things to say that I need two blog sites but it depends.

http://wubrg.blogspot.com/

Have cleaned out what was there before and am starting anew! Hmmm, Blogspot be the summer villa and this can be the winter palace blogsite.

*Edit: wubrg.blogspot.com was the initial name of the blogsite. It's been changed to niched.blogspot.com since.

Back To Square One

20 August 2005

Ah well. So my sales job didn't go well. Shan't dwell on it anymore. Now:

Andrew said, "Well, it's nice that you have a job to fall back on anytime you want." Yes, I should be thankful for that: I have to option to go back to being a locum pharmacist with Guardian (primarily with Guardian 1 Utama with options for the nearby Taman Tun/Damansara areas!) while looking for another job.

So...my Square One is being a Guardian locum pharmacist. What's gonna be yours?

How Humbling

15 August 2005

Not even two weeks into this job and I have decided that I shall return to retail. Am now making plans to find a 5-day retail job (or one with very flexible hours as I had during my Guardian locum stint, but with added perks such as public holidays and annual leaves) but this time in the independant sector. I guess what I mean by the independant sector is 'them who will administer to the needs of the public in need of prescription drugs in absence of a (valid) prescription', or in simpler terms, 'non-Guardian'.

It's sad how our Malaysian pharmacy practise works in reality, because it shows how much we are at the mercy of the customer/patients at times. I am actually sick of people coming in to ask for some hypertensive of other Group B (prescription-controlled) drug and then nicely telling me, "Since when there's such a law!" when I tell them that they couldn't get it without a prescription. Hello? Who's the pharmacist? However, Guardian is one such company who's able to survive on Group C drugs (UH and Jaya Shopping Centre being exceptions) as it makes moolah on so much other products. Watsons on the other hand only has a handful of stores which are actually pharmacies, so survival for them doesn't really depend on sale of drugs.

But for the other pharmacies, the independantly-owned, the small-chains, survival depends on being able to attend to prescriptionless customers and engage in the art of haggling. The Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society has time and time again urged for pharmacies all over to stop the 'price wars' and go for quality service ie. professionalism. Hey, I think professionalism is already there, but some people are just not interested if it's still expensive.

Enough ranting. My point being, in order for me to ever open my own pharmacy (my eye-opener was jumping into sales, deeming a future in sales is never long-term, and having a pharmacy only when I retire rather too late) I will need the experience necessary to survive the Malaysian setting. So no point going back to Guardian except for the hecticness found in big shopping malls as well as the admittedly large connection of pharmacists and staff whom end up being friends and fun company. I'm trying not to be aimless in life already. So at least get a good goal.

Of Anxiety, A New Company, Anxiety, Products And Anxiety...

9 August 2005

WHOA! Have started me new job and the first thing I can say about it is...it caused me no ends of anxiety! Not a good thing to say as it does no one any credit. Better still is that that during my first (and only) anxiety-filled week I could not think of any reason for me to feel so! More on it later.

First week was as expected: product training. Ferriprox reminded me of being in an IMU lecture, while others were much more simpler. Detailing aids made things much more simple, to-the-point and quick. Da boss (my team leader) was nice: he kept telling me about how things work, what to expect, things I need to know. Me, I have no heart to tell him that I have a poor memory and would probably forget most of what he told me, although I may have a rough idea of the gist of it (hmm...I wonder if that last bit makes sense).

Now for the first week lunch was provided for as well, with da boss bringing me out with some of the other colleagues, although I guess that they are higher up the ladder than my peers. First thing I ever find out about them is that they are BIG EATERS! Now, I may find that my apetite may have grown (I always put this down to the gym classes) but my main meal is still dinner. These guys ordered lunch as if it was dinner itself. And a heavy meal, followed by more product training aka lectures in the afternoon, whatmore having had to wake up early when one has been waking up long after sun-up...I started brewing my own tea and keeping it close at hand. Supposedly it was a way for me to know my colleagues, but having lunched on my own for months in Guardian (and before that it was lunch with fellow IMU-ians) the only way I lunch well with people is mostly talking shop.

Now, back to the matter of anxiety: night before first day, no problem. Just worried about not getting enough sleep so knocked myself out with Fedac. First day, taking things in and slightly nervous. Normal I should guess. Yet halfway through the day this nagging feeling starts creeping up on me: "What am I doing here? I wish I was back in Guardian! What have I got myself into?!" Now, the last time this kinda feeling ever got to me was when I was in A-Levels, when the exams were near. I guess there are others out there whom did question themselves one time or another if they were going down the correct road in life, but I don't know what they decided nor what was the outcome. However, when in A-Levels I went through the brief period of deciding if I should stay in A-Levels or back out and do SAM or something else, I chose to stick to A-Levels. And after the 1st term things got better and hey, I got through!

Anyways. That bit of anxiety only lasted a couple of days. This time it got progressively worse throughout the entire week, with me not being able to sleep enough on Thursday night! While with friends I could share with them regarding how I felt but anxiety only hits hard at night. I actually did think of leaving and going back to Guardian, but hey, I'm not giving the job a chance! I'll be stating that I can't handle stress and I give up easily, and that would reflect badly on me. I reasoned that I should stay on until I get out on the field, then see if the anxiety's still there (also have been telling myself if I could get through A-Levels lets apply the same here).

This week, am following me colleagues out on the field and watching them work. Anxiety doesn't keep me awake nights, but the ole' Sunday Blues have returned (with free add-on Wake-Up Early Blues!). Am playing Faure's In Paradisum either in my head or on me players in endless repeats. And have come to a theory to the anxiety: there's no one that I know or is around my age! In UH I had the IMU gang and in Guardian I was in contact with IMU-ians both from my batch, junior housemens and seniors. I do suspect that this isn't just the only factor but it's something I can associate my anxiety to.

Such a shame that I'd let the anxiety spoil what would have been an interesting new experience.

All Good Things Must Come To An End...

31 July 2005

Well. Work starts again tomorrow! I must say that the one month spent 'resting' (bumming!) was a good month! Only...during a quick chat with Celynn on Friday just came across the idea of sitting in MPH everyday at the Reader's Lounge reading whatever I wanted! What a waste! Nevermind, keep that in mind for the next time the oppportunity for bumming ever arises (hopefully not so soon!).

Today's Garfield strip pretty much describes what's gonna happen: he decides to nap only to find that he's too excited to do so! Argh! Must ensure that I can sleep and wake up in time!

The Good Life?

26 July 2005

Lawks. The life of leisure is about to end. The new month dawns and we're gonna be working! Ah well, it was a good month while it lasted. A week of slack, then down to S'pore to slack, now back home and slacking even much more! Those promises to self to start sleeping early so that I follow a normal person's sleeping pattern? Darn that all to heck. Don't think it'll ever work. But should make an effort tho'.

Fingers crossed for the new job!

Grinning Demon At Ya!

24 July 2005

Awwwwyeah! Magic Online up and running! Finally, instead of staring at me collection of physical cards (such potential bookmarks) and moaning over the lack of Magic kaki, I can stare at me collection of digital cards and moan over how everyone screws me at every game and how I accidently Giant Growthed his blocking creature.

Long gone are the days where we pooled to buy a box of boosters (not that I remembered doing it for Magic, only Battletech), or catching a cab from Bukit Jalil to Subang to get a coupla' decks and boosters 'cos Endah Parade's gameshop's closed. Long gone are the days where we try to find time where everyone's free to play. Long gone are the days where there's only 3 players and each one's backstabbing the other or being the 'batu api'. No more mucking about not being sure how certain things are played.

Of course, one thing about Magic: The Gathering, be it online or not, will never change. There'll definitely be periods where one gets tired of the game and will throw in the towel...only to get back in the ring again sometime later!

Anyone who happens to play as well, look me up under the ID Kytril!

O Freddled Gruntbuggly...

21 July 2005

Not good sign...it's one of those days where personal inertia does not allow for me to do anything...not enjoy me PC games, not enjoy my Nintendo DS (and it's still sparkly new!), not watch telly (and not because the parents are bookin' it), not watch DVDs, not go out...

Very bad. Have the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz's poetry going through me head too, a suicidal sign?

18 July 2005

Whoo! Came back on Sunday, got the book in the evenin' and started on it at midnight! Finished it Monday mid-dinner! Whoa! Can't say anything without it being a spoiler (and so we shan't, not while the book is still fresh off the press)!

Ranking of the Potter series? 3>4>6>5>1>2

The goody bag MPH gave for pre-ordering the book was a wee bit...well, i guess the KitKats and the Vanilla Coke was to sustain one while reading the book (could you survive the whole book on just that? Not I) and the violet-inked Uni pen was to be one's pretend wand, or to write down one's order for the Harry Potter Science Kit on the form provided...ah well. Narnia bookmark well used tho'.

Back From S'pore!

18 July 2005

Ah...just some quick jots about me trip to Singapore. No point going into a day-by-day here (I'm too lazy and it's not all that interesting). Spent every day since getting there (save me first and last day) at Orchard Road!

Science of Discworld 3: Darwin's Watch is out at Borders! Argh! $50.95!! Argh Argh! Starbucks' seasonal drink is Strawberries and Cream! Hmmm...is it their seasonal drink (for S'pore) for the month of July? Last year was S&C also wasn't it? McDonalds has a lovely dessert: Berrynice Yoghurt Crunch, yoghurt with blueberries and strawberries with nuts! Also, had tried this weird drink: iced Earl Grey with vanilla ice-cream. It just doesn't mix. Where? Crepes & Cream, at Citylink.

Paragon mall: whoa! A Nokia Vertu boutique! Fits the overall picture, seeing that Paragon's shops are very much for the upper-end social class. Fitness First Paragon! Went for BodyJam and BodyCombat. Methinks it's Julian's class which is popular there. Not as intensive as Calvin's, tho'. If not wrong all gyms in S'pore provides a bath towel and a face flannel when you sign in. How convenient.

Caught 2 movies, both at Shaw: Fantastic 4 and Sin City. Both good, but with Fantastic 4 the showdown felt rather short, with Sin City the setting was very noir (black and white, with monologues) and we wonders how Malaysian Censorship will shred the movie. Shaw's selling point (not their ticket prices) is the amount of food places about the cinema. There's even a Taco Bell! Sad to say the food quality of TB has long since dropped...

Internet cafes at Singapore costs a bomb! $1.50 for 15 minutes! One reason I did not blog there (the other was I didn't felt like lugging my laptop to S'pore).

Got me Nintendo DS! Costed me $330. After what with asking about most stalls at Lucky Plaza (hey, I bought my GBA Mario & Luigi RPG from there as well!) and even taking a cab to Sim Lim Square (S'pores version of our lovely Low Yat Plaza), I'd finally bombed for it (din't differ much from Sg Wang's quotes by then). Yummy. Fun. Now eyeing few DS titles (especially New Super Mario Bros and Mario & Luigi 2). Gods if it wasn't so expensive!

And now, we're back home...

Photo Albums!

10 July 2005

I guess it's hard to find the Friendster photo albums the first time, but an easy link to some:

Joo Ann's albums: http://www.friendster.com/blogphotoalbum.php?statpos=photostabs&uid=5624796

Geo Min's: http://www.friendster.com/blogphotoalbum.php?statpos=photostabs&uid=3414588

Day 10 Of Freedom! Day Of Rest

10 July 2005

The weather continues fine! What with it rainin' heavily this afternoon had woke up at 5.30pm today!

Preparations for trip to S'pore: clothes packed - nil, money changed - nil, Fitness First passport made - none, things to bring - undecided.

Last day tomorrow! Plus I've me second Abbott interview tomorrow morning! And the bus leaves at 2.30pm!

Day 9 Of Freedom!

10 July 2005

Got up early to finish household chores, gone down to the Maxis centre to change me phone line to me own account (hurrah, finally MMS-able!), dumped laundry into washing machine and back to Sg Wang to check out Nintendo DS prices once again after Andrew had found out which shop his friend had gotten it from. Been 'round most stores, but this time the tagline was better: NDS price quote RM450. Games understood to be somewhere RM150 or more. But when the whole package was calculated, it came up to RM740. Eh? Cause of discrepancy? Battery and charger! He'd left out the price of that!

Went back home with money still intact in wallet.

Come evening was trip down to Klang for Randall's birthday party. Me mum wanted me to send some things down to a churchmember's place, which was fine...as a result, now my car reeks of durians, not your ripe, sweet fleshy variant. This durian smell is weird by my books. Things did not improve as I was caught in horrible traffic jam! As a point of reference as to how bad: it took 30 minutes or so just to move from just before the first flyover to the roundabout heading into Eng Ann! Thankfully remembered the side roads necessary to keep on moving and managed to make it to Edward's house in slightly under 2 hours.

Oh, upon reaching Randall's place the food has already been cleared away. He was informed that we'd already had 'big dinners' beforehand, which was actually Edward who had had a heavy lunch. But it was very pai seh to have Randall's father go out and gotten us a bucket of KFC to compensate for the lack of food! Even Aik Yong managed to reach Randall's place much earlier than me, after getting me call about bad Klang jam and then using the Kesas highway instead.

Rest of the night was good: cans of Heineken, bottle of Bicardi, into his room where guitar and songs made it through till 2am. Went back with slightly scratchy voice (gonna stop shouting at 'Combat now). Had to fetch Cynic's gf back but hey, no prob. A very intelligent person and with me being slightly fuzzy I had to make sure topics were rather mundane (but then again I probably come off to her as very ignorant already).

At 3am the weather was absolutely beautiful! Rain! Heavy heavy rain! Strong winds! And I'd to meet Andrew and Paul etc at the padang, where Paul asked if I was interested in taking up aviation. Seems like my wearing glasses are not a problem as my power isn't high. And if the fees are expensive there's such thing called a 15-year bond with MAS. Oh wait, here I am, ex-Guardian pharmacist with good locum pay, of the second last batch to avoid being bonded to the government. Have yet to venture into the sales line, or the clinical research line, or back to the hospital line (private, mind you), or even the medical writing line.

Hmmm...definitely would give it plenty of thought.

Day 8 Of Freedom! Impulsiveness And Decisions!

9 July 2005

Oh dear. The impulsive shopping associated with payday has struck. And the apple of the mind's eye? A Nintendo DS. What made it stick better was the fact that someone mentioned he'd gotten it for RM480. The thought was nagging me the entire morning!

Activities: gotten me doctors' letters photocopied and faxed to Pharmaforte, joined the Mix Ford Cruisers for free slice of bread and Pepsi twist (me brunch), browsed the Curve's MPH (for nil), headed down to Bangsar to get me bus ticket (RM40 one way! Cheap!) then onwards to Sungei Wang to satisfy my NDS compulsion. Upon mooching about Sg Wang found out the NDS selling around RM560-ish. That dampened the spirit (phew, money saved). Somewhere then Pharmaforte calls to say that they are going to give me a 'try', and to show up on Monday 18th 9am. Coo, we've got a job!

Heh heh. Was supposed to go for RPM class today, but 'Drew said that Aaron would be reaching home at 6.45pm so we waited...a wee bit further from his house as no parking. Andrew helped ask 'is friends for the shop he'd gotten his NDS ("1st floor, opposite a very pink pink girls shop..."). Next thing we knew it was reaching 6.50pm and methought of going around the school and parking nearer to his house as the traffic's cleared up. By then only found out that he's been back since 6.20pm and had time to take Matthew for a walk. To late for gym classes then. Best bit? Sitting in his house thinking of what to do for the night! Took an hour before we decided on Domino's for dinner and 'sampling' his Vanilla Vodka (wow! sweet sweet sweet!).

Day 7 Of Freedom! Payday!

7 July 2005

Yay, bumming person of leisure is at least a rich bum! For how long, that's another question >:)

There was a concourse showcase of the new Nokia N90 at 1 Utama Oval, and man! Selling at RM3288, and they said they accepted trade-ins, for which me Nok7710 was worth RM860! Arrgh! No way! The phone was gorgeous nevertheless, screen resolution looking something like that of a Sharp GX10 (dunno if I got the model correct, it's the same one Mazlina and Amy has). Phone less bulky compared to me Nok7710 but the camera at the hinges may need some getting used to. I think the difficult part is accepting a phone that has a built-in memory space less that what me Nok7710 has.

The mum has gone down to Segamat/Johor! Will be back on Saturday (aiks...dunno if housekeeping will be done on time at this rate...)!

Day 6 Of Freedom! Chauffeur Duty

6 July 2005

We learns a new term today: person of leisure! 'Twas termed such by Wen Fen and (as I just read it just now) commented by Sushi!

Anyways. Had to get up early today (and had gone to bed at 5am yesterday whatmore) to ferry the mum around. First stop, TTDI market (sis wants curry powder) followed by the Touch n' Go office at Taman Desa. Good thing we brought the Game Boy along or we'll be sleeping in the car. Detours home include stopping by SS2 for currypuffs (lunch - 1 currypuff) and fruits and then more fruits and groceries.

Afternoon chauffeur duty saw us going down to Klang, mainly to collect back mum's car. But first, Wednesday's Klang pasar malam. To be honest, I feel like I don't belong in Klang anymore. Yeah, so I haven't been staying there for near 2 years now but 2 years is such a short period, whatmore Klang being only half-hour's drive from TTDI. Methoughts the pasar malam was still at the roundabout heading towards Chi Liung, but it's been shifted to the Grace Assembly Hall area. Suspicion tells me that this already happened while I was still staying in Klang. Talk about short memory (quote Kenny/Aaron, "Oblivious to the surroundings").

I feel bad to say it, but Klang really has become an eyesore! Look at Persiaran Raja Muda Musa (main road leading from Klang town into Klang housing areas and onwards to Port Klang, for them not in the know)! Is a flyover being built? I see traffic diversion blocks all over, like zippers all over the place! Why? WHY? And constructions, or more specific, singular construction in a totally devoid area. So far only framework. All else, grass. Just like the area around MGS. New buildings all over and not a pretty sight. On a side note, there's a 7-Eleven opposite La Salle now! Just need to wait for a Ramlee burger stall to pop up to make it an authenthic 7-Eleven branch.

Got back up home around 4-ish and starving. Satisfied our cravings for jelly by dropping by Burger King/Dunkin Donuts for a peanut butter and jelly donut and a raspberry (yummy) donut, followed by onion rings and drinks at BK. Note to self: 20 munchkins at RM8. And 2 calls regarding our interviews: one from Pharmaforte telling us to have a letter from our neurosurgeon handy, and Abbott telling us we've got a second interview. Hooray!

Wen Fen invited us for a movie screening at UM! Her bait line in her text was "supposedly v gud chinese/french collaboration.at UM". Turned out to be an artsy Chinese film made by a Chinese director living in France. 'Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.' 'Bout 2 bourgeois kids being sent to some village for re-education during Chairman Mao's time. Thank goodness the show was apolitical or else would have slept through it, whatmore it being shown in a lecture theater and we'd experience sleeping in lecture theaters before.

Thankfully we'd the Naruto movie to erase artsy film. And saving the Earthsea DVD for another night. Person of leisure waits for payday tomorrow to really, really enjoy leisure.

Day 5 Of Freedom!

5 July 2005

Alvin called - he's also going for the Abbott interview. Gotta find out how he did, see if he's interested in the job.

Made 2 trips to KL Sentral, first to buy return train ticks to Segamat for me mum, second to return those ticks as mum's car got broken in (due to some friend not letting the Methodist Women's group park inside her porch, which can fit a good number of cars, according to her). Only got back 50% of ticket value, but better than nothing I suppose. Gotta go down to Klang to get the car back tomorrow...

Today's Tuesday dinner was supposed to be Ikea's meatballs, but we didn't realise that the food court closes at 9pm. Shame. Ended up at Burger King, and guess what? It's a 24-hour branch! Which serves Double Whopper! Very filling meal. To quote Andrew, "This was the feeling I had when we had that pizza night, and there was still one more pizza to finish." Or something to that effect. Eating with me, don't think there will ever be moderation. But I guess Aaron, Andrew and Alvin can outeat me at a buffet at any time.

Manage to catch Desperate Housewives! Or at least the last quarter of it >:P Had thought the show started at 9pm on 8TV so didn't bother with the show at first, then Aaron calls to say it's still on. Looks good. Guess I know why sis watches it. Long time since I've hooked on to a good serial anyways, missing out on CSI, 24, Lost etc...

Day 4 Of Freedom! Conversion!

4 July 2005

The conversion from daywalker to nightstalker is slowly taking place! Avoid sunlight...sleep the day away...

Heh. However conversion was put on hold as had waaaaay too much to eat for dinner - ended sleeping the night away as well!

Day 3 Of Freedom!

3 July 2005

Mmm...got to spend a Sunday doin' nothing at home...what used to be a rare activity when I started working in Guardian now once again freely available.

Only shock I had was when me mum came into me room (while I was sleeping, most morning communications always happen this way and most of it will not be remembered) and asked why was there a cigarette stub inside the car?

While car washing and buying dinner both implied going out of the house (the lazy man's option), took great pains to avoid heading to 1 Utama as would totally defeat the 'stay-at-home' option.

Day 2 Of Freedom! Rediscovering Klang

1 July 2005

Oh man, Klang had some surprises for me. Couldn't stand it anymore, the call of the bah kut teh (BKT) was too strong. Had Aaron and Andrew join me for BKT at Teluk Pulai (yum!) before we made a tour of Klang/Port Klang. First off, the Esplanade. Being the terrible tour guide-cum-driver that I am we ended up visiting North Port before finding Esplanade. Then made a mistake of going to Westport (the fact that we'd seen Northport did not enter my dense head what to expect from Westport...) and I'd ended up wasting an hour of our lives (sorry fellas).

Into Klang Town! Whoa! Demolished building! Ocean supermarket replaced by Billion supermarket?! New construction of Islamic architecture opposite GAMA! Klang Cendol now has new signpost (but no customers). Of course, upon paying the cashier asked, "3 cendol biasa?" and that got me thinking, "Got other kinds?".

Journey had began at 8.45am and we'd made it back by 12.50pm. The morning is complete.

Day 1 Of Freedom!

1 July 2005

Very eventful day, thanks to the good people we hang about with! Lots of possible activities but we made it rather impromptu.

After Starbucks in the mornin' 'twas brunch (for me) of chicken rice and the works at Kepong (RM24 for 4 ppl), followed by a DotA quickie (sorry Andrew! One day it will no longer be a 3-on-1, when everyone else is much better!), then straight on to MidValley to get ticks for War of the Worlds. 'Tis a shame no one at Midvalley's arcade plays Rival Schools 2 seriously, I miss the competition a la Street Fighter Alpha 3 at Endah Parade (now that really kept my nights entertained!).

Dinner with Phei Lin and 'Drew before the movie at Little Vietnam, must say the food's ok, nothing special but nothing to complain. As for the show...it didn't disappoint. After all I've already read the book a couple of times and know what to expect. For me the show was for comparing the differences between book and film (with additional background music running through my head courtesy of Jeff Wayne). To all who have yet to watch the show and think of doing so: it's best you know the ending or have read the book! Otherwise prepare to feel let down in regards to the ending! Think...the ending for Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring.

Oh yes, must not park at Zone E of Midvalley. Came out from the parking and the first shop I saw was a Auntie Anne pretzel shop. Couldn't get my mind off it and so after movie helped myself to a Chocolate Mint with Glaze Dip (I guess I'm just after the dip, any type of pretzel would have done) and watch Phei Lin and 'Drew make their way through their lemonades. Points to ponder: both my dinner (Hue-styled noodles) and love of lemonade showed something of who I am - weird. Hmmm. >:)

Back home after movie for a quick shower and change and it's off to test the Bomberman on the PS2 - for 4 players! Not as fast as Atomic Bomberman for PC, but just as fun. And the night was spent without alcohol of any sort. Cor! Best way to end the day? I forgot to tell the parents that the trip to Genting was postponed to a fortnight or so (due to lack of people), and was almost locked out of the house. Good thing managed to get me father to unlock the inside latch and let me in!

Once again, thanks guys for a great first Day of Freedom!

Life Of The Free!

30 June 2005

Can you not smell it? The air of freedom. We've finally severed ties with Guardian (in the employment sense) and am now unemployed *shudder*. What idiot quits his job before confirming another job? Ta-da!

Anyways. This 'side-blog' is for me to record the daily events (bo-ring!) while I be unemployed so that the next time I decide to pull off a stunt like that again I can re-read this and, well, know better.

In fact, am now blogging at Starbucks 1Utama with me laptop on my lap with a Earl Grey nearby! Oh, the joy of lounging such (expensive hobby though, for today we instead redeemed our Earl Grey with one of our cards)! And what a way to officially open my first day of freedom. More later.

The Ultimate Question?

23 June 2005

The Ultimate Question: "What's the meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything?" No...

"What am I going to do tomorrow?" Not really an Ultimate Question there. Mundane more likely.

"Is he/she the one?" Well now, Arthur Dent's ultimate question. Not everyone's ultimate question but good enough for some people at a certain period. And the answer to that question?

Yes? No? Somehow I think the answer is, "He'll/She'll be as good as you let him/her be," or better yet, "He's/She's the best you'll ever come across, don't lose your chance."

For answer one: picture 'em perfect, then anything he/she does cannot be wrong or clumsy, would that lead you to worship 'em? Or have perfect expectations which will crush you when reality sets in? But I think that if you have harsh expectations of someone, then what're you doing asking such a question?

For answer two: more realistic and less romantic yes, after all, it doesn't really paint the ideal romantic picture like the movies. But you'll definitely have a gut feeling pounding this particular answer at you when it's in regards to your special someone. You'll know, you'll just know that if you let this chance by you'll regret it for the rest of your entire life, that when you find someone else you'll still have that pang of regret that you'd let the one pass, heck, you might even compare your current relationship with what might have been if you'd gotten the one. So you'd best find the guts to seize the opportunity. Carpe chance?

Gosh. And this coming from me, a surly Singleton.

To be honest, I live in fear when it comes to this particular issue. [A quick aside: I admit that this is one of the few things I fear. My other fear is boredom. I may be a boring person but if I myself do not feel bored then bugger the rest.] But my fear probably mirrors what others fear, mainly rejection from 'em, 'em getting hurt, or 'em finding someone else while I was wringing my hands screwing up the courage to say something pertinent to the issue of relationships of 'where we stand with each other'.

Heck, I know I don't live in a perfect world, my road is gonna be long and rocky. At times I want to just sleep through the days and die young but people'll just say, "Call that gratitude, is it? Given a good life and you just waste it?" But do you know how hard is it to think, "That's the one, but it's never gonna work." See, living in fear makes me pessimistic and cynical.

I know, for me, the Ultimate Answer is also not 42 <:)

It's Alive! It's Alive!

22 June 2005

Much rejoicing! Our MD player is finally fixed!

Quick summary: some 5 months' ago (or probably longer) audio files couldn't be downloaded from me PC to me MD player. Initially thought the problem to be due to either the current version of SonicStage or the desktop, but it wasn't. Brought MD player to Sony Centre at BU for repair. Was quoted some RM35 for service charges alone. Aiks. Couple of days later was told that problem was due to weak optic receiver and repairs cost RM230. Gah! Gave them the green light for repairs in any case.

And now, we've loads of CDs to transfer to MDs! Coldplay X&Y tops the list, Keane, Lighthouse Family, updating our mixed playlists...hurrah! No need to listen to Mix FM or Hitz FM or resorting to Light & Easy/Red FM/Radio 5 etc.

Quick check says the amount of audio files I have (average kbps of 128-192) sum up to just over 6GB. Hmmm. Seems like an iPod 10GB is enough, isn't it? But I haven't converted all my CDs to audio files yet. And there's the other family CDs still sitting aside...prob and iPod 40GB to be safe. But nah, shouldn't be anytime soon, me Sony MD player and Network Walkman (once I get it a new battery) still going strong!

Postcard From Heaven

15 June 2005

Man. There was a function I attended once as a Smug Married rather than as a Singleton (gotta thank Helen Fielding for those terms). I've got to say that it was one of my more happier moments. Whoa. This actually rather scared the Bachelor-for-Life a wee bit, you see. Does this mean that I can never really stay aloof all on my own?

A chat with another friend some time back had brought on this bit: 1) spend the days with your close mates and let time go by until you're an old fart; or 2) take the effort to get to know more people, hey, you might find your special someone that way, when everyone else is married who's gonna keep you company?

Having always been a Singleton/BfL I must say I can see why Helen Fielding dubbed the other class the Smug Married. This also may lead to some disturbing self-questioning during my dark hours of depression ie. "Are you sure you wanna be Bachelor-for-Life? No one's gonna be around forever you know."

Aaaah!

If you never say goodbye
To the best thing in your life
There are things you don't appreciate
At all

So it's best that you don't try
Holding back the time
Are you ever gonna be
Quite satisfied

Postcard from heaven
Go to where you belong
Never find the perfect situation
Till you know where you're from

If you ever say goodbye
No regrets, I won't ask why
And I wish you all the best luck
In the world

Should you ever change your mind
Holding back the sunshine
Are you ever gonna be
Quite satisfied

Postcard from heaven
Go to where you belong
Never find the perfect situation
Till you know where you're from

Postcard from heaven
Go to where you belong
Never find the perfect situation
Till you know where you're from

Postcard from heaven
Go to where you belong
Never find the perfect situation
Till you know where you're from

Cave Time

8 June 2005

Cave time. Now something we've been doing all this while finally has a simple name. Cave time is you quality time alone or spent by yourself. It's the time you take to unwind from the stress of the day, which is why I probably don't get enough sleep at night.

Most of my cave time comes at night, especially midnight onwards. Everyone's asleep and it's quiet. Man, just reading a book at that time with a good cuppa caffeine is bliss. Me cave time isn't limited to the wee hours of the night nor to the household, but it's the best time for me to catch up on things I wanna do but hadn't time earlier on. Guess I can't sleep if I'd left it undone or untouched.

At work, me cave time comes during lunch. Save the few times I've lunched with me Guardian colleagues, I always dine alone with me book. That way I find lunch is done within half-hour with time to spare for a walkabout. Not that I don't like eating with people, but I seldom do it.

Other necessary cave times: the monthly 'posh place' meal, the 'bookstore browse', the occasional 'mall mooch'. Posh place not necessary darn expensive place like San Francisco's Steakhouse, but just someplace I don't eat often e.g. some pasta place (most of the time this is due to a meal costing over RM20!).

Am I overdoing the cave time or am I just a plain sociopath?

The Next Step!

4 June 2005

I've finally stopped putting it off: I've tendered my resignation as Guardian monkey! All this time I've been thinking thus: get another job before quitting Guardian. But given my lack of personal inertia (sloth-like attitude) at certain issues I've never really taken much effort to look for a new job. So I'm never gonna push myself to look for another job unless...I'm out of one! The idea of sitting at home, while appealing, is best appreciated in small portions.

If I cannot gain employment after my stint at Guardian (plus short break) then will seek part-time locum work at independant retails where I only need to give a 24-hours notice. I never realised how much I miss my weekends/public holidays. I guessed if I'd never signed up for the gym (or enjoyed Bodycombat/Bodyjam so much) I'd never have given much thought to working on weekends or till nighttime.

Must start bucking up and not -ing up. We're only young once!

Snapped Indeed...

3 June 2005

Oh well. Not only did temper snap but so did my glasses as well. The thing was hidden under the gym mat when I just prepped to do push ups. Ah well. Rather sturdy pair of specs as specs go by with me, the others never lasted as long! Thank goodness for contacts, but I'm still squinting rather often now. Used to remember how my college years I never squinted as much (but then I hated wearing glasses more then). Now at least my shopping priorities have been set: new groovy glasses, then new sporty shoes. Cannot remember what else was on the list, but if not wrong those will be the 'spur-of-the-moment' shopping kinda thing. Must resist! Tough when you are your own worst enemy!

*Snap*

1 June 2005

Arrgh! Inaneness! Tolerance is fraying and that's the day has yet to begin.

I suppose once you find a 'thing' irritating it will continue to irritate each time that 'thing' pops up. And it will grow and grow. Even after a long absence of an irritant will not lessen its effect.

Children are angels in comparison. But somehow parrots will bring out the red in us! Must retreat into nice pink clouds and castle in the sky...

AydeeHaytchDee

22 May 2005

Mother of very-active-child came by again today. Her kid (we still wonder if it's an adopted or of mixed parentage) wasn't so hyperactive, running about as he did the last time. From what says I do get the impression that the kid has never been punished seriously enough (being the only son) before thus getting away with blazing about, but hey, I'm not a parent myself so who am I to advocate such parentage? His mum will most likely icily address me as being young, inexperienced and single (as she described her kid's kindergarden teacher).

Checked out NIMH regarding ADHD in any case:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm

Hmmm. Of course the mum has already done her homework, so her kid's most likely not to be ADHD (taking her word for it) but she has also never checked with her regular GP/child psychiatrist. Mum in denial? Nah. Lesse:

Kid can concentrate on subjects? Check. Kid antisocial in ways? Nope. Kid fidgets? No, but kid likes to move about the room. Kid inattentive? Nope. Kid impulsively whacks people? Nope. Kid able to speak properly? Check. Kid's attention easily distracted? Mother's word of nope.

Sigh. What we think? Mother harried over child's activeness, especially also since everyone else comments on it. This kind of activeness was different from the kind we normally see: screaming brat running up and down the aisle (alone or with siblings/friends) playing Catch. Don't think our suggestion of whacking the child will be well received >:) Mum to try channelling all that energy into some sporting activity or other. Give him time before homing him into the psychiatrist's office.

Let's see what she says when she next drops by again...

The Wryd Speaks!

21 May 2005

Hey, my testimonials says it all. I guess I'd rather be known to be weird rather than a poofta or by any compliments - I've never really been able to accept compliments (nor give them properly).

The nature of my being? I'm quite a red-black more than anything else: I act impulsively and for a selfish motive (hey, don't we all to some extent?), but me mates at least have the willpower to think ahead and curb such behaviour from bumming them in the future. I also enjoy being quite the antisociopathic most of the time, so long as I've got me book at the very least the world can go hang. But I've got good friends to hang about with so there's balance.

I find that everyone else I mix with has some sense of maturity...how'd they ever achieve it? Methinks, "Next year I'll probably mellow down and be more serious about things," but never manage it. Years have gone by now and I have yet to pick up a seriousness for life. I'm just letting it pass by day by day, month by month. My off day? Basically a sleep-in day. Stay up till 5-6am the night before, then wake up around 3pm past. Mill about and do nothing, prob read a book or play a game or summat. Next thing you know it's gone past midnight and I've to prep for work tomorrow.

Steven can say, "Oh man, my day was really productive, because I could do all the things I could not normally do on a working day." But must remember that productive to him could mean getting loads done at that timeframe. 'Productive' doesn't have to mean 'results due to positive work effort'. Hmm.

I guess it's cause I'm still *young*. Hey, I'm in my early 20s! I'm still immortal! There's time for everything! [Note: Bungee jumping also one of Andrew's life goals. We have a partner for this activity here.]

In a few years we're into our late 20s, then early 30s. By then our stock will have gone down. We'll be old.

Then we'll be reaching our 40s. Will be alone be an island. Thus must keep reminding self how I'm a self-proclaimed 'Bachelor-for-Life', much to the catcalls of others, "Yah, those who say they'll be single for their entire life is the first to get married!" Urg. Marraige.

All this, if I don't commit suicide out of pure depression or die somehow.

Reproduced For Reference

Not only have we saved all our Friendster Blog posts as text documents (it was quick because there were only so many) but we're going to repost them up here as well! We're tired of the exasperating way that Friendster makes you slog through post after post just to get to some years-old post near the beginning of the blog.

Plus we likes Friendster better.

So, shall be reposting and reformatting and then rebackuping (egads worra word) onto here.

Can't bear to think of backing up my Niched Blog posts *cringe*