Quiz

My results from The Princeton Review Career Quiz.

		People with yellow Interests like job responsibilities that include organizing and systematizing, and professions that are detail-oriented, predictable, and objective. People with yellow Interests enjoy activities that include: ordering, numbering, scheduling, systematizing, preserving, maintaining, measuring, specifying details, and archiving, which often lead to work in research, banking, accounting, systems analysis, tax law, finance, government work, and engineering.

		People with blue styles prefer to perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is supportive and helpful to others with a minimum of confrontation. They prefer to work where they have time to think things through before acting. People with blue style tend to be insightful, reflective, selectively sociable, creative, thoughtful, emotional, imaginative, and sensitive. Usually they thrive in a cutting edge, informally paced, future-oriented environment. You will want to choose a work environment or career path in which your style is welcomed and produces results.

Geez! Sounds like I'm prefect for my job as a programmer, don't you think?

FRIDAY FIVE (a few days late!)

1. What drinking water do you prefer -- tap, bottle, purifier, etc.? ice cold bottled water.

2. What are your favorite flavor of chips? ruffles' cheese and onion or is that cheese and sour cream ... i can't recall, it's cheese and something.

3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most? my chicken fettucini which i got the recipe off the fettucini's wrapper.

4. How do you have your eggs? all ways. preferably scrambled with mushroom, green & red pepper and onions.

5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out? the guy who prepared the sushi this afternoon at sushi king. it was yummy!

skipped class

Well, I skipped class on friday. It wasn't compulsory to attend but is encouraged. I wasn't very encouraged when the time came and therefore did not go. Also there was the fact that my muscles were still very much aching.

Anyway, I've sent out my first ATC trade. It's been such a long time since I've done anything artsy that I have no idea what to do anymore. It may be because I'm not a natural.

Artist are born aren't they?

They were born wanting to draw, to create, to want to make interesting things with paints and papers and anything and everything that they get their hands on ... right? They just know what to do to create an art piece. It's just in their head.

I guess for the rest of us who are not so blessed we could learn to draw, to create but somehow the end product just might not be as inspiring.

However, I thought I was pretty good in art class when I was studying. Always got an A anyways. Would that mean I was good at it or does that mean that the teachers are pretty shitty and don't know what they're about?

I still have a few pieces that I painted but if you were to ask me to recreate them now, I'm afraid I'd be at a loss.

Maybe I just have to start again.
Maybe it'll all come back again.

Was it natural for me? Or did I just like art class cause the teacher gave me an A?

Anyway, it would be fun to make these little ATCs anyway. I had those I made scanned before I mailed them out. There's plan to make a site where I'll post up all the ATCs I've created or rather will create so people can take a look and hopefully comment on them. Hopefully they'll be honest with their comment. But if they're negative comments, will that deter me from creating more?

I hope not.

first class at batu dance

I don't want to walk down any steps today.
I don't want to walk UP any steps.
In fact ... I don't want to walk at all today if possible.

BUT ... it's a workday and so I'd have to.

The thighs, both inner and outer is really hurting after the two and a half hour class yesterday. First of the many that's to come if I don't drop out of it midways.

This is the one which I went for an dance audition a couple weeks ago.

It was interesting and was quite a workout. Must have been cause I'm feeling the effects of it now. Felt quite uncomfortable/dizzy in the middle of class though and I wasn't sure if it was because a) the room was hot (no air condition, just fans and open windows on a hot hot Malaysian day), b) I'm way out of practise and out of shape, or c) I didn't have any breakfast before.

Anyway, it was quite difficult for me because of my previous ballet training. I think it's quite different but there's still some similarity. Difference would be that we're not suppose to be poised and pull-up all the time but more flexible/maleable. I'm having trouble letting loose. Have always been too concerned on what everything should look like, where we should look, arms, legs; the whole package before doing the step and the letting loose technique kinda throws me off. I have to think, force myself to relax and just throw myself into the steps instead of thinking too much of it.

There's another class tonight. It's not compulsory and my thighs are hurting. I'm not sure if I'm going to go but I've already packed my stuff in case I decide to go which at this moment I'm kinda thinking of going.

Hope I won't be bed ridden tomorrow. :)

may day project

Okay, i've sort of completed my may day project. Well the pictures are all ready and six of them are up but there's two more. Didn't realise that there was an upload quota at fotolog. I'll upload the remaining two later tonight. Have a look at what I did on the 10th of May 2003.

my first friday five

1. Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not? Yes and no. I organise almost everything except my desk. It's always in a mess. My family would tell you that I'm really organised though; almost like Monica from friends ... almost.

2. Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly? I have an organiser and several pocket calendar. Three/four of the pocket calendars I do use. They're just LOTR calendars that I got from a friend. If I ever get a PDA, I'll have less bulk to lug around.

3. Would you say that your desk is organized right now? No. Most of the books and files are upright but they're not organised in any manner. The papers that I'm currently using are strewn all over.

4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter? I've alphabetized the CDs and DVDs that I have in my shoe boxes. Those in the CD racks were alphabetized until I added more; now they're no longer in ABCs. It doesn't matter really.

5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize? A full moon project for Leo Club when I was in school. I've always been a silent member and then one day, they asked me to organise the full moon project. It had to have laterns and exhibition and activities. I have no idea what to do. They, the board members, eventually took over after they've heard of the dismayal progress I was making. :(

You are Beast!

You are brilliant and extremely clever. You can
handle almost any problem swiftly and
efficiently. You are devoted to philosophy and
are always up for a good discussion.
Sometimes, though, your anger gets the best of
you and you upset those whom you care about.


Which X-Men character are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla

my fotolog

I've created a fotolog at fotolog.net. Check it out at www.fotolog.net/empress.

Also, will be participating in the May Day Project. Let's see what Saturday has for me. I'm excited.

second half

The weekend has been very eventfull (is this a word? if it is, is it spelt with a single or double 'L's?).

On Saturday, I met up with a guy who's looking for a latin dance partner. He says he competes at a level higher, back when he was in UK, than that which I'm doing so I'm not sure if he's still interesting in partnering me. We haven't tried dancing together yet. There wasn't time that day to try out as he was in a rush plus the studio that we we're gonna try out in was having a workshop. So, maybe he'll arrange something for this weekend. He's tried with a few girls and still have a few more girls to try out with. He also have some other guy friends who's looking for partners. If he's not suitable for me, one of the other guys might be. Hopefully something will work out. I've missed competing.

I might also be joining the Batu Dance Theatre. They had an audition on Sunday to recruit more members for their company. I went, did the sets and the liked me. Hurrah! I haven't seen any of their stuff though so I'm not exactly sure what they do. I know that they do contemporary dance but that's so vague. Contemporary dance could be anything. Hopefully it's not anything overtly weird. I've been told I'm very classical and that's probably true cause I don't like all those performances which are called dancing but which I think looks more like people just writhing around with no apparent structure.

Structure. That's the word. I need structure.

Okay, then this morning I got an email about the audition I went to last month. That's the Turandot audition. Guess what?! I made it! Yay! The show's gonna be in December with the last show being on my birthday. :) Rehearsals are suppose to start in September. Not sure which day yet and I haven't been given the contract. Hopefully there nothing unfavourable in the contract. They're not gonna pay much. Only RM500 for six shows. Three of which will be in Penang. But I'm only doing it for fun and, of course, to pad my all to empty performning arts resume.

Woo hoo! Lots for the second half of the year. Hopefully I can fit everything in and don't die in the process.

Oooo ... happy happy ... joy joy.

my leslie phase

His movies. His music.
I have been immersing myself with Leslie Cheung the past week.

When I heard about his death on April's Fool, I shoved it aside as some sick person's idea of an April Fool's joke. When the media printed stories and had tributes to this 'legendary' performer, I didn't tune in or pay attention to them. I'd even thought it amusing that some of the people in the studio cried while watching a video of his concert. Yes! I'm a unfeeling bitch who laughes at others' unhappiness.

Well, what was I suppose to do? Cry along? I didn't grow up listening to his music or his movies. Leslie wasn't much a part of my growing life.

I vaguely remember his 'Monica' playing over the radio while I was living in Kepong cause one of my aunt's a fan of his. About the only time in my life where I listened to chinese music. The same time I listened to Anita Mui and also the time I learned the words to a Malay song - Si Jantung Hati. After that, I hardly listened to chinese music anymore. The next time would be circa 1997 or 1998 when I saw some Sammi Cheng movie and liked the songs that were in there.

So, his death didn't make much of an impact on me.

His movie "He's a Woman, She's a Man" was the only chinese movie that I had wanted to own. I remember watching it at the pro-shop after squash training and loving it and the song Jui (Chase) so much that I tried to learn the song. Not an easy task as I don't read chinese and can only understand the basics of conversational cantonese ... but learn it I did. With the help of some friends, I wrote down the phonetics for it. I don't know where that piece of paper is now. Probably thrown away some time ago.

I had also always wanted to watch "Farewell My Concubine" cause I've always heard that it's a really good movie. I did and I loved it. There are some parts of it that I don't quite understand why it happened, probably missed something and would have to watch it again, but I liked it.

Then last week, I borrowed a CD of Leslie Cheung from a colleague. You see ... I was not familiar with his songs except for those mentioned above nor would I recognise his voice even if I had heard it over the radio. So, I was curious. Why was this man a legend?

I think he sings a little different from the current batch of male chinese singers. It has this floaty feeling to it. Somehow it makes me think that it's a little cantonese opera like. Although why I would think that quite puzzles me as well as I've never heard/seen a cantonese opera. I told my colleague that maybe that's the way that singers of his time, the late 70s early 80s, sang as his other contemporary, Roman Tam, sounds a little like that as well. Leslie's sounds more soothing compared to Roman though.

An article of a DJ turned singer who quoted Leslie as one of his idols probably had the best description of his voice ... sexy. And yes, I do agree. I think he's what people would call a crooner?

While listening to some of his songs and watching his movies, I came to understand why those people at the studio cried, why some would call him a legend. It was cause he was truly talented. His good looks helps as well but then he wasn't just a face. He had talent as well.

It's such a waste that he felt his problems could not be resolved and he had to take his own life. My sense of loss however is selfish. I would not be able to listen to him sing new songs. New movies will never star this actor ever again. There will no longer be anything new coming from him. I cannot be a fan of his and look forward to the day that I might see him live in concert now that I've discovered that I like his music.

No more.

Not any longer.

How sad is it that I am to discover what millions of others have known and enjoyed the past two or three decades only after his death? Are there more like me out there? More like me who appreciate him like Van Gogh; appreciated only after death? But he's probably more like Picasso, appreciated before and even after death.

gambling and ballet



Genting is a terribly boring place to visit.

What I meant was, it's boring if you don't do much gambling and you do not have any friend in which to venture out to the outdoor park for rides. Somehow the thought of going on the roller coaster, screaming your head off even though you're not the least bit terrified, doesn't feel the same without having some friends around doing the same. Which was why I didn't pay to go in the park.

Strange ... I remember the park being free when I was young. We didn't have to pay anything just to be there. Just had to pay for the rides. Now it's like Dreamworld or Movieworld where you pay the entrance and ride to your heart's content.

So, basically I spent most of the weekend roaming the First World Hotel. There's only so much to roam. It's kinda small.

Now ... why was I there and submit myself to such utter boring-ness?

For the ballet. The Russian Ballet - Revival was there. I wasn't even planning to go but then when my mum asked, I didn't say no. So we got tickets for it and there I was. The tickets were free! Mum's been collecting lots of points on her membership card from all her previous visits and we could redeem the points for tickets. :)

The company was good. I especially liked Olga Kuznetsova (I think), the soloist who did the Swan Lake pas de deus. I think she's got very good musicality(?). The other ballerina, Elizaveta Nebesnaya, who has a higher billing was really good as well, her extension was really good but she doesn't seem as expressive as Kuznetsova. Too bad I couldn't quite get a picture of her. Camera's too slow to take action shots. *shucks* These two were about the only good pictures of the dozen or so that I took.

moby
every couple of weeks, i'd hop over to moby's place and check out what else he has written in his journal.
i like reading his journal. it's very entertaining. his friend created a a new game and it sounds really interesting. maybe i'll try it out with my sister one of these days.
i'm not a moby fan or anything. in fact, i don't even have any of his albums. he does have some pretty cool music though ... but it's just not a genre that i'd buy a cd of.

actually, maybe i should. if only just to look normal.
to look hip and hap'nin.
my cd collection comprises mainly of original cast recordings, classical crossovers and the few swing cds that i manage to find.
my popular music collection?
lets see ...
* janet jackson - janet, velvet rope (aussie tour edition) & all for you
* oasis - heathen chemistry
* robbie williams - escapology
* bachelor girl - waiting for the day ... my copy doesn't have tracks 14 & 15 though :(
* ricky martin - vuelve (asian edition)
* christina aguilera - christina aguilera ... won this from the radio. didn't really want the cd. i wanted the trip. had to sing for it too! if anyone wants this, i'll trade.

... ermmm ... i think that's it.

sad selection ain't it?

adopt-a-puppy



Does anyone want a puppy? My friend have some puppies and he's giving them away (for free ... I think). If you do, leave me your email and I'll tell you how to contact him. Or email me for his contact.

new CD

Woo hoo! Just won Russell Watson's Reprise CD from Light & Easy.
Missed the first cue earlier but got it the second time! YES!
Tried on Monday night as well except, my phone top-up was due so I couldn't make outside calls. :P

Hope it's good. I liked his first album. His second was so so. Hopefully this third will be better.

LOL ... my dad just called to check if that was her daughter he heard over the radio.

Hmmm ... who else could it be? I mean, how many people in Malaysia shares my name?

Actually, I wonder what other Malaysians who share my name are like. Just curious.

genie

A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a bottle.She
picked it up and rubbed it, and lo-and-behold a Genie appeared. The amazed
woman asked if she got three wishes. The Genie said, "Nope, sorry
three-wish genies are a story-tale myth. I'm a one-wish genie. So...what'll
it be?" The woman didn't hesitate. She said, "I want peace in the Middle
East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other
and I want all the Arabs to love Jews and
Americans and vice-versa. It will bring about world peace and harmony."

The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, "Lady, be reasonable. These
countries have been at war for thousands of years. I'm out of shape after
being in a bottle for five hundred years. I'm good but not THAT good! I
don't think it can be done. Make another wish and please be reasonable"
The woman thought for a minute and said, "Well, I've never been able to
find the right man. You know, one that's considerate and fun, likes to cook
and helps with the house cleaning, is great in bed and gets along with my
family, doesn't watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That's what I
wish for .. a good man." The Genie let out a long sigh, shook his head and
said, "Let me see that freakin' map again."

:))

organ and voices

The concert at the DFP went ok. I thought the rehearsal was better. It sounded a little draggy yesterday. Slow.

BUT ... it was still well attended for a Monday 6pm show. I didn't think it would be since it's so close to work hours.

Earlier that day, sent out my first ever batch of nervousness mass postcard swap. My first nervousness experience. Can't wait for the other 24 postcards to come my way.

Also have a set of free postcards that I'm to swap with this other girl. Have the cards in an envelope, addressed and stamped. Just need to add a little note into it.

And my third swap would be a CD for postcard swap. I send her a postcard and she'll send me an Adam Sandler CD? Or was it Jerry Seinfeld? Which ever. I'm just curious about a comedic CD. I've never bought one before. For this swap, I'll need to go hunt for a card. Saw some promissing ones last night. I'll keep looking though.

sean ghazi


His voice is gorgeous. Very musical theatre. Very high swoon factor. *sigh*

Went to watch him sing at No Black Tie last night after Marc Rochester's rehearsal. Didn't know about it until Suzan called and asked if I was interested in going late that afternoon itself! I'm glad she called. Suz didn't think that much of the theatre circle will be there that night cause Lew told her that the whole bunch of them from Dramalab and what not were there the night before.

She was wrong.

There were a whole bunch of the dominating the table in the middle. Mostly the cast from Spilt Gravy. Oh and Fang was there and saw Gavin Yap as well. Lots of theatre people.

Now ... I wonder why I never see them in other shows done by lesser known people? ... but then, I don't go to too many shows anyway. :)

April is ... fashion month




Some pictures I took at MidValley, on Thursday, during one of the runway shows that are going on all around the city.

spend, spend, spend

new laptop.
new car.
new shelves.

More than half my savings is gone. Nevermind, I'll console myself with all the nice new things that I have.
Hmmm ... need to buy more stuff.

CD player for the new car.
A new TV for my new room. (I'm like a nomad. Just changed room a year ago and now again!)

Should I get a new PC? Managed to get parts of PC from Cris and trying to see if I'll work with my HP PC that is kaput. I'm missing my keyboard and mouse. Nobody knows what happend to them. It just vanished. Anyway, those won't do anyway. The PC I got from Cris is an old Pentium. It uses a serial mouse and a different keyboard cable (the old ones not the PS2 ones. I don't know what they're called.). Maybe I can sneak some from the office to try them out.

Righto! Need to get my ass over to Bangsar so that I can finally print those holiday pictures. There's about 140 pieces so that's gonna place a further dent in the wallet.

oh man!

Just when I thought things are beginning to go well, something has to happen.

Nevermind the detour to MidValley when I thought I couldn't catch the 7pm at Sunway Pyramid. Wanted to watch it in Pyramid cause it's closer to home and earlier as well but got out of work late so couldn't make it.
Nevermind the jam that I had to go through which cause made me do another detour in an attempt to beat it.
Nevermind the wrong turn that took me right back into the jam that I was trying to avoid.
The cinemaonline site says that the movie's suppose to start at 8pm but is actually starts at 8.30pm so I have to kill some time walking around aimlessly.

Nevermind all that cause I got to watch the movie in the end. Star Trek - Nemesis.

I won't say that I was dissappointed cause I wasn't. I quite like the show. Shinzon's ship is just so much cooler and menacing that the Enterprise with it's cloaking capabilities and the incredible weapon that causes people to turn into dust as shown in the first scene in the Romulan senate (which reminds me a lot of the Roman senate). It is a wonder though that the Federation has up till now not discovered the secrets of cloaking that the Romulans seems to have had for ages or at least a method of detecting a cloaked craft.

The movie also reminded me why I used to follow the ST:TNG when it first started and also why I stopped. Cool ships and the display of opening mechanical weapons are only interesting the first few times. After that, it's same ol', same ol'.

But, I enjoyed it cause I haven't seen all those cool things for so long. :)

Happily walking out of the cinema and into my car before I reaslised that I've lost my parking ticket.

Yessiree Bob! It's gone.

I'm so mad with myself.
Stupido! Imbecile!
Why didn't you listen to that little voice in your head that told you not to take the ticket with you when you were getting out of the car?!

As usual, whenever I second guess myself, the outcome is usually bad.

I had to pay RM20 to get out of the parking.

Nemesis is really costing me a lot of money just to watch it. First - I forgot my wallet. And now - lost my ticket! This money has costed me RM32; including movie ticket fee excluding the requisite popcorn and coke.

Pictures from the Broadway & Operetta In Concert on Saturday night




There's a review of the concert in The Star yesterday.

the merry widow

It was a short (in terms of rehearsal time - only 5 weeks?) but tiring journey. Full of last minutes changes, new songs, new movements. Changes which lasted up until the last performance on Saturday night where we had to learn a song at 8.30pm with the show beginning at about 8.45pm.

What a crazy ride it was.

But it was good.

The attendance and audience energy was much better on the second night, which was open to the general public, than the audience on the first night, the corporate and VVIP audience. Actually the first night was kinda down putting, for me anyway, cause the audience was quite stone faced (Colin would probably say that's cause we're not doing our job well). We must have done much better on the second night cause the kind audience gave us a standing ovation. Thank you. :)

*sigh*

I was exhausted after the last night's performance. My running around Bangsar prior to performance time on both days probably didn't help any, of course. I bought tickets to watch the Actors at Work shows (Sat & Sun) by Bell Shakespeare's (quite enjoyable) when I went to watch Goldfish Tale. Also went for a Beginners Argentine Tango workshop by the visiting Ms. Gladys Fernandez and Ricardo Gallo at the new dance studio - Dance Space - after the Actors at Work show on Saturday before rushing to my own show. I really enjoyed the workshop; I think I might sign up for the lessons by Marguerite.

Marguerite's a really graceful lady who I'm told is already a granny. She certainly doesn't move like one. Nor does she look like one either. She has a body that any dancer would be envious of - all long limbs and really slim. I suspect that she was a ballerina when she was younger. Anyway, still thinking about whether I'm going to take lessons from her there cause it's quite pricey - RM100 per month. *yikes*

Oh yes! I almost forgot. The people from Tosca called on Friday ... I'm in! Yay! There's gonna send the scores and contract by post. So, I should get it sometime this week. :D

That means I have about quite a few more things to do.

• Marc Rochester's program on 14 April,


• In Line dance competition 25 & 26 April,


• The Phil's show for Kiwanis 24 May,


• The Phil's charity dinner at Maju Palace (if anyone's interested, email me for tickets and information),


• Tosca in July(?)

WOW! Quite a number.

Hmmm ... there's nothing in my planner for the second half of the year yet. Dennis is still keen on getting me to dance in his show. Not sure if I want to do it cause he's stuff is so avant garde. I don't know shit about avant garde stuff. I think they're kinda weird. Will see what he has planned. If it's not too weird, I might do it. :)

one more rehearsal

Last rehearsal for The Merry Widow tomorrow. I'll be a tech run but we haven't done a full dress yet. Full dress was suppose to be tonight but it didn't happen. So, we might do that tomorrow as well.

Hopefully, we will have a run through with everyone ... and I do mean everyone. Soloist and choir; both. Haven't had that either. First we've seen of the Singaporean soloist was the tenor playing Danilou and the soprano who plays Valenciene during rehearsal tonight. The widow has yet to make her grand appearance.

I'm exhausted. It's gonna be another long rehearsal tomorrow. Thank goodness I'm taking leave on Friday. *phew*

Oh yes! My second submission to the Mirror Project has been approved! Yay!

artsy fartsy

A bit of an artsy fartsy this past few days. Went to the MPO on Friday to watch Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush with music conducted and composed by Carl Davis.

I thought it was just gonna be another orchestral performance but with a big screen in front of it. But I truly truly enjoyed it. Not just plain 'like it' but really liked it. Although, halfway through the movie I'd forgottend that it was being accompanied by a real life orchestra. Would definitely go watch it again if they're gonna do another one of this silent movie with music thing. The movie was really good. Much better even than some of the things that we see on our cinemas these days. There has been a lot of crap showing at the movies. And I don't remember Charlie Chaplin movies being so long. It was all of 96 minutes. Chaplin is a genius. I wonder where I can get my hands on more Chaplin movies. I remember they used to show it on the telly but that was pre-idiotic-make-no-sense-cencorship. They even censored 'Mind Your Language', c'mon! Thank you though for showing that series again. Hmmm ... I wonder how they'd show 'The Benny Hill Show' these days ... but I digress.

Next up, 'Spilt Gravy On Rice'. Award winning. 'nuff said.

Actually, I think I'll say something about it. It's no surprise why they won so many awards at the recent Cameronian Awards. The cast were strong, the set was brilliant and the lighting very well done. Plus, they were so funny! I laughed my head off.

Earlier today, went to watch 'The Goldfish Tale' cause Fang's in it. Thought I'd go support her on her debut performance. She was quite good in it. Not much can be said about her performance cause it was quite small but she did have a scene with another actress and she was really good in it.

NOW this show struck a chord cause I went through/am still going through what the role Seng (played by the toast of the local critics, Gavin Yap) went through. The need to runaway. To escape. To leave all the problems of family life and wanting to live your own life without the constant criticism by family members. Seng, I feel for you man!

Choong Chi-Ren, the playright, must have written this from his own experience. I guess it's a common enough experience by students returning from their overseas studies, having tasted the joys of independant living away from know-it-all and I'm-doing-what's-best-for-you parents, away from what they think is a problematic home life. He wrote about how we expect certain events will evoke sudden transformation in a person. About how this is so unrealistic. That people don't change overnight just because something happened. So true. And I know it's true as well that we shouldn't try escaping the problems but whenever something comes up again, you just can't help but rant and think about it. To get away.

To be able to think about it is my means of escape. That there is a possibility of getting away from it all. I cling to that possibility ... although I know that I'll probably never act on it. Knowing that that is no way of solving the problem.

... but I cling to it nonetheless.

It's my version of hope in Pandora's Box.

Four weddings ... and hopefully no funerals

Well, the first wedding engagement that I have been invited to has come and gone. The first and the last one that I got the invite to that is. Actually, didn't even get an invitation card. She just called all of a sudden and asked if I could go to her wedding dinner. I didn't have anything scheduled and it would be nice to see her again. I haven't seen her for a long time. Last time I think was when I bumped into her on the streets of Sydney during my one month of bumming around Australia before coming home ... which means, it has been more that 4 years!

I have some pictures from the wedding dinner but I can't put it up yet cause I haven't been able to get my hands on the single workable machine in my house. My parents went up to Genting (they didn't tell me about it, just up and went) and therefore haven't seen hide nor hair of my sister either. And she wonders why we're suspicious of her coming back to stay. Now that she's got the car and laptop. Hmmph!

Anyway, will post it up as when I can.

The rest of the weddings are at the end of the year. Two in November, with all possibility of it being on the same night, and the last one in December.

So many weddings this year all of a sudden; when previously, I've not been invited to any. Well, not any of my friends anyway. None got married; that I know of.

I suppose being of a certain age, one should expect to receive wedding invitation to their friend's weddings. Mid twenties seems to be the favoured age for marriage. To start a family. To start a new phase in life. It's the time when you've had a few years of work in your belt, feel secure about your job, feel that you have some worth. Worthy enough to share that life with the another person; with your soul mate. To make the ultimate commitement. To click on the old ball and chain. Hee hee.

Ah ... it's all good when you've found the right person. Just hope that the parental units didn't take the jibes about me being next seriously. Yes, they knew the parents of the bride, which is how I got to know the bride as well. As I was saying, hope the don't get their hopes up, I don't see that happenning anytime soon ... or anytime at all.


Update: Pictures!

moonbeam


Staging directions by Mr Phillip Chai is simply disasterous. It's all a mess but he seems to like it. Am feeling quite at a loss as to what we really are suppose to do on opening night. Hopefully the Malaysian-Singaporeans involved will do something about it this weekend.

Lew says he's gonna reject the offer for Natra - The Musical cause they only gave him an ensemble part and is only paying RM6000 for 4 months of work. Quite a low payout considering the number of hours they are requesting; 7pm-11pm weekdays and whole day weekends. I also know of one other guy who's gonna turn it down cause he got a role in Tosca and would rather do that to Natra. So two's out.

So, since his no longer doing Natra, Lew, now, has time to finally do the intermediate level of his Musical Theatre course; which he asked me to ask the rest of them from the Intro class if they were interested. Promised him that I'd send out an email but haven't done it yet. I'll go send one out now ... although, judging by what we went through in the Intro class, I would hazard a guess that a majority of them will not be interested.

just browsing

While awaiting someone else to finish their part before resuming with my work, I browsed ...

• Real life 'Face/Off'
  I'm wondering how friends and families of the deceased would react. Also, will the face look the same once it's transplanted? If you had almost different bone structure from your donor, would you still look like your donor? Or would bone structure be one of the criteria when choosing a donor?



• Indian-American Child Having Difficulty Finding Bicycle License Plate With His Name On It [The Onion - VOLUME 39 ISSUE 10]
  I don't know what he's been complaining about. I've been searching for the past 25 years for a paraphanelia bearing the exact spelling of my name to no avail. Think I'll have to manufacture my own if I badly want one. Good luck kid!

shoot the messenger

After 25 years, you'd think I'd have learnt my lesson.
And yet, it happened again yesterday.

My brother moved out a couple weeks ago. Thing is, he's moved out but hasn't cleared out.

Plans have been made, not by me, for me to move into his room so that my dad can convert my room into his office cum entertainment center. So, problem is, in my view, I can't move into his room until he has moved his things out. AND in my view, I shouldn't move his things out for him, as suggested by everyone else in the family, because it's his private personal things. ... plus, there is quite a lot of things left and I do admit that I am too lazy to do it ;)

My dad told me to give him a ring to ask him to come pack his stuff.

I did ... and got an earfull from him for asking him to come back now to do it. Somewhere along the conversation he also picked up that I asked him to do it in two hours. I did not specify a timeline. What I said was, papa wants to set up office in my room so I have to move into his room, so, could he come over and pack up his stuff or would he rather I do it for him. The come-back-and-do-it-no edit was relayed to him after my dad yell that message over my shoulder.

He came stomping back while I was in the showers. Mood blacker than any cloud I've seen and of course most of that anger directed at him for having been the 'bringer of glad tidings'.

Back in the kitchen, got another earful from my mom for calling my brother and not just clearing the room as she asked. I argued that it's not my right to clear his room full of personal things. He wouldn't like it ... I know, I've experienced this when someone cleared up my room while I was studying and came back roomless, all my worldless possessions in a tiny little box.

Of course, I get another lecture about how this is not how things work and how I'm so totally idealistic and shouldn't go by what I think is right but what everyone is actually doing instead. Maybe I should enrol in some finishing school instead just to learn how I'm suppose to act! Besides that also got the I'm just trying to teach you how you should be acting and how you should learn of my weaknesses ... mainly the raising of voice when I'm angry/piqued and not smiling enough. Plus how she's not trying to insult me; that it's all for my own good. Oh yes! Not to forget ... I absolutely have no friends to speak of!

Lemme see, when was the last time she praised me? I remember she told me I was never very good at ballet (althought I am usually among the top in the class with several Honours to my belt). How I'm always to sulky and pessimistic? How I don't know how to talk to people (this one's partially true). Right ... she told me that she envied that she can't play as well as me on the piano during my last 2 hour stuggle to play a page of Chopin. Wonder if that's what she's talking about?

After I've finished helping her in the kitchen, I hightailed to the car to escape to the movies. Wanted to watch Star Trek - Nemesis. Got to Summit and even parked my car but didn't watch the movie.

I forgot my wallet.

Thank goodness I had enough coins to get out.

Just wasn't my day was it?

Red/Green/Blue:
To you, the world is logical. Everything happens
for a reason, life is scientific. You like to
find solutions. I doubt you needed to take this
quiz in order to realize this.


What color do you see the world in?
brought to you by Quizilla

Holy! How the heck does it know? That's exactly what I think.

Lo Lo - A Grissette of Paree ...

Ah ... the first production of the year. Two weeks and a half to showtime. Tickets for the Merry Widow concert are/should be on sale at ticketcharge. However, JasonC informed us that it's not - available at ticketcharge ... yet. I'm sure they're going to get a wee bit of tongue lashing tomorrow from Phillip. For those who are interested, there's only one day to watch it - 29th March. The 27th March show is sold out.

Anyway, rehearsals been going great. Blocking is still kinda messy but I suppose that will get sorted out when we practise with the soloists. Oh yes and the choreography for the Grissette piece has yet to be done but Suz will be figuring that out. Should be fun. :)

After that, have to see if we can get a venue for the PCP. Forgot to ask Karen earlier today if we could use her place. Hmmm ... otherwise we'll have our club night sometime later and no PCP.

Right that's Merry Widow ...

saw: interesting piece on rock candy on the news. very pretty candies.
didn't see: La Femme Nikita ... thought I'd at least manage to watch the second half of the show when I got home late but it was not there. There at the time that it is suppose to be showing as stated in the TV Guide. I'm pissed. I've missed quite a number of episodes now. Urgh! Luckily, managed to watch the episode where they move out of their operational HQ. v.v. important episode. They were in gay Pareee! I'd always thought they were either somewhere in America or in London. Don't know why. Just do.
to-do tomorrow: Loreal product launch at Emporium? To go or not to go?

Birthday Colour Codes

MAROON
You are intelligent, and know what's right. You like to take things go
your way, which can sometimes cause trouble or not thinking about other
people's feelings. But you are patient when it comes to love... Once you
get a hold of the right person, it's hard for you to find a better love.

That's mine. How true it is? I haven't a clue. If you want to know yours, just email me and I'll mail you the list.

Breathe ... Breathe ... Breathe.

*sigh*

The heart is pounding. The body is jittery. The effect of lack of sleep? I hope so.

I've got way too much on my plate now. Definitely taking more that I can chew. Why did I want in on this new company? Why? Just cause I really sick of the PM and the direction the current company is going? Do I really see a potential in this company? If not, why am I pumping money into it?

Granted. It's not a huge sum of money but it is a still a sum. A sum which needs monthly input. Am I willing to give up all the frivolous spending on expensive coffee and cafe food? On those pirated DVDs and movies that I'm addicted to? But not only monetary also the time required for this effort. Less dancing (which is already in effect whether or not the company happens or not) and definitely less choir practise. Instead to spend more time in front of the PC doing everything that I do in the AMs but now in the PMs as well?

*sigh*

I sincerely hope so; although I'm not entirely certain. Please work!

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Pictures of the future from the past.

There's also going to be an online exhibition on March 7th. Check that outhere.

Taxes and Receipts

Tis the end of February which marks the time to begin gathering all that is required to do your taxes. For the first time since I began working, the Internal Revenue Department finally mailed me my tax returns form; the first year I had an exemption and the years after that I had to go to the office to get it in person. Anyway, I've been searching high and low for all the receipts I have kept for this particular purpose. Tax exemptions. Mainly receipts for books and magazines purchased. Made several purchases over last year. Subscribed to Wired as well, although that's not turning out particularly well.

Now ... I remember placing all these receipt into a nice little envelope so that I have everything in one little packet when I need them; except, I seem to have a) misplaced the envelope, or b) thrown it away during one of my mail/bill clearing sessions. *sigh* There goes a few hundred ringgit that I was hoping to minus off.

Error in template

Seems that there is something wrong with my template. Blogger can't seem to publish my site properly. If I'm not mistaken, it's a 503 error. There is a write-up on a 504 error in the 'How To/Discussion' area but no 503, or is it the other way 'round? Anyway, it most probably is a template error since this temporary template went up without a hitch. I'll try to fix it and put it up again in a few days.

Pyra's sale to Google must have really affected the search results. I received a comment from one of the auditioners from Natra and I can't believe one of them actually got to my blog! Too bad I don't know which one it was. I need to enforce that people at least leave their name when they drop in a comment. So, En. Zulkifli / Mr. Jacobs / En. Johan, thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read my whiny entry of my audition experience. Next time put down your name, alright?

It's a good thing I don't often put down my real name on this blog. Otherwise whoever it was could have just gone back to their stack of application to look over who this whiny, insecure person is and blacklist me or something.

Note to self: Modify comment template so that people have to write down their name before posting comments!

Bahasa Malaysia

During a break for the soprano section at choir tonight, I turned around and looked over at what Sheila was reading. Something for her presentation tomorrow. Something in Bahasa. Something I'd probably need to spend quite some time to digest if I were to read it; my A2 in Bahasa is but a distant memory now.

Anyway, I was just kinda peeved that a lot of the words used in it are Malay-ised English words. I see words like 'bajet' (budget) and 'metodologi' (methodology). It is not as if a suitable word in Malay does not exist. Nor is it a scientific name that do normally localised for lack or an equivalent. Why substitue belanjawan with bajet and kaedah with metodologi when the original serves? Whatever happened to being proud of our national language? Why are they infusing and replacing Malay with foreign substitute?

Sheila says that it's because the Prime Minister thinks that the word belanjawan, which can also mean expenditure, sounds too wasteful; we're spending not earning. What a weak reason! It's just one of the meaning of the word; the other means budget so what's wrong about using it.

What about the 'Cintai Bahasa Malaysia' campaign that was run a few years back when the government feel like we should raise the awareness of the people to the importance of having and knowing the national language? I actually even liked the theme song they've composed for the campaign.

People don't even remember the song. Now it's all English this and English that. They're even teaching math and sciences in English at schools. All this the effects of globalisation and the need to compete with the rest of the word.

Yes. All this sounds a little hypocritical coming from someone who refused to attend the local institutions of higher learning due to the Malay being the medium of conduct at such institutions. But that's just me and my preference. My preference due to what my choice of course. Appropriate substitutes for words in my course have not been properly set up therefore I think that that would impede my understanding of the subject. Plus books for IT were all in English, they weren't going to give us a second degree in translation so why bother?

That aside, I do hope that the government and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) do decide as to what the actually want of our national language. They've decided things and changed their minds so often. Is it that difficult to decide on how you want your national language to be spoken? The proper grammer decided? The words to use? I've gone from non-baku to baku and back again cause people at the DBP decided that that's how the language is suppose to be pronounced. I am told that we're back to baku now.

Does anyone know for sure how our national language is suppose to be? Or what the DBP has decided so far? Is there a site that I can refer to?

In the mean time, I'll just stick to English. Not my first language but it seems to be the language that I think in and the one that I'm more comfortable with. Heck! My English vocab sure beats the hell out of my Hokkien any darn day!

Discouraged

*sigh* Failure. I'm an absolute failure. Went for two auditions and didn't even get in any.

The first one was a long shot anyway. An opera. I'm not classically trained so I'm not surprised. Just went for the heck of it. Ended up having the auditioner giving me an impromptu lesson on breathing. Hee hee.

But the second one. The second one I was hoping I could at least get into the ensemble. I know I sang pretty okay but I couldn't feel the piece and didn't manage to act it out. So, that's bad. The monologue was absolutely horrible. We can conclude now that acting wise, I'm absolutely useless. I knew right away that I'm definitely not getting a callback cause those who do are told to arrange their callback time at the front desk. All I got was a "thanks, we have your number".

I'm discouraged. I should just sing in choirs. Never to try for another musical any longer. :( I'm an absolute nervous wreck when it comes to auditions.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Chinese New Year and auditions

Two more days left of the 15 days celebration of the Chinese New Year. I'm not feeling the festive-ness of the celebration. Have not been in a very festive mood for several months now. Must be tired.

Anyway, this week is a week of auditions. There's a sudden deluge of productions especially musical productions this year and they're all recruiting this week.

On Monday, the was suppose to be an audition for a production of 'The Merry Widow'. Suppose cause when the auditioner came in and said some sentimental mush about how he doesn't have to heart to reject anyone (we were having our regular choir rehearsal). So, the entire choir's in the chorus.

There's an audition for Tosca tonight and tomorrow. Not sure if I'm going to audition cause I don't know any arias but I'll be going there to meet some friends and if I can gather enough courage while I'm there, might audition with 'I Could Have Danced All Night'. A pseudo-classical-ish piece would fare better for this audition than if I were to sing 'On My Own' wouldn't it?

Then on Saturday and Sunday, there's the audition for 'Natra - The Musical'. Might do my default audition song for this - 'Surrender' from Sunset Boulevard. I am freaking out on the monologue part though. Never acted before. Don't know the first thing about how to do it. However, I am only going to audition for the ensemble. Hopefully for ensembles they won't put that much emphasis on the monologue.

Hope I'll get in at least one of those auditions though. The Natra one will be my preferred choice cause I've always wanted to be in a musical. Tosca, not so keen, as I'm not trained in classical and won't be surprised if I don't make it for the opera.

At least I'm definitely in The Merry Widow. :)

One Day by Sissel

Here I am, on my own again
All alone but not afraid
Here I stand, nowhere near the end
Time to go a different way

Cause another day will come to those who dare
Believe in something new

When you follow your shining star
Leave all your fears behind
You will find love no matter where you are
And all your heart will say – one day

When you’re down, and you haven’t found
Where you think you want to go
Do you search for higher ground
Deep inside you really know

Cause another day will come to those who dare
Believe in something new

When you follow your shining star
Leave all your fears behind
You will find love no matter where you are
And all your heart will say – one day

I know it’s hard to leave
The future seems so far away and,
Believe that all you need will come to you – one day

Follow your shining star
Leave all your fears behind
You will find love no matter where you are
And all your heart will say
You will find love no matter where you are
And all your heart will say – one day
***

A mass mail told me about this singer Sissel. I'd never heard of her but I was curious and followed the provided link and dutifully downloaded the sample songs that were available there. She's sounds quite nice actually. I have yet to see her albums anywhere in the local stores but then I haven't been really looking. Anyway, I really like one of her song called One Day. One fine day, I'm going to burn all my findings onto a CD so that I can listen to them over and over again in my car, at home, in the shower, ... etc.

So, mass mail can be a good thing sometimes ... but they're usually rubbish most of the time. One in a while, you find a gem.

The Pianist

Unbelieveable! I can't believe I just spent almost 2 hours on the piano. I've never practised so hard when I was learning to play that block of wood and ivories!

All this due to Nocturne No.19 which I heard on the site for Roman Polanski's new film 'The Pianist'. Heard that piece and I wanted to play it. Downloaded it from the net and brought it home to try playing it. Try!

For all that time I've put in, I only managed to play the first 6 bars with a semblance of what it should sound like. Gosh! Will probably be able to finish the whole piece in oh ... maybe six months? if I spend the same amount of time practising every single day. :) Would be cool if I could play it. :)

Nice feet

No not in the fetish manner.

Someone commented that I had 'nice feet' after a trial adult ballet class on Saturday. Yes. I'm yet again forraging(sp?) into the possibility of getting back into ballet. Anyway, back to the feet, saying that someone has 'nice feet' is really a compliment. What is a constitutes 'nice feet'? I haven't the faintest idea. I hear it often enough in ballet movies (eg. Center Stage) but I never knew what it meant. Was never told be my ballet teacher what it was. *shrugs*

Then the next trial class on Monday at another studio, the teacher said I have nice point. Now THAT I understood although I find it quite odd cause I did not have a good point when I was doing ballet. Has my point improved since? Can lack of practise actually improve a condition? Or was it just the split sole jazz shoes that I was wearing that gave her the illusion of a better point that it actually is?

Nonetheless, all very encouraging comments for me to restart my ballet passion. Now all I have to do is find a suitable class to take. Those trial classes were for beginner, as in those who've not taken ballet before. I was a little bored during those classes, maybe not the Monday one cause the teacher did so some not beginner moves and I feel sorry for the other two girls was in the class; the looked at a loss. Might try that studio's major classes but they're rehearsing for their annual concert and won't be done till May. Does that mean I'll have to wait till May? Maybe, I'll wait for their call. The teacher said she'll talk to the studio owner and then call me.So, I wait.

Quotable quotes

I've learned-
that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they
believed it

I got this off an email a friend of mine sent. Emails should have been invented when my parents had children. Then maybe they would have gotten this mail and wouldn't discourage all their kids of their 'outlandish' dreams. I did believe them and it is indeed a tragedy! I still believe them although I know I shouldn't. Maybe it's due to the fear of failure or maybe it's just me being realistic but I do not dare pursue my dreams. And they are très outlandish.

prozac nation

Just finished reading the book.

I really don't see what the big deal is. The entire book is so basic. There's really nothing much going on. Only about how the author is depressed all the time and her telling her what happened during her time of depression. I guess, if you are able to describe that whole experience in over 300 pages, one could consider it an achievement.

Maybe all this reading on depression has gotten me depressed as well.

I have not felt motivated to do anything; anything at all since I got back. Mel got a dance gig and asked me to be in it. I accepted, although I'm not jumping for joy at the opportunity. The DFP (Petronas Philharmonic) is working on something for April and needed more people in their chorale; I tagged along with some of them who've been in one of their production last year. Again ... not jumping for joy.

All I feel like doing right now is to stay at home. Lie in bed. Read a book. Watch a video.

I can no longer muster up the energy required to finish the project that I so desperately need to finish sometime really soon; at the end of this week or maybe beginning of this week. However, if I don't do any work, the project will never finish and that would probably make me feel depressed?

I'm not even sure what I'm feeling is depression, just plain laziness or simply boredom.

i hate sql

Urgh! I hate this thing! Dammit! Why won't you just give me the results the freaking way that I want them.

*sigh* Told the client I'd try and give it to them but when I say that the system can't cater for it they insisted. I did say that all I can do was try. And they did say ok. But when you finally say NO. They won't accept it.

What do I do?

Just give them the version that more or less works but is not exactly like they asked I suppose.

The perfectionist in me is not happy with that but ... tough!

presents exchange

They're still exchanging presents! The committee members are still exchanging presents. :{ I didn't get anyone any. Now I feel guilty. Now I feel like I'm obliged to get presents. Which means I'd probably be hitting the shops tomorrow to see what I can pick up for nine people. *sigh* What should I get them? Buying non-functional presents is definitely not my forte.

jetlag???

My internal clock is royally screwed! The times I keep now is so weird I'm not sure if I can attribute it to jetlag. I don't fly often enough to know if this is truly jetlag but shouldn't I be cured of it by now? It's been 5 days since I got back from London. 5 days is plenty of time to recover from jetlag isn't it?

Someone needs to explain to me what jetlag is. I'll describe my situation. I get sleep at 7pm. Wake up at 11pm. Go back to sleep at 4am and try to wake up at 7.30am to 8am cause of work.

Now, what weird timezone am I in?

Saturday, 21 Dec - We arrived, my sister and I, safely after a 13 hours flight from KLIA to Heathrow, at 5am in the morning. Thinking previously that it would be quite fabulous to be able to spend my birthday in London, I was reminded by the gentleman sitting beside my sister that today was to be the shortest day. I did know that but have quite forgotten about it.

Nevertheless, we did spend quite and enjoyable, if a little tiring, day.

Directly after checking into the hotel and leaving our luggage there, we went to Notting Hill in search of Portobello Market, I think it was called, cause someone recommended that I visit it. Neither one of my aunts have been to the market before but they did have a vague idea where it was so, we didn't really quite get lost. The market was very interesting and colourful with all sort of crafts and knick-knacks on display.

When our stomachs started complaining of hunger, we went to a little basement tea shop and had tea and scones with jam and fresh cream. They were good but I remember the scones I had during the adventure trip in Australia was much better.

Next we were off to the city to look at some shops before retiring to the hotel for a little rest before starting off again to the city to meet Robin, my little cousin Fehn's godfather, for dinner.

And after dinner, my first musical at West End. My Fair Lady at Drury Lane.

The musical was very good and so was the cast and costumes. I had never imagined, however, that the scene at Ascot would be done all in black. That was quite an oddity to me. I'd always thought people dressed exceedingly ridiculous and overly colourful for the races so this was quite a change. But it was all good.

And so ended my first day in UK.

Buskers at Covent Garden


I thought the violinist was quite adorable. ;) If you know him, tell him I said so.

Happy New Year!

Still in Liverpool. Still the same routine. Eat, drink, TV, shops. Oh yes, and still struggling to hook up the 3 PCs in my aunt's place. Managed to get 2 of them to work. Only one left. That on's been giving me lots of problems. Feel like throwing it away! Bah!

Hmmm ... still hoping to watch Joseph sometime before I leave Liverpool for London before I head home on Saturday. Maybe we'll get tickets for tonight? We're going back to London on Friday so the only day left would be tonight.

Then in London, hoping to steal in one more before I go. I'm undecided as to which musical I should watch. There's Bombay Dreams, Lion King, Mama Mia or Chicago (which I have seen before). I'm leaning more towards Bombay Dreams and Lion King at the moment.

liverpool

Have been in England for about six days now. Wow! That's almost a week and I've only one more week left.

I think I like London, but I'm not quite sure as I haven't seen enough of it to make up my mind about it. What I've seen so far however, I do like. didn't manage to catch as many shows as I would have like either. Only My Fair Lady so far. Hopefully, will be able to catch a matinee show when I get back to London before my flight home.

Currently in Liverpool now. Not doing much here. Eat, watch the telly, open presents. Nice relaxing chill out time. :)

More when I get home.

money, money, money



Whoo whee ... that's the biggest stash of RM50 notes that I have ever laid my hands on. Not even when I was working in TGV do I remember that high a stack of cash.

Sadly though, almost the entire stack has an allocated purpose ... payment for flight tickets ... payment for credit card (I forgot to sign my cheque again!) ... stack to be converted to pound sterling. Don't have much left to buy the rest of the presents. Luckily, there's only three more presents left to get. For Stef, for bro and for grandma.

candlelight carols

My submission to the Mirror Project has been approved! Yay! Check it out.

SURPRISE!!!



There is actually a whole week more before my actual birtday but since I won't be here this time next week, my friends have decided to celebrate it today. I was actually meeting up with them cause one of our ex-uni mates was coming down from Penang. The last time I saw her was months and months ago. We didn't spend much time together though. Ended up mostly preparing her for her company's dinner (the whole reason she came down) ... but it was nice to see her again. She hasn't changed one bit. Still the same ol' same ol'.

Anyways, I got the cake (a tiramisu) and a CD - Brian Setzer's Boogie Woogie Christmas. Woo hoo. Will be having a swinging Christmas. And guess what? Just in time for the choir's Christmas party tomorrow (tonight).

bitter broccoli


These are the bitter-est broccoli I've ever tasted. EWWW YUCKS! It's bad I had to trash it and I've NEVER thrown broccolies(?) away. *sigh* They are usually so yummy. Wonder what happened to these.

Hello, my name is Empress ... and I'm a shopaholic

Slowly but steadily, I'm turning into a shopaholic.

Well ... relative to my usual shopping habits that is.

I have only recently purchased a mini-hifi with DVD playback and twin deck cassette slots(?). That was less than a week? A fortnight ago? Then yesterday, I bought a new pair of shoes and a digital camera.

The shoes I can justify purchasing cause I've been looking for a pair to replace my old black pumps/court shoes that I use regularly and have absolutely worn out the heel. It's so worn out that the plastic in the inside of the heel is showing. So, a replacement was necessary. When I saw that pair of Renoma at RM70 I snapped it up. Nice gorgeous sexy shoes. I'm still surprised that I can wear a size 6. I'm usually a size 6 half or 7 depending on the cut. Renoma must make shoes for people like me. People with broad feets. Cool. Should buy more Renoma shoes now. It was quite a bargain as well cause the salesgirl said that the regular price was actually RM170+. RM70 is much cheaper than my old el cheapo Vincci shoes which was actually not that cheap in the first place. I think I bought it for about RM120.

Hurrah! New shoes!

Next, after much surveying for the digital camera, I went back to the camera shop in Bangsar, which I checked out about two weeks ago, who gave me the best price for the Olympus Camedia C-730UZ. The snobs at Sungei Wang quoted me everything between RM1750 to RM2200. Bangsar quoted RM1650.

I bought an additional 128M SM card and a battery charger along with the camera. I'm more that RM2000+ poorer now.

Wowzers! My credit card bill's gonna be sky rocketting the next time it arrives. Eeps! And the guy at the bank call this afternoon to tell me that I forgot to sign my cheque for my card payment ... again! Sheesh! Guess I'm not too good at using checques to make payments. Out of all the times which I have made payments with a cheque, I've only managed to do it properly twice! Should probably stick to cash.

So, I'll be learning how to use my camera for the next few days and hopefully by the time I'm off to the UKs, I'd be familiar enough with some of the functions to take some decent pictures.



First picture taken with my new camera. It's the mess which is my bedside table.


I'm testing the zoom with this picture. It's Joe Bear!


Joe Bear again!

Yes! Finally, finished one of the additional hacks/codes needed to get things to work with the utterly idiotic engine.

Actual use of the function is to be implemented by one of my programmers. No not the slow one, the other one. The one who finishes really fast. She's probably a better programmer than I am.

Am having a bit of a problem with the SQLs required to get the reports up. My databse guy is hating me for passing him the task of generating those SQLs. I'm thinking that if it's possible, and if they're in a rush, we'd hand over the project minus the report module ... for the time being. Then after it's finished, we load that up for them later. Hopefully the client will go for it.

Work aside, am currently contemplating if I should audition for a solo part for 'It Came Upon A Midnight Clear' for the Christmas programme. Some of them had the audition on Monday. Some people think I should but I don't know cause my voice really shakes when I'm nervous. And I will be nervous when I have to sing solo in front of a bunch of people.

Another strange thing ...

I saved codes which I worked on last night (or rather early Monday morning) onto my floppy to bring to work later and when I opened the file, it wasn't what I saved. I thought it was strange cause I specifically remember doing a Save As ... before succumming to the sandman's call. Fortunately I remembered most of what I did and it didn't take me too long to reproduce it at work.

And then a few moments ago, I opened the same file, which I continued working on at work, to work on it, whatever I saved at work wasn't replicated in my floppy. Craps! What is wrong! Why isn't anything working today? Urgh!

I hope that whatever I've changed is still in the copy at work. I'll work on something for tonight and then I'll try integrating it with the codes at work ... it that is still there. Otherwise, a whole day at work has just gone to waste.

Shoots! Have a meeting at 9am. Hope that doesn't take too long. I'm never going to finish my project. I never ever want to head a project any longer. I utterly despise Project Management. Let me remain a programmer for the time being please. Project Management is pulling my mind at so many directions I don't have time to do my part of the development!

Mess ge l st in cyb rsp ce ... p ckets m ss ng

Messenger programs seems to be out to get me. There I was honestly using it for work purposes during work hours and my posts seems to get lost in transit. My colleague's screaming at me for not reply when I have. Lines of sentences which I have entered/posted seems to sporadically appear on his screen. Testing confirmed that not all my messages are going across to him.

me: 1
me: 2
me: 3
me: 4
me: 5
me: 6
me: 7
me: 8
me: 9
me: 10
him: 2 3 5 6 7 9

What gives? Where did the rest go? and it's not only Y!Messenger. Apparently my messages to someone else in MSN Messenger isn't going across either. That someone got quite cross cause he thinks that I was deliberately ignoring him which I vehemently denied ... at least this time I wasn't lying. I do sometimes ignore that person.

Must check that PC is not infected with virus tomorrow morning.
*slaps forehead*
How could I have forgotten to check on that?
What were you thinking about Empress?

The Swingle Singers were incredible. Their arrangements were superb, their harmonies and sound effect incredible. Nothing much to say about it except that it was great.

The new Esplanade by the Bay in Singapore was gorgeous, well, what little I saw of it anyway.

Prem got the timing wrong and so, we were late for the show. However, managed to get into the theatre two songs before the interval. At least we didn't miss the whole of the first half.

Fired due to SMS

This is a warning to all you people whose lives depends on SMS. The next time you bitch about someone over this media, be careful. Someone might be watching.

Cripes! Now wonder I don't see any changes! I'm not even working on the correct module. Doh!

The result of staying up watching movies up until the wee hours of the morning. Spent the night watching the Gilmore Girl episode and the first part of Annie that I taped with the last part of 10th Kingdom in between the tape and Sweet November afters.

Hmmm ... Sweet November seemed sadder the first time I saw it. Especially when Enya's song came on. A sob story ... well the first time anyway. Didn't sob any yesterday. Still sad but no sobbing in sight.

How can the King of Pop hates pop?! That's just not right. Shouldn't people only create things that they like and care about? Especially the arts?

Sunday: Remember my ranting about my partner? Well, he beat me to it. I was gonna talk to my teacher before approaching him but he approached me first.

He asked me if I was still interested in competitions.
He felt that I think that I was the better dancer.
He says that I don't practise my steps during disco practises, that I just sit and wait when the others are being corrected.
He said that I was the one who wasn't free for practise the past few months when he EXPECTED me to be free

YES I am interested in competitions. I thought that he wasn't cause he's been concentrating more on disco that latin the past few months.
NO I don't think I'm the better dancer. I know he's like a rubber band and can gyrate better than any girl can. I just correct him to be able to do my part. I'm totally selfish in that part. But whose fault is it if he doesn't correct me when he feels something doesn't feel right? I can't feel it for him. He NEEDS to tell me when something is wrong. Like I've stated before. I'm no mind reader.
YES I don't practise my steps much unless I'm not sure of the steps. If I think I know the steps and you don't correct me otherwise, what do I need to do? I do it when the music comes on.
WHAT THE FUCK! I'm not a robot for god sakes. I've got a job with a deadline which has been changed again and again, I have to practise disco 3 times a week for disco, I've got choir and ballroom once a week. It's not like I have been going out partying the whole time. I haven't seen my friends for ages! If he'd stuck with the once a week disco practise as was previously agreed, I would be available for latin practise.

Urgh!

Anyway, we talked to the teacher. He says dissatisfaction with the partnership happens all the time. Suggested we cool off competitive practise for the time being and just do social. Says that we should discuss when we have a problem and need compromise more and if we can't solve a problem then ask him.

Well, we're cooling it for the time being. Don't know for how long though. Will need to ask my partner soon. Haven't seen him since Sunday.

I've signed-up for secret santa again.

Last year I got a Lavay Smith CD which I absolutely love. Wonder what I'll get this year.

Quickie update!

Only managed semi-finals in the Malacca competition for both the categories we entered; Novice & Pre-Amature.

Update:
Well, I wasn't dissappointed that we didn't get into the finals. In fact, I'm surprised that we made it into the Pre-Amature semi-finals and relief that we did manage the semi-finals for the Novice category.

Obviously, my partner didn't feel the same. He sort of went into a pout after a couple hours of waiting and then found out that we didn't get into the finals of the Novice.

I don't know what he was expecting anyway. We didn't put much effort into practising and we missed 2 classes prior to the competition and managed to scrape in a class on the Sunday(?) before the competition.

Two reasons why we didn't practise much.

1. I was busy. So many things seems to be happening this past few months. It's tiring.
2. My partner was more interested in practising for all the disco performances that we were asked to do; only one out of the 3 or 4 performance was a paying job. He actually wanted to practise disco on that last Sunday prior to the competition when we do not have anymore performances scheduled.

*sigh* I don't know. I get the feeling that he's no longer interested in competition. But if that is so, why the sulky biz about the result?

I'm also feeling that my style of dancing and his style does not really seem to jive (pardon the pun) too well. We seem to have different ideas on which beat of the dance to emphasize on. Well, me anyway. He's style is more of the smooth flowy thing throughout. Gorgeous for modern ballroom but we're doing latin here! Just seems to me that style of dancing doesn't really suit latin.

*sigh*

I don't want to be wasting my time and just competing for the sake of competing without the possibility of being able to win but if we can't compromise on a style to take on, I don't think we'll have the chance to win.

What do I do? What should I do?

Still want to dance. To compete but what if we're really ill matched?

If we split, I would have a harder time looking for a partner than he would. A guy who can dance well is a dime a dozen compared to the number of girls who can.

*sigh*

The New Guy ... Almost

We almost got a new project manager.

*phew* About time! Most of us thought. Of course, we also went "ha ha ha, there goes the idiot's chance. Bye bye idiot, you're not getting the job although you act like you have the job."

Alas, the new guy decided to pass on the chance of working in this shit hole. Very smart of him.


oops! Not so smart after all.

Just got a call for our Business Development Exec saying that there was an error in communication. He just couldn't make the 9am meeting that was planned. Therefore the meeting has been pushed to 2pm. He's still accepting the job and we (those who have projects ... ie. all except the programmer who can't program) still have to present our projects to him.

Blergh!