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!

What Is Your True Aura Colour?
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Thurs, Nov 7 - Went for dinner with Grace. Main reason was to get my Cats program back. Signed by members of the cast. You might remember that I wasn't really that taken with the cast. So, why did I want their markings on my program? I don't know? Cause I could. The Fame program was the first one that got signatures and the Chicago program had two cause two of the performers were in Fame as well. So, I want signatures on all my programs if possible. I don't think I'll be able to get signatures from the performers when I go for the shows in London. Would be great if I could but I highly doubt the possiblity.

Anyway about the dinner ... we had a great blast talking about the show (Cats), her experience working as a dresser, what she planned to do, what I wish I had the guts to do, etc... etc... So much fun talking. Mostly cause we were talking about Music Theatre. I get really excited talking about Music Theatre. Grace has signed up with a placement agency which places people with jobs in the UK. It's mostly going to be washing dishes or waiting tables at some dingy restaurant but she doesn't mind cause she'll try and source for internship or volunteer at the numerous theatres there in London (if she gets to work in London). *fingers all crossed for Gracie*

I told her how I wish I had the guts to do Music Theatre and she said that I should just go for it. She think I have the voice for it and that since I dance as well ... well, that's a plus! Thanks for the vote of confidence Grace ;) Also told her about my wish to migrate to Australia cause the chances of getting it is higher than me trying for the UK. If I ever do get an offer for a job in either place, I'd jump at the chance. Just pack up my bags and go. As it is, I'd have to stop procratinating soon and finish up that resume of mine and send that and the form that Tim's friend (he does migration stuff) passed to me back to him for processing.

We ended the night with me passing her almost all of the musical CDs that I own. In fact, I think that is all my musical CDs. Missing them much now. :(


Fri, Nov 8 - Nothing much happened. Work. Streetvoiz* practise. Shasae** practise. Sleep.

Sat, Nov 9 - Last ditch search for a nice dress or long skirt for dinner this evening. Managed to find a nice skirt. Gorgeous in fact (to me at least). It's a long flowy skirt in red with a black gauze like layer over it so it looks maroonish. There's also one in blue and black which looks purplish(sp?). However, they don't have it in my size. I think that range was made for larger size women. Although I consider myself petite, I'm not of the small size but still their smallest size was a 8(US), I think. I could probably fit in something which was one or two sizes smaller. If they only had it, I would have gladly paid the RM99 bucks for it. A huge discount from the original price of RM199. I think it would have been a worthy buy.

Sadly, I placed the skirts back on their racks and went to pay for the nail polish I picked up earlier. A Revlon Chrome polish in Silver; it's not called Silver, I'm sure it has some fancy name but I don't remember it. I don't need the polish but I just couldn't resist buying it. Then went to get more of those tiny grips for the hair.

Headed for the rehearsal before the dinner. I'm late. They've only practised once. (Thank goodness!) Pissed Sae Min off cause I told him he was out of time. It could have just been me but I really think it was him a part felt a little rushed and we were out of time after that part. He's pissed and I'm pissed. So, what else is new?

The performance went ok. The dinner was ok. Not great.

Dashed to Corus Hotel for the Choir AGM. Big surprise! (read that dripping with sarcasm) Got elected into the committee again. Sat around and went home.

Got home, remembered that I left my dress at the dressing room at Eastin (where the dinner was). Called Sae Min about it. He still there and said he'll check it for me.

Sun, Nov 10 - Picked up aunties from KLIA at 6.30am. I went to sleep at 3.30am so you can see how groggy I was when I drove. Groggy driving at high speed not a good combination people. If you ever see a red Kancil heading your way, stay clear!

Nothing much after that. Dance class and much needed nap after that.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
Robert Bruce(1274-1329); King of Scotland.

I've used that quote above so many times before but I never knew its source.