A Story Unfolds

Chapter : The Start.

2012-02-01T16:55:00.002+08:00

The start of the year, not sure whether is it a good start or a bad start. I have been busy for my sister’s wedding, then after that Chinese New Year Celebration. Now I’m off work for a day because it’s a public holiday for people who work under the Kuala Lumpur territory.

Not too long ago, my youngest brother flew to Brisbane to start his Year 10 there. My dad flew along too to keep an eye of him to make sure that he does his homework and stuffs like that. My mom cried buckets when he left because she is very attached to him. I don’t blame her I guess because every single day you’re with him and practically doing everything together, it’s hard to let go. Besides, when all of us (My siblings and I) left, we were in our twenties whereas my youngest brother is only fifteen when he left. The house now is currently occupied by my mom and I. It feels pretty big now when there’s only the two of us. I try to spend most of the time accompanying my mom because she’s the type who really needs a companion...though my relationship with her is not on a great level. But I will do my best somehow...

I have been thinking a lot lately, mostly on my career, need to do a fresh start before its too late. I can’t be procrastinating anymore; I need to make the first step to move forward! Hopefully I would be able to branch out from my usual work scope. From an animator to...something else, which I haven’t really thought about yet. Well, basically I hope that I would be able to get out of the office more, meet new people and able to interact with them instead of sitting in front of the computer every single day without getting any sunlight or something.

The reason why I took so long to start making a move from my current job because I’m pretty comfortable in that company. Though we have projects with deadlines to rush but the environment there is pretty easy-going. But then I just have to force myself out from my little comfort zone and start to move up. I need to do it while I’m still “young” if I want to try out something new. Hopefully that whichever path I take I will be able to succeed.

Growing up is never easy but everyone must face it one way or another. It’s either they start early or start later...in certain cases, never at all! Pray that this year would be a fruitful year for me. I know I will be facing a lot of hardships but if I work hard and be patient, I might be rewarded...right?

Chapter : Call Me Ahmad.

2012-01-12T02:01:00.000+08:00

So my sister is getting married this Saturday and there are loads of things needed to be done. I took leave from work since Tuesday and only will be returning work on Wednesday, the 17th. Basically I’m her “driver” for the entire week till the wedding day itself. I brought her to do her make-up trial, pick her Australian friends up from the airport and brought them sight-seeing; send them back to the hotel, run some errands for my mom and many more.

Attended my sister’s registration and have to wake up at 5 in the morning to get ready because my sister and I are sharing the room and there’s only one bathroom for us to share. My house is currently being occupied by my grandmother and godparents, they are here to help up with all the preparations that’s needed for the wedding.

Soon my entire relatives including nephews and nieces will be arriving and the entire house will be filled with noise and laughter. Once the wedding is over, the house will be quiet once again and my sister will officially “move” out of the house to stay with her husband. For the first time in years my sister will be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with the entire family though my dad and my youngest brother will be leaving to Australia on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year because my youngest brother will be studying there.

Then my sister and my other brother only be leaving on the 4th day of Chinese New Year and the house will only have my mom and I. It will be tough for my mom to endure the “loneliness” for a few months because she’s used to have my youngest brother around accompanying her everywhere. Hopefully my mom will finally find some hobbies to keep her occupied while I’m at work or meeting up with some friends and the boyfriend once in a while.

Till then, I will write a new post, probably slightly more detailed about the things that happened during the week of preparation to the wedding day itself.

Who knew that there are so many things needed to be done? My dad said that it’s better to elope than to do all these preparations. He told me, “Ting, the next time when you want to get married, just elope. I will even provide the money for you. Less troublesome and I will save more!” You know, I actually thought it was a pretty decent idea, but would love to wear a wedding dress at least if I’m eloping or something. Just kidding, I will never elope..............right?

Chapter : Cooking Together for The First Time.

2012-01-07T23:37:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was an interesting day for me because it was the first time the boyfriend and I decided to cook something together. The recipe of the day was Curry Chicken Katsu. The boyfriend prepared the Chicken Katsu while I cooked the Japanese Curry. Well, mine was an easy task to achieve whereas the boyfriend had quite a bit of steps to do...

His mom and aunt were curious to see what we were up too because according to his mom, the boyfriend rarely cooks so it was a surprise for her to see him on his own account, to go all out to prepare something and cook. He look like a little boy learning how to prepare his own meal, it was really a sight to see. Wished I could record it because he was asking his mom what to do or how to make it better that sort of thing. It was really a sight to see.

I was watching the boyfriend marinating the chicken with pepper, salt and flour then covering it with beaten eggs and covering it with breadcrumbs then watching him frying it. He looked so serious with the task he was doing. He took the harder task from me whereas I just have to peel the potatoes and carrots and cut the onions. Then boil the potatoes and carrots until they are soft before frying them together in the pan with the onions. After frying them, then only I add water for it to boil before dunking in the instant Japanese curry paste into the broth. The only mistake I did was accidentally putting the corn starch straight into the mixture before diluting it with water.

Everything turned out alright thought the boyfriend said that he wasn’t happy with his Chicken Katsu and hopefully next time he can make it better. Well, after all, there’s always a first time for everything. At least we can learn from our mistake and hope that we can make it better. But it was a lovely experience to cook something with the boyfriend and in hopes that we will try something else again together.

The only picture of our final masterpiece is with the boyfriend’s phone. See whether I can get the picture from him and post it up here.

UPDATE!

The boyfriend gave me the picture of our "masterpiece".

Chapter : Welcome the Year 2012.

2012-01-02T20:48:00.000+08:00

New Year’s Eve 2011, I didn’t get to spend with the boyfriend. Instead I was back in my hometown because I had prayers for my late grandfather. Even though last year I did managed to spend it with the boyfriend, unfortunately, he was ill therefore he had to head back early and we didn’t get to do the countdown nor see the fireworks together. At least we managed to wish each other Happy New Year first before the clock strike 12 because we know that the lines will be jam by then.

My New Year’s Eve was boring. There wasn’t anything to do, so I just sat at home, played some games on the iTouch and slept. When the clock struck 12, I heard fireworks, but I couldn’t see it. So I slept after that...the boyfriend called me to wish me Happy New Year but it was too noisy and he couldn’t hear me though I could hear him. The only noise I could hear in Malacca was motorcycles passing by honking.

How can I summarize up my 2011? A lot has happened within this year, a lot of sadness and happiness combined to make me the person I am today.

I have been working for a year.
I managed to complete my first freelance job.
Had my first vacation with the boyfriend
Missed out on my first group vacation with my girlfriends.
Planned a surprised birthday dinner for the boyfriend.
Had a lovely birthday celebration.
Spent karaoking until 4 am.
Met Sylvia’s boyfriend for the first time.
Was given a pair of white gold earrings for Christmas.
Made new friends and gotten closer to some of them unexpectedly.

I was never the type that would like to make New Year’s resolution because I know for a fact that I can never fulfil them. It’s like people making a resolution that they will lose weight and stuffs but never got to it in the end. I tried making some resolutions before but in the end I never get to them. Maybe I have achieved one out of the many and that’s about it.

Let’s hope that this year would be another great year for me and to everyone else too.

Chapter : Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T02:26:00.001+08:00

This year my Christmas was pretty...mundane. On Christmas eve, I spent my morning eating Bak Kut Teh with the family, then followed them to Subang Parade to do some shopping for my youngest brother because he’s running out of PROPER clothes. After that was a simple dinner and we went home afterwards. Then on Christmas day itself, went to church in the morning, my aunt, cousin and her husband dropped by for a visit and then we went for dinner afterwards. It was such a boring celebration for both days. Didn’t get to go to Shaun’s party after that too because it was too late so I just stayed at home and watched my Japanese dramas like a hopeless nerd. But it’s good to spend dinner with my family once in a while...I guess.

Other than that, I got lovely Christmas presents this year, though it may not be many but its lovely nevertheless. I got a handmade item from Joey and surprisingly enough a pair of earrings from the boyfriend but it isn’t your typical ten bucks pair of earrings from any typical store but it’s from a PROPER jewelery store! Like a store that sold real gold and silvers! I was so shocked that when I received it from the boyfriend...he’s always doing things like this.

First he will play mind tricks on you saying he will get pepper spray, steering lock or some funny items that would make you think that it would be useful but not suitable for a gift to someone. Then he will continue it for a while and it would stick inside your head thinking that he will be getting it for you. Then when the day comes he will say, “I got something for you! It’s small and cute.” And since it’s already planted in your head you automatically say, “It is pepper spray??” and he would laugh and replied, “No, I didn’t. Just wait, it’s a surprise!” Then you will start deducting what is small and cute that is sold which you would like. Then curiousity takes you over and you start to pester him what he actually bought for you but deep down you feel as though he really DID get pepper spray as a gift.

Then when you meet him you continued to pester him asking whether he got you pepper spray or a pen drive...then when he finally gave you the present and when you opened it you will be totally mind blown. Yes, that really did happen to me. I was mind blown...it’s the first time that a boyfriend gave me REAL jewelery...I mean I have received some fake earrings here and there but REAL jewelery? He’s the first. Now I feel bad for getting him a t-shirt. How in the world can I top REAL JEWELERY? I really should start planting a money tree so I could get him some mind blowing gift in the future.

But sadly though, when he got me the present my ear-holes have closed up so I have to pierce them again. Just to wear the EARRINGS he got for me! Thank you for the lovely present my dear! I really didn’t expect that you would get me something so extravagant! And to Joey, even though you are so tight on money you still gave me an adorable Christmas gift, I love it SO MUCH! Thank you!

Well, I hope that during the coming week I would be able to celebrate an early New Year’s Eve celebration because I wouldn’t be around on the eve of the New Year as I’m heading back to my hometown for some prayers for my late grandfather.

Till then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chapter : Reaching my LIMIT.

2011-12-24T03:04:00.003+08:00

I’m 24 years. You might think I’m all grown up having all the freedom in the world. In truth, I do not. These days I have been a big rebel. Barely seeing my own family, yes, I have been avoiding them. Why? It’s because it’s very stressful and pressurizing for me. I mean I understand that we are working and have our own little stress and stuffs but when I decide to join the family for dinner, please don’t pick on me. Please I know that you care about me but I just don’t want to be the main topic.

For an example, a simple dinner with the family will be fine, then suddenly the mom would say whether you have done this and that for your sister’s wedding, or nagging that I’m always home late and my dad would be nagging that I never do my stretches for my back and stuffs. Yes, I know that you’re worried and stuffs but PLEASE, just leave me alone. I can’t have a PROPER conversation with any of you. For instance when I said I have a freelance job that was given by someone from work; you said what kind person is that giving freelance job. IT’S A JOB AND HE DOES IT TOO. THAT’S WHY HE GIVES IT TO ME. I’m getting paid, that’s all it matters.

I can’t hang out so late at night because I know it’s dangerous for me, but when the moment you’re having fun you just don’t know that time passes by so fast and when you look at your watch you will be shocked to see that it’s already so late. I’m always having fun with the boyfriend and my friends that I totally forget to check my cellphone for the time since I don’t wear a watch. I get told off for that. I understand, but I’m a big girl now, I know they are worried for my safety as every parent does, but are you going to be worried for me when I’m 30 years old too? I know that no matter how old I get I will always be your little girl.

Maybe I should just leave on my own, share a room with someone. I have come to the point where I just want to do that. I never lived on my own before nor share a room with strangers. Run away and rent a place and survive with little money I have in my wallet. In my head maybe when I see my own parents less and I know when I reach home I won’t see them the next morning, I can treat them better.

I mean, they have been leaving me alone the past few weeks but the moment a message arrive saying I have been back to my old routines and stuffs makes me upset. I barely come home at 4 in the morning these days. The latest I have been was 3 in the morning...nowadays, the latest I come home is 1 in the morning and my cousin on the other hand comes back at 2 in the morning and she DRIVES alone too. I just don’t get it. They complain that I’m not independent, but how am I supposed to be independent when you shelter me SO MUCH?

I get jealous whenever I see my friends staying over at other girlfriends’ place. I never get the chance to stay over at a girlfriend’s place spontaneously. I always have to come home. Whenever I try to ask permission to stay over at a friend’s place they would question “why do you have to go? Can’t they all come here? Why do you always have to cater to them?” I didn’t even want to say that my friends don’t feel the freedom when they are at my place. They feel UNCOMFORTABLE. I feel so bad. I mean they have stayed over before, but we can’t go ballistic and have fun like normal because they are afraid of disturbing the neighbours or my parents. So they mostly hang around in my room and sleep early and leave early the next morning. It’s sad.

I’m reaching to a point where I really am conflicted with myself. I want to just break free from everything and just run away but deep down I know that I can never bring myself to do it because I know it will just make things worse. I just want them to understand, I’m only going to live once, if I’m going to be controlled and sheltered my entire life, I would regret in the future for never lived life to the fullest.

Have my parents forgotten that they were young once? Have they had no freedom then?

Chapter : Me

2011-11-10T10:46:00.000+08:00

I want to be strong.

I want to be happy.

I don't want to have a duty...

Why must everything be unfair? Facts of life, I know.

I want to run away and be alone.

On an island, without anyone.

Maybe that way, I will be happy.

A slight happiness I can never enjoy for it will be taken away from me.

I want to be left alone.

Never need to answer to anyone.

I want to be selfish just once...I want to have everything.

Chapter : I'm being an Eeyore.

2011-11-04T01:04:00.000+08:00

After watching 500 days of Summer, I cried. I cried shitloads. I actually don’t know why, maybe it reminded me of my past...or maybe I’m just PMS-y.

The boyfriend laughed when I was talking about feelings. Shit, when I started to talk about feelings? I thought I was very good at avoiding the talk about feelings. I know the feeling of being torn to pieces and being lied straight to my face. That’s why I hate talking about feelings. It reminds me of being vulnerable and naive.

Do people like to hide things from me because they are afraid of seeing me hurt? If that’s the case, why bother doing things that would hurt me in the first place? It’s confusing.

I was telling the boyfriend that the show reminded me of this little saying;

Like a monkey hanging onto a tree branch before swinging onto another.

Not sure whether I’m getting it right or not...but it’s something to do with monkeys. Well the concept is like when someone is attached or attracted to someone, they will hold onto that particular someone until the attraction dies and finds another, probably better or more interesting, or maybe not. Who knows, it depends on the person’s preferences.

After thinking back, it seems legit because I happened to be the victim of the “monkey branch” thing. Maybe it’s me; maybe it’s them, or both. I think it’s because of the movie I started crying because it reminded me of the past ...where this character named Summer was with this guy then played around with his feelings, left him and got herself married. Poor dude, got his heart broken after letting someone in.

I have friends who did the “monkey branch” thing and they said that it’s normal. Whereas I’m like fuck that, I rather be the dumb monkey that misses the branch and falls down and slowly climb my way up the tree again. I don’t want to be the cause of killing someone’s heart. I don’t want to be the cause of someone’s depression. It’s not pretty. How in the world do they face themselves in the mirror everyday knowing that they have torn someone’s heart apart? Unless the person is also another “monkey branch” follower or the person has the heart of stone.

Anyway, I was just talking to my boyfriend about it and I called him a heartless person and he laughed and said I’m being silly. I know I am but it just seems that way, just summarizing that all men are heartless bastards. They can con you and get into your heart, leaving a mark there and running away with another person in their arms. Well, I shouldn’t be all sexist on this because I do know that women does the same too...but just this once, I want to be a sexist little bitch. Men are heartless.

The boyfriend was trying to cheer me up but I can’t seem to do so. He called me Eeyore, the little donkey from Winnie the Pooh that’s always depressed. I really feel like it too because I was so depressed over it that if I was a character from an anime, I would be sitting in the corner with a dark stormy cloud above my head where it’s constantly raining and I would be there growing mushrooms.

I asked the boyfriend why he was laughing at me when I’m all teary and complaining about my feelings. He said that the things I complained are pretty silly things...or something like that along the lines. I’m think he said that I don’t make sense. He said that if the past still haunts me means I’m still not over it. Maybe it’s true but then again, I use my past as a reference for me not to be stupid again...but I think it’s too late to learn from it because stupidity isn’t something that you can be cured of.

Hopefully tomorrow I would wake up and the feeling of being an Eeyore would fade away unless I have mastered the art of masking my feelings.

Chapter : Raising Kids.

2011-09-26T00:40:00.000+08:00

Few days ago, someone asked me, “Would you want to have kids in the future?”

I answered, “Well, it depends whether I could afford it or trust myself to raise it.”

Well, if you think it’s a funny answer because normally people would say yes or no. But these days, really...it depends whether you could afford it or devoted yourself to taking care of the child. It’s a lot of responsibilities taking care of a child. My parents always say, “You will soon know the burden of raising a child when you own one.”

Well, I don’t need to own one but I roughly know how tedious a task it would be. The responsibilities begin the moment you’re carrying a little bean in your tummy. You have to be careful of what you eat, drink or do. Once you give birth to the little one plus enduring the labour pains, another set of responsibilities begin. Your task is to support the little one with everything. Nursing it, feeding it, teaching it and all sort of things you do to mould the little one into the person you hope it grows to be.

Not sure whether I make sense at the last part...but during the process on taking care of the little one, you have endure sleepless nights and changing diapers...but once the little one grows out of the diapers, you have to make sure the little one keeps their clothes on! Okay maybe that’s an exaggeration but I did know a little one that refuses to keep his clothes on. After their toddler years, they start to demand more from you...money-wise of course. They need this and that, their homework requires them to build a transformer and they need materials, they have ballet lessons, art lessons, music lesson or whatever lessons they want to attend plus we must not forget if they have tuition classes! So here you become their loyal little driver, chauffeuring them from north to south.

Then reaching to the age where they’re a teenager. The rebellious stage, they won’t listen to you, they yell at you, they do all sort of things you do when you’re a teenager. You ground them, wallop their sorry little butts, cut their allowances, and make sure they have more chores to do or something to punish them. Making sure they learn their lesson in hopes that they wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.

There’s a lot of process we have to go through emotionally, mentally and physically during the process of raising a child. A parent must be strong to endure the shits through thick and thin. Worrying about the cost they have to support when raising a child or whatever stuffs they need to do...

On the other hand, some might have doubts because of the pain that we women have to endure. Carrying another life inside of us which would add extra weight to our body, some of us would start feeling fat, suffer from hair loss or any other itty gritty bit that we get during our pregnancy...

But all in all, it’s a joyous thing to give birth to life and bringing them into the planet. Watching them grow and sharing happiness and sadness together...and when you grow old, you will have someone to keep you company, to take care of you in return.

Chapter : Prom

2011-09-11T21:39:00.000+08:00

Fell asleep while watching Glee...had a dream. I think the episode I was watching might have influenced my dream. The summary of the dream, I went to prom with my date and was dancing the night away. I felt like Cinderella for the night.

In reality, I have never been to prom. Most of the time, prom was held at the end of the year and during that time I’m always out of the county for a family holiday. So I missed out on prom, throughout my high school years...well, can’t say throughout my high school years because prom was only held when you’re at the last year at school. But I got asked out when I was 15 years old. At first I said yes because I thought we won’t be going anywhere...but then had to disappoint my date because I flew to China I think. Then I thought that I would be able to attend at least my OWN prom after my important final exams, I was off to Vietnam. So either way, I never attended one.

Then it got me thinking, what was prom like? Watching from all those American shows, girls get asked out by guys, they all dress up like princesses; the guys picked them up and gave them corsages. Then reached to their school, have some upbeat songs to dance, then slow dances and ends it with the crowning of prom king and queen. Was Malaysian prom like that?

I remember vaguely that my sister attended her school prom. I think she got asked out by a senior at her school. Then I think her date picked her up. That’s about it. I never asked for details during her night outs anyway. We don’t share that sort of bonding.

It got me imagining, what it would be like to be at a prom. For once, able to dress up like a princess and dance a slow dance...well, I did a slow dance before...if you would call swaying from one foot to another a dance. It was during my 21st birthday and that was pretty awkward because everybody was just staring at my ex and me swaying from one foot to another. But then, aren’t slow dances like that? I’m not too sure myself.

Truthfully, I can’t picture myself attending this kind of functions. I would love to dress up like a princess and be treated like one someday but I think I rather stick to my own little fantasy for now.

Chapter : How?

2011-08-26T00:50:00.001+08:00

Yesterday I continued my little exercise routine. This time it’s without the boyfriend though...he said he was going to run around his house. It was quite hard for me to estimate the time because I should run and walk so I just set an alarm that whenever one minute is up, I would switch from walking to jogging and vice versa. Plus, I didn’t count how many sets I was doing so I think I might did it less or more. I think more is better compared to less of course.

Anyway, my colleagues will be on leave because of the Raya celebration so most of them will be heading back to their hometown and the office would be really quiet and I would be the only one there apart from the office coordinator, two managing directors and two programmers. Going to have a quiet week during the Raya holidays I guess, unless someone plans something. Who knows?

These days my brain is being “overload” with thoughts. One of them is my work, I have been thinking of a career change. To do something that’s not related to what I have studied. But my concern is WHAT? What am I able to do? This I have to start thinking, what are my capabilities? What are my goals? What do I want to achieve? Would I might starting from the bottom and slowly work my way up? Would my parents support me? Would they guide me to the right path? I’m afraid of changes at times, but I feel that it must be done to achieve better things in life.

Maybe I need a new hobby...break away from my usual reading or watching cartoons on my laptop. Start crafting? Start...I have no idea what other hobbies to do. Something to keep me occupied and let my mind off things. I want to put my mind to rest. It’s making me restless and confused. It’s giving me unnecessary stress and worries.

How do I stop this? Can I just GIVE up?

Chapter : Progress!

2011-08-22T23:18:00.000+08:00

Today I feel so proud of myself. I managed to do some exercise for once in my entire lifetime living as a sloth. The boyfriend came around to teach me some couch potato exercise routine. It‘s fun having someone to accompany you because it takes your mind off things...but the boyfriend said that I must learn to do it on my own when he can’t make it.

For a person who doesn’t exercise, surprisingly I’m able to complete the entire routine for the day! I have never felt so proud in my lifetime! It’s like, climbing Mount Everest and reaching the PEAK! Cut me some slack here, I’m happy! Plus I have to thank the boyfriend for constantly encouraging me and coaxing me to go for a run with him. Hopefully I wouldn’t be so tired tomorrow.

Before the run today, I managed to meet up with the girls. The last time I met them was on my birthday and we’re meeting again this Saturday to celebrate Yuki’s birthday! Dinner and karaoke again! Just the past weekend I was at my hometown to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday and we too had dinner and karaoke sessions. Unfortunately, my aunts were dominating the karaoke machine with their Chinese songs and some aunts, really can’t sing.

There are not words to describe how tone-deaf they are...I know that I’m tone-deaf too but I think I can belt out a tune occasionally. But, some people like to say, when it comes to karaoke sessions, no one is going to bother whether you can sing or not. It’s all for the fun!

Chapter : Just Another Saturday.

2011-07-24T01:23:00.000+08:00

It was such a tiring day. First went over to the mall to grab Harry Potter movie tickets with the boyfriend and walked around a bit. It was such a bad idea to wear 3 (or was it 4?) inch heels because it killed my feet. After few rounds, the shoes were literally eating my feet ALIVE!

The boyfriend and I did some walking around, ate some brunch and then some yoghurt. Then off to see him get his hair cut. His hair finally grew back after months of being a little monk. Anyway, Harry Potter movie was not bad. I wouldn’t say it was awesome because it felt...to me incomplete. Like I would always feel that there would be a HARRY POTTER MOVIE COMEBACK or something along those lines.

I was really happy to see the actor who played Neville Longbottom. He grew up to be such a handsome stud and he has a lot of screen time too! So yay for me! I was scared shitless when I saw the scenes with the huge ass snake. Wouldn’t mind watching Harry Potter again though...

After the movie, rushed off to celebrate my aunt’s 60th birthday which was located at some Chinese restaurant near where the boyfriend’s office is. The room we were in has a karaoke machine so naturally all of us started to choose songs to sing!

Karaoke, brings people together...brings joy and laughter. Everyone is just there to have fun, singing and laughing regardless whether they can belt out a tune or not. Maybe I was really tired and my feet were killing me...couldn’t take all the singing and people talking at the same time...but at least I know that everyone enjoyed themselves including my grandmother. She was clapping whenever my aunts were singing.

Towards the end I was singing Lady Gaga’s - Bad Romance because my youngest aunt requested for it and then Kelly Clarkson’s – Because of You. That song literally left me breathless because it’s always high pitch and powerful and my voice...Like a toad can’t reach that high so it sounded like someone trying to choke a duck.

But it really made me want to go to have an awesome karaoke session again with my girlfriends. Maybe should plan another karaoke session with the rock band group...hmm...

Chapter : Epic Birthday Celebration!

2011-07-17T22:04:00.001+08:00

Yesterday I had the most epic and awesome birthday celebration! Before I go any further on that, this week is what I would call “Celebration Week” because there are a lot of things to celebration.

First, is the boyfriend’s birthday, then it was our one year anniversary (yes, I tend to remember things like that) and MY birthday!

Anyway, I organized a dinner with my usual girlfriends, the Rashingis (Joey, Sylvia and Kelsie), the AC (Whippy, James, Yuki, Lavena...sadly Yie and Ky couldn’t make it) and Yuki Rye to celebrate my birthday and also to welcome Sylvia’s boyfriend, Joe (he’s from the states). I brought the boyfriend along and those who had partners brought theirs.

Dinner was at Capricciosa, Sunway Pyramid. I booked a table for 12. During dinner, everyone was catching up with each other; the boyfriend and Joe were talking about some “Call of Duty” stuffs I supposed while I was running around trying to take pictures with everyone.

We were just hanging around in the restaurant and I was asking whether anyone wants to go somewhere else to grab dessert and then out of nowhere, the staffs from Capricciosa came from behind to surprised me with a birthday cake given by the Rashingis and AC’s! Actually I jumped in shocked because they caught me, surprised. After I blew out the candles, the group asked me to take the candles out from the cake using my mouth. Imagine the fear that someone might push my face right into the cake! I ate a few candle waxes here and there though...the cake was DELICIOUS.

After dinner we head down to Red Box for the most EPIC karaoke session! We actually sang out hearts out till 3 a.m.! Everyone dedicated a song to me and I never felt so blessed in my entire life! The funniest part was when the group decided to sing to me Happy Birthday (the Click Five) and they changed the lyrics here and there. We laughed, we screamed and we jumped inside the room. Everyone was having a blast.

I have to personally thank the boyfriend was accompanying me for dinner and sending me back at the wee hours in the morning. Thank you love! I appreciated it so much! Sorry you had to blow your budget this month!

Ah! I got so many lovely presents from everyone! The boyfriend gave me a 1 TB hard drive because he knew I was whining for one and never gotten the chance to get it. Though at first I suspected that he was getting me pepper spray! Thank you again!!

A compact powder, eye liner and BB cream from Whippy, James, Yuki and I think Yuki Rye...and Yuki Rye gave me a lovely card too!

A blusher from Lavena.

A musical box from Joe and Sylvia.

Godiva chocolates from Kelsie.

Joey said that she will pass my present when she sees me the next time. Thank you all again for giving me such lovely presents and also the most epic birthday celebration ever!

I almost forgot to thank my parents and my godmother, Aunty Helen for giving me presents too! Parents gave me a purse and Aunty Helen gave me a little charm from Thomas Sabo. Thank you!!

Chapter : Celebration!!

2011-07-13T01:19:00.000+08:00

This past few weeks was crazy for me. There were so many birthday celebrations and the amount of cakes I have consumed; I think I’m at the borderline to have diabetes!

30th June, my colleague’s birthday, so we had “Death by Chocolate” cake and I really died from overly dosage of chocolate. Then during dinner with Stephanie and Chuong, we had a small piece of cheesecake.

1st July, my youngest brother birthday, so we too had another cake, some mango sponge cake thing.

4th July, another colleague’s birthday (her real birthday was on the 1st though) and they too bought another chocolate cake.

Then I took a small break from all the cakes...just a tiny one...

Then today...I mean yesterday, 12th July, the boyfriend’s birthday. His best friend baked a cake for him and that was chocolate too! It was so rich and thick, I felt as though I was really a huge bar of chocolate! Quite delicious I must say!

Anyway, reason for this post is to wrap up what happened on the boyfriend’s birthday.Luckily his birthday fell on the day where we normally meet up with the Rock Band group to play board games. So it was a perfect occasion to call everyone for dinner and celebrate!

The boyfriend knew there was dinner but he didn’t know that there would be cake and a little surprise waiting for him. Well, he told me later he suspected something was going on though...because everyone just kept disappearing!

So as usual, we have our dinner and catching up with everyone, then once everyone was done, Farah (his best friend who baked the cake) brought the cake out. Tried distracting him while she prepared the cake but doing a very bad job at it because the boyfriend said he could tell I was trying to make conversation. Damn social skills, why you fail me at the wrong time?

After we sang Happy Birthday to him, we gave him a troll card which I thought up. Remember Terry Crews from White Chicks? If you can remember the portrait of him in the movie, well that was at the front and everyone just signed behind it. If you can’t, look at the picture below...


I know I'm sexy!

So imagine, when you turn over the card and see that face, what would your expression be? The boyfriend laughed. How the idea came about? The boyfriend was joking with me one day saying that he would love to have a poster of him so he could stick it in his room. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a high resolution of the picture so I asked a friend to print out an A4 size of it and turned it into a card.

Tony Roma’s actually gave the boyfriend a birthday cake to celebrate and we sang Happy Birthday to him again. It was funny! Overall, I hope the boyfriend enjoyed his birthday and the card. I wonder where he would put it. Imagine if he put it up in his room, what would his brother or his parents say?

That would be hilarious.

To the birthday boyfriend, Happy Birthday once again! I mean...belated Birthday. Love ya!

Chapter : Clearing My Head.

2011-06-17T01:28:00.000+08:00

Lately I have been out almost every single day to meet the boyfriend or to hang out with my friends. Last week alone I have been out with the boyfriend almost every single day. We hung out to watch movies at the cinema or just merely hanging out...it was lovely.

Yesterday I was out with my girlfriends and it has been months since the four of us got together just to catch up with each other’s life. Sadly, one had to leave because she had deadlines so she went back to her office which was located right in the heart of town.

One of our many discussions was hobbies, business and making monies. Well, best friend A always had the passion to sew and create things and was thinking of making a business out of it. Best friend B too had the passion to learn how to sew, create things AND also sculpting. So I just randomly suggested that both of them should just start a business together to sell their handicrafts once they polished their skills and I would just become their promoter. They actually considered it!

Well, I could say these are just ideas that we have in our head but it’s all up to us whether we want to pursue it and make it happen. True, there’s a HUGE risk to take, but if one is afraid of the risks, they wouldn’t succeed in life, no? Not sure whether I’m saying it right...

Remember the post on my quarter life crisis? I have been thinking a hell lot. How am I supposed to get some side income? Some said freelance, some said sell insurances and some said start your own business. Freelance, I’m not that confident with my current works hence I have been researching and trying to learn some tricks and trades that would help me enhance my skills. Hopefully I could polish my skills and be ready to take on some projects on my own.

Friends suggested me to sell insurances because I can bullshit a lot. Not sure whether they meant it in a good way or not. But I don’t want to sell insurances because I know how annoying it can be, constantly persuading someone into buying things when they don’t need it or already have.

Then it’s starting your own business...it’s not an easy task to do. You have to put in your heart and soul into starting something and hoping it will become something. Plus knowing what risks factors are out there sometimes puts you off. Best friend A said, "one must have the courage to be daring enough to just do it. You want to sell something, just do it. You must have the guts!"

To me, depending what kind of business you’re planning to venture into...first you must look out what competitors are out there. Then you must think of a way to make YOUR business stands out. What’s so different about it? What would attract customers to want your product or services? Well, there’s more of course...but with all these factors to think about, we must do heavy duty research. If not, it would shut us down instantly.

I always like to joke to my friends who have a business proposal and they shared their ideas with me. If they have an idea of a business that they want to start, I would become their promoter and business partner. I would chip in some money for them to start it and would just help them promote their product or services to people because I said, "I can’t cook, sew, plant, sculpt, bake or any other fancy mancy things you guys can do. The only “tool” I have is my mouth. Hope that it would help somehow." Funnily enough, some actually considered my offer, saying, “Sure why not? We would love you to become our business partner,” or “Of course! You very good at talking!!!”

Sometimes I wish I had my mom’s sense of the business traits. Her side of the family are into business and stuffs like that. It actually makes me want to become their apprentice and learn from them. How in the world could they just think like that? How in the world they could be so ingenious? Do their brains function differently from non-business people?

Oh well, these are just thoughts in my head. Maybe I should read more about them...the art of business, the art of investing, and the art of God-knows-what-else.

Man, I wonder whether my brain could take all these shits.

Chapter : Cheesecake Success!

2011-06-03T00:58:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was my mom’s birthday so I decided to do something really out from the blue. I have decided to bake a cake for her birthday. Well, you see, I’m not kind of person who can cook or bake...so this is a big accomplishment for me.

The day before her birthday, I went over to my godmother’s house to bake the cake and also needed her guidance to help me complete the actual cake itself. So straight after work, I rushed to her house and after I ate dinner which she prepared, we started baking the cake!

To cut story short, I managed to complete a basic cheesecake with Oreo as its base. Little did I know that hiding the cake from my own mom is the simplest thing to achieve! Just move some jars and used them to cover the cake and it’s done!

My dad brought us to some Chinese restaurant for dinner and then I was really excited to go home and prepare the cake. I gave a candle for my mom to blow out because if I put her actual age, she will probably scold me...but the expression on my mom’s face was classic.

It’s because whenever it comes to celebrating my parent’s birthday, they never had their own candle to blow out or cake to cut into so I decided a small change for once. So my mom gets to experienced cake cutting and making the wish process.

Mom said the cake wasn’t bad and I brought some for the boyfriend and his family to try and they liked it. It makes me happy to see people liking what I cooked for them...or maybe they are just being nice. I don’t know.

Maybe I will try something else another day. Should I bake one for the boyfriend? Hopefully he will tell me what cake he really likes...I still have yet to make Japanese curry for him too...good Lord, I’m cooking and baking. Who am I?

Chapter : Life Crisis?

2011-05-17T06:30:00.002+08:00

Currently typing an entry at such odd hour...slept for a while and then I just couldn’t sleep anymore. Guess I have a lot of things going through my head these days, influencing me mentally, emotionally and physically.

I feel like I’m going through some life crisis but I do not want to admit that I’m in it. I’m worried about my career path, my life and my future. Everything now seems so bleak. I guess I’m slowly learning the hard way of growing up. It’s kind of hard coming from a person who was sheltered and spoon-fed throughout her entire life.

I guess some could tell that something’s up with me. But as usual, being the person that I am, I always try to hide it. I was never the serious one. I’m always taking things as it goes, always laughing and not bothered about anything. But as you grow older, your responsibility grows bigger and you have to start growing up. Guess it’s time for me to start now....one step at a time and in hopes that I will have some guide to lead me the way.

People said that I’m a daddy’s or mommy’s girl because everything I answer, “I don’t know my parents said so or don’t know; I have to ask my parents...” Everything I do have to ask my parents. Well, I guess I take them to be my "life-guide" counselor because they are older and wiser but my parents are funny people. At times they will tell me the reason why, at times they don't. But these days, they do explain the reason why but was given some strict rules on what I should expose (Sounds like I have a lot of dark secrets) but please bear with me here.

I remembered one college mate said to me, “Jessie, you’re actually a very good girl. You listen to your parents from head to toe. You try to be a bad ass, but you’re actually not.” And during that time, I was having a lot of arguments with my parents but I still obeyed their rules. Even my best friend, Joey said the same thing. Well, I guess it’s because it’s the way I brought up...

At times I will sit in my own little world, wondering what the future holds for me. But at this point now, all I see is just plain blur. The world is changing, people are changing, I’m not 18 anymore and I do know what responsibilities I have to bear. I can see my dad is slowly training me to take on the responsibilities given because like I have said, I’m the sheltered one...the biggest responsibilities was given to my elder sister and to my 21 year old brother at such young age. My sister have to bear showing a good example, being thrown all sort of things regarding about family, learning how to handles things when my parents are not around and many more. That’s why she is who she is today. As for my brother, my dad have never once let him live easy. Being tossed into a tough primary school, drilling that he has to be the man in the family or have to take the lead if anything goes wrong and exposing him to the outside world.

Unfortunately for me, I was given a small responsibility such as, be a good daughter, make sure get good grades, don’t fight with your sister and all those teeny little bits that anyone could handle while growing up. Now as I’m older, I’m learning about mortgages, bank loans, investments, bills, insurance, learning how to handle the family, basically tips on how to survive in this harsh and cruel world. It’s a lot to take in, but I’m trying my very best. At times I feel envious of my siblings because they managed to get these responsibilities at such young age to mould them to be who they are today whereas, I’m always being casted aside. It hurts at times, not knowing what’s happening in the family even though you’re the second eldest yet treated like one of the youngest.

I remember my sister getting into an argument with my parents how they sheltered me, while she has to bear the responsibilities. I was pretending to be asleep that time but boy did I cry. Imagine sharing the room with your sister while she is having a heated argument with your parents in exact same room while eavesdropping and holding back tears or noise so they wouldn’t know that you’re listening or thinking that you’re a heavy sleeper. Because deep down you know that whatever your sister said is true.

I know I’m not perfect. Nobody is...I’m juggling all these things together while trying to hold myself together. I may look like I’m not taking things seriously or not able to sit down and think it thoroughly but I do...maybe it’s just the way how I take things that make people think I’m not being serious. I’m always willing to learn to become a better and more responsible person. I admit, I’m stubborn and naive and always reverting to my old self, but I can’t change overnight. I’m taking small baby steps to grow and learn...we never stop learning as we grow. There are always new things out there that you do not know...my dad once said to me, "I know my faults and it’s hard for me to change, but I’m doing my best to change it and you have to bear with me. I know I’m not perfect, nobody is. If anyone is perfect, they would be a God."

Hey, who said life was easy?

Chapter : First Blood Donation

2011-05-11T23:33:00.000+08:00

Few days ago, there was a blood donation drive happening just nearby my office. Then I have decided to donate some of my blood for the very first time. Well, I always wanted to donate some blood but before this I was always underweight. But now since I’m in the normal weight zone, I’m able to do so.

I went to the donation drive with two of my colleague, C and CY. Unfortunately, CY was under some Chinese medicine to treat his long time injury so he was not suitable to donate some blood. C on the other hand, her blood lack iron and she was the one who initiated to donate some blood. So C and CY had no choice but to keep my company while I wait for my turn to be poked by the needle...

Once it was my turn, the nurse injected some pain killer thing to numb my entire hand or veins before planting the huge ass needle with the bag...I have no idea what is it called. Then she passed me some PVC pipe (she said it wasn’t but it really looked like one) and asked me to keep on pressing it. While filling up the bag, I was talking to my colleague and laughing at the same time. C kept on joking, “Jessie! Hurry up! Pump faster!!! I got work to do!” So I did.

Within minutes I filled up the bag and was done. The guy next to me was shocked that I filled up the bag so fast. After the nurse pulled out the needle, she asked me to rest for ten minutes before standing up or do anything. So I sat there watching my blood bag being packed properly by some other male nurses who were watching some Youtube videos. After ten minutes, I was asked to eat something in the next room but instead I chose to drink hot Milo.

It was a great experience for me and I wouldn’t mind donating blood again. The arm that was used to donate blood currently has some bruises which looked as though I’m some drug addict...but I'm so proud of myself!

When is the next blood donation drive?

Chapter : Mother's Day Ideas?

2011-05-05T01:10:00.000+08:00

Since I’m pretty “hardworking” in updating my blog, I shall do another post.

Mother’s Day is coming up and I haven’t been the greatest daughter. I haven’t been at home to dine with her nor talk with her. But the thing is, being the black sheep of the family kind of put you in that sort of...rank, you know? My almost all perfect sister or my all-rounder brother, but I can’t say for the youngest because he being the youngest makes him my mom’s precious child. So I’m pretty used to not getting any form of attention and now I have to give attention and was given some attention makes me feel trapped. Well, I do not know how to say it in words...but I do hope you get my meaning.

I guess I’m the kind of individual that works better with strangers than family. I do love and care of them dearly just that I do not show it. I tried to show it but in the end it just feels awkward. Anyway, I tried to get my mom a gift and with my measly pay I’m getting at work, I can’t afford a lot of things. At first I saw this offer for a facial massage but my mom said that she does not trust products that she has never heard off because she has sensitive skin. Then I tried to get a mani and pedi session but she too does not want because of some “unforeseen” reasons.

But she did say that she will inform me of what she wants later to me. I do hope it is something within my budget because recently this week I have been spending a lot just on parking alone because my usual parking spot was close for the week and they didn’t inform me! I was pretty upset with them so I had to park at this expensive place for the week. If they do not open again on Monday I would start taking the public transport. Anyway, I think my mom would wants to spend some time with me since I haven’t been doing at all for the past few months.

Well, once in a while I would go out dinner with her or eat dinner at home with her but the thing is that we have nothing much to talk about. Unlike my sister who is a pharmacist, she gets to meet interesting people every single day and my brother who is still studying in Australia would probably have some interesting news to share. Unlike me, I face the computer every single day and never have the chance of seeing something that would interest my mom. Imagine me telling her, “Ma, did you know today on Reddit I read that Savannah cats has the loyalty like canines?”

Seriously.

I could imagine her reply, “I don’t like cats. I don’t like animals.” Unless I start talking about Korean shows that interests her but there’s just a small problem. I haven’t been watching any! I think my mom is more up to date with the latest Korean series compared to me. How am I supposed to top that? Stream a shit load of past Korean series at work and watch it at one go just to strike a conversation? Damn, that’s desperate. Maybe I am.

Well, I guess the only solution I could think of is bringing her and my youngest brother out for dinner and probably ask my godmom along too. But I’m open to any ideas for Mother’s Day gifts and please don’t tell me handmade cards because I have given her a shit load of cards growing up. I think she keeps them in a box somewhere collecting dust. My dad does it too...keeping handmade cards that his children made and gave to him.

So suggestions anyone?

Chapter : Wordpress vs. Blogspot.

2011-05-05T00:43:00.000+08:00

My life is not that interesting these days. I haven’t been stuck in the lift. I haven’t seen a cow jumping over the moon. I haven't strike a lottery. It’s pretty mundane. Just realized that my blog is now four years old! Surprisingly that I have managed to keep updating my blog from time to time......at times with such long hiatus ~~to the point where I feel that I shouldn’t be having a blog~~...but nevertheless still remember the existence of this boring blog and try to post things from time to time.

I was only thinking whether I should switch my blog from Blogspot to Wordpress since my colleague said that it’s easier for her to teach me some basic coding or help me to customize my blog. I tried customizing my blog ONCE and then I quickly revert back to my old design because it takes a lot of effort to change the colours of the font back to BLACK or making sure the pictures that I have doesn’t run out of place...that sort of thing.

But at the same time, I feel that I do not want to switch because I have been using Blogspot for FOUR YEARS! That’s a lot of years! Even my relationships doesn’t last that long. Pathetic example, I know but it’s the truth! Not only that, the fact that it would take a lot of time and effort to migrate my things from here to there or probably regret of switching.

I have heard that people prefer Wordpress over Blogspot in terms of customization and user-friendliness. Some people like the design better. Some people like the name better. I don’t know, just rambling shit out since I can’t sleep.

But what do you think? Wordpress vs. Blogspot. Which would you choose?

Chapter : Stuck in Lift

2011-04-27T12:08:00.004+08:00

Today was an interesting day for me I would like to add. For the first time ever throughout the 23 years of my life, I have never been stuck in the lift until today. To add, I was alone and it was dark. It happened quite sudden and I didn’t even have time to panic.

I just pressed the alarm (call) button while waiting for an answer from the outside world. I stared at my phone for the longest time and making sure that my head was freed from all the scary stories that I have heard from friends. Funny how the mind works when you’re alone in the dark.

So staying there in the lift, helpless without any phone reception…times like it would be handy if you were Macgyver. While waiting for help to arrive, I was trying to block my mind from going to “dark” side. But I couldn’t help it, keeping my focus on the phone playing with it to give me light trying not to think that there is something spooky at the corner of the lift or above me for that matter.

Once help arrived, I still maintain my oh-I’m-so-cool posture and head down to the basement to get to my car. Once inside the car I called my colleague and told my experience to her. Funnily enough, she was more in the state of panic instead of me…when I was the once that experienced it.

What a day.

Chapter : Livin' in Borderlands!

2011-04-22T00:44:00.000+08:00

Guess what am I doing these days? Apart from working and occasionally meeting up with friends...the boyfriend and I are playing Borderlands! I would be hanging out at his place just to place this game. We’re going on missions and shooting weird ass monsters and ugly bandits that gives me the creeps when looking at them up close. I guess normal couples go on dates at shopping malls...my boyfriend and I have our “date” in Borderlands! I’m happy that I get to share my little nerdy and geeky side with someone.

That game is pretty addictive and I remember pestering the boyfriend that I want to go over to his place to play it...it’s so much fun! We could go on for hours playing it and occasionally stopping to eat or to have potty breaks. I wonder whether we’re going to try another co-op type game again after we complete this one. I will let the boyfriend decide because he’s way much more experienced in these kinds of games.

Good Friday and Easter are this week. Happy Easter everyone!

Chapter : Shows that I Grew Up with.

2011-04-14T22:57:00.000+08:00

Growing up I have watched some good TV series. Currently, I have been watching Macgyver from the first episode and still continuing it until now. There are seven seasons and I am already on my fourth one!

Funny this is that I have been watching so many episodes of Macgyver that I actually dreamt that I was his side kick going on missions and learning how to build bazookas from scraps. You see I rarely dream so when I do, it can be pretty random. But I don’t mind having a similar dream like that again!

Next on my list is to watch or try to get them are...

A-team
Knight Rider
Airwolf

Maybe try to recall my childhood memories and find some good old cartoons that I grew up with...

Jem and the Holograms
My Little Pony
Smurfs
Transformers
Thundercats
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Captain Planet
Biker Mice from Mars
Voltron
Street Sharks
Extreme Dinosaurs

There’s actually more to add to that list but it would be never ending if I don’t stop. Any of the shows that were mentioned are your favourites? Name it!

Chapter : First Trip On My Own!

2011-03-14T22:19:00.002+08:00

For the first time ever, I actually went for a trip with friends and also using my own money to pay for it. I had fun. I have wanted to go for a vacation for the longest time and luckily enough, my wish came true and best of all, it was at the beach!

Unfortunately, due to the recent natural disaster events in Japan, the weather has been crazy. Wasn’t much sun at the beach area...gloomy and the waves were so choppy that the boyfriend got sea sick on the way to the resort. He was looking a little green by the time he reached the resort though. I too was a little sea sick because the boat ride was so rocky...but I managed to hold all my puke in...

After resting for a while, the boyfriend and I head to the beach! Swam in the ocean, though I was told that the ocean was clearer years ago...but nevertheless still enjoyed myself playing in the waters. The waves were pretty big and strong and I lost count the number of times I was thrown off balance by the waves.

I also went snorkelling for the first time, and the boyfriend was being really cheeky by throwing pieces of bread around me causing me to freak out because suddenly there were a lot of fishes swimming around me. Luckily the current was as strong that I imagined it would be...I managed to see the moray eel (which I was actually terrified to get close too...), garupa and the Christmas trees! I wouldn’t mind going snorkelling again.

The travel back felt really long because most of the time I was on the bus and on the boat. I felt really tired and sluggish by the time I reached home.

I wish I could go for another vacation again...but need to look for a time and save up enough money if I do ever want to have another get away again.

Chapter : Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-16T03:47:00.001+08:00

I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day and well, most of the time during Valentine’s Day I wouldn’t have anyone to celebrate it with. Normally during this day, I would be at home in front of my laptop or out with my girlfriends to celebrate it. But this year, my Valentine’s Day was different. I didn’t have a candle-lit dinner in some high class restaurant instead my Valentine’s was spent eating McDonalds in the office.

Originally the boyfriend and I were supposed to go out for some simple dinner because thinking that I would be finishing early. Unfortunately, the project I was working on had to do some changes so I had to leave later than expected. Thinking we could have a late dinner if I leave the office at 8pm but when I was working on the project I realized that I couldn’t make it so I gave the boyfriend a call. I told him that he had to get his own dinner but to my surprise, he said that he would come down to town to join me instead. I felt really bad because he had to drive all the way to town just to spend few moments with me eating McDonalds in the office and then driving all the way back.

Though the time we spent was really short, I was really happy to see him on Valentine’s Day. How was your Valentine’s Day this year?

PS: The boyfriend booked a Japanese buffet dinner to celebrate our belated Valentine's Day and it was the first time he ate Haagen Dazs ice-cream.

Chapter : The Generation Gap

2011-01-26T00:27:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday, I joined the family for dinner. While deciding what to eat, the dad decided to start the conversation in the car...

Dad: So how’s your new Mac in the office?

Me: Not too bad...still getting used to it...

Dad: Okay...what is that word, “noob” you put on your Skype?

Before I could answered it, the youngest brother B, decided to do it for me with a lot of confidence too...

Brother B: IT MEANS NEWBIE!!

Dad: How is newbie related to NOOB?

Brother B: NEWBIE MEANS BEGINNER!!

Then Brother A, the older one said, "Daddy asked HOW it is related. Not what does newbie mean."

Brother B looked at brother A with a clueless expression.

Dad asked again, "How is newbie related to noob?"

I said, "It’s just computer language. A gaming term."

Dad: But how-?

Mom interrupted, "You don’t have to learn this fancy mancy language. This is the sign that you’re getting old when you don’t know what language or words your children are using"

Dad: I want to learn so I can keep up to date of the latest trend that our kids are using these days.

Mom: What for? No point. Not like you are going to use it also.

Few minutes later...

Mom was asking Brother A...

Mom: What is futsal?

Before Brother A could answer...

Brother B: FOOTBALL!!

Mom: I know, but what's the difference? Why futsal not football?

Brother B: CAUSE IT’S INSIDE!

Brother A face palmed and said, "The only difference is that we played it indoors and the ball is heavier."

Mom: Why is it heavier?

Brother A: So the ball won’t fly...

Mom: So why is it call futsal?

Dad: Why you want to know? No need to learn these fancy mancy languages or words. No point, not like you’re going to use it also.

Mom smacked Dad on the arm and said, "I want to keep up to date also!"

The generation gap. It happens to everyone. At least my parents are learning...some how.

Chapter : First Post of the New Year

2011-01-06T13:04:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the year 2011! Quick updates on what happened to me last year.

Graduated with a Masters in Animation
Failed for the first time when completing my Masters
Met someone new
Got a job
Made more new friends
Stayed in the office overnight for two days straight
Managed to complete a project
Got my first pay check
Got a new car (2nd hand though but still!)
Got a Nintendo DS as a Christmas gift

These are few highlights that I can remember from the top of my head. If anyone asks, what my New Year’s resolution is, there’s only one.

NOT TO MAKE ANY RESOLUTIONS.

Because I know that I will never keep them or do them. For now, I’m taking things as it goes. Hopefully this year will be another great year!

Chapter : This Christmas

2010-12-27T23:28:00.000+08:00

This Christmas I gave my boyfriend a handmade card and some joke t-shirt that says, “Thanks. I work out” which I know that he would never fit it in and a computer ram.

Funny story about the card, on the eve of Christmas, I was out at his place hanging out, then by the time he sent me home, it was pretty late at night and I haven’t wrapped his gifts nor done the card. So burning the midnight oil, I lugged out my dusty old light box which I used for my 2d animation during my college days and spent the night tracing my drawing and then colouring it with my dried out markers.

I was having fun colouring the card because it really reminded me of my college days working late nights finishing some marker rendering work which I know that I can never do it well because I can’t make my artwork look realistic enough.

Then on Christmas day, we both went over to our friend’s place and there was a massive spread of food. Turkey, cake, spaghetti and loads more. I literally ate till I could not move anymore. Then there was some caroling going on. It was really Christmassy. I really enjoyed myself that night.

Anyway, when the boyfriend opened the present and saw the card, at first he thought I bought some card from the rack and cut off the picture and pasted it on some cheap ass paper and wrote a note behind it. Then when I told him that I drew and coloured it, he was like, “Whoa.”

Here’s the final outcome.

Sorry for the tiny image size, I took it from his blog.

Anyway, wishing you all Merry Christmas or Happy Boxing Day would be too late. Instead, I would wish you all HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Chapter : It's almost 6am!

2010-12-16T05:54:00.000+08:00

Currently sitting in the office at 5.20am typing an entry, taking a short break doing 2D Flash animation before resuming the tedious task again...I have been in this company for almost a month now and adapting pretty well.

Today’s the first time that I’m staying a night in the office finishing up some stuff. My colleague is feeling sleepy even though we both napped for a while around 2am. Basically, I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about the animation that is due...later TODAY.

I haven’t done 2D animation in years because I was mostly trained in 3D animation so doing 2D animation is a huge challenge for me. Thankfully, I have a great colleague to teach me a few tricks about animating in Flash. We’re not doing frame by frame animation but more like cut-out-ish looking animation and I hope that we would have time to actually make it even better.

Luckily the office would be close on the 23rd of December because they are renovating the office. So I have an extra holiday which allows me to do ALL my house chores that I have been neglecting. The main thing that I need to do is to CLEAN UP MY ROOM. I have been going home late everyday so I haven’t had the chance to tidy up my room and my cousins from Singapore are coming on the 29th to stay with my family for the night up to my brother’s 21st birthday.

But on Christmas, the boyfriend and I are heading to our friend’s place for BBQ, without missing the Rock Band sessions and other card games. I’m still thinking what to get for the boyfriend after his glorious surprise gift for me. Why is it so hard to get a guy a present?

I can’t believe that the year is coming to an end! How time flies...Maybe I will write a list of “THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS YEAR” just to recap what interesting events that made an impact in my life.

Till then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Time for me to get back to work.

Chapter : The Surprise (Plus Updates)

2010-12-04T02:28:00.000+08:00

Updates! Just started my first job ever...survived the first week at work! Upside, I get to wear whatever clothes I want, downside...my work place is in the city where it’s always jam and I work late nights. That’s how life is in the media and creative world...

Anyway, few days ago when I was at work chatting with the boyfriend and we planned to have dinner together on Friday because since I have started working, I can barely spend time with him...suddenly he said,

“Dear, if tomorrow you finish work at 8, let me know, then we can postpone to Saturday. I have to bring you somewhere, but got to be 8.30.”

“Err...Ok...but can you still pick me up after 8?” (I feel so demanding here!)

“Can”

“Yay! But why have to be there by 8.30?”

“Err, cause surprise la...if cannot, then can do on Saturday.”

So at work when he said that, I had all sorts of funny thoughts in my head. I was like, “Is he going to bring me to some place and sell me? Is he going to bring me some place romantic? Do I have to dress up? Are we celebrating something? Why is he going to sell me?”

These nonsenses were just swimming in my head...

So last night (since it’s 2am, now) I managed to leave the office on normal working time because I did most of my part for that day and on Monday I will have to continue it. Lucky that I don’t have to work on weekends...he picked me up from the LRT station and he drove to Digital Mall.

I was like thinking, “Why are we going to Digital Mall? Does he need to fix something? Get something? Going to sell me?” I was puzzled but never thought much about it. Then he parked his car, then he carried my laptop bag for me and then he said,

“Dear, can you go to the glove compartment and take out the thing I’m going to bring to fix?” (I think it was something along that line...)

So naturally I did, and when I opened the glove compartment, inside there was a NINTENDO DS LITE box. Then he was grinning from ear to ear and said, “Merry Christmas, dear.”

I stood there frozen with the glove compartment open, holding the box and staring at him at disbelief. He was laughing and I was flabbergasted. I didn’t know what to say or do. Instead of saying thank you, I believed I said "Why did you get me this? Why did you get me a present? When did you get it? Why did you get it?"

A lot of whys, but barely a thank you (I did thank him in the end!!!)...so walking towards Digital Mall because he wants me to choose games and I was still questioning him and pestering him but he keeps changing the subject. That moron.

After choosing games and stuffs, we headed off to Tropicana City Mall to grab dinner and a movie. We watched The Social Network. Awesome stuffs, I would seriously recommended it if you are a fan of Facebook. The way they scripted the entire thing was really great. A lot of talking but nevertheless it was awesome. I really liked it!

Also, another movie I would recommend is, Rapunzel (Tangled to some others). I was laughing throughout the entire movie and the graphics, design, animation was mind-blasting (quoting from Russell Peters). Do watch it!

Other than that, this last paragraph is to the boyfriend. Thank you for the lovely Christmas present! How am I going to top that?

Suggestions anyone??

Chapter : Food List II

2010-11-16T15:20:00.007+08:00

Updating the food list because the boyfriend asked me too...well, also because whenever I asked him what he has for lunch he would say something then I would start to crave for it too...

THINGS I HAVE YET TO EAT.

~~Chee Cheong Fun~~
~~Curry Laksa~~
~~Tom Yum Mee Hoon~~
~~Bachang~~
Lemang
~~Steamboat~~
~~Dim Sum~~
~~Bak Kut Teh~~
~~Loh Bak~~
Nasi Briyani
~~Ramlee Burger~~ (ate Otai Burger, it's the same to me!!)
Rojak Buah
~~Nasi Kandar~~
~~Loh Mai Kai~~

Shit, all these food listing is making me hungry...but I can’t think of anymore!!

Chapter: The Confusing Question

2010-11-16T03:46:00.000+08:00

Ever since I started dating again, I have been constantly bombarded with these questions, “How are things with so and so? Are you guys okay?” Be it from the MOM, relatives or friends, they never fail to raise these questions at me. For an example,

Person A: So I have heard you have got a new boyfriend!

Me: Yeah...

Person A: How long already?

Me: Err...Four months plus...I think...

Person A: Oh! Good good...so how are things with you and him? Are you guys okay?

Me: Yeah...why?

Person A: Oh...just asking...

And then the topic changes...it happens almost EVERY SINGLE TIME. Why is that? Are they just curious or are they concern because they know what happened between me and the last ex? Okay, if you’re not convinced...here’s another example...

Friend L: Hey! How’s things? Job hunting going alright?

Me: Still jobless and living off my parents and soon sucking them dry...hahahah

Friend L: Aww, don’t worry! I’m sure you’ll get a job soon!!

Me: Thanks! Then I'm able to pay the debts back that I owe...to my parents...

Friend L: Hahaha, hey...how’s things with you and your boyfriend? You guys doing alright?

Me: Yeah...why?

Friend L: Nothing, just curious you know...

Then the topic changes again...It’s driving me crazy! Can someone please explain to me what these means? Do I sound depressed when I’m talking with them that makes them assume that there’s something wrong? Are they expecting something?

Do let me know. I’m trying to understand why are they always asking me these questions...or do you get these questions also? Or it’s just ME?

Chapter : THE MATTERHORN BURGER

2010-10-27T01:01:00.000+08:00

Just few days ago, the boyfriend and I plus 7 other people went to Euro Deli, Damansara Kim to try the MATTERHORN BURGER!

Basically it’s a HUGE ass burger weighs about 2.75kg and you need at least 5 people to finish that ONE burger. Well, I guess I shall put up the video for you to watch it to understand and pictures from that day itself. The pictures are from the boyfriend’s camera...

The video where I found out about the Matterhorn Burger. My mom told me that the guy taking on the challenge was my dad's friend's son...Small world. Anyway, the challenge is that if you are able to finish the burger within 45 minutes (?) then you will get RM 100 and get your picture taken to be put onto the WALL OF FAME! So far only two challengers have succeeded!

Our first picture together in MALAYSIA

While waiting for our burgers

~~The boyfriend trying to eat a mini Matterhorn~~

The MATTERHORN BURGERS

Group one

Group two

See how much stuffs they put inside the burger?


This was MY piece and I managed to finish it!


Jason taking a huge arse bite from a huge arse piece

Playing photo hunt after Matterhorn

Playing Bishi Bashi

Chapter : Food List

2010-10-21T23:05:00.001+08:00

Been back for a while now and constantly eating all the food that I missed during my stay in Brisbane. Haven’t been catching up much with my friends but managed to spend some time with the boyfriend. The boyfriend fell ill not too long ago and visited him then and bought Strepstils and constantly nagging him to drink loads of water. Then another friend of mine, his girlfriend also fell ill and I told him, “Make sure she drink loads of water!! Make sure you know!!” Seriously, I don’t know how I turned into such a naggy person...

The funniest thing is that when I am back and people ask me, “What do you want to eat?” I couldn’t answer most of the time. Maybe it’s because I have so many things that I want to eat to the point that I couldn’t decide what to eat OR maybe it’s because that I just don’t know what I truly miss the most...

So far, I have managed to eat

Chilli Pan Mee
Cheese Naan
KFC Hot and Spicy (I know but in Brisbane, they don’t have HOT AND SPICY!)
Fried Kueh Teow
Claypot Chicken Rice
Sushi (Sushi in Brisbane is expensive, okay!)
Porridge (I don’t eat that often in Brisbane)
Claypot Lor Shi Fun
Hokkien Mee
Fish Head Noodles
Nyonya Food
Korean Food

I can’t think of anymore...but the next time I would probably eat...

Banana Leaf
Steamboat
Bak Kut Teh
Dim Sum
MALACCA SATAY CELUP

Err...I know I have loads more but nothing pops to mind...Did you know that my friends and relatives said that my body is slim whereas my face is chubby?!

My sister was right. I am turning into Tweety Bird!

Chapter : Facial Session

2010-10-14T13:49:00.000+08:00

I have been back in Malaysia for a week now and am settling around nicely. Still have to meet up with my friends and find a job. Anyway, today for the first time I actually had a facial. My mom decided that I needed one since I had some allergic reaction which started from my chest up to my face. It’s better now, just that the scars on my body and face would take some time to heal.

So the lady came to the house in the morning with her daughter (3 years old) and her maid. Her daughter was so adorable! Dressed in Ultraman clothes and Spiderman slippers while carrying a pink Barbie bag, she stared at me as though I was someone from another planet or something. I smiled and asked her, “Harlo, how are you?” she ignored me. Then I found out that she only response to Mandarin instead of English. She was really excited to be in a ‘new’ place because she was skipping around the house until I suggested whether she would like to go to the playground.

After guiding the maid and the little chickadee to the playground, the facial lady began her work. Funnily enough, she was speaking to me in Mandarin all the time and I was struggling to converse with her. I understood most of the stuffs she was asking but I couldn’t reply back. So I replied her in English, but I carefully chose my words because English wasn’t her main language.

First she slathers some cream on my face and massages it. Then she would wash it off with two sponges soaked in water and continued the same procedure twice. After that, she steamed my face to open up the pores so she could pinch all the gritty blackheads on my face. I have no idea what she used but it was painful! My eyes were closed but I could feel my tears all building up from the pain. At least now my face is clearer now…red but clearer. Then she put another cream on my face which hardens then she put a cooling mask and let me rest there for 20 minutes while she gave me some shoulder massage.

She left me there while she went to see her daughter at the playground. Soon after she was back, but it wasn’t time to remove the mask. Even though I had the mask on, I could “feel” my surroundings…her daughter was so curious she stood nearby me and said in Mandarin, “Is she sleeping? I want to see” I wanted to laugh but I couldn’t. After 20 minutes, she removed the mask and put on some more cream on my face and gave me a facial massage PLUS a scalp massage. Then when everything was completed, she gave me a quick BACK massage. Then while she was massaging me, she said, “Why are you so skinny? Don’t you eat?” Why is everyone saying that to me? I DO eat.

After the facial lady left, my mom called asking me how was it and stuffs…Well, it’s okay actually though the only painful part was the ‘extracting’ of the blackheads. Other than that, it’s fun…I have no idea whether my mom wants me to have a monthly facial session but I do know that my mom does have it every single month and this is what she said, “Your mother not that young anymore, so she needs facial session to be pretty.”

Chapter : I'm BLIND.

2010-09-18T22:13:00.001+08:00

Whenever I see someone wearing glasses, I will always ask them the ever famous question, “How high is your power?”

You see, I was diagnosed with the lazy-eye, also known as Amblyopia (just found that out today) at the age of four. It all happened when my parents noticed that their beloved daughter was watching the TV in a very funny way. Her head would be turned in a 3/4 view and she would peer at the TV with the corner of her right eye. This went on for quite a while until my dad decided to bring me to see an eye specialist.

So after finding out that I had the lazy-eye, the doctor recommended my dad to bring me to see another doctor that specializes in the treatment of the lazy-eye. I remember that after seeing that doctor, I had to wear this particular eye patch over my right eye and I didn’t want to go to school because I was so embarrassed that I had the huge eye patch over my right eye. I got teased a lot back then…

Then I also remembered that after school or during the weekends I would go to the clinic and they would put me in a room where I had to trace some pictures of Winnie the Pooh characters and some others. Maybe that’s when I developed my passion for art, who knows?

Now I’m cured from the lazy-eye condition though my power on my left eye is currently 700 whereas my right eye is currently 400. It actually went up by 50 last year and my eye doctor told me to see him when I return to Kuala Lumpur. I hope that this time, my power is currently stable and would maintain that way for the rest of my life.

When I tell friends about my glasses power they would go, “Jessie, you’re blind.” Yes, I am. Steal my glasses and I would be helpless.

To show you how blind I am, see below.


This is what people with perfect vision see. I hate you guys. Nah, I kid. I'm just jealous and want to have your eyes instead.

This is what I see without my glass or contact lenses.

The moral of the story is...those with perfect vision, TREASURE it! You don’t want to end up like me unless like someone decides to sponsor me to go under laser surgery or probably just wake up one day and realize that I have perfect vision again! Hey, one can hope, right?

Chapter : My Dad

2010-09-05T19:59:00.000+08:00

Today is Australia’s Father’s Day. So this would be a short post…I think.

My dad has always played the “bad cop” role in the family. My siblings and I are scared shitless of my dad because he was the one that would discipline us whenever we did something wrong. Whenever one of us gets into trouble, he would grab his belt or cane and would whack us and the ones that were not in trouble hides in the room and pretend to be angels. I also remember the time that when we know that we would get a hell of a beating, we would run to our rooms, wear extra layers of clothing so the pain on our bums would be lessened. Before you go, “it’s child abuse!” I must say, it’s an Asian thing where parents hit their children. Have you not watch Russell Peters?

My dad is also very harsh with us when it comes to education. He believes that if his children receive good education, they would get better jobs in order to support themselves in the future. So whenever one of us fails an exam, we would be afraid to approach him to tell him our results. Well, mainly me because I was the least studious one…and I remember the one time when I failed my Math’s exam, he would ask me to do all the corrections on a piece of paper and he would look through it and then ask me to re-do it so I would remember not to make the same mistakes again.

Also, my dad isn’t the kind that forces his children to pursue something that they didn’t like so I was pretty grateful that my dad allowed me to pursue my interest in arts. I have friends that their parents weren’t supportive and forced them to do something that they didn’t like. Even though my dad doesn’t talk to us that much, but we know that he truly cares about us and takes personal note on our interests. For instance, my dad would find out whether he has friends in the animation industry and would ask to see whether they could offer me an internship or like he knows that my sister is into musical stuffs, he would buy all the musical CDs for her.

I remember my friends would always say to me, “Jessie, your dad is so SCARY!!!” whenever they meet my dad for the first time because whenever they would greet him, he would just grunt in return. He always has this (what I call) the “bull dog” face because he is always looking so bad tempered. But I know, deep down that my dad is a softie at heart because once he is used to your presence, he would open up to you and talk to you more…he would tease you from time to time. But he is much better now because he can actually greet and talk to people and this was proven when my boyfriend met my dad for the first time and they talked a little and eventually my dad asked him to stay for dinner. Then when I asked him, “So, scared or not?” He replied, “Nope.” Or maybe my boyfriend has awesome people skills and is genuinely not afraid of anyone.

My dad can be pretty amusing at times because I remember when I broke up with my ex, he tried to give me a “talk” to tell me that there were many fishes in the sea and I shouldn’t be hung up over him and stuffs. I didn’t know what to react when he did that but nevertheless I was happy that he did. Also, when I found out that I failed my Masters, I cried shit loads and he would sit down with me, calm me down and said comforting words like everyone fails at least once in their lifetime. When my self-esteem was really down that time, he said this to me, “I know that you can do it, you just have to put your mind and work hard.” Those words gave me my confidence back and I managed to complete my resubmission on time.

So, to my dad, thank you for everything. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be the person I am today and even though I would get frustrated with you from time to time, I love you.

Happy Father’s Day.

Chapter : The Eldest

2010-09-02T22:47:00.000+08:00

Being the eldest is hard. Well, I’m not speaking from experience, I’m speaking from observation. You see, being the eldest in the family requires a lot of responsibility. Not only that, if you are the first son of the family, you too bear a lot of weight on your shoulders cause you’re carrying the family’s name and stuffs like that, you know?

I have an older sister. Even though she and I are always not on good terms but nevertheless I still respect her. Lately she has been through a lot of pressure from work and other personal stuffs. She has to plan her wedding, pay bills (mortgages) and all the other things. Well, being the second eldest in the family, I don’t really get all the responsibilities but I still do have my share and stuffs. At times, I wished I could play a bigger role…

I’m used to be on my own when I’m at home, content with my laptop and shows that I have stored. Being branded “anti-social” by my family because I don’t talk much with them (it’s better now, I talk to them from time to time, mostly my mom) but it actually gives me a chance to observe my family.

This is how I noticed that my sister is being through a lot lately. She may not tell it to me or my brother…but I know that she’s has a lot of weight on her shoulders. My mom said that she is adjusting to the life having to think about paying mortgages, and if she wants to start a family she too has to think about savings and stuffs. The only people she could tell her problems is her fiancé and best friends.

So, that’s why I try to help her out from time to time. The only thing that I could do is helping her out when she is preparing dinner and washing the dishes. Simple stuffs like that and also, try to not get in her way. But seeing her juggling her work life and her responsibilities makes me respect her a lot more. I remember the last time when I was way younger, I’m always quarrelling with her because she would always throw her temper at me when she’s in a foul mood and I would fight back. But now, I learned to be more tolerant and would just accept it.

This is what I observed about being the eldest in the family…it may not be accurate.

Taking care all the younger siblings
Show good example to the younger siblings
Handle all the “affairs”
If the younger siblings are under your care, you bear full responsibility as the guardian
All family affairs will be discussed with YOU first then only to the younger siblings

Well…there are more but currently these were the few things on top of my head. So my sister has been bearing all these responsibilities and also with her long strenuous working hours as a pharmacist, she is still able fulfill her role as an older sister and daughter.

I hope that when I encounter these responsibilities in the future, I too will be able to handle it just like her.

Chapter : Freedom

2010-08-27T23:41:00.000+08:00

Man, so is this what freedom feels like? After working for the past month on my Master’s work resubmission, I’m DONE. FREE. Maybe I should run around naked to celebrate my freedom or something. Now, I have to wait for my results which I would only know on the 1st of September…hope that I will pass this time.

Originally, my deadline for my resubmission was on the 31st of August but out of the blue my supervisor sent me an email saying that my resubmission date was pushed forward to the 26th of August and guess what, I found that piece of information on the 24th of August. Boy that certainly made my day.

So on the 25th I met up with my supervisor and she was amazed on how calm I looked. She said this to me, “Jessie, I’m amazed that you are so calm. If it was me, I would be panicking! I’m proud of you seeing how you handle this so well!”

Then when she left for her class, I started listing down the things I have to do to prepare myself for my presentation in front of two examiners the next day. As I was listing, suddenly I started panicking and was like SHIT! Can I complete all these things on time?!!

At that moment, my mom called (she read my Facebook status and was worried). So we started talking and she was asking me about my boyfriend. This is how she asks about him, “How’s things with you and your boy boy?” I find it amusing as she refers him as boy boy instead of boyfriend. Also, normally the term boy boy (in my books) meant a guy who is younger than you…well, he does look younger than me even though he is the older one.

Anyway, so my mom called to calm me down and gave me some encouragement (I love you, mom) but I guess these past months I’m closer to her because she calls me more often now. I always joke with her by saying,

You only call me when jie (older sister) is working or not free or the younger one (my brother) is at school or not answering your phone calls. I’m the last resort. (Insert dramatic sobs here)

To this she replied,

Excuse me young lady, your mother here call you just to talk to you. You think phone calls to Australia very cheap ar? (Chinese slang all the way!) Your mother misses her children okay, so far and only one to keep me company here in KL.

How am I supposed to reply to that?

Moving on, the day of the presentation…I knew that one of my examiners is my lecturer that taught me before and the other was an external examiner that works in a games industry and is also teaching in the university part-time. I was nervous as hell and on top of that, I didn’t sleep a wink that night because I was rushing for my work. I texted my mom and my boyfriend that I was really nervous and my mom called me straight and the first thing she said to me, “Did you pray to God? If not, go pray and ask Him for encouragement.”

Well, my mom is a religious person so I guess that was expected from her. After that, I called my boyfriend and talked to him for a while and I managed to calm down a little. Then while Kelsie was doing her presentation I was sitting in the corner reading through my little speech that I wrote down like moments ago which I didn’t even use it at all. When Kelsie’s presentation was done, it was my turn…my hands were shaking and I said a silent prayer, “Dear God, please help me get through this. Thank you.”

During the Q & A session, I was amazed that I could answer all the questions from the examiners and what really made my day was one of the examiners (my lecturer) actually liked my game concept! Compared to my previous presentation with a different set of examiners (the first time) they said that it wasn’t even worth doing. So that really meant a lot to me.

Now that I’m finally free, I should start doing all the stuffs that I have neglected...reading, drawing, playing games and my freelance. In few weeks time, I would be back in KL. I just can’t wait!

Chapter : Horror Flicks and I Don't Mix

2010-08-23T22:33:00.001+08:00

Today’s blog post was inspired because Sylvia was doing her assignment on horror movie flicks. I myself am not a fan of it. Put it this way, if I would have to choose watching Twilight and a horror movie flick, I rather watch Twilight. That’s how much I hate horror movies.

So you might ask why do I hate it? Well, I believe that I always have a very wild and vivid imagination and whenever someone describes me something I could picture it in my mind but could never draw it out on paper. Like when reading books and I would imagine how the characters would look like befitting the characteristics as how the author have described them.

Once, I kid you not..a friend was explaining to me how some ghost from the Japanese horror flick Ju-On looked like in full detail, something about a lady that crawls on all fours and stuffs…I could actually pictured it in my head and it send shivers down my spine, plus I actually dreamt it later on that particular night and there goes my beautiful peaceful sleep as I lay awake in my bed trying not to close my eyes as I know that I would dream about that horrible creature again.

Friends find it amusing to con me into watching horror flicks with them because they like to see my reaction whenever these things pops out from the screen and scared the shit out of you. To be honest, I get scared easily. If I’m totally in my own world, the smallest prod would scare me shitless. In my entire life, I was conned into watching TWO horror flicks thanks to my lovely best friends. One was some zombie movie and the other was the Omen. My friends enjoyed the movie while half the time I was closing my eyes and ears while imagining rainbows, ponies and unicorns.

Also there was this time where I had a small tiny television in my room (years back) and it was the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival or something and I dared myself to watch this Chinese horror flick entitled Dial D for Demon.


Movie that made me shat brix

I watched 1/3 of the movie and then I stopped. I couldn’t bring myself to complete watching the entire movie as I was already hiding under the blanket , covering my ears and possibly shat brix along the way too. Then that night, I tried sleeping in my own little bed but I couldn’t because the fear of dreaming the horrible stuffs I watched from that particular movie. So I snuck onto my sister’s bed when she was asleep (we shared rooms) and slept there together with her. She gave an annoying grunt because I was invading her space but nevertheless allowed me to bunk in with her on her tiny bed. That allowed me to sleep peacefully throughout the night.

Thank God for elder siblings, no?

Crap. I shouldn’t be typing this when I’m alone at university at 12.31 am. Now I have to worry about scary things that would jump and attack me whenever I go out to use the bathroom or fill up my bottle water.

EDIT: I can't stop looking at the door to check whether there would be random things looking in at me. CRAP. I need happy pills damn it cause happy thoughts are not working!

Chapter : Sleeping Positions and Habits.

2010-08-20T22:12:00.000+08:00

Growing up, we have many types of sleeping positions or habits. Whether it is sleeping on your side, on your back, some impossible pose that will make us question what your body is made of or have funny sleeping habits where you would toss and turn to a certain number of times and then would be able to sleep.


I too once was a victim of this position...

When I was younger (my, there’s a lot of post about my younger days, eh?) my mom told me that I was a still and quiet sleeper but my sister said otherwise. It’s because my sister and I shared rooms and beds for years until she went off to Australia to study and then decided to stay there. She said that I was a kicker in bed which means that the person unconsciously kicks things such as pillows or blankets…and also will inflict pain on the person sharing the bed next to the kicker.

I then began to realize that I have funny sleeping habits that I possess.

I MUST have a blanket covering me in order to sleep.
When I sleep on my side, I would have one hand under the pillow.
When I sleep on my back (which is rarely) I cross my arms.

Now, I still have these funny sleeping habits but I grew out of my kicking one. There was this time where my boyfriend saw me sleeping and said (something similar along these lines…memory very vague):

“You know, you sleep so quiet! Like a dead person…I thought you died or something. Maybe next time I would have to check whether you are still breathing or not. Just in case.”

I found this online, so which type are you? Do you have any interesting sleeping positions or habits?

Where's the one hand under pillow position?

Chapter : Nicknames

2010-08-17T01:52:00.000+08:00

Growing up we all have been given nicknames by our parents, friends, lovers and foes. I in particular have accumulated a fair amount of nicknames since when I was a bald and toothless baby to the current “me” I am today. Funny how that some nicknames are related to our personalities and some are just based on our names or some just doesn't make sense.

When I was a baby, my mom told me that everyone from my dad’s side of the family calls me “ham pao pao” which means crybaby (I also heard that it also meant hamburger but I don’t understand, speak or write Chinese so I’m going to follow what my mom told me). Well she said that I would cry at anything and everything. I would cry if my siblings bullied me, I would cry when I don’t get things my way, technically, like a small brat. Last time, I tend to cry quite easily but now I am able to laugh and cry at the same time, talk normally but tears would still stream down my cheeks. Those days, my parents would always say these same lines to me, “Every little thing also you cry. Little bit little bit also cry." At least I'm better now, I don't cry that easily unless provoked or have some sort of hormonal imbalance or something.

Remember that ONE time where Tamiya was such a HUGE fad? Every boy would be seen having one (well, most of the boys I knew owns at least ONE Tamiya car) and they would bring parts to “modify” their own cars so it would race faster and stuffs. Well, there was this one particular Tamiya car which was called “Shooting Star” and soon my primary school classmates started calling me that because my Chinese name is Su Ting (there were many others but let’s just choose the most famous one…) So throughout that period of time, my classmates would address me as Shooting Star instead of Su Ting and I actually answered to these name callings. Those were the days…

When I was Form 2, I shifted from Damansara Utama school to Taman Tun school. It was scary as I needed to start afresh, making new friends and it doesn’t help that my self-esteem was really low because the day before I started in the new school, I had the most disastrous and hideous haircut ever (now I will never ever cut my hair into a boyish hairdo no matter how much my mom says that I look good in it because I don’t.) Anyway, I managed to adapt myself to my new school pretty quickly and was making friends. Reaching Form 4, I was in the art stream and most of my friends were in the pure science or sub-science stream and I am only able to hang out with them during recess hour. This is where I started to get close to my Malay classmates and learn how to speak their “slang”. Then one of my classmates decided to call me, “Siti” (a common Malay name for a girl) because I was speaking Malay like an authentic Malay person and then started telling his friends to do the same. This particular joker also asked some of the teachers to address me as “Siti” too and the easy-going teachers actually did. That lasted for a while but now they don’t call me “Siti” anymore, they just shorten my name from Su Ting to “Sting” (also pronounced as "Steng").

Then moving on college days, where I learnt that sleep was overrated. I don’t really recall when or how it happened, but my college mates started calling me “Pigeon”. If I’m not mistaken, it was because that they saw me fooling around imitating a pigeon call and said it sounded exactly like the real thing or maybe cause I keep making pigeon sounds…I’m confused. Till now, there are some that still calls me “Pigeon” and I answer to that nickname. My best friend, Joey calls me by one special nickname; she always calls me “Mangkuk”. It means bowl in Malay by the way and untill now, I don’t know why she calls me that but I find it amusing. It’s like this special bond we have created just between us.

Here are a few more…

alwizhyper – my ever famous nickname that I use in my emails and online games and much more. People said that I’m constantly hyper and always bursting with energy but as I get older…the energy is burning out.
Monkey – my boyfriend calls me that and at times Joey would call me that too. It’s because I make faces, talk nonsense, have a short attention span and very mischievious.
“Cina Murtad” – well, I’m not sure how to explain this because I think it varies overtime or something but what my friends told me last time (years back)…it means that a Chinese person that “changed” into a Malay person or a Malay person in a Chinese body (?). Will reconfirm this with my friends…

Well, I can’t think of anymore. So what’s yours?

Chapter : Dedications?

2010-08-04T23:54:00.000+08:00

A short entry for today before I post the super long entry which would probably bore everyone and make them wonder, “How can she write so much?” The answer is simple; in reality I suffer from a serious case of verbal diarrhea. I spew nonsense as I go and most of the time, it doesn’t make any sense then I managed to do in while blogging. So today I received a special surprise from someone really sweet. We met online through this game called Audition and one of the best memories of her that I remember is that she gave me a cash item (meaning to say that you have to use real money to get these 3d rendered items to make your character look really pretty) and I was amazed how could a person be so nice to me when we JUST met on that day itself and suddenly showered me with gifts? Apparently, this person’s personality is like that.

Anyway, back to the topic…she dedicated her first blog entry to me because she said that I inspired her to start blogging again. I was amazed that I was her inspiration because I didn’t know that I have such effect on people to begin with. So far, she is the second person who wrote an entry about me. One is this guy which everyone probably knows by now and the other is her. Maybe I should start dedicating some posts to people that I really cared about or those that inspired me…it could be a form of gesture to tell them, thank you for being there for me and changing my life.

What do you think?

Chapter : How I Met My Beau

2010-07-31T16:13:00.001+08:00

A random entry for today since my brains is not working at the moment. Well, I feel slightly accomplished today as I managed to clean the room, wash the bed sheets and aired my pillow and blanket. Now if only I could keep this particular attitude when I’m doing my assignments…

A funny conversation I had with a friend of mine recently, she was asking me how I meet my current beau (I like to say beau at the moment cause it sounds much more fancier…) So I told her that I met him through a friend, though during that time we didn’t speak to each other as I had the moment of “all-men-were-evil” phase and we only exchanged his and byes or maybe we had a one-liner conversation before. I don’t remember…

Then when I returned to Brisbane to complete my masters, I found him on Facebook and I thought to myself, “Hey, I recognize this person, let’s add him!” Then eventually he confirmed my friend request and he posted on my wall first wondering why I am not in the Rockband Tuesday anymore. So we started talking there and I thought he was the same as every single man out there in the world, pure evil with evil intentions…so I didn’t put that much effort in replying him and stuffs till we added each other on MSN. If you are wondering, “But you think that he was pure evil with evil intentions?! Why add him?” In my defense, I found him interesting…anyway, continuing on my story…

So, we started chatting on MSN every single day and I shared with him my webcam ONCE then the next day he surprised me by saying that he bought himself a webcam to chat with me. Now over here, everyone would probably say, “Awww, so sweet! He likes you!!” But in my mind, I was thinking, “Oh, cool! Now we can webchat we each other!” You see, even though that time I had feelings for him, but I’m always in denial thinking, “Nah, feelings? Like? I don’t think so! Maybe I had some huge ass dinner making me feel this way” OR “He likes me? Nah, he is just nice. He could probably use the webcam to chat with other people.”

This is where those who are my friends and hearing me say these things would whack me in the head and say, “Jessie, you stupid person.” It’s because when I told them that he invested in a webcam to chat with me and I find him very funny and stuffs and I could so imagine their faces when they replied, “Jessie, he likes you. Who in the right mind would suddenly invest in a webcam to chat with you? Plus, you guys barely know each other!” and I said, “Because I’m funny! That’s why! We sort of know each other…before this…you know, through a friend…but not really talking…I don’t know…” Thank goodness that when I was discussing these things to my friends it was on MSN, if not, I have no idea how many times they would whack me on the head for being dense and superbly in denial mode.

During the frequent webchats and he asked me out on a date once (it was way before he invested in the webcam so bear with me because I know I’m getting my entire story mixed up here…) which you can read in this post…then I remember one time he said something to me which surprised me to the point that I didn’t know what to reply because I was taken aback by it. Bet he was grinning from ear to ear that time when he saw my “crap-I-don’t-know-what-to-say” face. Then eventually he confessed to me by writing on a piece of paper “I LIKE YOU” and showing it through the webcam which made me smile widely as I am now typing this entry.

That’s about it...well, sort of the entire summary of how I met him.

This is totally unrelated to the post, but my friend said to me when I was in denial mode with my feelings…

“Jessie, you know the song from Hercules the cartoon?”

“Which one? There were plenty…”

“The one where the girl sings that she isn’t in love with Hercules?’

“I think so, why?”

“It’s so totally you. But nevertheless, I’m happy that you’re happy!!”

“Thanks…I guess.”

If you are wondering what the song is (It’s pretty famous.) Here’s the link for it. Enjoy.

Chapter : The Special Someone

2010-07-25T12:35:00.000+08:00

I took a little break from the internet because I was accompanying someone throughout the entire time. This special someone came to Brisbane to see me and spend some time with me. Even though I was the one staying in Brisbane, he was the one bringing around to places I have not been before. He played the tour guide, I played the tourist. It was fun.

Back story, remember a little post I had called A Long Distance Date? Basically my date put together some stuffs for me to follow while I held a mug shot picture of him looking a little crazy because well,

I was holding a mug shot photo of my date
I was taking pictures with the paper that had the mug shot photo

Anyway, continuing the story, I completed everything that stated in there and send him the pictures that I took along the way as “proof” that I have actually completed the entire journey. That’s when everything all began, the webcam chats, the constant flirtations and the in denial mode that I was in and eventually we became an item.

So, he came to Brisbane, I met his friends, he met with Sylvia though he was supposed to meet Kelsie but she decided to change her flight to a later date so he couldn’t meet her in the end…he met my father, sister, brother and my sister’s fiancé. My father asked him to stay for dinner on my birthday and my brother cooked for him. I guess that’s my birthday present from my brother…cooking for me and for him.

We walked a lot. We hung out in the parks, sat on the Citycat (some ferry transportation…boat bus?) ate together, watched a movie together and loads more. It is fun to have spend some quality time with someone special again. But all these lovely moments have to come to an end. He just went back to Malaysia just this morning, I dropped him off at the bus station at 4 in the morning and now I have to focus on my studies all over again, resubmitting my master’s project and in hopes that I will do it better and pass it.

Now it’s back to the webcam chats again and to end this entry, here’s the picture we took together at the Brisbane wheel. If you are able to see on my Facebook, the time where I held a mug shot photo of him at the Brisbane wheel here’s the couple shot. Enjoy!

From virtual to reality.

Chapter : Recap! I'm 23!

2010-07-17T20:59:00.000+08:00

So today is the day where I turned 23 and a year closer to become a crazy cat lady. Just to recap what’s currently going on in my life. It’s pretty boring, so bear with me.

1. Failed my masters. It’s depressing. Cried a gazillion times because I was so upset by it but have a chance to resubmit but hoping that I won’t get someone that I do not like.

2. Someone finally arrived to Brisbane just to spend time with me but the first thing I did when I met him, I said that he was short then he teased and bullied me throughout our first meeting.

3. Birthday wasn’t really my typical birthday where I went out for dinner and stuffs. Instead, I celebrated it two days earlier because my sister to attend a friend’s wedding. So in return, she baked me blueberries and strawberries cheesecake!

4. Decided to eat pizzas for my birthday and Sylvia was there too. Never ever order four large pizzas even though your younger brother who is still growing claims that he could finish one large pizza.

5. Will only return back to Malaysia end of the year because of my masters thing.

I would write up to 23 points but unfortunately, I’m not that exciting. So that pretty much sums up what’s happening in my life now. Short entry for today, need to go say my thank yous to all the lovely people who wished me happy birthday!

Chapter : Dad's Birthday Celebration

2010-07-06T23:15:00.001+08:00

Yesterday we celebrated my dad’s birthday at this fancy restaurant, Lure. It was fine dining type of restaurant and it was also to celebrate my dad’s retirement. The restaurant won some award for the best seafood restaurant in some year. I’m not good with such details. We sat down and looked at the fancy menu and ordered our food.

The pictures were all taken by my sister’s fiancé Patrick (still find it funny to call him my sister’s fiancé instead of boyfriend now…)

Lure Menu

Mom and the birthday man (wanted to say boy but it sounds funny calling my dad, "boy")

My dad with his two daughters

My youngest brother and my dad. My youngest brother finally smiled properly after when I threaten him that he will not be able to play my PSP.

There was not a clear picture of my dad and my brothers so that's why I didn't put one up.

My mom and her daugthers

My mom and her sons

Me and my mom

Me and my sister. Hugging my sister was like hugging a teddy bear!

Me and my brother. His hair is getting so long plus it's super straight, my elder sister said his hair looks like a coconut.

If you are wondering why isn't there a picture of my youngest brother and me, well...I didn't take one...He and I...not so close.

My sister giving my youngest brother a big kiss on his cheek. He looks very unhappy, don't you think so?

Unhappy customer?

My sister and Patrick

The six course meal menu that my brother and dad ordered.

Mixed Sashimi Plate

Didn't managed to take a picture of my dad's Balmain Bug Salad though...

Grilled Clearwater Scallops

Pan Seared Coral Trout & Grilled Prawn

Black Angus Eye Fillet

That's the few dishes from the six course meal, will put up the dessert and cheese dish pictures later...now onwards to the rest of the other foods that we ordered!

Seafood chowder that my sister and my youngest brother ordered

The bigger portion of the Pan Seared Coral Trout & Grilled Prawns dish. Patrick and my mom ordered this.

My sister's dish, couldn't remember the name but I know it's prawns!

My grilled fish of the day with sweet potato and crab meat risotto. My youngest brother also ordered the same thing but he didn't like the risotto.

Patrick decided to take a picture of me finishing my meal for once!

Lure ever famous advertisement and card design

My pathetic attempt to copy the model

Then my sister ask the waiter to bring out the cake before the dessert

The waiter who served us and my dad's birthday cake

The entire Goh family

The Goh family and the soon to be son-in-law. The waiter didn't know how to use the camera and my hair decided to flop down as soon the camera flashed. Just realized that my youngest brother's face looks very...surprised?

My mom feeding my dad his birthday cake before the waiter took it away to cut it and serve us

Dessert! Chocolate Assiette

Cheese Plate

Crackers to go with the cheese

My dad's birthday cake. Something marble cake with something, Patrick told me the name but I forgot but look how they arranged it! So pretty!

I have cake! But couldn't finish it because I was so full from dinner

What's left of the cake

After dinner, we met up with my dad’s old friend from Malacca, Uncle Tai Ping and his family at Mt. Cootha (Don’t know whether I spelt the name correctly). We practically “grew” up with them because they have seen us since we were very young and played with them and stuffs. Man, how time flies and we are all grown up! The weather was pretty warm that night because I wasn’t shivering in my clothes standing up there enjoying the view…or maybe because I was wearing my super thick jacket that my dad bought from China.

Uncle Tai Ping's son, Roger together with my sister and I.

So I just end the entry for the day with the view of Brisbane from Mt. Cootha. It’s pretty, right?

Chapter : Updates

2010-06-27T01:26:00.000+08:00

Oh my! It is almost towards the end of June! I have been busy completing my project for my masters and I can happily say that I’m FREE!! Well, not quite…I still have my freelance job to do which I have put on hold for a really long time. I’m so sorry Rowan.

Hoping that I will pass all my subjects with flying colours because if I do fail one subject (touch wood!) I would not know how to overcome it. Plus, I wouldn’t know what am I suppose to do after that. Either I retake the subject or just fly back to KL and start looking for jobs. It’s nerve-wrecking thinking about this. But I shall put that aside…

It’s funny how everyone is crazy over World Cup (well, most people I know judging from the countless twitter spam) whereas I was one of the few who was working and staying overnight in uni and couldn’t care less who was playing against who nor who was in or out of the game. Now I catch a glimpse of the game because my brother watches it late at night when I’m busy surfing the web on my laptop and have to shush my brother when he started cheering or commenting how bad the player kick the ball or something because it’s really late and I do not want to wake the entire household.

July is fast approaching and my entire family will be reunited to celebrate my dad’s 55th birthday and his retirement. I can’t believe that my dad is already retired, I have already completed my studies (still waiting for the results) and my sister got engaged. It’s kind of hard to think of my dad as a retired man and thinking that my sister will be getting married soon. I still find it hard to call Patrick as my sister’s fiancé because I was so used to introducing him as my sister’s boyfriend.

One time I overheard my sister talking to her best friend on the phone about the wedding thing and I remembered my sister saying that she wants a themed wedding. A. Themed. Wedding. I’m hoping that she will eventually change her mind because I fear that the entire “theme” that she was going for is based on colours and knowing her favourite colour is pink…okay, I do not want to go there...on the other hand, I do know that my sister wants to buy a wedding gown so she could keep it and probably pass it down to her children in the future like how my mom kept her own wedding gown in hopes that one of her daughters would wear it. Okay, I think she hopes that one of her daughters would wear it because she kept saying that we couldn’t fit into her cheongsam that she wore during her wedding or something…I don’t remember the details.

I’m just imagining how big would the wedding would be since my sister is the eldest daughter and the first born child in the family…man, I wonder how many tables we would have judging on how many relatives we have plus my sister’s friends and my parent’s friends…but that is not a thing for me to worry because it will be handled by my sister and possibly a wedding planner and my parents. I just have to attend the wedding and hoping to “torture” the groom when the time comes. Boy, I’m such a sadist.

All in all, I just hope when my sister gets married, my relatives wouldn’t come torturing me with the ever famous question, “So, when is your turn?”

Chapter : Am I Human?

2010-05-20T14:33:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I wonder whether I’m really human. You might be wondering why, and I will explain to you my…daily routine for the past week.

I wake up in the morning, and if I have classes that day, I will attend them.

Then after that, I will rest for a bit, grab some lunch because I don’t want to die from starvation.

Once lunch break is over, I will look in the labs to see whether my favourite spot is taken.

If not, then I will sit there and start using the internet while waiting for my file to load.

After that I will start working on my final project while chatting to people on MSN, Facebooking, Twittering and having some show playing at the background. (Yes, I enjoy multitasking)

Then gradually will be engrossed in my work then will be hardworking for awhile before I find dinner. Mostly instant noodles or microwave foods, so unhealthy, I know.

After dinner break, watch whatever show that is being played then continue working till late at night.

Most of the time, I will be staying overnight in uni so I do not sleep.

After that, usually around 1 or 2 am my motivation will just disappear and I start procrastinating. I know bad habit!

After procrastinating for an hour or so, (probably more) I will force myself to continue my work but then I will start feeling hungry again. Supper time!

Mostly this is when I eat little chips bought from the vending machine or drinking a hot drink to keep myself warm because the uni seems to enjoy blasting the air con from time to time.

Supper time break over, continue working and then realizes its 6 am.

Contemplating whether to head out at 6 am since the public transports are in service but choose to head out slightly later around 7 am or at times 8 am.

Choosing between taking the train or the bus depending how tired I am or how hungry I am. I know, I eat a lot these days, it isn’t funny.

Reaching my stop, either I would get breakfast if I take the bus or just walk straight home if I take the train. Like I have said, depends how tired or how hungry I am.

Reach home, drop all my belongings on the little “study” table then on my laptop and surf for a little while then head upstairs to bed.

Normally during this time it would be around 9 am or close to 10 am and my body is shutting down on its own, I would just drop dead on my bed and fall asleep.

You might think I will sleep a GOOD EIGHT hours but unfortunately my body alarms wakes me up within 4 hours at maximum 5 hours unless I’m really exhausted.

Then once I freshen up, I’m back in front of my computer continuing other assignments that are due soon. But most of the time, mind isn’t focusing because either lack of sleep or lack of nutrients in brains. Here is when I choose to eat or not to eat lunch because I’m always full when I just wake up.

Browsing the internet again, chatting, checking through the usual websites I visit and mails, soon it will be dinner time.

Normally I would be helping out or stoning in front of the computer because body takes time to start up.

Dinner time break over, back in front of the computer and do the usual brain-wrecking assignments.Mostly not really fruitful.

Work and work throughout the time then realizes it’s almost 4 am and then head to bed.

Then the routine continues the next day…

So what do you think? Am I normal or not? Human? Yes or no?

Chapter : Halfway

2010-05-18T18:14:00.000+08:00

It seems that every Tuesday at my place, there would be a little dancing class. My ex-housemate would come over to the place and teach my brother and my sister’s boyfriend steps for Salsa. I was asked to learn but I was like “Err, no I don’t dance.” The only dancing I do is with my fingers, I thought to myself. I remembered my days when I was a little innocent girl, my mom decided that it would be a great idea to put her daughter into dancing classes! I kid you not, I have done Latin dances such as cha cha, samba, rhumba, and so on…but I forgot all of the steps already.

Back then when I was a little one, I hated the opposite sex. You might be like thinking, “But WHY?!” but in my defense, when you are at that age, you think that boys are just mean people and vice versa. They say mean things to you and make you cry. But in my case, they say mean things, I just beat them up. I wonder what happened to that boyish side of me. I guess I grew up and threw that side away…or not.

Anyway, as I’m typing this, I’m just watching my sister’s boyfriend partnering my ex-housemate’s guy friend (he is playing the girl role) dancing on the balls of his feet to give the impression that he is on heels. I find it hilarious because he is pretty buff and muscular dancing on tip toes. Now they are using some Salsa dancing terms. Oh boy, they sound like they are from a different world from mine.

My mother is the type where she loves her kids to take up some form of artistic stuffs. Be it music or dancing. I took up piano classes before but I gave up because I didn’t like doing the theory. I took up dancing (okay, forced to take up) but stopped because I didn’t like the idea of being partner with a guy or was there another reason for this…I don’t remember. The only thing that I have managed to continue on was my art classes which I eventually stopped after 7 or 8 years because the fees were getting outrageous and the teacher was getting a bit of a snob.

Oh, another thing which I took up and then gave up later which made my dad very disappointed in me was my Taekwondo classes. I was up to the 2nd last belt (Brown II one more to be Black) then I decided to give it up. My dad kept pestering me to continue it but I was totally against it and until now I didn’t know the reason why I gave it up in the first place.

Now looking back, I realized that I have taken up a lot of things and giving them up half way. I wonder whether it is some psychological matter. Should I see a psychiatrist for this and let them psycho me? Cause my parents always say, "You are always doing things halfway." And I know that it's a fact.

Chapter : Assignment Pt 3

2010-05-03T22:27:00.001+08:00

I like to write my assignment stuffs that I need to do so it would remind me because I’m THAT forgetful in remembering what stuffs that I need to complete. So, there is four weeks left before I officially graduate with a Masters degree but within those four weeks, I have to complete these tasks before I could scream and celebrate for joy!

THINGS TO DO

Character Design

Princess
Prince
Evil Witch
Fairy Godmothers (3 types)
King (optional)
Queen (optional)

Concept Design

The castle (inside)
The forest
View of the castle from the outside (scenery)
The broken bridge (obstacle)
The spindle area
Place where Sleeping Beauty sleeps
Evil Witch castle

All those pictures are to be traced and coloured in Flash

Research for presentation for Visual Analysis and Critical Reflection
Research for essay for Post Modernism and Modernism

Compile the games’ pitching bible must include

Concept designs
Character designs
Market research (target audience)
Budget summary (how much do these people get paid?)
Detailed explanation of levels

All statements must have a solid proof to back up when doing presentation

Flash ‘demo’ game

1000 words statement

Freelance work

Animate the iceberg
Do the video editing
Find someone to do the polar bear animation (2d) unless it isn’t needed anymore

Wow, so many things to do. Looks like I will be sleeping in uni very often. Wish me luck!

Chapter : Tamborine Park

2010-05-03T22:03:00.013+08:00

I have decided to blog, again. It seems that I have been blogging fairly often unlike the other months where you can only see ONE posts at most TWO blog posts. Brisbane is having another long weekend and today, its Labour Day thus, a public holiday.

One thing about Brisbane and public holidays is that, there is NOTHING and I stress, NOTHING is opened. All the shops will be closed; barely any restaurants are open unless the “greedy” ones that will open so they could charge the 15% surcharge for their services. Other than that, the roads are empty; the place is pretty quiet and slow. It makes me feel like I’m living on the country side, counting sheep and falling asleep.

My dad is down at the Coast for some business trip and the entire household together with my two ex-housemates and friend decided to have a BBQ trip down to Tamborine Park. The journey was long because Min Wye was driving and we were relying on the GPS to get us there. Lesson learned, never ever put your entire faith on GPS. It took us a while to reach to our designated spot as Patrick was the one who found the place and planned the trip down…err up North. Forgive me, I’m hopeless in Geography. Put me in a jungle and equipped me with a compass and a map, I’m dead.

Finally we reached our destination! I was starving until I wasn’t hungry anymore. If you might wonder, how can it be? Don’t ask, even I don’t know how to explain how my body works. The place is lovely; a lot of green and well, it’s pleasant, quiet and nice. It was a nice getaway from the “busy” city life once in a while. Well, compared to Kuala Lumpur, Brisbane looks pretty peaceful if you ask me. Took a while to set up the pit and thankfully it’s actually gas not the normal BBQ pit where you had to get charcoals, that oil thing and stuffs. I don’t know the names for these items, I always call it “the fire oil thingy.” I add thingy to the end of my sentence when I don’t know the name for certain items.

The pictures shown are taken by my dad who got a new camera and was fiddling with it and my brother. If you are wondering what happened to my camera, well…I forgot to charge my camera’s battery so yeah, a thing that I would do. Bring a camera without bothering to check whether the camera’s battery is fully charged.

Mushroom and onions. So delicious

So many cooks. Well, technically one cook and the rest were the "helpers"

I do not know the name of this bird but it was brave enough to "join" us with our meal. Well, more like watching us eat while we watch it staring at us eat.

Min Wye was trying to take the picture of that bird countless times but it always flew away before he could get a decent shot. My dad took this picture and asked me to move but I had food in my hands...hence the awkward pose.

We saw some waterfalls!

Isn't it beautiful? The water was really cold when I dipped my feet into it.

Wanted to find a picture with just the view but didn't have any. Meet Stephen, my ex-housemate.

I really wanted to swim but thought otherwise because the water's is cold and I don't go well with cold.

It was a lovely trip and I wouldn't mind another road trip like that in the future. Well, it would be different if I were back in Malaysia as I would probably only be going for food trips instead. So if you feel stressed and need to unwind, head down to the country side and breathe in some of the fresh air or take a cold dip in the clear clean springs!

Chapter : Dead, Reincarnated Laptop

2010-04-28T01:32:00.002+08:00

This is a little short update that I’m going to do for today. To summarize what has happened, well…my laptop died on me. Literally died, went to heaven and reincarnated again.

It’s because my hard disk for my laptop decided to take its own life and thus without any warning leaped onto lift up to heaven leaving me to curse its existence. Why you might ask that I was such a foul temper when my laptop decided to leave me? It’s simple.

All my researches that I have conducted for I don’t know how long is gone. I have to start from scratch again and my project is due in 5 weeks.
The work that I was working on didn’t get to save in time because it went into the BLUE SCREEN OF DOOM!!! There goes my effort down the drain.

That’s the major two reasons that I could give to you.

Thankfully, my sister’s boyfriend managed to salvage some files, mainly my work that was stored previously but all my other programs and other random stuffs are gone. Like seeing your money flying away when you are paying your taxes or something.

Now my laptop is up and running (using what used to be my external hard drive, plus from 230 GB to 500 GB upgrade!) though I feel that something is amiss from my previous lagging, dying laptop. I have to reinstall so many things as usual and also, finding out what programs that I used to install in my laptop. It’s such a pain to do all these things but I must be thankful because I have well, my laptop back. A healthier one I hope and doesn’t do drugs or get sick easily.

Another thing that made my day was thanks to this person. He drew a comic for me and that’s the sweetest thing anyone have done for me! He is the person that I had the long distance date with and the one who teaches me about pews. He makes me smile, in a special way if you know what I mean.

Now I have to get to bed because I have a meeting with my lecturer tomorrow and I couldn’t do anything because my laptop died on Monday (just few days ago) and it’s up and running now but couldn’t get any work done. Hopefully she doesn’t screw me because I have not much to show her.

Chapter : Pew

2010-04-26T15:02:00.004+08:00

I have started the word of the day thing on my MSN status message and today’s word is “PEW.” Funny thing how I came to this word is thanks to this guy. We were talking about churches and stuffs and he was telling me a joke about pews.

I didn’t get it of course because due to my lack of understanding bombastic words or not knowing certain things are named that way. Then Jason found out that I didn’t get the joke and he was like

“Do you know what’s a pew?”

And dumbly enough, or maybe due to my selective hearing…or basically I just am deaf, I heard

“Do you know what’s a Jew?” (No offence to anyone, it’s just me. I’m sorry.)

Then he saw my puzzled expression I think and he showed me a link about pews. Apparently pews are those benches, well I call them benches that we sit and pray to God at church. Who knew that they were called pews?! I know spews, because I myself am always spewing nonsensical stuffs.

So to those who don’t know what a pew is, here a picture for you guys. That is the same picture that Jason showed to me what a pew is. Now, I can hereby say, I learn something new every day or maybe it’s just me because I don’t go out much and live in my own fantasy world with ponies, unicorns, rainbows or something.

Chapter : Err, wrong number.

2010-04-25T15:47:00.001+08:00

Having an awesome phone number leads to:-

Easy to remember
Looks really nice when you write it down
People will tell you “Wow, your number’s really nice. How you get it?”

But on the other hand, the major problem that you can get by having an awesome number is a LOT and I kid you not, a LOT of wrong numbers calling you. Maybe it's just me. I have some weird aura that attracts people to be dialing my number. Who knows?

I have forgotten how many times that my phone rings just to find out that it’s the wrong number calling looking for so and so which obviously:-

I’m not a guy named Leon.
I’m neither your uncle *insert name here* nor your aunty *insert name here*.
I’m not Thai either; I speak English for your information.
I’m not your daughter named Lisa.
I’m not Martha (or was it Mertha?) that stays across your street. If I’m staying across your street, why are you calling me when you could walk over to find me or something?
I do have a voice, so please don’t say Hi and hang up later. Please at least say “I’m sorry, wrong number”
If I told you once, “Sorry, you have the wrong number.” Please get it that you INDEED dialed the wrong number and stop asking for the person that you are looking for which obviously I'm not.
Also, do not asked “Are you sure this isn’t *insert name here* number?” Erm, yeah, I believe that I know it very well because I’m the one answering the phone and telling you “Sorry, wrong number.”
I do not stay in Sydney, New South Wales, Adelaide, and so forth. When I tell you, “Sorry ma’am / sir, I’m from Brisbane.” Please don’t believe that you know that you dialed the right number such as “Oh, I did typed in the right number. Why am I calling Brisbane?” I don’t know but I do know that you DID not type in the right number.
Please at least be sure that you got the right number before you start spewing out some stuffs and I have to interrupt you by saying, “Err, you got the wrong number.” Which then leads to, “Oh, sorry.” And then you hang up.

So it’s pretty amusing what kind of callers you get these days. Well, mainly it happens to me here in Australia because my phone is always on silent mode, I barely text to anyone cause I’m mostly online. The phone calls I get are always from home, my mother calling because she is bored at work or looking to talk to my sister but couldn’t get her because she is working.

Any sort of experiences similar to mine? Maybe even more interesting compared to mine. So far, the most interesting one was someone calling and start speaking in Thai. Now, that’s odd.