Sunday, January 29, 2006

Happy Chinese New Year

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Bed Of Roses

She'll let you in her house
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides

She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice

You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get
To that place where you can't remember
And you can't forget

She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stayA million miles away

-Bruce Springsteen: Secret Garden-

Congratulations Seth! You found your secret garden!

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Trouble + Trouble

A very tiring week. Someone misjudge, someone miscalculated and we all are in deep shit. And we have to mend the problem unethically and in-morally :( Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.
Miss Klein’s lunch was supposed to be great, we were supposed to have it at TGI Friday but Guillermo insists on having it at the Casablanca Steak House that serves the most terrible asparagus soup and lamb chop ever. I think the cook was having a very bad day.
However, things were patched up last night and we had a great party at Telawi Bistro. It was even greater when the whole world turns up and it was charged under The Director’s account :) We had a wild night – but we will always remember our beloved Director on the dance floor – comical and hilarious. Memorable indeed!

Saturday, January 14, 2006

TRAP

It was a day to de-stress. The Others and myself make a road trip to Sungkai, Ipoh for a Hot Spring adventure. We had dim sum for breakfast at SS15, 2 hours of driving through the PLUS Highway and arrive to enjoy an open-air jacuzzi; surrounded by serene & lush forest patch, hills, oil palms and durian orchards. Our privacy was guarded as well as the soaking pool was fully enclosed from the prying eyes. I have to say for a government-run nature park – this place is very well maintained. I have not seen a speck of rubbish on the pavement, broadwalk or on anything.
Soaking our bodies into the pool was so refreshing – it feels therapeutic. At first our flesh couldn’t adapt to the warm temperature, our bodies feel like burning and turn blemish red but once we settle in, it was good. Ping even gives me a good neck and shoulder rub :)
Sometimes, it’s indeed good to be a part of nature, to take in the natural sight, to breathe in unpolluted air and to feel rejuvenated. Sadly for some people a hectic working life with a demanding social life doesn’t permit so. Even some of the nature parks in KL are so poorly maintained that it eventually becomes uncondusive to serves its purposes.

Sometimes I’m nice to them is because I’m naturally a nice person and also out of respect because they are the elders. And I’m also hoping that a single act of kindness may turn things around. And as usual, they take things for granted. Lesson: You can be nice but not too nice. I give up in believing that people can actually change.

Tentatively the location is in Bangsar – venue for Miss Klein’s farewell party. It’s a grand one and we will make this a memorable one as well – The Director and Boss have already accepted the invitation – so this is going to be memorable for sure!

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Double Date

It was a disaster.
I don’t think Trix and Miss Klein will favor anymore blind dates after this. They make very little progress with their respective dates. The plan was to have them with 2 unknown strangers to have dinner at HALO, and later proceed to some night entertainment elsewhere. Instead we have a fusion dinner, casual conversations and was entertained by a live band who churned out canto-pop & mando-pop songs for 6 straight hours.
You see, Tommy has sort of set up a so-called not-for-profit Match-Making Agency with the aim to reduce the number of bachelors & bachelorettes in M13. So far, none of Tommy’s clients have found any success; including me (i joined in for the fun) :)
Finding a guy in urban KL is easy. Finding the right one – that’s difficult. What’s more the whole Eve population has already outnumbered the Adam population. In M13, the scenario is much worst. The ratio is 1:12.
In my humble experience, all the good ones has already been taken – only left the not-so-good ones and yet we have to compete for these not-so-good ones as well :) I’m in no rush to get my matrimony license and status. I think all the young ladies out there should live life, earn a living, buy properties and secure oneself first. And if you are lucky enough to find Mr. Right – then the cherry just completes your pie. As for me – I’m about to start to live.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

Let’s just say that I have one misfortune after another.

First the van broke down due to a clutch problem. Then it broke down for the second time because of some clog; somewhere. So it comes highly recommended from the family mechanic that I start using Shell or Caltex petrol instead of the national brand. Apparently foreign brands are more unadulterated.

My house desktop has been infected with an unknown virus – thus some of the programs remain inaccessible.

I have been spending my hard earned money unwisely – I couldn’t even see the physical goods that I have bought. I’m officially bankrupt for this month.

Miss Klein’s official resignation was announced – even the Boss’s pet and the majority’s favorite is not safe. My shelf life is not that far away as well. Fine…I’m doing what is required of me right now and avoid the unnecessary limelight. They are fighting for survival and I’m not. So ignorant is bliss :) A friendly reminder from Miss Klein - ‘When you need to be stupid, be stupid. When you must be smart, be smart’.
The past year has been very enriching with a very steep learning curve where I have learned lots. I have plans – ok, it’s not concrete at the moment but still there is a Plan A and Plan B on how I want to develop myself in all the concern areas.

The only good thing that happens to me this week is when my workstation processor has been upgraded to a sleek black HP-Compaq 7540 with a 17 inch monitor and I was given a brand new white Panasonic phone (courtesy of the Facilities Manager) :)

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year / Happy 2006

Ladies and gentlemen, of the class of '99.
Wear Sunscreen.


If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.
I will dispense this advice now.


Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.
Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future.


Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.


Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.
The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive.
Forget the insults.
If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters.


Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium.
Be kind to your knees.
You'll miss them when they're gone.


Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance.
So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body.
Use it every way you can.
Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.
It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.


Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines.
They will only make you feel ugly.


Get to know your parents.
You never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings.
They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.


Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise.
Politicians will philander.
You, too, will get old.
And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.
But you never know when either one might run out.


Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.


-Baz Luhrmann: Everybody's Free (To Wear SUNSCREEN)-