It's My Bro's Bday!

My collegues are sharp... very sharp. By the end of the week of the relocation my seat, the ones sitting next to me are aware that I have internet access (somehow) without me making an official announcement. I never meant to be obcure about it, since we do ultilise the Internet to operate our cases.

By Thursday, I have been requested for online favours ranging from checking firm emails or legal websites, downloading documents to finding out the results of American Idol, whereby I discovered that the majority are Kris Allen supporters. I listened to Kris's Heartless cover on the radio and I thought it was really hot. (Geez I sound so Paris. As in Hilton.)

BUT it is a little creepy that people watch you silently and are aware of what's going on your monitor screen without your realization...

Mum is throwing a birthday tea/dinner party for my brother tomorrow evening. (Actual birthday is next Wednesday) Mum is ultilizing her summer house to its full social potential. She had an air conditioner installed in there recently. (All we need left is a fountain, carp and garden lights...) Heard that we're expecting around 60 people or more attending the event.

I saw the menu from the caterer (First Coffee Shop) and it looks seriously good. Sneak preview of the few I remember: fried chicken, beef rendang, nuggets, fries, sausages, prawn fritters, chicken curry, fried noodles, fruits, orange juice. We're trying to get a 2kg Mango Mousse Cake and balloons tonight. An aunt is contributing Tiramisu. *prepares to swim in food*

Blogging At Midnight

The most exciting thing that happened to me this week was moving to a new desk downstairs amongst the masses. The boss discovered me FB-ing and blogging instead of following my cases diligently and decided to demote me.

Impossible.

We actually discussed this over and realized that it would be best if I had a mentor at my side to guide me through my cases so that they can trust me with more cases. I must admit that I'm learning more than expected even just within these 3 days (ie. how to handle difficult clients/bank officers in style, how to play around deadlines, escape penalties and gory details of the financial health of banks/companies). Ms. Leong beside me is my great helpline.

No longer there are the days of me blogging and FB-ing on impulse during noon. I know I'll be missed. I discovered that the PC I am currently using was the same one I used when I was working in the firm 3 years ago (2005). How? Because it still contained all those anime wallpapers I uploaded. (:P) Fortunately, I am still able to go online (and prolly check on FB in the split seconds heads are turned) but unfortunately, the processor is one of >7 years ago and it is not able to support MSN (oh the horror).

The best news I heard today. Malat is returning in exactly a month's time. All this while I believed that I had to hold up till the end of July (June and July both start with 'J', that's why I got so mixed up) and we have tonnes of activities lined up for the entire month. OMG I'm so looking forward to our photo, food, beach, chiko-ing sessions. Waiting time just got cut short by 1 month.

The level of entertainment is not worth mentioning if compared to KL. It's not so bad because we're fun people who have fun anywhere, anytime. Last week, I even had this crazy idea of opening a decent club in Ipoh like Zouk. I don't think there is even a club in Ipoh that lives up to the qualifications of a club in Ipoh. Like, seriously.

The few interesting things to do when you're bored is eat, get on the net, watch a movie, shop a lil bit or sleep. That's all. Period. Howsoever, I think that Ipoh has the best cyber cafes in the country, correct me if you think otherwise. CCs in Ipoh get the best business because rent is cheap (big, famous ones own like 3 shoplots) and are very well equiped. Rate is cheapest in the country 1.00-2.50/hour but you get 3 lots worth of customers everyday. Profit up your neck sia.

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Over the weekend, when it was scorching hot, Husky's fan broke down and my mum purposely carried a fan over and placed it next to the door. We even threw her a few pieces of ice to munch. The next day, mum got her a huge metal fan (you know the huge ones that can go full blast, mebbe we can borrow it for our photoshoots LOL).

The two rascals.

Jack looks a bit like Mickey Mouse when both his ears are flipped, doesn't he?

His emoness who is afraid of the dark.

The Day Lunch Is Dead

Gawd, I seriously couldn't wake up this morning. Was really close to throwing a temper tantrum against the torture of getting out of bed. Steph, Ryan and I went out to play Left 4 Dead and DotA. I must be growing old since I play like a total n00b. My glorious gaming days has become a memory of a distant past. So sad; what about the collection of games that I intend to play after I retire and all my kids left home? Gaming is fun, just that I'm not as obsessed about it as I was before college days.

Despite making plans yesterday, I have been left to fend for myself for lunchtime today. It's okay, I feel like eating the nice chicken rice 2 shops away but I discovered that it was closed. The vegetarian rice shop at the other end wasn't opened too. (Why is everything closed today?!) Being sleepy, tired and cranky to walk any further than 20 meters for food, I decided to make a cup of coffee and take a nap to sleep off my hunger...

I Oh So Hate The 39%*

With referral to this post.

You've hurt me so badly yet you keep me around for cheap favours.

If I have any better sense and dignity, I really should just ignore you.

F*.

*39% : are polite but mentally decides not to pursue anything beyond friendship. At least, if they happen to get in trouble with the law maybe I'll be willing to handle their case for free / give them a special discount (because we're friends!!!). Hey smartass, why would I want to associate myself with someone who purposely gets in trouble with the Law and thinks my service is not worth the remuneration?!

[Update]

On my judgment of character, I often relied on my initial gut feeling when associating with people. I take pride in my ability to decide whether this person is a potential friend or a subject to eternal banishment within the span of 3 seconds from first contact. Usually, it turns out accurate.

Sometimes I would feel uncomfortable associating with certain people; the kinda feeling that you decide to dislike them despite only knowing them for barely 2 minutes. I can't describe the reasons they are bad, but I just know it.

I used to know this guy; first impression I disliked intensely him without reason. We became good friends being the mild natured person I am. Eventually as I got to know him, I decided that he was too tedious to be friends with (and I'm glad he's not directly involved in my life as of today). A few other examples followed throughout the years, and I learnt that yes, my gut feeling is something NEVER to be disputed with.

In a logical sense, I expect the best from people and give them the benefit of the doubt. I cannot imagine people being evil and hurting another human being blatantly for their own gains. Realistically, they do. I have probably done it unconsciously every now and then. But for them to act without guilt and shame after doing despicable things is something that is utterly... out of my understanding.

Regret isn't something I'm familiar with, partially because I take extra effort to avoid any potential regrets after I made my decisions, not that I've always made the perfect choices. I only realized that I am only capable of making decisions that seem 'perfect' at that time. It contributes that I'm so competent in sweeping problems under the rug and move on with life should things go horribly wrong (like Duck would say, "Whatever-lah. Who cares?").

When revealed just for the sake of reevaluation, I should be regretting not studying hard to get better grades during school days, not persistently chasing my dreams of being an artist, not figuring out what I want in life for the long term and the consequences of my indecision and lack of action, not being stronger in character, not slimming down and dressing up prettily when I was younger and not telling that boy I had a crush on that I liked him (and regretting now that I told him I liked him).

I suppose it is within my power to determine what regret does to me. To be crippled by it, or to grow from it. Regret incinerates your pride and ego, 100x the damage if you're a proud Leo, like me. Thank God I'm a Leo, because losing is unheard of.

Steamboat on Mother's Day

We had a successful BBQ and we had a successful steamboat party. What next? Conveyor belt sushi? We shall have Tommy and Milo acting as the conveyor belt (Shin Chan joke).

We had meatballs, fish, 4 types of noodles, mushrooms, eggs and plenty of veggies.

We threw all the food into that amazingly huge pot of soup which was boiled almost immediately with our induction plate. Remember the traditional gas option? Boiling time was cut to 1/4.


As usual, there was the adults table (with alcohol; Uncle Fee holds the bottle gleefully)...


...and the children's table (with orange juice).


The pot filled with goodness.


So good that everyone was fixated on what was inside the pot.


With much patience, I finally got to scoop food out of the pot. I <3 Yee Mee.


I overate as usual... because the food was so good.


We had cake.
My selection of mangoes were of 50% accuracy. (Next time should ask the mango lover to buy mangoes, you know who you are.)


I'm so colour coordinated today.


The adults were so impressed with the technology of webcamming that everyone wanted to take turn to appear in front of the camera to wave to Xian.


When we took this picture, I asked Uncle Mike to include Xian in the shot so that he would at least have some involvement in tonight's event. He's gonna be tagged in FB as that fuzzy little green thing on the monitor beside me.


Meh & Hun Yee.


Bought flowers for all the mamas that night. I was lucky, apparently Ipoh has nearly run out of flowers.


Mama and her 4 kiddos. Yes, I said 4.