My 2006 at a Glance

(WARNING: This is a long post. It might bore some people to death. Reader discretion is adviced)

2006 has been a roller coaster ride for me. There were moments of happiness, and moments of sadness. In terms of relationships, well, I think most of you all know that I ended a 6 year long relationship with someone very dear in my life early this year. I can honestly say that is the single lowest point in my life. Never have I before felt such pain, emptiness and sadness. It was a huge blow to my ego, my self esteem, and not to mention my confidence. But that is life I guess. All good things will eventually come to an end (unwillingly), and you just have to embrace it. No use crying over spilt milk. What is done is already done. I can only prepare myself for the future, and move on with my life. It has been really hard, but its not end of the world as they say.

I have made a lot of new friends this year, quite a lot actually. I even managed to meet up with so many friends who I have not seen in years. It’s been really great to see those people and catching up again. I’ve started becoming more open to possibilities. It’s moments like these that make you “wake up” and analyze your life. Asking myself where I see myself in say, 3 years time. For me, it could have been a blessing in disguise for whatever had happened in my past relationship. Turning point? Maybe, I don’t know. People need to analyze themselves and set new goals every now and then. I guess it gave me a lot of time to rethink of what to do next. Now, I think I have a clearer picture of what I’m going to do, and how to achieve it. I basically have everything figured out (at least I think so), being bolder in making certain decisions, more risk oriented. You could also say I have matured in thinking, and being to handle certain situations better.

Recently, I took my very first trip to Melbourne alone! I’m so proud of myself. Why? Because it was initially setup to go during June, however, due to work commitments then, I couldn’t do so, and even had to cancel the pre-book plane tickets. But after months of hard work, late nights and deadlines, I decided to reward myself with this trip. Yeah, some of you might think it might have cost me a kidney or something to go there, and you’re right, it did. But you know what? It was worth every single cent. “Screw the money, you only live once! Go and enjoy, you deserve it”. I keep telling myself; and really I did. It was really a successful trip, being able to catch up with so many long lost friends who I have not met in ages. I will definitely be back there again. The highlight of the whole trip was definitely the U2 concert (I still make people jealous with this btw…hehe), and the drive along Great Ocean Road, in Southeast Australia, definitely memories that will last a lifetime.

So what am I looking forward to in 2007? Well, lets see, in terms of career, I have a few possibilities. I don’t want to jinx it by letting the world know about something unconfirmed, but there is definitely something planned for the coming year. My condo will be ready end of 2007 too. Will I move in? Well, I will only decide when the time comes…can’t wait to decorate it though. I’ve been planning to take up Japanese for a very long time, but just didn’t find the time to do it. I even bought myself phrase books to learn. Next year, I think I’m definitely going to enroll for a Japanese class (fingers crossed…). I’m also interested in taking up rock climbing. Anyone interested to join me? For my planned vacations? I think Bangkok and Boracay or Cebu is definitely somewhere on my 2007 calendar. A more ambitious destination...Japan perhaps? I must first see if I have another body part which I can sell. Boy I can’t wait! 2007…Bring it on!

The Definition of Stupid

stu·pid [stoo-pid, styoo‑] adjective, -er, -est, noun,
-adjective

1. lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
2. characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless: a stupid question.
3. tediously dull, esp. due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless: a stupid party.
4. annoying or irritating; troublesome: Turn off that stupid radio.
5. in a state of stupor; stupefied: stupid from fatigue.
6. Slang. excellent; terrific. –noun
7. Informal. a stupid person.

—Related forms
stu·pid·ly, adverb
stu·pid·ness, noun

Also see: Cicakman, Crazy Frog

* Please suggest any other link to associate stupid with.

Cows & Crocs

Here is a thought...if genuine leather is fire proof, does that mean cows and crocs are too?

Fire proof?

The Japanese Lady @ Starbucks

I was at Mont Kiara Starbucks on a lovely Sunday morning, with my hot cup of coffee, browsing through the internet, when suddenly a Japanese lady came up to me and ask me to help her set up her internet connection as she couldn't seem to be able to connect to the internet. I didn't really know what she wanted at first because she couldn't really speak good English, but I did go over to her place and try to help her out. Guess what?...her Windows OS on her laptop is in Japanese!!! I was like "errr...ok..I will see what I can do, because I don't know how to read Japanese.." Luckly, I was able to navigate my way through the settings (thanks to the years of experience...cheh..:p) and guessed what each button meant. I finally manage to get her connected online. However, she didn't have a Timezone account, and she had to register for one. I helped her to register an account, but somehow, what ever you type, seems to be converted to Japanese characters! (the keyboards on her laptop are in Japanese too!!). I soon gave up in the registration process and just ask her to use my account. She then thanked me and we introduced ourselves. Believe it or not, I introduced myself in Japanese!!! "Watashi wa namewo, Nick des" She was impressed!! She then introduced herself as Connie des. Well after that she thanked me again, and we then returned to our respective places.

LuDok the Red Nosed Reindeer

Ok, since its Christmas, lets sing a Chirstmas song.....Malaysian style! Here is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in Hokkien:

LuDok Ang Phikang Lok
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Uu Kui Kui Eh Phikang
had a very shiny nose.
Shi Lu Uu Tu Teow Ee
And if you ever saw him,
Lu Eh Kong Ee Huat Kui
you would even say it glows.

Pak Jiak Eh Lok
All of the other reindeer
Siong Siong Chew Ka Luan Kio Ee Mia
used to laugh and call him names.
Ee Lang Boh Hor LuDok
They never let poor Rudolph
Cham Ee Lang Peh Peh Chit Toh
join in any reindeer games.

Tua Jit Leh Peng Ang Meh Eh Shi
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa Kah Ee Kong:
Santa came to say:
"LuDok Lu Eh Phikang An Neh Kuei
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Kim Meh Eh Sai Chuah Loh Ho Wah Eh Cheah Boh?"
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

He Cham Kee Ka Liau Eh Lok Ai Ee
Then all the reindeer loved him
Ee Lang Hwa Hee Er Jiang
as they shouted out with glee,
LuDok Ang Phikang Lok
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
Au Tao Lek Su Eh Kwa Teow Lu
you'll go down in history!

* Thanks Carol for helping with the translation

In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory of the World's Greatest Mom

MARY IMELDA CHAY WAI YIN

(19.09.1953 - 20.12.2003)

You will always be remembered and have a place in my heart forever. I Love You.

I Could be a Newspaper Editor!!

I was reading through The New Sunday Times newspaper this morning, and I can't help but notice a series of errors. I mean, this is a newspaper with a nationwide circulation and they have so many errors? I'm not picking on the newspaper, but it shows how much effort was done during proof reading. I do not have a PhD in English mind you, but these are very glaring mistakes. Correct me if I'm wrong though, but take a look at 3 obvious mistakes which I spotted in one days paper and you be the judge.

Error #1:
The top half of the article is reporting on how Arsenal made a comeback from 2 goals down from Portsmouth. The third paragraph suddenly jumps to reporting about a Liverpool vs Charlton match. I think they might have left out a paragraph here.

Error #2:
This is an advert for Bosch horns. I guess they invented a new thing call 'horms'

Error #3:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't it be '200,000 kg of meals served at the Athletes Village'? How the hell did they come up with 200,000 km of food? Did they line up the sausages and eggs to form a long line??

So there, I don't know if there are anymore such errors, but I think these are the 3 that were most glaring to me. Time to buck up NST. Do you think I should write in to their editor?

Christmas is Coming...

...and poor old Saint Nick is stuck here blogging to you about this..hehe. Well, it's that time of the year again, where everyone goes around wishing everyone, singing carols, exchanging gifts, having parties...ahhh..that's Christmas. So what do I want for Christmas this year? Well, to be honest, I don't want anything! Hard to believe? Well..maybe its because the things that I really want every year, no one seem to be able to afford it, let alone buy it for me. So I figured, if I lowered my expectations, I won't be so dissapointed. Make sense right? So from now on, every Christmas, I'm not expecting anything. Anything that you give me would be just an added bonus to me. Of course you're still most welcome to give me presents you moron!! I maybe humble but I'm not stupid.

So what's going on this Christmas for me? Hmm..I think it's just gonna be the usual family stuff, dinner, get together and exchanging presents. Every year (well almost..) me, my brother and my sis will gather old clothings and wrap it up and put it in several sacks. On midnight Christmas day, after our present opening session, we will then head of to orphanges in the wee hours of the morning throwing the sack of clothings into their lawn. There will be just a card saying something like "Merry Christmas. Enjoy the clothings. Love Santa" attached to the sack. We just choose to remain anonymous. Sounds fun huh? I hope this year we're going to do it since I have a lot of old clothes that I want to give away.

Oh on another note, we got a brand new Christmas tree! Yep it now stands at 7 feet!!

Cool eh? Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. Hope everyone has been nice and not naughty this year, otherwise Saint Nick will strike you off his Christmas list..hehe

What's in a Name?

You know how funny it can be coming across someone's else name with some weird pronounciation or with a meaning of something rude in another language? Yeah I bet you have. My first thoughts are always....damn, either their parents are stupid or they must have hated their kids to call them that. An example would be chinese singer Fish Leong. Fish?? What's up with that?!! Is it because she likes fish or she looks like a fish that she called herself that? I have nothing against her personally though..just her name I guess. I have 2 cousins who will be expecting their kids next year, and they too are having a dilemma choosing names. Just my word of advice...choose wisely! The kid could be tormented for life and being made a laughing stock if you choose wrongly.

Me and my cousins were having dinner the other day and we touched on the "name the baby" subject. So since we're chinese, we figured its better to give the kid an easier time in school in case the kid has to write his/her name 1000 times as punishment. We thought of limiting the number strokes of the chinese name...great! So we could just name the kid "The One" and save the trouble cause in chinese, 'One' (yee) is represented by just one single stroke. I bet he/she can then write his/her name 1000 times with ease beating the other kids. Then again, you have to think of the letter of the alphabet, as most things are done alphabetically in school. If your kids name start with the letter 'Z', the poor kid will always be last to be called. I can see why names are so important. It also shows why some people wish to change their names.

I know I'm mean but I just got to show you this receipt I got recently while purchasing a bottle of Jack Daniels. Just to further illustrate why names are so important..

I think you get what I mean. I just wonder why did the parents name this person as it is...

The Mystery Girl

It was just like any other morning, the usual morning routine, being half awake and being stuck in the usual traffic jams on the way to the office. I was minding my own business stuck in the jam when I noticed a black Vios beside me. Why was it so noticable you ask? Well, it was because the driver was a young beautiful girl, which looks Japanese I might add (let's keep it as my fantasy ok? eventhough she is not..) adjusting her bra strap and also applying lipstick with the use of her compact mirror!! She certainly caught my attention. Obviously I stared with mouth wide open. She was wearing something skimpy as well. Long black hair, fair complexion...okok, you get the picture. I was staring at her when suddenly she looked at me. For a moment I was shocked and kinda embarrass. I just turned away and pretended as if nothing happened. She went back to looking at herself on her compact and I looked again (more like gawked actually). She then looked up, and she smiled and waved at me! Being shocked and also dumbfounded for that very moment, it took my brains like 10 seconds to interpret what has just happened. I politely waved back at her with a slight grin. She did the same as well!! Whoah..I just couldn't believe what had just happened. I was so in a dazed that I didn't mind the whole time I was stuck in traffic. I wanted to take a picture of her with my camera, but I think that will be regarded as harrassment. I did however took down the number of her car. Hmmm...you think I should find out where she lives? Muahaha...what a way to start a morning!

A Random Quote

Random quote of the day: 我信任你,而这也是我爱你的原因...

The One Utama Incident

I was in One Utama yesterday trying to get a bloody parking spot for nearly 30 minutes!! Note to self (and everyone else): "DO NOT GO to One Utama on Saturdays." It's fucking irratating and frustating if you can't get a parking spot within 15 minutes...what more 30 minutes? Ok, so you can imagine I was happy to see an empty spot after rounding for nearly half an hour...but guess what?? There was a man standing at that spot booking it for someone. I was like "What the fuck??!! How can you do this??!" I didn't care and turned in half way on the parking spot anyway nearly hitting the guy. I wind down my window and told him "Excuse me, but you cannot be booking this for someone, it's not fair and its a first come first serve thing." To which he replied in a typical ah beng accent "No no, someone is coming veli fast one." So I just paused, and answered "Look, the person you are booking this for is obviously not anywhere close and there is a long line waiting behind, please move." He then replied "I dun care, I came here first one, I was going around 20 minutes liao." I told him "So? You and 100 other people have been rounding 20 minutes also. So what makes you think you can do this??" To which he just stood there and gave me a rude stare not wanting to move. I had a staring contest with him for about 30 seconds and decided a low life uneducated person like this just isn't worth my time. I was getting ready to knock the mother fucker down you know, but decided I don't want to make a scene, besides there were a lot of witnesses around if I do ram him over. I reversed, and showed him the finger and drove away.

So it seem you can now stand and book a parking spot. Why don't they just make it a call in and prebook your parking kind of thing? Internet booking maybe??! This is the first time I ever came across such a thing. I was so fucking pissed off, I paid the parking, and drove out of One Utama, cancelling my appointment.

Deflated

I'm dead tired as we speak but somehow still find a bit of energy to write this. Yesterday night I was on a deployment project at Bursa Malaysia in KL till about 1:45am and by the time I got back I slept around 2 something 3am. I woke up at 7am to go help out in Bacardi-Martini's wine sale. Needless to say, it was endless amounts of drinking wine and champagne thoughout, and by the time I left, I was tired and the amount of alcohol seems to be making me even more sleepy. Whats worse? I'm back in my office typing this! Shit..how to party tonight lah? It's a Saturday night!! Screw it man...I'm going to party till I drop dead. Don't want to waste my weekend. *yaawwwnnn*