Rats!!!

Whatever I just said in the post before... Forget it...

A new brief just came in... and it goes something remotely like this...

"I have something from the client. It's a FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) product and we need it afterwards. The Client said that he is giving us 7 hours to see what we can do."

So now, I'm slugging with the rest of my colleagues to come up with an award winning idea that will be sold to the client at 5pm today.

I have done my part... and now it's up to them to make the layout nice, nice...

Just hope that there won't be any changes that requires us to come back to work tomorrow...

If so, then all my plans are going down the drain... and I'll have to rush in order to vacate my room tomorrow...

RATS!!!!

The End for the Chicken

as we know it will arrive this Sunday...

And I have to wait for another 12 years for the next Year of the Rooster to come about, signifying my 36th Birthday...

Well, since today won't be much of a working day, I would also be taking a rest. heh... And tomorrow is a compulsory leave kinda thing... so...

I'm going back for a week or so, and thus, won't be able to update anything via my old, old PC back home... Pentium 2, Windows 97, dial-up.. nah...

So to all my readers, if there are any, Have a Blessed Chinese New Year... and don't gamble...

hehehehe...

Normal service will resume the next, next Monday...

Homesick...

I think it is fair to say that I have no home to go back to...

My room in my hometown has been taken over by my grandparents quite a while ago... Well, come to think of it, it was I that took over the room when they lived with my aunts... hehehehe...

Then, I have been wandering around metropolitan Klang Valley for the past few years...

If I really wanted to track back...

1981 until 1998 ~ Taman Sibuga, Sandakan
1999 ~ Tanah Emas, Kota Kinabalu
1999 ~ Putatan, Kota Kinabalu
1999 ~ Rainfield Court, Kota Kinabalu
2000 ~ Inti College Nilai, Nilai
2001 ~ Ridzuan Condo, Sunway
2002 ~ Subang Ville Apartments, Sunway [B407]
2003 ~ Subang Ville Apartments, Sunway [A103]
2006 ~ Not Found yet
2009 ~ Suria Mas Apartments [Hopefully]

In the course of not more than 10 years, I have moved 8 times at least...

I have made countless friends, and some foes through the coming together of housemates, and the separation of friends.

I have kept my possesions relatively few, so that I don't have much to move as and when I move.

I have thrown away so many things that could bring back so many memories to me because I cannot bring them around. Besides, they're collecting dust.

I have not got a real place to call home.

Well, that partially happens because I only go home to my parents' house once a year, and I sleep at the 'guest-room' or sometimes worse, because my entire extended family comes home for Chinese New Year, the living room. Some kids have the luxury of going home to their rooms whenever they reach home, and the stuff will be there just as they left it, only the colours might have slightly faded...

Me, I go home to my old room, and it is now made into my grandparents' room... I have nothing there to go back to. Only the people living in that house brings me back. And I miss them much.

I have grown into this metropolitan nomad that has no time nor sentiment for sweet memories. I cannot have too much excess baggage with me. I have no fixed place to put my memorabilia from these few years of wandering and I have lost the concept of a family house being a permanent house. Sometimes, I do miss the little insignificant trophies that I gathered throughout my schooling life, the little medals that I won during school sports meets, the little tokens of appreciation here and there that's gathering dust some fine place in my parents' house.

Those are the milestones of my childhood.

And when I look back at these 8 years that I have moved out from my parents' house, it's almost a complete blank!

All I have accorded myself with are the clothes on my back, a collapseable wardrobe, an old computer, the table that supports the computer, two (2) 'three tier' cupboards and my trustee matress. The Bed post that I am sleeping on is borrowed.. heheheh

And these things have been following me around for quite some time... Maybe I should throw away the plastic wardrobe... And live out of a suitcase until I move into my 'permanent' apartment...

Well, maybe, just maybe, I have forgotten how to live a settled life.

I'm so...

Vain...

wait... what does tha word even mean?

*Checks Dictionary..*

erm... nope... I'm not as vain as I thought...

Well, maybe I am... just a little...

Arghhh...

Well, last night, I managed to move the big stuff/junk out of my apartment and there's only the smaller junk now. My fridge has been sold, and at a rather good bargain I should say... well, I still got 40% of the original price after 4 years of usage... And now, I can really travel light.

I just figured that I have so much to throw away, and so little to keep... I've started throwing some of my old papers away, some this, and thats, and suddenly I realised that some of them were paraphernalia that had been lying around my room from the entire three years I've stayed there. I came across my graduation ceremony magazine/booklet and all of a sudden, I realised how much I've grown since then.

Then it struck me that some of these memories won't come back any more. Some of the stuff has to be gone through before I throw them away just in case I threw something really imporatant.

I've been moving around so much that I haven't been able to keep much of my memorabilia with me. Everytime I move, I lose something, and it goes into the nether regions of my mind. Sometimes I don't even remember I have such a thing until I am packing and throwing things away.

I'm not a pack rat, not much of one anyway, but I do tend to 'not-throw-stuff-away' in fear that I will lose the memory of it. Little notes written by my girlfriend a few years back are still carefully tucked away somewhere... and I will make sure these notes get special treatment during the move... Then there are other little things that I picked up from my time around here, all signifying a milestone in my life...

I don't want to look back 10 years from now and see a blank space in this timeslot... memories will fail, but memorabilia, if taken care of properly, will last your lifetime, or more...

That's why photographs are said to record 'death'... A phot-shoot is supposed to kill you, in a sense, simply because that instant, that is captured in film, cannot be re-visited again. So that instant, when the flash blinks, the death of 'that particular moment' is immortalised into a form of physical memory storage...

Here Goes Nothing

Sometimes, in the morning, you jump out of bed and go, "Here goes nothing..."

Well, for those who don't quite understand, it normally happens after you've been worrying about something, and you've worried so much that you've given up worrying.

I am a man who doesn't like things to be hanging in the 'Work-In-Progress' stage. When I start something, I would want it to be settled as soon as possible. Probably it's a weakness, probably it's my personality. I need to see action and can't sit around waiting for things to happen.

Admittedly, I've gotten into trouble for being overtly enthusiastic on a few issues, and I have been made to pay for such insecurities. I hate to preach this again, but it's the most logical explaination; Everything needs balance...

However much I hated that phrase when a friend spoke to me about it, it keeps popping up in my mind!!!

Well, it's an easy point to preach but it's the hardest to do... I have said this some time ago; When you have achieved balance, you will still need to maintain the balance. Ref: The see-saw... Even if you stand in the middle, you will still need to work to keep both ends off the ground...

Well, I have been unsettled once again... Moving my stuff out as soon as possible now, and Friday will be a day of cleaning the old apartment unit...

Life...

Does is have a meaning? At all?

I had lunch with my colleagues and I just figured that everyone around me is chasing after the temporal... even some of the blogs that I regularly stalk are talking about how life sucks and how they have tried this and that to amuse themselves with whatever they can get their hands on...

So that made me look at myself... What have I got? Or what haven't I got?

Sometimes, life does seem bleak. People around me are trying their best to 'out-do' this coming year by reading into Fengshui, talking to mediums, consulting some ying-yang books... Whatever they can get their hands on to know more about their future, or what to expect during the coming year.

Then there are those who care less about what the future holds, and all they care about is whether they got money in their bank accounts, or in some profitable investment.

Then there are those who only carre about what they have now, and what they can have by maxing-out their credit cards. And only find that they are to suffer the consequences a few months later.

There are also those who buy into anything 'profitable' and keep tonnes and tonnes of wealth in the form of fixed and liquid assets.

Whatever gives you security...

Me, I just hope I'm not walking down that road...

4 more Days...

It's that time of year again, and I am starting to feel the excitement of going back home.

I only venture back to my hometown once a year, hopefully, now with the settling down in my job, I could go back maybe twice a year.

Well, it's going to be a mad rush for me this week, simply because i didn't manage to get anything done during the weekend with regards to my house moving. Still no hope in the 'room-market' and there aren't even advertisements saying anything about rooms for rent.

So this means that I'll have to move my stuff to my girlfriend's place by this friday.

Well, the tricky part is this. One of her tenants have promised to move out 'by the end of this month' and my sister will be taking the room. And this week will be exactly the end of the month! I will be giving my sister my 'fixed assets' in the form of a work desk, table lamp, bedposts and a couple of cupboards. However, if the tenant doesn't move out by this week, then these things will have to be stuffed somewhere.

It's gonna be mad... The good thing about this is that I have relatively very little things to pack... I'll start throwing stuff that I don't need tonight, or later, then we'll see what happens after that. I won't be free tuesday night, and thursday night. Wednesday night is occupied by the company dinner. And tonight, I'm supposed to help a friend move house also... It seems that I will have to either reject my friend's request, or suffer on Thursday night. We'll see how it goes.

Going home, however, would be a very welcomed trip. I just hope that I won't get sick before that. Darn it, why does everyone have to get sick before the biggest festival in the year? And that affects me because I will also get sick!!! Rats...

sigh... maybe I need a change in lifestyle... It is starting to seem that I really do not have much time for myself.

It's the weekend...

again... but I am still deflated...

Weekends don't seem to come fast enough, and when they come, I find myself trying to contain the speed of time.

Sometimes, I do feel that I am a living, walking, talking mega-oxymoron.

I want something, but I don't want the side-effects that comes with the package. It's like I want to eat the 'Big Mac' but I don't want the fries that come with it. sigh... I'm 'consfucating' things again, aren't I?

Well, this weekend will be a weekend of throwing away what I do not need, and packing those that I need. For the past few nights I have been mulling over the definition of what is 'needed' and what 'can be thrown away'...

I'll start moving my stuff to my girlfriend's place tomorrow and thus, I will need to pack some things up tonight... Well, I don't have much to pack, but I would need to throw away the things that I do not need. So I have my weekend carved out for me.

For those who aren't in the loop, or missed a few postings, I am moving out of my apartment by next weekend. I haven't found a room yet so I'm shifting my stuff to my girlfriend's apartment a block away... It does seem that there aren't any rooms to be rented out. I've seen maybe 2 ads so far and it's way over my budget. Besides, one of them was 'Chinese Working Female Only'... I fail the most important criteria... I am Chinese, I am working... just that I cannot pass off as female...

Well, everyone's starting to leave for their respective hometowns in the coming week and I would expect business to slow down. Everyone in the office is now slacking due to the holiday mood. Even the bosses aren't pushing the workers much. So, I am here snaking in the slow mode again.

If you're free with nothing to do, I guess I am a good chat that you could consider.

Chinese New Year Mood...

It's settling in at long last...

Though there's nothing much to celebrate about, but the family reunion should be a good time to take opportunity in catching up with the rest of the family. I've been living away from my family for so long that it seems sometimes I don't really know them anymore.

Well, that's what usually happens. And it happens to me all the time...

I go back to my hometown church, the aunties and uncles there will always say that I've grown fatter, but in reality, I have gone slimmer as compared to the year before. (heh... I make it a point to keep fit just before I go home...) And it's because they have this mental picture of me in my Form 5 years, just before I left home for my tertiary education. I was slim then... Very slim... Now I'm plumpish... Ok ok... a little over weight...

I would always go home to my little town at the most Eastern tip of Malaysia, telling myself that it is I that's changed. Not them.

I've been gone for so long, and I've been exposed to new cultures, seen new things, and changed according to my new environment.

My sister's arrival has got me re-examining now. And I have come to realise that I have changed the way I speak to the local slang. I always find myself saying something to my sister and a split second later, telling myself that she doesn't speak that way. I used to not speak that way... I mean it is still in my mother tongue, but the words that I use have changed... it's difficult to explain...

Well, I'll be going home next Saturday.. yeah...

But there's a lot of things that I have to settle before I go... First and foremost, I need to settle my moving out...

And hopefully get a room when I return...

There's other stuff on my mind.. but let's not worry my head off... One at a time...

Mental Crap

I have not been able to crap anything good recently and it's been like this for quite some time.

Maybe it's like this because of the separation of the State and Religion in my blog. When I first started blogging, I used to write about almost anything with regards to religion, my life and other random stuff. But now, since I have set-up my secondary blog to cater to some religious readers and to cater to the non-religious readers here, it seems that my mind hasn't been able to crap good quality stuff since the separation.

And then, I've been so busy nowadays that I have not really got the time to sit down and think about stuff.

Worries of the mind wearies the body.

So much to do, so little time to do it. So much is happening this year for me, and most of the time, I am not in control of the situations. Maybe i'll just let loose and say 'Come what may'... Maybe that's what I should do.

It seems that my previous posts have been repeating these same things... Not enough time to do that stuff that I am supposed to do, but still there's a lot of things that only I am able do...

sigh...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been trying to take control of my life ever since I got independent.

My upbringing was rather 'quick', and I thank my parents for that. I was protected from society in a sense, but I was also taught to think for myself since a very young age. Maybe it's in me or maybe it's from external influences, but I have always been curious of human behaviour and politics since a very very young age.

And by the time I rebelled against my parents, they knew that I have grown up and I can take care of myself relatively well. To my surprise, when I asked them during a family get-together, they have actually treated me as my own individual since I was 15 years old. Of course they have guided me still until I came over to the City for my tertiary education, I have been given the freedom of opinion.

My parents have been able to identify that and once I step into college, I am on my own. And thank God that their actions show that they have totally let me loose. That they trusted in my ability to think for myself. Fully.

Most parents can't do this to their children, and as result, they actually block their children from maturing into a full-fledged adult. If you're way past your 'kid' age, but yet you're still handled with 'kid' gloves, then you will never grow up.

Of course, sometimes, it's because the 'kid' has yet to grow up mentally, but one has to learn how to let go eventually. However, many parents fail to see that. That's why you will still see some classmates being ushered to and from college by their mothers. This is of course one of the most pathetic sights you should have to endure in your entire life.

As a child of your parents, it shows two things. One: Your parents do not trust in your ability to think as a matured individual or Two: Your parents worry about you to such an extreme extent that it borders the point of obssession.

Both very VERY sad cases.

However, as your parent's child, you are also responsible to win over your parents' trust. Act like an adult when you're supposed to, and build trust in your father/mother-daughter/son relationship. Sometimes even to the point of acting out of your own will just to gain their trust and approval. For the true mark of maturity is not only about making decisions and being responsible for the outcome, it is also about being able to do the things that you should do.

The greatest lesson my mom taught me EVER is that a person should be doing what he/she at a particular age should do. No more, no less. If you do not do it, you will regret it for life. Which is true to a point that we only live once, and we will only experience today once. So, do what you are supposed to do at your age and you will have no regrets. If you do something too soon, you'll regret that you've done it and you can't go back to undo it with a greater maturity. If you don't do something, then you will find that you are past the age of doing it.

In the end, we must acknowledge that although we are individuals, we still have to live by society's standards because we belong to the society and we are part of it. Unless of course, you choose to live in a mountain cave eating bat droppings and drinking rain water... In the very end, it is up to society to define what is permissable, and what is scorned upon.

It's always a tug-of-war, and it takes two to tango. So, once you've reached a compromise and a mid-point, you have to work at keeping the balance.

Impeccable Service...

Nowadays, waitresses hold the key to your happiness during meals...

I am now finding myself a good half an hours early for work. And sometimes, the office won't even be opened yet when I arrive. So I am now 'forced' to have breakfast at the restaurant below my office now. This is how it all started.

My girlfriend and I have decided to carpool since last week. She sent her car for a major MAJOR service last week and she only got it back last night. So for the past week, I've been fetching her to and from work. We used to go our separate ways for work, but now we've found a pleasant compromise. I fetch her to and from work, and I get to park the car 5 stations down from where I used to get on the LRT before the carpool. Her office hours start at 8.30am, so I will arrive at my office at around 9am. My office hours don't start before 9.30am... Well, going to work wasn't an issue, but getting her home will be slightly. With our night time commitments, it's gonna be a mad rush sometimes... But well, for the sake of financial shrewdness, we have to do this.

So, coming back to this morning's incident, I was happily enjoying the pleasant morning today until this new waitress at the restaurant messed up my order. I ordered 2 Roti Kosong and a Teh-Tarik (That's 2 pieces of plain bread and a cup of tea to those who are not from around here) and she managed to mess that up!!! I should have known when she came back to me asking me what my drink was again. Well, instead of 2 pieces of Roti Kosong, she gave me 2 pieces of Roti Telur (Indian bread with egg filling)!!! Not only does that cost a lot more, it's gonna kill my cholesterol levels!!! I don't wanna die young!!

And when I pointed out to her that she got my order wrong, she raised her voice against me!!

Crazy... Well, being not someone that wants to court controvesy, or one that would want a commotion, I didn't make too much of a fuss. I mean, poor her also, couldn't make much of a living out of waiting tables, and if I get her into trouble, she's gonna get a hell of a scolding from the boss. So I didn't bring it up to her boss when I paid my bills as well.

I know it's bad for consumerism, but I also understand that she's trying very hard to earn her living. So, let's not give the poor girl any trouble.

But note to self: If she serves me the next time, I'm gonna say it out loud what my orders are, twice, just to make sure she gets me loud and clear.

I am also afraid that she'll put 'something extra' the next time I visit the shop if I anger her...

I Love You???

Well, if you've watched enough soapies, then you'd have realised that Americans don't simply utter the 3 'magical' words until they are VERY VERY sure about it. Couldn't say the same thing about thier marriages though...

Teen flicks will always play on this. The girl goes out with the guy for some time, but they aren't dating... They're just 'seeing each other'... then when the girl feels that it's gone far enough to secure the relationship, she will coax the guy into saying the 'I Love You' first... Or if she's desparate enough, she'll just say it... Only after that, it's called dating.

Sometimes, it is also that important that it is 'he' who says it first... All too often we see the girl's friends harping on 'WHAT!?? You said it first!!???"

So what's the big deal with saying 'I Love You' first, to the person that you're seeing? Afterall, in then years time, after you get two to three kids, and both of you grow older and 'wiser', the next 3 'magical' words would be 'I Wanna Divorce'. Well, not exactly 3 words, but that's how it seems.

Why is is such a ritual of only saying "I Love You' when you're absolutely sure, but when things start to fall apart, you don't work towards mending the problems and take the short cut out??? Somehow, the idea that I get is that they are more easy on the 'I do's' than the I love you's...

So this means that they are more concerned with who they love instead of who they marry?

I have been addressing this issue for quite a lot of times now, that a marriage is supposed to be worked at, and not supposed to be based on feeling. And to me, the "I Do" always supercedes the "I Love You'...

I mean, I can always say "I Love You" to any girl that I fancy, but I can only say "I Do' once...

I have always carried this in my mind that if I fail in a relationship, then I should learn from it and move on... But if i fail in my marriage, then I would have failed in life.

Simply because a relationship is supposed to last an average 3 years... but a marriage should last you possibly 50 years if you're lucky. (Remember 'Till death do us part'?)

So, in actual fact, I do feel that the flicks and ideas we get off it is as if the Americans cherish and value 'I Love You' (Dating/Courtship) more than they value 'I Do' (Marriage)...

Divorce is just an easy way out... Always is, Always will be... Irreconcileable differences my butt...

200K poorer...

I signed the Letters on Saturday, dumped the downpayment into the developer's tummy and I will be officially 200K poorer, plus interest, it's gonna be possibly 300K, in a couple of months time.

I have loads of stuff still pending from a month ago, but I am indeed very happy to have settled at leat one of them.

Got myself an insurance premium that comes with the house, and I get some money back also after the 30 years. It's never a good deal, but since we need it, what to do?

In actual fact, there are no such things as good deals. Every freaking insurance company or bank opens its doors to earn a profit. So however hard you try to figure your way out of it, you won't get a good deal. The only deal that's good is the one that you bought, it being good to the seller's pockets.

Just think about it, as and when you buy into an insurance policy, you are actually paying for the insurance company's expenses, the salesperson's commission, and all that. So, there's no such thing as a profitable insurance policy on the consumer's side. Well, unless of course you get yourself into so kind of big trouble, only then the insurance comes good.

When you buy a house, or apply for a loan, you can't get out of the fact that developers earn a profit from the sale of the house, and banks earning a profit from selling you insurance, and interest rates from your loan.

With this, I am starting to get fed-up with some friends who keep on telling me about interest rates being overtly priced and shit loads like that. "You go for 30 year loan ah? You'll have paid double the price when you're done" or "You plan to sell in a few years ah? You won't be able to get back the amount you put in". Heck, I am looking for a nice place to stay in, and not some profitable investment. If I wanted to invest anywhere, I would have invested in my own ability to earn wealth. What's there to calculate about? Don't these people ever make a decision based on what they like rather than making a decision based on return on investment. Don't these people ever relax and spend their money on anything that's not profitable? Heck if it's like that, then might as well not eat well. Because eating at a diner's wastes time, and has very little return on investments. You eat to survive and gain energy to work. So in actual fact, there's no need to eat well. Just eat what gives you the most return on energy and live with that!

What happened to life's little pleasures? I wonder if these people 'buy' into a relationship that is more profitable... Well, they probably do. "I think that this girlfriend is the best for me beacuse she gives me better returns on investment. i.e., she uses the least amount of money, she doesn't splurge, she is relatively low on maintenance, and I can get her without wasting a single cent." Whatever happened to 'Love'?

The fact of life is, when it comes to interest rates, you can't run away from them, you won't be able to get over them, and you're sure as hell won't be able to manipulate them. If you're so good at out-thinking the underwriters, then they would have hired you inside already.

Well, I for one, am not going to reduce my pleasure just for the sake of gaining a lilttle more profit. I would want to live a life whereby I can 'still' make decisions based on a gut feeling.

So far, so good...

Went for a Japanese Lunch with my bosses and colleagues, at the company's expense of course...

I had this Beef Sukiyaki, and the broth was the NICE!!! Well, I had very VERY brief encounters with Japanese food, and I am telling you, I'm starting to love it... hehehe...

Well, the set lunch came with a few funny condiments that I didn't entirely know what they were for, but it sure tasted nice...

That's that then...

The Loan Agent from the Bank has yet to call me up to finalise the details of the loan package, but from what I gather, it's gonna be some heck of an explanation from her side. I am taking this Mortgage Insurance and the details have yet to be confirmed. Then there's this Current Account linkage option, and also some credit cards to be issued to my girlfriend and I... So, that's a very big package with a lot of stuff to settle.

So, after lunch, I proceeded to do my stuff at the bank, and good news...!!! The 'Sister' Branch issue has been abolished. So now, I can directly buy a Bank Draft for the entire downpayment of the apartment. I haven't bought the draft yet, but I've bought the draft for the SPA disbursement for the lawyers.

So... things are looking up... hopefully I'll settle everything latest by next Wednesday.

Friday Worries...

It's the last day of the week, and i'm supposed to be happy...

Well, in a sense, i am looking forward to the weekend whereby I can take a break off work and do some personal stuff that needs immeidate attention. First and foremost, my aquarium needs a water change... My poor arowana has been suffering, swimming in its own piss for quite some time now... It's been acting aggravated these couple of weeks. I have the thought and intention of setting it free into a pond nearby, but it's a good 18 inches long. How am I going to get it out of my tank? And walk the distance of a probable 300 metres to the pond? It is a giant and a very strong fish. Once it curls its tail, it can jump probably twice it's own length into the air.

Then there's this business of getting my apartment loan settled. The banker has yet to call me to determine the finer details of the loan package and I still owe the lawyers a few hundred bucks. I need to buy a bank draft for the down payment, and it's not gonna be pretty. As experience tells me, you can't withdraw more than 9K from a 'sister' branch of the bank. If I need to withdraw more than 9K, I'd have to go back to the branch where I opened my account, and that would be in Nilai, N.Sembilan. Stupid rules I know, but apparently, that was what I was told the last time I bought a draft for 10K to pay for my tuition fees. The cashier authorised 9K from over the counter and I have to apparently withdraw 1K from the ATM machine so as to say that I brought my own 1K. I mean... How more stupider can it get!??

Well, that's only one of my issues. The lawyers need to be paid too. Well, I can give them cash straight away, but it's better to get a bank draft as well. Then there's the business of how do I get it to them before 25th of this month? That'll need to take care of itself...

Once all this is settled, I'll be home and dry. Then, give it another 2 more months to let realisation seep in and as soon as I get my first statement, I will be officially imprisoned for 30 years... Habislah... Working to earn your own keep is one thing, but when you work to service your loan, that's an entirely different thing altogether. I guess all this comes along with the tag of 'Grown-up'.

I know I have a long way to go still, but it's not stopping me from making long term plans, and long term plans normally mean long term worries... sigh...

There's also other personal and familial stuff to be done tomorrow. So much to do, so little time.

For the Government...

It's the normal practise around here to bash the useless government that make the rules around this joint called Malaysia, but today, I came to realise that it's not necessarily the case.

We always brand the ministers as cheats, cronies of the PM, blood suckers, and so on... but we have never really thanked them for the things that they have done for us. Everything that they do is met with criticism and sceptism. Every monetary decision that comes form them must be a form of money laundring.

Well, today, it struck me on my way to work. Apparently, the LRT system had some form of technical problem and people were jamming themselves into the train as much as they could shove.

Then all of a sudden, it struck me: "The Government has actually thrown money into this transport industry just to get us to work properly."

Although there are some dodgy cases where the money used is not justifyable, i.e. The new GM of MAS spending a bomb on some stupid painting to be hung in his office when the corporation is declaring a loss. But that's another story.

Well, if you look at it from the other side of the spectrum, you'd see the government saying "Wretched people... we spend so much to make sure you guys get to work on time and all you do is complain, complain and complain some more..."

Well, there you have it... A thought that would've come from the Government. Maybe in actual fact, they really think like that... hahahahaha

well...

Holiday: Tiring...

I have lost the impetus to write anymore. I haven't been able to think about things like I used to nowadays. Busy at the office, busy with my freelance (thank God I finished that today), and busy with my house moving, settling of accounts and selling off unwanted assets. All this is a mad rush to be done before Chinese New Year.

Then when I get back, I will be calling for a meeting of families with my girlfriend. Yes, we're getting serious about it, and the ball is starting to roll.

My sister has yet to settle down, and I still have a lot of things to do to help her do just that. And it might drag on for a few weeks more.

Work at the office has seemingly doubled, trippled and quardrupled! So much to do, so much to think about, so much to plan for. Expectations are high and money is low. Story of our lives...

I need more freelance jobs so that I can build up a substantial savings account and prepare myself for the apartment. Once I sign the offer letter, then everything's settled.

Stuff at church has also been growing more and more interesting. It seems that everyone's gearing up for cell multiplication and we plan to double in numbers by mid-year. So much to plan for, so much to think about, so much to worry about.

I don't think i'll be able to blog often from now on... But then, whenever I feel stressed out, I seem to blog more... hahahaha

until then...

My Loan: Approved...

For those who don't know my plight, I am getting an apartment. It's located somewhere in Sunway, near where I'm saying.

The Loan's been approved. I just got the call from the bank officer a while ago... It's exciting, but yet, it's scary.

It all starts here... Endless struggle... 30 years, 200K debt...

Habislah...

So help me God.

Good Weather...

Is hazardous to the man on the pitch.

Yesterday was a good day for outdoor activites. It had been raining in the evenings on all the days of the week, except yesterday!

Well, the weather was FINE!!!

And because of that, my mates and I, we enjoyed our football session very much. It's not everyday that you leave the field and say 'That was satisfying!'

There was no sun, the air was cool, and it made everyone run so much more. I had probably had the game of my life.

And now, all the muscles in my body ache. (with the exception of my arms and hands of course.)

Today's gonna be a long day...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But tommorrow's gonna be a Holiday!!! YEA~!!!

Now, back to work.

Today was a fairly Hectic day

Well, it's the end of the day, and end of the week.

I have almost finished the article that I'm writing, and I seriously hope that it is of publishable quality. Writing for a tech magazine is not my serious cup of tea, but then, I'd do anyhting to earn an extra buck. So hopefully, they publish it, and I get paid.

As for my real job, it's been a rather interesting day. So many things need to be checked, and double checked.

Well, writing this article for this tech magazine has made me realise something. That I am actually more inclined to write more lifestyle stuff. I can still write as a corporate writer, but my forte is in lifestyle and real life depictions. I am more comfortable in describing some facts of life, and that is, I would say, apparent here in this blog.

It's been quite a long time since I've assessed my writing style, but some of the comments that I have taken to heart are that I tend to be a tad too long winded. What can I say, I am a man that goes for details. Maybe I don't like to leave stuff untold, and up for free interpretation, maybe it's just my writing style.

Well...

I'm off for the weekend. Hopefully, when I come back on Monday, I'll be able to finish up the article.

It's crunch time...

For me at least...

There's a lot to do. A few deadlines to meet. Some in the office, others in free-lance.

I'll probably post something up later in the day.. Now, to earn some extra cash...

Moving House...

AGAIN>>>

I've been moving around the apartments opposite Sunway Pyramid for the past 6 years. And in a turn of a series of rather fortunate/unfortunate events, I'll need to move again. This will be the 4th time i'm moving...

My housemates are leaving for one reason or another, and I cannot find suitable partners-in-crime to rent the unit. Besides, I have a friend who's looking for someone to take a room in her apartment. Timing is perfect, and it relieves me from being the one responsible for the entire unit.

For all I know, I might need to move out some time soon...

More nomadic llife for me.. until I see the promised land... which reminds me, I need to call my loan agent...

Until then... Lunch break is over...

got my bonus...

but it's a small amount...

Nothing to shout about.. yet, it's still it's a blessing... so I'm not complaining...

These few days, I've been busy. I hate it... so much to settle, so little time. So many factors to consider, so many lose ends to hold together. Forgive me if my mind hasn't churned up anything worthy to be called 'mental stimulae'.

Well, one of the lose ends that's been tied up now is my sister's accomodation. It's settled now and I can move on to other things.

I figured from this experience that I don't do well in the 'Work-in-Progress' stage of things. I can't seem to get my mind off all the issues. I like things settled, and I like them settled fast! I don't like to dwell in the 'incomplete' stage...

Well, I learn something new everyday, and it's stuff like this that make my day so far.

My loan agent from the bank called asking me to fax her my EPF statements. So my first task for today was to wake up early! hahahaha

I went to the KWSP (For those who are not from M'sia, it's this compulsory savings thing that the Govt forces upon us, which is a good thing... provided that those in charge don't squander our money) to print my latest statement for my loan. And this E-Kiosk thing really works! I slip in my IC into the appropriate slot, then the reader reads my finger print (via infra-red) and they print out my statement, FREE OF CHARGE!! It took me no more than 5 minutes!!! So there's some good in the Government afterall.

Keep it up... :)

So.. I hope my loan gets approved soon, and I can proceed to tie up this new apartment issue as soon as possible.

Then, I can focus on other more important stuff like building my cell group and do better in church and at work.

Until then, I'm off... :)

Got work to do y'know... it's not like my bosses hire me to snake at the office...

A few Surprises on the 4th Day of 2006.

1. I woke up late today. First of the year, first time in this company.

2. My mom reads my blog!!! Gave them the address for them to see the pictures of the show house of the apartment they just 'bought'. Now they know about my blog... They liked the apartment, I like it too.

3. I fixed my car at the cost of a whopping RM30.00!!! Thank God I know this good mechanic. Went to another place to quote price before I went to him, the fellas quoted me RM25 for a single signal light!! and I got both lights fixed, plus the rubber cap thing on my rear right window for RM30!!!

4. Mentioned about marriage to mom and the dreaded meeting of famillies will happen this Chinese New Year. Here's goes nothing. So much needs to be planned, so many things to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The new year comes with a lot of new responsibilities. And I have a lot of things to settle before anything happens.

I have so many things pending, but great news. I don't have to work on saturdays anymore unless there's an emergency.

Well, the stuff that needs to be settled currently is the settling down of my youngest sister. I still have yet to find the time to bring her around and get her room settled, open a bank account for her, get her enrolled into college, and other stuff that comes about her settling down. Stuff needs to be bought, neccessities and what-nots.

Then I have to plan this meeting of families during Chinese New Year. Both our parents have met but have yet to actually meet each other formally. It's like our family houses are just two roads apart, so my parents often see her parents while they're in the local market and stuff like that, but they just smile to each other. Never talked. It's gonna be weird. IT IS GONNA BE SOOOO WEIRD!! I mean I know her parents, and she's been to my house for dinner and all, but both sets of parents have never met. How does one actually start a conversation in such a situation?

Then there's the loan application to be settled for the new apartment. Expected date of moving in will be somewhere around January 2009 (PC: There's your answer)

Than there's the stuff in church. Responsibilities are increasing, the Church is growing and I have so much to improve on. Worship Leading, Cell Leading. A lot... Friendships that need to be maintained, people that need to be ministeered to... My mind is a mess... hahahahaha... getting looney...

So much to do.. So many things to plan, so much to look forward to, so much to worry about.

Well, I guess all I have to do is to take everything as it comes and pray more... :)

Well, Happy New Year once again...

p/s: I'm just happy the fellas who vandalised my car didn't scratch it...

A HAPPY new year indeed... *deflated*

Well, Happy New Year once again for those who missed it.

This New Year, has been a very melancholic one for me indeed.

My girlfriend lost her brand new, expensive, nice, she-likes-it-very-much phone.

My car got vandalised last night.

I was happily walking to my car this morning, feeling rather refreshed, but slightly reluctant, to report for work today. Then to my horror, my signal lights were gone! My car was vandalised during the night! Well, from the looks of it, the fella has been sitting near my car, on the side of the road, and somehow he must have felt bored or somehting like that and he proceeded to pull out my signal lights from the side of my car! Then the fella also teared off this rubber cap thing from the triangular window at the seat behind the drivers seat!

I just don't know why such things are happening to us...

sigh...

If this is a sign of things to come.. then I am doomed...

Might be taking half day off to fix the thing. Can't drive around with two holes on the side of my car, and most important of all, I can't have no signal lights on my car. I could have a bike ram into my sides when I take corners.

I can bet that because these spare parts aren't really that popular, it's gonna cost me quite a pinch.