eye vacation
Saturday, April 29, 2006
I feel like gouging my eyes out, give them a holiday and a refreshing bath maybe because my eyes are red and tired. I need to stare at the computer flickers for at least 8 hours a day, my need to read the newspapers after I get home everyday, I also need to concentrate on my freelance editing almost every night, and my current inability to stop reading Never Let Me Go because I want to know the ending! Of course it didn't help that I was greedily munching famous amos' chocolate chip cookies while working. Now my eyes are not only red, but there's a tiny pimple bump on my right eye lower lid - a sign of heatiness so to speak. Gosh, there's even an ingrown pimple on my nose! blegh ...
An aptly descriptive picture from Tim Burton's book, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy.
On my 'to buy list' since last year or should I just rip it off from here?
An aptly descriptive picture from Tim Burton's book, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy.
On my 'to buy list' since last year or should I just rip it off from here?
11:38 AM
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hmm?
another example of 'the rich gets richer'
Monday, April 24, 2006
It's the time of that TIME again where the government issues the Amanah Saham Malaysia to the public. Excerpted from today's The Star: 'PM Pak Lah said it was the aim of the Ninth Malaysia Plan to make more investment opportunities available to the people.' and then further down the article 'It is learnt that there is no limit on the number of units that a buyer can buy.' This is ironic because the rich will have bigger buying power over ordinary citizens and how is the 'no limit' clause suppose to help if not to empower the already powerful?
...
You're elated to hear the good news and decided to make some decent interest out of this. You got yourself a number and you're #15 in the bank queue. You're humming a happy tune while waiting eagerly for your turn. Sometime later someone comes into the bank and press the number dispenser and gets #62. #13 is currently being attended. Then #62 saw a friend who happens to be #14 and decides to ask #14 to help with her transaction. That queue-jumper #62 managed to buy RM300,000 worth of stocks. You, who were patiently waiting in line couldn't buy it because that queue-jumper bought everything that the bank branch has to offer. You are turned away. You can only scream silently inside you or strangle #62. What's more infuriating is the fact that the queue-jumper is actually a representative of a loaded old ciku. Why would an already rich person wants to buy more stocks and if he's so eager to get even richer why didn't he get in line or even jump that dumb queue himself? Lazy ol' fart!! So its true that the rich get richer everyday by denying the struggling younger generation from buying a mere few thousands or even a few hundreds worth of stocks. Even more disgusting is the bank teller who processed the queue-jumper's transaction. Where is justice? Where is humility? Most importantly, where is common sense??
You can hug a whole wad of cash to your grave, you scrooge!
The above story is partially true because I happen to know who that ol' fart is...
...
You're elated to hear the good news and decided to make some decent interest out of this. You got yourself a number and you're #15 in the bank queue. You're humming a happy tune while waiting eagerly for your turn. Sometime later someone comes into the bank and press the number dispenser and gets #62. #13 is currently being attended. Then #62 saw a friend who happens to be #14 and decides to ask #14 to help with her transaction. That queue-jumper #62 managed to buy RM300,000 worth of stocks. You, who were patiently waiting in line couldn't buy it because that queue-jumper bought everything that the bank branch has to offer. You are turned away. You can only scream silently inside you or strangle #62. What's more infuriating is the fact that the queue-jumper is actually a representative of a loaded old ciku. Why would an already rich person wants to buy more stocks and if he's so eager to get even richer why didn't he get in line or even jump that dumb queue himself? Lazy ol' fart!! So its true that the rich get richer everyday by denying the struggling younger generation from buying a mere few thousands or even a few hundreds worth of stocks. Even more disgusting is the bank teller who processed the queue-jumper's transaction. Where is justice? Where is humility? Most importantly, where is common sense??
You can hug a whole wad of cash to your grave, you scrooge!
The above story is partially true because I happen to know who that ol' fart is...
2:59 PM
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hmm?
20.08.2008
Saturday, April 22, 2006
I wonder if couples have already booked this date in advance with the ROM and/or for their wedding dinner banquets. We Chinese are so particular with numbers and dates and anything with a 2 or 8 is deemed good for it represents prosperity and wealth. 2 8 - yee fatt - easy to prosper, if I'm not mistaken. But you'll also need to consult the tung seng or Chinese Almanac to verify that this is indeed a good day to get hitched and check for the couple's see san pat zhi or eight characters for compatibility with this particular day.
My maternal grandma used to consult the tong seng for almost everything from checking for auspicious days to go out, the suitable time and day to pray at the Chinese temple and whatever fancies her. My mom used to frequent the Chinese temple at Central Market to consult the fortune teller just about anything too, usually to check on the eight characters. The fortune teller was an old lady and I think my mom just wanted to help her financially.
I doubt I will keep to any of these Chinese customs because they are not my beliefs. And I don't consider myself a lesser Chinese by doing so. I actually like this date. I like the repetition of the numbers. Boon wants an earlier date though, oh well.
My maternal grandma used to consult the tong seng for almost everything from checking for auspicious days to go out, the suitable time and day to pray at the Chinese temple and whatever fancies her. My mom used to frequent the Chinese temple at Central Market to consult the fortune teller just about anything too, usually to check on the eight characters. The fortune teller was an old lady and I think my mom just wanted to help her financially.
I doubt I will keep to any of these Chinese customs because they are not my beliefs. And I don't consider myself a lesser Chinese by doing so. I actually like this date. I like the repetition of the numbers. Boon wants an earlier date though, oh well.
2:08 PM
2 comments
hmm?
Wacky Races
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Remember Wacky Races? I grew up watching that wacky Hanna-Barbera cartoon every Saturday morning. It's very much inane (but somehow laughable) compared to this century's super hero-themed cartoons.
The most memorable characters happened to be the villains Dick Dastardly and his mutt, Muttley. And their evil scheming minds somehow trigger a thought of comparison. On the way home from work, I'd take this road in SS23 which as far as I can see has no reason for any traffic police to be stationed there in the first place. But yet, I see Dastardly and Muttley 'hiding' at the road bend trying to catch traffic offenders, of course if the weather permits. What irks me is (1) As I said, I really see no point in their existence there as that road isn't a main road and therefore traffic is minimal, there are traffic lights plus it's not an accident prone area; (2) There are a few times that I see this duo (sometimes different duos) standing exactly a few meters away from malfunctioned traffic lights. Now, what in the name of traffic police are these blokes not directing traffic but 'idling' at the curb instead?; (3) They were there almost every evening during the fasting month last year.
Perhaps the situation is not like what I pictured it to be but when I think about point #2, enough said.
The most memorable characters happened to be the villains Dick Dastardly and his mutt, Muttley. And their evil scheming minds somehow trigger a thought of comparison. On the way home from work, I'd take this road in SS23 which as far as I can see has no reason for any traffic police to be stationed there in the first place. But yet, I see Dastardly and Muttley 'hiding' at the road bend trying to catch traffic offenders, of course if the weather permits. What irks me is (1) As I said, I really see no point in their existence there as that road isn't a main road and therefore traffic is minimal, there are traffic lights plus it's not an accident prone area; (2) There are a few times that I see this duo (sometimes different duos) standing exactly a few meters away from malfunctioned traffic lights. Now, what in the name of traffic police are these blokes not directing traffic but 'idling' at the curb instead?; (3) They were there almost every evening during the fasting month last year.
Perhaps the situation is not like what I pictured it to be but when I think about point #2, enough said.
1:43 PM
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hmm?
giant Totito
Friday, April 07, 2006
This huge totito* flew into boon's room one night after a heavy downpour. He told me the totito was as huge as your outstretched palm and I told him he's too old to tell tall tales. I asked him to snap a shot as 'proof' and when I saw it, I figure it can't be a totito because there are no such thing as giant totitoes because giant totitoes only exist if you're the size of thumbelina. Hmm, and I was right! It's a cranefly actually. I think it's a 'she' judging from the shape of the abdomen. Ok, so I read up some facts about it. Apparently craneflies are harmless and when she flew in, she was already missing a leg. boon ended her misery by giving her a dose of lethal spray, she passed out, boon picked her up with a newspaper and flushed her down the loo. I'm sure it was painless.
* mosquito (that's what my little niece calls it)
10:40 PM
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hmm?
2 crapping cows & 1 peeing cow aka birthday marathon part 3
Monday, April 03, 2006
Today is the end of my birthday marathon. Actually I'm feeling elated and guilty at the same time. Elated because friends still remembered my birthday without me reminding them in advance! Guilty because I feel spoilt by all the attention showered upon me.
Where should I start? Well, after work, came home, and saw mom baking me a chocolate cake and preparing dinner. I felt so bad telling her that Boon is taking me out for dinner tonight but promised to come home early. Boon came, he went home for a quick shower, we went over to One U to Ms Read for dinner. It was sort of a candle light dinner only thing was the candle on our table wasn't lit. Well, we switched it with the next table, haha. We ordered death by chocolate (I remembered Irene telling me how good it was!), angel hair spaghetti in olive oil with bits of duck meat and roasted tomatoes and specially delicious burger. We were served by a very well mannered waitress which I thought was very impressive. I'm rating this place 4 out of 5 burps because of the good service. The food in overall was good, although I thought the spaghetti was a bit too oily and the burger meat patty a tad too minced. But the portions are generous and the prices reasonable. I would go again, maybe to try their tiramisu. We lingered on awhile, chatting, laughing, just being together -- felt really happy.
On the way home, he gave me a gift -- haha I have another book to my collection now! A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. Ok, I love fashion just as much as any other girl but I rather spend my time in a bookshop rather than a boutique. Well, Boon got me something else too. Hehe, I won't reveal it here though. *wink wink*
Reached home, everyone was waiting for me. Migi and Chloe were especially anxious because they wanted to blow the candles and cut the cake. Tada! A family picture ...
sisters, mom, me, chloe, migi and dad in the background
So what's with the cows tagline? My second sis got me two drinking glasses without even realising that was exactly what the cows in the picture were doing on the glasses! I thought this was the funniest gift I ever had.
Thanks everyone for making me feel special today. Thanks to Soo Chin who called me from Singapore. To Yap for the card, to everyone else for the well wishes and sms'es. And thanks to Boon for everything.
Where should I start? Well, after work, came home, and saw mom baking me a chocolate cake and preparing dinner. I felt so bad telling her that Boon is taking me out for dinner tonight but promised to come home early. Boon came, he went home for a quick shower, we went over to One U to Ms Read for dinner. It was sort of a candle light dinner only thing was the candle on our table wasn't lit. Well, we switched it with the next table, haha. We ordered death by chocolate (I remembered Irene telling me how good it was!), angel hair spaghetti in olive oil with bits of duck meat and roasted tomatoes and specially delicious burger. We were served by a very well mannered waitress which I thought was very impressive. I'm rating this place 4 out of 5 burps because of the good service. The food in overall was good, although I thought the spaghetti was a bit too oily and the burger meat patty a tad too minced. But the portions are generous and the prices reasonable. I would go again, maybe to try their tiramisu. We lingered on awhile, chatting, laughing, just being together -- felt really happy.
On the way home, he gave me a gift -- haha I have another book to my collection now! A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. Ok, I love fashion just as much as any other girl but I rather spend my time in a bookshop rather than a boutique. Well, Boon got me something else too. Hehe, I won't reveal it here though. *wink wink*
Reached home, everyone was waiting for me. Migi and Chloe were especially anxious because they wanted to blow the candles and cut the cake. Tada! A family picture ...
sisters, mom, me, chloe, migi and dad in the background
So what's with the cows tagline? My second sis got me two drinking glasses without even realising that was exactly what the cows in the picture were doing on the glasses! I thought this was the funniest gift I ever had.
Thanks everyone for making me feel special today. Thanks to Soo Chin who called me from Singapore. To Yap for the card, to everyone else for the well wishes and sms'es. And thanks to Boon for everything.
11:52 PM
2 comments
hmm?
MPH 100 hour sale
Sunday, April 02, 2006
I'm guilty of buying too many books which I don't have the time to read yet but I couldn't resist it when I got to know that MPH was having a sale! Thanks to Irene's membership card, I got two books at such a good offer it's almost a steal.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The first time I set my eyes on this book was a few weeks ago. I have to say that I had no idea who Ishiguro was but the title had me then. It was as if the book was conveying a message of very deep emotional attachment and calling to me to 'buy buy buy'. Ok, I'm a very clingy person and so the title attracted me. (: I've so far read the first chapter, it's very interesting. I can't see the link between the title and the story though but I'm going to find out soon.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. When I saw this book on a friend's blog, Salman Rushdie came to mind. I thought to myself, I wasn't ready to handle serious and deep issues about humanity. It wasn't until I held Shantaram in my hands and read the synopsis blurb that I realised how wrong I was to categorise books I was ignorant about. Shantaram is an autobiographical account about Roberts himself who flew to Bombay on a false identity and basically got into trouble with the law and such. (I heard there are some random comic relief in the book) RM45.90 set me back and I put the book back onto the shelf. But that was then. Now with 20% how could I not buy it?? I've not flip the pages yet so I can't say more than that.
Yep, I'm very happy.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. The first time I set my eyes on this book was a few weeks ago. I have to say that I had no idea who Ishiguro was but the title had me then. It was as if the book was conveying a message of very deep emotional attachment and calling to me to 'buy buy buy'. Ok, I'm a very clingy person and so the title attracted me. (: I've so far read the first chapter, it's very interesting. I can't see the link between the title and the story though but I'm going to find out soon.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. When I saw this book on a friend's blog, Salman Rushdie came to mind. I thought to myself, I wasn't ready to handle serious and deep issues about humanity. It wasn't until I held Shantaram in my hands and read the synopsis blurb that I realised how wrong I was to categorise books I was ignorant about. Shantaram is an autobiographical account about Roberts himself who flew to Bombay on a false identity and basically got into trouble with the law and such. (I heard there are some random comic relief in the book) RM45.90 set me back and I put the book back onto the shelf. But that was then. Now with 20% how could I not buy it?? I've not flip the pages yet so I can't say more than that.
Yep, I'm very happy.
7:16 PM
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hmm?
