Getting more than what you bargain for
28/12/2003
Installing the new harddisk
That went well, it’s the card reader that gave problems. All I can say is – Windows 98 SUCKS. The drivers were there for cryin’ out loud! We’re going back tomorrow, to upgrade the OS, and then we have to reinstall everything, and make the new harddisk the primary harddisk. I think it’s going to take all day.
Lunch turned into dinner
We originally wanted to go to my brother’s after lunch, but ended up having lunch with him. We got takeout from Oscars the Foodcourt, at AnchorPoint. Ikea was crowded so we ended up there. The food was IKKY. I had minced meat noodles, it was ikky. We ordered Xiao Long Bao, and that had no soup in it, it was more like dumplings – ikky. The Pot Stickers were sweet inside, yhew! I’m not eating there again.
KF was stuck babysitting the entire day, first hanging out with Eddie and later on, Ernie.
I got conscripted to help my brother in the kitchen. We did pretty ok, he made his famous grilled garlic prawns and ginger and parsley chicken. He made a pasta too, but I didn’t really go nuts over that one. He boiled prawn shells for a good 3 hours just to get some flavouring for the pasta, but sadly, it wasn’t worth the effort. I think if he cooks Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, we’re going to end up with the same thing 
Boxing Day
27/12/2003
It’s better to give than to receive
Certainly, especially when it comes to a hard time. So today Andy gave us Christmas presents, and in our cheapo-est gesture yet, we gave Andy a copy of the CD he got me. Of course I took photos.
We wants it!
Kelvin presenting our token of appreciation to Andy
What could this be?
Our scriptwriter is impressed with the cool message
He seems to like it
So what did we learn?
- We are such cheapos
- I’ve shakey hands
- Packaging should be promoted to the 5th Marketing P
- Andy doesn’t know New Order – I suspect he could’ve been abducted by aliens in the 80s.
- I keep spelling Pippin “p-i-p-p-e-n”
Aromatherapy Update
Clint delivered my aromatherapy order on Tuesday, he’s such a sweetie. He came all the way down to Bugis to hand it off to me. It was a larger package than I expected. How many styrofoam bits do you need to pack with a dozen bottles of essential oil? Evidently, more than I thought.
Smells Like … Thin Plastic
I haven’t opened them all, but I mixed up the Arthritic Joint Balm for my Mom. The recipe calls for 10 drops of Roman Chamomile, 3 Black Pepper and 1 ounce (28ml) of carrier oil (I used Sweet Almond).
Let me just warn the uninitiated: Roman Chamomile smells absolutely revolting! It smells like cheap plastic – maybe the 100% polyester variety. Expensive plastic, in my mind, smells like 3M Scotch Tape. When they glued metal bits on my teeth for my braces, the glue smelled like Scotch Tape. It wasn’t unpleasant, it smelled somewhat dignified actually. But Roman Chamomile has the smell that plastic would be horrified to be remembered as. Y-U-C-K. That said, it’s supposed to be full of goodness. It’s supposed to be soothing (though I can’t imagine how), and is a powerful sedative.
Black Pepper smells like cooking (and reminds me of crab). It smells like it would give a warm feeling down your chest if inhaled in large whiffs. It’s supposed to be stimulating.
Cool Comfort
I couldn’t take the smell of the Chamomile in the Arthritic Balm, so today I blended in another 5 drops of Lavender. Lavender makes everything smell ok. I love Lavender, it reminds me of home, and I suppose that’s why it’s very comforting.
Sweet Dreams are Made of These
Today, I opened the Sweet Orange bottle. It’s heavenly, and it goes well with Lavender. I mixed 10 drops of each and 5 drops of Clary Sage into a small spray bottle of mineral water. It will serve as my pillow mist for the next week or so. Smells great, fruity and flowery, and the Clary Sage gave it a nice tang.
Tomorrow
KF got my brother a new harddisk, combo 6-in-1 card reader + usb hub and some CD-RWs. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have updates on the installation.
Cake and Birthdays
25/12/2003
What We Got Donald For His Birthday
Establishing Our Objectives
So yesterday, Kelvin, KFC and I made an evening trip to Sim Lim to get Donald’s birthday present. Donald was present to make sure we were on track.
Exceeding Expectations
Our initial bogey was a thumbdrive. But with some investigation, we established that we could get a thumbdrive with extra features (within the allocated budget) to surpass the expectations of our birthday boy. So we went hunting for an MP3 player with a built-in thumbdrive.
Tactful Execution
I had to leave at about 6.45pm for a dinner appointment, but by about 7.25pm I received notification that the task was accomplished. Instructions were then sent to withhold the present for a day so that wrapping may be added as a final touch.
The Morning After
This morning, Kelvin and I wrapped the precious…
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| The Pock MP3 Player + Direct USB Flash Drive (128MB) | |
And left it on Donald’s desk when he went to take a dump or something.
Donald returns to his desk to find a neatly wrapped present on his desk!
Donald is pleasantly surprised
Donald can’t contain his glee
All Play and No Work
After the initial excitement, Donald, Kelvin, KFC and I headed off for a workout at the arcade. After spending about $5 each on Time Crisis 3, we were satisfied and proceeded back to the office for a nice round of foosball with Jonathan.
The score was really close, but Kelvin and I were doomed from the start, as we had a bad karma backlog caused by too much bitching, and too little foosing.
Have you met Mrs Chan?
We did! We had lunch with the newlyweds who just got back from Middle Earth. Lunch was at Zam Zam at Arab Street.
This is my lunch after I was through with it. KFC took the picture on his nifty Nokia 7250. It was Chicken Murtabak.
And this is the birthday duck with the newlyweds.
So that was my day. How was yours?
Christmas Time!
24/12/2003
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Tomorrow’s Christmas Day, so Merry Christmas everyone. Happy Birthday, Donald. Have a fantastic one.
Each year after Christmas I generally feel low, and this year it’s the same thing. Looking back the year really flew by. And I wasn’t even having fun half the time. Does time fly quicker as you get older?
Fair Weather Friends
Back to less reflective stuff, I’m beginning to think Christmas songs hide a deeper meaning. Not that I remember all of them completely, but for example, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer is definitely a song about hypocrites.
Rudolph the red nose reindeer
Rudolph the red nose reindeer
(reindeer)
had a very shiny nose
(like a lightbulb)
and if you ever saw it
(saw it)
you would even say it glows
(like a flashlight)
all of the other reindeer
(reindeer)
used to laugh and call him names
(like pinochio)
they never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games
(like monopoly)
then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won’t you drive my sleigh tonight?
then all the reindeer loved him
and they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the rednose reindeer,
you’ll go down in history!
So are reindeer dimwitted superficial hypocrites? They did ostracise Rudolph until Santa came along and used him. And even then, Santa only came to Rudolph when it got really foggy. So what about the times when the weather was clear?
I took some pics today. But I’ll put them up after I get back from dinner. It’s Erica’s birthday today, so we’re going to dinner with my brother and the folks.
It works!
23/12/2003
My Very Own Space on the Internet
Not that this one isn’t, has been set up. Right now there’s nothing on it, except for images that I will use here. I’m sure in a few days I’ll find a perfectly good reason (or excuse) to get my own domain and set up a full blown waste of bandwidth site like everyone else. So I’ll keep you posted.
Special thanks go to my administrator and host, who sits right next to me in the office – which will make hounding him a lot simpler.
Moving right along…
My Favourite Face
Ok, it’s been a while since I added my skincare review but here it is, not that most of you dudes would care. But anyway…
Moisturiser of the quarter!
Clarins Hydra-Matt Day Lotion
I got it last week, and I must say the chick at the Clarins counter was way nice. I didn’t even have to haggle for samples! She dished a couple out quite willingly. So anyway, the Hydra Matt meets a few requirements:
1. It’s refreshingly light.
2. It smells great – clean, fresh scent
3. It’s cheaper than Origins’ Have A Nice Day
Three squirts of the pump (extra plus for the hygiene factor) is all that’s needed.
I noticed my moisturisers last about 3 months. Which could be a long time for something I don’t like, and a short time for something I like that’s expensive. Origins’ Have A Nice Day was fantastic, I think I used it for a year and a half, maybe two. It smells fantastic. Citrusy and creamy, it really gave me a perk. At the time, the heavier consistency was exactly what I needed. And I think in a drier climate, I’ll switch back to it.
The thing that’s not so hot about the Hydra Matt is that it doesn’t contain sunscreen. So I’ve to use a separate sunblock, which is a bit of a pain.
Stuff to Avoid
Clinique’s Moisture Surge and Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion
I’m not going near those two again
1. Moisture surge
Doesn’t really do anything. It doesn’t smell of anything. It might make a good after sun cream though, if you leave it in the fridge. I’d rather just go with Aloe Vera for the price.
2. Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion
Thankfully this was only a sample (but geez, I got 2 of them). I most definitely am not going to use it. It smells like something the pharmacist just cooked up. It’s gunky. It leaves a sticky feel on your face. It doesn’t survive the wake-up test. (The one where you wake up and your skin doesn’t feel dry, or oily, but soft and happy). I hate gunky!
The Return of the King
18/12/2003
My Favourite Movie
Right now, has got to be The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s a fantastic work of art. Sure, it’s not that true to the book, but it is a powerful movie. I loved the final installment. If the second movie carried a heavy environmental theme, this one carried the anti-war theme. Beautiful.
My Favourite Line
The best line in the movie: I am no man.
‘Nuff said.
Parallel Dimension
After watching the movie, I got to thinking how some of it parallels the situation in the office. After the offiste on Tuesday, I think we all felt really demoralised. I’d like to believe like the movie, in the end we get rid of the evil in the land. And we get to lop some heads and arms and legs off while we’re at it. Perhaps all we need to believe is that there are some things worth fighting for.
Cool word of the month:
Ringwraith
Sick as a dog
15/12/2003
Caught whatever it was that was going around
But not the flu – my throat hurts and I’m tired, but I think I’m on the mend. Which is quite sucky, since that means I might have to go to that idiotic office get-together tomorrow.
Island Life, Love It
As legend will have it, when our first GM was ousted, and the usurper tried to get us to play ball again (with each other) an office get-together was organised and we were all bound and headed off to Sentosa. To me it was an exercise in futility – you can’t put 2 separate groups who hated each other in the same place, shake the bottle and get them to mix again. And if you believed it would worked, you’d probably also believe you can get away with not paying your taxes.
So now here we are again. Perhaps circumstances aren’t the same. After all, the people organising this trip are completely different. There are few left from that era anyway.
Too much pineapple
I love those tiny pineapples they sell all cut up at Cold Storage. A box with about 8 slices will set you back about $2. They’re fantastic. Except if you eat more than 3 slices, you tend to get pineapple tongue – that yuckky feeling on your tongue like somethings biting away at it – which was what I used to get after 1 big slice of the overgrown version. Ah well. Maybe trying to hit my fruit quota in 1 sitting was too much.
Big Survivor Finale
My bet is on Sandra, the hispanic lady. She’s funny.
Crappy TV promos and fantastic weather
14/12/2003
It’s beginning to look even more like Christmas
And you know this because:
1. There are more and more crappy TV promos on TCS 5 advertising old sitcoms and “Channel of the Year” awards
2. It’s cool enough to walk through Orchard Road from the outside, instead of through the malls
3. There are queues at cashiers everywhere
4. Robinsons, Ikea and other department stores open till 11pm
5. The newspapers are filled with cosmetic ads
Except for #1, everything else is cool.
After Survivor: Pearl Islands ends, there will officially be nothing on TCS 5 to watch. But hey, there’s always Central!
Time Crisis-ed!
Yay! KF and I finished Time Crisis 2 yesterday! Of course we spent about $5 each on our mission. But way cool, we finished it in 1 sitting, even after shooting the stupid hostage a couple times. I love Time Crisis. Yeah! Next – Time Crisis 3.
We’ve been hanging out at arcades a fair bit lately, and sadly (or not depending on how you look at it) the one with the best machines are at Bugis Junction. It works out great when we’re at work, but it kinda sucks on weekends. They’ve a bunch of shoot-em-ups, like Time Crisis 2 and 3, World Combat (a favourite with the gang at the office – You are the leader! *salute*) and Crisis Zone (I think this is the one that’s like Time Crisis, except it’s only 1 player and you use a machine gun).
I spy
With my little eye, something beginning with C.
Is copycat 1 word or 2?
Bracing myself
12/12/2003
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
I am so looking forward to the movie. I just can’t wait. I’ve even worked out when I’m going to catch it 
and most likely where. The sad part is, that after I watch it, there won’t be any other blockbuster to look forward to. Maybe the DVD and that’s it. That’s a sad prospect.
Indoor Plant Day 3(?)
That reminds me. I left my plant out on the window ledge for a couple of days. It rained so maybe it’s doing ok without watering. I’m too lazy to check.
Not looking forward to Tuesday
‘Nuff said.
Document that!
I’m more than a little interested in documentaries nowadays. I’m a big TV fan. I like moving pictures. It beats reading. And documentaries are like moving versions of National Geographic. How cool is that?
I hate local news stations and newspapers!
Channel News Asia is so boring! And honestly, do they think no one reads those stupid tickers? They’re always awkwardly phrased.
The newspapers are no better. I find grammar and spelling errors in The Straits Times too often nowadays. Come on, they even hired the 5 watt Tommy Wee to write for Life! Not just bad English though, sometimes what they write makes absolutely no sense. For example, they’ve write a story about this website that shows you how to network your home, but not supply the url. Idiotic things like that.
Fujian Flu
So now the United States is hit with an especially nasty strain of the flu. So why aren’t we screening these flu carriers and banning them from entering the country? It’s just as infectious, it’s flu for pete’s sake! Kids and old people are dying from it.
I think if people are sick, they shouldn’t come to the office and cough all over the place. It’s irritating, and downright inconsiderate. The consequence is me getting sick, possibly giving it to my family and feeling like complete crud for a few days. But people never learn. A few people were coughing like hell in the office over the past 2 weeks. Personally, I think they deserve to stay sick for a few more weeks for spreading it all over the office.
I mean, if they did anything useful or productive, perhaps I’d be a little more forgiving. But they don’t seem to be adding very much value, yet they insist on coming in sick. Some people just don’t know when to bugger off when they should.
I’m tired. I can’t explain why. I slept early in anticipation of an early day ahead, but I overslept and got in late. What’s new. I’m trying to come in by 10.30am. Let’s see how next week goes.
Christmas Passion Punch
11/12/2003
Forgot to shake the can?
So what do you do when you see the “Shake well before drinking” label on the can of a drink after you open it?
a. Jump with each sip
b. Put your fingers over the cavity and shake anyway
c. Kinda try to stir it with your straw
d. Stick your straw right to the bottom of the can and blow
e. Pour it into a cup
I like option d, it also works well with those fancy drinks where they don’t stir the drink so you can see layers – eg. flavoured sodas.
There’s a new Qoo flavour – Christmas Passion Punch. It’s quite pleasant, it tastes vaguely of pineapple, though.
More about Vietnam
Do you notice that when you start paying attention to something, stuff related to it starts popping up all over? Like after reading all that stuff about Vietnam, I chanced on Daughter From Danang on Arts Central. It’s a really good documentary about a Vietnamese-American woman raised in the states trying to reunite with her family in Vietnam. In the show, she was upset that her family asked her for money and for her to support her mother when she went back to the States. I think it’s really an Asian thing she couldn’t quite reconcile since she was raised in the US by an American family.
Semi-related
Apparently, the person who came up with the romanised system of writing Vietnamese was this French Jesuit Alexandre De Rhodes, roundabout 1630 or so.
Totally unrelated
Check out this pretty cat!
