I would like to take this opportunity to wish Meng a very Happy Birthday. May the year be blessed and may good company you keep.

I am in serious philosophical bouts, particularly why life is the way it is. Who on sane terms define slogging behind desks for hours on end to earn enough money to be able to waste it again in order to be happy? If lemmings are lame, the human race isn't so far behind. That plus this bloody war campaign, politics, prejudice and everything that makes the world go round is for no apparent reason, grating on my nerves. Humans suck.

Weekend was like the weather. Generally good with intermittent occurences of really sucky events. I hate gamblers, especially old ones. I even pushed an old lady who can't seem to queue and instead prefers to jostle her way through everyone. The casino will wait for you. Get a life and talk to your children instead.

Thus this blog is ended. Mood will pass. No patronising comments please. Have a good week all.

My previously green bananas are a golden yellow today... :D it has just gotta be Friday.

More meetings today. One very soon and another in the afternoon. Ah well. Gonna have lunch today as well for colleague who's leaving. Sigh. She sits just beside me so one good thing is that now that she's gone, I've hurriedly put up a partition between the tables for some privacy. Couldn't do it earlier for fear of hurting her feelings! I feel so cozy and enclosed now in my semi-partitioned cubicle. :D

Last week my boss and I went to a meeting in blue... thought nothing of it since I'm always in blue. Then we had a photo taken with me accidentally blinking so one eye was partially shut. So was my boss. Then last week we went to a presentation in grey. Felt a little peculiar but brushed it off. Now yesterday, we went to another presentation both in white AND similar gold ties. FREAKY!

Anyways, I can't wait for the weekend. Going to Megamall tomorrow for some exhibition AFTER I help Saw with house cleaning and then it's off to Genting on Sunday thru to Monday. (am doing the dance of joy). Have a good weekend all... :)

First up, a big congratulations to Chun, Saw and team for clinching first place at the Talenttime! :D (applause all round)

Came back from the presentation. I don't think I did all that well. Stuttered, fumbled, and spoke in garblygook until Q&A. I actually love Q&A and I'm always ok answering questions. It's presenting that gets to me. Then again, I don't really practise and like to wing it. Must make it a point to practise speaking! (I only present well when I am not intimidated, but most of the people we present to are so scary).

Boss came back yesterday from his trip so it's whiplashing back to work. Left work about 730pm yesterday to clear up the sudden deluge. Only thing kept me going was Irish Cream Truffles (with liquer) that boss brought back. Can anyone say 'sugar rush'? :D

Today is a day of mixed emotions. One of my colleagues resigned. And don't mean to be biased, but in an office of 6 people, it's good to have 1 that you can talk to. A little sad that she's gone but I can understand her reasons. Two new people will be coming though, one programmer and Beng, Jacq's significant other half. (I guess I can make that known now since boss has confirmed it). So office dynamics is going to change and there will be somewhat of a hierarchy in place. Change is good but too much change is befuddling.

Gonna go to new house today to help Saw clean. Will move out in April only though. Am looking forward to the 3-day weekend (God bless Selangor and its many many holidays). Am going to Genting to watch Sinbad and destress. Thank gawd for life's little pleasures.

Morning. Today feels like OogaBooga day. Tis sucks.

Am tired and a little disoriented with significant changes of plan. Like Saw said, it's infuriating when you get a wrench thrown into nicely laid plans. As you might have guessed, house moving has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances which in turn messed up my weekend plans and then boss dropped a bombshell and needs me to go to Kedah anytime. That plus a big presentation tomorrow which I'm not particularly prepared for since it's a new product is giving me bad nerves. Days like this really make you feel like going into early retirement.

Anyways, best of luck to Chun, Saw and team tonight at the talentime! I'm sure first is an attainable goal just don't sprain anymore wrists or ankles along the way!

Ooga... Booga...

Thank gawd it's a holiday tomorrow. This is probably the most pleasant of OogaBooga days ever. :) No boss, half of the staff on leave and a day off following. Woohoo...

Moving out day tomorrow. (that is if all goes well). Haven't heard confirmation from Saw yet so I'm still not too sure. However, I'm all packed, ready, and raring to go. Went for a drive to look for the house yesterday. Found out after a good 25 minutes. Pretty cramped area seeing as how the roads are double parked but house seems cosy like. :D Watch out for updates.

Weekend was pretty good but gawd, it was sooo warm! You could sweat just doing nothing. Phew... hot hot hot. Went on a mini shopping spree though in preparation for moving house. Lots of things that I use are my aunts so gotta get me stuff for meself. Got me a plant as well, in consolation for not being able to get a dog. Sigh.

Anyways, happy day off tomorrow. Anyone wanna help clean house? :)

Additional update:

Finished my weekly assignments earlier than expected and since boss is not around, I really don't have anything to do (short of cleaning the office) until he gets back. Oh well... (am I complaining? I don't think so!)

I've been reading MIT magazines from boss's collection and I'm so ashamed at our quality of research and pioneering ventures. University students there seem to do much more than cram for exams. Tis sad...

I also went to the MPH Warehouse Sales that begins tomorrow. Went with HL who was kind enough to pick me up. The sales begin tomorrow till the fourth but MPH cardmembers and SBB credit card members have a sneak preview today. Spent about 30 mins there and this is all I got (for a dollar for me cousin):



Nothing to shout about lar. Unless you have something specific to look for, or enjoy spending hours bludgeoning through people and overcrammed bookshelves, it's really not all that pleasant. There's also that musky book smell and prices are average. Newer books are sold at about 20-30% whereas older ones can go as low as 50%. The really cheap ones are very old stuff (learn MSOffice 97) or kiddie books and romance novels... (oh... Fabio...). One bone of contention though... my recently purchased Feng Shui book new from World of Feng Shui (which I got for RM39) is sold there for RM68 with only a 20% discount. The math does not seem right and the idea of it being a 'sale' remains in doubt.

Anyways, just a wee bit of an update this Friday. Whadda think of the new look? :D (ain't Wallaby cute)

Looks like move has been postponed till Tuesday. Darn. Have to start practising my long-distance-curses-to-people-I-have-never-met.

Had a good dinner last night for my once-a-week fast food indulgence. Had the McD Quarter Pounder or the 1/4 Paun burger. (what's quarter in malay?) For dessert, had a slice of pie from One Pie Day which sells pricey FAKE candy pies with liberal amounts of jam on a hard custardy crust. I feel cheated. And I miss good pie. Dropped by PetsWonderland as well. I'm in love with a ShihTzu in the Subang outlet. It is incredibly playful and it moves like a lion dance troupe. And best is, he can hardly see beyond his fur... was that close to buying it but common sense prevailed. Stood there for a good half hour gawking though. Sigh... I hope he gets sold soon otherwise I might just come home one day RM2k poorer.

Selangor holiday on the 10th as confirmed by Chun (not the 16th). Woohoo! And gosh, I almost forgot to make my weekly pronouncement. uh hum uh hum. As hereby decreed by the laws of whoever, today is a Friday and we thank gawd for it. (choir breaks into song at this point).

Have a good weekend all. :)

After a year and a half, I'm finally moving out from my aunts place this weekend. It was a mixed year and a half. I endured the torturous final year in MMU, got a job, and began life as an adult proper. Am thankful to aunt for putting up with me but it's time to move on. I don't need kids at my age.

Have you guys checked out Meng's and HL's new baby? Pics are available online. Click here. It's so cute. I wished I had time for a dog (and the means to support 1). Wallaby and Wombat might get jealous though! (check out Chun's shoes as well... quote Suede: 'She's in fashion...')

Anyways, family might come up to help with the move. So this weekend looks packed. Glad though that Tuesday is a holiday. Woohoo! And rumours has it that March 16th is a Selangor holiday as well for the Sultan's coronation! Selangor rocks!

What happened to my comments? (glares long distance to people at HaloScan, even though it's free, I have high expectations)

Office update, boss is away on a business trip overseas so everyone in the office is shifting slowly to slow gear. Not to say we're not doing work but just taking a breather. We're also having a new guy joining us. Won't say who until it's official and until I get his consent. If he's reading this (coz he's someone some of us know) (or at least know about) then I have to rethink blog content! Hahahaha...

Took the opportunity to service my car today. Was about an hr's late coming in but once again, boss is away. Like Jacq said, (or something to this effect), 'Kucing bermaharajalela bila Harimau tiada' though I think it's the rats who are out when the cat is gone. Don't quite picture cats and tigers under one roof. Anyways, car service was quick and efficient. Less than an hour. Looks like I've found a service centre I finally can live with.

Did anyone listen to MixFM last night? Friend told me I won a CD through a poem I submitted. Woohoo! Always dreamed of being a writer but it's only my poems that get anywhere. My writing works need work, whereas my poems have won me a Swatch, a CD, some cash and I have three of them published in an amateur poem compilation book thingy in the US. Must rethink writing approach.

Must commit myself to doing more work today. I shall not slack.

I hate doing recruitment. Company posted ads sometime ago in the papers and respondents were quite a tidy number. Unfortunately, most of them were fresh-grads who do not seem to understand the term 'experience essential'. But that's not all. Sent an automated reply saying I'll get back to them the end of next week. Now, END of next week means Friday or even Saturday. I got calls from Monday onwards asking about their application status. And some people don't seem to understand that after working hours, I have better things to do than to answer your freaking calls. Office hours are there for a reason.

Anyways, sent out rejection letters yesterday, 2 days after I was supposed to. Now, as far as I see it, 2 days really isn't all that late. However, got an email today from someone sarcastically highlighting that I was late by a week (once again, END of next week, not next week) and berating about time punctuality and how his name is properly spelt. Seriously, like I really care. You dah lar already rejected and I was kind enough to keep your name in the database for future employment. Come on... even if I am late, you are seeking a job, and humility (not uptightness) goes a long long way. People should just say, 'Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate it if you could let me know of any opportunities in the future. I look forward to hearing from you then. Thank you again.' (and fortunately most people do). Grrr...

Once again, I hate doing recruitment.

Another OogaBooga day. Is it just me or is there a proportionately larger numbers of OogaBooga day then the calendar may suggest?

Had a pig of a weekend. Ate, slept, tv and read Book 1 of the Mallorean (thanks Saw). With 4 books to go, I'm a happy happy boy. I love stories that takes 5 books or more to finish. Don't like having to relearn characters that lasts for a measly novel.

Celebrated bro's birthday last weekend. Lots of chocolate cakes (I bought 1, dad bought 1 and aunt brought 1) and had a pretty decent time. T'was a family only affair so it was mild. Bro not big on celebrations.

Anyways, have a good weekend all. Lalalalala.

Grumpy Dan is no more. Why? Because it's a Friday! Is that all? No, Dan had Nandos for dinner last night! Any more? Yes, Dan might be moving out as early as next week! Days like this are sheer bliss. (Have I told anyone how much I'm in love with Nandos? I get all glassy eyed and lightheaded just looking at the logo.)

Am going home again today. Gonna be a Feng Shui Santa and give out stuff to family (courtesy of the RM150 voucher I got from MixRadio). Got a pair of carps for brother (to improve studies and increase education success), arowana for dad (for wealth at work and at home), a three-legged frog for sis (simply becoz she likes frogs) and a book for mom (the ABC to Feng Shui for beginners). Am also thinking of going to Nandos again on Saturday (for my bro's birthday). Wait, let me rephrase, I AM going to Nandos again on Saturday!

If any of you guys drop by mixradio.com.my, you can find my airplay recording of my question in audio file number 26 or miscellaneus questions number 1 under the Feng Shui area. I just realised that I have a very deep voice which Chun describes as a rumble. Must remind myself to enunciate and project better. (mental note).

Also on Feng Shui, had a close call while on the road today. Car suddenly stopped to make a turn and I barely had time to swerve out of the way. Don't know whether Feng Shui peacock feathers in the car for accident protection had anything to do with it. (twilight zone theme song plays).

Have another presentation today and this time, I forgot my tie. Thankfully I left one in the car. Lessons are learnt after all.

On another note, the signing ceremony I went to yesterday was weird. There was the preliminary chit chat and then the two bosses went on to sign the documents, pose for photographs and exchange copies. Exactly like what you see on TV, complete with logo backdrop and all. Everyone there (except for the photographer) was at least 45 yrs old, graying hair, in coat and tie, with a shiny gold pen. Amongst them, I probably looked like the officeboy waiting to take their drink orders. And when everyone signed with their flashy gold pen (witnessess like meself have to sign to), I took out my press-button RM 15 Parker and click-click my way to signing it. That plus my tattered folder with stickers and a keychain dangling. I need to take another look at my choice of stationery and get a coat that fits.

Anyways, happy weekend all. Cheerios!

I hate it when I'm midway through CSI and my aunt pops up and asks for the story so far. If you've watched CSI, you would know it's not exactly a cut and dry plot and gawd knows the amount of technical jargon. Unlike Charmed where it's almost safe to say, 'they found a demon, the demon got 1 of the sister, they're about to rescue her but one of them is suddenly overwhelmed by sadness/grief/curse/craziness/magic'. I believe that you either watch it or you don't. Simple.

One of the three devils I live with has been good the past few days. I knew it couldn't last. He couldn't be more bad yesterday. If my aunt weren't around, I'd smack him, lock him out of the house and let the dog loose. For real.

I have my first signing ceremony to go too later this morning. I wonder how that would be like.

(grumpy Dan on the loose again)

I have always liked oat cookies so never in my life had I imagine oatmeal to be so bloody awful! And I stress awful. Got meself a tin of instant oatmeal for breakfast and it looks like I'll be bringing the tin home for me dad. Large doses of Milo helped but I might as well get Nestum then (which I like tremendously). Blech... (realises that sugar and salt makes most foods taste good).

I foresee McDonald's for lunch before I turn green all over. I feel sick by the way.

I finished my blog and it crashed. Grr.... Here I go regurgitating it again.

I've stopped sweating profusely after a whopping breakfast of home fried spicy rice with generous toppings of sambal belacan. Phew... shiok shiok. Coffee be darned... nothing like chili to wake you up. (and clear your pores at the same time)

Had a presentation yesterday of which I once again I dozed off midway. I obviously wasn't presenting but was there as a company representative. Company partner was presenting. Darn I'm so bad. And so sleepy. Couldn't beat last week one though. Came to work 30 mins late (I overslept) to arrive at the office and be asked, 'why are you here? don't you have a presentation to do at 10?' I froze, checked the time and saw it was already 930. Rushed off to the meeting forgetting my notebook and presentation materials, almost arrive only to be told it was postponed. Heaved a sigh of relief, drove midway back only to be called and told it was on again. Cursed, rushed back again and made it with a minute to spare. Things like this could lose you your job. I need a secretary. Anyone game? :D

Anyways... welcome to the club Chun *winks*. Have a good day now all.

OogaBoogaDay already? Darn...

Was a pig this weekend. Paid for it today at the gym. Phew. Mighty hard to resist home cooking and mom has a tendency to overcook when I'm back. :)

The KFC 'wholesome' three-course meal set has a new ice cream flavour, pecan with peanuts. Ain't too bad and a whole lot better than chocolate chip. (smacks lips). Had dinner at Megamall yesterday after gazing dreamily at the rabbits at Pet Wonderland (wonders why Wallaby can't keep himself as clean as the ones in the shop) and then had a shopping spree at World of Feng Shui with my RM150 voucher I won from MixFM. Fun fun fun. Spent a good hour reading and choosing the stuff. Got peacock feathers for my car for accident protection.

It's almost 9 and I'm still alone in the office. I guess everyone else is stuck in traffic. Aww....

Slept like a pig yesterday. Napped from 6-7 then went to bed at 9. I am well rested but very lethargic. Darn.

Will like to share one quote from Chun during lunch on Wednesday:

"I am a chick too."

Some things are best left without comment. :D Happy Valentine's day. Send me chocolates.

Having a day off in the middle of the week is pure bliss... if only every Wednesday is a holiday.

Had a great time yesterday. Went to Summit for a haircut then picked up Jin for some CD hunting at Taipan then met Chun, Saw, Zeke and Christine at Pizza Uno for a large lunch that leaves you very much bloated. Food was average with moderate prices but portions was generous though. Then proceeded to Subang Parade for books, toys and rabbit food. I had to leave then as I had a prior appointment with some other friends and went to Pizza Uno again for dinner. (they wanted Italian and I ran out of ideas). After dinner, we had a sinful dessert at Baskin Robbins before heading for home to watch Charmed. Ah... life is good.

Overslept this morning though. Reached the office a half hour late but I missed the gym. After the gluttony experience of yesterday, I so do not look forward to eating fruits and sweating it out. Sigh...

(got the cookies Aewis, THANK YOU!)

(Saw, thanks for the boosters as well! And the books!)

How frustrating it is when you are unable to access your online banking portal for months and then just when you have sent an email complaint it works. There seems to be forces at work against me this year. Grr.

Saw Two Weeks Notice last night. I am officially in love with Sandra Bullock. Our wedding is set for this Friday. Will be flying off to the States for the ceremony on Thursday. Gifts are welcomed. Hope she doesn't mind me not telling her till Friday itself. (I seem to be mighty presumptous of late)

I am so relieved that tomorrow is a holiday. I am very sleep deprived. No thanks to late night movies. Must sleep.

I am also thrilled that Charmed is back on with Season 3. New sister rocks (in a pale vampish sorta way). Wednesday's are good.

This has got to be the worst OogaBoogaDay in 2003. Darn. I don't miss my office desk one bit.

Had a terribly good break. A little painful on the wallet but well spent me thinks. Downside is, I am absolutely basking in lethargia (is that a word?) and the idea of working without any holidays on the horizon seems bleak. But ah well... as long as there are bills to pay, to work I go.

Have been stuffing myself silly (wot else is there to do during cny outside of gambling of course) and did the relatives/friends visiting circuit. Meng has great cookies! Go visit her while there are some left. :D (btw, THANK YOU aewis for the homemade gift! it was REALLY unnecessary! I was only joking lar, now i'm overcomed by guilt! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!)

Also visited a skin specialist and could not bathe for 4 days thanks to the patch test. That was a little irritating but at least I know it's not an allergy but something called discoid eczema and flares due to chemicals ingested so I have been restricted from eating all foods with preservatives (darn) and anything soaked in chemicals (double darn).

Anyways, back to work we go. Sigh. Sigh. And Sigh.