Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Xmas 2006!!!

I can't believe it's here.. Christmas is here!!! =)))
Well, I'd like to wish everyone a MERRY Merry Christmas indeed!!! =)
Have lots of fun and dun forget to take good care of urself!!!
May we all be blessed... always.. :)

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

my gadgets and their long due upgrade





Here's a list of my gadgets and where they're at their life span:

  • my notebook: Dell Inspiron 6000
    I bought this March last year and I still remember how happy I am when I first got it. I took a day off work for installation and etc. It is still running OK; except for the keyboard part. My Page Up button is off the keyboard now, and it feels like the Space Bar will soon have the same fate. Not very happy about it. Other than that, I'll be installing ubuntu on to it sometime in the very near future (with the help of ubuntu guide. That should keep me excited for at least the next half a year.
    The only thing that I want to add to it I suppose is external hard drive. I want decent one though. Something with at least 300 GB capacity; since I don't want to keep on upgrading it and I want to fit all my past MP3s, videos and pictures etc. I also don't want it to be MASSIVE and HEAVY. Last but not least, it can't be pricey. HAHAHAHA - Yep, I'm one of those impossible-to-please-customer.

  • my PDA: HP iPaq 2410
    I got this September last year. I can't believe how much I've grown out of it within a year. This is definitely one of the first thing to go next. I need a new PDA which are combined with phone; it is simply too ANNOYING to carry two mobile phones; a PDA and many other things in my handbag. Also, deciding whether to put alarms/schedules in my mobile/PDA/laptop is RIDICULOUSLY hard.
    Hear me out. I don't put my PDA on my desk at work - so never actually hear the alarm; while my mobile is always next to my PC; hence it is more visible. However, the schedule on the mobile are not nearly as good as the schedules I've put in my PDA which are synchronized with my Microsoft Outlook every week. So, I keep on putting things on my PDA although they sometimes don't serve the purpose. But, I don't totally ignore it. I check it first thing in the morning; use it as my MP3 player; check it again at lunch time and on my way home on the train. Oh well, me and my dilemmas.
    Another complaint that I have would be the STUPID virtual keyboard. Well, not stupid, but seriously impractical. It puts me off writing too much. Maybe not, but it certainly slows me down a lot. So, my new PDA Phone would have to have keyboard. Other than that... I'm happy with it, especially with my SPB Diary Plus. Great app.
    I'm eyeing Dopod 838 Pro. It looks like something that I want. I'll have to buy a new micro SD card though and get a converter so that I can plug the micro SD card in my laptop and my camera.
    By the way, I love this feature!!! I love the fact that my PDA, my digi-cam, my laptop all have SD slot. I can easily move files around them and it is GREAT!!!

  • my mobiles: Nokia 7610 and Motorola
    Got my Nokia phone this April. LOVED IT and still do. The camera is really nothing incomparison to the N70 I was for a month prior; but I love the chic look of the phone. I love that it's tiny. I love that it does most things that I want it to do and does it well. But if I'm getting a PDA phone and this is to go too... Unless I can put the three SIM card on my new PDA Phone. We'll see.
    I got my motorola phone last year in July. It's nothing really. I don't even know the model name. I like it more than any other available three phone but it's not something I'd show off. It's just a phone for me. I use it to make free calls to other three mobile holder.
    BTW, Three is a mobile network, like Optus, Telstra, Telkomsel, Singtel, etc.

  • my camera: Nikon CoolPix 5200
    Bought this camera two years ago I believe. Don't really remember but I think it was October 2004. I think... Hmm.. I still love it though. It's not as great as my bro 7.2 MP digi-cam obviously but I still really like the quality of the pictures that it produce and it hasn't failed me so far. The fact that it uses SD memory card is a plus point. Also that it has great colour quality. I love it and certainly am not thinking of replacing it soon. :)

  • my clock radio: Sony Dream Machine ICF-C153
    Well, this, I bought a while ago. Three years ago, I think. Really? Really. It was at the time when I moved to my current home. I think it was back in 2003. I love it :) Really do. Except that it doesn't do the radio job really well. It's very fuzzy. I wish I could get better signal. I'm always thinking of getting some sort of antenna to help it but somehow haven't got around to it. Maybe because I don't actually listen to radio, more MP3s. But yeah, hope I'll get around to it sometime soon so I can be waken up by radio sound instead of beep beep beep. Though I'm not sure my sis will be happy with that :P Still, I love its summer time function (which allows DST switch very simple) and the smart nap function. :) Definitely does not need replacement. Especially after I saw it in Myer today and still adore it in the shop (you know how once you own something you tend to appreciate it less; the fact that I still adore it in the shop even if I have one at home shows how good it looks). :)

  • my portable game console: Nintendo DS Lite
    I loved it. Although I don't play it as often now. In combination with this thing call Super-key and super-card, it's simply fabulous. I can actually play old games, like the Circus Charlie from the old NES console. It's GREAT!!! Excellent. Wish I could play it more often. Then, the Nintendogs game, the Tamagotchi game, the Poker game, and plenty other games... Yummmmm
    Of course, it has different kind of fun to the Sing-Star and Eye-Toy; but it is still fun. Loved how it has the stylus to allow different way to interact with the game. Love the white chic look too. Very stylish to carry indeed. :) Although now that I have that, my GameBoy Color must feel quite ignored... :P
    This is definitely more my style than PSP. I think so.

  • my USB MP3 player: OMNI 512 MB Digital MP3 Player / Voice Recorder --> SONY 2 GB NW-EOO5F Walkman
    Haven't used the OMNI MP3 player a lot. Only to back up my Microsoft Money file from my PC. Had this from back in my uni days. I think it was back in my honours year or even before that? Anyway, broke the display glass on the second month I own it. How annoying is that. It's still OK only have lines on top of the display screen. Today, I decided to go and buy a new one. A proper one. I want to use it to accompany me at the gym. :P Hopefully it will push me further :) This Sony 2GB Walkman is tiny but it has everything. It has the FM radio, chic look, and USB plug. Charge-able through the USB plug and battery life lasts 28 hours! How good is that.. Definitely my baby for now.


In short, I love these things so much, but like any other people who likes technology stuff. I find it annoying to buy something only to find that the price gone down by half the next month or newer stuff comes out the week after. Even if those things do not happen, 6 months after you bought ur gadget, u feel the need to upgrade, but u realise that it means u need to sell ur now old gadget. It is very annoying. How I wish I can just trade it in easily. :P
Oh well, for now, planning for a new PDA Phone, an external hard drive, Ubuntu, and fixing my laptop's keyboard sounds good enough. :)))

Good nite!

You and I Both - Jason Mraz

Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Others only read of the love, the love that I love.


See I'm all about them words
Over numbers, unencumbered numbered words
Hundreds of pages, pages, pages forwards
More words then I had ever heard and I feel so alive

You and I, you and I
Not so little you and I anymore
And with this silence brings a moral story
More importantly evolving is the glory of a boy

Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just dream of
And if you could see me now


Well I'm almost finally out of
I'm finally out of
Finally deedeedeedee
Well I'm almost finally, finally
Well I'm free, oh, I'm free

And it's okay if you have go away
Oh just remember the telephone works both ways
And if I never ever hear them ring
If nothing else I'll think the bells inside
Have finally found you someone else and that's okay
Cause I'll remember everything you sang

Cause you and I both loved
what you and I spoke of
and others just read of
and if you could see now


well I'm almost finally out of.
I'm finally out of, finally, deedeeededede
well I'm almost finally, finally, finally out of words.

Monday, December 18, 2006

So little time

I've got so much to say; so little time...
Got so much to do; so little time...
Got so much to think about; so little time...
Ugh... I better start else I'll never get there...

I am now officially working 7-days a week. It feels like sh*t. Not really. But, yeah it does. The regulation has changed @ Coles - I can only work on Sunday if I work one other weekday. I can't bear the thought of working @ coles after a long day in the office (which lately has been literally longggggg day); so Saturday it is. Well - I'm hoping this is temporary; as in I'm giving this up next year.. Want to focus on something else instead - like Interior Design perhaps.

A short intermezzo before I get to my main story; I've been thinking - there's something missing about comments on the blog thing. I've had problems with posting comment on someone's blog but not being able to get notified when someone else has perhaps reply to my comments. D'you know what I mean? Perhaps, that's not how comments are meant to be used, but still, wouldn't it be nice if we get notified when someone posted a comment after us? Or maybe it's just me... :P

Today's been a long day - like my any other day. I got up at 6.15 then get ready for work. Luckily, I'm working with Monica (v cheery and easygoing person) - she's a great incentive for me to go to work - especially at 7 a.m. the morning after the DWS Christmas function! (By the way, it was a great nite - just as any other DWS functions - lovely nite to catch up with most of my colleagues + partners over a lovely meal. It's a pity I was so tired from working 4-hour-shift yesterday afternoon). Anyway, finished work at 10 a.m.; grab vietnamese pork roll (it's now $4.80!!! Ridiculously expensive but still yummy...); went home; push my bros around so that they are ready for the trip to the airport since they're meant to be leaving for Indo today. (Note how I said 'meant' - it's not grammatical error!)
So, at 11:10 - off we go! Got to the airport around 11:35; queue up... it was a longgggggggg queue. At about 12:15; it's finally nearly our turn (2 2-people-groups were in front of us). Guess what! The officer came and said 'Sorry - the flight has been overbooked. You won't be able to board the flight. I will need to do some preparation for the plane's take off and will speak you all later.' with a very flat tone. I was like 'WHAT???'
Obviously, no one let him go so easily - we all followed him around - trying to get hold of him and actually understands the situation. I mean - have you ever heard of overbooked flight??? Don't they have some sort of capacity and flagging etc etc. Anyway, to cut the story short, after a whole lot of questions, I decided to treat this situation diplomatically - I simply asked him when's the next flight and how best to get my siblings on that flight. =) Normally, I would get so angry at the officer. But, today, I didn't. I'm so glad I chose to see the fact that it is not his fault - he's merely an unlucky guy who has to deliver the bad news. It turns out better. I was the second person in front of the Garuda admin office (Yap, it's Garuda; I bet no other airline does this!) and we got our replacement ticket almost straight after the officer came back from the flight take off preparation. He even thank me for being so nice about it all.
Lesson learnt? Emotion sometimes aren't so good. It blocks your brain from thinking straight. Today, (perhaps partially because it's not my flight) I wasn't panicking; I was able to think straight and keep my eyes at the goal - to get on the next available flight. :) Works out well - one more night with my lovey sis. :)
They're flying out tomorrow - how I wish I can fly out too.. :P

Oh well, not to worry, I've got plenty of things to keep myself occupied for the next month and a half... Sydney trip with lia n angie; installing UBUNTU on my laptop; tidy up my wardrobe; cleaning my house; finishing off my books n stacks of magz; watch the DVDs; and perhaps, if i have more than enough time, which is unlikely, watch House and Veronica Mars. :D

Ciao.. Oyasumi.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

My newest game

The newest addition to my house's content are ....


EyeToy and ...

SingStar.

Oh yeah.. my bro also bought the Guitar Hero guitar as well.


It's so muchhhhhhhhhhhh fun!!! =) hahaha Lots of laugh and actual movement rather than sitting down hahaha so it is some sort of exercise too.

EyeToy turns out to be really fun.. :P Watching someone playing the game is ridiculously funny (cause they make all sorts of weird movement). With SingStar, I'm in love with Avril Lavigne's song, Complicated and Sk8ter Boy. Plus, very intrigue with Delta Goodrem's Born To Try. It's up and down throughout the song.

Oh well, soon I'm getting the EyeToy: Kinetic. Who knows. It could be handy when I'm too lazy to go to the gym! YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Monday, December 04, 2006

Ten Commandments for a Stress-Free Life

Ten Commandments for a Stress-Free Life.
Found this above interesting article while reading the article that Zen has recommended on 22 Ways to Overclock your brain.

Thought this might comes in handy, for me and others.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Hatred and Anger

Have you ever disliked someone that you don't really know so much that you can't even pretend to act normally around them?
I don't even know why I hated this person. Maybe because I somehow feels that this person, namely A, has taken someone that I care, let's pretend it's B, about away from me. Eventhough if I think about it, it wasn't A that took B away. B has never been around me in the first place anyway.
I supposed it is easier to blame someone other than your close one. That's why I'm blaming A. It doesn't help that A has those annoying look. The kind of look that makes you hate the person straight away.
Anyway, I don't think it's healthy for me to go on like this. Hating A. I mean, if I continue on like this, I'll never be able to be close to B no more. And I can't stay away from B.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!@#!%#!#$!@!@#!@@!!@ B!!!!

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Boredom

I'm bored!!!
Really bored.
Can't help to think about beaches, hills, gardens.
Basically, the outdoor!
After my recent trip to Wilson Prom, I can't stop thinking bout going to the beach everyday and just hang out there doing nothing - how nice would it be?
I also can't stop thinking about trying new things, swimming with the dolphins, fishing (really? mmm not sure bout the baits and the dead fishes), even rock climbing looks quite interesting.. :P hahaha
Disappointed that I didn't go to any of the Prom's falls - like the one in the Grampians.
Can't stop thinking bout road trip. Maybe to Adelaide.. or back to my favorite destination, the Great Ocean Road.
Considering to get squash (or perhaps tennis) lesson...
What happened to my dance lesson?
Been learning to ride a bike - OK, only one session - but I've give it a try. :P Will do so again soon.
I want to be on holiday... Can't function properly without one soon!

Holiday... mmmmmmmmmmmmm *dreamy look*

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

I FOUND THE SONG!!!!

THE SONG!!!!! REALLY.. I FOUND IT!!!!!!!
YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!

Look.....

Old Nov 6, 2006, 03:21 PM
meaghansr New Member meaghansr is offline
Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2
meaghansr is an unknown quantity at this point

In the episode "Your Money or Your Wife" on the Season 4 DVDs, there's a song at the very end with these lyrics:

I'm shaken to the core
I've picked this scab once more
You want me to know
How happy you've grown to be
I'm not above going down
The rollercoaster, the go-round
Anything but how happy you've grown to be
Happy without me
Without me, without me, without me,
How happy
Without me, without me, without me
How happy

I'm dying to know who sings this and what the name of the song is. If anyone can help me, I would really really appreciate it. Everywhere I've looked so far says it's "Displaced" by Azure Ray, but I already have that song and it's totally different from this one.

meaghansr


Old Nov 6, 2006, 05:16 PM #52
AJ33 New Member AJ33 is offline
Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 13
AJ33 is an unknown quantity at this point

The song is called How Happy and it is by Stephanie Schneiderman and I got it on itunes and I love that song .................


Found it from this link below... http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/movies/felicity-dvd-music-help-10374-6.html

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! =D

For Felicity lovers out there, the list of tracks in its soundtrack is available here ... http://www.felicitytunes.com/oddsandends/soundtrack.html

Monday, November 20, 2006

De-clutter / Organize My Life

I was browsing my iVillage RSS feeds today and I found these quizzes about life, its chaotic level or its complication level... I thought it might be useful to know where I'm at...

Here's the result that I get when I take the "Is Your Life Too Complicated" quiz by iVillage...

Woman on the Line
Your busy life is threatening to knock you off your shaky balance. While you're doing your best to stay in control, one more to-do on your list (or one more bill, or sleepless night) could send you over the edge.

What can you do to make things easier and feel better about your life? It's simple: try these 15 easy tricks.


And here's the result that I get for the "Is Your Life Too Chaotic" quiz...

Prone to Chaos
You probably find yourself organized at times and lost in chaos at others. One day the beds are made, the bills are paid and you are on time for all of your appointments. Suddenly something happens -- you get stressed out at work, your mother calls to criticize you or your heating bill skyrockets -- and next thing you know, your home is full of clutter, the dishes are piling up and you are waking up every morning exhausted. Does this strike a chord with you? These stressful times in our lives are called "chaos triggers." But there are ways to combat them so that they won't throw you off course in the future.


So, these links below might comes in handy, if you're a bit like me... :)


Ta!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Wilson's Prom Pictures

Some pics from my visit to Wilson's Prom a few years back...

Normally, I forgot things very easily, but somehow this trip stick with me.. Maybe it's the excellent views, maybe the time I went, maybe it's the people that I went with, I don't know, but it just does... It was a great trip...

This picture below was taken after about an hour long hike up the hill... The view was amazing, and unlike other places I've been, there was no gates or fences around the area... it was stunning!
This was taken around 10 ish I think, we were at the squeaky beach.. the sands were just white... it was warm and really nice... and when you walk on the sand, there is this cute squeaky sound :P

It took me a while before I can take this picture.. Had to wait for the right wave to hit the stone, had to wait for the right time to press the click button.. :P It's definitely worth the wait...

Sugi took this shot... this birdie was just standing still there.. waiting for its picture to be taken.. and Sugi couldn't resist... turns out to be a great pic :P

This is a bit away from Wilson's prom.. I believe this was taken in Phillip Island.. Great sunset... I had to get Sugi to park the car just for me to take this picture... Until then, I didn't realise how quick it is for the sun to set... it was extremely quick, it's like every second counts.. and if you don't take the picture at the right second, it's gone... :P

I can't wait to go again... It's next week... I really hope and wish that it's gonna be great. Actually I know it's going to be great, but oh well... *fingers crossed*

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Daily Quote for 18th November 2006

Now is the time

There's no value in resenting what must be completed. Just get it done, and then there will be nothing to resent.

Don't waste your time worrying that something will go wrong. Just get started, and cross each bridge as you come to it.

Stop looking for excuses and reasons to put it off until later. Focus instead on the real value that will flow from making it happen right now.

Instead of seeking to avoid effort, look for how you can put real joy into that effort. Imagine choosing to get it done and really meaning it.

Be delightfully free of the unfinished business that follows you around and holds you back. Get busy and get it done.

Add energy to your moments as you transform your burdens into blessings. Choose right now to get it done.

-- Ralph Marston

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Making the BIG decision

I've been feeling a little lost for couple days now.
I'm not sure if I want to go somewhere, and if I do, where to from here?
I feel like I've been in the same boat for quite some time and it's starting to become a tad boring.

It doesn't help that somehow it feels like the environment surrounding me is dropping hints that adds to my 'lost' feeling.
The magazines that I read, all of sudden, talked about this big question that I have all over the pages.
The series that I watched, now mainly shows the scene that somehow linked to the big question.

Perhaps, only perhaps, I'm the one who's linking everything to the question...
Perhaps, I need to step back a little and free my mind from this question...
Perhaps, someone could help me in finding the answer...

I'm sure I'm not the only on who came across this BIG question.
In fact, I know some people who have come across the same question.

What do you want to do in your life?
How do you know that you won't regret how you're spending time now?
Should you stick around or should you move on? Why?

Sunday, November 12, 2006

To Do List Blog

Check this out...
http://www.todolistblog.com/

I think I can easily be their regular daily blogger, or maybe even hourly?
Great idea though.

Calvin and Hobbes

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."

So true!!!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

My imaginary shopping trip

Gosh! I think I'm in need of professional help. I can't stop thinking bout shopping. Seriously. I just can't. Somehow I managed to come up with all these excuses to go shopping. Buying stuffs that I know doesn't mean much. They will definitely excite me temporarily, but in terms of usefulness, I really doubt it. Since it is extremely difficult for me to curb my desire to go shopping, I thought instead of actually doing the shopping, I could pretend to be shopping. I'll window-shop online, looking through websites and list them here, just to make me feel as if I own the item already. (Kinda pathetic yeah?)

First of all, we definitely have to visit my favorite shop, i.e. Cue.

Secondly, Beauty Heaven...
Which girl can pass through make-up counter without at least eye-ing their stuffs, especially if it comes in pretty packaging like these stores...

Then, Borders, for sure! By the way, I signed up for the newsletter, and guess what did I get? A 20% discount voucher for a full-price item!!! How nice!

Next stop, kikki-k is definitely worth checking out. They change the world of stationeries around. They somehow manage to make them colourful and FUN! Definitely will re-vamp your work desk.

Last but not least, we shall visit peter-alexander. They've got the nicest PJs ever. They create this world full of bed time accessories, and let me tell you, they've got the cutest stuffs ever! When you're on their site, look out for the christmas catalogue. Definitely worth skimming through.

Hmm... bed time... zzzzZZZZzzzzz g nite!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Felicity (the tv series) - my lesson

Past couple days, ok.. maybe at least two weeks now, have been 'Felicity' time for me. Felicity is this really really great TV series that was popular back in the year 2000 or maybe even before that. There is this really great site that covers everything bout this series, felicity page. I've been watching it for a while now. Lia recommended this series to me a while back, and I've been watching its four season bit by bit, which is good cause it allows the character to grow on me.

Since I've spent so much time on it (four season of ~22 one-hour-episodes, i.e. freaking 88 hours!!!) - I'm determined to get something out of it. You know how they say watching TV series is such a total waste of time. OK, not they, I'm one of the people who say so, but then hey, I think you could actually learn from it.
For example, after finish watching One Litre of Tears, I definitely appreciate what I have, my health, my body, more. Albeit it might not last long, but there is an effect, and of course I don't want to see someone suffer to learn that lesson. On top of appreciating what I have, I also learn and realise how painful it is for Aya (the girl who suffered the spinocerebellar atrophy disease). It really makes me feel like I should volunteer and help, whenever I can. I really should and I would. I really want to do something bout it.

Now, Felicity... I've learnt so much from her, her relationship with Ben and Noel, Elena, Elena and Tracy, Javier, and basically the whole crew(even Meghan and Sean). Nearly every episode inspires me. I could really relate to how she feels, cause I've been there, and there are times where I feel like I'm still there, even though I shouldn't still feel that lost.

The one thing that I really admire though, is the way she react to things/events. She's very calm. She's a total opposite of me, even if I'd like to say the other way around, but she is. No matter how big a thing happens to her, she could somehow remain calm and think before she says something. I'm such an idiot sometimes. A very impatient idiot. I tend to express what I feel. I tend to say what I think. I can't even count how many times this behaviour of mine cause me problems.

When I look at her, I feel embarrassed by how immature I am. I feel like I should learn to be a bit more patient, and thoughtful. Yes, thoughtful.

I used to think I'm a thoughtful friend. Until one time, where I've made this HUGE mistake of betraying my friend. A very valuable friend too. Since then, I think less of myself. Seriously. Much less. That was the one quality that I feel that I can rely on. But after that, I'm not so sure anymore of myself. Since then though, I've learnt to live with it. I mean, there's nothing that I could do to take that back, and not that I wouldn't if there is, or maybe I wouldn't. I don't know. I'm lucky though to have people around me, who loves me no matter what, and have been really kind to me, whom have made me realise that I can only learn from my mistake. And believe me, I have. I have learnt the lesson, and to say the least, I think the mistake has made me who I am now. So I guess, everything does happens for a reason.

Watching Felicity has made me realise so many things too. We, human beings, all go through phases. There are times when we are down, there are times when we are up. As long as we have the people who we care about and care about us, we'll be fine. Because when we are down, they'll be there for us, and vice versa, when we are up, we'll be there for them. It's just great. There are many different ways of being there for someone too. I used to think the only way to be there for a friend is to talk and talk and talk, but guess what, I've learnt that simply saying that "I'm here if you want to talk" and giving them their space means a hell lot more than the gibberish that you just blabbered out without thinking.

Another thing that I've learn, is that it is great to have someone who believes in you, who believes in what you do. It makes a difference. It really does. Confidence really makes someone able to do the best they could. At the times where we lost our self confidence, having someone who believes in us, helps bring back our own confidence. Having someone to look our for us also means a lot. Basically, I guess what I'm trying to say is, we're social being. Human, simply suffered, without another human being.

There are so many other things that I've learn while watching Felicity... I can't put them in words. I suppose I'll just have to make sure that I've learnt my lesson and do whatever I can to improve myself. I'm grateful. Really am. For my loving family. For my dearest boyfriend. For my extraordinary best friends. For all the kind people I've met in my life. I might not have been the best I could to some people whom I've acquinted with, but I'm never gonna stop trying. Because once I stop trying, I will stop improving.

All in all, Felicity is a great TV series... I'm still up to 9th episode of Senior Year, but I seriously HIGHLY recommend it to everyone out there. Definitely worth watching. Especially when you're feeling lost, when you feel like you're uncertain with your steps in life...

- my grateful self on 9th November 2006 -

Felicity - extract

Senior Year - episode 5
Ben tells the AA group that "maybe it's not about who's the best student, maybe, maybe it's about who cares the most."

I reckon he's right. Extremely right.

Senior Year - episode 4
I'm shaken to the core,
I've kept this ??? once more
You want me to know how happy you've grown to be
I'm not above going down
The roller coaster that goes around

Anything but how happy you've grown to be
Happy without me
Without me, without me, without me, how happy
Without me, without me, without me, how happy

The above is the lyrics of the song that was playing in the scene with Meghan and Sean at the Loft's living room. It's a really really nice song.

So, I was trying to find the song's title - Google-d hard, and look what I found..

please help :) [09 Apr 2005|11:24am] thisbeautifulme
[ music | Felicity Senior Year soundtrack ]

Hi everyone!! I am hoping someone here can be my saving grace. I, like all of you here, am a Felicity addict, and am finally re-watching my boxed set of Senior Year.

I am looking for a song though, and all the websites that list Felicity episode songs are wrong on this one, so beware. I am looking for the song that they play at the end of "Your Money or Your Wife", and part of the lyrics are as follows... "anything but how happy you've grown to be, happy without me."

It is NOT "Displaced" by Azure Ray as many of the sites seem to claim, and I am in LOVE with this song, it's gorgeous.

I would appreciate any help you could give in this arena!!

Thanks guys!

extracted from http://community.livejournal.com/dear_sally/

Someone was looking for the same song! Aha! *LOL* I find it's really funny. But she/he hasn't received any reply for the post... I hope one day I'll find the song though. Just like when I was looking for Afhgan Whigs - 66 (OST She's All That). I looked for the song for more than a year. Now I hardly listen to it, but the feeling when I found the song, was magical WOW!. And I will NEVER be able to forget the song. Because I fought hard to find it.
Hmm I guess it's true, we all appreciate something more if we had to fight hard for it.

Well, anyway... if someone knows the song title, please do let me know.

Thanks in advance!!!

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Inspirational Links

Great inspirational quote
http://inspirational-quotes.blogspot.com/2006/11/life-is-like-puzzle.html
Life is like a puzzle. I truly agree with the content of this post.

Mo-vember - to sponsor mo-ing males
mo-vember
Men's Health is promoting this event where people can sponsor males who grow their mo-s during the month of November.
"At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible." - extracted from the Movember site.
The fund raised will be contributed to the cause of males health, mainly Prostate Cancer, Male Depression and Testicular Cancer. I know this from some of my work colleagues. =))) Go Victor, Mark and Dave!!!

Delicious Ambitious
Delicious Ambitious
A great site with interviews of a bunch of high-profile career women. It's very inspiring to see how far they've come and to find out their recipe of success. Coincidentally, when I checked, it was featuring Cecilia Ahern. She's the author of my favorite book (P.S. I love you)!

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

'One Litre of Tears'

Found this site where someone posted an excellent review of 'One Litre of Tears'...
http://www.channel-ai.com/blog/2006/01/01/1-litre-of-tears/all-comments/
Great work!

and here's another post about this great series...
http://blog.orgday.org/2006/03/06/1-litre-of-tears-all-episodes-gallery/

I found this video of this person playing the soundtrack....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0JUkvpjqhw

Ugh... does anyone have the music sheet? :)))))

Only Human - K

Only Human (K)
Lyrics: Osanai Mai Translation: Jonathan Wu Music: Matsuo Kiyoshi, Tanaka Choku
Soundtrack: One litre of tears

Kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
On the opposite coast of sadness
Hohoemi ga aru toiu yo
is something called a smile

Kanashimi no mukou kishi ni
On the opposite coast of sadness
Hohoemi ga aru to iu yo
is something called a smile
Tadori tsuku sono saki ni wa
But before we can go there,
Nani ga bokura wo matteru?
is there something we’re waiting for?

Nigeru tame ja naku yume ou tame ni
In order to chase our dreams, we can’t have a reason to run away
Tabi ni deta hazusa tooi natsu no ano hi
We’ve got to go, to that far away summer’s day

Ashita sae mieta nara tame iki mo nai kedo
If we find it tomorrow, we can’t sigh
Nagare ni sakarau fune no you ni
Because like a boat that opposes the stream
Ima wa mae he susume
we have to walk straight on

Kurushimi no tsukita basho ni
In a place worn down by sadness
Shiawase ga matsu toiu yo
something called a miracle, is waiting
Boku wa mada sagashite iru
Yet we are still searching
Kisetsu hazure no himawari
for the sunflower that grows at the end of spring

Kobushi nigirishime asahi wo mateba
The warrior who awaits the morning light
Akai tsume ato ni namida kirari ochiru
before he can clasp it with red nails, his tears glitter and fall

Kodoku ni mo nareta nara
Even if we’ve grown used to loneliness
Tsuki akari tayori ni
only relying on the light of the moon
Hane naki tsubasa de tobi tatou
We have to fly away with featherless wing
Motto mae he susume
just go foward, just a little further

Amagumo ga kireta nara
As the rainclouds break
Nureta michi kagayaku
the wet streets sparkling
Yami dake ga oshiete kureru
Although it brings only darkness
Tsuyoi tsuyoi hikari
A powerful, powerful light
Tsuyoku mae he susume
helps push us to walk on

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Life is short...

On the 30th September 2006, I posted that my ideal Saturday begins with Gary's Pump class at Richmond Fitness First...
Last Thursday (the week before this one), me and lia went to Teresa's Body Pump class at Bourke St Fitness First. Before the class started, Teresa said that she just heard a very sad news, one of the instructor has just passed away. I was so surprised when she mention the name of the instructor... It's Gary.. The Gary which Body Pump class I really truly enjoy. He's like the best Body Pump instructor ever - his class is just so much fun. Put it this way, why else would I sacrifice my Saturday to go to the gym? Keep in mind - I'm so not a sport person!
Anyway, since then, I've stopped going to the gym. Yap. 1 week and a bit. Missed last Saturday's Pump class - wasn't sure how it is going to be without him as the instructor. Plus, I sort of twist my neck muscle somehow. It was extremely painful to turn my head to the right for almost a week - since last Friday. Then, my parents came over from Indo (arrived last Sunday) so I've been skipping gym till this morning.
I had to go. Part of me still couldn't believe that Gary has passed away. I was kinda hoping it's not true - who knows, it could be someone else.. So I went... and the news was right after all. A guy called Mat took over the class today and last week (apparently - from what he said). From what he had said after the class, seems like he and Gary are good friends. But then again, from knowing Gary (by attending his class) for the past couple months (maybe almost a year now), he seems like a great bloke that gets along fine with everyone... It's such a shame...
There were a couple of girls that I know have been attending Gary's class for quite a while - Gary always made reference to this 40+ lady who's always positioned right in front of the stage. Before the class, she was crying on the shoulder of this other lady who I know has been attending the class for a while too. It's really sad. The class was very different to when Gary was the instructor. It's quiet.. very quiet indeed..
I don't know why I'm blogging about all these things. It's just this has been in my mind a lot for the past week.
Gary was my Body Pump's instructor. I haven't got a chance to know him well or anything. But the fact that he's been constant in my life for quite a while, I see him almost every Saturday, makes him feels like a part of my life...
I'm sad... Really am. Overheard the lady who was crying (her name is Victoria, I think...) said that 'Why? Why him?'
It's all very sad... It reminds me that life is short.. very short... too short sometimes... and you know that story, where a boy likes a girl but never got around to tell the girl and before he knows it the girl has passed away, that is so true... I didn't know that the last time I saw Gary was going to be the last time... If I knew, I would have said 'Thanks for such an inspirational class. Thanks for keeping me from not going to the pump class on Saturday morning by instructing such a great class. Thanks for making me feel great and ready to enjoy my weekend after a hard long Saturday pump class.' and I would have hug him... but I didn't get a chance, and I'm sad, really very sad....

Good bye Gary, you will be truly missed...

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Girls' introduction to make up...


My lovely sister and me with MAC eye shadow... =)

Sunday, October 15, 2006

A day of fun @ Jessy's house

The almost-complete team of galssss (before the delicious steamboat)... ^.^
[left to right: cou ni (a.k.a. stephanie), lia (a.k.a. deasy), agnes, my sis (a.k.a. shelwin), me, jessy (i.e. the cook), ellie (i.e. the make up expert), jennifer]

With the help of Ellie's magic hands (what else but playing make up when 9 gals meet up)...

Yay!!!! =D

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

My li'l brother says ... "Have some perspective"

If the population of the Earth? was reduced to that of a small town with 100 people, it would look something like this:

  • 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 Americans (northern and southern), 8 Africans

  • 52 women, 48 men

  • 70 coloured-skins, 30 caucasians

  • 89 heterosexuals, 11 homosexuals

  • 6 people would own 59% of the whole world wealth and all of them will be from the United States of America

  • 80 would have bad living conditions

  • 70 would be uneducated

  • 50 underfed

  • 1 would die

  • 2 would be born

  • 1 would have a computer

  • 1 (only one) will have higher education



When you look at the world from this point of view, you can see there is a real need for solidarity, understanding, patience and education.

Also think about the following:

  • This morning, if you woke up healthy, then you are happier than the 1 million people that will not survive next week.

  • If you never suffered a war, the loneliness of the jail cell, the agony of torture, or hunger, you are happier than 500 million people in the world.

  • If you can enter into a church (mosque) without fear of jail or death, you are happier than 3 million people i n the world.

  • If there is a food in your fridge, you have shoes and clothes, you have bed and a roof, you are richer then 75% of the people in th e world.

  • If you have bank account, money in your wallet and some coins in the money-box, you belong to the 8% of the people on the world, who are well-to-do.



If you read this you are three times blessed because:
1. somebody just thought of you.
2. you don't belong to the 200 million people that cannot read.
3. and... you have a computer!

As somebody once said:
"- work as if you don't need money,
- love as if you've never been hurt,
- dance, as if nobody can see you,
- sing, as if no one can hear,
- live, as if the Earth was a heaven."

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Speaking English vs Speaking Your Own Native Language

I'll keep it simple.

I'm an Indonesian but I currently live in Melbourne, Australia.

A recent event caused me to think about what's the best to do in the following situation..

In an environment where all the people are non-Indonesian language speaking, a new person comes along and during introduction we find out that we come from same country. What should I do when that person start to speak to me in Indo?

Considering the fact that the people surrounding us might feel excluded, or even worse, feels like we're talking about them. On the other hand, this person is new, and it would be rude to him/her to reply in English. It's like 'Huh, I'm too cool to speak in Indo.'. Maybe? Not sure.

Honestly, the temptation to speak in our native language is extremely high. It's just easier and definitely require less thinking. But, I've been in the situation where someone else is speaking in a language that I don't understand to another person while I'm around and it is definitely uncomfortable.

So, I decided that I'll reply in Indo, just to explain that maybe we should speak in English, and then I supposed next time, when it was just the two of us, then we could speak in Indo. =)

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

the devil wears prada


thedevilwearsprada


Last nite, I went to watch it and I LOVED loved LOVED loved LOVED it!!!

I loved it at so many different levels.
Loved how it reminds me of the Sex and the City series feel.
Loved the makeover they've done to Anne Hathaway. Loved the various ways she wears her make up. Loved the clothes and accessories they put on her (not that she even needs any) and all the other girls @ Runway. They all look like models (Gisele certainly plays her part effortlessly).
Loved the way Meryl Streep changed the scene with her presence - she's extraordinary. Loved the way she said 'That's all...' with her soft voice.
On top of that, I loved Stanley Tucci as the cute and kind hearted Nigel - he's just so lovable!!! With his cute comments and all...
I also think Simon Baker and the Entourage guy, Adrian Grenier played their part really well as the seductive famous guy and the loving attentive boyfriend respectively. Emily Blunt was also great in playing the first assistant role.
Loved the scenes and can't get enough of the fashionista feel of the movie.
All in all, the casts were great and no on could have done a better job than David Frenkel in directing this movie!!!

For a movie which book I've read and for such a simple story line (as with any other chick flick, expected ending), this was very entertaining and excellently made. Every scene is just pretty, dazzling and lovely. I'd give anything to be Anne Hathaway in that movie for a day. :P

Rating: 8.5/10

That's all... ^.^

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Summer 2006-2007 - My To-Do List


  • Beach (A Must!!!)

  • Moonlight Cinema (A Second Must!!!)

  • Learn to ride a bike

  • Re-visit Wilson's Prom

  • An Inconvinience Truth

  • Music Concert!!!

  • Rollerblading along Port Melbourne beachside

  • Try Squash &/ GoKart &/ Badminton

  • Kayak-ing

  • Horse Riding

  • Golf

  • Grampians?



Ref: visitvictoria, citysearch and thatsmelbourne

Saturday, September 30, 2006

My ideal way of spending Saturday

Wake up at 10 a.m., get ready to go to Richmond's Fitness First to join the Gary's Body Pump class from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., then straight to the steam room - my favorite gym facility - for 15 mins of relaxing and shower time.

Next, it's time to think bout what's for lunch. Hmm... Since the plan is to go to Chadstone Shopping Centre, lunch at CCR (Caulfield Chinese Restaurant) seems like a good choice... reminiscing my uni days. So, dressed in black sleeveless top over blue tank plus the new-ish jeans (the one which ever since I got from Sportsgirl couple weeks go has became my favorite jeans), and my gray-ish jean jacket, i left for my shopping spree.

Melbourne's weather is lovely today. Must have been the result of the work of the Australian Rain Prevention department, as a preparation for the AFL grand final today, West Coast vs. Sydney. The result can be viewed here. This is what makes it even better to go shopping in Chadstone. Everyone is heading to the city, hence the road to Chadstone will be free of traffic. :P

We arrived in Caulfield only to find out that CCR is closed :(. Might be caused of the uni semester break (stealing Sugi's assumption... :P). We had to re-think the ideal lunch place. I thought of Kimchi in Carnegie (it's still on the way to Chadstone), but my sis quickly turn down this idea (she somehow hates Korean food). So we went to J.J. express in Carnegie (Sugi's recommendation - he used to eat there a lot while he worked in Comm2 and he loved it). It was enjoyable. I had Katsu Curry Don (which is the second time this week, it has became my favorite meal lately).. Yumm... Still, I constantly picking on Sugi's fried rice and 2 dishes meal. :P This is a very bad habit of mine. Can't resist the temptation of picking at others' plate. I end up feeling like a pig. So darn full.

Consoled myself that I'm gonna spend my time walking in Chaddy. ;)
When we got there, did not spare anytime at all - straight to Priceline - bought body lotions (it was on special yay!). Next, tightrope (cheapy clothing store). Found a nice blue white stripey shirt - purchased. Proceed to Sportsgirl - did not find anything special. Continued to Cue. They've got the nicest work wear. Seriously. I always loved their display. Very very pretty dresses / shirts / skirts. I'd love to have a wardrobe full of their clothes. :P
They have some stuffs 50% off!!! Mmmm.. An excuse to browse.. Bad move! Bought a pretty top (light brown with a hint of orange). It looks very nice on. 75 AUD$ - a bargain from the original price of 150 AUD$.

That's the end of my shopping spree - I thought. But, nope. Went to Myer - browse around - trying to spend the 25 AUD$ gift card that I got from the MyerOne card. Didn't find anything worth buying though. Was too tired to try on stuffs anyway. Kept walking. Arrived at JB Hi-Fi. Remember that I need new headphone (now that the one I got only gives out sound to my left ear and complete silence in my right ear..) and a stack of CD-Rs. Bought these and decided that it's time to go home, else I'll end up with couple weeks of sandwiches for lunch (cause I dun have money to buy lunch).

Got home and straight on to my laptop. Blogging. Relaxing. Hmmm... Time to start browsing the web now.

My ideal Saturday indeed.

Monday, September 25, 2006

My Birthday Gifts

Once a year, a gal gotta receive all the love in the world in the form of gifts... ^.^

From my loving boyfriend...

From my lovely siblings... (and the reason I haven't been blogging)

From my gal-pals...

and ...

From me to myself...

and heaps of birthday wishes from the people that I love... means more than anything in the world... =))))

A separate topic altogether, on Sugi's bday, this is what we did... Tulip Farm.. V nice... Tsk tsk... see how hungry I can be... even tulip can looks yummy to me. :P

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Showground 2006

Very very very very tired...

Just got back from the Melbourne Showground. =) I recall posting something similar last year.. Check it out here. It's strange how quick time flies by... Can't believe it was last year.
This year, I've got some pictures to put up...


The animals in the picture is ALPACAS... Never heard of them let alone seen them till today. Very unique.. Although to me it looks more like a breed by crossing sheep and giraffe :P hahaha =)


This picture shows two of the stuffed toys that i spend big portion of my budget in an attempt to get them... the one on the right end of the hanging toys is the precious Bob the builder. it is sooooo cute!!! and then the second one from the left.. Homer Simpson... just as cute.. but bad luck this time :*( didn't get any of those... but i got cookie monster n the psycho baby from family guy.. =)
will try to put up picture sometimes later...

Loved this drawing... it looks very peaceful and calming.. need to save some money before i could purchase it though... the painter is a very talented artist in deed to be able to draw something like this.. =)

alritey.. i'm off to bed.. gotta go to work tomorrow morning.
ciao!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

OzBargain Blog

Look what I found...
Oz Bargain Blog
!!!! =D good find, Shelvia *pat myself on the back* ^.^

Friday, September 15, 2006

words of advice

"When you know who you are and like yourself, you don't have to hide, sell or exaggerate anything.
The first step to talking like a winner is acting like one; so if you find yourself stumbling over excuses of how the dog ate that report to your boss, you really have only yourself to blame.
The best way to make your words sound good is to be as good as your word.
Make your promises count, admit to mistakes without attempting to palm off blame and keep your commitments. This immediately makes your words meaningful.
When you choose to pay a compliment, make it genuine and specific.
Ask lots of questions and don't assume you know the answers.
Be clear about what you want.
Remember that being a good communicator is ofter more about being a great listener."
Extracted from how to be an irresistible woman by Lisa Helmanis

Great stuff!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

An extract for Life Swap by Jane Green

Just finished reading the book...

"'I know I've only been here a week, but I feel as though I'm having one epiphany after another. I was so nervous about coming, so convinced I had done the wrong thing, I almost thought about backing out, but now I see why I'm here.'
'I needed to get away from my life for a while to really see it properly. I knew I wasn't happy, but I love my husband and love my kids, and couldn't figure out what it was that was wrong.'"

"Even now, even knowing what she knows, the grass still looks just a little bit greener, but as she starts to read t he article, she realizes that just because the grass looks greener doesn't necessarily mean that it is, and although her garden may be small, her flowers not yet blooming, her lawn just getting ready to renew itself after a drought, her grass isn't so bad."

A good read indeed, at the right time too.
It sorts of trying to remind me the fact that the grass on the other side always looks greener, but once you're there, you'll start looking at your own side thinking that your grass looks greener.
Not all of us have a chance to try to go to the other side, so why not start appreciating what we've got for now. Change what we can and adapt to what we can't change. Perception is the key. If we perceive our life as a life worth living, we'll have more chance of living the life of our dream. =)

A good wake up call for me.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Bored...

Pipi send me this link...

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1806.html

Thanks darling... =)

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

arghhhhh @#%@#@!%#

Just plain "ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!! @#$#@%@#@#"
For no particular reason.

Have you ever felt this way?
At the risk of sounding discriminatory, if you are a female, I bet you have.

*Sigh*
I hate feeling like this.
I hate the fact that I can't help feeling this way.
I hate that I am not doing anything about it.
Even more, I hate that I choose to surrender to this feeling and drag myself more into the hole.

Not going to the gym this whole week.
Not focusing at whatever it is I'm doing.
Not running errands as I should have.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! ARGH!!!!

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Slideshow on my Desktop Sidebar

As I'm doing the stuffs I normally do after a long day at work, i.e. browsing the net, looking for things that I don't really need, do my daily activities on the net, emailcash, check emails, check out some stuffs, pay ebay purchase, etc..
With Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow album playing away in the background...
The Slideshow feature in my Desktop Sidebar is showing this picture (see below)


That picture was taken when we're leaving for our whitewater rafting trip..
it was SOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!! =)
*LOL* Even thinking about it gave me so much joy. =D

Attached below is a picture taken during my last Easter Tasmania trip.. I tried to look for a picture that actually justify the view but it's really difficult (a sign for me to take the photography course :P)

Ciao!

Sunday, August 27, 2006

the new template

Got the new look from combining background from Anti-Ivy.com, the blog template from Noipo.org plus some fonts re-color-ing and re-sizing.

I'm liking the new look. It's clean and neat yet still pretty. Lovely. ^.^

Aside from that, I'm trying to switch from using My Yahoo! as my portal into using a mix of del.icio.us (for bookmarks) and bloglines (for RSS feeds) and/or My Google (for general portal use - notepad, email and RSS). Hmm sounds like a lot of work. The thing is, I'm not even sure that I want to switch. I'm kinda happy with what My Yahoo! offers. There are times when it's a bit iffy and chose to not work with some of the RSS feeds, but most of the times it's good. Yet I wonder, why do people rave about del.icio.us? So, I'll give it a try and see what happens next.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Links to Useful IT-related Sites


  • Tom Kyte's Blog - if you're dealing with Oracle a lot, u would know that he's the Oracle guru... ;)

  • AskTom.com - here's his other sites where u could submit questions about Oracle

  • Joel on Software - he's a software developer in NYC. His book, Joel on Software: And on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers, Designers, and Managers, and to Those Who, Whether by Good Fortune or Ill Luck, Work with Them in Some Capacity is his contribution to improve the world of programming

Clean & Organize

Found a bunch of useful articles in iVillage's Clean & Organize section.

Hope it will be useful for some others too...

Something you do well

For Thursday [24th August 2006], Ralph Marston said ...

Focus on something that you do well and find a way to do it even better. The substance of value that you create is never wasted.

Choose something that you do well and find a way to make the fruits of your efforts available to those around you. By providing real value to others, you expand the treasures in your own life.

Take something you do well and find a way to make it enjoyable. The more you enjoy what you're doing, the more effective you'll be.

Find something you do well and teach it to others. The more you can duplicate your efforts, the more value there is for everyone.

Look at something you do well and consider the real, lasting sense of fulfillment it can bring. Remember that life is about making a difference.

The things you do well provide you with the opportunity to give of yourself in real and meaningful ways. That's an opportunity you don't want to miss.


-- Ralph Marston

what is the purpose of ...

There are times where I feel that I'm doing things with no purpose.
Like this blog - what is it for, really?
I can say it's a reflection of my thoughts.
The problem is my thoughts tend to be a big scattered mess. It's not very well incorporated.
Hence I don't really see it fulfilling any particular purpose.
The one purpose I can think of me blogging is that my head is less crammed with these thoughts. As soon as I pour it in the form of a post, I let it go from my head ..

I do wish I could have a blog which can be useful for others too though. Not only to myself. Like this blog I found when I'm looking for Fish Leung's lyrics. The blog is titled "Stranded in the middle of nowhere". He's got a big collection of songs lyrics that is very useful for people like me, who is unable to read Chinese characters but find comfort in listening (and at times, sing along) to Chinese songs.

Anyway, back to my big scattered messy thoughts. I can never make up my mind about something.
Throughout the past couple months, I am so caught up with Interior Design course.
Couple days ago, after checking out Tara Whitney's photoblog, I'm suddenly interested in taking a Photography course.
On the top of all that, I'm also very attracted to technology stuffs. I find learning about programming - ways to do things, or new technology, or the logic of working things out highly rewarding. I find this attraction fluctuated a bit though eversince I started working. Some times it's up and at other times I just can't be bothered.
So, see what I mean? I can't be focused enough in one thing. In addition to those interests, I'm also interested in improving my Chinese communication skill which has somehow gone straight to the bin lately. Then, there is this desire of being able to cook fancy food, actually play piano.
Hell. How can I ever be a master at something if my list of interests grow every week??? Geez.

Guess what, I found books for people like me. It's titled "The Renaissance Soul: Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One" by Margaret Lobenstine. I found this book while looking for a book by Barbara Sher titled I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. Interesting, huh?
I should really check it out...

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... this time, blogging hasn't really helped. I have so many things in my mind that I reckon if I could cash it in the bank, I would be richer than Bill Gates... @!#!$!@%@!#!%!@#@! Oh well, I better get around to do the things I'm suppose to do and not blabbering..

C ya!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Lao Tzu once said...

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

This is something that I just realized and really need to work on.

"A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words"

That's what they say...
I can relate most to this when I was checking out one of the link in pipi's blog, the Tara Whitney's blog.

I particularly love this picture here.

Seriously. The photographs that she took are spectacular.

*Click*

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Movie Buffs Meeting Discovery

This was meant to be posted back on the 15th August 2006.

DWS, the company that I worked for, has a policy that all of us has to join one of the groups available in the company and attend the meetings every Tuesday. Examples of the groups are card group (plays card), sports group, pool group (plays pool), Dine Around Town group, LAN group (plays LAN games), and Movie Buffs group (we talk bout movies and attempt to go to movies once a month).

Anyway, during last week's DWS Movie Buffs meeting I discover some interesting things...

Apparently during summer, Melbourne held an event named "Moonlight Cinema". It's basically watching movies on a big screen in the Botanical Garden. Sounds great isn't it? Imagine that, with picnic rug, cheese, crackers, a bottle of sparkling grape drinks and popcorns. Mmmm... I'm so going this year.

Gemma (my lovely colleague) also talked about a movie that's gonna come out sometime soon - an inconvenient truth - which are about the effects of global warming. It's a pretty serious stuff. It's funny - I'm not usually that into this kind of movie. But, this is an exception, because I think this will somehow wake all of us up. I mean, I'm not a green person - not even close for that matter. However, looking around, it kinda hit me that if I don't care so much about it, I can't expect others to care and that what I do as a person impacts the growth of global warming in our earth. Hence, I think it would be very good for me to learn the facts of global warming and what I can do to stop it.

One other thing that always comes up in our weekly meeting is the classics. I'm talking about movies such as:

and the list goes on and on...
What about these movies? Well, every week one of them is mentioned and I'll say 'I haven't watched it yet!!! Would love to though'. But the truth is, never actually got around to actually watch it. One day. The one day that never arrives...

Enough bout the Movie Buffs.

Cut!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

GHD, Beating the Tax Man and General Knowledge

Now.. I'm feeling so much better. =)
I'm having a GHD (good hair day) =P. It's cool.
Nothing major happens. Only that I've tried some clothes on and they look pretty ON.
It's funny isn't it. How clothes fit on me determines how I feel.
I might be shallow. But, it might also be because I'm a girl.
This is why I continues on going to the gym.
It almost makes me feel like actually seriously going on a diet.
Because the feeling that you get when you try clothes on and they look pretty ON are just WORTH it.
Don't you agree girls? :P

I'm still in the look for a work around. Maybe I don't have to go on diet. Maybe there's a small secret that I'm yet to find as to how to get my hip bones to show when I'm wearing hipster and to get my belly in the state where it's worth for me to get belly piercing.

Anyway, aside from my good hair day, I have one thing in mind. I need to submit my tax return. I need to get money back from the tax man. Geez. I work so hard for it and there they are just grabbing it from me so easily!!! *Sigh*
The thing is I can't bring my self to submit it. Just because I'm still in the look for the tips and trick to get MORE back. The prob is all the articles that I read in the magz (Money, BRW, Fin Review, etc etc) are just telling me what ATO has in its site. It just crosses my mind today, well, they can't really tell me tips and trick to help me get BIG FAT tax return, can they? They can only tell me how to do it right. *Sigh*
Looks like I'm gonna have to resort to the old and loyal Google.. Hope I'll find a site that tells me the list of possible deduction. I don't wanna miss out on anything - anything at all. I need BIG FAT return. I need a holiday.

On a totally different topic. Triggered by the fiction that I've been reading from Adele Parks - Larger Than Life, lately I've been trying to improve my level of general knowledge. The main character in the fiction is a very successful career woman with in-depth knowledge about all sorts of topics, which in turns makes her an interesting person to talk to. She's kinda the person I used to think I'd like to be. Lately I feel it's a bit too much to ask from a human being. I mean, one day only has 24 hours. How are we meant to fit in exercise, reading, work, fun, sleep, laundry, cooking and heaps more? How do all those women do it all? Seriously. I'd like to know the trick.
Maybe I need to learn to do something to the max when I'm doing it. Not just half-heartedly.
So, back to improving my level of general knowledge. On my colleague is reading Schrodinger's Kitten, he describes in such a way that it sounds interesting to read. I'd love to read those kind of books - books that actually teach me something. Things like basic human anatomy, how earth was formed, who plays in what movie, what's going on with the politician, what country is on war, what classic movies are worth watching, what did Leonardo DaVince invented, how to cook like a chef, how to dress like a fashionable lady, what to do if you drop red wine on your carpet, the list go on and on and on and on.
It would be so cool if I can know all those things and talk about it.. The problem is, whenever I go to Borders, I can't take my eyes of the fictions book covers which are always cute and pretty with sweet title. Duh!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Daily Quote-s

Today is Aug 12, 2006.
The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says, 'Go!' -a leader says, 'Let's go!'.
~E. M. Kelly~


Today is Aug 15, 2006.
Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.
~Willis Whitney~

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

post number one hundred and one

Lately, I've been feeling like sh*t. =(
I don't even know why. And, I'm not usually like that.
Normally, I am a very easy-going and as many have said 'happy-go-lucky' person..
Not sure what changed.

Could be the fact that I never seem to have enough time to do all the necessities and chores, let alone the things that I actually want to do.
Could be the fact that I never seem to be able to focus on doing one thing and not having other things popping up in my head.
Could be the fact that I haven't been crossing tasks off my to do lists.
Could also be the fact that I keep adding tasks into it.
Could be the fact that I never seem to actually achieve my goals.

Could be anything really.
Most likely, it's a mix of all these.

Oh well, good news is.. today I'm going to stop feeling like sh*t.
As I have firmly believe in the past and I still do believe now, happiness/contentment is a choice.

I am going to slow down and try to clear my head.
Think through what is it I really want and focus on realizing it.
What do I want to focus on in the next, say 5 years of my life?
Is it family?
Is it love?
Is it friendship?
Is it career?
Is it financial stability?
Is it knowledge?
Is it living my life to the fullest?

The thing is, it's not as simple as it used to be.
Back when I was a teenager, I firmly believe, the most important thing to me is friendship.
Nowadays, you have to be able to focus and do well in all aspects.
At times (like right now), it's just too much.
Period.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

my 'bewdy' day

according to the book i'm reading "husbands (is one ever enough?)" by adele parks, 'bewdy' is another word for wonderful.. by the way, about this book i'm reading.. i kinda like the story but i try to hide the book cover whenever i can. why? see below and you would understand why.

i have nothing against the cover. in fact i really like it but it's a bit too visually inappropriate. is it just in my head? anyway - it certainly doesn't show 'class'. especially in the work place. come to think about it, most of the books that i read don't help me create the impression i'd like to make at work.
oh well, about my 'bewdy' day.. i had such a good day =) at work, i found the solution to two of my problems in a day... =) it's so great when you get something done. i feel like i could jump out of joy =D hehe...
went to the gym after work - did body pump - it is my one favorite class to go to in the gym. nothing compares to it. it's so my type. i don't even know why i like weight lifting so much :P well i don't like weight lifting. but i like doing body pump. great music. great instructor. great rewarding feeling after the class. simply great.
next, drove to the city - had dinner with my lovely partner n my also-lovely sister n had max brenner's brownies - yummm.. now i have tummy ache. too full and might also be caused by the chilli noodle that i had in dainty. this dainty sichuan restaurant is so addictive, despite the fact that it kills my tummy everytime i go there. i've never tasted anything as spicy as the noodle that they have and i'm addicted to the numbness that the noodle soup creates on my lips.. followed by the sweet sticky chocolate brownies with walnuts from max brenner. PERFECTO.
just found this great site redzero. it's an online magazine.. very cute and innovative - but requires good internet speed.
well, not it has come the time for me to wrap up my post.

Monday, August 07, 2006

The 11 Important Additional Software in my iPiyo [HP iPaq]

Aside from the rapid use of the main programs (i.e. Calendar, Tasks, Notes, Contacts and Internet Explorer - which is only handy when you have good connectivity such as wireless connection to ADSL internet access), I find the following softwares very handy..


Here's a link to a very interesting site for Pocket PC Hints and Tips.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

online shopping deals

on Friday afternoon, one of my colleague @ work came over and told me about this deal she got from strawberrynet. she purchased Davidoff's Echo Woman Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.4oz for less than AUD $40.00 (she's been a member of that site for a while and she has made a numerous purchases so she get more discounts on the already cheap price)!!! shocking. i paid a little more than $100.00 for it a year and a half ago...
on the same day, i was browsing the net trying to look for deals on "pure inventions", green-tea drop that is meant to be good for you - low calorie snack, naturally sweet, etc etc (i dun even know why i find that interesting). found out bout it from one article from the iVillage site (i subscribed to its RSS feed). found out that it's not available in australia yet, so the only way to get it is through the net. so, today i went back to my search for cheapest price i can get on the item and i found this site skin-store. it looks legit and seem to be offering quite good deal. especially when i search further for it's coupon and found this 10% off coupon code scattered on myjaco. the thing is that hasn't quite convince me. what if i purchased it and then 2 days later i found 20% off coupon code.
the net has certainly make things so much easier. seriously. so much options out there that at times i find it very difficult to make a decision. mmm how do i know when i've found a bargain n should stop searching?
now, i need to know where do i get bargains on flight tickets? i need 3 return tickets of melbourne - jakarta. the quotes i got from the travel agent which i normally go to are far from impressive. AUD $1560.00 for high season ticket and around AUD $1250.00 for low season (which ends on 6th Dec for Singapore Airlines) - tax EXclusive. Geez... it's way too much for a trip back to indo. especially if u're buying tickets for 3 people. insane. anyway, i'm tempted to get them the jetstar ticket. i've checked - it's ~950$ (jetFlex (refundable) n tax INclusive!!!) or ~700$ (jetSaver (non-refundable) - still tax INclusive). the only prob is that it only goes to Denpasar (BALI). a bit troublesome PLUS just found out from my mom that the cheap domestic flight between Bali - Jkt (air asia only allows up to 15kg of luggage. what's 15kg?? d*mit. it's not enough. especially if u're coming from indo to melb. there's so much cheap things to bring over. all said n done... i will have to continue my journey of finding a more suitable bargain...

sayonara.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Daily Quote for Jul 5, 2006

Today is Jul 5, 2006.
Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.
-- George Soros

Daily Quote for Aug 1, 2006

Today is Aug 1, 2006.
What breaks in a moment may take years to mend.
-- Proverb, (Swedish)


This is something that I've learnt through experience... and I hope no one else have to go through the same thing.

Daily Quote for Jul 30, 2006

Today is Jul 30, 2006.
Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.
-- Pierre Coneille~


So true!

Monday, July 31, 2006

the ongoing battle with food n money

i'm not sure if it's just me or is it the same with all other girls.. i've had problem resisting food my whole life.. it has kinda tire me out.. i'm bored of having to always be concious of what i eat, so on and so forth... it makes me wonder if i should go on a really really serious strict diet for short period and then i'll get to eat and do whatever i'd like to do without having to keep watching what i eat.. =) will i though? i doubt it... i, as usual, prefer the quick easy way out.. but apparently with food, exercise, and money, it's a long term thing.. you just have to keep maintaining the balance between the in and out (whether it's ur body or ur wallet)...
the way i deal with money and food/exercise are v similar.. i'd like to be in charge (i have my expense log etc since i was studying in penang) but the truth is i'm not in charge.. i spend my money / eat whenever i feel like.. i'm a little bit better with money than i am with food though.. i still manage to put some money to my saving, whereas with food - i'm hopeless.. i could eat for the sake of satisfaction even when i'm not hungry... i don't do what i'm supposed to do.. i go with the flow.. maybe.. for once, i need to learn to be more discipline.. =P n then i can stop the battle with food or money.. :P

Friday, July 28, 2006

hip hop / funk class - episode 2

So... I've done the class and as I have imagine, I feel like a complete idiot in the class. Everyone else were doing so good - but I kept going. You know why? Because there was no one that I know of. I can't feel thankful enough. If there is anyone that I know of, they will certainly laugh till their tummy hurts hahaha. I know I would. I can't even stop smiling thinking bout how stupidly unco-ordinated I am. Oh well, I'm hoping that I can only get better, which is why I bought another voucher for 6 class. =D

Thursday, July 27, 2006

hip hop / funk dance class

I've made up my mind. Today is the day I go and try the hip hop / funk dance class in the space. I'll update later tonite (that is if I survive it).
In the mean time, I have 10 minutes to kill. So here I am...
Couple things:

  • My bessie, pipi, said that she thinks my blog's current template colour hurts the eye... So, I'm thinking of updating it - again! =D

  • Other than that, I've just started a new book (for my train rides).. It's quite good so far. A book by Jodi Picoult called "My Sister's Keeper". I won't say anything for now as I've only read as far as page 19.

  • I found this useful post for people who wants to update their blog look. Check angiemckaig.com's ultimate blogger template list.

  • Work's busy. A bit of Cognos ReportNet stuffs, and a bit of Oracle stuffs. Learn about "Pivot Table" today - Thanks to Eddy. I just can't stop learning. It makes me wonder am I competent enough to do my job? Why do I not know all these things that my other fellow developers know about? I hope I do know things that they don't know about.


5 more minutes to go... Hmm... what else do I have in mind? Plenty. Just not sure which one I'd like to talk about. Mmmmm.... *Put my thinking cap on*.Now I remember!!

  • One word, Jetstar (or two words? Not sure!) The important thing is, they were (might still be) offering EXTREMELY cheap introductory international flights (to Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia [only Bali]) and YES!!!! I got my ticket for under 400$! Tax inclusive. So, I'm going on holiday back to my home!! YAY!!! I am VERY excited. It's still quite a while to go - 6 months. But hey, knowing that I'll be going home sometime in the future feels like seeing the glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Well, that's a bit exaggerating, I do enjoy my life here. Still, it's a HOLIDAY.. Can't wait to catch up with my bessies, meet up with my family, food, shopping, and etc.


Now my time is up. Sayonara.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Melbourne is Australia's No.1 city

According to Yahoo! Top Stories, Melbourne is Australia's No. 1 city.. =D
That is so true... I enjoy travelling but when it's time for me to settle, Melbourne is definitely on top of my list... My lovely Melbourne...





Sunday, July 23, 2006

makeover my blog

Notice the change in my blog's appearance?
Thought I'd give it a makeover... Sort of bored of the old look already =)
For all of you bloggers out there who want to do the same, Jennifer Apple from Photoshop Support has written a great article called "Blog Tutorial - Tips For Blog Templates & Blog Design In Photoshop" here...

Happy makeover! =D

PS: For inspiration, check Karen Cheng's blog out..

backup ur blog - VERY useful

I've never really thought of this.. "Can one backup their blogs??"
That would be v useful, rite? :) Check this help page out...
Backup Your Blog

Consulting Training session with "Graeme Simsion"

I attended a consulting training session presented by the famous "Graeme Simsion".
To be honest, I've never heard about him till today and I only found out bout him after the training session. This kinda shows how prepared I am.. (not very much..) Well, what can I say? It's a "Saturday" training session - how prepared can you be? Luckily I manage to hold the urge for coffee till after lunch (we had LOTS of pasta n pizza - it's a wonder no one actually fall asleep after that). It was a highly intersting session. I learnt a lot from it... and it can only add to my to do list...

From the training, here's a list of thing I need to focus on improving:
- Communication skill (CRUCIAL!!!)
- Negotiation skill --> keyword "IF" and win-win (will come in handy..)
- Dress code (whether i like it or not, this is what creates the first impression of urself to strangers)
- Be an expert at something (being OK in everything doesn't cut it, you need to be a 'GURU ' at something!)
- Team Player (pass the buck (ie. blaming someone else) is not a good thing!)
- "What happen in the kitchen - stays in the kitchen" --> What happens within the organisation u work in, stays there... don't make it a client's problem...
- Plan plan and plan... always plan... before action.... THINK HARD!
- MBTI Personality Test

In the training session, we were doing this 'making paper plane' exercise.. Interestingly, from that exercise, the one conclusion that I draw out, was that there is no point of going forward if the thing you're doing is of not a good quality.. I'll be just wasting my time on doing something of low quality which in the end might not pass the quality control anyway. Hence, it's better stop and start a new one properly...

I've always wanted to be a developer.. At the early stage of my career, I thought they are the same thing, but now that I truly know the differences... I can see that being a consultant TOP a developer... =)
The differences between consultant vs developer (or even programmer) can be viewed here..
A v. interesting post =D

After the session, I went to visit Sugi (my partner) and kinda get into this long chat with him (I love these sessions... I simply enjoy getting something out of someone else - useful opinions or just simply debating about nothing in particular)... Anyway, we were chatting about this session that I had - which got me into thinking... Am I in my best shape (I'm not talking bout physically.. but more towards life in general - maybe I shouldn't have use the word shape)? But whatever, yah... am I already doing my best in everything that I do? I sort of feel I'm not that kind of person.. There are times where I feel that I'm kinda a slack.. With life in general, I've been able to get away with not doing much.. and it carries on with me.. I became not so competitive.. doing things in a way where they would 'pass' as OK but not 'WOW'... now, is this something I want to continue doing? NOPE!!! CERTAINLY NOT!
Seriously.. what good can it do to me??? I will only start to appreciate myself less and less. I will not be able to feel proud of what I've done (and in worst case scenario, trying to duck away when asked 'whose work is this?')... Hence, here... in *BOLD*:
I will learn to improve the quality of the work that I've done.
Reward: I'll be able to proudly say 'THIS IS MY WORK AND I'M PROUD OF IT.'

By this I mean, at the time of doing something, I will give it my all - my best and I couldn't have done it any better... no regrets..
Well, while chatting with Sugi, the one skill I've identified that I lack of is 'CONCENTRATION'... I feel it even more lately.. I find it very difficult to focus on one thing.. my brain tends to think of a million other things... and it is not very useful - so I guess I'm gonna have to change that...
Improvement and improvements... I love them... The only thing is they are mostly easier said than done.. but hey, there's no harm in trying and... only by trying.. you can succeed, else.. I'll be forever stuck here...

oh well.. enough for today. oyasumi...

Note to self: need to learn and improve the way I link the topics I'm talking bout and stop jumping from one to another.. :)