September 29, 2006

nursery ryhmes

My mom read to me and my sister a lot when we were small. She said, she started reading to us when we were 2 weeks old. I memorized a few of my nursery stories and this is one of my favorite. it is titled; DEAR ZOO. (the below is recited word-perfect completely from memory)

Dear Zoo.

I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet.

And they sent me a ... Giraffe!
He was too tall, I sent him back.

So they sent me a ... Camel!
He was too grumpy, I sent him back.

So they sent me a ... Monkey!
He was too naughty, I sent him back.

So they sent me a ... Lion!
He was too fierce, I sent him back.

So they sent me a ... Snake!
He was too scary, I sent him back.

So they thought very hard and sent me a ... Puppy!
He was perfect.
I kept him.

THE END.

We still have the book, somewhere. Imagine bright pictures and creative sounds effects, I'm sure you can see how tantalizing this book was.

Stay tune for the next exciting installment of ~~NURSERY RHYMES! Next episode: Chicken Licken.

Woot!

September 22, 2006

the serial job candidate

a serial candidate has her own job.
she claims to be unhappy with her current job and is actively looking for new positions elsewhere.
a serial candidate has an updated account with one or more online job recruitment service.
she would check job vacancies postings at least once a week.
she would generally accept jobs within her field or maybe some other field she's interested in.
if she would get a phone call replying her application, she would set up a date for an interview.
she would go to the interview.
she would be sucessful and be called for a second interview.
she would go for the second interview.
she would ace the second interview too.
she would get the job.
after being offered job, she would say that she needs some time to decide and would call back to let them know her decision.
she would decline the offer.
she would come up with a (lame)rationale for declining the offer.
she would check her email and apply for more jobs within her field or some other jobs she has always wanted to do.
she would be called for an interview.
she would go to the interview.
she would be sucessful and be called for a second interview.
she would ace the second interview too.
she would get the job.
after being offered job, she would say that she needs some time to decide and would call back to let them know her decision.
she would come up with a (lame)rationale for declining the offer.
she would decline the offer.
she would check her email and apply for more jobs within her field or some other jobs she has always wanted to do...

September 18, 2006

Monday Grrr

i have the misfortune of experiencing firsthand the 'all new, super improved service' TMNet is providing its loyal streamyx customers these past few months.

I took the broadband package that includes a modem rental from the telecom giant. I didn't mind the super chekkai 'Made In China' modem they provided all for an additional RM5 a month on top of the monthly fee, I was just excited to upgrade my dial-up internet. But to nobody's suprise, after 3 months of mild usage, the on-button of the modem fell off. That's my first Grrr. I tried taking it apart but the problem with the switch was beyond my Kemahiran Hidup Tingkatan 3 skills. The modem was now rendered completely useless, no net connection yet I'm charged for my monthly broadband bill and modem rental as usual.

So I called the Service Center number asking how do I proceed with the situation. I was told that an assigned technician would come and replace it in the comfort of my own home. I was given a report number and asked to wait 2 or 3 working days for the appropriate party to make their contact. Sure enough, the next day I've got a miscall on my mobile from the tech people. After the initial failed attempt at contacting me, there were none other. I tried calling them about 5 times after that yet my calls were never answered.

So, after 2 weeks of waiting for someone to call me or pick up my calls (both to no avail), I called the Service Center again (by then I've tatooed the number to my arm). This time, I was assigned another report number and was again given the same crap telling me to wait for the technical people to call me in couple of days. Being the angel that I (really) am, I decided to give them a second chance to impress me. I waited.

That was exactly 2 weeks ago today. With no calls from anyone, I called, yet again, the loathsome Service Center number on my arm. Temper running short I spoke to this retarded incompetent Malay girl who cant string 2 sentences together and for some odd reason, called me Vivian. I gave the the report number and told her my predicament. She put me on hold for 15 minutes only to tell me later that the technical people has been informed and I should wait for 2 or 3 days. I've been somewhat civil up to this point.

I told (snapped) her that I'm not falling for that line of devious, scheming lies again, why the fuck no one has called me these past weeks?

She then told me (after putting me on hold for 10 mins) very accurately, that on 11th September 2006, at 4.45pm a technician did call me but I didn't pick up the phone. So they didnt bother trying again.
Very well. So, now that I have to submit my patient, tolerant, understanding ass for another go at the 2/3 days contact period, could you at least, this time, give me a contact number of the technical party.

(Put me on hold for 12 minutes)
Malay TMNet girl : Erm, you can call the Service Center number if they dont contact you after 2 or 3 days.
Me : Whats the number? (thinking maybe there's a direct line I can call)
Malay TMNet girl : Hold on.

(Put me on hold for 7 minutes)
Malay TMNet girl : Miss Vivivan, its 1300 88 9515.
Me : Wait, thats the number I called to get you.
Malay TMNet girl : Erm, yes.
Me : I want the technician's number.
Malay TMNet girl : You wait. In 2, 3 days, they'll call you.
Me : I KNOW. But seems that I've been missing their calls so this time I want a number I can call if that happens again. Give me a contact number.
Malay TMNet girl : Hold on.

(Put me on hold for 10 minutes)
Malay TMNet girl : I dont know the number. You have to wait 2 or 3 days.
Me : Whats your name?
Malay TMNet girl : Yana.
Me : Is your supervisor there? I want to talk to your supervisor.
Yana : He's on the other line.
Me : What's his name?
Yana : His name? My supervisor's name?
Me : Yes. I want to know the name of your supervisor.
Yana : Hold on.

(Put me on damned hold for 27 minutes!)
Yana : Miss Vivian, you can call this number 036137XXXX and arrange for an appointment with the technician about replacing your modem.
Me : At long fucking last. Thank you.
Yana: Is there anything else I can help you with (I've recognized this as the ayat-wajib for all disService Center calls)
Me : You better fucking hope not.
Yana : Bye.

I called the number and they're coming tomorrow.

And who on earth is Vivian anyway?

September 13, 2006

driving me, driving you

more adjectives to be associated with my driving
careening, disjointed, reeling

more stuff i've done since i started driving
flipped a birdie to another (retarded) driver. 140 kmph. tapped a merz's bumper trying to park. turned the volume up so loud that a motorist next to the car grooved along to the beat. talked to the phone while driving. drove back home from klcc under 15 minutes.

stuff i've yet to do
take a corner on 2 wheels.

September 07, 2006

post birthday post

yeah. my birthday rocked.
had a fantabulous birthday.
thanks.
23? me, 23? no way, i stop aging at 20. im forever 20. my age shall always be 20 from now on, ok?

look at me in front of the blue screen.
did u ever secretly wish you could
make goofy poses when sitting for your IC piccies?
hah.
i could and i did.
yerp, thats me posing for my a passport picture.
pretty funky eh?

as if.

the pic was a goof-off snap from a myKad picture research my company is doing.
i get to be the 'model with average skin color'.
theyre trying to figure out ways to get better automated photos for myKad.
and since my company owns myKad, we get to do these researches.
tra la la.


September 05, 2006

birthday post

too fast too furious too bloody boring tokyo drift(ing to sleep)
have you seen this lame excuse for a movie?
other than a cameo by vin diesel at the very end, its a disgrace to the celluloid its been filmed on.
just make some stuff clear; the girl looks nothing like shiren. unless she fancies herself as a square-jawed, lollipop-head, cant act to chew gum, piece of movie floss. do you, fred?
she was totally unnecessary to the plot. i am ashamed to share the same name as her, even just phonetically. (Neela vs Neila)
the lead actor sucks, surely theres some height requirement to star in a movie, surely he's too short.
the car/chase sequence are old and suprisingly uninteresting.
serves me right to expect anything outta a movie like this. a sequel to a sequel, to boot.
but to defend myself, the first installment of this franchaise was at least entertaining.
and i didnt hate the second one as much. both prior movies with their elaborate car chase sequence at least didnt bore me to tears, asamatteroffact, i was looking forward to their distinctive super-cars on the road, massively digitized kejar mengejar car stunts.
of which tokyo drift failed miserably to deliver.
other than the vegas flashy cars that they continously wrecked, this third movie has piss-weak plots. i mean, japanese mobs? oi pleasela. the stench of burnt rubber emanates strongly throughout the whole movie.
a waste of (company) bandwidth and (company) laptop memory space.

in memory; Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/australia.irwin/index.html
dead at 44. there was a joke that went on last year that he died too. apparently this time its for real (CNN says so, so surely). he was stung by a stingray and is survived by wife terri, daughter bindi and baby bob. i am explicitly sadden by this news. his death means a lot more than a loss of a great australia naturalist and an adorable father to his kids, but i frankly admired the work he's done for the animals and above all stood in awe of his apparent love and the connections he shares with all animals. one can only dream of being that gifted.
however, i do realised this would be the way Steve-O would want to go. for someone of this greatness, to die in such a way is somewhat fitting, if not ironic. made me think that if i would die falling down after slipping on scrabble tiles and fracturing my skull on the book rack. but he died doing what he loves and not everyone can have that. here's to the incomparable Crocodile Hunter!

the day i was literally afraid for my life
i was on closing shift at starbucks last merdeka eve and i believe had my first brush with death. the store, being located between bukit bintang and klcc was swarmed by (malay) teenagers out to celebrate merdeka as early as 8pm. the standard chartered building my starbucks is at boasts of a courtyard with fountains and that night the whole courtyard was completely populated by kids of questionable moral. i assume this (their moral) from their colorful garbs and hair-do as well from their conduct that said night (looks like a duck, acts like a duck, runs with other ducks, must be a duck).

although the store business hours are to 9pm, another more street-savvy barista was wise enough to lock the doors leading to the courtyard as early as 730pm; which basically saved our lives. as the crowd grew more rowdy from the booze they were clearly chugging and glue they were clearly snorting, i lost count to the number of time they actually came up to the door and roughly rattle the handle, screaming to be let in. and later screaming at us (who is in plain sight thanks to the glass walls. snort) to let them buy drinks. i was scared, yet strangely entranced by watching the (mis)behavior of my country's proud, blessed younger generation, out to celebrate the independence of their country.

since it was the end of the month, the managers need to do some auditing that requires us to stay back a bit late. the partners switched off the store's light and watch the fiesta continues outside the door.

there was a guy in a kilt, with an elaborate punk spiked hair. unfortunately, it wasnt a kilt-kilt like the braveheart kilt. what he had on was a skirt, in checked pattern. wonder if he knew that. there was more than one girl wearing tudung smoking and drinking and snorting and being sexually liberated with their boyfriend. one was even liberated of her bra (yes, all this in plain sight)
i watched first hand as a drug of indeterminate name was being sold to a boy who looks no younger than my older brother. i was told it was possibly Ecstasy. i watched how two skimpily clad goth girls bought 3 large bottles of whisky from the nearby 7-11 and transferred it into separate bottles of Coke or Sprite for friends to drinks. i guess they were kind enough to buy everyone a round and apparently you can get arrested if the cops catch you holding a bottle of alcoholic beverage hence the dupe pop bottles. even with zero personal knowledge of booze drinking i know that it was some hardcore drinking going on, since everyone was chugging on the drinks straight up and admirably able to hold it.

around 10, the barista boys decided to step out for a smoke. i stayed in my observatory spot behind the counter as they unlocked the front door and sat on the stacked chairs nearby to smoke. 1 minute later i saw a group of punk/goth kids striding up to the door and i seriously panicked cause i cant remember if the barista boys locked the door after them when they went out. shit. i already figured that i would run upstairs to the managers office, lock the door and escape via the air vents a la prison break riot if the punks come in and riot.
thankfully the barista boys did lock the door. whew. didnt stop from the punk kids to gegar gegar the door a couple of times and screamed at the door though. retards.

later, i watched as a gang fight broke out between the groups. i turned violent when some guys started chasing some other guys with belts and punching each other. i saw a guy stumbled and fell, his friend picked him up and lay him next to the fountain. we thought he was high on drugs and perhaps ODing. i was all, "is he dead? is he dead? he's dead?" but unfortunately he was just wounded from the fight and the friend was there administering druggie first aid (take bandanna, soak in stagnant fountain water, wipe blood from friend with wet bandanna) he injured guy was up and running aroung in no time.

i left soon after (the building's security guards escorted us to the car park) but i was thoroughly entertained watching kids get high, get drunk, get sick, get laid, get beaten, get creative and get enterprising all in one night. and all in the name of 'menyambut kemerdekaan negara yang ke-49'

license to drive
am getting a hang of driving pretty well. i've drove at night, during a storm, paid my very first toll, ran 2 red lights already and got a summon for illegal parking. proud. even went all the way to KLCC for a wedding last sunday all by my happy self. yay for me. but everytime i take a corner or a bend the only thing that came to mind is "hurtling". but its all good. that red P sign on the shield means i get to drive like a maniac and take a bend at 50 kmph. muahahahaha.

happy birthday!
yay to me! am 23 today. thanks for the wishes. i cant believe im this old (and still single, fat and poor). but im happy and i have a lot to be grateful for. happy upcoming birthday ida and khairul. join the 23'ers bandwagon! woot.