My World

And now introducing the ASSHOLE who knocked Evelyn's left side mirror

2009-03-10T19:08:00.002+08:00

We were on our way to Yuen Steamboat for dinner with the HLBB gang and then this ASSHOLE showed up and hit Eve's left side mirror and I managed to catch his plate number

A souvenir from Joey Koh, my HLBB colleague

2009-03-07T16:35:00.000+08:00

I was wearing a skirt that day and she opened the drawer next to me and gave my thigh a deep and painful scratch! Ouch!!!

Fung Ying's house warming @ Desa Parkcity, Kepong

2009-02-28T23:42:00.004+08:00

Poor CY... he's wasted already :P

Camwhoring @ Jade's wedding dinner before the other guests arrive at my table

2009-02-21T19:28:00.000+08:00

Jade's wedding dinner was held at Centro, Klang

How Kevin & I spent our Valentine's 09

2009-02-14T21:01:00.001+08:00

A group of us (mostly Kevin's Sabah ex-schoolmates) went to Neway KTV, Subang to sing our lungs out. Kevin's Korean friend, Kim Hee Mun (who also studied in Sabah), was in KL, so they had a gathering to catch up.

Lulu was hiding her face! :P

A rockstar in the making?

We both wanted a kiss from each other but we got none from each other. Haha! :P

Finally a headshot of Lulu! :P

CNY Eve family reunion dinner @ Ah Po's house, Klang

2009-01-25T17:42:00.001+08:00

Wow! Look at all the yummy-licious food that Ah Po has prepared for us... lucky us! :)

The family lazying around after the awesome, hearty dinner

Ah Po, the fantastic cook, resting after a hectic day. God bless her! :)

The ASSHOLE who kissed my new car

2009-01-20T07:29:00.000+08:00

He hit my car on the driver's side backdoor and he didn't even care to apologize and just drove off!!! It was during the rush hour to work. Oh, he'll pay in time to come!!! God will see to it!

Goodbye BHJ7719 - my trusted Kelisa

2009-01-15T07:46:00.002+08:00

The day I last saw my Kelisa. The used car salesman drove my car away :(

When tragedy happens...

2008-12-11T10:05:00.000+08:00

Whoever who did this to my mom's car will be getting it twice as bad when his/her time comes

My family & I were supposed to meet my dad's family in KL but couldn't because of this... we had to report this to the police station and get out plate numbers and side mirror fixed

Eve & I @ Monica's wedding dinner, Malacca

2008-11-15T19:12:00.001+08:00

I just want it to be love...

2008-11-09T01:16:00.004+08:00

I watched three DVD movies in a day (8th November 2008) only to discover they all have one thing in common... they all have one same song on the soundtrack! And boy, what a popular song that must be!

First, I watched "Over Her Dead Body" starring Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd (from Clueless) and Jason Biggs. Then I heard a really wonderful, happy love song during the course of the movie and when the ending titles were rolling, I searched for the title & artist of the song. It was "Love" by Matt White.

And I decided to Google it and I found out that it was also on the soundtrack of "She's The Man" starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum (from Step Up). So while I was waiting for Esther to come pick me up from Kevin's place to go home to Klang together, she suggested that I should bring the "She's The Man" DVD home to watch since we both enjoy watching feel-good chick flicks time & again anyway. And then we heard "Love" by Matt White being played in the background during the movie.

Then we watched "French Kiss" which starred Meg Ryan & Kevin Kline before proceeding to watch "Little Manhattan" which Esther borrowed from her college DVD library, which starred Josh Hutcherson (from Bridge to Terabithia) and Cynthia Nixon (of Sex & the City). And there, 30mins into the movie, we heard the all too familiar tunes of "Love" by Matt White again!

Such a lovely tune! Makes you so wanna be in love already! Now Esther has eMuled it for me and I can listen to that song & those lyrics over & over again till I get so sick & tired of it. Oh well, till then, I need another dose of "Love" now. Good-bye!

At Tanjung Sepat with Evelyn & Bryan

2008-10-27T15:27:00.004+08:00

My colleague, Evelyn invited me over to her hometown in Banting for the weekend. Her boyfriend, Bryan, drove us down. We spent the weekend there cuz Monday was a public holiday as well. We went down on Sunday. She brought me to this place at Tanjung Sepat which had this breathtaking view of this barren beach. I tell you, this place looks 10 times better in real life. But sadly, I didn't have a digicam then. So I had to make do with my handphone cam :)

Yew Ee annual concert @ Sri KDU school

2008-10-12T13:30:00.002+08:00

Sharon dressing Jamie up for her performance

My Christmas wishlist

2008-10-04T15:23:00.004+08:00

1. A Canon digital camera
2. A HP Compaq laptop
3. Lots of love
4. A happy life with less or no suffering
5. God's blessings & protection over my family, loved ones and myself

My first trip to Pulau Ketam

2008-10-02T14:45:00.050+08:00

Kaz invited me to join her & her friends for an afternoon in Pulau Ketam on October 2nd, 2008 (which was a public holiday) with our cameras. Of course, I jumped at the idea! It'd be so cool to hang out with the camera pros. The only thing was, I didn't have a sophisticated camera... :P I had to borrow Aunt Brenda's Canon point-and-shoot to get geared up for the trip whilst the others had their DSLRs hanging over their necks. Well, anyway, this was my first trip ever to Pulau Ketam. Though I stay in Klang, I've not been to Pulau Ketam... which I got a good tight slap from Kaz :P Hehehe!

Mom & Esther dropped me off at Port Klang

Kaz's classic Canon manual camera

I didn't know what to shoot, so I just took this :P

Kaz told me to take the lifestyle in Pulau Ketam, so I kinda just did... she told me not to focus exactly in humans (meaning no portrait shots of humans, I think)

Love this shot!

"Ham Yue"

Love the contrast in colors

This particular house was playing loud Chinese New Year music and Kaz was dancing to it :P

And the song ended and Kaz was like wondering "Where's the music??"

Abandoned boat

Check out the massive wires :P

Hanging out with Jamie & Sharon @ USJ 2

2008-09-28T18:45:00.003+08:00

Jamie & Sharon swung by USJ 2 to take the concert clothes that I took from her tailor the other day. I met the tailor, who did concert clothes for kindergarten kids, in Taipan to collect the clothes for Sharon. So Sharon decided to let Jamie test on the clothes. This ballerina outfit looked so cute on Jamie ;)

Celebrating Christine's birthday @ Redbox KTV Curve Damansara

2008-09-27T19:36:00.003+08:00

Swimming with Jamie

2008-09-21T18:39:00.000+08:00

Our rare day out - swimming @ Sharon's rented condo private pool, SS2

Hanging out with Jamie @ their new rented SS2 condo

2008-09-15T18:13:00.002+08:00

Scary but true...

2008-09-09T12:28:00.002+08:00

Saw this in the newspapers today... my colleague, Evelyn said it happened in Singapore just the day before... it's so scary to know we have waterspouts so close to us...

PQM Manager

2008-09-08T17:52:00.004+08:00

Since I'm managing the Queue Time in my branch, I have been assigned to create new labels for the PQM... ta-da!!! ;)

Shopping @ Jusco Bukit Tinggi with family

2008-09-06T21:26:00.002+08:00

Aww... Esther's camera shy!

And again!

My new pair of jeans from Giordano which I wore on the very next day! Oh ya, I also bought Esther a pair of bermuda pants from Giordano as her 22nd birthday present. Hope she likes it!

Helping Sharon & family move from Subang 2 to SS2 condo

2008-08-31T15:04:00.014+08:00

Lynn's food tasting

2008-08-22T20:58:00.002+08:00

Me posing with Su-Lynn's new menu for her new cafe, Lynn's at SS15 Subang Jaya

This was the first dish of the night... with many more food & drinks to come... we tasted alot of food that night... forgot to take pics of them all cuz I was too bz indulging :P

Last day of Ikea sale!!!

2008-08-17T19:28:00.012+08:00

Where we parked in Curve... can u spot the missing T?? :P

We sorta had brunch in Tony Roma's... we were the first patrons of the day

We cleaned off the beef ribs

The price of the work desk that Kevin wants

Sharon & family joined us for Wall-E in Cineleisure... superb animation & story

Jamie posing with Wall-E

After movie, we went for a drink @ Vivo... Christine, who also happened to be around after watching "Don't Mess With The Zohan" with her friends, joined us in Vivo as well

Lovely blinds from Ikea... I installed it myself... well, I juz hung it there and voila! :)

All in a day's work! :)

Nail stickers

2008-08-16T23:59:00.000+08:00

Esther taught me how to put these lovelies on my nails @ Ah Kung's 80th birthday dinner. In fact, she did for mom, Yua Li, Aunt Chris, Uncle Edward & Teng Teng as well :P

HLBB SBJ branch housekeeping

2008-08-16T15:18:00.006+08:00

We arrived in the branch at 9 something in the morning to pack up the boxes for recall.

All in all, we packed about 137 boxes... damn exhausting!

We finished about 3pm... I decided to camwhore my tired look!

My swollen eye

2008-08-12T08:03:00.002+08:00

The day that I took my first ever MC for this year & for my stay in HLBB

Rachel for Omron @ CIMB Perfect Livin' Exhibition 2008 @ KL Convention Centre

2008-08-10T15:08:00.003+08:00

Bryan & Evelyn arranging the Omron products before the exhibition began

Me posing with the goods

Eve & I with our supposedly tired faces at the end of the first day of the exhibition

Breakfast at Seri Petaling on Day 2 of the exhibition

Eve posing with an Omron wrist blood pressure monitor

Us camwhoring at our lunch break :)

Yum char with Jamie at Ehsan mamak

2008-07-18T22:04:00.009+08:00

Jamie posing with the keychain I gave her

Sharon's roti sardin... it looked burnt

Ooh... cute chubby cheeks... juz wanna pinch and kiss them!

A Sunday in Curve, Damansara

2008-06-22T16:28:00.009+08:00

Sharon has a puppy in her kindergarten... someone left it in her place...

Jamie carrying Dockerly for the very first time while overcoming her fears for animals

Cute Jamie with her cute little puppy

Don't you agree that Dockerly looks abit like Milo in The Mask (was Milo the name of The Mask's smart doggy? Can't remember really!)

They looked so cute together :)

After that, we went to Curve for lunch at Vivo and I went to Nichii to shop for some clothes. Absolutely adored this white top though it was abit low-cut... good enuf for work if I wore a tube top inside :)

Love the ribbon back as well

Didn't buy this dress tho I loved the colour... it was too low-cut in front and the skirt was too balloony... made my hips looked wayyyy tooo wideee!!!

Loved this black dress! Just had to have it! :P

Father's Day celebration at F4 Fish Head, USJ 1

2008-06-14T19:00:00.000+08:00

Celebrated Father's Day at F4 Fish head place with my family... only one table tonight (Uncle Heng's family, gramps, Aunt Brenda, mom, Esther & I... Sharon & Stuart'd gone to Genting to watch Grasshopper's concert & Kev'd badminton session with friends)

That notti Bryan

Grandpa posing with his cake :)

In Sakae Sushi, Subang Parade dinner with Christine

2008-06-08T20:20:00.006+08:00

In Summit USJ THX cinema watching Kung Fu Panda with Kevin

2008-06-07T21:01:00.000+08:00

Movie with the girls

2008-05-27T21:43:00.000+08:00

Jamie, Sharon & I went to watch Drillbit Taylor in Cineleisure, Damansara

Jamie was very good & obedient throughout the entire show ;) Good girl!

Roasted duck in SS3, PJ

2008-05-27T16:19:00.003+08:00

Since Kevin & I were both on leave, we decided to buy the famous Roasted Duck sold by the roadside somewhere in SS3, PJ... later that evening, my family & I & Kevin went to have dinner in F4 Fish Head in USJ1 to celebrate my dad's birthday (his birthday is actually today May 27th)

Malacca trip with the family

2008-05-26T17:10:00.039+08:00

Me camwhoring before we hit the road to Malacca

Stuart & dad packing stuff into the car

Off we go... Esther, Stuart & I in the MyVi while mom, dad, Sharon & Jamie were in the Hyundai

Stuart - our designated driver

The Hyundai in the side mirror

There was a massive jam on the road near the Senawang exit... and it was caused by an accident... check out the road rail :P

We stopped by Senawang's rest area for toilet break...

The jam leading to Malacca town centre

First stop in Malacca - Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball shop :)

Esther & my hotel room

The view outside my room window

Sharon, Stuart & Jamie's room

The view from the balcony

Jamie having a nice bubble bath with her blown-up toys :P

Esther doing abit of studying while on vacation

Buffet brekkie

Jamie still sleeping during breakfast time

The view from the hotel balcony

Esther doing the pleats for lil Jamie while Sharon looked on

Camwhoring at buffet dinner at the hotel

After dinner, we went to ride on the revolving tower of Taming Sari near Dataran Pahlawan

Mom & dad

Cute Jamie with her yellow sundress

Family portrait

In the skyhigh ride

That was our hotel - Century Mahkota (the buildings on the left with yellow lights)

The view of Malacca city from the revolving tower ride of Taming Sari

Lil Jamie admiring the view below as the ride revolved

This was how the Menara Taming Sari ride looked like from below where I stood

Jamie wanted to ride on the trishaw... so Stuart took the ride with her back to our hotel while Mom & Dad drove back to the hotel and Esther, Sharon & I headed to Jonker Street

While on the ride to Jonker Street, we saw this car with a durian at the back. Can u spot the durian? :P

We stopped by Tan Kim Hock (the main branch) to buy some stuff before heading back to KL... we actually caught a glimpse of Tan Kim Hock in the flesh... u know how we knew it was him? Well, he had a portrait of himself on the wall in the building wearing a white suit... and he came into the building wearing the same white suit with 2 bodyguards... cool eh? :)

Dinner at F4 Fish Head @ USJ 1

2008-05-10T19:45:00.000+08:00

Brought dad to eat in the fish head place for the first time tonight... he loved it!

After dinner, mom, dad & Esther went back to Klang while Sharon, Jamie & Stuart and I, of course, went to Ehsan for yum char. This was how my tongue looked like after drinking "sirap ais"

DIY Dinner

2008-04-30T20:29:00.000+08:00

I made dinner for myself that evening... I had raw lettuce, boiled sausages & chilli sauce... the result? Simply scrumptious! :)

Birthday at the branch

2008-04-28T17:27:00.004+08:00

We celebrated Kooi Ling (note that on the cake, there was a spelling error for KL's name, it is indeed spelt with an I, instead of an E) & my birthday today at the branch. We share the same birthday but she's 5 years younger. The cake was from Secret Recipe...

Kooi Ling & I posing with our birthday cake... June's the one in the red tee while the girl beside her is Siew Khim (who, by the way, is married to KL's cousin brother)

This was how we decided to eat the birthday cake... a bizarre suggestion from our Branch Service Manager (BSM), Mr Chua... haha!

And this is whatever's left of the birthday cake... :P

Shopping spree with Sunway Pyramid with Christine

2008-04-27T21:18:00.004+08:00

Facebook's Texas Hold 'Em Poker

2008-04-27T13:31:00.002+08:00

The first time I dared to even take a seat at the 10k table, I got 2nd place & won 27000 chips at Facebook's Texas Hold 'Em Poker... phew! Luckily I didn't lose my 10k... ;)

My colleagues

2008-04-24T17:45:00.001+08:00

Mua having a drink of water at the end of the day while getting ready to go back

Abang Zany sporting the spastic look :P

Ong Kooi Ling

Monica Lam - the ex-Current Account Officer & now the 2nd Liner

Lye Siew Khim - the current Current Account Officer

Jogoya Restaurant @ Star Hill, KL City

2008-04-20T21:04:00.006+08:00

Kevin & I camwhoring in my car while waiting for Ivy & Mille. I drove us all in my car to Jogoya, KL

My best guy friend, Ong Chin Yew & I :)

Mille Tan & I (she also lives in Klang... Bandar Botanic to be exact but she's working in Singapore now)

My 27th birthday dinner...

2008-04-19T20:08:00.016+08:00

Camwhoring in my car on the way to dinner at Windmill ss12 (with flash)

The red lights were the brake lights of the car in front of us... (without flash)

Well, we had no idea where to eat & celebrate my birthday so we decided to go to Windmill at ss12 Subang Jaya cuz after that we could visit Jax... Jax was suspected of dengue fever and was with Yit Wei at SJMC, awaiting his blood test result

My birthday kiss...

I had an apple juice & Kevin had a choc milkshake...

Kevin ordered the Flintstone Feast (or something like that, forgot the name la) and he had to wear this bib bcuz the dish was served in a sizzling plate

Ta-da! Presenting the Flintstone Feast... consisting of steak and two tiger prawns, very yummy!

This was what I ordered... grilled lamb chop

All smiles... and after dinner, we walked over to SJMC... Jax got his blood test result and he didn't have dengue... so everything was a-okay! ;) Thank God!

Camwhoring with the lil girls

2008-04-17T21:49:00.013+08:00

Jamie & Montaine posing with CJ7

Jamie & Montaine doing the No.1 pose, hehe

After kena marah from her mommy, Jamie couldn't smile anymore for the camera :P

Montaine is the lil girl that Sharon babysits and she's also a student in Yew Ee Kindergarten, SS2

Aiyaaa... look at that notti Jamie with her lil finger stuck in her tiny nose :P

Celebrating Sharon's 30th birthday at Dragon-I Sunway Pyramid

2008-04-11T19:37:00.005+08:00

Just a simple dinner with the sisters... forgot to take a pic of Sharon (her birthday was actually on 31st March)

Things that made me broke

2008-04-06T23:42:00.011+08:00

Shu Uemura Toner & Serum RM300

Bobbi Brown Foundation RM130

Bobbi Brown Compact Powder RM110

Luckily all these were free! The next two pics are the breakdowns...

These mini white detox were free gifts from purchasing above a certain amount from Biotherm

The big white detox bottle was something I won from a mini contest at Biotherm... the Biotherm Homme was Kevin's consolation prize from the same contest. The other two tubes also were the free gifts from purchasing over a certain amount from Biotherm

Biotherm Exfoliating Gel, Night Treatment Gel & Anti-blemish Gel RM310

Here they are without the boxes

Bobbi Brown Anti-blemish Stick RM85

Hanging out at Mid Valley with CY & Kevin

2008-04-06T18:59:00.008+08:00

We visited the Jobstreet Career & Job fair at the usual MV Convention Centre

Since Biotherm set up a huge booth at MV's Centre Court, we bumped into Jacy Wong there and she introduced some Biotherm prods for my pimples. Hope these will work cuz they cost me a bomb! :P

At Nicholas Teo's concert in Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil

2008-03-29T21:55:00.008+08:00

Wanted to purchase VIP tix but they were sold out... so we got the RM260 tix each and got a 10% discount for being Astro subscribers. We sat 19 rows away from the stage...

Taking the empty stage before Nicholas came on...

There were no opening acts... just Nicholas Teo and Nicholas Teo alone... well, there was, of course, a very special guest appearance... Fish Leong... I was totally ecstatic and in utter awe...

Fish & Nicholas did a beautiful duet together... they sang their own rendition of Jacky Cheung & Regine's In Love With You... Fish's voice was so strong and powerful and Nicholas's voice was simply masculine and breathtaking... I personally think they did a better version than Justin Lo & Cary who also did a rendition of In Love With You

Well, I didn't take much pics after Nicholas took the stage... was too busy cheering and ooh-ing and aah-ing to take pics... LOL!

Nine Ways to Win at Office Politics

2008-03-26T20:45:00.002+08:00

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

Politics in the workplace can get vicious – and we're not talking about the governmental kind. Rather, office politics, or how power and influence are managed in your company, will be a part of your career whether you choose to participate in them or not.

Some workers say they don't want to get caught up in politics at work, but most experts argue that playing the game is crucial to your career success. By not getting involved, you may find your talents ignored and your success limited, and you may feel left out of the loop, says Louellen Essex, co-author of "Manager's Desktop Consultant: Just-in-Time Solutions to the Top People Problems That Keep You Up at Night."

"Politics get nasty when an employee is out for his or her personal gain alone," Essex says. "Think of playing office politics as a game of strategy through which you are able to get the resources and influence you need to accomplish your goals. Most often those who are diplomatic, respectful and build coalitions with effective people win."

Here are Essex's nine tips to help you win at office politics and still gain others' respect.

1. Observe how things get done in your organization.
Ask some key questions: What are the core values and how are they enacted? Are short- or long-term results most valued? How are decisions made? How much risk is tolerated? The answers to these questions should give you a good sense of the culture of your organization.

2. Profile powerful individuals.
Pay attention to their communication style, network of relationships and what types of proposals they say "yes" to most often. Emulate those traits by drawing on the strengths you have.

3. Determine strategic initiatives in the company.
Update your skills to be relevant to company initiatives. For example, don't lag behind in technology, quality or customer service approaches that are crucial to you and your company's success.

4. Develop a personal track record as someone who gets results.
Style without substance will not gain others' respect, especially in today's organizations that focus on outcome.

5. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn.
If no one knows of your good work, you may lose at the game of office politics – when you really deserve to win. Let others know what you've accomplished whenever you get the opportunity. If you don't know the fine art of diplomatic bragging, you might get lost in the shuffle of your co-workers.

6. Treat everyone with respect.
Don't show preferential treatment or treat co-workers badly. You never know to whom someone might be connected, and rude behavior may come back to bite you.

7. Don't align too strongly with one group.
While an alliance may be powerful for the moment, new leadership will often oust existing coalitions and surround themselves with a new team. Bridging across factions may be a more effective strategy for long-term success if you intend to stay in your current organization for some time.

8. Learn to communicate persuasively.
Develop an assertive style, backed with solid facts and examples, to focus others' attention on your ideas and proposals. Good politicians can adjust their messages for their audience and are always well-prepared.

9. Be true to yourself.
After analyzing the political landscape in your company, if you decide the game is one you can't play, prepare to move on. It's not typical, but some organizations actually condone – even promote – dishonest, ruthless or unethical behavior. The game of office politics in this situation is not one worth winning.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Hanging out in Subang Parade with Kev & his dad

2008-02-17T16:22:00.004+08:00

Kev's dad was back from Perth, Australia for a visit & since it was the weekend, we decided to jalan-jalan in Subang Parade :)

Watching a football match in Asia Cafe, SS15 Subang Jaya

2008-02-03T22:41:00.001+08:00

Hmm... what was Kevin trying to say? :P

Cute lil princess - Jamie Ho

2008-01-19T12:19:00.001+08:00

Sharon came by to Kev's new house to take a look at his place... she also got some men to transport some chairs and tables for Kev... thank you! :) And I gave Jamie this white hairband which I bought in Curve and she wore it like a tiara, haha! :P

At Asia Cafe

2007-12-21T22:24:00.003+08:00

Yum char with Pal & Kev at Asia Cafe

Don't they juz look alike? :P

Pal took a shot of the bright moon via Kev's hp

Dinner & EPL at Asia Cafe

2007-12-16T20:40:00.005+08:00

All of us ordered large drinks from Asia Cafe :P

Kevin's had measuring how big the glasses were ;)

Pal definitely loved her glass of "teh ais"

Me having a slice of pizza :P

Pal having wantan mee

Malacca road trip with Kev & Pal

2007-12-15T23:01:00.002+08:00

Kev & I inside the famous Malacca Chicken Rice Ball shop (luckily we didn't have to queue that long for our table)

Kev & Pal strolling along Jonker Street

Kev & I posing in our hotel room in Aldy Hotel

Don't they look alike? :P

Camwhoring before our seafood dinner arrived

We all bought funky tees from Orang Utan (Pal bought the tee that said "I Love Chicken Rice Balls)... Kevin & I sported the same tees, just in different sizes, of course! :P

We had a feast of seafood at the Portugese Settlement

Pal's fave dish - kangkong belacan!

Kev & I camwhoring somewhere along Jonker Street at night after dinner

Pal & I having a jolly good time at Geographer pub on Jonker Street while Kev watched footie at the Aldy Hotel's cafe

Celebrating an early birthday party for Kevin's 26th

2007-12-14T21:45:00.004+08:00

Pal & I threw a surprise birthday dinner for Kevin at Ole Ole Bali, Sunway Pyramid

As u can see from this pic, the food was juz simply scrumptious! And we even bought Kevin a Haagen Dazs strawberry ice cream cake... simply splendid! Loved the cake!

My first time at Bar BQ Plaza, Sunway Pyramid

2007-12-13T18:41:00.001+08:00

Esther looked at the waiter as if he'd said something dumb... and the truth was, perhaps, he DID say something dumb & profoundly stupid!

Look at Esther's hand movement... like "Whoa!"

All smiles...

Couz Donavon Toh's wedding dinner

2007-12-09T23:14:00.036+08:00

Esther & I mucking around & camwhoring in Sharon's place in SS2 while she & her family were getting dressed for Donavon's wedding dinner

At the wedding dinner which was held in Bukit Kiara Equestarian Club (or something like that, can't remember the name lah)

We weren't prepared for the camera yet!

Well, I still wasn't ready :P

Sharon & I all smiles

I guess Sharon didn't know where the camera lens was :P

Family pic... Jamie was soOoo cute! ;)

Donavon popping the champagne cork on stage...

Pouring the champagne...

Still at it... pouring the champagne, that is...

Yaaaam senggggg!!!

Our couz Tanne Toh & her band performing on stage for the wedding dinner. She was the one behind the keyboard

Kuen Ku Jie & her three daughters, Marianne, Frances & Jane & her granddaughter, Annabelle... and Tai Ku Jie (who was carrying Annabelle)

Jamie was knocked out halfway thru the dinner...

More camwhoring during dinner :P

Sharon & I with our couz, Siu Wai & Hang Wai (Ah Mei Ku Jie's children)

Esther got in the pic with us :)

The many cousins with the groom, Donavon

The bride, Carmen joined us in this pic

The pretty girls in the family...

Say "Peace!"

Girls only with the bride & groom

Boys' turn now with the bride & groom

Tigers & tigresses (cousins born in the year of the Tiger... yes, that means Esther too & yes, that also explains why she's alwiz so garang! :P)

Hang Wai was also born in the year of the Tiger... all of them except Donavon, of course, were born in 1986. Donavon is 12 years older.

Tigers & tigresses roar! Haha! :P

Christmastime at Subang Parade

2007-12-03T20:15:00.005+08:00

After dinner in Subang Parade, we decided to pose next to the big white Christmas trees :)

Jalan-jalan in Sunway Pyramid

2007-12-02T12:01:00.004+08:00

Pal posing outside Starbucks overlooking Sunway Lagoon

Hanging out in Sunway Pyramid

2007-11-11T21:06:00.014+08:00

Kevin & I went to jalan-jalan in Sunway Pyramid when we decided to yum char at Uncle Lim's, then we accidentally bumped into Kev's friend, Elaine there with her baby & brother & his fiance

That's Elaine & her baby girl

That was Kev's hand wiping off her drool :P

On the way back to Kevin's house, we saw a rainbow near Sunway Pyramid... certainly a rare sight in the city :P

Later that night, we went to Makbul mamak in USJ 9 for dinner & to watch live football match with friends

Karen's wedding dinner

2007-11-10T20:36:00.000+08:00

9 dumb moves to ruin your retirement

2007-10-24T22:46:00.001+08:00

Do you like excitement? Follow these surefire ways to live out your golden years on the edge of a steep cliff.

Many people carry their retirement concepts around in their heads.

They may imagine a luxurious recreational vehicle parked near a Florida theme park. Playing golf. Boating. Shopping. Taking a creative-writing class. Gardening. Who wouldn't look forward to such a future?

Smell that coffee? Retiree wannabes need to indulge in some serious reality tweaking or their dreams will hit the wall faster than a roller-derby queen on a greased track.

Calculator: Run the numbers on your retirement

If you crave the rush that comes from having to cash in empty beer bottles to pay your mortgage, here are a few strategies guaranteed to turn your retirement into one memorable financial catastrophe after another.

Buy more home than you can afford
There's no time like retirement to grab that McMansion you've always wanted. By opting for a house that'll turn into an albatross in the face of climbing property taxes and soaring insurance premiums, you can ensure your home will become a real burden in your old age. Another instant path to bag-lady-hood: escalating maintenance and upkeep.

Dave Ramsey, a personal-finance expert and talk-radio host, says to temper wants with needs. He cited a recent poll in which 80% of Americans said they believed their standard of living would go up at retirement.

"Our culture today tells us that we deserve to have everything we want because we can charge it," Ramsey says. "Previous generations thought you could only have something if you could pay for it. Their lifestyles were much simpler, and retirement was a time to simplify even more."

Do it right: Pay off your debts, including your home if you can afford to do so, before retiring. If you have to move, or simply want to, don't buy something you can't afford in the long term. And minimize repairs by keeping up with the maintenance.

Ignore the effects of inflation
You calculated your cost of living against your projected retirement income, and things look pretty darned rosy. Chances are you didn't factor nasty old inflation into your budget.

Assuming an inflation rate of 2.2% that rises to 3% starting in 2017, what costs $10,000 in 2008 will go for $12,528 by 2018. In 2028, that figure will rise to $16,837. And in 2038, you'll need $22,628 for the same expenditure. If 2038 sounds like "Star Trek" and beyond, look at it this way: If you retire at age 55 in 2008, you will be 65 in 2018, 75 in 2028 and 85 in 2038.

People live longer these days, but unfortunately for many, their money won't go the distance.

Richard Suzman, the director for the Behavioral and Social Research Program at the National Institute on Aging, says that although life-expectancy gains have slowed in the past few years, we're in for another upturn.

"If that happens, more people will be outliving their resources," Suzman says.

Do it right: Calculate future expenses with an eye on both inflation and increased longevity.

This means allocating a portion of your nest egg to higher-risk, higher-return investments such as equity mutual funds or purchasing an immediate annuity with an inflation-adjustment component.

Raid your 401(k) early
Not everyone is lucky enough to have his or her own personal loan company, but with a 401(k), you can borrow your own money and, even better, pull it all out if you change jobs. What a cool way to pay off your credit cards or buy that boat you've always wanted. Not.

Getting your hands on a boatload of cash might seem tempting, but Bonnie Fawcett, the director of 401(k) programs at PNC Financial Services, says going into your retirement savings before you retire should be a plan of last resort.

Do it right: Dip into your 401(k) only when there is no other choice and the reason is an especially good one, such as purchasing your first home.

Count on Social Security
You don't want any regrets when you look back at your life, so you've made a habit of living for the moment. Now the moment when you want to retire is nigh, and you plan to let the government take care of you. Way to go -- that's the kind of thinking that could land you below the poverty line in retirement.

Social Security has helped lower cases of poverty among the elderly in this country, but it stands on unstable financial ground.

"It's never too late to start saving and investing for retirement, but you have to get intense and do what it takes to win," financial expert Ramsey says. "If you aren't willing to sacrifice, you won't get anywhere."

Do it right: Diversify your sources of retirement income as early in the game as possible. That means save in as many different types of tax-favorable investment vehicles as you can manage, such as a 401(k) plan and an individual retirement account. And save as much as you can.

Assume your retirement benefits won't change
Just because you were promised something doesn't mean it will come true. Don't believe it? Ask the employees at General Motors, IBM, Alcoa, Sears, Circuit City, Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed Martin, Motorola -- the list goes on and on. These companies have frozen their pension plans, which means future benefits stop building up for some or all of their employees.

Other companies have terminated their pension plans or converted them to so-called cash-balance plans, which are calculated differently -- to the disadvantage of older workers. Even the government is chipping away at pledged benefits.

"Make sure you've got an adequate reserve for large out-of-pocket expenses," says Suzman, of the National Institute on Aging.

Do it right: Don't take anything for granted. Make sure you set aside your own funds for retirement. Always have a plan B.

Let the kids' needs trump yours
You started saving money for Junior's education the minute he showed his face, but in the process you neglected to put anything aside for retirement. The result: Junior has a nice fat college fund, and you'll be working until you're dead. Unless you relish raiding your change jar to pay your electric bill, bump Junior's college fund down a notch on your list.

Paul Hodge, the director of Harvard Generation's Policy Program and chairman of the Global Generations Policy Institute, says there's nothing wrong with a kid waiting tables to help pay for college. It might even be character-building.

"If you set money aside for retirement, then you won't be a burden on your children later on," Hodge says.

Do it right: Pay yourself first. The 529 college-savings plan takes a back seat to the 401(k) plan.

Depend on your partner's income
Many seniors have a tough time making it on two incomes, much less one. Here are some of the facts about surviving on inadequate retirement, according to Ramsey: "USA Today reports that out of 100 people age 65, 97 of them can't write a check for $600, 54 are still working and only three are financially secure. Bankruptcies among those 65 and older have gone up 164% in the last eight years."

Whew! That's scary stuff and a long way from that golf-playing, globe-trotting, low-stress retirement you envisioned.

If those numbers make you nervous, consider that thousands will face even more-reduced circumstances because they've failed to consider that a big chunk of their income might end up missing in retirement. Death and divorce happen, and they change everything.

Hodge says women are particularly vulnerable to impoverishment after hitting retirement age. "Their biggest mistake is that they assume someone else will take care of them," he says.

Plus, women's careers often are cut short with caregiver duties for kids and parents.

Do it right: Women in particular should consider how dependent they are on their marriage when making retirement plans. Don't assume anything, and take a hard look at survivorship aspects of pension plans.

Plan to work forever
The only senior with a guaranteed gig is Santa Claus, and that job's taken. Age discrimination may be illegal, but it's alive and well, and bound to affect your job plans. In addition, many professions such as law enforcement, the military and aviation have mandatory retirement ages. And that's not all.

"A lot of people forget about becoming disabled," Hodge says. Diseases associated with aging, as well as other conditions, can limit what you can do, effectively cutting short your post-retirement career.

Do it right: Continuing to work may not be in the cards for you. Turn employment into one of many elements of your retirement picture, not a major and irreplaceable component.

Don't worry about health costs
You look great. You feel great. You're active and haven't been sick a day in your life. You're worried about your golf game, not health issues.

But like it or not, aging often means deteriorating health, even for those who think they've done everything right. And deteriorating health means more money for health care. Really bad health can force retirement off track and turn your finances into a train wreck.

Besides the broken pension promises mentioned earlier, health benefits for retirees are slowly disappearing. According to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Hewitt Associates, the percentage of large companies (with 200 or more employees) offering these benefits fell from 66% in 1988 to 33% in 2005.

Medicare does not cover everything, so many health-care expenses fall on underinsured retirees. For couples retiring today, Fidelity Investments recommends a reserve of $215,000 just to cover medical costs.

Besides saving up cash, you can be proactive and take care of yourself. "A lot of what people should and shouldn't do is well-known," the aging institute's Suzman says. "Get to an appropriate weight and (take advantage of) all sorts of life-saving immunizations and tests."

Do it right: You can't forestall ill health forever, but you can live a healthier lifestyle starting now that will reduce your costs up the road. Eat fewer salty snack foods and more fruits and vegetables. Take daily walks or otherwise move your limbs. Your body will reward your efforts.

Unless you like the thought of pinning your future on shaky government programs or handouts from relatives, take charge now. Once you're comfortable that you're sufficiently preparing to meet your retirement goals, grab those clubs and hit the course or go putter in your garden. It's time to reward your forward-thinking with a few birdies or begonias.

This article was reported and written by Carole Moore for Bankrate.com.
Published Oct. 22, 2007

Christine's 28th birthday @ Redbox Curve

2007-09-28T22:24:00.000+08:00

Pillow talk

2007-09-26T20:22:00.000+08:00

I woke up very early this morning (about 4 something in the morning, can't really remember the exact time, was still groggy from the sleep, haha) to go to the loo. And then, I thought about marriage and the future. I crawled back into the bed and nudged Kevin slightly (he was sound asleep) and asked him if he saved any money. He said yes. I asked him which bank account did he save in and he replied HSBC (where his salary is banked in every month). I felt slightly glad (well, at least the guy's saving! Or so he says) so I asked if he was saving to buy me a diamond ring for our wedding in the future and he said "NO". So I asked him what was he saving for and his reply made my week.

Rachel: What are you saving for?
Kevin: Us.
Rachel (I wanted to be clear of what he just said) : WHAT?
Kevin: US.

And with that reply, I sank back into a deep sleep till it was time for me to wake up to go to work.

A brand new day!

2007-09-17T00:51:00.000+08:00

In a matter of 8 hours, I will be starting my new job in Hong Leong Bank. I know I should be sleeping soon considering it's already almost 1am now. But I juz felt like writing an entry before I hit the pillows. God bless me! :) Help me make my parents, Aunt Chris and En. Nik proud (most of all, God, help me make myself proud of myself!). Well, first of all, my parents wanted so badly for me to take up this bank job (their prayers were answered, Amen!) that they nagged me almost everyday ever since they knew I nailed the interview. And Aunt Chris, well, she heard there was an opening in HLB, thus prompting me to apply (or rather, make my mom to nag me to apply) and lastly, for En. Nik for believing so much in me (I don't even think I can be all that that he thinks of me/sees in me, only God knows my strengths). So there, I wanna do this good! Nites, y'all! God bless us, everyone! :)

Pityriasis Rosea

2007-09-16T01:24:00.000+08:00

Pityriasis rosea is a common skin disease. It appears as a rash that can last from several weeks to several months. The way the rash looks may differ from person to person. It most often develops in the spring and the fall, and seems to favor adolescents and young adults. Pityriasis rosea is uncommon in those over 60 years old. It may last months longer when it occurs in this age group. Usually there are no permanent marks as a result of this disease, although some darker-skinned persons may develop long-lasting flat brown spots.

The skin rash follows a very distinctive pattern. In 3/4 of the cases, a single, isolated oval scaly patch (the "herald patch") appears on the body, particularly on the trunk, upper arms, neck, or thighs. Often, the herald patch is mistaken for ringworm (tinea corporis) or eczema. Within a week or two more pink patches will occur on the body and on the arms and legs. These patches often form a pattern over the back resembling the outline of an evergreen tree with dropping branches. Patches may also appear on the neck and, rarely, on the face. These spots usually are smaller than the "herald" patch. The rash begins to heal after 2-4 weeks and is usually gone by 6-14.

Sometimes the disease can cause a more severe skin reaction. Some patients with this disease will have some itching that can be severe, especially when the patient becomes overheated. Occasionally there may be other symptoms, including tiredness and aching. The rash usually fades and disappears within six weeks but can sometimes last much longer. Physical activity, like jogging or running, or bathing in hot water may cause the rash to temporarily worsen or reappear. In some cases, the patches will reappear up to several weeks after the first episode. This can continue for many months.

The cause is unproven. It definitely is not caused by a fungus or bacterial infection. It also is not due to any known type of allergic reaction. This condition is not a sign of any type of internal disease. Since it is neither contagious nor sexually transmitted, there is no reason to avoid close or intimate contact when one has this eruption.

There is some evidence that it is a relapse of Human Herpes Virus type 7 (HH7) infection, as this virus has been isolated from blood, skin lesions, and white blood cells (lymphocytes) of pityriasis rosea patients. In other people HH7 is only found in the lymphocytes. This virus infects most of us as children, and we develop immunity to it. This is the reason it is so very uncommon for other members of the same household to come down with pityriasis rosea at the same time.

A dermatologist can usually diagnose the condition quickly with an examination, but at times the diagnosis is more difficult. The numbers and sizes of the spots can vary and occasionally the rash can be found in an unusual location, such as the lower body or on the face. When there is no "herald" patch, reactions to medications, infection with fungus or syphilis (a type of VD), or other skin diseases may resemble this rash. The dermatologist may order blood tests, skin scrapings or even may take a sample from one of the spots to examine under a microscope to reach a diagnosis.

Treatment may include external and internal medications for itching. Aveeno oatmeal baths, anti-itch medicated lotions and steroid creams may be prescribed to combat the rash. Lukewarm, rather than hot, baths may be suggested. Strenuous activity, which could aggravate the rash, should be discouraged. Ultraviolet light treatments given under the supervision of a dermatologist may be helpful. Recently, both the antiviral drug Famvir and the antibiotic erythromycin have been claimed to produce healing in one to two weeks. For severe cases a few days of oral anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone may be necessary to promote healing. For mild cases, no treatment is required as this disease is not a dangerous skin condition.

Summary:-

1. rarely on the face

2. usually on the trunk, upper arms, neck, thighs

3. begin to heal 2-4 weeks, gone by 6-14 weeks

4. physical activities (e.g. jogging, running, bathing in hot water) may cause rash to temporarily worsen

5. neither contagious nor sexually transmitted

Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip (Part 1 - Guangzhou)

2007-09-02T23:03:00.000+08:00

Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip (Part 2 - HK Disneyland)

2007-09-02T23:02:00.000+08:00

Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip (Part 3 - Madame Tussauds HK)

2007-09-02T23:01:00.000+08:00

Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip (Part 4 - Hong Kong)

2007-09-02T23:00:00.000+08:00

Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip (Part 5 - in Macau)

2007-09-02T22:59:00.000+08:00

Had white wine at 5pm @ The Venetian

Spaghetti bolognaise... super yummy! But very expensive (Macau dollar 120 = RM60)

I think this is wild mushroom soup

Michelle posing with the bear

The bear is having white wine with us...

The largest & latest casino hotel in Macau (launched on August 28th, 2007)

Long Island Tea @ Sands, courtesy of Ms. Aruna Rai =)

Tipsy as we were...

Yummy lamb stew

The African chicken (a famous Portugese dish)

Sky high aboard Air Asia from Macau to LCCT, Malaysia

Mani- & pedi- Cures! :P

2007-08-24T15:12:00.000+08:00

Excerpts from my MSN chatbox with Aruna

2007-08-22T13:04:00.000+08:00

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
hey Aruna!

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
are u there?

(x) says:
heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

(x) says:
dear

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
omg!!! i've missed u soo soo much!

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
long time no chat! how're u? *hugz*

(x) says:
was just talking abt u earlier with wong

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
what abt me? lol

(x) says:
haha

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
good or bad?

(x) says:
nothing just have u guyz talk lately

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i've not seen him for some time already cuz we are both working different places now

(x) says:
i was just telling him i havt heard frm for ages

(x) says:
so how r u dear

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i'm good

(x) says:
i have like hundred things to talk to u

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
how're u?

(x) says:
im fine

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
u know what, babe?

(x) says:
wat?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i'm going to Macau this Sat

(x) says:
reallyyyyyyyyyyyy

(x) says:
im in macau

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
and will arrive in HK on 30th August!

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
what? u mean, now you're in macau?

(x) says:
hahahaha

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
for how long?

(x) says:
i mean i just moved to new job in macau

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
really? oic

(x) says:
yeah

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
wow! fantastic!

(x) says:
we r working at pre-opening of Sofitel macau

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
we'll be arriving in macau and then go straight to guangzhou but we will be in macau again on 1st Sept or something

(x) says:
how long will u stay at macau?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
for two days. how long will u be in macau?

(x) says:
babe i will be always going back to hk in weekends. thts sat & sunday

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
oh

(x) says:
as im still unaware of macau well. i just moved here a week back

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
what abt fri?

(x) says:
i will

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
okay, lemme check the travel timetable

(x) says:
i can meet u thn go back to hk latenite or next day

(x) says:
okie

(x) says:
wowo

(x) says:
im so happy

(x) says:
babe, mail me all date time, u will be in macau and hk

(x) says:
im going to lunch now. make sure u mail me everything alrite

(x) says:
i will definitely meet u

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
hey girl

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i'll be in Macau on August 31st evening

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
me too

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i'm juz so excited! meeting you makes me even happier

(x) says:
ur coming with who?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
ivy and fung ying

(x) says:
ohh cool

(x) says:
then when will u be in hk?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
weekdays. lol

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
28th-30th

(x) says:
god! im in macau in weekdays and hk in weekends

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
yea, sort of upside down. lol

(x) says:
anyways, we'll find a time

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
but i'll be in macau on 31st evening (Friday)

(x) says:
u'll be in macau on 30th to when>?

(x) says:
okie. 31st??

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
till 2nd Sept

(x) says:
okie

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
lol, sorry

(x) says:
nvrmind

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
hope ur fine with it. how's work?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
sounds exciting

(x) says:
yeah i guess i will cancel goin to hk thn

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
does your hotel have casino?

(x) says:
no, our hotel hasnt opned yet

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
where's your hotel? in taipa or the city?

(x) says:
im working on pre opening

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
oic

(x) says:
in city. where r u staying?

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
cool. in the city also but dunno which hotel... so expensive there!

(x) says:
u can stay with me but its pretty small to fit all. hahaha

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
lol! i dun think we can cuz we have 5 persons

(x) says:
alright

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
one guy, u dunno, he's also bringing his girlfriend. lol

(x) says:
okie, i undrst privacy

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i'm so excited!

(x) says:
me toooooo

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
he'll be staying in one room with his gf and i'll be cramping with ivy and fung ying in one room

(x) says:
r u with tour or back packing

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
backpacking our own style. hehehehehe

(x) says:
okie, cool. thn i will exploer macau with u guys, i havnt seen much

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
cool! that's a deal then!

(x) says:
its pretty boring place. i love hk... hehe

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
so that means you'll stay in macau for the weekend? lol

(x) says:
just for u. hehe

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
of course HK is more exciting!

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
omg! i love you so much!!

(x) says:
me 2

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
*hug hug*

(x) says:
mail me or meet me online

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
okay, i'll mail u now

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
hey, at's your hp number? 'll call u

(x) says:
im online from 9 am to 5pm

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i dun think i get internet connection there

(x) says:
6******0... call me

(x) says:
when ur tour start

(x) says:
gtg

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
we start 25th August till 2nd Sept

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
okay

(x) says:
colleague waiting

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
i will call u

(x) says:
ok

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
love ya

(x) says:
mail me

Raaaachhhhelllll says:
take care and SEE YOU SOON dearie!

P/S: The conversation was deemed too long and had been truncated.

It's a girl's thang... GUYS, KEEP OUT!!!

2007-08-20T18:21:00.000+08:00

Yay! My period is here before my trip! I'm glad cuz this means I'll have a hassle-free trip abroad. I usually feel terrible + lousy and will be in so much pain on the first day of my period and I alwiz feel tired from walking. And upon arrival in Macau on the first day of the trip, we'll have to walk alot to the China borders and take the bus to Guangzhou, according to Ivy. That made me so worried. I wanna enjoy my trip and I don't wanna be a spoilsport by saying things like "Can we rest? I have period cramps" or "Can we stop by for toilet? I need to change" or something to that extreme. Haha! So it prompted me to seek help...

This was the first time I went to a doctor to request help to either hurry up my period or delay it until after my trip. And Dr. Soh (my SA8000Live ultrasound customer) said that I'll get my period soonest probably by Monday (today) if not later. But it really depends on individual, he added. Another option is to delay it until I get back but he said since the trip is pretty long, he'd advise against it as contraceptives have side effects like breakouts or something. Like he said earlier, it really does depend on individuals.

I saw him on Friday (August 17th, 2007) and he gave me pills to take for 3 consecutive days till Monday. Before I took the pills, I felt some sort of pain in the lower abdominal area (like how I usually feel a day before my period arrives). So I was sorta like debating to take the pills or just to let my period come naturally. Hmmm... but then, I didn't have much time to gamble. So I took it on Friday midnite and Saturday evening.

My period did come... on Saturday night but only slightly. But the excruciating pain was almost too much to bear and though I was in so much pain, I sorta joked with my sister, Esther, that luckily I was going thru period pains now rather than enduring the pain and hassle during my trip. And I didn't know to continue taking the pills or not since my period was already here though only slightly. So I didn't. On Sunday, it still didn't feel like my ordinary monthly ordeal. The flow wasn't heavy (which was weird on the first two days of my menses). But I'm so glad that today it's in full bloom. =) So Dr. Soh was right after all, my period will be here today - Monday. Hopefully I'll be clear by Saturday at 4 in the morning (oh so Gwen!) cuz that's when our KLIA limo is scheduled to pick us up from Ivy's place. Things are surely picking up from here on... yeahhh!!! ;)

Say a lil prayer before boarding flight

2007-08-16T18:07:00.000+08:00

In exactly one week and three days' time, I'll be flying off to Macau via Air Asia with my mates, Ivy, Chin Yew, Michelle and Fung Ying, embarking on our plan-it-yourself free-and-easy 9-days-8-nights tour from Macau to Guangzhou to Hong Kong and back to Macau. Phew! All those many words cramped in juz one loooong sentence! :P

I am so excited even as I am typing this entry now! This is the first time I'm travelling so far with my friends. So far, we've only done Malacca, PD and Genting together, if I remember correctly. We've already exchanged our RMs for RMBs and HKDs. All in all, we changed RM13,000 in total (RM2500 for Ivy and me respectively and RM8000 for Chin Yew and Michelle). Chin Yew and I met up at Mid Valley after his work to exchange currencies. I almost freaked out when I saw the large sum of money Chin Yew was carrying with him the whole time (Ivy's RM2500 was with him too).

I arrived early at MV so I went jalan-jalan and tried on clothes and camwhored in the fitting room! Hehe!

This Topshop dress looks nice but the top is quite low and wide. Plus, the price isn't right! :P

So we changed RM6000 for RMB12,820 (RMB3205 for each of us) and RM7000 for HKD15,625 (I'm not sure how much HKD we have cuz Chin Yew's safekeeping that currency while I'm holding on to the RMBs). We're armed with money for shopping, massage, fun, and gambling haven! Muahahahahaha!

After that, Chin Yew and I joined my sister, Stuart and her friend, Chin Chee Kit for dinner at C-Jade Express restaurant. After that, I walked with Chin Yew to look at luggage and backpacks while my sis and gang stayed back at C-Jade. Since Chin Yew was still hungry after looking at bags, he went off to eat summore at Jusco's Assam Laksa corner while I headed off to GSC cinema to get ready to collect my free movie passes from HOT magazine for Evan Almighty. Sharon arrived shortly after that and queued behind me. Sharon and her hubby planned to watch Rush Hour 3 straight after Evan Almighty. Keng chow hor! Macam no need to work next day like that! Tee hee! ;) She asked since last week if I wanted to join them at Rush Hour 3 but I told them no since I didn't wanna drive back alone so late at night.

I dunno is it because I've already read the online review for Evan Almighty on MSN and the movie was only rated 2 stars outta 5 that I dun find the movie all that entertaining or I juz didn't really enjoy the movie or...? The movie has its funny moments, yes but sometimes it seems like it's being overdone... like it's trying too hard to impress the audience. I dunno, that's juz my two cents' worth. Haha! :P

Anyway, Guangzhou/HK/Macau trip, here we come! Here's to a long over-deserved (I won't even say well-deserved) break from work (and the Lees), a trip away from home and familiarity of places, a sleek new haircut, renewed friendships with my long-time ex-collegemates and the commencement of my pending new job soon after I touchdown in Malaysia after my trip. God bless us all! :)

My travelling bag is still quite unpacked! :P

Karaoke with Chris

2007-08-12T23:43:00.000+08:00

Was supposed to play a game of badminton today with Christine cuz yesterday she arrived late at SRGC so she didn't get to play much. But my left arm was so sore from yesterday's game, so I decided to go karaoke instead since Christine reminded me yesterday that we've not been singing for awhile liao.

Before Kev and I headed to Redbox Pyramid, we went to Taipan first to do banking and have a light late lunch at Leo's.

Camwhoring in Leo's

Yum yum! So tasty! =)

Can u guess what I was eating? :P

Life is like a box of chocolates...

2007-07-28T23:30:00.000+08:00

Given by Aunt Brenda... she bought these lovelies during her month long trip to Europe... WOW! ;)

8 Hair Mistakes You May Be Making

2007-07-28T04:41:00.000+08:00

Find out if you're guilty, then rinse, repeat -- and repent...

Always Fastening Your Ponytail in the Same Spot

Because strands tend to get caught — and broken — in bands, it's a good idea to alternate the fastening point. "Move it up a half inch one day, then down the next," says celebrity stylist Richard Marin. Using seamless elastic bands, like Goody Ouchless Elastics, will further minimize damage.

Combing Wet Hair from Roots to Ends

A comb is easier on fragile wet hair than a brush is, but tugging it from scalp to tips can cause breakage. First, smooth out knots with a leave-in detangler. Then, says Marin, start to comb at ends, working up in sections.

Brushing Your Hair for Shine
All you need is a few strokes to style hair and spread the natural oils from roots to ends. "Anything more than that is unnecessary friction, which can lead to breakage," says Amy J. McMichael, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Blow-Drying Hair That's Dripping Wet
Not only will this make it difficult to style your hair, it will cause a ton of heat damage. "A blow dryer should be used on damp — not wet — hair for 20 minutes, tops," says stylist Peter Coppola, creator of a QVC hair-care line. Before applying heat, wrap hair in a towel for five minutes, then let hair air-dry for another five.

Ignoring Your Scalp
To grow healthy hair, your scalp needs nourishment. "Massaging your head with your fingertips will stimulate blood flow," says Christopher Mackin, a trichologist (hair expert) at the Gil Ferrer Salon, in New York City. For extra care, use a leave-in scalp treatment.

Using the Wrong Brush
The incorrect brush can not only ruin your style, it can get snagged in your hair. Generally, the longer your locks, the larger in diameter your brush should be (basically, more hair, more brush). To create volume, use a round brush; to smooth hair, a paddle shape is best.

Avoiding Hair Spray
It's gotten a bad rap, but hair spray contains a polymer that actually locks out humidity, says Cheri McMaster, senior scientist for Pantene. And contrary to popular belief, it's not harmful. "It's the polymer, not the alcohol, that dries on your hair," she says. "The alcohol evaporates before it hits your head." Use just enough to hold your style.

Masking — Not Treating — Dandruff
Trying to nix flakes with moisturizing stylers like oils and pomades is only a temporary fix: Dandruff is actually an inflammatory scalp disease unrelated to dryness, says Dr. McMichael. The cure? A shampoo with salicylic acid, zinc, selenium sulfide or tar to eliminate flakes.

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

50 Ways to Celebrate Being Young, Free & Fabulous!

2007-07-26T23:07:00.000+08:00

1. Shop
2. Get a credit card
3. Buy a new handbag
4. Learn to drive
5. Go sunbathing in a bikini
6. Talk to strangers
7. Spend YOUR money, win YOUR prizes
8. Get a manicure
9. Write yourself a letter
10. Get spiritual
11. Sleep in until noon
12. Bury all your hatchets
13. Plant a tree
14. Plant it forward
15. Eat a cake
16. Go skinny dipping
17. Visit a nice spa
18. Start a blog
19. Date a musician
20. Open a trust fund account
21. Get sloshes
22. Learn a new language
23. Fast, but don't starve
24. Learn to cook
25. Have sex
26. Get a makeover
27. Call your ex(es)
28. Give away your old school books
29. Multi-date
30. Get your own place
31. Go to a party
32. Get some bling
33. Get some bling down south
34. Be an SPG for one night
35. Throw a party
36. Buy your parents a pressie
37. Start a business
38. spend a full day with a camera
39. Give away your old clothes
40. Stay up all night on a weekday
41. Bleach your hair
42. Get some (real) lingerie
43. Pierce your _____
44. Go on a holiday
45. Start a diary
46. Go for a movie marathon
47. Paint a self-portrait
48. Visit IKEA
49. Have a baby
50. Get married

By Samantha Lee (Cleo Magazine August 2007 issue)

The Simpsons Movie

2007-07-24T23:54:00.000+08:00

Won 4 free passes from FlyFM to watch The Simpsons Movie earlier tonight at GSC 1Utama at 9pm. However, I needed to collect those passes at 8pm onwards. Since Kevin's working and Esther didn't wanna go (she needed to wake up early for classes the next day), I asked Sharon and Shyang Li to go (since I'd not seen Shyang Li for the longest time).

I picked Shyang Li up from her office and went to Sharon's house. Shyang Li bathed and changed her clothes there. After that, we went for a quick dinner in New Paris (well, we all reached New Paris at 7.05pm and the food arrived at 7.10pm and we finished eating by 7.30pm. Fast or what?)

My bro-in-law, Stuart, didn't wanna watch cartoons so Sharon asked her ex, Chin Chee Kit, to come watch with us instead. Well, I don't blame Stuart though, I'm not a big fan of animated movies either and especially not The Simpsons cuz I've not watched a single episode of it before on TV. Haha! Only snippets of a particular episode where Homer had to protect the President of USA and he ate the President's steak juz to see if the steak was poisoned by the enemies. Haha! That was all! I didn't even finish that episode :P

Well, The Simpsons Movie wasn't exactly great though. The jokes were lame and stale and also silly! Most of the parts were quite boring too. The only moment I enjoyed in the movie was the part where the bartender and his patrons were watching the news on TV and then the electricity got cut off and when he turned it back on, his patrons were gone without paying for their drinks and also all his booze from the shelves were gone as well! And then the bartender said that it wasn't funny and that he would switched off the lights and when he switched them back on again, he would wanna see all his booze back on the shelves. And when he eventually did switch the lights on again, not only did his bottles of booze were still missing, his TV, his clothes and his bar were all gone as well! Muahahahaha! I laughed the hardest for that! :P It was wayyyy too funny! =)

After the movie, Chee Kit went back on his own. We went back to ss2 to yum char in the mamak. After that, Sharon drove back to her house and I took my car and dropped Shyang Li back to her house in Taman Paramount (very nearby ss2 only). And got back to Kev's place to type out this very entry. Nights y'all!

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

2007-07-24T14:10:00.000+08:00

I watched Oprah a few days ago with my mom on my new TV and she spoke about maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a healthy diet and proper exercise. Here was what her guest of the day proposed...

Ingredients (in a food) to avoid:
1. Saturated fat (unsaturated fat is the way to go!)
2. Sugar
3. Hydrogenated oil
4. High protein corn syrup
5. Bleached flour
6. Enriched flour

And combine with the exercises listed below...

The "Fantastic Four" exercise (as how her guest had put it):
1. Walk - about 10,000 steps per day
2. Strength training - weight lifting and build muscles
3. Cardio - 60 mins a week
4. Stretch - 5 mins a day (especially in the morning)

And then we're off to a healthy lifestyle! Hip hip hurray! ;)