Of 24 Candles and New Toy

Guess how I celebrated my birthday?

Haha... this is a post long past due. Anyhow, I still want to archive it for it's one of the good ones I've had.

For my birthday this year, I wasn't expecting any celebration. I was away from family and also in a new environment. Another thing, I took down my birthday from Facebook, somehow recently birthday reminders from Facebook be it mine or others seemed so insincere.

It's rather awesome coz surprises occurred one after another. Firstly, my new housemates surprised me with a cake when I least expected it, two days before my birthday. They found out the date from my IC, when I gave them a copy for house renting documentation purposes. Truly, I hardly know them that well and yet they went out of their way to make me feel special. Thank you guys!

Then on the real day itself, people from office burst into a brainstorming session and started singing a birthday song for me. Whoa... I felt rather awkward and embarrassed to be the center of attention, but on the other hand rather pleased too. Thank you IFians! (none of them will be reading this, I hope)

I actually spent my birthday slaving away in the company. There was some work to rush and I didn't leave until about ten at night. Once back in my room, I bathed and settled in front of my comp to work on the stuff I brought back. Then all of a sudden, a wave of excited human bodies flung themselves through my room door, singing out of tune birthday song and bringing along a Baskin Robbins cake. Omg... the bodohs of #16 didn't forget about me. Feeling rather stupid myself for being so touched by this.

So all of us, new and old housemates, sat down in the empty leaving room and dug away happily at the ice cream cake. There was so much chatter, everybody's trying to catch up with one another. I miss those bodohs a lot. It felt great to poke fun at them and be laughed at too.

I was supposed to blow at candles and make wishes. But I didn't make a single wish on any of the three cakes. I was happy enough, I didn't need wishes then.

Mom and bro gave me cash to buy myself something. So I bought this! Eason Chan's newest EP and also a brand new Jumbo sketch book plus some fine liners. I wanna drawwww....

Bodohs of #16 with Stella and Tham. Awesome Eichi taking the pic for us. Thank you guys, for making my 24th birthday amazing!

And ohohoho~ on a more recent note, I bought myself a brand new phone. This is bought with my own hard-earned money. Not a single cent from my mom and all that stuff. ALL MINE. New Toy. New Love.

And I'm finally confirmed in my company. I'm a real working adult now. Life is good. =)

Bodohs of #16

It's now time to move away from this safe haven called SK #16, a place I've lived for the past year, fabulously flaunting the idea of living freely and brilliantly as a final year student. Of my four years in LUCT, it was the fourth year that truly defined my whole university experience. Through my awesome house mates, I had a wonderful time and got to be myself, crazy, loud, lame joker and most of the time without sense. I used to tell my best friends back home, when I leave uni, there won't be any people that I will miss. It wasn't that people weren't nice, it's just that no one really left a mark.

But my experience with the crazy bunch in #16 enabled me to take back those words. Leaving this house is easy, it's separating from these people that is hard.

Dear Jet, excuse my ease with and constant poking fun at you. It was all in good humour, right?

Dear Ting Ting, it was destressing just barging into your room and kacau you for no good reasons. Thank you for putting up with me.

Dear Shiau Fong, I have never met anyone that has yet to rival you when it comes to being nice. Don't be so nice can or not??? But then again, never change, you're great the way you are!

Lastly, my 最佳損友, Ms 541. I can finally be rid of your awful influence! And yet, I'll miss you the most. Thank you for laughing with me all these while.

We will all be working now, going our separate ways, meeting new house mates. I really don't know how long this friendship will last. Just a while ago, while packing, I threw away a musical ceramic thing from some really good friends couple of years back. Back then, it felt like we could say anything to each other. And now, I could just throw away the present without the slightest guilt, maybe just a tinge of regret of what could have been.

No one can tell what is to become of friendships years down the road. All I can say now is, come what may, it has been grand. Thank you, bodohs of #16!

Last Days of Semester 8

I did plan to show progress on the things I did for the final exhibition. But alas, I finished all advertising executions, portfolio book and promo items all in two weeks, with a major part of them all in the final week. There was simply no time to blog about anything. However, I did manage to snap some work in progress.

In the end I managed to pull off a port book, some coaster drawings, a CD sleeve and some stickers. Nothing fancy, but they did the work.

It was crazy. The exhibition. We weren't prepared at all for the rush that was gonna compel us. It was good fun going through all that with my classmates. At moments like these, you'll come to appreciate those people that you can turn to with a request and they'll just do it for you, no questions asked.

For my own part in the exhibition, I was quite disappointed with myself, for not being able to pull off the things I had in my head for the whole semester. For everything that I displayed during the exhibition, they were the bare minimum of what I had in mind. There was this trepidation in me, for I have asked a lot of people to come. My mom, all my closest friends. But then again, it was also because they are people closest to me that I didn't mind showing them my work. They'll understand.

Wokay... so my work wasn't that bad. Just, not, great. Hah.

I love my mom for being there. I seriously don't care a fig for convocation. Having her here for my exhibition was all I could asked for. When she was done perusing everything, I asked her what she thought, about my work and all. She was like "What is there to say? Aiya..." MOM!!! *facepalm*

Oooo... she got herself a new iTouch. One of the reasons I wanna go home. To play with this new gadget~!

And of course, nothing will be the same without these two crazies. Through thick and thin! Rui came all the way from Singapore for this. I was a bit sorry coz there really wasn't much to see on my side. All. The. Way. From. Singapore. But but but... she had to come!! She's OBLIGATED to come. Bah. Don't care. Thanks Rui!!

And Hooi Fong, for many times our crazy antics had her sacrificing sleeping time when she had to work the next day. Aih. So sorry. But but but... anticipate more of these in the future. Hahahah~

And not to forget, nutty Georgians on the move. Thank you, Chia Li, Chia Yinn, Evelyn, Kar Yee and Yueh Yih. Oh... and my cousin sis, Tres! Some came all the way from Penang just for this. And once again, I couldn't help but wish things were better. But at least you guys got some free cake from Fragments!

And o yeah... Tham, 41 and I attended the Kancil Awards Night on last Friday. We WON!! Merits and a bronze. My so-called one and only achievement to mark the end of my student life. I appreciated the night for the dinner we had on our own after leaving the awards. Just teasing and talking about random nothings. Thank you Tham and 41, you guys were fantastic team mates. I couldn't ask for anything better!

Woohoo~ I love my boots. Gotta get myself a new pair though. It's appearing too often in all my formal photos. Hahaha~

And on the last day of exhibition, when everything was cleared up and it was just us, there, with nothing much else to do.

Just a handful of the fantastic people I have met in my four years in LUCT. Funny, there weren't much photos taken during the whole exhibition. Maybe we were all just too busy running around trying to get our own things finished.

And so, that's it. Four years. Finished on a cloudy, gloomy evening. So many things happened and so many people were there. I wasn't able to absorb the moment. There is only this solitary picture to remind me of what I felt at that time.

All I could remember was a tinge of sadness. Is all.

What the TOOOT

Got all these lovelies from Yueh Yih's album.

It was just supposed to be a weekend where we gather among ourselves. But lo-and-behold, some unexpected people turned up and we ended up having a mini-gathering of Georgians in KL. As always it was great seeing old friends again. It's interesting, seeing them where they are now, different from where you might expect them to be from secondary school.

A biologist who is pursuing an MBA.

A peer already earning the big bucks when I'm still in school.

An economist whom I thought hated numbers.

A constant finally making a change to her life.

A lunatic who is beginning to make sense.

And me, nothing. Expected.

I love this angle! Makes my face look sharp and yeng!

Anyways, had some rotten luck which sorta spoiled my excellent mood. I lost my wallet don't know where, must have dropped it when I left my bag unzipped? Rm200 cash, RM50 cash card, IC, license, ATM card, Haagen Daaz Ambassador card, Student ID, dobi receipt, one Guan Yin scripture amulet thing and my paper map design wallet, a gift from Shiau Fong from London. And oh, I got a summon from parking by the side of the road at Bukit Jalil. And yeah, took a wrong turn on the way back from KLIA which resulted an hour's detour and an extra RM8.60 for toll. Had to borrow money from people but still insisted on eating expensive food which is soooo out of my league now.

Not the worst of luck. In fact, I'm quite lucky. Still good. But but but... aih, just let me whine a bit. I'll feel better.

On a totally random note, I wanna go somewhere I can breathe. Just me and the wide open sky. Fuhhh.....

Ah Pui and Ah San

Whoa! Post long time in coming!

Two of my bestest friend in the whole wide universe has graduated. Weeee~~~~ (erm... about a couple of months back kut)

I was the first one to go into Uni but the last one to grad (that is if I even manage to, hah!).

I missed your big moment, Rui, I was too busy conquering the highest peak in Malaysia. I hope I've sorta redeemed myself by being there for Hooi Fong on her big day. But truth be told, I happen to think convocation's like a big waste of energy, an elaborate show put up just for the sake of the family. Dear all, when I graduate, please, I'd like cash rather than bouquets of flowers that'll wither and die on me the next day.

Gah. Went a little off track there.

I've come to realise there are details about the two of you that I may not be able to answer. Details that one will only know if we see each other constant enough. Gone were the days when we were there all the time for one another, physically. I predict the coming years will be an even bigger challenge and will take a bigger toll on our friendship. Career probably does that better than university.

But I know no matter where we are, we have threads in common. There are not many people I can turn to in times of doubts and frustrations. You can bet your sorry ass I will not turn into one of those so-called adults that when asked where are your old friends and will answer, "Don't know. Lost contact long ago."

All the best my friends, in your future endeavors. I fervently wish we do not be complacent in our lives too early, well, at least not until we are fifty! Have faith and dive, one wise friend once told me. Let's all do that. I think we'll turn out rather brilliantly.

We cannot be otherwise.

Love for Books

I've finally went to the Bookfest held in KLCC. Twice. Once with my cousin, to first scout things out, then just now with friends, to finally buy some books. I admire my control this time around for I've only spent RM60 to buy three books. Last year, I spent about RM250 buying stacks of books plus CDs. Gah... luckily there weren't any old Eason Chan CDs.

These are the books I spent my good money on: Eat Pray Love, Empress Orchid and The Blood of Flowers.

Fictions are probably the only thing I read. When I buy during book fest, I try my best to get a variety of books eg. different genre and country. I like reading about different cultures, countries and equip myself with some historical knowledge. It is only with fiction that I will engross in reading. Give me a history book I'll probably doze off halfway.

My Books Read 2010 has reached #22. To reach my target of 50 seemed kinda far fetched now. Bah, never mind.

So many book sales going on! There's the BookXcess Raya sales and maybe a Borders sales. Mom's coming to visit this weekend. Maybe I can bring her to the bookfest? And buy more? *evil laughter*

Got yourself some books? Happy reading!

The Reasons I Got Broke

Weee~ content in this post should have span several posts for these things happened through several months (from March to May, to be exact). I guess the lazy bug caught, and I just never got around to posting them. O well, let me finish in one shot tonight then!

Back in March, I think, Rui came for a visit! This was her last visit to me as a student. The next time she comes, she'll be a legit working adult! (I bet if you're reading this, Rui, your face will be scrunched up in denial) Ever since I've finished my internship, I've always wanted my friends to pay me a visit. This time around, not only do I have a car to ferry them anywhere, I also know some really good places for good food and I actually know the way there!

There was this one time I went hiking to Broga hill with some of my classmates. Once I saw the view up there, I knew this place is a keeper! That's why when Rui said she was coming, I warn her in advance to bring sneakers along, coz we'll be going hiking!

This is us. Smelly and stinky up on Broga. We even recorded a stupid video for Hooi Fong. Hah... not to be posted in public.

On her last day here, we didn't actually have any plans. This was when David buzzed and asked if I'll be interested in seeing him compete in a culinary competition. Have you ever seen one such competition live? I didn't know what to expect, surely nothing as glorious as those shown on food channels. We went to the new Taylor Lakeside campus and saw for ourselves how aspiring chefs compete against one another. We were even allowed into the kitchen so long as we don't disturb the contestants.

While David was busy with cooking (that's him in black), we were busy taking pictures of ourselves. The whole thing was pretty cool, with him winning the title of 'Potato King' in the end (the sponsor's some potato product)! It's not easy for him to be there in Taylors to pursue his dream as a chef. Therefore, for him to achieve his first success in this field, I was feeling proud and happy for him too!

We have a bunch of Georgians in KL. Whenever we're back in Penang and meet for a gathering, we'll gush all over about how long we haven't seen one another and asked enthusiastically where each other is currently situated, and the mutual answer will be KL. It's so silly how everyone's here but nobody ever really made the effort for a meet-up. So there's this one time when Kar Yee, Shan Yin and I arranged something on Facebook. We invited a whole bunch of people, but in the end, only six of us turned up. For a first time, I would say it's a good number! It's small enough for us to gossip among ourselves, and big enough for us to see people we haven't seen ever since Form Five (hi Melissa!).

This meeting was awesome for it broke the ice for us, Georgians in KL. Now we don't hesitate in calling each other out to chill. Well, I do hope there'll be more such meetings in the future. (Sunway Lagoon!!)

Remember that Lamborghini design I posted back some months ago? The result was out sometime last month. I won honorary mention! Will be cashing in my RM500 soon, but it'll be o-so-cool if I were to win the grand prize. I SO totally know what I'm gonna do with 5k! But RM500 is still good, though I think I've spent it all on stupid things (yes, you read right, I've spent all the money I've yet to receive. I'll be a champion when I actually own a credit card).

Me and my classmates who made it to the top ten. Yay BPD7~!

Thank you Kar Yee for these passes to the Cleo's Bachelor Night. It was my first time to such an event and it was great spending the night with these girls going oooo-gaga over some of those reallllyyy hot guys on stage. Yoke Mun, #2 that looked like some Korean dude with the hot British accent. Shze Li and I totally agree #44's the best looking of them all. Awesome body, gorgeous looks. Too bad he didn't win.

We managed to get a picture with the winner. We were outside, and he was just sitting there waiting for an interview. He was already on the magazine cover prior to this night, so I guess he was the favourite to win? He looked so different from the cover! The magic of photo manipulation! He still looked good near, but not as smooth and air brushed as he seemed on the cover.

Tres came down for the weekend so that we can go together to KL Design Week. I went last year with 41 to one of the design conferences, it was awesome to see some of the biggest names in the industry speaking. The conferences this time around was not as tempting coz I didn't exactly recognize the names. Maybe I should just read up more.

Anyway, since she will only be here for the weekend, that means we'll only have the whole of Saturday to ourselves. With limited time, we managed to visit Capsquare and the National Art Gallery. Capsquare was where they display student artworks and where designers go about selling their works. It was a colourful and varied display of things. However, it was most probably due to it being the first day that we were there, many of the stalls were not really ready and no one bothered to explain to us what any of the things were about. I was expecting interaction with the designers or maybe just a more friendly reception. We went away pretty disappointed. But, like I said, maybe it's due to it being first day.

We then made our way to the National Art Gallery where the Japanese designs will be exhibited. The place was a total bore and a waste of time. The illustration exhibition was basically just works printed on A4 paper, mounted on the wall with the illustrator's name stick below the artwork. There was nothing else. I might as well just get myself an IDN. At least I get to read interviews with designers and know what the whole process behind the work was. Too bad for Tres, she came all the way from Penang just to be totally flabbergasted by the poor exhibition.

But what she lost in the exhibition, we made it up in conversations and just hanging around with David. After a whole day of running around KL to see the exhibitions, we ended the day by going for Iron Man 2 in Midvalley. It was always great entertainment seeing that two poking fun at one another. We were there pretty late for midnight show, most of the shows were sold out. We waited an hour just for the uncollected reserved seats to be opened for selling. There we were, at the counter, with the time exactly on the dot and those seats were opened. Excitedly, we pointed our fingers to three really good seats, still unsold. The dude hesitated, saying he couldn't sell them until his manager nod his head. We were flustered, demanded an explanation since the reserved seats are already open. He seemed to be put in a tight spot until the manager said to all of them at the counter that they can sell the seats already. The moment our tickets were printed, we were laughing at the craziness of the situation. It was fun and silly at the same time to be so excited over buying great seats for a sold out blockbuster, midnight show summore!

It was always fun and spontaneity with these two. We reached my place at about 3a.m. We then woke up at six, picked up David from his place at about 7a.m. just to eat dimsum. It was fun for Tres and I coz after eating we get to go back and sleep. The poor guy had to go back to work all day on his feet. This was one of the best time spent with her. In a way, I guess I got to know this lil cousin sis of mine more.

Since the bunch of them were away in London, 41 and I were spending the days away as if we were still having breaks. One day, we decided to treat ourselves to good Japanese food and good movies back-to-back. We decided on Echoes of the Rainbow and Ip Man 2. I wanted to watch the former coz there's Sandra Ng and it has won many awards. However, being skeptical about award-winning shows, they all tend to be artsy and slow in pace, we decided to watch it before Ip Man 2. We were pretty sure Ip Man is gonna be the better movie thus if we were to watch Echoes of the Rainbow later, we'll be bored.

Oh my God. How wrong we were. We stayed until we were the last two in the cinema after Echoes of the Rainbow ended. The sleeves of my cardigan were wet with tears. Our eyes were too red and puffy from crying watching the show! I haven't cried so much watching a movie since Taegukgi in Form 5. The movie's really simple and nostalgic. It's not tragic or anything, just really touching and sad. Do yourself a favour and go watch this if it's still showing. It's really really good.

Ip Man 2 on the other hand was kinda disappointing. Maybe I was expecting too much? True, his kung fu moves still awe me. Even better than part one, I think. But this time around, the plot's a little too cliche. Even the villain's generic and without depth, unlike the Japanese general from part one.

Lastly, Eve's exam ended, she's now practically a graduate, so we went for a celebratory shopping spree and posh dinner. We went to Sungai Wang and Time Square to shop like lunatics. Thanks to her, I'm kinda broke for the remaining of the month. Thanks to her, I've bought some things I'm sure I'll never wear but would love just an occasion to show them off.

The dinner was also to celebrate her birthday. This girl has something against people celebrating her birthday out of obligation, so she didn't tell those people she worked with. I understand that, coz I sorta have the same perception too.

So there we were, tired and totally satisfied with our purchases, quickly made our way to Alexis in Ampang. We even dressed up prettily for the occasion too. I specifically chose there coz I wanted her to try the tiramisu, which was awesome. Plus, they have a live band performance which I thought we could enjoy while talking. In the end, the cakes were really good, but the live band was kinda too loud to warrant any proper conversations. So we made our way out barely fifteen minutes into the performance.

We ended up driving around anywhere and everywhere just talking random things in the car. This was really basically what made a good night out. Not great food, not posh restaurants, not live bands. It was a great company, quiet night outside and good music playing on the radio.

I do look forward to when Eve moves to KL sometime in June. I can already imagine the expensive things we're gonna get ourselves into. *evil laughter echoed off into the distance*

And I'm ending this incredibly long post with a picture of me and my brother. Just because we rarely have a picture together and this is one that turned out kinda nice.

One Down, More to Go

From Standard 1Zamrud, to becoming Georgians, to you going off to KL first then Australia, coming back, then leaving again for eternally (at least it seemed like a long-term thing for me) and now, finally, graduation.

We have gone through so much mushy stuff, Adrienne, you should know better than I do. We even recalled it so many times, every time you're back, we talk about the past. Having a shared past makes us closer, or it might be something we hung on to, so that the bond between us won't just fizzle and die due to distance and separation. I have lost count of the number of times when someone said, 'Let's keep in touch.' You taught me keeping in touch relied nothing on just saying, but actually taking actions. We blogged together, we chatted on MSN together, I shared things with you when it seemed as if no one else could understand.

We even had dreams together. (And I often bragged about having a friend who's a Petroleum Engineer. Sounds so cool~) Our dreams are different now, just as how our paths separated since I-don't-remember-when. As much as people love reminding us that dreams are unrealistic and how naive our thoughts are, I believe they are only saying that because they are people who failed to pursue their dreams to the end. I still believe in dreams and passion and ambition. My wish is that you do too.

You've graduated. It seemed so huge and scary to me. And yet, it's about time. I've personally gotten sick of studying.

The roads ahead are going to be tough. When and if you're swayed by uncertainties, challenges, hardships and tears, know that I'm gonna be here for you. An old friend from home.

Chin up and smile your silly grin, it's time to conquer the world. =)

And you look fetching in purple! Picture credits from your friend's album. I stole your pics from there. Heh.

Dream Stairs

When I am rich beyond reasons, in my dream house will be this dream staircase.

You can check out other awesome stairs designs from theChive.com. I merely, simply, fell in love with this one.