Off To Penang

Details here...

Barkley's On Holiday

Barkley will be on holiday for a week, returning on the 2nd of June. He will be enjoying a week with the wind in his face, protected only by a pair of goggles. If in case of emergency, he'll be staying at the Paws & Furs hotel @ Jalan Kilang.

*Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!*

Thinking About Renovations For The Blog

Sort of started blogging like crazy again recently and wondered if it was time for a change. Please don't go on about Obama and his campaign. He's a cool dude, but I'm not interested in politics. Anyway... Change of style, change of topics, change of blogskins. 

I've already made changes to the blog by shifting all my travel stories to another blog. One reason was to give better access to the stories than try to sift through a ton of greetings and rants here just to read them. Secondly, it took a toll off the blog as the travel stories had a lot of pictures to load, therefore it would do better with a much simpler blogskin.

Now I'm thinking if I should scrap all this birthday greetings. I mean seriously... who reads my blog other than the handful of people I know? With everyone just a text message away, I think it's much easier to send out birthday wishes through the phone. It is cheaper on this though. Anyway... unless I know u read my blog, or I know your birthday by heart, you're probably not gonna see a birthday greeting for you here next year. Well lets be fair.... it's already halfway through the year, why stop the greetings mid-year and leave the rest of the babies without a birthday wish?

Ok, so a change of topics isn't really realistic. What else can I blog about that hasn't been mentioned? Politics is a big NO for me. Other than the fact that you might get in trouble, I'm really not interested in the whole issue. I don't even have to vote because I live in an uncontested area. Then I don't think I would go around blogging about sex. Seriously what is there to blog about? Take naked pictures and post it up here? Once again... probably end up in trouble. Now what is it that I don't blog about that I should? Suggestions are very welcome. 

Now I'm also thinking if I should change the blogskin. Yeah I did work on this one on my own and all... but I'm thinking maybe I should have a cleaner look to it. Maybe grow up?

Oh goodness... all these thoughts swimming in my head. 

Another Year Has Passed

Apple Pie Diana

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

5 years old. I think I need to make some changes!

Baby's Got A Temper...

Got a glimpse of how Barkley reacts to being rejected just now.

When I woke up, I decided I wanted to got get some seafood for dinner and told him that we're gonna go out. So we showered him, let him dry out, brushed out his fur, and put on a new t-shirt. What was left was to put on his harness and let him out the door. At this point, he's all dressed and following mom every step of the way, thinking that she'll put the harness on.

I'm not ready and so mom leaves, without him, to the car to get it warmed up. Next thing I know, I see Barkley trying to bite off his t-shirt in anger. I ask him what he was trying to do and he start whining like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum, blaming someone for his anger. He stopped whining when I said just wait a while more, I'll be ready and we can go. He then continues to whine like he was grumbling that I was taking too long. All this time facing his favourite chair, basically showing his butt to me.

If I knew it was going to happen I would've taken a video. All this while I thought he was just an emotional blackmailer. Now I know he's got an attitude too! Hahahaha....

I Won't Lie That I Don't Tell Lies

I lie a lot. Mostly at work. Sometimes to keep certain secrets safe. Sometimes because I just can't be bothered with you and the rest of the world. Now if someone says "I've never told a lie", then I think that the person has never communicated.

Anyway... back to telling lies. Part of my job scope is basically to lie through my teeth and make people believe that certain things are worth purchasing. As I tell a lot of people, "I lie for a living." - which isn't far from the truth. It's not the entire job, but when somethings have to be sold, the lies come straight out like they're the truth.

Lying, I think, does have a special art to it. When you can actually believe your lie, somehow it slips past the other person much more easily. I wonder if that's the secret behind actors/actresses receiving those nominations? Could it be that they believed that they were actually the person they were supposed to portray? But then again, Hollywood can be rather soft-hearted and give awards away out of sympathy.

Associating acting with lying does bring up a thought. Other than actors/actresses and people who are undercover spies (basically a person who has to pretend to be some other person to get the job done), how sick are the people who actually live two different lives. I'm not talking about someone who has multiple personality disorder*. I'm thinking about someone who lives a lie so much that they believe their own lies to actually live it through, and start doing things they can't afford to do just to show/prove that their lie is true. Confused? Nevermind.

Well what got me on this topic was not a thought about some sicko, but more about lying and thinking that your friend will be stupid enough to fall for it. For some odd reason, some people think I'm gullible enough to believe everything they say. Too bad for them I've learnt to do a lot of info digging, and with the accessibility of the Internet, it's a bit hard to try and fool people, especially for personal gain.

I realised, while I was shopping with some friends, that one of them was a bit full of shit. This person acted like they knew everything and seems like the info given was mainly wrong. I'm not sure if the reason for the info was because this person didn't know better or was just trying to get us to get something that they preferred (personal gain). Somehow I got a warning about this person a long time ago, and I've been keeping my eyes and ears open ever since. I think I've come to a point where this person's opinions don't matter anymore, and careful consideration has to be put in when it comes to releasing any information.

A few months down the road, when this person got something that needed to be put together, I realised maybe this person really didn't know better. But something in the back of my mind kept bugging me about it and made me wonder if it was again for some sort of personal gain. The whole incident wouldn't have allowed for any personal gain however, and this got me feeling insulted. So maybe girls don't usually put things together, but that doesn't mean they can't. What irritated me most was that this person lied and thought that I would believe it like some bimbo.

I think people have to realise that I don't go around telling the whole world what I know. I mean realistically, everyone knows their fair share of information, and have a certain set of skills. Not everyone goes around bragging what they know, and I think people have to realise that they should start assuming that people know what to do. Or rather ask if the person knows how to get something done, rather than assume that they don't and insult the person by treating them like an idiot.

There are other issues with this person, sort of linking lies with personal gain. The thing that really caught my attention was comments on food. So food is subjective, but I'd say that someone would realise that something is a bit too salty/sweet/tart/bitter or just plain strange if they're not out to butter up the cook. The apparently 'great cook' had put too much wine in a pie filling that just didn't go well with it's crust. So how is this for personal gain? Well, flatter the chef and they would probably cook for you, no charge to you, again in the near future. Now if this person has known you for a while and every time they cook for you, you polish up the plate and sing praises, I'm sure you've got free food coming your way for a long time to come. Somehow I believe in giving more honest replies than exclaiming that "THIS IS THE BOMB!" for something that tastes like a molotov cocktail going into your stomach.

A big contrast is like what one friend said about the pie that was served during Christmas, "I wished I wasn't so thin-skinned cos I wanted to take more of the second pie but was afraid there wasn't enough. The second pie was much better than the first." Does that honesty keep her from being invited to the next Christmas party? NO... in fact, if we're going to test out pie recipes, she'll get the call to be in the survey group.

I guess the biggest issue I have with this person is the 'high and mighty' attitude that seems to exude with everything this person says. I'm not sure if it's because this person thinks I'm some naive little girl, that they know a lot, or that fact that they realise that I'm actually smarter than them and is trying to put me down. Whatever the reason is, I'm not liking it.

*Multiple personality is easiest to explain from the clinical viewpoint. Every person has various sides to her nature. She can become aware of her sides if she pays close attention to her moods. Sometimes she is happy, at other times she is sad. Sometimes she is reasonable, at other times she is demanding. Sometimes she is confident, at other times she does not know what to do. Depending on the particular environmental stimuli, one of her moods happens to be dominant in a given situation. All the moods are in mutual contact, influence each other, and perceive themselves as one mind. This is totally normal, but when something causes these neuropsychological entities to become mutually isolated, multiple personality is produced.

Multiple personality disorder (MPD), also known as dissociative identity disorder (DID), is a relatively permanent state of mind; the mind is split into partially or completely isolated neuropsychological modules. Each module has its own memories, emotions, and preferences, and behaves as a unique person. Some modules (called personalities or alters) are aware of the existence of other modules, whereas some personalities believe that they are the only mind in the body.

Mudders!

Happy Mothers' Day!!

Another Year Has Passed

Mei Mei Fat Fat

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

Another Year Has Passed

Desak

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

Another Year Has Passed

Shane & Chloe

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

I'm Just Not That Into You

There are times in life when I get so fed up with some people that I really just can't be bothered with them. It gets to the point where I've to question why I even thought to be nice to these people, to become their friend, and especially, why I even kept in contact with them.

What does it take for you to be a friend? Do I have to keep doing you favours (without expecting any in return)? Do I have to keep going 90% so you can stick to doing your 10%? How long does it take to learn a name (unless you decide to change it with the seasons of fashion)?

How is it, that after more than 5 years of knowing someone, the person still can't get your name spelled right? While you can easily use the new name they decided to call themselves in the last 2 years?

How is it that after telling someone you live in a certain place, over and over again, that this person still thinks that u live somewhere else?

As a great friend once said, "A person who treats u as a friend would at least show a bit of concern for your life and remember certain milestones." Backing this up with the question, "If I invited you to my graduation and we met up 2 years later, I'm sure you won't be asking me how is school would you?" So you might think that maybe this person is at the top of my 'friends list', and so I would definitely remember such things. But the point is, 2 years is not a long time to forget that someone has finished school, but some of us might. However, I don't think that you would forget your friend's name in 2 years - if you do, you weren't friends to start with. And if someone has been working at the same place since you met them, will you forget where they worked if you tell them again and again?

The whole thing that's pissing me off is the fact that things haven't really changed with me.

1. I've been working with the same company for almost 2 years, changed jobs for a while, bummed, and then went back to the same company till now, at the very same location.
2. My name, and address, hasn't changed since birth.
3. My phone number hasn't changed since 2002.

So why is it so bloody hard to remember these things when I tell you these facts without being vague? Unlike you who insist on telling me your work location but not your actual workplace.

All these things just make me wonder if I should even waste my time taking your calls or reading your text messages. Sometimes I feel guilty about ignoring messages left on MSN, but now I think I'll just ignore you and just not read the crap you even type. Never have I ever detested someone over such a trivial matter, but I think getting someone's name right is just something you should do out of respect.

Do remember that a BLOCK button is always nearby!

Another Year Has Passed

Charlotte

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

Finally People Who Actually Get It!

As I previously wrote in the post "You Don't Know Me", I didn't see what the big deal was regarding the video taken from an episode of Britain's Got Talent. Even posting on my facebook status got a reply that didn't seem to know how Paul Potts got his origins from (see quote in red). The same bloody thing happened then, and it's happening now. Even their biggest competitors seem to be the same - a cute little kid that can sing rather well. Finally, I read that I'm not the only one who thinks it's all over-hyped.

"Another TV performance that made the news this week was that of Britain's Got Talent spinster-turned-superstar Susan Boyle, of whom we here at That's Really Week are already sick after the current media overload. (Susan is this week's Octo-Mom.) The dowdy Scottish singer became an unlikely Interweb sensation thanks to a viral video of her allegedly Simon Cowell-shocking reality-television performance. Apparently the idea of a somewhat unattractive person having vocal talent blew many people's minds! But part of the 47-year-old's TV underdog appeal was also her sympathetic back story that she'd "never been kissed.""

Thank you people @ That's Really Week.

Contemplating A Photoshoot

I've been recently thinking about a project that I wanted to do about a year ago but didn't know what I actually wanted to do. The basic idea was that I would take old photos of me and my friends and put it all in one giant frame to focus on the people I truly love for strange reasons.

Now thinking deeper about it, I got this strange idea to take pictures of them in black and white. Something about B&W photos somehow make them all look good in a frame, no matter how strange the frame is.

Then since the engine started running, I thought about it some more and decided that I wanted to get them in poses that brings out my idea of what they mean to me. All because of this thought, it has got me analysing all my friends once again. Now I wonder if they realise what they actually mean to me or will they only know until I give them the idea the day I want to take their picture.

Another Year Has Passed

Denise

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

To Fadillah & Rudy

Congratulations!

Another Year Has Passed

Joanne

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

How can people expect anyone to show them respect when they don't even give others a little bit of respect?

So maybe when you're higher up on the ladder, people tend to give you that bit of respect that comes with the position. However, earning or losing respect for yourself depends highly on your decisions and the actions you take.

One way to lose it is to simply not respect the people you work with. Backstabbing, holding back important information, or just stupid office politics should do the job. And best of all... try messing with other people's rice bowl.

Remember,

KARMA is a BITCH

Another Year Has Passed

Kuna

Another year older & (hopefully) another year wiser.

You Don't Know Me

It came clear after someone I know told me to watch this video, and that after watching the video, it would change the way I think.

Once u click on the link to the video, you will notice the write-up on the contents of the video. At this point, I ask that someone how it would change my way of thinking and the answer was: "It'll teach you not to judge people by the way they look".

Now if you look back at the video, you realise that the lady under scrutiny looks a little on the nutty side, but who ever said nutty people had no talent? And to think that it was on Britain's Got Talent, the same place that opened the door to stardom for Paul Potts, shouldn't the people already learn not to judge people by their looks? The very reason such shows were made were for people like them, for people that talent scouts would not take a second look at because they can't see past the facade that will be a marketing nightmare.

So I'm not irritated or pissed off that this person thinks I judge books by their covers - which is something I actually do... literally... with books. But I realised how much this person knows me, and yet the person calls me a friend. So I'm not an angel and will not say that I will NEVER judge people by their looks... but I do have a good sense of the type of person is from the first look. I would give people a 2nd chance (maybe another day, maybe the day itself), but if that holds true to the first impression then I guess the person has a lot of work to do to change my mind. Just like how I kinda have to put my foot down on not clubbing with certain people because they've not only pissed me off twice with their stupid idea of fun, they've actually pissed other friends off as well.

But back to this person not knowing me. This isn't the first time that this sorta thing has happened. No.... the last time was insulting me by thinking that my wardrobe needed to be updated or restyled. So I was wearing some of my worse-looking clothes that day...but seriously, a tank top and track pants aren't any better. What makes you think that just because I've come out to meet up with someone I haven't seen in a while, that I'd dress up in my Sunday best? How does catching up with someone in a shopping centre require me to wear something I'd wear to the office? And let me just say again... a tank top and track pants and you're interested to change my wardrobe?

Another thing is I also didn't know catching up required me to literally play catch up with you around the shopping centre... just because you've decided to walk briskly around the place, almost like a headless chicken, visiting the same place over and over again. Now I'm not sure if it was because you were trying to get the attention of some guy you saw earlier, or was it the fact that you needed to take a shit but can't do it out of your own home and was trying to hold your shit in.

I guess next time, keep your shit in, including the one in your head that is about to spew out of your mouth.