Chronicles of Riddick

Saw "Chronicles of Riddick" on Sunday with my best buddy. The movie was a disappointment to me, actually. I mean, it was darn full of action packed stunts, cool looking spaceships, weird animals, and other stuff worthy of making it one of my favourite movies of all time. But... It's not! The story line was lame. Seriously. It reminded me of "Scorpion King". If "Chronicles of Riddick" was shown first, then maybe it could have made it into my 'favourite movies of all time' list. But it didn't. Sorry Vin Diesel. Among the movies in my list are "Braveheart", a Mel Gibson movie; "The Professional", a Luc Besson movie; "Pulp Fiction", "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Reservoir Dogs", all three directed by Quentin Tarantino.

While in KLCC, read Whoopi Goldberg's book entitled "Book". I'm serious, it's called "Book". Anyway, it's quite funny, actually. And I spent a few minutes reading through some chapters. In "Book", you'll find out why she's called 'Whoopi'. I'm not sure whether it's true, but it's funny, nonetheless. And although I've only read a couple of chapters of "Book", I think I like Tim Allen's "Don't Stand Too Close To A Naked Man" better. Another book I like is Michael Caine's autobiography called "What's It All About?" (the title referring to his first monster smash, Alfie). He wrote the book himself, and he's darn witty.

Bumped into some old friends in KLCC. Well, can't really say friends, since I don't know them that well. They were in the same college as I was back in uni. They were my seniors. Do you realise that whenever you bump into people who used to go to the same school or the same university (although you barely knew them), they will act as if you've known them well during the period of time when they were in your live? I do. And I think it's to do with a familiar face. I mean, a person looks at you and say, "Wait a minute, I know you from [insert university name here], don't I?". Then the person will update you on people you barely knew as well. I find this flattering, actually. Since they obviously still remember me, although I've grown a beard and gained a good couple of pounds. Hehehehe...

Last Man Standing

Came to work last night. Arrived at the office around 9.40pm. Then waited for the vendors to arrive. We started work at 10.40pm. Had to wait for the main person for last night's exercise. (Note: Exercise here means the activity that needed to be done last night; and not those exercise where you have to get into darn tight leotards, although if I wanted to, I could have gone to the office wearing leotards.. but then again, the guards might actually arrest me... heheheh....) Anyway, the exercise last night was to complete the shadow image we created that evening. It took a couple of minutes, all in all, it took us roughly 40-50 minutes, this plus the discussion, the scribbling down notes, and the 'what was that again' from us who wasn't as good as the main guy.

After that, I went straight to 7-11 to get some snacks for my parents and for the birthday celebration today. I'll talk about that a bit later on. Anyway, bought two bars of Cadbury chocolates. Bought the type without nuts or raisins or whatever else they put in chocolates nowadays. I love the plain type. Fantastic. Seriously. Breaking a piece, putting it in your mouth, savouring the taste, letting the chocolate melt on your tongue, then playing around with it in your mouth, getting the taste of it all over the insides of your mouth. Then licking it clean. Fantastic....

As I was saying earlier, today in the office, we had this big birthday celebration. This party was for everyone whose birthdays are from January till June. And I was one of them. We got mugs that says "Selamat Hari Lahir", and "PTM" on one side, and my name on the other side. It's nice. I really like the mug. Thanks guys. Although I know none of my office mates reads my blog, except for one person. Thanks, this one person. Heheheh...

Am currently reading "Last Man Standing" by David Baldacci. Darn good book. Darn right it is. My uncle passed me the book through my cousin, who was suppose to read it, then pass it to me. But then she said she couldn't go on reading the book because she found it boring. Well, not to me! I can't put the book down. It's so action packed and interesting. Haven't finish reading it, though. Am taking my time with it, so I can enjoy it more. And am also currently reading Michael Moore's "Stupid White Men". It's funny, but I sort of stopped reading it the moment I got Mr Baldacci's book.

Weird huh...

Yesterday, my ex-colleagues came to my office for a demo. They showed my colleagues and me the wonderful world of IBM. Or more specifically, IBM's WebSphere Studio Application Developer (WSAD). It was good to see them again. My ex-colleagues, I mean. I invited them over to do the demo so that we can decide on what development tools to use. So far, our boss has decided to use Java. So now it's up to us to know as many developments tools there are in the market as possible, then to choose the best. In other words, the easiest to use. After the demo, (which took about 2 hours to finish, this plus the question and answer session and the eating and drinking session... hehehe), I went out for lunch with my ex-colleagues. Just the six of us. Just like the old times. Sometimes, I still miss them, the old office, the environment, the friendships.

Alas, now I am in a whole new environment, getting to know new people, getting to know the workings of a hospital, and getting to be called 'doctor' once in a while! Heheheh... I think I should start wearing a stethoscope and a white doctor's coat and walk around wards and clinics just for kicks. Then, when somebody ask me a medical question, I'll quickly put my hand to my chin and say "hmmm... interesting question... I think you should refer your [insert ailment here] to [insert a doctor's name here], because I feel he/she is more experienced with that kind of thing". So, what do you think? Can I pull it off? Hehehehe...

Yesterday had a chat with a friend of mine, and I commented on her blog. Well, actually, it was more a comment on the things she didn't say. And I said, if it was true, then I'm happy for her. At first she denied everything, saying it's not true. Then after a while she became defensive. And started being angry, although she did it in a joking way. After that, I logged off because I had to go home then. Then in the evening, before Maghrib, I think, she called me up and asked whether I was hurt by what she said. Of course not, said I. And we started talking on the phone. She was, at that time, driving home from work. Hands-free, of course.

Anyway, the reason I brought that up is, I don't know what's going on. With her, I mean. She's a really good friend, but I don't know why I made her angry. No, let me rephrase that. I don't know why she was angry with me. And this morning she was angry with me still. She said it was because England lost. If you are reading this, dear angry friend, I apologise. Hope we can still remain friends.

On a more cheerful note, a friend of mine just called me up. A few minutes ago. She just arrived in Malaysia from Australia. And she sounded so happy. She said she's been calling everyone and telling them that she's back in Malaysia, and she was suprised that everyone was excited that she was back. She said it made her feel like the Prime Minister. Hehehe... I was excited as well. I was darn happy to hear from her. We used to be colleagues. And her other half is my junior from school.

On a more wonderfully cheerful note, my beloved just called. She's still in bed though. It's so good to hear her voice. Although we call each other up every single day. Hehehe. Am missing her so much. She's at home at the moment, her classes starts on Sunday, since she's studying in Terengganu at the moment. How I wish she is here with me now. Don't want anyone else. She is all I'll ever need. I pray our 'jodoh' is strong since ours is a long distance relationship. InsyaAllah. Miss you, my love.

Blackouts!

Early in the morning, planned to have breakfast with two of my colleagues. A normal routine for us. I would usually wait for one of them to arrive to work, then the both of us will be waiting for the third one to arrive. So, this morning, we were all in the office, getting ready to go, one of us has to put on some makeup first. Anyway, as I was in the gents, my boss came in and asked me whether I've had breakfast, and he asked me to join him for breakfast. I was obviously felt guilty. So I went to see my colleagues to ask them to join us, but they declined. So it was just my boss and I.

During breakfast, we talked about work, naturally. So I'm assuming he did ask me to join him for this purpose. He asked for any updates on what I'm doing. And he informed me of certain things that I wasn't aware of. And in the end, he paid for the meal. Heheheh. Then while we were having breakfast and discussing about work and stuff, I got a call from the office. And it was my immediate boss. Apparently, there was a problem in the office and she needed me to come in as soon as possible. So, I rushed through my 'roti canai' and iced tea, and we sped to the office.

The problem was a serious one. And she needed me to liase with our vendor from Australia. As of now, around 5 hours from her phone call, the problem has been settled. I hope! Thank goodness for vendors. Heheheh. I used to be a vendor in my previous job. And I can tell you, it's sometimes painful if you have a difficult client. So now I try to be pleasant to the vendors. I try. Really I do.

Just today, we had two blackouts! One in the morning and the other one around half an hour ago. It's so annoying, especially when you are busy updating your blog, and chatting at the same time! I mean, when you are busy doing work! Heheheh...

Lunch today was provided by my department, since we had a meeting around lunch time. We ought to have more meetings around lunchtime. Then we wouldn't need to go out and look for food. And the food was suprisingly good. Because I actually thought about having seconds. It was a good meal, and now I'm sleepy.

Haruki Murakami's Dance Dance Dance

I want to explain why my blog is called Dance Dance Dance. Well, the name is actually a book by a Japanese author. His name, Haruki Murakami. I first learned about him from my brother. The first time I read his book, I was enthralled by it. I don't think I can explain the atmosphere of the book. It's just so surreal. I'm not sure I can explain it so that you can understand the intensity of what I've just said. You have to read it to understand what I mean. I like the book so much, I just bought a copy of it for myself. Before this, I would read my brother's copy over and over again. I intend to collect Haruki Murakami's entire collection. A book at a time.

"Dance dance dance continues the extraordinary adventure of an ordinary man. At thirty something, Murakami's nameless hero lives in a hi-tech, high-rise world where old virtues die fast and success is all that matters. He has shared in the glittering city's spoils, and while he has not sold his soul, he knows that something is lacking in his life.

Now, in dreams, a mysterious woman weeps softly - for him. Yet, even as he tries to understand why, the voice that beckons is not hers. And still he dreams. Bizarre dreams that propel him down byways of his life in search of ... ?

His is a strange odyssey: en route, a thirteen-year-old girl, distressingly beautiful and clairvoyant, is his constant companion; a classmate, now oozing charm on TV soaps, grapples with murder; a lady of the night becomes his guardian angel; and an eccentric Sheep Man materializes to counsel and cajole. What's a fellow to do? Dance. You gotta dance as long as the music plays. And dance is what our hero does ... in the most unexpected ways!"

Thinking About Things

Just had a discussion with a user. A little background information before I start today's ramblings. Heheh. We are currently developing the Hospital Information System for our dear beloved hospital. So, we need some information from users, naturally. Just now, we had a long discussion on the user requirements. The thing is, the discussion could be very brief. If it were up to me, it would have taken, the most around 45 minutes. And this with question and answer session. But our discussion lasted almost two hours. And I'm exhausted. Seriously!

This morning, I read in a friend's blog about user support and how the user was extremely inept at searching for things on his computer. In my case, however, he is the master of his subject, so we were in the user's shoes, so to speak. So it took him almost two hours to finish lecturing us. If it weren't for the fact that it was almost time to go home, I wouldn't be suprise if he still wanted to continue the discussion.

Enough of that. Had a rather tiring day today. I'm not sure why, actually. What did I do today? Hmmm... Well, in the morning, I had a discussion with a vendor from Australia via MSN Messenger, then another discussion with a vendor from Malaysia via phone, then yet another discussion, with a colleague, this time face to face. Have to settle a few matters before the week ends. Then, after lunch went to see the user.

On a more brighter note, a colleague of mine received flowers today. She was so excited when I told her about it, since it was I who received it from the messenger. I started to pass it to my colleague's staff, but then thought better of it, and deposited it straight into her room.

Before lunch, I went to see someone at the ICU. He just had his operation yesterday, I think. Anyway, I saw him and we talked for quite some time. He seemed bored with having to be in the ICU. I hope I cheered him up some. He had six holes in one of his lungs. So that lung completely collapse, causing him serious pain and difficulty in breathing. So the operation yesterday, the doctor stapled the holes. Then, as we were talking, a senior staff came to see him, then acknowledged me. The thing is, he looked at me, smiled and said "Doctor" while extending his hand timidly. I smiled and took his extended hand. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'm not a doctor. Hehehehe....

Things To Do

Today is a Monday. Nuff said!!

Am not feeling too good about today. Am missing my beloved. Today is her first day of classes, for three weeks, then off to do her practical training. *Sigh* So far away we are from each other.

Work is work. My big boss sent me an SMS yesterday to call for a meeting this morning at 8.30am. This morning, as I was entering his room for the discussion, he stood up and said he was hungry and asked me whether I was hungry as well. Before I could answer, he said "Let's go to level 7 for breakfast". So we did, with another colleague of mine. So we had the discussion there.

Didn't do much over the weekend. Just sat at home, either reading, walking around, looking for food, or watcing dvds'. Just lazed around. So not in the mood. I wonder when I'll snap out of it. Maybe it's taking longer because the time we spent together this time was longer and more fulfilling.

Saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Quite a good movie, actually. And like someone said to me earlier, it's not like the first two. The first two is, for lack of a better word, childish. This movie is quite dark and forbidding. And it's so illogical, but then again, that's the appeal, huh. I don't know, I think I like the first two better.

Saw "The Patriot". The one with Mel Gibson. Saw it alone on Saturday. Then when my parents came back from somewhere, saw it with them. In the end, my parents saw it again. I like the movie tremendously. Almost as much as "Braveheart". It's almost the same, isn't it. I mean, the hero loses someone he loves. Then he avenges their death. But darn good movie, nevertheless.

Saw "Desperate Measures". Andy Garcia and Micheal Keaton. Yes, I was bored that weekend. That's why I saw so many movies. Saw it with my mother, then my father and niece joined us. In the end, I was bored with the movie. So I started reading a book. Heheheh...

Can't seem to concentrate too well these days. Actually, I can. But when I'm not doing anything, then I'll feel it. The emptiness, the boredom, the loneliness. It's not as bad as it sounds, trust me. Just need to get over this thick sense of loneliness enveloping me.

I can't believe I actually wrote all of that. I am seldom open with people. I do sometimes, but not often. I'd rather listen than talk.

The First Step Is Always The Hardest

I hereby officiate this blog to be mine. To be the property of eL. To be written in and to be edited however I seem fit. Hehehe. Nothing much to write about at the moment. Just that I am still in the office at the moment, and am about to leave.

Am feeling quite tired. I may be catching something. A fever, maybe. I've been surrounded by sick people all week, so maybe finally I'm being infected by them. Hmmm... Reminds me of the movie "28 Days Later". But those people were infected with rage... and it's a darn good movie. Go watch it!