Sony Ericcson S500i

Two weeks ago, these two Australians came to the office to deploy a new set of executables. It was for an application being used here. The whole exercise started two weeks before they came. We had to upgrade the database for the new set of executables to function properly. That meant two whole nights in the office, troubleshooting and solving any problems from here while they upgrade the database from Australia. We had to constantly monitor the database and the operating system for any errors, and solve it on the spot so that the upgrading can take place without problems.

But as always, there were some problems. But we managed to settle them without much fuss. The first night we did the exercise, my in-laws were at my house. They came to KL to catch a flight to Langkawi and after they came back to KL, we took them shopping at all their favourite locations. So, my beloved was quite worried as came back late that morning. I started work at around 10pm the previous night, and got back home around 9-ish in the morning. I managed to sleep about 1/2 an hour to one hour at home. Woke up, drank my power drink and was up and about the whole day, shopping with my in-laws. After they left, the house felt empty, with just the three of us.

Last week, my beloved had a 3-day-course in one of the hotels in KL. My daughter and I tagged along and stayed with her at the hotel. In the mornings, I would take our daughter to her nursery and went to work. And after work, I would pick my daughter up and we would go straight to the hotel. On the last day, I made plans with my two best buddies for a guys' day out. We went for lunch at Omar Khayyam, a really old school beriyani place. The food there was excellent, as ever. After that, went to a shopping mall to look for my beloved's belated birthday gift.

My beloved wanted this Sony Ericsson phone. She saw it on the net and wanted it ever since. But unfortunately, the phone didn't arrive in Malaysia on her birthday, so she said she would wait for the phone. So, my buddies and I went in search of the phone, and found it. It was really nice. And I knew my beloved would love it.

After getting the phone, we went in search of a box to put the phone in. Yes, the phone was already in it's own box. But I wanted to suprise her. So, we went to KLCC in search of the perfect box. Found it in a place called D'Nata (if I'm not mistaken) and got her this small black box with black and gold ribbons. The phone fitted snugly in the box. I was so overjoyed with the box that I hugged the girl who did the ribbons. Well, almost. Hehehe.

After that, went back home and gave my beloved the box. She was drying out clothes in the back and I just sort of passed her the box and said, "Here, this is for you." She took the box from my hand with a puzzled look on her face and opened the box. Her face lit up instantly, and she looked shocked. But a good kinda shock. After a few seconds, she finally managed to say that she was speechless. I was really glad she liked the box and the phone.

I would like to thank my two best buddies for their help, their thoughts and advice on the matter of the phone and the box. Thanks so much, you guys.

Times Square

Last week, had a conference at Berjaya Times Square Hotel. I was head of the IT unit there. It was a very small unit. We had to make sure the laptops were working, the projector was running, and a technician standing by with a backup laptop just in case the one the speakers were using became problematic. There were five of us there. We were working very closely with the committee organizing the whole thing.

I slept at the hotel the first night with a colleague. We had a room on the 26th floor and the view was amazing. We could see the top of most buildings. And we saw KLCC and the KL Tower from there. But the layout of the hotel room was a bit weird. I don't think I can explain it well here, so you just have to take my word for it.

The food there was fantastic. And the hotel's connected to one of the biggest shopping malls in Malaysia. They even have a roller coaster in the mall.

Food Galore

My beloved and I went to a vendor's Jamuan Raya on Friday after work. It was in Subang Jaya. We got completely lost due to the map they gave us. We finally got to the place around an hour and a half later. Luckily for us, the food was great. By the time we got there, we were extremely hungry. So, we attacked the lamb first. Then we attacked everything else.

On Saturday, went to my mother's close friend's Jamuan Raya. We were quite late in arriving there, but there was still plenty of food. We ate our fill and left to see the house. My parents seemed to like it. After that we rushed for home because my sister-in-law apparently just arrived at our house. Luckily my mum-in-law was at home. So, they waited for us to arrive to bring a bucket full of KFC's hot & spicy and original recipe.

On Sunday, went to survey a hotel in KL. After that, went to my colleague's Jamuan Raya. Ate our fill and went to another of my colleague's Jamuan Raya. Came back home full and contented.

Seminar

Just got back from a seminar in KL. It was packed. My colleagues and I arrived about 20 minutes into the first session. Since we came in late, we had to sit right up in front of the speaker. But halfway through the second session, I fell asleep. I managed to sleep while sitting upright. Then it was time for a break, which I badly needed.

There, I met up with my ex-colleagues and my ex-boss. They are all doing their own thing now. We left our previous company at different interval, but still managed to meet up at these seminars. It was good to meet up with them.

Major Reshuffling

There was a major change in the organizational chart recently. And it affected some of my colleagues and myself included. A close colleague of mine got the short end of the stick when the management decided to relieve her of her previous unit and gave her some lame excuse for a new unit to head. Her new job scope is to maintain the department's ISO documentation.

She has a Master's Degree in IT and all she has to do now is to handle documentation? I mean, isn't that a waste of knowledge and resources. As for me, I was transferred to another unit since my unit head is now heading the unit my close colleague was previously heading. My colleague and I were transferred to another unit, but strangely enough, our job scope remained the same. I thought at first that my job scope would be different, but apparently, my job scope is the one following me around. So no matter which unit I get transferred to, my job scope would always be the same. Weird, huh.

Yesterday, a former unit mate made me an offer. He wanted me to join him in his new unit. I told him I'd have to think about it. The problem was, I would still be doing the same thing, but with a different unit head. So, technically, I'm lugging around this job scope on my back with no relief in sight. Don't get me wrong. I like what I do, but, I think it's kinda weird, don't you think? I'm the only person in the department doing what I'm doing now. It's sort of like an honor, I guess, since apparently no one else can do what I do. Or are they just smart and they don't want to do what I do? Hmmm.