Monday, August 30, 2004

Of fuschia and fashion...

Fuschia is... a brighter and darker shade of pink. Pink, traditionally, is associated with all things sweet and nice - pastel pink that is. When we think pink, we see cotton candy, bubblegum, little girls, babies and all things soft.

Fuschia however is more daring, bolder too! It screams "Look at me!". It also says, "Yes this is pink, but that don't mean I'm all demure and sweet, I kick butt too!"



All throughout history, people have also associated flowers with meanings. The fuschia represents taste and is associated with the third wedding anniversary.

Bought a fuschia coloured off-the-shoulder top over the weekend. Lovely. It's the second piece of fuschia coloured item in my wardrobe, the first being a halter-top which has a plastic, rubbery, polyester feel to it. The material I meant, and it's almost water-proof! HAHA. I end up buying the weirdest things. I have a leopard print top which I only wore once. Cos it's got frills on the lower part so it makes me look like Dumbo the elephant clad in a leopard print top. Ridiculous. Oh, we all have our fashion faux pas don't we?

I remember them yester years... What did I use to wear? Hmm.. baggy, low-slung jeans wth a pair of dirty sneakers and a little tee. That was pretty much my uniform during early college days. And jelly bracelets! Those thin rubbery ones that come in all sorts of colours.. I used to wear about 5 or 6 black ones on my right wrist. Remember the hype about jelly bracelets being sex bracelets? HAHA. That was hillarious! You snap my bracelet, you shag me! Woo hoo. Kinda dumb. But oh well, it was the hype then.





Let's rewind...

The seventies saw these...





The eighties saw these...







When the nineties came in... The world experienced a myriad of fashion. Fashion kept repeating itself, coming back and going away, and then coming back again. Did you know that capri pants originated in the 70s? Or that off-the-shoulder tops were from the eighties? And those huge brightly coloured earrings and chunky bracelets from the 80s are back again and they are everywhere these days!

OK, I'd better stop going on as though I'm Tom Ford or Zang Toi.

Posted by Doreen at 10:33 am



    

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

To feel like cow dung

At the end of the day, I'm a simple girl who holds on to the core family and traditional values that I've been brought up with. On the exterior, many may beg to differ, cos really, who gives a rat's ass about what you have inside you in this day and age?

What makes someone think that he's the God of Love and women are just licking his toes and waiting to be taken to bed?

In the hour that I was tossing and turning in bed before eventually falling asleep, I kept thinking, "Was it my fault? Could I have led him on?" I didn't come up with a valid and concrete reason for me to think so. All I merely did was to play innocent in hopes that he'll get the hint, but no, I think he's sick. Maybe acting innocent turns him on?

What more when he offered me on the plate to his business partner Mike? I felt downright disgusted, humiliated, embarassed - you name it. You should have seen the look on Mike's face when Richard "indicated" that he was willing to share.

Hello? Were you both just talking about me? I believe I was seated right across the table from you then. Am I invisible? Or do you think that you both are God's gift to women and that we are merely objects at your disposal? Screw you both.

Did you see his look when he asked me how I was doing and if I've been upto any mischief? I ignored him.

I wore my jeans with that white long white top. "Let's not wear something too exposed when meeting with Richard," I thought to myself when getting dressed. Yet he still found something to comment on.

"Is that a top of a dress that you're wearing Doreen?"

"A top," was my curt reply.

"Maybe you should drop the jeans and wear the top on its own," he said.

"I'll keep that in mind," I said.

After his put up his business proposal to me regarding the futsal event, I asked him what's in it for me if I manage to get my client to agree to your futsal event? Here I was obviously talking about monetary benefits. But no, that dick of a head, "Where and when do you want to claim it? Now? Upstairs on that couch? In the toilet? Or would you prefer my car?" Mike laughed. Loud.

All the way home, I cried and cried. Don't ask me why, maybe it's the night's events, maybe it's just hormonal imbalance causing me to cry over this. All I really needed was someone to tell me that I'm not at fault, that I didn't try to lead these two men on.

I could have just walked off. But I didn't. I could have stood up and gave them both a piece of my mind. But I didn't.

I feel like cow dung.

Posted by Doreen at 9:43 am



    

Monday, August 23, 2004

My Teapot Friend

I've been occupied all weekend. Working the whole of Saturday and getting so depressed over work on Sunday as well. DJ-ing on Saturday at 3 different venues was fun! The crew, this crazy bunch of fun people and we all had a good time. On Sunday where I teach, well, I'm thinking of giving it up.. It's tough. The students are really poor and I really don't know if I can go on explaining why we have to use "is" instead of "are" or why use "have" instead of "has". I know, I give up easily, so sue me.

I've also been offered a permanent job DJ-ing at a local mall every Saturday and Sunday.. and well, it's either I teach, or I do broadcasting. The other good thing is, I'm meeting Christine tomorrow. She and a few other people set up a new lifestyle magazine for KL yuppies and they are looking for freelance writers.. So let's see what can come out of tomorrow's meeting.

I have a feeling that opportunities are heading my way, but judging from the current state my life is - a complete M.E.S.S., I don't know if I'll be able to make full use of these opportunities. I just need to sit down, re-assess, and well, focus I suppose. Friends tell me they do that all the time, but why can't I? I seem to always be jumping up and down, just going with whatever that comes my way and it's usually a bumpy ride all the way. But damn, I'm just so not a planner. Then again, bumpy rides are fun and exhilirating! HAHAHA. (Think: White water-rafting! How cool is that!)

It's that time of the month - I'm bloated, tired, my back aches and I've got pimples. Fresa was complaining about something over lunch today.. and I put a deaf ear to it all. When she was rattling on and on, it sounded like nails scratching against a blackboard. Yes, it was that bad. I just got so irritated. I know, it's just the hormonal imbalance. Sigh.

I've been a bad friend. Over the weekend, Leonardo was in Singapore. He flew in from the States. He left me emails for me to call him at the hotel, and well, I didn't check my emails during the weekend till I came into the office this morning. I immediately called the hotel in Singapore and they told me he checked out yesterday.

Leonardo is a big, cuddly guy I met in high school. He's ALWAYS laughing and giggling, and is real cute! I remembered he stood in front of the class and sang, "I'm a little teapot short and stout.. Here is my handle and here is my spout..." He would even put in all your little teapot-y actions. HAHA. He's now in the States.. hmm, gosh, I don't even know which state he's in! And he calls me "bar-girl".. The only person that calls me that, and he don't mean bad at all.

When we do meet up one of these days, maybe a few months or years down the road, I know what we'll be doing - guzzling beer! HAHAHA. He's promised to buy me so many beer I lost count of them all!

David left on Saturday evening. I didn't even get to see him off at the airport. I wonder what's gonna happen to the band now? Inverted Coma will never be the same again! As Jason puts it - yet another period of uncertainty for the band. Well, at least I know he's met Sim Yin *wink*, and I'm sure she'll help him out all she can right?

Hormonal imbalance gets me all emotional too *sobs*

Posted by Doreen at 5:23 pm



    

Friday, August 20, 2004

Blog 101

It's like a rage.. so bleedin' hot at the moment and everyone is just doing it. I blog, you blog, she blogs, he blogs, and everyone is blogging. Damn the vastness of cyberspace! But that's another topic altogether.

So blogging is a culture. Why do people blog? For all sorts of reasons I presume.. wanting to share their stories with friends and family without having to email them individually (OK, so maybe they haven't heard about group email?), then there are those who want to key in these entries to look back on.

Within the blogging culture, we have various subcultures. Here are some that I've discovered...

Teenage years are filled with a lot of anger, hatred and rebellion. Their daily rantings are about friends, family, school, etc. This group feel that the world is against them and I suspect they feel damn good when they blog about their depression. Their young teenage years are filled with boys, girls, friends, school, parents, broken familieis, drugs, kisses, making out, sex... Here is one example of the many I've come across.


eVeR rEaD a 15 yEaR OlD SiNgaPoReAn gIRL'z BloGz? HoW iN tHe WoRlD dO tHeY tYpe LikE tHis? aNd tHeY tYpE anD tYpE and tYpE.. DaMnZ! AnD, wHy DoEs a "HAHA" hAvE tO bE tYpEd lIkE tHiS - 'HahaZ'. BeTtER sTiLL, "CoMe HeRe LaHz!" or "BeTtER gO dO My HoMeWoRk LeHz!" I call this the Act-Cute culture which is very prominent about young teenage girls in Singapore who are into Hello Kitty.If you find this cute, point your browser here. Don't say I didn't warn you though. I almost OD-ed.

Then there are the new-age contemporary female writers who reside in an metropolis cities all over the world. Being educated, cultured, well-spoken and well-read, they have strong opinions about world issues, politics, gender matters, etc. I love reading blogs from them. A nice one I came across is right here. And I guess she's a 30 something year old Chinese woman who is residing in KL. Married too!

Next we have them specialist blogs. I came across a few.. There was this one blog solely about web-blog design. All the entries in there are like notes your tutor will print out for you after a particularly boring lecture. Then of course, I saw this blog about dragonflies. Not in English, I couldn't decipher anything in there, except marvel at the pictures posted. It probably is a blog created by a wildlife or rather insect obsessed person? Or maybe an association like Green Peace, but they are fighting for dragonfly rights.

Finally, the incessant rantings about daily routines.. 9am I did this. 12 noon I ate that. 3pm I went someplace. 6pm I had dinner. 9pm I went to bed. These people are merely creating a timetable of their daily lives.. except they do it in sentences in a fancy thing called a blog. Here's one.

Of course, these are just the few that I came across today. A few were a good read, some were boring but with very well-designed pages, and well.. an array of writing styles, modes of expression and whatnot.

Oh, and before this entry ends, here is an awesome picture of the Great Wall of China which I found at Josh's blog.


Posted by Doreen at 2:43 pm



    

Covering the Ass

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping-stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less

Now... Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back and bit the shit out of the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected, and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON: When you do something wrong and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.


Thanks to Angela for the story!

I'm tired. Should have just gone home straight after Bangsar last night. Instead went for a late-night coffee session with Shai which lasted till about 2am. And I'm not feeling too good.. Think I'm about to get sick! I have thoughts of taking the day off.

Posted by Doreen at 9:59 am



    

Thursday, August 19, 2004

DJ Slob

I've been hitting on the snooze option way, way too much these days! Like I set the alarm to go off at 7:45 this morning, and by the time I eventually jumped out of bed, it was then 8:40am. Why have I become a slob? Sigh. I'm a slob, I'm a slob, I'm a slob... Hip hip hooray!

Last night, Resh made my day. He told me I could do it and he said he would support me all the way. He believed in me. I was so happy and well, in a way, honoured, to have someone pour so much encouragement on me and telling me that I've got what it takes. HAHA. Resh, thank you so much!

So I've always wanted to do radio. Last night in the car while driving home, Resh sms-ed to say, "I think you can be a DJ. Red 104.9FM looking". I was all excited, but said to him that I would love to apply, but with the little broadcasting experience that I have.. It's really nothing compared to industry standards and I'm a wee bit scared.

He then called me up shortly after that. "I stopped listening to HitzFM and now listen to Red. One particular morning when I heard Tim & Shareena on the Kickstart show, I went, 'What is Doreen doing on-air?" he said to me. Gee, thanks heaps mate! *lol* According to him, I've got the voice, the command of the language, the humour and the fun spirit to be a radio personality. He said I ought to record a demo and then send it in with my CV.

You know what? I'll do just that. I'll work out a short capsule and then go to a studio to have it recorded. HAHA.. I'm so excited! I guess I'm really no where near a good radio DJ, but I've got to start somewhere right? So if I send it in, and don't get shortlisted or anything, I'll know I'm not good enough yet, and will work towards accomplishing it. If I do get shortlisted, then I know I'm on the right track. But if I DON'T send it in, what if I never hear news that they are recruitting DJs ever again? What if I regret that I didn't strike while the iron is hot? What if I never ever live to see my dreams of broadcasting on-air all because I missed out on this one opportunity to work with Red? HAHAHAHAH. Shuddup Doreen!

I asked Stefi if I'll make a good radio DJ and she said, "Try it and you'll know. I have always got confidence in you. Go ahead. Nothing to lose!" I asked Al, he said to go ahead and try out and that I've got a nice voice over the phone so it should sound nice over the mic. HAHA. Ea Wei said something nice too.. though I don't remember his exact words. HAHA. ;P

I've got a few things I wanna try my hand at. Broadcasting and lifestyle / entertainment writing being the top of my list at the moment. A nice old man told me just recently, "If you've got the passion, you've already won half the battle!" Thanks Henry! :)

Hey, I do have a passion afterall huh? I used to think I was like a lost pebble out in the sea, directionless and without a passion to pursue something... Yeay! I've got one now! *smiles*

Posted by Doreen at 10:10 am



    

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Hot Shower

Weather: Sunny
View from rooftop: Hazy
Mood: Indifferent
Attire: Immaculately pressed white shirt with gray pants and black jacket
Hair: Smells and looks great!

A hot shower in the morning is like...
* a vanilla sundae topped up with thick choc fudge and sprinkled with lotsa crushed nuts.
* curling up under the covers on a wet winter's day reading a good book with a mug of hot choc and marshmallows.
* having a shot of good Tequila and then taking a drag off a cigarette.
* the smell of grass early in the morning before sunrise.
* Friday at 6pm.

There.. a perfect example of a dreamy Pisces. Haha! Spent a good 30 minutes in the bathroom this morning under the strong jets of hot water. The mirror fogged up, and the bathroom felt all warm and comfortable and the smell is a mixture of Colgate, Clairol Herbal Essence shampoo and Lavender & Ylang Ylang shower gel. Standing in front of the mirror brushing my teeth, I used my finger to draw a smiley face on the mirror.

I needed that shower. I think I had about 10 margaritas last night. Sure, I didn't feel it then, but when I woke up this morning, my head was heavy. Urgh. Then the memories of last night came flooding back... Ah, my midweek party.

Got a WIP meeting with a client later this afternoon, in some lost town of Rawang. It'll be my first time meeting them since Anderson successfully pitched for the job. They're getting listed on the second board in October, and we'll be working on their PR projects - news releases, advertisements, press conferences, etc. I actually hate PR jobs. Well, I don't mind the writing and the advertisements. But I hate the media liaisons, begging them to publish stories and stuff like that.

Hmm.. But let's hope that this Client has got lots of money and hence can pump in more in terms of advertising. That way, our jobs will be much easier cos the media will be more willing to publish stories...




Posted by Doreen at 9:48 am



    

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Porn Clips



A man went to his doctor and asked him how to prolong the lovemaking experience. The doctor told him that masturbating before sex often helped men last longer, extending the pleasure for them and their partner.

The man decided, "What the hell, I'll try it."

He spent the rest of the day thinking about where to do it. He couldn't do it in his office. He thought about the restroom, but that was too open. He considered an alley, but figured that was too unsafe. Finally, he came up with a plan.

On his way home, he pulled his truck over on the side of the highway. He got out and crawled underneath as if he was examining the truck. Satisfied with the privacy, he undid his pants and started to masturbate. He closed his eyes and thought of his lover.

As he grew closer to orgasm, he felt a quick tug at the bottom of his pants. Not wanting to lose his mental fantasy or the orgasm, he kept his eyes shut and replied, "What?"

He heard, "This is the police. What's going on down there?"

The man replied, "I'm checking out the rear axle, it's busted."

Came the reply, "Well, you might as well check your brakes too while you're down there, because your truck rolled down the hill five minutes ago."






Thanks Ea Wei for that link to eBaum's World.



Am down with Calvin & Hobbes fever. I have them in my thoughts all day.. and can't wait to go back home to read more of them!

Posted by Doreen at 4:33 pm



    

Monday, August 16, 2004

It's Done - No Turning Back!

The deed is done. I went to Eddie and he's left a permanent work of art on my left ankle. When he saw my half-moon shape design I got off the net, he said he'll help me draw something nicer, something more new-school.. and so a customised design is born.

Did I hear you say something? Paste the picture up here on my blog? No way! I don't want some stranger in Timbaktu copying this design! So if you'd like to see, I'll email you a picture of it.

As I sat on the reclining chair, and as Eddie said, "Ready?" (to which I muttered a muffled "Uh huh"), he pushed the needle and the ink right thru.. and that was when I realised how much I've missed that stinging sensation and the loud buzz of that piston-looking thing. It was wo-ah, explosive!

I felt every puncture the needle made as Eddie steadily guided his hands around the design he drew... then after a while, my endorphins kicked in, and then well, it didn't hut quite as much anymore. He outlined, he coloured, and he shaded.. and it took less than 30 minutes I reckon. I wish it didn't have to end so fast! It's like.. my high was suddenly interrupted when the buzzing stopped. I was like, "Damn! Is that all?"

Eddie's a cool dude. All the staff at Borneo Ink are superb! If you're a first timer, they'll make you feel even more at ease - whether you're getting a tattoo or a piercing done. Eddie does a good job too.. He's very detailed and meticulous with his designs, plus he's been doing this for the past 8 years! Therefore, I'd definitely recommend Borneo Ink if you're thinking of body art and modifications.

Been in a meeting all morning.. Have got barely 45 minutes to catch up on my work before I rush off to another meeting... Waste of my time!

Posted by Doreen at 2:09 pm



    

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Clinton's Left Nut

you are violet
#EE82EE

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be.

Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan.

Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.
the spacefem.com html color quiz


I think that bit about my saturation level is bullshit. Friends have called me a worry-wart at times! Hmm.. Then again, I suppose it depends on th situation on hand. Sometimes I have the 'heck care' attitude as well.. And I love that feeling. HAHA. Whatever, man!

Urgh, had a tiring night! Jazz fest was boring at first.. then Pete Teo came up on stage! He rocks! Then there was Greg Lyons and Louis Pragasam.. The usual jazz artistes in our local jazz scene. Stayed on for about 2 hours.. Then split the scene. Seeing how BarMed was so boring (don't even know why some people chose that place in the first place!), 4 of us drove into town. We went to Beach Club (boring!), Atmosphere (Hmm.. Getting better!), Bliss (ahh.. so-so), Velvet Undergound (Love it!), and finally Zouk (an orgasmic climax!)

Susan and Margaret left earlier.. and Anderson and myself sat in one corner of Zouk as we watched the moving heads spin and turn as they cast their lights all over the club - completely immersed in the music. It was so 'layaning'... 'Twas a sober night, can so imagine the feel IF I was intoxicated!

My horoscope today reads:
Pisces - You've got so many ideas and dreams that keep going around and around in your head. Now's the time to start sharing those visions with others.

Was that before or after you sucked on Clinton's left nut? Moi? Dreams and ideas on a Saturday morning after a big night out? HAHA. As bollocks as it is, people still can't help but read the horoscopes when they get to the comic page.

I'm one of them suckers. Sad. But true.

Posted by Doreen at 10:49 am



    

Friday, August 13, 2004

Butt Scare!

Love the feel of Friday night
Everything just seems so right

Worries shelved and hair let down
Now all smiles and no more frowns

Friends, parties and chillout times
Who cares about those deadlines?

It's Friday evening.. Getting close now! Woo hoo! I've been catching up on all my paper and administrative works the whole day.. Very tedious, which is why I'm always putting them off. Makes you wonder why I'm not in the finance or banking line huh? Humanities students are NEVER good with administrative tasks... I'm the perfect epitome of such a person... and damn proud too!



Seeing this picture, I suddenly feel like watching JackAss all over again. Have a good laugh over stupid acts.. stupid, but brave! HAHA.. Imagine piercing your butt cheeks together just for the sake of piercing it.. and then having the thing removed after a few minutes! *ouch*.. *shudders*

Posted by Doreen at 4:56 pm



    

Crocuta crocuta

At about midnight last night, I was chilling with Al and we were watching TV. After surfing through HBO, Cinemax and StarMovies, everything on had some form of horror element to it and I decided against. So we settled on a documentary about carnivores in the African Sahara.. it was something about lions and hyenas.

Well, there were certain bits that were gory and all.. The way hyenas disemboweled a baby zebra.. The zebra's flesh was torn out in a blink of an eye. Super gross!

Anyways, then we started to wonder - are hyenas dogs or cats? I said they were definitely in the feline family, while Al debated saying it belonged in the dog family.. Afterall, I must agree too, their looks closely resemble a dog. And then we argued for a while.. and finally, not able to come up with concrete answers, he told me, "OK, you go online and check it out tomorrow morning OK?"

Googled for "Is a Hyena a Dog or a Cat?"...



Q: They're related to dogs, right?
A: Wrong. Hyenas are a family of their own, the Hyaenidae. They're more closely related to cats than dogs, but their closest relatives are the Herpestidae -- mongooses, meerkats and such.

Q: But what on earth do they have in common with cats?
A: Skeletal details it would take a specialist to explain. DNA studies also prove the relationship. When hyenas lick the space between their hind legs, they lift one or both hind legs into the air much like cats - "playing the cello", as one cat-lover has called it. One observer claims the female purrs while suckling her cubs.

So there. Technically, we're both wrong. They are neither cats nor dogs. But, since hyenas are most closely related to cats than dogs, this is all I need to tell Al. HAHAHA.

Should be going for the jazz thing at Mont Kiara tonight. Not that I'm a big fan of jazz, but it'll be a good chance to get together with friends. And then when Sunday comes, I'll be getting my skin drawn on. Hmm.. I'm actually a wee bit scared you know? But I reckon that's part of the excitement isn't it? I wonder who's coming along with me... I wonder if they have a TV there. If not, I'd better bring along someone who can talk to me while it's being done.. Since Eddie is not much of a talker when he's at work.

I think I'm going for the Celtic moon design afterall!

Posted by Doreen at 9:17 am



    

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

She's All That I'm Not

Feeling ultra sluggish today. Didn't sleep all that late.. 3am was it? Hmm.. Mind just not working. Feel like going home, turn on the air-conditioner in the room and climb into bed. That'd be nice wouldn't it? Except, we can't always have what we want.

Ah... Look what I found in Daphne's picture folders..


This is us girlies. Heh heh heh... Look at Elaine's hair! She's such a hammie!


No, the empty beer cans have nothing to do with me! Honest!


Engaging in a brother and sister feud.. We now have reigning champion Dickson Loo, who will now take on his younger sister, Dorothy Loo!



You know, I'm always one to project a cold and cool exterior. I'm not one of those girls who squeals at the sight of plush toys, or like frilly, lacy stuff. Yet, my best friend, Stefi is all that I'm not.

She's cute. 2 nights ago, I was hanging out with Lily and Pascal.. and she sms-ed me. So I told her I was around Cheras. The sms-es that followed:

Stefi: Do u still love me? How come you didn't come look me up?
Doreen: HAHA. Of cos I do. Well, you're so far away in PJ lah! So I'm with Lily.
Stefi: u don't love me anymore. juz bcos lily is slightly prettier than me, u have decided to hang out with her? aww..
Doreen: HAHA HAHA! don't be silly. i love u.
Stefi: so u still love me as much as u loved me before?
Doreen: yes, now stop being silly.

Then last night, as I was in bed waiting for Al to come pick me up, she sms-ed me, "Can I ask you a question?".. To which I replied with a short "yes".

After some moments, "Do you think you can give me back the Stitch that I gave you last time? I'll get a new one for you?"

I burst out laughing. Yes, this is so her. About 6 months back, her car got broken into and the bag she left in the back seat was taken. In it, was the a Stitch plush toy, the exact same one that I have - she gave me one. She was devastated that Sticth was lost.

So I told her of course she can have it back, and I'll drop by with it one of these days. She thanked me and said, "Do u mind? I kinda cant get over it :-("

HAHAHA. Again, I had to laugh. It's silly. But I don't mind it if it's in small doses you know? : )

I love that woman!

Posted by Doreen at 1:06 pm



    

Astrology

Astrology is a fascinating subject. It is the study of cycles. All things are in motion. As the Earth turns on its axis once every twenty-four hours, so the planets, too, move slowly at different speeds in great orbits around the Sun. Astrology is about the relationship between this larger cosmos around us, and the cosmos within each human being–the outer world and your inner one. The same energies that are functioning around you, in the universe, are also functioning within you: they reflect, form, and influence your inner world.


Aries is energetic, innovative, original, pioneering, assertive, quick-tempered, strong drive, leader, ambitious, extroverted, sometimes aggressive, competitive, enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-assured.


Taurus is determined, efficient, stubborn, cautious, placid, persistent, enduring, introverted, conservative, conventional, materialistic, security conscious, stable, industrious, dependable, and one generally having significant financial ability.


Gemini is flexible, versatile, restless, a jack-of-all-trades, lively, alert, quick-witted, literary, communicative, a good conversationalist, changeable, sociable, logical, ingenious, agile, dexterous, intellectual, and mentally ambitious.


Cancer is introverted, reserved, emotional, sensitive, moody, sympathetic, security-conscious, prudent, retentive, domestic, maternal, protective, quiet, calm, imaginative, conscientious, and quite the traditionalist.


Leo is ambitious, a lover of limelight, speculative, extroverted, optimistic, honorable, dignified, confident, proud, exuberant, sunny, flamboyant, charismatic, dramatic, competitive, a leader and an organizer.


Virgo is practical, responsible, sensible, logical, analytical, highly discriminating, a careful planner, precise and punctual, dedicated, perfectionist, critical, health conscious, and somewhat introverted.


Libra is idealistic, a peacemaker, diplomatic, refined, poised, gracious, kind, courteous, fair-minded, sociable, charming, artistically creative, affable, cooperative, extroverted, and usually somewhat indecisive.


Scorpio is intense, determined, powerful, strong-willed, forceful, bold, courageous, enduring, competitive, resourceful, researcher, an investigator, secretive, mysterious, penetrating, psychic, self-reliant, and somewhat introverted or closed.


Sagittarius is idealistic, optimistic, freedom-loving, casual, friendly, buoyant, gregarious, enthusiastic, philosophical, studious, farseeing, direct, outspoken, honest, loyal, restless and loves travel.


Capricorn is ambitious (power, position, money), organizational, self-disciplined, rigid, thrifty, prudent, security-conscious, conservative, responsible, practical, persistent, political, business oriented, methodical.


Aquarius is individualistic, unconventional, progressive, unique, independent, humanitarian, altruistic, visionary, perceptive, intellectual, logical, ingenious, inventive, unpredictable, detached, friendly, and scientific.


Pisces is receptive, supersensitive, impressionable, peace-loving, serious, sympathetic, charitable, compassionate, artistic, creative, dreamer, dedicated, imaginative, psychic, shy, introverted, spiritual, and reclusive.

Posted by Doreen at 10:49 am



    

Monday, August 09, 2004

When I'm Bored...

Five CDs from your collection that you will never get tired of:
1. Inverted Coma: Awaken From The Coma
2. Pete Teo: Rustic Living for the Urbanites
3. Bic Runga: Drive
4. Edmond Leong: Four Seasons
5. Mariah Carey: Music Box

THE BEST OF...

Four vacations you have taken...

1. US
2. Tioman
3. Bali
4. China

Four Places you just have to go...
1. Mauritius
2. Ibiza
3. Spain
4. New York

Four things you'd like to learn...
1. "How To Control Your Anger in 7 Days!"
2. Sing professionally
3. Fashion design
4. Photography

Four beverages you drink frequently...
1. Water
2. Coffee
3. Beer
4. Long Island Tea

Four TV shows that were on when you were a kid...
1. Sesame Street
2. Transformers
3. Full House
4. Bollywood movies!

Four TV shows you watch now...
1. MTV
2. WWE
3. Channel V
4. Any movies that come on HBO, Cinemax, StarWorld, StarMovies

Four places to go in your area...
1. Office
2. Home
3. Leisure Mall
4. Maideen Mamak

Four things to do when you're bored...
1. Blog : )
2. Sleep
3. Read
4. Music

Four things that never fail to cheer you up...
1. Alcohol
2. A good book
3. Shopping
4. Money

Three Crushes (Past/Present)...
1. Steve
2. Roy
3. Shenton

About 20 years ago...
1. I was an angelic 3 years old
2. I hated frilly, lacy dresses
3. Was happy

About 10 years ago...
1. I started high school
2. I had an awful hairstyle
3. I was much slimmer?

About 5 years ago...
1. Taylor's College rocks!
2. I was always getting drunk with the guys from #167
3. I grew up

About 2 1/2 years ago...
1. Having fun in my last few months in Perth
2. Was seeing David James Watt
3. Scared to leave University to join the workforce

About 1 year ago...
1. At my present job
2. Having fun
3. Living life to the fullest

Today...
1. I'm leaving for KLCC shortly
2. I'm happy
3. I'm looking gorgeous.. as always : )

Posted by Doreen at 3:36 pm



    

3-inch, Black, Strappy Ones



I guess I didn't make a wrong choice afterall. Anderson and Boon Wah keep telling me that Borneo Ink really is good. So I went there on Saturday with the intention of checking out the prices. I then proceeded to make an appointment for next Sunday. Eeek! This is it!

Then this morning when I came to work, Boon Wah showed me a magazine which featured Borneo Ink in one of their feature stories. They interviewed Simon (a tattooist) and Walter (a piecer), both from Borneo Ink.

Yep, it's next Sunday. I'm going for the moon-shaped tribal looking one. I try to ignore that feeling of knowing what mom and dad's expressions are gonna be like.. But their faces, twisted in shock, keep popping up in my head. But I'm still going ahead with it. Hey, I paid a deposit at Borneo Ink! : )



The weekend was fabulous. An ultra-tiring night on Friday, hanging out with Nhoc, and then we were joined by Anderson.. and we went to so many places in such a short time! After dinner at KLCC, we chilled at BarFly, Beach Club, Passion, Atmosphere, Liquid, and finally, Chinatown for a hearty supper. My feet hurt so bad when I got home. Saturday was nice too... After doing my own thing during the day, I joined Anderson, Grace, Eugene, Pink and Nhoc for a night out again. We were at SaVanh, and then went to Velvet. Both places rock. I love SaVanh, though I've only been there a couple of times, it's a nice chill-out place. Velvet is nice too! I prefer Velvet more than Zouk I think. Velvet's chill-out house is pleasant to the ears as compared to Zouk's hardcore one.

And no.. that picture is not a representation of my Monday.

MU lost to Arsenal last night. I dread seeing Al tonight cos he's just gonna tease and rub it all in. He gloats over every one of Manchester's losses. He's just got some inferior complex.. then again I can't blame him. So loyal to Liverpool, yet they hardly ever bring him glory : )

I broke my favourite pair of heels on Sunday. The straps came apart. Went to MidValley last night to buy a new pair. It was depressing - Didn't find any that I like. It's torture! I went to some 5 or 6 shoe shops in about 45 minutes.. tried on some, and at some outlets, didn't even bother a second glance.

Black heels are the safest to wear for work. Whatever colour your outfit is, you can always wear a pair of black heels. I prefer strappy open-toed ones. So I browsed and browsed.. sigh, but to no avail. Some of the designs and cuts I see are nice, but the heels are not high enough! The ones with the height that I want, don't carry the designs that I like! What ever happened to 3-inch simple strappy heels? Are they so hard to come by now? Don't come tell me it's old-school.. Cos black strappy heels will never go out of season.

Or do they? Hmm...





The spider is pretty neat too huh? Oh no! The more I look at more designs, the more I want them all done!

Posted by Doreen at 9:22 am



    

Friday, August 06, 2004

It's good being happy!

I'm happy. New top with a British India feel. Pair of new funky specs - angular and dark rimmed, my hair has finally decided to follow my bid and part the way I want it to part, and finally... it's Friday! I love Fridays more than anything in the world.. and who said I was kidding? Correction - I'm not just happy, I'm on top of the world! The day is sunny and bright. The skies are blue. We have one happy girl who's chirpy and smiley! Isn't the world just glorious?

Fresa has been obsessed with helping me look for tattoo designs. HAHA. Good on her! She's thinking of getting a temporary one done too. Look what she showed me...





The double-headed dragon absolutely rocks! Love it, love it, love it. I could scream now, except I'm in the office and the HR office is just right next door. So not a very good idea.

Posted by Doreen at 10:44 am



    

Thursday, August 05, 2004

Thou shalt not...

Thou shalt not stay out till 5am in the morning on a weeknight. Thou shalt not get out of bed later than 8am every morning irregardless of the ungodly bedtime hour.


Yes, yes, it's my fault that I don't feel all that good, and that my eyelids are so heavy! Never should have agreed to gone out at 1:00am last night! Oughta have an early one tonight... Tomorrow is gonna be another long day and night.

I'm excited about this weekend. From here, it looks mighty fine and dandy.. *lol*
Anderson's friend from Australia is coming to KL tomorrow.. and I'll be doing a little bit of babysitting for Anderson. A Vietnamese-Aussie bloke. Don't know him, don't know how he looks like, I thought it'd be better if I rope Angela in. At least if he's boring or off-putting, I'll have company. HAHA. Then when Anderson joins us later in the night, we oughta be around town for drinks.. Most likely his usual haunts like Savanh and Passion.

I'm gonna go check out this tattoo shop with Gina on Saturday. Don't know what this shop in Mont Kiara is called, Borneo Ink or something or the other..? I heard they are pretty good. Prices are also steep. But Anderson knows Eddie, one of the owners, so I'm hoping to get some discounts. If all goes well, I may end up having a tattoo done on Saturday itself! But hmm.. It's not a bad idea to source for other options first. Eeek... I'm so excited!

Posted by Doreen at 2:48 pm



    

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

A Woman's Worth

By the time the Lord made woman, he was into His sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -- and she will do everything with only two hands."

The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."

"But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to My own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord."
"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made Her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, "that's a Tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord.. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing."

And she is!! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can help to heal a broken heart. Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning! They bring joy and hope. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However if there's one flaw in women, it is that they tend to forget their worth.


How inspirational! : )

Oh, and I found these...











...and no, I don't intend to get a tattoo or tattoos of such done.

Though I think I may have found the one that I want done on my ankle... Minus the alphabets of course... I think it rocks! And this design will allow me to add on and expand the tattoo in future! Whaddya think?

Posted by Doreen at 2:58 pm



    

Celebrating Family Togetherness

Hi blog. I'm not having my best of days. It started off with me having a hard time trying to pull myself outta bed. When my alarm rang the first time, I got up, hit the snooze button and went to turn on the lights. Then crawled back into bed. When it rang again, I got up, went to the bathroom to get my toothbrush, went back into the room and crawled back into bed. When it rang again, I got up, and eventually went into the bathroom to wash up.

Why do I find it so hard to immediately go to the bathroom to wash up the moment my alarm goes off? I enjoy the few stolen moments of sleep I think. To crawl back into bed and curl up for a few more minutes... The more forbidden it is, the more we do it. Isn't that always the case? The temptation of it all.

Caught the preview screening of "Do You Hear the People Sing" last night. I actually went without knowing much about what is it, or who's in it, hence did not bring with me any form of expectation(s). The vocals were impressive (though the odd one or two still lack a certain "thing"), but I reckon that the choreography of movements could have been better. The did a number from Phantom of the Opera.. and I thought that that particular Act didn't come off the way it was intended.

The stage presense of all the cast wasn't strong enough I felt. I found it to be rather hollow despite the elaborate tuxedos and black gowns and that oh-so-pretty chandelier. It felt slightly mystical and spooky.. But I would expect it to be a hair-raising scene. Hmm...

Anyways, just like the time when I admired the view of the Twin Towers from a room at the Grand Maya hotel, I was so proud of being Malaysian. The fact that "Do You Hear the People Sing" is a local production, I felt it deserved kudos. I mean, I think maybe a decade ago, English musicals and theatrical plays would not have been so rampant and so aggresively advertised.. So it's good to see the various avenues of entertainment today that are being staged and enjoyed by good ol' Malaysians! And, the fact that all proceeds go to charity makes it all the more noble don't you think?



I wrote Daddy a long email yesterday after having spoken to Mom on the phone. Just as the curtains came down and the lights came up, my phone beeped and I received an sms from Daddy who was then in Bangkok, "Thanks 4 the mail. Your observations are good abt the family. Tell u guys more when 4 of us are together".

Caught in the midst of my emotions yesterday afternoon, I messaged a friend and typed out a whole chunk of god knows what.. I should have blogged yesterday afternoon huh! Now I don't quite remember what I said to him in that message. Hmm..

I hate my extended family. I say hate because I didn't grow to hate them. It was there since the day I was born and has been instilled in my head from a very young age. Back then when I was a kid, I never quite understood why was it that us four sisters were so different from our other cousins. Back then, I thought that it's because we spoke a different language, us being English educated, and my cousins being Chinese educated. From young, us four stuck out like a sore thumb for differences I didn't quite grasp then. As I grow older, the reasons became more apparent.

Do all families have politics? Are they all as bad as the one within my extended family? As years pass by, I discover ugly things about the family I'd rather not know - who did what to whom, who took money from where, the divorces and affairs, the scandals.. the whole works.

It just irks me.

My uncles and aunts, along with their children, have decided that they wanna celebrate Christmas this year at my parents' house - a total of close to 30 people. When I spoke to Mom yesterday, she was so bitter about it. She doesn't like them, and now she's gotta cook Christmas dinner for them - and the best part is - they don't even have the courtesy to call and inform or ask mom if she'd mind having them as guests. They merely assumed that we are OK with it, zap the flight schedule of their arrival times to us. Needless to say, mom is pissed off. I guess I am too.

So then Mom said she'll do the dinner, but unwillingly. She then proceeded to ask me if I'll be coming home for Christmas. In the midst of my frustration, I brushed her off by saying, "If you're doing it in this manner - unwillingly - you can count me out for dinner". Needless to say she got upset.

I'm tired.

Anyways, someone sent me this.. The day in a life of a man it looks like...

Posted by Doreen at 9:36 am



    

Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Engraving Eternity

To do, or not to do - That question has been bugging me since.. erm, a few years now. In fact, 2 weeks after I got my first tattoo done in Fremantle, Perth. That was.. damn, September 2000! That makes it close to 4 years now.

Shucks. Has it been that long since the days in Perth? I remember it being a sunny afternoon in spring time, and Ken, Stefi and myself were walking around Freo. Then Ken and myself strolled into a tattoo parlour and decided to get one there and then.

Anyways, it's about time to get a new one to be etched forever on my skin. I've been deciding and deciding, where should I place this new one? Somewhere on the back would be most convenient.. But nah, I've already got one on the back. It makes it look too cluttered yeah?

So the ankle it is then. Left ankle it will be. Mom and dad are gonna freak! HAHAHAH. But so what, it's not like I'm in an industry where everyone is governed by strict dress codes and that body art is taboo.



Whaddya think of this design? I was thinking of improvising it a little. I'm thinking of doing away with the "winged" protrusions on the lower half of the design. And it will be done in a solid one-tone black.

"Tattoos are no longer just an art form of the elite or associated with societal deviants. People of all ages and from all walks of life are finding their own special meaning in tattoos. Once associated only with gangs, tattoos are done between friends sharing common bonds and by individuals expressing their own uniqueness. Tattooing is modern in its form only in the tools and designs used. The concept and art of tattooing has existed throughout the centuries, beginning as early as Ancient Egypt around 2000 B.C.

In other parts of the world, tattooing was reserved to the elitist culture. People are often amazed to note that royalty such as King George V, Grand Duke Alexis of Russia and King Harold bore tattoos. At one time, tattooing was an expensive art form, out of reach to the common people. Tattoo artists were revered as highly as canvas artists.

The popularity of the tattoo remained with the military during World War II. Sailors and soldiers bore their allegiances to their country and their women with body art. They bore names of their units, ships and divisions proudly. Tattoo shops were located on docks and near military bases and tattooing flourished.

The introduction of the electric tattoo gun caused the prices to drop and tattooing to be accessible to everyone. This led the tattoo to be associated with lower classes, including circus people who often displayed extravagant facial designs and full body tattoos.

Another transformation in tattooing history came with the Hippie movement. Before and during these times, people were having peace signs, ying yangs and other symbols tattooed. Flower power was permanently placed as body art and proudly displayed. After the Hippie movement many of the tattooed held prominent jobs within the common society. No longer were tattoos for the deviants."


Uh.. which means, the ying yang on my back is from the Hippie days!





The two circuluar ones above, they're actually rather nice! I would get something like that on my back, at the nape of my neck if I don't have my current one.



I find this rather pretty too.. Very simple and feminine.. Almost elegant.

Posted by Doreen at 9:41 am