Friday, November 30, 2007

Debt Free

I got home from work past 1am last night and found some bills sitting in my post box.

With heavy steps, I made my way to the lift and rode up to the tenth floor. There is nothing worse than coming home after a horribly long day, and finding nothing but bills in the mail.

After a nice hot shower, I opened and read through each bill, saving the most-detested Citibank one for last.

My eyes widened.

I read further.

"That's funny", I thought to myself. The second page, which usually listed out the details of my loan instalments were no where to be found.

I promptly called the 24-hour Customer Service line and waited in queue while someone from India greeted me.

After verifying a long list of personal particulars, I finally was able to explain why I made the call.

"So I'd like to ask, is there like some printing error in the latest bill I received? Cos I don't see anything about my next payment for the loan I undertook?"

"Well miss, you have actually settled the last and final instalment in your payment to us last month, and everything is fully paid up", said the still-cheery-at-2am-customer-service-personnel.

"You mean I've paid EVERYTHING?"

"Yes miss, all 18 instalments", and I detected a smile in her voice.

I laughed out loud, and thanked her profusely, and she thus bid me goodnight.

Hoorah! Yours truly is now DEBT FREE, and I am still reveling in this newfound financial status! *beams*

Citibank - SCREW YOU!

Hah!

Nicholas - you tagged me with the "8 Random Facts About Myself" meme, I have already written a 100.

Heh.

Posted by Doreen at 3:38 pm



    

Monday, November 26, 2007

cheated

I'm one of those who, perhaps in some of your eyes, take things for granted.

In the political sense that is.

But the last couple of weeks have been an eye opener.

I perhaps am actually quite clueless about the government, the opposition, the things that go on in the the Dewan Parlimen, the "issues".

I mean, yes I might read about it, or hear people talking about it, but nope, never taken any particular interest.

But the BERSIH and HINDRAF rallies both opened my eyes, and all of a sudden, I stop, look, listen and try to find out more.

I don't know how to say this exactly... Quite at a loss for words... But am I the only one feeling like this?

Suddenly, I feel cheated.

The next GE will be my first election.

Posted by Doreen at 8:55 pm



    

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Pimpin'

The Illusion

What in this world is real and not seeming?


The Oral Stage presents The Illusion, a free adaptation by Tony Kushner based on Pierre Corneille's neoclassical French comedy, L'Illusion Comique. The Illusion follows a contrite father seeking news of his prodigal son from a sorcerer. As she conjures episodes from the young man's life, the father confronts the ultimate- and unexpected- truth about his son. The Illusion weaves obsession and caprice, romance and murder, fact and fiction, into an enticing exploration of the greatest illusion of all- love.

This production falls under TOS' biggstage division, a creative outlet for more experienced individuals to be part of theatre productions at a more professional and advanced level. The Illusion would be TOS' first full-length feature in its three years of establishment.

Featuring Isma Hanum Husein, Mohamed Shamir, Christine Ellis, Yong Ka Vee, Marvin Wong, Batsheba Zlikha Arsalan, Azmir Abdullah and Mark Beau de Silva. Produced by Christine Ellis and directed by Kelvin Wong. Supported by The Dram Projects.

Showdates & Time 13th – 16th & 19th – 21st December 2007, 8.30 pm 3.00 pm on 22nd December

Venue The Dram Projects studio BG-06, Happy Mansion Apartments Jalan 17/13, 46400 Petaling Jaya

Tickets RM20

Ticket contact 017-2276428

On the web http://walloftheillusion.blogspot.com/


-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

There! Go watch!

On another note. Got together with the bunch of fun people at Erin's little party yesterday.

Party Rating
People / Company - 5 stars
Food - 3.5 stars
Party Management & Organisation by Clinique - Fail

Picutres can be found here.

A special shoutout to Rachel - be good, be safe, have fun :) I know you'll be back after 5 months, but still, you're going so far away *sobs* We'll drive around when you get back OK?

Tee hee.

Posted by Doreen at 3:24 pm



    

Friday, November 23, 2007

Neverland

Neverland was fan-fucking-tastic!

Pardon me. But it was really THAT awesome.

Conceptualized and managed a cocktail party for a bank recently, at Istana Budaya, in conjunction with Peter Pan the Musical.

Working in Neverland rocks.


We get to pretend we're flying, like Peter and the fairies.


We get to make uber cute mushrooms. See them under the tree? They're made of sponge, and super, super, DUPER huggable.

I actually drove around the entire KL, looking for tailors to help me make 'em, but many only claim to sew clothes and normal stuff. Eventually, someone recommended a nice auntie in USJ. And she kicks ass. She makes ANYTHING I tell you.


And of course, a picture with Peter Pan, Captain Hook and the twins, part of the Lost Boys ensemble.

What's managing a Peter Pan-related event without getting tickets to catch the musical itself?

OMG.

I loved it! It was everything I imagined Neverland to be - all the fairies, the shiny fairy dust, the funny pirates, the everything! Almost cried... too cute, too magical.

Peter Pan (played by Ryutaro Ranagita) was a star. So skinny that boy.

And I absolutely adored Captain Hook (played by Scott Sauer). Cocky, arrogant, and with that raaarrrr swagger.


I loved it when Peter Pan flew above the audience and sprinkled fairy dust all over us! An entirely magical feeling!

Favourite quote - "Everything dies without belief", and no, not just in the fairy sense.

Posted by Doreen at 6:14 pm



    

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

men's department

I learnt something new recently.

Shopping with men is super, duper, ULTRA boring.

The men's department is boring. The clothes are boring. Shirts, t-shirts, pants, boxers, belts, accessories. I mean, a shirt is a shirt - collared and buttoned. T-shirts are T-shirts - round or V neck. Pants are worse. Boxers just only a wee bit better. And belts and other male accessories are just plain boring - dark colours with silver, stainless steel or chrome finishing.

I yawned, and yawned when I accompanied the boyfriend on a shopping trip recently. So boring can die.

At the end of the3 hour shopping trip, I was so exhausted, and mentally drained. I felt like I've seen enough of the entire men's department to last me a lifetime.

I will not go on a male-shopping excursion, EVER.

Posted by Doreen at 12:59 pm



    

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

christmas & birthday

You know Christmas is coming when...

And the cheerful staff at Starbucks @ The Weld were busy decorating the outlet. Made me happy, the takeaway cup.

See? I am easily amused like that.

The man's birthday is less than a week away.

No idea what to get him. No idea how to celebrate (we're both taking a full day off from work!).

Any suggestions?

Posted by Doreen at 6:30 pm



    

Thursday, November 01, 2007

The Loo

Bummer! Someone beat me to it.

So I was flickr-ing, doing some research for a project at work, and I came across this.

You mean it's no longer a novel idea to have toilet bowls as seats in a restaurant/cafe?

This is in Taiwan, and the name of the restaurant is "ma tong" (sorry I can't write in Chinese!), Mandarin for toilet bowl.

See, super cool or what?


For a few years now, I've been toying with the idea in my head, a toilet-concept pub. And because I'm filial and proud of my roots, as a tribute to my forefathers, this pub will be christened - The Loo!

Think about how cool it'll be when you hear someone say, "Shall we go to The Loo for drinks after work?"

My customers will be seating atop toilet bowls, and the bar will be kick-ass. Bartenders tap beer by pulling on a custom-made toilet-flush thingie. Upon paying, customers will have their receipt by pulling on a tissue-roll dispenser thingie.

And when they visit the actual loo at The Loo, they will be pleasantly surprised to see that it is the exact opposite of what's on the outside.

The toilet bowl will be designed to look like a chair, and the flush will look like the handle bartenders pull on while tapping beer. And instead of a toilet roll dispenser, I'll have a cash register look-alike spewing tissue.

As you can tell, my plans are still vague.

But if you are to see this pub open anytime in the near future, and that it is not called The Loo, please remember you read about it first at essentric.blogspot.com, and that sucker probably stole my idea.

Posted by Doreen at 6:26 pm



    

word puzzle



Can anyone guess what FPM stands for?
Clues can be found on my 'In The Middle' post, dated 23 October, where PM is a designation and F is obviously not very happy sounding.

Posted by Doreen at 12:32 pm