Guess work can only take you so far.

If I were to give you a task, say, baking a cake, you would most probably be scratching your head. Bake a cake? Me? I don't even know how to turn on the oven. But you give it a go nonetheless. A simple chocolate cake. After all, the end product is something edible and hopefully won't poison me.

Would you like it if I gave you a picture of a chocolate cake and asked you to come up with something similar to it in terms of taste and look? Wait, scrap that something similar bit. I want you to come up with a chocolate cake that looks exactly to the picture in terms of taste and look. How's about that?

What the fucking fuck?!

Would you like it if I gave you something to do but with nary a guide or a pointer, would you like it? You'd probably lambaste me to kingdom come! You really don't care, eh? You really think of me as a lackey boy, always ready to be whipped on the behind just when things go awry? So what if the cake doesn't look like yours, hell, you think I'm the kind of person who does half-bake jobs? (Pardon the pun.)

You then blame me for not asking you how to do it when in the first place you were the one who was supposed to provide me with at least the basic directions. You want my help yet you don't even know how to be courteous enough by giving me tips. This is worse than being selfish; this is plain insidious.

At the end of the day, I just don't have the same ingredients as you, my chocolate is probably not as good as yours. You could be using freaking Godiva while here I am using RM2.00 Cadbury chocolate that's a month shy of expiring.

So what we have here now is a chocolate cake that resembles yours but still isn't quite right. Is it my fault? Maybe. Maybe I should've bugged you to death to help me but I know you. You don't give a shit until shit hits the ceiling.

Do not ever mistake my smile as benignity.

I might just do something really unfortunate to you.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I am going to deadlift 80kgs this week, damnit!

It's not just a game...

It really is more than that.

A game is not just a game, especially if you're willing to forgo normal sleeping hours in order to catch a match at 3 a.m. and then you have to get to work by 7 a.m.

Sleep is a small sacrifice to pay when you're supporting the greatest football club in the world, Manchester United.

While the team may have lost a potential trophy, the spirit and never-say-die attitude will propel them to greater heights.

I, on the other hand, will remain sleepy and cranky till the end of the season.

Gosh, I love football.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Another 2 weeks before Wolverine hits theaters! In the meantime, I shall do my best Hugh Jackman imitation by trying to look as pissed as him.

I have nothing nice to say.

Sigh, another screwed up week is ahead.

Hope yours is better.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Can Manchester United not continue to disappoint me?

Up in flames, they'll be...

...if I had it my way, of course.

Some people just don't deserve to be where they are, yet there they are, sipping on wine bought on money from others' blood and sacrifice. You know these people: they brag, they lie and cheat and they wield a knife to the back of unsuspecting people when it suits their agenda.

I call them swines.

Wait, that's an insult to all cuddly non-pork-destined pigs. These people are parasites; they come, attach themselves to a suitable hosts, suck their vigour and leave them dry and weary when they're done. On to the next victim till they've reached their goals.

I'd like to believe that they will receive their comeuppance, a fitting punishment for their unscrupulous dealings on hapless people who are honest and modest in nature. But we live in a world that is increasingly vicious. It seems that justice is about as common as a man with principles of steel. Its existence is threatened. Greed and jealousy shall be the common denominator from now on.

The corporate ladder never looked so perilous.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: This post is dedicated to all the fighters in the working world out there. You know who you are.

Earth Hour was fun!

Those are my mom's feet.

Actually, I lie.

The skeptic in me is strong with this one. I mean, this has got to be the PR stunt of the year. You have celebrities preaching to us the gospel of Save the World! yet these are the same people with a dozen air-conditioning units, all switched on at the same time.

Here's a great idea: why not have Earth Day? You know, switch off everything. Or at the very least, all your PCs, TVs, brain, whatevers. Let's see if all the celebs would want to do this. (Maybe Leo DiCaprio and Al Gore would love the idea. Never say never.) I exaggerate but c'mon, 1 hour, once a year to tackle a problem that's going to take years to turn around? The symbolism is nice but it will hardly make a difference.

My family was one of the very few in the neighbourhood that actually turned all the lights off, lit candles, tried our luck and not trip over anything. Besides, only two other households were the same as us. That makes it a grand total of three out of nearly two dozen. The rest went about like just any other day. Who can blame them for their ignorance? Humanity has been on the cloud of lethargy that when something so significant, something that literally change their lives utterly, it whooshes by them like a morning zephyr. Kids are still throwing garbage on the roads, old men are still spitting on sidewalks, people are still smoking in non-smoking areas, the piles and piles of rubbish is rising higher than mountains, the list of how we are damaging, nay, destroying the world is terrifyingly big.

How can an hour hope to bring an awakening to people who don't even know their little actions are the ones that is slowly but surely snuffing the life of Earth? The ignoramuses can be pardoned to a certain extent, but it is those who don't give a damn, the ones that really don't care and won't do jack shit, now, they are the ones who are causing the most harm.

My hat (if I had, it would be a fedora in black with red trimmings) goes out to the people who give it their all to trying to make this world a better place. These are the real heroes, not celebrities or politicians who more often than not pretend to care.

I can only hope upon hope that people will one day wake up and realise how fucked this planet is and that they'll try to make a difference. I really do.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: What did you do during that one hour?

"Organic" is a dirty word.

Before I go on, I have to profess:

I love organic stuff.

I love organic raisins, organic tomatoes, organic avocados, organic noodles and so forth. I like 'em all. Heck, if you told me these odd-looking shrimp you're handing me is organic and free-range and these same shrimp were able to swim around an organic-certified pond, I'd devour them without a moment's hesitation. Pass me the salt, though.

The sudden influx of all things organic in Malaysia didn't happen overnight. It's been a long time coming. Previously, the only organically-grown things we could get was herbs in a small flower pot. There are now small shops specialising in organic food springing up everywhere; every mega shopping centre has now at least one dedicated shop. At the very least, there'll be a small section in the supermarket. And people don't seem to mind that the cabbage they could get at the wet market is but a tenth of the price they just paid at the organic shop. Prices have gone down significantly, but 8 types of grain bread with Mongolian rye at RM10 a pop?

People who exclusively consume organic products are simply put, wankers. They're like vegetarians, only much worse. So much worse. Whereas a vegetarian will politely decline a serving of salad with dressing that contains the merest traces of garlic or GASP! onions, the organic wanker will furiously debate with you the virtues of free-range chickens, the taste of veggies free from pesticide, and why your salad tastes like dog poo. At this point, physical violence seems justifiable...

Growing up on Malaysian food means only one thing: it is the best in the world. It may not look pretty at times, (rojak comes to mind) but it sure as hell tastes divine. Can you imagine our staples such as roti canai, char kuey teow and nasi lemak all substitued with organic food? I can't and I won't.

You are what you eat and right now I want me a chicken sandwich. Organic, naturally.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Who's gonna do this? I'll turn of the TV, PC and whatnot but I'll leave the fan on. It's so friggin' hot!

Please excuse me for a while, I need to mourn.

Despondency may be a fancy word but it fully encompasses what I'm feeling right now. Why?

Look no further than these here links:

Sportinglife
Times Online
Guardian
ESPNSoccernet

But due praise must be said when it is deserved. Liverpool, you were definitely the better team contrary to what The Gaffer might say.

However, winning battles don't win titles. You have to win the war.

I sound like am asinine fiction writer.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I want to eat salmon, damnit!

I nearly killed two boys.

*this post was written last year and is only being published now after I forgot to publish it.

I had just gotten my car back from the nearby workshop after it had spent the day there for a check-up. I thanked the boy who delivered the car to my house, sent him back to the workshop and promptly went home. I can go for my evening jog! The day all of a sudden took on a new colour, from the blazing orange-yellow hue of the sun to the gloom, grey of rain clouds signalling that rain is eminent (it never happened). About 15 metres away from the junction to my house, I slapped on the indicator, to indicate the other road users that hey, I’m going to turn in here. Seeing that the opposite car was a good distance away from me, and knowing that behind there wasn’t any car or an old grandma with a pram, I pulled my steering wheel to the right.

Out of nowhere, I look up to see not one but two boys, both without helmets, centimetres away from me. The rider swerved his motorcycle just in the nick of time. If he had ridden a little faster, even a mere kilometre faster or so, both he and his friend would have ended up on the tarmac, their blood staining the ground red (though, the worst part would be that I would have to wash it off my car). Shocked I was at first, but the feeling was soon replaced with a sigh of relief and a rising anger. I managed to compose myself in time, gave them a look that said, “You two are very lucky,” otherwise my door would have rather fetching indentations bearing a striking resemblance to their faces and darn it I’ve got to go to the workshop again. They looked at me with a look that said,”What the hell,” flashed me a derisive smile and rode off.

Honestly, even though I was still shivering when I got down from the car and recounted the tale to my mom, my anger far surpassed all other initial feelings.

The newest trend for motorcyclists is the weave-in-between, whereby they would go right in the middle of the road and speed off. Not only is this extremely dangerous, the rider could fall down inexplicably, but for motorists on either of the side of the road, it could prove fatal. I’ve seen children as young as 10 riding motorcycles far bigger than their tiny bodies, their hands barely reaching the handles. And they always seem to travel in a group, sometimes as many as four children on a single motorcycle.

Where are the parents? Why are the parents not keeping an eye on their children? Of course, I’m being unfair by putting the blame squarely on the parents. It’s not their fault that their children are such fine examples of humanity.

Is it fair for us car drivers to be in constant vigilant mode whenever we drive? Like, duh. But is it fair for us to be mortally afraid whenever we’re behind the wheel, praying before embarking on a journey, hoping that the road won’t chuck us with a potentially heart-stopping situation involving, what else, motorcyclists?

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Watchmen, while brilliantly brought to the big screen with some of the best-looking visuals I've seen in a long time, didn't really present its theme of peace at all costs as strongly as I hoped it would. I gave up on the book when I first read it, but I'll definitely revisit it some day.

I look like a misshapen egg.

February came and went like a thunderstorm decimating everything in its path.

Including my hair. I look like this here fella. If only I had the money to boot...

Last month was filled with one incident after another. It was one problem right after the other and while it may look trivial now--petty even--when those things happened it brought back painful memories. I put on a smiling face whenever I was in the office, but only a select few knew what was really going on. Even then they only knew the surface; the bottom was too deep for any of them.

If only that happened every month! (Every month when I work, that is!)

I could do without the drama, of course. I would love to go in work, do my job, get home, sleep and repeat the brutal cycle the next day. Without feeling like a complete wreck. What's the point of going to bed dreading what's to come?

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: 2 in the bag, 3 more to go. Come on, Red Devils!

Ah, that good ole feeling.

I'm trying to read 3 books at once, as can be seen on the right-hand side of the screen. And I remember them! Mostly, anyway. More on this later.

Last week was a thoroughly tiring week. It was a week where I really wanted to get out of the office as early as possible but couldn't. In fact, I ended up being in the office for 12 hours, 3 days in a row! While I know that some of you and many others have experienced this, for me to do that many hours is something unusual considering the situation I'm in. It may sound trivial to those who've worked those hours, some on a constant basis, but this is my blog so I'm going to rant as much as I want.

Phew.

Back to the beginning: it's been a long time since I've had this much fun reading 3 books at once, no less! I normally have to be in the right mood and frame of mind before I can even open a book but the last few days have been nothing but literary goodness. It also does help that football tends to start at 0130 so I have time to kill till kick-off.

Have a productive week ahead.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: NEVER, EVER deadlift with your back curved. Lest you want to walk like a disoriented crab.

It was the pimple that did it.

How was your Valentine's?

Good?

Bad?

Or was it just another day?

I guess most of you know by now that I'm not one to "celebrate" such things (here's my post on Valentine's, in case you've forgotten), since they're so highly commercialised to the point of ad nauseam. What? Do I really need to buy a dozen roses to prove my love? Do I need to feed her one of my meatballs (not that kind of meatball) to show that I care for her wellbeing? Why do I need to prove anything at all when I view that every day with her as my partner is enough?

I guess I'm being my normal cantankerous self. After all, why would a guy in a relationship rant about Valentine's anyway? No, I'm a single guy who happened to spend 14th February with 3 other singletons. But it wasn't all lugubrious or laden with emo-like temper tantrums. It was FUN and quite filling, too.

The day started pretty well, dropped my family off at my aunt's place, drove to the increasingly saccharine-filled shopping centre known simply as The Curve. The sun was blazing and while I was sweating profusely, not-so-decently clad girls could be seen clutching, clinging or hanging on to dear life to their beloved. Quite a number of girls in groups (more like packs of marauding wolves) without partners could be seen as well. Cue armpit sweat stains on shirt upon face-to-face with a chick. Went to the gym, blasted out one exercise after another and finally went on to meet my friends. When everyone arrived, pandemonium broke out; no, we didn't exactly torture innocent bystanders with our wit, but our brazen ways got the better of us and we burst out laughing at basically everything, at decibels more commonly heard at rock concerts, from food not reaching the mouth (guilty party here) and to the most golden of observations:

All breasts are tender.*

That outing further proves my point that when good company with good chemistry coupled with good food (albeit bloody expensive!) are at hand, good times are a sure bet. Sure, it would've been great to have been with a significant other on Valentine's but I absolutely have no complaints about spending it with my friends.

Here's to the next outing, guys.

* = My Russian friend said this gem in the most deadpan of voices when our friend's meal of chicken breast with fancy cherries arrived. It was a massive LOL moment.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: If you're puzzled (or slightly put-off) with the title, it goes like so: there was this rather fetching girl who kept looking at me whilst me and my friends were lining up to have our super pricey dinner. Even my friend noticed it. Turns out she was looking at me, however, it wasn't my face, but the large pimple on my chest.

Life can be so cruel.

5 (un)lucky people will know me much better...

This comes all the way from Nadia.

“The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. What I create/pull out from my magic hat will be just for you.
2. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (In other words, just appreciate it!)
3. You will receive your item before the end of the year (or sooner). I will do my utmost best to achieve it.*
4. You will have no clue what the item/thing is going to be. It could be a knitted pair of socks, a heart-shaped hammer, even fried noodles in the mail (packed tightly, for sure). Keep in mind that it could mean anything that my sometimes demented mind chooses to bestow upon you.
5. I reserve the right to conjure up the most ludicrous of items. What's life without a little fun?

The catch? Ah, the catch is that you have to repost this meme and make and send out five surprises of your own.”

So, what are you waiting for?

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I think I only have, like, 3 readers who would actually comment here so I'll just make up plans as I see fit.

* = This meme actually scares me. I'm not sure if I'll able to keep to my word. In the event that I do not keep to my word, you may kick me in the derriere. Once only, though!

2009 - January - WOW

How's everyone been? Hopefully the Year of the Ox started well for you.

Because mine is starting out to be the best year of my adult life.

And my worst.

The last month of the year of the Rat (my Chinese Zodiac year! w00t!) which was January brought me much experiences. Some very good and some very, very bad. I started the year literally doing nothing. I had just recovered from the flu (three years in a row I got sick on New Year's!) and I was at home when most were out ushering in 2009.

But I didn't give a damn, I just wanted to sleep.

Fast forward a few days, my colleagues and I had to pull out all the stops for our company's annual dinner. The theme was Caribbean, a theme yours truly campaigned for with utmost vigour (I have a flowery shirt). It was a mad time; I had to juggle increasing amounts of work (some were conveniently dumped on me and my team-mate) plus helping out with the preparations. And it didn't help that the steering committee was reduced to 4 persons after an initial 10. I'll skip the boring bits and go straight to the end: on the big day itself, I finally made a very important decision:

I am not going clubbing on my own accord ever again.*

I absolutely abhor everything about it: the perpetual non-rhythmic beats of "music"; the excessive drinking where you're labelled a teetotaler by a bleeding drunkard just because you can only drink a sip of beer. I loathe dimly lit places reeking of vile cigarette smoke where you have to squint your eyes and shout to your friend, "Where's the loo?" (Never say never, but for now, I'd much rather hang out at a café, sipping a nice cup of hot green tea with some dear friends.)

Just when I thought people who are absolute assholes couldn't possibly get any worse, they do! If you're going to lie, make perfectly sure you do not get caught. If you say you're sick, then at least cover it up properly! Don't do things that allow your cheats and deceit so glaringly obvious. The only positive, the one thing that is keeping me from unleashing bloody murder, is that I am learning how to deal with this nonsense so that in the future I can bodyslam any idiots who pull this stunt when I reach managerial level.

I'm not one to brag, but I think my little cousins look up to me. Or at the very least, like me. Maybe it's because I treat them as children, but not in that typical condescending way of "Who's a little cutey cutey?" It's difficult to explain, but whatever it is, I now feel duty-bound in helping them to develop into fine young gentlemen and hopefully impart to them good points of life.

Every end of the month from now on I will recap the month. I've left out some incidents, naturally, because rekindling the memories would just be painful, but rest assured I've recovered from the hurt.

Enjoy the weekend!

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I so need a haircut.

* = Truth be told, something totally out of character happened. Something that would make the future me a bit ashamed of. However, the experience and the wisdom gained is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, invaluable.

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

Hey folks, hope everyone is doing fine.

I've nothing witty to post. Nothing in the way of a whiny rant as per usual. Just a shout out to all to have a very Happy Chinese New Year.

See you next week.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: And to all my foes, well, Happy Chinese New Year, too.

If you're going to dance in the club, wear shoes.

Cats should never be allowed to dance with hardcore kids.

The day that I get married, there will be dancing.

Just don't expect me to bust a move.

Such an intrepid pronouncement can only mean one thing: I tried to dance, or at best, boogey, the other night. At a club. Someplace I normally avoid like a bad case of stinky tofu. My 'dance moves' can be best described as a cross between a fish out of water and a person who just underwent hip replacement surgery. A professional dancer would probably hyperventilate at the mere sight of me swinging my hips to the beat. And speaking about beats, I'm still partially deaf from all the club music. How do people do this week in, week out? Shouldn't they be wearing hearing aids by now?

But why was I in a club in the first place, on my own volition no less? Because my company just had its annual dinner and yours truly was also part of the organising committee. (Massive credit should go to the other three members for they were fantastic to work with. You know who you are.) Company outings tend to be a case of jack-in-the-box, you never really know what might pop out. And on that night, what popped out may even be too hair-raising even for the seasoned party-goers. It was so surreal, so much so I thought to myself that this is like a warped episode of The Office (the original one), replete with me and my friends acting like total dunces.

It's kind of strange watching your colleagues, especially your seniors, letting it all loose and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Earlier in the day they were busy fine-tuning the memory settings of a particularly lousy system but now they're trying to get as much food and drink. Managers who have the most sedated countenances ever were shouting and heckling and toasting like there was no financial crisis put the younger ones in their place. Heck, even the nerdier (for lack of a better word) persons were unlading the crazies on the dancefloor.

Goes to show that even the sturdiest can have a loose screw. Or two. Or three.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I can't do the limbo rock for nuts.

Goodbye 2008, hello to more procrastination!

The first week at work after the Christmas and New Year holidays is always the hardest. More often than not, the body may be dressed up in work gear but the mind is still in shorts mode. But enough of such enmities, it's time for the first meme of 2009! I so love memes. They're so...memelicious.

Hmm...

The What the Heck You're Up to Now meme:

Where is your cellphone? Somewhere. I hope.
Where is your significant other? Next to me. If I had one.
Hair colour? Slightly darker than black.
Your mother? Out with my sisters.
Your father? Look up to the sky. You might see him.
Your favourite thing(s)? My thing. Wahaha! If you're referring to belongings, then it would be too many. But if you're referring to things as things I cherish the most, it would have to be my family, friends and my life.
Your dream last night? Had a nice chat with the personal trainer chick from gym. She was by far the most beautiful sight I will most likely see all year.
Your dream/goal? To rule the world.
Your hobby(ies)? Again, the best things are in three's: working out, having awesome chats with my buddies, enjoying life.
Your fear? Not being liked. Serious!
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Being the boss. To my boss's boss!
Where were you last night? At home.
What you’re not? A girl?
One of your wish list items? For now, a better job.
Where you grew up? In a house with my family.
The last thing you did? Checking this site out for the latest football news.
What are you wearing? Don't worry, I am wearing clothes.
Your TV? Um, downstairs?
Your pet? Never had one, never will.
Your computer? Using it now to do this meme.
Your mood? Insouciant and covetous.
Missing someone? Hmm, crikey! I left my grandma at the arcade. Again!
Your car? It has seats and a steering wheel, the last I remembered.
Something you’re not wearing now? Make-up.
Favourite store? Book stores make me happy the most.
Your summer? It's a perpetual summer here in Malaysia. Sometimes it's all right. Sometimes it's horrid. It's so-so at the moment.
Love someone? Myself, most definitely.
Your favourite colour? Darker black.
When was the last time you laughed? Well, the last time I laughed really loud was in the office last Friday. That was a riot.
Last time you cried? Last Thursday. Me and the guys from office stood outside our building and we talked the most splendid nonsense, ever. It brought tears of joy!
Are you a bitch? I'm more of a bugger. But I can be a bitch when the occasion arises.
Favourite position? Upright.
Favourite past time? Not working.
Are you a hater or a lover? I'm more of a clown. But I'm more of a hater now. I hate Chelsea!
Are you genuine or fake? I'm genuine if I consider you a friend but I'm a fake if you're someone I detest.
Any vice(s)? Miami. Retarded joke aside, my vices would have to be procrastinating, checking out girls when I'm supposed to be working out, checking out girls when I'm supposed to be working.
Pro-life or wire hanger? I believe in the adage of "the punishment should fit the crime".
McCain or Obama? No contest, whatsoever, it has to be Obama.
Pro plastic or natural? Natural, naturally.
Dream job? Not the one I'm having at the moment.

I tag Angie and whoever who wants to do this.

Be nice now, people.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Here's a big shout out to the return of Syar and Nadia. These two ladies are quite possibly the most entertaining writers Malaysia has not seen enough.

Even 2009 is taking its time to get started...

Seriously, the start of this year has been rather slow, lazy even. It's as if 2009 is waiting for 2010 to take over and be the "Good Year".

It's as if 2009 wants to be the lazy one and is hoping that 2010 will be the bright child. And I'm inclined to follow in its footsteps.

Maybe it's just me. After all, last month was where I was the least productive; I simply did not care for work. I just wanted to get through what little working days I had without any fuss so that I could enjoy the off days. My mind was at ease even when the "big" problems reared its ugly, um, rear.

So now the first month of January is upon me, and quite frankly, I don't really see anything that'll make me go, "WOWS," work-wise most especially. But then again, it's my fault. The economic downturn has really put a damper on many a company's plans, so jumping ship right now with the clothes on my back and with nothing else, is pretty much a giant risk. I guess I should stop procrastinating and update my resumé already.

Here's hoping to a somewhat productive, or at the very least, interesting, week ahead.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: I still need to get me a new pair of trousers. Curse you, Marks and Spencer, I don't wear 40" trousers!

2009 better be kind to me.

Ho, ho, ho!

How's everyone been? Man, I'm still so stuffed from stuffing my face from the last five days, I feel like a bloated octopus with my tentacles wrapped around a big pipe.

Hmm...

Anyways, Christmas was good. Took my little cousins out and it must be said that seeing them with their big smiles made the absatively horrid traffic jams seem a breeze. ('cept for one stretch where we got stuck for about 10 minutes, moving centimetre by centimetre very painfully slow, and with the sun blazing it sort of baked my legs.) Since my own childhood wasn't exactly the rosiest, this is the best I can do to make up time for all the non-happenings during those bleak years. And I now banish any notion that I was a heavy eater back when I was the village pudgy boy. My cousins ate more and faster than I ever did when I was their age. And they're like friggin' sticks! That talk back! Argh!

It must be said that the commercialisation of Christmas and other religious celebrations has become something so big that the other races have joined in the fun to cash in the bonanza. Heck, the other races are more excited than those who actually celebrate their respective celebration. Take my office for example: the Christians in my office were generally laidback leading up to Christmas, while most regarded Christmas as a welcome break from the exigencies of work. But my Big Boss, a staunch Buddhist, was the merriest of us all; he played Christmas carols, old Christmas ditties to even techno versions. I've never heard Little Drummer Boy with so much bass in my life.

In less than a month's time, the Chinese will celebrate their New Year. The cycle will repeat itself again. I'll take my family out again, get stuck in traffic jams and smile all the way. Because being with the family beats being in the office, tinkering away at systems and diagnostics and such.

The new year is fast approaching and as I leave 2008, I can't help but wonder, how the hell did I survive all the shit and nastiness of it all? But I'm also grateful that I managed to get through all the muck and grit, and in the end, emerged (rather scathed, I must say) with invaluable experience and wisdom.

Here's to a fruitful and less migraine-inducing 2009. Have a good week ahead!

This Chris, signing off.

PS: Happy New Year to all!

Dear Santa, I've been a good boy. So where's my new job?

Wazzzzzzzzzzzup, me peeps!

Oright, oright. I've just downed some pretty unsavoury tasting organic oats, all of which were done in the effort of being healthier, so pardon my rather uncharacteristic opening line.

Hate to say this, but time sure does fly,eh? Especially when the last 3 months or so have been the most interesting out of the entire year. Good and bad happened, along with the really bad so it's only natural that I look back at it all and think to myself, how the hell did I survive all that shit? Seriously, how did I end up writing this when not long ago I had murder bloody murder coursing through my veins?

I exaggerate, but you get my drift, yes? Work's been going down the crapper ever since people started becoming more and more greedy, selfish and downright lazy. And that's just the people I don't have any direct work with. They'll get what they deserve, that's for sure. Cupid's been shooting his arrows at everyone around me except, of course, me. The git. Life, in general, has been like the months when the stock market went cuckoo; lots of downs but there were a few bailouts in between. However, I'm hoping and having my fingers crossed long enough before osteoporosis sets in, that 2009 won't be as bleak like how the world's economy and wellbeing is when the new year arrives.

But let's get into something more salubrious, for instance, my 2008 resolution list!

1. To be a better person.
2. Enjoy life with family and friends.
3. Work hard and play harder.
4. Save the planet. One plastic bottle at a time.
5. See Dream Theater in concert.

Comments:

1. Still a work in progress.
2. Still a work in progress. Haha!
3. Still a work in progress. Hahaha!
4. Still a work in progress. Hahahaha!
5. Done! Saw one of my favourite bands live in concert on the 17th of January this year. It was one of the best days of my life, EVER.

In all seriousness, this year has been absolutely topsy turvy. If you've kept up with the recent posts, you'd know what I mean exactly. I can honestly say that I've grown up a lot this year. I'm still the bumbling buffoon but with one big difference:

I look cool. Oh, so damn cool. Tee hee!

Anyways, since 2009 isn't that too far off, (mmm, Christmas chicken, mmm...) I might as well come up with my resolution list. Here goes:

1. Get a better job.
2. Be a much better person.
3. See another band in concert. Preferably here. Singapore is expensive.
4. Go on holiday.
5. Get back to playing guitar.
6. Improving my (still rather rubbish) Chinese language skills.
7. Get a better job. Hmm, didn't I mention that already?

I guess that's about it. To everyone, regardless if you celebrate it or not, have a very blessed and Merry Christmas. Don't eat too much turkey, now.

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: This is definitely not the last post of 2008, so be sure to check back next week for the last one!

Crisis? What cri$i$?

I love shopping.

But I also hate it, not shopping, per se, but the other people who are in the vicinity as I when I shop, 'cept for the cute girls at the lin...I mean, food courts. By the way, has anyone else noticed that our food courts are becoming more and more, um, shiny? The majority of the food still sucks, that's no different, but have you been into one lately? They're really sparkly!

It really amazes me that while governments are busy trying to bailout their respective catastrophes, the people, at least over here, are nonchalant about it. Practically oblivious to the fact that if their government doesn't react fast enough, they'll be the first to suffer its effects. And then they'll moan and groan, cursing at the government and the leaders, why? WHY MUST I SUFFER? Ooo, chocolate doughnut. Yum.

I reckon that most are dimwits. Wake up! Whatever that is being fed into your sorry excuse for a mind should always be taken a with a pinch of salt. (A small one, yeah.) Believe not everything you see on the idiot box...

This is Chris, signing off.

PS: Christmas shopping still ongoing. Gonna get me a new pair of trousers! Tee hee!
PPS: BUSH, you da man for ducking the shoe attack!