481. Ruyi's B'day

It's the little princess' b'day today. Seng & Fen took her to Youth Park. I had a late nite, so didn't make it. After they came back, it's time for the cake cutting. Wee & Raine is in KL, so they missed it. Mom was burning the Di Zhu God's tablet (At least I think it's the Di Zhu God). So took some photos of the fire as the tablet was burning. After that it's off to Queensbay with Mom, Seng, Fen & Ruyi.

On friday nite, went to Sega @ UPR, Soho & then SS with Lewis and some of his friends. It's been a while since I was last @ SS. The band was really good. Ran into Shirley & Gayle there.

After work on Sat, went to Bed @ Belissa Row with James and a couple of his friends. Then, headed over to Gurney Plaza to collect my i-Zoom from the Canon shop after repairs. It costs RM94 to replace the damaged 2" LCD. Dropped the camera & killed the LCD at Antz wedding back in Nov last year.

It was really congested in the Pulau Tikus area. Apparently it's because of traffic diversion as Western Road was closed in preparation for Thaipusam celebrations on Thursday (1st of Feb).

Ruyi & Fen; Ruyi after eating her cake


Father & Daughter taking at peek at the CNY Decorations @ Queensbay Mall

CNY decors @ Queensbay Mall



Burning of the Di Zhu God's tablet


Got back my Canon i-Zoom; pic of the replaced 2" LCD panel

480. Coming to another weekend

Basically spent last saturday nite with a bunch of new friends for a drive up to Teluk Bahang dam. One of the guys that joined us drove a Subaru Impreza STi S204, one of only 600 ever made. Nice. A bunch of nice people & it was interesting listening to their stories. They know someone who owns both the Aston Martin DB9 & The Vanquish. They told me that the Aston Martin Vanquish costs merely RM2.7 mil. :) Great, I have only RM2,699,999 to go before I can afford it. You can also visit the Aston Martin's website for more information.

On sunday, it was off to Chong's parent's place in KB for buffet dinner to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year. Was tired and feeling irritable. Also having irritants there encouraged me to make an early exit.

The lovely models posing for me @ The Dam

The Limited Edition S204

More Evos


@ Chong's place, more lovely models

Nicholas, Antz & Yippie trying to tune the car before dinner

Chong's sis, Ping & her son (the baby doesn't like me taking his photo); His parent's house was packed

479. Golden Rules for Career Success - Richard Moran

WORKING as a business consultant all over the world, I have discovered some basic career-related rules that everyone should know but many don't.

Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats. Claim them all as victories.

Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.

Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to fake it.

Never bring your boss a problem without some solution. You are getting paid to think, not to whine.

Long hours don't mean anything; results count, not effort.

Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.

Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.

Help other people network for jobs. You never know when your turn will come.

Don't take days off sick unless you are.

Assume no one can/will keep a secret.

Know when you do your best morning, night, under pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your work accordingly.

Treat everyone who works in the organization with respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the managing director. Don't ever be patronizing.

Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer or your boss. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In the course of human events, how important is this?

If you get the entrepreneurial urge, visit someone who has his own business. It may cure you.

Acknowledging someone else's contribution will repay you doubly.

Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting opportunities tend to be unplanned.

Always choose to do what you'll remember ten years from now.

The size of your office is not as important as the size of your pay cheque.

Understand what finished work looks like and deliver your work only when it is finished.

The person who spends all of his or her time is not hard-working; he or she is boring.

Know how to write business letters including thank-you notes as well as proposals.

Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos from the top are political fantasy.

Eliminate guilt. Don't fiddle expenses, taxes or benefits, and don't cheat colleagues.

Reorganizations mean that someone will lose his or her job. Get on the committee that will make the recommendations.

Job security does not exist.

Always have an answer to the question, "What would I do if I lost my job tomorrow?"

Go to the company Christmas party.

Don't get drunk at the company Christmas party.

Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the week if you have to.

The most successful people in business are interesting.

Sometimes you'll be on a winning streak and everything will click; take maximum advantage. When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.

Never in your life say, "It's not my job."

Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.

Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Use them whenever you have an opportunity.

People remember the end of the project. As they say in boxing, "Always finish stronger than you start."

478. Gentlemen, Hold Your Horses
stolen from MSN Men's Lifestyle Column

16 Tempting Urges That Must Always Be Controlled
By The Men's Health Editors

1. Performing the chest bump. Sporting celebration should be proportional to the peril faced in the pursuit of victory. If your game involves an underhand toss, midgame brews, or Velcro-backed flags, dial it down, champ.

2. Buying all the equipment after two lessons. Holster that credit card until you're certain the novelty of fly-fishing, snowboarding, or competitive bird-watching won't wear off.

3. Being overpolite. Social pleasantries should be dispensed with grace. Saying "bless you" after each of nine successive sneezes makes you an automaton, not a gentleman.

4. Writing a love poem in the first 3 weeks of dating … and not keeping it to yourself. Her hair might indeed remind you of the first new morning rays of sun. But those rays may fade, and there's no reason to leave a paper trail.

5. Finding exact change. Picking through your pocket lint for 11 cents isn't helping the barista churn through the morning rush any faster. Do everyone a favor and stockpile your coinage at home. Trade it for cash once a year, then treat your girl to a dinner you otherwise couldn't afford.

6. Marking an e-mail "high priority." Just because Bill Gates dreamed up a button doesn't mean you should press it. Pick up the phone.

7. Yelling out a song request. Sorry, but the lead singer is only paying attention to the braless blonde in the front row. Channel all that energy into clapping, Casey Kasem.

8. Overvaluing your wisdom. Just because you understand the intricacies of the global currency market doesn't mean you should share them. Unless there's a point to your pontification—you're a doctor, someone has symptoms—give it a rest. Saying, "Enough about me … " is often the best conversation starter.

9. Flipping the bird. There's no better way to make sure you meet the recipient of your gesture at the next stoplight.

10. Talking between bathroom stalls. No matter is so pressing that it needs to be discussed with your pants down.

11. Screaming at the customer-service rep. Actually, check that: Go ahead and scream. Just make sure there's a method to your madness. You're mad at the company, and you're this close to taking your business elsewhere.

12. Overpronouncing foreign words. Granted, you spent a magical week in Baja, but that doesn't give you license to pronounce "Guadalajara" like you're clearing hair from your throat. There's a middle ground between butchering a word and being the pompous protector of its linguistic sanctity. Find it. (We're talking to you, Giada De Laurentiis.)

13. Sending an angry e-mail. Along with drunk-dialing your ex and drinking appletinis, this one fits in the category of things you will always, without fail, regret. Here's a rule of thumb: The more bridges you'll burn, the longer you should let that e-mail smolder in your drafts folder.

14. Tapping the brakes. Avoid reckless drivers, don't antagonize them. Let him pass, then watch him get pulled over.

15. Oversanitizing. Washing your hands carefully after going to the bathroom: normal. Reaching for the bottle of Purell each time you exit a taxi: compulsive.

16. Obsessing over your fantasy team. If you're really that into a sport, play coach in a way that actually matters: Teach a kid to love the nuances of the game as much as you do.

477. Back to Penang

Tsuiki is back for a visit. He hasn't gone on the ferry before, so decided to take him on the Ferry instead of the bridge to Chong's house.

View of Penang from the Ferry; A view of the Penang Bridge with interesting light contrast on the sea


Tsuiki on the Ferry; Antz imitating a Playboy bunny


Us chilling @ Starbuck, E-Gate after dinner @ Tao

476. KL Trip

Drove to KL last weekend. Had a drive to Putrajaya & Cyberjaya with Dennis & his car club. There was a pretty good turn up. In the group was a classic car. 1970s Mitsu Galant GTO MR. A handsome looking car that's well restored. Putrajaya has changed a lot since I was last there. After the "photoshoot", we headed over to the only mamak stall in the whole of Cyberjaya. That guy be rich, beeyatch!

Watched The Curse Of The Golden Flower @ The Curve's Cineleisure, hmmm, what do I think of the show? Well, it was a SHOW alright! :) I was so distracted by all the bossoms that I missed the story line :P Gosh, the DVD can't come out soon enough. Jay Chou's acting is still awkward.

I can't breathe.................

Met Chuwy & Family, Mag, & Tee Ann & EM. 'Twas a really fun trip, and this is despite having to load myself with cough, fever & flu medication.

1970s Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR


Trip to Putrajaya


Lunch @ Jack's Place, 1 Utama Food was surprisingly good; Sophia & Sean having fun with the Barney mobile


Dinner @ Chilli's, KLCC


The Sanctuary; Ice Bar @ The Curve


Dragon-1; Cineleisure @ The Curve

475. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dim Sum breakfast @ Bali Hai, Gurney Drive

Isaac; Ruyi
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Seafood Dinner, again @ Bali Hai

Spider Crab & Geo Ducks (Huge creatures, use the guy's shoe as reference)
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Countdown @ Soho Penthouse

Looked like it was snowing outside; Ppl went crazy when the clock struck 12

Fireworks; Seng & Fen

Dave & Wee; Wee, Zakri, James, me & Lewis

Scully Sisters; Dawn, Fen & Ann

Desmond & his girl; Zakri playing with his *ahem* glowing stick

Heineken 5L Draught Keg in comparison with a pint of Guinness; Do not try this @ home kids, these people are trained professionals & have years of experience behind them
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Lunch & Tea @ Gurney Plaza

Hmmm, sexy pose, Boony; Chong & his son, Yuuki

A happy dad; Errr, some wierdo

Eva with Chong's baby