The one with the long Chinese New Year break

Happy Chinese New Year to all. Also a very long break for most of my fellow countrymen. A long weekend which began on Thursday. Well the entourage didn't make arrangements to go somewhere but still manage to hang.
Started with a bang on Thursday. Where the entourage came and rocked Red Box Plus Pavilion. The first time we rocked there as a group. However most of us got the timing off. We took the lunch package as it was reasonably priced but guess some people partied too hard the night before. Still we manage to rock the joint. Overall we loved the place, mainly to the cordless mics and sound system. With the cordless mic, there wasn't any tangled wires and spilled drinks. As for me, I really went loose.
Had lunch at Friday's which had poor service. Food was ridiculously slow. Then we headed off to Starbucks Uptown (the new one next to HSBC) for coffee. We just chilled as well as deciding our next move. Decided to catch a movie. We were torn between Rambo and The Eye. In the end Jessica Alba won (which to me was a no-brainer, but don't know why some prefer to watch Rambo).
The rest of the break was just hanging out with the entourage. And I manage to kill some time reading at MPH One Utama and Borders The Curve. Was reading a book about the Star Wars Extended Universe. Didn't read about the Jedis, just went straight to the Siths. Read up on their history and why there is only two, the master and the apprentice. The chapter went on until Darth Vader. Didn't explain what happen after Episode 6, but you can look that up on the internet.
Also the drawback of this long weekend, I really pissed away a lot of money. On food, Starbucking as well as reading material. Don't really want to know the damage in dollars and cents.
And tomorrow is Monday. Crap.

The one with the blackout

Somehow the title sounds so damn familiar. Hang on a tick, its from Friends Season 1. One of the titles. Where Chandler was stuck in am ATM hall with a hot model and the rest of the friends telling each other stories in a candlelit room.
Been some time since my last post. Been busy playing Madden 08. Just finish my first season with the New York Giants. Led them to the Superbowl. Figured in American football you need a good quarterback, a very speedy-Gonzalez like running back (two of them would be better) and also speedy like defenders.
This morning part of Kuala Lumpur was hit with a blackout. Apparently some generator failure nearby. Good thing it happen after I step into the office and not when I was in the lift. Well, since this blackout happen at work there were no candlelit room stories to tell. Which would have been cool. Mostly it was who has to report to disaster recovery site and who has to stay back. I apparently had to stay back. We had power back after 2 hours and resume work as usual.
Well had a few interesting moments here and there during the week. Among them was chatting up with this chick at Starbucks whose name I forgot. When my boss ask who she was, I totally forgot (and I thought I was good with names). Also two days in a row I bump into 'you-know-who' friends. Seems been some time since they hang together, due to timing and workload. I myself mention I have not seen 'you-know-who' in ages. Suddenly flashbacks came into mind. Maybe I did have a chance, only (as always) I let it slip through my hands.
Well had an interesting discussion about friends with a friend of mine. We both have different views but I conclude its due to the schools we came from. Like I came from a normal neighbourly regular school where we all live within a mile radius within each other as well as growing up together going through the 'best days of our lives'. For others maybe because they went to boarding schools the bond is different. I have experienced both, and I have to say going to normal schools is a whole lot of fun.
Today when I meet up my schoolmates the togetherness is still there. For my boarding school mates, we have yet to cross paths (which is a good thing) because they all want to compare who is the high-flyer and most successful (being a rockstar doesn't count to them). The way they compare paths is one thing I don't want to face.
Most of my schoolmates have now moved all over the place, but somehow we all still keep in touch thanks to the wonder that is the Internet.

The one with the Melaka trip

Just got back from Melaka. Went with Farrish-Ida and Shah-Faizah. Planned as a bachelor gig for Shah ended up as a get together. Ended up as tour de Melaka and seafood dinner and a Starbucking experience in Melaka.

We all went in one car, Farrish's mums car. For me, it felt good being co-pilot even though I offered to help out with the driving duties. Along the way Faizah pulled out a sudoku puzzle dated 26 January 2007 which she still has yet to solve. I offered to help finish it. Completing a sudoku puzzle in the co-pilot seat isn't as easy as I thought. But I manage to focus and finish the puzzle in half an hour. Arrived in Melaka town and went around to see the sites. Just walked around looking for photo opportunities and such. The Farrish had to make a pit stop to meet his brother and pass some items. After that we began the trip for dinner. I was very hungry already as I didn't have lunch, then again everyone in the car was already hungry by the the we headed for food. Dinner was at Medan Ikan Bakar, Muara Sungai Duyung. I'm not much of a seafood expert, so I left it to Shah to order. We had a variety of food as you can see in the pictures below. The meal overall was an experience itself. The food was damn good. Been some time since I last enjoyed seafood. I myself can't really take seafood, but as long as I lay off the prawns I should be fine.

The Ikan Bakar place

The appetizers

The main dish

The after shot

After the meal, we were all stuffed and I think I could be used for a human sacrifice. As we got into the car we decided to wrap it up with some coffee at Starbucks in Mahkota Parade. Had the usual Caramel Macchiato. Coffee was needed to keep everyone awake in the car for the ride home. One thing we all did when we were in the car was sing. Sing to whatever was playing on the radio. Just to keep everyone lively and active. But once we hit the highway Ida, Faizah and Shah fell asleep. So I had to keep Farrish company as he broke every land speed record there is. Didn't even realize we were going that fast, must be the V-TEC. Guess we all had a long day and the next thing we need is sleep. Which seems right about now for me.

The one where I will be leaving the building

Think this will be a long post. Have 4 days worth of stories to post besides the one I've been saving. As the title says, I've finally tendered my resignation and like Elvis, I will be leaving the building. A huge relief for me as a huge boulder has finally been lifted off my shoulders. Hopefully I can get my career back on track.
Well, where do I begin. Maybe I should go day-by-day from Thursday. So the 'sack-the-bank' story will be elaborated after the Thursday story.
On Thursday I met up with some friends at Bangsar Village. Met up with my friend Shakirah and two of her friends from Bank Negara, Julinda and Alma. They just join the market and we just chill and had coffee at Starbuccaneers...I mean Starbucks. For those wondering Starbuccaneers is from one of my favourite games, Monkey Island. Well the 3 ladies have to sit for an exam. The 'Persatuan Kewangan Malaysia Certificate' exams for dealing license. I passed the exams already and they were asking for any tips. I told them honestly that my passes were all flukes and if you ask me to do the exam again most probably flunk in flying colours. Honestly I have no idea how I passed. As for the company Julinda also a sporty girl. She plays tennis, futsal and also basketball. Not many girls I know shoot hoops (meaning basketball not netball). Later that night I began to draft my exit letter and plot the exit.
Friday morning which coincidentally is Friday the 13Th I tendered my resignation with my boss. He asked where I was headed, just told him I be around the area. Then I went off for breakfast. Around 0930 he called me in and ask when I want to leave. I told him I wanted to leave immediately. The nature of my job allows me to leave on 24-notice as once I tender I am no longer authorize to transact any deals for the bank. Then went to Human Resources and filled in the 'exit interview form'. Among the questions asked was if there was any condition I would stay, I filled in 'none'. Then HRD mention Monday 16 April would be my last day with the bank. Finally I would make my exit. Even got my acceptance of resignation letter. Hopefully my new gig will help put my career back on track. Speaking of which, I will start on 3 May 2007 at my new gig.
Later that evening, join for futsal Friday since my ankle was feeling fine after Wednesday. Had fun and banged in 5 goals for good measure and to make up for Wednesday.
Then Shahfaizah called me up and join them for a movie. Went to watch Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg. Cool movie about sniper action.
After movie I join Hafizah and friends at Somo for a friends birthday party. I believe the birthday girl's name was Joyce. Met up with Hafizah's friends (let me see if I can remember all of them) Eke, Nana, Jijie, Nadia and Amu. Found out Nana and Jijie share the same birthday as me. Probably should start a club as I also know some other friends who share the same birthday. Spent most of the night on the comfy chairs with Hafizah and Jijie chatting away since most of the crowd was drunk. Filled them in on my resignation from the bank. Jijie also planning to resign and Hafizah mention one of her staff just tendered. Guess the season where everyone wants to change office address.
Saturday's futsal was fun also. It was raining cats and dogs which created a cooling atmosphere at the futsal court. It allowed me to run like a headless chicken without getting tired. My team made a comeback from being God knows how many goals down.
Then had dinner with Lai Leng. She wanted to buy me a farewell dinner at Chilli's. But something is wrong with me. For the first time I was unable to finish my food. I was shocked when I couldn't finish the remaining quarter of my dish. I take pride in finishing my meals as I don't like to waste food as I know there are people around the world who need food, so we should be grateful for the meal presented to us and finish it. For the past few days I've been suffering an upset stomach resulting a sudden loss of appetite. Very unlike me, but hopefully its not permanent.
After dinner met up with Farah for Starbucking. Yes suddenly it became a verb. Just chat the night away and filled her in on my exit.
Finally Sunday was chilling at home. Watch dvds the whole day. Met up with Hafizah for another Starbucking session in the evening.
Well a long post and a lot of friends mention. Finally tomorrow I will be leaving the building.