cheax2

This entry is actually taking place on the 4th of Feb 2011, but because my computer's running on Alaska time, it's about 8 hours behind GMT. Hehehehehe, compared to Melbourne time which is about 10 hours ahead of GMT.


First off, my yearly horoscope to decide; will it be a good year for the pig? I don't think I'm superstitious, but nothing wrong with taking heed?

http://www.moonslipper.com/chinese.html

Forecast for 2011 The Pig loves to have fun and socialize with family and friends and on this front, the Year of the Rabbit will not disappoint him! He made not have been the life of the party recently, but in 2011 his social network will greatly increase with April, May, July and October being the most enjoyable months. Single Pigs could very well meet a romantic partner through a friend or at a family gathering. The Pig parties hard and works hard and in the Year of the Rabbit he will be bringing in the rewards for all his hard work. For any Pigs who wish to change jobs or who want to climb up the promotional ladder, there will be quite a few opportunities this year to do either. But they must act quickly, ensuring they have made all the right enquiries and connections. March, April and September will see work developments happen, but they must be ready to pounce at any time during the year. The Pig will be feeling good in 2011 and would like all manner of wonderful things to happen – all at once! He must learn to pace himself and go along with the more leisurely speed of the Rabbit year. Otherwise, he may burn himself out. Overall, 2011 will be a progressive and enjoyable time for all Pigs.

http://www.gotohoroscope.com/2011/chinese-2011-horoscope-pig.html

The good-natured Pig will spend the year 2011 of White Metal Rabbit without hassle, although he still should be more cautious and wary - there will be full of predators who would want to bite the Pig at the flank. Representative of this zodiacal sign should not to be careless and blindly trust people, because this year for the feline grace tends to hide from the Pig not quite dirty dealings - he will be distracted by mild manners of companion, and will not notice his sharp claws. Despite the fact that this year has no global changes in wait for Pigs, his life will still witness minor (at first glance) events that can lead to big changes in destiny. So, the Pig will have lots of meetings and acquaintances, some of them might be crucial, affecting career or professional growth, as well as the personal life of a representative of this Zodiac sign. The Pig will surely experience a very vivid and intense love - feelings could flare up again to a spouse if relationship in the pair was previously cooled slightly, or to a completely different person - and then the Pig will live this year, tormented by internal contradictions and remorse. Whatever the case, Pig loves and is loved - and indeed what else does he need to be happy? 2011 horoscope for Pig of wood element For your sign, 2011 will likely be a favorable period, although perhaps not the most successful. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the merit of 2011 will be in the fact that this year will reveal new horizons. That is, due to certain events in 2011 you will get a chance to start over, start a new project and thus open up an entirely new chapter in your life. 2011 horoscope for Pig of fire element The personality of the Fire Pig in the year 2011 of white rabbit will undergo certain deep changes. So if you are concerned for your position in the society, you dear Pigs should be careful, and measuring the reasonableness of your decisions every second. But even in spite of your success in the planning of your actions, sometimes enthusiasm will leave you. 2011 horoscope for Pig of earth element For the Earth Pig, the year 2011 will be a great period of distinctive features that will be effectiveness, financial prosperity and harmony of relationships with others. Have you already planned what you want to achieve in 2011? If not, then hurry up, time remains very small. 2011 horoscope for Pig of metal element In the life of the Metal Pig in 2011, everything is revolving, spinning and changing. Your life is so full of events that even when you lose heart and you want to feel sorry for yourself, there will be something that will distract your attention from the negative. 2011 horoscope for Pig of water element You dear Pigs, the year 2011 of rabbit expects stability in virtually all spheres. Nevertheless, this does not mean that your life in 2011 will not witness any surprises. Despite the fact that you will build a solid foundation in the private sphere of your life and in the field of business interests for future achievements, you will not achieve success without help from above.

Hmmm.

Yesterday: instead of doing what I said I'd do.... *sigh*

Looked up head units... doesn't look that difficult actually. Need more info!

• After market head units - my budget's probably around $200.
• Must support USB input (mp3 and what other formats?), CD. I don't have an ipod or iphone, but support it for future use?
• I don't need GPS... but should I get it anyway? More $$$. How secure will the head unit be?
• Want a subwoofer and tweeters (better amplification and contrast of different sounds in the frequency spectrum) - component speakers. Doof-doof or Douche-douche car... oh no. Will need an amp to deliver powa. hmmm.
• Find out what size (diameter, depth) the speakers in my car are. Do I want different speakers? More powerful ones? huh?
• Get a professional to install it. But can I watch? I think I can get a friend to do it. Car's not covered by warranty anymore, whoot!!!

Tonight, continue what I didn't do yesterday night!!!

1. Graphics card for comp - look it up. I have my comp specs, I know where CPL is. Go go!!
2. HSDPA


3. Mobile phone plans: Vodafone, 24 months plan, $29 cap, new phone please! 
   
   
   
   • internet access
   
   
   • GPS
   
   
   • sport-track tracking / timing
   
   
   • music playing (mp3, other formats) capability
   
   
   • tailored for cheap sms use
   
   


4. Investment Properties:
   
   
   
   • capital required
   
   
   • contract
   
   
   • time of building
   
   
   • schedule of payments
   
   
   • amounts needed, etc
   
   


5. Database access / creating / programming? SQL

At work right now.

Spent the morning sleeping in, despite the rather tight and discipline requiring schedule that I wrote up for myself yesterday night.

Today... I had lunch, and found that June (Dieu) was back at the restaurant! Whoo, haven't seen her in yoinks! she forgot my name, despite remembering my usual order, and even my distaste for coriander and spring onion! hehehehe. All good, got her number, shall catch up one day!

Went to Rebel sport and bought the black squash balls too (the ones with the two dots). Shall practice a lot better now I shall!

Today's plan well, considering that it's already 4.37pm, not much can be planned is there?

Reseach:

1. HSDPA



2. Mobile phone plans: Vodafone, 24 months plan, $29 cap, new phone please! 
   
   Ideal supported capabilities:
   
   • internet access
   
   
   • GPS
   
   
   • sport-track tracking / timing
   
   
   • music playing (mp3, other formats) capability
   
   
   • tailored for cheap sms use
   
   


3. Investment properties
   
   • capital required
   
   
   • contract
   
   
   • time of building
   
   
   • schedule of payments
   
   
   • amounts needed, etc
   
   


4. Database access / creating / programming? SQL



5. 
   Intended plan:
   6pm - change and go do a few rounds on the thousand steps. :D
   
   7 pm - be done!
   Get home, shower.
   
   tonight: Read:
   World news: what's been happening?
   Technology:
   Investment / business - up and coming? World economy, exchange rate fluctuation,
   
   Want 2XU compression tights!
   Need to look up cheap running shorts and shoes online too. Asics / Reebok / Adidas?

So here I am, on a Sunday night, with tofu-fah in front of my computer. 

Friday night, I worked. It was a little bit all over the place for me... where has my mind gone!!!

Saturday yum cha could have gone better; service so shit la. I think whenever I go there, it's just me and 1 to 3 other people, so we usually get the small table and first dibs on whatever the trolley brings around. Saturday was a big table, and a bad location.... *sigh*. The food was good though. Just the service. *stabble*

Today, went running around NEC and got swooped at by a magpie!!! That's a first!!! Usually, magpies don't give a crap about me!!! Whooo!
Did 2 rounds.... argh!!! *tired*

Went to Glen Waverley after, had Yong Tofu (a bowl of noodles and a tom yum base, and 6 pieces of dumplings and/or veggie/ tofu stuffed with fish paste). Yummeh!!
After that, I had bubble tea, shopped at the Glen Centro and bought stuff from David Jones. This is a BAD BAD habit, this regular shopping for shit that I don't need, but I buy anyway.....

I have just finished my container of tofu-fah (didn't get any at yum cha yesterday...) and have work to do.

:D

hello all!!

I've called in sick at work today because I've been feeling shit.

Last night, towards the end of work, I started feeling dizzy and cold, yet flushed, and driving home was really difficult, but I made it. Yes, I skipped taekwondo. Bleh.
Went to bed at 7.30pm. Got up around midnight, did a few chores and then went back to bed.

Woke up this morning feeling crap again, so I've called in sick and am at home.

Might as well get a few things done while I'm home, like clean the bloody place, fill in more super fund forms and booking a time to get my car serviced, get my cat immunized and a health check for her, and pay off an outstanding parking fine. Grrr. But hey, it has to be done.... 

I think it's caffiene withdrawal that I'm suffering from by the way. That usually makes itself known via neck pains and dizziness.

Young ones,be wise! Don't develop dependencies!!!!

Cheers!

Hello world!!

Rundown of Sunday :
-didn't go running in the morning
-got my hair trimmed in the city
-met up with friend, got lunch together
-went shopping - swimmers and then South Wharf DFO
-dinner: shared some dumplings
-done, home

Monday:

At work, trying to get things going. Forgot my lab book, so recording of notes is at a minimum right now.

The system crashed over the weekend, so the ligths are not behaving very well at the moment. *sigh*

ok, back to work.

My gosh, I spent so much time on Friday's post, that I can't be bothered with Saturday and Sunday's post anymore.

The engineer in me shall now make use of point form.

Saturday:

• morning - went for a run
• find out that there's no basketball with ex-work people. BOOO!!!
• call up a friend, let's meet for lunch!!! I get to chaddie early, shop a little at A/X
• I love A/X. Unfortunately, I haven't got enough of a life to warrant more purchases
• friend turn up, we have a quick lunch
• she has to leave for a speed dating thing. I meet her other friend who works in Chaddie. He's rpetty busy, so looks like she's leaving without him.
• We spend about 15 minutes looking at dresses, then she leaves
• I try  on a few dresses after she leaves, then I go home
• I rollerblade in the park nearby. It's after the rain, so the path's pretty wet.Almost slip a few times. ALMOST
• Go home, and pack. I'll go rollerblade at St Kilda beach!!! And then after that, change, and meet people at the Stokehouse for dinner, and then go see the ballet (The Nutcracker)
• Take FOREVER to get there and park, because I am unable to locate the Stokehouse. Finally park, and it's quarter past 5. Dinner is at 6, and there's not enough time, so I just walk along the beach, enjoying the view. 
• By the way, the STUPID ticket machine is taking forever.
• at half past 5, I change, and at 6 on the dot, I wait at the table.
• People arrive a little later. Most of them are ex uni mates; I haven't seen them in a long time!!! Hi Hi Hi!!!
• I think some of them want to match me up with one of the guys. Not interested. Seriously not interested. What's wrong with him u might ask. Specifically? I don't click with him. I don't even talk to him very much. I don't care. He's nice. But yeah, nothing much to say to him or anything. I think he has a sort of look that just doesn't appeal to me too. No, nothing to do with good looking or not, blah blah. Certain people have certain expressions on their faces, in general, which can be welcoming, or animated, or dull, etc. He has on a whole, a rather disinterested expression on his face. He might just be born that way, it may not be his fault! His eyes might just be small and he has nothing but genetics to blame! Moving along....
• Dinner is nice. We has cod fritters, brucshetta bread and some starch like chips (not potato) as entres. For mains, we had pizzas, some pasta and someone had a chicken schnitzel. No dessert or coffee here.
• to the Palais theatre!!! *walks in her heels* Ouch.. but ok!!!

Right, review of The Nutcracker performed by the Russian ballet troupe? ERm, no. I will give a bit of a rundown. 

It was ok. The dancing was nice. This sounds bad, but after a while, the ballet dancers seem to look at though they're all pulling the same standard moves, except in different locations and or in different angles. Or maybe I, the boring, un-artistic, non-art-educated person am unable to appreciate the complexities and subtleties that the ballet dancers express with their moves. *sigh* Probably. Or maybe I'm used to TV cameras being able to go anywhere, giving one a view of the most dramatic moments at the most opportune times, fast forwarding and freezing or slow motioned whenever to intensify the climax of the performance.
I did appreciate a few things though. I know the male and female principal dancers are supposed to be the stars of the performance, but to me, the star was the little Asian kid whom performed a number of supporting roles. She was the cutest little kid!!! And she performed well too! How old was she, 6?
The female principal dancer was lovely, exquisite, beautiful, and performed well. So did the male. The male costume left very little to the imagination with regards to his lower half. And he was wearing a cup. It looked like he had a cup anyway. Thigh muscles were defined. Buttocks were plentiful yet muscular. I prefer smaller hipped men. haha. In my opinion, he could be a bit more 'buff' in the upper half, but I guess being lean and muscular only in places required is best for what he does.
:D

After that, we went out for dessert to a cafe around Acland street. I paid $10 for 2 brandy snap rolls. They were nice, but not $10 nice. I found the woman behind the counter rather rude too.

After coffee, I dropped a friend home (we went to uni together, but I never talked to her at uni. Nothing against her, I just kept to myself!) and got home around 11.30pm.

:)

And that was my Saturday!

The weekend is over!!! But it was a good weekend!!!

Went out on Friday night with a friend, after bludging a few hours at home not doing anything useful (after work) while waiting for her to finish with her weekly badminton session. Turns out that she drove all the way to MSAC, then realised that she left her bloody trackies at work!!! So no badminton for her then.

She rocked up at my place, and we drove into the city and ate dumplings and noodles at the Shanghai noodle house, in Chinatown, Tattersalls lane. Yummeh, but not as good as when we had it the first time, after a good badminton session and were starving as....

After that, we walked around a bit, looking for a pub somewhere to while a few hours away. It's the weekend during which horrid torrential rains were predicted by the way, so the night's pretty wet. We aren't dressed real swanky, just jeans, jackets and tees, so not too big a uss there.

We stopped outside the Elephant and Wheelbarrow at the corner of Russell and Bourke, which looked chockers and had people queueing up outside. Friend suggested going in. As we approached, I freaked out, and..... couldn't. Why?  Friend said I looked funny, that a weird expression overcame me. What happened to me? Not sif' I haven't gone into a bar or pub before, what was wrong with me?

We hung around outside a little longer, but when it was clear that my reluctance was not going to subside anytime soon, we walked around looking for the Hard Rock Cafe, which mysteriously was not locatable that night. Strange....

So we then popped into the European (corner Collins and Russell?). Upstairs we went, to check out the performance going on. There was loud music and dancing, but for some reason, we just weren't feel it, so down we went, found a table, and down we sat. I had a Stella pot while friend had a lemon lime bitters. 

We stayed and talked while the other clientèle, which looked to be mostly made up of footy fans watched Geelong and St Kilda play on the large LCD screens hoisted from above. After the game, another friend called up (she was at a weekly organised group dinner) and said she would join us, along with one of the other women she met from the dinner.

So later on, it's us 4 women at a table in the pub which looks half empty, just talking, getting to know each other and just talking. One thing that dominates the conversation is the fact that single women are looking for male partners. Am I one of them? I don't know. I'm single, and the thought of meeting someone whom I would click with is interesting, and the other perks of having a male partner appeal to me greatly. But well, I don't feel a sense of urgency? Or rather, my priorities are different at the moment. On the other hand, these other women are very, very proactively going out there meeting men with that intention. And I feel very, very intimidated.

For one thing, I think and believe that I am a shy person. I DO want this to change, and I want to be more comfortable just going out there, meeting people, developing good conversationalist skills, networking, and generally just being sociable. I KNOW for a fact by the way, that I am a slow learner with many things. These other women on the other hand, are actively going on dates, having group dinners with strangers, speed dating, etc. I admire them very much for their being so proactive and going out there and just meeting people. I don't think I'm up to it yet though. I'll meet people at my own speed. And maybe I naively want to still believe that I'll bump into, talk to, maybe spend time with and then discover a connection with someone later, rather than with the  expectation over a small number of meetings of deciding whether to move in a specific direction? Actually, what differentiates that from how I expect to meet people anyway? The second method might actually be better, because people are upfront and honest about things (it's required in that sort of situation) as opposed to the other method, where people become friends, and then maybe one likes the other and maybe it's not returned, or people don't want to ruin the friendship, or potentially things don't go well but because both came from the same group of friends, that things become rather awkward?

Anyway, the forth person was really outspoken, opinionated and full of talk, which I foolishly thought she might actually carry out. Nevertheless, despite my prudish reactions, the night was fun, and I think we shall all hang around again. Got home around 1.30am!

Next Friday we plan to frock up and have a real Friday night out. I want to go dancing!!!
:D.

Today, I....

Drove to work, and heard a slight strange noise coming from the left back region of my car... like a muffled helicopter rotor sound. Got to work, and checked my tire... looks ok

Got to work, and find out that the lights were being good, except for a flaw in the logical execution of the code compared to that expected by the user. No problem, bug lodged!

Most of the day was boring.. a lot to do, but no mood to do it. *sigh*. 
And then with regards to the things I had to do, I get so overwhelmed that... it's not funny.
I need to settle down and figure things out, write a plan, and have time to research / delve into what I need to know.
Upgraded some lights, and then realised there were two major problems. One with commissioning, and one with the new firmware. SCREWED.

After work, Id rove off, and realised that the rotor sound was a LOT LOUDER. Turned the music off, and heard it loud and clear. This is while I'm driving 60 on an 80 road, and I've left work. Turned and stopped at Sofia's on Ferntree Gully Road, and took stock. Holy fuck, my rear left tire is FLAT AS!!!!
 I check the boot, and see the jack and spare tire, and with trepedition, tell myself that I will change the fucker myself... yeah, I can do this!!!
But first, I need some words of encouragement.
Call sister - no answer
Call other sister - no answer
Call girl friend - no answer
Call other girl friend - no answer either.
Think of ex-colleague whom I know whom lives nearby... no.
Think of auto-mechanic guy friends.... no.
Call colleague whom left for home half an hour ago, lives fucking far away, but knows his car shit like no tomorrow. He answers!!! He tells me a few words of what needs to be done. I feel encouraged. 
I hang up, grab the car jack, feel under the car for the part of the chassis for which to station the jack.
Feel around....
get crap on my hand.
Feel around.
Can't find it.
Fell discouraged.
Stand up and think... sheet. Look up at Sofia's... there's a bloody ot of people there, could someone help me? Should I go up there?
Think for a while, and mobile phone rings.
Colleague got back to me, and  he says that I might not have the strength to change the tire myself, so he's going to pick his fiance up from Tafe, then came over to help me.
YAY!!!!!!!

He;s about 1/2 an hour away (Hawthorn) so I wait.
Use the toilet at Sofia's, then start calling people to talk. Caught up with some friends. :D

Friend comes, and we move my car coz there's not enough space to change a tire where it is.
 Move it to the back then he gets down to business.
He checks for the jack point... can't find it. See!!! I couldn't either!
And then he does something very logical, that even I SHOULD HAVE DONE; he asks me for the manual, and gets his fiance to look for the jack point location.
*shoudl have done this*
Found, located, start jacking the car up! 
The effort required to jack the car up is irritatingly tedious, especially because the jack requires you to remove and reinsert the handle each time after each twist. 
Jacked up, remove flat tire, examine; there's a fucking bolt sticking out of it... need to repair!!!

Continue jacking the tire up much higher
Replace with the spare
Jack the car back down
Replace the tire into the boot of my car; I must remember to get it repaired or get a new tire.

Take friends out to dinner at Glen to say thanks!!! :D
Had a Moroccan breadless burger at Shine, while they had Chickens Parmigiana.
The fingers on my left hand are FROZEN by the way. It takes a lot of hot-chocolate-mug-holding before they come back to life.
Dinner was yum!


After dinner, I drove to NEC, and hung around with a friend whom was on night shift until 11pm.
:D
Practiced a few kicks in the large office, in front of the large glass window (my reflection was visible form there) - all good.

Home now, and should go to bed if I want to get up in time to go to the gym and use the room with the mirrored walls. *sigh*

ok, bed time now, after I pay overdue rent....










 

Run down of my day -

Alarm rings at 5.30am, lay in bed till quarter to 7, thinking about the run and rollerblading I'll be doing. I'm doing. Dang nabbit, I'm still in bed, it's all in my head!!! ARGH

Get up, get ready for work, feed the cat, get to work a little before 8am.

Check the lights.... still working! yay!

Upgrade the lighting system. ARGH! Web app crashed - restart. 

Lights go out; the office is plunged into darkness. *Chea is weary of people going past with screwdrivers*

Finish commissioning lights. Back! But they're all dim! :(

Turn lights on - yay.

Lights go dim again - occupancy sensors not working!!!!

Verify a bug - fixed.

Investigate sensor malfunction - sensors are fine, it's another piece of hardware.

I wanna go home.....