Suprise!!

I promised something great, and now I deliver my promise.



On August 3rd, 2008, at 2015 hours, my hall looks like this:








And then on August 3rd 2008, at 2200 hours, my hall looks like this:

Can't see what is that? Need a closer look? Here you go:

How is that for a piece of furniture in my apartment? I finally got what I wanted! I guess staying in the States and getting a job for the summer isn't that bad! Or should I say it is amazingly wonderful? =p Yes, I am happy, very happy. Why shouldn't I be? After all, I have been wanting to have a foosball table in the place I live in. =D


Alright, that's all for now. Now I am gonna do some practice everyday if possible to prepare myself for an upcoming DYP right here in Des Moines! Let's hope Mr. Adrian will come along. =D Ciaoz...

Chicago -- the Windy City

It's spring break, and off I went to the windy city, Chicago. It's a 6 hours drive there from Des Moines, and it was a great relief when we reached Chicago. Stomachs were grumbling because of hunger, joints are sore due to lack of strecthing, and everyone are tired due to the long journey.

Finally, our first meal in Chicago. Comments about that restaurant was pretty convincing, but I must say that it did not live up to expectations. Even those who gave good review was disappointed. Anyway, we made our way to the hotel and recharged our batteries.

Rise early my fellows, our destination will be dim sum at Chinatown! Reluctantly we dragged ourselves up and made our way to the restaurant. The dim sum was quite okay, but if compared to those we get in New York City, it is a mile off from that standard. Anyhow, we head to our next destination -- downtown Chicago for St. Patrick's Parade.

People were everywhere when we reached the area. Every vantage point for a clear sight of the parade were taken. We compensated for it, and can only blame ourselves for not arriving earlier. Anyway, it wasn't all that important. I took pictures of the parade, but then started to get bored, and so we left.

We walked about nearby, visiting the reknown Chicago Bean (it is call some other name, but it is nicknamed Chicago Bean) and also downtown Chicago. We also managed to take some pictures of the river which was dyed green for St. Patrick's Celebration. Authorities claim that they use environmentally friendly dye, but I still can't help thinking what the fishes in the water think! Maybe something like, "Wow! Plenty of algae floating in the water today? Every fish, open your mouths and start eating!" =p

We went back to Chinatown after spending time downtown. Dinner time, which means we are hungry and food will be served soon! We filled up our grumbling stomachs at a seafood restaurant, again claimed to be very nice. It didn't live up to expectation again, and I didn't eat much. Maybe my expectation was to high, but I doubt it.

Karaoke was the next event, and the place for karaoke looks similar to red light area! They even use red lights to illuminate the area! It wasn't too bad, and the bartender aka technician aka 'one man show' was friendly and we did had some fun time there. Suprisingly, one of us was hungry after singing! So supper was up next. We had some food again and head back to the hotel, a journey where everyone except the driver started to doze off.

We slept till the sun was high up in the sky, then headed out in search for korean barbeque. We spent some time getting the address right and the name of the restaurant, but finally our GPS and friend in Des Moines got us to the place. Everyone was very hungry at that time, but there was only one waitress serving three tables! Patience is a virtue, and finally we were rewarded with food to treat our hunger. It was quite nice, but again, I like New York City's korean barbeque better.

We spend some time walking around the korean village, then head back to Chinatown for snooker and pool session. We cancelled the original plan of buffet steak for dinner due to the price and also the mood, and succumb to walking around Chinatown. We end up spliting into a few groups, and I walked with my dear brother. We had char siew and siew yok fan (barbeque pork and roast pork rice) for dinner. The serving was huge, and we had a satisfying meal. We headed back to the hotel, had just a little booze as we planned to play some games that night, but everyone was more interested with those hilarious commercial which the television was airing, and we called it a day after those commercials.

Korean food for brunch the next day, which was the best meal of the trip in my opinion. I spent quite a lot at the korean mart as well, but it was well worth it I must say. A last stop at Chinatown to get more char siew and siew yok and roast duck and also some pastry like egg tarts and buns, we head back to Des Moines. Rainy weather and long journey isn't pleasant, and napping during the journey was the main event.

Back in Des Moines finally, and dinner was great. Kimchi and korean snacks with siew yok and stuffs is a great match. After sleeping on the floor for a few days, my bed couldn't have felt better! =p All in all, I must say Chicago is a nice city. Definitely I will visit Chicago again one day. But to compare it with New York City, I prefer New York City. And for now, back to catching up with studies for the rest of my spring break! Adioz.

Just ranting...

I am bored, and laden with assignments. How unfortunate. Finals is another 3 weeks or less away, and my studies isn't going as well as I thought it would be, especially my Stats 2!! Even though I am laden with all these assignments, I still prefer it over examinations, and I do take time to do it nicely and take time off to relax my mind.

Friends gathering is a great way to relax from all these hectic and crazy work. I just had one yesterday night, and I would like to shout aloud a great big THANK YOU to Randy and Rachel. They cooked some wonderful dinner, and we had some games together, which where most of the fun came from.

I once heard that to know someone truly, give him/her alcohol or cards. Well, I think it still stand true and will stand true forever. No no, don't get me wrong, no one in the gathering yesterday gave me a bad impression. It's quite the opposite actually. I got to know someone who is very smart, intelligent, and wonderful. Well, I did know before hand that she's very smart, and very alert to everything that's happening around, but it is still amazing how she can do it in such a pretty way. Schweet!

Anyway, we did tiramisu after some booze. The effect of the alcohol cleared off, and we had fun doing tiramisu, learning from someone who have actually done it before and done it perfectly. Hey hey, this boy here actually know how to make tiramisu already! I am eating it now, and it taste very good. Well, I didn't actually do much of it, but I was there to witness the process, and helped out a little. So I guess it's all of the pretty chef's work! Brilliant!

After being here for two months or more, I get to know people more in depth, or that's how I feel. Some times there are just people whom I can't tolerate; and some times there are people who are just so wonderful. I guess different upbringing does have effect on everyone.

I also get to know myself a little better. Guess what? I am a big spender. No no, don't say you are too. I spend 60 usd on a pair of wonderful headphones, 80 usd on an external hard drive, and tonnes of dollars on vacations and clothes and snacks and food. I even chose to buy something that is not on discount instead of the discounted item! That's how crazy I am. And I have this thought behind my head which tells me, if I have the money, I would have a walk in wardrobe just for shoes, and another one on jeans. Well, maybe I can join the two wardrobes, but I really hope I can have shoes that match my outfit whenever I want. =p And I am still looking for a pair of WHITE jeans. Yes, pure white. =p

Alright, enough of crap on this cold and wet day. Maybe I should continue enjoying the tiramisu she made, and get some sleep as a reward of finishing two assignment in one afternoon! Adioz... ;-)

Crazy and Insane

Fall break is round the corner! Well, even though fall break is just a few days, it's a very very important break from this hectic schedule. The amount of assignments is mind boggling! The amount of text to read is crazy! The amount of work and effort I have to put in coupled with my professional paper FM studies is insane!

I can't wait for fall break to come. It will be the time for me to finish all my assignments due after fall break. It will also be the time where I play catch up with FM studies! Apart from that, it will be the time where I get to rest!! Oh my so needed rest!

Among all the mind boggling studies, I managed to skipped a whole Saturday of studies for paintball and dinner and birthday celebration for Jun Hong and Kai Shin.

Paintball was great! Apart from those ugly bruises I got though. The area for paintball here is so much better than those in Malaysia. Here, we really battle it out in woods! Brilliant! I will definitely jump into it again if given the chance. Heck, it's cheaper compared to Malaysia too! =p

After a few hours of intense running and climbing and shooting, I went to Rachel's house for dinner. Randy is the chef, along with his dear Rachel, Eva, and a few other extra pair of hands from me, Fred, Jun Hong...... The kitchen wasn't that big, so try imagining 5 or 6 of us cramming into it! It was funny and interesting. For the second time since leaving home, I had curry chicken. Other dishes are Tom Yam soup, ground nuts and lotus root soup, corn and cabbage and meat and whatever soup, and rice. It was by far the best meal I have had. =p

Games came along after dinner, and with it comes... Well, what else? Alcohol! Lol. We had some beer and dry gene whisky. I ate so much for dinner, and my big brother forced me to drink some beer. Result? PUKE! Yes, I puked, not because I was drunk, but because I was too full!! Hahaa... It was really funny. Thankfully most of the people left right after they wash up the dishes, so not many people saw me. =p

We played till 11.40pm, and chauffered the birthday boy and birthday girl back to dorm, where a suprised party was planned for them. Well, it was a little over obvious, so it wasn't of any suprise to them. But it was really thoughtful of Julian the mastermind to dedicate some great birthday bash for Jun Hong. I am pretty sure that he was very touched. I finally got some rest around 1.30am, rest from such an eventful day.

Had Tom Yam mee hoon for lunch the next day. Yes, Tom Yam again. =p It was nice, very nice after suffering from dorm food. =D Add on bubur cha cha to the equation, perfecto!

Walmart was the next desination after lunch, and I finally got my stuffs which I have been wanting to get since Monday. I have my cereals for breakfast now! No more skipped breakfast for another month or more I think. Got a clothes hanger already, no more clothes lying on my bed! =p I spent close to 40 bucks in Walmart. Crazy? No...

I was looking for a printer. I saw one in Walmart, but decided to get it online after listening to advice. I was looking for camera as well, since fall is here and mother nature is going to display its beautiful fireworks folliage. In the end, I bought a printer online, all in one printer to be exact; and bought my camera online, Canon PowerShot A570IS. Add the money I spent in Walmart, I spent a grand total of 300+ bucks in a day, which translate to about RM1000!! Crazy? Y! E! S!

Time to hide in my own dorm room, wait for my RM1000 to arrive to my mailbox, and study my @$$ off!! No outing, no holidays, no spending till I get a job! =( Don't tempt me! Zzzzzzzzzzz...

Difference between cash flow and water flow -- no difference

Three more days and I am here in Iowa, USA for a month already. Old fashioned as it is, I must still say, time flies. Being here for nearly a month, I couldn't help but to spend money. Well, some are necessities, but there are also impulse buy. Out of boredom, I decided to take pictures of what I have bought so far and list them here.

Warning: Don't spend money like how I did, you'll be shocked over how many things I am about to list here.

Necessities:


toiletries container, along with tooth paste, face wash, hair and body shampoo


detergent and softener (it's supposed to be purple colored, but it turned out dark blue. Blame my camera!)


gloves


laundry bag


jeans


comforter


belt


socks


bowl


forks and spoons, well, it's more worth it buying a set. Anyone in need of utensils? I don't mind selling. =p


Lamp

Impulse buy:


T-shirt


T-shirt, again. Heck, one is USD18, two will be USD18.88, whadda you think?


M&Ms-my third packet!


Green tea lemonade


Sweater. I bought it because it looks very nice. Bad impulse!

I even bought ice cream to eat. Twice!

Impulse buy, but there's a necessity for it:


Shoes


Headphones with microphone


Breakfast cereals


Milk and Gatorade


Sandals

The biggest chunk of my money goes to:


Text books!

Well, some of these stuffs listed above will end up as junk.


Sigh, so much for getting my debit card, with the pretty Minnesota Timberwolves design.


What are you looking for? Like the clip art? =p I am showing you the design, not the number!

I need to constraint myself from further spending!