Subject:	Super Busy Day
Time:	9:12 pm.
Mood:	tired.
Music:	Jubilant Sykes.

This happens four times a year. It's stipulated by Bursa Malaysia (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) for all public listed companies. It's when we (as in my employer) announce our quarterly results. Today was one of those four times, and in fact, the biggest of the four because it's also the announcement of our year-end results.

Actually, there's a lot of waiting involved, especially for the Board of Directors to approve the figures, after which we go into action - finalising the various formats (detailed print-outs, advertisements, web site version), checking details, collating the print-outs, getting ready for the press conference (this evening) and analysts' briefing (tomorrow morning).

There used to be a lot more work involved. Back in the days when photostat machines did not collate and staple, the print-outs came to us in loose sheets and we'd sit around, gathering the various sheets that make up each set, and stapling them. Fun, cuz we had colleagues from the different listed subsidiaries join us to lessen the load.

And in the early days when we first started making the results available on our corporate web site, the results had to be coded in HTML, which was a LOT of work. (This was before Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia DreamWeaver.)

These days, photostat machines that also collate and staple have taken over the manual collating and stapling, while PDF versions now grace our web site instead of HTML files.

These days, too, fewer hands are needed for the various tasks, but those of us still involved in the quarterly announcements enjoy meeting up cuz we only do so four times a year! For the past two quarters, we've been missing a certain member of the "team" who has been promoted to a rank (read Finance Director) that doesn't require him to be involved hands-on. Apparently, he misses us, too, cuz he asked his team this morning, "You sure I don't have to be there? You sure?"

I think we'll send him a special invitation to visit us at the next quarterly results announcement.

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Subject:	People Watching
Time:	9:44 pm.
Mood:	grumpy.
Music:	Tea and Sympathy (Janis Ian).

It's one of my favourite pastimes, and this was what I saw yesterday morning.

Time: 11:14

Date: 21/8/04

Venue: Coffee Bean, One Utama

Family #1

Family of 5 - husband, wife, two kids and maid

As soon as they arrived and even before they were seated, the older of the two kids started bawling. I have no idea why. No one scolded her; she just decided to make her presence heard.

Much later, I heard the husband ask the maid: Awak nak kopi? Kalau tak nak, ada air di sana (You want coffee? If not, there's water over there).

This was after he'd ordered and all the food had arrived and on the table. Why didn't he ask at the time when he was ordering the food? Or was it an after-thought? Probably.

Family #2

Family of 5 - husband, wife, two kids and grandmother

The wife has that unhappy, unsatisfied look on her face. In hindsight, I'd say her face had a really pissed-off look on it.

The husband took forever to order, let other customers go ahead before him a couple of times.

When the food arrived, the wife started complaining and asked to see the manager.

Apparently, they'd ordered a side item of toast for the elder kid. She claimed at a Penang CB outlet, they got five slices of toast, but here, there were only four. She also complained the bread was sliced too thin.

When the manager arrived, unhappy wife proceeded to tell about what they got at the Penang CB outlet, but added that it was also at other CB outlets, too. She also mentioned how thin the bread was sliced.

The manager took the food back, supposedly to give them what they want, I guess.

Meanwhile, unhappy wife was telling the son - don't use your fingers, use the fork ... you don't put salt on your bread ...

I looked at her and she just looked so unhappy. Yeah, like the world owes her something. Pissed-off face.

I secretly hoped the manager spat on her toast and unhappy wife choked on her food.

Well, not really ... that would be mean. Don't mind me, I'm just venting.

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Subject:	Hua Mei turns 5
Time:	9:25 pm.
Mood:	pensive.
Music:	The Night Chicago Died (Paper Lace).

Amidst all the excitement over Mei Sheng's 1st birthday, let's not forget his half-sister, Hua Mei who turns 5 today!

She's back in Wolong, and supposedly pregnant, but we won't know for sure until about two weeks before the baby's due. That's how it is with giant panda pregnancies.

Anyways ...

Happy Birthday, Hua Mei!

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Subject:	A year ago today
Time:	5:21 pm.
Mood:	good.
Music:	Some Chicago song my colleague is playing.

Mei Sheng (aka "Beautiful Life" or "Life in the USA") made his entrance into the world at 1:15 p.m. PST on 19 August 2003. That's almost a year ago today ... in fact, another 11 hours to go to his ... *gasp* 1st birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mei Sheng!

He's come a long way since then, as you can see from the two pictures below:

barely an hour old

almost a year old

Aww ...

Update at 11:26 p.m.

He's getting snow for his birthday!

Zoo Throws Birthday Party For Young Panda

On the San Diego Zoo's Panda Webcam, I can see the snow, but no Mei Sheng yet. I wonder what time they're letting him out to play in the snow?

mei-sheng-bday-040819 (24k image)

I think I'll stay up a bit and wait for him.

"Live" from San Diego Zoo Panda Webcam

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Subject:	Mel Today
Time:	1:13 pm.
Mood:	pleased.
Music:	Annie Lennox.

Hey Mel! Here's a picture of your face (and a story to go with it), but your eyes are hidden behind those shades. When you have a picture taken astride your Bandit, please make sure you're in full leather gear, but no shades, please!

She used to ride a little motorbike to school in Norwich, in fact used it to ride between London and Norwich, too.

These days, she's all grown up, and so has her taste in motorbikes. She now rides a 600 Suzuki Bandit, and recently sent me a group picture with herself in full leather gear. Here she is, the picture cropped to show only her.

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Subject:	Calling Mel
Time:	11:44 pm.
Mood:	relaxed.
Music:	Joan Armatrading.

Got an sms from Mel this evening - It is 12:45 pm are u able 2 call

Hmm ...

I'd sms'd her about a week ago to ask if it was okay to call her for a chat. Now only she's replying?

Anyways, since I was in Pet Safari at Ikano, I went in search of somewhere quiet to call her. She answered on the second or third ring. Didn't sound surprised to hear it was me. Said she was somewhere in London, having lunch and waiting to meet a client (she's a lawyer, lah).

Mel and I go back 16 years to when I was going to school in Norwich, England. We've had our fights (some fierce ones, too) but always made up. She knows some of my darkest secrets. I think I know some of hers.

It's difficult to talk personal stuff in a public place and over a BT headset (my t68i's a little faulty, so I can't talk directly into it), so when Val came to join me (after trying to get a present for her godbaby), I told Mel we'll talk another time. She said to email her.

Here's a picture from 15 years ago. We were larking about in the Coffee Bar on campus.

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Subject:	This Coke tastes funny
Time:	10:35 pm.
Mood:	irate.

Val and I had seen this cute looking bottle of Coke at Jusco the last time we had dinner (a week ago) but didn't have time to go back and get it then. This evening, we did. We got one each, plus one for our Mei.

Val said she wasn't going to drink the Coke inside, but would keep the bottle cuz it's cute. I think it's cute, too, and will keep the bottle cuz of that, but I also like Coke, so I wasn't going to not drink it.

So, I opened it just now and took a drink. It didn't taste like the Coke I'm used to. Not sweet. Which may be a good thing. I looked closer at the labelling but it was all in Japanese (well, except for the words "Coca Cola", and "C2" which Val said stood for Coca Cola). Then at the back of the bottle, the part behind the main label, I found a tiny English phrase. "PAL SWEET DIET".

No wonder it tasted different. Eww ... *ptui*

It's also deadly to me. Cuz lupus and artificial sweeteners don't go together.

OUCH. Major OUCH.

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Subject:	Scene at gym
Time:	9:50 pm.
Mood:	relaxed.
Music:	True (Spandau Ballet).

Line dancing instructor to students: Before I go home this evening, I want at least 90% of you familiar with the dance steps. Right now, only xx% of you ...

/me wonders what time the instructor will be going home this evening.

And no, I was not in the class. I was going through my own routine, but as usual, people-watching.

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Subject:	Scene at nursing home
Time:	6:54 pm.
Mood:	amused.
Music:	Tracy Chapman.

I arrived at mother's nursing home this afternoon to find Mdm Y fast asleep on one of the three-seaters. She woke up for the afternoon tea break, then went back to the same three-seater to resume her sleep. Before she did, I managed to ask why was she so tired, and learned she'd not slept a wink the previous night.

M, looking in Mdm Y's direction - "Sleeping again?"

"She didn't sleep last night," I said.

"Why not?" Then, still in Mdm Y's direction - "Why didn't you sleep last night? Who were you thinking of?"

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Subject:	Public Acknowledgement
Time:	8:29 pm.
Mood:	amused.
Music:	Love will find a way (Amy Grant).

Met up with Bendrix this morning to give him his set of CDs. We had a nice chat about various things.

Anyways, he got me a book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss (which I thought was very sweet of him).

The title is taken from a joke about a giant panda which walks into a bar, orders food, eats it, and when asked to settle the bill, takes out a gun and shoots the bartender before leaving. When asked why he did what he did, he says to check the dictionary for the definition of giant panda. There, apparently, giant panda is defined as an animal that eats, shoots and leaves.

The definition is mispunctuated as there shouldn't be a comma after eats. And that's what the book is all about, as indicated in its subtitle - "Zero Tolerance to Punctuation".

Well, the title may be funny, and the style quite funny, but overall, it is a serious book about the lackadaisical* attitude towards the English language these days. And this is one of the things Bendrix and I chatted about this morning. Which I quite enjoyed.

I look forward to delving deeper into the book. I was going to buy it at some point (both for the content and the cover picture), but he beat me to it.

Thanks again, Bendrix.

And for anyone curious about the cover picture, here it is:

* sorry, don't mean to use big words, but couldn't think of another more appropriate word

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Subject:	Moving office
Time:	5:17 pm.
Mood:	cheerful.
Music:	Sing Your Praise To The Lord (Amy Grant).

It's confirmed that our department is moving to another floor in the same building.

We're getting new furniture, too.

We're very excited, and have been looking at possible furniture set-ups for the new office.

But we won't be moving yet. This is the busiest time of the year for us and boss has said not to disturb us, especially the Studio boys.

Meanwhile, we keep looking at possible furniture set-ups. Here's one that's caught my eye:

pratiko5 (21k image)

I just want my phone and computer on the same table, so I don't have to get up to go answer the phone, only to have it go quiet on me (cuz I walk so slow these days, thanks to the onset of arthritis due to my lupus). Or maybe I should ask for a cordless phone at our new "premises".

*wishful thinking*

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Happy Birthday, Hua Mei!

Isn't heC U T E?

Happy Birthday, Mei Sheng!

Isn't he
C U T E?