sober

So much for trying to stay off alcohol. After last week's almost neverending drinking, I was hoping to stay off alcohol for as long as I could.

Last week's drinking log:
Sunday - half bottle of sauvignon blanc (can't remember what was the name)
Monday - the remainder half bottle
Tuesday - pint of Extra Cold Guiness after Rotaract meeting
Wednesday (staff party) - G&T, 2 glasses of medium dry cava, 3-4 bottles of Magners
Thursday - sober
Friday (Paddy's leaving do) - 1 and half bottle of rosé, 2 G&T

The staff party was a good one. Overall it was a good week, a great week actually! I spent on my shopping but I gained £85 through winning stuff. Bliss! Now, awaiting for the incriminating evidence from the staff party. Can't complaint much thought, it was truly a good night.

After Friday I stayed sober, up until Tuesday night. The Shrink was back. And I would never miss our 'sessions' where possible. These 'sessions' normally consists of good conversations over drinks and sometimes some grub. (The Shrink must be laughing when he read this, me calling him 'The Shrink')

Anyways... it was a good night as usual. I often look back and thank God that I have friends like The Shrink who keep me sane. I am also thankful for others which I will speak about them more in future.

So on Tuesday, the company had a group of people doing an internal video. There was a small team of people directing and filming in store. It was about Plan A, the company's commitment to change. I was quite surprised to be pulled in to give my views on it. I was briefed roughly about the questions to be asked and then had this HUGE camera pointing at my face (from the side).

Mr. Director: What do you think of Plan A?
ennazus: Erm, I think Plan A is a good plan. (dooosh! wtf?! Obviously it is a good plan! Gawd!)

At one point, Mr. Director had to point out that I was sneeking a peek at the camera, and I should be looking between his eyes or over his shoulders, anywhere but the camera. Well, I didn't realised I was doing it actually.

Goodness! All the memories of my primary school english storytelling competition started flooding back. Me on the stage telling my story (which I can't remember what was it about now) and then my concentration started to wonder. Somehow it had me ended up staring at the mic because there was an ant scurrying around it. It was all mumble after that. It was so embarassing!

I don't know how much of my opinion will be kept for the video. Won't be surprise that it will not be used at all.

Got me thinking, am I that bad during a spontanous interview? Hmm... Maybe I was just not prepared. I mean: I love public speaking, I love presentations, and I know I do it quite well. But not on this ocassion. Must have been hard for those people who appear on the news being interviewed on the streets.

in the distance

Last night just before I switched off the computer, news on Virginia Tech shootings were highlighted on MSN.

It was disturbing to know yet another education establishment in the States has made the headlines, through bad news.

What is becoming of this world?!

My thoughts went out to the people I know who are living across the pacific as well as those who have made plans to go there. And to think that I could have been at St. Louis studying. (I know its quite a distance but thats not the point...)

Guns seem so real compared to when we were playing with them as a child. We pretend to be police and theives - sticking out our fingers imitating a gun; cowboys and indians; etc. Then there were slingshots as well as rubber band slingshots. Guns in theme parks: you shoot something down or you shoot the target to move something.

During those times, it was more like target practice. Innocent childsplay. Fun.

As we grow older, we learn the reality of guns. Not that there were no gun crimes in the past but cases like high school shooting; shooting of school children on the streets; gang shootings; sniping; etc seemed just another day's news.

When news such as shootings in other country we seemed to just brush it off... 'oh, its them not us'. We only raise panic alarms when it happens in our own backyard. Still what can we do? What can the government do? What can the country do? Is there anyone to blame?

Whatever that seems to be the solution, there will still always be a 'hole' where someone will bypass the system.

Will we ever be safe again?

post easter reflection

Trust tv channels to come with programs befitting the occasions. Last night they showed 'The Passion of the Christ' on the idiot box.

Its my first time watching that movie althought I know its a few years old now. I think its quite a nice movie, especially good without big hollywood names, other than Mel Gibson.

The movie touched quite a few issues. Its not easy being a Christian. You are often judged for every move and decision you make. It is not easy and I know so myself.

It has been a glorious weekend and I would described yesterday (Easter Sunday) as a perfect day. Its not too hot or too cold and its great that the good weather is continuing.

Found out today that I've won the Easter weekend sales competition and got the São Tomé dark chocolate egg that I've been eyeing on ever since it hit the shelves as well as £20 gift voucher (to add on to my pile of vouchers to be splurge on later!). Am so chuffed!! Will share the choccies with SH when he comes over.

Since it was my off day I thought why not treat myself to some retail therapy. Of course as usual after all the dilly dallying I have less than four hours to shop which was not enough since I had to spend a bit of time at work to take some pics of my mugshot as the competition winner.

~ Mugshot too ugly to post here. Can't believed it has been put up for public ~

Bought myself quite a bit of stuff. Since I'm off tomorrow, I'm going to hit the stores again! Going back to some of the shops to look at the stuff I wasn't too sure about today and to those shops that I didn't have enough time to go to. More shopping!!!!

Some of the clothes I bought today

*updated*

More clothes I bought the next day!

easter

Its Easter weekend - Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday (and in England, Easter Monday).

A recent survey by supermarket chain Somerfield found that youngsters did not know the significant of Good Friday or Easter Sunday. It is really disheartening to know that.

In England, its long holiday weekend so most people go away on short breaks within and outside of the country. However, according to someone Easter is a disastorous time: people feeding their pets chocolates, DIYs and not buying enough insurance for their holidays as well as time away.

Anyways, Easter is so chocolates - chocolate eggs, bunnies, characters, etc; having a big meal - turkey, roast, almost like Christmas; cakes; and probably flowers. Kinda weird. Is that what all Easter is about?

Easter weekend holds a significant way to me. Although I won't be celebrating it big this year, I will look back at the many times how Easter has been special to me.

Our Sheperd wore a crown of thorns so that we can wear the crown of life!
'...They will enter Zion with signing: everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them.' ISAIAH 35:10
-Taken from Dayspring.com

HAPPY EASTER!

simplicity

...and people wonder why I'm complicated?!

criticism

We are all critics - whether we confess or not.

It is so easy to criticise. All too easy. People make mistakes - so auld news. Bah!

We pick at: art, books, cars, designs, ethics, fashion, gadgets, human, ideas, jewellery, knick-knacks, life-ours and others, movies, news, opinions, postings, quirkiness, religion, songs, thoughts, unknown, vulnerability, weather, xpectations, yesterday and last but not least zilch!

Heck, we find fault at anything! Everything!

But just what makes us a critic?

What makes us think that we are better off to say something about something, someone or some situation?

Guess it just boils down to opinions. Everyone is entitled to one. And no one can really stop what one wants to say, do or think. Its a hive of activities to set tongues wagging and arms waving... oh why not?!

I ain't no saint - I want to be more vocal about things, stand up for myself but I will try my best not to say things to hurt others. Its not easy. Its too easy to judge. And its amazing how some who just don't judge (or slow to judge) - my salutation to you!

Got me thinking about last week. SH was being really nice and sweet since we haven't been spending much time together but I just have opinions about everything. I just have something to say about everything. And he went like 'there's no pleasing you!' in a joking, playful way. Actually I like to tease him and I love our banters. He knows very well that I like to pick a fight (over nothing) with him just because I love the making up after that. We are so lucky sometimes me thinks.

Bless him! Bless us!

So here I am posting this and they are showing 'Return to Paradise' on the idiot box. A story about two friends who must choose whether to give up three years of their life or the life of a friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drugs possession. Its the grown up version of 'Brokedown Palace'.

Its weird when Hollywood uses a country that you know of. Yes, I do understand that Malaysia has very harsh system on drugs possession - its good that they highlight this. Its not fair but that's how the judicial system is. Probably because of this (the fact that you are hung to death for drugs possession) it just seems like a good story. Its a way good to highlight Malaysia - sort of. Me thinks that people will still don't know where Malaysia is whether they watch this movie or not.

Funny points::

1. The hanging takes place in the centre court of the prison and not in a room with a clothed bag over the prosecuted. Seemed like medieval times - without the crowd.

2. Patrick Teoh who is one of the better english newsreader in Malaysia stuttering in Malay. Hmm.. I think almost anyone who speaks Malay in the movie was stuttering. I wonder why? Too nervous to be in a 'big' movie? The only word they don't stutter was 'cepat' (fast), which was repeated incessantly when the guard escorting Vince Vaughn's character to Joaquin Phoenix's character's cell. And why does Deanna Yusoff speaks with a spanish accent in Malaysia? Weird.

3. Why do they depict Penang with seedy go-go bars and brothels? It was filmed partly in Thailand of course! No offence to the Thais but it is by fact that it was one of the locations they shot the movie in. Penang is depicted as so old-ish... like a very ulu (jungle, backward) place.

4. Not forgetting that Malaysian prison guards have big belly and only says 'masuk' (go in/enter) and 'cepat' (fast).

I am a critic. So what?! At least I know it.

I think its time for me to sleep too...

advertisement

I cannot imagine life without advertisements.

I love advertisements. As a self confessed tv addict it is easy to say ' I will go to this or that during the advertisements'. But because my love for ads it is not easy to do as say.

Some ads by certain brands/companies are rather distinctive. Of course this depends on their chosen ad agency, continuing ad storyline, their marketing plans, and many many more ad terms that I'm not familiar with.

The length of an ad, what time it is broadcasts and the quality of the ad tells a lot of a company - how much they are willing to spend and how much they had spent.

The first thing that capture my attention in an ad is the music/jingle. I love ads that leave a lasting impression or one that has a good first impression. I think it is important that an ad has a good jingle but not one with an annoying jingle that sticks to your mind and couldn't be shaken off no matter what.



The next is a good storyline. I love ads that make me laugh. I think it is important that an ad makes sense. If it doesn't the company has wasted their time and money, and probably the ad agency is laughing all the way to their bank.



I presumed it won't be easy working in an ad agency. One must have constant flow of creative juices, knowing how to satisfy their clients, and making sure that the ad makes sense and cents. No one wants to spend all those money and does not bring in any money for the company.

Thanks to certain websites and ad critic programs, we get to see more ads from around the world. Some ads that may not make sense to some, means a lot to others.

I'm not sure how am I going to end this posting but I hope that those creative minds behind all those ads out there - whether good or bad, don't stop producing ads. There are people who actually watch it!