MY7THLIFE.NET

These two songs actually remind me of Mumtaz and Hermi during days when we were in the server room. LOL.Those Days by Shaggy and Nasha,

.. and Edwin McCain’s I’ll Be.

Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end
Thought we would last forever and a day

I wanted to write about how I was feeling this morning at work today, so I typed the following on Notepad:

Listening to Missy Higgins’ (not so) new album, On A Clear Night, while thinking about why I’m leaving such a great place to work at. I have to remember that I’m doing this for the sake of furthering my studies. I have to focus on this. My dad always said, “Go a step further than I did, and you have your life made.”My dad’s qualification was a HND. I regret not knowing what it was, but I know if I look into the small library that is now our maid’s room, I will find his past assignments that I used to marvel at. I digress. So I’m doing this for myself and my dad. I want to prove to him that I can do great in life.

I personally think I’m doing OK now with my HND, especially with the job opportunities that I’ve been given. Sometimes you wish you can work at three different places at one time. (Of course, still maintaining the eight office hours.)

I feel like history is repeating itself. I am finding it hard not to think about leaving this place, but it is there in the air around me. I can already feel the tears coming, it’s ridiculous.

I’ve finished every task I was assigned. I didn’t get to be assigned much since I’ve only been here for one month and a half. I managed to translate an English manual to Bahasa Melayu with the help of a thick as heck thesaurus (and a great friend), I managed to be trained in Project Management, and I managed to make real, good friends here in that short span of time.

I will miss my friends the most. What’s different this time is that, I won’t be in the same building with my friends anymore, the way it was with The Company. Now I won’t be in the same building as both my friends at The Company and The Statutory Body! I won’t get to see them, and catch up with them for even five seconds! Sigh. Sad thought, this.

I want to write a goodbye e-mail now. Nothing too sappy, I hope. Hehe.

So I wrote that e-mail. Finished it, and went off for lunch with 10 other people at Excapade Gadong. These people were those who I’ve worked with for the past month and a half. Laughs were had, great food.. nothing else you could ask for. Maybe an extended lunch hour, haha. But that aside, it was a great lunch, and here’s a picture after we had eaten.

From left: Ariffin, Yunn Nee, Mumtaz, myself, Noreen (non-IT), Suhardi, Chian, Hermi, Azlan. Back: Man, Keith.

Uneventful afternoon, at the beginning. I didn’t have much to do, so I pestered the boys during their discussion, and Keith, one of my colleagues, played along. I was looking at the notebook he was going to write in, and I told him I wanted to write something. Instead of just ignoring me, he said somewhere along the lines of, “Write with your left hand. It is said that if you write with your non-writing hand, it shows the maturity of your right brain.”

I told him I wasn’t ambidextrous, in a way warning him that my writing would be appalling. In the end, it resembles a six-year-old’s handwriting! Hahaha. Impressive. Not.

So yea, like I said, nothing eventful happened (at first.)

Then I told Mumtaz that I wanted to go downstairs to the server room, and wondered if she’d like to come with. I usually go down there when I don’t have anything to do, or needed some inspiration on how to solve the now-out-of-my-hands program. She said, “Yes, we’re supposed to go down anyway. We have a meeting.”

I didn’t realize the bit that we were to have the meeting in the server room was a bit peculiar, so I went with it.

When I was down there, she came by, and said to me that HR was looking for me as I had a form to sign. Before I went, she said, “Bah, jangan batah-batah ah, ketani ada meeting ni!” I gave her a weird look, saying, “Since when do meetings have to wait for me?”

Being a seasoned trickster myself, I can’t believe how I didn’t realize that they had something in store for me. And there was. When I went back down, everyone was there, and the acting IT Manager said that she was going to pass it on to my superior to talk. This never happens. Seriously. People just start talking at meetings/discussions that they don’t have to pass whatever on to anyone to start the meeting.

Then when my superior, Chian, started to say, “On behalf of IT department..”, it dawned on me! How could I have not seen this coming?? Really. So we had a small thing going downstairs, and they gave me a little present which I am absolutely loving at this minute! (Which I’m going to show in a bit.) They also forced a “speech” out of me.. and I had to stop before I started crying. LOL.

Lawa ah? It’s white gold. Thanks, everyone! Hugs!

Went back up to finish the last half hour of my last day at The Statutory Body. When it was time to go, I took a deep breath. First person I said goodbye to was Mumtaz, the one I had grown the closest to. We hugged, and that’s where the pipes burst. Literally. Tears were flowing down my cheeks, and I didn’t know how to stop them! I had to get away and say goodbye to the rest that was left in the office.

Ka Dziah, our acting IT Manager, was next. Fresh tears started! It was stupid, I thought. I looked downright ridiculous. Then somehow pictures were taken and I said more goodbyes. I didn’t feel like leaving. I really didn’t.

Before I left the office, though, two girls from another department that I’ve gotten chummy with wanted to say goodbye. I walked out with them, took a picture for memory’s sake, and said goodbye.

I left something in the office as well, so I had to get back in and grab it. How embarrassing.

I walked to my car, hopped in, and zoomed off. Unbelievably, I CRIED IN THE CAR! Funnily enough, the songs on my CD were sad songs, like Babyface’s What If. Great timing. My car’s audio system really knows how to work the waterworks!

Sigh. I am genuinely going to miss the people there. Especially my friends! Oh, how I made friends there. I’ve grown close to them in one and a half month, imagine what a few more months can do??

Ugh. I think I’m going to start crying again.

(Note: I will upload more pictures soon, even the silly ones. I’m a bit knackered at the moment so give me the weekend. )

Oh my God. I am so unbelievably worn out and sunburned at the moment. I never knew I’d be the latter, but I am, and it hurts. I’ve never been sunburned, so it’s a new, not to mention alien, feeling. It’s like having the outermost skin of your forearms being stripped down with hot wax and left to heal. Or something.

Thankfully it’s just my arms. I really don’t know what I’ll do if it’s on my nose, or anywhere facial. Erh, shivers just went down my spine.

So it was a busy weekend. Pyjama Night Out last night was a lot of fun. Seeing people in their pyjamas was the highlight of the night. And a certain someone was sobbing during the movie. LOL. I could demonstrate it once again, if you want, but only in real life and with the someone there. Kidding.

The movie made me cry and laugh again. I still believe that’s the best movie I’ve watched this year so far.

The movie ended at about 9PM, but we ate a bit and talked to a few people here and there. I was talking to Nonnie’s boyfriend about something we had in common, and I hope I haven’t discouraged him in any way at all. I was just sharing experience, and I’d rather he has a different one. A pleasant one.

Maurina, Atul, Reeda, and myself also had a discussion with a Brunei Times journalist ranging from voluntarism, to culture, to teaching! It brought us to an hour before midnight! Interesting.

Now that the Internet is properly up and running, I feel like posting a picture up from the night. The picture is from Nonnie’s camera, but there are more from Maurina’s camera, and I’m going to remind her soon to send them over. Don’t ask me if I took any pictures, because I didn’t. I haven’t charged the battery to my camera in weeks now, and I had forgotten to charge the day before. So just take a look at this one, yes?

I notice now that my hair was covering one of my eyes. Haha. I will leech and have more pictures soon. Haha.

Now. The IT Picnic of The Statutory Body was today at Seri Kenangan beach, and it was so much fun! Besides the sunburn, of course. I wish I had pictures, but I don’t. However, I think it was just one of those things that I will miss so much about working there. And again, it is the same thing: my newly-made friends.

Sigh.

What a sad note for an ending of an upbeat post. Will update again soon!

Life has been.. uneventful. I’ve always been convinced that I’ve been busy, but I think I know what it is now. Poor time management. I still haven’t gotten it figured out, this working life. Eight hours a day, five days a week.. with that amount of time committed to work, when it comes to Fridays, Sundays, or any public holidays, I stumble on what to do and end up getting lazy in the house. Or updating the artwork for my iPod’s cover flow. Which is ridiculous, really.

I always have things to do in my mind when the week starts like watch a movie, or go shopping, but when I reach a day off, I always want to take time off and just relax. At home.

That only means one thing: I am getting old.

Focusing on another aspect in my life, midway through my first month of my employment where I’m currently working, I received another job offer. I took it up. Because of this, I mentally prepared myself not to get too close with my colleagues, or make really good friends. Not that I’m a recluse or anything, but I don’t want to leave them the way I did with my friends at The Company. Unfortunately (or fortunately, it depends), I have made real good friends. Friends I go minum with whenever we haven’t had breakfast. (Actually, we go minum every morning. Haha.) Friends who I go down to the server room with. Friends from other departments who pinch the heck out of my arm. And friends who listen to me going on and on about the program that just won’t solve itself.

Seriously. I can’t believe, that in a span of a month, I have real good friends at where I work. Really. It will now be harder when I leave. Again. Hopefully, where I’m attached next will have people who I can really connect with the way I did at The Company and at where I work now. Hmm. I feel like I should come up with a name for my current workplace. I used to work at The Studio, and The Company.. Maybe this time I should call it The Statutory Body? Heehee.

OH! I have been meaning to post about this movie. P.S.: I Love You. I LOVED IT. I know I said the book wasn’t really for me, but I loved the movie. I cried during all the sad scenes!! Which makes me a cheese, as Izzah said repeatedly in the cinema. I just told her that I am all goo inside. Gerard Butler was sexy as Gerry, and Hilary Swank was great as Holly. I didn’t like the book, but I loved the movie. 5 out of 5 stars!

I have to say, though, that people who loved the book told me that they didn’t like the movie. Huh. Maybe I’m more of a visual creature now that I don’t have time to read. Hehe.

Or maybe the producers who produced The Devil Wears Prada can produce other books that I didn’t like, so I can watch them at the cinema! (Because I didn’t like Lauren Weisberger’s book, but loved the movie.)

Ooh! Liz just texted me. We’re going swimming! Got to go pack and think of what to wear.

I have become utterly selfish and decided to change my layout to something else that will render my readers blind. OK, no, it’s just a bit hard to read. But! I am using this because it reminds me of the old times (plus, it’s pretty.) Don’t blog layouts used to look like this? Hahaha. I do hate how the sidebar is looking at the moment, but what the heck. I’m at a layout transition phase. Or some sort. (Something has got to explain why I chose this layout.)

Actually, web design-wise, this is a very bad layout. I learned, back in ITB, that fonts have to be readable. But do I care now? Not really. Bad layouts are great!

Moving on to something a bit selfless, a big shout out to Miss Maurina! A birthday wish for someone who turns another year older. I will see if I can find the time to make tiramisu for you, yes? Big hugs on your birthday.

So, back to — points to self — me, because of what I had felt in the previous entry, I have decided that my great news wasn’t such a big deal after all. It’s just.. news. And let me break it to you. If you hadn’t heard from the IT Manager of where I’m currently working, or from my mom (because these two have been spreading the word; one to inform, and the other, I don’t know being a typical parental unit), here it is: I’ve been offered another job. This time, by the Government of Brunei Darussalam as a system supervisor.

Don’t ask me where I’ll get attached, because they haven’t stated where yet. So hang in there, I’ll bring you the news soon.

What bothers me is that.. I don’t know. Here I am, switching jobs like I change my hairdos, and people out there are desperate to get employed. I feel so selfish. (This is the different kind than the one I stated in the first paragraph.)

In my defense, I totally did not expect myself to be recruited by the Government after the poor performance I had showcased that is my interview. Before the letter came, I knew I didn’t get it. I knew. I didn’t know I was going to be proven wrong. So, I had taken the offer of my current employer. And I feel so, so guilty for actually discussing my letter of resignation after only two weeks of working there.

I have made a good friend there in the IT department. She just layan me on our internal IM whenever I type “NGANTUUUUUK!~” (translation: sleepy.) She brings me out for breaks, which is great, nothing I had experienced in my previous workplace. Basically, she just layan every silly, ridiculous things I say or do, and vice versa. And I’m going to miss her when I move (again.)

It really is hard to read with a font so tiny, isn’t it?

Today was my last day at The Company. I was willing myself not to cry and not say goodbye. And say goodbye I didn’t. I initially wanted to go around the office and say goodbye to everyone, but I had so much work to finish, I ended up swamped in my work desk.

Hopefully, I’ll see them this Saturday afternoon and I’ll bid them farewell.

I really am sad that I’m leaving as I have made some good friends there. I’ll miss my team, they can crack me up at the most groggiest of days. I’ll miss a lot about The Company.

On a brighter note, I’ll be going for a long-overdue lunch with my girl friends at The Mall tomorrow. Which should be really, really good. I’ll see if the other girls want to do something else other than just lunch. Hm.

Oh, and the girls on American Idol this week bored the socks off me.

For some odd reason, I am really tired today. I feel like I could doze off any minute. The odd reason being that I spent the whole day awake with no rest. Literally.

So to take my mind off sleeping right after a hearty Japanese meal I had with my girl friends, I have decided to post. Maybe about some random things in my life. See how interesting it’ll be to get a few reactions from the readers. (And I really mean a few since I think my reader count has dwindled based on the ever-so-popular, not to mention unique, blogs popping up here and there. What do I possibly have to offer? Hahaha. Self-deprecating much? )

Whoa. OK. Where do I start? Maybe I should begin with not being so specific.

I have encountered people who are bitchy in a subtle, but ‘makes you want to shout expletives’ way. I have forgotten how bitchy people are very, very annoying and how I have always put up with their crap because I’m nice — if I do say so myself. Every time they call me up and start being bitchy, when the call ends, I’d make faces to the phone. Every time they talk to me face-to-face and they start getting itchy with a capital B, I put on a blank face and when they turn around, I’ll make faces.

Childish, I know. But it feels ohh so good!

Annoying people aside, I’ve been spending loads of time on my own these days, giving myself breaks from the outside world and maybe just to get into the habit of reading again. I haven’t read in ages. The last time I read was a book borrowed off my cousin, a compilation of stories under the name Prom Nights From Hell. Or something close to that. But I’ve also been slowly going back to my old life, getting acquainted with the people who I used to be close to.. hanging out. It’s nice.

So my life’s in a balance in a moment, but I know that come March, it’s going to be topsy-turvy again. Why? Because I’ll be trying to settle in a new working environment. Yep. You’ve read it here first. (I don’t think you’ll read it anywhere else anyway!) I’m moving from The Company. I’ll be starting in March as an IT Administrator. Sounds like a load of work, right? Haha.

But I’m hoping I’ll make friends the way I have in The Company. I know I’ll miss them in very odd ways like how they always tease me to bits, but I’m looking for a different environment where I can really thrive. Got those words from someone I really appreciate and when she said that, I thought to myself, “Do I not know myself or do people perceive me differently?” Hopefully it’s the latter because I’d like to believe I know myself pretty well.

Haha. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Moving on.

I watched Sweeney Todd with a few of my cousins last night. I thought there was too much singing. I know, I know. It’s a musical, right? But it’s just a bit too much. Loved the storyline, though. One of my cousin thinks that I’ll love the old movie better. Mm. Speaking of cousins..

I’m flying off to Singapore next Friday. I’ll be flying off with another 20+ people who I love to call my family. LOL. Yes. There’s going to be more than 20 of us — I think more than 30 actually — some on different flights, but most of us will be on board the same plane on Friday, the 8th. That’s why my family and I are going to have a little doa selamat, because it’s three-quarter of the whole family! Haha.

It’s going to be fun. I’ll post up pictures, inshaAllah.

The thing that’s bothering me right now: I HAVEN’T PACKED! 

I want to pack now, but I’m too sleepy. I’ll just blog-hop. See you around soon.

*sobs* I am dizzy. I haven’t had dizzy bouts since ages, and I now remember why I don’t miss them. Had the first one in the office, and I thought I could handle it. Apparently, I couldn’t. Head myself to the clinic, got myself permission to stay at home and rest.

So I did. I knew I was going to get an interrogation from my mom, but I just took the time to get myself that rest I needed before lunch time rolled in. And I was right! The moment she got back, I assumed our maid just told her I had come home early, she burst into the room, and asked, “BANAR KAU PANING?”

I don’t know if you can roll your eyes mentally, but I definitely did. Because I didn’t have my eyes open and I sure didn’t feel like my eyes were rolling. Followed by her loud question, she switched on the bright lights and asked me a couple more. Loudly.

Not that I’m complaining, but really. You need to give someone a break. Especially when they’re dizzy. Having colossal headaches. And she kept on asking whether I’m having a headache (sakit kepala) or just dizzy (paning). I never really get the difference as I usually get both at the same time anyway, but she keeps on asking me the same questions over and over again. Or it’s possibly the result of my dizziness that everything she asks just multiplies itself.

In the end, she convinced me to have myself eat lunch consisting of rice, chicken and vegetables. Then, I find myself not wanting to lie back down because of the said meal.

And now I’m here. Dizzy as hell, but better since I swallowed the pill the doctor prescribed to me.

Planned on asking someone to watch a movie with me tonight, but I guess that plan is not going to work now. But. My family is a firm believer that laughter is the best medicine, so my mom’s going to take me out, and possibly take my mind off things. And maybe put in a laugh or two.

Ooh. Maybe I can try Beechams now.

I just remembered a funny dialogue that I shared with a friend during a fancy, albeit small, birthday party. It goes something like this:

Me: I feel fat.
Her: At least you’re pretty.

LOL. You just had to be there.

I was browsing through videos on the Internet, and I thought bumping into a “Bhutto assassinated” video was just a sick joke that the world wide web was playing (I didn’t view it). But I read the news, and it was true. May the soul of Benazir Bhutto rests in peace. Al-Fatihah.

Another reason why I’m posting is that I cannot believe I missed Izzah’s brother’s nikah!! I am really, really angry at myself by thinking it was this Sunday. I am so sorry to Izzah and her family. Soooooooo, sooo sorry!!

But what I’m going to do, is attend the Guitar Hero and DDR tournament tonight at their place!

I mentioned I had something big for the end of the year. This is it! I got myself a Mazda CX-7 in white! And! I! Love! It!

Okay. I can’t find my camera’s USB thingy. Thus, no pictures. Never mind. Maybe next time. But I am going to post a proper entry.

I went to have a long overdue lunch with my girl friends today. Had a good catching up session, what’s been happening. And most importantly, I got to meet up with Izzah, whom I haven’t seen in ages! Even for Raya! Unbelievable as that is, it happened. I didn’t see her for Hari Raya. I don’t know what was wrong this year.

Anyway, us girls had Italian food at Capers and half of us drowned in the all you can eat promotion. Which, unfortunately, now costs B$2 more than it used to. No complaints from me, though. I still think it’s sort of worth it. If you’re on a budget and craving for Italian at the same time.

Fratini’s used to be my favourite Italian restaurant, but since the menu changed and my favourite dish is no longer on the menu, I haven’t gone there since a long time ago. Not sure of the pricing now, but paying for something that is considerably more than what I’m used to is just something I can’t do every other weekend. Maybe once in two months. Yea? But I don’t know. Haven’t been there since 2006 (or 2005), so, maybe I should consider dining there some time.

Oh, so back to the lunch, we had a great time, as always. I felt a part of my life is back. If only my wrist was well enough for me to play netball, I wouldn’t be as stressed. Yes, my mom has temporarily banned me from playing netball for now. Hopefully she’ll let me play next year. But I doubt it.

I just miss a lot of things right now. Things I would rather trade my new car with. You know? But I guess you can never have it all. Or at least you feel like you do.