Alvin with a big hole in the pocket

As you may have been informed in my previous posts that I spent almost a thousand on my car for repairs. That has burnt a big hole in my pocket.
Nevertheless another thing has happened... like the Malay saying, "Sudah jatuh lagi ditimpa tangga".
I have been having these pains on my lower right jaw for the past few days now.
It gives me a slight headache and because I bite my teethes a bit when I sleep it hurts even more. So today I couldn't bare the pain anymore and went to visit the dentist.

Got a x-ray done immediately and the doctor diagnosed it as my tooth that had a filling put in say... hmmm... when I was in form 3(thats around 1996), has some infections under the filling and its touching the nerves. That's why I am feeling such pains.
2 options were given to me, save the tooth by doing a root canal and then crowning OR remove the tooth completely and put in a fake one.
I am a saver, I've saved it once, I'm gonna save it again :)
So decided to go for the root canal and crowning option.
Just in case you want to know root canal is removing the nerves underneath your tooth. That will make it a so called "dead tooth" then they put a crown over it. Thats to cover back the hole in the tooth. Well... it hurts... trust me... it really does!
If you want to know more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_canal
So like what the title says big hole in my pocket, here's the break down:
Root canal - RM600
Crowning - RM480
Total - RM1080
The hole in my pocket & look on my face when I heard the price - PRICELESS

False Information on the internet?

Hmmm... I just wonder why some people provide the wrong information on the internet.
Even when I was like in Form 3 when mIRC was the biggest thing, people were giving wrong information. Like for example whether they were male of female.
Well I would understand why they'd lie about their gender. The males pretend to be females to get to know the females better, I think lar. Don't know if that trick works as I've never tried it myself :P

However I don't know why people would lie about their age & zodiac year.
Well some people lie to be younger so they can court younger chicks but putting your age as 251? What for? You want to court dinosaur?
Then this guy is obviously a rooster, chinese zodiac year, but he puts as RAT?
What can he achieve by doing this? Hmm... really makes me wonder.
Then there's another thing, his profile has been viewed 53 times and nobody bothered to fark him up :) I always like to be different!

Have you ever pretended to be someone else on the internet?
I've never... just be yourself :)

Syiok Sendiri

- Alvino - says: where else besides jobstreet ah
- Alvino - says: i dont like jobsdb.com
- Alvino - says: anywhere else?
Lingy says: jobstreet so far the best lor
- Alvino - says: ya lor
- Alvino - says: we should create emptystreet.com
- Alvino - says: coz all the streets will be empty... why? everyone has a farkin job!
- Alvino - says: hahahahahah

Sigh... I syiok sendiri...

Feeling very down 27th November 2007

Today, for no reason, I am feeling very down...
Just feel like resigning and go travel around the world for a month.
I think a lot of people will feel this way when they are stressed out.
For no reason I feel stressed out.
I just mentioned in my previous posts that I have basically nothing to do at work.
So you might be thinking, "What is this mutha farker thinking? Stress? Come do my work then you know what is stress!".
Let me put it this way... have you ever wondered why some of the people in your company or organisation can keep on working non-stop and are still pretty happy when they are given a lot of work to do. Thats because they are doing what they love and more importantly they are working with people that has the same objectives to achieve. What I'm facing now might not make sense to you but I am really very tired of this job and really want to just resign.
When I decided to take this job offer and leave Dell I was very happy that I would be able to take on this new challenge and prove my capabilities in another company. I even didn't rest from Dell and took this new job immediately without a break. Sigh... I wish I had taken a rest first before coming here. I wish I hadn't leave Dell where all my good friends are now. I live my life by the motto that I won't regret whatever I do... now I am regretting... TOO LATE...

Dedicated to Grace - My Dear

*** WARNING!!! This post could potentially caused some of you to feel sick or might even cause you to vomit or become suicidal. Could potentially make you laugh till you fall of your chairs. However you are not allowed to use this as a joke or something to tease me when you see me!!! ****

This post is dedicated to my dearest. She has always been patient with me for being so moody and bossy most of the times.

Dear if you see this, I just want to wish you a Happy Birthday and may all your wishes come true (hopefully I'm in the wish).

They say pictures last forever... will we be forever? I hope so :)

Boredom at work

Hey guys,
As you may or may not notice... I've been updating my blog quite frequently for this few weeks.
Reason is as stated in the title, "Boredom at work".
Seriously guys this is the easiest job I've done in my whole life...
At first it was busy... then when I finished all those things, I practically had nothing to do anymore.
I'm not trying to brag about my "easy job" instead I feel frustrated having to come from a job that has a lot things to handle to a job which basically asks me to sit here and just do nothing.
I feel that I am wasting my time here with nothing to do. Compared to what I was promised when I was interviewed for this job. Handling transitions, handling multiple accounts, having 20+ agents & many more. All this seems to be empty promises from what I can see from my point of view.
I was also promised a RM500 standby allowance before I came and when I got here... I was told, again, I can't claim this because I am not on standby.
By far... I am pretty dissatisfied and I shall carry on doing my daily tasks such as updating my blog, chatting on MSN, surfing websites, visiting all the forums I can think of, read blogs, read The Star online. Anyone got any suggestions on what else I can do at work?

Funniest load of crap I've seen in ages...

Guys,

This has gotta be the funniest load of crap I have seen in a very very long time!
Hope you guys enjoy this as much as I do...
If you want more head on to youtube.come as there's even more there!

Penang's Good Food... forget about those email that they forward

hey guys...
recently visited this blog by a BM guy... its superb!
he introduced a lot nice... and i mean really nice eating spots that i usually go to as well!
oh goodness gracious... being in KL and watching all those photos just gives me the urge to just drop everything in KL and go back to Penang just to eat 'em all
too bad i just cant do that... well... i wish i could though...
so if guys want to know what penang food is good... visit it here http://www.vkeong.com/

BM kia rulez!!!
Penang forever!!!

Being honest to run a business

Hey guys,
I know I know... been quite a while since I updated my blog.
Life has been pretty boring for the past few weeks.
Everyday I'd wake up late and go to work around 3-4pm.
Do some reports in the early times of the day and spend the rest of it sitting there doing nothing at all...
Well I'll skip all the boring part ok? ;)

My parents came down for the weekend just to visit my and my brother in KL.
So as usual whole family cramp into one car and we went to Sungei Wang.
On the way back I hit a pothole that was deceiving, it looked small but when I hit it, the whole car flew up :'( The steering was displaced around 40 degrees that pretty bad. When I turn its now hard to turn back, a little hard not to say very hard.
So the next day took it to a shop for checking or diagnostics.
So what happened? I felt like I got slammed by a phone book thats what happened.
The guy started checking and unveiled more and more and more issues with my car.
Kinda feel cheated :( At first he said bushing, then he said drive shaft and then he said steering rack. I was like WTF dude! Make up your mind!
So he then started making phone calls to get pricing. Which then he came back to me with a calculator and started hitting the calculator like a mad man. Ok he did't hit it like a mad man but to me it felt that way. *Tik* *tak* *tik* *tak* times that like a million times and he showed me the golden number. MAHAI it was a thousand plus!
Suddenly I felt like a sucker... a big one!
I gave the guy a frown and told, "Wo mei you chien!" (I don't have the money!) and I walked into my car and drove off.

I'm not sure if he was trying to rip me off or what but sure felt like it was. Consulted the great Keebs which told me to get a 2nd opinion first which is the right thing to do.
Can't KL people do business with honesty? When I was in Penang I wont have problems like this... hmm...

Old post

This is an old old post I should have posted long long time ago.
Anyway, better late than never rite?

Long wait ended

After a long long wait... the wait has ended
Yesterday was the go-live day for the calls to be taken by my team in KL
The calls were previously handled by a team of service desk in Crewe, UK.

Well... I haven't been talking much about work so you might not know what I am talking about. I'll try to summarise what has happened in the past month about work.

I was hired to manage of a team of service desk analyst. The company wanted to transfer the current desk in UK to Malaysia. This is usually for cost saving purposes and sometimes customers requirements.
We were all in training for a month starting September. Even the customer came down to see how we were doing prior to going live. It was the service manager which we thought before this was a very strict person but he turned out to be very nice and very helpful which helped our team to prepare even better.

That's basically it. So we went live yesterday and started picking up calls from customers, resolving technical issues and of course we had a little issues here & there. It was expected. First days are like that :) It can never be perfect.
For me, it was good enough. I am very proud to be in a team of people that are so dedicated and smart. Kudos to them.

1 month it has been

Time flies as they say, it really does.
It is now 1 month since I make the decision to let go of everything I had.
My hometown, my house, my home, my job, my girlfriend, my family and my friends.
To come to this place call Kuala Lumpur.
Well... its not that bad, its just me. I just miss my friends and family but also the food in Penang.
I wish I could bring all the good food from Penang to KL...
Maybe I could? and make lots of money from doing that haha :)

To update, I have got my broadband installed.
I moved to a new apartment last weekend. Actually on my birthday itself.
Spent the whole day moving and unpacking my stuff.
Then drove all the way back to Penang.
It was a very busy weekend but I really enjoyed it and appreciated it a lot.
Spending time with friends and family is the best thing and the most important thing.
I guess moving to KL has made me realise that even more.
Well, no point going on about that. Its too late to turn back now.
Just feeling sad... sorry...

Another day another story... but...

Like the title says... another day another story but...
I don't have anything to say actually...
Sorry to disappoint anyone reading this but what I actually want to say
is this...
Sometimes thing may appear nice and turn out bad. That's my biggest worry right now.
Everything at work seems to be fine. Everyone is nice to everyone, well at least
in my team. That just worries me a little. Just worried that some day out of the
blue I might get a few stabs at the back. Office politics just sucks man.
I hate working in a place where there is a lot of politics. I think I just
joined a company which has a lot of politician-wanna-be.
Well... what else can I do but just wait for someone to appear behind me
trying to back stab me. Just have to be ready at all times.

On a better note... I am sitting inside a cyber cafe with a hot chiq just sitting
very very close to me... she's very hot man! Very nice figure say 36C 24 28.
Yeah the arse a bit small... :P Well at least make my Sunday in KL move livelier.
Spent the whole Sunday at home... even ordered McDonald's to be delivered.
What a way to spend a Sunday :(

3rd Week in Kay L

This is the 3rd week I am here...
Still trying to get use to the things here
Cantonese is not really that easy
Watchin TVB makes it look so much easy but... everything I want to say
the words out... it just goes missing
Guess practice makes perfect

For the past week it has been pretty boring and dry
Everyday just go to work and attend training
Finish work play pool coz in my pantry there's a pool table
Then on Friday my colleagues took me to Asia Cafe at Subang
Had dinner and played pool again... haha...
And of coz not to miss out the booze :P

KL... this is what I do :(

KL - Too Big for Alvino

Oh boy... it's been exactly 1 week since I've touched down in KL
Since last Saturday which is the 8th of September 2007,
I have spent RM200 for petrol alone and RM50 for toll :S
Mind you that doesn't include the toll and petrol getting from Pg to KL!
Geez... I have gotten lost MANY MANY TIMES which is why I've spent so much.
Hence why the title, KL... too big for little Alvino :)

Well I guess I am still handling things pretty well...
At least I know how to go a few places, namely...
Cyberjaya (Work :P)
Puchong Jaya (HOME! :P)
Kelana Jaya station
Bukit Jalil Station
Old Klang Road
Mid Valley
IOI Mall nearest to my house...
USJ Taipan
Summit
Sunway Pyramid
The Curve, IKEA, IKANO and 1U

That's about it but I guess its good enough for a Penang boy to achieve in 1 week.

Ah... I also met up with Leonard and Jen (Xiao Min) over the weekend at The Curve.
She's going to leave Malaysia and go to Bristol on Monday, sad :(
Everyone in the old company still misses her but life goes on!
The Curve is really big a nice place to meet friends to chit chat... only thing I can remember about the The Curve is a Thai shop that sells nudles I guess its noodles.

AND!!! KL isn't that big... well... for this instance only... when I was at IKEA I met Robin and Lina who were in KL for the Jacky Cheung concert. After that I went to 1U and saw an ex-dell girl there as well... okay 2 instances... still KL is too big for Alvino :P

Don't know what else to say... too many things has happened...
Work hasn't really started yet... still undergoing training, induction, those normal stuff...
I guess the real "good stuff" is gonna come soon when my UK boss comes next week!
Life is going to be tough :'( but hey... no pain no gain
I am glad I accepted this job offer and moved to KL... I am learning much much more compared to when I was at Dell *cough*hell*cough*

That's all for the time being... going to go home now... paying RM2.50 an hour for internet usage till I get my own place and broadband...

As the days passes... my heart weakens...

Day after day,
I feel like not going away.
Hour after hour,
The feeling gets even more sour.
Minute after minute,
I don't really think I can take it.
Seconds after seconds,
My heart weakens.

26 years I have been in Penang,
Want to leave everything really not senang.
My family, my father, mother, grandma and sister,
How can I leave and yet make my heart feel not so bitter?
My dear, my dear, my dear,
When will you be here?
My heng tai's! My tukau peng eu's! My brader's!
Will KL have the same bunch of suckers? <--- Haha... juz jokin!

Laksa, char koay teow & hokkien mee,
Limpeh very confirm go KL sure will only ciak mamee. :'(
Penang Laksa is call Laksa,
In KL why Curry me also called Laksa, ini memang seksa!
Limpeh is Penang chia cheng HOKKIEN lang,
Go KL speak cantonese? I will kiang kan.

Thats all I can think of rite now...
Seriously... I don't feel I can live outside of Penang
but what else can I do but to embrace this change like a man.
To all my frens that are reading this... you better farking come down to KL
and find me more... Don't come and keep it a secret...
If I find out... ur car ur house... u better hide it :P

Double Merdeka Event :)

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of our countries Indepence!
In malays its called MERDEKA!

There's also another Merdeka... but its for me only :P
Starting 10 September 2007 I will be starting a new leaf in my life.
I actually got a new job in Cyberjaya.
It is the same job as what I am doing now but it will definitely give me
more expreiences and much more things for me to learn.
Part of me says Merdeka... another part of me is so sad that I have to leave
everything I have in Penang...
My girlfriend, my parents, my sister, my khai ma, khai mui, and many close friends.
Leaving my current company which I have worked in for 3 years 4 months and 23 days.
Thats a big big jump for me...
Too sad to blog... will blog more later...

Shuffling

This is definitely not about shuffling job tasks at work...
It is actually about Melbourne Shuffle
I came to know about this dance quite some time ago but didn't really explore it
I think its a very cool dance actually... else I won't be posting this :P

Don't want to say much about it... witness it for yourself :)



Below is a very good tutorial if you'd like to learn how to shufflez :)



If you're interested to know more then learn how to use google :P
else msg me and I will share what I know but I'm a total newbie learning :)

Long it has been...

Looking back at the things I've done and been through these few years...
boy... It's been so fast, time really flies...

It's been...
9 years since I graduated from High School Bukit Mertajam...
5 years since I left TAR College...
3 years since I left Systematics College...
3 and a half years since I left ItraMAS Manufacturing Sdn Bhd...
and... its been 3 and a half years I've worked at *cough* hell *cough* I mean DELL

Wow... 3 and a half years... hmmm... longest I've been in a company
Just makes you feel like its time to move on huh?
I mean it just gets boring after sometime...
Everyday its the same old drill... sigh...
That's why they say young people cannot work in the same place for a long time
I agree lar... boring one you know... same faces everyday
Especially when gf in the same company as you... wanna look or get to know other
girls also damn hard... so many spies around you... Hahaha :P

Well... I think I might just really wanna try a new environment!
What do you guys think?

Linux Ubuntu with Beryl Desktop Manager

Recently like I updated on my chatterbox I'm busy with work :P
Nevertheless I had to relax and have my own time at home.
So what I did was, like the title said, played around with linux ubuntu with the beryl desktop manager working as well!
It actually took me 5 days to get it all working, all because of my ATI card drivers were giving me attitude.
Well anyway its been a long long time since I had ventured into the penguin world.
Last I did was probably around 1998 or 1999 when I was in college.
Well enuff about the history lesson, let me give you all, my loyal blog readers, a little tour of ubuntu + beryl.

To make it simple, ubuntu is linux but just another version which is much much more user friendly compared to RedHat or Fedora or SuSe or Mandrake. It can still be a pain in the arse if you're a pure Microsoft Windows user and never tried linux before.
Beryl however is like the desktop theme manager that allows you to do very very cool stuff with your desktop. Think of it as Vista Aero 3D feature which requires like 2GB of RAM and high speed processor and good graphics card. Beryl - NO! You don't need those high end hardware. I'm running this on my P4 2.8, 512MB RAM and old ATI Radeon 9600 128MB graphics card.

Well... its pretty hard to explain so... let me paint a few millions words with the following screenshots of my desktop and some video from youtube to further amaze you.
However if you are interested to know more, there will be a few links below for you to refer to.


Above photo shows how you can rotate your desktop to show a 4 workspaces


Rotated the desktop while movie was playing in between desktops.
It shows that the movie is lagging but actually it wasn't.


This is like Vista's preview of windows when you Alt+Tab but is more cooler because it goes in a circle.


As for this one, when you move your mouse to the top right hand corner it automatically puts all the open windows properly and you can choose which one you want to go to. Movie is still playing too :P

So as promised here are the videos:

Very incredible:


Comparison of Vista and Ubuntu:


Last one:


Well if you guys are interested and want to try it go to:
Ubuntu Official site - http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28Linux_distribution%29
Beryl Project site - http://www.beryl-project.org/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl

Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did :)