Thursday, April 27, 2006

Foiled!!

Jack goes back late from office, waiting as we (my specially gifted colleagues and me) work into the night completing our very special project.

If you work in my office, it is not advisable to turn your back on your evil scheming colleagues; especially if it is your birthday. Otherwise you may get this:

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Microsoft Jack

Mileage: 34512 km

Jack goes to Sime Darby Convention Centre (huh? haha yes I didn't know this existed either) for Microsoft's ISV Summit 2006. It was the usual subtle Microsoft propaganda, well-done as usual.

Matthew Hardman presenting Windows Presentation Foundation

Special Note: Aaron Tan Dani is an exceptional speaker. If you attend any MS events in the future lookout and try a topic by him. He's got the experience + that special something that makes his talks extremely alive and interesting.

How is the seminar? many has asked. If you're a work-related person I'll give you the standard 'OK, some good presentations on new products' answer. On a more personal note I've achieved my main objectives in attending the event.

1) Meet people aka Build Bridges
I was a bit disappointed to discover my ex-company no longer runs the event, they lost the contract to another events suite. I was looking forward to meeting the old bunch, but another day/event then.

I met some ex-colleagues and some ex-schoolmates, so we traded stories and work-situations as usual. Completely bored waiting for the event to start, I struck up some conversation with some equally bored-looking persons. More stories and work-situations. Ha, now I have friend in the online banking system business.

2) Catch up aka Staying Current
Good to know the newest things around, since IT is a business that goes out of date very fast. Got a good look at Microsoft latest newest freshest developer tools.

I was quite curios about the Microsoft Team Systems, having come across this many times in stalking that blond-haired demigod of my past. (Hehehe. An obsession is hard to rid of). Now I know that Team Systems is the best integrated software development platform to build the mission-critical applications that businesses depend on. It combines powerful new role-based tools, customizable processes and guidance and an integrated server to help teams drive predictability, visibility, and control into their software development process.

3) Learn new things
I learnt... to make sure to remember the floor you parked your car at. I remembered the location but forgot to note the floor. Had a fun time visiting all 3 levels of car-park looking for Jack. Thank goodness there's only 3 floors overall!

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Service Jack

Jack spends the day at the mechanic while I mope at home nursing an inflamed eyeball writhing with conjuctivitis. (Sucks to be mc-able sick on Saturday AND Sunday)

I want new eyes!! Since these are not readily available on the market, I had to console myself by getting Jack new tyres instead. His back tyres were in pretty bad shape, exhausted on one side each. They were causing quite a racket (anyone riding in the back seat of Jack can tell) so its time to get some new wheels, figuratively. At RM194 per piece, Jack left me quite broke.

Service Bill
Engine Oil RM 85
Oil Filter RM 18
Labour Free (friend friend ma)
Filter and Complete Check RM 12
2 Tyres RM388
2 Tubeless Valves RM 10
Wheel Balancing RM 10
Alignment RM25

Total - a wallet-emptying RM548

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Vacated Jack

Jack stays at home while I go off for a 4-day vacation around Kota Kinabalu, with a choice bunch of colleagues. Bliss....
(We emptied half the office btw - teehee).

1) One day in gallivanting around KK town.

2) One day shivering in the mountains at Kinabalu National Park.
3) One day salting and burning in Pulau Manukan.

*natives will notice there is something really wrong with the first pic.

Jack?

Mileage: 34005 km

What's this long awful silence??!! Either Jack (and me) is too busy enjoying life to have the time to blog, or having a no-life too dull to blog about.