Another semi-long one

So, I return here having not done this for a while.

It's been pretty bad, to be honest.

Let's start with my birthday.

That was horrible. I had an eye infection, so basically I could only see out of one eye.

Then I found out that my parents hadn't actually gotten me anything, because they were actually serious about paying for my party.

We went out for lunch on Mount Dandenong, which was pretty good, as it usually is.

The day after, we went to Mount Dandenong (yes, again) for breakfast, because apparently it's good to go for a stroll on a mountain on Chinese New Year. Pretty uneventful.

The next day, things got slightly better. My parents decided to get me a suit, and I would pay for my party. Much better. Seriously, I don't know what it is, but I just think that a 21st birthday present should be something lasting.

At least, I thought it was getting better. Little did I know that Chadstone and it's surrounds would get flooded. The signs were all there. The stores below getting flooded. We just didn't know the rain was that bad.

So we finished suit shopping and ran out into the torrential rain. And drove through rivers. Literally. Here's a pic.




Hopefully that's visible to all. We took a few detours, helped a few Koreans drag their car along, and got home in one piece.

And today, my eye has pretty much healed up. The doc gave me some better super magical ointment (different to the super magical ointment he gave me in the first place). Today also marked the start of the Leaders Program. Pretty long day, but petty interesting. Gotta prep for tomorrow when I get home.

Word of the Day: Torrential

Happy Birthday Banh!

Just got back from Banh's 21st, and now I'm all sitting here, wondering whether to go to VIP night at Chaddy or not.

It was a good party. Good catchup with friendsies, and good food. Got slightly irked by fandroids selling their wares, but hey, as I've said before, fandroids always seem to feel that they need to justify the existence of their phones, so it wasn't a complete surprise to me. But it's still rather annoying. However, I have worked out what I'm going to do next time they start building up a rant about their phones. I haven't employed sarcasm and acid irony in a while, but I might just do so again if the situation crops up again.

Yeah. Be ready for that.

I also got Kanye's new album this morning. First impressions are that it's epic. Epic beyond belief. Apparently it's been getting rave reviews from critics. But I think music critics are mostly pretentious, bandwagon-jumping-on...people. I'll give it a good listen hopefully tomorrow, and see what else I can glean from it then.

Also, Arsenal. Frustration again. I don't get how they can suck that much, but that's the way the proverbial cookie crumbles.

Should probably head off soon. Starting work tomorrow. And I didn't end up going to Chaddy, because I figured that I'm probably looking for a pair of $60 shoes, and the savings on those would not be very substantial. And if you're wondering how I just got home from Banh's party even though I left hours ago, it's because I only just started typing again after leaving the post for a few hours. Just in case you're wondering whether you're stuck in some time bubble or something similarly crazy.

Word of the Day: Bandwagon

G-Star Shmee Star

I have no idea why I'm still awake at this time, but I am. I'm being kept awake by this weird unsettling feeling unease I get every now and again. I think it's to do with the fear of results this time around.

Anyway. I should be tired, due to lack of sleep, but I'm not. Well, not at the moment anyway. I was a few hours ago.

So I might as well talk about today while I'm here.

Today was the induction into the Leader's Program. We finally found out what we signed up for, and it doesn't seem half-bad. Kind of looking forward to it actually.

So yeah. I kind of got to know a friend that I didn't know so well before a little bit better, which is excellent. I love it when that happens.

Afterwards, Victor, Kanji and I went shopping at Chaddy. Looked at some overpriced G-Star stuff, bought some stuff, and stuff like that. Stuff.

Alright. I think that'll be it for now. Probably should go to bed. Maroon 5 tickets to buy and all tomorrow morning.

Word of the Day: Stuff

They should start calling them Nadals

I always feel like a failure when I return from Chadstone empty-handed. Girl-wise or shopping-wise.

Annnnyyyway. Just an idle thought. I really needed/wanted a fedora. That Bruno Mars video really makes me want one, because now I associate being a billionaire with wearing a fedora. My cause and effect sequence may or may not be a little bit messed up there, but my care factor is so low that it's negative approaching infinity.

I also like his shirt. And his aviators. And I already have what he's wearing under his shirt. And I have non-brown aviators. And I have shirts. And the jeans that he's wearing. So really, all I need is a fedora. And maybe a flannel shirt with bigger checks. And a lot more money than I am currently in possession of. Not that I want to dress like him or anything.

Word of the Day: Fedora

It seemed like a good idea at the time

Oh, how I laughed when I saw a guy with a cast on his wrist walking around with a t-shirt saying "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Presumably he had broken his wrist, or something similar, or maybe he's just wearing it to go with the t-shirt. More likely though that he is wearing the t-shirt to make light of his injury. Or perhaps he's clueless, and doesn't realise how ironic, and funny, his t-shirt is.

On a side note, this saying is like, the story of my life. Before I do something that turns out to be stupid, I reason it out in my mind, and it seems to make logical sense before I do it. I like it when things make logical sense. Then, afterwards, I realise how stupid it was, and wonder how I ever thought that it was a good idea in the first place. Usually, in hindsight, I can't find one reason why it would've turned out good.

But I digress. Where I saw this t-shirt is the key to this post.

See, I was Boxing Day shopping at Chadstone.

Yes, I was at Chadstone again. That was, I think, the third time in two weeks. I'm becoming a bit of an addict.

It's funny, because:
a) I vowed never to go Boxing Day shopping, because of it's sheer pointlessness and crazy number of people, and
b) I ended up buying something that I'm fairly sure cost that much normally anyway.

I bought a tank top from Mossimo. So worth driving 30 minutes and swimming through a sea of people. The queues outside some stores were just ridiculous. There was like a dragon of people outside adidas. I have a general phobia of crowds in places where there shouldn't be crowds, like shopping centres. I think there were already not that many people during the time that we went (around 7:30 p.m.) Can't imagine what it would be like earlier.

Sarah got an awesome Calvin Klein handbag for 40% off, which was quite swell. I found it, too. Go me. My mother also bought a Guess handbag, for half price, which I also found. Go me x 2.

But yeah. As I said, not much to be gained. In fact, one could argue, there's a lot to be lost. Such as money.

Not a bad outing though. Quite interesting, especially observing how many more people turn up on Boxing Day as compared to pre-Christmas. Weird. So many more people today. Might go next year with someone closer to my age.

Word of the Day: Crowds

Chad's Stone

Retail therapy is so detrimental in so many ways, yet it provides so much lift for a short amount of time.

I'm serious. It can make you forget almost all your problems.

It's not like I went of a psycho, compulsive, uncontrolled, extremely money-draining splurge on all things branded. I just bought an on-sale pair of jeans from Mossimo. I don't even remember the last time I bought something for myself. I'm fairly sure that most of my money is spent on other people.

It's not something I mind. It's weird. Like, I don't mind spending a lot of money on somebody if they mean something to me, but I'm very loathe to spend money on myself. I'm fine with buying expensive jewelery for others. I like seeing the smile on their face, amongst other things. But myself, I usually wait for the sales, or shop around a bit.

I'm also quite a snob. I don't like buying just anything. It has to be good. That, mixed with an almost unqualified refusal to pay for overpriced goods, is generally not a good mix.

But yes. I bought a pair of jeans. And now I am quite happy. Hopefully this will carry me until Chen's shindig, which will carry me til past Christmas. Goodo.

Word of the Day: Retail

Don't even try G, you ain't got nothin' on me

I am such a rebel.

On Friday night, I smoked a bit of cigar.

Pretty much tasted like burning tea leaves, with a stronger after-taste. Better than cigarettes, I think, not that I've had them before, but not completely bad tasting. Still, probably would not try it again. Unless it was a $3000 Cuban cigar given to me by one of my lawyer friends in the future.

Oh, by the way, the one's Botros and Simon were smoking were $12 for five from 7-11. Real high-class stuff there.

Meng was getting all into it though. I wouldn't be surprised if he went and got some for himself afterwards.

I should rewind a bit. Just so you know where the hell all this happened.

So it was Orrin's birthday party on Friday night. Me, being the astute and meticulous planner that I am, devised a masterplan. For my transportation to his place, that is.

The plan was that Orrin would arrive at Monash at 11, come to my Accounting lecture with me, perhaps meet some people, then leave the joint at 12 to go to Chaddy and buy some stuff and gossip about...things.

The plan screwed up at the first step. To cut a very, very long and expensive story short, Orrin got there at about quarter past 11, I was late to my lecture, we ended up meeting 0 people. The only part that went right was the going to Chaddy at 12 bit. Oh, and laughing at the New Zeland licturer the whole time.

So there we were at Chaddy. We had lunch, went to Koko Black to buy some ridiculously priced drinks (like, really exorbitant pricing), then went to Coles to buy ginger beer "which nobody would drink". Everyone drank ginger beer that night.

After that, we got back in the car. For some reason, Orrin decided to turn on his windscreen wipers. Maybe where he comes from you turn them on when it's sunny outside. Who knows. In between all of this, we talk about everything from weather to girls to why Kanye is such a tool.

So we kip on down to Southland to find some of the hard stuff. After walking back and forth between K Liquor and Liquorland about a million times, we ended deciding to go back to K Liquor anyway, which is what I suggested in the first place. This was where, according to Orrin, the most exciting part of the day happened.

See, there was this alright-looking girl at the counter. Ok, so she was better than alright. And she had a nice smile. And presumably you know how I have a thing for girls with nice smiles.

ANYWAY. So Orrin decided that we needed many cases of beer. He's like "here, slave, carry these while I select some more," so I go "Screw you, I'll put some on the counter first." This was the platform for me to make my first witty remark of the session.

I put one case on the counter, and Countergirl goes "Is that all for today?" or something along those lines. And I go, "Nah, there's still much more to come." Which, for some inexplicable reason, she found amusing.

So I go back, and help the New Zealander with his alcohol. So we ended up with a total of 24 beers. And then Countergirl goes "Is that all for today?" And here's the "punchline." Me, being hilarious and geniusticious in my humour, says (this deserves a whole line to itself):

"Yeah, I think that'll be enough. 12 for me, and 12 for this guy."

Ok, so it was fairly funny at the time. I wouldn't say it was the funniest thing I've ever said. Not by a long shot, if you know anything about me at all. She found it immensely funny. Actually, I don't very clearly remember what happened, but Orrin informs me that she found it immensely funny. And Orrin found it funny.

So apparently (I don't actually know why I have no recollection of this event) she started chatting me up. According to Orrin. Who is always reliable. So blah, blah, blah, have a great night guys. We get in the car, and Mr. Hindsight says, "Man, you should've asked her to MY party." Why the hell would I ask someone to YOUR party man? Whatever Orrin tells you I said after that is pure conjecture and fabrication, and has no truth in it whatsoever. I did not complain about missed opportunities in the slightest.

So we got to his house, blah blah blah. Key points were me setting up music, me showing Orrin how to fill up his tank (even though I've never driven with my Ps on - go figure), me fetching his girlfriend from the train station, and me doing stuff.

Meng arrived, we talked for about 30 seconds. Other people came, we lit a bonfire, got to know other people. More people arrived, night fell, Botros gave me a cigar to try, Meng puffed at it all night, we played Mafia, everybody except me and Meng sucked, Priscilla and Henrick came later, they danced, I brooded about things, played poker, lost to Botros, played Wii, slept for four hours, woke up, played Wii again. All in all, had a good time, and I have never seen a person blow out candles in such a creative way. The man clapped them out. Well done, you tool. Happy 19th.

I think it's time for me to talk about Westgate (ha, geddit? Kanye West? West-gate? Westgate Bridge? Forget it. I think I'll just stick to Kanye West Interruption.)

I found it hilarious. I mean, sure, he was a bit of a tool, and completely unreasonable for doing what he did, but still. It was funny. To be honest, Taylor Swift annoys the hell out of me. She didn't deserve to get served like that, but she could've at least put up a better show of defending herself.

"Yo Meng, I'm really happy for you, imma letchoo finish, but Andrew has one of the best jokes of all time. Of all time!"

Sorry, just couldn't resist slipping a reference there. No hard feelings Meng.

Word of the Day: Cigar