• Joe the 9-5 man: I am really liking working at G.E. I guess for most part, I am learning new things, I get to dress up when I go to work and I get to meet new people. It's great. I have been waiting a long time for this and am going to grab this opportunity with both hands. 
• Uni: Last year to go and from what I have been experiencing of late, it's going to take a whole lot of time management and planning for me to finish. The 9-5 really takes it out of me on a mental level in that because I am learning new things, by the time I get home, study is the last thing on my mind. Going to the gym and physically exerting myself is at thoughtless and often mindless effort but getting in a couple of hours of studying per night is stretching it!
•  Turning into a pig:  Working the new job has made my appetite increase 10 fold! And I don't know why! Most of you know what my appetite is on a normal basis and now it's just ridiculous. I am really going to have to cut back to avoid turning into a real pig. Also, coffee intake has increased in proportion to food intake!
• Lack of exercise! Am feeling relatively unfit due to the above and because the db season is over. Am going to try and join OC soon but am really struggling on the financial level because I just paid some of my uni fees! And yes, am suffering from withdrawl symptoms.
• Home boy: Have been a real hermit and not really seeing anyone. Which on one hand is a good thing as I don't have time! Work 9-5 mondays to fridays and catch up on sleep on weekends! Ohkay so I lie. There is time to fit in some catch up time. 

Laters!

J

• Race Riots: I really cannot believe that this would actually happen in Australia. I consider Australia home and for such a thing to happen in our own back yard I thought would have been unheard of. I have had various often heated discussions (on my part) about this but let's just say, I am not a very happy chappy.
• A.C. Nielsen over: Yes, sad to say my short lived foray into marketing research ended early December. I truly enjoyed the experience of working in a new environment, learning new things and meeting new people and best of all having to dress up to go to work. It wasn't no suit and tie but business casual for me is a step up from shorts and polo top I wear at the 'Bux (not to say I didn't enjoy that either!)
• Back at the Bux: Unfortunately I am back there, but things seemed to have gotten better and it is somewhat enjoyable to be back. I guess also the hiring of new people (chicks) means I get to know them.
• Another year nearly GOOOONNEEE! So fast I truly don't know where it's gone to. Have to start making new plans and lists for 2006 as is my tradition. Looking forward to 2006 as 2005 was quite boring! Haha..
• Frustrations with Naga: At the moment am increasingly frustrated with lack of commitment of the team. I know they are not me and enjoy paddling with a passion but still! Am also increasingly worried that our team is slowly dwindling into extinction.
• Losing my neck again: Every season I know when I am starting to get bigger when I once again lose my neck and become NONECKJOE. For some reason, my traps bear the brunt of all my working out and I am soon to be a Petro Civinoceva! HAHA..

That's about it really..

Joe

What goes around comes around!

Today at the supermarket, an old grandpa and his toddler grandchild were about to check out. The Grandpa was carrying the toddler and the sitting pram that was with them was practically overwhelmed with food. There was literally bags strung on it everywhere. I was thinking what a disaster waiting to happen. And happen it did. In the instant that I had thought that, over it went spilling groceries everywhere.

I straight away started picking up some of the groceries as the Grandpa had his hands full with the toddler. I think he was quite surprised that I, an Asian was doing such things. I know this is quite the sweeping stereotype but Asians have a reputation of looking in the other direciton when something happens.

Anyway, just now I was standing in line to pay for a ticket when an elderly gentleman gave me his daytripper ticket (still valid for that day). So hence, what goes around comes around. I was very happy not to have to pay for a ticket. And it feels good to have done something and received something in return.

Old Chinese Films..

Have you seen those old chinese comedy kung fu films where there are guards posted outside the gate but when you get closer they are actually sleeping with their eyes open? Just now on the train there was an old guy just like that. Not both eyes (only one) but that one eye seemed to be slightly open. I definately know he was a sleep because I could hear him snoring. I wonder if he actually sees anything when he is sleeping.

Fully Sikh..

Also on the train was a Sikh. You know those guys from India with the turban and ever growing beard? Anyway, reason I mention it is because back in highschool in Malaysia I had a Sikh mate and we used to crash at his house. Every night he used to wash his long hair and put coconut oil in it. Anyway reason I mention it is that he did was allowed to shave but this guy on the train was a full sikh (GET IT? FULL SIKH! Haha..)

As I was watching him he was tweaking away at his moustache and he had this implement (looked like a small metal rod), that he used to push his hair into his cap. Not only that but I reckon he brushes his beard, this guy was so hairy that his whole cheek was covered in hair. Copious amonts of grooming between Strathfield and Deniston. (Reminds me of those baboons on National Geographic picking tics off each other!).

Ohkay time for bed!

Working early tomorow at the Bux..

Joe

• They changed from the Sunday to a Saturday: This caused an uproar to begin with as they had announced that the event was to be held on a Sunday right from the very start of the season. Then suddenly 2 weeks prior to the event it gets changed to Saturday! What de! To book a venue such as the SIRC they would have needed to book it months in advance not just weeks. Real con job I reckon.
• M4 accident prior to arrival: A lot of our guys and undoubtedly everyone else got had to make a long detour to get there when there was an accident at the start of the M4. Hence, everyone was real crabby when they arrived because they had to park on the other side and walk over.
• No pontoons: SIRC center has pontoon starts which are changeble from the 500m to 200m mark. They somehow forgot that we wanted it and hence we didn't have it till right at tne end. Somehow forgot? I demand a refund man. Ridiculous! By the way, at the end they only raced like 2 heats on it!
• Hellish weather: It was blowing a typhoon right from the start of the day at 7:45am when we got there. It did not settle down at all, as a matter of fact, I think it got worse.
• Debacle in organisation city: Sloths, being a hugely massive club with at least 150 people somehow could not get their act together. They sent out the invites the week before the race on a wednesday and demanded entry by friday. Now for a club that has demanded professionalism in the sport, I thought that was ratehr unprofessional. To make that worse, they release the preliminary race draw on a wednesday and the final one on a friday. Great! Gives the rest of us a lot of time to organise ourselves don't it! But then again, race draw went to shits anyway!
• Took the whole day before they realised it was over! We might have just paddled in a river instead of paying an additional $3 per head to have it there. We sat around for at least 2 hours waiting.

But anyway, enough complaining about how it was shit. This is the reason why it was good!

• NAGA SPIRIT IS BACK BABY! We won the 1st heat and came 2nd in the 2nd heat. It has taken us a while but I feel this is the start of something great! It has taken us 2 seasons to get this far! But it was well worth it. I was so in shock to come 1st I didn't even celebrate! But I so did when we came 2nd! Weird ain't it.

Would also like to make special mention to REBECCA LAU 'WALAU' for making a special appearance and helping beef us up! Cos you're all beef baby!

Had some photos, but you know me. It takes forever for me to get it together. And now, my hdd is full of shit which I must back up first! Ohwells, maybe next time!

YEAH BABY!
Joe

1. Go Australia! Viduka, no hesitation next time, Swartzer and Kewell are legends! Here come the Aussies! I think this will be a remarkable turnaround for soccer in Australia. Was a very proud moment after all the shit we have been through from the cricket and the union.
2. Going back to training tomorrow. Testing out my back. Hope it fares well.
3. Being going gangbusters at the gym. Since no training have to keep myself motivated for the comeback somehow.
4. A.C. Nielsen is such a cruisy job. I hope they keep me on after this short 1 month stint. I really want to leave S'bucks. I will be stuck there if they do not offer me a position.
5. Uni has started again. But this time because I have 2 supplementary exams, I only have to do 2 subjects this semester. Which is great because it will make the summer less tedious.
6. I want to go on holidays. Many numerous friends are on working holidays, on real holidays or just came back from holidays.
7. Excitement. Urban Max challenge on next weekend. Partnering Cherie to do it. We will either be mad friends or crazy enemies out of it.
8. Relos from M'sia are here. Meaning, I have to be a good boy! Haha..Not!
9. 2005 nearly at an end. Must start planning my goals for 2006.
10. Need a new computer before this ones goes the way of the dodo.

Joe Out

Only a few good things happened to me today.

1. I found out which bus takes me directly to the front door of A.C. Nielsen. Yay for the 295, otherwise which I would have had to walk from Macq Center which is a good 15-20 minutes walk away. 1st day of work I turned up drencehd in sweat..

2. I only have to do 2 subjects over Summer semester. I managed to pass 2 in the last and fail one and 1 other I have a supplementary exam for. From the previous semester before that I also have a supp exam so hence only needing to do 2 subjects. I will have to study for them in January but passing them means I pass the course and they incur no cost! So this sem, only paying 2 subjects and less stress since I have already done it but need minimal marks to pass!

3. In 3 days I have already by passed the other phleb. I am now doing work the normal people in my office are doing. Even though I do feel a tinge of guilt, bygones! Haha, may the best man win. ME! I have also put in the word that I would like to stay on after the month ends. And the boss lady (I may have to sleep with her! :P) said she will see how it goes!

Besides that..

1. The fucking bus was late. Meant for 3:30pm it didn't arrive till an hour later. I was dying in the heat. Black skin so attracts more heat! I was fuuuming. I have Sydney government transport! With increasing fuel prices, how are we supposed to be reliant on public transport when it doesn't work!

2. Had a crappy 2 hour starbucks meeting. Lucky I get paid for it and get to sample new foods. My district manager has the worst freakin nasally voice with a NZ accent. Thank god she didn't do much speaking but when she did, I almost tried to punch myself out. 2 hours of agony..Lucky the gang from work was there which made it a little bearable!

3. Public transport sucks x2! After the meeting and about to go home, I find out there is trackwork! Fark! To make matters worse, I get stuck on the city circle line back to central, which gets stopped in between st.james and museum for 20 minutes! Finally get home at 12:15pm, meeting ended at 10pm!

4.  Have an annoying gay bloke in the dept next door. So camp its not funny. You know the kind, a feminine man. I nearly choked myself everytime I heard his voice. Was so seriously wanting to tell him to shut the fuck up!