Certified!

The blur, lazy programmer is finally a Sun Certified Java Programmer!

As previously posted, I originally resolved to get my certification before I got -argh-, but the planned got shelved because there was no crisis. So I slacked and studied on-off, never intensively, thus it my skills never seemed to improve.


The final push came when my exam voucher was approaching expiry. We are talking about $266.70. Unfortunately, I have been very busy of late, OT-ing almost daily and obviously not in the mood to study after I got home. Left with no choice, I booked my exam for the very last valid day. *the power of procrastination*

So it's more intensive studying than usual for 3 weeks. I bought my exam during a promotion where I can retake once for free should I fail, but it would be more convenient to pass it at the first sitting, right? No movies! Cannot watch my new Jap drama! T_T

I was primarily practising at the JavaRanch Rule Round-up Game, where I should be scoring 100% before attempting the exam. Horrors of horrors, I was scoring like 60% or worse consistently. I seriously suck at modifiers, classes, interfaces, inheritance, threads... Aiyah sibeh jialat lah. It's like I'll still fail CS1101 now, and that I've learnt nothing during my years of work. So demoralizing. Practised repeatedly, until I sort of memorized some answers and starting scoring 100% more often. Moved on to a 45-page Word document of practice questions I compiled when I was last enthusiastic about it. Only had time to go through half of it.

The big day came. I took annual leave instead of exam leave because I didn't want anyone to ask me about it. Like, what if I failed? So paiseh right!

My test centre was NTUC CertCentre@International Plaza. Took my sister's precious Nike jacket along as I recalled almost freezing to death doing an interview test 3 years ago. The staff is friendly and helpful. They have colored CCTV! Wa seriously, no cheating! There's even a switch on the table to buzz the staff to come in. I settled down, familiarized myself with the exam format (my FIRST time seeing the format *blush*) and off I went.

Time whizzed by and it was over. I decided to be kind and fill up a feedback questionnaire, which had odd questions like how I found the temperature of the room. Can change meh? Light a fire? I know can change a test centre, but I doubt they would go to that extent. I received my result slip at the reception (yes, it's instant) and went back to work. Yeah, although I was officially on leave. I didn't want to be accused of slipping the project schedule. Haven't looked at my results yet. Shall save it for later, when I get home.


Yeah my result. What if my boss ask me how come just pass only? *stress* Glad that it's over, and I didn't waste my money lah.

Auntie Sotong

Got to know from a forum that Triumph would be having a warehouse sale from 27^th to 29^th July, at Jalan Pemimpin! So near my house! Must go! I know I just bought 1 new bra barely 2 weeks ago, but 1 is not enough! And I still want to get more panties :P Told the other ladies in my family about it and they couldn't resist as well.

Plan for the day: Hit the sale once it opens in the morning at 10am, grab something within 30min, pack lunch and fly off to work. Perfect.

The organizers gave us transparent bags to hold our trophies. There weren't many people when I reached, so I browsed leisurely. So wrong I was. The crowd swelled quickly and it wasn't long before I had to squeeze my way to the baskets. It was hot (would have been worse if the sun were blasting), stuffy (at the lower deck of a double-storey carpark, which provided shade, ironically), crowded and tiring. So I just looked at the design and dispatched my sister to find one of my size (the reason why she HAS to come). At a sale, you just want to buy everything, so we put anything we vaguely wanted into the bag first. Take first, think later. Chiong ah!

The panties section was horrible. Everything was in a heap and women were furiously performing the routine of fishing-inspecting-discarding/keeping. I joined them. So auntie.

When we were done, we went to a side to filter the stuff. If only I could afford all, then no need to waste my brain cells to think and 忍痛割爱. Shape a bit funny, out. Color too bright, dunwan. No, cannot keep this, got a similar one already...

I think I spent more time filtering than grabbing. Went to take a seat around bored men and children while my sis and mum paid.


I ended up leaving the place at 11.30am. My mum was so happily shopping that she decided to forgo an interview, but ended up the interviewer was late, so she still had the interview. I went for lunch before leaving for work.

Total damage $58 only. Impressive! *applause*

三盅两件

Partially described in my JC class blog.

Went to the AMK Hub branch for my belated birthday celebration with my JC class. Wanted to go to NYNY, but they were so yaya that they wouldn't seat us if the majority hasn't arrived, hence the change of plans.

I was late. Got out of the house late because my dad was still bathing -_-;; but might as well, so I wouldn't have to queue. Then the lousy carpark was full as usual so we couldn't get in. And which idiot designed that building? The interior is handicapped-friendly, but what good is it when there isn't any handicapped access to get into the building? All I could see is stairs man! Maybe they thought the travellator was a good idea, but sorry, it's not.

The nice thing about 三盅两件 was they allowed us in although attendance wasn't full yet. Got 稀客! I haven't met CX since we finished JC can! And there's HY, it's been almost 1 year.

One must place order with a firm mind. There were 2 versions of the 10-man meal. I think the cheaper one has no dessert or something and some of the dishes are different, but I had no idea how much better the food would taste for that premium, so we decided on the cheaper one. But the waitress was well-trained. She persuaded us to upgrade our meal as our chosen set serves pork bone soup (iirc) while the set she's recommending serves freshly boiled chicken soup, which they just cooked today. Also we would get dessert. So we were just looking at one another and she promoting the dishes, until someone said ok and the rest followed suit. :|

The chicken soup came. Sweet and fragrant, delicious chicken wing. Breast meat was tough, but it's breast meat what. Ok, sounds like a better deal than the other whatever soup (Look, I don't even know what soup and I'm comparing. Ha.ha.).

O yeah the Samsui chicken. Wrap it up with a piece of lettuce, put some sesame oil-soaked ginger and eat! Salty, tender and BONELESS.

There was a super oily potato leaves (all vegees outside are oily, so I'm cool), a freaking big steamed fish, fried rice (bowl filled to the brim OMG!) and some other dishes. Dessert was white fungus with ginko nuts.

We are (nearly) all in our mid-20s and can't really eat anymore. I barely touched my rice (sorry...).

Tricks to make us go away soon

• Serve the dishes fast and furious -> no space for the incoming dishes -> discard unclaimed food
• When a dish was 3/4 gone, come to ask if we still want it, then while we stun, collect the plate
• If more than half the people have put down their chopsticks after the last dish, clear the table of everything. No bowl, no chopstick left behind. You can't resume eating even if you want to. Ask to serve the dessert. The slow-eaters will catch the hint and discard their food.
• Do the same for the dessert.

So ya, I'm a slow-eater. If given time, I could have at least finished my portion. Didn't even finish my dessert. Boo. The food is nice, but could have been better if I could savour in peace.

After we got out, I noticed that there was still a queue. Afterall, it's 8.30pm only.

Walked around as some of the guys wanted to buy things. E and S bought Anderson's ice-cream and said it wasn't tasty. Noted.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2004: Haven't started working yet
2005: Job too eng, a waste to take leave. Colleagues treated me to Cafe Cartel and super alcoholic cake. Anyway I was going to Ikoi in the evening, can go straight from work.
2006: Job too eng, a waste to take leave. Colleagues treated me to Gelare because it's Tuesday -_-;; But add this add that, also ended up quite ex lah.
2007: Went to work on this annual event, just like the previous years. Not that I like to bully myself, but I could make full use of time the if I were to "postpone" it to Friday. Taking leave on a Wednesday is such a waste. Wake up at 11am, and have to make sure I get back by 11pm and be in bed asap so I can still make it through the day with a cup of coffee the next day. So there.

The day was ok. Solved a few problems and let myself home earlier than usual. 7.30pm, that is. W sent me a mms with an animation of a cake. I couldn't play the song that came with it. Must be the phone. It made me think if I should get a cake, but... I think no need lah.

O the stupid Citibank called me about you-know-what again. But I forgot to scold them. Next time. Sure got next time.

When I got home, I saw an envelope on my table. My spree item has arrived! So 准! It's as if I sent a present to myself.

As I had guessed, my brother got me a cake :D After allowing my dinner to settle further down, it's time to eat the cake/blow out the candles/cut the cake/have the celebration!

The mmm~ chocolate cake. Only remembered to take photo of it after I started eating, so pardon the dirty and obviously licked spoon. Very moist! The biscuit-like sticks on top are actually sugar.

HSBC sent me a "present" too. I had a late charge dated exactly on my birthday. How cool is that huh. It's my own fault. I did try to pay last month, but didn't notice that the bank transfer didn't go through because I busted the daily transaction limit. But actually, it's the bank's fault too, for not displaying the warning in font 30, bold, red and flashing. I shall act apologetic and ask them to waive the charge. Else I shall transform into an unreasonable bitch and threaten to cancel my card. Heehee! But before that, I shall redeem all my points with Haagen Daz vouchers. Like, $60 worth.

So on Friday, I slept till almost noon and headed to Pasta de Waraku at The Central for lunch. The loooong wait was worth it, although it could have been avoided by waking up earlier. Tasty corn soup. Creamy, filling pasta. A half-portion pasta coming with a whole egg. Reasonable pricing. What more can I ask for? Too bad the desserts are limited and don't look interesting.

Then I went to Vivocity for the first time when shops are actually open. Tried Starbucks' Azuki Frappucino. Nothing special. In fact, I felt it tasted the same as the Mocha Frappucino, just that there were bits of red bean to nibble on. It was too sweet although I didn't put whipped cream. Coffee Bean's promotion looked better.

Bought 2 pairs cheap earrings at Harbourfront. Dapao Shih Lin's oyster mee sua to try and went home. Because not hungry enough for dinner :|

Settled my card! All it took was part 1. It's as if it's their company to waive by default. Phew.

Battered Coin

Today I asked my colleague to help me dapao lunch. This is what I got back for my change.

A bit blur, but you get the idea.



Contrast with this "normal" coin.


So seldom seen, that I asked my colleague what happened to her coin the moment she gave it to me. I wonder what the coin could have gone through to wind up like this, looking like a piece of crumpled Al.

Or maybe it's just counterfeit. I should feed it to something that wouldn't ask the question I asked my colleague, such as a vending machine.