Google Reader is Retiring!

Ok, It's getting a bit overwhelming now. Too many farewell to bid over the course of a week. Started from Jet Set, Qiao Li, Steve, Hayati, and now Google Reader T_T (OK, I'm mixing software and people, but they are all close to me T_T)

Google Reader is my homepage - in both laptop and iPhone. I think I access it more often than any other websites (yes, more often than mail and facebook T_T). It hurts last year when they decided to remove the share function. Now it hurts even more that they decided to let it go all together T_T I'm one hurt loyal fan! I rather you get rid of google plus than google reader. Oh well.

After denial phase, here come my acceptance phase. Trying to find a good substitute to Google Reader. Has been hearing about Feedly quite a lot, so I'm going to see how it works now :)

... hope they are not shutting down blogspot soon,
ED

Fitness First – First Club Member at last!

1st Feb marks my 10th Month in Fitness First, and I’m finally qualified as First Club Member! That means I can now bring one friend for free to gym during weekend. Oh I’m so going to abuse this.

Without further delay, I invited Cit to join me to the gym the following day at Paragon. No matter how much I’m used to gym alone, it’s much more fun when you’re along with friend. That day, I tried out cycling for the first time. Afterwards, we also went to Hot Flow. Cit dragged me out from the gym before I suggest another class. Now I got more motivation to go gym on weekend.

Anyone interested to tag along let me know! Location is most probably MBC, unless I can be convinced to go somewhere else :D
ED

My Nephew was on Newspaper!

The article was about ““How to recognize children talent from their handwriting”. Alright, the article wasn’t really about him, and it’s only a local newspaper… but the fact that his picture was chosen among the others… maybe we finally have a modeling blood in our family? :p

From Harian Sumut 

My sister was quite surprised about it and didn’t even know it until her friend share it with her. Haha.. Way to go, Raymond!

When will I ever get to newspaper?
ED

Fitness First – The Dark Side

Like all relationships, everything always feels so perfect in the beginning. As time goes, you starts to see the other side of the thing. Depends on how bad it’s, you can either tolerate it, or just feel so frustrated.

I think I have not much complain about the facilities. Even though it comes with a steam room that is always under repair, a receptionist who never smiles, and clocks that never shows accurate timing – I think those all are petite issues and I never bothered about it (except for now when I just feel like complaining all I can).

The three things that I am really furious about:

1. My membership consultant lied about my membership
She promised me 12 + 4 memberships but she never got any approval from her manager. I have been following up with her for the last few months and never get any proper resolution. In the end, she resigned and the new consultant told me that my membership is only 12 months as per their records.

2. My membership consultant twisted the fact on the Body First reimbursement
When I first joined, she told me to get trial for 3 sessions of Personal Trainers for $118. If I can complete them within a month, she said that the money would be paid back to the credit card. Now that things are completed, she said the money can’t be reimburse and can only be use to purchase their product or used for another personal training session. I was really angry. I asked to meet her manager. She said the manager was on maternity leave and will be back in August, and turn out that she actually left first.

3. The referral gift does not worth the frustration
I referred one of my friends and it feels like I have to beg them forever to get a referral gift. Whenever I asked for the gift, they will say that it’s out of stock. In the end, she left and the new consultant said that there is no referral point in my account and so they can’t give any gift!

I don’t know if everyone has such a bad experience or it’s only me. Maybe I expect too much from them, but please, it was promised to ME!! Not that I asked on top of what's promised. The lady even promised me that I can bring my friend whenever I want to the gym - just for the sake for me to sign-up.

So, despite all the nice locations and all, I don't know if I will re contract next year. I know I got no bargaining power, but I just felt so cheated!!! ROAR!

Maybe I should go 3 times a day and steal few towels to distress.
ED

A new addition to the family!

It has been a busy week. Other posts can wait, but I definitely can't postpone this good news any longer :p

My sister-in-law with their second daughter

On 9th of July, my brother got his second daughter - One week earlier than predicted, but everything went smooth. The baby is so cute. I really can't wait to see her!! I wanted to have face time earlier today, but alas I fell asleep for 4 hours. By the time I woke up, my bro is already sleeping T_T

Ainsley Ruby Salim - Hello World! 9th July 1:17PM

Their first daughter suddenly has the 'sisterly' look. How time flies. With the new addition, she is now the big sister!! Oh wow =) Princess Aurelie and Princess Ainsley. I want to meet you both dearly!!

Aurelie and Ainsley

Mum and Dad still have learning how to pronounce Ainsley's name (me too!), but like Aurelie's, I believe we'll get hang of it soon!

Welcome to the world, princess :)
ED

42.195km – Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2012 – I’m in!

Influenced by my roomie, I signed up for the SC Full Marathon!! The only one and last marathon available for the year 2012. Thanks roomie for helping me to register! :) I'm so gonna suffer for this... but I'm looking forward for the pain. hahaha..

Registration Confirmation for Standard Chartered Full Marathon

As part of the preparation, I booked leave for 3rd and 4th Dec already :D Assuming I won't really be able to stand (leave alone walk) after the Marathon. Aren't I full of planning? Should have booked it as early sick leave notice but I don't think my manager will allow.

I gained back my running passion after signing up for the run. Isn't it amazing how much a $60 can motivate me? We started the Labardor Park run again every Thursday evening, and I would like to join as much as possible for weekend run with my roomie. Of course, will still be doing treadmill at gym as well :)

As of last week, the slots for Ekiden, 10km and Half Marathon are filled up. Can you believe it? The registration just opened 2 weeks ago!! I knew that I'm not the only one spending money to suffer :p

130 days to the run! Time to start planning!
ED

A new baby is born

Today, 17 January 2010, is a big day for me. My long awaited baby is finally here. I was eying for it for a good 30 months, ever since I was introduced to it by Steve Jobs on the WWDC 2007. Yes, my patience is a virtue.

It has come a long way. Not smooth, and I forgo lots of things for this new baby. I was charged $100 penalty for breaking my contract and wanting it early. Plus, my free voice mail is terminated, my free auto roam is terminated, and the worst? My free caller ID is terminated, too. I wasn’t aware of those at all, until the minute before I signed the contract. What can I do? I have come this far, a 2 hours queue in hello shop, and I definitely biased when it comes to iPhone… so yes, I signed it anyway. So there goes my $618. And my bill will be twice as expensive from now on.

I can’t put note on my phone anymore. I can’t type without looking now. I have to input all my new contacts, and I don’t know how to set the alarm yet.

So if you ask if I’m regretting my decision…

First touch on the iPhone

I’m far from it :) I know more exciting stuffs are coming their ways (at least I want to believe so)

Ok… That’s all for now… time to understand more about the new born :p
ED

Aaaa.. Geocities!!

I received multiple emails from Yahoo alerting that Geocities is closing soon and we're to pull out any data that we need from there...

I tried to recall what I saved there... can't remember anything but my funny website... so I ignored the alert...

Now after posting and notice something weird in my blogger display... I remember... I put my blog icons there!!! I linked them to Geocities!!

Now I have no way to retrieve my icons :( Thanks to my IE settings to always clear history when closing the browser, I don't even have it in my temporary internet files...

So either I have to redo the icons... or it's time for another blog skin revamp...

Hmm... think about it later... I'm getting late! T_T This is the risk of using free stuff... you have no one to sue.... hahaha...
ED

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

It was love at the first sight.

I knew about it when my friend was considering of which to bring as his partner to London – an old loyal buddy, or a new slim one? I heard of how the new slim mesmerized him, but at that point of time, everything was merely a random talk...

Then I met it on the London training (my friend finally decided to bring both). Then I touched it. Then I saw how sharp it is. Then I just felt in love.

I was asking so much about it, thinking so much about it, looking at every possible occasion to meet it, but it was a full one year wait before I finally can say that it is mine…

Introducing my new love


Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Life has been much more colorful after its appearance. It has meet my family and I guess everyone just loves the way it acts. I don’t know how long this love will last, but for now, I just treasure the time we spent together :)

Thank you everyone who has made this happened. Thanks Mr K to introduce me to it. Thanks Mr W to join me in the hunting. Thanks Mr A to check it out when I almost lost hope.

And finally, thanks Dad for the final courage you gave that make me decided to pursue it.


First night @ Hurricane's Bar with family

Enjoying the honeymoon @ Sydney :)
ED

PS: No matter how much I sound wrong with being in love with it, please take note that it's still an 'it' for me. haha... :p

PS2: My proposal happened on 19th September, Changi Airport Terminal 3, with the engagement cost of SGD745. Sigh. I just hope that it's not high in maintenance.

Bye, Singapore

Now is 12pm… I will have to go to airport in another half an hour… my seat isn’t even booked yet.. but here I am blogging in my room. Hehe..

This has somehow become my habit… like few hours before flight; I will try to jot down something… just to ensure that my hibernation period won’t be too long too obvious.

I’m leaving for Australia today… finally after 10 years of desire of visiting my brother. I will be meeting my parents at the airport at 3pm, then have some shopping and dining together before the night flight at 8pm to Sydney.

See you again in the next two weeks :) Or perhaps later if I manage to get free internet at the airport :p
ED

Flatmate Wanted

After nagged by my parents all these times, I’m thinking of moving out from my home sweet home next year :( This time, my parents gave me strict rules of finding place:
1. Near working location, which means somewhere around Tanjong Pagar
2. Near hawker center and transportation, which means somewhere near MRT.

Those two conditions are actually enough to make me broke T_T haha… adding my own preference to find a single room, I will need to act fast to find a place within budget.

Without further ado… ladies, I’m looking for flatmates~ who want to stay somewhere around Tiong Bahru… moving in around July – August 2009. Please contact me if anyone is interested… =D

…Or the other way round, if anyone is looking for flatmate, please include me in :p haha..

Trying my luck,
ED

I got my new passport…

… but oh, how I missed my old passport :( I have so many memories in it… started with its complicated acquirer, the lucky 07/07 expiring date, the rush of US Visa, the hassle of China Visa, and even the excitement of UK Visa… all of them are buried inside my dear A29**** passport. I repeated those number in so many applications that I believe I will remember it for the rest of my life. How can it just leave me like that?

I went to apply for my new passport this Tuesday. I never knew that they treat passport lost case so seriously that I even had to go through interview! I was being scold to the fact that I lost my passport, being warned that I won’t get a replacement if I lost it again, and being fine $80 for my negligence. Sigh. I had been fine in UK, now again in SG. I hope that I really learn something this time… (please please, this is not an empty wish)

And then… I went to collect my passport on Thursday (2 working days - they are really efficient!) Once I collected it… I hate everything about it! T_T I don’t like the way they cut the photo so big, I don’t like the new number, I don’t like the yellowish book, I don’t like the remark stated as “replacement of lost passport”, I don’t even like the expiry date! Ha… I know that I go a bit too much… but I was quite down at that day, looking at my new empty passport.

Now the passport thing is done, next step will be getting my new employment pass. Wish me luck T_T

Welcome, S38****
ED

I got a niece!

On 23 September 21.34pm Sydney time… My brother became a dad! :p hahaha.. Congrats, my dear sister and brother…

I was quite sleepy when I opened the message, but suddenly become totally awake when I read the news. The baby was expected to come next week, but seems like she just too eager to see the world already.


Aurelie Tiffany Salim

Sweetty.. I wish to meet you soon. Be a healthy, strong, and good girl k! :p

Auntie,
ED

Moving...?

No no, I'm not moving home again. haha.. This time, I am thinking of moving my blog to:

http://erlindiana.wordpress.com/

All the setup is done... But I'm still hesitating. The reason of my sudden decision are:
1. People kept telling me that Wordpress is better
2. Wordpress has the password-thingy.. which I might need as I start working life. Reading through my blog again, I realized that I have written some issues that might have hurt people in some ways. Taking this opportunity, I wanted to apologize.. Of course, I never mean to hurt anyone... T_T

However, I experienced that Wordpress loads pretty slow... and has no personalization capability... on top of those, what is the reason of posting something online if u want to protect it? The safest way is to keep it offline.

Will think through it again and see how thing goes. Any opinion will be highly appreciated! :p

Happy Birthday, Indonesia!!
ED

A new chapter - Coming soon on 1st July

“A mix of nervousness and excitement”
- Erlin Diana

A new place to be called home

Today is my last day of holiday as well as my last day of holding my Student Pass. I’m quite settled down with my new place ^^ Like what I done during IA at Apple, I have compiled a list of Pro and Cons of staying here… Starting with the cons first:

Cons:
Far from bus stop (5 mins walks)
Far from MRT somemore! (5 busstops)
The road is very steep (almost roll when I walk down and killing me softly as I walk back. Don’t want to imagine how to walk during heavy rain)
Far from any makan places (nearest kopitiam is 25mins walk)
Far from work place (need to wake up earlier T_T)
PUB x 1.5 from normal rate

Pros:
From the first 3 cons points: good sport exercise
Practice to cook at home
The place is shady, windy, cozy and quiet~
Swimming pool, tennis court and BBQ pit provided
The place is quite new (half of the furniture are recently brought from IKEA :p)
The owner is quite helpful and kind (some said handsome)
The flat mates are wonderful ^^

Yesterday, I just tried out my first creation: salty French toast… which costs me stomachaches for the rest of the day. Yesterday, I also have my first swimming lesson, which make me drank more than enough water for a day.

Wish that we’ll be able to stay here, with peace and harmony, until the time forces us apart :p
Erlin.D~

Blog skin updated!

Welcome to the blog version 3.0 :)

After almost 2 years (or more?) with the same blog skin, the desire to update the blog skin came to my mind for several times. Top up with the fact that my blog skin was a classic skin that didn’t support widget, the urge become even stronger.

This blog version 3.0 support the blog widgets, which are those appear at the right side of this blog. The arrangements are taken care by the blogger API… cool, isn’t it? :p

This blog skin 3.0 has come a long way.. I started to look for template at 1am. As usual, I started off with a high expectation of getting a great great blog template somewhere… but I got disappointed not really getting what I want… Most of the great skins are either didn’t supporting blogger widget or created for wordpress T_T I finally get one skin that I almost take but decided to leave it because it’s too hard to modify. In the end, I decided to use blogger default template (Douglas Bowman, Rounders 2) and do minimal editing to the skin… and this is what I got :)

The maron color is chosen… because I am wearing the SU’s maron tshirt right now XD hahahaa… Well, that was part of the reason. The other was because I don’t want to use back the blue color… and I don’t want dark color either… :p where as, the Sakura character from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is featured because of the strong connectivity with the blog purpose: memories conservation. Hahahaaa… For those who haven’t watched the anime, the feather that Sakura is holding represents her memories :) If hers are saved in feather, mine is saved in this blog. I also just finished watching the third part of the movie, which was exceptionally great… leaving me with no doubt to pick this image and put it in the blog :p

Honestly, I like my previous blog skin a lot. That was the first blog skin that I edited so much (from the default of Habour, also from Douglas Bowman) and felt satisfied with. Thanks Sailormoon for accompanying me in these 2 years… You’re always the greatest manga in my heart :D For now, let’s welcome Sakura as the new representative of my blog. Haha…

One last look to the blog v2.0


Welcome, blog version 3.0!

Oh btw, this new skin also serves as a gift from me to my blog for my upcoming 21st Birthday.(huh? @.@) Hahaha.. It has been quite long that I didn’t touch CSS.. And I enjoyed the making process, really =D compared with the previous one, it is quite painless this time :p

With this new template, I will now be able to update my blog list easier :D Will put more updates from time to time. I was thinking of using tab in the blog as well... but so far haven't really seen the need... so leave it for future work~

Ok, 6am in the morning now.. Shall sleep now and see what time will I wake up… T_T

Happy Easter Day!
Erlin.D

Side Wishes

Most likely, you have some wishes that you know will never happen, and yet it kept coming to your mind over and over again, in different time and places.

I made wishes several times for these things to happen:
- That food doesn’t cause fat. Study does
- That I can transfer fat to those needy people, simply by pulling it out from stomach
- That my primary food is not rice, but KFC

These wishes aren’t something that you think about seriously… and not something that you might wish for when u’re given a chance to make only 1 dream come true. They just come impulsively to your mind… and it somehow reflects what kind of person you are.

What is your spontaneous wishes right now? =D

Hungry,
Erlin.D

Necessities

My headset’s microphone is spoilt again.. The voice can’t get through my sister no matter how hard I scream. Hahaha.. so afterall, there IS a different between $6 and $50 microphone XD

Anyway, I just remember that I got a lot of things that I need to buy… T_T Let me note it down before I forgot again:
- Headset
- Swimming Goggle with (- 5)
- Back massager
- Coffee supply for 1 year
- Sandals
- Body Shop perfume

Anybody wants to go out? Haha… or even better, anyone cares to donate some of the stuff? :p (!! OMG, Just realize that my b'day is in one month time!! so fast!? O.o) Then this is just nice to act as my wishlist as well ba.. muahahaaa (so shameless)

Just realize that I’m getting old again soon :s
Erlin.D

A Letter for You...

My dear computer,

From the time we met at Bugis, I know that you are the one. I will never forget the time you came and filled my heart ever since. I can’t believe how fast time flies. We have been going through a lot of happy and sad time together. You’re always with me whenever I need it. Everyday. Accompaning me when I have insomnia, staying with me when I need to do project overnight. You show the world to me. You introduce new things to me. A lot of times you have been going through suffering when you help me with academic projects. I remember once you were mad and don’t want to talk to me at all. I brought you to doctor, but they said nothing is wrong with you. Eventually, I surrender and stop forcing you to use Winamp. Afterwards, you started to talk happily again.

Not long ago, you have been going through power supply and motherboard disease. The doctor told me that it wasn’t recoverable, unless I changed part of you. I was so confuse deciding either to let you rest in peace or try my best to save you. I chose the latter. I’m sorry that I just love you too much.

My dear computer,

I know that I had been asking too much in these few weeks.. I know that you’ve been showing the symptom of illness. I really want to stop this suffering... but I just have no choice. Please.. don’t leave me alone again. I promise that this is the last year.. and afterwards, I will definitely clear all those troubling stuff.. and we’ll live happily ever after again…


Blue Screen of Death caused by Matlab

Please stand by me… Just for few more months.

Stress and start talking to computer,
Erlin.D

-----Update-----
Realizing that I had been leaving my computer with the same wallpaper for more than 3 years. Decided to change now.. *grin* and hence changing the theme as well to suit it *perfectionist mode on*



My theme for the past 3 years...


I like the wallpaper so much.. Thanks Boly...~

Reason behind the wallpaper selection:
1. TRC is my current favourite manga =D
2. The wing represents memories... after more than 3 years, my computer did keep alot of my memories: Photos, Video, ECA, Projects, Academic, etc etc... =D So please. Don't crash T_T
3. Dark colour is said to be better for eyes

But.. still not sure if i can get used to the new theme.. still feel weird now ~.~

Lalala... my computer gets new look~
Erlin.D