I drank at a party???

I have to admit, last saturday, I actually drank liquor at a party. It was the first party I had the opportunity to go to with the folks at my favourite hangout store, Wolf's Games Shop. I do confess, I really wasn't sure why there was a party (I was informed originaly that it was for Wolf, but then it turned out it was for a host of other October babies, like my dad, my younger brother, etc.. :) ) and was informed of it by sheer concern of my Raw Deal Marketing Manager, Ms. Triona Lydia Leo at the eleventh hour as I was suppose to hold a tournament the next day (Oops, fragment).

Now, for people who don't know me (well enough), I do not drink beer, or any equivelant drink. If it's liquor, that's fine, but no beer. I just don't like it, period. I'm also a poor drinker, whereby a few drinks (i.e. 3+) should put me to sleep. And I don't get high from alcohol, but a kind of pain, which is why I have always said, "I will not replace 1 pain with another", i.e. No drowning of my emotional/mental anguish with alcohol and get myself physical pain.

Oh, I didn't drink for that either, that night. I drank because I was involved in a drinking game, which was, in my honest opinion, a lame excuse to drink as a penalty. The game had us taking 1 card each from a deck of cards, and the biggest card decides who needs to drink 1 shot of the available liquor. Then the victim gets to make up a new rule, in which case almost everyone decided to restrict speech freedom (e.g. Can't say drink, pass, etc.) Eventually, 1 round could have 5-10 shots being drunk by 1 or more persons, resulting in a single round lasting 10 minutes or so. And all everyone had to do is to keep their mouth shut. But then again, we all needed an excuse to drink.....I mean, they all.....really...

In any case, I didn't have to drink until half way through, when I said the 'illegal' words twice and downed 2 shots in a go. Subsequently I made several more mistakes and took about 6-7 shots in total. I wasn't wasted, but I like to act like I am. Otherwise people wouldn't give up on me.

What else happened during the party:

1) We watched EPL and was more keen on players playing well than the result itself.

2) I drafted my first Ravnica (M:tG) and lost due to mana screw. If not, I would have won on my first draft (wishful thinking)

3) Many people played twisters. I wanted to, but then wasn't sure I'd keep my hormones in check if I did, so abstinence is good prevention. There were girls at the party playing twisters, ok!

4) 3 chicks puked, though I can't recall if any of the guys did as well. I expected myself to puke, but I didn't. Not too sure why...

5) There's this couple that let 1/2 of the couple smooch another for everyone's view (including the said half). All in all I think they smooched like 5 times, at least. After the second one, it kinda got boring......Oh, nothing elsed happened....Or I'm not telling it here. You figure it out yourself.

6) Someone brought his new X-Box but didn't get to play it until like, 4am in the morning because there were football first, and then drunkards lying on the floor in front of the TV later. Eventually they moved away to, a) puke, b) puke, c) lie somewhere else.

7) We had a lot's of pizza. Rephrase. I had a lot of pizza. In total maybe about 10 slices over to feeding sessions. One when the pizzas arrived, about 10pm, and another at about 1am...

So all in all I had fun at the party. For once it wasn't a drinking party, where everyone was just trying to get everyone else drunk, though I know there were a few persons who wanted to get there. I hope I get to join them again for the New Year party, but we'll talk about that when we get there in 2 months time.

Till then, being sober is good. Being sober when everyone thinks your drunk is way better!

Why do I miss it so?

This time the header has nothing to do with what I 'm writing. I really don't know what to write, but I think I should as I haven't written for awhile.

Maybe I should go story telling today. What story will it be?

Why was I a Magic: the Gathering Judge.

For those who knew me a about 5 years ago, I started judging part time in 2000 during KL GP. Despite scoring well below the passing mark of 80 ( I think I got like 68). I got my level 1 that day and thus began my 2 year stint as a somewhat fulltime M:tG Judge.

I enjoyed judging very much, as it allowed me to be part of the game without having to face the hearbreak of loosing it. I'm not too keen in loosing, fyi, and while there are those who choose to see it as a challenge they will take up until they succeed (and then leaving it completely because it's no longer a challenge), I am the type that would rather back-off and fnd another way to enjoy the game and keep an avenue open that in future I may take up the game as a player again (hint hint).

Because of this judging stint, I had valid reasons to visit Singapore & Hong Kong, so I wouldn't say it was anything but a good experience. Eventually, after many tournaments appearing initially as some random judge, and later to being head judge and tournament organiser, I saw a better reason for me to do this; The satisfaction of running the show that everyone else enjoys. Mind you, it was no easy task, as I had to do alot of physical work arranging play areas and running tournaments. Not to mention the extended hours during tournaments, like 7am to 10pm..... And yet after every succesful tournament I would sit back and reflect on the good that I've done to the community...

So why am I an ex-Judge now? The main excuse is that I started to work, and working commitments made it difficult for me to spend those hours making a tournament go smoothly. The actual reason was that I felt betrayed by certain quarters, and lost both the way and the cause. Thus I initiated my exodus in 2003, and hasn't looked back since (lie).

Not too bad for a story from nowhere, huh?

Evanescence

My fav. band for the moment. I actually spend RM 36.00 to buy the original CD last month... (yes I know, they're a realtive has been now, they were hot a couple of years back).

The reason I bought the CD is because I figured that I would probably like all the songs in the CD, so it would be well worth it. Moreover, I think they deserve my royalty payment....

I have already memorised 5 out of 11 of the songs, and I want to make it at least 10 of 11 before I move on to memorise other songs. FYI, I still remember 9 out of 10 songs of the only other original album I bought, which was Wilson Phillips back in 1990!

I pity the people around me though, how they have to listen to a guy learning to sing songs by a female singer. Actually, they're mostly my siblings and parents, since I don't sing out loud elsewhere......hmmm..

I have to admit, the album is worth my every cent. Not that it's the best music money can buy, for that I would have to chose a CD compilation that had Overture to Manfred, Schubert's Symphony no.4 as well as Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in 1 CD for me to say "that's the best music moeny can buy". The songs eventually seem to repeat itself on the verse sections, with the themes somewhat angst. But I guess that's what i like about Evanescence, how the angst is so well imbued in the music (Amy Lee's voice is also a major boon).

I also like the way electronic music blends with classical instruments. The piano in Bring Me to Life, Taking Over Me and the string arrangements in Whisper really is very good. It expunges my previous preference to keep Classical and Contemporary music apart.

Just helping think of other things....

Territorial disputes

Confession. Despite moving to a new workstation in my office, I seem to be having difficulty letting my old one go. Someone (who isn't someone I despise, other than the fact he's got someone's attention that I do not, bugger!) is trying very hard to relocate to my old workstation, and I am subconciously defending the area...

Frankly speaking, I don't need it anymore, other than to store junk. But I also want to keep it as it is a prime location. It's a window workstation with the sun behind you a a good view of the city. Since I'm at describing workstation, my current one is next to a 2 walls and right smack at the centre of the floor. Location wise, the old one is by far better as the area is also almost impossible to look at what I am doing without a conscious effort.

I think I know why I'm keeping the place, but even I isn't too sure about that. Really. Oh well, poor guy. Can't move to the 'best place' in my office..

Sorry mate, while I can't call something else mine, this will have to do! Ha ha!!!

If I was a Vampire in V:tM

I'd be a Malkavian.

I actually love Toreadors the most, as they are so cool and exactly what I like most about being a Vampire; Fast, Charismatic and foresight to boot.

I'd even settle with Tremere, but with no spells in repetoire, I guess that just won't do.

So why would I be a Malkavian? Firstly, I admit that I am demented. Not so much in action, but very much in thought. Things that goes through my head are so, so, sick and well, demented. So if you know me personally, chances are you don't...Scared you, didn't I?

Next, I am extremely moody, and thus fit a Malkavian very much. Also, I can see humour in the worst of situations, and yet be dead serious over child's play. Don't you agree I'm Malkavian?

Going to the diciplines that I would have, I'd say Basic Auspex, Superior Dementation and no Obfuscate. That's because not only do I have no tact, I can't really do much in secret without laughing over it. So I'd have a capacity of 3. I'd give myself the ability, BenBHadd can perform any action any number of times this turn. That's because I'm never bored of the same old thing. Wait, that means I'm boring.........Maybe I am.

So that's me as a vampire....If you think you're one too (per V:tM), feel free to comment..


Oh, I'd also be Sterile, meaning to say I can create any progeny.......(this is not a medical condition, I think..ha ha)

Blood in my hands

I haven't killed anyone, nor do I believe I'd ever be in a position ot have to, but last night, someone's life was relatively in my hands, and I relatively terminated it.

I can't really say much, but I need a place where I can speak my piece and seek forgiveness, and while I doubt I'd get it, I know I have to try...Maybe doing it here doesn't help, but it's a start. And for me that's quite alot.

The source mf my 'problem' lies within me, my lack of tact when hurling what I thought were impartial comments. I thought that the world's humour levels were much higher, and that people were more used to direct feedback. Unfortunately that isn't the case, I still have certain people in my life more laidback than me, more conventional than me, more narrow minded than me.

And to them, I hope I could not have wished that you could see the light, for that would only mean that I took you, your personality for granted.

Enough said. To each it's own, and "thank you for making my future one without offsprings". (For all it's worth, that wasn't meant sarcastically, nor with dissent, at all..really....REALLY)

Migration

Not quite, but it's the biggest word I could think of to say " I moved from 19th floor in my office to 14th floor!"

For those who didn't notice, a couple of posts back I mentioned that I will be moving workstations. I did that today. While I'm still using my old PC (Prop IBM, flop Dell), and the same phone & line, everything else changed (Ok, my boss is still the same, but I have another boss now...haha!)

The people around me are relatively new as the department I am situated in is about 6 months old. My workstation is not as private as before (my boss almost 'snuck up' on me a couple of hours ago and made me freak out as I was blogging....) but still more 'out of view' compared to others of my level.

I haven't really begun unpacking, other than the stuff I 'need' to work daily, but safe to say my workstation 'looks' like my workstation now...Messy and all..haha

208120 292038 919 82118209147 135 171914!!!

In any case, change is imminent....And I hope I'm changing with it...for the better.....(yeah right!)

Encoded??

Since I'm abit bored today, I'll play with myself here (no dirty thoughts, please)

9 19123 8518 20154125. 1985 2315185 1 1691411 2121521195 1144 1912131119. 235 215208 13111415231254754 5138 15208518 239208 152118 525519 15141225. 1991435 208514 9 113 655129147 121523. 9 18511291954 208120 4519169205 8518 141520 259147 1682519931121225 120201813209225, 1985 1215151119 1915 2512120962112 2015 135. 96 15141225 1965'4 65512 2085 191135. 96 15141225 1985 6551219 114252089147 201523118419 135. 9 192091212 4185113 156 8518 52251825 1497820, 1144 920 13111519 135 1391919 8518 1915 132138 141523!

23825 3114'20 9 611212 61518 191513515145 23815'4 129115 135 201515??

The above shouldn't be posted here, but since I'm feeling naughty and 12151451225, oh what the heck.

In any case, a hint......that's 891420. a clue.........312215. Get it? 7520 920?

New Toy for the Big Boy

Haha, sorry. Such a nice title, had to steal it from where you know it is....

In any case, just wanted to say that I am now taking V:TES (Vampire: The Eternal Struggle) more seriously and I am looking to get more of it's cards in coming months. For those of you oblivious to V:TES, it's a CCG (if you don't know what this is, stop reading. Nothing will make sense to you) where you play a Methuselah and try to control your world by influencing minions, generally vampires, to do your bidding.

While in reality I hate this 'influence' factor, largely because I have none of it, in the game it's fun because the Vampires are such cool minions to control and they can do many things to 'screw' your opponents. And if I get lucky, I might just find more than 1 player to play this regularly with.

The game was originaly a 'brother' to Magic: the Gathering but since then has been taken over by White Wolf (the makers of Vampire: the Masquerade RPG) and the new cards are getting more and more exciting. The only problem is that I have very little of the new cards, and thus am still stuck in the 'timeline' when it was stil a WoTC (Wizards of the Coast, creators of M:TG) product.

It's time to feed....I mean, bleed....

Paintball

Last saturday my company had a paintball event. For those who didn't noticed, the month before we had a shooting event, so immobile target before, live moving (yummy) human targets next.

(un)Fortunately, my dexterity is nigh zero and my team (of 4 teams) were at the bottom of the table when it comes to this years events. That, and the fact we're all a bunch of wossies (that didn't come out right), so I didn't expect us to shoot down the opposition and claim an upset (Note: Expectations aren't the same as hope, go figure).

Due to weird organisational skills, instead of a team of 5, my team had 6 persons, but there were only 5 vest. So I had to go in without one, but since I haven't played this before, I didn't know if it was a good idea to have a vest..I mean, it's not like I plan to get shot......

On my first game we lost because my team ran out of pellets. We were suppose to get 50 each, but 1 cupfull of pellets is not 50. In any case, at the last minute I got hit by a glancing shot that tore my palm's skin. I was the first bleeding participant. But hey, no shot to my body, didn't need a vest at all....

Next, my team lost again as our opponents captured the flag. Oh, it's a round robin of 3 games and capture the falg win condition, I didn't mention this earlier? I was shot halfway through the 5 minutes time limit, in the forearm. I still hav the bruise, but hey? NO hits on the body, no vest required....

In the third game, determined to not lose (not win, but not lose) or get shot, I decided to bunk at closest to the base and stay there. I fired some shots at, what, 100 feet (they don't hit, of course) and for some reasons, my opponents decided that with 30 secodns left, my team had no pellets left...Once came running around my left towards my flag, with me shooting at him continuously to no success (dexterity 0, remember? Absolute ly no hand-eye coordination at all). I got so frustrated that I went right infront of him (he was out of pellets as well) and gave him 2 shots at about 10 feet.

Back track. At ranges of less than 20 feet, one should aim for the legs ot avoid injuring others. Besides, at such short range, how could you miss?

But I did, so I shot him smack on his chest. Twice. Or so I thought. Later I saw him with a bandage in his left arm that was much worse an injury compared to mine. Oops. He did have a vest, so the second shot that was (suprisingly) on target didn't injure (he still complained about pain, though). Oh, I also took out another guy at less than 20 feet who also thought I had ran out of pellets...Not too bright, eh?

But My team couldn't advance to the next round, and so there ends my short love affair with paintball. It'was fun, especially when I didn't need a vest at all!! Should I mention I am larger than the average human???

You Can't See Me!! Ha ha

The Board is set....

The Pieces are moving...

I have finally confirmed that the first part (Appointment) of the Great Movement within my Company is official. And to the fact that part two (Transferrence) was already complete last week (part one even earlier, but without my knowledge), now remains part three: Creation, and part four: Reconciliation.

Once all these are in place, my wilder conspiracy theory is proven true, and this puts a great question on my ability to judge character. Despite me being a largely analytical person, I have discovered that I have poor judgement when it comes to people. I seem to get myself involved with people that want to take advantage of me, and those who don't I tend to take for granted.

To those who have cared for me sincerely and with heart, many apologies for not knowing, and not seeing. May I see your true colours and acknowledge your contributions all the time. If I don't, feel free to give me a kick on the behind..

To those who are still thinking that I am something you can use, (insert profanity here) you. I will learn from my dealings with you and see right through you moving forward.

Mushy stuff. Sorry. In any case, I should post something about paintball last weekend....