justifying my spendings

made 2 big purchases this week for myself.
i told my parents about upgrading my DSLR, which costs around $600.  they seemed ok with this expense.
however, i didn't tell them about my espresso machine purchase that's $670...
the main conflict they'll have is where this machine will actually be placed.  it's not small, and the microwave already took most of the counter space available.
hopefully when it's all set up (secretly of course), i won't get yelled at too long.
it is paid and done.  先斬後奏! XD

if you really think about it, i really didn't spend that much, considering my EVA ticket was supposed to be $1500.  i only had to pay $300, so there's $1200 saved.
makes sense, no?

Thoughts

Will be getting my EVA ticket in the next couple days.
Just as I thought, the $200 price hike disappeared after the Elite seat promotion.

On a different note...
Bow tie works extremely well on Matt Smith (the 11th Doctor).
Others, not so much.
And in some cases, makes you judge their fashion taste.

More spending on the way

Still waiting for prices to drop on air tickets.
Did find out about AC flights to Taiwan though, that the Toronto to Hong Kong flight is now under Cathay Pacific.  And it's $1400 after tax.
It's attractive, but I still want to fly EVA to experience it direct.

I did place an order for my Simpsons Season 16 DVD set though.
Well, pre-order to be more precise.
Can't wait till it gets here!!

Travel preparations

Just when I finally received my new AMEX card and created reward profiles, and so ready to book my Taiwan flight, EVA decided to do a promotion on Elite flights and raised the prices of Economy flights.
What a rip off.
Guess I won't be booking till after the promotion is finished, which is Dec 2.
I guess it'll work out anyway, since originally I was going to wait till December anyway to see if there's any new promotions out.
Or should I go extravagant and shell out $2000 for Elite class?
Hmm..  let me sleep on it for a few days.

More spendings

Still looking for that one last thing for my Christmas present making.
It's hard to find, I've looked through most of the crafts store and still no luck.
But I'm sure I can find it eventually, hopefully before Christmas. XD

New laptop has gone through much torture from me.
I caught a few trojans the first day it's on my hands, prompting me to buy an anti-virus.
Good thing there is a sale for Scotiabank clients.
The stupid trojans were caught when I was looking for a keygen for my Finale 2007 file, needless to say I couldn't use it because it kept getting deleted by the system from recognizing it as a threat (it was).
So not only I had to buy an anti-virus program, I also have to buy an original Finale 2012.
Thankfully amazon.ca has the academic version and it's on sale.  Guess they knew I need to buy it and took that extra $50 off.  At least that helps with the tax.
Should be getting the program sometime next week.
Networking seems to not work very well on any Windows system.  I had to disable all my firewalls to get the two somewhat communicating.
However, I just couldn't get the optical drive onto the network.
One more thing to buy is an external optical drive so I can install programs.
Sigh... what a waste of money!

Workshop reopening

I think my brain has been secretly communicating to me regarding my basement workshop.
I was just thinking the other day that I've been abandoning my new hobby and it's such a waste after investing so much time and energy on it.
And then tonight I finally looked at some new (well, to me anyway) techniques and researching on adhesive materials.
Then I realized it's Christmas in about 2 months and it's time to start making presents for my peeps.
Love the rekindled love and excited to try some new techniques!
That also means I'll need to get some new materials as well...  sigh...  spend spend spend!

Possible early shipment??

Don't know if it's because of my last post, Lenovo actually changed my estimated ship date from Oct 14 to Oct 11.
But estimated receive date is still Oct 20.
I'm just happy to see any updates on my order status now.
Waiting for the machine to come is just painful.

However, that does give me a window of time to do some homework on which external drive to get.
I'm only getting 128G of SSD space, but that's good enough for any immediate important files like documents and Finale scores.
However, with hard drives that start from 500G for any standard computers, I still need an extra drive for my junk.
Looking into getting a 1T HDD.
Another spending spree accomplished.

Slow shipment

Ahhhhhh, stupid Lenovo!  Give me my laptop!!!!!!!!
I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it I want it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another battle, another day

I think I got through the last bed bug attack with the same thinking: You can't always live in fear.
They are horrible bugs, but we are also a cautious bunch.  With the amount of care we've put into making sure we didn't bring any home, I'm pretty confident that the situation has been contained.
Worse comes to worst, we'll keep fighting the battle, and eventually none of us will be afraid of bugs anymore.

I grew up catching cockroaches and whatnot as a hobby when I was a kid in HK, and watching my dad catch all bugs with his bare hands kind of took out the gross factor.
Yes, they are juicy and all, but when they turn into juice that also means they're dead.
So really, there's nothing to be afraid of.
With the growing numbers of trucks/buses/cars killing pedestrians, I'd be more concerned about walking on streets on foot trying to keep alive.

討厭的人

我們是唯一一群還會尊重舊工作社會觀念的人嗎?
如果我答應了 A, 就算 B 付的金錢比較多或者賣人情我都不會突然取消 A.
因為我不會想添麻煩給 A, 亦不想 A 把我列入黑名單.
今晚收到這一個 email, S 君兩星期前預早備案不能出席上星期的排練, 我問了指揮還給她批准了.  然後今晚就告訴我要去另一個 gig.
我不理妳名氣有多吃香, 但妳的香味已經充滿了我的黑名單了.
我不會告訴別人妳有多討厭, 因為那不是我的作風.
我只會永不錄用.

Contemplating on an empty stomach

It's a never ending cycle of work-spend-work.  Maybe I should stop spending so much...
Totally wanna take a trip right now.  Doesn't matter where, just wanted to get away.
The longer I stay in society, the more I want to be alone.
It's not that I don't like traveling with others, but I just enjoy the luxury of taking my sweet time to get to places and do spontaneous things.  Like going hiking when I feel like it, or just cancel going somewhere because I want to sit and watch TV and be a couch potato in a different country.

Do I feel lonely?  I don't think so....  At least not at this moment.
I used to long for someone to whom I can spend all my loving, but as time goes by, I realize I can always love myself and be completely comfortable with no living soul around.
We were born with nothing but our own soul or consciousness, as much as we tried to connect to other people throughout a life time, we still can't absolutely be one with another soul.
Even soulmates have limitations.

As I stare into my decorated ceiling, I start to wonder if I've been stuck to my childish ways for too long?
But if I grow up now, I'm afraid I'll lose all my creativity.  And my ceiling and the 4 walls would feel... rather empty.
Oh well.  Guess people around me will just have to put up with my childish, silly way of life.

Being a troubled rich guy

Had a wicked dream last night.
I was a loaded young billionaire guy named Alan, with a loving family consists of an older brother and his wife and son, along with our loving parents.
However, I had this secret intimate relationship long ago with my brother's wife, and later found out that his son is actually my son.  But I'm engaged to another girl now, so I'm conflicted as to whether break it off and admit to my earlier mistakes or just hide it under the carpet.
One unfortunate event I was confronted with some media and they exposed this to my entire family.
My brother was kind enough to give me two options: 1, to denounce the biological relationship of my son and forever keep my peace that I have no parental rights to him; or 2, take the whole package of my son and his mother.
Just when I though I had no more feelings for her, we had another intimate night together after spending the day as a family with my son.  Apparently I also have asthma and several other medications, 'cause we went to the pharmacy together.  I'm even more conflicted from her kindness and abandoning the fiancée.
Oh yeah, apparently the entire police force hated me, so on an outing to retrieve my demented uncle I was pushed down an elevator shaft and my partner couldn't help me out.

Woke up thinking: I've watched too much Game of Thrones.

Death of innocence

I think I've experienced what Reggie in Archie's comics described as a 24 hour flu.
Felt horrendous since last night with a splitting headache.
Had to take the Chinese herb tea twice to get it under control by tonight.
Needless to say, I didn't have a chance to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine this morning.
I did have to drag myself to meet a couple for contracts and deposit and quickly get home.
Almost felt like a vampire since the sun just gave me more headache and actually hurt my eyes.
Took the first dose of the tea and cleaned my face, changed into my PJs and just threw myself in bed.
Lunch came after a long nap and now I'm down to just a little headache from my usual shoulder pain.

And about Archie's comics!
I did get a new issue while I was in Halifax.  Didn't get to read it till now.
Lots of things changed in this comics, including girls undressing showing nothing but underwear and worsened situations of betrayals between friends and whatnots.
I guess an honest comics like Archies just had to go with what the world has evolved into.
Sigh...

神啊, 請給我多點時間!

seriously need to get my right shoulder checked out...
luckily it's only been tight and hurting rather than both plus a migraine.
and it doesn't help either when i'm behind schedule on arrangements either.
there's so not enough time in a day to get all my shit done.

Zzzzz..

Loving my new keyboard and mouse.  It's as noisy as my last one, but it feels so much better!
Have to get used to the new middle section layout though.  Lenovo's design is so awkward sometimes.  However, I do like that built in calculator button!!!
It's hard to switch back to wired keyboard/mouse now that I got a taste of cordless!
Sure feels good having no tangling.  They even came with Energizer batteries - what more can I ask for?

Didn't have any luck finding a good wifi card, so I've switched to USB stick instead, which is what my dad uses as well.  Well, mine is more sleek and blingy!

Being productive is good, but now I'm feeling the effects of being overclocked (yeah!).
The weekend became my refuge of catching back missed sleeping hours.
Not this weekend though.  It's just a crazy Kingston weekend.
Sigh...

Looking back, looking forward

I think I'm managing my time a lot better this year, or should I say after my recent travels.
Maybe my brain is finally starting to do some real planning and calculations.
Still, it'd be nice to give myself a day off here and there just to catch up on some sleeps.

Haven't been out to find good foods around Toronto, I kind of missed that.
Maybe when cousin Yin is here we'll do some fun eating.
Oh yes, belly, we shall see each other again.

Soon it's going to be another Chinese New Year.
It's been a good Dragon.  Snake will be even better!

Next destinations

Looking forward to my next solo backpacking trip.
I don't have a good idea of when to go yet, since I'm still in the hole from the autumn trip - just paid the Visa bill and it still hurts.
However, I've decided on a few places: Toronto -> Glasgow -> Edinburgh -> Cardiff -> London -> Paris -> Cremona -> Rome -> Salzburg -> Vienna -> Prague -> Home
It's definitely a month-long journey, and I'm estimating a few flights needed after Italy.
Can't wait!!  Especially Vienna and Salzburg, since it's my first time back since 1998.
Now it's back breaking time to save up lodge and food money!