Happy Hamsters...

... Are cartwheeling in my belly right now. Why? You ask. Money, friends. Money.

As Dr. Facilier sang in the Princess and the Frog, "It's the green, it's the green, it's the green you need. And when I looked into your future... It's the green that I see!"

MONAYYYY! Not just from work, but also the grant all Kuwaitis are to receive in Feb. The government will be paying for my iPhone, how cool is that? Let me tell you. Extremely cool.

Computer's been on the fritz recently, but I have finally managed to get in touch with my estranged cousin, and he recommends exchanging the video card with the spare one I have. So far I'm building confidence so that I can eventually mess around inside my computer's case.

Prognosis: Skeptical. PC might not recover.
Recommendations: Panic. Then call tech support.

Be very afraid...

... Of co-workers.

Two of mine are cooking up some sort of mischief at the desk opposite mine. They know they're going to get into so much trouble, but the temptation is driving them without fail to brew up a cauldron of chicanery.

I can't wait for the reaction time to kick in when their pranks and practical japery are discovered by relevant parties.

Software asplosions

Sims 3 has pretty much issued a royal 'fuck you' to my desktop computer.

I managed to launch the game once, successfully. I was under the impression everything was running as it should. I increased my Sims 3 game resolution, to match my screen resolution, then exited the game. Apparently, this was my first mistake. Every time I launch the game now, it start the intro, and during the intro it will simply switch my computer off.

Yes. Completely cuts power to it.

"FUCK YOU COMPUTER, SHUT DOWN."

So, today I tested other games. I know WoW works, I have also established that Oblivion (CD rom version) launches fine, got inside and dicked around a bit in-game without any adverse effects, ergo it's probably not my CD drive. I ran through steam Dragon Age: Origins and it launched successfully, got into the game, saw Redcliffe assaulted by nightmarish hordes of the undead, works. I launched The Witcher, watched the entire opening video, loaded my last save, dicked around, works.

My conclusion is something fucked up my video settings in Sims 3 and it now spazzes out every time the game tries to run the opening cinematics. Very strange. I will continue my investigation as soon as the 'proper authorities' reply to my fucking panic emails.

Heroin junkies outside

One of my co-workers found a hypodermic needle on the pavement outside our office building. She's freaking out about it, coming to the worst conclusions, including heroin addicts. I'm helping, mostly out of amusement.

Fun at the office doesn't get any better.

I type fiercely in the new year

So one of my co-workers, a very nice person indeed, is typing with such a vengeance, I'm wincing every time her fingers hit the keys. I feel so sorry for her poor keyboard, and I can imagine it looking up at the impending smash of the fingers with a tearful face.

STOP THE COMPUTER ACCESSORY ABUSE!

Happy new year!

This is turning into a regular theatrical appearance

Soooo, some drama took place last night on a certain popular MMO, involving a particular person, who I am normally very fond of, being butthurt over how I decided to economize on sacrificing my enjoyment time. It seemed like I was expected to wait for all eternity despite having priorities now that require I sleep at some point, that it was my fault schedules and time zones don't coincide, and that I was incredibly evil for trying to turn a chicken shit situation into a chicken salad one.

In the past I was always the apologetic one, backing down and making excuses for things that I honestly couldn't help, but last night I bit back. I'm sick and tired of apologizing for shit that isn't really my fault.

In other news, I WROTE MY FIRST ARTICLE FOR THE PAPER!

I'm a FAMA Llama!

Slow day at work today, so I decided to update this thing since I haven't done that in a while.

First order of news: I have now acquired the Merrymaker title with Flavien on WoW, and he's proudly and flamboyantly displaying his newly-acquired shiny.

CHRISTMAS! I got a bunch of neat stuff, and of course my parents went overboard and got me a matching purse/wallet set from Liz Claiborne, in lovely browns and beiges, with stitching and I believe I see some patchwork of ostrich skin worked in there. I got make-up from my sister, and an enameled compact mirror, a scarf, and probably something else I can't remember right now.

The evening and dinner went well, with a couple of hiccups and hurdles, but I shan't go into the nitty-gritty, it's just standard FAMA (family drama).

In other news, I started playing Minecraft and I'm totally hooked. I have stayed up into the not-so-wee hours of the morning just trying to get that 'last bit of iron', or just to place 'that last piece of cobblestone' to complete my castle's spires. It's an awesome sandbox type game for those who have an active imagination and are fond of lego and building amazing things out of nothing.

Newspapery!

I'm going to get to look for business news today! Woooo! I'm really excited! Let's hope what I find isn't total and utter crap, eh?

Now, on with the gophering!

Picture Perfect - The Boardwalk & Hotel Views

Last bunch of photos!

The Boardwalk is a quaint maritime-themed restaurant situated on the Dubai lagoon, where you can sit outside on the decks overlooking the water. They served various international cuisine, seeing as it also had something of a world traveller feel to it, in any event all of it was really delicious fare. The tempura here was awesome, best I've had yet.

Click images to make them bigger.






The picture directly below is a shot of the marina right outside our hotel, shot from the kitchen window. Below that image is a picture snapped outside on the balconey showing the front view from the hotel, where you can see more of the marina, and the man-made Jumeira Palm islands behind it. The last pic is just a generic shot of the hotel dining area, I just liked the minimalist retro look.

Picture Perfect - Emirates & Dragon Malls

The Emirates mall has a freaking ski slope built right into it! You can just make it out in the picture below.

Click pictures to enlarge them.




Left: My sister posing in front of some rather large Chinese crockery in the Dragon mall. Above: Unfortunately the children's zone was covering the Dynasty Warriors style mural hanging down from the top floor of the Dragon mall down to the bottom, but it was still awesome enough for a photo op.



A little bit of Engrish silliness spurred me on to put these two pictures together. LASTING LONG VIBRATOR COMPANY! WE SELL GOOD MASSAGER! LASTING LONG!