Coming home to a different offfice

I just browsed through DID phonebook in our intranet website and somehow it took me by surprise how many new faces had joined and left the office. It kind of really give me a sudden shock, the kind of shock you got when you learned MJ's death. It's just unbelievable. Now, I understand why some of us just leave and join some place new. It's like you're going back to an old place but completely different. I just don't even know which office I would like to join and I feel like turning my back and runaway from that place. Away to something totally new.. NOT something totally changed! We'll see what work best and we'll pray for the best. Somehow, it gives me the creeps!

Selamat Hari Raya & Maaf Zahir Batin

1 October 2008 - First time sambut raya kat perantauan. Dah ler jauh, siap berlambak pulak homework sepanjang bulan puasa ni.. So, preparation di kira almost zero sebab on 1 Syawal tu ada kelas plus additional make up class at 5:30-6:30pm so the whole day from 9 pagi sampai lah lewat petang dok spend masa kat CSU.. Tapi sebab raya kan so masak jugaklah nasi impit dengan kuah kacang dan pulut kuning dengan rendang daging. Pemanis mulut buat ice-cream cake jer.. almost like breakfast then that was all...

Back to school!

To honor the request from my best friend's Farie, I am now created this entry because she wanted to know how's it like study abroad. To Farie..

To begin with, I had finished my first degree in December 1999 and started worked seriously in July 2000 with a consultant firm in PJ. I worked there for 2 years and I met great people there like Serena, Jennifer, Anita, Amudha, Shan and several others. It was great working in a small company, we had about 40 staff then, and it was a great experience too. Unfortunately, I'm getting tired of keep changing my designs due to the change in landuse and elevation as the clients keep changing their minds and you have to keep changing the levels and all. We don't use any robust software except for the old Windows spreadsheet and I was getting sick of it. Luckily, I was so much in love with my husband (boyfriend then) that you know, girls in love always kind of doped up with drugs and all that made not so nice job and rented apartments seems such a very small matters. Anyways, I end up married and 2 months later I was pregnant. I was about 3 months pregnant when I started to prepare several application letters to several firms thinking that I will send those after 9 months.

Then, the interview letter from JPA came. Well, I had received several interview before like for PTDs, for Vocational Officer but I want to be a civil engineer and I don't give a heck whether I'm a good one or not as long as the job title is engineer. Hey, I had to shove some sands making concrete block and dumped it in a septic pond only for nothing? I know I'm not doing great in my undergrads but that was because I don't know what I want then but I do know that I wanted to be an engineer for better or for worst. OK, back to the letter, it was an interview for an engineer post at JPS. I always fond of water. Water simply such a fascinate substance to kind of fall in love with. So, I went to Putrajaya for the interview with nothing to lose for. I declined every questions to post me at any other states than Klang Valley. I can't even answer anything about Ministers and all (that will certainly disqualified me for a PTD) and amazingly I got the job. Reason is I believe they need staff and I got some experience too. I did answer very well for any technical related questions they asked me so I can work but my political knowledge sucks! Surprisingly, a week after, I received another letter from JPA for JKR interview. I'm bad at structures and working with highways also not such a job I'm looking forward to so I'm stick to JPS. It was like I meant for it because a year before that I got myself fall into a main drain in Greenwood. I realized later that it was like kind of a sign or something. I believe that because to my knowledge, my friends who are now engineer in JPS, all of them had kind of incident with drains and I don't asked each and every single engineer in JPS of course, but it was kind of bonding I suppose. Yeah, I know it was just a coincidence! But, isn't it obvious and kind of freaky, don't you think?

My first office in DID was HTCKL. I liked the office very much but after sometimes I kind of tired doing the same collaboration and organizing events and whatnot. I wanted to be the presenter not the organizer anymore. So, after 3 and 1/2 years in HTC, I was posted to Hydrology and Water Resources Division at Ampang Branch. I was placed in Information Management Unit which deals with hydrological data and the operation of National Hydrological Network. It was very interesting to learn types of data and how do we collect and process the data but I wanted to know more than that and working there somehow had limited your time to learn more because we have so many other things like meetings..meetings...meetings.... and ISO..ISO..ISO... or people come to ask for the data. Hmm, that was pretty tiring and you end up doing nothing actually.. or maybe it was only me who end up doing nothing...LOL!

Anyway, a few months there and I already filled up the form to request a scholar for further my study. I even asked permission from Hubby if he's willing to sacrifice his job and come abroad to accompany me and the children of course. So, I submitted my application somewhere in June 2006 and I got the news from JPA on December the same year. I was ready to accept that I did not make it but I was so happy that eventually I did. I was offered a place at Delft, Netherlands. Well, that's where I would like to go at the first place before I changed it to USA. All in all, it took me a year later to come here. I was supposed to come here in Fall 2008 but I had postponed it to January 2009. Finally, on January 7th 2008, we flew from KLIA to LAX to DIA. So, here I am and here we are. I like CSU very much but somehow I wonder what will it be like studying in Europe. I have a wonderful advisor, Prof. Dr. Pierre Julien, a great man with a great heart and I have full support from my husband and the kids fine although they don't understand much. Well, at least they don't crying their heart out to go back to KL or so, so practically you can say it is understanding enough.

The study here is awesome! You can arrange your own schedule based on your interest and the subjects offered. CSU has plenty of choices and you can even widen your selection to other school like Natural Resources and they also have cool classes too. I like the system here that you keep doing your test and even carry some percentage for the total grade. It's not like Malaysian system where the finals normally will carry 70% to 80% of our total final grade. It's killing you and almost suicidal if the subject a hardcore. The resources is plentiful and even the teacher is knowledgeable that you feel at ease learning with them. Well, there are not so good teachers so being graduate student, I have more power to choose my subject and who I want to learn from. One thing excellent about CSU is, the subjects are plenty and so you don't have trouble choosing your classes based on your interest.

MagMyPic

This is pretty fun!

After 5 months

Next thing you know is five months has gone by and the farthest we've been is to Denver. I wanted to make a trip but I don't know when. I guess by Wednesday I should just pack up and go and forget about everything else. If I did not do anything by now, we probably won't go anywhere until December. I mean, Aqil will start school about the same time my Fall classes begin. By then, I will be twice as busy as I was in Spring. So, either now or nothing.

OK, first where to hit? I just don't have any place specific to go so I think perhaps we should hit to Las Vegas. I wanted to go to Yellowstone but I guess we don't have any place to stay. The Niagara Falls is too far to drive, the train tickets is sold out so that no other option but to adjourn it to next time, only God knows when. Mount Rushmore..well, Hubby just so prefer the Sin City over the president's faces. So, nearest spot available is Vegas or Santa Fe. Well, let just say we hit to Vegas. OK, I'll check the room and all and see what we can come out with.

Oh btw, I got a place to work in Engineering Research Center (ERC) so I'll be bringing in some stuff to keep the shelves occupied and not so empty. I prefer to work at home because it's more convenience plus at home you'll get all the foods and whatnot. But I guess I just have to show up there sometimes to make sure I'm in "active mode " and to show of that things are working fine. Basically, my workspace at home are so much better than at ERC but on the other hands, you will be working more seriously than you will at home. It's a spacious room and I share it with 4 others. Sang Do, a PhD candidate from Korean, Kevin from Lousiana and Quentin from New Mexico, both works as Research Assistant over this Summer and Natalie, my classmate. Well, it is interesting because you can stop and ask them questions and all and it always fun to meet people. Nevertheless, I love working at home.

Back to school!

To honor the request from my best friend's Farie, I am now created this entry because she wanted to know how's it like study abroad. To Farie..

To begin with, I had finished my first degree in December 1999 and started worked seriously in July 2000 with a consultant firm in PJ. I worked there for 2 years and I met great people there like Serena, Jennifer, Anita, Amudha, Shan and several others. It was great working in a small company, we had about 40 staff then, and it was a great experience too. Unfortunately, I'm getting tired of keep changing my designs due to the change in landuse and elevation as the clients keep changing their minds and you have to keep changing the levels and all. We don't use any robust software except for the old Windows spreadsheet and I was getting sick of it. Luckily, I was so much in love with my husband (boyfriend then) that you know, girls in love always kind of doped up with drugs and all that made not so nice job and rented apartments seems such a very small matters. Anyways, I end up married and 2 months later I was pregnant. I was about 3 months pregnant when I started to prepare several application letters to several firms thinking that I will send those after 9 months.

Then, the interview letter from JPA came. Well, I had received several interview before like for PTDs, for Vocational Officer but I want to be a civil engineer and I don't give a heck whether I'm a good one or not as long as the job title is engineer. Hey, I had to shove some sands making concrete block and dumped it in a septic pond only for nothing? I know I'm not doing great in my undergrads but that was because I don't know what I want then but I do know that I wanted to be an engineer for better or for worst. OK, back to the letter, it was an interview for an engineer post at JPS. I always fond of water. Water simply such a fascinate substance to kind of fall in love with. So, I went to Putrajaya for the interview with nothing to lose for. I declined every questions to post me at any other states than Klang Valley. I can't even answer anything about Ministers and all (that will certainly disqualified me for a PTD) and amazingly I got the job. Reason is I believe they need staff and I got some experience too. I did answer very well for any technical related questions they asked me so I can work but my political knowledge sucks! Surprisingly, a week after, I received another letter from JPA for JKR interview. I'm bad at structures and working with highways also not such a job I'm looking forward to so I'm stick to JPS. It was like I meant for it because a year before that I got myself fall into a main drain in Greenwood. I realized later that it was like kind of a sign or something. I believe that because to my knowledge, my friends who are now engineer in JPS, all of them had kind of incident with drains and I don't asked each and every single engineer in JPS of course, but it was kind of bonding I suppose. Yeah, I know it was just a coincidence! But, isn't it obvious and kind of freaky, don't you think?

My first office in DID was HTCKL. I liked the office very much but after sometimes I kind of tired doing the same collaboration and organizing events and whatnot. I wanted to be the presenter not the organizer anymore. So, after 3 and 1/2 years in HTC, I was posted to Hydrology and Water Resources Division at Ampang Branch. I was placed in Information Management Unit which deals with hydrological data and the operation of National Hydrological Network. It was very interesting to learn types of data and how do we collect and process the data but I wanted to know more than that and working there somehow had limited your time to learn more because we have so many other things like meetings..meetings...meetings.... and ISO..ISO..ISO... or people come to ask for the data. Hmm, that was pretty tiring and you end up doing nothing actually.. or maybe it was only me who end up doing nothing...LOL!

Anyway, a few months there and I already filled up the form to request a scholar for further my study. I even asked permission from Hubby if he's willing to sacrifice his job and come abroad to accompany me and the children of course. So, I submitted my application somewhere in June 2006 and I got the news from JPA on December the same year. I was ready to accept that I did not make it but I was so happy that eventually I did. I was offered a place at Delft, Netherlands. Well, that's where I would like to go at the first place before I changed it to USA. All in all, it took me a year later to come here. I was supposed to come here in Fall 2008 but I had postponed it to January 2009. Finally, on January 7th 2008, we flew from KLIA to LAX to DIA. So, here I am and here we are. I like CSU very much but somehow I wonder what will it be like studying in Europe. I have a wonderful advisor, Prof. Dr. Pierre Julien, a great man with a great heart and I have full support from my husband and the kids fine although they don't understand much. Well, at least they don't crying their heart out to go back to KL or so, so practically you can say it is understanding enough.

The study here is awesome! You can arrange your own schedule based on your interest and the subjects offered. CSU has plenty of choices and you can even widen your selection to other school like Natural Resources and they also have cool classes too. I like the system here that you keep doing your test and even carry some percentage for the total grade. It's not like Malaysian system where the finals normally will carry 70% to 80% of our total final grade. It's killing you and almost suicidal if the subject a hardcore. The resources is plentiful and even the teacher is knowledgeable that you feel at ease learning with them. Well, there are not so good teachers so being graduate student, I have more power to choose my subject and who I want to learn from. One thing excellent about CSU is, the subjects are plenty and so you don't have trouble choosing your classes based on your interest.

Click click

This is my workspace.. The Sony VAIO from Amazon.. printer from Office Max. Books all from CSU library. The pencil case from home, (used for QA4 at INTAN). The desk lamp from Target. The black computer desk, from Craiglist. The writing desk come with the apartment. This is my desk at its best so you can imagine when it's not. Not bad, eh?



These are my boys. Well, although they are boys, Mommy had decorated it with garlands of pink flowers. Well, Mommy loves flowers and since Mommy don't have any girl of her own to put in pretty pink flowers on, so, I'm sorry boys, you have to deal with it. Like it or not, it seems soothing to my eyes.. Although, Mommy know it's a NO-NO to boys..

Anyways, meet Aqif and Aqil. Aqif the little one looks a bit reserved and Aqil seems to flash his dolly eyes and somehow peculiar smile.. So, Aqil and Aqif.. sorry for the flowers and the pink buttons, OK?


Muhammad Aqil Muzaffar
January 12, 2003
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Favorites:
roti canai, pizza, burger, coke, orange juice, cakes, chocolates, daging masak kicap

PS2 games- God of War, Ben 10, Avatar, Naruto 3, Ninja Turtle, Jack II, Black, Spiderman, Bully,etc


Notes:
Mommy would not allow you to own an X-BOX
Mommy was sorry to break you Bully disc into 2 bcos you are too young to play Bully



Muhammad Aqif Muzaffar
June 24, 2005
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Favorites:
roti canai, cereals, fresh milk, orange juice, cakes, jam, chocolates, nasi kicap

Power Rangers, Teletubbies, Blue's Preschool, Mickey Mouse, Barney, and science fiction movies


Notes:
Mommy was sorry for selling the Apple PC because the Apple was too old and too slow.
Mommy will buy you a laptop, OK?

Spring Break Part I - reading

Today is the beginning of my 1 week Spring Break and yet I just don't have any idea where to hit to.. Well, to be honest, I was actually trying to finish up reading the classic story book that I had borrowed from CSU library. I had borrowed three books with a goal to finish it up before the class resume.I always hooked up with the book until I finish reading it. It was sinful when you have so much of works to do but you just can't let it go.

I had finish read the first book- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen before the break. I borrowed the book because I had watched the film last Sunday and was so moved by it. It was my second time, the first time I watch it on Astro HBOs and the recent one was aired on OH! I read the book because I found Mr Darcy and Lizzie was simply romantic. I love the film better because the book was rather dull and boring. Plus, the illustration in the book would make Mr Darcy looks so plain it was not worth pursuing. However it was worth reading it so you could understand a lot more than just watching the movie alone. The book I read was in plain hard cover with the classic floral prints.

I always loves Keira Knightley especially her acts in Pirates of the Carribean. Although she is so terribly skinny she is so beautiful. I wish I could tell her right in her face that she should put up some weight. It will be a blessing if I could transfer some of my fat to her. Mr Darcy on the other hand is a very new face to me. Matthew McFadyen might be infamous in Britain but he looks dashingly handsome in the movie. This is quite and old movie, release in Nov. 2005 so I shouldn't put lots of review here. One thing I am sure of is I simply loves the ending in the movie than the ending in the book. I think I will have to watch Atonement too. Yeah, I know, I always late on these sort of things. Oh, credit to allmoviephoto.com for the above pix. Thanks!

I just finished my second book today. It was Anne of Green Gables. This was a re-read after so many years ago which I myself couldn't even remember when I last read the book. I remember I was so happy when they aired it as TV series back then. I found Anne of Green Gables website and was so thrill to see those faces again. Anne's as most known is always a wonderful book you simply loves to read over and over again. I wish they will air the series on TV again. I loves to have a pleasure of watching it again. I'm sure many of us does. Problem is, after you finished it, you simply wanting more. There are 8 series for the Anne story. While searching for the picture in Amazon, I saw the offer for the whole series in a box for a mere $29.04, this is irressistable! I will do some cost benefits analysis on whether or not to make a purchase.

The third book have to wait. I also had read it before. It started with the famous line of "Last night I dreamt I went to Menderley again" Yes, it is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. This classic book was published in 1938. I vividly remember I had cried reading this book. In fact, I always cried when reading something sad and touchy. What a sensitive soul, heh? I know if I start read the book tonight I will not go anywhere until I finish reading it all. My mind will not put to rest until I know the ending. So, I will stop for now until I finish my GIS homework and Dr. Oad's assignments on Crop Water Requirement. Until then, I don't know how long I can resist the book.

I will resolve the purchase of Anne series later because I was thinking to buy the DVD Platinum edition of Lord of The Rings trilogy at Amazon. I had finished reading the first two series, The Ring and The Two Towers just before I came to US and my plan was to finish the third, The Return of The King in here. Unfortunately, the bloody Pos Malaysia had messed up my stuff and I had left with nothing. I also lost my treasured Hydrology textbook too. I had tried not to talk about the "tragedy" because it will boiled me with so much anger.

Now, let's type something nice like Anne would say, "something with a scope of imagination". I just love reading because it brings so much youth into you. I always fancy reading with an exclusion of textbooks and journals. How terribly sad I must be. I should be like Anne who really diligent in her study. OK, time now quarter past 10 and Aqif had sleep already. I need to plan for tomorrow's trip. We'll go to Denver of course to buy some supplies but I was thinking to make a longer trip. Hubby wanted to go to Vegas but I guess I'm not ready yet. Well, we'll see.

Untitled.

Today is one of those days when you suddenly feel sad and anxious at the same time.. sort of like blues kind of feeling. I don't know. It's very hard to explain. The feeling bussiness is somehow very complicated and extremely delicates. so lets leave it alone...

I believe that the anxiety and the nervousness that slowly build up its structure inside me it's partly because I am start counting down the days I suppose to leave Kuala Lumpur and head for Fort Collins, Colorado. I am so afraid of the uncertainties, of what kind of life there, what kind of troubles awaits, what kind of environment, etc.. can my children adapts well to the new life there? although it's only 2 years but moving your life from here to there somehow sounds kind of quite exhausting yet exhilirating.

I really hope for the best. According to plan, we will leave by January next year. Just another 4 months to go. I supposed to start class on last August but I'm just not ready so I postponed it to Spring 2008. At this moment, it's still zero preparation. So I shall get everything ready by October, in which I assume I will received the Visa Form from the University. I have to submit all the documents to JPA by November. The financial documents still pending and guess I need to "mengadap" JPA soon to get the latest allowances details and sort. Now, I am compiling the bills, the transcript, the offer letter, the english result, the bla..bla..bla..

Good thing is, bulan puasa is around the corner. Today is Monday and taraaa.. hari Khamis sudah pun puasa. Solat Terawih will begin this Wednesday evening. Oh, I loves bulan puasa. We will have our sahur soon and pejam celik pejam celik suddenly it's Raya already.. Ohh, even talking about this makes the acid in my perut buncit churning and whirpooling. Or is it because I did not take my lunch? But no, even my heartbeat is pounding very fast. Yelah, bulan puasa ni doa banyak2 so that we will go there and live there as safely as in here.

Ahlan wa sahlan ya Ramadhan! May this coming Ramadhan Al-Mubarak will bring pure joy and happiness to my family and friends. May the blissfull Ramadhan will bless our life and purify our soul. May we live harmoniously and peacefully cross the races, the religions, the border, the whatever...

OK sudah, sambung keje balik!

Cermin mata dan bingkai patah

Pagi ni, bila terjaga dari tidur aku terasa aku sedang berbaring di atas sesuatu yang keras. Bila aku check apa benda kat bawah badan aku tu, I found that it was my glass. The frame was broken. Luckily I had another glass. The other glass was multi-coated transition lens which is perfectly suitable for outdoor activities; but I don't really like it because the frame is a bit outdated. I'll use it when I have site visit and sort. The broken one used to be my normal wear. It was cheap,clear and very light. That's explain why that fast and easy.

Anyway, I want to do a new one today. So, I did some readings on the glass prescription and related stories. It was difficult to understand it so I end up with these lines in my blog. I'm a hyperopia (farsightedness) with a 2D degree of blur. Which one is suitable for me? The CR-39 or the polycarbonate.

"CR-39 is transparent in visible spectrum and almost completely opaque in the ultraviolet range, it has high abrasion resistance, in fact the highest abrasion/scratch resistance of any uncoated optical plastic."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CR-39

"Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in the modern Chemical industry. Their interesting features (temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties) position them between commodity plastics and engineering plastics."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

"Polycarbonate lenses are the lightest and most shatterproof, making them the best for impact protection. Polycarbonate lenses offer poor optics because of a low Abbe number of 31. CR-39 lenses are the most common plastic lenses, due to their low weight, high scratch resistance and low transparency for ultra violet and infared radiation."

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasses

OK then, I will go for the CR-39. Wait! There's more. This Essilor product making me more confused. Macam nilah, time now is 4:20 pm. It's still very super-duper hot out there. These days, the weather is extremely hot. It's the global warming. I would like to write about it later. Right now, let's go shopping!