After weeks of painful deliberation, I finally up and got my hair cut short. The urge came some time after playing frisbee, when I realized I spent two-thirds of the time trying get hair out of my line of vision. My fringe seemed to defy clips, gel, hairbands and death threats.

Now that it's hacked off - serves it right!

Now, I post these pictures of my new haircut with a sense of impending doom. I can hear cries of "omg is that YOU? omg is that a SKIRT?" going off in my head. That was in fact what I was wearing when I got my haircut this morning. I bought the skirt not too long ago and wanted to try it out. I daresay I'm warming up to this whole feminine-look business. =)

That's me about...I think half an hour after the haircut. It looked a great deal cooler and funkier until I messed it up. The hairdesser styled it up for me after the cut. Oh well.









And the view from the side. See how it sticks up? Whee!

Okay, so that's that. Whatcha think? =) I'm actually pretty pleased with how it turned out, though it won't be long before it all grows out haphazard again because hair has memory apparently. Mm-eh...I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Now on to the assignments. *panics*

of mushrooms and chinese spinach

I haven't shopped at an Asian grocery-market for so long I've forgotten how harrowing it was. Everything haphazard, swirling; people jostling, squeezing, pushing. It was a little overwhelming for my senses, having grown used to the tame, wide aisles of Safeway and its meandering shoppers.

And, as I found out today, everything at Safeway is still cheaper (and better quality). From now on, whatever I can get from Safeway, I'll get from Safeway. Though I'm hoping one day it'll start stocking dried prawn chilli, ladies' fingers, yam, every type of noodle, and maybe special kitchenware (i.e. the type only Chinese would find useful).

A word of advice, too. Fresh mushrooms, get them at Safeway. I had a nasty shock when I was dicing mushrooms for dinner just now. The ones that I'd bought from the Asian grocer looked fine but smelt positively toxic when sliced up. I got paranoid thinking of all the chemicals they must have been sprayed with and threw the evil-smelling ones out.

The block of frozen chinese spinach that I bought, however, provided some entertainment.

The packaging read:

Chinese Spinach
Ingredients: Chinese, spinach.

XD

more news!

I've been meaning to share this icon for some time now. It's genius. Credit to the i_pwnage community on Livejournal.



Also, OMG!!! I just received a call from FMAA offering me a sponsorship officer position! YESSSSSSS! *celebrates*

To figure out what the heck I'm talking about, click here! It's the FMAA Melbourne link.

Basically, sponsorship officers rub shoulders with corporate sponsors and hold a variety of career + company related events for the students. It's the most fought for position around because you wear suits, attend cocktail parties and make sure those big-name sponsors know you.

Well, not really, but it does provide great networking opportunities with your future employers. Just the thing for a career in business.

The only way to get into the FMAA was to apply for a 1st year sub-committee position and then work your way up to the executive (yes, 'executive'. XD) ranks. My interview was actually a few weeks back, which went really well...Though I was starting to lose hope because there hadn't been news till now and I was kicking myself for not writing post-interview thank you e-mails to the interviewers. A hideous oversight which will never be repeated ever again.

While I would have preferred the Finance/Consulting division, which deals with the finance/consulting firms, I got International Students instead. In hindsight, this probably works to my advantage, especially since there's a chance I may lose the PR soon. The Aus firms generally don't employ international students, so it'd be pointless networking with local firms. Instead, I'll be dealing with overseas and international firms.

There'll be a celebratory BBQ at the current Vice President's house this Tuesday I think. The reception on my phone was so bad I hope to goodness I got the right details.

Ah, stepping stones! Tis but the first step to something bigger and better in the not-too-distant future, I hope. =)

easter break!

In today's Introductory Microeconomics (henceforth known as IM) lecture, on the topic of inefficiency, my lecturer gave us this example.

In 2001, Australia's second largest insurance company, HIH Insurance collapsed, racking up over $5 billion in losses and making its mark as Australia's biggest corporate collapse yet. John Howard then ordered a Royal Commission inquiry into the matter.

--------------------------------
HIH Royal Commission. Day 131.

Wayne Martin - QC
Raymond Reginald Williams - former CEO of HIH Insurance

Martin: "Could you tell us please if, on your frequent first-class trips to London, you booked the seat next to you for your briefcase?"

Williams: "I don't recall specifically. But that may have been the case, on some occasions."

Martin: "That your briefcase was also travelling first class?"

Williams: "That may have been the case."

Martin: "Did you express the view to Qantas that this briefcase should be eligible for frequent flier points?"

Williams: "I can't recall that."

Martin: "And were you subsequently informed that said briefcase would not be eligible for such points on the grounds that it was not, in fact, a person?"

Williams: "That may have been the airline's position on that issue."

Martin: "Was that briefcase, from that point on, booked under the name of Casey Williams?"

Williams: "Casey Reginald Williams."
-------------------------------

Also, another interesting tidbit about correcting negative externalities (i.e. taking into account the cost or the negative spillover effects from actions of certain economic agents, for those who don't do Econs). Some airports charge airlines noise tax as one of the ways to account for noise pollution during takeoffs and landings. I never thought of that! Though I should've, considering they've managed to monetize environmental pollution by way of pollution credits.

In other news, the Easter holidays start today and goes on for the next ten. With luck and willpower, this time will be spent finishing assignments and catching up on work I've gotten behind in, and less on procrastinating.

Speaking of which, I stumbled across a nifty quote the other day. You may or may not have heard it.

"I used to be an amateur crastinator, but I've recently joined the pro ranks."

I am also, quite scarily, getting addicted to coffee. I've never been much (or anything even) of a coffee drinker, but for the last few days, I haven't been able to get by without a takeaway after uni. I'm not sure when or how it started, but coffee, which for years I thought tasted bad, suddenly started tasting good.

Very good.

*shudder*

Too close, too close...

Omg I nearly forgot to pay my bills! I'm still reeling from the close-call-ness of the situation. Residents are given a 7 day grace period after the due date and today's the 5th day, just enough time for me to transfer money out from my ING account into my Commonwealth Bank account half an hour before the end of the business day, which means the money will be available tomorrow just in time to pay my rent. *takes deep breath*

It wasn't so much my forgetfulness than my inexperience with these matters. Note to self, always always read the fine print under Payment Obligations. I was sitting around waiting for an invoice from College Square, when in fact there would be no invoice. Just payment and receipt.

The same thing happened with my internet connection. Though I wasn't half as lucky. I only realized I hadn't paid my internet bill when they wouldn't let me sign on. I froze for a moment, gulped, hurried down to reception and paid the 40 bucks in cash. Unfortunately I'll have to wait till tomorrow when they reactivate my connection.

Aaaall this money. And I'll need to get a top-up for my handphone credit too. No matter, in a few days time I'll be getting the money from UniMelb. *gloats*

In other news, my tolerance levels for cold has gone off the charts. Apparently today was very chilly, but I was just fine in a tank top and a sleeveless knit-top. No one believed I wasn't freezing my nose off, but it's true! Not a shiver, not a sneeze! The crowning moment was I think during ultimate frisbee training lunchtime today, when it started raining (felt hard though, like half-melted hail) and we just kept on playing. It was exhilarating, though I was soaked after that and had to drip my way into Union House to dry off. Waited till the rain eased off a bit (but not completely) and cycled back. And strangely still, I wasn't cold. Just really wet.

I guess I've been eating the right stuff these days. =)