Tomatoe Diary V.21 //toraretara, torikaesu!

MONDAY, 31 MAY 2004 (10.30 P.M.)
????

I'm in a magazine-shopping frenzy. ^^;;; The new TV WEEKLY just arrived so today after work I immediately grabbed them. :D Actually there are Myojo and Popolo too but since I'm boycotting Myojo and then Popolo doesn't have KAT-TUN in it, I don't think I'm going to buy them. Instead I'm waiting for WINK UP to come. ^_^ Ooooh, but now it's so convenient to see what the new arrivals are! All I have to do is just walk out of the door and turn left twice and I'm there! And I can look at it whenever I want! Oh and, I don't have to speak to clueless staff anymore. Heh. ... OH AND GUESS WHAT! ^_____^ The Logistics 2 staff, Mbak Narti, gave me a poster! XD hahaha... how nice! She gave me the Myojo promotional poster. She said, "Here, this is from Myojo. Take it. You like idol boys, don't you?" Initially I insisted that she hang the poster somewhere just so it would look cool in the store but she said they had never done it and they always threw the posters away so now that there's me, she gave it to me. Actually it's all so full of Yamapi, the poster. Me no likey. So if there's anyone who would like to have the poster, just let me know! I'll give it to ya!

But today I got my very first experience as a customer service. It was actually a kind of an emergency situation. So you see, in the morning, there was no customer service staff and then someone reported it to the asst. manager and she said to my boss, "Can I borrow Amanda for a few hours until the CS staff comes?" My boss, who happened to be really busy on the store as well and didn't need me as much as usual in the office, agreed to 'lend' me to the store. So there I was sitting there at the center counter, answering to customers. Ergh. Taihen. I don't even know whether I'm allowed to be there because (1). I am not wearing a uniform, (2). My hair is dyed and (3). I haven't been formally trained as CS yet. But I suppose better me than no one at all. So, yeah, I was on the store for the whole morning. After that experience I decided that being secretary is much more convenient and way safer for me to handle. LOL.

Tomorrow or the day after I'm going to change my layout. It's summertime so I need bright, bright layout!
And in a few days' time, The Tsubanamae BC is going to have its 1-year-anniversary! So I'm planning to celebrate that as well with my new blog layout!
I have to say goodbye to Ban and Ginji for now... coincidentally, the series is ending on Animax Asia tomorrow. So it's quite appropriate if I take this layout off on the same day that the series finishes showing. (Speaking of which, I need to remind myself to check the manga section to see whether the store carries Get Backers English-translated manga already or not.)

And my phone is ringing like maaaaaaad! I'm too lazy to pick it up. I want to write here more. But then again, it might be my boss. @_@ heeee. Better go and see. *sigh* Well, see you with the new layout!

SATURDAY, 29 MAY 2004 (09.12 P.M.)
Atarashii Shoten wo Open Shita!

*collapse*
WHAT A DAY!!!

It started at 10 a.m. when I woke up. I was, like, "OH, CRAP!!! I HAVE TO BE AT THE STORE!!!" Even though I had written the previous night that the store was going to open, when I went to bed, I forgot everything about it since I was too tired. Thus, the mornin rush. I contemplated whether to wear something formal, or something casual. Ended up choosing the casual. So, I went there, fully intending to visit the store as a customer... BUT!!!
"Please wear your name tag and help us with the operations on opening day."
I wanted to swear and curse but for the sake of the bookstore that I like so much, I put on the name tag and started doing my job. Heks.
But I have to admit it was such fun. I just loved seeing the new bookstore, swarming with people like that. The stationery section is doing particularly well because of its novelty. Surprisingly, there was quite some interest for the Chinese Books section. People were browsing through the shelves, flipping through the books and last I saw there were a group of ladies planning to buy cookbooks! Pak Rudy and Jaka were quite busy today! But actually every corner of the bookstore is crowded. I spoke to some of the supervisors and managers and they were all of the opinion that the store was looking good. The new customer service staff was a little bit overwhelmed though by the still dysfunctional database systems and the many questions/comments/critics that came in to her. :P LOL. Poor Vira. I hope she hangs in there. It's going to be like that for her from now on. ^^;;; As for the other departments... hmm... lots of foreign customers today, mostly Americans and Europeans, and there were quite a number of Japanese okyakusama.
And the music!!! We got some compliments today. ^o^ (way to go, Merchandising Asst. Mgr. & Moi! We're playing Dimitri de Paris, Pink Martini, Yoshida Brothers, Thievery Connection and SOS today.) People said, "Your music is way better than Sogo's intrusive one!" SUCCESS! :D
So, actually my job today other than making sure that the music is playing properly on the sound system is to assist my boss patrol the floor and taking in feedbacks from the staff as well as helping customers who need directions to the shelves since the shelf indicator is not yet available on the system. Everything went well. A few operational glitches, but it was to be anticipated. Things will be fine-tuned during the week for the preparation of the grand opening.

Now, let me talk about my day in that store as a customer:
Bought five Japanese magazines and one English. ^^;;;;;; Store people are saying that I could really help them on the financial side. LOL. XD
3 TV Weekly-s, 2 TV LIFEs and 1 PREMIERE.
Bought them for the various KAT-TUN and Tackey & Tsubasa features. LOL. (Yes, some things do not change in my life. :P)
Just saw the KAT-TUN pic and... *swoon* MY BUNNY JUNNOSUKE. He is so handsome. I miss seeing him. I love his smile. I like his hair. *hug hug hug* And Tsubasa... and TAKKI!!!!! So surprised seeing him looking so handsomely sweet in one of the mags (forgot which one). I haven't seen him looking like *that* for a very long time. But, actually, I've only just focused on Junno and I haven't seen the others so I can't make a proper comment. ^^;;
Before spending my money in a big way on the store's soft opening day, actually my mom and sis came and asked for a tour. I guided them but then I asked them to treat me to the Starbucks that was in front of the store (which has a very cool location name: STARBUCKS KINOKUNIYA. ^-^ It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) So I drank the summer ice lemon passion-thingie that was on the promo and had a bite to eat (I mean, literally a bite). After they left, I went back to work and didn't 'consume' anything else until my job was done.
After this Kino, I went to the other one. It breaks my heart to see the other one in semi-rennovations like that. Really makes me want to throw something at the architects and contractors. Blaaaah. Much to my shock, I found out that the new arrival for Japanese & English magazines haven't been processed because everybody's focusing on PS. >.< Which means: I CANNOT GET MY OTHER SUBSCRIBED MAGAZINES. But, in any case, people, please go easy on Istoyo and Emil, the new people-in-charge for JM as they are now alone and without supervisors!!!

Came home at six. Tired, hungry, thirsty, sleepy and dizzy. I managed to have soup for pre-dinner meal and tried to lie down on my room before dinner to revive my brain. Just now after dinner, I read the PREMIERE interview with HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN director, Alfonso Cuaron and drooled over Dan, Rupert and Emma (yes, EMMA WATSON IS ONE HOT CHICK.) Just now I finished chatting with Mic (Ohisashiburi desu) and now I'm about to go back to my room to finish reading that article and probably sleep and not wake up until tomorrow noon, where my dad will hopefully already be home. ^_^

SATURDAY, 29 MAY 2004 (00.33 A.M.)
Atarashii Shoten wo Open Suru!

YAY! NEW KINO IS OPENING!

Note this down: Sogo Plaza Senayan, Level 5, 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
(Pardon the signage on other places in SOGO that says Open on Five. It's NOT "open at five o'clock", or "open on the count of five", or "open on the fifth", but it means OPEN ON LEVEL 5.)
Go visit, there are plenty of things to see (if you're lucky enough, not only cute stationeries and great books, but also some very cute Chinese Books Department staff XD), and the ambiance is good. And it's a dream come true of people like me because not only my favorite bookstore is opening but also on the same floor there's my favorite coffee shop... STARBUCKS. ^-^ Isn't that lovely? It's supposedly like the one in SG, with the same titles as they have there, as well as the same store concept. No customers orders, but we have more titles here and the quantity of the books is bigger now.
Music theme is "East Meets West". Jazz-y. Soul-ish. Sultry pop-ish. Ethnical. World Music. New Age. Very sophisticated. In English, French, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Indonesian. CDs courtesy of Merchandising Asst. Manager & Moi (Ami *wink*).

Zehi kite kudasai ne~ Yoroshiku.

WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2004 (9.54 P.M.)
Disoriented

Conversation of the day:
[ME]: Uhm, excuse me, sir, do you know what day today is?
[BOSS]: Hmmm... I heard that today is the 26th.
[ME]: Erm, 'you heard'?
[BOSS]: Yes, that's what they said.

OMIGOD! XD I cannot believe that that man is my boss. ^^;;;;;

Pardon me if I'm not messenger-ing. I haven't re-installed MSN Messenger and I'm afraid YM will only distract me from my rest. Other than her, now there are more people who've been chatting me up on YM and I have to say these people kind of exhaust me ... LOL! Especially Bryan whose current mission is "to make Ami more sophisticated by forcing her to read the news seriously". Then again, I need serious concentration now as I am working to complete my next layout which should be up early next month!

MY ROOM is so freaking messy. I'm still not done cleaning it up and re-organizing it. I just realize I have too many books, too many CDs and too many clothes to fit in my small, small room. >.< Besides, I get tired really easily these days so I am not giving my all in the 'project'. I really have to figure out how to clean my room efficiently. Hiks.
++ For the CDs, I'm categorizing it like this:
COUNTRY >> GENRE >> ARTIST
For example:
JAPANESE >> ROCK >> DAIGO STARDUST
JAPANESE >> POP >> SPEED
JAPANESE >> JOHNNY'S >> ARASHI
(LOL! Johnny's is one whole new genre. XD I have a special place for all of my Johnny's albums. I have lots and lots of Johnny's CDs... I'm proud to say that I have *all* of Tackey & Tsubasa's single and albums and *all* Arashi albums. LOL. I wish my collection of SMAP and Kinki Kids were that complete as well. --> And I just realized, I own absolutely nothing of TOKIO! *shock*)
++ For books, the categorization goes like this:
AUTHOR >> COVER >> TITLE
For example:
JUDITH MCNAUGHT >> HARDCOVER >> SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
JUDITH MCNAUGHT >> PAPERBACK >> ONCE & ALWAYS
But arranging the books is generally easier than the CDs. At least I only have books in three languages: English, Italian and Indonesian. Whereas for CDs, I own CDs in, like, six languages?! @_@ So confusing.

I tried to SMS my dad to find out how he's doing and whether he's made that trip to the DVD store or not to buy me those DVDs. But he didn't reply to my SMS and later on when I tried again the SMS delivery failed. LOTR: ROTK was released yesterday and I simply can't wait to know whether he's got it for me or not. And then I wish he would come home immediately because I want to watch it (and also because my family misses him terribly.. LOL). I'll try to SMS him again later. *cross my fingers* Otousan, kotaete yo!!!

Ahhh, I think this LOTR thing needs a more elaborate rant in my other journal. Let's move .....

MONDAY, 24 MAY 2004 (9.35 P.M.)
Pondering, Wondering...

Decided!!! --> What next layout's theme is going to be and who's going to be featured in it! ^_____^
I'm glad I've finally made up my mind about it... why the hell did it take me so long to decide?! What the hell was wrong with my brain?! >.<

I'm thinking that perhaps if I get my own computer and Internet connection at the office I will be able to update my websites and blog more often than now. @_@ I just don't know when I'm finally going to get my own computer. Then again, I have this love/hate relationship w/ XP and if I do get my own comp there it will be using XP. *shudder* On the other hand, today I just realized how much I miss my blog because, well, I couldn't open it at all from my boss' computer. ^^;;;; That would somehow taint my professionalism. LOL... smack me.

........ *speechless* This is unbelievable. FUMITO KAWAI IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD TO ME. I wonder why!!! I mean... I thought he was over-skinny and he looks kind of, erm, how to say... jerky? @_@ But now... HEEE!!! So damn cute. Is it because he loves to act like an ass in Shokura? LOL. Ahhh, I can't get him off my mind! Fumito, get out of my head!
........ *sniggers* JIN AND TAKUI REALLY LOOK ALIKE! I could just write a story in which they are brothers. I need to scan them and show everyone just how alike they are! I thought Takui is as old as Daigo is... but he really looks young, like about Jin's age. Another thing, they also sound kind of alike. Jin's voice is more husky but they hit high notes in the same way. I'm pretty sure they were separated at birth now. LOL.

Now I'm getting really worried about this letter that Elan said she sent me. I want to see what it is! >.< I haven't gotten it... maybe it's lost?! T___________T If it is, I'm going to send fart bombs to the post office. Hiks. I think it's over than a month ago that she sent it to me. But why is it not here yet?! I think I have to clarify my address with some people. If all else fails, I'll ask them to send me a letter to my office! Elan, sono tegami de, nani wo kaita no? *curious* Yomitai!!! >.< I just have no luck with the post. *sigh*

I have a new project... that is clean my room before the sunrise! XD Bwahahahaa... which is why I shall leave the computer now. :P

SUNDAY, 23 MAY 2004 (10.08 P.M.)
I am not a Saint

I just realized that I am not capable of being a saint. I realize that sometimes I'm over-tolerant and let people walk all over me but seriously... I'm not a saint. I can't keep on swallowing the way people treat me. Just because one has a problem doesn't mean I have to take crap from him/her, ne~ I don't mind taking in people's rants and so on, but when someone tries to make me feel bad because they feel bad, that's just... @_@
OK, forget about it. It's no use talking about this in here. I'm just being a cold, insensitive bitch by saying all this. Hit me with a stone, please.

On the other hand, I'm suddenly stressing about work. Just a few minutes ago I was able to convince myself that... "OK, I'm going to survive this week at the office. Things are going to be better than last week and I'm going to nail everything down." But about less than a second ago I suddenly feel that this weeks will turn out to be MORE OVERWHELMING than before... and there will be so much pressure. *sweatdrop* Sometimes, I think too much but if I don't think about it I'm afraid of getting a shock when I actually face the situations at the office. I pray for strength, stamina and patience.

I received news from my dad this afternoon. He was stuck at the LA airport and missed the connecting flight - it had been five hours since he landed - all because of his traveling companion, someone from his office, had a very Arabic name and had beard. @_@ I am speechless. And before I turn political, I'll just shut up! ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;; I hope he gets to Houston safely and returns safely to Indonesia. Haaaaaah. (I so wanted to tag along with him... if only he was going to New York or Chicago... >.<)

Wrapping up other happenings in my life this weekend:
- Went to the salon again! Anti-dry treatment for my hair!
- Can't decide wheter to make a Tsuba layout or a TxT layout...
- Read Brian Sibley's "THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Making of the Movie Trilogy" and was brought to tears at the prologue
- I'm still trying to work up my courage to watch [ HAUNTED MANSION ], which is silly because it's not supposed to be all that scary anyway
- I miss hearing [ DESTINY ] by KAT-TUN
- I've been sleeping way too much
- Rain is so scary. me no likey rain anymore. >_<

Ijyou deshita.

SATURDAY, 22 MAY 2004 (11.00 P.M.)
Over and Over Again

I'm such a sleepyhead these days. I had a long nap for about three hours today and now I'm still sleepy! ^^;;; I know it's not good to sleep so much... especially now that I'm *NOT* an insomniac anymore but work is really wearing me down. Like today, I had to work overtime. I could've finished everything by yesterday but yesterday my family invited me for dinner at this Italian restaurant so I really couldn't pass the moment. As a result, I'd had to complete everything today... actually, I don't mind going to the office - esp. because I go to the plaza every weekend anyway - and everybody else is working overtime anyway but after everything was finished, I felt totally worn out. @_@ It's like, "Hey, there goes my energy." I think I need better time management, and I certainly need better nutrition, better sports and better rest. Haaaah... life's so hard when you're working. >.< I don't know how other people do it.

On the other hand, today my dad departed for US on his business trip. He asked me what I would like to buy. Of course, I gave him a long list of DVDs to buy, which included [ LOTR: RETURN OF THE KING ], [ THE LAST SAMURAI ], [ OSCAR ], and [ AMELIE POULAIN ] (this is the US version). Then I told him, "I think this is enough."
But then in the course of a few hours, I suddenly remembered all the other items that I want that I forgot to tell him. In ended up asking for more!!! I asked him to buy me TzN's Spanish version CD of [ 111 ], Garnier Fructis shampoos, Christian Dior perfumes, and Baci Perugina. After all that, I still thought I was missing something and then I checked back the DVD list and realized I didn't include [ ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND ]! SHUCKS! Actually, I don't know whether the DVD has come out yet or not but I still felt a big loss when I realized I didn't include that on that list. ^^;;; Fuuuuh.
So, he's going to be back next Sunday. On the meantime, I shall be patient (Ergh, I'm actually driven to madness waiting for ROTK DVD! >.<) and concentrate on my job... which is going to be at the peak of busyness in the following week because the new store is about to open in... ONE WEEK'S TIME!!! So, I have plenty of things to do to wait for my dad to come back ne~

I've been checking out 1001fonts.com to find for new exciting decorative fonts for my new layouts.
Now I think I'm going to check out CD Japan to see if there's anything I can buy/pre-order. I heard ARASHI is coming out with a new album sometime in July. I don't know if I want to buy it... but I think I will end up buying it. Even though I don't always buy their singles, I try not to pass up an album because I'm supposed to be collecting. LOL. Oh, and I want to buy some DVDs. >.< Maybe I should buy some concert DVDs (KAT-TUN, where are yours?! @__@)
Then later on, I'm going to go round on regular visits to websites, blogs and forums. Fun way to spend your Saturday night when you're bloated and sleepy and your boyfriend is not around (eheh, in my case I mean JUNNO... that reads as: NO SHOKURA TONIGHT, DAMN IT! LOL!)