LOST AND FOUND

Lost it

Searched everywhere

Gave up and deal with the loss

Decided to give it another go

Found it

What a relief!!!

I want my Mommy!!!!

Its close to midnight and i'm lazing in front of the TV, feeling like a snack. My mom loves after dinner snacks while watching TV. Some fruits, tid-bits, kueh, cakes...whatever. Mum will settle for plain water, but i will have my hot milo or plain tea. Then mum will doze off while i watch tv until i wake her up to go up to bed.

This is a more elaborate sample of our after dinner indulgence...its not always this elaborate. This picture was taken only a few months back, we had guests for tea, and plenty of leftovers.....




Now, let me go find something in the fridge....(no mummy tho:-()

Lazy Crazy

After a short meeting at our second office, we went for lunch at Little Penang. I had the prawn mee and Jill the curry mee. We both decided on iced chinese tea, which came overly brewed, and looked and tasted almost like coffee.


that's jill in the background, and see betapa hitamnya teh ais tu

I promised myself if I have a meeting with Jill, I will coincide it with my trip to the gym, coz its just around the corner. Of course after the lunch I was conveniently finding excuses not to go.

Yesterday’s excuse was to get home to check on the streamyx DSL signal on my new modem. Its been five days and I still haven’t got a connection. I subscribed to the self installation package, which saved me RM88…i.e. a month’s fee. It’s not rocket science to set up the modem at the phone line, and install it to your laptop.


this pix i took a week ago when i collected the modem, like a kid with a new toy...so much for the shortlived excitement

However, the people at the Clickers center seem to think that I am illiterate or something, and couldn’t for the life of them belief that the problem is no DSL connection is coming through. Only today, they are instructing someone to re-jump the port, and I will have to wait another 24 hours and see if that works. Bad service even before it starts, but i heard that is to be expected

Arrgghhh....

Tengah marah ni! Irritated sampai pening kepala.

I hate waiting!

I hate people who off their handphones conveniently...memang la dia punya handphone dia boleh buat apa dia suka, but dont set appointments then off your phone.

And because its a client, i cant verbally abuse this person when he eventually calls.

I dont like to keep people waiting, and i expect the same from other people....it doesnt work that way i guess.

I am still waiting. I thot posting this would make me feel better, but apparently not.

Arrgh.....grr.......

The Tagg

Mr. M tagged me for this challenge…. tell 6 weird things about myself on my own blog... , then i need to choose 6 people to be tagged, leave them a comment on their blogs.So here goes mine:

6 things you don't know about me...(not necessarily weird)

1. When I’m stressed at work, I talk to myself.

2. I don’t like sugar….not for weight control or diet reasons…since small, I would make a big deal if someone put sugar in my drink.

3. I am a natural procrastinator (but I’m trying hard to fight it)!

4. I have a very low tolerance level for cold temperatures. If I sleep with the fan or aircond on the whole night, I will wake up feverish.

5. I almost always have a hot shower. If the water heater is not working I would rather put the kettle on and wait then brave the cold shower. This behaviour has no correlation with the room/ outside temperature!!!

6. I watch Akademi Fantasia religiously, from the first season.

The 6 chosen ones:

1. Cik Dory

2. Alex

3. Javard

4. Syana

5. Lollies

6. Wahdi

I feel...

Relieved........that the pending proposals were finally completed and sent to the client

Tired............been having trouble sleeping the past few nights

Excited........as i look forward to the start of AF new season tomorrow

Happy.........that i bought a new pair of work pants today

Hungry.......but i'm too tired and lazy to do anything about it right now

New routine

Amidst this new found freedom, i have yet to find my routine. My independent work i consider stated off this week i.e. last Monday. Monday i was at home the entire day reinstalling software to my laptop...part of being independent is not having an IT Dept to send your laptop to...hehe. I managed tho;-). I was going to sign up for streamyx and get the wifi package - supposedly my top priority, has now slipped down my ToDo List Top Chart - thanks to an anonymous neighbour in the building leaving an open wireless connection..dont i love thy neighbour.

Yesterday, Jill and I camped at Starbucks at the Curve to get some proposal drafts out. Its so nice to work in my jeans n tshirt...i'm contemplating wearing my Guess jeans, a cotton shirt and my black suede jacket when i drop off the proposal at the client's office friday but i'm thinking the client is not ready for denim. I need to be taken seriously.

Today, i havent done any work. Spent the morning at Immigration Dept Shah Alam getting Sally's (Mum's maid) work permit renewed. Then i stopped by at a cafe for a quick breakfast...i hate eating out alone, almost never...but i promised myself to go to the gym today. It's been almost 2 months....i enjoyed the workout and am now in a much better mood. Must be the 'happy chemicals' released during exercise.

I better go get some work done, or maybe i'll take a short nap. Isnt it nice to have options..hehe to Seema, SueAnn, Aerena if you're reading...jangan jealous..haha!

My new life: Prologue

16 feb: My last day at the old office. The official farewell party....we had banana leave lunch at my fav place in PJ. The handover run-around, the superficial goodbyes and best wishes, the genuine hugs and kisses. Finally.......

18 feb: the long drive home to be with the folks

18 feb - 1 mar: the extended holiday, it was more for mum and dad having someone around to cope with things. dad is doing much better physically. i tried to enjoy the break as much as i can in between the day to day chores.

1 mar: the drive back....to a new beginning

2 mar: felt so weird....the transition period i think, from employed to self employed.

i have to say the freedom is very liberating.

The Steamboat

On Saturday nite, Shal invited me n Jill to her place for a steamboat party..."al fresco" as she put it. A very small crowd of me, Jill, Shal, Shal's mom n sis. We had it on Shal's balcony. Shal has been wanting to do this for a while....Steamboat Party Kylie Kwong Style. She had the egg fried rice ready, chicken broth boiling in the electric pot right in the middle of the table. All types of vegetables nicely cut and laid on a bamboo tray, bowls of marinated meat, prawns, cuttlefish, and boiled telur puyuh and fishballs. Chilled Sparkling white grape juice to wash down the hot soup and condiments.

Me and Jill stopped by Tesco to get dessert, but we got a bit lost finding Shal's place, so it was slightly melted vanilla ice cream with canned pineapple & peaches for dessert, and black coffee for the midnight drive home.

Thanks Shal for having me and Jill over.

i'm bored

For the past 2 days, i've been working at a client's office up in Tower 2 KLCC. As i am in the handing over stage, there's not much to do. I am so bored. Lucky the whole floor is on WIFI.

To make matters worse, 4 of us are sharing this small roundtable...such proximity...hmm..too close for comfort.

The thing is our security passes is not ready yet, so we are pretty much confined to this small project room. Just not the wifi got disconnected, my team members went for a meeting, and i was bored out of my wits, and decided to take pictures of KL






7 days and counting to 'Freedom At Work'.

On a happier note.....

1. Dad was discharged from hospital this morning.

2. Today is the last working day for the week. Esok public holiday, and Friday i'm on leave.

3. Kakak will be home from Haj tomorrow.

4. I'm going shoe shopping with 2 girlfriends tomorrow.

5. Tomorrow is the Amazing Race Asia finale.

(Jill, see no mopey post today;-)! )

Losing friends………

16 days from today, I will no longer work here.

I am staring at my laptop thinking I will miss my office friends. I have only worked here for 2 years, and a few of us gals got on pretty close the past year or so. I wonder if we will slowly grow apart, just like the rest ….

Back in my school days, I had a “geng” just like most people…….i don’t keep in touch with any of them after SPM. There were the odd postcards and letters the first year out of school, and one or two keep in touch once in a while during university days. Then, nothing.

I made many good friends during A Level days…..a few I still keep in touch until today, but we don’t contact each other that often, though I know where to find most of them.

Then there a friends from Uni, a special bunch of people…some will be reading this blog…the ones that remains close, I can count with one hand…the rest, are somewhere leading their own lives.

Then there are friends from the previous workplace….we were really close, like second family almost. We do keep in touch…another handful, but not like those days.

There’s Jill, Baby and Halley (in another country!)– I guess these 3 peeps wont drift away anytime so soon, but the rest will. Maybe it’s me – not making the effort…it has to work both ways I guess.

I Feel......

Mom, dad and mak ngah has gone home after a month at my place.

I'm half relieved that my life is returning to "normal".

I'm lonely to come home to an empty house.

Dad was not feeling so good on that Saturday, and mom took him straight to the hospital upon arrival.

I feel guilty for not being there.

The Last 7 Days..........

Last Friday

It was supposed to be a wind down day turn frantic coz the "power puff girls" of the department had to be sick....one had a hospital appointment, one had asthma attack, and another had food poisoning. Anyways, i already promised my 2 "moshi gals" for a lunch treat to make up for christmas presents that i never got round to buying for them. After settling the things at the office, we went for a late lunch. I let them choose the venue.



We had lunch at Delicious@Ms Read, One Utama


I would higly recommend this Watermelon n Lychee Blast, a perfect combination



I had the Spicy Seafood Spagetti



The gals had Spagetti with Duck Confetti and Spagetti Bolognese

I would have to say i prefer pasta dishes at Fasta Pasta than here, but there are many things on the menu i would like to come back and try.

After lunch came back to the office, had a meeting and decided to do an early exit, drove to USJ coz dad was not feeling so good. Big mistake!!! Only to be called back. Left USJ at 6.00pm, in the ugliest of traffic, reach office at 7.00pm, emailed whatever, headed back to USJ (meredah traffic jam sekali lagi) to fetch the folks, and half dead by the time we reach Shah Alam.

The Weekend

Saturday was nice and easy. Abang came over with the family for breakfast. Dad loves to have the kids around, puts him in a good mood. I went out for grocery shopping, and they decided to stick around for lunch. Lupa nak ambik gambar...my sister in law Kak Z made her famous fish curry ala Kayu Nasi Kandar, i made mixed vegetables with fresh cameron cauliflowers and sauteed mushrooms and Sally (the maid) took care of the rest...fried fish, fried chicken, sambal belacan, ulam. Simple kampung style feast...tapi makan ramai-ramai memang best.

I wasnt prepared really for Sunday. My second brother invited us over for lunch but dad was not up to the long drive. So we had all of them come over. They brought loads of Nasi Ayam...they must have wiped out the entire gerai. Good that i dont have to cook lunch:-)
After lunch, in the true spirit of Malaysia Boleh we cheered for our shuttlers - Malaysian Open Badminton Finals live!

Then 3 aunties came over to visit...at this point, there are 15 people in my tiny apartment. Then a cousin called to drop by...+ another 3, then Abang decided to drop by...only with Kak Z and Sabrina, so that makes it 21 people sharing the living and dining room space. People everywhere...every chair in the house was occupied, including the dining chairs, the plastic stool and people on the floor. Lucky all guests brought food and snacks (phewww), so Sally just had keep boiling water and make tea.

Orang cakap tetamu datang rumah, dont complain...bawak rezeki. Insyaallah...Amen.

Jinx?

I have come to a conclusion that any of my dealing with banks, financial institutions or related matters is bound to have some problem. I just got off the phone with the insurer. I have refinanced my house last year ( a huge problem that one...i've blogged about it before i think), and i should have gotten the refund for my MRTA. The last time i contacted the insurer, this nice lady told me they are waiting for the cheque to be signed...that was around october/november. Today i decided to follow up, and this officer for the life of her could not understand why my claim has not been paid. She kept saying you should have been paid, but the system showed no record of any payments issued. I was asked to resubmit my claim all over again....(just in case we cannot find your documents, she said.) Arrrgh

Just last week, i received a telegram (yes, a TELEGRAM in this day and age)from the finance company that legal action has been initiated against me for missing 2 car installments. The old car.....I traded in the car when i got the current one in November, which explains why i am no longer paying the loan. So i had to call the dealer and make a hell of a noise...and call the finance company to explain.

And then there's the credit card company chasing me down for a RM90 payment (its the full balance ok, not the minimum)...the thing is i have been to the cash machine of 2 different branches a few times but it didnt work each time. Then, sometime this week, i got another call from the same lady telling you have to bank in cash today or else......So i did, and paid over the counter.

too free?

My current job is mostly project based. With me leaving in about a month's time...35 days to be exact (termasuk hujung minggu dan cuti umum;-)), i'm not taking on anything new. And the project i'm supposed to be finishing has been put on hold at client's request...but hey, whose complaining.

So during the working hours, i'm pretty much on a frolic of my own...reading blogs, surfing the net, gmail talk...lunch being the highlight of the day. Today the whole gang went out for lunch to this place called The Courtyard near our office, nice ambience, ok food - i wanted to take pictures but it was pretty dark inside the place. Our boss got a promotion, so it was free lunch today.

Two days back was more interesting.....my colleague Willy decided he need new shoes, so 4 of us drove to midvalley and pick out new shoes for him. Willy settled for a pair of black no-lace shoes from Primavera....and i played "stylist" cum "paparazi"..Today Willy's complaining the shoe is a bit loose...I told him leather shoes expand and to go for size 7. Tu la, next time listen to your stylist!


That's Willie browsing


Trying out a few pairs

There's a possibility that my pending project will re kick-off, i will know more on Monday. Fingers' crossed it will be in February or something, then i can have the new manager take over;-).

I need to rush to an office networking event in 1.5 hours, beats me why they planned this after work on a Friday. Meanwhile, i have time to plan my 2007 shopping wish list. (Jill, we better win the Dubai project;-))

Can be too careful

I just got back to work yesterday, after another trip with the folks back to hometown. Did i I mention the last trip cost me my windscreen. The lorry (....or was it a bus) in front must have run over a stone and it landed on my windscreen....leaving a small star-like mark....too small for an insurance claim...however huge enough to irritate me...


This trip, another stone flew over from the other side of the highway and dented my front bonnet....this rather deep dent the size of a 20sen coin.... aaarrrghhhh!

I've been really careful with the car to be honest. I suppose its natural when its brand new, you tend to fuss over it more than usual....and this happens.

I wanted to upload pictures but loading was too slow...;-(

Happy 2007....Counting Days

Its now a ritual....sharp at midnight of the new year, i will stand by my bedroom window and watch the fireworks display. The countdown is over for most people but for me i'm still counting days. 44 days to be exact before i leave my current workplace, and embark on a new beginning.

********************************************************************

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

The Circle of Life

Picture Shhhhh by David April (www.dpcprints.com)

Last night, my prayers were simple....Dear God, please let mum and dad sleep well.

I was watching the Amazing Race..we were all gathered around the TV. Dad, mom, me and my nephew, Jim. And mom and dad fell asleep. I turned down the tv, silent the cell phone and tip- toed around the house.

When my parents reach past 60, they turned into very light sleepers. Lack of sleep just make them tired, moody and irritable...and oh yes, less tolerant of each other....especially Dad.

I'm sure when we were babies, our parents would do anything just to get us to sleep, and tip toe around the house not to wake us up. Life is an interesting cycle, aint it.

Technical problem

On Tuesday, I wrote at length about the past 10 days. From my drive home to mom's surgery to sis's departure for her Haj and all the stresses and strains in between. I'm not sure if its the office server or Blogger was having problem, but the post just vanished.

And i'm too tired to repeat the same story......suffice to say that mom is doing great, sis is doing well in Mecca and i'm having a bad flu!

Its a slow week at the office, there aint many people around. Everyone's just taking it easy having long lunches and making the early exit.

All the antibiotics and pills are making me drowsy and irritable. I'm gonna go for an early lunch now.