Micro update

Work now. Play Work again later.

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PC Fair: In a day of 3/4 of The Zainor-s

On Sunday, we went to PC Fair at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. Baybe has been meaning to get a new external hard drive and I just wanted to browse. Based on our previous experience, taking the kids to one of these things is never a good idea but I wanted to spend time with them after working for 12-hour shifts for 4 straight days. In the end, we decided to take only our 3-Year old daughter, Syakirah, and not our youngest 5-month old kid, Asyraf.

A-ha, I thought to myself. This would be a good opportunity to test my Snugg Mei Tai with Syakirah. It might be pushing it a bit since she's already around 15kg but I wanted to give it a go. Result?

It was not too bad when I put her in it at first. I carried her around a little bit at home. I even went up and down the stairs 3-4 times to test it. A little winded, but all in all, was not so bad. But maybe a SSC would be more appropriate. He he. Can you see where all this logic is heading at? LOL

Alas, my MT never saw the light of day since we accidentally left it at MIL place when we dropped off Asyraf earlier. Boo! It turned out for the better too since it was more packed than a can of sardines at the fair. Not even baby strollers were allowed inside.

Point of interest. I feel that it is no longer an appropriate saying, "more packed than a can of sardines", since there's only like 3-4 small pieces in a regular can of Ayam brand sardine nowadays. Maybe the saying should be more up with the times, like "more bottle-necked than downloading a Blu-ray DVD rip at 9pm using a Malaysian ISP?"

By the time we left, we bought a Samsung 500GB external hard drive for RM250 and BitDefender Internet Security for 3 users at only RM95! Bargain! But erm, don't tell my clients that I use Bitdefender ah? They might want me to promote their product instead *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

Oh, and before we went to pick up Asyraf at MIL place, we stopped at Cozy's at Great Eastern Mall for a late lunch. They even had a children hair saloon on the second floor where I got Syakirah's hair trimmed a bit later.

Syakirah took the photo on the top right. Mama's little IT-savvy baby *proud grin*

 

All in all, it was a good day ^___^

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Bank A (bukan nama sebenar) = Major FAIL!

This is the second month in a row I have had trouble with this bank, and their only service/product that I use is their IKEA Visa Card. Yes, you probably already which bank I am talking about. I only wanted to get the special monthly IKEA members price promotion and the 0% installment fee for purchases above RM500 but at this rate, I am s-oooo going to totally cancel my credit card.

I don't think I've posted this here (I think I updated Twitter and FB), but when I received last month's statement, I noticed that my current balance is RM8x.xx but the the minimum payment is RM100.00. That's strange. I have always paid more than the monthly installment (how else can I pay RM8x.32 using the cash deposit machine?) so how is it possible that the minimum payment is more than the current balance itself?

I called up their contact center and the customer service agent then informed me that I actually owed them RM175.xx because I had missed out on one month's payment. What?! I don't think so, lady. She also kept repeating it over and over again until my ears started bleeding that that is what is shown on her system therefore it must be correct.  No point in arguing with a parrot, I finally made her agree that maybe I didn't receive one of the bills and missed the payment. To which she claimed that she will e-mail me the 2 months statement, current month and month I did not pay, and call me back within a half hour. Agent name was D (bukan nama sebenar).

Yeah, right *snort*

3 days later I received the e-mail, and still no phone call. Their statement never made much sense to me let alone the system print out copy that I was given. Being the typical Malaysian that I am, I grudgingly admitted to myself that since I am not exactly the most paper organized person in the world, maybe I misplaced a bill and skipped a payment. I paid RM176 and hoped that that would be the end of that. After all, that was the 6th of the 6 monthly installment payment plan that I took.

Alas, this was not to be.

After paying off ALL of my installments, come to think of it, they probably owe me money since I always a couple of ringgit extra every month, now my statement reads:

Current Outstanding Balance -RM89.xx    Minimum Payment RM50.00

That is BS (ala Russell Peters)!

Therefore, today I will proceed to give one customer service agent one heck of a piece of my mind. I mean, I don't want to. I used to work in customer service myself and I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of a customer's angry tirade but enough is enough.

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Eh long time no post?

I have s-oooo  much to blog about. I have even started writing a couple of them down and saving it to my Blogger draft erm, bin? A few excuses obstacles that stand between me and a good blogging season include:

• ISP problem at home (damn you, P bukan nama sebenar). But I've heard that all major ISPs are also facing slowdown issue. Haven't heard of any major trunk failure reported, so...
• I forgot to transfer photos from my digicam to my thumb/external drive to upload at work.
• Work first, then blog.
• It's tax season! Now, where did I put that EA form...
• I have a bun cooking in the oven! No, not that kind of bun and not the oven down there-lah! I have a couple of major side (isn't that an oxymoron?) projects going on. Too early to reveal but will have to soon. Hope everything goes well, Insya-Allah. 

So there. Fret not, I will return with a vengeance soon. In the mean time... 

Quick, Robin! To the Batmobile! *cue old Batman TV series theme song*

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Virgin property buyer

I have never held RM300K in my hands before. I probably couldn't even hold that amount of money in my hands because I've been told that I have a pair of surreal, doll like hands (eh?). Yet, that is almost the amount that Baybe and I are about to spend.

We've been looking to buy a property for investment purpose for some time now. Our target was to have this done within 5-years, starting when we had the kids (my eldest is 3-year old now). For some reason, of late I've been quite intent in my search for a decent property for us to purchase. Perhaps it's the nudge of the big 3-oh coming up soon?

Anyways, I've been lurking a few property forums and the name Symphony Heights kept popping up. Curious, to say the least, I did my research which ended up with us going to the actual show room. Big mistake. It was love at first sight... and yes, I am aware that they actually use the service of interior decorators to "sell" the imagery to prospective customers, such as I.

The thing about apartments/condominiums is, that for a person who has lived her entire life in an actual house, the relative difference in space is quite a shock. I live in a family house with my folks (and sister, occasionally) and our kitchen is sometimes bigger than some apartments I've been to. I am not bragging, simply stating the fact. The fact is when there is always 6-9 people living under one roof at any time, you really need a big kitchen so that you won't accidentally stab someone with a kitchen knife when you are trying to cook and somebody else is grabbing a drink from the 'fridge.

Right, now going back to the show room. I was impressed, not really by the size of the apartment, but the layout itself. Apparently it was designed for an open living concept and I can see why. I am totally in love with the fact of having doors to the bedrooms and bathrooms all in one part of the house. This is especially useful for families with young kids since it only takes a few steps to pop in to your little one's room to check on them. I can totally see myself living here. I was gushing about the pro-s of the layout much that Baybe was afraid that I would insist we move in ourselves instead of renting it out/selling it. No need to worry-lah, Baybe *wink*.

For starters, if we were to live in this place, we could never comfortably afford the monthly installment. The unit which we eventually booked is located on the 26th floor, KL view. Oh, and did I mention that I'm desperately afraid of heights? The location is convenient as it is near a few major highways (MRR2 etc.) and the newly opened KTM Komuter Batu Cave station. As for traffic congestion, where in Kuala Lumpur are the roads not congested during peak hours? Btw, I live in Cheras. There is no way in and out of Cheras that is not jammed and you can even quote me on that LOL.

This is our first property purchase and we are excited and more than a bit nervous. Oh, and for those who are interested as well, the RM500 booking fee and 10% discount promotion ends on 18th April. There is no word whether they will continue this. Plus, even for Phase 2, which will only be completed in October 2012, there are very few units left. Don't let the price scare you too much. With the progress payment scheme offered and a little bit of careful financial planning on your end, this could be a good investment in the not so long run.

This post is in no way sponsored by Symphony Heights development or associated, erm parties. It is just my personal opinion ^___^

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Presenting.. my gorgeous Snugg Mei Tai!

This post was delayed for some days due to both my kids having fever. Thankfully, both are better now and I can finally post this at work. Yeay!

Received delivery failure notification from Skynet on Thursday (I think), kinda like MAILER-DAEMON error. No one was home. Boo!

They called me early next morning though to arrange the parcel delivery time for Saturday. Yeay!

Working on Saturday. Anxiously waited for Baybe to call/sms me that my parcel was delivered. Yeay!

He didn't call/sms. Boo!

Called Baybe during lunch. My package has been delivered. Yeay!

Had to wait until I get off work at 8pm before I can see it. Boo!

Got home. Didn't even bother to change. Chucked Asyraf in the MT and posed. Yeay!

Syakirah had fever. Asyraf followed after. Boo!

Asyraf feeling a bit better. Took MT to Giant Ulu Kelang to buy groceries/stuff and posed some more. Yeay!

Asyraf still not that well. Was fussy. Had to wait in the car while Baybe finished buying things from shopping list.Boo!

TBC... (Boo!)

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I stand corrected LMAO

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test...

Pure Geek

35 % Nerd, 57% Geek, 39% Dork

For The Record:


A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.

A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.

A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.


You scored better than half in Geek, earning you the title of: Pure Geek.

It's not that you're a school junkie, like the nerd, and you don't really stand out in a crowd, like the dork, you just have some interests that aren't quite mainstream. Perhaps it's anime, perhaps it's computers, perhaps it's bottlecaps, perhaps it's all of those and more. Your interests take you to events and gatherings that are filled with people you find unusual and beyond-the-pale, but you don't quite consider yourself "of that crowd." Instead, you consider yourself to be fairly normal.

Which, you are.

Congratulations! You're the one on the RIGHT!

Take The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test at OkCupid

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Nerds, get your cool Sci-Fi T-shirts today!

... and I use the term (nerd) affectionately, seeing as I consider myself one too LOL

Check out the rest here. My personal top 3 favorites:

#3 - Strategically placed Princess Leia *cough*cough*

#2 - I'm on a Firefly kick

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#1  - This one is just made of pure win LMAO

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Firefly

A colleague and I were discussing our favorite TV shows one day and the name Firefly suddenly popped out of his mouth.

Me:               I think I've heard of Firefly before a while back. What's it about?
Colleague:  (shocked) You've never seen Firefly?
Me:              Nope. Why? Is it that good?

I will spare you the 20-minutes long passionate rant he then graced me with, ending up with him picking up a guitar and strumming to the show's theme song. Well, maybe not the last bit, but you get the point.

Random trivia. Did you know that the character Casey from Chuck is based on the Jayne Cobb character from Firefly, played by the same actor (Adam Baldwin)? Me neither but this certainly piqued my interest.

Hello, Curiosity. Meet my cat.

Firefly is an American  space western television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon, the guy who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. If this doesn't spell cult following for Firefly already, then obviously you haven't been watching enough television :-P

The premise is set in 2517 and follows the chronicles of its nine crew/passenger ensemble, ranging from a pair of fugitive siblings (Simon and River Tam) on the run from the Alliance, to a Shepherd (preacher) with a mysterious past, to a mercenary for hire with a girl's name (Jayne). Captained by Malcolm Reynolds, an Independence "Browncoat" veteran fighter, his first officer Zoe, who fought with him in the war, and piloted by Wash, Zoe's husband.

"Captain was looking for a pilot. I found a husband. Seemed to work out. " ~ Zoe in Bushwacked.

Inara, a respectable Companion, and Kaylee, the bubbly ship mechanic make up the rest of those on board.

The series lasted all of 14-episodes with a movie to tie-in, also called Serenity, to appease the mob of angry fans after the show got canceled. Since I have watched up to the episode Ariel last night, I am starting to understand why these people got so worked up over the show. In fact, I am designing my "Stick it to TPTB (The Power That Be). Give us back our Serenity" T-shirt as we speak.

What is so great about the show? It's the character dynamics and how they complement each other. It's the fast paced and witty dialogue. It's the monotonous yet catchy theme song. Pick one. I have to warn you though, once you step into the realm that is Firefly, you will never be the same again. I am totally suckered in at this point and is mixed about watching up to the season finale, because I know that there is nothing left to look forward to.

I know I may be almost a decade too late for this show (I was 12 when the show first aired and was not familiar with the terms Torrent and DVD Box Sets, wait, we were still using floppy discs back then, weren't we?) but time is no measure for greatness. Alas, it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

Here's to the bundle of despair I will become once I have completed watching my box set. C'est la vie, I say.

There's no place I can be
Since I've found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me...
~ From Firefly Theme Song

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Clash of the Titans a.k.a Terminator 007: Aslan vs. Voldemort

 On Monday, Baybe and I had a very, very, VERY rare opportunity to go catch a movie. The last movie we saw, I think, was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Yes, I know. That was quite a while back.

Originally, being an avid Tim Burton fan, I wanted to see Alice in Wonderland. However, a couple of my friends warned me against it. They recommended How to Train Your Dragon instead. Now, I love animated flicks as much as the next geek, but since we wanted a much deserved adult day out, we decided on Clash of the Titans instead. What a way to feel old. The original movie first aired in 1981, when both hubby and me were literally still in diapers.

First of all, Sam Worthington sure has gotten around since being in Terminator: Salvation, hasn't he? He started out humbly as a human-machine (I believe the correct term is cyborg) in T:S, then as a giant Smurf in Avatar, and now he is a skirt wearing demigod in Clash of the Titans. I guess they couldn't get Russel Crowe and his amazingly manly thighs to star in this movie, since he is too busy prancing about, in a manly way of course,  in Robin Hood when they were shooting the movie.

Wait. Epiphany moment. Both Russel Crowe and Sam Worthington are Aussies, and both of them looks good in a short skirt. Hmmmmm.

Next point. A lot has changed in terms of special effects over 29 years, and the studio folks want us to know it too. Like, whoah. We weren't even watching it in 3-D!

H-ey. The floating, pale looking guy in black look familliar, doesn't he? Oh, that's right. It's He Who Shall Not Be Named, with actual facial features ie. nose. At least they got to save some money for his costume since they only need to modify his wardrobe from the Harry Potter franchise movies. And Liam Neeson is no longer a disembodied voice in the form of a lion - hurray! Although, me thinks he overdid polishing his armor just a tad.

And isn't that guy Le Chiffre from Casino Royale? And that Io girl is the one who died drenched in oil in Quantum of Solace? Ooh. I must stop pointing out familiar faces and review this movie. Except there really isn't  much to review, is there?

Watch the original movie. At least the stop-motion animation puts a smile on your face.

And pahhh! I could smell Hades betraying Zeus a mile away. Zeus may be shiny, but he's not too bright, is he?

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dis·ap·point·ed (ds-pointd) adj. Thwarted in hope, desire, or expectation.

I am a cynic realist. Do you blame me when people I am closest to tend to let me down? I am no trying to sing my own praise, but I am a very giving person. I can be very selfless when it comes to people I care about.. family, friends etc. What gets to me is, why don't people see how much they hurt me when they act this way? I've been told before that I am the complete opposite of a poker face, displaying my emotions on my face for all to see. So, the question remains, are people really that oblivious to how I feel? Or do they just don't care?

I'm tired of being the righteous one, again and again. So many people depend on me being their pillar of strength and virtue. What if I just refuse their plight? What if I just choose to look the other way while they receive what is coming to them? Is that even an option for me?

Yeah, it's that time of the month again. Time for some emo' show and tell, folks.

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Drunk Driving Accident in Taman Midah, Cheras

I know I have already Tweeted about this, but I have only seen the video just now (my office firewall blocks all Java applications *SIGH*). I strongly recommend those with weak stomachs not to Google for the video, or even try to find it on Youtube, which have removed most of the uploaded videos anyways. The CCTV video, although from afar, is quite clear and graphic. It is very, very disturbing. So much so, I think I might have to take a puff off my inhaler before I finish posting this, literally speaking.

This is the most disgusting, tragic, horrifying thing I have ever seen in my life. That is saying something considering I receive a lot of spam e-mails containing, among others, fried-kitten rice, PETA anti-fur campaign, human fetus chopped and cut into soup etc. I am at a loss on how to convey my deepened sadness and unspeakable rage at the whole incident. As always, when speech fails me, I turn to put my thoughts and emotion into words instead.  

Imagine taking your family out for a dinner. Imagine stopping by a petrol station on the way to refill, smiling as you watch your spouse pump the fuel, holding your sleepy child in your arms while listening to a nice upbeat song on the radio. A typical family night.

Imagine looking up to suddenly see a pair of bright lights heading towards you at 120km/h. Imagine not having enough time to call out to your unsuspecting husband. Imagine clutching your children in your arms while your car is being slammed and watching the love of your life caught in the middle of it all, blood and petrol spraying all over the windshield until you cannot even  begin to tell where the blood ends and where the petrol begins.

Imagine all this happening in seconds. In the midst of it all, what would you do if you knew that the reason all this happened was because a silly 23-year old girl thought she was too good to have someone pick her up from some random bar, where she had consumed too much alcohol earlier?

Please. I beg of all of you. The man in that video is a friend of my husband's colleague. Have some respect for the departed and flag/report as abusive all the videos of this incident you see online. I have already done so for all that I could find. This man left behind a wife and two children, aged 4 and 2 years old.

Imagine all of this happening to you. Would you want to login to your Facebook account and see it over and over again? Have a heart.

To the victim of this senseless crime, Al-Fatihah.

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Mama's Little Hero @ 4-months

He's already rolling over to his tummy from lying on his back. I've read somewhere that it should be the other way ar...

I'm sorry, what? Too distracted by my darling Asyraf's laughing squeal. Erm, is there such a thing as a "laughing squeal?" LOL

"I am Super Asyraf! Flying to the rescue - wheeeeee!"

"Mama, stop taking photos and help me!"

Your Laughing Four-Month-Old

Welcome to the world of the 4-month-old, where every day is filled with exciting new discoveries -- and constant reminders that your baby is preparing to take on the universe. About now, your baby's laugh is likely to be the most welcome sound in your home. She's truly learning to communicate with you and others around her. What fun!


Milestones this month

    * Your baby can raise herself up on straightened arms while lying on her tummy and look all around. CHECK
    * She can grasp a rattle. CHECK
    * Baby laughs out loud. CHECK
    * He squeals with delight.CHECK
    * Baby smiles spontaneously. CHECK
    * He pays attention to very small objects. CHECK
    * Baby experiments by making new sounds. CHECK
    * He recognizes parents and siblings. CHECK

*All babies have their own internal developmental timetable. If your 4-month-old hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured that she will in time. If you have concerns about your baby's development, discuss them with her doctor. 

For more info and source, go here

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Photo tag

Yeay! I've been tagged by the ever lovely Sheri again. This time, it's a photo tag.

Here are the rules:

1. Open your 1st Photo folder.

2. Scroll to the 10th photo.

3. Post the photo and the story behind it.

4. Tag 5 or more people.

Erm, I still don't have a lot of photo here on my new computer. Most are either still on my old CPU (which I haven't connected to since I got this computer) or on one of my portable drives. Eh - because I have so many hehe. So here's my compromise, I'll open the first album from FB and choose the 10th photo there instead. By all means you can stick to the original rules or give it your own special twist as well ^___^

This picture was taken in Cherating, Kuantan during Baybe's family day trip. This was how happy Syakirah was after being cooped up in the car for about 5 hours. She was running all over the hotel room and popped in the closet to supposedly "surprise" me. O00-kay then.

Is it just me or do Syakirah's teeth look a b-iiit just like a vampire's? It's the fangs *SIGH*

Now to tag 5 people :

1 - Lixa
2 - Sukma
3 - Waneedaz
4 - Li Mei
5 - Catlina

6 and more - Absolutely everybody who reads this. No, I insist!

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