Lao Fu Zi (Old Master Q) Visits Ipoh

Wong Chak in Penang - photo courtesy of The Star

Argh! I just read in The Star that the cartoonist of popular Chinese comic, Lao Fu Zi, came to Ipoh. You know, nothing much happens here in Ipoh and I just have to miss it! Pissed or not?? The cartoonist of Lao Fu Zi is Wong Chak, who took over the business from his dad, the creator.

According to the news report, Wong Chak came along with mascots of Lao Fu Zi and Big Potato. I so would like to take photos of Lao Fu Zi and Big Potato, if not WITH them. I remember reading Lao Fu Zi when I was a kid and was entertained by the comics even though I don't read Chinese. Often times, I would have to ask my sister to explain the punchline to me.

But when I was older, I stopped reading Lao Fu Zi and was more inclined towards cartoon from America like Garfield, Blondie and Dilbert. Even though I never remember any particular storyline on Lao Fu Zi, or even Garfield or Blondie and Dilbert for the matter, Lao Fu Zi still made a deep impression on me. It would be awesome to have the opportunity to meet up with Lao Fu Zi and Big Potato and revisit my childhood.

Bid On A Unique Auction Site

December is a month that I particularly dislike. Don't get me wrong; I like Christmas but I don't like the fact that an occasion like Christmas busts my budget! With a long list of gifts to get for my family and close friends, the not-so-close ones can get just a Christmas card from me, I can foresee that my bank account is going to get seriously damaged AGAIN!

A little while back, I was told of a unique auction site called BidHere but I didn't pay attention to it but feeling desperate to save a little money on gifts right now since I didn't work for the past six months, I decided to check it out over the long weekend. I am familiar with online auctions but I have not tried penny auctions before. Yes, BidHere is a penny auction website where auctions start at $0.00! All items are brand new but the thing that makes bidding on BidHere so much more exciting than other conventional online auction websites is the duration of auctions which could be as short as 15 seconds! Most are over in minutes. I like this!

If you are unfamiliar with penny auctions, let me explain to you the concept of BidHere. It is really simple. Create an account with BidHere and you will be given a time-limited offer of five free bids upon registration. Each bid you place on an auction will cost you US$0.60 once you have used up the five free bids. To fund your bidding, you will have to buy a "Bid Package" first. The cost of you bids will then be deducted from your "Bid Package".

I have checked through past auctions and found that auctions of brand new popular electronic consumer products like Nintendo and PS3 closed at amazingly low prices. Can you imagine, an Apple Macbook Air was won at only US$36? The winner of the auction saved more than US$2000! It's funny to think that I have always yearned for a Macbook Air myself and thought that it's too expensive and I could not justify why I should indulge myself with one. With prices this low, I can finally dream of owning the latest electronic devices and gadgets!

Too High A Risk

A friend, Jason, tipped me off on a stock on NASDAQ and told me to invest. The price was US$4.12 when he told me about it. The following day, Jason managed to buy a couple of hundred units of this stock at US$3.99 when prices dipped upon the opening of NASDAQ which fell by 192 points.

Jason is optimistic that the price will go up to US$5, even though the 52-week low was US$0.97 only while the 52-week high was US$9. And if the price does reach US$5 and he cashes in on his profit, he would gain US$200 in profit for his investment.

Although I had wanted to invest in US stocks, after monitoring the counter for him throughout the night, since we are 13 hours ahead of New York right now, I don't see it as worth the risk to take. Jason's capital for this stock is US$800 and if he does gain US$200 in this volatile market, it would mean a gain of 25% of his investment.

At the end of trading, the price closed at US$4.07 which means that if Jason sold his shares, he would have gained US$14. US$14 only, after so much trouble! I don’t know, of course Jason thinks it’s worthwhile but I think there are better ways to make US$14 without as high a risk!

Setting An Example

My young cousins aren't really paying attention to their books. I put it down to distractions from TV and internet. Perhaps they are also influenced by their friends but you know, there are people who don't need to spend so much time on their books and homework and still score in exams. Too bad my cousins aren't like this.

I am a college drop out and I don't want them to be. I know first hand how difficult it is to rise from the ranks. That's why I feel that to set a good example to them, I should go back to school. That would hopefully motivate and inspire them. If I take education seriously even at my age, they should too.

Luckily, it's easy to sign up for online college courses these days so there really is no valid excuse why I am not completing my college education. It may not help with my work now anymore but if taking this move would help them, I would. I remember my uncle taking up law just to study alongside his son. It was a proud moment when they both graduated as lawyers! I could do the same!

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Make Over From Top To Toe

One thing that I really would like to do, once I am free from the responsibility of caring for Snoopy, is a complete makeover. You know that day I had to give myself a haircut because my hair has gotten so long, with six months in the house and not being able to even step out of the house because my other family members are not dependable, so now my hair is all wayward, so much so that I don't even know how to describe. This isn't the first time I did it, actually. LOL

And then, since I have so many clothes to buy, new shoes and even a new watch, because the battery is flat already 6+ plus kept in the drawer, I might as well change my style completely. All the clothes that I wear at home are already torn while the ones that I wear out, I don't think they fit me well anymore since I lost so much weight.

As for shoes, I didn't know that Snoopy would drag on this long and I didn't keep my shoes well. One day rolled into another and now my shoes are all so dusty and unappealing, I am not going to put my feet in!

And then I would have to get facial and visit the dentist, things that i normally do but had to stop because I am stuck with Snoopy!

Annual School Holidays

My friend who has two school-going children told me that after a week of school holidays, she is being driven nuts already. She just can't wait for the new school term to start so that she could regain some peace of mind. But Amy said that if her husband could take some time off work, they may go on vacation to an all inclusive resort. She thinks that's the best solution to let the children expand their energy and with everything all-inclusive, it takes the workload off her from having to plan for the vacation. It's not easy planning for a family vacation when there are young children, and on such short notice too.

I asked her if she has any all inclusive vacations in mind but she said she has none. I thought that Jamaica all inclusive vacations would be great. Haven't we all seen travel books of how beautiful the beaches of Jamaica are? Amy and her family travel extensively but have not been to Jamaica before so it is a great opportunity to do so this year.

A friend, Lance, got married by the beach there and from his photos, I could see that Caribbean resorts simply have breathtaking views out to the sea. Imagine standing on the balcony, with the wind blowing, watching the sunrise or sunset. It will definitely be an extremely memorable vacation!

Stuffed Silly

My sister told me that she just had a Thanksgiving dinner with a couple of neighbors. She said that since all of them aren't American and have no tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving, they decided that they should hold their own party, not exactly like a Thanksgiving party but potluck-style and without the turkey. I guess we humans need no excuses to eat and just have a good time!

The funny thing is that after the huge meal, most of them made a resolution to hit the gym so as not to gain too much fat from all the eating from now until well after New Year's Day. There will be lots of parties, annual dinners and gatherings and because next year is the Year of the Tiger, there will be plenty of wedding dinners to attend too!

But to you think that these resolutions made on the spur of the moment will hold? I don't think so. I think that before long it will be Chinese New Year already and these people would not have hit the gym even once. Well, unless there is a competition to see who can lose the most weight within a certain period of time.

Dare I Go On Adult Vacations?

My friend, Paul, read my blog and my dreams of going on a long awaited holiday. Well, I guess everyone knows already why I can't just pack my bags and go off like most people can, if they can afford it. He said that after all the pent up negative energy that I have from taking care of the sick, I should try going on an adult vacation. THAT will help me let go of all my inhibitions.

Paul is Malaysian as well but has lived in the west for half his life. He has told me of his trips to nude beaches and said he would like to visit adult resorts too, if he could find the right person to go with but Chinese are very shy, too shy, and none of his female friends dare to take up his offer of a free holiday.

Now, I really don't know if I dare to go on adult vacations. Perhaps I do, especially when nobody knows me there, except my partner, of course, and my partner has to be someone I love, not just anyone like Paul. Does he think that I would go along with him if he were to pay for my trip?

Selamat Hari Raya Haji!

Although I am Malaysian and have lived in Malaysia all my life, I am ashamed to admit that I have no knowledge of the significance of today. I don't know what to wish all my Muslim readers except "Selamat Hari Raya Haji!" and to all my non-Muslim readers who are enjoying quality time with their family and friends, "Happy Holidays!"

I, like all Malaysians, am having an extended weekend, except that mine is a day longer since I self-declared yesterday as a holiday as well. And no, I am not telling why I sometimes like to declare holidays for myself. Perhaps just to make myself happy. In any case, I have no particular plans for today except to play some games and perhaps, FINALLY, read a book. A real book, not an ebook read off the computer screen or the iPhone. That's not real reading, if you ask me, even if it's read from a Kindle!

Oh yes, an of course, I am going to watch Beyond The Realm of Conscience episode 28 tonight if it's available already. At this time of writing, I still don't see the blog of my friend updated with the latest link to download Beyond The Realm of Conscience yet, or even Born Rich. I haven't started Born Rich but will start once Beyond The Realm of Conscience concludes. Gallen Lo, wait for me!

Day KLSE, Night NASDAQ

Jason contacted me a couple of days ago after losing touch for at least three weeks. Actually, we didn't really lose touch except that since he lost his job, for months now already, he didn't have access to the internet anymore and we can not chat online anymore. We used to chat for many hours though not to the point of live chat video but don't get me wrong, this isn't the reason that he lost his job. It was something else.

Anyway, Jason told me that he is not looking for a job at the moment. Well, the employment market is really weak right now and it would be pointless to search. Besides, age isn't really on his side anymore and he knows it.

Jason said that he has a little luck dabbling in shares in KLSE and at night, he spends time speculating on NASDAQ counters. His brother is a fund analyst and they, along with capital from a few siblings, have pooled their resources to invest in NASDAQ shares. Because of limited capital, Jason said that these earnings wouldn't be enough to turn them into tycoons but then his share of the profit is enough to help him cover his low monthly expenses.

SIGH, I guess that with “easy” money like this, he wouldn’t be looking for proper employment anytime soon, even when the employment market recovers.

Big Bad Wolf Books Sale

Goodness! i read about the Big Bad Wolf Books sale in The Star yesterday where books are selling at 70 - 90% off retail prices and boy, do I want to be there! With over 200,000 books and magazines on sale from 26th November to 2nd December, 2009, on Level 3 of Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya, one would need to spend the whole day, not just one day but a few days there to browse and shift through stacks of books.

The feeling of being surrounded by good books is something that I don't even know how to describe but I am sure it's understood only by another book lover. Gosh, it really has been such a long time since I grabbed cheap books, and it has been an even longer time since I held a book, good or bad, in my hands. I guess the computer and keyboard have taken over my life so much, I no longer have time for books, but I still love books and still collect them even if I do not have the time for them just yet. I keep telling myself that I would go through them when I retire but it doesn't look like I am retiring anytime soon.

I don't remember mentioning this before on my blog but my favourite genres of books, besides fiction, is autobiographies. I love to read about people. Biographies are great too but I enjoy it more if it was self-written. I love to read miracle stories, even if they are tinged with religion.

Anyway, argh! Why don't we have such sale in Ipoh? A friend who came to Ipoh recently on a short work trip told me that Ipoh is very boring. Hahaha!

Super Gaming System

Warren told me that he would really like to have a new super gaming computer. This guy is a game freak, I tell you. He is the only person I know who could sit in front of the computer after work on Friday evening and play, play, play until it is time to go to work on Monday morning. And you know, this is a married man! It is a wonder that his wife would tolerate him but she told me that it is better for him to be at home, even if he just faces the computer than going out with his friends and have a "jolly" time. True also!

Anyway, Warren said that he can't really decide if he should buy a super gaming computer or a netbook. Both are around the same price since he wants a high end netbook, not a cheap entry level one. If he does get a new gaming system, he would have three desktop computers at home and there are only two people in the house! He said he cannot justify the cost, and rightly so! On the other hand, a netbook affords portability and convenience. Though netbooks aren't real work horses, at least he could still be in touch with the online world when he travels, and he does travel quite often.

Well, I really can't decide for him or dare I even suggest. Knowing him and his reputation of being extremely tight with his purse strings, a new range of netbooks would be out before he could commit to a purchase.

Paying It Forward

My sister told me that she has a new colleague, a Filipina who just arrived in the United States. She is just 33 years old and already has a 12-year-old son. According to my sister, this lady had to walk very early to the library to use the computer and internet access to chat with her son and other family members. Of course, Marissa plans to buy a laptop but that would require savings of a few months. I am sure she has to remit money home to support her family so her savings will be extremely slow.

To help her, my sister recently purchased a HP Mini netbook for Marissa so that she doesn't have to get up so early in the morning and walk in the cold weather and wait for her turn at the computer terminal to chat with her family and then rush to work. Marissa will repay my sister US$50 each month she receives her paycheck. The total cost of the HP Mini netbook, including tax, is US$400, still cheaper than Malaysian prices, if I am not wrong.

My sister says she is helping her adapt to life in the United States as best as she could because she knows exactly how it is for new arrivals. She was lost too when she stepped on US soil almost nine years ago but she had two Malaysian friends who went out of their way to help her. And she is doing exactly the same for Marissa and all the other new girls that her employer takes in.

Indoor Pets

My father's friend, Mick, came to visit us a couple of days ago and he was a tad surprised to see that we have brae floors. He is an interior designer, you see, and he thinks that with such a large floor space, we should make sections on the floor with rugs and tiles of different colors and designs.

Of course this is what I want would like to do as well and will definitely do it when I have my own place but we have pets indoors, or used to have, now we only have a bedridden dog, and with all the dog fur and antiseptic dust powder flying around, it is not practical to have rugs on the floor.

I guess Mick is not someone who has an indoor pet or know of anyone who does. people who need to engage an interior designer have no room for a pet indoors. Those of us who live with animals would know that we can't really keep anything lying around if we don't want it to be dirtied, peed and pooed on or shredded into pieces. LOL

Living With Murder

Recently, there was a Penang case where a municipal licensing officer poured acid onto his wife, killing her, and blinded his daughter when the acid also splashed on her as the wife and daughter were sleeping. I assume they were sharing a bed or something.

And then there is the case of Brian Thomas, a South Wales guy who killed his wife of 40 years, last year, as he dreamt that he was fighting off burglars into his camper van when in fact, he was strangling his wife, who was sleeping next to him.

I have no idea if the Penang man would be charged for murder or if he could plea insanity but Brian Thomas has been acquitted from murder even though he did kill his wife. His vivid dreams were brought on by his sudden withdrawal of anti-depressants and other drugs.

Humans never cease to amaze and shock us. Even though the Penang man said that he wanted to only scare his wife, and Brian Thomas definitely didn't murder his wife on purpose, how can they continue to live, knowing that they have directly caused the death of a loved one? Not just anyone, but their wives.

Even in this Penang case, this man may no longer love his wife anymore, but since they were once married, I am sure he loved her in the beginning. How could he wish for this to happen? But having killed the wife is really only a small issue compared to the fact that he has blinded his daughter. What a despicable person. If I was the one who did this, heck, I would hate myself so much I would throw myself off KOMTAR or Penang Bridge!

"Dream" Vacation

At this point, my dream vacation seems to be too far-fetched to happen. Sometimes, I feel like I am spinning in circles with no way out of the situation, with no control at all.

My dream holiday destination used to be Monaco. I guess it's all because of all those TV shows and books of the rich and famous but I guess, I could totally forget about it already. These days, even the thought of taking an Outer Banks vacation rental for a week puts a smile on my lips. Heck, a short weekend trip to Pangkor would make me jump with joy!

But you know, if I could finally get away, it would mean that Snoopy has left us. Yesterday, I told my friend that even as I am so frustrated being like this, even if I am so angry to be trapped so, when Snoopy's time comes, i would still be very sad. I guess no one would really understand the pain that I am going through having raised Snoopy since he was only three weeks old.

Giving Thanks

Today, 26th November, is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. If you do not know already, it is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in October.

Although we do not celebrate it here in Malaysia, it is also a great reminder, to all of us, to give thanks to all that we have. Thanksgiving Day is an exceptionally meaningful day to me and it always makes me pause and say a prayer of thanks for what I have been bestowed upon.

Granted, this year has been exceedingly tough for me because of Snoopy's illness and I am stuck in a situation so terrible that I wouldn't wish the same to happen to anyone, even my worst enemy, but besides Snoopy being ill this way, I am thankful to be able to be here for him, support him physically, medically and financially.

I am thankful that my parents are still fit and they are no cause for me to worry just yet. I wouldn't be able to handle it having to care for both Snoopy and either one of my parents. I am thankful that I am able to earn my keep even with me stuck at home. I guess I could be considered fortunate this way. And I am thankful that I still have a small circle of friends who continue to care for me and support me even if they think that I am stupid to hang on to Snoopy like this.

What else am I thankful for? I guess there are quite a few more, stuff that I take for granted with my days rolling from one into another.

Stylish Designer Sunglasses

Where I come from, a pair of sunglasses is almost a must-have. The sun is so striking, if it's not raining, that one would need a pair of sunglasses when outdoors. For me, a pair of sunglasses is like a fashion accessory. Even though I do not own too many pairs, I still believe in buying only quality brand name sunglasses.

However, if I could find a retailer that sells brand name sunglasses at a discounted price, you can bet that this is one thing that I would indulge myself in. I may not have an opportunity to get out of the house currently but this will not last long and then I would need my Dragon Sunglasses!

Some of my friends do not mind buying and wearing cheap brand-less sunglasses but eyes are very sensitive organs and I really dare not risk my eyesight wearing untested sunglasses just to save a few dollars!

Chan Hung Lit, You Will Be Missed

I got the news this morning that popular TVB actor, Chan Hung Lit (Golden Chan), has passed away last evening after suffering from chest pains. I have to admit that the name rings no bell at first but after checking it up online, I realize that he is the actor in The Gem of Life and Off Pedder. I watched The Gem of Life but not Off Pedder. Well, I will soon get to that. Apparently, Off Pedder is still being shot because the drama is so long, I wonder how the script writers are going to improvise with the demise of Chan Hung Lit.

If you have watched The Gem of Life, there's no denying that Chan Hung Lit was an excellent actor. He could carry the touch of class successfully when he was a tycoon, and he acted exceedingly well when he was a stroke patient. Strangely, I don't remember watching him in any other dramas. I went through his biography and I have watched some of the dramas that he was said to be in like Heart of Greed and Life Art but somehow, I can't place him.

In any case, even though Chan Hung Lit is not an entertainer the class of Michael Jackson, he is still deeply missed by the Chinese community who watches TVB productions and also those who still remembers him in kung fu productions of Shaw Brothers.

Stuck At Home

If the extremely bad weather these past couple of weeks have caused you to be stuck at home just like what I am facing then you probably would be looking for entertainment at home. One can only watch so much TV dramas and movies! And to be honest, I am a little bored with playing games on Facebook already!

One of my friends told me that he is having a good time playing online casino games. It's not something new to me but I have stopped playing it for some time already as I am still busy caring for Snoopy.

What surprised me was that this friend told me that he is making good progress with online casino games and could even make some money besides having fun. This friend is really lucky! But he said that it's only because he takes the trouble to read up on the latest news and guides on casino games, especially on poker online, his favorite game, on websites like Online Casino Spotlight. He said there's no short cut to finding money! How true!

What Does My Sleeping Position Say About Me?

Imelda tagged me in a quiz a few days ago but I was busy and couldn't respond immediately. Sorry, Imelda! Today, being Sunday, is an appropriate day to do quizzes like these. I remember when I first discovered blogging, I did quite a few quizzes by Blog Things, especially when I thought that the results were rather accurate!

For this quiz, we are only asked one question; whether we sleep on our back, on our side, on our stomach or in a fetal position. I really can't give a definite answer because I sometimes sleep on my back, sometimes on my side.

This is the result when I answered that I sleep on my back. I truly look like hell when I don't get enough sleep and I haven't gotten a good night's rest for YEARS. I look like a witch now!

Your Sleeping Position Says You Need Adventure

You are confident and ready to tackle life. You are pretty vain and happy with your physical appearance. You are born to be the center of attention, and you're unhappy on the sidelines. You're always up for trying something new - in and out of bed! If you don't get enough sleep, you: Look like hell It's hard to sleep next to you because: You toss and turn all night

What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?

What Holds A Marriage?

I read a gossip magazine recently about a local celebrity wedding where the couple purchased 6-figure worth or jewelry. By local standards, this is considered extravagant and this is "nothing" compared to Hollywood couples would splash many times more on diamonds and pearls on the occasion of their marriage.

The article got me thinking, what actually holds a marriage. Is it jewelry? The marriage of this particular celebrity couple, I also read, is now on the rocks. On the other hand, I have a friend who likes to harp on the fact that she only spent $30 on her wedding, and she didn't even have a wedding ring, let alone an engagement ring. Even though they could afford wedding rings now, the significance is already lost.

But the marriage of this couple, who is married for ten years already, is still going strong despite going through a lot of hardships. For someone like me who has no faith in the union of marriage, ten years is certainly a long time and this couple make a fine example to me that there are still happy people in marriages who would go through ups and downs with each other.

Looping Coldplay's Viva La Vida

If you are a fan of Coldplay, I am sure you love Viva La Vida too. Recently, I discovered the live version of it and have since looped it on my player, non-stop. I have listened to the studio version of this many times too but somehow, the live version is so much nicer, a lot livelier and energetic.

I could feel the connection between the band and the audience, even though I am just sitting in my room listening to the track. Wouldn't I love being there watching Coldplay play live? I wonder if they ever have plans to come to Malaysia, and if they do come, will they be able to command a crowd? Malaysians love soppy love ballads by Michael Learns To Rock but alternative rock? I am not so sure.

Of course, if I have to choose between watching Coldplay and Bon Jovi, I would choose Bon Jovi even though I don't really like their recent albums. They certainly have mellowed but even so this is a rock band that I grew up with! I would LOVE watching them live at least once before they retire!

I Have Failed Snoopy & Dino

Much as I love dogs, I swear I am not going to keep anymore dogs after Snoopy even though my neighbor plans to give away his pedigree dog and thought that we could provide her with a good home.

Keeping Snoopy and Dino, I feel like I have failed them. Dino suffered from years of epilepsy and Snoopy is bed ridden right now. I know I could have done so much more for them besides buying the pet beds and shoes, feeding them the best food, supplements and many other things that non pet lovers would think unnecessary.

But being able to provide them with all these frills meant that I had to slave at my work trying to earn as much as possible to upkeep them to meet their endless medical and food bills. I should have spent more time with them, playing with them and keep them happy. Sure, working from home, I am around but I can't be with them all that much because I still have to take care of work.

Anyway, I can't turn back the clock now. Dino has left and Snoopy is on the verge of leaving us. I can only try to do my best now.

36 Critical Illnesses

A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from a call centre commissioned by Ace Synergy Insurance to Bonuslink card members and was offered an insurance policy.

According to the caller, the phone conversation was 100% binding and I could easily subscribe to the policy over the phone. I was not very happy about that because I would like to see for myself the terms of the policy in black and white. I asked for the website of Ace Synergy Insurance, which was given to me, but there was no such policy listed on the website.

Since I do not have any medical or accident insurance policy, I didn't have anything to compare this policy with but I specifically remember that I asked if the 36 critical illnesses or some call them dreaded illnesses were covered and the guy told me that the policy does cover them.

This morning, my policy finally arrived in the mail and although I don't remember much what we talked about on the phone, I do remember that I asked about coverage for 36 critical illnesses and it's not stated in the surgical schedule anything about such illnesses like paralysis, heart disease, organ transplant or Alzheimer's, for instance.

Anyway, the good thing about this policy is that I didn't have to undergo medical tests first, so what could I do but to accept it for the time being as I am stuck at home?

Time Flexibility

My friend, Amy, told me that her child will be attending school beginning next year. It has been seven years since she left her job to be a full-time mother and is now yearning to get a job and draw a paycheck. I know how liberating one could feel with the "first" paycheck!

Amy asked me what sort of job she could do and I thought that a real estate job would suit her as it allows her to schedule her family around her job. How much she earns will depend on how much time and effort she puts in and it's not ideal but Amy is not willing to compromise on family time.

I think that Amy should do a Real Estate Job Search first and see if anything positive comes from that. Of course, she could continue to keep her options open. Maybe there are other opportunities that would allow her time flexibility as well. I have other friends who managed to reenter the job market after caring for the children in their initial years. I am sure Amy would be able to do so too.

HTC HD2

My friend returned from the launch of HTC HD2 and was immensely impressed with the features of the HD2 so much so that he is contemplating buying it. It's retailing at RM2890 right now but if you have contacts, you don't have to pay street price and can save a little.

Granted, I too am impressed with the HTC HD2 even though I haven't the chance to test it out yet or even read through its features but I guess what's captivating is the 4.3in screen. However, I think that any mobile device above RM2000 is a tad too extravagant since a mobile device is carried around and is too risky what with the prevalent snatch thefts even in Ipoh.

The HTC HD2, just like the iPhone 3GS, is something that's cool to have but do I really need it? Can I justify spending so much on a device that gets obsolete a year down the toad?

Nobody Has Time For Me

Now that Snoopy has been ill for six months already, and although there is no fixed routine still, he is sleeping a lot, up to twelve hours a day. That just shows that he is losing energy.

And this, unfortunately, is also why I am able to spend time chasing the latest TVB dramas like Beyond The Realm of Conscience and Born Rich just like the old days. I can play more games online and I could chat with my friends online longer but then, I still can't go out of the house at all because Snoopy needs me.

Ironically, just when I have the time to look up my friends online, they are all busy with work. Today is a work day after all. One is busy at the work site, one is busy checking the safety products that have just been delivered and one is busy covering the launch of a new consumer electronic product.

And you know what; I thought that since everyone's busy, I'd go and continue chasing Beyond The Realm Of Conscience and Born Rich. Funnily enough, both were not aired because of TVB's 42nd anniversary show last night. Boo!

Hold or Sell Maxis Shares?

If you have been successful in your Maxis IPO and are lucky enough to have invested in Maxis shares at RM4.75, are you planning to hold or sell? On one hand, I'd really like to hold my Maxis shares for a long time until the bull is back in the market but on the other hand, because of limited funds, I am thinking of cashing out early so that I could buy my car or as down payment for an apartment in Kuala Lumpur.

Another thing that I am not happy about is that these shares are in my brother's CDS account and I am not in the best of terms with him. Of course, now he's all chummy with me because the RM5200 is mine but I don't know what will happen between us, especially when our parents are no longer around.

Anyway, I read in the papers that Maxis will only start paying higher dividends in 2011 or 2012. That's a couple of years away. Quite long in a way but then not that long if you look at it in another way. I just hope that Maxis share price will go high up, so high up that it's worth letting go, then we could split the profits 50 - 50 and I can get back my capital.

High Cost Of Owning A Car

With all those conditions imposed under the national Automotive Policy (NAP), it is so expensive to own a car. I calculated, from a friend's recent purchase of an ordinary Myvi car, that he would need at least $1500 to own and use it and just around the city only. Imagine if he drives interstate! I figure that soon, only the very rich could afford to own a car, just like people in Singapore.

I wouldn't mind riding on a motorcycle but I cannot ride one. My father never allowed because he said that almost everyone who rides a motorcycle will fall at least once. Well, if I was living in Pleasanton, California, I could always look for a Pleasanton motorcycle accident attorney should an accident occur but here, I believe there are no attorneys who specialize in motorcycle accidents.

SIGH, I guess I will have to save more money before I dare dream of buying a car. Have to buy a newer, more expensive one now no thanks to all those conditions!

Snoopy Bedridden For 6 Months Today

Today marks the end of six months since Snoopy became so ill, he became bedridden. It's incredibly difficult to comprehend why he has been made to suffer such and frankly, until today, I continue to wonder if I am doing the right thing.

I wouldn't say that taking care of Snoopy is getting harder as the days go by but he is getting weaker and it pains me to see him so. He sleeps more now, doesn't cry much and eats less, though it takes him way too long to finish his food.

A week ago, my brother met with a Rinpoche who said that we shouldn't kill, shouldn't lie and shouldn't smoke. I really would like to know if Buddha would allow killing in such circumstances. Surely He is compassionate enough to know that this isn't idle killing but killing for the good of the patient?

I am actually pretty surprised that Snoopy has continued to live despite in this condition. Yes, no doubt he’s alive but this is definitely not living. Taking care of his around the clock, neither am I living!

Investment Jitters

A friend has been successful with his Maxis IPO application as well. Actually, I was the one who urged him to apply and guided him through the process of applying with the Blue Form that qualifies him for restricted balloting. He's so new in this, he didn't even have a CDS account.

Since applying, he's been messaging me that he hopes he's no successful with his application, that he would get back his banker's draft soon, and all sorts of negative comments. I am so tired just trying to allay his fears.

Actually, this friend is no new to investment. He has a valuable collection of rare gold coins but he thinks that investing in stocks and commodities carries higher risks than rare coins. Well, that's hard for me to say since I may be an old hand in stocks but have not sought greater knowledge in investing in rare coins except to keep the coin collection that my mother passed to me.

Anyway, listing for Maxis is tomorrow and we shall know if this counter will be as strong as it was before going private.

Maxis IPO Application Status: Successful

Went to the website of http://www.mih.com.my to check the status of my Maxis IPO application that I applied with my brother's blue form and it is successful. Yahoo? Well, only Yahoo if and when there's profit. Until now, though, we still haven't received any notification of successful application in the mail and tomorrow is the targeted day for listing already. haih.. thank god for technology!

My aunt, who also applied via the blue form was unsuccessful in her Maxis IPO application and already received her banker's draft in the mail a couple of days ago. When she told me that, I was pretty hopeful with my application. In this case, it's a matter of "no news is good news", right?

I mentioned my successful Maxis IPO application on Facebook and everyone wants me to treat them to a meal. That just shows how greedy people are. Anyway, if there is a profit, I am sharing it 50/50 with my brother so there won't be much left for me unless the price goes high, really high.

It's All About Money

I told Kelly that I recently replaced the battery of my Nokia smart phone and the battery that our father bought on my behalf cost me RM80. It's super expensive, I think, and although the sales girl at the shop said it's an original battery, I am not convinced because it did not come with any packaging at all.

Kelly told me that her mobile phone battery also conked out recently and after much research decided that it's cheaper to replace the phone. She said that in the US, things don't last. If it's broken, it's cheaper to replace it than to attempt to fix it.

The same goes for cars. Her car is giving her problems already and it is really not worth the trouble or the money to repair it she is already looking for a new car. Kelly said that it's all about money in the United States. Of course, apparently, there are more opportunities but even so, there are still so many people living below the poverty line. Kelly said that as long as one has a job, an income, one would be fine but if one loses her job, one's gone, you know what I mean?

Beauty Job Opportunities

My sister told me that if I choose to join her in the United States, I would have attend Cosmetology School, graduate and get the necessary experience before she could speak to her employer.

Her employer is a perfectionist who demands the same from her staff, from what I heard, so perhaps that's why there are still plenty of job opportunities even though she has downsized her business this past year due to unfavorable economic conditions.

Anyway, I still haven't decided what I want to do in my spare time once I done with my obligations on the home front. The only thing in my mind right now is my long-awaited vacation, wondering if it will ever come. After that, it’s still up in the air.

PerakTV

I read about this initiative by the Perak Government in The Star yesterday. Apparently, the Government plans to broadcast its own programmes to Perak folks via its own internal channel on 300 LCDs to be placed around the State from next year onwards. Locations have yet to be identified but will include rural areas. I wonder if 300 LCDs would even be enough judging from the size of the State.

While this initiative is laudable, I can't help but wonder how long interest in this would last. Aren't we all notorious with being excited with something at first and then slack off and leave everything to rot without care or maintenance?

Anyway, even as I am not optimistic about this, I am still interested to see the kind of programmes that would be aired on such public screens. I guess these screens would be placed in government buildings like hospitals and the State building.

Maxis IPO Results Out This Week

This coming week, we will, finally know if our Maxis IPO application is successful or not. Those who are successful will receive their access of RM2.50 per share back; those who are not successful will receive their full payment of RM5.20 per share.

My friend, Soo, keeps telling me that the chances of being picked, even if one applied with the Blue Form, is pretty slim at slightly more than 20% success rate only. Well, of course being successful in an IPO application has always been about luck, let alone with a share as hot as Maxis.

Frankly, whether I am successful or not, I don't really care. For one, this application with the Blue Form is under my brother's name though the funds are mine, and if we are successful, I am only getting 50% of the profit. And if we are unsuccessful, at least I am getting back my capital which I have intended to buy a car with. But of course, if there’s a profit, that just means a newer car for me. LOL

Income & Business Tax

My friend, Paul, told me that he is considering moving to Las Vegas. He said he may continue his business as it is, except that he would now be a resident of Nevada. He said he is doing this to avoid the high taxes that he is current paying. I thought that since starting his own business fifteen years ago, he would be used to the taxes already. LOL

Paul says he plans to discuss the matter with a Las Vegas cpa firm first before making a decision. Well, of course that's what he should do. Relocation is a life changing event and he should find out all the information he needs first

I personally think that if he were to move to Las Vegas while his company remains “as is”, it would be quite troublesome upkeeping two places.

Is It An End To Vehicle End Life Policy‎?

A couple of days ago, MITI (or more accurately, the Government), decided to pull back plans on the implementation of one of the new conditions under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) after much noise from the public, including yours truly.

So now, cars above 15 years are not required to get tested by Puspakom. However, insurance companies are still enforcing this because it's a business after all, and before offering insurance coverage, they surely would need to ensure beforehand that a vehicle is road-worthy.

Now, I certainly do not begrudge them this but don't you think that 15 years is certainly too new a car to enforce this? It's fine if it was a commercial vehicle but for private cars, me thinks 25 to 30 year old cars would be more appropriate.

Also, it is much hassle to get a car tested YEARLY. If you have been to Puspakom lately, you would know what I mean. Alternate years or even three years once would be fair, after all, all vehicles are tested when there is a change of ownership or when one takes a car loan.

But then one question on my head right now is how long will this decision not to enforce Vehicle End Life Policy last? Until after the next General Election? We all know that this is an old issue which recently arose again. I know that this certainly isn't the last that we will hear of it. Do we, owners of older cars, need to keep creating uproar every time this is brought up? It's pretty ridiculous the implementation of this condition would force us to install a car loan ALL OUR LIVES. I don't think the standard of living of most Malaysians has reached this level yet.

Bad Influence Of SMS Lingo

I read a letter in The Star today about the unwanted influence of SMS language in written work. I have to say that even though I myself text on the phone and chat online a lot, I also hate reading such lingo because I cannot make out what the writer means sometimes. I always feel that we write to convey a message and we have to do it as precisely as possible to avoid miscommunication.

I remember years ago when I was chatting online with a guy who asked me for my photo. I don't really remember how our conversation went anymore but until today, I still remember him writing, "waiting 4 yrs" which I mistook as "Waiting FOUR years" when he actually meant "waiting for yours" after he sent me his photo and I had yet to reciprocate.

For a while there, I was shocked that he waited for my photo for four years already and I wondered how it could be when we didn't even know each other for that long yet! LOL Until today, I never get the hang of reading short forms like that. It's a whole lot worse for text messages in Malay which I could hardly make out. And yes, those Malay short forms have been transferred to written text as well, unfortunately.

Accept or Decline?

Christmas is upon us once again and many of my friends will be home for the holidays. I normally love this opportunity to catch up with my friends, people whom I grew up with, and we always have fun like we never separated before even though we may only see each other once or twice a year because of our jobs and family.

This Christmas, I actually dread receiving Christmas invitations from them because I have to stick around caring for Snoopy, and not many people would understand why I am doing something like this.

Obviously, I am unable to meet up with anyone but even if I could spare the time to do so, whom shall I meet and whom shall I push off? It is not easy to decide since some may take it personally. Frankly, due to my circumstances right now, I really don't feel like socializing at all. Well, maybe I'll just turn everyone down.

Looping Korean Drama Witch Yoo Hee Soundtrack

Since I began watching Korean drama Witch Yoo Hee, aka Witch Amusement, I have listened to the official soundtrack and have continued listening to it even though I have already finished watching the drama last night.

Like I mentioned in an earlier post on Witch Yoo Hee, I didn't find the storyline too impressive though the actors and actresses did put on a good performance, but strangely, I really like the soundtrack and despite listening to the whole album multiple times already, still have yet to get bored with the tracks. My favourite being track #11 Just Like Destiny (Instrument) - 오준성.

I normally only like two or three tracks from an album but this time, I didn't even remove any of the tracks from this album from my player. When will I be bored with the album or when will I change to another album to loop? Probably when I start watching Beyond The Realm of Conscience or Born Rich or perhaps another Korean drama.

I'll be watching something new tonight but have yet to decide which drama to start. Or perhaps just a movie will do.

My Round The Country Dream

Taking care of Snoopy for these past 5.5 months, I have spent a lot of time thinking and planning what I want to do once this is over. I'd love to travel, something that I used to do before Dino and Snoopy came into my life, but had to stop because Dino was always sickly and I had to be on stand by.

I thought that if I were to travel alone, although a little unsafe, I could easily use public transport because it is convenient since I prefer to travel to places away from major cities. However, if I could find a cheap used rv for sale, I could travel with my friends or family. It would be more fun traveling with a group of people that I know.

Anyway, I really cannot decide now. Even if I could get hold of a cheap RV, I may not have companions who have the time to travel with me. Not everyone would have time flexibility with their work like I do.

No Luck In Mafia Wars Loot Events

I've been playing Mafia Wars on Facebook for quite a few months now. Well, looking after Snoopy, not able to go anywhere, one could only get so much entertainment at home. Anyway, since I started playing Mafia Wars, Zynga ran quite a number of Mafia Wars special loot events, and off hand, I could remember the 4th of July event, Moscow loot event, Tiger loot event, Labor Day loot event which they called Hard Labor, and most recently, Halloween loot event.

Even though this is just a game, it stresses me out that I always do not have the luck to collect all eight loot items. I play all the time and still would only get multiples of items except for the elusive eighth piece. I tried spending Godfather reward points on my Stamina so that I do not have to wait for it to replenish by itself, taking precious time but in the end, I wasted them all without looting the last item even though the duration of loot dropping was extended by one day.

For the recent Halloween Loot Event, I read that one would be rewarded with a bonus loot item if all eight were collected but I can't verify this as I am missing Kraken, a special loot item inspired by Pirates, another Zynga game. Sigh, I need better luck!

My Aunt Lost Her Job Again

My aunt, who is a former secondary school teacher, has been working as a teacher at a preschool near her home. It's a perfect arrangement as she could walk to work since her son has taken her car to college. However, my aunt said that she couldn't even hold on to the job, a job that she enjoys even though the pay isn't great but it nicely supplements her pension, because her employers were a little too much.

All along, my aunt was telling me that she doesn't know whose directive to listen to since this school is managed by a couple. Last week, the male employer told to buy preschool furniture and even though it's out of her job scope, my aunt obliged but when she returned, the lady employer screamed at her asking her where did she go during work hours. That was the last straw.

So now my aunt is looking for a job again. It isn’t easy because of her age!

Maxis IPO Closed Today

So application for Maxis IPO closed today at 5pm. My friend, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, was able to submit his application at the last minute. Well, it was not by design but he had to open a CDS account first before submitting his application. Imagine the hassle those living in East Malaysia have to face. Submitting their applications by mail would take a whole lot longer than a couple of days. My friend reported that there was a snaking queue at the submission point and after all the stipulations, only one guy was standing by collecting all these application forms. LOL

I only managed to apply for 1000 shares via the blue form and 100 shares online via Maybank2u. I actually wanted to apply for another 100 shares but was denied by the system for "duplicate application" even though I used another CDS account and another Maybank account, though both are linked online. I think I must have forgotten that I previously applied for some IPOs via ATM.

Anyway, all things that involve money very much depend on luck. It's like money has a spirit of its own, don't you think so? I have no idea when balloting is but listing is on 19th Nov, if I remember correctly. But then I was told that this is not a short term stock so one has to hold a little to see profit or to reap dividend.

Refurbishing My Room

Once in a while, I have this urge to refurbish my room. I don't know why; perhaps I get bored easily since I am in my room almost all the time. I don't just want a new coat of paint or new linen. I want new door and windows and new furniture, modern furniture.

I spend a lot of time going through interior decorating magazines and websites and know that if I have the budget, I could do a lot of things to my bedroom. It's spacious and bright and very proportionate too.

On the other hand, I don't think I want to spend too much money since I plan to move out soon, as soon as Snoopy allows me to, and wouldn't it make more sense to use my money on my own property? What a dilemma I am in!

Where To Buy Cheap Third Party Insurance For Cars Above 15 Years

As you may have read from earlier posts, our family car is turning 30 next year and is one of the millions of cars on the road that are affected by one of the new conditions imposed under the National Automative Policy (NAP) that is supposed to take effect beginning January, 2010 but already affected by insurance companies right now.

These past few days have been a very busy time for since our road tax expires on 15th November, 2009 and we were told that our regular auto insurance agent no longer can get coverage for our car. However, the lady did tell us that we have an option to subscribe to pool insurance that would set us back by RM350 for a year of coverage.

I talked to a friend who is an agent with MAA and he told me that I could still purchase auto insurance from any MAA office right now because inspection for cars above 15 years by Puspakom is only mandatory beginning next year. I called up MAA office in Ipoh and was told that they no longer accept insurance coverage for older care because their quota is already up. However, I was told that I could buy insurance from the post office.

We called up the post office and were told that they do accept older cars, but we would need to get the certificate of fitness from Puspakom first. We did that, paying RM50 for it, and got the certificate, and then with that, went to the post office to buy third party car insurance for our car, which only set us back by RM133 for a year of coverage. Pos Malaysia is also an agent for JPJ and we could renew our road tax with them as well, paying RM2 service fee.

Buying our insurance through Pos Malaysia saved us more than RM200 because if we had purchased our car insurance from an insurance company, we would be forced to either comprehensive insurance or buy insurance coverage for four passengers if we were to buy third party insurance.

However, our road tax increased by RM200 for one year. We were told that fuel subsidy has been removed so everybody's road tax will be more expensive. Ironically, we never benefited from the fuel subsidy because our car is above 2000c.c. But anyway, we can still use our car for yet another year. It may be old, but it's in a better condition than a lot of other cars.

Bumping Into A Hollywood Star

My brother bumped into a Hollywood star not too long ago but didn't manage to ask her for a photo or autograph, unfortunately. I am not going to mention her name here but if you know where I am from, you would know which celebrity I am referring to since there is only one Hollywood actress where I come from.

My brother told me that she looked very slim and not very tall, totally different from what we see on TV, in movies and print ads. Maybe she takes diet pills to maintain her figure, we don't know but I read that movie stars have to be very watchful of their figure because when they are projected on the silver screen, their figure is blown up, making them look fat, when they are actually not. It really is not easy being a celebrity, I guess!

New NAP Policies A Burden To Rakyat

Of course, I am referring to the low to middle income group of people. How would cabinet ministers, who are chauffeured everywhere, know the kind of hardships that people who own cars that are older than 15 years go through?

The fact that most of us drive older (not old) cars is that we cannot afford to own a new car. Taking a car loan involves a lot of documentation that the self-employed are not able to furnish. Buyers of older cars are mostly self-employed who buy with cash but that doesn't mean that these cars are no longer road worthy. The cut off year, at this point, is 1994, and I believe we can still see many cars this age on the road, perfectly fine.

A car is no longer a luxury unlike in in the 1940s & 1950s and even in the 1960s but with these new conditions under National Automotive Policy (NAP) which many of us believe are implemented to help revive sales for national cars, it will soon be only the very rich in the country can afford to own cars.

Come on, Malaysia is not an island and we don't need to restrict car ownership. It's fairer if these conditions only apply to commercial vehicles, or even cars above 25 or 30 years old, and I say this even though my family car is turning 30 next year, but 15? That's pretty ridiculous, if you ask me.

Even though these new conditions are supposed to come into effect only beginning 2010, insurance companies have already imposed them on car owners and it is troublesome just to get the car insured in order to renew the road tax. By the way, why do Malaysian drivers have to pay both road tax and toll?

Weight Loss Challenge

My sister told me a funny story whereby she and her colleagues are participating in a weight loss challenge, but only among themselves. The end of the year is a time for feasting and it will be exceptionally difficult not to put on weight but then it's all in one's willpower, me thinks.

My sister said that the person who managed to lose the most weight before Chinese New Year will win. I does not matter what method one loses weight by. It could be naturally by exercising or with the help of appetite suppressant pills but no surgical procedures are allowed.

The funny thing is that none of these ladies are exceptionally overweight. A little out of shape, maybe. A little flab here and there, maybe. Still, they are taking this seriously and are trying to outdo each other.

Witch Yoo Hee [2007 Korean Drama]

Witch Yoo Hee, also known as Witch Amusement, a 2007 Korean drama, marks my return to watching Korean productions. It really has been a long time since I watched anything Korean. I watched Welcome To Dongmakgol, a 2005 Korean movie, back in April but then Snoopy fell ill and I didn't have the time or the mood for any entertainment. And then when I began watching dramas again, I discovered Kevin Cheng and watched a few of his dramas and movie consecutively. LOL

Well, last night, I finally completed Witch Yoo Hee, which has a total of 16 episodes at approximately 65 minutes each. I have to say that Witch Yoo Hee caught my attention only because of Dennis O but it has a weak storyline which made the drama seemed exceptionally long and boring. However, it is sometimes funny which made me chuckle along, thanks to the antics of Yoo Hee's Manager.

I wouldn't say that Witch Yoo Hee is exceptional. I guess by next month, I wouldn't even remember how the story went but I trust that i would still remember the good looks of Dennis O. And nope, he doesn't look too Asian.

How To Get Rid Of Spare Tire?

The past 5.5 months have placed tremendous stress on me and if you know me, you will know that I don't handle stress very well. At the same time, I don't think anyone would understand the pain that I am going through; taking care of Snoopy since the say he was unable to walk until today. He is alive but this is not living.

I have lost a lot of weight, which is a good thing except for my haggard looks, because I am not getting enough sleep. But despite my drastic weight loss, I am still carrying a spare tire around my waist. Not too big but noticeable and I do not like it at all. Do I have to take weight loss supplement to get rid of it totally?

A friend told me to do sit ups but because I don't get about sleep, I dare not do exercises that put a strain on my heart. I am afraid that I would collapse. Maybe getting rid of my spare tire should be put on hold till I am in a better physical condition.

Born Rich [2009 TVB Drama]

Although Born Rich has aired for more than two weeks already, I haven't started watching it yet. This is yet another mega production of the year by TVB. The other one is Beyond The Realm of Conscience starring Kevin Cheng.

Born Rich is yet another drama that I am looking forward to watch. I am stuck at episode 14 of Korean drama, Witch Yoo Hee right now and will either start watching Born Rich or Beyond The Realm of Conscience right after. I already have all 12 episodes of both dramas and can't decide which one to start yet.

I am looking forward to watch Born Rich only because it stars Gallen Lo, one of the Hong Kong actors that I liked years ago, when I was still schooling. I remember Gallen in The Seasons back in the 1980s and strangely, that was the only drama of his that I remembered the title to but I am sure I watched him in other dramas as well.

I caught Gallen Lo last year in When A Dog Loves A Cat, a TVB drama, the first since his venture to Mainland China. He looked tired there, probably because he was supposed to be sick. I am looking for a good performance from him in Born Rich. I read that this and Beyond The Realm of Conscience are fighting for viewership and Born Rich is losing but it's still early days.

Missing The Year-End Sale

I will have to give the year end sale a miss. I don't remember when was the last time I failed to take advantage of this once a year mega sale but this year will be an exception since I am stuck at home 24/7 as a caregiver to Snoopy.

Come to think of it, I don't shop too much even though I try to buy everything I need during sales. And the year end is a good time to buy the stuff I need, like clothes, shoes and bags, for Chinese New Year. You know how superstitious the Chinese are!

I also buy some small gifts for friends for their birthdays and other occasions around this time. It saves me a lot of hassle if I have gifts on hand when the occasion comes or else I would forget and then do not have enough time to pick up an appropriate gift.

Oh well, I guess I will have to do my shopping later when I can finally get away but then I will have to pay more for my purchases. SIGH!!

Burdened By New Policies On Credit/Charge Cards, Older Cars & Tiered Fuel Prices

As if life isn't though enough in the current economic condition, the government is burdening us, the lower and middle class people with more hardships that range from service fees to credit and charge cards to heftier premiums on car insurance for cars above 15 years and also tiered fuel prices.

I am actually pretty miffed. Our family car is going to be 30 next year but still road-worthy, I guess I could say that it's in a better condition than many of our local cars that are ten years old. And I have to scrap the idea of buying a 20--year-old Japanese car with a budget of RM5,000 and up my budget to RM8,000 which could only get me a 10-year-old Proton. I have shelved my plan for the time being. After all, I don't need a car yet now that I am stuck at home caring for Snoopy.

Why is it that there are no policies that actually HELP us feel less of the financial burden? Who says that a reduction in income tax for top earners in the country would benefit ALL of us? Says who that a service fee imposed on credit and charge cards would help us to control our spending? If we have more opportunities to earn more, we wouldn’t have problems managing our credit/charge cards.

New Filipina Colleague

My sister, Kelly, just sent me photos of her holiday with her new Filipina colleague, Marissa. Kelly is trying to make her feel at home since she just arrived to the United States and does not have family or friends. Kelly knows the feeling of being alone in a foreign land, just like nine years ago when she landed in America.

Kelly mentioned that Marissa's first goal is to slim down. Working in the beauty industry where their lady boss demands perfection from her staff, Marissa certainly feels the pressure. She said that she hopes to earn and save enough to go for austin weight loss program and at the same time, try to remit as much money home as possible. Her family back home thinks that America is still the land of dreams and she doesn't want to disappoint them. Poor Marissa.

Beyond The Realm Of Conscience [2009 TVB Drama]

I usually do not like watching costume dramas despite the elaborate setting and colourful dressing, because of the olden language used which I have trouble understanding but I guess, I have to make an exception this time around and watch Beyond The Realm Of Conscience, one of TVB's 2009 mega production. The other TVB mega production for this year is Born Rich, which I am going to watch too because it stars Gallen Lo, my favourite actor at one time.

I am making an exception this time in Beyond The Realm Of Conscience only because it stars Kevin Cheng, my most-est favourite TVB actor for the moment. Although the drama has already aired for two weeks now, I still have not watched even the first episode yet.

I am still watching Witch Yoo Hee, a 16-episode Korean drama which has the oh-so-cute Dennis O. It's taking a longer time that I thought in finishing the drama but not only because its episodes are one hour long but also because the pace of the drama is a tad slow and the storyline is weak. Still there are still another four episodes to go before I will start watching Beyond The Realm Of Conscience. Suddenly, I don't feel like following multiple dramas concurrently.

Looking for photos of Kevin Cheng in Tang Dynasty costume online is not an easy task. It took me the whole morning searching for those that I like just so that I could include them in this post. No matter what he’s wearing, this guy sure looks handsome, huh? Hehehe!

Pilates

A couple of my friends have invited me to join them in their pilates classes. I haven't done so even though I know that my lifestyle is doing more harm to my health than good and I definitely need some form of exercise soon. I haven't tried pilates before but I am always open to something new if time permits.

Lately, my mother has been feeling aches and numbness in her hands and legs and I think pilates could help her. It would be great if both of us could attend pilates classes together. I have been reading up on pilates from a pilates boston website, the website of the first pilates gym in Boston, and it looks like pilates is also suitable for men. Do you think I could interest my dad to join us as well?

I have browsed through many pilates photos on the web recently, before I plunge in. All those twists of body and limbs don't look easy, especially for someone like me who has been leading an extremely sedentary lifestyle quite a long time now, to my own chagrin. If you are practicing pilates, perhaps you could share with me your experiences with it and let me know how beneficial it has been to you.

*** This post brought to you by The Movement Center of Boston