May Birthdays

A new month is coming tomorrow. Boy, how time flies. I don't like May, actually, because I have quite a few friends who celebrate their birthday in May. Besides knowing that all those birthday gifts will bust my budget, I also don't like it that although I would like to give them handmade gifts for their birthdays because handmade gifts are more meaningful and shows our sincerity, I always end up buying them inexpensive gifts at the last minute.

I always have problems getting gifts for my male friends. My usual items are pens, music CDs or DVDs, books or Baseball Gloves. I try hard to keep track of the gifts I get for each friend so that I don't repeat them but it's difficult. I prefer to buy gifts for my girlfriends who wouldn't mind one bit if I just buy them a session at the spa every birthday!

In any case, I have to start writing down the birthday gifts that I would have to get so that I won’t have to go to the mall multiple times. And oh yes, I nearly forgot that I am invited to a wedding dinner at the end of May too. What gifts do people buy when they attend a wedding reception? Would plain cash do?

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I'm Scared

My aunt just found out that she is suffering from "heart problems". She has been feeling unwell for the past two weeks, feeling extremely tired and laid in bed in the afternoon when taking a nap in the afternoon is not her style at all.

She went to see a doctor and was told that she has stones in the gall and was put on medication. Seeing no progress, my father (her brother) suggested that she seek a second opinion and took her to see a physician this morning.

According to the physician, my aunt has to be admitted to the hospital immediately to run further tests. However, she said she could only get admitted in two weeks' time as her son is sitting for an important exam right now.

What I am afraid of is that it seems to me that everyone around me is facing some health problems or other until I don't feel very good myself too. And you know, there are so many things that I haven't done yet, so many things that I want to see and have not been able to do so because of one thing or another. In short, I haven't lived life yet and everyone is already falling ill.

Gift For Birthday Boy

I met an old classmate last evening and she invited me to her son's birthday party next weekend. I was quite surprised to learn that the boy is already 9 years old! My goodness, and I am not even married yet. Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do!

Seriously, I cannot think of what birthday gift to get him. I know nothing about boys and what they like. I don't want to buy him a video game because if he's like most boys, he would already have his own mega collection of video games. Even if he does not, I don't want to encourage a young boy like him to spend even more time in front of the computer.

I sought the opinion of a mutual friend who suggested I take a trip to the local sports store. She said that I would have plenty of gift ideas browsing through sports equipment. She may be right but I don't know. What if he's not a sporty person at all?

Come to think of it, I guess I would get Baseball Equipment for his birthday and if he hasn't played baseball before, this would be the right time to start. Don’t you think so?

*** This post has been sponsored.

Trimming Success [飛短留長父子兵] [2006 TVB Drama]

I am in the midst of watching an old Kevin Cheng drama. It was released in January 2006, apparently only overseas but was later aired on TVB Jade Channel in May 2006. It has been such a long time since I watched any drama. The last TVB drama I watched was Rooms To Let, just a short 13-episode drama. Subsequently, I watched movies from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Up In The Air, Kung Fu Panda, Sepet, Gubra, Honestly and kung Fu Dunk.

Trimming Success stars Kevin Cheng and I didn't care about the plot at all at first. I watch only because of him. Hehehe! In this drama, Kevin Cheng is a hair stylist, the son of a barber, from Stanley Island. One thing about this drama is that at least we get to see another aspect of Hong Kong.

Trimming Success is a 20-episode drama, quite short, huh? After watching for three nights, I am already at Episode 11. LOL I am too fast! :)

Weekly Beer Binge

I have two friends who would go clubbing every Friday night. They have been doing it for years though previously, they go clubbing three times a week! Recently, one of them suffered a minor heart attack and has to stop this habit for the time being. I told him that it is a good time to stop entirely. Beer binging is actually more harmful!

Meanwhile, the other friend is continuing with his ways but I told him that since he is going alone, he should just take a cab. He is a way more heavy drinker and has already been involved in two accidents so far because he falls asleep at the wheel when he is drunk. I advised him to be more careful since there is no good Massachusetts Drunk Driving Lawyer here.

He took up my suggestion and is now taking a cab. He said that one two occasions, he fell asleep in the cab on the way home and the cab driver just drove him around town allowing the meter to run! He told me that's "daylight" robbery and is thinking of driving himself again.

Although he is my friend, I think that he is irresponsible to drive knowing that he will be drunk. I just hope that it wouldn’t take a serious problem to wake him up.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Low Maintenance Investment

I asked a friend if he wants to buy property since he could afford it. I am looking for an apartment right now so if he's interested, we could look at properties together. My friend told me though, that he prefers to keep cash. I guess because of his age, he's about 20 years older, he prefers to invest in something that requires the least maintenance, if he invests at all.

Besides keeping cash, I told him that it would be a better idea to buy gold coins because it's steadier and money in the bank definitely wouldn't grow as fast because of the low bank interest rates. Depending on when I purchase my apartment, I may buy gold for the time being.

I Am Going To Singapore!

YES! A friend and I are making plans to visit Singapore this June. I will first go to Kuala Lumpur by train and then we will drive down to Johor Bahru from there. We will be staying in JB for a few days, taking the bus over the Singapore for a couple of days.

I also plan to meet a local friend in JB and if time permits, we will be taking a guided tour of JB. With a local tour guide, it will be easier and time saving.

After that, my friend proposes to go to Kluang where he has a childhood friend there. Even though there is nothing to see in Kluang, or so I was told, except for palm trees and no local specialty except for the famous Kluang coffee, I think that it is still worth making a trip for the sake of friendship.

After visiting Kluang, which is not fixed yet, we make a return trip to Kuala Lumpur and I will be staying a few days there to get some things settled and to take a look at some properties.

And that will be my nine-day long holiday in June. I am already shivering thinking of the cost of my holiday because of the strong Singaporean Dollar.

Swimwear Shopping

My friend told me that she is very excited about her beach holiday in June that she is spending with her family. At the same time, she is worried as well, because she feels that she doesn't have the body shape to wear sexy swimwear anymore. She asked me to go along with her to shop for swimwear. After one whole afternoon, we came home empty handed!

I told my friend to just go online and see if there is a particular brand that catches her eye. There's no point going all over town without anything in mind, right? We went online and browsed through the website of Catriona MacKechnie and I think we accomplished more than just sitting in front of the computer; more than hopping from store to store!

Catriona MacKechnie carries so many different brands of top swimwear labels, my friend ended up not knowing which one to buy. She likes vitamin a swimwear but doesn't have the "guts" to wear such sexy swimwear in public. Since that's the case, I thought that she should get one of the one-piece jets swimwear. Their cut and design are really classy. Still, given the many choices, she said that she would need to sleep on it. I told her to just get a few since her holiday will be a whole week long. She would definitely need a few of them!

As for me, I have my eye on the chemise by mimi holiday. Well, I don’t know how to swim and I have no plans to buy any swimwear but at least I found something that I like on Catriona MacKechnie!

Dreaming Of My Own Home

I am longing for my own 'space' which I believe I will only get when I have purchased my own house. I have plans to buy an apartment in Kuala Lumpur but I think that it will only materialize in about two years' time. That's not a long time but neither is it a short time.

Meanwhile, I just have to be patient and try to earn more, save even more and star scouting for a residential area that has good rental yield because I plan to keep one room and rent out the other two. Who doesn't want to have the entire house to herself but I am a practical person and the rental will surely come in handy to pay off utility bills, quit rent and assessment.

From Cigarettes To Cigars

My friend, P, is a heavy smoker of cigarettes. He said that he wants to kick this bad habit and he has even tried smoking eCigarettes but it doesn't give him the satisfaction of smoking that he craves for. P told me that for the time being, he will try cigars. Although cigars generally have higher content of tobacco compared to cigarettes, he said that the method of smoking cigars is different and he hopes that the smoke from cigars will irritate him enough to stop him from inhaling it!

I asked P if cigars are more expensive than cigarettes but he told me that it will depend on the rate one smokes them. Besides, he will be trying out cheap cigars first. It's like an experiment for him.

P told me that his friend recommended Acid cigars, which are aromatic cigars. He tried them but only for a short while because he is not used to them. Meanwhile, P has kept the extra acid cigars in his new cigar humidor and hopes that he will soon get used to smoking them.

He tells me that eventually, he will quit smoking altogether but how soon will that be? He's made several attempts but had not been successful so far!

Life Changing Disease

My friend, the one who recently suffered a minor heart attack, told me that he is undergoing a life changing diet and lifestyle. For those who take heed of this warning, heart disease could suddenly turn their lives around, like what is happening to my friend.

Right now, he is still not entirely out of the woods yet, so he is trying to take things easy. He told me that he finds that he sometimes has to trouble a friend to help him with buying food stuff and medical supplies but I told him that he could do some of his shopping online.

I also told him that by shopping online, he doesn't have to run around to so many places or carry a heavy load of purchases, exerting his heart.

Is It My Fault?

Last night, or maybe I should say early this morning, as usual, I was chatting with my friend and I was telling him that we have no future together. I told him that I don't see him as a husband, MY husband; age difference and skin colour not withstanding. This has been a long standing issue between us. I know he likes me but I only like him as a friend. It pains me to say these things because I don't want to hurt him.

This is the same friend who suffered a minor heart attack earlier this month, just a few days after I left Kuala Lumpur for Ipoh and he is hurt that I didn't make an impromptu trip to KL to visit him in hospital but I was afraid that he and his family and friends would think that I'm someone special in his life.

Anyway , I received his text message just now telling me that he is not feeling well and he was on his way to the hospital. When we were talking on the phone, he already said that he felt pain in his heart. He doesn't blame me for causing him heartache and puts it down to PMS but still, I feel awful.

Chic Work Uniform

I met up with a friend after her work and I was very impressed with her style. She brushed it off that she is chic and said that it's all because of the work uniform. She said that when she is off duty, she would be in ordinary clothes like jeans and t-shirt too and she wouldn't look stylish, then!

I came across this uniform company, iD by Landau this morning and I really like the identity apparel that they carry. If you do not know, the company specializes in work uniform, meeting the needs of companies in various industries.

iD by Landau has a good selection of high quality uniform work shirts to offer so no matter what business you are in, you would probably be able to find just the right shirt for your employees. Whether you are aiming to achieve a smart or casual look to project your company's image, you could either opt for a uniform polo shirt, retro shirt or even dress shirt.

I have a cousin who is training to be a pastry chef with a leading resort hotel and since I did not get him a graduation gift when he graduated from a pastry school, I think I would make up to him by getting him a chef jacket when he comes home next. It is better late than never, I believe.

Quick Weight Loss Solution

My friend, S, sent me a desperate text message last night to tell me that he couldn't fit into his weeding suit! The thing is, he was supposed to get married almost two years ago and had this suit tailored but because of circumstances, they had to postpone the wedding, not once but twice!

Now that he is finally getting married, (it's just a month away, isn't it exciting?) he tried on his suit only to find that he could no longer fit in. I told him that I have no quick weight loss solution for him and he should just get a new suit done because altering this would make him look awkward in it.

S told me that notwithstanding the extra cost, his future wife would give him a tongue lashing because he didn't keep to his diet. LOL I really could sympathize with him!

Wishing On A Holiday Again

I have only been home slightly longer than two weeks after a 9-day holiday at the end of March but boy, am I looking forward to another already! As a matter of fact, after nine days away from my work station, I have a lot of work to catch up on. Sure, I had my laptop with me but I was only able to put in minimum work. I was moving about too much to be able to concentrate on work.

I had at first planned on visiting Singapore with a friend and his family on Labour Day. As you know, there's the new Universal Studios Theme park and although the tickets wouldn't be cheap, at least it is going to be cheaper now seeing how Ringgit has strengthened over the past few months.

Anyway, I guess I would not be able to make it as planned because of various reasons and so will have to make a trip to Singapore later either alone or with another friend. Perhaps by then, it would be even cheaper. LOL

Clearing Up Zits

My friend says that my zits are starting to come up again. I know and I am pretty bothered about it. I thought that I already got it arrested but I think that the change in environment, the water or perhaps the heat when I was traveling caused havoc to my skin.

My friend begs to differ and told me to try a colon cleanse product that she swears by. I cannot not believe her because she has excellent skin. She said that it's thanks to colon cleansing. In fact, her husband and her are advocates and they even credit it to their flat tummy. Or should I say, "no" tummy?

Picking Up Cosmetology Skills

My sister, Kelly, who is working in the beauty line, told me that she is contemplating taking up a course in cosmetology so that at least she would be more helpful in the salon. Kelly is currently in charged of sales and fulling mail orders but she said that the employee turnover for beauty therapist is very fast and they are always short of staff. She said that if she is trained, she could help out there too.

Kelly said that if she goes ahead with her plans, she would prefer to enroll in a cosmetology school in Arizona but it is quite a distance from where she lives and works and she is not keen on the long commute. Well, I guess if she wants to learn from the best, she would have to make sacrifices!

Can't Shake Off My Cough!

I have been back in Ipoh since 31st March but I have been suffering from a nasty cough since 24th March. I remember because I went down to KL on the 23rd and promptly fell ill the day after.

Let's see, it has been more than three weeks now but I still can't shake off the cough. Other than this cough, I feel fine. Of course, my cough isn't as bad as it was a week or so ago but it is still there and I sometimes get a long bout of cough that even I get irritated with!

Anyway, I have only seen the doctor once who prescribed five days of medication which i diligently followed through. If I am still coughing next week, perhaps I should follow up with the doctor but I do hate to think of the money I am wasting for just a "small" ailment.

Garden of Puri Boutique Hotel Melaka

My friend and I spent 3 days 2 nights at Hotel Puri in Melaka when we visited the Historical city at the end of March (surprisingly, it was just last month but seems so long ago) and had a wonderful time there. This boutique hotel is actually made up on a shop house but expanded to be two or three shop houses now. I really couldn't tell for sure.

It's very peaceful inside and one could sit the whole day in the hotel without wanting to walk out and see what Melaka town has to offer. In this post, I am enclosing shots that I took of the inside of the hotel, but only the garden part. As you could see, there is plenty of greenery which makes it very enjoyable for city folks who see nothing but brick walls the whole time.

Usually, when people talk about Puri Hotel, one of the most popular boutique hotels in Melaka, they talk about its architecture or interior design but then in this post, I prefer to focus on only one aspect of it. I will, if I have the mood, post photos of the hotel's interior which is also very interesting, different from modern buildings.

Anyway, a room in Puri Hotel isn't cheap. it's comparable to a room in a 3-star hotel here in Ipoh but of course, Melaka has so much more to offer its visitors. Besides, an experience in a boutique hotel like Puri is so much more enjoyable and memorable.

Cryotherapy

My uncle, who is currently suffering from chronic back ache and recently underwent an operation, is on cryotheraphy, which is what we know as cold therapy. The device helps to desensitize the area and bring down swelling.

His wife, my aunt, is a nurse and she said that he must not use apply the cold therapy device by himself as it would cause injuries to his nerves it is was not done properly. According to my aunt, some patients who underwent surgery had their ailments cured but created even more problems when they used the cryotheraphy devices wrongly. perhaps it was too cold or used for too long.

People here are not very used to fighting for their rights but it is not uncommon to read about patients in the West filing Cold Therapy Lawsuit because of the new injuries suffered from using cold therapy devices without sufficient instructions.

Keeping Within Budget

My sister told us that she is two months pregnant. My, that's certainly good news. She is rather worried, though, because an addition to the family would really stretch her budget. The problem is that she has just purchased a new Volkswagen Beetle and wonders if she should sell it for a cheaper used car. She loves the Beetle but it means getting financially tied up to it for the next five years. She was very happy when she paid up her previous car but couldn't resist the beauty of the Beetle though she maintains that it wasn't an impulsive purchase!

I don't think my sister should sell her car so soon after buying it. Even if she had only driven it for a month, the value of the car still has depreciated and it would mean a loss to her. Besides, she is so happy driving it, it would be a pity to sell. I suggested that she try looking for cheap car insurance. It may not save her too much money but it will still be a tidy sum long term. I’m sure every little bit of savings will help.

All these financial worries are exactly why I have pushed off buying my own car. I would like to have one to call my own but since I don’t really NEED one, I will just continue using the family car for now.

Old Sports Injuries

As age is catching up with my father, he is feeling the pain of all his old sports injuries. He was very active in sports when he was young and he is still very proud of the old days when he won quite a few championships at school and at state levels.

However, for all the glory, there is a price to pay. He said that his back ache is getting so bad that he has to get it looked at. I would like him to try some alternative medicine or let a chiropractor evaluate his condition and treat him but so far, I have not been able to find one in my city.

I read about a Des Moines chiropractor and this is exactly the kind of service that I am looking for, for my father. In fact, besides getting relief of back pain for my father, I also need the attention of a chiropractor for my leg, which I hurt when I was nursing Snoopy last year.

It would be wonderful if we could have access to such a complete chiropractic Des Moines center here but there is nothing like that where I live so I think it’s very fortunate for people in Iowa to have good chiropractor Des Moines to help them manage their chronic pain, headaches and every other bodily pain that plagues us!

Puduraya Closes For 4 Months From Today

Yes, it seems that Puduraya has finally closed today for maintenance work to be carried out on the bus terminal. This is a more appropriate time, compared to the previous announcement of closure which would have fallen on a school holiday week.

Also, for North and South bound passengers, the temporary terminal has been set up at Bukit Jalil directly opposite the National Hockey Stadium. This is, I think, more convenient than the remote Hentian Duta where you would need to take the shuttle bus at RM2 to go into the city.

Here in Bukit Jalil, passengers have access to the LRT but still, apparently, it is quite a long walk from the terminal to the LRT station, especially if they are bogged down by heavy luggage or travelling with children or the elderly.

In any case, the next time I go down to KL, I will probably use the train service again. It’s way more convenient, I think. Besides, the electric train will be in service beginning June.

Not Feeling Too Well

Since the day I came home from my holiday, I haven't been feeling too well. Actually, I was coughing on the second day I was in KL already and my friend, who hosted me, gave me manuka honey to try to stop my cough but it didn't really worked. It's expensive honey, though!

I still went on to travel about to Melaka, Port Dickson and Genting apart from visiting various landmarks in the capital city, but throughout my holiday, I felt like I was carrying a bug around with me.

On the day I left Kuala Lumpur, I was quite ill. I had a fever and vomited my morning coffee. I couldn't finish my expensive lunch either. I made the trip home, nonetheless, feeling sick throughout the entire train ride but it was not as bad as I had feared.

Until now, even after a visit to the doctor, I am still not cured. I still couldn't shake off my cough, which is an allergic kind of cough and not an infection. This is strange but I will have faith in him. I still have two more days of medication to take to complete the course so I'll just see what happens after that.

Time For My Own Car

A lot of my friends are urging me to get my own car, although one of them said that I shouldn't get one unless I really need one. Well, I don't exactly need a car but it would come in handy when the time comes. I have not driven for such a long time, I would probably need to attend a refresher's course.

In any case, I am looking at some cheap used cars and trying to see if I could fit a car into my budget. Of course, I would have liked to indulge in an atv but one thing about me is that I am too realistic. I can hardly justify splurging so much money on a vehicle. SIGH!

My sister recently bought a new car and so did a friend of mine. When will my turn come?

Expensive Medical Care

My friend told me about the injection that he was given to stabilize his heart that costs a few thousand bucks. Imagine if he does not have insurance, do you think he will be treated so promptly?

My friend told me to get myself insured as well because of the high cost of medical care and should anything happen to me, at least I will have my medical fees taken care of. I know, I am currently looking for a cheap insurance policy with medical card. I already have one without medical card, you see, and although it's cheap, it means that I will have to pay my own bills first before I could make a claim.

One thing that scares me about insurance is the financial commitment that I would have to make. It making monthly payments for years but when I am in need of insurance, I would be glad that I have it. Argh... the dilemma!

The Lookout Point, Ampang

My friend drove me all the way to Ampang to get a view of KL City when I was down in KL for a holiday at the end of March. This was of course, one of the highlights of my holiday. I took quite a few photos when I was dining there but because the place was so dark, not many turned out right, or at least, they weren't up to my expectations.

My friend wanted to take another friend to catch the view during Earth Hour last month but because the friend had to return to his hometown for ancestral worship, he had to decline. But even with just the two of us, it was fun enough.

RM300 Hospital Room

The good friend who had a minor heart attack, told me that he is now staying in a one-patient hospital room that cost almost RM300 per day. It's expensive but it is covered by his insurance. According to hospital policy, if a patient discharges after 12 noon, he would be charged another day's stay even though he leaves only an hour or two later.

His insurance agent told him not to worry about the additional charges and to only discharge when he is ready for it. My friend says he is very satisfied with his insurance policy, even though it's not premium NC health insurance plan, but it gets him covered for the medical care that he currently needs.

Even though my friend has the hospital room all to himself, I think that it could be rather lonely and quiet for him too. In a general ward, at least he would have someone to chat with occasionally, even though the rest of the people are either patients also or visitors of patients and all they ever talk about are diseases and illnesses!

Western Style Home

When I was holidaying in KL at the end of last month, I stayed with a friend who kindly opened offered her hospitality to me. I stayed for a total of nine days, even though I only planned to stay for a week.

My friend was married to a Westerner and lived in Europe for more than ten years before she moved back to KL. So you can imagine her home had plenty of Western influenced elements. I like it very much but of course, no matter what, there's nothing as comfortable as my own home.

I couldn't get used to her dry toilet. She said that it is fashioned after American Standard toilets and if I were to visit my sister in the United States, I would have to use such toilets and get used to Western food too.

Oh well, I don't even know if I will ever go for a visit. Of course, it would be fun and it has certainly been too long since we have seen each other but it's just too expensive, even if accommodation is provided for already!

Swedish Lunch

My friend took me to Ikea for lunch one Sunday afternoon when I was holidaying in Kuala Lumpur at the end of last month. I have never been to Ikea before because there is no store in Ipoh and certainly, I have never taken Swedish food before.

One thing about buying a meal in Ikea, it is certainly not easy. I don't know what system they use but it just slows down the process. It may be systematic and everyone is so orderly but taking our order took us almost 30 minutes!

Our meal wasn't cheap at all but I guess by KL standards, it is reasonably price. I am just not used to prices in the big city, not only of food, but of everything! Maybe that's why I didn't buy any souvenirs in my trips.

High Tech Doctor

The friend who suffered a minor heart attack recently, told me that he will be in hospital until at least this Saturday. That will be one week since he became ill.

He told me that the hospital is very high tech and his cardiologist, who is also consultant cardiologist to many other hospitals, would send text messages to patients for updates. I am very impressed that a specialist of his stature is so hands on.

My friend says he wants to buy a finger oximeter when he is discharged so that he could check his pulse rate and oxygen level at home. In a way, the fact that my friend has had this scare, he is now more conscious of his health though there is no denying the sudden change of events gave me a fright.

Selling A Business

A friend, who owns a car wash business, told me that he has decided to let it go because he is not making money. The reason, I told him, is not that he doesn't have time to monitor his business but it is because he doesn't have a proper POS system installed.

My friend is a businessman and this car wash business is just a side business; sort of like a hobby. However, I am surprised that he doesn't know that all businesses need, particularly service and retail businesses, need reliable POS systems in place.

Anyhow, it's not a bad thing that he's selling it off since he managed to find a buyer who is willing to pay his asking price. So he is profiting from this venture, after all.

New Nike "Earl and Tiger" Commercial

I chanced upon this video on YouTube that is the new Nike commercial as Tiger Woods relaunch his career at the Augusta Master Golf Tournament 2010 after a hiatus since November, 2009 following a sex scandal.

I normally couldn't care less for golf or Tiger Woods himself but after watching this video, I just have to blog about it. I think it's a little creepy and like a hit below the belt to use the voice of his late father, Earl Woods, in the commercial. Of course, Earl himself wouldn't mind if it could salvage his public image but after watching the video, I don't see what sort of message it was trying to bring across. Do you?

Bidding For Used Auto Parts

I have a friend who loves tinkering with his car. On any weekend, you would find him taking out some parts from his car and fixing them before putting them back even though, to me, there was nothing wrong with his car in the first place.

This website, Junk-Yard-Bids, that brings together major Junk Yards across the country seems like a treasure site for him. Here, you would be able to find all sorts of used auto parts or wrecked car parts easily and even if the particular part that you are searching for isn't available on the website, you would still be able to request it and then be contacted by a Used Auto Parts dealer who has the item that you need and is able to offer to you at the lowest price possible.

The purpose of this website is simple; to bring together buyers of used auto parts and owners of Salvage Yards, junk yards, wrecking yards and used auto parts yards. As you know, finding a specific part for a car of a particular model could be a daunting task, especially if it’s a classic car or a car whose parts are discontinued.

However, with a website like Junk-Yard-Bids.com, searching through Wrecking Yards could be done in a matter of minutes. If the item is not found, just fill out the request form, sit back and wait to be contacted with a good deal.

Morbid Thoughts

Since the day my friend suffered a minor heart attack, I've been having morbid thoughts. My friend seems to be in high spirits despite the fact that he's very frustrated having to be in the hospital for a week for in-depth investigations and can only be discharged once he receives a clean bill of health, he is still very rational and determined in getting his will and digital properties sorted out.

Me, I don't even know what to think. I've no mood to do anything but pray that he would get well soon and get out of there quickly. Hospitals can be so depressing, especially ICU and High Dependency wards. Just last week, we had such an awesome holiday and this week, he's ill. What a swift turn of events that shocked me so much.

I told my friend that he seriously has to make a change in his diet. All his favourite food have to go, unfortunately. What makes it all the more frustrating is that I am back in Ipoh already and cannot visit him at the hospital. I’m sick myself so it’s not a good idea to spread my germs to patients in the ward.

Time passes by so slowly....

Battling Heat Wave

My friend and I spent two days in the Genting Highlands recently and it was an awesome holiday even if it was way too cold for my liking, especially at night. I had to put on three layers of clothing because I didn't bring appropriate clothing to stay warm. It was a spur of the moment thing, you see.

My friend thought it wasn't very cold even though visibility was almost down to zero due to mist. My friend says that he would take the cold weather over warm anytime. We had the most awful heat wave over the past month and every day, my friend would wish that he was up in the Highlands. That's why we made the trip.

I thought my friend's house had a new an air-conditioner installed, but he said that it is already out of order and has been for a long time. He's looking for a company to repair it but hasn't found one. He said that if it is beyond being repaired economically, he will install a new central air-conditioning unit.

It’s too bad that I do not have experience with any HVAC contractors so I couldn’t introduce him to one. If he lived in Phoenix, though, I could provide him with a list of phoenix ac contractors because my sister recently did research on arizona hvac contractors when she was remodeling her home.

Infected With A Virus

I have been sick since I left for Kuala Lumpur and the "bug" is still with me until now. I sometimes can't help but wonder if it's A (H1N1) because of the two deaths in Melaka and yes, I did go to Melaka during my 9-day holiday.

Anyway, my computer is also infected with a virus. I have been trying to catch it since a couple of days ago the minute it was infected but to no avail. I am using Avast which is able to detect it but somehow, it couldn't isolate the virus. I wonder if I should continue using my computer until something goes wrong or if I should just send it to the repair shop to do the dirty work for me.

I don't even know how I could get my system infected when I do not simply click on links or visit dubious websites. However, the problem started when I used HJSplit to split a large file in my laptop and moved those partitions to my computer and joined them back. Oh well, I guess I have to take one day at a time. I have more serious things to worry about than a computer virus!

Time For A Drastic Change

After three months, my digital perm is gone. I spent a fortune on it and even without caring for it by applying mousse diligently as I should, it still lasted more than I expected. My hairstylist told me that it digital perms normally last two months only. So I guess I got my money's worth!

As you know, I just came home from a nine-day holiday in the capital city. What surprised me was that even though the standard of living there is higher, the cost of a haircut is cheaper than Ipoh! I wanted to get a haircut that comes with a free hair wash but if I did, I would lose my curly hair. My friends all say I look better with curly hair so in the end, I didn't get to take advantage of a cheap haircut.

Another thing that surprised me was that hair accessories in Kuala Lumpur are not expensive at all. The prices are comparable to what I have been spending on them. Of course, there are more upmarket brands that cost an arm and a leg but those are out of my budget, anyway. Needless to say, I bought plenty of hair accessories so much so that my friends were surprised. They know that I am frugal when it comes to shopping; they don't know that I have a weakness for hair accessories!

Anyway, it’s strange that when I came home, my curls are almost all gone. It must be the water! Now, I am looking at the latest women’s fashion trends and see what hairstyles are currently in vogue and perhaps I’d just go for it. It may be drastic but I’m ready for a change!

Admitted For Potential Heart Attack

My good friend sent me a text message that he has been admitted to hospital for investigation for potential heart attack. Earlier in the evening, he said that he was not feeling well and even vomited. I wondered if it was a virus that I passed to him when I was sick in Kuala Lumpur during my holiday. We spent a lot of time together and it would not be surprising if he caught my bug or something.

Alamak...now I myself do not feel well and I cannot sleep. I hope that this is nothing serious and is just a scare but hopefully, after this episode, he will change his lifestyle. It's very taxing and his age is catching up already. There's no defying it and we have to listen to our body. It's telling us something.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed and pray for his well-being!

Beachfront Holiday Home

I just returned from one of the longest vacation I ever took. A total of nine days! How extravagant of me! While it was not exactly my dream vacation, I enjoyed myself nonetheless and relished the change in scenery.

My friend and I also took a detour to Port Dickson, a popular beach holiday destination for an afternoon. I was told that Port Dickson is not as popular as it used to be anymore and sadly, we could see evidence of that from the ill maintained holiday resorts.

However, I told my friend that I actually do not mind staying in Port Dickson. Unfortunately, time didn't permit us that luxury. It would be awesome if I could own a beachfront vacation home here and wake up to the sound of crashing waves every morning. Well, property here may not be as exotic as an Emerald Island vacation home but it would still offer me an "escape" as and when I need it.

My friend told me that I must be dreaming to even think about owning a beachfront holiday home. I may be but I read an article on National News Today that it is possible to own luxurious properties like these even if we do not have too much cash.

This is all thanks to fractional ownership real estate which is getting increasingly well-received, especially among middle-class people who couldn’t afford an expensive property but would like to enjoy the benefits and privileges that come with one.

KTM Train Rides

For my 9-day holiday in Kuala Lumpur at the end of March, I took an Ipoh-KL Sentral train ride and for my return trip, I took a train from KL Sentral to Ipoh on board a Singapore - Butterworth Express train.

Yes, I finally decided to take the train instead of express bus because it is a lot more convenient for me to stop at KL Sentral. I could just take the LRT to KLCC but I ended up having a friend fetch me when I arrived and dropped me off at KL Sentral when I left. LOL Well, he wanted to do it as he was afraid something would happen to me.

Another reason I decided to take the train even though it is RM22 per trip compared to RM17.40 per trip on express bus was the uncertainty of Puduraya's closure. At first, it was said to close at the end of the school holidays in March and then it was postponed but no new date was given. To avoid the hassle of landing in a new place, I decided to just take the train.

Anyway, I have no regrets even though it's a little pricier per trip but then the train rides were not as bumpy as what I had experienced 20 years ago when I went to Penang to attend Tommy Page's meet-the-fans session.

I wonder when the electric train will launch. I was told that it will be sometime in April this year. I definitely will go on it to see the difference. I understand that it will be a smoother ride with minimal noise. It will also be faster than the 2 hour 55 minute ride now from Ipoh to KL Sentral. Will the electric train be able to reduce at least 60 minutes' travelling time? I guess I am dreaming!

One Stubborn Debtor

I started off the year having to chase for payment from two companies which failed to pay me for services rendered. The thing that pisses me off is that the work that I did for them dates back three years ago and that is certainly too long a wait to wait for the small amount of money. However, even though the money owed to me isn't much, I still would like to get paid because the work has already been completed and accepted and I really should receive what's due to me.

The good news is that one of the companies finally paid up last month and now there is still another company to deal with. The sum owed isn't much; just approximately US$160. Perhaps they know that this amount isn't worth my time or the money to hire a Collection Agency to chase for payment on my behalf. That’s why it’s so irksome and it stresses me out.

You know, I really wouldn’t mind getting a collection agent to do the dirty work for me if they could guarantee that the money could be recovered. I would gladly pay them a cut of the money received because I would rather spend my time and energy on something more productive. Having to chase for payment just derails my focus from the things that are truly important.

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The Egg House

My friend took me to The Egg House at Jusco Wangsa Maju. I don't think there's an Egg House in Ipoh, so it's something different for me. I ordered chicken chop rice and tea and he ordered spaghetti and some icy cold juice. I forgot what it was.

My chicken chop rice came in a bowl! When it was served, I forgot that I ordered rice and actually thought that it was noodles. Imagine, I had to eat the bowl of rice like a kid. LOL

I don't really know how the food tastes like because I had to go online and there was a problem with my internet connection which dragged my time and caused me to start my lunch late. By then my rice was already soggy, unfortunately.

Anyway, I am not fussy when it comes to food except that I told my friend not to take me to places that serve beef. I can't take that due to religious beliefs.

Cab Driver

My friend, Carol, told me that a mutual friend is now a cab driver. She said that she was surprised and so was I. This guy was a manager in a financial firm; something bad must have happened since the last time we met up. This is not to say that being a cab driver is bad but he could have secured a more comfortable job. Perhaps he likes the challenge of something new. And we take out hats off to the girlfriend who is an air stewardess. She is extremely supportive of him.

According to Carol, this friend is an employed driver with a cab company and unlike most cab drivers, he receives a fixed pay check every month. The cab company has a very good Fleet Program in place that somehow clocks his mileage and reimburses him accordingly.

I don't really know how it works but I think that being employed full-time like this even though it is just as a cab driver is better than being a freelance cab driver where his income depends on the number of passengers he managed to get by the end of the day. That uncertainty could be extremely stressful. I know because I am a freelancer myself.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Leslie Cheung Will Forever Be Missed

1st April 2010 (April Fool's Day) marked the 7th death anniversary of Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing. It was suicide, if you remember. Somehow, good looking people die young. Can't imagine how such a good looking man will look like in his 70s or 80s, right? He'd probably be some extinguished looking man but it will never happen in reality.

I was a huge fan of Leslie back in the 1980s and 1990s not only because of his good looks but somehow, he had an air of charisma with him. I loved listening to his music as well and am still keeping a small collection of his movies in VCD format.

It's so difficult to fathom why such a person like him would want to take his own life but that's between him and God. In any case, it is always a surprise to know that yet another year has passed since his death. April Fool's Day is certainly not a day that's easy to forget.

Financial Mismanagement

I got to know that a friend recently enrolled in a credit card debt management program that is managed by the Central Bank. I was surprised because she is single and owns her own apartment so she shouldn't be in debt.

According to a mutual friend, this lady draws a good salary but doesn't manage it well. A few years ago, she went on a European tour financed with multiple credit cards. I think paying interests on those credit debts caused her to be in this financial shape.

Before enrolling in this credit card debt management program, Collection Agencies would call her up while she was at work to demand payment from her. Normally, this would cause someone to lose her job but it's a lucky thing that this lady is employed by her own brother.

What I failed to understand is how someone could go on an expensive holiday when she couldn’t afford it in the first place. If that’s not all, she also used her credit card to pay for a slimming program that failed to work for her. That was a few thousand dollars down the drain!

But I am glad that she has her debt under control now. At least, she only has a single amount to repay monthly after enrolling in the credit card debt management program and not have to take care of multiple creditors at the same time.

*** This post has been sponsored.

PC Fair 2010 Kicks Off

Yesterday was the first day of PC Fair around the country. Well, most major cities in Malaysia, anyway. PIKOM has expanded so much over the years that PC Fair can now be found in almost all states. Yesterday, PC Fair kicked off in Kangar in Perlis, Sungai Petani in Kedah and Batu Pahat and Johor Bahru in Johor.

People in the capital city will have to wait for the weekend of 16th to 18th April. As usual, it will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which is a short walk from Suria KLCC. Folks in Ipoh like me will have to wait till the end of the month beginning 30th April until 2nd May. It will be held at Stadium Indera Mulia, Ipoh, just where I like it to be because of convenience, from 11am to 9pm.

I'm thinking what I would like to purchase; perhaps just a laser printer. Yes, I STILL Have yet to buy it! But I will also be looking at netbooks. I'm waiting for one that has a fast processor but wouldn't cost a bomb.

Outstation Trips

A friend, Vincent, just returned from a 3 day 2 night trip to a neighboring state. He was there for work because his company clinched a new project. Vincent said that this is just the beginning and there will be more similar outstation trips to make until the project is wrapped up.

Vincent told me that while accommodation is provided for though he has to share his hotel room with other male colleagues, he is afraid that he would not be compensated for his fuel. From what I understand, there is no Auto Allowance program in place yet but who knows, perhaps the company will start paying them for their transportation too now that they have to do field work.

According to Vincent, he is not very happy with the arrangement until he gets confirmation that he will be compensated for all the traveling. He said that it would be cost saving if a few of them could car pool but since they will have to go to various locations, it would not be practical to share a car.

I know that one of Vincent’s concern his spanking new car being used for work. Oh well, I hope he will be compensated fairly. I am sure he wouldn’t mind then!

*** This post has been sponsored.

Monkeys In The Capital City

I actually didn't expect to see monkeys during my holidays in the capital city. I saw one on a motorcycle when I was in Port Dickson but that's not unusual but in Kuala Lumpur? That really surprised me.

I saw this family of monkeys just outside the KL Bird Park and one guy was feeding them perhaps bread or something and throwing them on the slope. The monkeys had to come up to grab the pieces of food. One even had a baby monkey hanging from her (presumably female) body. It was so cute.

I told my friend to hold on to her handbag and sunglasses tightly because I know how cheeky monkeys could be and the monkeys may snatch them while she was unaware. LOL Luckily they did no such thing. After taking these shots, I went into the car. I still have nightmares about monkeys after witnessing a gruesome sight at the Taiping Zoo ages ago.

There was a boy who taunted the monkeys with a packet of peanuts but refused to give them to the monkeys. A group of monkeys got agitated because of that and one bit him on the hand! So much blood shot out. It was definitely a nightmare not only to him but to us as well!

House With A Large Lawn

My friend, Joan, told me that she is giving up her apartment soon because she wants to buy a house. She said that a home with a lawn would be ideal for her growing family. Her three children will be able to play in it and if it’s large enough, she could even set up Soccer Goals there.

There is a common playground where she lives now but it is just not the same as having one's own space. If you have lived in an apartment before you would know what I mean. Either it's way too crowded or it is not maintained at all.

Of course, buying a home, especially one with a large lawn could be a costly affair but it could be an investment for the future too. I grew up in a house with a sprawling lawn and really loved the times we spent playing, even camping out there, with my friends, siblings, cousins and neighborhood kids.

I think my friend moving to landed property is a good move as it gives a chance for the kids to get some fresh air and I am sure they will start loving to spend more time outdoors. Perhaps they would even pick up a sport or two. That’s certainly a healthier lifestyle!

*** This post has been sponsored.

View From 9th Floor

I put up at a friend's place when I was visiting Kuala Lumpur and this was a shot that I took from her apartment on 9th Floor in Kelana Jaya in the middle of the night. I love going to the balcony late at night to soak up the sight. The city never sleeps and cars still zoom past the highway below but I love seeing the lights as they are at night. Everything looks better in amber than in stark daylight where all the flaws appear!

Even though I have never lived in an apartment before, I really don’t mind living in one. The air is fresher at night. I actually would love to have the whole place to myself like my friend. Well, I guess I have to work harder and try to buy my own place. I’m half way there now. Urgh!

Taking Up Yoga

My girlfriend, Doris, told me that she is still just settling down in Boston after one month of relocation and is so stressed out with all the work of unpacking and helping her children with their new school that she needs time for herself.

Doris said that she had tried to take up Yoga previously but could not find time for it but now with a Yoga Boston center just around the corner, she has no excuse not to take up yoga anymore.

Although there are many reasons why some people take up yoga, Doris said that yoga will be a relaxing form of exercise for her. I had always thought that our bodies are too old for yoga already because of all the awkward positions but I think if Doris could enroll in a yoga class, so could I. I'll let her be the guinea pig first.

The Movement Center of Boston is a Pilates and Yoga studio offering classes for private or group sessions. They even have training classes for teachers. What makes The Movement Center of Boston stand out is its focus on revolutionary physical exercise system using cutting edge equipment and developments. From what I understand, their classes are very helpful to people who suffer from old sports injury.

*** This post has been sponsored.

KL Prices Lower Than Ipoh's

After spending the better part of my 9-day holiday in Kuala Lumpur, I discovered that for some things, it is cheaper in KL than in Ipoh. My friend, Albert, has told me about it previously. He's from Ipoh originally, and I thought that he was just joking but I think he is right after all!

Of course, for food, it is usually more expensive because Ipoh folks demand cheap food that is delicious, comes in large portions and has to be delicious but for other things like a haircut, I don't think it is possible to find a saloon in a shopping mall offering RM15 haircut and wash unless it's an opening day promotion or something.

For earrings, prices are the same as in Ipoh; 3 pairs for RM10. And can you believe that one could buy a pair of fashion sunglasses for RM10 per pair in MidValley Megamall? I don't think one could get that unless it's in a night market or something!

Getting To Know Swingers Around The Country

With the advancement of technology, it is now so easy to connect with people across the country and even around the world. One thing I like about the internet is that it is just so easy to find friends who share the same hobby, passion or even lifestyle.

At Lifestyle Lounge, a social website that helps single and couple swingers to connect with each other in almost all cities around the United States, getting to know orlando swingers even if you are in Los Angeles, for example, is just a matter of a mouse click away.

I remember a friend telling me how difficult it was to find people of similar lifestyle last time because I don't think there is a way to identify swingers from his or her outer appearance but with the internet, especially a website like Lifestyle Lounge where swingers can be themselves and look for people who enjoy the same swinging lifestyle, no matter if they are Chicago swingers looking for los angeles swingers or swingers from other cities, it is no hassle at all.

My sister has a colleague who is a swinger and she tells us that she likes to get to know other swingers online from websites like Lifestyle Lounge because people are not judged there. They could be true to themselves.

Julio Iglesias In Concert

Julio Iglesias held a concert in Kuala Lumpur last evening. I have never attended a live concert before and I don't mind watching Julio Iglesias. I know I just returned from Kuala Lumpur but I could stay for another day just to catch the concert but unfortunately, I am too cheap to waste a few hundred bucks on a concert ticket.

However, this is not to say that I will never spend money to watch an entertaining concert or sports event. I wouldn't mind paying for a pair of Rosemont Theatre tickets, for example, or gifting Wrigley Field tickets to my dad because he is such a great fan of baseball.

I would also like to give my good friend United Center tickets to watch a live concert. He, like me, has never attended a live concert before and it would certainly be an amazing experience.

Well, I guess that’s just my nature, always putting others above myself. But if it’s Bon Jovi in concert, I wouldn’t have any excuse not to splash on ‘em tickets!

Nine Days On The Road

I spent nine days on the road. Could be longer if I wanted to but then I have plenty of work to catch up on so I am pretty glad that I came home when I did. After all, nothing like home!

This trip was pretty enjoyable. I managed to visit plenty of places in Kuala Lumpur like the Curve, Ikano Power Station, Ikea to try out Swedish food, MidValley Megamall, The Gardens, Lowyat Plaza, Sungei Wang, Jusco Wangsa Maju and of course, KLCC. Plenty of times too! Oh, I almost forgot Putrajaya.

I also managed to travel outside of Kuala Lumpur. My friend took me to Melaka, Port Dickson and Genting. All it all, it has been memorable but I haven't calculated how much I spent yet. It must have cost me a bomb! I have a stack of receipts here that I dare not sort out yet and then there's petrol and toll that my friends spent on! Shudder!

Understanding Swingers

I met a new friend while on holiday in the capital city just last week. When Terrence told me that he is a swinger, I was very surprised because he doesn't look like one. Now, I don't actually know how swingers look like or if they look different at all externally but I guess I just didn't expect it.

Terrence told me that he started indulging in this lifestyle during his university days and has no regrets at all. He said that if I am open-minded enough, he wouldn't mind me tagging along to swingers clubs but I declined. I guess I am not ready.

I have read about swingers before and know of this website, Lifestyle Lounge, which is like a social networking website specifically for swingers in almost all major cities in the United States.

Since Terrence will be visiting the United States soon, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for him to connect with some swingers in the cities that he would be visiting to make the trip more eventful!

Terrence said that since he may visit Spokane, he would like to get to know some single Spokane swingers. I told him that he besides Spokane swingers, he could also make plans with St Louis swingers just in case and with charlotte swingers for good measure unless he already has a fixed itinerary.

Terrence is impressed that it is so easy to connect with swingers around the country now. He told me that previously, the only way he could connect with swingers was through swingers clubs or friends’ introductions so the social circle was rather limited. This is what we call technology!

Expensive Genting Dinner

My friend and I reached Genting in the evening and after checking into a hotel decided to look for dinner. We didn't expect food to be cheap but still, we tried to keep within a low budget and decided on hawker fare instead of specialty cuisine.

This is what we had for our dinner. After selecting the dishes, we had to pay at the cashier. My friend and I nearly fainted as the bill came close to RM50! Without drinks, you know? We asked the girl to recalculate and she said that it is correct.

She said that we could refill rice and it's free but frankly, who could eat so much rice, right? I asked her why the food is so expensive and she replied that we are in Genting! Duh!!!

Eat Healthy, Eat Organic

I have a friend who tries to buy organic food for her family but I am quite skeptical because we don't know the farmer or the farm the produces are from so it's so difficult to trust the genuineness unless we know the source.

I read an article on National News Today on organic apples by Paul Madden and I feel that it is always better to by organic fruits directly from an organic farm.

Washington organic apples by Paul Madden make excellent gifts especially for health conscious people. They will certain appreciate the fact that these are farm direct organic apples!

Apples are the organic fruit of the month and if there needs a time to gift apples, this is the right time to do it! It's also a great way to introduce organic eating to friends and family.

Genting Highlands

Finally, I visited Genting! I must be the only person in the country who has not done so but it's no longer the case thanks to my friend who took the trouble to take me there for a visit, to open my eyes! Truly, my holiday has been pretty amazing and Genting is of course the highlight of it.

Man, I have never seen anything like that before. I am sure that whoever makes a day trip there is missing out on something because the night view is entirely different. You can't see anything outdoors but the lights indoors are awesome.

We only managed to stay for one night, unfortunately, because I had to return to Ipoh already. Even though I miss being in Genting just to soak up the atmosphere, I am glad that I came home because there is just so much work to do! Genting will always be there and I could always go again, right?

Now I understand why everyone is always talking about going to Genting and oh yeah, there is money to be made too at the casinos.

A Swinging Lifestyle

I just came back from a holiday in the capital city. I was there for nine days and the trip really opened up my eyes to many different things, especially the people. My friend introduced me to her friend, Ben, who is a swinger and this guy took us to various swinger clubs just for fun. Yes, we had fun even though we are not swingers.

I remember reading this website dedicated to swingers in the United States called Lifestyle Lounge and I know that it would be very helpful to Ben when he swings by the United States later in the year.

He told me that he has no idea yet what his itinerary will be like but it really doesn't matter, you know? This website has lists of swingers for every city, from what I could see. Ben could make contact with Rochester swingers or even Memphis swingers easily if he is going to any of these cities.

Or perhaps if he is going to Reno for a short holiday during his work trip, he could establish contact with Reno swingers before his trip.

With the help of technology and a very resourceful website like Lifestyle Lounge, it is not difficult to connect with swingers in the entire country! I am sure with this additional information, Ben would enjoy his trip to the United States more!