MOFEW Or Not

Now that my aunt is no longer around and we no longer have the responsibility of taking turns taking care of a sick family member, I am wondering if I should attend MOFEW which will start in two weeks' time in MidValley Megamall.

Somehow, with what have just happened, I just don't feel the enthusiasm, even though by then the electric train plying Ipoh - Kuala Lumpur would have been launched. Perhaps I am just tired when I think of spending one whole day away from home without a place to rest, and carrying my heavy bag around on my back. Perhaps I just don't feel like spending money after spending so much already buying this and that recently with my aunt sick, we all had to dig our savings to help her through.

Anyway, I will decide later. Let's see how much the fare for the electric train will be first. Perhaps I'll just be stingy and take the economy ride which is RM12.

Eyeing A Cruise

I have travelled so much this year and have had a holiday every month from February onwards. Naturally, I overspent and in fact, still owe my travel buddy some money since we split our bills and I have yet to pay her my share of it. I have vowed to stop travelling this second part of the year so as to save up some money for a longer holiday next year.

However, I am yearning for a trip again and after looking at the holiday packages offered by P & O Cruises, am thinking of going on a cruise holiday this time. After going on a few week-long road trips these past months, it's time for a change. I have never been on a cruise before so it would be an entirely new experience for me. It would be totally eye-opening for me, I bet. I have heard so much about cruises from friends I feel that I too should go on one. I wouldn't mind if it's just a short cruise nearby. It would still be a cruise holiday!

In any case, I could only start making plans later in the year. Perhaps I will treat myself to a cruise as a birthday gift in November. That would be awesome!

*** This post has been sponsored.

Blanking Out Death Is Like Blanking Out God

I know I am a little morbid over the past week. Well, I guess blogging is my form of therapy in dealing with death in the family. My aunt was a Roman Catholic and we gave her a funeral according to her religion.

During the morning service which the Rev. Father preceded over, he told us that to deny that death is part of life, to blank it out of our minds because it is too painful, is like denying the existence of God. How true. God is the almighty and if He says that one is to leave this world at a specific date and time, then there is nothing that one could do.

My aunt, as mentioned in an earlier post, was only 64 and we all wanted her to stay long enough to see her son graduate from university but she couldn't wait. Even though we KNOW that death is not something that we could avoid, we are still very sad when it happens. Sigh, we mere mortals are really useless, huh?

Camera Hire

My friend and I visited BroadcastAsia2010 in Singapore EXPO last month and I was very fascinated with the huge cameras. My friend tried out some of the video cameras and collected a stack of brochures as he would like to do some research online and then make his purchase.

Last week, he told me that he has changed his mind and he would not be buying any. To cut cost, he would just rent whatever equipment he needs. My friend runs a small broadcasting company, you see, and video camera hire is definitely more viable for a set up like his. He doesn't have to worry about anything since the cost is fixed already.

I also used camcorder hire before and I find it so convenient that I decided not to buy my own because it is just too difficult to catch up with technology. I just rent whatever I need, especially when I travel.

I first found out about camera hire from a friend who told me that he could have access to the best cameras and without forking out too much cash and then worry about taking care of his cameras. He also introduced canon lens hire to my friend when he found out that my friend is planning to fit his Canon camera with a more powerful lens. He said that it's not worth buying. And it’s true!

64 Is Too Young To Die

My aunt was only 64 years old when she died. She was still so young and had so many more years ahead of her if not for cancer. I tell you, cancer is killing everybody. Is it because of our diet? Is it because of our environment? An uncle told us that an old statistics show that one in four people in Malaysia suffer from cancer. That's such a high figure it's scary!

This old statistics was done in 2006, if I am not mistaken and is only on Peninsular Malaysia. These are only reported cases, you know, and if reading is inclusive of people living in East Malaysia, the figure would surely be way higher.

We are all still grieving over what happened and if we could have it any other way, we would not not have wanted this to happen. Life is strange. God giveth life and God taketh away.

TransUnion Alert

I am not sure if you have heard of this piece of news yet but credit reporting company, TransUnion, was said to have sold confidential credit information of customers to marketing companies. I don't really know much about this myself because I am not not directly affected nor do I know of anyone who is but there is an ongoing TransUnion Class Action Lawsuit, for your information, and everyone who is over the age of 28 who has had a credit file is owed money by the company.

According to law firm O’Hanlon, McCollom & Demerath, people who applied for credit in the United States between 1987 and 2000 are most likely owed money by TransUnion. To check and to receive a free consultation, do click on the link I have included in this post.

Everything Settled

Finally, after less than two days, my aunt is laid to rest this morning. Her body is laid to rest at the Roman Catholic cemetery where my grandmother, her mother is. It's a pity they are not side by side but on two ends of different rows.

Her son is heartbroken but what can we do but try our best to cope with the loss in whatever individual way we can? We try to blank out the sadness, the grief, and think of happier times. Death is a part of life and painful as it is, it should be a time to celebrate life, the life of the deceased.

Although none of my immediate family members are Roman Catholics, we joined the prayer groups that came to offer three rounds of prayers for the dearly departed. The hymns are very touching and brought tears to our eyes.

One thing though, it's heartening that the church members were all very helpful and treated us all "non-believers" very well, like family. In this time of sadness, we are comforted that everything went smoothly.

Public Liability Insurance

I have a friend who runs a restaurant and we were discussing about a case where a waiter of a popular restaurant accidentally poured hot soup onto a boy who went to dine at the restaurant with his family.

I was surprised when he told me that he does not have public liability insurance and should something like that happen in his restaurant, you know sometimes restaurant workers could be quite careless, he would be sued and whatever profits he has made through his business could be all gone just like that.

I am not sure if my friend realizes this but I am going to let him know about JustLiability, which caters to businesses that should have public liability insurance coverage and or even businesses that are in need of plumbers liability insurance.

I think that now that the court case is over for the restaurant owner, my friend would know that he can't delay getting public liability insurance to protect himself and his business should there be a claim made by a member of the public. People nowadays are very cunning and they may sometimes place blame on another person even if that's not the case! My friend really shouldn't procrastinate anymore. Besides, it's not expensive to get coverage!

*** This post has been sponsored.

3 Months & Gone

It is with sadness that I update on my blog here that my Aunt who was suffering from Stage IV lung cancer, has passed away this morning. She was staying at the Palliative Care Unit in Batu Gajah and was there for only less than 3 days in total, having been discharged from the Ipoh General Hospital.

Although my aunt started feeling ill three months ago and was diagnosed with lung cancer a month ago, and should have had ample time to tie up many loose ends, many issues were still left unsettled and there are a lot of things to take care of, still.

Although obviously we are all sad that she has left us, I think we heave a silent sigh of relieve that she didn't suffer as much as other cancer patients. All in all, it was just three months of suffering. May she rest in peace.

Jewelry Box

As you know, my aunt is in very bad shape now and sad to say, she is like just waiting for "time". Although we are all mentally prepared for it already, it is still hard to come to terms with it. My aunt has already wrapped up a lot of her personal things and has passed us a box of jewelry which she says is her family heirloom for safekeeping to be passed to her son upon her demise.

We don't know what's in her jewelry box but we do know that she liked to buy gold bullion whenever she could spare some cash so perhaps these are all in the jewelry box as it's quite heavy.

Just now I visited my aunt at the Palliative Care Unit and she was asking for her jewelry box. I had to reassure her that we are keeping it well and told her not to worry. It's sad to see the physical condition she is in but her mental state of mind is still so alert. Life!

Batu Gajah Palliative Care Centre

My aunt, who is suffering from Stage IV lung cancer, has been transferred to the new Batu Gajah Palliative Care Centre after being discharged from the Ipoh General Hospital. While it would mean a 30-minute drive for us to visit her, at least we know that she is in safe hands and has medical attention 24 hours a day.

According to folks there, this is a new building and currently, there are only five patients staying there, including my aunt. Every patient has a room to him or herself and it's air-conditioned. At least, these people, living out the last stage of life, are living in comfort.

Her doctors have said that she only has "months" to live, so we are all trying to do our best to meet her demands and do make her as comfortable as possible. I sometimes wonder if she knows if she has only such a short time left in this world....

Youth Baseball Teams

A friend told me that he has an idea to form two youth baseball teams in our neighborhood. I think it's an excellent idea since he was a baseball coach himself and would know how to go about coaching the kids. These neighborhood kids may not turn out to be professionals but playing baseball with friends could be an excellent recreational activity too. At least, a game every week would help them get some exercise outdoors away from the TV!

I offered to help out my friend in his quest, after all, I love involving myself in community work. The first thing to do is to look for cheap baseball equipment. I don't really know what to buy but my friend has given me a shopping list and I have to return the price list to him.

I have seen the prices of baseball equipment and uniform sets on the website of Kid Sports Inc. and they look very reasonable, even though I may be unfamiliar with the products that are sold but I am sure my friend would know and would agree with me.

In any case, I am happy that I am able to pick up all the necessary items from Kid Sports Inc. which means that I don't have to run around making purchases from various stores. That saves me a lot of time.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Extra RM5 Petrol For My Toy Car

I just calculated that based on last month's fuel consumption, I need to fork out approximately RM5 for the same amount of petrol but which is more expensive now by 5 sen per litre. RM5 is almost negligible but then how many more RM5 am I expected to pay if subsidy was reduced over this coming five years?

Also, I am not the only driver of the car as I share it with the family BUT I am the only one who is fueling it. It's not fair but then has life ever been fair? I don't mind, really, except that I not only have to bear the cost of fuel but also of maintenance.

Anyway, I am hoping that the next subsidy cut, or price increase if you like, will not be happening so soon. Let us digest this round of increment first, and adjust our budget accordingly, and to cut off any excesses again if there is anymore to be cut!

50th Golden Wedding Anniversary

My friend told me that his parents are going to celebrate their 50th golden wedding anniversary and asked me if I have any ideas on what to get them. I have no idea, actually, because I have never attended such a celebration before. However, I think that it would be very meaningful if their children and grandchildren could pool their funds and buy them 50 commemorative gold coins! That would be very significant.

My friend was a little hesitant thinking that it would cost a lot of money but I think that they should think of the gold coins as an investment or even better, family heirloom, as I am sure the coins would eventually be passed down to the descendants later.

If your grandparents or parents have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary before, do you think my idea is good enough or do you have a better gift idea?

Getting By With Basics Only

I am sure no one is happy with the abrupt overnight increase in prices for the five essential items of our daily lives. Whether you want to call it a price increase or subsidy cut or price rationalisation, it still means that we will have to fork out even more money than ever for the basics.

Yeah, of course the G is going to say that we still have the lowest prices in the region, but who cares, really? The thing we do care about is that we are hardly able to survive with the money that we earn versus our expenses and we are not even living in luxury at all.

Air-cond? No. Astro? No. So what else can we cut? Nothing really, since we are already living with the basics only. I know that no matter how high we jump now from the effects of this subsidy cut this is only the first round of many more cuts to come over the next five years IF BN still continues to administer the country. No matter what we say now, it will fall on deaf ears.

So what can we, the rakyat, do? I guess we will just have to put our heads down and work even harder than ever to cover the additional expenses. And who is that smart aleck who still wants to implement GST?

Investing In Autographed Memorabilia

My friend told me that he has spent too much money lately, and of all things, on sports memorabilia. Actually, I do understand why someone would willingly spend so much money on sports memorabilia, especially autographed sports memorabilia because I am a collector myself, though not of sports memorabilia.

I think my friend could have overspent on his autographed baseballs and golf balls because he usually buys his memorabilia through auction websites. I am sure we all know how high prices could go up in auctions like these especially in the closing minutes.

I told my friend that he should just go and take his pick of autographed memorabilia from Hollywood Collectibles where he would be able to buy at really reasonable prices and most importantly, knowing that what he is buying is authentic.

My friend says that he is going to look for autographed Tiger Woods photos. I thought that nobody wants Tiger Woods memorabilia anymore due to his very public scandal last month but my friend says that that's his personal problem and has nothing to do with his skills in golf. My friend still believes that Tiger Woods memorabilia will make a good investment for the future.

Anyway, as a collector myself, I think I should start looking at sports memorabilia too. I may not have any experience but I don't believe I will have problems if I were to only buy from reputable dealers.

Dry Shampoo

If you have been following my blog, you would know that my aunt is suffering from Stage IV lung cancer at the moment. Sad to say, she is bedridden now. Although we were never close, in fact, I am not close to any of my relatives, I am still very much affected by what she is going through. It's never a nice feeling seeing someone in a bad medical condition like that. I wonder how anyone could make a career out of nursing, especially those involved in palliative care where we know that these people are already at the end stage of life.

The saddest thing is that mentally, my aunt is still very alert that's why it's very difficult for her to accept her physical state. She can't move like she used to and it reminds me of the sorry state that Snoopy was in. He totally didn't understand why his legs just wouldn't move. I didn't understand either. Just thinking about his struggles still brings tears to my eyes.

Anyway, I was looking for dry shampoo for my aunt last evening. Watson doesn't carry it but Guardian does. A medium sized tube is selling at RM18 or so only. I was surprised that it's quite affordable. In the end, I didn't buy it because it is in powder form and may not be suitable for my aunt's use in case she inhales it and distresses the condition of her lungs. I wonder if there is dry shampoo in other forms.

Cheaper Contact Lens

We are all still reeling from the abrupt overnight 5-in-1 price increase in daily essentials from fuel to gas to sugar. My friend says that it couldn't have come at a "better" time. She said that she had planned to start wearing contact lens and do away with the glasses but now she is not sure that she should make the change now.

I know that all of us are trying not to spend but in her case, changing to contact lens could save her some money in the long run as wearing glasses could be costly too due to changes in style and wear and tear. In fact, I think that she would be able to get a good discount by buying 1-Day Acuvue Moist 20 and 90 packs through PriceContactLenses.com thanks to their special rebate.

Acuvue is a leading brand name in contact lens which uses special advanced technology with an extensive range of contact lens products to meet the needs of users. Quite a few of my friends are using acuvue oasys contacts and they tell me that they have never looked back since. Some even wondered what took them so long to adopt contact lenses!

Besides acuvue oasys, Acuvue has lens that provide protection against harmful UV rays, lens for people with Astigmatism or Presbyopia and lens with visibility tint and other colors for those who want to look more striking.

Booked A Cab

I booked a cab for the trip to take my mother to the Selayang Hospital next week which will take us from where our express coach stops to the hospital. My mother's appointment is so darn early, we have to leave the house at 4.30am latest. Taking public transport is not easy and there's time wasted waiting between stops or rides.

Anyway, the cab driver is someone I know and he uses the meter so it's quite safe to book him. If not, I wouldn't dare take any cab hailed by the rod side, seriously. Even so, he is charging about RM20 for the ride, inclusive of toll and RM2 surcharge for early booking. It's not expensive, though more expensive than coming from Ipoh to Kl by express coach!

Just thinking about the traveling, I am tired already. It's not so much time number of hours on the road but the time we have to start our journey, at the ungodly hour of 4.30am from home and the weight on my back as I would have to take my laptop along to try to get some work done while waiting for my mother at the hospital.

Business Expansion

My friend has invited me to her the soft launch of her new store in a shopping complex. I am so happy for her that she has realized her dream of running a brick-n-mortar retail store after being in online retail for the past two years. She told me that finally, NOW, she feels like a businesswoman. LOL

I can see that my friend has invested quite a lot of money on her store from stocks to display shelves to barcode scanners but she is so happy now, I am sure her enthusiasm will see her through the rough patch in the beginning of business as is expected to happen to any new business.

Luckily she has a large network of friends and everyone willingly helps her out in realizing her dream. I will be helping her out with promotions and of course, making purchases from her store often to show support! That’s what friends are for!

To Selayang Hospital

I will be accompanying my mother to the Selayang Hospital next week. Just when I thought that I don't want to travel anymore for the next six months because I don't want to spend after splashing on the car and repairing it, after going on long trips to Sungai Petani, Genting Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Port Dickson, Johor Bahru and even Singapore, I really should put a brake on my expenses.

Anyway, yesterday, my mom came home from the hospital saying that the medical report shows that her pancreas has thickened and that she has been referred to the Selayang Government Hospital for CT scan as the one in Ipoh General Hospital is not large enough or something like that.

Haiiii... I hate it that I would have to spend money again. What about Slash?? What about MOFEW?? And then my father's birthday falls in August too! Money not enough!

Avoiding Home Remedies

My friend was aghast at the huge acne I am currently sporting on my chin. I know, it's horrible but every time I come home from a long holiday, I am sick and with a face full of spots. I don't really know why. Perhaps it's because I don't have enough water to drink or perhaps it's the air-cond rooms that I sleep in.

Anyway, my friend, who is an advocate of home remedies, told me to put a drop of toothpaste on it. I checked online to see if it works and apparently, while it may work, some toothpaste may be too strong and would actually burn the acne instead or soothing it!

I think I will stick to my usual acne cleanser instead of going for home remedies. It's not as if I can't live with a zit or two or that no acne cleanser works for me, right?

Free Android Apps

My friend, T, is raving about the wealth of free Android apps that he could download and install on his spanking new Samsung Galaxy S. One of the amazing things it could do is that it can scan barcodes and it can do price comparisons for online shoppers. It can also scan a barcode and then search for the product online for download and this comes in exceptionally convenient for products like games, software, media and ebooks.

He can't tell how good it is yet in practice or if it's as good as a Symbol LS2208 real barcode scanner but we are planning to try it out later in the month when we go window shopping together.

Of course, we wouldn't be downloading everything that his Android suggests. I wouldn't want to incur extra charges for software and other stuff that perhaps are available for free, though it may require some time to search.

Subway Sandwiches

When I was in KL last month, my friend took me to a Subway Sandwiches and Salad outlet in Kota Damansara for breakfast. I have never had Subway sandwiches before because it's not available in Ipoh yet so he thought he would introduce it to me, plus he was looking for healthy food, anyway.

I thought that the sandwich that he ordered for me was very large. I don't remember how much it was anymore but it was more than RM10 each, if not mistaken. I have a friend who is based overseas who told me that the filings in Malaysian Subway sandwiches seem to be less than what he gets overseas. Is this true?

Anyway, even if Subway is here in Ipoh, I also wouldn't patronize because it's just too expensive for breakfast. My friend and I both agree that the sandwiches are large enough for lunch or dinner, though, but still RM10+ for a meal is not what I would be comfortable with. I'm just conditioned stingy!

Wall Hung Toilets

My mother told me that the toilet bowl in our house needs to be replaced. I had wanted to replace it quite awhile already but didn't get around to doing it yet because I don't really want to spend money at this point. However, I plan to make the home more friendly for the elderly since my parents are getting on in age already.

I am planning to get wall hung toilets, not because they are cheaper than conventional toilets but because they look very neat and compact. I really like them because they look very space-saving and make the room appear larger and more spacious too.

Better Bathrooms offer an excellent choice of toilets of various designs to meet the requirements of different homeowners and of course, they do have a good selection of wall hung toilets too. The cheapest wall hung toilet they have is sold at £170.95 inclusive of VAT, and that's about £50 cheaper than retail price.

I haven't made a final decision yet on which one to get. There are so many designs, I get pretty confused. Besides, I'd have to get my parents' opinion and approval too. After all, this is their house and I currently, because of my traveling, I live in hotels and friends' houses more than I live at home!

*** This post has been sponsored.

The Driver and The Passenger

I was telling my dad that I still don't get the hang of driving. Even though I did pass my driving test, it was such a long time ago and I didn't drive soon after because I didn't have my own car. Of course, I was allowed to use the family car but it is too big and I am not comfortable driving it.

My dad said that everyone's car is the same; the difference is in manual and automatic gear, and that everyone drives using the same principle. he doesn't understand why I am not enjoying myself. How could I when there are so many things to take care of on the road? LOL

In life, there are two kinds of people; the driver and the passenger. I guess I am the passenger, and I am not only talking about cars and driving. I'm applying this to every day things and decisions. I prefer others whom I trust to steer for me.

Toilet Seats & Bathroom Accessories

When I went to the capital city last month at the beginning of my week-long holiday, my friend took me to a home DIY warehouse as he wanted to pick up some items. Although the warehouse was said to be one of the largest, I found that they don't have a very huge selection of items. My friend, who wanted to buy some accessories for his bathroom, left empty-handed as he couldn't find what he wanted.

I came across this website, Better Bathrooms, awhile ago which I think my friend should have a look. I am sure that with the vast selection of toilet seats, baths, taps, showers and everything, big or small, that are found in a bathroom, my friend would be able to find what he wants and be happy with his purchase.

I am quite surprised to see that there are so many different shapes of toilet seats. And they are inexpensive too; the cheapest going for only £10.95, inclusive of VAT. That's a lot cheaper than retail price!

My friend had wondered if he would be able to replace his own toilet seats or if he would have to call in a plumber. I think he would have no problems doing it. If my dad could do it, so could he.

*** This post has been sponsored.

I Wanna See Slash In Concert

If you love rock, if you love guitar riffs, if you love Guns N' Roses in particular, Slash needs no introduction. I really wanna go see him but I wonder if I should. I feel so guilty if I were to go, not only because I would be spending money, but because I would be enjoying myself while the family is facing the death of my youngest aunt who is suffering from Stage IV lung cancer.

Slash will be stopping by Malaysia at Sunway Lagoon on 5th August, 2010, as part of his Asian Tour and his concert will be opened by Amy of Search. The cheapest ticket is RM93; not cheap by my standards but cheap by HIS standards since he is a mega artist.

Argh... dilemma again. And then what about MOFEW? I think I have to forgo it but I don't know if I should. That would mean two trips down to KL in the month of August alone. How?

For The Love Of Hummingbirds

I am an animal lover but I have to say the love is only for a handful of animals so I was quite surprised to discover that there is quite a sizable community of hummingbird lovers. A bird is a bird to me. I may admire their vibrant colors but it's best that they stay as far away from me as possible. You know, I was visiting KL Bird Park a few months ago and the only thing on my mind was that I should have brought along an umbrella or a hat. Yes, I was that afraid of bird droppings on my head. That would be extremely bad luck. LOL

If you love birds, though, hummingbirds in particular, you should head over to hummingbirdcode, a blog especially for hummingbird lovers to converge to share thoughts, insights and ideas about the bird and a central platform where photos and videos of the birds could also be shared. Of course, this would have to pass the approval of the administrators first.

If you have questions about hummingbirds or just would like someone of mutual interest to chat with, you can always access one of the online communications expert. The best part is that you can chat in any of these languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese and Japanese!

*** This post has been sponsored.

All Hail Paul the Octopus

Whether you are a believer or a detractor of Paul the Octopus, you really need to give it to it that it has gotten all eight predictions right in the just concluded FIFA World Cup 2010. Paul the Octopus lives in an aquarium at Sea Life Oberhausen, Germany and has not gotten a prediction wrongly since the 2008 European final.

While Thailand's Panda bear also predicted that Spain would win the World Cup final, that was more towards the fun side of it. This winning streak by Paul the Octopus is a little unnerving, don't you think so?

I read in news reports that this would probably be Paul's last prediction as he is already "2.5 years old. The average lifespan of an octopus is about three years". Strangely, my German friend told me that in 2006, Paul the Octopus made a wrong prediction that Germany would proceed to the semi-finals. Paul the Octopus was actually born in England in 2006. So, some media had their facts wrongly. Or are they writing in terms of "octopus" years?

Picking Up Cosmetology

A friend's sister is graduating from college in a few months' time. My friend says that just when thought that the family could finally heave a sigh of relief that the youngest in the family is out of college and going to start earning her own money, she drops the bomb that she has changed her mind about what she wants to do and she plans to pick up cosmetology.

The family is not happy about it, of course, since they have no idea what that is all about and they wanted to know if this is a spur of the moment decision or if she is just following her friends. I wonder how they will react if she told them she plans to study at the Jacksonville Cosmetology School! LOL

I told my friend that since she is still young, the family really should allow her some freedom of choice even if it means spending more money on her education but then what to do, perhaps now only has she found her calling?

Autumn's Concerto [2009 TW Drama]

This drama was recommended by a friend in January this year. It's a Taiwanese drama that stars Vanness Wu of F4 fame and new actress, Ady An. According to my friend, not only is the plot different, the way the drama was directed and shot was different too. Of course I was interested but I just couldn't really find time to watch it.

I started watching Autumn's Concerto sometime in early June but although I have to admit that the way the drama was captured was refreshing and the storyline is slightly different from regular lovey dovey dramas, I somehow am not as captivated with the drama as I usually could be. Could it be because the drama is in Mandarin and I have to depend on English subtitles to understand what goes on? Can't be since I do enjoy watching other foreign language dramas and movies without a problem.

Anyway, whilst midway following this drama, I took a break for my week-long holiday down South in mid-June and hardly found the enthusiasm to pick it up again when I returned. Perhaps there is much work to catch up on after the long break but then if I really liked a drama, do you think anything would stop me from watching dramas till the wee hours of the morning?

This is not to say that Autumn's Concerto doesn't pull at my heart strings. It does and some of the scenes moved me to tears but I don't know why after weeks of starting the drama, I am still at episode 9 only. Slow, huh? *yawn*

Bad Co-ordination & Poor Judgment

Yep, that's what my father says about my driving, which unfortunately, is true. I should have bought a car with automatic gear but my father advised against it saying that manual cars are easier to control in certain situations like wet roads or slope or something like that.

Perhaps I am just too dumb to drive, though I cannot understand why even people who are slightly handicapped and those who are left-handed, can still drive manual gear cars without complaints.

It's not that I totally can't drive. It's just that I'm very rough around the edges. My friend told me to look for a wide open ground to practice my co-ordination before I get on the road because there would be too many distractions. And since I only get to drive at night, he said that I should drive in broad daylight. I do find driving at night more intimidating.

Sometimes, I will tell me father that me driving the car is like him not know how to send text messages on his mobile phone. He knows know the steps but he is not quick with it. He's not competent and hardly comfortable. I think having an automatic car would help matters since I have one less thing to care about, just like he believes that a mobile phone with QWERTY keyboard would be easier for him to send out text messages.

Gold & Silver Coins

As you know, my aunt is very ill right now. A couple of days ago, a cousin of mine came to visit her and he brought a long a check of $20,000. The money is meant for the son's education and whatever money that my aunt will need to spend on her sick bed.

My younger cousin, who received the check on his mother's behalf, asked if he could buy gold coins with part of the money. It's like safe deposit, he says, since he doesn't need so much money as his education will span over another 1.5 years.

I don't know if that's what he should do but I guess if his mother, though sick but mentally still exceptionally alert, has no objections then he can do what he thinks is best with the money. He's after all, an adult already.

Too Much Time Spent On The Road

I realized that when I was visiting Johor and Singapore last month, I was actually spending way too much time travelling in vehicles than visiting places. I spent the better part of the day in cars, buses and MRTs!

My mother was afraid that I would wear out my problem knee but in fact, she didn't know that I didn't have much chance to walk! I did spend a considerable amount of time sitting or standing though, waiting for my transport. LOL In a way, it's good that I get to see many places that I wouldn't be able to see if I had taken a flight directly from Ipoh to Singapore. I would only be seeing the sky. In a way, I have to admit that I wouldn't be able to make this trip alone now that I know what I had to go through waiting for my buses and such.

My last trip was almost a month ago and even though I would so like to get away again, I have to put everything on hold as my aunt is very ill now.

Toy Car

My brother says that my newly bought used car is like a toy car. Well, what to do, that's only what I could afford at this point. My father says that I am already complaining that I spent $3,000 on the repair bill and yet I have a dream to own a motor home. Do I know how much more expensive motor home repairs are compared to a small family car?

Well, we can have our dreams, can't we? No matter what I still harbor hopes that I could go around the world, or maybe just part of it, in my own small motor home. That would be an awesome traveling experience and totally eye-opening. I just hope that by the time I could afford it, there will be someone willing to go with me on such a trip!

Dripping Tap

I went to aunt's house last evening and after helping to wash some dishes, had a hard time stopping the tap from dripping. You know, sometimes there is a trick that only the household would know about. LOL Since I don't live there and my cousin is in college while my uncle has gone to accompany my aunt at the hospital, I couldn't just leave the tap dripping, could I? The family would have a shock at the end of this month when the bill comes!

I think I will buy them a Moen kitchen faucet and ask my father to help them change it. Even though my uncle and aunt rent the house, I think it would not be a huge loss if they replaced the faucet. And anyway, I would be the one buying it as a gift. Dripping taps are not only a waste of water and money, the sound of dripping water is extremely irritating too.

Samsung Galaxy S

My friend and his best friend both recently bought a new mobile phone, the Samsung Galaxy S. My friend is so happy with the handphone that he has been talking about it nonstop since the night he bought it.

From the screenshots that he sent to me to have a look, and I can see that it is almost similar to Apple iPhone. I use the iPhone and the functions are almost the same too from widgets to threaded conversation in text messaging.

The only difference is the Swype typing where users can trace letters to form words on the touch screen keypad instead of poking one letter at a time like a normal touch screen keypad. My friend says that needs some getting used to but once the phone recognizes the words that the user normally types, it will be easier to use.

Anyway, I will see if he still likes the phone after one year but then he says that by then, he has already upgraded to a new mobile phone. Sigh!! Men and their toys!!

Helping Out

My aunt was warded at UH for almost a month. She returned to Ipoh for a couple of days and because of her condition, had to be admitted to the Ipoh General Hospital. She has been there for a couple of days already.

I am planning to help my uncle out today with some housework and shopping for groceries and stuff that every household needs like refrigerator filters, washing detergent and also help him with paying the bills. At this time, this is what we help what we could.

My eldest uncle, my aunt's eldest brother, came from KL today to visit my aunt. The hospital is very strict with visitors so even family members have to follow strict visiting hours. Anyway, right now, we have no idea when my aunt will be discharged. She is so ill, we are taking one hour at a time.

Two Missed Chances

When I was in Kuala Lumpur for two times earlier this year, I regret not having the chance both times to meet with my good friend, Henry. I called his secretary the first time and she told me that Henry was on an outstation trip to procure industrial products, which he normally does once a month. Oh, what awful timing.

The second trip I was there for only a short while since I was proceeding to Johor and then Singapore later that day already but Henry was at church, so we couldn't meet up for a drink yet again. Henry accuses that I only let him know at the last minute. LOL What to do? I had to depend on friends for transport too!

I hope that the next time I am in Kuala Lumpur, I would get to see him. It has been such a long time already!

Universal Studios Theme Park Singapore

I went to Singapore last month and although I didn't have the chance to enter Universal Studios theme park because I was too cheap to buy a ticket, I managed to capture a photo of this Universal Studios globe that is recognised around the world. Cool, huh?

Although I had planned to visit Universal Studios and in fact, planned to go to Singapore only after the theme park has opened its doors for business, it is regrettable that after buying the car, I no longer felt that I am comfortable forking about more than a hundred bucks just to go and have a look inside the theme park. I joke with a friend that I will wait till I am a senior citizen first and then I'll go!

But anyway, I still managed to reach the doorstep of the Studios. LOL and I had the pictures I need for my blog. That's more important, right?

Cold Turkey

A good friend of mine sent me a text message telling me that he has successfully stopped smoking for a year! I think he has stopped for good if he could stay away from cigarettes for a year despite all the temptations from friends who are smokers.

My friend went cold turkey which is one of the most effective ways. According to him, some had to rely on patches or electric cigarettes but he found that the best way for him was just to strengthen his willpower and then throw all his ciggies away.

Whenever I come across friends who are smokers, I would advise them to quit. Now, with my aunt dying of lung cancer even though she isn't a smoker and never did, though her husband was a smoker last time and he also quit, I will continue to spread the message that they shouldn't introduce toxic to their own bodies!

Terminal Illness

My aunt is terminally ill, so much so that she couldn't be helped medically anymore. Right now, she has been admitted to the Ipoh General Hospital because her lung keeps being flooded by bloody fluid.

My father took the letter that was written by her doctor in UH to the doctor in Ipoh GH for his physician to read and according to this Ipoh physician, my aunt's case is very serious and there are two strains of cancer in her lungs.

We don't know what cancer this is; could be Mesothelioma or caused by second hand smoke. The disease could have been in her body a long time already, or it could have been there only recently and it developed too quickly. Whatever it is, whether we accept it or not, we still have to face it. It certainly is not easy to look at death in the face, not for the family, and particularly not for the patient herself.

Stage 4 Lung Cancer

My aunt is back home in Ipoh after she discharged herself from University Hospital on her own accord. Her husband and son drove her home and we went over to their house to meet them and help them out.

According to my uncle, my aunt has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and the doctor told him that she only has a few months to live. My aunt, unfortunately, has lost the will to live, from what we observed. It's understandable. She must be in terrible pain.

My aunt's first chemotherapy session will be on 14th July, a long way off, and even so, the doctor has only prescribed her with 50% of normal dosage. This is not a cure but only a way to prevent cancer from spreading further and to bring her comfort.

The doctor has told my uncle, her husband, to make my aunt as comfortable as possible these coming months. Of course we are all trying to do our best and to cope as best we could in our own ways but still, even though we are trying to come to terms with reality, it is extremely depressing.

If you are reading this, I hope you will keep my Aunt Julie in your prayers.

Reducing Water Bill

As the person who has to settle the monthly household bills, I am always looking out ways to reduce our usage of water, electricity and telephone. I find myself being frustrated when other family leave the tap running when I am trying my best to save water. Moreover, because of my parents' age, they tend to be forgetful and sometimes leave the light on even when they are no longer using it.

When my mother told me that there is something wrong with the toilet and it needs repair, I took the chance to tell her that when the plumber comes, instead of just toilet repair, we should also ask him to install the dual flush conversion kit.

My mother has not heard of dual flush toilets before as she is not familiar with eco living trends. However, when I told her that it would save water, hence reducing our water bill and saving money, she was convinced.

Actually, I had wanted a dual flush toilet for a long time but I just hadn't the chance to convert it. As you know, I have been traveling so much these few months, I didn't spend too much time at home. I am glad the opportunity came up now.

Pussy Cat In Tune Hotel Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya

As you know, the first stop of my one week holiday in mid-June was Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. I put up at Tune Hotel for one night before proceeding to Johor Bahru and then Singapore. As you know, coming from Ipoh, it's a long road travel down to Singapore but it's a good experience and I do get to see way more things than just flying direct to Singapore.

When I was exploring Tune Hotels.com, Kota Damansara, I had a shock finding this cat by the window of one of the rooms. How could anyone bring a cat along to a hotel? Just because the hotel is new, is not yet fully occupied or is cheaper than other hotels, doesn't mean that one could bring a pet along.

As you know, I am a pet lover myself and I have nothing against cats but I think it's totally irresponsible for the owner to bring a cat along and letting it free in the room. I too had pets and I do know how it is not possible to travel without making arrangements for someone to care for the pets but then taking it along into the hotel room and roaming freely like this is not the way. Don't you agree?

Extended Laptop Warranty

My friend wanted to buy a new laptop but I told her that she has to find out how many years of warranty she is given. Most will give one year warranty only but then a few of my friends had the unpleasant experience of having one component or another breaking down on them just slightly one year past.

I advised my friend that if the laptop only comes with 12 months warranty, she better extend her laptop warranty by another 24 months. I know she would have to pay extra for that but then it's better to be faced with hardware problems from the 13th month onwards.

As you know, repairing laptop is extremely costly. Even if the technician just opens it up to check, irrespective if you are going to replace the parts, they would still charge exorbitant service fee!

Hire Purchase New Furniture

I am thinking of buying a new sofa set for the house. It has been years since we changed our sofa set and previously, it was not a priority because with the dogs, furniture wouldn't last long. I noticed that we could now buy furniture without having to pay for it 100%. I know that Courts offered this hire purchase plan years ago but then now almost all modern furniture stores are offering the same too.

Besides new furniture for the living room, I also would like to makeover my room. However, I don't know if I should since I am dying to move out to my own home. I am planning to buy my own home but I don't know when. With my aunt so sick and a new responsibility to see my cousin through college, I don't think I even have enough to put down payment for a a new house now.

Getting Paid Just Sitting Down

When I was in Singapore visiting the exhibitions in Singapore EXPO, there was this exhibitor who was there to promote LED lights that people use for filming or shooting. This model was sitting there with lights shining down on her.

My friend and I busybody chatted with her and asked her if she gets paid to model like this. She said she is paid, though she didn't disclose how much. She didn't even have to do anything, didn't have to pose in a specific way. As far as I could tell, she wasn't even obliged to smile. And she could even use her mobile phone occasionally. All she had to do was sit at the table. LOL

See, it's true that if one is born with looks, or has the money to invest in plastic surgery, money would almost automatically fall onto his or her lap!

Entertaining Guests In The Garden

My mother told me that we should do something with our garden. She said that since we have such a spacious lawn, we may as well make the best use of the space. She said that if we could have a few patio chairs and a table, she would be able to entertain guests in the garden without having them come into the house, which could sometimes be rather messy and she feels embarrassed about that.

I had thought of that before too but I don't know if it's too extravagant since we hardly have guests over, unless it's during Chinese New Year and Christmas. Other times, everyone would be busy with their own lives and there is no time for visiting. In fact, most of our relatives and friends aren't even in Ipoh.

Well, I think that even if we do create something out of the lawn, I would only do so closer to Chinese New Year and there is still plenty of time before then!

Extra Large Screen

My friend told me that he is planning to teach his mother to operate the computer. She is almost 80 years old already but still has a very keen mind. She knows how to use the mobile phone too but only to make and receive calls but she is very clever to jot down the steps every time she is taught to use something new.

My friend plans to buy a large monitor to help her out but then I cautioned that if the screen is too large, he would require tv stands to support it. It wouldn't be feasible too to sit so near the monitor.

My friend may just buy her an iPad because it is easier to use but then she would not be able to learn the computer. I wanted to tell him that he can't expect her to learn everything when she is already almost 80 years old but I reserved my comments. Age is always a sensitive issue!

Malaysia Pavilion @ CommunicAsia 2010, Singapore EXPO

Well, in April when I was planning my trip to Singapore, my friend and I planned to visit CommunicAsia 2010 at the Singapore EXPO. We finally did, on the first day of our 3-day down to Singapore. Going to Singapore EXPO, we travelled half a day from Johor Bahru to almost the end of the MRT line! Singapore EXPO is just a short walk from the MRT station that is second last on the line. The last is Changi.

Though I was not very keen to attend a technology expo, I am happy to be able to attend it nevertheless because it is one of the largest in the region and I was blown away by the sheer size of it and the number of international exhibitors.

My friend, who is friends with the organizer of the Malaysia Pavilion, managed to get me the 1Malaysia goodie bag. Hehe.. seems like the main reason I was there was just to get hold of as many freebies as possible. All in all, it was an awesome experience for me to visit Singapore EXPO. I came away from the exhibitions feeling enriched.

Putting My Plans On Hold Yet Again

I am very upset that it looks like my plan to obtain an online bachelor degree would have to be put on hold because I have to support my cousin through college. I think that it's very unfair that the family expects it of me but what could I do? My cousin's mother, this aunt who is suffering from cancer, helped us tremendously financially last time so I guess I would have to repay my father's debt towards that family.

So once again, my life is going to take a back seat. I blame my own soft heart for being bullied into something that I am not willing to do. How am I going to move forward when I have external forces like these dragging me down? I do wish to upgrade myself since I only have SPM to show and even though I will not be making use of my degree if I don't seek employment, if there's someone willing to employ me, I would still feel better about myself. I know I could do it, I too could hold a degree like all my friends and I am not "stupid" just because I don't have one.

SIGH... it's all about money. Why doesn't my cousin get a job to support his studies? Why doesn't his own sister support him but just flicks off her responsibility by claiming that she wouldn't because he's not her son?

Reducing FOREX Loss

As you know, our USD in PayPal is not getting us as much Ringgit as it used to. While I continue to withdraw it to my local bank account because I prefer to keep cash, a friend told me that to reduce FOREX losses, she is planning to buy gold online directly with funds in PayPal.

I think that she is very smart to be able to kill two birds with one stone. She would be able to cut FOREX losses and at the same time, she is investing in gold; a long term investment. Even with prices already high, there is still room for growth. Gold is one of the more stable commodities, as you can see if you have been keeping track of its world price.

It's too bad that I need the cash or I would follow suit. If you have read one of my previous posts, you would know that starting from June, I have to support my cousin through college. Bah!

Hospice & Palliative Care In Ipoh, Perak

My aunt, who is suffering from cancer, I have no idea what stage as it is too sensitive to ask, is currently seeking medical treatment in University Hospital in Petaling Jaya. She has been warded for many weeks now. According to my uncle, who is my aunt's eldest brother, my aunt has to be on medication that costs RM500 per bottle and she has to be administered with one bottle daily.

The thing is, the doctors are going to discharge her soon, we have no idea why since she is so, so weak, she couldn't even get out from the bed by herself. Perhaps she no longer response to medical treatment, perhaps they are washing their hands off her. In any case, they want her out, though my aunt is appealing against their decision, but if she is discharged, my aunt would need hospice or palliative care when she is home in Ipoh.

The problem is that my aunt is a government pensioner and although she qualifies for free health care, there is no "free" palliative care for patients like her. When she comes home, there would be so much more expenses to incur. Headache.

Not Enough Exercise

It is weird that every time I am on holiday, and for more than a week, I spend a lot of time walking. That's because I have to be on foot to take photos of the things I see. Like the time I walked along Jonker Street in Melaka and the fishing village of Kukup. I even walked all 6 floors of Suria KLCC the first time I visited the landmark!

Despite all these exercise, I am still carrying a spare tire with me. Perhaps the fat is not so easy to remove by just walking. Perhaps I would need to do 100 sit ups every day but I am so lazy. I have a mind to just pop some diet pills daily and keep my fingers crossed that the fat would be gone in a week or two.

A friend told me that all girls have "tummy" and there is nothing to be shy about but mine seems to have grew bigger. It's worrisome. Should I buy a treadmill?

Going Back To Law

I received an email from an old friend, though we had failed to keep in touch for years due to our own busy lives, who told me that she would be moving to Texas at the end of the year. This friend, I remember her as someone who is very argumentative. Even her best friend tries to avoid taking her along to social gatherings because she would end up in a heated argument with a guest or other. LOL

Anyway, we were saying how apt it was that she studied law though she did not practice it. Yet, she continues to be extremely opinionated! In the email, she says that she may become a Texas Maritime lawyer but she will have to see if there is a firm who wants her. I am sure she will easily talk her way into a job!

Supporting My Cousin's Studies

About 1.5 years ago, I called up a psychic in the United States who asked if I was supporting a younger family member through his or her education and I said I wasn't. I also wondered whom I could support since I am youngest in my family and one of the youngest among my cousins.

Well, the thing is that my own is now very sick and his son still needs another 1.5 years to graduate. My father has asked me to send him RM700 a month to support him but how could I? It's not that I don't make so much money. Supporting him, what else do I have left? I too need to upgrade myself, right?

And it's not that I want to help but I don't think I have any choice. My aunt, his mother, has helped us so much for so many years financially, and in fact, my father still owes her money so I really cannot do anything but to help my father.

I'm very sad because it seems like I am always being made use of, always the one who have to help someone but then who is helping me?

Getting My Own Digital Camera

I have been traveling so much these past few months, from Sg. Petani in Kedah to Sentosa Island in Singapore that I think I should at least get my own digital camera but then, I have been so pampered with high end digital cameras that the friends that I travel with owns that I don't have to worry about carrying an expensive camera around.

I think that when I do get my own camera, I wouldn't be satisfied with a basic model and would want something that I am already happy to use, like Panasonic DMC-LX3 or Olympus PEN E-PL1, which cost so much! Seriously, I can't afford to buy either one but they are so good!

But then again, I can't always be traveling with others. I do hope that I would be able to and brave enough to venture out on my own one day. That's why I would need my own digital camera. Any recommendations?

Promotional Goodies From Singapore

I went to Singapore with two bags and came home with three! No, I didn't shop at all because even though it was Singapore Great Sale during that time everything was way too expensive for me! The third bag, though, was filled with promotional items that I took when I visited a trade exhibition in Singapore.

My friend, who took me a long, thought that it was very funny of me to be so happy to pick up all the promotional pens and bags and I even asked him to get hold of them and give them to me since he doesn't want them. LOL

I know, I sound like a village girl but I don't know why, I have always loved collecting these things since I was young. I guess old habits die hard! I am so happy with all my promotional goodies though I hardly use any of them. Hehehe

World Cup Crazy

The FIFA World Cup games are still on-going as I am writing this post and many of my girl friends are complaining that they are now temporary soccer widows. Well, this is a worldwide phenomenon since way too many guys are normally soccer crazy, what more when it is the world cup!

A male friend is celebrating his birthday later this month and since it will coincide with the finals of the World Cup, I am thinking of giving him a birthday present that is related to soccer. I have seen novelty personalized soccer balls at a gift shop recently but I didn't have time to check out their designs or pricing.

Well, maybe I will do some research online first since there is still time before his birthday comes around. I bet that when he receives his personalized soccer ball, he will be most surprised indeed!

EcoGreen Organic Food

My friend took me to EcoGreen for lunch when I arrived in Kuala Lumpur in mid-June before I proceeded to Johor and then Singapore. From KL Sentral, he drove all the way to TTDI. Geographically, I don't know how far it is but then it was quite a long drive!

My friend hadn't tried this organic food shop prior to this too so it was a new experience for the both of us. We both ordered kunyit brown rice nasi lemak. It was on promotion at RM5.90 a plate. Nasi lemak for that price is considered normal in KL and I later found out that it is even more expensive in Singapore. In Ipoh, I wouldn't have paid more than RM2 for nasi lemak! But then again, this one was supposedly organic and natural so we expected it to be more pricey.

My friend also ordered organic banana cake. I don't remember how much it was since I am so lazy to dig up the receipts but it's around RM4 per piece. Expensive, huh?? But as I said, their selling points are "natural" and "organic".

Feng Shui Pond

My neihgbor has moved into their new house next door when I was having my one week holiday down South. According to my mother, the couple is still not completely satisfied with their house and plans to construct an artificial pond in the small garden.

The lady of the house told my mother that they plan to place pond plants and fishes in the pond to put life in the pond and add colors to the exterior of the house.

I thought that having a pond would be great and in fact, I also thought of placing one in my own garden. A larger one, though, since we have so much space, but I was afraid that it would create more work for me. I guess I will see how much maintenance their pond needs and then only decide.

Upgrading The Kitchen

I asked my friend why he still needs his mother to cook for him even though he is an adult already and for goodness sake, his mother is close to 80 years old! My friend says that he needs to renovate the kitchen first and then learn to cook from his mom.

I felt a bit incredulous by that because this means that if he doesn't have a newly renovated kitchen and a set of all clad copper core cookware, he wouldn't be learning how to cook! This means that his mom will have to continue to serve him.

If this friend is not on a special diet, I would have asked him to go out and find his own food but then again, children has a knack of being over dependent on parents, no matter how old they are. Don't you agree?