Frustration, irritation and disgust

Sorry to be in such a rant-y mood, but I am feeling extremely irritated by the actions and attitude of a certain work colleague. I'm no saint myself, and God knows I've tried and tried, but I cannot help but be irritated and disgusted with his actions and attitude. Am I just being persnickety?

~ He never bothers about anyone other than himself and what he likes or what he wants to do. And he will not hesitate to try and force his opinions on others around him. E.g. He doesn't like shellfish, so he will tell anyone else eating shellfish that it's bad-tasting and unhealthy. Or when I suggested archery as an activity, he pooh-poohed the idea by saying that "Archery is stupid". Similarly when another colleague organized a bowling outing. If you don't want to join us, just say so and leave it at that la. Why go and ruin everyone else's mood by running it down just because you don't like it? Sour grapes. Ish.

~ He does away with common courtesy like "Please" and "Thank you" or "Excuse me". General politeness like "Hello" and "Goodbye" are also foreign words to him. But then again, this isn't surprising in a guy whose infamous phrase is : "Go and eat sh*t la. Don't disturb me." Oh, and I was NOT happy when he called my mom in a disrespectful manner this morning. He told me, "An old aunty called you". Hello? You're talking about my mom, okay! I don't say anything rude about your mother even though you have her face tattooed on your leg. Bleh.

~ He doesn't like to plan ahead for eventualities (he was the reason why we had some difficulty securing lodging during the Medan & Lake Toba trip) and his idea of travelling is to NOT confirm his accomodations or travel plans or transportation. That just smacks of plain ol' irresponsibility to me.

~ This is the guy who flat out blatantly lied to me about where they were during the Chiling Falls expedition. And he did the same this morning, telling me that my ex-boss' father was critically ill in hospital and close to dying. (It sounded credible because he just had a discussion to my ex-boss' husband before he said the same to me.) Guess what? It wasn't true because I checked with my ex-boss' secretary who told me that my ex-boss was at work and everything was fine. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I HATE LIARS.

~ He was invited to play basketball for the company over the weekend. He's never played basketball before in his whole life and he refused to go for the pre-game briefing. He told the organizer "I'll be there for the game but not for the briefing". When the person asked him how he intended to play without knowing the rules and whatnot, his flippant response was "How hard can it be? I'll just take the ball and run with it and knock down anyone who tries to stop me". Even if you're a basketball legend, it is not kosher to behave this way.

And that's just a quarter of his other annoying personality traits.

I don't know why, but having to face this person everyday at work just makes me go "Urgh" and I feel like smacking some common sense into his thick skull. Not that it'll change him one iota, except to hurt my own hand. I wish I could leave it well alone, but this person will come and bother me even when I'm doing my best to pointedly ignore him and not talk to him because I don't want to get upset over something that I cannot control. It's like the more I "tak layan" his antics, the more and more shocking stuff he wants to say and do. So childish!

Okay, in all fairness to him, he is a nice person when he chooses to be - practically all the stuff he bought while on holiday was for his girlfriend. He sometimes (only sometimes, mind you!) waits for the girls to go out for lunch and holds the elevator for us. When he feels like it, he belanja's the department ice-cream. But other than that... it's like sheesh! this guy could be called a jerk.

Anyone got any tips to give me on how to handle this exasperating colleague of mine?

Being punctual is not a fault!

I am extremely upset with certain people. Pray tell me, how can this lateness factor be simply laughed away? (For a better understanding of why I rant, please read the post at the link above before continuing.)

Just now at 9.20am in the midst of conversation about Saturday's trip, VW said this to me...

"You know ah, next time, you shouldn't be so early one. When you're going out with my friends, you must understand that they're older and not likely to be on time. We have this understanding that the meeting time is not fixed in stone and you should just find a nearby coffeeshop or something, have a teh tarik and chill out while waiting. Don't wait at the specified meeting point. That way you won't get so agitated while waiting or if there's a delay. And there's always a delay, knowing them. Some more it's a weekend kind of expedition, no need to be so on time one. We should take it easy and enjoy la."

Note: All the bolded emphasis is mine.

What the (@&#*&%#&^&@*#@) on earth is this kind of attitude? Aitelyu, I have just lost all my respect for VW and her friends as people (over this issue and also see the food issue below). And then on the other hand, there's XY's driver, SS. Do you know what SS said? (SS was standing next to me when VW said all the above.)

*patting me consolingly on the arm like I've been a small kid who's throwing a temper tantrum* "Aiyah, we would have gone to a nearby coffeeshop to wait if not for this girl. You're upset because you have to wait alone, izzit?"

Now you've really got my goat. So I am in the wrong for being punctual and being irritated with others who are late? This makes me really want to throw my shoes at their heads, except that today, I'm wearing my new shoes and it would be such a waste since they still wouldn't get the idea that being late is NOT socially acceptable. Duh.

So when VW heard SS' comment, VW said this.

"Next time why don't you just car pool with someone else? Saves you time and stress because you'll have to wait for others anyway. You know, my friends (the ones who arrived at 8.55am) were late because they car-pooled - some came from Klang, others from Tmn Desa so of course they will be late! And you can't expect them to be on time for an early morning appointment la. If it's a mid-morning or afternoon appointment then they might be on time. Anyway, it's not like we were rushing anywhere."

Wtf? (Sorry, I'm swearing again. It's bad, I know, but I can't help myself in the face of such... logic!) Sure, we may not have been in a hurry but it is still impolite to tell people to meet at 8.00am and then turn up 1 hour late! Might as well not put a time to meet or at least, suggest a later time if you think you won't be able to make it. I said as much to VW, who then said this...

"Aiyo, don't be so rigid la. Do you know I had a tough time with my friends because you were early? They all blamed me for not telling you that it's our practice to go yum cha first while waiting. So stressful you know? Some more I don't dare to answer your phone call..."

If I were sitting in a chair, I would have fallen off. So it's my fault that you're all stressed out and got blamed by your friends for their lateness? This is certainly something I've never heard of before! And then you can blatantly admit to me that you didn't dare to pick up my phone call because you were afraid of what I might say because you is late? I told VW outright then and there that I was sitting next to XY's Passenger - JP - when she took her call and not mine and VW looked a bit shamefaced. But still insisted:

"Next time don't be so early la. Just come later la! Save yourself all the trouble and then you won't get agitated."

I had heard enough at this point in time and bluntly said that thanks but no thanks, I didn't think there'll be a next time going out with VW and her friends. At which point in time, SS (who had been listening quietly) quickly piped up to me:

SS : "I'm definitely confirmed for our next outing on 03 May!"
Me : *shooting SS a look from the corner of my eye* "Are you sure you'll be on time and you'll call me if you're going to be late?"
SS : "Yeah, I'm not XY and besides, XY's not coming."
Me : "Huh."

And that's the lateness issue. Let me also rant about the food issue.

Out of the 12 people who went on Saturday, all of us are Chinese and there is one Malay. Naturally, you should not be so insensitive as to go to a non-halal place to eat even though the Malay is in the minority, right? We live in a multi-racial country after all. I am always looking out for the Malay because I don't like people who simply forget or ignore what others can or cannot do. This is what VW said to me.

"It was a good thing you went off for lunch with the Malay that day leh. My friends don't like Malay food and they won't eat it or go to a halal place when there's Chinese food around so the Malay would have had to sit and watch us eat or find her own food. Next time you all just split off from the rest of the group and find your own food la."

Just because you are in the majority you can ignore the minority? And it's not just a Chinese / Malay issue. Some Buddhists / Hindus don't eat beef so it is also very impolite to go and order beef dishes when you are dining with them. Come on la, it won't kill you to have to accomodate others for just one meal. But you should not ostracize people for their religious beliefs. I don't impose my dietary restrictions (mine's for health purposes) on others. Even though I can't eat certain foods, I won't say that you can't eat it in front of me. But for a Malay, the halal/non-halal issue can be quite sensitive. So it is very insensitive to me for us to go out in a group and basically go, you can't eat with us because you're a minority. And they didn't even phrase it kindly or tactfully!

I don't think I'm judging them harshly. In fact, I have tried my level best to put their words here verbatim and the incidents as they happened. I may be a bit emotionally moved right now, but my faculty of logic is not moved one iota.

Is the lateness concept acceptable to you?

We live in Malaysia, the country that invented the concept of "rubber time". Tell a Malaysian that a meeting / appointment / wedding will begin at xx:xx time and they will invariably show up after the stipulated time.

Today, I was supposed to meet up with a group of people (note that I use the term "group of people", they comprise of my colleagues, acquaintances and strangers) for an outdoors expedition. We were supposed to meet at 8.00am in Rawang town, a time and place set by our so-called "guide". Since I stay far away from Rawang, I make the extra effort to be on time and arrive at the appointed meeting point at 7.54am. (Yes, I am *that* precise.) Look around, no one's here yet. I call XY to see where they are. And this is what XY tells me :

XY : "Yeah, we're here already. In fact, I can see your car! We're finding a place to park."
Me : "Okay, see you in a bit then."

Okay, fine. I call VW to see where they are. This is what VW says to me :

VW : "Aiyo, why are you so punctual one? I'm just leaving my place, on the highway now. Should arrive in 15 minutes time. Why don't you take breakfast first while waiting?"
Me : "I've already taken my breakfast. Just waiting for you and the others to arrive."

Okay, it's still fine. I consider whether or not to call Z, but surmise that they should be coming anytime soon. How wrong was I!

20 minutes pass. It's now 8.15am. No sign of either XY's car or VW's car. I get concerned, so I call XY again. Maybe they're parked somewhere else where I can't see them. Or maybe they've gone off to have breakfast. The phone rings for nearly 6 rings before XY picks up. (Note: XY was not driving, someone else was. XY was a passenger in the car.)

Me : "XY, where are you guys? Did you get lost parking?"
XY : "Actually we're still on the way la. We should be reaching soon."

Wtf? (Sorry, I don't normally swear in real-life or on my blog but this was beyond me.) Why can't you tell me that you were on the way earlier? Why do you have to lie? I HATE LIARS. Period. Doesn't matter if it's big lie or little lie. A lie is a lie is a lie. Don't tell me it was a joke and try to laugh it off. (Which, by the way, XY did not say. Neither did he apologize. It was just a matter-of-fact thing to him, to tell an untruth without blinking.)

At this point of time, there are supposed to be 12 people for the outing, and none of them have arrived yet.

The time now is 8.19am. Finally a car I recognize. It's Z's car. Z comes over to say hi.

Z : "Eh, what happened to the rest? Where are they?"
Me : "Well, as you can see, they're all not here yet. XY and VW are on their way. I don't know about VW's friends."
Z : "Haiyoh, and I thought I was going to be late. Must really scold them..."
Me : *looks at Z* "It's definitely not 8.00am now. Then can I scold you first?"

Z is a bit embarassed now.

Z : "Actually hor, I was on time, but just that on the way here, on the highway, I needed to pangsai* so I had to stop!" *pangsai = sh*t

By this time, my reaction is like, whatever. Evidently these people have no sense of responsibility. Some minutes pass. The time now is 8.26am. XY's car arrives. The 3 of them inside are all laughing through the windows AT me as they park next to my car. Not a word of "Sorry we're late" or anything else. Bah. Right now, if it weren't for the outing that I so looked forward to, I couldn't give a damn about all of them. They could all go to perdition right there and I wouldn't blink an eye.

Me : "It's about time you guys got here. What happened to finding a parking space, huh?"
XY's Driver : "It's XY's idea la. He thought it would be funny to pull your leg."
Me : "Actually, I don't find it funny. To me, that's a lie."
XY's Driver : *laughs* "But he does it so well and convincingly!"
Me : "In fact, I hate liars. So please don't ever lie to me again." *with the firmest tone and grim face I can muster, leaving the unspoken consequences hanging in the air between us*
XY's Driver : *quickly adds* "Oh yes, I hate liars too!"

So the XY's Driver hates liars lying to her but it's okay for them to lie to someone else, right? Humbug. All this while, XY doesn't even come over to say a word to me but walks around the parking lot aimlessly.

XY's Passenger : "Hey, I just spoke to VW on the phone. They're lost, somewhere near... *names the landmark*"

I know where that landmark is, so I use my handphone to call VW's handphone. It rings to the end; VW does not pick up. XY's Passenger tries with her handphone, and VW immediately picks up the call. Wtf? Oh okay, I get it. You feel guilty that you're late so you won't answer my call. But you'll answer someone else's call, not knowing that that person is actually sitting next to me. Coward.

Finally, at 8.45am, VW's car arrives. Like XY, VW doesn't come anywhere within 4 ft of me (probably because I radiate disapproval like the sun's heat rays) until it's time to give out directions for the next leg of the journey. And then, this is what VW says:

VW : "Oh, we were delayed because of the rain!" (Like hello? What rain are you referring to? The barely there light drizzle?)
Me : "Mmmm."
VW : "Anyway, we shouldn't let this spoil the rest of the trip. We should enjoy it!"
Me : "Huh." *stifling the urge to roll my eyes*

It's not like they all don't know that the meeting time is 8.00am. We were all reminding each other about it the day before. In person and via emails. But yet, look at the times that they arrived! And all the *wonderful* excuses they made for themselves.

The best part? We sit around in the parking lot for another ten odd minutes waiting for the so-called "guide". Remember, the one who said we should meet at 8.00am? Yes, that one. Who only arrived close to 8.55am. A full 55 minutes late! Talk about extreme lateness. If it were a restaurant that was so slow in serving your meal, I'm sure you would have kicked up a hue and cry already by then. Because you expect more and because you're paying for it. Well, I expect more because I've more than paid for it with my time!

By the time we finally left on the next leg of our journey, it was 9.02am. And I had been waiting for over an hour because I was punctual. Really (@)Q(*#$&%*($&*(@#($!!!!!!

The delay incident was not the only thing that happened during the outing. There were other little incidents, words flippantly said and actions that spoke louder than words. All in all, today solidified the feelings I had in this post here and made up my mind. You know what? From today onwards, I'll never want to voluntarily organize anything else for this bunch of people. Association with them - as minimal as possible. (If not for the fact that right now they are the only group of people I can do activities with, I wouldn't even bother trying in the first place.) I don't think it's too much to ask for if I expect at least a modicum of reciprocation and effort on your part? And it is a matter of character that shows in how you approach these trivial matters.

I'm not saying I didn't enjoy myself today. I did, immensely. The outing itself was wonderful. Just that, the people I went with, are not.

p.s. There'll be two camps of people on this post. Those who think like me and those who think like XY, VW and the rest. I only ask one thing if you're going to comment. Please, be truthful about your two cents worth of opinion. Thank you.

Eye am so blur!

I oh-so-brilliantly tried to take out my eyeball this morning.

No kidding! (This is so going into the annals of rinnah's dumb blonde moments. Heh.) I blame it on the fog of sleep that normally renders me a bit zombified immediately upon waking until about one hour later (or when I intake food, whichever comes first).

See, I was putting on my contacts this morning and somehow or other, managed not to notice that I'd dropped one side (how it happened beats me! I really thought it was in my eye...). As I was putting on my makeup, I thought that something was a bit "off" since I couldn't see clearly out of one eye, and wrongly assumed that I had put in the lens "terbalik" (or reverse side, for those who don't understand Malay). Why on earth I would think that is beyond my comprehension - told you I can't think straight first thing in the morning.

So there I was, attempting to take out a lens that wasn't even in my eye! -_-" Luckily I didn't do anything sillier to my eye before I realized that I was trying to take out my eyeball. Bleh.

Anyways, I located the errant lens on the floor once I figured out what I was doing wrong, and if you wanna know, my eye is perfectly fine. Not even red at all, for which I'm eternally grateful as I have sensitive peepers that can't stand prolonged use of lenses on a normal basis.

Really, I should do less challenging things in the morning!

Too tired to try

It's one of those days again.

Tired of...

The environment I'm in.
Dealing with people I dislike.
Having to settle for what I have.
Having to be upbeat all the time.
Having to babysit incompetent people.
Shouldering responsibilities that are not mine.
Not being able to tell someone how I truly feel.
Having to lower my standards and preferences to fit in.
Not having any intellectual stimulation in conversations.
Communicating with people who are as dense as brick walls.
Trying to fit in where I clearly stand out like a sore thumb.
Trying to find some commonality with people I have no affinity for.
People misconstruing my tiredness and non-communication for being in a bad mood.
Being ridiculed because of others' insecurity (so that they feel better about themselves).

All this tiredness is giving me a headache. Bah.

I miss my friends. The ones who know where I'm coming from. People I can really talk to. We share the same interests, likes and dislikes. Folks who are cut from the same cloth, from the same mold, etc etc etc. It's horribly lonely to be surrounded by people who are different from you.

Victim of a snatch theft!

You know, I never thought this would happen to me but it did.

My mobile phone just got snatched right out of my hands when I was walking back to office from lunch. Luckily, I did not fall, nor get injured and the thief did not succeed in snatching my purse as well, which was carried in the same hand.

It all happened so quickly that I don't even know how it happened. One minute I was just walking and then the next thing I knew this Malay guy had snatched my phone out of my hand and took off. I screamed, of course, at the top of my lungs. "Hey! Come back here! He took my phone!" And I don't know what made me run after him (some more I was wearing a baju kurung) shouting and yelling. It certainly wasn't bravado. I just wasn't thinking of anything except to get my phone back. But of course, I couldn't catch him because he had an accomplice on a motorbike and he jumped on and took off.

I was so much in shock that I forgot to thank the kind gentlemen who tried in vain to help me stop that thief. One tried to grab the thief by the jacket and two tried to kick the motorcycle to make the thieves fall down. And the wonderful irony of it all? All three of them were Malay. I'm sorry I just walked off like that. I didn't know what else to do after the thieves zoomed off and I just wanted to get into the safety of the office building.

I've already called Maxis to suspend the line, and I'll probably take some time off to get my replacement sim card tomorrow. Unfortunately, all the contacts inside my phone are gone forever, because I didn't write them down and neither did I have the phonebook contact save feature activated with Maxis. So, to the people reading this, can you please email me your numbers again? Don't send me sms 'cos I can't receive it. Thanks.

*sobs* My baby Nokia N80! I mish you... I want you back... *bawls*

Edit @ 21:32 - I just noticed how apt my Verse of the Day (in my sidebar) is... it reads : “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” (Psalm 62:7)

Can you predict the future?

I actually have tag debts to repay but I'd better get this out before Election Day. ;o) rinnah's probably one and only politically inspired post. *cough* Beware. Fire and brimstone ahead! Read at your own peril! Lawl.

**********
Back to my title. I actually CAN'T predict the future, and I'm betting that neither can you. No one knows if the establishment will be sent back with the same / bigger / lesser majority or if the anti-establishment will manage to nick some prime seats away from the establishment. I'm not a socio-politico blogger, and I'll leave that to the experts.

But what I do wanna blog about is the sorry state of the average Malaysian young adult.

Much as it pains me to say it, I am horrendously shocked that the average young adult that I know (family, friends, colleagues) is not in the least interested about the upcoming election. Like hello? Did you know that you have a social responsibility to vote? It's a privilege to be able to vote and it's a privilege that people in other parts of the world fought and died to have. The American suffragettes marched and protested until women were given the right to vote. What about the blacks? And the African living under apartheid rule? All those people in the nations that keep on having military coups? And here you are, a pampered Malaysian young adult, throwing away such a precious thing because you aren't bothered.

I am sad to say that those I know are all part of this apathethic bunch. They're not voting on Saturday because they can't. They can't because they're not registered to vote. They didn't register to vote because they couldn't care less, because they couldn't be bothered to take a few minutes of their time and get registered at the Post Office. Sorry, but you're just plain lazy! But yet, some of them are the same people telling me, "Oh, you should cast your vote for so-and-so!" I will promptly turn around and tell them to their face, "Back off the subject, you have no right to speak out about the government and the election because you're not a registered voter." Don't come and tell me your two sen worth of opinion if you're not going to do anything about it. Don't be so high and mighty and talk about the government or opposition and bla bla bla on about corruption or benefits.

What's worst of all is how many of them tell me, "One vote doesn't count for much anyway. So why should I register?" Did you know if you added up all those worthless one votes you could turn a minority into a majority? It is precisely this sort of thinking that has mired Malaysia into a situation of no change! These are eligible young adults well into their mid and late twenties I am talking about. They are not youth just newly eligible to vote. These are folks who have already missed voting at the last election and will do so again on Saturday.

Then there are the others who don't even know the difference between the establishment and the anti-establishment. They prefer to be clueless about anything and everything remotely political, prefering to live life in a pleasant haze, trusting that whichever government is in power will take care of them. All I can say is good luck to them!

Just imagine, in twenty years' time, these very same people will be the middle-aged and senior citizens of Malaysia. And their children will follow in their footsteps. By then, I think you'd be lucky to get even a 10% voter turnout out of the whole population of Malaysia. Why? Because all would not be registered to vote - either out of choice or because they're underaged. Humph!

Okay. End of rant. rinnah is going to do her duty and vote on Saturday and hopefully, that will be the end of any political-type ranting on this blog.

Was it theft or vandalism?

My poor baby. Last year, it was involved in two separate accidents that resulted in the tail lights being knocked out. This year, is not progressing smoothly either.

A few weeks back, a stranger stupidly reversed into the front of my stationary car while I was waiting in queue at a traffic light. He just let his car move backwards even though I honked and honked like mad. Luckily, there was no damage, not even a teeny scratch, just one very embarassed man who apologized profusely.

Then, sometime yesterday, unbeknowst to me (while I was at work), somebody made off with the door visors of my little Kelisa. Really feel like going *#@$%&#(... He (or they?) ripped off the door visors on both front doors, and cracked the door visor on the rear door behind the driver's seat.

What on earth would anyone want with the door visors anyway? And it's not like I drive a brand new car. Door visors aren't exactly popular replacement items in demand, but they also aren't the most expensive parts of a car. (In fact, the replacement for all four door visors cost me RM 48 + 15 for labour charges.)

The scary part is, the theft / vandalism happened in my office basement carpark, and it's not as if I parked my car in some seedy part of town. I'll admit that the basement carpark is a tad dark, but which basement carpark (with stingy management) isn't? My peace of mind is quite unsettled now that such a thing could happen. What if these people had more in mind than just door visors? Memories of Canny Ong la. I intend to report this incident to the carpark management on Monday. I'm sure they won't do anything about it, but I just want to complain la.

When getting my baby fixed up today, I mentioned to the auto workshop people that the door visors had been ripped off and they were quite incredulous that someone would want to do that. In fact, they remarked that maybe someone wanted to 'kena' me. :o( Even my mom asked if I had unknowingly 'offended' (tak chui) anyone recently. No wor... unless... somebody out there is annoyed that I park my car at work in the same spot everyday? That's the only thing I can think of. And no, I am not parking in a reserved lot - it's a first come first serve kinda lot. Still, my mom said that I shouldn't park in that spot anymore and I shall heed her advice lor.

So, what do you think - theft or vandalism?

Today is NOT Valentine's Day

It is Single Awareness Day!

Yeah, I'm a bit sour grapes this year. Lawl.

With a touch of green envy at the flowers my colleague got.

And also wishing I didn't hear plans from another colleague to take his girl out for dinner tonight.

So, what are you going to do to celebrate Single Awareness Day (SAD) Valentine's Day?

I know.

Spend a bomb on horrendously overpriced flowers and an even more pricy dinner squashed with tons of other couples who had exactly the same idea in mind?

Or gift her some yummy chocolates that will put on a few dozen pounds onto her figure. Hehe.

If you're fabulously wealthy, maybe a sparkly bauble or two.

(And despite the ranting above, yes, I'd love all of that!)

Oh, btw, how ironic is it that Single Awareness Day means SAD?

Can you tell I'm SAD? No? Nooooo?

Maybe you should go read Boss Stewie's post too.

I hate KL traffic!

The cops were crazy in KL today. Yup, you read that right. The cops. The guys in blue, black and white and neon yellow vests. Who ride in Wajas or on bikes. Who are supposed to be anti-rasuah.

Does anyone know anything about a protest / rally / march / whatever planned for today? Because it certainly seemed like something was in the air today. Early in the morning on the way to work, I encountered a police roadblock on a busy highway, no less. Then I got in to office (barely on time) to chat with my friend in another office who told me that traffic was madness from PJ to KL. Then I heard from my mum that she got stuck in a traffic jam going to PJ in the morning. Leaving office today, I got stuck in a 2 hour jam going home because traffic was at a standstill in the heart of the city. Bah.

And that brings me to a list that Chen asked me to make. I have to list out the ten things I hate the most and today, traffic jams take the cake!

1. KL city traffic jams, especially when it rains
2. Rude, inconsiderate drivers who weave in and out and steal parking spaces
3. Smokers in a non-smoking area
4. Stewpig erratic Screamyx connection in my housing area
5. End of the month bills that drain my bank account
6. People who think they know it all and are arrogant about it
7. Animal haters
8. Getting caught in the rain
9. People who sing off-key and loudly too
10. Caramel

Okay, so I was running out of things to list. Lawl. I'm not going to tag anyone on this because it's pretty long overdue and I think this tag has already made its rounds a-visiting to your blogs.

Xpensive wishlists

I am thankful that I've never had to be in a position where I have to rely on the kindness of strangers for my existence. (Yes, my job is dependent on my boss, but at least it's assured from month to month. *grin*) But the kindness of strangers is the only thing keeping less fortunate children with roofs over their heads at children's homes, food on the table and clothes on their backs and enabling their caregivers to look after them. Luckily, the kindness of strangers is overflowing during Christmas time and most, if not all homes will find a corporate benefactor or two who will provide some much needed item or funding. As for the children, they'll get to make a wish or two for presents that are few and far in between the rest of the year.

Maybe it's because of the rarity of having presents, but I'm sure that the children are wishing for the sky since Christmas is a season of giving and also known as a season of miracles. Perhaps the sky might be a tad too far to reach? I don't want to sound like the Grinch here, but I was reading the wishlist of the children from a number of homes in UParkson at 1Utama over the weekend and was literally dumbfounded at the specifics of what they were requesting for. Among the rather more 'unique' and memorable items requested:

~ Disney's High School Musical CD / DVD
~ Football and football jersey
~ Make-up set and perfume
~ Billabong t-shirt and cap
~ MP3 player
~ Adidas sport shoes (size 4 & 5 respectively)

I'm not saying that they should be denied gifts and presents for Christmas and it is so much nicer to receive stuff that you want instead of something a total stranger picked out for you but I found the wishlist to be rather commercialized, high-end and pricey. What ever happened to the simple stuff like books, clothes and toys?

What say you? Or am I just being a Grinch? *grin*

This post started out as a draft on charity for The Giving Hands then evolved into a rant on commercialization for Just Being Malaysian and ended up being heavily edited for It's all about the spin...

Blacked out!

Malaysian inefficiency strikes again. For reasons still unknown to us, my housing garden and the areas surrounding it were stricken with one of the worst electricity shortages yesterday. Imagine this, if you will - an electricity outage that happened at 2.30pm on Monday afternoon that lasted till 4.30am on Tuesday morning. Yup, a grand total of fourteen (14, count 'em!) hours without electricity. Almost as bad as the Great Malaysian Blackout which happened I think twelve years back when the whole of Malaysia suddenly lost power for roughly 10plus hours. Malaysia memang boleh.

We had to have dinner outside yesterday and even though we spent as much time as possible dawdling until the shops were closing, there was still no electricity when we returned home. Pffffffft! Several calls to the TNB hotline were met with, "You are caller number 64 / 68 / 54 / 46 / 32." You say 'kek hei' or not?

And I had my whole evening planned out so nicely summore. Early dinner, bath, do some long overdue blogging, blog-hop a little, work on a sponsored post or two... all my well-laid plans washed down the drain! Ah well, it was an early night for me yesterday. :o)

I don't think you're ready for it

That was more or less the type of feeling I got from the people at the MBA fair I attended today. Exactly like any other student fair, just that they concentrate solely on MBAs and the like. Maybe it was my baby face, but I found that the school reps didn't really want to layan me. I could be standing in front of their table, looking all interested (I really was!) and reading their brochures and they couldn't even be bothered to even look my way. Maybe they had bigger fish to fry lor. The one or two reps I managed to talk to gave me polite variations of:

- This is a very challenging program (I don't think you can do it)
- It's a life-changing decision (You're probably going to get married and have kids in a year's time, so don't waste your time and ours)
- We set very high standards (You're probably not going to make the cut)
- You have to pay for a quality education (You can't afford it)

Funny how they never mentioned any of the above to other people enquiring about the same program (I listen la while waiting for them to be free to layan me) but said that to me. Granted, all the other people were in the ideal MBA candidate mould - male (majority Chinese I saw today), early thirties, holding a managerial post, money to burn on an MBA in the name of advancement.

It made me feel discriminated against for being female, younger, not rich enough and not qualified (managerial work experience wise) enough to even dream of furthering my education. :o(

Being wiser is cramping my style

After today, I figure that I'm too 'wise' at the moment and that it's potentially going to cramp my style. Why?

Yesterday I went to see the dentist. Just a regular check-up and cleaning but you know how some things are best left unknown till you really need to know about them? Yeah, it was one of those things. Apparently I'm one of those lucky unique people whose wisdom teeth decide to make a concerted appearance. That means all four of my wisdom teeth are slowly starting to stretch and grow and invade their molar neighbors space. Grrrr. It's gonna get awfully cramped inside my mouth when it happens. Thankfully, I haven't had it bad at all because I've only experienced a wee bit of soreness in my lower left gum on occasion, which as my dentist explained, was caused by my upper left wisdom tooth (which has a hole in it!) chomping down on the gum below each time I chewed. Oh, and the lower left wisdom tooth is slated to come out horizontally, pushing against the molar next to it (like the picture above - which is not my x-ray, btw). Double grrrr.

She (the dentist) merrily asked me if I wanted to extract my upper left wisdom tooth right there and then since it had a hole and was causing the gum soreness. I was like, "What?" You see, I've never had to extract any of my teeth before and while I have no fear of cleaning, scaling and drilling for fillings, the thought of yanking out my tooth is like, well, pulling the tusk from an elephant! So I said no lah (but have an appointment in two weeks' time to go pull my tooth out. Gives me time to prepare myself. LOL.). *makes face* Ya, and more news... the lower left wisdom tooth will require surgery in the future. Not right now since it hasn't made a full appearance yet, but when it does eventually, my dentist says I should have it removed so it doesn't push the rest of my teeth out of alignment (that means braces. Gawd!). *makes another face* Some more she had to go scare me by saying that surgery would take 1 1/2 hours and require me to have 3 days of MC! *pengsan*

Maybe prevention is better than cure and one part of me is glad I know these things before any pain sets in but the other (scaredy cat) part of me is admonishing myself for having gone for the check-up. (Cantonese saying: Chi kei loh lei sui! LOL.)

What Google giveth, Google taketh away

I'd read all over the blogosphere about the major bloodbath that Google unleashed upon the unsuspecting blogging world as they reinvented their famed PageRank algorithm. Blogs with previously high PR (PageRank for the uninitiated) saw their PR tumble faster than a tsunami wave or an avalanche from the snowy mountain tops. Naively, I thought I was safe because in the early stages of the blood-letting, I checked and rechecked and found that my blog(s) still had their PR intact. Very, very naive lor. If even the big names like 5xMom and John Chow can be affected, why wouldn't Google turn its eyes on my little blog(s)?

Then today, I read about Wuching's wanting to hang himself because his blogs have dropped to PR0 which means your blog is like so insignificant you might as well 'close shop' for the sponsored opportunities because they all depend on Google's PR to determine whether or not you are 'worthy' enough to post for them. I got nervous. What about my blogs? Off I rushed to check at PRChecker.info. The bad news stared me right back in the face. 0/10. It couldn't be! I then hopped onto CheckPageRank.com. The answer was the same. 0/10. Noooooooooo!

No wonder I haven't been getting any good sponsored opps lately. And I thought it was because I wasn't seeing them at the right time.

I want my PR4 back! Bad bad Google!

*rinnah bawls, pouts and cries like a baby whose candy has been stolen from her mouth*

Withdrawal symptoms because of Internet woes

Argh! I’ve been without my Internet connection for three days now and it’s driving me crazy. Life without the Internet sucks. You know my Blogivitis syndrome? It’s gone into overdrive because…

~ I can’t check my email for new spam / junk mail.

~ I can’t log into FaceBook to see who has poked me or added me as a friend or whether I need to make new moves in Scrabulous or challenge the next person to RPS.

~ I can’t log into Bloglines, my online RSS feedreader to see if there are updated posts that I can comment on.

~ I can’t check for new sponsored post opps. I think two opps that I reserved right before disaster struck have expired by now. Shoot!

~ I can’t check to see who has left a comment on my blogs.

~ Worst of all, I can’t update my blogs!

It feels strangely like there’s a whole world going on out there without me and man… I can’t stand it! I never knew that the Internet was so… addictive.

The whole saga started out on Saturday evening when we decided to update the security settings on our wireless modem / router. Up till then it had been unsecured and we were kind of worried that unscrupulous people might be leeching off it since it’s on nearly 24/7. Update went well until Sunday evening. For no reason at all, five different wireless devices simply couldn’t detect the router’s Internet connection – two laptops, one computer, one PDA and one mobile phone. The router seemed to be working fine – steady connection, no dreaded blinking lights, etc. We could see the router on the wireless networks available, and successfully connect to the router but not to the Internet connection. A hard reset of the router meant that now we could detect and connect to the router, but there was still no line! Placing calls to Screamyx’s technical assistance didn’t help either… they said that there was no problem with the account and with the line, so it must be the router problem. Cheh! Better yet, my laptop decided to go on the fritz at that very moment too by refusing to start up. It showed not the blue screen of death, but the very close to it black screen of MSDOS. Grrrrr….

I went around the Digital Mall looking at the prices of wireless modem cum routers on Monday and still didn’t know which model to get without consulting my IT guru, i.e. my Dad. So I just got a number of price quotes for him to see. Monday evening passed by without the Internet connection. By then, my Mum was heartily sick of me moaning that life is so empty and meaningless without the Internet that she was ready to pack me off to the nearest place with WiFi connectivity just so I can get my Internet fix. LOL! But I made do with a quickie check of my emails using the horribly slow dial-up.

Come Tuesday, I was champing at the bit and decided to go get a new wireless modem router if that would solve all my problems. So armed with my price lists and having a model or so in my mind, I went router shopping. Where I got sweet-talked by the salesman into buying a slightly more expensive model (Linksys) than the one I originally intended to buy (ProLink). Oh well, it did come with a 3 year warranty and his assurances that no one had yet returned any model for repairs, etc etc etc. Lugged home my new purchase, happily set it up and waited for restored connection, but….. pffffft! Still no connection! Grrrrrrrr…

Today, yet another call to Screamyx to lodge a report and I get put on hold for 20 minutes just so that they can open a report and tell me that, “It’ll take up to 2 working days for our technicians to get back to you. If you don’t hear from them after 2 working days, please call us again and quote your report number.” *bangs head on table*

Will someone please, please, please restore my life Internet connection to me?

It's gonna get painful next year

This should really go on my other blog, Just Being Malaysian, but I need a filler post right now so I stick it here la.

Did you read the news today? Prices of crude oil are spiralling up and up to a new high of nearly USD94. *gulp*

I don't want to think about next year when the promise of the government to NOT increase the prices of fuel expires. Many people are going to feel the pinch. Yow!

I must...

... remain calm even though I'm fuming mad.

... not let this issue get to me and bring me down.

... ignore spiteful and petty little people in the office.

... try NOT to see it as it is (which is making me mad) but to look at it differently.

... forgive those who trespass against me - so the Bible says.

... bring my issues to the One above.

... hold on to my sanity with the thought that it's not much longer to go now.

The kitten scratches

Why is it so freaking cold in the office? I feel like I'm freezing in Genting right now. Brrr...

Anyway, I have a company dinner tonight. Not one that I'm particularly looking forward to, but have to attend because it's a dinner for the bossman. Cheh, boss tai sai meh? Apparently yes woh. So I have to "pei meen" (give face) to him and attend. Oooh, it's going to be such fun, I just know it. Yes, I'm being sarcastic here. My kitten claws are showing. Miiaaaaawww!

This will be the second company dinner I'm attending in five months. The first one was on my second day of work. And it was so dull and boring because I didn't know a single soul at that dinner and things haven't improved much since then. I mean like, who am I going to schmooze with? Oh and not to be putting anyone down or anything, but the people attending are all... old. Old enough to be my mother/father old or even older! *shakes head sadly*

Can't even look forward to enjoying the food because my doctor has placed me on a strict diet following my recent allergy flare-up. Which means like 85% of the food at the dinner (traditional Chinese 8-course menu) will be off-limits. Yep, no sharksfin, no abalone, no prawn, no duck, no crab - just vege and chicken and the standard last course of rice or noodles. And did I mention no pork too? :o( And of course, no alcohol, which means while the rest are carousing and boozing I'll be drinking plain water and Chinese tea (which is actually on the no-no list too, because tea contains caffeine). Argh, I just wanna go home right now! Which brings me to my next point...

Why on earth did they pick a weekday night to hold the dinner? Don't they know people have to work tomorrow? And I'm not a boss, so it means while they nurse their hangovers and stroll in to office after ten, I'll have to be sitting at my desk before 8.45am. And you know how late Chinese dinners (start and) end. I probably won't get home before midnight and that's if I'm lucky.

Okay, okay, so I should look on the bright side of things. Is there a bright side? (See, I'm being cynical again.) Hmm, let me see. I get a free dinner. That's all. *sigh*

Bits, bobs and the whole boat

Had a surprise this morning. Guess who called? The Emperor. Wahhhh... so honoured I am. *grin* It was... interesting. And completely not what I expected? Anyway, it was a bright spot and a good start to the morning. Now if only it had lasted the whole day!

Unfortunately it didn't, and the day descended into a three-act tragedy. But like all good bad shows, it had to come to an end sometime. I'm glad the working week is over. Phew!

TGIF and Friday night means the weekend's here! I wonder why there generally are no good shows to watch on Friday night? Is it because the tv programmers expect the people to be out and celebrating? What about the homebodies like me? Hmm, I seem to have lost my train of thought. But, there's a new reality show called Pirate Master that I'm really enjoying. Though I think the contestants make the silliest decisions.

Received word from an ex-collegemate that she's getting married at the end of the year. And she asked me if I would attend. I haven't said yes, neither have I said no. Decisions, decisions. I guess I'll decide nearer the date; it's still some time away. Gee, whatever happened to my normally decisive nature? It seems to be rather blurry of late. *sigh*

Ever felt the need to ramble on without really making sense of what you're saying? Well, it's happening now. Hence, the really disjointed post here. *grin*