My Restaurant Blacklist

Mr. B and I have recently started to be more careful with our spending and with the budget cut, we have been increasingly aware of where we spend our money dining out. But much to our disappointment, last weekend we have come to realize that some of the restaurants that we used to patronize actually has very poor service standard despite all its posh and trendy appearance. Not worth my money. Ahat, is there a second-class citizen treatment if you step in into their premises in flip flops and cargo shorts over the weekend? Helloww, it's the weekend!!!

So I've decided to start my own blacklist- places which I will never, EVER go back and spend a single cent on due to their poor customer service. And how can they impose 10% service charge when you're left waiting for the menu for a good 10 minutes when they're only half full? In order to be fair, my evaluation will be based on several visits before I finally condemn them to my list. And as a standard control, I will not wave or demand for the server's attention every time.

The 'winners' for last weekend were:

1. Zouk Bar and Restaurant, Midvalley Megamall: We were totally ignored and the menu didn't reach our table before the cobwebs did.

2. Sbread, Midvalley Megamall: I thought I was invisible. I stood infront of the cash register for a few minutes to order and everybody at the counter didn't make any eye contact. They didn't even bat an eyelid at me.

I have a strange feeling the list won't end here.....

The 'How True Is Your Love' Test

I have a proposition for couples who intend to take their relationships to the next level.

If you feel like she/he's The One for you, but you are seeking for a full validation of your chemistry together, take your partner on a Mount Kinabalu climbing trip via the Mesilau route sans porter to carry your load.

If you and your partner survived this trip without any homicidal tendencies, you are ready to take the climb, err, I mean plunge.

Good luck!

The World From My Eyes...

Can You Possibly Be Any Slower Than That?!

In light of the impending RM50 credit card tax beginning from next year, I've mustered the courage and moolah to settle all outstanding balances in my H*BC credit cards in order to terminate them. And how long does it take for the tele-banker to do the necessary verifications & data entry over the phone?- 31 minutes and 20 seconds.

I'm so glad I no longer have to deal with them.

My Boo

There's always that one person
That will always have your heart
You'll never see it coming
Cause you're blinded from the start
Know that you're that one for me
It's clear for everyone to see
Ooh baby ooh you'll always be my boo

I was in love with you when we were younger
You were mine my boo
And I see it from time to time
I still feel like my boo
And I can see it no matter
How I try to hide my boo
Even though there's another man who's in my life
You will always be my boo

'My Boo' by Usher feat. Alicia Keys

Goyah

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Magnitude 6.0 - HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
2009 October 13 11:38:05 UTC

Earthquake Details
Magnitude 6.0
Date-Time Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 11:38:05 UTC
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 08:38:05 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

Location 2.938°N, 128.219°E
Depth 32 km (19.9 miles) set by location program
Region HALMAHERA, INDONESIA
Distances 255 km (160 miles) NNE of Ternate, Moluccas, Indonesia
405 km (255 miles) ENE of Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia
1515 km (940 miles) SSE of MANILA, Philippines
2580 km (1610 miles) ENE of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Should I cancel my Lembeh dive trip?..... Still few more days to consider.

Tapi ajal maut di tangan Tuhan, kan?

Ngapain Ganyang Malaysia?!

"Sweep Malaysia"?

"Ganyang Malaysia"?

"Malingsia?"

Cerita the so-called 'relawan' Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat and their 'buluh runcing' plot can surely qualify as one of their sinetron episodes shown on Astro.

They should channel all these excessive energy and resources to help their brothers in Padang instead of 'penetrating Malaysia by land, sea and air'. Especially your medical team, whom I can't find any reason as to why they want to come to Malaysia instead of the disaster-stricken West Sumatran region. Inikah arti pengorbanan buat kamu?

Perhaps only a handful are infected if not born with this xenophobic stupidity. But due to our our close physical and cultural proximity, this underlying tension has already generated a seismic emotional reaction.

We didn't steal Sipadan. It was decided at ICJ. Go and Ganyang ICJ if you dare.

Neither did we direct the pendet dance for the Discovery Channel. Go and 'sweep' the channel if you are so desperate.

The list can go on and on...

Be well-read, be logical, be aware of ramifications, do not believe hearsays, and do not let emotions rule.

I still love my Indonesian friends, though. Their natural intelligence will outclass this articial stupidity.

I Know What I Did Last Raya

(bottom photo by WeelingC)

Yup, have fun. That's what I did. These faces define what Raya means to me.

Family.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir batin.

Alasan No. 832 dari 1001 Alasan

THE DATE has yet to be set, still. Now we all have to wait until his parents came back after performing Haj. Call me selfish, but don't people usually want to clear all unfinished business before the leave for the sacred pilgrimage?

Our original "surprise wedding" plan failed last year when his mom threw a fit and sent us on a guilt trip. The second date agreed by both sides (excluding his silent parents) went by and killed by .... his parents' silence. And now, we were told to wait again until after their Haj.

We have been advised against marrying without parents' blessings. But nobody can advise us on the next course of action when blessing is not forthcoming and being unreasonably witheld.

I wonder what's the next 'excuse'. Sigh.

I feel like giving up. I'm full of frustration. Maybe we were not meant to be. Full stop.

My Garmin Forerunner 50

For the first time since the last of the gruelling efforts (yes, I'm exaggerating) made in the past month, I have finally managed to get my Garmin Training Centre up and running. Yay! The useful program allows me to track and record the progress of my fitness training. Not that I'm becoming a hardcore fitness buff, but there's a growing realization in me that knowing your physical strength, abilities and limits is the key to a well-balanced lifestyle.

My Forerunner 50 comes with the sports monitoring watch, USB ANT stick, heart rate monitor and a foot pod. Initially, I was very, VERY concerned about how I am going to make full use of this seemingly high tech toys. I kept postponing on reading the manual and pairing up the devices (a synchronization process) and just stick to wearing the lightweight, cool-looking watch everyday just to please Mr. B. Haha! It was actually a present from him, in an effort to stimulate my waning interest in sweating it out at the gym. I would be carrying the set to the gym every single time; not knowing how to use it properly.

Every time I tried to use it- imagine walking the treadmill with one arm held up to toggle and test the functions and another flipping through the manual helplessly- it just doesn't function well. Last week when I confessed to Mr. B that I can't set it up (the ego has landed!), he went through the setting up again with me every step of the way. That's when he figured out that the heart rate monitor and foot pod batteries were probably out.

I hate it when he's right.

So he changed the batteries and walla! everything worked out fine. So today, I recorded my training and flaunted my braggadocio rights to my trainer and gym pals. At home, I just have to plug in the USB ANT stick into my laptop and the program instantly started a wireless upload from my watch. The data and graphs were so detailed to the point that makes me feel like I'm carrying out a health diagnosis on myself.

I'll continue charting my progress, and I hope soon I'll be able to figure out what all these data actually translates to. If you wanna know more about this cool device, check it out here.

Dude, Where's My Car?!!

The delivery on my new ride is postponed again to the next day - for the third time! The first time, they had to postpone it because they did not manage to register on the previous day due to some internal reasons. The second time, the reason was because apparently, they need me to ink the HP loan agreement before they could release the car to me. This I personally went to the bank to do it yesterday. I was assured then that today, the car will be registered in the morning and should be delivered to me in the afternoon. I was pretty happy because today is 09.09.09 - an easy date for me to remember my car's ermm...'birthday'. Hahaha!!! But today, the salesman told me that they can't register my car this morning because their 'runner' had accidentally brought my registration receipt to Terengganu (!!) when he left to register another car.

When the salesman told me all these absurd results of incompetence, he was indeed apologetic. I remembered taking 3 deep breaths and as I cooled down, I resigned to the fact that this is a test for my kesabaran dlm bulan puasa ni. So in the spirit of this forgiving month, I let him off the hook without any verbal assault (pat,pat on my back), but not before he promise me that the car will be ready by tomorrow or otherwise - he'll have to tint the car with shatterproof Lumar for free. I.DON'T.CARE.

Alhamdulillah for the rezeki in this blessed month!

During buka puasa yesterday, my brother Erman said he has an announcement to make. I went, "Announcement apa? Emmir nak kawin??" to which my family laughed heartily, including Emmir himself (as if he understood!). Emmir is my 1 yr 4 mths-old nephew. Apparently, Emmir is going to be a big brother. My SIL Nyna is expecting. Alhamdulillah! Thank you God for this most precious gift!

Is It True That Exercise Won't Make You Thin?

Today is Wednesday, which is a cardio day. I'll spend five minutes warming up on the VersaClimber, a towering machine that requires you to move your arms and legs simultaneously. Then I'll do 30 minutes on a stair mill or if I'm up to it, it's 45-minutes RPM cycling. On Thursday, it's a 5.5-mile run, the extra half-mile - my grueling expiation of any gastronomical indulgences during the week. If I'm in the mood, I'll join the "body wedge" class, which involves another exercise contraption, this one a large foam wedge from which I will push myself up in various hateful ways for an hour. On Friday a personal trainer will work me like a farm animal for an hour, sometimes to the point that I am dizzy — an abuse for which I pay as much as I spend on food in a fortnight.

I have exercised like this — obsessively at times and a bit grimly — for years, but recently I began to wonder: Why am I doing this? Except for a two-year period at the dramatic end of a pointless relationship — a period when I self-medicated with lots of oily mamak food and the company of girlfriends — I have never been overweight. One of the most widely accepted, commonly repeated assumptions in our culture is that if you exercise, you will lose weight. But I exercise all the time, and since I ended that relationship and cut most of those mamak food, my weight has returned to the same 128 lb. it has been most of my adult life. I still have baby fat here and there eventhough it has been more than 30 years since I was last called a baby. Why isn't all the exercise wiping it out?


It's a question many of us could ask. I read somewhere that more than 45 million Americans now belong to a health club, up from 23 million in 1993. They spend some $19 billion a year on gym memberships. Of course, some people join and never go. Still, as one major study — the Minnesota Heart Survey — found, more of us at least say we exercise regularly.

And yet obesity figures have risen dramatically in the same period: a study revealed that a third of Americans are obese and in Malaysia, the rate has more than doubled in the last 6 years! Yes, it's entirely possible that those of us who regularly go to the gym would weigh even more if we exercised less. But like many other people, I get hungry after I exercise, so I often eat more on the days I work out than on the days I don't. Could exercise actually be keeping me from losing weight? Or has the role of exercise in weight loss been wildly overstated?

The basic problem is that while it's true that exercise burns calories and that you must burn calories to lose weight, exercise has another effect: it can stimulate hunger. That causes me to eat more, which in turn can negate the weight-loss benefits I've just painstakingly accrued. I'm about to reach a conclusion where exercise doesn't necessarily help us to lose weight. It may even be making it harder!

But still, I won't stop exercising since doing something about it is still better than sitting around complaining to your girfriends over a chocolate chip mocha frappucino with whipped cream and two servings of American cheesecake.

What Is Your Favourite Smell?

Last weekend had been a terribly busy weekend for me. Usually when I'm away from home for several hours, I'll make it a point to re-apply few dabs of my pefume. But last weekend I forgot, and I feel less human.

Do you remember what was your first perfume or deodorant? Well I know of friends who had started wearing deodorant since 13. I only started using them last year. Not because I have suddenly developed B.O. at this stage of life ( I think), but because I have been spending extended hours away from home everyday. I became very conscious of how I smell at the end of the day, especially with my fiance being around. :-D

I first fell in love with those perfume concentrate variations released by The Body Shop in tiny rounded bottles during high school days. I liked most of them except Dewberry. Somehow the smell identifies with erm... "bohsia" who hung out around Pertama Complex during those days. No offense. I still remember how I would dab just a teeny-weeny bit of these concentrates because the smell can be really overpowering. But even the tiny dab lasts a really, really long time....

The obsession carried on thoughout college and university, thanks to the media exposure and peer pressure . So every now and then, chunks of my MARA scholarship was spent on designer perfumes - Acqua di Gio, Hugo Boss (where the bottle resembles a grenade - what can I say, those were the rebellious years), and when I was about 17, my father who is allergic to perfumes went to Paris and presented me with, urmm..... Dolce Vita by Christian Dior. It was so sweet of him, but I don't wanna be smelling like Eva Peron going to school. So I kept it, until now.

Working and earning my own keep has definitely heightened my sense of smell, literally. I fell in love with Sensi by Giorgio Armani, Stella by Stella McCartney, Burberry's Brit, Calvin Klein's Eternity, Armani Mania by Giorgio Armani and White Diamond by Emporio Armani.

I believe every girl is destined to find their one true perfume. One that perfectly complements her and makes her feel ready to take over the world every morning. I swear to God that Sensi by Giorgio Armani is my true perfume. Alas, it is no longer in the market. Right now, it's a tie between Armani Mania and Stella. So babe, now you know what to get for my birthday in many, many years to come. :-)

An Afternoon With GMD

Today our Group Managing Director called me up to his office. As it was my first time setting foot in his plush office, naturally, quesiness sets in.

It turns out he actually wants to hear firsthand on why I am leaving the company. So there I was, considering whether I should be flattered that he showed his concern or annoyed as he is aware that his new policies were actually driving good people away.

I tendered my resignation on 7 August 2009 after being with the company for almost 7 years. Some say it's the 7-year itch. Whatever. But I don't know what is it about resignation that makes me feel uncomfortable. Maybe because it feels like you're 'dumping' someone. Of course in this case, it's the company, a non-persona, but still the thought of leaving my wonderful friends and colleagues of 7 years stirred my emotion.

With the GMD, we went through the whole why-are-you-leaving, the-company-has-a-lot-of-prospective-careers-for-people-who-are-dead-bored-of-their-jobs, we-are-in-a-good-shape-despite-the-economic-slowdown, yadayadayada. And then when the so-thought 'right' moment came, the line "the pay the company offered me is not competitive" got stuck in my throat.

Yup, I, the notorious motormouth, chickened out.

2 hours later, sitting back behind my desk, my mind played reruns of my discussions with him. I was somewhat relieved that I didn't raise the issue about the pay. Somehow, it looks very petty now and in retrospec, it seemed like a more mature thing to do by giving him the insights on my future plans. Even then, I tiptoed with my words around him. I wouldn't wan't to ruffle the feathers of a very influential guy who might be offering me a job in the future now would I?

The truth is, I'm leaving because I need to put myself back into the market to catch up on my 'market value'. I know some companies gave substantial and impressive adjustments to their key personnel to keep them interested, but sadly that doesn't happen in my current company. In order to preserve the good rapport I had with my boss the CEO and my ultimate boss the GMD, I also told them that since I'm not leaving with a bitter taste in my mouth, I am not denying any future possibilities of re-joining the Group. But at that time, it will totally be on my terms. Insya Allah.

Goodbye...

Rise. In. Paradise.

in your

Magical Journey.....

The Vile Baker

I always thought people who make cakes, pastries and sweet-toothed nibbly bits are people who are generally happy, polite, contented and yearning for world peace. Otherwise, how would the pastries turn out to be all sugar-n-spice and everything nice?

But today, when I called a particular so-called well-known pastry chef to place my order for some edible image, I was treated in a very brusque manner. She didn't even bother asking me the details of my order but instead instructed.... INSTRUCTED(!!) me to place my order via e-mail. She repeatedly told me that my order will not be entertained lest I make the payment pronto. Let's see, where I came from, that's not how potential customers should be treated, unless you are really not interested to entertain small time ones. Then say it on your bloody website-lah- "SMALL-TIME ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT WELCOMED UNLESS YOU WANT THE PHONE SLAMMED DOWN AT YOUR FACE BEFORE THE CONVERSATION ENDS" ...

or

"DO NOT CALL THESE CONTACT NUMBERS LISTED HERE COZ I'LL BE TOO BUSY BEING A B*TCH AND WON'T BE BOTHERED TO ENTERTAIN YOUR MINISCULE ORDER".

It'll make my life and yours so much easier.

Then I cooled down and decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I caught her at the wrong time when she was just rushing out to send her kids to 'mengaji' or something. Or maybe, she was having some bowel movement troubles down under and suddenly needs to make that quick dash there and then. Bearing these probable reasons in mind, I went ahead and made the payment, placed the order via e-mail and texted her afterwards. I asked for her confirmation on receipt of the order, but 4 hours later, still no reply.... and the clock is ticking.

Nevermind, the collection isn't due till Thursday and if something goes wrong, she'll know the meaning of "blog off".

Are You Really Friends Outside Facebook?

When my best friend Dee lost her mom to a tragic accident few months ago, she shared her grief online via Facebook. Almost immediately after, well-meaning friends and acquaintances instantly posted condolences on her Wall. I am not surprised she had chosen to share something so personal online.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized Facebook might be the perfect venue for tragic news: it’s the fastest way to disseminate important information to the group without having to deal with painful phone calls and it eliminated the possibility that if someone were to bump into her in the supermarket, he or she might ask unknowingly about her mom and force her to replay the story over again.

I believe that a strong network of friends can be crucial in getting through a crisis and can help you be healthier in general. But could virtual friends be just as helpful as the flesh-and-blood versions? In real life, having 700 people in your circle of friends could get overwhelming, but that’s less of an issue online. When you get a promotion on your job, a celebratory lunch with your best friends will make you feel good and make for a fantastic memory. But I feel that the boost you get from the 15 Facebook friends who left encouraging comments can also make you happy and could do wonders to your self-esteem.

I have also encountered people who has explored deep into the darker crevices of social networking. What’s supposed to be a harmless online flirting between two happily married people who got connected through a friend’s friend’s friend’s friend’s friend’s friend developed into a full blown romantic affair. But the blooming relationship was not as voluntary as they seem. Fortunately, I would say, the affair ended before they could actually figure out whether they were real friends to begin with.

In conclusion? I think Facebook works best as an amplification of a "real life" social life, not a replacement—even as time and technology progress and the lines between online interactions and real-world experiences continue to blur.

If you disagree, feel free to “throw a sheep” at me.

Lost and Found

About 3 weeks ago, I was finally in the mood to have at look at my Manado trip photos. All 1700+ of them. Folders after folders, I came to the last 500 odd photos. By then, as you can guess, my eyes were tired, my focus and determination were waning. Decided to take a break, I took a nap.

Half-and-hour later (rasanyalah..hehehe), I woke up, packed my stuff and shifted from the living room to my bedroom. Back then, I remember clutching my 16Gb memory cards with my right hand, together with my laptop. And that was the last thing I could remember about the memory cards.

I didn't realize I've misplaced it until I was prepping up for my nephew's birthday party that weekend. Panic mode on, penatlah I punggah everything out from my shelves, under my bed and emptied out my drawers and handbagsssSSssss (babe, takyah roll your eyes...), tapi tak jumpa2. So, not knowing whether I should rush out and buy another card or just stay around and be a party pooper, sweetie pie offered to lend me his 2Gb card (2Gb je?! hehehe... but beggars can't be choosers).

Fast-forward to this morning, my mom greeted me with a smile at the breakfast table.

Mama : Haritu kata kad kamera hilang dah jumpa?
Me : (sulking) Belooom. Dah puas carik...
Mama: Smlm mama basuh baju Ajiq, pastu bila mama keluarkan nak sidai, ada 2 kad dlm casing terjatuh keluar.
Me: (excited) Hah?!! Ye ke?!!!! Mana Mama letak kad tu?
Mama: Ada kat atas, depan komputer Papa.
Me: Mintak2 boleh lah pakai lagi. So it means mama dah terbasuh memory card tu sekali lah ye?
Mama: Ha'ah... Tapi takpe, insya Allah boleh pakai. Mama basuh delicate cycle je, bukan heavy duty.

Mama,mama... even though you missed the point in this issue, you dispersed my horror by being so cute. True enough, the card is still OK. Thanks Ma, I love you! Mwahhh!!

Mana, Mana, Manado!!!!

Last place conquered- Manado! Oh boy, what an experience! Guess those pygmy seahorses are going blind for the next four years from the effect of my Sea&Sea strobe.... Sorry, little darlings!!!

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