Sketches of Life

Hari Raya is coming; the Indonesian foreign workers are more desperate to get more money to send home. What would some of them do? Rob people’s house.

My colleague’s FIL just got rob this Monday by 4 Indonesian guys! It seems that on the same night, they went to broke in 4 houses and my colleague’s FIL house is the second house they broke in and the only house that they took their mask out. Wrong move. The old man remembers all their faces. It seems that one of them got caught and the policeman is waiting for the old man to be discharged from the hospital to verify that he is one of the burglars.

Don’t under estimate a 71 year old man who is trained with martial art. With one push, he caused the burglar (big size) that was about to tie his hand to fall down but his friend came to help and poke the old man forehead with a screw driver. Thank God it did not poke his eyes; it was right on top of his eyebrow. The old man screams as loud and he could that caused all 4 of them to run away as fast as they could and break in other people’s house in the same village!

The rest of the family members woke up after they heard the scream and when the burglar has left.

Now every night before bed I make sure my house is well lighted because hubby always come home after midnight.

Once I resign the first thing that I would do is get an Apple Macbook so that I can blog everywhere that I go, provided the place has Wifi. I can blog on my bed, I can blog under the durian tree, I can blog while waiting for my girls at their dance class and I can even blog when I go for vacation. But before that I must make sure hubby help me to download some mac games for my girls to play just in case I need to snatch the desktop from my girls.

I am kind of bored with the routine that I go through everyday now. Since finance is no longer a big issue, thanks to paid blogging, I am thinking to resign from my present job and get more life.

I want to be there for my children when they come home from school. Just like my mother.

I want to learn to cook better Nyonya food coz someone commented that I am not an original Nyonya. Furthermore, I can continue to depend on my mom and MIL to cook my children’s favorite Nyonya food, Pong Teh.

I want to teach, preferably English and Mathematics. But before that I want sign up for the TESL course coz I know that my English is not that powderpool! This will also equipped me when we finally go for mission trips. I don’t have preaching skill but at least I can teach English.

I want to dance and enroll my girls for dance class, violin class and piano too.

I want to get involve again in church activities.

I want to start more niche blog.

I am still waiting for the Green light from hubby.

Back in the years when I was very active in sports, digital camera is so expensive. Due to it I don’t have many photos of me in action especially when I play Softball. When I fell down flat on the mud, when I strike out the opponent and when I hit the home run. I can still remember, how silly I look when I was dressed in a goalkeeper suit when playing hockey.

Amidrin asked me which age I would want to go back too. I think I would choose the age when I was in university. Must go back there with a digital camera. Must capture all the precious moments in campus which is now only kept in my memory which I can’t share with my children.

To those who are looking Tennessee football photos, you are blessed to have a website that has a lot of picture from that university. You might even find a picture of yourself there.

Hari Raya is coming and we are going to have slightly longer than usual holiday. 4 days off from work from Saturday till Tuesday. I work full day on Saturday, like today so I am so looking forward to Raya.

The family (hubby’s siblings) is planning for gathering, most properably camping at the eldest brother in law bungalow in Tebong Estate (Palm Oil Estate). We won’t have the luxury like staying in Excalibur Las Vegas but sleeping under the moon and the stars is an awesome experience too.

Anyone wanna join me? You only need to bring your camping tent and mosquito repellant.

I do not and cannot drink coffee but I have a coffee maker at home. Not jura capresso but Braun coffee maker. Someone gave us as our engagement present. Ya! I can’t even remember who gave it us. We got engage on hubby’s birthday in year 2000. That’s almost 7 years ago. I think the warrantee period is already over. I wonder whether it still works. The box is not even opened!

When we received it, we did thought of giving it away but we felt it is not right to give our gift to someone else. So we kept it, hoping that one day we might drink coffee again. After 7 years, we become more health conscious and I can’t even drink decaf coffee! We wanted to give it away but none of our family members want it.

Maybe I should start a contest and whoever wins will get my coffee maker.

When I first started this blog, I emailed all my blogger friends to link me in their blogs. Most of them cooperate. Then I submit this blog to a few blog communities to get more traffic to this blog. Praise God, this blog got PR3 in less than 3 months.

I am not doing any e-commerce business yet, so search engine marketing is not that crucial unless I decided to go full time blogging than I might want this blog to be at the top of Google’s search results then advertisers who needs SEO will be begging for me to write for them! hehe.

When you see the word Steak House, what comes in your mind? For me, a restaurant with many choices of steak. T-Bone Steak, Rib Eye Steak, Sirloin Steak etc.

So I saw a new restaurant in town, My Homely Steak House. I decided to try it out. Steak house right, must have a lot of varieties of steak.

I browse thru the menu to find a page titled Western Food.

1. Sizzling Beef
2. Sizzling Chicken
3. Sizzling Fish
4. Sizzling Chicken with Mee. (use lar the word Noodle, typically Chinese)

Flipped through a few more pages. I can’t find my Steak. The rest are all Chinese dishes.

Only Sizzling Beef. Yes just ONE. Can’t find the word Steak also.

Since we are there, okay lar, try lar. I ordered my “Steak”. Gravy only 2 choices, Mushroom or Black Pepper. I chose black pepper. Hubby ordered the Sizzling Fish (dunno what fish) with Noodle…opps! Mee.

As for the drink, I ordered the Honeydew Milk Tea and hubby decided to try something new, Champagne Milk Tea. The waitress said it is very nice, blue colour. Both drinks are much diluted and the Champagne Milk Tea tasted like detergent!

We were served with a small portion of garden salad, one slice of capsicum, 4 leaves of lettuce and shredded carrot top with salad dressing and a small bowl of chicken soup with corn in it or is it corn soup? These are not stated in the menu.

I told hubby that judging from the drink and side dishes, I would not return to this shop. I hope the Sizzling Beef can change my mind. I was asked whether I want a 5 minutes or 7 minutes beef. Huh? I chose 7 mins, I like my beef to be well done.

Look at my Sizzling Beef. It comes with an egg too. 4 small pieces of beef top with black pepper. Like that ah, I can do the same at home.

And here’s hubby’s Sizzling Fish with Mee. Does not look appetizing at all.

The taste, nothing to shout about.

The ambience, very noisy with the waitress, the owner, his children and friends talking and laughing out laugh. Not a place to go for a quite dinner.

Verdict: I will not return. Just for that simple Sizzling Beef, it cost me RM22.00. Not worth it.

I think they should change the name of the restaurant to My Homely YamCha House. To name the restaurant Steak House is very deceiving.

Thank God I get to enjoy my Kornetto for dessert.

I think life is much simpler in my parents younger days. Well, they may not have much luxury in life but they can still enjoy their life. It is just working in the field during day time and rest when it is dark. They live according to their means. But now things have changed. It is different in my generation.

I think my generation are more of the materialistic generation. We always want to have many material things for ourselves. And we tend to worry more. It is not a surprise if those who are able to read this blog would have more than one type of insurance for themselves. I am sure almost everyone would have bought a life insurance. It is either their parents bought it for them or when they start working, they bought one for themselves. As for me, I had to buy life insurance by myself as my parents are not so concern about buying insurance.

If you are driving your own car, then you will know about car insurance. Besides that you will have to buy a home insurance or a fire insurance when you buy a house. Well, there are so many types of insurance that you might want to buy. Oh ya… do not forget about the medical card which is also one type of insurance. I already bought insurance policy for all my three children. It is more of an endowment plan for them so that they would have some money when they need it.

Yesterday when we were at the air-cond service centre, the owner spoke to hubby in Malay but he speaks to me in Mandarin! Hello! I may look more Chinese than my husband but I am Banana too. I don’t speak any Chinese dialect. Ok, ok, maybe a lil bit Mandarin. Thank God I understood what he said but I answered him in English.

So, my dearie, when you see me or chat with me on MSN or Gmail chat, or leave comments in my blog, no Chinese word, please. I scratch my head trying to figure out what it means.

Hubby got his hair trimmer. Next he plans to add to his body shop supplies. This time I will make sure he uses his own income from blogging to buy them. Come to think of it, since Christmas is coming, I might just get them for his Christmas present. No need to think so much on what to buy for him.

When I was in campus, I never have to worry about renting an apartment. I am very active in sports and extra curricular activities, so I am so called “valuable” to the hostel so they offered me accommodation throughout my 4 years in that university.

However my other course mates have to search high and low for affordable apartment within walking distance to the campus because they do not have any transport. It is quite a hassle going from one apartment to another, one housing estate to another looking for the right accommodation.

Well, if you are going to study or work in Ohio, you are blessed to have ApartmentFinder.com. Just with the click of your mouse, you will be able to find so many Columbus Ohio Apartments with photos, tours, floor plans and more.

I decided to blog about my lunch today. You see, I seldom eat out during lunch because I go back to my mom’s for lunch everyday. Since today I am on half day leave, hubby and I decided to eat out. We went to the Hot & Spicy Restaurant on the way to Tmn Merdeka. The restaurant serves Nyonya and Portuguese food.

This Sambal Fried Rice cost RM3.00. It tasted different from the last time I ate there. I think they change the cook. But it still tastes good.

This one is Sambal Udang Petai, RM6.00. I love the Sambal. Slightly sweet but very spicy. Btw, I don’t eat Petai. Just cannot acquire the bitter taste of the Petai.

Claypot Curry Pork Ribs, RM6.00. The Pork is hidden down under. This is the Portuguese curry, not the normal Indian style curry. It has the sour taste. Every time we go there, we will sure order a small claypot of it. Something that we don’t cook at home.

And my dessert, ABC, RM2.50.

I think when Msau come to visit me, I would bring her there. This is a new restaurant. I doubt she has dined here in her last visit to Malacca.

This is another big purchased for today. A hair trimmer for hubby cost RM190.00. Hubby wanted to own a hair trimmer for quite sometime. Due to lack of $$$, he bought the cheap ones from the shopping centre. It cost only RM20 to RM30 but after using it twice, it does not work anymore. So we decided to spend a little bit more and get better quality ones.

The above is from US, manufactured in US. The seller has the same brand using the same technology but made in China, RM70 cheaper. We have no faith in Made in China product when it comes to quality so we decided to pay more for quality and durability.

I just hope that he won’t bald my son’s hair! I already warned him not too!

I took leave from work today to send my car to the workshop to top up the air-cond gas because the air-cond is just blowing hot air. So I thought the gas has gone out and the cost would be less than RM20. Least that I know that the air-cond is blocked and piping has to be changed and also, my compressor needs to be repaired too. The total damaged is RM465! Sop Sop Sop

Few weeks back, hubby came home with a joke. “Dear you know something, a customer wanted to pay their internet usage via credit card!” I LOL. “Did you laugh?” I asked. “You think I am out of my mind to offend my customer ah???” kekekeke. Maybe hubby should consider getting a credit card machine. High possibility his customers will spend more because they can pay by credit card. Maybe he can try out the free merchant services offered by First Data. And then monitor his sales after using it.

Once the sales picks up, I want to resign from work and shake leg at home but my fingers will be busy punching the keys on my PC keyboard.

I woke up on Sunday morning with pain on my right eyes. Felt like someone punch me right there. I asked hubby whether he accidentally punches me. His replied, “You got see naked guy last night or not?” Hmmm…think, think, think…No naked guy but got see one lengchai (handsome boy) lar by the name of Sean. Could he be the cause of the pain? Sean, you sure you not naked in the picture ah?

On Monday, more aching pain with the skin around it slightly red. Today there’s a small lump under the lid of my eyes. It feels itchy and slightly pain at the same time.

My daughter always gets this kinda small lump under her eye lid (we call it bentil in Malay) but this is the first time for me. Due to this I slowed down blogging coz staring too long that the computer screen makes it more painful.

Aiyo! This Datuk ah, people dah lar devastated with the lost of their daughter, Nurin. Now want to charge them! Have a heart lar Datuk.

Nurin Jazlin Jazimin’s parents could be hauled up for negligence following her abduction and murder – an offence punishable under Child Act 2001, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz.

Does this mean that if my children were to play at my house compound, someone kidnap them while I am doing my washing or cooking in the house, I will be charged of negligence?

During my last trip to Penang, I was so happy to see my ballroom dance partner. I remembered the first word that I said when I met him by chance in Sunshine Square, “Ben! You look so old!” He just laughed away. So bad of me ya. 8 years really took our youth away. But he was so nice complementing that I don’t change a bit!

I was the few lucky ones that have a guy as our partner because there were more girls than guys in the dance class. Well, he is a married man but a sporting one too. He is very stiff but he tried his very best to learn. Most of the time, I will be the one leading him, especially in Waltz.

My grandmother was a gambler and she smokes too. Those days, it is very common for old folks to smoke. When I was young, there will be uncles and aunties coming to the house to play card games like blackjack, poker, gin rummy etc. I will be their waitress. Taking drinks order from them and get my mom to prepare it, emptying their astray and serving tidbits too. Of course I received some tips at the end of the game. It was like I have a little casino at home.

However, my grandmother never once teaches me how to play the game. She would tell me that it is not good for young children to learn. Told me to go read my textbook! Texbook??? Yikes, I would rather climb trees.

Thank God there was not computer at that time. We don’t even know that computer existed until I went to secondary school. If my grandmother is internet savvy, I am sure she will get hook to online gambling, playing at famous online casino like Inter Casino, Vegas Palms Casino and many more. Instead of playing black jack with her friends, she will be playing online blackjack with her virtual friends. There goes my tip.

If you follow the Nurin’s case, you would have already known that the 2nd DNA result confirms that the dead body belongs to her. As a mother, I can feel the anguish the mother is going through with the fact that her daughter was tortured sexually till death.

I am VERY angry with the psycho who did that to her. If he is caught, please don’t hang him to death; poke his butt with a thick steel rod till he dies. I think this is done in the Arabic country for adultery. I watched this in P.Ramlee movie long time ago.

Whatever it is, he has booked a place in hell. Eternal suffering for him.

This KPC lady wanna know where is my desk in my office. There you go…

Now you know why I am not online all the time like you people. My PC does not have internet connection. Currently there are only 3 computers with internet connection in the office. One in my Lady Boss room, the one that I use to blog and chat with you gals when she is not around, one my MD’s laptop and another, my Operation Manager’s laptop.

Most of the time the Lady Boss will only be in the office from 9am to 12noon and the MD from 1pm to 4pm. So, you can see me from 4pm onwards or whatever time the MD leaves, sometimes earlier and whenever he is not in the office.

I badly needed sleep especially with my runny nose but somehow or rather, I kept turning and tossing last night. The weather was quite warm last night. I have no choice but to switch on the air-cond for a little while to get the room cooler. You see, if when I have runny nose, it will get worse when I am in an air-cond room.

But minutes after I switch off the air-cond, the room is warm again. My window is not able to trap the cool air long enough for me to fall asleep. I wish I can get Houston windows where their double paned windows can prevent energy loss and keep my room cool all night.

Look! A photo of London Bus taken using my digital camera.

Yes! I finally sat on a London Bus in Malacca. I was so excited about it that I smiled from ear to ear for at least 15 minutes!

However I was too sleepy to enjoy the whole ride. I was thinking of my bed after those 15 minutes.

We caught the bus at 6.45pm at the first stop near Digital Mall. Since this is the fasting month and the driver is a Muslim, he stopped to break fast at a 24 hours Bazaar near Melaka Sentral. We took the opportunity to shop at the bazaar for tidbits to munch during the ride.

The Malacca City Tour on the London Bus started at 7.30pm till 8.15pm. The bus really went slow for us to enjoy the view. Well, I did not manage to capture much photo because my camera is not built for moving objects.

And we are the only passenger! Hubby, my 2 girls and myself. The whole bus for ourselves. We paid RM10 (RM5 for adult) and the children got free ride.

According to hubby, some of our chickens are no longer around. I don’t think someone stole them. I think they wondered away looking for food and can’t find their way back home.

You see, MIL is still not back yet and they are not being fed by us twice daily. Like us human, after eating 3 times a day everyday and one day, we skip one meal, sure we will feel hungry right?

Well, I think it is the same with animals too. The chickens are only being fed once a day, I think. Hubby is doing the feeding now. So when they are hungry, they have to find food so they went to neighbours’ house.

When neighbour sees kampong chicken. “Ah! Blessing from heaven.” Slaughter them and cook it with Chinese herbs.

I have not been swimming for at least 2 years. I thought I can’t remember how to float anymore and forgotten all my strokes. But I was surprised that I can still swim breast strokes during the church camp at Bayu Beach Resort.

I think swimming is like cycling. Once you know how to balance yourself on the bicycle and cycle, you just now how to balance for the rest of your life.

Btw, I miss swimming so much. Didn’t get to swim much during the church camp because have to jaga anak while hubby plays water ball (dunno what the game is called).

Well, honestly this is the first time I hear a car by the model Dodge Charger. It must be an American Car. Most of our car here are Japanese car and our local Proton cars. If you are readers from US owning a Dodge Charger, check out WDE, Inc. It carries the latest Dodge Charger accessory. They have full line of chrome grilles and “one of a kind” wood interior packages, they specialize in custom embroidered floor mats as well as all kinds of chrome accessories. Get your latest updated with the newest toys & accessories for your Dodge Charger from the website.

Dear you said that you want to bring me for a real holiday, maybe in Riviera Maya Resort. Can I book the Mexico Vacation then? I really need a real break from blogging. But before that I need one month to really slim down and tone my body so that I can wear bikini and you can stroll proudly on the beach with me by your side and tell other vacationer that I am a mother of 3. How’s that? Hehehe. By the way, do we have enough saving by then to spend again? In times like this, I wish I am a millionaire.

Good type of pressure like what I am facing now. Pressure to complete all my pending opp by tonight. Pressure makes me perform. Pressure makes me think. Pressure makes me write better. Pressure makes me dig up many past memories. Pressure makes me write this kinda post! Arggh!!! I think I am going crazy already and I am only half way done.

DragonMummy wants to know my most embarrassing moment. Well I have of them but it was not that embarrassing till I can remember for the rest of my life. Only one that I can remember until today.

I was in Form One and I took the bus to school. I walk down the step of the bus confidently into a drain! On that day, the stupid bus driver stopped too close to the drain and I did not look down when stepping out of the bus. Instead of helping me, the bus conductor laughs at me first before pulling me out of the drain.

I went to class with the longkang (drain) smell and bruised leg.

Now I KPC wanna know your embarrassing moment:

1. Amother
2. ShoppingMum (you ask for it)
3. David
4. Chooi Peng (interim for you)

Update 25/09/07: Leah tagged me too.