Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Current update - 30/05/06

Read: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, *Raise the Red Lantern by Su Tong, Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
(* means I enjoyed reading them)
Reading: Chronicles of the Chinese Emperors by Ann Paludan, Einstein Never Used Flashcards by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek et al, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
CD: none
Favorite song: Hips Don't Lie by Shakira
Played: none
Watching: The Drew Carey Show, American Idol 5, Monk, The Amazing Race 9, Frasier, Desperate Housewives

No. of times asked if I have a boyfriend: 7
No. of times asked when I will get married: 23 (approx)
No. of times asked when I will have kids: 2

Other news:
1) Went to Kuala Selangor with friends and Port Dickson with family.
2) Got news that the store manager will change. The current one is going to a new outlet abroad. Hopefully the new one is not as tight-assed as the old one.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Ode to a chicken

Why did you go in there? Of all places?

My air-cond was busted a few days ago. It wasn't like it was not cold enough, it was totally out, kaput, not working. I turned the knob to ON and not even a breathe came out. This happened on Thursday.

I finally got the chance to send my car to a workshop today. I wanted to go a shop I usually go to but it was closed so I went to the nearest shop around. He poked and prodded, opened that cover that's covering the air-cond controller thingy on that dashboard thingy and then pried open the radio cover, took out my radio and poked and prodded under there too. After half an hour the diagnosis was there's something wrong with the compressor. I have to change it. It will cost me RM380 plus the gas they will put in and I thought,

"Hell.....No "

I'm not that well-versed about cars but I kind of get the feeling it doesn't have to do with the compressor. I think it has something to do with wiring because right before my air-cond konk-out on me I heard a crackling sound like a short circuit.

So I said, "Never mindlah. I'll come back later." I don't have RM380 in my wallet anyway.

So I went to another shop that I usually go to too in emergency cases because it was nearer to my house. The other one I usually go for service because it's near to a LRT station so I can leave my car there and traipsied to some other place more entertaining.

So, I went there and the guy opened the hood and immediately said,
"Ada tikus mati ka?" (Did a rat died in here?)
"Tak tahu" (I don't know)
"Ada bau la" (There's a smell)"
He took a torchlight and showed me. Sure enough there's a dead something right next to the air-cond compressor.
"Cuci dulu baru boleh tengok air-cond. Tak tahan bau la" (Clean it first. Can't stand the smell)

He had to take put my bumper before cleaning the engine and used a stick to shove it out while joking around how I don't feed the rat and it ended up dying in there and I laughed along.
Ha Ha

It finally came out, a round, black, furry thing. I didn't look close enough but I don't think it was a rat. No rat that big can be found in my neighborhood. You can find in the Petaling Street but not at my house. And then I realized something.

"Itu tikus ke ayam?" (Was that a rat or a chicken?)
"Ayam" (Chicken)

When the late chicken was out and my engine is nice and clean (but still smells), he went off I don't know where. I guess he had to wait for the engine to dry a bit and I said a prayer for the chicken.

He came back half hour later and I saw that my air-cond is back on again. Of course, being the good sales person that he is, he started rehashing.

"Service air-cond la"
"Okla. How much?"
"Tengok dulu part mana mau tukar"
(See which parts need changing first)

So he checked and he came back with a treatment proposal. I have to change 2 parts and it will cost me RM268.

"Hell..... No "

I usually pay no more than RM100 for an air-cond service. Around this time I've been waiting for an hour. I really have to go to my part time job so after he cried and begged (ok he didn't cry) and convinced me that his is a professional service, he's giving me original parts...
Blah Blah Blah I just agreed.

One hour later I still see no one looking after my car. That guy disappeared again to God knows where. When I asked the boss he said they guy went to get the parts. It took him an hour to get the parts. I was already pissed before he got back.
Mean

He came back still laughing, showing me the original parts that he got for me. But you know what, after awhile, even a clown's humor will run out. I just gave him a crooked smile.
Grrr

He did his thing and I finally got my car back.
Total waiting time: 3 hours.

I paid what's due to the dollar (no discount at all, though he showed me a can of air-cond oil that he claimed to have cost RM45 that he's giving me for free). I just closed one eye and handed the boss the money since he did clean out that late chicken for me.

Oh little chick-a-dee
Where did you come from?
I thought I ate the last one of you last Raya
Why, oh why did you go in there? Of all places?
Where did you come from
But I hope you're in a better place now
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

I do hope that there is such thing as a chicken heaven.

Guys and dolls

I'm so excited. My favorites always win this time around or almost win.

My favorite team in The Amazing Race won the million bucks. But not before they almost gave me a heart attack on that last Road Block. The Frat Boys got there first but the one who finish first counts and The Hippies got it!

A while back, in the studios of America's Next Top Model, I was really rooting for Kahlen. She's got an interesting look and take great photos but yet her innocence got in the way.

Meanwhile, in the American Idol arena my favorite guy Taylor Hicks got into the finals! I knew he had a chance to get into the finals but now that Chris is out I'm thinking he could really win this. I don't hate Catherine but I just can't see her doing a pop album. She is a good singer but I think she was born in the wrong era. You can say the same about Taylor too but give him a pop song, he will just put his soulful touch to it. But give Katherine a pop song she will just slaughter it.

Taylor can be the next American Idol but then once upon a time I thought Bo could be too. So you'll never know. But I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

It's the final 4

A great final four this time around for the American Idol show.

I'm guessing Elliot will be out tomorrow but based on tonight's performance I would rather see Katherine go out.

Kampung Gal also predicts Chris will be the next American Idol and he will go against Taylor Hicks. But I just loooooovvvvvveeeeeee Taylor Hicks. Did I ever say I love Taylor Hicks? Well I love Taylor Hicks.

Go Taylor Hicks!


She is also guessing that the MoJo team will be eliminated this week and BJ & Tyler will win the race. Forget those 2 horny toads. They may be ahead most of the time but I bet they will come up just a little bit short than the hippies at the finish line. I think the hippies are the best-loved team since the clown brothers.


Go Hippies!

You Know You're Living in 2006 When...

1. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

12. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

13. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

14. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.

AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.

(Courtesy of an interesting e-mail I got)