Hard Rock

Sunday night Ray and I joined in the birthday celebration of AN. She was stunning, bubbly and genuinely delightful. We were seated in a row, Ray and I taking the edge of the table but we didn't mind.

As soon as we ordered, we were busy observing our surroundings. Both of us have not been there for a long time, his last visit being 5 years ago and mine was 9 years ago. We agreed it hadn't changed much in those years.

I don't know how it came to this but I commented that for a nice place like Hard Rock Cafe, the table cloth they used sure was not quite up to expectations. It wasn't so much as a table cloth, it's just a plastic cover.

Then Ray lifted the cover and we were surprised that the table used is not even a proper dining table.



But all's not bad...the food came and my Nachos was simply HUGE! I distributed quite a lot and I still didn't manage to clean my plate. For RM30, I guess Hard Rock does give you value for money afterall.

(Nice big serving but I gotta say they don't take much pain in food presentation).

Guess Hard Rock is not very much about the appearance, although it is a world famous chain of "glamour" restaurant featuring great artistes as a theme. Maybe patrons just appreciate the simplicity of it, food and music combined.

I am getting fat

For some time now I’ve been looking into the mirror and realized I looked bigger than usual. Not until last night did I consciously admit to myself that I am getting fat! Never thought I would say it but there it is.

Friends always say that I am not fat and hardly can see me get fat, but if only you see the hidden fats I now have!! For the record, I am definitely not anorexic, so I’m not imagining it.

So, with all the nice food that comes with vacationing, wedding receptions, Christmas, Chinese New Year and birthdays….really have to start watching out getting too well endowed!

Care for a cookie at the spa?

The spa business has grown so large and varied, people are thinking of more creative ingredients to make an interesting spa formula. The aromatherapy range is fast becoming a boring one as most spas will offer them.

So the latest I’ve heard is using Oreo cookies as part of an ingredient for spa treatment! (I’ve not done this, I only read it from the Straits Times today). Literally a yummy treat or what?

I’m wondering though…if you don’t scrub off the concoction properly after your little treat, will ants come after the Oreos on you??

The lecture hall memories

Yesterday, I spent my day attending a seminar. It was held in a Lecture Hall of an establishment. It was my first time walking into a lecture theatre 6 years since I graduated, and it felt a little nostalgic. Of course this lecture hall is very much nicer and tastefully done up compared to an old university. This one had pine wood walls and floorings, and the seats were made of comfortable fabric cushions.

The people who filled the hall seemed out of sorts to me, including myself. Then I realise it’s because my image of people in a lecture hall are those dressed in jeans and sweaters, carrying knapsacks or simply clutching books in hand. Not the guys in ties and jackets and the girls smartly dressed in pant or skirt suits.

I sat a few rows from the back. While waiting for my colleagues of the industry to come traipsing in, I suddenly felt sad. Whenever I had to go to lecture halls on a daily affair back then, it didn’t feel “lonely” like this because I know my friends would be there. But this time I sat alone and missed my friends and university life. We had so much fun even though had to attend boring lectures everyday. I sat there reminiscing and concluded it MUST be the best days of one’s life to be a carefree student.

Free things in life

Everybody says "there is nothing free in life". Quite true. But there really are some freebies around, if you choose to see it. Whilst they may not be big savings, you could be surprised at the accummulated savings if you never had to spend money on them.

1. Electricity - I never thought I could get away not paying electricity bills but in many ways, we all do. Do you charge your mobile phone/PDA in the office? If you do, think of how often you do it in a month and you would've saved that much from charging your devices at home!


2. Car wash - OK it might not be the cleanest of water but God gives us all free car washes. Heck, He even offers them almost daily during the rainy season. If you wished it to rain cleaner water, then don't pollute the environment so much and we could all share some cleaner raindrops.

3. Pets - There are lots of cats and dogs on the streets waiting for someone to adopt them for no cost at all. Just check out all the programs to save abandoned pets at Cat Addiction and you'll know how many are free for you to take home. They're as good as any pets you find in the stores, just aren't as lucky or pretty but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

4. Food - For a small-eater, you could get full just doing your rounds at a supermarket where promoters offer food sampling. Just go along and take everything you're offered. What's more, you sometimes even get a drink to go with it. It's not the 3-course meal you're thinking of but come on, it's free so can't ask for the world, can you? (Now who says "there's no such thing as a free lunch?")

5. Haircut - Sure, haircuts at home are free but even better, in some salons in the UK you get PAID to have your hair cut! This is more than free, ain't it? Now you're asking what's the catch right? OK, you got me. You get paid because the salon needs you to be the "model" for their trainee hair-stylists. But you never know, you could walk away with a new funky and stylish look and have Jennifer Aniston copy your hairstyle for once!

I can go on and on about all the little free things in life that could add up to save you some money but I shan't bore everyone to sleep. Anyway, it's time to go get some free lurvin' from my furballs.

Give way to Peace

We were driving on the Federal Highway towards Subang yesterday afternoon. Traffic was OK, quite heavy but not jammed. There was a car in front of us in the next lane wanting to switch lanes. Whilst I appreciate his courteous manner of signalling, his sense of humour made it even better, and even more impossible not to give way.

His window was wound down and he stuck a good portion of his arm out flashing a “peace” sign. Of course he got his way through and I thought this is a good tactic to borrow in my drive home through all that jam.

So if you see a lady driver flashing a Peace sign at you on the road, flash back (the Peace sign, not anything else), smile and gimme way (please)!

Peace to all.

I am the Hero

Sometimes I drive quite fast, but when I feel nervous on the road for no reason and feel like I don't have very good control of my car at certain moments, I slow down and be extra cautious. It's not like I'm careless or a clumsy driver.

But lately I've had 2 minor accidents right by my doorstep. The first was a efw weeks ago when I was reversing out of the driveway one night and didn't see the car parked behind. I left a small dent on the fellow's car and his lousy paintwork marked the bump on my car. Thankfully it was a small nudge and nothing got broken.

The second accident happened today. I was driving into the driveway this time when halfway through my mom and I heard a loud grinding sound. I looked into the rear mirror to find the automatic gate closing in and crashing into the side of my car! I hadn't pressed on the close button and I can't explain what the heck just happened.

Anyway, this time the damage is a lot bigger. My right rear tyre burst because the edge of the gate had a metal plate that sliced the tyre. My rim is badly scratched (some parts were chipped off!) and the back portion of my car's body had some marks of the gate's paint.

It was approaching 7pm and thunder was looming. Luckily Ray helped me in time to change the tyre and rim. *Hugs*

Though it was a minor accident compared to anything that could've happened on the road, it didn't make me feel any more comforted. Been feeling uneasy over it and I think I'll take a slow and alert drive to work tomorrow.

I think I deserve to be crowned the Hero of Home Accident in my very own neighbourhood.

Help me out

Dear friends and fellow bloggers,

Ray and I are thinking we should take a short break next month (short because I don't have many days leave la). Not sure where to go, but there are a few ideas. Help us decide by submitting your vote on my mini poll on the right of my blog OK? Thanks!

...xoxo...

eternity

P.S. If you wanna put in other places in addition to those I've listed, leave your suggestions as comments to this post.

Pee, and the world pees with you

If anyone finds this post crude/disgusting/gross in any way, my apologies in advance.

I was in the rest room today when another girl came in. She was very engrossed talking on her phone. She went into one of the toilet cubicles and proceeded to do her thing, while still on the phone! From where I was, I could hear her pee-ing. The whole room was quiet save for her voice and, erm, the sound effect from her little job. I was amused with her confidence, not being ashamed to let the other person on the line hear her pee and flush.

I wouldn’t be caught dead doing what she did. Or am I just too uptight a person? But if I were the other person on the line, I would prefer NOT to hear the private going-on in the rest room either.

Smell it like Beckham

Celebrities are known to run businesses in the fashion industry, opening boutiques that sell sky-high priced clothing and accessories. Moving up a step, they’re now into the fragrance business, too. Just look at J.Lo, Britney Spears, even Paris Hilton. So who else is on this band wagon?

David Beckham!!!! Hmm….Anyway, for guys who wanna smell like him (really??), which is supposedly all fruity and musky (it contains the scents of grapefruit, mandarin leaf, cardamom seeds and patchouli), then check out David Beckham Instinct.

Is football not profitable anymore?

Cliche gifts for girls

Let's just say that most girls will say they're not materialistic, that whatever you give them is "oh so sweet" and "perfect!". The reality is, girls are telling the truth, they are not materialistic BUT...there's always this little part of them that somehow secretly harbour an appetite for, erm... some "girlie" albeit expensive gifts (things like jewelries, parfums, pretty but unpractical things, chocolates, flowers, etc).


As "boring" or cliche as they may sound, I'm guessing these are the very gifts a girl often would appreciate once in a while. Not so much because they are expensive, but just the perception behind it - that the guy cares enough to be generous on them with a pretty gift. OK, and also because they could, at times, show off to other girlfriends. But more than that, these gifts just seem more romantic. Don't ask me why.


However, I also know some girls who would swear they hate it when guys present them such gifts, labelling them as uninteresting, lacking in creative or original ideas, no initiative to think harder, etc. Sorry guys, you just can't win all the time, can you? Not unless the gift is so sparkly that it blinds her and blows her brains out.

On a more hopeful note, I know a friend whose husband made her a necklace and she's very appreciative of it. See, it's not all about your money, either!

Awww...

"Mommy, wake up, I'm hungry!"

To bribe or not to bribe?

Heard the news on the radio this morning that the government is going to reward police officers who do not take bribes. That’s so ridiculous! Taking bribes is not right and the government needs to reward the police force to stay on the right course?? Isn’t that some sort of a "bribe" not to commit bribery? Only difference is that this reward program is a somewhat legalized bribe.

Some smart fella

What if Malaysian students did this in exams?

Piper will be fine

Brought Piper to the vet for her fur loss problem. Not only was she traumatized by the visit, so was I! My trauma started when I entered the clinic and there were 3 dogs barking away. I'm terrified of dogs and all three seem to be able to break free from their owners if only they yanked harder. I stood frozen at the corner and Piper was meowing her distressed meows. I don't blame her, the poor baby.

I actually looked quite pathetic, "hiding" into a corner to be as far away from the dogs as possible. Piper stayed quite cool in her voyager and got immuned to the ear piercing barks, so much so that she was beginning to fall asleep. We waited for about 30 minutes before she was examined.

The poor baby was pricked on the ear to do a blood test and was "harassed" all over wit Frontline spray. She was darn angry but it was a well worth trip for me just to know that her blood test didn't show any negative signs. Big sigh of relief... =)

I'm hooked on Sudoku

Didn't know what the big deal was and didn't know how to play Sudoku, I decided to watch my colleague play one day. It seemed challenging enough and she made a copy of the puzzle to let me try it.

Once I got the hang of it, I found that I loved it! Couldn't believe what effort I went through...I got out all the old Star papers and cut out the daily Sudokus, and even bought a small Sudoku book that can fit into my bag!


It keeps me patient and sane while waiting in line, and even keeps my mind occupied when I'm in the shower thinking about the unsolved puzzle! Yeah, and you think I would have better things to do or a life to lead huh?

That's life

Though it wasn’t a day of extraordinary great mood yesterday, it was at least a TGIF mood and things were brighter because of that. So there I was making arrangements for a few things I’ve been putting of and finally getting out to meet friends today…when suddenly a colleague reminded me it’s my working Saturday today! OK, it’s not taking up my whole Saturday but it would mean rescheduling and I would have to still put some things on hold so I’m pretty much back to square one. Damnit!

It's a thin line between life and death

Anyone know of any bodies doing collection of donation (monetary or food/clothing items) for the Pakistan quake victims? So far I only know of The News Straits Times doing a drive to donate money to supply tents.

Winter is coming soon and there aren’t enough money or supplies to keep the survivors alive through the winter season. Whilst we soon come to rejoice Christmas time and look forward to the start of a new year, these people are wondering if they will even make it to see the next daylight.

No jam!!!

Woke up this morning and couldn't believe it's already Monday and time to crawl back to work. But surprise, surprise!!! The roads were clear and I got to the office in a breezy 25 minutes with zero jam! Almost couldn't believe it. People forgot to wake up, couldn't wake up, or still holidaying??

Sudoku craze

Went to MPH and Kinokuniya in the last couple of days and saw lots of publications on a new number puzzle game - Sudoku. Never heard of it before till then and it looks pretty interesting. Seems to be the new hot thing and I'm waiting for the newspapers to start publishing these alongside the usual crossword puzzles.

How do you say W?

If you say it slowly, how does the letter "w" sound like? Is it pronounced:

1. Dub-dlieu
2. Double u
3. Da-be-lieu

What is the actual pronounciation?

The chicken story

Watched Chicken Little yesterday. I was real tickled by the cute chick wearing nerdy glasses doing the dance thingy and so was my mom. So we ended up watching it yesterday and to my disappointment, he didn't do the dance in the movie. Well there was some chicken dancing at the end of the show when the credits were rolling but not quite the dance you see during the advertisements.

Anyway, apart from being a good entertainment for kids, the movie offers a few laughing moments, a little parenting lesson, some bits about true love and how beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I would say it's a so-so movie and if not for the huge advertising budget, I think the seats won't get filled up in the cinemas.

Working holiday

While most people are holidaying and sleeping in today, I’m at work. But the saving grace is I’m not alone in the office, there are about 20 of us in today. Wonder why people don’t take the day off. Me, not that I don’t want to, it’s only because I have no leave to take!