Kuih Bulan / Mooncake / 月饼

< white flag >
My sister wants me to write something in Dusun / Lunbawang language.  I can't even construct a full sentence.  Failed miserably.
< / white flag >

Anyway, I received 2 mooncakes at work yesterday - a single yolk & a double yolk pure lotus.  If I had known I will get not just one but 2(!!!), I would not buy one for myself last week.  But I should not be complaining about it because I bought a double yolk pure lotus at RM11.20 after a 30% discount.  Bleghhh!!!  I feel like I am becoming more like auntie-auntie because I always look for cheap bargain, even if I have to wait.  But we girls have to be smart right?  ^_____^

< sigh >
Why the week is moving very slow?  It is only Wednesday...
< / sigh >

Phishing scam (Maybank)

Click to enlarge

The fcuking greedy bastards sent me this email last Friday, saying that:

Your account have been flagged by our security experts. it appear somebody is login into your account from different locations You are therefore required to verify and update your details to avoid service suspension.

And if they are thinking I am a fool, sorry lorrr...


Dear Bastard,

I read the papers and I am aware of your illegal activity.  I wish with all the money you steal from people, you will get:

1. Multiple diseases that money cannot cure!!!
2. Sons/daugthers who will disown you when you no longer rich!!!
3. Wife/husband who will leave you for someone who don't steal!!!

Now, get out of my sight!!!  You can go to hell with the duit haram!!!

x x x x x x x x x x

What is wrong with these conmen huh?!  Even a miniscule-sized me can do double jobs - decent enough to live with my two boys (curi limelight a bit ;)) - without stealing from others.  Never had I thought of taking someone's money forcibly!

I still keep the email (which was directed into my junk folder, thank god!) and I intend to go to Maybank to report about it.

Never, ever, click any links send from such suspicious email.  If you are worry about the money in your account, call your nearest bank to check if there is really such thing happened.  I repeat, do not click anything from the bastard's email.




From The Star:
RM4mil stolen within first three months
Victims lose thousands within minutes

Sprinkled! & her coffee

Coffee splash from na roda-gigante

I was meeting an acquaintance after work yesterday.  We had agreed to meet at Starbucks but yours truly was evil enough to disguise a 3-in-1 instant coffee in her Starbucks flask which she prepared before going out from the office.  So I waited her there with a hot coffee on the table (thankfully it is a short distance from office to Starbucks so that I don’t get there with a lukewarm drinks!) and a good book on my hand.

There I am, saving few ringgits on a coffee.  I mean, a pack of 20 sticks of instant coffee would only cost me RM10 (only RM0.50 per cup - if I use a stick a cup; free hot water from the office pantry), while just a cup of my favourite grande caramel macchiato could easily makes me poorer by RM10 (that is, after a “bring your own tumbler” RM2 discount).  Of course the taste is different (instant vs. freshly pressed) but heck!  I promise myself to make a decent cup when I reach home.  But no, thanks, dear barista, no coffee for me today.

Wow!  Isn’t it exciting enough to learn that I can actually stretch my ringgits without losing fun?

Padan muka!

A very gory end for snatch thief

35 years old.  Not a blind or a disable person.  Kesian the snatch thief’s family member?  Maybe, because he could be someone’s son / husband / father.  But why would an able-bodied person choose to steal from others?  I could only curse these snatch thieves when they get away uncaught.  But when I read that they get killed, my oh my, I feel like as if I won a lifetime free, limitless supply of Starbucks!

Isn’t it frightening that one is not even safe at theirs own house compound nowadays?  Even with a companion, I always pay attention to my surrounding before I hop into or get out from my car.  I would never turn off my engine until my house gate is fully closed.  The reason is, I think (I think la hor…) I can crash into the intruder if they try to attack me.  I mean, I would be all panicky to turn on the car engine when I see them.  Or at least, I can hit my own wall and gate to get my neighbors’ attention.  Because I cannot open the window least they strangle me out from my car, right?  And, I don’t always go back at the same time everyday.  See, they might have checked your schedule before they launch an attack.  Creepy!!!  Needless to say, I am always highly suspicious of motorbikes passing in the housing area.

It is only Tuesday.  I want my Friday!

Beware of Scam SMSes

Click to enlarge the pic

 I received this today:

Name: Unknown Sial_2
Number: +6289694947057
Content:
Tlong Isikan kredit Maxiz 30RM,ke number baru pa'cik 0128113697 pasal pa'cik ada mslah dekat balai POLICE.Lepas kredit masuk bru pa'cik call.
Time: 25/01/2011 14:32:26

Just last month I received quite a similar text:

Name: Unknown Sial_1
Number: +6285217242989
Content:
Ini Ayah tolong isikan topup mexis RM50 ke Nombo bru ayah 0178936809 Ayah lgi ada msalah kat blai plice. Lepas topup masuk bru ayah call.
Time: 20/12/2010 07:44:54

Of course, I am always very cautious and skeptical.  If anything happen to my father (touchwood!!!), most likely my sister or my brother would call or text me first.  I didn't reply to these texts (why want to waste my money???) but I am still keeping it because I have yet to log a complaint to MCMC (just in case they need a proof).

The things people do to make their lives easier and richer by cheating people...  Sometimes I wish they got contracted by incurable diseases so that whatever they had earned from such dishonest ways will not even able to heal them!

Read what the others said about such scam: here and here.

Grocery shopping

Bacon RM17.80

Chicken RM6.47

Eggs RM 3.80

Sweet corn RM2.69

Cheese in olive oil RM7.50

Carrot RM1.99

Broccoli RM1.42

Purple cabbage RM2.71

Baby butterhead RM2.55

Thai small red onion RM3.99

Total RM51.00

 

By the way, I was slightly mad when I saw Jusco is selling a toothpaste at RM13.49.  I bought the very same toothpaste from Giant at RM14.99!!!  I am not Giant's big fan but was sort of being dragged into the hypermarket.  I rather shops at Jusco at any time (it feels less wholesale-like market than Giant, Tesco & Carrefour) but I wonder why some said Jusco is more expensive than other stores.

 

And I do not cook the chicken and the carrot for myself; it is for Shorty.  I just mix grated carrot and a chunk of chicken into the rice and voila!  Dinner done, my boy.  (Shorty's lunch is always provided by his kai ma, that lucky boy!)

Enough of rant.

P.S.  I really hate carrot as my food, but I can accept carrot juice.

Etiqa Takaful: Very Bad Service!!!

I will kick your a$$ & ball$!!! (image from weheartit)

Why is it very almost-mission-impossible to get my money back from car insurance, in my case now, it's Etika Takaful.  I can summarized this company as:

My experience with Etika Takaful:  "Inefficient, poor and slow response to customer's inquiries.  Definitely would not purchase anything from Etika Takaful, ever, again!!!"

Here's my case:
Dec 18, 2010 - Saturday
Renew road tax & car insurance at the post office in the morning.  I have to pay for 0% NCD (I am entitled for 25% NCD) because the counter said my previous insurance company has not updating my data, yet!  Yet!!!  Alright, not the post office fault.  Called the customer hotline around 12noon who said no record of me purchasing their car insurance in their (superbly slow, lousy) database, yet!  Asked me to send the policy certificate via email instead.

Dec 22, 2010 - Wednesday
Sent the 1st refund request.  I attached the required document too.

Dec 28, 2010 - Tuesday
I bet their customer service member(s) were busy holidaying - Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day...  Took almost one week just to tell me they are gathering data & will come back to me soon.  Now the word "soon" is very subjective as I (as a customer) would define it soon as in one week time.  They, the lazy fat a$$holes in Etika Takaful might interpret it as...  whenever I like!  Fcuk you!!!

Jan 4, 2011 - Tuesday
Sent my 2nd email.  No reply from them, yet!  Hello Etika Takaful, are you sleeping?

Jan 20, 2011 - Thursday
3rd email.  Very tulan liao!!!  Like, if you really need a month to process my request, please inform so in the first reply.  I just need to know your timeline for finishing this job, FCUK YOU!!!

I mean the money that I want them to refund maybe just mean a peanut to them.  Habis tu, da tau peanut buat apa nak simpan???  Bagi balik sama itu pelanggan laa, FCUK YOU!!!  If it's really just a peanut, return it to me, I am the rightful owner of the money, peanut or not peanut!!!

Scam by Bonuslink

Fcuk off, you liar! Image from weheartit

I received few missed calls from this number:  03-78417400 but when I call it, no one is answering it.  Weird, suspiciously weird.  It immediately sent high alert to my antennas.  You can see the others were reporting about this number too, just increasing my alertness!  >>> here <<<

Yesterday I finally managed to speak to the caller, whom claimed she was calling from Bonuslink.  She was offering me some kind of wallet insurance.  This insurance is to protect against the card loss should it goes missing or stolen.  Alright, I have never heard about wallet insurance sort of thing from anyone - not even from those who I personally know owning credit cards!  My mind keep saying "You're so bull$h!t!!!"

Then she asked whether I have credit cards.  I said, no.  How about debit cards?  Do you have any?  Again, no.

She immediately replied me “Oh, never mind then” which is more to my pleasure.

You know what?  I do not believe all these calls from whatever banks claiming to offer me this and that.  Usually I would tell them that I’m driving/in a meeting and ask them to call me again, depending whether I am interested to know their scams.  I like to know how they would "lure" me so I can learn how to avoid such traps.

So you, yes, you – the liar, do not call me!

Sunny side up

Selamat Hari Merdeka Ke-53 to all Malaysians!

I've got a long weekend (Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday) and now, boy, I hate am so lazy to go back to work!  I need some happy thoughts here!

• I washed my car including removing the evidence of Shorty having fun rides with me.  The other day when we were out to get our weekend newspapers, the young girl who run the stall with her granny (I think so) shyly asked me "Kak, kenapa hari ni bawa anjing keluar?  Saya takut anjing laa..."  Poor Shorty, some people get intimidated by his outgoing appearance.
• As I am writing this, Shorty is going into the kitchen.  I think he is hoping for more pork porridge with grated carrot.  Yeah, I have a home-cooked meal for him and he loves it!  I am contented with him licking his bowl clean. The owner got herself cheesy ham sandwiches and coffee as she had a really, really late lunch at 4pm!
• Now speaking of dogs and their owners.  I cannot swallow carrot unless it is finely grated or in juice form.  "Neither do I", Shorty said.  Sometimes I let him eat my leftover (which obviously contained Julienne-cut carrots) but he too, would not eat the damn thing.
• Got my regular shower cream at RM16.88 (with an FOC 600ml refill pack) which usually cost me RM19.90 (add RM8 for one refill).  Save about 40%!!!  Any girls will be happy to be able to ssstttrrreeetttccchhh their ringgits, right?

What is your happy thought?

My retirement plan

I chuckled when I saw Whoelses’ comment for my book review.

Maybe if I do not sell it now, I will sell it later. This is what I thought when I came back from the flea market on the other day.

Maybe after I sold a book for RM4, I will get myself a hot beef soup noodle as a self-reward. I said.  Wait! Maybe one bowl of noodle is no longer cost me that cheap 10, 20 years from now.  I told myself.  You know, I have to consider inflation as well.

Then a friend jokingly said "You are buying books from him now, but in years to come you will be his competitor".

Ooh! I never really think how I will live my life once I am out of the workforce.  I was so itching to return to office when I took two weeks leave few months back.  The first two days were okay as I was recovering from travelling home.  However, the next few days onwards, I started to feel disoriented because I cannot find something to do (with my job). I was supposed to be happy because I can relax without having to bother about work but that was not the case.

I am still far from retiring; neither do I think my employer will be firing me soon, palis-palis, TOUCHWOOD!!!  I think I will be a second-hand bookseller when I am old.  Maybe I will drives to the flea market in my old car with boxes full of books and National Geographic magazines.

It is about me, not you!

I went to check out the current promotions at two health screening laboratories last week.  Here are the conversations between me and the labs staffs.

PoopyLousy (PL)

Me: I want to do the basic health screen. 

PL: (immediately pull out a promo brochure from shelf) OK. You do this RM1400 package for your partner and you. With this package, the two of you get to do a health screening at our lab once a year for the period of 4 years. You can choose selected supplementary tests at free of charges (started to explain in a bullet-train speed of each test).

Me: Oh, no. I just want the most basic one for only myself (referring to the RM260 promotion package).

PL: Look. If you take this package (RM1400), it means you only need to pay RM350/year or RM175/person/year which is more worthy than the RM260. In fact, you can pay in instalment with Bank X, Y, Z.

Me: (already lost my attention and patient) Let me think over it and come back later.

PL: (looking disappointed) OK.

BeanPinkie (BP)

Me: I want to do the basic health screen.

BP: OK. (She started asking me what kind of screening I’d done before, what I want to do next, suggested few screening I might want to consider, and explained why I need it.)

Me: OK. Do you have any discounted rate for these tests? 

BP: Yeah. (showed me their Merdeka promotions)

Me: I think I will take this RM150 package.

Then the girl started to process my personal details and all. As simple as that.

Thank you for the pushy attitude from PoopyLousy’s personnel who successfully ‘chased’ me away or else I have to pay extra RM110 for a similar range of tests I can get at Lab BeanPinkie (only RM150).

But it is not the price range that really drove me out of PoopyLousy in the first place. But it is because PoopyLousy is more concern whether I’ll sign up for their 4-years package. They didn’t even ask about my current health or history. Not even once!

At BeanPinkie, the staff managed to answer my queries and conduct the whole session smoothly. She never suggested to me to change my package into a higher price. I feel like my health is their priority rather than promoting sales.

I think that if you make a customer feel that you are very concern about getting their health screening right, you will have no problem getting them into endorsing your service for the subsequent visits.

But, but… If all that you talk is about you wanting me fork my money into a service that you don’t even bother to explain to me, then I have to bid you goodbye! Good luck into trying to convince others. I won’t even bother to visit you next time. Yes, one rotten apple spoils the bunch.

Ooh, I blackout when my blood sample was taken.  But that is another story.  ;)

Sickie

I went to a panel clinic yesterday. While waiting for my turn, I saw two foreign workers at the payment counter. The sick guy told the lady at the counter that he doesn’t have enough cash to pay for the consultation and the medicine. The lady rudely replied that he needs to go back and return with enough money before he can collect the medicine. Then the other guy slowly took out two red notes from his pocket and gave to his friend. The sick guy apparently needs to pay RM45 but only have RM25 in his pocket.

My medical bill (usually just fever / flu / cough / tummy ache) is always at around RM30 to RM50, depending how severe it is. So I’ll never go without having at least RM150 in my wallet, if I didn’t get the company’s letter.

But then again, I just feel so pity with the foreign guys. Maybe their employer didn’t provide medical benefits. Or maybe they are not aware of what their company is providing to them.

Aren’t we are the lucky bunch?

Post-madness

Obviously I was too mad with with the Government's decision to cut the subsidies.  Still a little mad now but I am trying to figure out what I can do.  But I do wish that when they said "cut!", it just one item (i.e. sugar) at one time.  So that the coffee shops & mamak stalls have no valid reason to increase their prices as only sugar price is increased.  But as the diesel price is increased as well, transporting goods (not only sugar) will cost slightly more than the previous one.  Who'll absorbs it then?  The final consumer.

I admit that I am too lazy to cook but eating out means I have to pay for a price I might not agreed.  I have to start eating at home if that means I can save some, if not more.

Where is the used plastic bags?  I need it to go shopping for groceries!

The Face Shop: Brightening Rice Water Cleansing Emulsion

Bought a bottle of Brightening Rice Water Cleansing Emulsion from The Face Shop as my new makeup remover.  Luckily I've done my homework about it before going to the shop because:

• The sales girl have braces & a thick accent that I could hardly understand what she was saying.  But I was glad because she actually spent quite some time behind the mirror while I quietly browsed the products before approaching me.  I DO hate it when they tailed me as if I am going to steal anytime!  Okie, okie, I know they have good intention of answering my questions & promoting stuff...
• The Faceshop is currently having sales & lots of the products are on discounted price!  I left the shop before I start having the itchy "impulse buying".

The initial verdict:

• A little on the oily side but not as heavy as the previous makeup remover (Clinique).  I hope it won't give me spots!
• A very subtle smell yet still acceptable & doesn't give me dizziness (I don't like scented ones).
• A total of one & a half pumps of the emulsion is enough to remove my makeup - how much to use is depends on how light/heavy the makeup, I think.
• Save my wallet (price is 1/3 of Clinique or 1/2 of Avene).

Let's see in one week time on the effect!  ^_____^

Edited on Sept. 2, 2010
The final verdict:

• It does not cause breakouts to me.
• Overall, it done a good job as a makeup remover.

Sweet thing

“There is nothing permanent except change.” - Heraclitus of Ephesus quotes (Greek philosopher remembered for his cosmology, 540-480BC)

The office pantry ran out of sugar the other day, forcing me to:

• Take gingko barley with beancurd from a birthday party leftover (super less sugar)
• Make a black coffee but...
• Have to ask Whoelses for her condensed milk because I really, really need some sweetness!

Back at home, my Equal also almost finish but I think I will drink tea instead of the usual before-going-to-bed hot coffee:

• Less sugar, more healthy.
• Less sugar, save $$$ (although not much but still...  it's a $$$.)

One mini change a day/week/month...  Do you think I need to be more disciplined?

Vanity fair

Finally tried Refining Herb Mask from Skinlite which I bought a month ago.  Oh!  I actually almost forgotten about it.  See, I am not very religious when it comes to facial / skin care and stuff.  But sometimes I feel like pampering myself a little bit so...

This one feels good on the skin; it didn't itch my skin like the other one.  It says it is for regulation the oil (or is it sebum?) and suitable for oily face - mine can be hellishly oily on a bad, bad day!  I cannot say how good it is, I think I need to use it more frequent i.e. at least once a week to see the effect, or maybe...

Anyway, being the lazy person I am, I bought another two new sheets - one is Refining Herb Mask (reason: like I mentioned before) and one Green Tea Essence Mask.  Oh!  And Hydro Soothing Cucumber Pads for my dearie eyes (in a zipper bag, just for trial).

Photo Credits To:  Skinlite

Main Entry: shoe (part 2)

Huloo!!!  Part 1 is >>>  h e r e  <<<

Had a bad start in the morning because I can't get the breakfast that I wanted, so ended up buying few pieces of fried tofu which could actually feed all my colleagues.  Nah, I am just exaggerating.  But I think I bought too much of it without even thinking when I made an order of... 3 plates (each have 4 pieces of tofu).  So mindless!  Guess I have to eat tofu for breakfast (already eaten 3/4 of a plate), lunch (another plate) & coffeebreak/dinner (one last plate!).

Shoe, ya, I am supposed to talk write about shoe.  I got a reply from Le Clothes PO so that means I am closer to getting my new white shoe!  Thank god I buat muka tebal requesting them to inform me if they have a white pair in the future.  And they replied me:

So happy!

Main Entry: shoe

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: footwear

Synonyms: basketball shoe, boat shoe, boot, cleat, clog, cowboy boot, flip-flops, footgear, golf shoe, high heels, hightops, loafer, moccasin, penny loafer, platform shoe, pump, running shoe, sandals, slipper, sneaker, tennis shoe, wing-tip, work shoe

(From: Thesaurus.com)

My Nike running shoes-cum-working-shoes is beginning to show its wear-and-tear sign.  Which means I have a valid reason to shops (online and/or offline).  Laugh wickedly while thinking what a fun it would be!!!  I have a few items that I like but it is not something that I must buy; just a pre-guideline mental note before venturing into shoe-hunting mode this weekend.  It could spell disaster if I do not make any notes because I might end up buying stuff I don't really 100% need/want!!!

• Keds-inspired flats from Le Clothes PO

Photo Credits To:  Le Clothes PO

• Keds Meadow Moc Toe

Photo Credits To:  Piperlime

• Aldo Dufour

Photo Credits To:  Aldo

• Hush Puppies Elara

Photo Credits To:  Piperlime

I don't know why I am picking white the most.  And I am definitely not buying a running/sporty type this time.  So, so not!  The Keds looks not so girly, neat, simple, yet wearable with jeans (which I wear everyday to work), hot pants, mini-skirts, bohemian outfits, summer dress...  The possibility of wearing it to everywhere is so high!  Yeah, I am the type who would wear the same footwear with different clothes.  Now, why waste $$$ just to match a pair of shoe with an outfits when I can just do it with ONE & ONLY pair of shoe???  Too bad Keds is not available here (Pepper Red is wayyyy too far for me, please...) so I will be happily content if I manage to get something identical, or quite similar.

Bookeekend

After spending Friday & Saturday $h0pp1ng, $h0pp1ng and $h0pp1ng...  an idle Sunday is most welcome for my-wallet-suffered-from-a-3rd-degree-burn yours truly.  (What?!  Did you just said the font colors are hurting your eyes?  Oh oh...  But I guess it doesn't hurt as much as my wallet.)  My legs were also aching eventhough I remember wearing the most-feet-friendly loafers.  Well, two days...  So I guess Mr. Loafers reached his limit of supporting me around.  I guess I should withdraw from it and (calling Mommy Eryna & Co.) let's go online retails! Hahaha!!!

Finally, I finished the books (yes, plural, not singular):

Hmm...  I haven't read all of Meg Cabot's books.  But so far I like The Boy Next Door.  And since I love reading (but hate spending on books because I need to prioritize the money into something else - not neccesary better than buying reading materials, mind you), I got myself a membership at the public library.  Now I can borrow books!  How nice is that right?

Shopping at my desk

I am guitly of doing online shopping while at work!  But isn't it ironic that the forbidden activities (i.e. while at work) are always more interesting than our job descriptions?  I am a newbie in online shopping and only tried it out recently because previously I was:

• Quite sceptical with the internet transaction
• Worried if the seller is cheating me
• Worried if the item does not fit me (I know I can be a very fussy buyer, like asking the seller to measure everything just to be sure - but I don't want to do so)

Luckily, my online shopping experience has been a pleasant one.  Thank you to these girls from Sugar Dressing and Shopper Goddess.  Did I mentioned I save more by shopping online?  Now that's a stealer!