Hello again..

Let me say HELLLLOOOO anybody out there?? Can you believe it has been more than 6 months since I blog? But let me assure you that being a boring person as I am, there isn't much going on here. Except that I have been busy stimulating the economy.. man I can't believe I just said that with my personal finance in shambles.




My latest toy... Nikon D40



Latest confidence booster - 4" High heel Shoe..

Yay!! Internet connection!

Yay! I finally got internet connection in the apartment. The weeks without internet felt like detox to me. I stopped checking email every 2 seconds and I have nothing to do with the outside world. Just in my own little thoughts and lots of rest. But I am happy now that I am connected again. Means more blogging, looking for new knitting patterns and reading my fav blogs.

I miss knitting, I haven't pick up the needles for weeks and I can't wait to start, as soon as I find something interesting. I am thinking of knitting another pair of socks. Well, we'll see. Moving is always hectic and a lot of extra spending. So I am trying not to swipe my cc unless I really really really need it. So yarn has to come after the cleaning supplies and food. And floor lamp, yes I need some light in the apartment.

Complains

Someone at work joking call me whiner. I was a little caught off guard and to think about it, I did complained a lot lately. From the last 2 weeks, I complained about bad customer service from allconnect.com and charter cable, a lot of work related complains because the thing I was working on wasn't working, the HR deducted Ohio state tax from my paycheck and I have never step foot into in Ohio in my life so far and they are stuck as to how to resolve this issue, office phone not working, work laptop wireles not working, and now the latest, no air is coming into my office and the maintenaince man knocked on the wrong door and has to be directed here, hence the comment of LOTS OF COMPLAIN. Oh did I also mention I had a cup of strong greentea at 3pm 2 days ago and was awake the whole night?

Oh well, life throws me a curve ball, or a lot of curve balls everystep of my way and I tackle each and everyone with patience and constructive solutions. I just have to keep it to myself.

Progress: Everything on schedule and many unforeseen life little challenges coming this way.

Hellish Customer Service

What on earth happen to customer service?

I have been trying to subscribe to broadband internet and cable tv and this is what happened to me yesterday and today.

YESTERDAY, this guy Gary from allconnect.com called and I was in line at local McDonalds....


GARY: We have a package deal for our new customers from Charter. For charter cable tv and high speed internet we are offering you is $79.99 and if you confirm now I can lock the rate in for you till.....

ME THINKING: The package through charter.com is only $69.98....

ME: Hmm... can you send me the information to my email?

GARY: No maam, we don't have email service.

ME: Well, I can't decide now, I am outside.

GARY: I don't see how you being outside and not make a decision...

ME: (Getting pissed off) I don't want to decide.

GARY: OK, that I can accept, why don't you make a decision later and then call back. CLICK.

ME: (REALLY PISSED OFF)



Yesterday night I found a deal that offers free cable modem and $100 cash back and I subscribed.


TODAY at 2.10pm, charter called to confirm service subscriptions and to set up installation time.

Girl 1 (2.10pm-2.20pm) : (Routine introductory speech, confirming name and address.... ) Maam, my system seems to show that your address is not serviceable, but the rest of your apartment complex is.

ME: What? Why?

Girl 1 (2.20pm - 2.30pm): I don't know but you can call our service availability desk and they can help you.

Me: Thank you.
(Called 1-877 number for service availability desk and explaining the purpose of call)

Girl 2 (2.30pm - 2.40pm): Oh I can certainly help you with that, they could have transfer you to us but nevermind I will take care of you. ..... All right seems like someone did something funny in that apartment and that's why the service was blocked there. But I can set up your connections and you are all ready now. I will transfer you to set up installation appointment...

Me: Thank you

Girl 3 (2.40pm-2.50pm): Thank you for holding... now let's verify your name and address and your ssn, and let's verify your package, and let's verify the connectivity at your apartment, let's set up a time.....

Me: (answering all the questions and getting tired of holding the phone and thank god finally done) Thank you.


TODAY at 6.00pm I received a voicemall from charter. I called back the 1877 number provided.

ME: Hi, I got a call from someone someone regarding my high speed subscription. Can you check why she called?

Guy 1: Certainly. (10mins later.... maam, I don't see anything on your record, and your name is not associated with this address)

ME: What??? I just spent more than 40mins this afternoon getting this straight!!!

Guy 1: I don't what to tell you but I am not seeing anything.... but let me have your ssn and I can set up your subscription now. (after 10mins) Maam, your apartment is not in our service area.

ME (Getting really frustrated): Look, I have gone through this in the afternoon and now you are telling me the same thing, is there someone that I can talk to to get this straight?

Guy 1: Do you want to speak to my supervisor? He can maybe help you..

ME: Yes, please.

(10mins)

Guy 2: Maam, you can't have internet in your apartment.

Me (PISSED OFF): WHAT? WHY? My neighbor has internet connection, why not this apartment?

Guy 2 (Getting louder and ruder): I don't know why. But you can't have internet. You can have the cable tv. You can either sign up with this this this package... tv and telephone.. but no internet.

(Me thinking.. is this guy an idiot or what? high speed internet comes through tv cable)

ME: (Give up and realize I can't deal with stupid people anymore): OK, I can't decide now. I will call you back. Thanks.

(Hung up)(Cell phone ring 1 second later, customer service from charter)

Girl 4: (Routine message) Thank you for your subscription. Just to verify that you have placed the order.

ME (Getting dumber by the second): Yes

Girl 4: Thank you very much and you have a nice day.

ME: WAIT!!! I just hung up with your customer service and they said I can't have internet.

Girl 4: That's strange, my system showed you have an installation appointment set up for next week.

ME: That's what I thought.

Girl 4: You can call our 1888 number and they will verify for you.

ME: Thank you.

Called 1888 (oh..what the hell... I have already this far in the stupid kingdom)

Girl 5: Thank you for calling... routine stuff...

ME: Hi I am calling to verify if I can have service at this address because your 1877 people said I cannot.

Girl 5: Sure... give me a min to pull up your subscription... (after 2 mins) yes, you can have service in your apartment, its all set up and in fact your apartment complex is all set up to have cable service.

ME: Are you sure??? This guys I spoke with said I can't.

Girl 5: Yes I am sure. And yes your apartment can have the internet service. You have this package, and your installation appointment is next week this time. I don't know why they tell you something different.

ME: Are you sure??? Do you mean that the installation appointment is still on?

Girl 5: Yes I am sure, and yes you can have internet.

ME: Sorry, I just wanted to make sure, I am losing my voice talking to those guys. Is there any confirmation on it?

Girl 5: There will be a reminder call the day before the installation appointment.

ME (THANK GOD): Thank you.


Hung up, left office at 7.00pm with no voice and uncertainty about charter operations and a strong urge to call AT&T dsl.


If everyone have a quota of how much crap they can take from rude, uninformed, and plain couldn't care less customer service I think I have just fulfilled mine for a year. But then again, I might be wrong. Nothing is set in stone until the cable guy shows up and I am browsing my own internet. And things can and will possibly goes shitty afterwards...

Of course I have also spoke with some really friendly and competent customer service and a big gratitude to the ones that have made my calls easier.

So Much So Little Time

Phew!!!! I have moved!! I am now in Greenville SC and working and in new apartment and all in 2 weeks! Those who are actively going on with their life might probably scoff at me for being such a little whiny.... hehe

My life has change 360 since my last entries. I have achieved half of what I wrote 2 entries back and still working on the other half. I hope I will still have another 30 years tho..

My feelings about moving to another city this time around is weird. Now I miss my hubby and his handiness (however limited they were) around the house, a companion and just plain having dinner with someone. I hope that one day he will be able to join me. Till then I will have the wine section in the grocery store to keep the cold nights at bay. (From where I am from, TN, you can only get wine at liquor store)


I wish I have more pictures to post but with so many things going on the last few weeks, I can't remember where I keep the camera. I will find it one of these days.

Thanks But Just Leave Me Alone

Dear Good Intentions but Bad Approach,

When I am tired of myself, my lousy situation and predicament, it doesn't help to remind of it to me again. And if you must, you really don't need to repeat it 3 times within a 5mins conversation.

Let me give you an example. Take for instance, someone that eats for comfort when depressed. And when that someone finally look up in the mirror and find herself fat she gets more depressed and hence eat more. All the while people with good intentions tells her she is fat and depresses her more and leads to more eating and the cycle continues. Finally one day she said to herself that she had enough and tries to get her act together. And while trying to get better, those people with good intentions tries to encourage her by reminding her how fat and ugly she was just in case she forgot. I classify these people as blamers because all they could think of is blaming the girl for not taking care of herself. At this point I just want to say to blamers thanks a lot but you just freaking makes the girl want to eat more now. End of story.

Much More Done In A Week Than 2 Years

Oh my, I have been running myself haggard the last 5 days, might have driven more than a 1000miles... more or less, rushing to make dinners for everyone and all the background work a homemaker usually do. But in the midst of all that, I saw the leaves are turning color. A sign autumn is here and winter around the corner. I love the cold weather, the cold wind in my face and all the good stuff.

What a week I've had. The biggest news is I might be back in the game! I mean job. In 2 days I drove from Cleveland TN to Greenville SC for an interview and has gotten positive reviews and a verbal offer. I am still waiting for the confirmation email though and yeah I cheat a little, I used to work there and the guy that hires me back was once my boss and we went to college together.

The not so good news is we can't stand each other as friends but do quite well working together. But what the hell I am back into the work force. Funny thing, after 2 years hiatus, I may be forgetting how to talk and verbalize my thought coherently. So a lot of things lay in my future, work my butt off to show my worth, lose 50lbs and lead an healthier lifestyle, get my thoughts/act together so that I actually look like someone with a life and not hiding in my own cave.

I think I have been to the mall more than 6 times in a mere few days. Hubby's cousin came for a visit for fall break and I had no idea where to take her, hence we frequent the mall. Not that there were a lot of stuff happening in a small town mall but it got us out of the house. Hubby should have taken a day off to take us somewhere and didn't. So YOUR FAULT!

Coming Out of Darkness

Suddenly I realized that my few recent posts has been dark. I didn't mean to and I didn't realize I'm doing it. I was just writing what was happening and what was on my mind.

Today I am going to change. First of all, I want to announce that I finally finished reading East of Eden from John Steinbeck. I had to stayed up till 4am because I refused to leave only a few pages for the next day. Its just a few pages, a few pages to go... haha

And I went to the mall today and got a $5 scarf.. more like a head bandanna from BR and a few $2 socks. I am cheap. But I am happy to find good deals. Ahh... simple things in life.

Reflections

I am reading Karen Cheng's Big Three - OH and some feelings stirred in me.

I turned 30 a few months ago. That day itself was not exciting, nor has it been for a long time. I don't quite remember having a great birthday. I did have a few good ones when I was a teenager because my first boyfriend made a big fuss out of it. Ah... good old puppy love. Other than that, I was either alone or got angry because that someone dear was not keen of it. But I do have some really good friends who would always remember the day and send me greetings wherever I am in the world even though I haven't seen them in years.

Seeing of where I am now and looking back of where I was, I am no where near where I want to be. The day I turned 30 I am not proud of myself, I have lots of regrets and frustrations and I owe a lot to a few people. I had stopped in time and didn't move forward for almost 2 years and I am out of contacts with outside world. I went to staples and post office yesterday and didn't know how to make copies and post mails. I was close to tears and I didn't know how to go forward and improve. I am at this very dark place and I am afraid. And I have days when I am at this dark place.

But at 30, I have sincere friends and a supportive husband even though we had ups and really low downs. I am just learning how to not be influence by my mother's approval and lack of it. I had hopes that I will one day score in an interview and get hired, be able to afford mortgage and have babies, and still have time to do craft and read all the books a person should read before I die and to travel the world and not stuck in tourist traps. I also hope that I can repay everyone that has been good to me and take care of my mom and make her proud. This is my bright place to counter the dark. And I try to hold on to it for however long I can till I achieve all I hope.

And I hope I will have another 30 years.

I Am Afraid I Have Killed My Desert Rose

During my idleness I saw my desert rose branches went limp. I thought maybe they needed water. So I watered them thoroughly and was quite please with myself.

A few hours later, the perfectionist in me started to want to prune the plant. And I started with the longest branch. I didn't have to do much cutting, the branch broke out by it self quite voluntarily revealing a dark brown soggy texture. I poked at it and the cutting dripped water!

My first thought, STRANGE, and on second thought, THIS IS NOT RIGHT. So I googled about desert rose and found out that I have a root rot.

I tried to save the plant or I think I tried to save the plant. I cut off the section below the soggy area where the branch used to be and saw the darken part covered almost half of the trunk. I cut down more to get the rot off and I cut and I poked and I scraped. And the rot went all the way down to one of the root. Well, long story cut short, the picture on the right showed what's left of my once blooming beautiful desert rose.

Ohhhh... why can't I leave the plant alone and not water them. I know that its a succulent plant. But the soil was dry and so I watered. I've killed my plant.

I Am Afraid I Have Killed My Desert Rose

During my idleness I saw my desert rose branches went limp. I thought maybe they needed water. So I watered them thoroughly and was quite please with myself.

A few hours later, the perfectionist in me started to want to prune the plant. And I started with the longest branch. I didn't have to do much cutting, the branch broke out by it self quite voluntarily revealing a dark brown soggy texture. I poked at it and the cutting dripped water!

My first thought, STRANGE, and on second thought, THIS IS NOT RIGHT. So I googled about desert rose and found out that I have a root rot.

I tried to save the plant or I think I tried to save the plant. I cut off the section below the soggy area where the branch used to be and saw the darken part covered almost half of the trunk. I cut down more to get the rot off and I cut and I poked and I scraped. And the rot went all the way down to one of the root. Well, long story cut short, the picture on the right showed what's left of my once blooming beautiful desert rose.

Ohhhh... why can't I leave the plant alone and not water them. I know that its a succulent plant. But the soil was dry and so I watered. I've killed my plant.

Idleness

The past few days was rather uninspiring. I can't seem find a knitting project to start, I don't seem to be interested anything and days passed without anything done. I am afraid I will have more of these days.

I have however, stood staring out the window and saw stormy sky.



Stood in my balcony and saw that I have a lot of chillies on my chilli plant.



My rosemary, spearmint, peppermint, sage, paisley and lemon balm are due for a harvest.



And reminds me that everything around me are growing, moving and producing... when will be my turn?

Chinese Lyrics

Oh I grew up in the 90s in Asia and I LOVE chinese pop music. But I can't read a single chinese characters and I remember the times when I propped in front of a cassette player with my favorite chinese tape, pressing stop and play, stop and play every few seconds to translate these chinese songs into pin yin (hey, I was kid.. not a cool one.. I know I know). So I live in a household full of people that reads chinese and brother and I were the only 2 yellow bananas and nobody seems interested to help.

ANYWAY... internet is a good thing, and good friend that can't read chinese and are interested in chinese music is a better thing. My bestest bff (LOL) Zakiya found this!

Faye Wong - Love Letter For Self lyrics

(CANTONESE PRONOUNCIATION)

ceng but you fui sam
lei ya huey yao yan dou gei
lai yong mong dou tai gou
ying dai dei ji yao ji gei...

I will be singing in the shower tonight....

Ravelry

Yay!!! I was invited to join ravelry today. I spent all my free time today browsing and getting familiar around the place and have already found lots of future knitting projects. The place is great. Look for me, sparklyheaven when you are there. :)

Ravelry

Yay!!! I got invited to join ravelry today. I spent all my free time today browsing and getting familiar around the place and have already found lots of future knitting projects. The place is great. Look for me, sparklyheaven when you are there. :)

Vintage, Antique and Estate Sale

I saw some really awesome vintage jewelry from Etsy.com and some said its from estate sale. What is an estate sale? Can I go to estate sale myself and find good stuff like that and cutting out the middlemen? Where do I find estate sale? One question leads to another. But first and foremost, what is an estate sale?

This is the definition from wikipedia..
"An estate sale is a type of garage sale, yard sale or auction to dispose of the majority of the materials owned by a person who is deceased or will be moving."

Ekkk... from a person who is deceased? hmm.. felt kinda bad and guilty and not to mention the thought of ghosts! Who am I kidding, antiques and vintage has to belong to someone, and someone or anyone will pass sooner or later. Do I still want to go to estate sale? No... kinda. Do I still find the antique and vintage jewelry pretty? Yes.

Bamboo Adventure

Meet my mini bamboo in the kitchen. Everything was growing fine except for a little twig that grew astray and away from the body. I have been staring at the little twig a thousand times when cooking and doing dishes. So yesterday, while waiting for water to boil... the most boring thing in the world, I can't stand it anymore and started to mess around with the plant. With bamboo skewers and kitchen twine I poked, staked, twisted, turned and tied the stray part to the bamboo skewers and hope that it will grow to the shape I want.

Bamboo Adventure

Meet my mini bamboo in the kitchen. Everything was growing fine except for a little twig that grew astray and away from the body. I have been staring at the little twig a thousand times when cooking and doing dishes. So yesterday, while waiting for water to boil... the most boring thing in the world, I can't stand it anymore and started to mess around with the plant. With bamboo skewers and kitchen twine I poked, staked, twisted, turned and tied the stray part to the bamboo skewers and hope that it will grow to the shape I want.

A Little Bounty From The Garden...

Oh look, CHILLIES from my garden. I still have many green ones hanging there waiting to turn red. I think I can make sambal for my fried noodles. Yumm...

A Little Bounty From The Garden...

Oh look, CHILLIES from my garden. I still have many green ones hanging there waiting to turn red. I think I can make sambal for my fried noodles. Yumm...