Salam Aidil Fitri

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri & Maaf Zahir Batin to all my family, friends and fellow bloggers. Kalu ada yang terkasar bahasa, terusik hati etc Yin hulurkan tangan mohon maaf. To those yang balik kampung tu, please drive careful...better later than....

Tahun ni raya kat US la nampaknya. Insya allah ada rezeki tahun depan Jim & Yin balik la kot. Panjang umur kita jumpa la nanti...

Britney vs Diana

In a recent interview Britney Spears had likened herself to the late Princess Diana. I burst out laughing when I heard her say that coz that is the most unrealistic comparison between the two. Yes, both are famous, have 2 sons and hounded by the papparazzi all the time but that is where the similarities end.

Britney is a train wreck waiting to happen. Well actually, it already happened. She is a selfish, no talent, drug & alcoholic "famous" person. With the prospect of losing her sons, which she now already does, to her ex-husband, she still thinks of herself. Maybe because she was so used to having her way that she thinks she is above everyone else.

I am not saying that Princess Diana is perfect...she has her flaws too. But for Britney to think that she is like Princess Diana is such an idiot thing to say. I don't see her volunteering for any good causes or visit any of those poor unfortunate people. All she cares about is booze, drugs, and/or sluty outfits. I think she is hoping that the judge would have her ex-husband take custody of the kids coz then she won't have any responsibility for them. She can go out and have a good time getting drunk and have her vajajay photographed by the papparazzis.

I am just venting here...I feel that a lot of celebraties are clueless with what's going on with the rest of the world. To them, they are the center of the universe and the rest of just just revolves around them....

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs lost their bid to the World Series last night when they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 3 straight games in a best of 5 series (3-1, 8-4, 5-1). As always, the Cubs fan had high hopes for their favorite team and yet again the team disappoints them and the curse of the Billy goat lives on. The last time the Cubs had won the World Series was in 1908 and that was almost 100 years ago!!!

Both Jim & I are big Cubs fans, Jim even so since that was where he was born. Every year we would go their spring training games which happens to be not far from where we live in Mesa as well as during the regular season when they come here to play the Arizona Diamondbacks. Every year we would hope that they would do well and be in the playoffs but every year they disappoint us. This year looked like they might be able to make it since Lou Piniella took over as their manager and yet again they disappoint us. The Cubs players have more experience than the Diamondbacks and still....they disappoint us. As a true Chicago Cubs fans, Jim & I will still root for them no matter how bad they do. Lets hope next year is our year. It will be 100 years after all.......

"Knocked Up" & "Bug"

We saw both "Knocked Up" and "Bug" over the weekend. I really enjoyed "Knocked Up" (Katherine Heigl & Seth Rogen). The movie is really funny and I couldn't stop laughing. I recommend this movie for anyone who wants a laugh.

As for "Bug" (Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr.) it was an interesting movie. I did like it though towards the end of the movie, I got a little disgusted. Certain part of the movie is a little confusing but all in all it is pretty good

The Visit

Elaine (my cousin Yof's wife) came over for a visit on her way to Malaysia on Friday, Sept 28. She was only able to stay for one night coz the next day she flew to San Diego to visit some of her friends there before flying back to Malaysia on October 1. I was really happy to see her. It felt good to have one of my relatives come to visit us.

"The Office" vs "Grey's Anatomy"

Tonight is the premier of 2 of 4 of my favorite tv shows, "The Office" & "Grey's Anatomy" (the other 2 shows are "Heroes" & "Lost") and this puts me in kinda tight situation. You see, last season "The Office" was on at 7:30pm on NBC (channel 12) and "Grey's Anatomy" was on at 8:00pm on ABC (channel 15). So, we would watch "The Office" on channel 12 then switch over to channel 15 for "Grey's Anatomy".

This season both shows will be on at 8:00pm. Also, for the next 4 episodes, "The Office" will be an hour long episodes instead of their normal half hour sitcom. So, here is my delima...which one do I want to tape while watching the other? If I ask Jim, I know what his answer would be....watch "The Office" & tape "Grey's Anatomy"....

Elektra

I saw this movie on channel 27 (FX) last night. I really like Jennifer Gardner in "Alias" and "13 going 30" but this movie did not make any sense to me. Maybe I am just not familiar with the comic book on which the movie was based on. The movie did not explain why she did what she did and why those villains wanted the "treasure"... On the flip side, I did enjoy watching how rip Ms. Gardner's body is... wish mine is like that.... *laughing hysterically*

Disturbia

Finally finished watching "Disturbia" the other night. The movie was okay, I wasn't too impress with it. It was an updated version of "Rear Window".

5 Great Jobs you can do From Home by Joe Taylor Jr.

Clogged interstates and expanding suburbs have pushed commute times in some cities above the two-hour mark. Meanwhile, school schedules, extracurricular activities, and rising child care costs have placed greater burdens on working parents. For many adults, working from home offers both a cost savings and a quality of life improvement that the entire family can enjoy.

Before you take the plunge into the home-based job pool, consider what sort of education you'll need to gain clients and do the best job for them. An online career training program may be the shortest path to your work-at-home goals. Thanks to new technology, you can bring your work home with you--and keep it there. These five careers offer enjoyable job duties, flexible hours, good pay, and no commute.

1. Database Administrator
As businesses of all sizes rely on complex customer relationship management systems and information technology networks, a growing army of freelance database administrators provide the same level of technical support once enjoyed only by Fortune 500 companies. Meanwhile, more large companies now allow database administrators to work from home. Many database administrator jobs require flexible hours and on-call scheduling, which also makes them ideal for working parents who want to make more time for their kids. By earning a bachelor's degree in information technology and passing a certification exam, you can start earning $60,000 or more per year as a home-based database administrator.

2. HR Recruiter
In a tightening economy, it's crucial for companies to find the right team members as quickly as possible. With a typical job search costing as much as one third of a position's annual salary, more businesses hire professional recruiters to speed up the hiring process. While some recruiters travel to meet with potential candidates individually, most recruiters perform their work online and over the phone. Many HR recruiters start their careers as associates with larger agencies, earning $41,000 or more per year. By getting an online business degree specializing in human resources and building experience and a portfolio of successful placement, a home-based recruiter can even go solo, working from home exclusively.

3. Graphic Designer
Now that high-end graphic design workstations cost less than $4,000, many talented graphic designers can easily set up home offices. Whether telecommuting for an employer or working as a freelance professional, a home-based graphic designer can often earn more than $38,000 per year. Competition for graphic design jobs is still intense, so a degree in digital graphic design and a solid portfolio are essential to landing a home-based job. For the home-based student, online graphic design degrees are also available.

4. Medical Transcriptionist
A growing number of medical offices have discovered how to reduce their overhead by outsourcing transcription of patient records. After completing the required medical administration training courses and certification exams, home-based medical transcriptionists can earn $27,000 or more per year. Communicating via dedicated fax and internet lines, doctors and nurses send sensitive and urgent information to transcriptionists, who turn those notes into consistent data for hospital and insurance computer systems. Medical transcriptionists with a background in sales and marketing can usually expand their practices by training and hiring additional transcriptionists.

5. Customer Service Specialist
Airlines started using home-based customer service specialists a few years ago, in response to consumer backlash to overseas call centers. Banks, insurance agencies, and credit card issuers have followed suit, opening up new opportunities for people who love to solve problems but who prefer to work from home. Courses and degrees in business and customer support can prepare you for this home-based career. Employers pay for dedicated telephone lines and often provide reimbursement for headsets, computers, online degree classes, and other customer service necessities. Most home-based customer service specialists earn $27,000 or more per year.

Look Before You Leap Into Working From Home...
Though the benefits are many, working from home in any of these five careers can pose certain challenges. For instance, you'll need to teach children not to disturb you while you handle customer calls. Veteran work-at-home professionals reveal that it took some time for household members to realize that they work at full time jobs that require concentration. Also keep in mind that most employers and clients will expect you to have a degree, training, or both in your chosen field. Still, the benefits of working from home far outweigh the disadvantages. Americans are uniquely suited to telecommuting jobs, and online career training programs make learning job skills easier than ever.

Tagged - yet again..he he he

Nin tagged me this time, so here it is...

5 Things In My Bag
* 2 wallets (1 "big" & 1 "small/slim")
* keys - 12 work keys on a big silver ring (ala warden jail), 6 house keys (mailbox, storage, pool, 2 frontdoors, backdoor) on a Petronas Towers glass etched keychain, 2 car keys on a pewter Malaysian flag keychain
* insulin "kit"
* lipstick/lip gloss
* compact powder

5 Things That Are In My Wallet
"Big" wallet
* 2 pics of Jim
* some RMs ("Ringgit Malaysia" for those of you not familiar with Malaysian currency) from my last visit to Malaysia
* membership cards: Barnes & Noble, library card, grocery stores (Safeway, Fry's, Basha's), Petsmart, Blockbuster
* frequent cards (e.g. buy 9, the 10th is free): Paradise Bakery, Whole Grain Bread Store, Panda Express, Taco del Mar, The Good Egg
* insurance cards: health, auto, dental/eye

"Small/Slim" wallet
* driver license
* cash & coin
* 1 each debit card & credit card
* water punch card
* a couple of receipts that I need to get reimbursed for from work

5 Favourite Things In My Bedroom
* tv set and vcr/dvd combo player
* exercise bike
* complete set of winter village on the shelf along the wall
* shelves of Archie/Veronica & Betty/Jughead comic books
* puzzles - jigsaw, crossword, logic

5 Things I Wish To Do
* clone another me so that I could finish all the things that needed to be done
* get some rest
* win the lottery so that I don't have to work anymore - yeah in my dreams!!!
* retire
* be at home with my 3 boys

5 Things That I Am Doing Now
* listening to Yahoo Music Launchcast
* replying to this tag
* enjoying the peace and quiet in the office before everyone else comes in
* going thru my to do list for today (too many of them and not enough time to do them all in)
* staring at a bird perched on the saguaro cactus outside the office window

5 People I Would Like To Tag
* Deen
* Sofia
* Wan Chik
* Mawan
* Idham

Ramadan

Selamat berpuasa everyone....

Visit to the Vet

We took Sammy (back) and Tiger (front) to the vet this morning for their annual check up. I am happy to report that both Sammy and Tiger had lost some weight. Sammy now weights 13.4 lbs (previously 16.8 lbs) and Tiger is now at exactly 11 lbs (was 11.2 lbs).

Both are in good health though Sammy has a little bit of plague on his teeth. The vet also prescribed some medication for Tiger's waxy ears. All in all, they are both healthy and well.

They are now happily dozing, Sammy by me on the floor in the computer room and Tiger is by his daddy on top of the sofa in the living room.....

Ten Ways to Lose Friends and Alienate Coworkers - Caroline Levchuck

The people you work with can make a bad day better. They can even make a less-than-thrilling job tolerable. However, if you get on the bad side of your coworkers, they have the ability to make your work life miserable.

Read on for some surefire ways to test the boundaries of your on-the-job friendships.

1. Eat stinky snacks.
You may be the most likeable person in your office, but your popularity will definitely take a dive if you begin bringing in overly aromatic foods. If your lunch involves microwaving anything containing fish, leave it at home.

2. Make endless meeting requests.
Learn how to determine when it's absolutely necessary to schedule a meeting (and for whom attendance is absolutely necessary). A tendency to request too many meetings will irritate your teammates as well as making it look like you cannot move ahead on a project autonomously.

3. "Reply to All" all the time.
Don't make your coworkers' lives more complicated by hitting "reply to all" on every single email. Also, if you have a beef with the author of the email, don't air your grievance to the entire recipient list. Discuss your problem face to face.

4. Pump up the volume.
Be aware of the volume of your voice, as well as how loud you listen to music. Avoid using speakerphone unless you're behind closed doors. Also, check the volume on your computer the next time you watch a video on YouTube. The content could be offensive to a cube neighbor.

5. Be the office boozehound.
Socializing with the people you work with can be great for business. Make certain, though, that you keep a close eye on your alcohol consumption. Your coworkers will definitely lose respect for you if you start slurring your words or, worse yet, falling down.

6. Take super-long lunches.
Every now and again, it's fun to take a leisurely lunch out with your coworkers. However, if you do it every day -- or even every week -- people will notice and probably grow resentful.

7. "Borrow" magazines or newspapers.
If you're a "Brangelina" watcher and your colleague's issue of In Touch arrives announcing their separation, you may be tempted to take it. Instead of snatching up the magazine, deliver it to the recipient and ask if you can browse through it when he's done with it. If you cannot wait, go buy the magazine yourself. After all, tampering with the mail is a federal offense.

8. Use your manager as a referee.
It is inevitable that you are going to clash with your coworkers from time to time. Resist the urge to seek support from management every instance. Rather, try to problem-solve yourself -- it could help you gain important managerial experience.

9. Avoid attending company gatherings.
Not everyone looks forward to these events and, in fact, some folks avoid them altogether. This isn't good for your career or your work friendships. You're missing out on bonding with your work buddies, whether it be over a silly scavenger hunt or an ant-infested picnic. Your coworkers will begin to take it personally if you never participate.

10. Always have the last word.
When you do have the inevitable disagreement with a colleague, it's important to make your point. This doesn't mean you always have to have the last word. Learn how to voice your opinion and move on -- and let someone else have the final say once in a while.

Blades of Glory

Jim & I watched this movie last night. It is one of the funniest movies I've seen so far. Will Ferrell (Elf) and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) were hilarious. Definitely watch it if you can...

Labor Day

Today is Labor Day so I am off of work along with most other Americans. What did I do? Absolutely nothing!!! Having 3 jobs (1 full time, 2 part times)have left me exhausted and on my days off, I just don't feel like doing anything but catch up on some rest. Anyways, now that I am somewhat rested, it is time for me to start on the other job every wife has... housework!!! They don't call it Labor Day for nothing....

Merdeka!!!

MALAYSIA

Celebrating 50 years of independence

August 31, 1957 - present

Harry Potter

I am so fascinated with Harry Potter that I am now on my second round of reading the whole series again. I am now in the middle of the 4th book, "Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire". Jim is getting a little frustrated with me coz I would get so engrossed with the books that sometimes I am oblivious to my surroundings. I would lose track of time that before I know it, it's already 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning...and I usually have to be at work by 7:00am! Lack of sleep definitely hasn't stop me from enjoying the books tho...

Since I have all 7 books, I think now I just might collect the DVDs too. Whenever they show one of the first 3 movies on tv, I never miss it....Man, I think I'm getting obsessed!!!!

Are You Too Clingy? by David Zinczenko

A guy in a good relationship is, for the most part, a pretty happy guy - and most of us know how lucky we are.
In fact, 75 percent of men would grade their current relationship as an A or a B, according to a poll of more than 2,000 men for my book, "Men, Love & Sex." But there are three main sins that can turn a man from happy to "hey-where's-the-door" in no time.

Lying is the first one, and unless you're lying to yourself, as well, you know how not to do it. Nagging is the second, and you'll know you're doing it when the words you say are immediately followed by the thought, "I sound just like my mother!"

But the third deadly sin is harder to spot in one's self, because it often looks and feels just like love. I'm talking about clinginess. Men are hard to decipher on this point, because they value in women both vulnerability (they want to be your hero) and independence (they want to be left alone once in a while). He wants you close; he doesn't want you on him like a freshly dried sock. Here are some signs that your relationship Velcro is about to endure a loud ripping noise.

Needy Sign 1: Your Over-Under on Daily Phone Calls is Two*
Fine, you need to check in once during the day to see if you're set for dinner, and then once again later in the day just to fill him in on what happened to your boss/friend/grandmom, or just to say hello.

You make more calls than that? The unspoken message is that maybe you don't trust him, or don't have enough to do yourself, or are relying too much on him for everyday satisfaction. All are turn-offs-and, in all likelihood, grounds for tuning out. * Three, if you have kids.

Needy Sign 2: You Insist on a Joint E-mail Account
Oh, how nice it is when "Bob and Karen@yahoo" can e-mail "Joe and Linda@yahoo" to set up the night at the Italian place on the 20th. Not really.

While there's no problem with joint bank accounts, joint car loans, and joint mortgages, there's a not so subtle message that's sent to guys when their Internet activity is being monitored like it's under the eyes of a 24-hour surveillance camera: That you don't trust him a lick.

There's certainly some dangerous ground online (and I can't deny that plenty of men abuse their electronic privacy), but tightening the cyber-noose too much in the beginning of a relationship can send the signal to a man that he's not going to have an iota of privacy anytime or anywhere.

Needy Sign 3: You Update Him on the Latest Celebrity Gossip
Granted, a lot of men don't like to talk. And granted, a lot of men could be more talkative, better listeners, and more of an emotional sounding board for their partners. But some men are like cars - they have only so much emotional and conversational fuel before they run out of gas.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with banter about such inane stuff as Britney, Lindsay, or who's dating whom, but do that too often with a guy, and he may wonder if there's something wrong with your other social networks - which would make him think that he's going to be obligated to carry more of the social weight than he's ready to handle. Needy Sign 4: You Don't Have Your Own Poker NightGet this: 64 percent of men say they're happy to have time to themselves when their girlfriends have plans. A lot of men want their ladies to go out and do stuff on their own, whether it's through hobbies or socializing or working.

One, that away-from-each-other time ensures that women have their own independent outlets. And two, it gives men a chance to have their own testosterone release. If this doesn't happen - at least occasionally - resentment and frustration can build, because the unspoken message is that you may not have enough of your own independence to respect his.Know a few other needy signs? Share them here. And guys: Lest you think you're off the hook, here are 10 ways that women are judging you.
Read ‘em and heed ‘em.

Zodiac

I finished watching this movie at 5am this morning. Mark Ruffalo (Just Like Heaven), Robert Downey Jr. (Good Night and Good Luck) & Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) starred in it along with several other famous actors. I do like the movie tho it did run for about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

It is based on the book by Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) about the serial killer Zodiac who claimed several lives in and around the San Francisco area in the late 60's and early 70's. The movie is pretty good but you have to pay attention to clues throughout the movie. I actually saw the movie last night but re-watched it this morning to catch the clues...

Fracture

Jim & I rented this DVD over the weekend. Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal) and, Ryan Gosling (The Notebook) starred in it. The movie was pretty good. Anthony Hopkins played a husband who was accused of killing his cheating wife and Ryan Gosling was the ADA who is prosecuting him. They play this cat & mouse game where Gosling, though in his heart knows that Hopkins is guilty but he's having trouble trying to prove it. Watch it if you can.