Sunday, March 07, 2010
Shocked
My mother suffered stroke attack on 4/3/2010 and was admitted to the ICU on the same day. Alhamdulillah, today she has been discharged from ICU into the normal ward. Her right part of the body is still weak and semi-paralyzed though.
I'm praying she will have a speedy recovery. Get well soon Mother, I love you.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
My heart
5 scary times for your heart
1. First thing in the morning The risk of heart attack increases 40% in the morning, Harvard researchers estimate.
As you awaken, your body secretes adrenaline and other stress hormones, increasing blood pressure and a demand for oxygen. Your blood is also thicker and harder to pump because you’re partially dehydrated. All this taxes the heart.
Protect yourself: Build some time into your schedule so you can hit the snooze button and wake up slowly. If you’re a morning exerciser, warm up thoroughly so as not to additionally stress the heart. And if you’re on a beta-blocker, take it before bed so the medication is at full strength in the am.
2. On Monday mornings especially
Science shows there’s good reason to dread the first day of the work week.
Twenty percent more heart attacks occur on this day, probably because people are stressed and depressed about returning to work.
Protect yourself: Relax on Sunday, but try not to sleep in. Getting up early on Monday after sleeping late Saturday and Sunday can raise blood pressure even more because your body is fatigued and its natural rhythms are out of whack. Try to maintain a regular sleep/wake schedule all week.
3. After an indulgent meal
A five-course, calories-be-damned dinner can have an immediate impact on your heart health. Studies show that high-fat, high-carb meals constrict blood vessels, making blood more prone to clotting.
Protect yourself: If you must indulge, keep your portion sizes reasonable. A daily aspirin will also help prevent blood “stickiness.”
4. During unusually vigorous exercise
Having a heart attack while shoveling snow is a classic example of this.
The heart attack occurs because the victim isn’t accustomed to that kind of effort and stress hormones skyrocket, causing blood pressure and heart rate to jump.
Protect yourself: Regular exercise protects your heart. But increase your intensity level gradually.
5. At the podium
From the heart’s perspective, public speaking can be similar to unaccustomed exercise.
Extreme nervousness raises blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels, all of which can make the presentation itself a secondary worry.
Protect yourself: To counter these effects, some of my patients take a beta-blocker before speaking, flying, or doing anything that makes them overly anxious.
source : http://shine.yahoo.com/event/hearthealth/5-scary-times-for-your-heart-652424/
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fall into place
Finally, things have start falling into places. My life is now becoming more manageable. A bit of update:
1) My promotion has been confirmed. I've started working in my new role for around 1 month now. The catch is that it's a permanent night shift role. To write on this, I need a whole new post, but in short, so far it's OK.
2) My maid has finally arrived. She has been working for around 3 weeks now. So far so good.
Well, I guess item no.2 above kind of free me to sort all bunch of other things out.
The song from Radiohead below pretty much sums it up. Till then, later.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Stress?
My wife? She's in government service. With all the bureaucracy, it's pretty hard for her to take leave. Hopefully the maid will and know how to do a good job. If not, more stress.
Talking about government service, I've been dealing with two government agencies these past two-weeks. Below is my feedback:
KWSP Taman Shamelin Perkasa:
1. I went there to withdraw my EPF Account 2. The first time I went there, I've got all the documents needed except that I need to photocopy my Sales and Purchase agreement (SPA) and the bank loan letter offer (LO). So I'm unable to withdraw.
2. I went back to EPF. This time with the copy of the SPA and LO. I've got all the documents needed except the original copy of the SPA and the LO. Arghhhhhh! So, I'm unable to withdraw.
3. So, I need to go there again (not yet).
4. The EPF customer representative at the counter was fast and courteous. Besides, it was also due to some negligence from my part. So, I've got no big problem with EPF.
Immigration Department:
This is to get the Temporary Employment Visiting Pass for my maid. My feedback:
1. First, I went to Immigration Department in Damansara. Conclusion = it SUCK BIG TIME and a TOTAL SHIT. Do not go there unless you want to waste your time with a REALLY LOUSY SERVICE.
2. You will have difficulty to find parking space and need to brave a terrible traffic jam. Actually, I've no problem with the parking and the traffic as the Immigration Dept have no control on it but they do have control on their employees. Let me emphasize, Foreign Worker Division Malaysian Immigration Department have a LOUSY SERVICE, SUCK BIG TIME and a TOTAL SHIT.
3. I don't want/need to elaborate which part of the service is lousy as they SUCK BIG TIME and a TOTAL SHIT! I just don't want/need to waste my time on them anymore.
4. FRUSTATED with Immigration Department in Damansara, I decided that they're a hopeless bunch of people. Yes if any of you read this, you are HOPELESS. I went to Immigration Department in Putrajaya instead.
5. Conclusion, Immigration Department in Putrajaya = EXCELLENT.
Writing about the Immigration Department triggered my stress back. I better do something else.
Monday, January 04, 2010
New Year's resolution
In my company where I'm working, come new year, we'll set a new bunch of objectives to meet for the rest of the year and we'll then review it every quarter throughout the year. In this case, for my personal objectives, I will only review it at the end of the year.
Objectives:
1. Obtain at least one professional cert. My target is CCNP. I need to pass four exam papers to be able to obtain it. Looks like I need to pass at least one paper quaterly.
2. Invest in another property. This will be a bit hard since I will also employ a maid which mean higher monthly expenses. But we will see if this is achievable during my performance review at the end of the year.
3. Memorize Surah As-Sajdah from the Holy Qur'an together with its meaning. I hope that in the midst of the strive to achieve better quality of life in this world, I will not forget why I'm here in the first place.
That's all the objectives that I've set for 2010. We'll review it in December 2010 or January 2011. Till then. Ciao.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Financial Management
On the long holiday, we've taken our 2 months+ daughter to various places eg: UTM Skudai, Punggai Beach Resort (near Desaru), Kuala Pilah and Ipoh. Most of them was due to wedding receptions.
After considering several alternatives, we've decided to hire a maid to look after our daughter. It's not cheap. Initial payment is more or less like a downpayment to low/medium cost home. What made it more difficult is that we've just bought a property. Thus, more need of money.
It's on a time like this that I need to do something that I don't really enjoy. Collect money from people who owed me.
I've got several friends who have been regular borrower with me. This is since I've just started working, and then got married and then got a daughter. It's almost will be the same person who will borrow.
Generally, there are two types of borrower:
Case A: Mr. A contacted me saying he need money urgently and promised to pay me back on 20th of the month. On 20th he said he can't pay it due to some problem. I later found out that it's a genuine problem.
Case B: Mr. B contacted me saying he need money urgently and promised to pay me back on 20th of the month. On 20th of the month, there's no word from him. It's only when I contacted him on the 2oth of the following month that he paid me back. On top of that, I've also found out that he just spent lavishly buying present for his girlfriend and bought the latest handphone on the market.
I'm lending money due to my believe that we should help our relatives/friends when they're in need because we'll never know when our time will come. I've got absolutely no problem with Case A. But I'm truly disappointed when I've encountered Case B. For me, that's not urgent case.
I believe that there's no problem if you want to get into debt. But make sure it's a good debt and you make it first priority to pay your debt. Be it a study loan, car loan, housing loan, FAMA (Father and Mother) loan, borrow from friend/relative, etc.
I've already had several bad experience lending money to friends. I've already considered them as bad debt and they've already been in my blacklist. Regarding the person in Case B, he's still not in my blacklist since he had already paid his debt to me.
Under normal circumstances, I'll not really bother about this issue. But this is not normal, I'm in need of money and I don't really like to borrow from others.
I think I should start post something about financial management since I noticed that it's usually the same type of people who are having problem with financial.
Till then, see ya.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Reunion
This time, we have additional member who will live together with us. Our daughter! Yippy! Hope she likes it here. Her mother doesn't really enjoy staying here. Hihi.
I can't wait to eat all the dishes that my wife will cook for me. Yummers!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Updates
There were a lot of things happened since I've last updated my blog. To write it conventionally will consume a lot of my precious time. So I'll do it Tun Dr. M style:
1. I'm now a dad to a lovely daughter.
2. I've added Canon 50mm 1.8 to my DSLR setup and I think that will be enough for now (I hope).
3. I've enrolled for 10 sessions golfing classes. Found out that it's not that easy to play golf and have a new-found respect for all those professional golfers. After all the 10 classes finish, it could be a long time until I'll play it again due to various reasons.
4. I've been tentatively offered to be promoted. The catch is that it will be a full time night shift position. More on this later as it is not confirm yet.
5. I've started to invest in real-estate.
6. Alhamdulillah.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
District 9
By the way, not long after my previous post, I've been given the backup team lead role. By some weird turn-of-event, the role finally fell to me. As my team lead is currently on vacation in the UK for two weeks, I'm currently the acting team lead for my team. I would say so far so good. If not for my shift working hour, I might consider to really have a go for the role for a long term target ;p.
Ok that's all for now, Happy Fasting to all muslims in the world.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Management or technical??
I replied bluntly saying to give the current BTL more time to improve and I prefer more technical role rather than management role.
I hope it's not a wrong move.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Petrol Kiosk
I've just noticed that there's a promotion at Petronas kiosk where you can spend rm30 for your petrol and you can buy their Transformers promo t-shirt for RM10. Sadly, I've been to two kiosk now and both of them have sold-out their black t-shirt. If any of you know which kiosk still have those cool black t-shirt let me know or better, buy for me. :). Don't worry. I'll pay. I want both of them. Autobots and Decepticons.
Roll out!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
New hobby(pocket-burner)?
I've spent a lot of time studying on how to use the DSLR. It's fricking addictive! At this rate, I'll never complete my CCNP. Hopefully I'll be good at dividing my time and will never lost interest to keep studying for my CCNP as I believe it will be a good stepping stone to further enhance my career (and salary!). Next target, a telephoto lens.
Oh no, what about the stroller, car seat, play-pen, etc. for my soon-to-be-born baby? Guess my wife need to start forking out her money too. Wakaka
By the way, it is a Canon Eos 500d Kit. Check it out here
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Recession? What recession?
Chelsea won FA cup last night. At least they've got silverware. Haha. With goals coming from regular aging scorer, Lampard and Drogba, I wonder what'll happen 2-3 years from now without younger players. At least, Essien and Mikel Obi still young with Mancienne showing potential. Now what we need is a prodigy striker.
Yesterday, I went out with my wife to my colleague wedding reception and then straightaway to One Utama. We did some shopping for our soon-to-be newborn. As a last minute kind of person, I don't really fancy buying stuff so early but when I think that later, in the later stage of my wife pregnancy, she might get tired easily and I'll have to do the shopping alone, I decided to have a go. Haha.
One thing that I've learned, baby stuff is not that cheap although it's much smaller. Take baby car seat for example. Recaro baby car seat is almost as expensive as the full-size seat. Well, I'll not buy Recaro anyway. I don't want to spoiled my child. Haha.
Oh yes, I've decided, I'll buy a DSLR camera. Now to decide, Nikon or Canon. Lol
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Waist wasted
We went to my office-mate wedding's reception at MATRADE nearby Jalan Duta. Quite happening I would say.
The next day, we went to Mid Valley and shopping like crazy. Jusco had sale at the exhibition level.
What caught me off-guard was the size of my pants now. Arghh damn it. 1 and a half years ago, it was 32. Last year it was 34. Now?? Haha. Let's just say, it has increase exponentially.
This is what you get when you live/work sedentarily in IT line happily without real pressure. At this rate, I'll need to buy new pants every year.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Unstoppable Barca?
Well yesterday "El Clasico" prove the point. You just cant fight fire with fire against the attacking prowess of Eto, Messi and Henry. The Madritistas was humiliated to the core.
In that sense, Guus Hiddink is really a genius. That's why, Chelsea is the only team that's able to get a clean sheet at Nou Camp(yes, with a number of yellow cards). It's a compliment to Barca really. In their current form, a 0-0 was a really good result.
Now, let's see what he's up to for the 2nd leg at Stamford Brigde. What a mouth-watering fixture!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Selesema Babi
The last similar outbreak that we had in this region was bird flu/Avian flu.
I'm not going to write about what caused the disease or how to prevent it etc. You can find it in abundant on the net.
What intrigued me was the selection of the name for the disease. Here in Malaysia, pork/pig is translated to "babi". Babi is also use as a swearing word here. eg: "Babi la ko" which can bore similar meaning such as "f**k you". Which I think, prompted the popular use of the word "Khinzir" in the 90's , which is, of course, literally the same as Babi.
Surprisingly, the English news here choose to called it as Swine flu. Why not Pig flu (by the way, there're countries that called it Pig Flu and Swine does mean pig/hog/boar) ? My point here is that, who in Malaysia decides to collectively call it as Swine Flu (not pig flu) and "Selesema Babi (not "Selesema Khinzir").
Yeah I know it's really trivial thing. What can I do? It's those sleepless night again. Haha. Sigh.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Cravings??
Ok below is the list of the things that I'm craving right now:
1) DSLR Camera
2) Head Unit (CD Player) for my wife's car (Yes, I'm married ;p).
3 ) Video game console
4) Home theater system
5) House??
For example, even if I'm going only for item number 1, there's still a lot of things that I'll need to decide, eg: brand (Nikon or Canon), model (Nikon D80, Canon Eos450d (or wait for eos500d)), budget (below 2k? below 3k? below 3.5k?), package (body only? kit? buy separate lenses?). Whatever it is, DSLR is surely an expensive past time activity. My wife is pregnant right now and I want to capture the special moment with a special camera (yes I know, I need to improve my photography skill first).
Oh yes, that might be the reason? So far, my wife never craves for any weird things. Is it because of this that I'm craving for all those things? Time will tell. Haha
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Go Chelsea!!
Go Go Go !
Monday, April 13, 2009
Zoo Empire
The wrapping of the game's CD looks really crappy I feel like throwing it all together with the cereal box but I've just put it inside my TV cabinet drawer just in case. Boy, how I don't know what it will do to me.
Out of boredom, when you have found out that ASTRO is repeating all it programs again and you don't have Internet access at home (thanks TM, what a great service!) than you remember about the CD that you've got for free. Let's try it out, there's nothing to lose.
Turn out that it took almost all of my off-day time. Haha. I guess that it has been too long since I last play computer games that even free game will do but to be fair, it's not that crappy. It reminded me of those old-school sim game like sim city, sim tower, etc. The game that I'm playing is called Zoo Empire
For a glimpse of the game, check it out on the link below:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/zooempire/index.html
How to get it? You can just go to any nearby store and buy a box of Nestle (if I'm not mistaken) breakfast cereal with a CD in front of it. Not only you can get free CD games, you also can eat the breakfast cereal (or should it be the other way around?).
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Internet access
Now I'm trying P1 WiMAX. First impression? I'm very impressed at the moment. Although my place is not really in the coverage area and I'm getting weak signal, the speed is damn fast. Eg: Youtube will not buffer at all. Direct http download super fast compared to Streamyx. Streamyx user will notice that lately, Streamyx is slower than pregnant Tapir. I've got until this Friday to test whether I want to proceed with P1. I'm signing for rm99 24months contract. I don't want to commit for that long for crappy service. Who knows after the trial period over, service will be like crap. But so far so good.
Wait a minute, I'll still need to pay the monthly rental for the phone line that I've never use because there's 12 months contract. Ah who cares, I dont give a damn. DARN YOU STREAMYX/TMNET!!