it has been a couple of emotionally-charged (of the conniption variant) days. first, my never-ending saga with the tea lady who i srsly think has a thing for me. i could have spurned her love one time too many that she sees it fit to exact her form of revenge, which is to pick at every single thing that i do and telling me off loudly in front of everyone when i less expected it. she's stopped emptying my bin, so i do that on my own. did i also mention that she's stopped providing thrash bags in the pantry and that ours is the only office in the world without a garbage bin? and aside from her totally rude manner, she is also the gossip queen of the office, and we suspect one of my colleague's recent resignation is (partially) a result of her poisonous tongue. *shoots tea lady one of Lily Aldrin's you-are-dead-to-me look*

and the other thing that flipped me inside out was to see a usage charge of RM509 on my Maxis bill, RM438 of which was data charge. i had been monitoring my usage very closely, being careful not to overstep my limit of 1G -- which isn't a lot, apparently -- after hearing many cases of rude bill shocks encountered by first time smartphone users, so i practically imploded (might explain why i'm so tired these couple of days -- i'm practically yawning by 8 and in bed by 10).. and after a much-restrained call to maxis, i was informed that my quota for this month has been prorated due to the difference in bill cycle and the day i started using the phone. and i was like 'why didn't anyone tell me this?? i have been monitoring...' and blah blah blah -- i drilled the fella for 40 mins, but one reason why the call prolonged was every time i asked him a question such as, what was my limit?, he'd put me on hold for a good minute or two  -- and no, i didn't lose my cool and shouted at him, but i did sound mighty displeased.. anyways in the end, the cust svc agent told me that they would waive some kinda fee (some capping fee?) amounting to RM250 (i think they should waive the whole RM438, don't you?).. which reduced my phone bill significantly, but still. URGH.

so there you go, smartphone users-to-be, be sure of what your first month data limit is, or maxis is going to xxxxx you nicely. that, or switch to DiGi's unlimited plan. if you decide to stay with maxis, get the iDataUsage app from the iTunes store to help monitor your usage. this is the end of the PSA (public svc announcement).

as to my tea lady, hahaha, stay tune for the next chapter. God, teach me restraint and wisdom. and much as i don't want to, love. YUCK. *the battle rages*

on the circus surrounding the use of "Allah" by a Catholic publication

I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.

:: Mark Twain

srsly, wadever lah.


on the crawling internet connection, at home and at work
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.


on readingsometimes i read too fast for my liking. i would make mental note to revisit certain portion, but by the time i finish the book, i am only left with an impression of it. i don't allow for time to ruminate, just wanting to finish it. it's good if i was reading some page turners, but it doesn't work for the kinda books i'm reading now.

i should stop shortchanging myself.


on current read
sebastian faulks is keeping me entertained on my train rides with engleby (the kan cheong part has yet to start), while david foster's celebration of discipline is current bedside reading. finding it to be a good book. hope to write about it some time soon. something that struck me from last nite's reading.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

matt 12:34b-36

God only knows how reckless i've been in this lifetime.


on something for the year
i was keen to hop on to project 365, where you take a pic a day of anything and anyone for the entire year of 2010, but alas, i don't have a camera phone. my very sturdy sony ericsson w800i has lasted me 4 years so far (on a single battery abused with long hours). amazing lil one that. i won't buy another one til it dies on me, but it leaves me without a camera and you know how much i love taking pics. ah well, can't have it all.

anyways, since i can't take a pic a day.. i've decided to do it a lil differently. check out the last box on the right column.. i'll wait.

yeah, being a generally ungrateful person with a long list of complaints at hand and suppressed anger, i thought a good counter to that would be to.. give thanks. for the little and big things. so that i don't take things for granted. remembering the positive things in life. so yeah.


on weight watch
*munching on carrot cake as i type*

the button on my black pants almost popped out yesterday. holiday pounds are a nightmare.

had a nice lunch at la bodega pavilion just now, courtesy of our designer. the mushroom soup was awesome - totally recommended. :) finished the brownie cos everyone else was too full, as if i wasn't.


on the pantry dictator
my tea lady, she scares me. and for some reason, she doesn't like me. not the first time, not now. is it my asymmetrical face? my estee lauder perfume? my often dazed look? i don't know.

i heard her shouting from the pantry just now.

"siapa buka plastik bag ni? buang sikit sampah mau buka plastik bag baru kah? !@#$%^"

the garbage bag in the pantry is only available when she is around. this means that you can't throw anything in the pantry if u washed your cups/plates etc after 5. which is weird and highly inconvenient.

"haiyer! siapa buat punya??"

dunno who she was complaining to la. i picked up the phone and called my boss.

"she's shouting in the pantry now, about the plastic bag la. i hope she won't find out it was me."

my heart is still beating faster than normal.