Life, random bits, I’m bored

It's Friday, today's post is supposed to be the Friday Five, but I'm at work and I'm bored (because there's nothing to do).

I could go shred that stack of papers, but I just shredded one stack of papers yesterday. Boss hasn't given me any more explicit instructions to get certain things done, so... I've been sitting around reading.

It's times like this that always make me think: "Should I do something extra in my life?" And then I see ads for iMBAs or courses and I think, "ah, I have so much free time anyway, I should be able to do it," but then after I apply, then I'll get so busy that I can't spare a minute to do any coursework. And I would not take another MBA. I was a thesis away from completing mine some 8 or so years ago, I've written the story one time but I may re-tell it again (I can't find the post).

I did see an iMSM (Master of Science in Management) which looked to be a lot more manageable but then again, it's going to be just a hot-headed decision, so I'll hold for now. Besides, with the amount of money to enroll in one of those, I could get a Vespa! A Vespa reseller has opened in town! I can easily afford one! But then again, I think to myself, do I really need one? So I'm at a standstill. My excuse for myself is "it's a tie between the iMSM and a Vespa", but in truth I'm trying to dissuade myself from both.

In order to add more color to my life, I have now decided that on Fridays, I would eat out for lunch, either with friends or go out for takeaway. Today, I decided to get some takeaway. I ordered from a new (I guess) Pokebowl place. I placed an online order then walked over to the shop from my office. It brought back old memories as this is the area where I went to primary school in. The vaguely yellow building in the deep end of this photo... is the building of my primary school (it's since changed to the Chinese section of the same school).

This is a tiny garden right next to the school. I think I can even eat take out here on nice weather days, so I'm not always cooped up in the office.

I do not recall what this was before, perhaps a library or a "newspaper reading station", but it looks rather unkempt now. It does have a sign saying it's one of the heritage monuments, but if so, why is it not being taken care of? A fleeting memory of this garden though, they had one of those, spinning things for children to play? What do you call those? Like a hand-pushed merry-go-round but without the horses? Had a small accident here (hit my hand on the bar or something as it was spinning) and I fractured the bone in my right ring finger. Had to go in a cast. What hurt most was when the cast came off and the doctor wanted me to try moving it. Ever since then, my right ring finger didn't feel quite right, even when I'm cracking my knuckles, there is something different with that finger.

This wall was part of the back wall of the old Chinese and Portuguese section of my primary school. They've since renovated the wall but kept 2 little blocks of the original old wall and encased them in glass. Huh. Cool? I guess so.

That Pokebowl takeout place was a bit tricky to find as it was inside some side streets that didn't show up clearly on Google maps, but eventually, I found it. On my way back to the office, there's the pineapple monster LOL

The Pokebowl wasn't bad (it was a Build-Your-Own Pokebowl) but the choices lacked vegan variety. I'm trying to go as  vegan as possible whenever I arrange for my own meals. Breakfast is easy, I'm doing it already, my company restaurant has a (very limited) vegan menu, but I should be able to survive 5 meals a week with that (despite being repetitive). But if I decide to eat out, then I have a lot of planning and researching to do. Today is a half fail with this Pokebowl, because it didn't have a lot of options, so I had some seared salmon.

Dinner is a lost cause, as it's my parents who control the dinner menu. Though, last night Mom did mention something about going vegan or eating less meat because of her health issues (they had doctor appointments yesterday) and Mom suddenly comes up with a "I was born in the year of the Ox, I should quit Beef" erm... okay.... weird reasoning, but not unwelcome.... I wonder what Dragon people would avoid LOL. Here's hoping that it actually happens!

Oh and the book I'm reading now is The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë. I do not remember why I chose this book, I think it was a suggestion from one Goodreads book club or another. My comment as I am progressing on this book is, "Oh, the indignation! The oppression!" And am forever glad I do not have to face such treatment.

Friday Five 22-January-2021

First, these are questions from thefridayfive

1) What's the best customer service experience you've ever had?
Very recently, it was at the Apple Store when I wanted to get my AirPods Pro checked and the guy just replaced them outright, but that was something that I had expected anyway since there was an announcement late last year that there IS going to be a recall and replacement for AirPods Pro anyway. So I'm trying to think farther back, and I have to say when we stayed at this Hotel/Hostel/Guesthouse kind of place in Czech Republic. Right now I don't recall the name of that city... oh! Cesky Krumlov! (Obviously tried to look at the map now). The guy (owner?) saw us approaching the hotel and already was able to say "hello, Ms. Kat and friends, just follow me!" Without us saying anything, and he just as easily, picked up our luggage (one in each hand) and just flew up the stairs. Then he gave us a very detailed summary of the town, what to visit, where to eat, where to change money, asked us what time we wanted to have breakfast and sent us off. Not once did I have to show him my booking confirmation or anything. Maybe he only had 1 group of guest of 3 people so he so easily identified us?

Breakfast the next day was laid out just as we stepped into the restaurant (that's why he asked us when we wanted to have breakfast) and then again helped us take the luggage down and bundled us into the car we booked to drive us to Vienna.

2) What's a very reliable item that you own?
Hm... my car? It's going 15 years, maybe 16 even. But no, I wouldn't say it's reliable, it keeps breaking down. Our mechanic is what is reliable. What's a reliable thing that I own?? I don't know. LOL. I'd say my iPod Classic, but I don't want to jinx it, so no. Oh, we have a dehumidifyer at home, that's almost as old as I am! And it's still working!

3) What's something that wore out, but you replaced it with the same thing?
Very pre-emptively, I tried on a pair of Oxford style shoes that were so comfortable, I immediately bought both colors available. So that, when the one pair wore out, I had the second pair ready (but in a different color).

4) Have you ever left an online review of something you bought?
Yes. With Taobao, they actually encourage you to leave a review. I do try to leave reviews when the product or customer service turn out to be better than expected.

5) What's a book you've read more than once?
The 2 that immediately come into mind are Black Beauty (which I read many times over many summer holidays) and Pride and Prejudice (I think I mentioned before, it was school reading, and I read ahead and had to backtrack to follow the class progress, then read ahead again)

Followed by questions from F.riday5.com
1) Who’s the nastiest flavor in the ice cream parlor?
It depends on the parlor, really. There's one brand that I think still exists here (though I cannot fathom WHY) called KIKA from Japan, it had the most terrible ice cream flavors. Yet, it didn't die and still exists somewhere in town.

2) Which item in the produce aisle is most likely to spoil the party?
I don't quite understand what the question means... what party? The produce aisle party? Erm... Celery? Coz I hate it?

3) What’s the most embarrassing song by your favorite musician or band?
Far be it for me to decide what is embarrassing, but in all of Okui Masami 奥井雅美 repertoire, I never liked her song BEATS the BAND. Not for anything, but just for the terrible English pronunciation. Actually, coming to think of it, BEATS the BAND wasn't really so bad.

There's another all-English song that is just so difficult to listen to... I can't find the clip of just it, but just to put it out there LOL.... here's one of the entire album... So if you are curious, at track 9, around the 40:00 mark, More than words ~in my heart~

4) Which part of your body is always in trouble?
I'd say my knees! Especially my left knee. They feel well enough usually, but then I get some kind of feeling like there's a build up inside and then, I must crack/snap it. Sometimes I get a shot of pain as I walk, but I found out that as long as I walk with a proper posture then it will be fine.

5) What’s the worst film in your favorite actor’s* filmography?
* “actor” as a non-gender-specific term
I don't really have a favorite actor. I'm not much of a movie buff. I follow a few actors on instagram but that's not because I really like them or what, it's just, I have nothing better to do so just added the scant few actors that I know of. Coming to think of it, most of the actors I've added on instagram are mostly the Harry Potter kids. But in the same vein (as in, film and actor related thing), may I just say that, in every single movie Johnny Depp is in, he looks different.  At least the ones that I've watched. No single one of his character design would be like, I look at him and I know "it's Johnny Depp." No. Edward Scissorhands? Okay, I didn't know who is what back then as a kid, but when I grew up? Oh, that's Johnny Depp? Okay. Finding Neverland, Oh okay, good looking guy. Charlie and Chocolate Factory, WTF that's him? Alice in Wonderland, WTF that's him? Pirates of the Caribbean, Okaaaayyy.... kind of looks like him.....

But yeah. In whatever movie Johnny Depp is in, you have to actually tell me it's Johnny Depp, then I know it's Johnny Depp.

Look how I went off-tangent on this question. I'm not sorry, LOL