elusivek: (yay! (Trucey))
hm.... by this time next week, I'll be in Taipei, waiting for my connecting flight to Austria! YES! I'm going to Austria again!! It's been 10 years since my last visit. I'm already confused by some of the new things going on, like, the Westbahnhof is not anymore the bahnhof to go to Linz and Salzburg. The Sudbahnhof has also been upgraded to become the Hauptbahnhof! So. Yeah. I've got a few key locations all marked and saved and then we can just go with the flow.

So today was the "Commemoration walk" for the "Upcoming Inauguration" of the "Macau Bridge". That entire sentence is made of a few jokes LOL. In Macau we used to have to one sole bridge connecting the Macau Peninsula to the Taipa Island. The bridge has an official name (Some Nobre Carvalho or something) but now we just call it the "Old Bridge". Then the second bridge built was called the "Friendship Bridge". I guess it was because it was just before the time of the Handover and so the Portuguese and Chinese were doing a series of "Friendship & Good relations" stuff, therefore it was called "Friendship". For a while the people commonly called it the "New Bridge". However, there is an area of Macau also colloquially known as "new bridge" 新橋 and while people will know what you are talking about (e.g. you won't go to the actual bridge for shopping) some people will tease in jest. And some years later, we got the new "Sai Van Bridge", which is probably because it starts off from the Sai Van area in Macau.
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This spiffy new bridge that's going to go in operations on Tuesday, is called "The Macau Bridge" lol. I read somewhere that the name "Macau Bridge" was also submitted for consideration when tender was open for the Sai Van Bridge, but I guess this time it's political, or something. This newest bridge has been joked that: it's been built too quickly, it will collapse. They required people to register to walk this event, and the registration page basically died every step of the way. 1. It didn't go live when it was supposed to go live. 2. When it got resolved, people had to receive an SMS code to verify but people were stuck waiting for the SMS. 3. When it got resolved, people were still not able to registere due to server error. 4. When it got resolved, very soon the quota was full so people couldn't register. So, some actually joked that they needed to limit the number of people as the bridge would collapse. Oh, also, the bridge has disco shiney lights at night, so people call it the "Rainbow Bridge". Ooops.
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So to commemorate the opening, we get to walk half way and back, because the area the bridge connects to "New City Zone A" 新城A區 (a reclaimed area intended for building housing) is actually not completed yet LOL. Tuesday is China National Day, so all these wee-waahs and hoo-haas (Horse and pony show?) is really to hype that up.
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And have I mentioned the red flags in town LOL. Every single lamp post hangs 2 flags of China. Someone in a "foreigners" chat group I'm in posted a video of him saying "How many red flags does your relationship have?" LOL.

This year is gonna be a couple of big things because it's the 75th year of the PRC and the 25th year of the Macau Handover (Macau SAR Establishment Day).

I got interviewed by the news station, and even in the questions, they had to make it political.

- Why are you here? Well, this is new, and I thought it fun to have a walk over.
- What do you think of the weather today? Well, you can say it's a beautiful day but admittedly it's a little too sunny to be out in the open, but I've got an umprella.
- What do you think about having this commemoration walk 2 days before the actual inaugration? Yeah, it's a fun experience so I'm here.

Yeah, I totally not-answered the third question intentionally haha!
elusivek: (Music Music Music!)
A couple days ago, a colleague told me to check my home internet plan and that apparently the ISP is doing some sort of promotion. We were paying a certain price, for unlimited data at 150M (whatever that means). The promotion now is for loyal customers, the baseline is 5 years of subscription (we've been subscribing since the internet started) and the internet speed would be upgraded to 600M (price and package remain unchanged). I guess it was a gut FOMO reaction, when I told my Mom she said to get it immediately.

That actually reminds me that we should start updating our utilities as the internet is under my Mom's name. But now after signing up for this upgrade, we are locked in for 2 years so oh well.

Anyway, we needed to upgrade our router to be able to support the 600M speed as well, so the ISP guy came over and replaced our router.

The issue I have now it: I don't know what I did before, that I was able to use my existing Apple AirPort Extreme as a Wi-Fi extender and as a connection point for my printer, so I was able to extend the internet a little further, and make my non-wireless printer into a wireless printer.

Either, since my last set up, there has been some firmware update to the AirPort Extreme, or something, but I am unable to get my AirPort connected to the new router network. In fact, after I reset the AirPort, and then somehow connect it wirelessly to the network, the AirPort would suddenly disappear. This makes it looks like the AirPort itself is out of order.

I'm stumped. But since we've also upgraded the printer a while ago to something that has some wireless function, I think I can safely just remove the AirPort altogether.

But the printer is a whole other can of worms LOL. The ink dries out so quickly, so now it can't print. But I need it to at least print its own data out, because, I need the default password in order to be able to connect to the printer wirelessly. (I've tried the age old 000000, no dice)

Why is technology now so complicated? I also don't see the difference of the 150M and the 600M. Maybe when I start watching videos or movies?

About the cars

Thursday, 15 August 2024 23:05
elusivek: (Bike)
So. We got a new car. Well, secondhand, so technically, we got an old car. But it’s newer than my car by 1 year LOL.

Anyway, the yellow car is the borrowed car. The family-friend-mechanic was nice enough to lend us one of his spare cars while he went looking for a secondhand car. It's a Toyota Will Cypha. Apparently it's got some clout as in being rather rare and currently only having 3 neon yellow ones in Macau. We did try to ask the mechanic if he will sell us this car, but he gave a resolute No. Pity. It IS a smooth drive and comfy interior. I guess it's because he's a mechanic so he put a lot of time in fixing up his own car and so it's such a nice drive. (But the back windows are stuck shut, and i suspect the gasoline meter indicator thing is wonky, coz it goes down to having 4 bars only, and then suddenly one day it's full up to 7 bars for a couple of days then going back down to 3 bars. I've given up looking at the bars, and instead reset the distance driven indicator and fill up the tank when approaching  250km)
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Two days ago the mechanic sent me photos of this orange car. It's a Nissan March. Nice compact car as well, but honestly I found the steering wheel a little tougher than I'm used to. But it probably was time to accept it as I've been driving his car for almost a month, and he lent us the car for free. The Nissan looked to be in pretty good condition, and we doubt he'd cheat us as he's a long-time family-friend-mechanic... and if anything happens he knows we've got him on speed dial. He's selling us the car for MOP $10,000 (around USD$1200 or EUR$1135), which includes all the upgrades he's going to do and the new body wrap he did.
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I went to sort out the transfer of property ownership thing, and then had to immediately go to the insurance companies to get the car insured. And THIS is when I found out the shit part of getting an old secondhand car is that insurance is CRAZY EXPENSIVE. For my car, I'm paying around MOP$900 per year. Because this car is over 12 years (it's 19 years) the insurance is gonna cost me around MOP$2,400! Almost triple! Hopefully as the years go by the no claim bonus will discount it further.

The mechanic is still going to fix a few things, mainly the... whatever of the back door (hatch?), it's supposed to stay open after you open but those bars holding up the hatch need to be replaced, so he's going to replace that, then we're going to swap cars again (me returning the yellow car to him and him passing the orange car to me).

I didn't pay too close attention to the details of the car, but I can say with confidence that the seats are less comfortable, but it's ok. It's a means of transportation. The first thing I'm going to do? REMOVE ALL THOSE STITCH STICKERS. It's not that I don't like Stitch (Lilo and Stitch), it's just that, I'm not one for car decals ALL OVER THE WINDOWS. I'm ok with one bumper sticker and that's it.

Now I have 2 cars under my name. It's probably going to wreck my local "poverty index" LOL but whatever, whatever.
elusivek: (Default)
Life has been good. I'm enjoying the mobility that I have with the car.

I've decided to go about this unfair situation.... as is. It doesn't really matter. If I throw a fit, they're just gonna say I'm selfish or disrespectful or whatever, and they're just gonna continue to expect I bring the fringe benefits home. Or, they'll begrudgingly cede some things, but then their attitude will be so passive aggressive that then I'll be feeling bad about it.

Today I have to go in to work, but the Boss wants me to go drop off a cheque to a shop. His driver is busy so I'll have to do it myself, so I figured I might as well just go to work later. The shop opens at 10.30am, in Macau. I'm not going to drive all the way over to the end of the earth to work for half an hour and then drive back out to downtown, drop the cheque, then drive back to the end of the earth. I don't get a gasoline/petrol subsidy, so why should I do that.

Mom's currently out in a tour group, touring around Guangzhou. The highlight of the trip is to go through the new.... I forgot if it's a bridge or a tunnel, from Zhongshan to Shenzhen. Ok, did a search, apparently it's both. I suppose it's similar to the HZM Bridge, maybe a bit shorter. I am not sure if I will give a try on that? There's really no real reason for me to go Shenzhen, and first going to Zhongshan from Zhuhai is a bit of a bother, I suppose. I don't know. I haven't researched on that.

I finally got through the China Travel Services system and have a date booked for that new travel permit. This reminds me, I should make copies of my passports and existing visas and such. Let's hope the submissions go smoothly and I can get that travel permit card.
elusivek: (SMILE (Peppie))
FINALLY! The rain decided to actually rain. For the past couple of days it's been dreary, muggy, clouds low, looking like rain, but no rain and dragging on... and 10 minutes ago it just started pouring. GOOD. Rain it all out then we can have good weather again.

A colleague commented that I'd gained some weight and when I weighted myself, I was like oooooh... I'm over my personal maximum acceptable weight, oops! But I don't get it. I don't binge eat, I do watch what I eat, I even exercise pretty regularly. I hardly drink any sugary drinks (Sodas and such, not even the diet versions). Is it time to actually see a dietician or nutritionist or something?

The workshop finally put my bisque pieces in the kiln! So I now have a couple of pieces ready to be glazed. BUT. My glaze color index has not been fired yet... I want to wait for that, but I also don't want to wait for that LOL as I want to start glazing them. But, I will do that slowly.
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I am also in the market for glaze pencils, so I've been low-key searching for those and reading up customer reviews.

I am taking the day off tomorrow to go sort out that China travel permit thing. I got a phone number to call but it seems like it's not manned and nobody picks up that phone, ever, so I've resorted to go there and ask directly. Hopefully it's going to be a simple matter and they can sort that all out while I'm there (I'll bring all my documents and passports along the way)

Oh, and looks like there will be a final trip to Singapore as the office is finally set up, so I'll have to check with the Boss if he wants to or wants somebody to head over there and do a final walkthrough to confirm that it's up and running.

I've also been reading up about Austria and making plans for the trip. That, is going to hopefully be epic!

Life's been busy

Wednesday, 17 July 2024 18:58
elusivek: (sakura)
Life has been so busy, it's been unreal. My typical weekday now is: Wake up, dog walk, breakfast, get to work, lunch, afternoon work (depends may have to go to another office), back home, {some free time here}, dinner, post-dinner roundtable family talk, night time dog walk, shower, bed. That some free time is really short and I am so tired I usually doze off a bit instead of doing stuff I want to do.

I really want to put in running again. I've now picked up running on Sundays, but that's just not enough to give me any training. I need more frequent runs.
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The weather's been weird lately and we're having sunny days with showers while the sun is still out. And thus, an abundance of rainbows! Before this shot, it was actually a double rainbow.
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After running, I would go on this exercise machine. This one, essentially, is a body weight pull-up thing. So I sit in the seat and hold on the bars and pull myself up. This one's relatively easy. There's another one that's similar, but you have to push the bars away from your front, so I guess it's like a push up? But I can say, that one is really tough.
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The cat is a really a demon. The cat that we picked up from the street LOL. She would try to climb on us humans, which is fine, until the next time you go out and then start sweating, and then notice, "why is the back of my leg so itchy and somewhat in pain? Oh, there's a scratch." Yes. Demon cat LOL.
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I've been diligent and going to the ceramics workshop every week. It's just the master there is not putting my pieces in the kiln. I think they are on a deadline to get certain pieces going to an exhibition to be baked first. But still. I've been diligently adding to my collection!

Work-front, we are moving offices. I did not realize how much crap I had. But at the same time, after I shredded most of the paperwork, I only have a lot of small knick knacks. Huh. Okay. Moving day is next week Wednesday.

Recent updates

Saturday, 22 June 2024 17:58
elusivek: (yay! (Trucey))
There's a bit to talk about, but not really much.

I've past my reading phase, I've past my gaming phase, I've now circled back to my Netflix binging phase. Anyway.

Today I went to the ceramics workshop again. The workshop's planning is really abysmal. If you have advertised that certain days are for the open workshops, then keep that schedule. And if anything ad hoc comes up, say something.

So today I was all ready to start on a new piece, but when I went there, they said they very last-minute got a particular workshop for 30 people. So they asked me to work in another room. Which was fine, really, but then, when you are offering an open workshop and people pay by the hour there, and you supposedly provide certain tools to people for the open workshop... then don't use those tools as something else.

Basically I needed to use this slab making tool to make slabs. They used it as a table!

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So actually I couldn't do what I originally went there to do, if I only knew how to use the slab. Luckily, I learnt the original way (making slabs by hand) so I was still able to start on a new piece. But had I had access to the slab machine it'd be heaps easier to do and faster.

Anyway, I previously took the dog home to color it at home, and this other cat is supposedly dry enough to go into the kiln. Fingers crossed!
IMG_6486

Going to fly out to Seoul next week for work. So supposedly was to return on Saturday, but I figured since staying another day did not affect the flight price, and all I had to do was pay an extra hotel night for myself, so I decided to do so. So I will have one free day in Seoul. Not sure what I plan to do. I'm not too familiar with South Korea. I'd probably just stay in Myeongdong as the language intimidates me (don't understand it and can't even read it).

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!
elusivek: (yay! (Trucey))
I'm coughing less. But when I do cough, I hack a lung out.

I continued to see that Chinese herbal tea lady. And I guessed right, she is a chinese medicine doctor, she just almost never opens the clinic part, only staying in the tea shop.

She says my situation is a tad on the "cool" spectrum, so I shouldn't drink those Chinese medicinal bitter tea anymore. Instead, she gave me another tea. It's not quite as bitter (but it is bitter nonetheless) but also a tad sweet-ish. It's a weird flavor.

Finally we took Boy boy (the adopted orange cat) to the vet to neuter. It's one less thing to worry now when he plays with Marble (the baby cat we picked up from the street) as we don't need anymore cats.

This cartoon just resonates so much truth, I can't help but share.

448103288_495206209528456_5632336153008531244_n

I don't have a black cat to compare, but I do have an orange cat (Boyboy) and a calico orange (Marble) to say I agree. At the vet today, when the (new) vet asked how Marble is, if she is nice, I just said, "yeah, the orange genes prevail in this one".

Never ending cough

Saturday, 8 June 2024 16:18
elusivek: (otaku)
I'm still alive! Last week I got really sick. I even went to... it's not urgent care, but it's... ad-hoc care in the local health centers.

Yeah here in Macau if you want to go to the government hospital, you can't just go there. You gotta get a referral from the health centers, and only then you can go to the hospital. But I didn't want the hospital. I wanted to get well. Anyway, they got me some meds and a sick day. Fever broke, but the after-cold persistent cough remained.
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So I decided, enough of the western medicine, let's try a Chinese tea! And thus, I decided to swing by a Chinese herbal tea place today. Lady asked to look at my tongue, and gave me a diagnosis. I'm to avoid poultry (Chicken, duck, goose, pigeon, etc), and certain veggies (avoid leafy stuff, legumes are ok)

Drank a very yucky black colored tea. Ugh. But miraculously, my cough did tone down a bit. I'm not constantly coughing. I have one more cup of tea for tonight, then tomorrow I have to go there again. Hopefully the cough goes away.

I do have a separate blog now for my ceramics stuff, but just sharing some WIP stuff here:

Wrote a note to the kiln master... and a draft design for fluffy type cats (ragdolls?)
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Kiln master said he'd put these two in the kiln earlier this week, but today I went and they weren't in the kiln. He but them in today. So I can't wait to see them next week!
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elusivek: (Default)
Ugh, my head.
Started with one specific point in my throat that hurt when swallowing. Now my throat is burning. Stuffy nose, mighty headache.
Already been to the doctor. Got some meds. Waiting for them to work.
Slept the afternoon away (still got into the office in the morning to sort through a couple emails).

Weather has been dreadful lately. I wonder if I'm sick because I still refuse to switch on the air con at night. Huh. The Chinese say "you let yourself get sick by staying in a stuffy place." I don't know. I just thought with the parents and Sis switching on their aircons and with the cats we don't close our doors, my room is significantly cool with a fan.

Ugh, my head. I'm going to lay down.

Gotta keep trying

Friday, 3 May 2024 14:37
elusivek: (sakura)
Sorry about the absence. I think I will be able to make more of a presence here now.

The past few weeks (maybe a month or 2 or so), I've been in a gaming binge, and spent all my time on my Nintendo Switch.

The fuel there has run out though and then I picked up a book (which i just posted about a couple days ago) and now I'm on another book but the bore of that book is making me want to quit... I might decide to simply switch books instead, want to keep the streak up.

Now I've been busy planning for my trips. I'm going to Osaka, Japan (leisure) next week. And then due to some travel fair there are ridiculously cheap flights... think 700 euros or 760 usd for round trip to Europe cheap.... I was crazy planning for another trip to Austria and passed the itinerary to my friend to see if she was OK with it. She's a bit slow with replying so I'll give her a push as I don't want to lose the deal.

I did a boo-boo with the Osaka trip though LOL. I wanted to book the Pokémon Cafe in Osaka and knew I wouldn't have the patience to do the "wait till the 30-day before open booking then slick in 2 seconds" so I used a paid service.

Then they came back and confirmed me a reservation in the Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo. Yes. My bad. Ugh. So I've given that up. Instead, I've been looking at other things. Will go to Shiga to see the ceramics x Pokémon exhibition thing. Will mostly stay in Kyoto, and spend a night in Osaka so decided to see the outdoor Teamlab there.

It's gonna be fun, hopefully. (Solo trip this time).

I also made a... frivolous purchase LOL. It's basically a DIY crochet cross-body cat-shaped bag. It came with all the materials, but no instruction, so I reached out to the shop and she sent a video. Well. Be it video instruction or paper instruction, I s*ck sh*t in that type of thing LOL so I don't know if I will ever be able to make that thing out.

I've been spending more time at the ceramics workshop as well. I'm still sh*t in handbuilding and doing the surface decorations, I've completed 1 cat planter. I'm going to have to paint with underglaze another few if ever they get in the kiln for their first bisque burn. If not burnt yet then I'll start on another dog. I have a list of cats and dogs I'm using as practice targets and I must say fluffy animals are tough. I can't think of a good deciding for the floof they have.

But I digress.

One more term of Mandrin Chinese done, now waiting for the next term to start application. Yes I am continuing that. But I so hope the schedule will be a little more friendly as the current time of 6.30-8.30 is terrible.

So I got the email regarding my professional account's upcoming expiry. I emailed back saying I'm willing to pay for it but just don't know how and if they have already found a workaround? No reply. But I see my professional account has been extended another 6 months. Thanks I guess? But this is not a permanent solution. Ugh.
elusivek: (Default)
So there was this classmate in my Mandarin class, she’s Russian, and I always thought she was an exchange student. I’ve seen her write an email to some local government department, and one time in class when we were learning about professions she says she’s a lawyer. So I was a little confused, but figured that it’s really none of my business.

In the last class, it was some sort of game show event (sans the “show”) and I noticed only half the class was there. I noticed most of the exchange students weren’t there, so I commented that maybe they’ve left town already, and asked if she was an exchange student. It was only then that o found out she’s here for her phd.

I also don’t know if this is her first year (heck I don’t know how long a phd takes), and right before class dismissed I just casually asked if she was going home for the holidays and if she had family in town. She said no to both, and in a spur of the moment trying to be friendly I said we could go out for drinks/tea/lunch/dinner. Added each other on a WeChat (a Chinese IM, with a little more privacy than WhatsApp, seriously, I think).

I finally reached out but then now I’m thinking if I’m being too forward. Numerous times have I simply wanted to sound (lol yes, just “sound”, I don’t want to “be”) friendly and then the other party miscontrues and think I’m looking for more, ugh.

I remember that time there was a male colleague and we were just chatting with a few other people and he said something genuinely funny and I laughed, but then he went, raising and arm to like put distance between us, and say “come on, I’m spoken for” and I’m like, geez sure and congrats.

So back to this case, I’m actually regretting getting her number so to speak, but seriously I just thought she might feel alone.

Of course she could actually have many friends from school so I didn’t have to worry about that either. But really, I was just thinking, if I’m all alone in a foreign land, I would hope someone extended a friendly hand.

So.

We’ll see.
elusivek: (peekaboo (Menina))
Long weekend coming up. Tomorrow's (20) the "Handover Anniversary" (the day Macau was "returned" to China), or what is called "Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region" (Macau SAR, or in Portuguese, "RAEM" Região Administrativo Especial de Macau). And then Friday (22) is Winter Solstice. And then Monday (25) is of course Christmas. I've decided to take Thursday (21) off as well so as to have a long weekend, but something came up and I might (MIGHT!) have to go back into the office on Thursday for a bit.

Some random Facebook photos that I wanted to post

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Both photos taken from a Facebook post including comments here https://www.facebook.com/share/8HQCkcEg6LUYPf21/?mibextid=K35XfP

It shows the "Border Gate" of Macau, going into China. I find it amusing that in the days of old, it really is just a gateway like that with maybe a police post. Now, the "gate" itself is still there but the actual immigration is further beyond. In a way, you can say that Macau "gained a bit more land" in this regard.

There's nothing much planned but I did get tickets to see the spiffy brand new Harry Potter thing in "The Londoner" (a small copy of London complete with the pillar on Trafalgar Square and Gordon Ramsay's restaurant) that's opening tomorrow. I'll see how much smaller it is than the real WB studios.

I suddenly have travel plans to Shanghai. Am I being so gutsy to go to China alone? But I think Shanghai is OK. Shanghai is a... modern city... I should be fine.... I think.................................... hopefully. There's this Japanese artist that (the same one I went to Shenzhen for earlier this year) that is going to do her 30th anniversary concert in Shanghai. It was the weirdest setup with ticket sales on Taobao platform only. I had to ask when they will send out the physical tickets as I will need some time to receive them tickets and then I plan to fly out on 19-January (concert's on 20-January). They replied they should start sending out tickets next week, so I should have enough time. Anyway, if I can't make it, the concert tickets weren't that expensive and I can eat the sunk cost if need be. I wanted to get the VIP tickets, but ticket sales started 8pm and I logged in at around 8:03pm and the VIP tickets were sold out, WTF. I didn't realize she was that popular to have possible scalpers. (Funny side note, in Cantonese, we call these scalper tickets "黃牛飛" "Yellow Cow Tickets" and I have no idea about its origin).

Reddit

Wednesday, 30 August 2023 19:57
elusivek: (sakura)
I've developed a new.... bad habit LOL

I'm now almost always prowling Reddit. I am especially partial to the AITA (Am I The Asshole) subreddit. Like to read the ridiculousness of the outside world. Ooops. I'm being nosy.

In prowling there, I also found the Macau subreddit and kind of made some new friends. And the other day they made a Macau Reddit get-together and hey hey hey, I went out to meet new people. Drinks and karaoke night. I even sang a grand total of 1 song (before the big group arrived haha). Totally out of my own comfort zone.

We also have this WhatsApp group and it's rather nice. People don't bombard with messages, but we share useful messages with everyone, such as updates on the current super typhoon that's coming.

There's a couple of more "outgoing" people, one's a jokester and I think we've got a nice mix of people there.

New Week

Monday, 21 August 2023 23:56
elusivek: (Couch-nap)
Started out with a blast today. I've finally waited the 6 months or so for my blood draw appointment. So had my blood sample drawn this morning. This nurse may have been a skilled one, i didn't faint (I honestly am not afraid of the needle, but for some reason when it's to draw blood, be it test sample or donation, I have a tendency to faint mid-way).

Since I was in fasting since lunch the previous day, I decided to get a substantial breakfast.

Had something light for lunch.

Planned to have something light for dinner but Dad made a very good seafood sauce spaghetti so I cannot say no to that.

Oh, I didn't mention that I'm back to school. Not for something heavy like an actual degree or what. But I happened to learn of a Mandarin course at the local university, essentially forming part of the Continuing Education Program. It was free of charge, but had a rigorous selection criteria. Also, one must not have learnt or know any Chinese to be eligible for the course.

Lucky me, my name, my nationality, my English, my face, was enough to convince them that I'm no Chinese speaker LOL. While I did enrol in the lowest class, so essentially starting with the Bo-po-mo-fo and the 4 tonal sequences, and it's boring as sh*t, but I think it would be good for me to start from the basics.

I had to go over to the new University of Macau campus and that is just a whole big maze. I followed the map, but apparently that faculty building was on a road that was off-limits to visitors, so i had to drive all the way back to the "entrance" of the campus "island" *** and then to a visitor car park. I got out at the Library, so I had to walk and find my way across an artificial lake to get to that campus building. So. Now I know. I need to leave early to get there on time.

*** The University of Macau new campus is now on "Hengqin", it's really China, but it's been fenced off and ceded to Macau for the university. So I'm essentially going to China but since there is no immigration I'm still in Macau. It's complicated. But anyway. Here's a map! So Macau is located in the southern part of China, a teeny tiny place, smaller than the better known Hong Kong. Macau shares the border to China in the northern part of the Peninsula. There were 2 islands, Taipa, and Coloane, but with the development of the casinos, the Las Vegas Sands Boss Sheldon Adelson coined the middle reclaimed area between the two islands as "Cotai" (Coloane + Taipa).

IMG_0941

I drew a red line, and everything to the left is China mainland. There is a border access from Cotai called "Lotus Port". The purple area I drew out is the University of Macau (not to ratio, I just drew out a spot to indicate where).

So yeah. This mandarin course is long and sounds really serious. So, I'm gonna have to put some effort to it.
elusivek: (Default)
It's amusing. My car went for the annual inspection last week, passed (yay one more year!) and then suddenly, 2 days ago, I received a text message from the Traffic Bureau with a very succinct message, saying something along the lines of "Please come to the bureau to pick up the new documents."

Since, at the same time, I've been handling my Boss' new car, I didn't know what that message was about. Was it about my car? Was it about my Boss' new car? There was no identifying information in the message for me to know what's going on.

So I called them, and after a long while, worse than pulling teeth, we find out it's about my car, that I have to pick up the new registration card. Note, my car is going into its 20th year of use. It's the 10th time it went through an annual inspection, and the past 9 times, there was no issuing of new registration card. Right. "So what do I have to bring?" I ask. "You need to bring the old registration card and your ID card." Sure thing, I thought. Could have said that in the message. What if I just show up without anything on hand?

This morning, before I went to work, I went down to the car to pick up the registration card. It wasn't there. So I called the mechanic to ask what's up. Apparently. He knew all along what was going on, and he didn't tell me. "But where's the registration card?" I asked. "Oh, they took it already. If you look into the booklet there's a receipt!" And I was like.... if you had mentioned something about having to change my card then I wouldn't be surprised, but without knowing anything, how would I know to look for the receipt? After rummaging through the booklet, I found the drasted receipt. Off I went to pick up that registration card. And when I asked what did they update that they had to replace my card, nobody could say what was wrong that had to be amended. And I liked my old card, it's the old style paper card stock type of registration card. It's historical. Now I have a spiffy new plastic card *pout*.

I don't know. Seeing my Boss and other "rich people" changing cars as often as they are changing clothes, I'm kind of proud I'm still with my same old, same old car.
elusivek: (Bike)
LOL so I went on my usual dog walk with the Frenchie this morning. (mentioned in my previous Friday Five).

How should I explain June in Macau? It's rain and no rain. I've probably written about it last year and previous years; what do you want, my life is boring. Convectional Rainfalls! That's why it's like, super sunny in the morning, then a downpour for 2 hours or so, then it's super sunny again, but now it's like, steaming hot because of the rainfall.

The family likes to say it's "Monkey's Birthday" when it rains and sunshines at the same time (I guess it's because the Monkey is allowed to play pranks on its birthday?). The Japanese say it's "The Fox's Wedding". (Foxes are considered cunning and shapeshifters so they've shapeshifted as a bride or something along those lines, my memory is getting fuzzy as the years go on).

Anyway, we got caught out in the heaviest downpour. I guess we were lucky-ish as we just happened to be nearby an awning when it started pouring, so we ran straight to it. After standing for about half an hour, I figured it was time to call for help. Dad said he's coming with the car, and what do you know, when he arrives, the rain starts to let up, and when we reach home, the rain has stopped completely.

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After toweling the dog and me getting changed out of my wet clothes, I was about to go back to bed and work on the dog shelter donations report and the little guy comes and wants to nap next to me. Sure. Trap me in my own bed. Coming to think of it, I should take off his harness, the harness could be wet too.

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Oh boy

Thursday, 25 May 2023 08:47
elusivek: (Couch-nap)

Oh boy. Imagine going to bed thinking all is well then waking up to an LJ message from a friend you always thought was cool and pretty mature (because of certain life circumstances) berating you for a few things, but seemingly specifically, the trigger, was for a word I used in a post. And then promptly not just unfriended, but possibly blocked or something, because I couldn't even send a reply. Geez.

I've already deleted the message, because, why keep an eyesore, but I'd still like to address a few things that was berated about me.

1. The use of the word "spinster".
If there's a secondary, underlying, no-good meaning to this word, then I'm sorry for using it. But as I learned the English language, this is the word for an unmarried woman who's past the usual marriage age. Does it have a derogatory meaning? I am not aware. Somewhere in their diatribe, they kept saying about "me and my sis still living with mom and not married." And saying "spinster" is such an antiquated word. Were they annoyed that I seemed to be using the word spinster to for others? You know what? I'm 40, my sis is 44. We are both very well on the way to being considered as spinsters in less than 20 years time. The context of using that word was to explain the situation of why my Mom was so insistent of including a friend, who wasn't married, is 80-something years old, and has not many family members that take her out.

2. I claim to be "well adjusted", but I'm just childish.
I will still claim to be well adjusted in the life experience that I have lived in this small city. I'm a functioning member of society, pay taxes, do not steal, do not cheat, pay my bills on time. Heck, go to the Identity Service Department and get a Criminal Record sheet on me and it's empty. Yep. I don't even have a parking ticket. I'd say I'm well adjusted.

As for childish. WHEN have I ever claimed I'm not childish? I'm the eptinome of childish.

3. I'm still living with the parents so I have a problem (or something along those lines)
I thought about this one and while they do have merit addressing this, but it's still part of my circumstance.
Number one: I am not living in the US. I know, in the US, the thing is to kick your kids out at 16 or 18 or whatnot. This is Asia. Culturally, kicking your kids out is not a thing. In fact, to us, the Americans are heartless for kicking their kids out. If you want your kids out, why have kids in the first place?

Before I go further, can I just make it clear I hold no ill contempt to the US people. I'm just trying to explain how I am understanding this..... thing or whatever this person is berating of me.

Number two: I've written about it multiple times before, and I'll write about it again. Yes. I earn well enough to be able to live the life I want, go on the vacations i want, splurge here and there. No, I do not earn well enough to be able to afford my own apartment or whatever form of living abode. (Here's to using antiquated words!). If I maybe get married, and my partner earns the same amount as I do, then maybe, I would be able to afford an apartment that's half the size of my parent's place and pay the mortgage for the next 40 years.

Did I say somewhere I'm 40? So in 40 years, I'd possibly be dead. Nah. I'll continue to stay at home.

Number three: which is really the real shining reason: The dogs. If I were to move out, can I bring the dogs with me? Very likely no, rentals don't allow pets. Even if I could, the parents would reject the idea. The thought that "they love the pets more than they love me" seems to hold true (I say that in jest of course). And can I just leave the pets with the parents? No, because they can't physically care of the dogs. The Frenchie can easily overpower Mom. The Mutt is now not-mobile and neither Mom nor Dad are able to physically carry him for his potty and walking practice/muscle training.

So yeah. I'm still living with the parents.

Have I ever lived apart from my parents? Yes. Even though it was short, I did spend 3 months in Europe. Two in Lisbon doing an internship and one in Austria while Sis was out there in her 7-year abroad stint. Do I continuously go on holidays without the parents, and am able to handle myself without calling home for help? Not once did I ever call them for help. Have the parents gone on prolonged holidays and left us alone for months on end? Yes, and wow, in one of these "left alone" trips, I got appendicitis, got hospitalized, went under the knife, came out, all alone and have I bemoaned my misfortune? Not one word. I believe I'm capable of living apart from the parents given the chance.

I hate to be stereotypical, but right this moment, this person's... act of "imposing their cultural norms and using those to judge me" is just so.... stereotypically American.

And yes, I'm childish for "talking back and trying to justify," but heeeeeyyyyyyyy I believe, in American, this is called "Standing up for yourself!"

*** I mean no disrespect to anyone of any nationality and cultural background. I'm just particularly annoyed and hurt at the sudden harsh monologue diatribe I received. Their whole, "this is how I think, I think in the way that I like to think, so I am right and you are wrong, so I cannot be friends with you anymore." I'm like, chill man.

If I want to be mean, I could be mean and I had wanted to write something about their being so sensitive to the word spinster. But I'll be nice and refrain. But trust me, it's implied.

Home

Wednesday, 24 May 2023 19:27
elusivek: (Default)
Ugh. It's so annoying.

So the other day, one part of the apartment had lost all electricity.

After much trial and error with switching off and on the main switch, I identified the problem location. It was one particular socket, or the "router" for the electricity line.

We got an electrician over and I was a bit off. Yes, that particular socket, but the actual "router" was another one that diverts the main electricity line to that socket.

He also commented that all our sockets and switches are old, and that our main fuse box also needs to be replaced. Fair enough, that thing is from when we moved in, almost 40 years ago.

However, some light switches and sockets are actually new.

Long story short, so the guy went about changing the switches and sockets, and went to change the one in my room. I didn't think anything in my room needed to be changed as almost everything was new from the last renovation (2018). They changed my light switch and 2 sockets just by my door, and then Mom found him doing that and said no need, just change the other switches. (I was at work so I wasn't there to look at the works)

Anyway, I didn't notice it yesterday. My room has 2 lights, and I usually switch both on and off together, but today, I happened to just switch one on and found out that...

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They swapped the switches *rolls eyes*. You'd think if you press the left side switch then the left side light will turn on. They swapped it! So pressing the left side switch will turn on the right side light. Ugh. I don't want to be overly anal about that, but THAT annoys me to no end. It was something they didn't really have to change. They did anyway, fine, because the switch was a slight upgrade (a small soft light is on when the lights are off, so you can see where the switch is) but I can't stand the swapped sides.

I'm on the fence of whether I should complain or not. Argh.

Life goes on

Friday, 14 April 2023 10:55
elusivek: (Couch-nap)
Dog walk this morning. This is a different street altogether, but recently, this kind of shot has been pretty popular in town (I have an example too!). Not by the locals. I guess this got famous in the "Little Red Book" 小紅書 (a Chinese app/platform) and there's a lot of China tourists trying to get a shot of the wings of the Grand Lisboa (real new and modern architecture) amidst the old dirty and grey buildings. The other photo of Frankie with the Grand Lisboa background is another "hot spot" for these Chinese tourists, but it wasn't from this morning's walk.
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Of course, after Frankie gets his progressively longer and farther walks, he gets to lay in bed while I'm at work. Pffffffttttttttt!
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I think I've heard of "cracking" nail polish before, but it's the first time I've actually used it. Last night it was so pretty too, but I wanted to hydrate my hands and cuticles so the photo doesn't have my dry hands and all that. But then while I was packing my stuff for the day, I already chipped the polish *rolls eyes*. It was pretty interesting though, looking at the nail polish drying and cracking on its own.
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Here's me making an effort in dressing up for work. Let's hope I don't slip or get hooked along the pants leg and then fall to my death LOL. I'm wearing a 3-inch high heels (it's platformed, so it doesn't feel that high). I should really go tailor those pants and make them a bit shorter.
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When I went to Japan this time, I found it really annoying having to hold the passport then putting it away and then having to rummage for it in my big bag again. I used to have a passport holder, but nowadays with the scanning they have to do, more often than not you have to take the passport out of the cover. I got this small bag than can carry my phone, passport, and my cash on me while in the airport and in the flight. It's small enough I don't have to put it in the overhead nor under the seat in front. I really dare not use this while in the destination. I think London probably isn't too bad (since I'm not going to purely touristy areas), but say if I'm in the really touristy locations (plans for Italy later this year!) but I've got this irrational fear that if someone WERE to mug me, then they’d get my everything from this bag. So. Only while flying and in airports.
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Dad's being going all out ruining my no-carbs for dinner plan. HOW can I RESIST this lasagne? I can't. So I eat. LOL. It's home-made. Well, not the pasta sheets. But still.

It was worth every last bite and calorie. It was delicious. I was finally offered to "pack it up for lunch tomorrow" (today) but alas, I got a lunch appointment today, that I foresee is going to be impressive as well. I was asked to help pre-order one particular item that is pre-order only. And the restaurant has called me at least twice to reconfirm and double reconfirm that that's what we want. And I had to reply them a good few times that, Yes, we know what we are ordering, this is not the first time we are here, we know it's huge, we know our group is small, if there are leftovers, we will pack up for takeaway.
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Profile

Agueda Umbrella
kat (DW: elusivek | LJ: notte0)
❤︎ loves dogs, dark chocolate, and books.
★ doesn’t exactly hate cats.
◆ hates white chocolate.
more?
I read books :-)

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