Note: Jiffy
Note: GIF
March 31, 2009
March 29, 2009
Kittens
There were 2 kittens outside of the house today.
Both are black and white and they are just barely old enough to walk/run. They are really cute.
I have a huge soft-spot for cats.
I have been watching them off and on today.
Someone else came back home and the kittens were being really friendly to these people. They pushed the kittens away and one guy was stomping his feet at them.
One of the kittens follow these people and later I heard 2 loud stomps and that kitten hasn't come back.
I have too much imagination and too much of a soft-spot for cats that I am worried about the kitten and hate that guy now.
Hopefully, I am imagining too much and they are ok.
I cannot take a pet now. Siew does not care for cats and really we should not have any pets at all until we're settled, and perhaps not even then.
I need to distract myself or I will get depressed thinking about the cats that I used to have.
Both are black and white and they are just barely old enough to walk/run. They are really cute.
I have a huge soft-spot for cats.
I have been watching them off and on today.
Someone else came back home and the kittens were being really friendly to these people. They pushed the kittens away and one guy was stomping his feet at them.
One of the kittens follow these people and later I heard 2 loud stomps and that kitten hasn't come back.
I have too much imagination and too much of a soft-spot for cats that I am worried about the kitten and hate that guy now.
Hopefully, I am imagining too much and they are ok.
I cannot take a pet now. Siew does not care for cats and really we should not have any pets at all until we're settled, and perhaps not even then.
I need to distract myself or I will get depressed thinking about the cats that I used to have.
March 26, 2009
Crocodile?
I usually notice animals. I seem to have a decent eye for spotting animals without effort. Probably because I spent so much time outside as a child and teen.
On Monday I spotted a crocodile or relative of a crocodile in the Penang River. I am positive I saw it. The shape of the head of a crocodile is very unique and it was swimming along nicely. I estimate that it was about 2 meters long (that's about 6 feet 6 inches).
I have seen several smaller monitor lizards here on Penang Island as well. I think they were just over a meter long, about 4 feet, with their tail. A very beautiful animal.
On Monday I spotted a crocodile or relative of a crocodile in the Penang River. I am positive I saw it. The shape of the head of a crocodile is very unique and it was swimming along nicely. I estimate that it was about 2 meters long (that's about 6 feet 6 inches).
I have seen several smaller monitor lizards here on Penang Island as well. I think they were just over a meter long, about 4 feet, with their tail. A very beautiful animal.
March 25, 2009
Tabasco Sauce and Mark's Chili Sauce
I like chili sauces that are not sweet. Here in Malaysia Chili Sauce is almost always SWEET.
I typically enjoy using Tabasco on my foods. It is a salty, sour, spicy sauce.
Here in Malaysia Tabasco is not cheap like it is in the States. A mid-sized bottle of Tabasco is about 4.30$ USD here in Malaysia. For not much more, I can buy a huge bottle in the States.
I do not want to pay 16 Ringgit every few months for hot sauce! So I decided to make my own.
Siew's mother bought some nice peppers to use. Some were Thai Peppers and some were another, larger and not as hot, type of pepper.
Before she purchased the peppers for me I read a bit about making my own version of Tabasco at this site. When I made my sauce, last night, I didn't follow this recipe. I winged it, using what I learned from reading from that site.
Here's what I did:
Washed the chili peppers, 11 of each type
Used scissors to cut the chili peppers into slices
Put the peppers in a pot
Added water to cover
Added a little bit of salt
Added apple cider vinegar (not sure how much, I always eye things instead of measuring)
Brought the mixture to a boil and then turned the heat down
Let it bowl softly for 20 minutes
Took it off the heat and let it cool to room temperature
Poured the mix into a blender
Blended the mix into pureé
Used a sieve to strain the chunks from the liquid
Added the chunks and a small amount of water back into the blender
Pureéd again
Sieved the mixture again
Finished
The sauce is fairly spicy, but not overpowering, and not as sour as Tabasco. Even Siew's mother, who HATES sour things, likes my sauce.
I guess I do not need to buy Tabasco anymore. :-)
I typically enjoy using Tabasco on my foods. It is a salty, sour, spicy sauce.
Here in Malaysia Tabasco is not cheap like it is in the States. A mid-sized bottle of Tabasco is about 4.30$ USD here in Malaysia. For not much more, I can buy a huge bottle in the States.
I do not want to pay 16 Ringgit every few months for hot sauce! So I decided to make my own.
Siew's mother bought some nice peppers to use. Some were Thai Peppers and some were another, larger and not as hot, type of pepper.
Before she purchased the peppers for me I read a bit about making my own version of Tabasco at this site. When I made my sauce, last night, I didn't follow this recipe. I winged it, using what I learned from reading from that site.
Here's what I did:
Washed the chili peppers, 11 of each type
Used scissors to cut the chili peppers into slices
Put the peppers in a pot
Added water to cover
Added a little bit of salt
Added apple cider vinegar (not sure how much, I always eye things instead of measuring)
Brought the mixture to a boil and then turned the heat down
Let it bowl softly for 20 minutes
Took it off the heat and let it cool to room temperature
Poured the mix into a blender
Blended the mix into pureé
Used a sieve to strain the chunks from the liquid
Added the chunks and a small amount of water back into the blender
Pureéd again
Sieved the mixture again
Finished
The sauce is fairly spicy, but not overpowering, and not as sour as Tabasco. Even Siew's mother, who HATES sour things, likes my sauce.
I guess I do not need to buy Tabasco anymore. :-)
March 22, 2009
Duneons and Dragons
Last night I ran an adventure for Siew and her youngest brother.
They had fun but said the combat parts took too long. I'll see what I can do to shorten that up so they can enjoy the game more.
If we can get things so they're both enjoying it then perhaps we can run a regular campaign. That should be stress relieving for all involved, and fun. Later we can drag Siew's youngest sister into the game as well. Mwa hahahahahahaha.
After we got our printer back from Samsung I decided to test it thoroughly. I printed about 150 pages of a book that has color images and text alike. It did a good job and is behaving nicely.
Printing that book ate up a lot of toner, even with me always printing in draft mode to save toner. But it was a lot cheaper than buying it!
There is a copy-shop nearby that has the equipment to put a plastic binder on print materials. We had them bind it for us. It cost 3.50 ringgit.
All in all I think it cost about 35 ringgit for toner, paper and binding. That's nto bad considering that the hardbound book from MPH is 135 ringgit.
They had fun but said the combat parts took too long. I'll see what I can do to shorten that up so they can enjoy the game more.
If we can get things so they're both enjoying it then perhaps we can run a regular campaign. That should be stress relieving for all involved, and fun. Later we can drag Siew's youngest sister into the game as well. Mwa hahahahahahaha.
After we got our printer back from Samsung I decided to test it thoroughly. I printed about 150 pages of a book that has color images and text alike. It did a good job and is behaving nicely.
Printing that book ate up a lot of toner, even with me always printing in draft mode to save toner. But it was a lot cheaper than buying it!
There is a copy-shop nearby that has the equipment to put a plastic binder on print materials. We had them bind it for us. It cost 3.50 ringgit.
All in all I think it cost about 35 ringgit for toner, paper and binding. That's nto bad considering that the hardbound book from MPH is 135 ringgit.
Roasted Pig
Today is the date of Siew's father's mother's death.
To remember her many things were prepared and a small (about 1 meter long) roasted pig was purchased.
We are going to be eating pig for a long time to come.
That roast pig was not cheap! I think it was about 470 ringgit.
Tomorrow I have to resume classes. I'm not too keen on that, but it must be done, so, whatever.
I just want the thing I'm not mentioning yet to be settled so I can feel more secure.
To remember her many things were prepared and a small (about 1 meter long) roasted pig was purchased.
We are going to be eating pig for a long time to come.
That roast pig was not cheap! I think it was about 470 ringgit.
Tomorrow I have to resume classes. I'm not too keen on that, but it must be done, so, whatever.
I just want the thing I'm not mentioning yet to be settled so I can feel more secure.
March 19, 2009
Watchmen Movie
Yesterday we saw Watchmen at Prangin Mall.
I read the Watchmen comic about 7 years ago. The comic is very good.
It is about heroes. Most things you will read will tell you that it is about superheroes. I disagree. A superhero is, for me, someone who has powers beyond normal human ability. There is only one character in Watchmen who has powers beyond normal human ability.
Honestly though, it does not matter. Watchmen is NOT an action comic/movie. It is story driven, character development driven, et cetera.
I can see how it can be confusing for viewers who have not read Watchmen to think that the movie is something like X-Men. But this is not X-Men. This is Watchmen. :-)
I enjoyed the movie, but I think they tried too hard to give background to each character. They wanted to show the internal conflicts of each character. How each person thinks and develops. The problem is that this made the movie, frankly, a bit boring for a fan of the comic. I can only imagine how boring it would be for everyone else.
If you want to watch the movie I think that reading the comic first is the best thing to do. It will give you a better chance of enjoying this movie.
Oh, and it is pretty long. I think it is almost 3 hours long!
I read the Watchmen comic about 7 years ago. The comic is very good.
It is about heroes. Most things you will read will tell you that it is about superheroes. I disagree. A superhero is, for me, someone who has powers beyond normal human ability. There is only one character in Watchmen who has powers beyond normal human ability.
Honestly though, it does not matter. Watchmen is NOT an action comic/movie. It is story driven, character development driven, et cetera.
I can see how it can be confusing for viewers who have not read Watchmen to think that the movie is something like X-Men. But this is not X-Men. This is Watchmen. :-)
I enjoyed the movie, but I think they tried too hard to give background to each character. They wanted to show the internal conflicts of each character. How each person thinks and develops. The problem is that this made the movie, frankly, a bit boring for a fan of the comic. I can only imagine how boring it would be for everyone else.
If you want to watch the movie I think that reading the comic first is the best thing to do. It will give you a better chance of enjoying this movie.
Oh, and it is pretty long. I think it is almost 3 hours long!
Imigresen
Today we went to immigration to try and settle a couple of things. I will tell you, if anyone other than my wife reads this that is, what we did there another time. That time being if things go according to plan.
Laman Web Rasmi Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia
Things went more smoothly than we expected, so there's hope that it will continue to go smoothly.
Tomorrow I have to return to that place. Next month I'll stop for a month before resuming, although I might resume somewhere else if you catch my drift. We'll see.
Nothing else to say for now. Bye-bye.
Laman Web Rasmi Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia
Things went more smoothly than we expected, so there's hope that it will continue to go smoothly.
Tomorrow I have to return to that place. Next month I'll stop for a month before resuming, although I might resume somewhere else if you catch my drift. We'll see.
Nothing else to say for now. Bye-bye.
March 17, 2009
Batu Ferringhi
We, at my request, went to Batu Ferringhi the night before last.
I did not have any real purpose other than to look at the stalls selling "stuff" to tourists.
They had interesting things there the last time I was there.
This time I was a bit disappointed. I noticed the same thing there that I have seen everywhere else recently.
Everyone has the same stuff for sale. Watches, clothes, toys, sunglasses, purses, et cetera. This is fine for tourists, but I am not a tourist.
I had hoped to find a place selling stun-guns or swords. I saw one place with wooden swords and another with 2 expanding batons, but that was it.
Siew's mother bought a few small purses, I assume she wants to distribute them to her daughters. I happened to spy some wire-puzzles that we purchased.
These wire-puzzles are alright, some are the very easy type, others are impossible due to poor construction. Those are supposed to have a piece that can be weaved through rings, however the way it should be weaved through is too wide to work. I will have to compress that portion of the pieces in order for the puzzle to be solvable. One of the puzzles is correctly made to do this, the rest are in need of alteration.
I also saw some iron exercise balls. The type that you hold in your hand and move in circles. I was pleasantly surprised by the prices. 20 Ringgit for the larger types and 9 for the smaller. Normally I am used to seeing the small ones for 10-20 USD and the larger for 20-30! Later I may buy a set, but I am not sure if it's worth-while or not.
Well, off to shower so I can go to work, even though I really, really, really feel like being a bum and staying home to do pretty much nothing.
I did not have any real purpose other than to look at the stalls selling "stuff" to tourists.
They had interesting things there the last time I was there.
This time I was a bit disappointed. I noticed the same thing there that I have seen everywhere else recently.
Everyone has the same stuff for sale. Watches, clothes, toys, sunglasses, purses, et cetera. This is fine for tourists, but I am not a tourist.
I had hoped to find a place selling stun-guns or swords. I saw one place with wooden swords and another with 2 expanding batons, but that was it.
Siew's mother bought a few small purses, I assume she wants to distribute them to her daughters. I happened to spy some wire-puzzles that we purchased.
These wire-puzzles are alright, some are the very easy type, others are impossible due to poor construction. Those are supposed to have a piece that can be weaved through rings, however the way it should be weaved through is too wide to work. I will have to compress that portion of the pieces in order for the puzzle to be solvable. One of the puzzles is correctly made to do this, the rest are in need of alteration.
I also saw some iron exercise balls. The type that you hold in your hand and move in circles. I was pleasantly surprised by the prices. 20 Ringgit for the larger types and 9 for the smaller. Normally I am used to seeing the small ones for 10-20 USD and the larger for 20-30! Later I may buy a set, but I am not sure if it's worth-while or not.
Well, off to shower so I can go to work, even though I really, really, really feel like being a bum and staying home to do pretty much nothing.
Lazy
I feel really lethargic today.
My lassitude today is at an usually high level. I just want to watch some movies or anime, read for a bit, cuddle with Siew while doing so and maybe doze for a few hours.
That is not something normal for me. I normally can not nap, but today I want to.
Tomorrow, I am taking a day off, but we will be busy doing things. At least I think I am taking the day off. It depends on a few factors yet to be determined today, so we will see.
My lassitude today is at an usually high level. I just want to watch some movies or anime, read for a bit, cuddle with Siew while doing so and maybe doze for a few hours.
That is not something normal for me. I normally can not nap, but today I want to.
Tomorrow, I am taking a day off, but we will be busy doing things. At least I think I am taking the day off. It depends on a few factors yet to be determined today, so we will see.
Another reason I'm not happy with my country
AIG has gone no morals.
According to this BBC article AIG has just paid $165,000,000.00 US dollars to their top people as bonuses. This is the same company that recently received $180,000,000,000.00 from the government to SAVE THEIR SORRY ASSES!
These are the same top people who ran the company into the ground to the point that they "HAD" to have the money or they'd have collapsed completely. They do not learn from their mistakes. Or, rather, they are trying to stuff their pockets as they run out of the sinking ship that is AIG.
I'm glad I'm not in that country anymore. Damn glad.
According to this BBC article AIG has just paid $165,000,000.00 US dollars to their top people as bonuses. This is the same company that recently received $180,000,000,000.00 from the government to SAVE THEIR SORRY ASSES!
These are the same top people who ran the company into the ground to the point that they "HAD" to have the money or they'd have collapsed completely. They do not learn from their mistakes. Or, rather, they are trying to stuff their pockets as they run out of the sinking ship that is AIG.
I'm glad I'm not in that country anymore. Damn glad.
March 11, 2009
Ok
Well, we're trying for a different type of Visa here in Malaysia. Hopefully this one works out, it seems like it will not be something difficult to get. I hope that that is true!
Siew wasn't mad at me for the other night, at least that's what she said. I hate to do anything to upset her.
This week I've been a bit lazy about exercising. I have to get my focus back and keep pushing.
I am going to try running a D&D game here with Siew's little brother and maybe even Siew. It'd be nice to have something fun for us to all do together.
Not much else to say right now. I should be posting some updates soon as we find out other things.
Siew wasn't mad at me for the other night, at least that's what she said. I hate to do anything to upset her.
This week I've been a bit lazy about exercising. I have to get my focus back and keep pushing.
I am going to try running a D&D game here with Siew's little brother and maybe even Siew. It'd be nice to have something fun for us to all do together.
Not much else to say right now. I should be posting some updates soon as we find out other things.
March 2, 2009
I'm an Asshole
I'm really being an asshole tonight.
My mood is complete shit from all of the other things, and a combination of stresses that are building up inside me that I am having a hard time controlling.
I feel even worse now. I am really trying not to show my temper, or mood, to my wonderful wife. But I can't contain it.
She doesn't like to see me upset, it makes her cry when I am this way, which I can't take at all, so that makes me feel worse that I have made her cry.
Normally I'm quick to try and comfort her when she cries, tonight I haven't even tried. I'm an asshole. I'm just so frustrated that I can't see past myself right now. I shouldn't be this way, it's not right.
Sometimes when I complain about something she tries to help, sometimes the way she tries to help feels like I'm being treated like a child and scolded by an adult. That's not her intent I am sure, but when I'm in this sort of mood I'm more sensitive to things like that than I should be.
I'm really a fucking asshole.
I'm sorry Siew. I really love you more than anything.
I've been so bad off recently that I've even started entertaining suicidal thoughts again. Ain't that just fucking grand. Shit.
Ok, enough of this. I need to mellow the fuck out so I can stop being so rude to my wife.
My mood is complete shit from all of the other things, and a combination of stresses that are building up inside me that I am having a hard time controlling.
I feel even worse now. I am really trying not to show my temper, or mood, to my wonderful wife. But I can't contain it.
She doesn't like to see me upset, it makes her cry when I am this way, which I can't take at all, so that makes me feel worse that I have made her cry.
Normally I'm quick to try and comfort her when she cries, tonight I haven't even tried. I'm an asshole. I'm just so frustrated that I can't see past myself right now. I shouldn't be this way, it's not right.
Sometimes when I complain about something she tries to help, sometimes the way she tries to help feels like I'm being treated like a child and scolded by an adult. That's not her intent I am sure, but when I'm in this sort of mood I'm more sensitive to things like that than I should be.
I'm really a fucking asshole.
I'm sorry Siew. I really love you more than anything.
I've been so bad off recently that I've even started entertaining suicidal thoughts again. Ain't that just fucking grand. Shit.
Ok, enough of this. I need to mellow the fuck out so I can stop being so rude to my wife.
Things
Siew's school-mate is in town and she was able to spend several hours talking with him yesterday.
We sat at Chili's and they talked for hours while I read. I'm happy she got to see him again and talk for so long. I think she can meet him again this week, with some other friends as well, so that should be a nice gathering for her.
I've been exercising 6 days a week. I'm doing this:
Set 1: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 2: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 3: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 4: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 5: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Cool-Down: Sun-Salutation/stretches
I'm working from these two sites:
100 Push Ups
200 Sit Ups
I am working my way up to 100 non-stop push ups and 200 non-stop crunches AND straight leg lifts.
It feels good to exercise regularly, but also to be stretching so much.
The push-ups are tough though, I've always hated them.
I started out with week 3 for the push ups and that's really tough. So tough that I'm repeating week 3 again.
My stomach is fairly strong, you might not think it if you see me :-P, so I do not feel much there, yet.
If only teaching felt as good.
Anyone know anyplace that needs a native English speaker who's good at computer stuff, push-ups, sit-ups and yoga? Who wants to provide me with a work-visa and decent pay? That's what I need now.
We sat at Chili's and they talked for hours while I read. I'm happy she got to see him again and talk for so long. I think she can meet him again this week, with some other friends as well, so that should be a nice gathering for her.
I've been exercising 6 days a week. I'm doing this:
Set 1: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 2: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 3: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 4: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Set 5: Sun-Salutation/stretches
Push-ups (Sat, Mon, Wed) or Sit-ups (Sun, Tues, Thurs)
Cool-Down: Sun-Salutation/stretches
I'm working from these two sites:
100 Push Ups
200 Sit Ups
I am working my way up to 100 non-stop push ups and 200 non-stop crunches AND straight leg lifts.
It feels good to exercise regularly, but also to be stretching so much.
The push-ups are tough though, I've always hated them.
I started out with week 3 for the push ups and that's really tough. So tough that I'm repeating week 3 again.
My stomach is fairly strong, you might not think it if you see me :-P, so I do not feel much there, yet.
If only teaching felt as good.
Anyone know anyplace that needs a native English speaker who's good at computer stuff, push-ups, sit-ups and yoga? Who wants to provide me with a work-visa and decent pay? That's what I need now.
Well, Crap.
This semester has been a rough semester.
I have to teach level 3 grammar. I haven't taught this before, of course, and no one gave me any pointers before starting the month. The school really should address changes between levels rather than assuming that everyone knows everything about every-mother-fucking-thing.
I'm really pissed.
The students complained about me. Which is understandable. The month began 1 day later than normal and I was out of school for 2 days because I bit my tongue and held it in my sleep. This made the left side of my tongue flat and hurt a lot. I have done this before, but never as badly as this time. So a lot of material that should have been covered wasn't.
Apparently my style of teaching doesn't suit this group of students either. We have 55 minutes mon-thur to teach each class, 45 minutes on fri. If the teachers write all of the notes on the board then a huge amount of time is wasted. Teacher writing and then students copying. Why not give the students the notes beforehand and cover examples after that? Well, apparently my school doesn't like this and this batch of students also does not like it.
A note, previous classes didn't mind this at all.
So, today, the Bitch and another senior teacher "talked" to me. If the other teacher hadn't have been there I'd have walked out. The Bitch cannot give constructive criticism to save her life.
I've been feeling inept about teaching this class as it is, let alone them calling me on it in such a shitty way.
I'd like to quit and find another job, but I don't know if I can find another one, nor do I know if I will encounter the same bullshit somewhere else or not.
So far they have made ZERO attempt at progress on my work-visa. I was hoping that a former colleague of mine would give a letter of reference to help me out, she said she would but she hasn't replied again since. I think she's busy with her own life.
I have to take another trip out of this place this month to reset my visa, again, because of all of this. I have a piece of paper that says they'll give me a work visa. I do not like working illegally.
I have to teach level 3 grammar. I haven't taught this before, of course, and no one gave me any pointers before starting the month. The school really should address changes between levels rather than assuming that everyone knows everything about every-mother-fucking-thing.
I'm really pissed.
The students complained about me. Which is understandable. The month began 1 day later than normal and I was out of school for 2 days because I bit my tongue and held it in my sleep. This made the left side of my tongue flat and hurt a lot. I have done this before, but never as badly as this time. So a lot of material that should have been covered wasn't.
Apparently my style of teaching doesn't suit this group of students either. We have 55 minutes mon-thur to teach each class, 45 minutes on fri. If the teachers write all of the notes on the board then a huge amount of time is wasted. Teacher writing and then students copying. Why not give the students the notes beforehand and cover examples after that? Well, apparently my school doesn't like this and this batch of students also does not like it.
A note, previous classes didn't mind this at all.
So, today, the Bitch and another senior teacher "talked" to me. If the other teacher hadn't have been there I'd have walked out. The Bitch cannot give constructive criticism to save her life.
I've been feeling inept about teaching this class as it is, let alone them calling me on it in such a shitty way.
I'd like to quit and find another job, but I don't know if I can find another one, nor do I know if I will encounter the same bullshit somewhere else or not.
So far they have made ZERO attempt at progress on my work-visa. I was hoping that a former colleague of mine would give a letter of reference to help me out, she said she would but she hasn't replied again since. I think she's busy with her own life.
I have to take another trip out of this place this month to reset my visa, again, because of all of this. I have a piece of paper that says they'll give me a work visa. I do not like working illegally.
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