Children Are Lucky These Days

Children of this age are so lucky. My colleague recently bought a whole life insurance policy for her newborn son. At this tender age, the premium is unbelieveably low. Accumulating cash value, the policy would prepare him for his financial needs including college, weddings, even the birth of his children. Did you know that the amount you pay at a child's present-day age stays the same for your child's life regardless of the choice of job or even changes in his physical condition? I didn't know that either.

Honesty is the Best Policy

Okay, take five to laugh. Just as well, as the weather has taken a sharp turn from yesterday's blue skies.

It's raining. It's pouring. The old man is snoring. Went to bed and he bumped his head. Couldn't get up in the morning.... I hope not. Somehow, whenever it rains and I look at the puddles, Jose Feliciano, this song in particular comes to mind.

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

A young woman on a flight asked the priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favor?"

"Of course. What may I do for you?"


"Well, I bought an expensive Electronic hair dryer that is well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?"


"I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."

"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you."


When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"

"From the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."


The official thought this answer strange, so asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?"

"I have a marvelous little instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused."


Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father - - Next!"

Buying Bar Stools Online

Remember in an earlier post, I talked about a friend and I going to a garage sale looking for bar stools? Well, we went furniture-hunting again over the weekend. Yes, for bar stoolsagain. We went to quite a number of furniture malls and concluded that it's not that easy to get the type of bar stools that you want. Perhaps we need to look online.

Malaysia as an International Conference Venue

Malaysia is a great holiday destination on all counts, but you already know that. I've heard of MNCs that would rather hold their worldwide conferences here in Kuala Lumpur than in their own home country, the US.

Bottomline, it's still cheaper to fly participants out here, cover their expenses and fly them back. Hotels are cheap by international standards. Condo Hotels are cheaper and they offer much more flexibility and facilities.

How to Keep Your Car Clean

Over here, with the dust and all, cars get dusty and dirty fast. Car-washing is hard work. I used to send my car to one of those auto-washers but I don't anymore because I find that those brushes do scratch the paintwork. It's easy to get your car washed here as there are lots of car-wash stations.

I was shocked when a colleague confessed that her car is seldom washed. Her secret? She has been using car covers all this while. Maybe I need to invest in one.

Want a Cooked Lobster Look?

When I was little, I used to hang out in the evening with an older girl who lived a few doors away. While gazing up at the sky, she would tell me stories. She said if the evening sky is bright and orangey, the following day would be a hot day. Yesterday evening, the sky reminded me of her and her theory.



This morning started off on a clear note. At 9:30am, the sky was clear and blue. A slight breeze was blowing. Too nice to be cooped up indoors, actually. But by noon, going out into the sun would give one a shade close to a cooked lobster afterwards, which some of the expats here look like, really.



People here tend to fall sick more in hot weather. A colleague is in hospital nursing a fever, dengue fever, that is. When the weather is hot, we get more mosquitoes. Dengue fever is caused by the aedes mosquito, so beware of white-striped mosquitoes as that's how the aedes mosquito look like.

Stagnant water found in any receptable in the garden or anywhere outside provides a good breeding ground for these pests. At one time, each mosquito larva found in one's home by an enforcement officer comes with a fine of RM50/-! Imagine if a fish-pond is left fishless with stagnant water, it would be a happy home for mosquito larvae and would also make one happy enforcement officer.

The Year of the Rat is next

Can't imagine eleven months of the year have just flown by. The weather is starting to get hot and the wind strong and dry. This is usually the kind of weather this time of the year - the time when one hears the slamming of doors and windows caused by the strong winds or the sound of flower pots being broken.

The local Chinese community takes this as a sign of Chinese New Year approaching. The Chinese or Lunar calendar begins on February 7, 2008, which marks the first day of the Lunar New Year. By the way, the new year is the Year of the Rat/Mouse. It'd be interesting to know what the new year brings.

It's still a good two months before the Chinese New Year festival so we still haven't seen on sale any lime plants, feng shui bamboo plants and other auspicious paraphernalia associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Downtown in malls and hotels, it's the air of Christmas everywhere. It's a delight going downtown this time of the year. Will need to make a trip to get some pictures to show you here.

Happy Monday in the meantime.

Car Donation

There are many kind and generous people out there. That is why there is always a charity drive going on somewhere. The other day, my colleague and her community held a charity bazaar in aid of a home for underprivileged children. I was there with tickets for games stalls and food stalls. The jumble sale made a tidy sum from the great assortment of donated items. Someone promised a car donation for next year's bazaar.

By the way, here's a cute video for your viewing pleasure.