The overlong journey

When I look at his flight itinerary, I felt like I want to cry for him. Ever since MAS has stopped its direct flight to New York, there are of course more options available out there. But none has direct flight. At first, he was booked under Taiwan’s Eva Airline, which makes transit first at Singapore and then at Taipei. The price was really quite good. It’s even affordable for me which comes to under RM5k for return tickets. Unfortunately, it was fully booked for those dates of his schedule and they had been put on wait list for a few weeks. Lastly, they are booked through MAS flight to London for transit to Virgin Atlantic to New York. The price is now double, I guess. The worst of all is he will stop by in London for at least 4 hours before he flies off to New York. Imagine all his waiting time and flying time. I really pity him. He said his buttock is ’screaming’ already. Hehe!

His flight from KL to London is on 10:45 a.m. on Saturday and arriving in London on 4:15p.m. (UK time, I guess). This flight takes 13 hours and 30 mins, so I guess he will be arriving in London around midnight my time on Saturday. His flight to New York is on 8:10 p.m. (UK time) and arriving in New York on 11:25 p.m. (US time) still Saturday. This flight takes another 8 hours and 15 mins. If I calculate correct, he will be arriving in New York around 12 p.m. Sunday in KL. I think by the time he can check out from the airport and transfer to his hotel, it will be around 2 a.m. in the morning. Sigh! At least he has one Sunday to rest before starting work on Monday.

In preparation for his journey this round, we didn’t buy a lot but we are more prepared this time. Now he’s an expert in finding comfort during his flight. Haha! We just bought a big backpack yesterday during our shopping in Midvalley. It’s from Tearproof and it’s blue. Hehe! The purpose of it is to put his office laptop, of course, plus his own Sony Vaio P (he said he will use that for our daily communication), his Sony Alpha and all his lens and accessories. Then I want him to put some extra clothes and all his important stuff in this backpack. We have also bought a pair of mitten (or is it called glove, not sure), a pair of socks, extra luggage locks and an inflatable neck pillow. We have also exchanged some US dollars.

It might look small but there’s a lot of compartments inside and out.

The salesgirl actually recommended him the leather gloves but he said they look like serial killer. Haha!

It was the most enjoyable outing last night. Felt like dating before marriage. Haha! He treated me to nice Vietnamese dinner. He actually wanted to watch 2012 too but good seats all sold out. Sigh! But at least we were still happy that we have accomplished almost everything in preparation for his journey.

 

Big Apple, again?

I can’t believe I would have to write about this again. Who would have thought that during this ‘economic crisis’, the company would still send staff to the west, the Big Apple a.k.a. New York. If you remember, my darling have been to New York the first time in October last year.  At that time, everyone thought that an opportunity to travel to US was once in a lifetime thing and everyone was glad to make that trip. No one really expects that the same opportunity will come knocking twice, though I’m not sure everyone is still glad to make this trip now. Why? It’s year end…it’s damn freaking cold.

I went back to read my past posts about his journey to US and all the preparations needed. It was a hell of time for me and him. Now, when he told me there’s possibility of him going again for a transition training, I was quite relax. There’s not so much to do this time, as his visa has been approved for 10 years the first time he applied. He already got his winter clothes since his last trip. I probably need to get him better gloves and a few thicker shirts, as he’s going for 2 weeks this time and it will be freezing colder than last time. Sigh! His flight is finally confirmed. He’s travelling on 28 Nov 09 and will only be back on 11 Dec 09. However, I was still pretty relax even though it’s about another 2 weeks before he flies off. The good thing this time is he’s not going alone. He will be travelling with 2 other colleagues. Hopefully he won’t be too bored or too lonely with his long flight this time.

Now, when I start writing this, I feel a bit anxious again. The reality dawned on me. He will be away from me for freaking 2 weeks. For the second time in my life. Sigh! I will be all alone in the house, driving to work, eating dinner at my in-law’s. Not to forget about our 13-hour time difference. I already miss him just by thinking about it. I want to cry…But I’m a big girl and I can’t cry over this normal occurrence of life. I’m his wife and I have a list of wifey duties to do with his absence. Yes, he already has a list of things to do for me. No kidding! I have been ‘ordered’ to follow the list to bits. This includes paying bills, give pocket money to his parents and many other things.

Looking at another positive angle. I have 2 weeks of freedom. Anyone want to go dating with me? Strictly girls outing only. Hahahaha!

 

Blackout

It was the worst morning last Saturday. My darling had promised a small duty which needed him to work from 8a.m. to 10 a.m. on the Saturday. It’s a collaboration work between a few groups in his company. Something to deal with changes to some servers in his company. As normal, he would use his VPN to work from home. So, he woke up quite early that morning as he likes to be prepared while I slept cozily. However, the worst thing happened. Our housing area was blackout around 8:30 a.m. I suddenly woke up at the same time and said ‘Shit!’. Yes, even sleeping, in the back of my mind, I knew the consequence of no electricity at home. Of course, we got panicked for awhile and he started calling another colleague to let the other groups know that he didn’t just ‘disappear’ but was just having blackout. He quickly packed up his things and went straight to his father’s house nearby which only took him 10 minutes. After he left, I went back to nap and became a roasted ‘monkey’ at home. Okay lah…it was not that hot at home, lucky for me. Hehe! But I suffered a lot without electricity. I couldn’t do much except sleep and read novel. My life without my TV, radio and computer is a boring life indeed.

Anyway, we are considered lucky in the midst of unlucky incident cause we live just nearby to his parents’ house. At least we have alternative when comes to many things such as no water or electricity or broadband at our own home. But what’s the odd, right, that this happened during critical time. However, bad things do happen, so be prepared.

When he finally finished his work and came home to fetch me out, the electricity came back. Sigh!

 

The proud VCP

I feel so guilty. In the midst of preparation for my beginning of semester, I nearly forgot about my darling. Not forget him as a person but I forgot to write something important about him. Hehe! So sorry, my darling. This is an important achievement and I don’t want to leave it out from the blog. Hehe!

While I love to pursue higher degree, my darling loves to pursue higher certification. At least, we are in same mind when it comes to education. He has recently gone through a VMware course and finally passed the paper. Now he’s a proud VCP, VM Certified Professional. For those who are not IT geek, VMware is a famous software in the market for server virtualization. Too technical, doesn’t matter. The course itself is very expensive. It’s a 4-day course. Thanks to his company, it’s all paid for. Taking the certification is part of his company’s target for him for this year. One of his colleagues has passed the exam a few months back, hence when he finished the course and was preparing for the exam, he was a bit anxious. He’s worried about passing the ’so-called’ difficult paper. I could see the tension around him before the exam. It made me worried too. But as always, I told him he could definitely pass. He really worked so hard, studying the paper. I always believe that hard work pays in the end. And it did. I’m so happy for him.

I still remember that day. It was the Friday that we both took leave. I was supposed to attend the welcome ceremony but it was cancelled. He had scheduled his exam in the morning. Since I had nothing to do in the morning, I accompanied him to his exam. Both of us were anxious. I was praying hard that he passed. Coz he promised me nice lunch if he did. Haha! I waited there around 1.5 hours for him, reading my novel and watching people came and went. When he finally came out from the room, all smiling, I knew he had succeeded. I was so relieved. Hooray! To my great lunch. Haha!

So that was one episode of him taking exam. He told me not many days after that he’s already preparing for another certification. Sigh! Another episode of anxiety later…

 

Exam nightmares

If you are in IT field, you would probably be familiar with Microsoft Certification. It’s not only expensive with Rm300 per paper, it’s rather a nightmare taking the exam. Because there’s not only one paper for the certification but rather a few papers to complete one. Imagine how much money you have to spend and the time to study for each paper.

I totally salute my darling. He finally passed his last paper for Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) for Server Administrator which comprises of 3 papers. Of course I’m so happy for him. His hard work is finally paid off. However, seeing him going through his hard work was rather a nightmare to me. He spent most of his free time studying his papers. Understanding and memorizing. Rather non-stop. He’s really dedicated and determined when comes to studying and completing his goals.  He has also passed a handful of other papers to be prepared to complete the next certification. He’s just 2 papers short from attaining the MCITP for Enterprise Administrator.

I used to say he’s like a computer or rather the way he study is. He will be uploading data into his memory while studying and downloading them during the exam. After exam, his memory is being refresh and later reload with new data for another paper. It’s rather funny imagine his head with how the computer works. So similar. Haha!

On the other hand, it was a total nightmare for me when he took his final paper last weekend. He was scheduled for weeks before but the exam center had trouble with the Prometric server or some sort. Feeling disappointed with his favorite center, he looked for some other center to take the exam. I helped him to look for another center and found one that is opened on Saturday. Managed to book the time for last Saturday and was quite happy about it because that center has exam promotion which is RM250 per paper. Paid the money and confirmed the booking. Came Friday, he received a call. Server was down in that center. Totally disappointed and frustrated. I went to complain and tried all ways to transfer the booking to another center. At the end, we managed to transfer back to his favorite center which was available last Saturday. We were thinking would it be bad luck for this last paper that got so much complication. Luckily all was well at the end. The good thing was he only paid RM250 for the last paper. Save him RM50. Haha! Consider it our good luck lor.

 

Where’s your manner?

My blood was boiling for the first time last week over an incident that I couldn’t accept happening. I’m well known to have cool/mild temper among the ladies in the office, yet I lost my temper last week. I was so angry. Damn angry. With somebody’s kids. I was on the verge of cursing. Even writing this right now has my blood boiling again. Arrgggg!

During the CNY holiday, I was on leave the whole week. When I went back to work on the first day, I found my office desk was in a mess. My soft toys were not at their places. There’s tea leaves on the desk. My calculator had gone missing. No one of my colleagues knows anything about the mess. Some even had their stuff missing too or messed up. The first thing I thought was someone’s kid must be the culprit. Hence, I checked the time log for the weekend (I’m the one in-charge of attendance). Found 2 colleagues came over the weekend to work. I suspected that the culprit was a 4-year old kid of one of the colleague because he used to bring his 4-year old to work. However, I had doubt because a 4-year old wouldn’t be daring enough to mess up so many desks and even wrote a ‘love’ note using my name to my other colleague who is sitting near to me. Luckily, that colleague is a lady or else I’m in deep trouble. When my HR started the inquiry, apparently it’s the other colleague’s sons, two teenage boys. I just couldn’t contain my anger when this colleague told my HR last week that his sons didn’t admit ever coming to our desks. Arrrrgggggghhhhh! How dare them! Do they think we are damn stupid to know? The worst thing I hate is the parents. What manner do you teach your children? Mess up people’s workplace and dare to lie. Yet the parents believe them to be angels! Damnation.

Although I’m not as neat a person as my darling, I hate it when people mess up my work desk. What if I lost something important? Company laptops are all over my desk as I’m the only one who keep them. We never have issue with thievery and never thought the need to lock everything up. I hate parents who never teach good manners to their children. Hence, I’m still very angry with them until today. My other colleagues were surprised to see me so angry for the first time after working with me in the last 6 years. Just imagine my anger level right now. Arrrrggggghhhhh…

 

All’s well that ends well

If you have never believed that, start believing now.

We have been having ‘mixed’ luck (couldn’t say it’s totally bad luck, though) since last Saturday. It started with rescheduling of appointment by the exam center, with the reason of power problem in the building. My darling was really upset about that and he’s not someone who could take changes lightly. Everything must go according to his plan, he’s that sort of person. He was unhappy the whole day thinking it was being delayed to Sunday. I know it’s a burden for him to prepare himself for the exam and yet being kept waiting uncertainly. When Sunday came, again it was being delayed. At this point, he’s so frustrated. We waited until 6 p.m. for good news but none came. He basically gave up by then. I tried all my best to cheer him, of course. Kept on telling him that all would be well. We should think positive at all time, right? I advised him to reschedule on Monday after work. He wouldn’t even think of rescheduling to the end of the week. He said he needed to unload all that he learnt once the exam’s over and he needed it quick. Sigh!

At 2 p.m. yesterday, he still didn’t know whether he could take the exam. Didn’t know what’s the problem with the exam center. Another round of frustration and anxiety. Even I got affected but I tried to keep cool. Can’t have two of us blowing our heads, right? At nearly 4 p.m. he was promised for 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. slot. I was glad, at long last. He came to my office after work as usual, to fetch me. Thinking that it’s still early, so he parked the car and came up to my office, trying to catch up with some reading before the exam. He had a tough day already with working on duty and attending to a lot of problem ‘tickets’. I truly empathize with him. So, came around 6 p.m. we were ready to go. Put my car key into the ignition to start the engine but there’s no sound. Sigh! Why was my ‘baby car’ giving us problem at that crucial time, I wonder? I kept trying for 15 minutes with no avail. I tried not to panic as I could see his face had lost all hope at that moment. I didn’t want that to happen. It would only affect his performance in the exam. So, I made a quick decision. I called a cab. He was actually reluctant to leave me behind but I assured him that I would be fine. I knew my ‘baby car’ was throwing tantrum and soon it would work again. Old car has a lot of tantrum, I tell you. After he was on his way, I sat quietly in my car. Sort of thinking and praying at the same time. I tried a few more times and finally it worked. I couldn’t tell you how much I love the sound of the engine again. Hehe! I called him immediately to tell him the good news, hoping it could at least lighten his anxiety.

I drove at slow pace and reached the exam center around 7:15. Now it’s my turn to wait anxiously for his result. Praying hard even for him to pass. Or else we would be put through another round of frustration. He finally came out around 8 p.m. with a smile. That’s priceless seeing him smile again. He has passed his exam. I was relieved and happy. He kept on telling me that he’s really happy I had been with him all the way through this tough time. Telling me he loves me repeatly too. Hehe! He even treated me a meal at one of the cafe nearby called Face to Face Noodle House.

The moral of the story: No matter what life gives you, good luck or bad luck, just take it as it comes. Don’t give up and always think positive. There’s always a solution to every problem. Finally, always believe that all’s well that ends well. Hehe!

 

Timezone is confusing

At most times. I still can’t get it right. Not right away. Different timezone makes me confused. Totally.

If you are working in a company that runs 24×7 and has different counterparts around the world that work on different timezone, you will probably have headache trying to keep track of time. That’s what had happened to my darling last night. Thanksgiving is public holidays in US on 27th and 28th Nov 08, hence no one is working. In US that’s it. Other counterparts such as UK and Asia will eventually have to cover the hours as IT never sleeps. My darling is supposed to cover from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. (our local time) for both days. The question now is does it based on our local date or US date which is 11 hours behind? So both of us got confused and kept on debating. I had to even drew up a chart to signify the different timezone of US, UK and Asia. At the end, he got confirmation from other colleagues in US that it’s based on our local date. But then I guess everyone is still confused after all because if count correctly somehow there’s 4 hours missing without anyone to cover. You see if based on our local date, that 4 hours on Friday in US will be our Saturday 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. which normally my darling doesn’t need to work unless he’s on call on weekend. Furthermore, this Saturday his company has Sport Club event, a treasure hunt which he has agreed to join with some colleagues.

Right now, I still don’t know what’s the outcome yet but I guess no matter what it won’t be any worse than last night…where my darling and I had sleepless night…when the Steamyx at home was down…when he believed that he needed to work from 4 a.m. this morning. Worse still it’s not only in our home. The whole Melawati, Wangsa Maju and Ampang areas were down. Hence we couldn’t even get alternative Internet connection in his parents’ home. Sigh! Imagine that! What a night!

 

Journey to US (Part 4)

I have some nice scenery photos here that my darling took around Allentown, where he stayed and worked. Allentown is a very nice city with country-like feel, he said. Not as hectic as NYC, of course but yet you won’t find such place in MY too.

Look at the sky…so blue…yet very windy, he said.

Autumn/winter season…

They have such a big land…

Other than all those nice sceneries, he said he quite love US because of the following:

His favorite ice-cream…only cost him a few US dollar. It’s cold there and yet he couldn’t help himself but to had his favorite. Hehe! Anyway, he said most people there enjoy cold drinks regardless of weather. He’s the only one who was having hot tea all the time in the office. He got laughed at, he said. Haha!

He found his cycling shoes. Actually I don’t know the right term for it. Doesn’t matter, does it? I will just call it his cycling shoes. He had been looking around in MY for some times for these shoes to fit to his bike petals but failed to find. At last, he found them in the best bicycle shop in Allentown. He said that our bicycle shops in MY can never compete with those in US. They have everything for a cyclist. And they have all the good stuff. I bet he didn’t want to even leave that shop. Haha!

It was Halloween last Friday and he got invited to a party. It was a big occasion in US where everyone enjoy ’trick or treat’ and wear cool costumes. I asked him whether he needed to go with costume. He said probably but I knew he had none so I asked him what’s he going to wear then. He replied that maybe just go with his long johns as costume…probably will scare a lot of people. Ahhhh! That’s a sight that I wish to see. Hehehe!

And being the well organised darling, he was already packed since I don’t know when. Hehe! He went with two bags and see how many bags he came back with. Haha! That’s his new shoes on the left. The bag on the right was full with chocolates for the family. Hehe!

 

Journey to US (Part 3)

Here are some nice photos from my darling. His trip to New York together with his colleague.

I love this photo. Could be a nice wallpaper. Haha!

On the ferry to New York.

My darling asked me that doesn’t this scene look familiar? It was shown in one of the movie…okay…I will have to watch the movie again…hehe!

NYC is such a big city. Super big compared to KL. People are everywhere, he said. It’s so happening.

The weather was so good that day, he said.

My favorite brand. Haha!

Every girl favorite brand. Should I demand him to buy me one? Hehe!

Night life at NYC.