Customer Service*

Thursday, June 22, 2006

NEW YORK -- All Vincent Ferrari wanted to do was cancel his $14.95 per month account with America Online (AOL).

The 30-year-old Bronx resident recently forced to cut down on home expenses, and decided one of the services that had to go was his AOL internet account.

But Ferrari had heard horror stories of how difficult it was to cancel with the internet giant, so he decided to record his telephone call.

The following is a transcript of his call with an AOL representative:

AOL REPRESENTATIVE: Hi this is John at AOL... how may I help you today?
VINCENT FERRARI: I wanted to cancel my account.
AOL: Sorry to hear that. Let's pull your account up here real quick. Can I have your name please?
VF: VF Ferrari.

CLOCK READOUT - 00:30

AOL: You've had this account for a long time.
VF: Yup.
AOL: Use this quite a bit. What was the cause of wanting to turn this off today?
VF: I just don't use it anymore.
AOL: Do you have a high speed connection, like the DSL or cable?
VF: Yup.
AOL: How long have you had that...
VF: Years...
AOL: ...the high speed?
VF: ...years.
AOL: Well, actually I'm showing a lot of usage on this account.
VF: Yeah, a long time, a long time ago, not recently...

CLOCK READOUT - 01:47

AOL: Okay, I mean is there a problem with the software itself?
VF: No. I just don't use it, I don't need it, I don't want it. I just don't need it anymore.
AOL: Okay. So when you use this... I mean, use the computer, I'm saying, is that for business or for... for school?
VF: Dude, what difference does it make. I don't want the AOL account anymore. Can we please cancel it?

CLOCK READOUT - 02:21

AOL: Last year was 545, last month was 545 hours of usage...
VF: I don't know how to make this any clearer, so I'm just gonna say it one last time. Cancel the account.
AOL: Well explain to me what's, why...
VF: I'm not explaining anything to you. Cancel the account.
AOL: Well, what's the matter man? We're just, I'm just trying to help here.
VF: You're not helping me. You're helping me...
AOL: I am trying to help.
VF: Helping... listen, I called to cancel the account. Helping me would be canceling the account. Please help me and cancel the account.
AOL: No, it wouldn't actually...
VF: Cancel my account...
AOL: Turning off your account...
VF: ...cancel the account...
AOL: ...would be the worst thing that...
VF: ...cancel the account.

CLOCK READOUT - 03:02

AOL: Okay, cause I'm just trying to figure out...
VF: Cancel the account. I don't know how to make this any clearer for you. Cancel the account. When I say cancel the account, I don't mean help me figure out how to keep it, I mean cancel the account.
AOL: Well, I'm sorry, I don't know what anybody's done to you VF because all I'm...
VF: Will you please cancel the account.

CLOCK READOUT - 03:32

AOL: Alright, some day when you calmed down you're gonna realize that all I was trying to do was help you... and it was actually in your best interest to listen to me.
VF: Wonderful, Okay.

*cut and pasted from a Bulletin Board

Oh, Look at that!

Lovely Airah made this awesome template for me. I love it! I can't stop admiring it. Isn't it wonderful? She's talented, and quite affordable. You can have a blog make-over without breaking your bank. Truly.

She has designed templates here, and createda new partnership here.

What's more, she's awfully nice. I intend to have make another one for me a few weeks down the line.

Come on, admire my new template with me.



And on another note...

Cingular Wireless Text Messaging

After investing a good 40 minutes of my precious time trying to find "the link" to send a text message online using cingular wireless online site, this is what I got below:


Read the text below in case you can't see it in the picture.

QUESTION:
What information do I need to send a text message online?

ANSWER:

All you need is your recipient's Cingular wireless number. The additional information you provide—your name and the contents of the message—will be sent directly to your friend's phone.

Well, that makes is perfectly clear what I need to have to send text message online.

I just have one tiny question: Where the f**k is the link to send a text message online? They actually wanted me to rate this answer if this was any help. The stupidity of it all just astounds me!

Added way later:
Here's the poll, because, why not?

There's my old template and my new one below. You get a chance to vote just for fun. :)




New Template:

Old template:

Just My Type of News Vol. 1*

"Stop, I don't want to have to pull out my nightstick."

Now that almost sound dirty. Doesn't it? The whole story here, which I think is funny.

Want a child to say "fuck" and not get blamed for it? Go to Toys R Us and buy the "Elite Operations Role Play Set: Police," includes a nightstick and a utility belt. Oy, it's too late, I think they fixed it already. Drat!

Obesity is causing more and more problem. I know that I don't like to sit next to "a person of size" on the plane. They take more of my space, and it makes for a very uncomfortable travel. Not to mention the wafting aroma when things gets warm inside a plane. I can't stand it if I sweat and detect smell of my own body odor; I refuse to take it from someone else! That would be purgatory. You noticed I didn't quite say hell.

Losing weight is not just for aesthetic reasons anymore. It's about saving money on gas, it's about saving the world by using less fossil fuel. Read about it here.

Since it's Halloween, this news is appropriate. There is NO ghost or other things that go bump in the night. Gasp! Really. Aw, shucks! Take note of my ejaculatory paragraph. What can I say, even Halloween stories repudiating the presence of ghost comes right back to sex.

All these time, I was thinking Ghost Whisperer is a "true" account of Melinda Gordon's life. Why do these people have to come and ruin my shows for me!

Efthimiou, a professor at the University of Central Florida, takes out the calculator to prove that if a vampire sucked one person's blood each month — turning each victim into an equally hungry vampire — after a couple of years there would be no people left, just vampires. He started his calculations with just one vampire and 537 million humans on Jan. 1, 1600 and shows that the human population would be down to zero by July 1602.

What this professor is not telling you is how much fun it is to read about the vampires and company. Just take a look at this discussion going on at The Book Bitches. Truly, this makes for an amazing series of books. I can't wait for the next one to come out.

More than 1 in 3 Americans believe houses can be haunted, a 2005 Gallup poll showed. More than 20 percent of Americans believe in witches and that people can communicate with the dead.

It's all very clear that this person didn't go to see "The Others, and if he did, he's skeptical."

What do people do with all the extra space? Take a look at this mansion.

This is Aaron Spelling's Hollywood Hills 123-room mansion. I wonder what I would do with such a big place when I am not a big party animal. If I have an insane amount of money to buy a home, I'd probably buy one a whole lot smaller than this one. I'd want pretty, comfy, and safe. I'd also want to be able to find my children within 30 minutes of walking from one end to the other. Still, you have to admit, it looks really pretty.

*assuming I will have another "free time" do more. :P

My Photo Hunt Vol. 3 - SAFE

You shouldn't say it is not good. You should say, you do not like it; and then you know, you're perfectly safe. -James M. Whistler These are my images of safe. My kids enjoying books together, husband content watching TV and holding baby, and I have nothing more pressing to do than take a few pictures of my family. This is always assuming my floors are clean and shinny, otherwise, I'd have been off srubbing it til it shines. It's my one weird obsession. Safe is when I can play around with said pictures for posting.

Thursday Thirteen #5 - Happy 15 Years!

Thirteen Things about Shoshana Tomorrow is my 15th year anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already! It's been a most wonderful years. Happy Fifteen Years of Marriage To US! 1. First sight. I was worried if my husband-to-be would like me as I am this tiny girl of barely 5'2", and not quite 80 pounds! Plus, I'd just gotten sunburned from my beach vacation. If you're typical Filipino, then we all know what even dark and sunburned means. Turned out, he thought I was the prettiest woman there ever was! I thought he was hot! What can I say, I was 18 and "deep." 2. Wedding. My Mama walked me down the aisle. My Papa was kind of late, but he got there before I say "I do" We have lots of guests. I still have no idea how that restaurant managed a sit-down meal for an additional last minutes 4 dozen people. I remember all our three weddings. Yep, 3! 3. Disbelief. O.M.G. Has it been 15 years?! And here I thought I'm only 18! 4. Raising a wife. My husband did a wonderful job raising a wife! All this wife needs is books, lots of it, and cartoon movies along with all 5-hanky movies I can find. My wonderful husband sat and enjoyed it all with me. Remember Joyluck Club? What a tear-jerker of a movie that was. 5. Disaster Dates. I'll have to post another time. Let's just say, it's fortunate that didn't happen before the "I do's" or there'd be 5 less children on this earth! 6. After 5 years of honeymoon, we decided to start a family. We were so excited when I got pregnant with The Girl. Except we don't know she was a girl until her birth day. 7. I was so light and tiny, my husband could span his fingers round my waist. On a full stomach, it was 22. 8. I kept my hair one-length and long, DH trims it for me. 9. Playing chauffeur. I didn't drive til I really have to. So DH drives me wherever I wish to go, which is mostly to the malls and bookstores around town. 10. In 15 years, I can barely recall any quarrel. We have disagreements, but we don't have quarrels...which means, we didn't have make-up sex all that much. 11. I remember all the births we go through together and hearing our babies cry for the first time. 12. We found out were awesome parents too. 13. We still love each other and go out on dates like we're newly weds.

Two is Not at all that Terrible

My 3rd son loves to hear the sound of his voice. He's of slight build, with long hair, sweet-looking, fabulous smile, eager helper...and loud.

I mean, really loud. When he's in a snit, he can go on for hours. The words which come to mind are "Energizer Bunny". Can you picture that ad of a bunny with a drum? DS3 can surely keep going and going.

It's hard to imagine how my other kids were. I have a very short memory of their screaming and kavetching at two. Maybe they were loud; I just don't remember them being as loud as this little Emperor, also known as my Darling Son#3. He'll outgrow all this drama, just like the other 3, but still, I wonder if the other three were as loud as him.

These are my babies below. DS2 in aqua, DS3 in jumpers, and DS4 in the stroller.
I don't always understand the logic of a two year old. Take a look at one of our conversation below:

"I want milk." So, I give him milk.
Then he'll say, "No! I want milk!"
"This is milk darling" I answer.
"No! I WANT MILK", shrill this time.
"Ok. Did you mean orange juice?"
"NO. I WANT MILK!"
"This is milk. Would you like some cereal with this?" I asked.
He screeches and kicks the floor
"Would you like some pizza instead?" I asked.
"Yes, chitcha and milk"

Sometimes, it's hard to figure out just exactly what DS3 wanted. This is what usually happens when I can't figure it out. I feel so bad :(I don't mind so much. More often that his yodeling are hugs. Those sweet sloppy kisses and unlimited hugs he gives me are one of the bestest there is. There's also these

"I you too, Mommy"
"Kiss"
"I need a hug"
"I hug you Mommy"

I'm loving being a mother of a two year old. We have our moments, but it's all around fun.

My Photo Hunt Vol. 2 - DREAMING

Today's theme is Dreaming. I choose these pictures below because, well, after looking through my piles, the kids got noisy and I ran out of time. Also, in the first picture, I remember my daughter telling me about a dream she has of being a good famous person. I figure this qualifies as "dreaming." All of the kids here dreaming about what they'll become someday, except maybe my 17 months. I think he only wants to be let out of the stroller so he could ran around. This one below is one of my dream driveway. We were vacationing somewhere in Florida when I found it. It's a beautiful driveway, isn't it? It will probably take a lot of effort, or someone else's effort, to put this one up. So, I am waiting for a new location to put up my dream driveway. This is my little girl at 5 years old. She's such* a delight, and she dreams big dreams, and just by being herself, she fulfill my dreams. She's a blessing and she's lovable and talented. *O.M.G. I cannot believe I didn't catch that "k" there for two whole days! LOL.

Thursday Thirteen #4 - Happy Birthday to my Darling Husband

Thirteen Things about Shoshana Thirteen reasons why I love my husband, D. Thirteen is not enough, but it's hardly a good start, however, this is TT, and thirteen it is. In no particular order. 1. He's perfect for me. I've look all around, and found him the best for me. Let's put it this way. If I had sat down and put into words what I'd like in a husband, he'd be it. I am very fortunate to have him. 2. He totally supports my love of books. I love everything and anything about books. He doesn't mind that I've accumulate a wall-full of books. In fact, he's gotten me a warehouse-full of books. What a guy! 3. He's considerate, thoughtful, sweet. If there's something that I like, but am too lazy to get or request, he knows and will get me plenty. I could get spoiled if I let myself. 4. He can read my mind. Not all the time, but often enough to be disconcerting. 5. D happens to have the best sense of humor. Dry and funny. He can always get me out of my dooldrums. Such an added bonus for a person who can go into a deep end over sticky floors. 6. Here's five reasons right here. They're absolutely fantastic, one and all. 7. He makes sure I get one of my heart's desire; to breastfeed my kids as long as I can and want. I would have quit a millions times ago, but it's amazing what encouragement can do. 8. He's sensitive and is not afraid to go with me on my 5-hanky-girly movies. I can watch all the Grey's Anatomy I want, ogle all the cute stars I like, all without being snippy. 9. My husband can write. He write wonderful letters. And according to him, I wrote the best. It's how we come to know each other years ago. Otherwise, I'd still be single now at the rate which my mother allowed me to date. I love how he reads stories to me aloud. I love everything about him. 10. I love his sense of fairness. How he's always ready to defend the hapless. He's never afraid to stick his neck out to help others. It's wonderful to be around that spectacular character. 11. He's the best person to spend time with just enjoying each other's company. 12. I love him because I can't order him around. I know I tried for close to 15 years now. 13. I love how he worries and make plans for our children's future. One child would worry us more at different times than at others. I love how he made us all feel love and perfectm just as we are. With him, I never feel inadequate. He makes me see just what a fabulous person I am. There's so much more about him, but I only got thirteen...and since we just got back from celebrating my mother's birthday, all of my #6 reasons why I love him are all awake and jumping. Happy Birthday Sweetie, and Happy 15th year anniversary!

Tagged meme - Seven of Fives

Arggh. I lost my first post. I had some brilliant answers too!

LOL. I am stumped what to title this. I spent a few minutes thinking about it and decided on the above. Princess Shin tagged me for this one. I lub this tagging business. I especially love it when I know I have to start doing laundry soon or go shopping for more clothes.

1. 5 things I would do if I were a millionaire...
Hmmm, I know I should be philantrophic y'all, but it's only a million and with inflation....not necesarrily in this order

1. Donate 10% to a good cause
2. Give money gifts to my sibbling and parents
3. Buy a nice sized house with a spa, bowling alley and tennis court inside.
4. Go on vacations with all my kids and hubby and nannies too.
5. I'd probably invest enough so I can live off interest and not have to work at all. I can read all day.

2. 5 bad habits
This is so telling...besides I have no bad habbit. You can never find a more perfect person...ok. No rotten tomatoes please.

1. Procrastination. It's a hobby of mine. I am talented at it.
2. The upset-trigger swearing. I don't think it's necessary. One can make a point without it. Truly.
3. Second-guessing myself. That can only lead to no-good.
4. I don't think I have five bad habbits. Really. See, I've written three and have run out already.
5. Reading. I'll tell you why. I get lost in a book and forget about everything else.

3. 5 things I hate doing.
Man, there's too many to list. It's going to be tought picking just 5. Goodness.

1. Manicure and pedicure. Yet I did it this week because I want to look pretty for a wedding of a special little girl. It's a shock to see her wed, I met her when she was seven.
2. Gardening. Yet I adore healthy growing things. Except, healthy growing things requires industrious slimy earthworms. Ewwwww.
3. None-floor related cleaning. If I scrub my floor, I get this "accomplished" feeling. If I have to clean anything else, all I get is "I'm so pissed" feeling.
4. Being in a loud place. You don't see me anywhere near a live concert where speakers are set to "lets-watch-those-ear-wax-fly" volume.
5. Having to deal with anything stinky.

4. 5 things I would never do.

1. Kill another human. Self-defense is not killing. It's self-defense.
2. Cheat. I don't think I deserve that much punishment.
3. Eat licorice if I am warned. I mean, is there anything nastier? I know I drink Dr. Pepper Slurpee, but gosh, licorice is nasty.
4. Drink Tequila. Unless of course I get paid at least a million after taxes if I do.
5. Breast surgery to make my 32As bigger. I am finally happy with it. It fed 5 children (last one still feeding.)

5. 5 things I regret doing.

1. Spell-checking the last post. I end up losing the whole thing and have to start over again...or should I list this under hate?
2. Not hearing my Mother's invite to this really yummy food because I was lost in my book. It happened quite a few times.
3. Set my wallet down on a shopping cart while doing some midnight shopping. A clerk saw it, saw I was distracted, handed me my grocery bags (there were two) and nicely offered to put away my cart. I made it to my car and found out my wallet was left behind. I went back inside Kroger and she's gone. With my wallet from the cart. I am still a little bit mad about it today. Driver's license are a pain to replace.
4. Left the chicken on the stove. I forgot about it, and house rules: Anything food left out for over 60 minutes out if it needs refrigeration must go to the garbage. I knew I should have eaten two servings of it!
5. Not taking pride of my 85-pound-small-frame body. I thought I was too thin. Now, I am 150, and I think I am too fat. I regret not enjoying how "hot" I was! So, I am teaching my kids to take pride in their body. Don't criticize it too much.

6. 5 favorite toys or things.
Is this a trick question? Because if it is, it's a awful one. It's like asking an addict to only take the last two pills. I mean, come on! The word "favorite" and only "five" shouldn't even be in the same sentence together.

1. Books. I have a lot of them, and I still buy some more. I can't get enough books.
2. My children's drawings. They seem to grow overnight on my bedroom wall. I've left them there because they're so darn cute!

3. Rubber stamps collection. I had them since way before they were in style for scrapbooking.
4. Computer. It's where I blog. Enough said.
5. My shoes collection. The new one since I have "donated" my previous collection, thinking I am going to turn over a new leaf. Hah!

7. 5 people I choose to do this.
It's tricky to tag people, they might be busy. I am tagging these ones below, and they can always opt out.

1. Zingtrial
2. Summer
3. Vixen
4. Silver Sabre, returning the favor :)
5. Philippine Phil

Also, if you feel like doing this, go for it. Do let me know as I'm interested to know :) To copy the questions, hit on the envelop icon and copy from there.

Tagged Me me - Twenty-seven question

SS tagged me...so I gotta take the essay test. Doesn't me-me remind you of taking exams in school? I don't know who to tagged, as people on my list seem pretty busy. I am going to try and see if Harlot, Simple American, MisbehavinAngel or Momsquared will play.

1. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

Easy. That non-relative ass-donkey-dung, bastard.

2. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?

I have to say, I do not know. I don't really listen to any band of anything to decide which one I'll get rid of.

3. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

Nothing in particular...after all, I'd just blown "it" in #1.

4. What is your favorite cheese?

Mozzarella. It's in every Pizza I guzzled eat.

5. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your immediate disposal. What kind will you make?

I usually freeze at so much choices. I'd end up with grilled cheese...not that I've ever ordered grilled cheese sandwich in my life.

6. You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie celebrity of your choice. We are talking no-strings-attached sex and it can only happen once. Who is the lucky celebrity of your choice?

Sleep...I am sure my husband would mind big time. But Hypothetically? There's too many to name just one. In High School, that would have been Tom Cruise and Ricky Martin. Did you notice that both of those were allege to be gay?

7. You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. Who do you pick?

I'd say M&M, except I wouldn't let him sleep...I'll keep him up singing all those cool raps he comes up with. Geeesh. I said keep him up rapping.

8. Now that you've slept with two different people in a row, you seem to be having an excellent day because you just came across a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk. Holy shit, a hundred bucks! How are you gonna spend it?

Hot-foot it to Barnes and Noble and just buy books with it. Probably buy kids books with it. For sure one with Captain Underpants on the Title. Titillating read.

9. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

Hawaii

10. Upon arrival to the aforementioned location, you get off the plane and discover another hundred-dollar bill. Shit! Now that you are in the new location, what are you gonna do?

I'll have to find the nearest broker so I can gamble it with stocks. That way, I'll luck out and have enough to actually enjoy my vacation. I am not stacked with my cards and cash because previous question said I had to leave right away. I'd better win enough so I can buy swimsuit too.

11. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. It is...?

I'll have to ask my angel to give me 1% milk. No alcohol...although, come to think of it, I did like some Blue D'Asti (spelling not sure of. I only drink this stuff on Passover...when I am not pregnant-Passover)

12. Rufus appears out of nowhere with a time-traveling phone booth. You can go anytime in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there?

Is Rufus that guy from Quantuum Leap? Back to when my grandma is alive. I'll have her find the papers on our family tree.
That way I don't have to keep answering some people...yeah we're Jewish. Then they'd look at me since I am Asia, and I have to say "Really!" And that's just one more step closer to me slugging them. I haven't yet. I have such self-control.

13. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?

Everything rule on the island is mine, and I get to change it at my whim!

14. You have been given the opportunity to create the half-hour TV show of your own design. What is it called and what's the premise?

My Beautiful Family
It will be half-hour of bragging and showing the world what a fantastic family I have. The beautiful part they can just see for themselves.

15. What is your favorite curse word?

Fuckshitdamnit. I know. I shouldn't say it too often. I might start hearing them back in my house, and that would be funny and not at the same time.

16. One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren't really doing anything, they're just standing around your bed. What do you do?

Scream my head off and start shooting. Except, the shooting part. I'd have a hard time deciding which to shoot.

17. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don't worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what's the item?

My list. The list I've been meaning to make of all account numbers and phone number I should have in case I have to have everything re-done again.


18. The Angel of Death has descended upon you. Fortunately, the Angel of Death is pretty cool and in a good mood, and it offers you a half-hour to do whatever you want before you bite it. Whatcha gonna do in that half-hour?

Make sure to get all my children and husband and spend every second of it with them (whether they like it or not, tough!). I'd make sure to tell my children I love them and I am proud of them and they should follow their hearts wishes. I'd make sure to give my husband the fastest, best sex he'd ever have too.

19. You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What's it gonna be?

This is a tough one. I can only have one? I'd want the power to change time. Go back to that spot where I let a certain bastard access to my family and nuke him out of my family's existence.

20. You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?

This is tough...but I'd go back to where my husband and I journeyed to Galveston. That was a two-day trip, so I guess that 30-minute one would have to be in San Marcos. :P

21. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

See question #1 and then #19

22. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit... you can move to anywhere else in the world! Bitchin'! What country are you going to live in now?

Still US, but I'd move my address to the Carolina Coast.

23. This question still counts, even for those of you who are under age. Check it out. You have been eternally banned from every single bar in the world except for ONE. Which one is it gonna be?

I lead such boring life, I haven't been in a bar but once in my entire 33 years. I bet that hard to beat.

24. Hopefully you didn't mention this in the super-powers question.... If you did, then we'll just expand on that. Check it out... Suddenly, you have gained the ability to FLOAT!!! Whose house are you going to float to first, and be like "Dude, check it out... I can FLOAT!"?

My Lil Sis in the Philippines so I can straightened her lovable but sometimes selfish ass.

25. The constant absorption of magical moonbeams mixed with the radioactive vegetables you consumed earlier has given you the ability to resurrect the dead famous-person of your choice. So which celebrity will you bring back to life?

Oy. It's hard thinking up of one. I'd say Elvis. I want to hear him sing and then see if I can understand the fascination.

26. The Celestial Gates of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn't think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person, etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

My grandfather on my mother side. He's a cool person. He's an admirable person. I'd want my kids to get to know him.

27. What's your theme song?

I should have a theme song? Barry Manillow's "I write the Song" hums in my head at odd moments. Does that count? I mustn't forget about "Eensy weensy Spider" and "Oh My Darling Clementine"



***
I am so glad Haley-O is playing too!

I'm new at this tagging business. :)

My Photo Hunt Vol. 1 - LOST

Both pictures were taken when we played tourist in our own town. I had forgotten about this picture. My then two year old baby boy. He loves to go off by himself. So fearless! He's still adorable at 5, but he asks me now if he could go. This is my daughter over three years ago. She's lost in thought about the wall. I have no clue what she's looking at, but I took the picture anyway.

I rock!

Truly!

Let me tell you why. Our 4 year old PC has gone to pot. It's not good enough for working with the grown-ups because it's slow. In the world of PC desktop, slow and old is bad and must be gotten rid off. Unfortunately, old and useless non-relative are not as easy to get rid off, or rehabilitated. Yeah, yeah, I am angry about an old man who has nothing better to do but destroy my beautiful family. Same old man who claimed to love and care for his son, so he set out and tried his damniest to take apart said son's children. Bastard, may he rot in hell while he's alive. But I am not talking about that.

I am talking about learning something new. My old PC is now only good for kids. In a true pack rat fashion, I just couldn't get rid of it. I had to fix it a little so that my kids could use it for fun computing. So I did.

First, I had to think of a place to park it where I am still in control of it, and yet away from me so it won't annoy me. I found the perfect spot. In my dining room! Thanks to my Lil Sis contribution of a very decent computer desk in which she happily schlep from her place to mine. All without me having to beg her. What can I say, I have a lovely, lovely family. One that sticks to thick and think. You can't find a nicer family than ours. Oh, we're not perfect, far from it, but we genuinely care for each other and all that we consider ours.

The only problem is, my dining room does not have a phone jack. It's not supposed to, it's probably only used for eating and dining before. My phone jack is a room away. I can't park my PC in the kitchen because it's the kitchen. I need the space for when I cook and bake again. I plan to cook and bake again, just not now. Right now, I am enjoying my last baby. I want the experience to last, so I am cooking the least amount I can get away with. Ok, I was talking about my old PC. You'd think an old PC wouldn't warrant this much soliloquy.

soliloquy
n 1: speech you make to yourself [syn: monologue]
2: a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the
illusion of unspoken reflections

Second,I had to put in a wireless DSL connection. If it's not plug and play, my brain shuts down. I want easy,and I want it now. Unfortunately, we all can't get everything we want or that old bastard would have dropped dead the moment he started attacking and planning to molest my children. Nothing to it, I had to make a trip to best buy and get a wireless receiver. I am so thankful that my Lil Bro, who is very smart, and awesome happen to know a lot about computer and he's only a phone call away. I phone and whined about wireless receiver thingy. I got something about G spot...err, I think it wasn't called that, but it definitely have a G in there someplace.

A very helpful tech in Best Buy said I could bring my tower in and they would install it for me for $40. Great price, except for the bringing in the tower there part. I am all stressed out just thinking about it. With a baby, log in a tower to my car and into a store? I don't think so.

I brought my G spotter home, and called my brother again. It was easy! I got a screw...oh, did you see a pattern here? I got a G something-or-the-other and then a screw. LOL. Haha ha ha ha! That's what I did. No, I didn't get myself an orgasm, but it was close. I found that no monster lived inside my computer tower. It's a bunch of circuit boards in there, and one perfect spot for my G receiver. Like any other virgin, it had a hard time fitting in, but when it clicks, it was satisfying!

I was so damn proud of myself, I nearly pat myself on the head! I was so happy I thought I could probably build a new computer from scratch. It's like fitting a puzzle together. I had forgotten that I have a perfectly good and smart brain between my ears. How else could I have enjoyed and finished Biochemistry without it!

I probably won't build a computer from scratch, but I would definitely not get intimidated installing a hardware next time. I can always call my Lil Bro to fix it if I messed it up.

See, I told you I rock!

Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen Things about motherhood, pregnancies, babies, mine and in general as Shoshana sees it mainly by surfing the web. 1. Some tribes of people, like the Assam in Africa, don't call themselves families. They call themselves "maharis", or "motherhoods." [I like "families" coz I am sure that my children are much better off with my husband around fathering them too.] 2. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the orders that made Mother's Day a national holiday. [I didn't know this, but it's one more reason to remember President Wilson] 3. The average child will eat 15 pounds of cereal in a year. [Except my DS1 as he's allergic to most cereal. He does eat a lot of meat. It's like Atkin's diet, except unintentional, y'all] 4. Aside from medical costs, it's been determined that new parents in the U.S. typically spend $7,000 in a baby's first year on everything from diapers to formula to day care. [Hmm, I don't think I've reached this number yet. Maybe because my baby wears a lot of hand-me-downs from his older brothers, no daycare, and he's breastfeed.] 5. Babies in the womb will also react to sudden loud noises, even if their mother's ears are muffled. [I knew this one because my daughter, while I was pregnant with her, does not like my DH snoring on my lap. She actually kicked him in response to the snoring. I'll never forget it...the kick was strong enough to interrupt my husband's snores] 6. Children born in the month of May are on the average 200 grams heavier at birth than children born in any other month. [I'll never know, I never gave birth in May. I wonder why this is?] 7. A survey conducted at Iowa State College in 1969 suggests that a parent's stress at the time on conception plays a major role in determining a baby's sex. [Hmm, like, a "y" chromosome will likely be "shaken" off if "stressed" enough? What about genetics?] 8. During pregnancy, the uterus expands to 500 times its normal size. [Mine is much much bigger! I knew it!] 9. Human reproduction follows lunar time rather than sidereal, or solar, time: Gestation is about 266 days -- nine lunar months -- and the menstrual period is one lunar month. [Is this why we have so many lunatics running loose?] 10. Sweden has the lowest birth rate in the world, 1 in 100. Malawi, in Africa, has the highest, 5.3 in 100. [How come the Chinese has the most people?] 11. In 1996 there were 100,750 (50, 375 sets) twins, 5,298 (1766 sets) triplets, 560 (140 sets) quadruplets, and 81 (16 sets) quintuplets and higher born in the USA. [These are probably NOT all nature, I bet.] 12. The child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is under less stress. [I have four boys, enough said!] According to Aristotle, wind direction determined whether a baby would be a boy or a girl. Well, as I never really made love and conceived in a naturally windy place, I cannot say. 13. According to a survey, women prefer blue bedrooms more than other colors; men are happier with white bedrooms. [I'm with the men on this one, and my husband doesn't care which way, as long as I am happy.]

Quizz time!

Hmmm. Some of these quizzes are rigged, I think, but it's no reason not to have fun as you waste your time clicking away. So go right ahead and take some quizz, share your result, just for fun. :)

Your EQ is 132

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Thursday Thirteen #2

Thirteen Useful Remedies Scavenged by Shoshana 1. MOSQUITO BITES. To get rid of the itch try applying soap on the area and you will experience immediate relief. Haemorrhoid cream also does the trick. I am not sure how many have this in their house. I know I didn't own one until baby #4. I think I don't have it anymore. There's a sudden influx of mosquitoes where I am. They're nasty creatures, they are. 2. HEADACHE. Take a lime, cut it in half and rub on your forehead. Throbbing will go away. 3. When peeling garlic, thump the clove with the side of a knife or cleaver and the skin will lift away easily. 4. BEE STINGS. Bees leave their stings in, so first priority is to carefully remove the sting. Then soothe the skin with a solution of bicarbonate soda and water. 5. HEAVY DUNDRUFF. Pour on vinegar. 6. How fresh are your eggs? Put egg in to 4ins. of water, if it stays on the bottom it's fresh. If one end tips up it is less fresh and if it floats to the top it is either bad or at the stage where it will be impossible to fry without breaking. 7. Hard boiled eggs - To prevent the outside of the yolk turning black, immediately after cooking plunge the egg into cold water and allow to cool down. To prevent them crumbling when sliced, wet the knife first. 8. To remove excess fat/grease from soup or gravy, dip a slice of fresh bread gently into the liquid and this will absorb the fat. Alternatively, use a clean piece of kitchen towel, however, great care should be taken to avoid leaving any of the paper behind. 9. Smelly pans. If previous dinner smells remain in the saucepan, fill with water, add vinegar and boil up. The pan should be fine but the kitchen smells of boiled vinegar! 10. Smelly fridge or plastic containers. It is said that to prevent smells in the first place, leave a piece of charcoal on one of the shelves and this will absorb any odours. However, if there was no charcoal to hand and the fridge smells, dissolve 2 - 3 teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda in a pint of water and wipe out the inside of the fridge. Fill any offending plastic containers with the same mixture and leave to soak overnight - all should be odour free in the morning. 11. Burnt sauce or Gravy. pour it into a clean pan, add some sugar to it a little at a time to avoid the final result becoming too sweet - it takes the burnt flavour away. 12. Sprinkle the burnt food with baking soda, add some water and then boil or simmer - this should remove it. 13. To clean up a broken egg pour a handful of salt over it, leave for a few minutes, the salt will harden the egg enabling it to be cleaned up more easily. More hints and things here. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! *** View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Go Fold your Twenty-dollar Bills!

WHO FIGURED THIS OUT? (Obviously, some one with way TOO much time on their hands INCREDIBLE). From a much forwarded e-mail.

1) Fold a $20 bill in half...

2) Fold again, taking care to fold it exactly as below

3) Fold the other end, exactly as before

4) Now, simply turn it over...


What a coincidence! A simple geometric fold creates a catastrophic premonition printed on all $20 bills.

COINCIDENCE? YOU DECIDE

As if that wasn't enough .. here is what you've seen...

Firstly The Pentagon on fire...

Then The Twin Towers.
.. And now .. look at this!


TRIPLE COINCIDENCE ON A SIMPLE $20 BILL

It gets even better!

9 + 11=$20!!

Like the much forwarded e-mail said, too interesting to pass up. :)

This is too interesting to pass up!

I don't know what to title this post

I am very upset that someone had so much time on their hands to torture and torment me through my kids. I am furious. Why can't some old people do something useful with their lives? He should pick a useful hobby or volunteer to help the unfortunates.

If someone had married and divorced 6 times, then something is internally wrong with the person. It's not the wives, it's him. My biggest mistake ever was letting him get to know my children, and trust him enough to him into my house. I went against my principles and my instinct, and boy, is a payback for being wrong ever painful.

He got bored, and is amusing himself with sending abusive and threatening letters to me periodically. Some people do good deeds before they die, while others will destroy everything in sight.

One should die proudly if they can no longer live proudly. -Freidrich Neitzsche

Never ever trust anyone who torments animal for fun. This is the same person who made me so uncomfortable when I was just married because he gleefully informed me that he loves watching dogs fight because of him. He used to have two dogs, and he'd torment one making the other dog think it's the other. When the dogs go at it, he sits back and has fun watching.

He also likes throwing in inflammatory comments to a group situation and enjoys watching people duke it out. I remember thinking that I hope he'd never turn that amusement to us. Well, my time has come, and we are his experiments, me and my family. We have a wonderful family, and we get along great, and he wants us all broken into little pieces.

My kids and husband comes first. He doesn't seem capable of understanding that. He all but told his son to divorce me. He also made clear he wants our children in foster care. How dare he! This monster himself left his two children and abandoned them, but not before he made his wife worked to pay for his education. What kind of person does that?

My children come first. All decent mothers signed an unwritten contract to protect the children they gave birth to. When it comes to my children, if something does not feel right to me, I take measures to correct that. Now, he's punishing all of us because I want to ensure that my children will have a happy childhood and will grow up to be well-adjusted beings. It's the single most important job, it's my job.

We hadn't so far, and he is miserable about it. Tell me if there should be second chances after this. Well, it's been said before. What can't break us can only make us stronger, but man, is this ever going to end?

Lullaby

A lullaby is a soothing song sung to children before they go to sleep. The idea is that the song sung by a familiar voice will lull the child to sleep.

Being a conscientious mother, I feel it is my duty to hunt around for new lullabies to hum to my babies. Some of my babies love it, others don't. In fact, DD and DS1 prefer to sing and hum their own. Truly! One time I tried to offer my lullaby services, my son unceremoniously slapped his hand over my mouth and squeezed my lips shut. He was 8 months old. Point delivered!

I also deliver spontaneous performances on nursery rhymes. It makes my baby giggle and I impressed myself with how much I remember. In fact, the other day, I found that they "Twinkle, twinkle little star, ABC Song, and Baa, Baa black Sheep" have the same melody. Really. I played it and hum it along to Mozart's fancy composition on x-number of variations of the Twinkle, Twinkle tune.

I was at my pediatrician the other day with DH (darling husband) when I saw this free magazine called Playing with your baby published by Enfamil.

I was amused and horrified to find out that some of the lullabies I am familiar with do not bring up cozy and comfy picture, like this one

Ring a-round the roses,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!

Or this one

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, Falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Take a key and lock her up,
Lock her up, Lock her up.
Take a key and lock her up,
My fair lady.

What about this one below? The Simpsons cartoon did a wonderful job with this one below.

"Good Night" Airdate: 04/19/87
As Marge and Homer say goodnight to the kids,
Bart philosophically ponders the workings of the mind; Lisa hears Marge say, "Don't let the bedbugs bite," and fears that the bedbugs will eat her; Maggie listens to Marge sing "Rock-a-Bye-Baby" and is traumatized by the lyrics.

Rock a bye baby on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all

I sing this aloud to my babies. Now I wonder if this is one of the reasons why they'd jumped out of their cribs as soon as they could.

The Cakes

I have finally figured it out. My little girl loves cakes. She loves getting it, and she loves eating it. My boys, they can take it or leave it. DS2 loves eating the icing, and DS3 will get sick if he eats too much of the icing and cake. DS3's limit is two cupcakes or have the bucket ready by the side of his bed. This is how we end up with lots of cakes every time one of the kids have birthday. My Lil Sis took care of the cake for me. What beautiful cakes she picked.

For my darling daughter's 9th birthday.



This cake is for my DS2. He's 5.

This is my nephew's cake. He's 6 and a half.