I've been under quarantine for a week now and seriously I'm getting bored of it. I finally got a draft for my ISP2 paper, so it's not all a waste of time trying to get over my itchy back, which, by the way, is no longer itching. In fact, I have started scabbing. Just not on my hands. Hrmmm. And I'm still contagious.
Anyway, I think I ate something bad last night which had caused me poop three times today. For the moment no more mamak food. I called up my own original mamak and asked her the recipe for this white mushroom gravy we always eat with meatloaf and potato pie. Then I went out and bought the ingredients. I came back, prepared the ingredients, and was planning to cook after maghrib, but I ended up cooking it anyway. It was finished before maghrib! Now I'm just waiting for the potato to boil hehehehe.
I'll take pictures later heheheh.
Oooh the potato is done!
Ta'ra!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Inevitable Has Come
When I bought those two Marks and Spencer PJ pants, and three half-price long sleeves I had a totally different idea about wearing them. Not the least was I expecting them to be my uniform when I have chicken pox!
Yes, you read right. At the grand old age of 22 (soon to be 23) I have finally got infected with chickenpox!
Despite getting vaccination 5 years ago too. Though I have heard that was just first-generation vaccine, and that you actually need to get shot with it every few months for it to be effective. Nevertheless, although it decreases the chances of you contracting one, and in the chance that you do get infected, yours would be a less severe case.
I am counting on that. But really, my itchiness only lasted two days, yesterday being the third day being the worst. Today I barely feel it. In the mean time I have one week off. The last time I was legitimately sick to get a week off was when I broke my hand at 9 years old. I say legitimate because I'm always sick. Flu, and the occasional fever, but being adults, we tough it out anyway. Sighs. The pleasure of infectious diseases.
Ta'ra!
Yes, you read right. At the grand old age of 22 (soon to be 23) I have finally got infected with chickenpox!
Despite getting vaccination 5 years ago too. Though I have heard that was just first-generation vaccine, and that you actually need to get shot with it every few months for it to be effective. Nevertheless, although it decreases the chances of you contracting one, and in the chance that you do get infected, yours would be a less severe case.
I am counting on that. But really, my itchiness only lasted two days, yesterday being the third day being the worst. Today I barely feel it. In the mean time I have one week off. The last time I was legitimately sick to get a week off was when I broke my hand at 9 years old. I say legitimate because I'm always sick. Flu, and the occasional fever, but being adults, we tough it out anyway. Sighs. The pleasure of infectious diseases.
Ta'ra!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
My Treasure
It's a little late, but this is my birthday present that arrived late last year courtesy of Watashiwa-san. :D Thus, the christmas theme. It's all nicely wrapped and such. I LOVE!
The envelope deserved a close up xD. 
I love these two snowflakes. Veri kreatip. I totally love all the little detail on my gift. People hardly put in so effort in gift wrapping anymore these days. T_T
And of course, the unwrapping! DISSIDIA THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION WHOOOOOOO!!
"What will you fight for?"
The contents! A character picture book, a couple of postcards and a mini CD containing 6 tracks from the game. It's so awesome T_T.
Unfortunately the game is still neatly shrink-wrapped because I havent got the time to play with.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WATASHIWA-SAN! YOU'RE THE AWESOMEST! D:
Tee-hee. Ta'ra!
The envelope deserved a close up xD. I love these two snowflakes. Veri kreatip. I totally love all the little detail on my gift. People hardly put in so effort in gift wrapping anymore these days. T_TAnd of course, the unwrapping! DISSIDIA THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION WHOOOOOOO!!"What will you fight for?"
The contents! A character picture book, a couple of postcards and a mini CD containing 6 tracks from the game. It's so awesome T_T.Unfortunately the game is still neatly shrink-wrapped because I havent got the time to play with.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH WATASHIWA-SAN! YOU'RE THE AWESOMEST! D:
Tee-hee. Ta'ra!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ho-Hum
I don't like to gloat but...(who am I kidding? of course I do!)
Customer service is such an intangible thing that it takes to measure it's quality is simply the words you say. As a part-timer, it is not my job to look after the counter. I can just stare at an empty counter and ignore all the waiting customers and won't get blamed! But because our section is so big, our titles so varied, and even though our unit has the most number of staff (currently we have 7 part-timers. 2 have been around for more than a year) while other units were lucky to have even 2, even part-timers were even called in to do what full-timers do; manning the counter. The rule really is that part-timers can man the counter only after one month of service. Well, I've been around for almost three months so...
Anyway. Customers come in all sorts of...variety. Their categories are so wide and varied that I shall just sum them up into two main categories: locals and foreigners. During my short time I noticed that most locals already know what titles they are looking for, and sometimes even come with ISBN ready. While at least 40% of foreigners would come saying things like "Do you have any books regarding ___?" Fill in the blank with the correct name of a person, place, country, ingredients.
Of course, we cannot please everyone, and for people who were not pleased, extra attention needs to be given. For example, if you want cooking books on casseroles, any titles, any authors, as long as it's about cooking casseroles, then sure we have several titles and only 1 or 2 copies of each, but at least the variety is there. But if you want pictorial books on Syria or Belarus, then I suppose our best offer is the travel guides.
Unfortunately, at least 40% of the searches I do the titles are either not in stock or we simply do not carry. But some people just can't understand that regardless of the size of our bookstore. And furthermore, since our counter is a part of the English Books Department, we can't do searches for Japanese and Chinese books. Normally we direct them to the respective counters and magazines as well. But people are insistent. And just rude sometimes. While I can help search for Malay books in the system, I won't be able to help you search for them on the shelf should you get into trouble. And when they do (which they always do anyway) I have to go all the way to the magazine counter (which handles Malay books as well) to ask for help!!
That's why in situations like that I always use these phrases:
"I'm not sure about this title since...but let me double check for you anyway, okay?" to be used when a title used to be a bestseller/new arrival and had been selling so fast the bulk quantity is no longer in sight.
"You know what? let me search for you in the system first, okay?" This is my favorite when out on the sales floor when customers treat you like walking computer databases and are oblivious to the stack of books in your hands! While it sometimes irritated me, it's important not to let it show. Of course, anyone who knows me would notice that I was being subtly sarcastic but to the customer it appeared as if I was giving them my full attention and even doing them a favor.
Just yesterday someone inquired at the counter for the first printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. SERIOUSLY! Those books are worth thousands these days!! Do you think we can just easily find them on our fast moving shelves!?!? And what's more, he even insisted that my colleague searched for it according to the publishing date in the book in our computer!
WTF
While we do entertain weird requests, sometimes, and even humor the customers, some things are just impossible.
*mutters incomprehensibly*
On another note, Farah's family, excluding Farah herself, plus a couple of kilos of brown cheese and some four packs of potato pancake things are currently in Malaysia. Oh. Four packs of potato pancake things excluded. I'm sure they are still in the country somewhere, just not in their original form hehehehe. Thanks again for the cheese xD.
Ta'ra!
Customer service is such an intangible thing that it takes to measure it's quality is simply the words you say. As a part-timer, it is not my job to look after the counter. I can just stare at an empty counter and ignore all the waiting customers and won't get blamed! But because our section is so big, our titles so varied, and even though our unit has the most number of staff (currently we have 7 part-timers. 2 have been around for more than a year) while other units were lucky to have even 2, even part-timers were even called in to do what full-timers do; manning the counter. The rule really is that part-timers can man the counter only after one month of service. Well, I've been around for almost three months so...
Anyway. Customers come in all sorts of...variety. Their categories are so wide and varied that I shall just sum them up into two main categories: locals and foreigners. During my short time I noticed that most locals already know what titles they are looking for, and sometimes even come with ISBN ready. While at least 40% of foreigners would come saying things like "Do you have any books regarding ___?" Fill in the blank with the correct name of a person, place, country, ingredients.
Of course, we cannot please everyone, and for people who were not pleased, extra attention needs to be given. For example, if you want cooking books on casseroles, any titles, any authors, as long as it's about cooking casseroles, then sure we have several titles and only 1 or 2 copies of each, but at least the variety is there. But if you want pictorial books on Syria or Belarus, then I suppose our best offer is the travel guides.
Unfortunately, at least 40% of the searches I do the titles are either not in stock or we simply do not carry. But some people just can't understand that regardless of the size of our bookstore. And furthermore, since our counter is a part of the English Books Department, we can't do searches for Japanese and Chinese books. Normally we direct them to the respective counters and magazines as well. But people are insistent. And just rude sometimes. While I can help search for Malay books in the system, I won't be able to help you search for them on the shelf should you get into trouble. And when they do (which they always do anyway) I have to go all the way to the magazine counter (which handles Malay books as well) to ask for help!!
That's why in situations like that I always use these phrases:
"I'm not sure about this title since...but let me double check for you anyway, okay?" to be used when a title used to be a bestseller/new arrival and had been selling so fast the bulk quantity is no longer in sight.
"You know what? let me search for you in the system first, okay?" This is my favorite when out on the sales floor when customers treat you like walking computer databases and are oblivious to the stack of books in your hands! While it sometimes irritated me, it's important not to let it show. Of course, anyone who knows me would notice that I was being subtly sarcastic but to the customer it appeared as if I was giving them my full attention and even doing them a favor.
Just yesterday someone inquired at the counter for the first printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. SERIOUSLY! Those books are worth thousands these days!! Do you think we can just easily find them on our fast moving shelves!?!? And what's more, he even insisted that my colleague searched for it according to the publishing date in the book in our computer!
WTF
While we do entertain weird requests, sometimes, and even humor the customers, some things are just impossible.
*mutters incomprehensibly*
On another note, Farah's family, excluding Farah herself, plus a couple of kilos of brown cheese and some four packs of potato pancake things are currently in Malaysia. Oh. Four packs of potato pancake things excluded. I'm sure they are still in the country somewhere, just not in their original form hehehehe. Thanks again for the cheese xD.
Ta'ra!
Monday, January 4, 2010
2009 - What a Great Year!
For all the things I couldn't achieve in 2009 (like graduating), 2009 was still an awesome year for me!
Things I achieved in 2009:
1. I finally started my own businesses (yes, plural).
2. I got employed working at my favorite bookstore in my long sought-after apron.
...I'm sure there are other intrinsic things that needed mention, but for now these are all I could bother to think about. Besides, these two things more than make up for what I didn't achieve. For that alone, I am happy.
Now 2010 is going to be an even better year because I actually wrote down my new year resolutions. And don't think I don't know that some of you out there are actually anticipating this! Haha!
Ahem. Now, my list. For 2010 I solemnly vow to do my best to fulfill these resolutions, come hell or high water or die trying:
(in no order of importance, except for the first one)
1. To graduate! Needs no explanation!
2. To go on that Scandinavian tour xD.
3. To complete my Japanese lesson Advance 1 and 2 and JLPT level 3.
4. To eat my supplements everyday (coz they are expiring soon heheh).
5. To come up with several plans (for my future) for the coming year.
6. To have RM1087.92 in saving by the end of the year (that's my yearly loan repayment from nov 2010-oct 2011 btw).
7. To achieve my targeted amount of Snackelery sales.
8. To clean the house every two weeks.
9. To check my monthly planner at least once a week.
10. To exercise 3 times a week and lose 5 kg! (This is a must every year!)
There. I tried to be as precise as possible and tried to avoid words like 'at least' because I know I'll just be doing the minimum amount. Except for the planner thing because I'll be going to it several times a week anyway to add or remove stuff.
I've been sooooooo tired with work that I have no energy by the time I get home. I even requested only 4 days of work a week starting January to accomodate my two pending classes. I finally went to school today and inquired about them. No time for anger and being a wronged wife. Progress. The tools have been handed to me. Now it's time for me to get to work!
And I will graduate by the end of this year!
I spent new year's night doing the taboo of Chinese New Year's eve: cleaning! Out with the old dust, in with the new :D heheh. So how did you spend new year's eve? xD
Happy New Year 2010! Ta'ra!
Things I achieved in 2009:
1. I finally started my own businesses (yes, plural).
2. I got employed working at my favorite bookstore in my long sought-after apron.
...I'm sure there are other intrinsic things that needed mention, but for now these are all I could bother to think about. Besides, these two things more than make up for what I didn't achieve. For that alone, I am happy.
Now 2010 is going to be an even better year because I actually wrote down my new year resolutions. And don't think I don't know that some of you out there are actually anticipating this! Haha!
Ahem. Now, my list. For 2010 I solemnly vow to do my best to fulfill these resolutions, come hell or high water or die trying:
(in no order of importance, except for the first one)
1. To graduate! Needs no explanation!
2. To go on that Scandinavian tour xD.
3. To complete my Japanese lesson Advance 1 and 2 and JLPT level 3.
4. To eat my supplements everyday (coz they are expiring soon heheh).
5. To come up with several plans (for my future) for the coming year.
6. To have RM1087.92 in saving by the end of the year (that's my yearly loan repayment from nov 2010-oct 2011 btw).
7. To achieve my targeted amount of Snackelery sales.
8. To clean the house every two weeks.
9. To check my monthly planner at least once a week.
10. To exercise 3 times a week and lose 5 kg! (This is a must every year!)
There. I tried to be as precise as possible and tried to avoid words like 'at least' because I know I'll just be doing the minimum amount. Except for the planner thing because I'll be going to it several times a week anyway to add or remove stuff.
I've been sooooooo tired with work that I have no energy by the time I get home. I even requested only 4 days of work a week starting January to accomodate my two pending classes. I finally went to school today and inquired about them. No time for anger and being a wronged wife. Progress. The tools have been handed to me. Now it's time for me to get to work!
And I will graduate by the end of this year!
I spent new year's night doing the taboo of Chinese New Year's eve: cleaning! Out with the old dust, in with the new :D heheh. So how did you spend new year's eve? xD
Happy New Year 2010! Ta'ra!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)